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Blackrock • Cornelscourt • Deansgrange • Dalkey • Glasthule • Monkstown • Glenageary

INSIDE: From Twelve Angry Men to gazillions of smiles, Bord Gais Energy Theatre marks five years P12

Soccer:

Danny Kane a big winner at FAI Awards night Page 30

Hockey:

Belfield packed out as Ireland on Road to Rio Page 29

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ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES....................... 8 DUBLIN LIFE....................11 OUT&ABOUT...................17 CLASSIFIEDS.................26 SPORT............................28

cracking times: The Gazette guide to family activities over Easter Pages 14-15

Future is bright for iconic baths  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

The regeneration of Dun Laoghaire Baths could begin in the spring of 2016 after councillors approved plans drawn up by council architects. The new plans are expected to go on public display soon.

The Dun Laoghaire Baths scheme comprises the retention of the Baths Pavilion as an artist and gallery space with cafe, the building of a new route linking the East Pier with Newtown-

smith and swimming facilities with a jetty where kayaks or canoes can land.

The new plans were unveiled at a recent Dun Laoghaire Area committee meeting and councillors welcomed the proposed regeneration of the abandoned baths. Cllr Mary Hanafin (FF) said: “At last progress is being made on this significant site which for too long has been an eyesore.”

Full Story on Page 2

Eye, eye: Despicable Me minions getting into the swing of things CARLEY and Kelsey Jones had Despicable Me minions painted on their face at M Kelly Interiors’ Family Fun Day. They were pictured with their aunt Margaret Murray as they enjoyed the special activities

taking place.

There was live music from Dublin City Rounders with their rockabilly set, face painting, discounts and party bags for the little ones, along with treats from the crew at Classic 4fm.

2 DUN laoghaire Gazette 26 March 2015

facility Councillors give thumbs up to regeneration scheme

Plans for baths take next step forward NEX T spring could see the beginning of the rebir th of Dun Laoghaire Baths. The project has moved a step closer to becoming a reality as plans for its regeneration were given the thumbs-up by councillors. The plans will soon go on public display.

Details of the Dun Laoghaire Baths scheme were revealed at a Dun Laoghaire area commit-

 Bairbre Ni Bhraonain bnibhraonain@dublingazette.com

tee meeting this week and involve the retention and securing of the Baths Pavilion, which is to be transformed into an artist and gallery space with cafe facilities.

Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Top Floor, Clarendon House, 39 Clarendon Street, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 - 6010240. Email: sales@dublingazette.com news@dublingazette.com web: www.dublingazette.com twitter: @DublinGazette Visit us on Facebook at DublinGazetteNewspapers

The creation of a new route to connect the East Pier with Newtownsmith and swimming facilities with a new jetty and landing place for kayaks and canoes are also in the plans.

The plan will now go out to public consultation and, following this period, councillors hope they can be confirmed at the September council meeting with construction expected to begin in 2016.

The baths’ site has been abandoned and derelict for years and the plan, unveiled by Bob Hannon – one of the council’s senior architects – was warmly wel-

comed by councillors.

Cllr Mary Hanafin ( F F ) s a i d : “A t l a s t progress is being made on this significant site which for too long has been an eyesore.

“The public have been crying out for the appropriate development of the baths and the new proposals ensure the heritage is protected and additional facilities provided.

“Future generations can swim in the baths, just like their families did.”

Cllr Victor Boyhan (Ind) said: “The plan represents a realistic and imaginative vision for this important public

An architect’s drawing for Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council outlining the proposed revamp of the derelict Dun Laoghaire Baths

realm, which I believe will have the full support of the public. “ C l e a r l y, l e s s o n s have been learnt, and the council has finally acknowledged that the public would rightly resist any residential or

office development on this important site.”

Cllr Boyhan said he was keen to see a public engagement in the baths project, and said the consultation process could begin within weeks and he is hope-

ful that this could be achieved.

Meanwhile, the badeschiff baths project for the harbour remains on appeal with An Bord Pleanala, with a decision not expected for some months.

26 March 2015 DUN laoghaire Gazette 3

music

tourism: national drive to boost community events available

Clannad singer at Pavilion

Apply now for a share of €1m fund  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

ORGANISERS of local events in Dun LaoghaireRathdown are being urged by the council to apply for community tourism funding.

Applications are now open for funding through the Community Tourism Initiative for the Diaspora, which is the result of a collaboration between local authorities, Irish Public Bodies Insurance and Failte Ireland.

Building on the legacy of The Gathering 2013, the scheme provides a national fund of €1m to support local community-based events and festivals.

Richard Shakespeare, the council’s director of environment, said: “The

Community Tourism Initiative allows us to sustain many of the grassroots networks which sprang to life during The Gathering in Dun LaoghaireRathdown, and sustain an infrastructure of events and relationships which will have long-term tourism and social benefits for this region for many years to come.”

Cllr Neale Richmond (FG) said: “We have great natural resources such as the Dublin Mountains, which are of interest to local and foreign tourists alike.

“It is now over to local groups to come up with ideas for events that could benefit from this funding and bring more visitors to our county.”

Cllr Cormac Devlin (FF) said: “I would urge organisers of all relevant events around our county to make an application as soon as possible in the hope of offsetting some of the cost of running these types of events.”

Cllr Lettie McCarthy (Lab) said: “People are prepared to volunteer and put their shoulders behind their community to turn these ideas into realities.

“The Stepaside St Patrick’s Day Parade is a perfect example of how a community will come out in force to celebrate events in their areas.”

Interested parties can contact William Morton at 01 204 7942, or email wmorton@dlrcoco.ie before March 31.

 Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

A little light work: Texaco showcases the artistic talents of children BRONAGH Carron, marketing manager with Valero Ireland, had a couple of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown entries to hand at the recent media reception for the closure of the 61st annual Texaco Children’s Art Competition. Eleanor Reynolds, a pupil at Harold National School, Glasthule submitted Fireworks At Night, while fellow school pupil Lucy Drummond submitted Don’t You Like The Sun. Caroon admired these works and all the other entries received for the popular competition, with judging now under way before the winners are announced in April, with the award ceremony to be held in May.

IRISH folk legend and Clannad’s lead singer Moya Brennan joins harpist and singer Cormac De Barra for an evening of musical collaboration at the Pavilion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire this April.

Over the years, the two musicians have collaborated on a variety of musical ventures.

As well as touring worldwide with Clannad, Grammy Award winner Brennan has also forged a highly successful solo career and has collaborated with many musicians.

Brennan and De Barra star at the Pavilion on April 2. Tickets cost €20, or €18 for concessions, and are available at www. paviliontheatre.ie.

4 DUN laoghaire Gazette 26 March 2015

schools Blackrock students, staff prepare for a healthy week to remember

Sports stars ready to help Clonkeen College get active  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

CLONKEEN College in Blackrock are holding a starstudded Active Week with wellknown athletes such as GAA footballers Darran O’Sullivan and Thomas Flynn, as well as former professional track and field athlete David Gillick.

FastNews

All welcome to join in with a mad tea party THE Mad Hatter’s Tea Party comes to Deerpark in Mount Merrion this Easter Sunday, April 5.

From 1pm to 5pm, children can go along for free to hunt for eggs on the Easter trail.

Once their egg is claimed, having followed all the clues correctly, they can join everyone in a great tea party.

An Easter Make and Do team will help guests make their own “mad hat” on the day.

Christians are welcome to help follow the cross DURING Holy Week, an initiative by local Christian churches to pray together will take place with the theme of the journey of the cross.

On March 30, pilgrims will walk to the statue of Christ the King in the grounds of the LexIcon Library in Dun Laoghaire.

Three groups will set off to walk from Kill O’the Grange, Monkstown and central Dun Laoghaire to arrive at the LexIcon in central Dun Laoghaire for 3pm, where a prayer service at the Statue of Christ the King will ensue with Christian churches from Kill O’ the Grange, Monkstown and Dun Laoghaire.

Clonkeen College Active Week started on March 23 and continues until March 27.

The primary focus of the week is to get staff, students and other college stakeholders to be active in a variety of ways. The initiative also serves to highlight all the ways in which the staff and students

keep a spirit of activity alive in the school.

Highlights of the week include battles which will be taking place between students and their teachers in a range of different activities.

According to Clonkeen College: “Given the incredible work staff and students have

put into organising the event, and the wonderful support we’ve received from community organisations, we would hope that our week could inspire other schools to do the same.”

The week involves every staff member and pupil having the opportunity to take part in

a host of activities, both inside and outside the classroom.

Organisers hope the experience will encourage healthy living and well-being, and also act as a vehicle for social inclusion and positivity for students of Clonkeen College.

In order to make the week a great success, organisers have

enlisted the help of a number of organisations, including the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership, Loughlinstown Leisure Centre, Clonkeen College Parents’ Association, Special Olympics Ireland, Cricket Ireland, the Irish Rugby Football Union and more.

education: impact on st augustine’s special school, blackrock raised

Concern as supports to be relocated from school  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

PARENTS at St Augustine’s Special School in Blackrock are concerned that students with mild disabilities and autism could lose their services at the school when clinicians such as a social worker, psychologists and speech therapists are relocated under a new HSE plan called Progressing Disabilities Services (PDS).

John Curran, whose 13-year-old son Jack has dyslexia and dyspraxia and attends the school, told The Gazette: “They’re [HSE] going to prioritise the children that most need these services and because the children in St Augustine’s are considered mild, they’re not going to qualify.

“This is a cut that’s coming to St Augustine’s school. Why can’t St Augustine’s be used as a role model for all the other schools and leave things as they are?

“The special needs assistants are not affected as yet, but the two speech and language therapists, the child psychologist and the social worker are; that unit is going from St Augustine’s.”

Pauline Bergin, regional director of St John of God Service, patron of St Augustine’s, told The

Gazette: “The clinical team in St Augustine’s School will be working from a Disability Network Team (DNT) in their locality.

“This transition will happen in the next few months with a proposed start date for all DNTs being next January. All children in St Augustine’s School will continue to receive clinical supports as required from their local DNT. --------------------------

‘Why can’t St Augustine’s be used as a role model for all the other schools and leave things as they are?’

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

John Curran, parent

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

“St Augustine’s School will continue to operate under the patronage of the Hospitaller Order of St John of God, while being funded and administered by the Department of Education.”

However, a source told The Gazette that as yet, the clinicians have no idea where they will be moved to. One rumoured site for the consolidated services is Enable Ireland, in Sandymount and

Parents have expressed fears that their children with mild disabilities and autism at St Augustine’s Special School in Blackrock could lose their services at the school when specialists are relocated under a new HSE plan

Nutgrove.

The source said that those qualifying for the new PDS service will have to have “complex needs”, but that “nobody has ever defined what complex needs are, so what is likely to happen is that many people receiving services now will first of all lose their services and reapply for

new services”.

The source added that services for autism, moderate intellectual disability and physical disability are all going to be mixed together and redistributed into DNTs. “It doesn’t matter what kind of disability the child has any more, it only matters where they live or where they go to

school, and that will tell them which disability network to go to.

“Working with autism is very different to working with those with mental health problems or physical problems, and they will all be in the same centre,” said the source.

A spokesperson said HSE staff were meeting

to prepare to implement PDS policy nationally, and added: “Children will be allocated to a DNT or to a primary care team depending on their level of need.

“A d d i t i o n a l s t a f f ing came on stream in 2014 and further staffing resources are planned for 2015 to support this development.”

26 March 2015 DUN laoghaire gazette 5

Expert fitting service, bringing value to Irish consumers for over 45 years

Transform your home for less at Des Kelly Interiors At Des Kelly Interiors, they have a real passion for flooring.

They have a huge focus on stocking all the up to date ranges and colours from all the leading manufacturers which makes it no wonder they are Ireland’s Number One Flooring retailer. New floors can completely transform a room, Des Kelly have personal staff members dedicated to helping you find the floor solutions that will work best for you.

Grey flooring seems to really be the trend at the moment and they really do have Fifty Shades of Grey flooring to suit everyone in store. Grey flooring

offers timeless style and long-lasting beauty with a modern industrial twist, add little hints of colour with a single red rug can work wonders , as could a stunning red vase or light and this is because one block of colour or a playful splash makes a huge impact in your room. Stocking all the

flooring in their newly renovated warehouse, means Des Kelly again is striving to bring value to the Irish home.

Quickstep floors are no doubt the best laminate floors on the market at the moment. They have FREE FITTING of the Creo Jungle Plum and Rustic Oak for the month of March, so pop in and grab yourself a bargain.

They supply and fit your floor from start to finish hassle free.

Stocking a full range of carefully selected accessories for a perfectly finished floor, Des Kelly has the solution for every floor and situation.

Installing the right

underlay has a major impact on the final look, quality and comfort of your floor. Based on their experience for the past 45 years they have selected a collection of high quality underlays to provide excellent acoustic and thermal insulation for your new f loor .

Whether you are looking for Hardwood or Laminate flooring, Des has got you covered.

There is a floor to suit every home. No matter your application, living room, dining room, stairs, Yes, Stairs, or bathroom, Des Kelly Interiors offers the best value for money and affordable options on the market.

6 DUN laoghaire Gazette 26 March 2015

health Utility rejects claims on lead levels across DLR

Fears for scale of contamination in drinking water  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

DRINKING water in nearly 10% of homes in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown could be contaminated by lead, according to Cllr Ossian Smyth (GP).

He was informed by Irish Water meter install-

ers that 8,500 homes in the county could be affected.

The information followed Cllr Smy th’s request for information on water quality in the local authority area.

He is calling for action on possible lead contamination in drinking water

as this could cause serious health problems to brain development in children and pregnant women in the areas of kidney function and blood pressure.

Irish Water told the councillor that although there were no lead water mains in Dun LaoghaireRathdown, “service con-

nections are not recorded in the Irish Water geographical information system in Dun LaoghaireRathdown, so no exact figure can be given for lead service pipes in the area.

“However, as part of the metering programme, out of a total of 14,963 meters installed in DLR, 1,453 of installations reported lead service pipes (9.7%).”

Rockford Park, Blackrock resident Susanne Barry told The Gazette: “Since we moved in [January], the water coming from the tap tastes bitter and [has an odour] like smelly socks. It really puts me off drinking it “The house was built around 1955. I rang Irish Water to get the water tested; they told me some works were being done and to run the tap for an hour before drinking, and see if there was a change, but there was none.

“I rang them back about this, and was told taste was down to the individual, but they confirmed the water would be tested.

That was on March 3.

“I want to know what’s in the water, and to

Cllr Ossian Smyth (GP has claimed that drinking water in 10% of homes in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown may be contaminated by lead – a figure refuted by Irish Water, as it says a national survey has not been conducted

change whatever needs to be done. I’ve been buying bottled water since, as I’m worried about the health [aspects] as I’ve two small children – a four-year-old and a nine-month-old.”

Cllr Smyth said: “People have the expectation that the water they pay for is clean and safe to drink, but the latest figures provided to me by Irish Water prove that the problem of lead contamination has been seriously underestimated.

“My research has shown that as many as 8,500 homes in Dun Laoghaire may be affected by lead-contaminated drinking water supplies.”

An Irish Water spokesperson said no official survey was carried out by water installers. The utility is liaising with the Environmental Protection Agency and the HSE

to finalise a national policy for lead in drinking water which will involve targeted replacement of any remaining Irish Water lead service pipes.

The spokesperson said: “Lead was the main material used in connections to buildings and internal plumbing in homes up to the 1960s.

“Proper ty ow ners are responsible for the water distribution system on their own property, including all domestic internal plumbing.

“Irish Water is responsible for the maintenance and renewal of water mains on the public water distribution network. The amount of lead distribution pipe in the public water distribution system is negligible.

“Any estimate on levels of lead in internal plumbing of private houses is

based on the average age of housing stock nationally. Such a survey has not been carried out by meter installers.”

However, Cllr Smyth said: “The HSE have stated that even low levels of lead can have small but significant effects on health, and that no level of lead in drinking water is now considered to be completely safe.

“Disseminating information about this risk is critically important for those caring for bottle-fed infants, young children and pregnant women. It is my intention to inform households affected.”

About 15,431 children live in the Dun LaoghaireRathdown area and Cllr Smyth said any households affected by the issue would need financial support to help get rid of the lead pipes.

Fine art on show at LexIcon  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

AN EXHIBITION of fine art by some of Ireland’s best-known artists is coming to the LexIcon Library and cultural centre this May. The show is called Aitiuil, the Irish for “local”, featuring the work of Carey Clarke, John Coyle, Melanie le Brocquy, George Potter and Imogen Stuart, all of whom are Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) members.

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdow n County Council is responsible for presenting Aitiuil at the LexIcon.

The group exhibition explores the work of the five eminent artists, all of whom have a connection with Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown.

The artists exhibiting are now all senior members in their 70s and 80s. Carey Clarke is a former RHA president, John Coyle is professor of painting at the RHA, and Imogen Stuart is the RHA’s pro-

fessor of sculpture.

Aitiuil will focus on the key works of the five artists from their early, middle and late careers. It therefore offers unique and often intimate insights into the lives and creative minds of the artists; all of whom have chosen Dun Laoghaire to settle down and work in.

The exhibition will open to the public in the Municipal Gallery at LexIcon on Friday, March 27, and will run until May 9.

26 March 2015 DUN laoghaire Gazette 7

8 dun laoghaire Gazette 26 March 2015

gazetteGALLERIES

Mick, Marcus and Jill Rennicks. Marcus was looking after their map, hoping for treasure at the end of it!

Members of The Deaf Group who were doing the walk in preparation for a trip to the Camino Way

Audrey Drew, Caoimhe O’Toole and Emer O’Dowd are all smiles. Pictures: Margaret Brown

sT PATRICK’S day: THE HARBOUR2HARBOUR WALK

Lining the coast for upbeat harbour walk W

ALKING enthusiasts ditched the traditional St Patrick’s Day activities to raise funds for Aware’s 10th annual Harbour2Harbour walk.

Participants could start in Howth Harbour and walk to Dun Laoghaire Harbour or vice versa and despite the gloomy weather, many put on their walking shoes and took part. The capital’s coast was lined with emerald hats and

bright head bands as the walkers got into the St Patrick’s Day spirit.

In Dun Laoghaire, everyone enjoyed a day of festivities which included music, fairground rides, food stalls and entertainment in Dun Laoghaire Harbour Plaza courtesy of Dun Laoghaire BID company.

Aware is a voluntary organisation founded to assist those directly affected by depression.

Peter and Marie Dowling, Conor McCormack (Floral Scents), with Ellie Chin and Mike Swirles

Lynsey McKernan with Heading off in the rain in great spirits are Tricia Gilroy, John Johnston, Camilo Benjumea and Annette Kelly

Georgie the dog

Anne Kehoe, Louise Colgan and Mary Quinn

26 March 2015 dun laoghaire Gazette 9

10 Gazette 26 March 2015

gazetteGALLERY

Morah and Lottie Ryan

Ali Hewson and Adi Roche at Liz O Donnell’s (centre) annual fundraising lunch. Picture: Brian McEvoy

fundraiser: Liz’s Lunch for Chernobyl at Fire restaurant

Liz’s desire to help others catches fire

A

li Hewson was among the homegrown glitterati who turned out to support Liz’s Lunch for Chernobyl.

Hosted by RSA chief and Chernobyl Children International (CCI) board director Liz O’Donnell, with

Eva Orsmond

businessman, talent manager and CCI board director Noel Kelly, the event took place in Dublin’s Fire restaurant.

The charity plays a major role in helping to save the lives of hundreds of children born with genetic heart

Aidan Power and Tara Carey

defects in Eastern Ukraine.

Liz O’Donnell said: “This event is a fantastic example of how the concern and generosity of everyone here today will help save the lives of those babies and children in serious need of medical intervention.”

Claire Byrne

Kathryn Thomas and Padraig McLoughlin

Ursula and Dave Fanning

26 March 2015 Gazette 11

asdfsdaf easter camps P27 P14

escape the mayhem p13

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

a day in the life: award-winning blogger Sinead Burke

what’son

Dinner time with the family feeds the soul  keith bellew

Sinead Burke, aka Minnie Melange, has many strings to her bow: she is an award-winning blogger, PhD student and an ambassador for the ISPCC’s Shield AntiBullying campaign.

This week the Gazette caught up with her to find out what she does on an average day.

Her packed schedule necessitates an early rise, which is not always easy: “I wake at about 6am, though that rarely occurs without at least three alarms shrieking at me to get up.

“The snooze button is also pressed quite frequently but the less we say about that, the better.

Attempting to attain the most amount of sleep, I have a regimented routine in the morning that most definitely includes breakfast.

“A typical meal for me in the morning is a bowl of granola with some sliced fruit and a yoghurt.”

She is currently studying in Trinity College for a PhD, the subject of which is the experiences of children in primary school. She says the research involved is very time consuming which makes it difficult to find a balance with her blogging.

“In the midst of academia, allotting time for consistent blog posts can be a challenge but I’ve begun to achieve a balance of research, transcribing interviews for the blog’s Extraordinary Women series, updating social media and engaging with the blogging community.

“It’s not an easy feat but one which has been extremely fruitful, thus far.”

A family dinner is an important part of her day: “I’m fortunate to live at home with my parents and siblings.

“Collectively having dinner is something which is really important to us. The dining room table is where we assemble to announce our news and the various activities we are engaged in.

“Thus, the set time for dinner is when we are all home. It’s one of my favourite parts of the day.”

While she has a lot of work to do each day, that doesn’t stop her from taking the time to relax every evening.

“I’m really fortunate to have lots of work and activities that keep me occupied during the day but I firmly believe that it’s essential to wind down at night time.

“Typically, I try to do



Gazette

diary p12

Jersey Boys making an appearance in Dublin: The

Sinead Burke: “I’m enamoured by Wyvern Lingo, Louise O’Neill’s excellent book Only Ever Yours and the hilarious Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix.”

this either through music, reading or television. I’m currently enamoured by [Bray band] Wyvern Lingo, Louise O’Neill’s excellent book Only Ever Yours and the hilarious Unbreakable K immy Schmidt on Netflix.

“I aim to be in bed early but it’s always at the point of the night, when you know you should be making your way to bed, that an amazing plot twist occurs in a book or on a television programme and you think to

yourself – just one more chapter or episode.”

Burke will continue in her ambassadorial role with the ISPCC Shield campaign for the remainder of March. For more information visit: www. ispcc.ie/shield

award-winning and highly-acclaimed production of Jersey Boys is coming to the Bord Gais Energy Theatre from April 1 to 18.

Jersey Boys is the remarkable true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and their rise to stardom from the wrong side of the tracks.

These four boys from New Jersey became one of the most successful bands in pop history, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and sold 175 million records worldwide, all before they turned 30.

The producers of the tour are also delighted to announce that West End star Tim Driesen will be heading the cast as Frankie Valli, a role he previously played for a short season at the Prince Edward Theatre in the West End. Tickets are on sale now from €20 to €60 and can be purchased from www. bordgaisenergytheatre.ie.

Gazette

12 Gazette 26 March 2015

dublinlife

DIARY

It’s ofishial – Jedward land first film roles

Their hair may be more on the flat side these days but Jedward could soon be back to their hair raising days when they battle it out with a shark in their first movie – Sharknado 3.

The Lucan duo, known for their love of high hair, are set to share the screen with Bo Derek, Jerry Springer and David Hasselhof in the satirical disaster

made-for-TV movie.

Rumour has it that they could also feature in the fourth movie and are in talks to write music for it.

They are teaming up with their new BFF Tara Reid who features in the franchise. The twins met the Hollywood actress during their stint on Celebrity Big Brother back in 2011 and have remained friends since

then.

bristling with anger at bord gais theatre The whole of Montrose seemed to have decamped to the Bord Gais Energy Theatre this week to see a new production of classic courtroom drama Twelve Angry Men, which came direct from its successful run in London’s West

Over the moon: Lucan duo team up with new BFF Tara Reid

Claire Whelan with Stephen Faloon, general manager of The Bord Gais Energy Theatre, celebrating five years of the well-known Dublin Theatre. The theatre has had 2.5 million visitors viewing 250 productions since 2010.

Picture: Brian McEvoy

End. On March 16, RTE broadcaster Gay Byrne, former newsreader Ann Doyle and weather presenter Nuala Carey were all in attendance on opening night. Also there were some of RTE soap Fair City actors such as Ciara O’Callaghan, who plays Yvonne Doyle and Aoibheann McCaul who is Caoimhe Dillon in the show.

Twelve Angry Men featured Olivier and Tony Award winner Tom Conti, who came to the Bord Gais Energy Theatre last week for a short run.

Conti took on the role made famous by Henry Fonda in the movie version of the play, as juror number eight, the charismatic man who sways the other 11 jurors to his way of thinking about a murder case.

The cast did a good job of recreating the dissension and fraught atmosphere that fills the

jury room as personal prejudices and selfish motives are thrashed out against the backdrop of a 16-year-old black boy facing the electric chair.

The Bord Gais Energy Theatre also celebrated its fifth birthday last week with a special celebration recognising all the great performances held in the Grand Canal venue since 2010.

enda’s tense moment with us president It’s fairly safe to say that Taoiseach Enda Kenny has a great admiration for US president Barack Obama.

From fawning over him during his visit to Ireland a few years ago and his quoting almost word for word his “Yes we can” speech, to the poster of him hanging in his office in Leinster House.

How painful it must have been for him then when during his St

Patrick’s Day visit to the states, Obama accidentally snubbed Enda when he went to shake his hand prior to a sit down with the press.

Just as the two sat down for a press conference, Enda reached over to shake Obama’s hand, but the US president just happened to turn towards the reporters at that very moment.

Enda tried to save himself embarrassment by looking at his hand as if he were examining his nails, but unfortunately this act didn’t help the disappointed Taoiseach.

Rihanna is radiant in rocha design She is famous for wearing next to nothing, but when pop singer Rihanna does decide to don some threads, at least she has good taste.

Recently seen wearing a white two-piece outfit with scalloped hemline by Dublin designer

Simone Rocha, Rihanna stepped out in fine Irish style at a promo for her new film Home, in New York.

The jacket, skirt and white shoes she wore, are all part of Simone Rocha’s latest collection, which, if Rihanna paid for the ensemble, would have set her back more than €2,000.

This is the second time Rihanna has favoured Rocha’s fashion creations, having previously worn a sheer white skirt with statement pink underwear which drew more than a few gasps last year.

28-year-old Simone is the daughter of famous fashion designer John Rocha and is currently blazing a trail among A-listers in Hollywood.

Actress and writer Lena Dunham was also seen in Rocha’s designs at a recent gala event in Los Angeles when she wore an off-the-shoulder black dress by Rocha.

26 March 2015 Gazette 13

Gazette

news

dispute: low-hour contracts, fair pay, job security and union representation behind action

Thousands of Dunnes Stores workers set to strike  gazette reporters

Around 3,000 Dunnes Stores workers will take industrial action at branches throughout Dublin on Thursday, April 2.

The striking workers are members of Mandate Trade Union which represents about 50% of the 10,000 Dunnes employees throughout the country. Over 75% of the workforce is female.

The one-day strike goes ahead in 109 stores across the country. This follows a ballot of workers in dispute with the company over low-hour contracts, fair pay, job security and union representation.

A picket will be put on all Dunnes Stores out-

lets across the country, which will remain open.

It is likely the action will “severely” affect business on the day.

Various branches in the city and surrounding areas will be picketed by hundreds of staff members.

Those stores affected by the strike in Dundrum include Beacon South Quarter, Cornelscourt in Foxrock, Leopardstown, Nutgrove Avenue in Rathfarnham and Stillorgan, while Georges Street is the only branch in Dun Laoghaire. Around 58% of staff at the Dundrum stores will picket while in Dun Laoghaire the figure is 75%.

In Dublin 15 both

Blanch Shopping Centre and Ongar branches will be affected. About 160 (70%) members of staff at the former will strike and 20 (23-24%) in Ongar.

Both Swords Pavilions and Rathbeale Road branches will strike with 50 and 15 members of staff taking part respectively. Meanwhile, in Clondalkin, 200 Dunnes Stores staff at the Mill Centre will engage in industrial strike action.

Mandate representative Dave Moran, said the union is trying to negotiate better terms and conditions for staff and that the company refuses to enter discussions to avert strike action.

“We have been trying

to negotiate over the last number of years to get better terms and conditions.

At the moment most workers are employed on 15 hours or temporary contracts for three months. There is no guarantee of what earnings they get from one week to the next. Some weeks they get 15 hours some 30 hours and some 20 hours, you just can’t plan a lifestyle on fluctuating wages.”

These contracts have implications for social welfare and family income supplement entitlements.

Moran added: “We have asked the company to attend both conciliating in the LRC and we have had two Labour Court

Around 3, 000 workers will take part in a one-day strike at store branches throughout Dublin on Thursday, April 2

hearings; both times the company has refused to attend,” he said.

According to Moran, the Labour Court in its most recent recommendation urged both sides to sit down and discuss all

issues but “unfortunately” Dunnes has “refused”.

If nothing has been resolved from this strike, Moran said the union’s national dispute committee made up of Dunnes Stores representatives

will meet after April 2 to decide on the next course of action.

Dunnes Stores has been contacted, but at the time of going to press had not come back with comment.

Gazette

14 Gazette 26 March 2015

dublinlife

Easter isn’t just about It’s that eggstra special time of year when schoolkids can enjoy some time out from the books to build on budding skills or whet their appetite for a new hobby and have fun  staff reporters

Dun LaoghaireRathdown

This Easter Dun Laoghaire-Rathdow n has plenty to occupy and entertain children during their time off school.

DLR Leisure Services hosts its Kids’ MultiSport Camps for boys and girls aged four to 13.

During the Easter holiday, children can let off steam and get active at DLR leisure centres in Monkstown, Meadowbrook and Loughlinstown from 9am until

3pm, Monday to Friday.

Activities include swimming, basketball, tennis, dodgeball, football and more. Prices are €80 per child per week or €20 per day. Book at www.dlrleisureservices. ie.

For smaller children, Imaginosity in Sandy-

ford has lined up unusual Easter camps: an Elsa and Olaf Camp and a CSI Investigator camp.

From March 30 to April 3, Elsa and Olaf, based on the popular Frozen characters, offers activities based on the movie featuring arts and crafts, dance and drama.

There will be snowmenbuilding, ice castle design, singing and storytelling.

C SI I n v e s t i g a t o r explores what it is like to be a real detective. Children follow clues, solve riddles, check fingerprints and more.

The camp runs April 7 to 10 from 9.30am to 1pm and costs €80 a week or €25 a day. Places for both are limited, so booking is essential: call 01 2176130.

In Dublin 15

CAMPS running in the area are sure to capture kids’ imagination.

A Soccer Camp in Coolmine Rugby Club r uns April 6 to 10, 10.30am to 2pm for all aged four to 13. It costs €95 for the week. For info, go to www.skillzsoccercamp.com.

For budding scientists, Eggcellent science camp in Castleknock is a must.

Starting March 30 and ending April 10, Eggsperiments allow kids to find out all they ever wanted to know about eggs: investigate them as a food source; dissect an egg; dissolve the shells; find out if they’re strong enough to walk on. Would they be good heat insulators?

It costs €70 a child, aged four to 12. For more

Dillon Shinbach and Emily Darley were eggs-tremely happy to help announce that

info, visit www.anyoneforscience.com.

For the young Van Goghs and Da Vincis Artzone camps at Castleknock Parish Centre from March 30 to April 10 are the answer. Open 10am to 2pm, organisers say this year’s event will feature the best portfolios of crafts, stories and games yet experienced.

Projects include painting, drawing, collage, clay and 3D construction, print and graphics. More information at www.artzone.ie.

In North Dublin

At the Old Stables, Drynam Road, Swords, Badgers Den is running a cracking Easter Egg camp, jammed with Easter activities: arts and crafts, music, drama, sports, science, games, cooking and baking, trips and outings and more.

Past outings include the wax museum, Newbridge Farm, the zoo, cinema, Kidszone play centre, to name a few.

The camp runs March 30 to April 10 with half day (9am-1pm) and full day (9am-6pm) options.

More information at www.badgersden.ie For sporty kids, Buzz – Ball Parties is running a sports camp at St Helen’s Senior National School Portmarnock March 30 to April 10. The Buzz – Ball programme teaches kids the basic skills they need before signing up to organised sport.

This Easter camp, for five- to six-year-olds, runs from 9.30am to 1.30pm. More information at www.facebook. com/buzzballparties.

Malahide Castle Golf & Tennis club hosts a Junior Golf Camp at Malahide Castle for those aged six to 13, March 30 to April 3, from 9.30am

to 12.30pm. It is provided by PGA Professional Jason Somers. More information at www. mcgt.ie.

In Lucan and Clondalkin

Lucan Leisure Centre hosts an Easter Kids Camp for kids aged three to 10. A mini camp for children aged three to four takes place 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Those a little older (five to 10) can partake in an Easter camp from 9.30am to 2pm, April 7 to 10.

Activities include basketball, football, hockey, tennis, rounders, bench ball, volley ball, arts and crafts, team games and treasure hunts. The minicamp costs €35 per child and €52 for older children. More info at www. lucanleisure.com, or call 01 6241930.

At Clondalkin Leisure Centre, an Easter Splash Camp caters for those

26 March 2015 Gazette 15

chocolate, you know

Gazette

easter camps

The upcoming Eggcellent science camp in Castleknock will delve into the mysteries and goodness of eggs, glorious eggs

Join “Elsa” in Imaginosity to delve into a cool world of Tayto Park has added Dinosaurs Alive to its attractions

Frozen-related fun and games

aged six to 12. Activities include swimming, rock climbing (10+), archery, basketball, football, unihockey, tennis, rounders, bench ball, volley ball, arts and crafts, team games and treasure hunts.

All activities are fully insured with small numbers in each group. These camps take place April 3-5 and April 7-10 from 9.30am to 2pm. The fiveday camp costs €65 per child and the four-day is €52. More info at www. clondalkinleisure.com, or call 01-4574858.

activities from a Viking House Dig, day tours, leather working, pottery, archery and weaponry.

In Dublin City

The Gaiety School of Acting on Essex Street West, Temple Bar runs its Make a Movie! Lights. Camera.

Action from March 30 to April 2. Kids learn from the experts how to write, act, light and do the sound in a movie. Footage is professionally edit-

ed and kids then receive a DVD of their own movie.

Admission is €200 for the week. More info at www. gaietyschool.com or call 6799277.

For the budding chefs, the Whisk Cookery camp shows kids how to cook soup, breads, Thai curry, beef bourguignon, lemon drizzle cake, falafel veg burgers, hummus, brownies and more. It runs March 30 to April 2 or April 7-10 in Templeogue/Terenure and suits those aged seven to 14.

Admission is €100 per week. More info from whiskcooker ycamp@ gmail.com or call Susan on 086 602 8336.

The Big Dig Archaeology Camp in Harold’s Cross allows children aged to 12 get their hands dirty as they get introduced to the mysteries and adventures of archaeology in a fun and relaxing environment.

Children also enjoy

For further information, see www.sia.ie This camp runs from March 30 to April 10.

Gazette

16 Gazette 26 March 2015

dublinlife

Q&A

business Range of impressive conference rooms With up to 400 complimentary car parking spaces, direct access to/ from Dublin Airport via Dublin Coach and in close proximity to the Luas facility into Dublin City Centre, the Green Isle Conference and Leisure hotel on the Naas

Road is a great place for business conferences.

Clients may choose from a broad range of meeting rooms including 40 fully equipped boardrooms, all with natural daylight, airconditioning and high speed WiFi. The con-

ference centre offers a range of impressive conference rooms for up to 750 delegates theatre style or 550 banqueting style and located on the ground floor of the hotel making it easily accessible for all delegates.

For those travelling

from afar the option of staying overnight is open. The executive style guestrooms have ample work space and complimentary internet access.

For more information visit www.greenislehotel.com.

Chris Robinson of CR Bodyworx

Doing his best to make clients feel their best CHRIS Robinson is a personal trainer and owner of CR Bodyworx in Dundrum. He has been working in the health and fitness industry for the past eight years.

During this time, he has helped many clients achieve great results and transform their bodies.

Robinson specialises in weight loss

and body conditioning.

He provides tailored nutrition plans, one-to-one personal training, group training, boxing and can help with motivation.

Robinson, a highly experienced trainer, dedicates his time solely to helping clients look and feel their best.

How long have you been in business?

What law or regulation would you change overnight to help your business?

We have been open for two years in March.

What makes your business successful?

Our experienced team of trainers who are personable and professional make our business successful.

Our staff are very dedicated to helping our clients achieve their goals.

What do you offer your clients that differs from your competitors?

Our unique programmes which are specifically tailored for our clients’ individual needs are what make us different from our competitors.

We are focused on our clients specific goals and want our clients to get the best results possible.

How has the recession affected your business?

We have had to find the right balance between competitive pricing and the value of the services we provide.

What have you changed about your business to combat the effects of the recessions?

We have devised different payments options for our clients to suit their needs.

We want rates to be determined on the success of a business – this would help new businesses grow.

How do you use social media to help your business?

We use social media for connecting with our clients.

We also post our clients amazing results and progress. It is also a great way to connect with potential clients.

What is your ambition for the business?

We would like to expand our business throughout Dublin. .

What is the best piece of business advice you ever received?

Believe in yourself and forget the doubters.

What is our favourite thing about doing business in your local area

Dundrum has an excellent transport network: the Luas, many bus routes – plus it’s just off the M50.

The multitude of transport options make it easy for our clients to get to us.

What living person do you most admire?

My parents – they taught me that anything worth getting takes work.

SHaRE Reading board of management members Maura McMahon and Stephen Moran receiving a Dublin Bus grant from Niall Quinn

education: combat difficulties in the inner city

Helping to build reading skills and knowledge SHaRE Reading is continuing to celebrate with four inner city schools in the weeks after World Book Day. The 40 children who work directly with volunteers twice weekly on a paired reading programme that promotes reading comprehension and vocabulary building, have read 639 additional books since September.

With the support of ESB and JP Morgan, the first and second classes at St Mary’s Primary School, George’s Hill Presentation School, Gardiner Street National School, and St Kevin’s Boys National School in Finglas West are being challenged to read 160 additional books

per class.

Their reward will be an age appropriate book to take home, and an invitation to a storytelling workshop by Irish author Liam Farrell in late April.

According to the group: “We know from research that the more children read, the better readers they become and what better way to encourage this than to gift children age appropriate books.

“Research tells us that literacy difficulties are a serious problem in disadvantaged areas like north inner city Dublin: this affects children’s vocabulary and motivation to read as early as first class.

In 2013, SHaRE Reading

was founded to combat the serious reading difficulties apparent in Dublin’s north inner city.”

In 2013, SHaRE established a partnership with Belvedere College’s fifth year students to assist even more children with their reading in schools as part of Belvedere’s pastoral studies programme and commitment to social justice.

The group has an upcoming pilot project in which the children will use iPads funded by Dublin Bus to further motivate them to revise their literacy skills in spelling and reading using learning objects. It is also running workshops in the north

inner city for parents to teach them how to help their child read.

Tutoring and literacy testing are also available from SHaRE’s office at Spade Enterprise Centre in Smithfield.

“Before school, we offer a Bookfest programme which provides children with a healthy breakfast over vocabulary games. Our afterschool programmes include the mini reporters club which is run in conjunction with Dublin City Council, and Book Buddies which runs with the support of South Dublin City Council.”

For more information visit www.sharedreading. ie.

26 March 2015 Gazette 17

travel P21

asdfsdaf P27 food and drink P23

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



Gazette

interiors P20

Radio Tune in for upbeat mental health news  laura webb

Strasbourg’s Auditive Connection will open this year’s festival

music Festival: young, creative and ambitious artists coming to town

Twelve Points about jazz

 keith bellew

The 12 Points Jazz Festival returns to Dublin this year for its ninth instalment at Project Arts Centre, Temple Bar, from April 15 to18.

Based in Dublin, with partner’s right across Europe, 12 Points showcases 12 young, creative and ambitious artists in jazz and related music each from a different European city.

12 Points Festival alternates between Dublin and other vibrant, young European cities. In previous years it has taken place in Porto, Portugal, and Umea in Sweden.

12 Points is programmed via an open call to the European jazz community, and with almost 500 applicants for this year’s festival, the 12 top acts have now

been selected, representing the top acts in Europe in 2015.

This year’s festival opens with Strasbourg’s Auditive Connection; followed over the next few days by piano trio Moskus (Oslo), groove-based band Stuff (Brussels), improv jazz group AMP Trio (Budapest), Berlin-based pianist Elias Stemeseder, Finnish trio Virta (Helsinki), Laura Jurd Quartet (London), SVIN (Copenhagen), Swiss uber-jazz group Hildegard Lernt Fliegen, BRUUT! (Amsterdam), jazz / punk-rock hybrid Black Dough (Gothenburg) and Dublin group Umbra which mixes jazz with Aphex Twin style electronica.

12 Points organiser Aoife Concannon says the aim is to create a closer knit network of members of the jazz communities across Europe.

There is also an emphasis on keeping the festival young and giving young musicians a chance to break through.

For that reason all performers must be under the age of 35.

Concannon said: “It’s [about] emerging acts at the beginning of their careers that we’re trying to push up to the next level by supporting them through this festival.

“It’s four great nights of really diverse music, from traditional jazz to very experimental stuff, with fusions of electronica or rock music and very different sounds from the different countries.

For example between Norway and Italy you would have very different styles of playing.

“It’s a bit unusual because it’s a European kind of thing. Every second year

it leaves Dublin and goes to a random European city, so it means that it builds a community across Europe of these young jazz musicians. It’s kind of unusual in Dublin to get a chance to hear a band from a country that otherwise wouldn’t have gotten here doing something very experimental.

“It’s a great chance for people with open minds to open their ears and hear what’s happening in Europe.”

She said that since the first instalment of the festival in 2006 it has grown from strength to strength: “There’s great interest in the festival within the music community in Europe because it’s seen as a place to go to, to see what’s the next hot new act.”

For more information on the festival visit: www.12points.ie

UPBEAT Radio, a popup radio station aimed at promoting positive mental health on the airwaves, will broadcast its last day on March 27 in time for Wellness in The Workplace Day. From March 23-27, well-known personalities such as model Alison Canavan, TV and radio presenter Aidan Power and comedian Alan Shortt have presented shows live from St Patrick’s University Hospital, on James’s Street, with broadcasters Ruth Scott and Theresa Lowe (below) also urging the public to tune in.

Run by St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, listeners in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and further afield have been tuning in to the station online or through FM radio between 7am and 9pm to hear discussions, music and information on positive mental health.

For further information on the station, see www.upbeat.ie.

Gazette

18 Gazette 26 March 2015

OUT&ABOUT

River Island Faux fur gilet €80

Penneys Straw hat €5 River Island Brooke flare jeans €50

H&M Jumpsuit €29.99

H&M

Kimo

no €

24.9 9

TK Maxx A-lin

e dress €69.9

9

River Island Pink sunglasses €17

Next Culottes €44

that

s 1970 look

Warehouse Suede duffel bag €40

 laura webb

New Look Tribal print playsuit €17.99

JUST like the hit American TV sitcom, That 70s Show, we are falling in love with this generation and its bohemian-like trend all over again. All across the high street, fashionistas can see this trend come on stream as we get closer and closer to the summer.

Culottes, denim, suede, flares, bo-ho dresses and platform shoes are just some of the 70s fashion style making their way to our SS15 wardrobes.

For anyone whose mum may have some vintage clothing hanging out in the attic, now is the time to get it down and make a fashion statement that can’t be seen elsewhere.

So, embrace this relaxed style that is taking a modern twist on the groovy 70s ...

H&M Leather shoes €49.99

26 March 2015 Gazette 19

Gazette

STYLE

It’s a g’day for Aussie beauty range

Mango is opening its first Irish megastore on Henry Street in Dublin

Mango opens megastore BIG news for Mango with the opening of its first Irish megastore, located at one of Dublin’s bestloved high streets: Henry Street.

The Spanish brand opened the store at 46-47 Henry Street recent-

ly, occupying an impressive space of 1,390sq m, and stocked with Mango, Mango Kid, Mango Sports and Intimates lines.

This is the latest megastore to open for the fashion brand that

continues to expand its stores.

Mango has 95 megastores worldwide, and the brand currently has eight stores in the Irish market since it was first launched here back in 1998.

KNOWN for its irresistible scents and caring formula that leaves hair in great condition, the Aussie hair range has now got the whole body covered.

The Aussie Brilliant Body Wash Collection is going to make you feel amazing from top to toe, and smelling even better!

This collection is available in four variants, including Shower Smoothie Body Wash (for skin in need of sensational smoothness – this wash includes Macadamia nut oil); Mega

Watt Body Wash (for skin that needs a bit of a boost – ingredients include energising ingredients such as Australian ginseng): Fresh Mate Body Wash (offering skin a blast of freshness with the coolest botanical ingredient, Eucalyptus extract) and No Rush Body Wash (which allows you to relax and let your skin savour the pampering Jojoba oil).

All body washes retail at €3.99 for 250ml and €6.49ml for 400ml, and are available at stockists nationwide.

Happy birthday to H&M Ireland

were all among the guests who enjoyed the stunning views of the city, as well as the brand’s latest Conscious collection. Happy birthday, H&M!

SOPHIE’S Bar at The Dean Hotel on Harcourt Street was awash with fashion last week when it hosted the 10-year birthday bash for H&M in Ireland. Glenda Gilson, singer Janet Devlin, fashion editors and stylists from across Dublin

Gazette

20 gazette 26 March 2015

OUT&ABOUT

INTERIORS

For those looking to make a statement, Harvey Norman offer a seven-piece Le Mont dining set, at €1,193

Cracking good kitchen help with Easter Luxury cabinet maker Smallbone of Devizes undertakes

commissions worldwide. Clients in Ireland are invited to

Arnotts Tic & Tac clock €85

discuss their needs with Alessi at Brown Thomas.

Kilkenny Shop Ulster Weavers T-Towel in a Jar €12.95

EASTER is a time to have the family over and what’s vitally important for the big day is a well-run kitchen.

So, it’s important to have all the appliances and accoutrements needed to roast the joint, mix the drinks and lay the table.

Gazette Interiors has trawled the shops to bring you the best kitchen equipment that will have you whipping up a storm, Jamie Oliver-style.

From high-end gadgets to more traditional products, Gazette Interiors has something for everyone ...

Kilkenny Shop Ulster Weavers Sheep tea cosy €19.95 Aldi Mini deep fat fryer €19.99

Littlewoods Mini kitchen scales €11

tts B Arno

u

s board nbury

5

€15.9

Arnotts Kartel Lizz chair €229

Alessi Electric kettle €119

Alessi Electric citrus-squeezer €169

26 March 2015 gazette 21

Gazette

TRAVEL

Stockholm, Sweden’s trend-setting capital

Culture galore in Stockholm  Ian Begley

Algarve, Portugal’s southernmost region of mainland, is renowned for its sandy beaches and certainly a destination worth visiting

mid-season breaks: skiiing or sunning, there’s plenty of options

Easter hop is on the cards  Ian Begley

Easter can be the perfect time of year to hop off on a mid-season getaway.

Whether it’s a skiing trip in France or a well-earned break on the beach, picking your destination is easy with plenty of options to choose from this year.

With Highlife Ski and Snowboard, swap the daily school run and rush hour traffic jams for the slopes and make for a family-friendly adventure in Morzine, France, with departures on March 29 and April 5.

Here, you’ll find the Highlife Marmotte Club, designed to let parents enjoy their day on the slopes without rushing back to meet children from lessons.

The Highlife Marmotte Club is for children aged four to 11

and is free to Highlife customers.

Highlife hosts will meet the kids after lessons from 12 noon and take them for lunch at the local cafe for an additional €75 to cover the cost of lunches and certain activities such as ice-skating.

Easter breaks with Highlife Ski and Snowboard start from €910 per adult and €742 for children under the age of 12. Check out www. highlife.ie for further information.

Famous for its sandy beaches, the Por tuguese coastal region of Algarve is certainly a destination that’s worth visiting, and on April 6 you can spend seven nights in the three-star Janelas do Mar from €147pp.

With the Prague Easter getaway, starting on March 27, spend three nights in the three-

star Slavia Hotel from €185pp.

Spend four nights in Barcelona’s four-star Travelodge Valencia Aeropuerto from only €189pp on March 29.

A four-day visit to Barcelona is perfect for a short but powerful introduction to the Mediterranean lifestyle.

If you’re in the mood for visiting some of Spain’s most impressive beaches, architecture, artwork and food, then Barcelona is definitely a city that you can’t afford to miss.

Want a beach?

Then what about an escape to Fuerteventua in the Canary Islands for nine nights at the three-star Club Montecastillo from €447pp?

With f lights leaving April 2, this island attracts visitors generally interested in a quiet relaxing holiday.

But, of course, there

are many bars and restaurants and good quality entertainment venues, along with welcoming Irish bars around its resorts.

You can also spend five nights in Nice, France at the four-star A p o g i a Ho t e l f r o m €243pp on March, 29.

Nice has a cosmopolitan Riviera vibe, and you’ll enjoy exploring its fashionable boutiques and restaurants and sunning yourself on its popular beaches.

Walk up to Castle Hill for a beautiful view of the city, the Bay of Angels and of course, the bright blue water t h a t g ave t h e C o t e d’Azur its name.

For more information or to book – visit w w w. G o h o p . i e o r call GoHop.ie on 01-2412389.

Budget Travel also has a range of fantastic Easter Family Specials

Head for the slopes and make for a family-friendly adventure in Morzine, France

from €559.

For a two plus one family, Majorca’s Hotel Cala Gran in Cala d’Or is priced at €559 with f lights depar ting on April 8.

With an endless, sparkling coastline that is home to a collection of luxurious yachting harbours, sublime beaches, non-stop sun-rays and the abounding passion of its Spanish locals, Majorca is definitely a

must-go to place this Easter. Spend seven nights in Malta at the Qawra Palace at €859 from April 7.

With superbly sunny we a t h e r, a t t r a c t i ve beaches, a thriving nightlife and 7,000 years of intriguing history, there is a great deal to see and do this Easter in Malta.

Visit w w w.budgettravel.ie for more information on these deals.

Dreaming of a cultural European g e t aw a y b u t n o t sure where to go?

Look no further than Stockholm, Sweden’s trend-setting capital city.

April is the perfect time to visit this stylish destination with Stockholm Art Week and Culture Night taking place in venues all across the city.

Art lovers will have a fantastic time at Stockholm Art Week, hosted in museums and galleries from April 14 to 19.

Visitors can take par t in innovative workshops, browse the works of up-andcoming artists and attend fun networking events.

On April 25, you can lose yourself in the best culture, music and dance the Swedes have to offer. Culture Night consists of over 400 events, all completely free.

Fly from Dublin to Stockholm up to eight days a week with SAS Go fares starting from as little as €76pp one-way.

For more information, visit www.flysas.ie.

22 Gazette 26 March 2015

Gazette

OUT&ABOUT Literature A chilling tale of business in new Russia

ARTS

books: money and power collide

Author John Banville: due to attend

A oui festival about writing

 Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

 Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

A NEW York Times and Sunday Times best-seller, Red Notice is the true story of how hedge fund manager Bill Browder – an American working in Russia – changed US law to impose visa bans and asset freezes on 28 Russian officials.

The officials, says the author, were implicated in the death of Browder’s Russian lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, in 2009.

This is the gripping story of how Browder became Vladimir Putin’s

number-one enemy, by exposing corruption in Russian politics and business.

Browder comes from a family of maths professors; his grandfather, a Russian immigrant to America, was a Communist who ran for the presidency of America in the 1930s.

He bucked both family trends when he decided to study business and embrace capitalism. He became so successful that in 1997, when he was 33 years old, his hedge fund company was ranked the

best performing hedge fund in the world, with assets under management of $1bn. He was, however, drawn to Russia and lived in Moscow for a large part of his life.

In the early 1990s, Russia was wide open for investment as stateowned companies were up for grabs and were being privatised at knockdown prices.

When he first arrived in Moscow, fewer than 20 such deals had been done in the Soviet Bloc so Browder got to work identifying those whose shares

The cover of Red Notice, published by Simon & Schuster

were cheapest to guarantee the greatest return for investors.Browder set up his own company, The

Why advertise with the Gazette?

Let our advertisers tell you why:

“

Trabolgan Holiday Village, Cork have used the Dublin Gazette Newspapers for the last few years to advertise various aspects of our holiday village including special offers. We have always had an excellent reader response from the advertisements run and have found the area’s covered by all 8 papers of great value to Trabolgan. The help and guidance we have received from the staff has made it easier for us to communicate our message efficiently and cost effectively ensuring we get the maximum from our budget. We would have no hesitation in recommending the Gazette to any business.

“

THIS year’s FrancoIrish Literary Festival takes place over the weekend of April 25 and 26. A special preview event, entitled Education Day, is lined up for Friday, April 24 where students get the opportunity to meet writers at the National Library of Ireland on Kildare Street and the Lycee Francais of Ireland in Clonskeagh.

The crime fictionthemed festival takes place in Dublin Castle on April 25, and in the Alliance Francaise, Kildare Street on April 26.

All events are free and open to the public.

B e c a u s e L o c a l M at t e r s

Hermitage Fund, and as his business prospered more investors came on board.

He soon came up against several corrupt Russian oligarchs, who tried to bully him out of millions of shares in several oil companies in Russia. Browder describes the way Russian business worked at the time as being like the politics employed in a prison yard.

Unlike the majority of Russians who acquiesced to the oligarchs’ shady tactics of diluting shares and stealing companies by force, Browder would not be cowed. Instead, he went to the international media to expose the corruption and successfully hold off the assault on his company.

Browder is one of those fabled characters in history who seems to be in the eye of every great political and historical storm.

At first, as Putin’s power took hold in Russia, he

and Browder seemed to be temporarily on the same side as both wanted to oust the 22 oligarchs who owned 39% of the wealth in the Russian economy.

However, unlike Browder, who wants a free market, Putin had more personal ambitions for the wealth ...

Browder’s style of writing is superbly apt for his subject matter. It is punchy, muscular and has a blow-by-blow nature, with no nonsense to it.

His style paints an accurate picture of the cut-and-thrust of high finance where the stakes are the highest and the benefits the greatest.

Like Browder himself, his writing is really punchy and that creates a very strong bond between author and reader, because he holds nothing back.

Red Notice is published

by Simon & Schuster, and is available now in bookshops, priced €20.85.

26 March 2015 Gazette 23

Saba’s Garrigue €10.95

777’s Margarita €11

Gazette

FOOD&DRINK

RESTAURANTREVIEW

Making Gusto’s delicious pizza. Picture: Kevin McFeely

Gusto by name, and an experience to match Coppinger Row’s Flo & Basy €12

Take5 THE Gazette Food team has been busy this week sampling yummy cocktails from around the city.

From the finest Margharita, to a delicious Virgin Mary cocktail, we have trawled the city and come up with the best on offer.

Summer is on the horizon and what better time to pull up a pew in some of the loveliest establishments in Dublin to sip on something sumptuous. Next month, we slice up the city in search of the tastiest pizzas on offer. Slainte mhor!

The Dean Hotel’s Virgin Mary €6

Rock Lobster’s Red October €9

 Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

GUSTO restaurant in the Clarion Hotel, Liffey Valley, staged a launch to remember recently with a taster menu, cocktails and an array of edible treats, all praised by celebrity comperes/broadcasters Marty Whelan and Nuala Carey The festival, organised by the Alliance Française Dublin and the Cultural and Scientific Service of the French Embassy, is supported by The Arts Council, Foras na Gaeilge, Poetry Ireland, Ireland Literature Exchange and the Irish Writers’ Centre.

A trio of musicians went around the well-appointed and ultra-modern though comfortable restaurant, with guitars and a double bass taking requests from the diners. Food on offer included mostly Italian, homemade fare such as pasta, pizzas and gloriously fresh stone-baked breads with tapenade.

Gusto’s relaxed vibe is ideal for both young and more mature diners and their prices are very reasonable. As a vegetarian and proponent of gluten-free food, I was delighted to see an array of options suitable for me on the menu.

I had gluten-free bread with basil and tomato soup, plenty of fresh black and green marinated olives, and gluten-free pizza with buffalo mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes and peppers.

Those around the table enjoyed free rein, with a selection of Gusto pizzas such as the house special, containing Sicilian sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, salami, chorizo and basil pesto.

This Casa Speciale pizza cost €15.95, while a Gusto homemade beef burger made from 100% Irish beef with spicy tomatoes, red pepper relish and smoked cheese is priced at €16.95.

There was complete silence as platters of food were handed around and diners tucked into dishes such as Linguine Al Frutti di Mare (€16.95), which included prawns, mussels, salmon and fire-roasted sweet peppers in a white wine and garlic sauce.

As well as this, there was chicken with Sicilian sausage, sun-dried tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella served with basil pesto mash and red pepper coulis – all of which resulted in more devout silence from the diners.

The taster meal was interspersed with wooden platters carrying grapes, a selection of Italian and Irish cheeses and olives. For further information on Gusto restaurant, see www.clarionhotelliffeyvalley. com/eat-drink/gusto-restaurant.

Gazette

24 Gazette 26 March 2015

OUT&ABOUT

RaceTime By participating, you can help fund research into spinal cord injuries

Ireland to host one of 35 Wings for Life runs

HEALTH

advice: empathy, support matter

Practical tips to help your relationship

 suzanne sheehy  maeve halpin

THERE is a new and unique type of challenge called Wings for Life run, that is being held in 35 locations worldwide and is open to athletes of all abilities. So, you have no excuse but to do it!

An event that ticks all boxes, and that combines fun with physical effort and a good cause, Wings for Life is a nonprofit run that funds research into finding a cure for spinal cord injury.

But this is no ordinar y fun race – a “catcher car” will start the chase 30 minutes after the race starts, and speed up slowly until everyone is caught.

You could run 5km, 10km or a marathon, but at 11.30am, the catcher car starts, setting a pace of 15km/hr (9.3mph), then getting faster ...

The run takes places at 11am on Sunday, May 3, with the Irish race starting in Dun Laoghaire town centre.

Why should you do it? 100% of all worldwide Wings for Life world run registration fees, proceeds, sponsorships and donations go straight to finding a cure for spinal cord injury.

For further information, see www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com.

Be satisfied you helped play your part in this worthy event, and see you there!

Counselling psychologist

EVEN in the happiest and most stable of relationships, difficulties will inevitably arise from time to time. Luckily, many skills and techniques can be learned to help improve communication and resolve conflicts.

Enhancing communication The single-most useful skill to bring to a relationship is that of active listening. This means listening with full attention without having any agenda of our own, listening purely to hear, understand and empathise.

Questions are used only to gain a deeper sense of the other person’s experience, not to advise, criti-

cise or score points.

In conversation, we often may be half-listening, thinking of our own ideas or worrying about other tasks and demands.

For couples, making time to be together, taking turns to share, confide in each other and listen can enhance the bonding and caring in their relationship.

Destructive behaviours When arguments occur, certain behaviours have been shown to be destructive to the relationship.

Stonewalling means shutting down, withdrawing and refusing to engage.

Stonewalling leaves the other person feeling rejected and unheard.

Criticism refers to making global statements

about the other person, such as: “You are so selfish” or “You never listen”.

Contempt is using sneering or sarcastic language, such as: “Of course, your family are perfect”, which humiliates and belittles.

Defensiveness occurs when we feel we have to justify our actions, such as: “You haven’t got a clue just how much I have to get through every day.”

The other person feels alienated and becomes defensive in response.

Defusing arguments To avoid repetitive, damaging arguments, start discussions amicably, with the goal of achieving a “win-win” situation.

Listen carefully and compassionately and be prepared to compromise.

Maeve Halpin: “Many skills and techniques can be learned to help improve communication and resolve conflicts”

A healthy relationship will accommodate both people’s needs, allowing each person to be themselves.

Remaining rational, caring and solution-focused contributes greatly to diminishing the hurt that can be caused.

Concentrate on the positive We are hardwired to be more aware of the negative – it is a survival mechanism. But we can

build up our “positivity bank account” every day, by giving compliments to our partner, being affectionate with hugs, kisses and small gifts, and saying thanks.

The everyday but essential things can be taken for granted. Appreciating the benefits and comfort of a relationship and the uniqueness of our partner can help us see our problems in perspective.

Short-term counsel-

ling can be a first step to understanding recurring difficulties and developing useful tools to resolve issues into the future.

Maeve’’s recent publication, How to be Happy and Healthy : The Seven Natural Elements of Mental Health, is available from local bookshops and online from www. amazon.co.uk.

You can contact Maeve at maeve@maevehalpincounselling.com.

testing: comprehensively monitor your all-round health at home

Now you can discreetly check your STI status

 suzanne sheehy

THERE are many steps you can take to improve your overall health. Some are more obvious than others, such as regular exercise and eating well.

STI testing is also an important aspect to your health, however. The stigma associated with it, along with symptomless infections, can keep people from getting tested which is the only way to know for sure that you do not have an STI. LetsGetChecked.com (right) is a new online platform allowing customers to order an STI

test kit, to test themselves in the privacy of their own home.

The service’s chief executive, Peter Foley, discussed the various benefits of LetsGetChecked’s home STI testing.

He said: “A real benefit is the convenience factor, so you don’t need to take time off work; you have the kit waiting for you at home.

“You don’t have to deviate from your day-to-day life, which is difficult taking a full day off work.

“You have convenience and you remove the whole embarrassing factor, as some

people are reluctant to get tested because they don’t like the physical interaction [with medical staff]. So, you do it on your own and get the results to your phone.”

There are up to seven tests available online, such as for HIV, syphilis or chlamydia.

According to Foley, chlamydia is one of the most frequently reported STIs in those aged 25 and under, and can cause infertility in women.

In the event of a positive result for a STI, Foley said: “There’s a team of support nurses who specialise in this

area. With a positive result, they will give you a call; your results will not go to your phone in this instance, and they will provide you with a sameday consultation in a private clinic.”

STIs can affect men and women of all ages who are having sex, as the dynamics of life have changed.

Foley said: “With online dating – one of the most popular ways to meet a new partner – people find themselves single,

and that little bit older than traditionally they might have in the past. It’s a lot more transient, and you don’t know where the other person has been.”

For further information, see letsgetchecked.com, or email: admin@letsgetchecked.com.

26 March 2015 Gazette 25

26 dun laoghaire gazette 26 March 2015

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Gazette

28 Gazette 26 March 2015

SPORT Peat glad of Ireland comeback

FastSport

basketball: dual star looking forward to luxembourg after time out

Cool hand luke eyeing may return: LUKE

Keeler is set for a spot on the Matchroom Resurrection fight night at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham in May as he looks to overcome a hand injury sustained in the recent Prizefighter series.

Keeler impressed Matchroom boxing’s Eddie Hearn in Dublin last November in the 3Arena to get signed up to the promotion group.

At Prizefighter, the Ballyfermot man won his quarter-final convincingly over Luke Crowcroft but sustained the injury, meaning he was half-cocked for the semi-final with Tom Doran.

But Keeler says he is on the mend and looking to get back into action as he told Irish Boxing.

“With the tear in the ligament I haven’t been able to do much, but I am back in training this week. I have been doing pads with left and working hard so I will be in good form for May.”

 dylan murray sport@dublingazette.com

LINDSAY Peat is hoping to make up for lost time in an Irish basketball jersey following her selection as part of a representative side from the women’s

national league that travel to Luxembourg in May. There, the side will take on a number of international sides preparing for FIBA Eurobasket 2017, including Luxembourg and Scotland.

The 34-year-old, in

2013, was part of a select team that played in the Gathering Shield against Wales and she is hungry for more of the same after a frustrating five years.

“It was a fantastic experience and an opportunity to play as part of some

Lindsay Peat in action for Dublin against Monaghan last summer

Lindsay Peat in basketball action for DCU

sort of Irish representative team which I had not had the opportunity to do since the Irish senior women’s team was pulled from competition in 2010.

“We had a seriously talented team that day that simply blew Wales away, which was fantastic but also very sad reminder that talent was going to waste.”

The DCU Mercy woman co-captained the Irish senior side then, saying it was “the highest level I’ve played at.”

The withdrawal of the senior team came at a time when Irish basketball’s governing body had to repay over €120,000 to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

“T he organisation

pulled us in 2010 due to lack of funding, I’d been in that senior squad since 2006, and we were one win off a play-off to Division A, which would have been huge.

“Basketball Ireland ran out of money basically and weren’t willing to let us try to raise funds to get us back into competition because they were simply so much in debt they couldn’t support us in any way possible.”

Since then, Peat has got her summer fix of elite sport solely as a mainstay with the Dublin senior footballers, winning an All-Ireland in 2011.

The Parnell’s clubwoman was also part of the Dublin team that narrowly lost to Cork in the All-Ireland final last Sep-

tember with Peat scoring two goals.

Peat said managing to balance playing both Gaelic Games and basketball in high levels is not quite the balancing act due to the lack of international matches in the latter code.

“Other than one match, against Kerry in the AllIreland quarter-finals, and the Irish women’s basketball team playing Switzerland at home, nothing really clashed but that was in 2010, the last year of the Irish basketball team.

“As for the club, the basketball season commandeers the winter months with football taking up the summer. I do miss the league season playing with Dublin due to basketball.”

Benildus student Robinson on the mark for Ireland  sport@dublingazette.com

St Benildus student Aaron Robinson

ST BENILDUS student Aaron Robinson was on the mark as Paddy O’Reilly’s Republic of Ireland schools side picked up three points in their opening game in this season’s Centenary Shield against a much fancied Northern Ireland side.

There will no doubt be a few talking points with the awarding of three penalties in this actionpacked thriller which saw the visitors just edge the local derby.

The hosts applied the pressure early but it was the Republic

who took the lead on 17 minutes courtesy of Robinson.

The Stillorgan native thumped the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the box following a great piece of play with Conor Melody.

Adam Sally’s low driven cross was unlucky not to get a connection as the North pressed for an equaliser.

Evan Osam, from Colaiste Chilliain, Clondalkin, came very close to securing a second for the Republic but his free kick skimmed the post on 26 minutes.

The North continued to press high up the field but there were missed opportunities for this talented Northern Ireland side.

Conor Ellis, however, doubled the Republic’s lead on 44 minutes when he converted coolly from the penalty spot just before half time.

McCarron pulled off another wonderful save six minutes into the second period as Ryan Noble Walker’s header was on target.

The hosts made it game on with Skye poking the ball into the corner of the net to make to 2-1 on 53 minutes.

It was agony for Sally as his half volley cannoned off the post denying the youngster the equaliser.

The Republic were awarded a second penalty deep into the second half as Ellis converted his second penalty to put the Republic further ahead.

However, there was drama to follow as Sally converted his penalty to get the Northern side back in it and set up a tense finale.

The Republic, though, held out to claim the win following nine minutes of injury time.

26 March 2015 Gazette 29

Gazette

Irish hockey on top of the World League

ken’sDiary

Ireland’s national team moved a big step closer to qualifying for a first ever Olympic Games last Sunday in UCD; the key players tell STEPHEN FINDLATER about a special week ON A weekend of high Irish sporting achievement, the Irish women’s hockey team went in slightly under the radar but took a huge step toward Olympic qualification last weekend in Belfield, winning the World League Round 2.

The victory sees the side advance to Round 3 of the competition which acts as the qualifying process for Rio in 2016 with Ireland among 20 remaining teams battling for 12 spots later this summer at a tournament in Valencia.

Two years ago, during the World Cup qualifiers, Ireland bowed out in low key fashion at this stage. This time around, Darren Smith’s charges showed how far they have developed

with some breathtaking performances over the course of six games in nine days, crucially beating Belarus 7-0 in last Saturday’s semifinal.

Captain Megan Frazer, named player of the tournament, said of the win: “It’s always nice to come out like that in a high pressure game, a great performance. We had spoken about picking up the speed and intensity throughout the tournament and hit the nail on the head.”

The conviction of the performance is a far cry from 2013 when Ireland struggled against the same opposition, showing how far the side have come since then. Frazer added that her side were confident in their own methods.

“We obviously have some history with them but we did this in a really professional manner.

You can carry baggage against teams like that but we nipped that in the bud, gave them nothing and got a clean sheet. It was a great performance.

“We all knew it was a high pressure game and have played in them before. It’s a testament to the girls who kept their composure and kept it simple. Our passing rate, speed of play and our basics were on point. It’s something we are building up to.”

Frazer added that the crowd was “phenomenal” on days when there were plenty of other sporting options on the table.

“Every time we come

Irish captain Megan Frazer with President Michael D Higgins who presented the World League Round 2 trophy. Picture: Adrian Boehm

out, the stands are full even when the Six Nations rugby match was on. It is an honour to perform when everyone supports us like that and we really appreciate it.”

The Belarus result – against a team they had lost to back in

Former Old Alex player Shirley McCay spoke of the sense of trying to make history and qualify Ireland for a first ever Olympic Games.

“The level of our general play and our basics has improved hugely and I think we are very clear in our jobs which

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

‘It’s enjoyabe to play with freedom and flow and maybe we can go and build something special’ - Shirley McCay

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

2013 – ensured Ireland advanced to Round 3 along with fellow finalists Canada. It rendered the final on Sunday something of a lap of honour, albeit one played out in front of a giant crowd that included the President Michael D Higgins.

In a tense final, UCD’s Nikki Evans gave Ireland the lead 38 seconds into the second half only for Canada’s Holly Stewart to level seven minutes later in the tie.

That tied the game at 1-1, ultimately leading to a penalty shoot-out.

Coach Smith swapped i n Ay e i s h a M c F e rran between the posts and she kept out two Canadian efforts before Hermes star Aine Connery coolly rolled home the winner.

allows us to play with freedom and flow,” she said.

“It’s really enjoyable to play this way and we know each other’s game so well, making it easy to play off each other and maybe build something special.”

Coach Smith, meanwhile, said it was a superb end to a great week for the Irish team.

“Fantastic crowd, the President of Ireland, friends and family all here and a chance to win a tournament. The girls were really excited for the final and, in the end, it was good spectacle. Canada did a good job but we got the result in the end.

“World League 2, from my perspective, was a great advertisement for hockey and a lot of fun.”

Bleeding for the cause as Egan suffers first crash Olympic silver medallist and Irish boxing legend Ken Egan is to take part in this year’s Laurels Charity Crew Cycle from Galway to Dublin on April 19. In the run-up to the event, Egan has partnered with Gazette Sport to document his preparation for the big day, and here is his latest report from the road.

SO HERE we go again, 9.30am start for 100km on the menu. Thirty-six die-hards turned up last Saturday morning for the challenge ahead.

I managed to rope my good friend Frances into signing up for the gig and he was up for the challenge.

I had a good feeling in my bones for the cycle and was looking forward to a good session.

We made our way out of the usual Laurels starting point and up towards Newcastle with our target of Enfield.

We set off at a decent pace and in pairs which was the order of the day on account of there being 36 of us.

We were 50km in and some chap had the bright idea of swerving past my front wheel and, as I was clipped in, I had my first official crash and I sure hit the ground hard!

I kept my cool and didn’t resort back to my old sport of boxing.

I wiped myself down and mounted my bike again and, thank god, it was still in perfect condition.

I picked up a nice eight-inch graze on my right arm and a bruise on my hip but I am literally bleeding for this charity.

We soldiered on and got back to base in good time and my good friend managed his first cycle 106km on a mountain bike so I must say “well done Frances”.

To be continued, just four weeks to go.

Gazette

30 DUN LAOGHAIRE gazette 26 March 2015

SPORT

FastSport

soccer: former lakelands man tops of fai list

Taekwondo Tigers win big at British event LOCAL members of the Irish Taekwondo Tigers won big at the UK Chungdokwan British Championship in Bristol recently.

Their instructor Michelle Hogan along with Anna Blake, Thomas Browne and Caoilinn Merrigan went up against competitors from the UK, Jamaica, South Africa and Ireland, with the Irish club heading home with the most to shout about.

Speaking about the success, Hogan said: “All the students haven’t competed internationally that often and, for Caoilinn and Tom, it was their first time sparring internationally.

“Anna was competing against last year’s winner and was nervous about defending her sparring title. The night before the competition I brought them bowling to calm the nerves and lighten the tone!”

And it paid dividends as Blake, a senior black belt from Deansgrange, retained her title, dominating her opponent to win 15-2.

Both Merrigan and Browne competed in epic sparring battles, both coming out on top against their opponents.

Browne, of Loughlinstown, was the youngest member of the group and overcame a nerveshredding and tense encounter beating his opponent 8-6 after coming back from behind 6-5 to win. Lastly in a fascinating battle, Merrigan came up against a tough opponent, finding herself behind 5-0 after only 30 seconds, but managed to recuperate significantly to win 23-13.

Hogan said of the success: “The competition’s atmosphere was really good and we received a warm welcome from the event organiser, Andrew Davies, president of UK Chungdowkan.

There was great sportsmanship between all the players/countries.

“The atmosphere on the way back was surreal as the players didn’t dream they would be bringing back three gold medals in such tough and tense divisions. When we got back to the club in Ireland we celebrated and I presented the students with engraved trophies to congratulate them for all their hard work.

“All three Irish Taekwondo Tigers students achieving medal positions is fantastic for a local club like us. We never dreamed all three students would come home as British Taekwondo champions, we’re delighted.”

Danny Kane pictured with Republic of Ireland international John O’Shea

Kane lands Under-17 award  nathan kelly sport@dublingazette.com

FORMER Lakelands schoolboy Danny Kane arrived back home to pick up the FAI Under-17 International Player of the Year award last Sunday night.

T he Huddersfield Town youth team player represented his local club Lakelands right up until Under-14 level before he made the switch to Cherry Orchard to further his development. Speaking to GazetteSport after the FAI awards night, the young defender’s father, Dave, was full of pride for

his son.

“It was a great moment for Danny and all the family,” he said. “Myself and his older brother were his two guests on the night but there were plenty watching on TV and we’re all really proud of him.”

The Huddersfield starlet arrived as just a nominee for the award, which made the moment his name was called out as winner even sweeter for all involved.

“He was absolutely delighted just to be nominated to be honest. When his name was called out last night he was shocked.

But he deserves it, 100%;

monkstown glory Doyle and Mari win big at All-Ireland champs monkstown Boxing Club claimed two All-

Ireland titles at the National Stadium at the All-Ireland Cadet Boxing Championships for Under-16 boys and girls.

Dylan Doyle, 14, in the 42kg category had to come through three tough fights to pick up his gold. In the final, he boxed with style to beat the 2014 Irish champion John Moran, from Donegal by a 3-0 decision.

Sean Mari was unopposed in the 33kg category. The duo are pictured with coaches, friends and family.

he’s worked his socks off and that was a well earned reward for all he’s put in so far.”

The 17-year-old is closing in on his second year at the Terriers having joined aged 16. The process of leaving home, even for the dream of playing football, across the Irish Sea is often a tough one for young players and their families alike.

“It has been hard for the family, having him gone. He’s 18 next month which will mark two years since he left home.

“If it wasn’t for Skype, it would be a whole lot harder but, I’ll say again,

he’s worked so hard and he’s getting rewards for that now like the award last night and winning the league with his Huddersfield team last year.”

Kane’s progress has been positive since making his move to England, captaining Ireland’s Under-16 side, being a regular for the Under-17’s, and is now beginning to push into Huddersfield’s Under-21 squad, coming off the bench as recently as Saturday in a win over top of the table Swansea City.

But it did all begin at local club Lakelands, which Dave reflected on.

“I was actually his first coach at Lakelands when Danny was around nine,” he said.

“He spent five very successful years there and loved it. I think he just had to make that move to top of the DDSL and Cherry Orchard because he was getting a lot of attention from scouts.

“We still have great contacts at Lakelands, in particular John McCabe, who Danny is very fond of. Last summer he went back to the club to hand out awards at their presentation, and he always makes sure to visit when he’s home.”

26 March 2015 DUN LAOGHAIRE gazette 31

32 DUN laoghaire gazette 26 March 2015