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Gazette DUN LAOGHAIRE

April 6 - 12, 2017

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€40m to transform DLR roads, housing Thousands of new homes, transport upgrades included in major overhaul

 AISLING KENNEDY FUNDING worth €40 million has been allocated to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown for a major infrastructure overhaul.

The funds will be divided

between four housing projects throughout the council area, with €10.5 million going towards the notorious Glenamuck Road.

A further €10.1 million is to be allocated for the develop-

ment of the Clay Farm loop distributor road and link bridge in Stepaside – a move welcomed by local politicians.

“This will greatly enhance the area,” said Minister Shane Ross.

Dundrum Senator Neale Richmond said: “Anyone who knows this locality will be aware that this road upgrade will be vital to improving traffic in South Dublin.”

Full Story on Page 2

2 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 6 April 2017

WORKS | COUNTY LINES UP SEVERAL MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS

Thousands of homes due from €40m fund

 AISLING KENNEDY

€40 MILLION has been allocated by the Government to Dun LaoghaireRathdown County Council to carry out major infrastructure projects to boost the construction of housing throughout the area.

T he Government’s Local Infrastr ucture Housing Activation Fund (LIHA) has been allocated to 15 city and county councils throughout Ireland to provide large road, water and sewage schemes to service lands zoned for housing that have remained undeveloped.

In Dun LaoghaireRathdown, the funds will be divided between four housing projects. €10.5 million has been allocated towards the delivery of the Glenamuck

distributor road and to the diversion of overhead power lines.

It is predicted that this investment will result in 1,000 housing units being provided by 2021, with the total potential for longterm housing being 2,000 units. €15.19 million has been allocated to the Cherrywood lands, a major urban housing development site strategically located between the M50 and N11.

This area has the benefit of five Luas stations and has an approved plan for 8,000 housing units. €4.15 million has been allocated to WoodbrookShanganagh, another major housing development site.

It is estimated that 1,000 housing units will be

provided by 2021, with a potential for 2,300 homes on the wider lands. In addition, a new Dart station will be constructed at Woodbrook as part of the funding.

Finally, €10.1 million has been allocated for the development of the Clay Farm loop distributor road and link bridge, located off the Ballyogan Road in Stepaside. The construction of this new loop distributor road and bridge will assist in providing 1,000 housing units by 2021.

Following the announcement of the €40m funding, Minister Shane Ross told The Gazette that he was delighted.

He said: “Young families in particular need to be able to access affordable housing near the support

that extended family and friends provide. Supporting infrastructure is crucial for quality of life as well as economic prosperity.

“I am delighted that applications for funding for the development of the Glenamuck distributor road and the Clay Farm loop distributor road and link bridge have been successful. This will greatly enhance the area and the lives of those who live and travel there.”

Senator Neale Richmond (FG) particularly welcomed the €10.5 million funding for infrastructure works on the Glenamuck Road.

He said: “This funding is long overdue and will deliver a new road network in Kilternan that will open up significant new land for development and crucially

alleviate already acute traffic problems.

“Anyone who knows this locality will be aware that this road upgrade will be vital to improving traffic in South Dublin.”

Senator Victor Boyhan (Ind), who is a member of the Oireachtas Housing Committee, also welcomed the allocation of government funds and said: “The sites selected have the potential to build in excess of 14,0000 new homes.

“Given that the DLR social housing waiting list stands at well over 5,000 people and that large numbers of first-time buyers are currently unable find affordable private housing to purchase within the county, all new plans to build new homes is most welcome.”

FASTNews

Toastamsters celebrate 40 years of talk, talk, talk DUN Laoghaire Toastmasters celebrated their 40th anniversary in the Royal Marine Hotel recently with an evening that was true to form, as current and former members were invited for a fun and entertaining evening of speeches, anecdotes, reminiscing and topical topics.

Music and events from the group’s founding year – 1977, the year it received its charter, having started the previous year – formed an aural backdrop to the night.

The members were delighted for the get-together, and emphasised that new members are always welcome to come along and engage with sociable, likeminded people to improve their communication, public speaking and leadership skills.

Have your say on proposed works over at County Hall PLANNING for proposed new building works at County Hall is underway, with the public invited to make submissions and observations on the plans by Friday, May 19.

As part of the proposed plans, there will be a new customer service area, new office space and adjoining meeting rooms, new access ramp to the Old Town Hall, and a new council Chamber.

The plans are currently available to inspect at Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Hall council offices.

Submissions can be made in writing to Corporate Services, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.

For further information, see www.dlrcoco.ie.

Children invited to enter maritime art competition THE National Maritime Museum of Ireland and Eason’s of Dun Laoghaire have joined together to run an art competition for children aged 12 and under which will culminate in a prizegiving ceremony this weekend.

The winners will receive their prizes this Saturday, April 8 in the National Maritime Museum at 11am.

The winning entries will be on display for a week in the museum and after that Eason’s will also display the wining art for a number of weeks.

For further information, see www.mariner.ie.

Tech heed of their calls about an upcoming week PUPILS from Johnstown Boys National School, Cabinteely; Lycee Francais d’Irlande, Foxrock, and Holly Park National School in Blackrock were happy to line up to help launch the upcoming Tech Week 2017,

which runs from April 22 to 24.

Sarah Guillemet, Alexander Kinsella, Kacey Philippe, Kiran Byrne and Tom Keane put their best feet forward to promote the week, which comprises a range of classroom and com-

munity activities across Ireland in libraries, schools, community centres and many other locations. These activities are aimed at giving students a chance to develop their interest in technology subjects, examine

potential career prospects, learn new skills, be creative and, most importantly, have a lot of fun in the process.

For further information, see www.techweek.ie.

Picture: Conor McCabe Photography

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

6 April 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 3

 SYLVIA POWNALL ZOOKEEPER Gerry Creighton has told how the success of RTE’s The Zoo sees him regularly stopped for selfies by visitors from all over Europe.

The head of operations at Dublin Zoo – who returned to our screens on the hit reality show last Sunday – says it is watched by millions of loyal viewers here and abroad.

Dad-of-two Gerry, a second-generation zookeeper who followed in his father Gerry Sr’s footsteps, told The Gazette: “It’s in the top three shows in Belgium.

“I’m regularly stopped by people from Belgium asking me for a photo and saying they’ve come to Ireland just to see Dublin Zoo. “It’s one of the most popular programmes on Animal Planet UK; sometimes they loop it for 24 hours.

“On a busy day I probably get stopped 100 times by people who say they were first introduced to the zoo through the show. It’s great to see that level of interest.”

The first episode of season seven featured home improvements for the meerkats, a sloth examination and exciting news of Lena’s pregnancy at

ZOO ALORS!

RTE’s hit fly-on-the-wall documentary is Belgium’s third most popular TV show

Gerry, seen here with a pair of tiger cubs, is regularly asked for selfies from tourists

the Gorilla Rainforest.

Each week, viewers will get to watch her progress right up to when she gives birth and feeds her newborn baby for the first time.

The programme clearly shows keepers’ passion for their work as the cameras follow the team around the Phoenix Park facility, which attracted 1.1 million visitors last year.

“After 33 years in this job there isn’t a single day I don’t look forward to going into work. It’s become such a wonderful place and I love that I’ve been part of its evolution,” said Gerry, who manages Dublin Zoo’s elephant programme.

“Now I travel all over the world setting up animal welfare programmes.

We’re actually world leaders in elephant wellness; it’s quite staggering.”

Gerry has nothing but praise for show producers and directors Shane Brennan and John Higgins of Moondance Productions. He added: “We’ve made sure to show the public the realities of life and how a zoo works. It’s not all cute and cuddly.

Animals die, there are births, deaths and triumphs along the way.”

The Zoo airs on RTE One this Sunday at 6.30pm.

4 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 6 April 2017

COURTS | SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR SHANKILL MAN AS JUDGE FOLLOWS PRECEDENT

No jail for IT expert who trawled child porn sites AN IT exper t from Shankill who began to trawl the Darknet (the hidden sub-layer of the internet generally used for illegal peer-to-peer file sharing) for child pornography websites has avoided a jail term after he downloaded over 300 images.

Richard Coghlan (37), of Glenbrea Court, Shankill, had recently lost his job and was sleeping all day and accessing these websites at night. He later told gardai he went “into a hollow”.

Detective Garda Kieran Murphy told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that the Garda Computer Crime Investigation Unit had such a backlog of cases in 2010 that he didn’t receive any results until November 2015.

Dt Gda Murphy told Dara Hayes BL, prosecut-

ing, that in August 2010 Interpol provided gardai with an IP address that officers suspected had downloaded child pornography.

The address was traced back to Coghlan and when gardai arrived at his Dublin home to search it a month later, he immediately handed over two laptops.

It took five years for the two machines to be forensically analysed but in the meantime Coghlan came voluntarily to the station and admitted that images of child pornography would be found.

Coghlan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 325 images on his computers on September 21, 2010.

He has no previous convictions.

Det Gda Murphy said of the 325 images found,

The court heard that the IT expert had visited a number of known child pornographic websites after searching on the Darknet, the internet’s sub-layer generally used for illegal peer-to-peer file sharing

52 fell into the lowest category of seriousness, 175 were in the second-lowest category and 98 fell into the second-highest category. There were also a number of movie files that fell into those categories.

Det Gda Murphy said

HARBOUR | NAVAL SERVICE CEREMONY

County gives its top honour to Le Eithne crew  EMMA NOLAN

THE Freedom of Entry to the County has been bestowed on the Irish Naval Service by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

The award was accepted by the captain of the Le Eithne, Commander Brian Fitzgerald, and his crew, which berthed in Dun Laoghaire Harbour for the special occasion.

Local schoolchildren and members of the public gathered to witness the event as An Cathaoirleach, Cllr Cormac Devlin, presented the award to the Irish Naval Service in recognition of its humanitarian service on behalf

of the people of Ireland and the European Union.

The award – the county’s highest naval honour – was also made to acknowledge the duties undertaken by officers and crew of the service as part of Operation Pontus, the international effort to aid migrants and refugees in the Mediterranean sea and area.

The Army Number 1 Band led the colour party and the crew of the Le Eithne into the Harbour Plaza in a display of military pageantry as local schoolchildren waved Irish and EU flags in celebration of the event.

Speaking on the award, Cllr Dev-

Coghlan had also visited a number of known child pornographic websites after doing a search on the Darknet for “girls of a young age, 5 yo to 12 yo – penetration”.

Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Coghlan to two

and a half years in prison, which he suspended in full on strict conditions.

He said he had based his sentencing on a previous child pornographic case law which concluded that in incidences of a low number of images and when an accused had no previous convictions, a suspended sentence should be handed down.

Judge Nolan said that just over 300 images was not a high number in comparison to cases that had previously come before him when people have been caught with thousands and sometimes tens of thousands of images.

The judge said: “It’s an odious crime to have committed and he should be ashamed of himself. I’ve no doubt that people who know him think less of him now.” He added that Coghlan was an intelligent

man and a man of ability.

He also accepted that in the seven years since Coghlan was caught, he had not re-offended.

D e t G d a Mu r p hy agreed with James McCullough BL, defending, that his client “never sought to take advantage of the delay” in analysing his computers and made admissions before the results came back.

He accepted that Coghlan “doesn’t seem to be a person at risk of future offending”.

Mr McCullough said that Coghlan had come to realise himself “in a real way that this is not a victimless crime and that young children are hurt”.

“He carries the shame of these activities,” counsel continued, before he submitted that Coghlan would benefit from psychotherapy.

The Le Eithne crew stand to attention during the formal, dignified ceremony.

Picture: Paul Sherwood

lin said: “The Irish Defence Forces have a proud record of international humanitarian service on behalf of the EU and UN. “Defence Forces ships, working with the Italian navy as part of Operation Pontus, have rescued over 15,000 would-be migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea.

“The civic honour of Freedom of Entry is the highest compliment a municipality can pay a naval group.

“It is therefore very fitting that DLR would recognise and publicly acknowledge the heroic duties undertaken by officers and crew of the Irish naval service.”

See Gallery on Page 6

FASTNews

New car sharing system launched CAR SHARING company GoCar, in partnership with the council, has launched six new onstreet bases in the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown area as part of a pilot car club.

GoCar identified the six new on-street bases for members of the car club in Crofton Road and Haddington Terrace in Dun Laoghaire, the Dundrum public car park (beside the Town Centre), Carmanhall Road in Sandyford, Cabinteely village, and Blackrock Dart Station.

Welcoming the move, An Cathaoirleach Cormac Devlin said: “This initiative provides choice as it offers an alternative sustainable travel mode to users to help them get around the county, and it has the potential to reduce traffic congestion and to lower car ownership levels.”

Want to win a thousand euro?

BLACKROCK College is taking part in a major fundraising drive to build a school for underprivileged children in Kenya, with Who Wants To Be A Thousandaire being held in the Talbot Stillorgan Park Hotel on Thursday, April 27.

Some 500 tickets are available for the show, which will see eight contestants called from the audience on the night, with each having a chance to win a cash prize of €1,000.

Tickets are on sale at the college reception (01 288 8681) or though Machakos2017@gmail. com, and cost €20 each, or €60 for a book of four tickets.

All funds raised on the night will go towards the ongoing construction of the 600-pupil Spiritan secondary school in Sultan Hamud, in the Machakos region of Kenya.

6 April 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 5

6 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 6 April 2017

Out and About

An Cathaoirleach Cormac Devlin congratulates the captain of the Le Eithne, Commander Brian Fitzgerald, on behalf of the whole crew. Pictures: Paul Sherwood

County’s top honour makes some waves

T

HE officers and crew of the Le Eithne were guests of honour at a special award presentation ceremony at Dun Laoghaire Harbour during the weekend. Prior the event, An Cathaoirleach Cormac Devlin said: “The civic honour of Freedom of Entry is the highest compliment a municipality can pay a naval group. It is therefore very fitting that DLR would recognise and publicly acknowledge the heroic duties undertaken by officers and crew of the Irish naval service.”

An Oz-tentatious show of wonder The culmination of all their hard work rehearsing – a terrific, colourful, exciting show. Pictures: Laelia Milleri

The smartly dressed crew at attention

T Lots of locals cheered on the crew

The impressive Le Eithne

The crew proudly paraded after the presentation, to the delight of onlookers

RANSITION Year girls from Rathdown School – aided by some plucky male volunteers from Transition year in CBC Monkstown – staged a wonderful production of The Wizard of Oz recently, with their energetic performances and vibrant production wowing audiences. The annual Transition Year musical is always a highlight of the school’s programme, consistently setting the bar high for quality and fun, but this year’s terrific show stood out as a particular highlight of recent years.

The girls and boys played their parts of the faithful retelling with gusto, while the behind the scenes crew also kept the show on the road – the Yellow Brick Road, that is – for the great performances.

6 April 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 7

Out and About

8 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 6 April 2017

PEOPLE | COMMUNITY TO RALLY FOR FUNDRAISERS TO HELP PARALYSED WOMAN

Two blooming great ways to support florist, Emer  AISLING KENNEDY TWO large fundraising events have been organised by a group of friends living in Monkstown village for Emer Greene, of Greene’s Florist, who has lost the power in her legs.

Emer, who is from Monkstow n, had an operation on her spine in the Mater Hospital last October which resulted in her losing the power in her legs.

She is now paralysed and confined to a wheelchair and needs adaptations made to her house before she can return home to her family.

Emer’s Home Committee, which consists of eight people, was quickly set up to organise two fundraiser events to help Emer, her husband David and their son, Dylan, to raise the money needed to adapt their house so she can return home.

Bryan Byrne, Emer’s brother-in-law and a c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r, spoke to The Gazette

Emer before her operation with Joe Bergin and her husband, David Greene (right)

this week and explained that once her friends and family found out that she needed to make her home wheelchair-accessible, the whole community rallied around.

“Emer has a huge community behind her. She’s very much loved in the village and people know that if they go into her flo-

rist shop they will always come out laughing. She’s a character and is always smiling.”

Mary Sherry, a family friend and committee member, told The Gazette: “Greene’s Florist has been an integral part of the village for many years and Emer operates the shop together with her

husband David, and Joe. “She is well recognised in the village and has a lot of supporters, with family, friends, business colleagues, customers and neighbours all wanting to help in any way possible.”

To help reach their goal of €70,000, the committee of family and friends have organised two large

events on the same day – Friday, May 5.

A Golf Classic at Powerscourt Golf Club will take place in the morning and tickets cost €125 per person (for teams of four).

This includes lunch or dinner, as well as entry to a concert later that night.

T he Emer ’s Home Committee group are

asking local businesses to help by sponsoring a tee for €100, donating a prize/voucher for the Golf Classic, or donating a prize/voucher for the raffle on the day.

Later that same day, a concert will take place at The Pavilion Leopardstown Racecourse and some of the brilliant acts attending on the night include Christy Moore, the jazz artist Richie Buckley, the international guitarist Philip Donnelly and the band Full Circle.

Also in attendance on the night will be a well-known comedian.

Tickets for the concert cost €60, with this including finger food on the night.

Tickets for the events can be bought at Greene’s Florist Shop, Hewitts Newsagents, Goggins, and Cafe De Journal in Monkstown village.

If you would like to donate to Emer’s home adaptation fund, you can visit the website www. ifundraise.ie/emerhome.

Major streetscape changes welcomed in Dun Laoghaire  AISLING KENNEDY

THE new streetscape plan for Desmond Avenue in Dun Laoghaire was unveiled this week after a number of weeks under construction.

The streetscape plan is one of a number of specific local objectives developed as part of the Dun LaoghaireRathdown County Development Plan.

According to Cllr Michael Merrigan (Ind), local residents are delighted with the work carried out and are excited that the work on the avenue is the beginning of the rejuvenation for

neighbouring streets that form the residential core of Dun Laoghaire town centre.

As part of the works there will be a new roadway configuration, streetscape improvements, new pedestrian crossings, an enhancement of the public realm, new drainage provision, new piping and underground cabling, new mature street trees planted, along with restoration works and some replacement of granite cobbles.

In addition, eight silver leaf whitebeam trees have been planted in the area and nine silver birch trees will be

Residents John Brady, Maggie Byrne and June Brady are among those welcoming the the extensive range of works at Desmond Avenue and environs

planted at the junction of the neighbouring street linking Cross Avenue and Convent Road.

Commenting on the new works, Senator Victor Boyhan (Ind) said: “The project has transformed the street.

Great thanks are due to Cllr Michael Merrigan and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for delivering this high-quality environment.

“Hopefully, other streets will have a similar treatment as resources permit.”

FASTNews

E-Monitoring of offenders raised in Dail

THE issue of electronic monitoring of offenders out on bail was raised in the Seanad last week by Senator Gerard Craughwell (Ind) on behalf of Cllr Lynsey McGovern (Ind) following the Government’s commitment to fast-track new bail legislation.

Following the closure of a number of Garda stations around the country, including Stepaside Garda Station, the use of electronic monitoring (e-monitoring) will greatly increase the surveillance capacity of the Force, said Cllr McGovern.

She said: “We need new and innovative viable solutions to deter crime and we need to harness the benefits of emergent technology.”

Cllr McGovern added: “The Bail (Amendment) Bill 2016, which has just passed second stage in the Dail, will increase the range of conditions that may be attached to bail including electronic monitoring if the prosecution applies to the court for such a condition.”

The Ball gets the council go-ahead AN OUTDOORS events license has been issued by the council to host Ireland’s first ever student-only festival in Dun Laoghaire.

The Ball – a multigenre student-only music festival – will be headlined by awardwinning Irish artist Gavin James, alongside a wide range of other acts and bands playing across its two stages.

The event is open to all third-level students and takes place on Friday, April 28 from 3pm – 11pm. Tickets are priced at €50 per person. For further information, see theball.ie.

6 April 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 9

VERDICT | JUDGE BACKS GEORGE DAVIS TO KEEP LIFELONG PITCH AT SHOPPING CENTRE ENTRANCE

Newspaper seller makes the front pages with court victory L O CA L l e g e n d a n d newspaper seller George Davis is celebrating after a judge ruled he could continue to sell newspapers from the spot he has held for decades in Dun Laoghaire.

Judge Francis Comerford said Mr Davis could operate between the public footpath and the side doors of Dun Laoghaire Shopping Centre.

The Dun Laoghaire local has sold millions

STILLORGAN

Appeal for witnesses as woman dies after collision

AN ELDERLY Blackrock woman who was struck by a car in Stillorgan 10 days ago has died.

The 91-year-old woman, named locally as Beatrice Ryan, suffered serious head injuries when she was struck by a beigecoloured Saab outside the Asian Market on the Old Dublin Road, Stillorgan at approximately 4.12pm on Saturday, March 25.

She died peacefully at St Vincent’s Hospital after the accident.

The collision was not a hit and run.

Gardai have renewed their appeal for witnesses, particularly those who were in the vicinity of the collision between 4pm and 4.30pm, to contact them at Blackrock Garda Station on 01 666 5200, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any garda station.

of papers over almost 40 years from a four-wheeled buggy at the main entrance doors to the centre.

The judge was told that solicitors involved in a late 1970s bid to shift Mr Davis from his George’s Street site had been struck out by the High Court on foot of the settlement.

Barrister Mark O’Riordan, who appeared with Kenny Sullivan Solicitors for Mr Davis, told the judge the written agree-

ment could not be found and had not been made an order of court at the time.

John Peart SC said that when the shopping centre was being built in the 1970s, a hoarding around the construction site contained “an indentation” from which Mr Davis continued to sell his papers.

He said an agreement was drawn up stating that Mr Davis could sell his newspapers from the central entrance.

“It clearly gave Mr Davis a right to sell his newspapers at the front entrance only of the shopping centre for his lifetime,” Mr Peart told Mr O’Riordan.

“The case was over. We went into court and had it struck out.”

The centre’s owner, Coltard, told the court that at no time since 1998 had Mr Davis paid a rent to Coltard and his unauthorised use of the shopping centre entrance to

sell papers had never been sanctioned by the company.

In July 2013, the company received a complaint from a tenant concerning Davis’s trolley and the fact that people and cigarette smokers regularly congregated at it, causing an obstruction of the entrance and fire exit.

Mr Delahunt said Coltard, considering the flammable nature of newspapers, had a genu-

ine concern for the safety of its employees, customers and tenants.

Mr Davis had twice been asked – and had refused – to vacate the property. Coltard was seeking court orders directing him to move on.

In a defence and counterclaim, Mr O’Riordan alleged Mr Davis had sold newspapers at the entrance for more than 38 years and held a lifelong irrevocable licence,

which he asked the court to affirm.

Mr Davis also sought an injunction restraining Coltard from interfering with his newspaper-vending pitch.

Judge Comerford ruled that Mr Davis could retain his pitch for the rest of his life. The judge ruled that Coltard were bound by way of a constructive trust, which allowed the newspaper seller to continue his operation.

Wheelchair user Sean rails at train firm over ongoing Dart difficulties  EMMA NOLAN

Dalkey man Sean O’Kelly: “It’s disgraceful that wheelchair users have to constantly make detours and are always uncertain of whether help will be available at certain stations”

A DALKEY man has condemned Irish Rail for their failure to provide suitable support for people who need help accessing their services.

Wheelchair user Sean O’Kelly (24) relies heavily on the Dart as one of his main modes of transport, but is constantly faced with accessibility issues at certain stations.

He told The Gazette: “I hate feeling uncertain – I hate not knowing if there will be someone at the station to help me.”

As part of Irish Rail’s accessibility policy, people with disabilities/in a wheelchair are required to phone their local station and inform them of their travel plans, so that assistance can be provided.

On Monday, March 27, Sean attempted to get the Dart at the Blackrock station, but no staff were on duty. When he called customer services, he was told no staff would be at the station.

The lift was also broken, so even if staff were there he wouldn’t have been able to access the platform, and he was forced to find another way home.

On Wednesday, March 29, Sean tried to travel from Pearse Station back to Dalkey.

He called both stations in advance to make sure there would be assistance. There was no answer from Dalkey, so when he arrived, there was no staff to assist him off the train, and he had to ask two passengers to help him off.

On Monday, April 3, he attempted to get the Dart from Blackrock to Dalkey. Staff were there, but the lift broke down while he was in it, leaving him stuck inside for several minutes.

The employee tried to help, but the lift wouldn’t go down, and Sean had to double back to the Booterstown stop to get to Dalkey.

Sean said: “It’s disgraceful that wheelchair users have to constantly make detours and

are always uncertain of whether help will be available at certain stations.

“I want to be able to use public transport like everyone else.

They [Irish Rail] are pushing people with disabilities away from using the service.”

“I don’t want to feel like a second-class citizen. I’m the same as everyone else – just because I’m in a chair doesn’t make me special or anything. It’s very frustrating.”

A spokesperson from Irish Rail apologised for the difficulties experienced by Sean, and said: “We are in the process of reviewing and revising procedures to ensure better assistance for mobility-impaired customers.

“This will dramatically reduce the recommended notice time for travel, and improve our ability to respond where notice is not possible.

The spokesperson said that vandalism was one of the main reasons for many of the lifts being out of order.

10 GAZETTE 6 April 2017

Gazette babies are the cutest...

s) Amelia Carroll (9 month

sent in by Marie Carroll

by Sinead Treacy Donnacha Gillen, sent in

Grace Aher n (13 month s) sent in by Br ian Ahern

Lily Conlon (13 months) sent in

by Joan King

Send in your baby photographs and...

W

Neela, sent in by Tunde

WIN!WIN!WIN!

E’VE had a wonderful response to our Gazette Bonnie baby competition – and we’re hugely grateful to the multitude of proud mums, dads, grandparents and family friends out there who so kindly shared some of the cutest photos we’ve ever seen.

Make sure you pick up a copy of next week’s Gazette, when we’ll reveal our lucky finalists, who’ll then go forward to a public vote to see who’s the ultimate Gazette Bonny Baby.

(You’ll be able to vote for your favourite pic on our Facebook page, or by emailing competitions@dublingazette.com from this day week) We have some great prizes to give away – including two hampers worth €90 each from our friends at NUK Ireland – and one lucky winner will win a free family or newborn photoshoot worth €180 from Gazette photojournalist and expert baby photographer Ali, of Alison O’Hanlon Photography.

And keep an eye out for more great Gazette Giveaways in your free weekly Dublin Gazette – because remember folks, the future is local, the future is free!

6 April 2017 GAZETTE 11

Gazette competition

Maia (23 months) sent in

by Tomasz Kurkowski

Aneta Patriak shared this thoughtful shot of Maia Kurkowska

Zack sent in by

Karolina Ga sinska

onnell Cami-Li sent in by J McD

GAZETTE

12 GAZETTE 6 April 2017

DUBLINBUSINESS

Taxi app Lynk motors along to a merger deal with Blackrock Cabs CONTINUING its growth, Dublin taxi app Lynk (www. lynk.ie) has merged with the prominent South Dublin firm with Blackrock Cabs.

With a history of working together, their merger was finalised recently, with the move expanding Lynk’s availability, particularly in the south Dublin area, meaning further availability of vetted drivers through the unique app and online booking technology.

The merger see more than 100 new drivers added to Lynk’s southeast Dublin fleet, with the merger just one of many that Lynk is focusing on finalising in the coming months as part of its planned ongoing expansion in Dublin and nationwide.

Noel Ebbs, chief executive of Lynk, said: “It’s great to be focusing our attention in new local areas and expanding our driver network. It’s important we continue to grow in Dublin before fully rolling out nationwide in the coming months.”

Dublin Chamber president Brendan Foster and chief executive Mary Rose Burke. Picture: Jason Clarke

Quote happy with Dublin Babriggan Subway wins Store of the Year award Chamber’s new rebrand THE Balbriggan Subway branch served up a big slice of success after claiming the national title of Subway Store of the Year.

The eaterie’s Nadine Vickers and Bastian Wiebenga (right) accepted the prestigious award on behalf of the Balbriggan team, acknowledging the hard work to come out first ahead of 170 other Subway stores in Ireland.

One of 45 Subway outlets situated within an Applegreen site, the Balbriggan outlet was judged on a combination of in-store operational performance and year-on-year sales growth, with Balbriggan excelling in both fields. Neil Black, development agent for Subway Ireland, said the achievement “is a testament to the Balbriggan store’s dedication to their service and to their customers that they won this year’s Store of the Year award”.

DUBLIN Chamber, the organisation which represents the interests of businesses in the Dublin region, has unveiled its new corporate brand and logo.

Following a five-month rebranding process, the Chamber will drop the words ‘of commerce’ from its logo, which sees a return to the colour blue that is so synonymous with Dublin.

The rebrand has been

overseen by the Chamber’s chief executive, Mary Rose Burke, who took up the role in October last year. The design work was carried out by Evolve Design.

Burke said the new look perfectly captures what Dublin Chamber is all about – listening to its 1,300 members and speaking out on their behalf to make Dublin a better city for all.

She said: “The new

the naming convention reflects how our members and the people of Dublin know us: Dublin Chamber.”

As part of the rebrand, Dublin Chamber has adopted the new tagline of ‘Dublin is our business’. This tagline reflects the Chamber’s core aims of improving the reputation of Dublin, making sure it is a competitive and attractive place to businesses, visitors and

locals alike.

Burke added: “This is a very exciting time to be in business in Dublin. Our goal in Dublin Chamber is to enable companies to do business better and to help them to grow and create jobs in a successful Dublin.

“Our new brand is reflective of the ambition to further Dublin’s credentials as a smart, liveable and competitive capital city.”

Funding shares from €70,000 Energia, Grow It Yourself partnership revealed

Extra push for broadband DUBLIN schools are set to get superfast broadband through the 100Mbs for Schools project.

Irish internet provider enet has announced it have started a contract to supply the schools in conjunction with educational and research network HEAnet on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills.

In total, over 150 post primary schools are now connected to enet networks in Dublin City, Blanchardstown, Clondalkin and Rathfarnham.

brand is a reflection of the Chamber’s position as the business voice for Dublin.

The Chamber’s aim is to ensure that Dublin is a modern, welcoming and vibrant place in which to live, work and do business.

“Our new brand represents the modern and dynamic organisation that Dublin Chamber is.

We will always be Dublin Chamber of Commerce, but the change in

Alison Canavan, wellness coach; Liz O’Rourke and Karen O’Donohoe, GIY, and Amy O’Shaughnessy, Energia

THE Get Ireland Growing Fund run by GIY (Grow It Yourself) in partnership with Energia has announced the winners of the grants from a fund of €70,000 for 2017. Grants will be awarded to the successful food growing projects planned by community groups, schools and notfor-profit organisations all across the country.

In Dublin, a funding award goes to the Ballymun Job Centre for the Ballymun Adult Read and Write Scheme.

The team there says: “A group of adult

students are studying the QQI L2 Life Science: Horticulture module during January to May. Students will undertake practical horticulture skills to complete gardening tasks and learn basic principles about plants and trees.

“We will undertake field trips to Santry Community Garden and the new Ballymun Boiler House Eco Project, and this grant will be spent for the purchase of tools, plants, tubs and materials to enable students to complete practical skills required for certification.”

6 April 2017 GAZETTE 13

GAZETTE

TRAVEL: PARTY? YES WE CANCUN P23

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



MOTORING: TESTING THE NEW MAZDA6 P20

CINEMA: FREE FIRE IS A CULT MOVIE IN THE MAKING P24

MUSIC: CLARE MUSICIAN DAITHI O’DRONAI IS A HARD MAN TO PIN DOWN

Going back to his rural roots  JAMES HENDICOTT AT 27 YEARS of age, Clare musician Daithi O’Dronai has already been through more phases of his career than many manage in a lifetime.

Developing from a young fiddle player to a reality TV show star, then onwards to a Sony-signed, offbeat-pop performer and finally a unique and soulful dance act, he’s a

hard man to pin down.

Recently relocated to Dublin, the man who simply uses the stage name Daithi’s latest incarnation is nevertheless a profound tribute to the rural roots that connect him tightly with the Burren, and the Irish landscape.

“When I was writing the pop stuff I was doing my best to write these perfectly little three minute pop songs,” Daithi explains of his Sony album, and subsequent departure

FINE FILLY IS LOOKING FOR A DEDICATED FAMILY HOME

from the label.

“I lost my angles. I enjoyed it at the time, but I kind of lost my identity,” he recalls.

The departure from a major outlet like Sony was, no doubt, a tough call, but one Daithi made on the basis that he didn’t feel able to create things with purely commercial aims like radioplay in mind.

His next single – a sentimental track called ‘Mary Keane’s Introduction,’ based around a dance

remix of an interview with his 90-year-old grandmother – ironically turned out to be his most acclaimed.

“It was a sign,” he said.

“The new record leans more heavily into that idea. I was at a point where I wasn’t even sure I was going to keep making music after Sony to be honest. The thing I fell into was the idea that I was working towards a success of some kind.”

Continued on pages 16-17

OUR Dog of the Week looking for their #SpecialSomeone* is Filly, a beautiful eightmonth-old female Collie cross who unfortunately missed out on vital socialisation as a puppy.

She loves to play with her toys, and with other dogs and people, but is still quite worried about sudden movements and hands approaching her head, so she is looking for a dedicated and understanding family who will let her take things at her own pace.

In the time Filly has been in a foster home recently, she has shown herself to the a very sweet, affectionate and playful dog who will blossom in the right home.

If you can be Filly’s #SpecialSomeone*, then please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off Exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website, www.dogstrust. ie. You can also find them on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline, or on Twitter @ DogsTrust_IE.

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14 GAZETTE 6 April 2017

DUBLINLIFE

DIARY

SCHOOLS: NEW PROGRAMME TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO RECYCLE IN EVER BETTER WAYS

Repack it in, lads!

RECYCLING company Repak has launched a nationwide Recycle And Change For The Better schools programme, starting in Dublin.

The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten, and Repak chief executive Seamus Clancy launched the programme at O’Connell CBS Primary School in Drumcondra.

The nationwide education programme will target First to Sixth class pupils across 3,300 primary schools, reaching a total of 398,812 children.

It will endeavour to educate students about the benefits of best recycling practices to change b e h av i o u r s t ow a r d s recycling and ultimately reduce recycling bin contamination.

Commenting on the launch of the new programme, Minister Naughten said: “I am delighted to launch this excellent programme.

“How and what to recycle is something we probably all need to work harder on. Education is key to this and if every child here today brings home the message of any of the engaging characters that form part of this programme, it will be a good start.

“I would like to thank Repak for taking this initiative and wish them the best with the roll-out.”

YOU’RE GROWING TO LOVE THIS CAMPAIGN AWA R D -W I N N I N G garden designer Diarmuid Gavin joined forces with TV3’s Anna Daly to launch GroMor 2017, a

nament to Ireland as it is due to return after being held here in 2011, in Killarney.

Would-be karaoke kings or queens should see karaokeworldchampionships.com.

GIVE DANCE FESTIVAL A WHIRL IN MAY

Minister Denis Naughten with Joseph Delaney and Daniel She, O’Connell CBS Primary School pupils, launching Repak’s Recycle And Change For The Better schools programme. Picture: Robbie Reynolds

nationwide campaign to get the country growing.

GroMor is an initiative by Retail Excellence garden centres and growers across Ireland, in association with Bord Bia, and sponsored

by Bord Na Mona and Westland Horticulture.

The aim of the campaign is to give clear and useful advice on how to best grow plants, herbs, flowers, fruits, vegetables and to highlight the health benefits of gar-

dening.

T he GroMor 2017 campaign encourages people to visit their local garden centre for expert advice on how to enhance their living space with nature.

A series of 50 free gardening demonstrations will take place in throughout the nation in GroMor Garden Centres from April to September offering a whole variety of themes.

For those who can’t

attend the events, www. gromor.ie contains easyto-follow guides and videos on how to grow a wide range of plans, whether on your windowsill, balcony or in the garden, as well as offering a taste of what you can expect to find in a GroMor centre near you.

KARAOKE KINGS AND QUEENS TO DO BATTLE KAR AOKE fans are celebrating 30 years of karaoke in Dublin, with

the singing sensation having made its debut in Ireland with Doug Murray of Starmaker on The Late Late Show in November, 1987.

T h a t ’s w h e n G ay Byrne and his crew left the RTE studio for a live outside broadcast from the nearby Merrion Inn. N o w, D o u g h a s teamed up with KWC to give two lucky people – one male and one female – the chance to represent Ireland in the karaoke

world championships in Helsinki this November, where they’ll battle to win $50,000 against 20 countries from around the world.

At last year’s finals in Vancouver, Ireland was not represented; however we have previously won the competition, with Rachel Brown winning in 2005 and more recently Adrian Kenny in 2009.

Doug is also in negotiation to bring the tour-

THE Dublin Dance Festival is back this May with an eclectic multinational line-up to look forward to.

Acts from around the globe and across Ireland will take place, ranging from a baroque feast to a Hip-Hop dance battle, from world-class dance on the stages of the Abbey Theatre to a baby boogie in Merrion Square Park.

The 2017 programme features more than 40 events by artists from 11 countries, with more than 50 dancers performing in venues across Dublin.

They will be accompanied by three DJs, an opera singer and a graffiti artist, with props including 18 wine glasses, two portions of brine shrimps, a cauliflower and a pomegranate.

Leading traditional Irish dance artist Colin Dunne will open the festival with his highlyanticipated new solo show, Concert, performing alongside the music of fiddle player Tommie Potts’ iconic album The Liffey Bank.

Tickets for the events can be booked online now at dublindancefestival.ie. or from May 2 at the Dublin Dance Festival Box Office located at Festival House, No 12 East Essex Street, in Temple Bar.

6 April 2017 GAZETTE 15

GAZETTE

FEATURE SURVEY: DATA SUGGESTS ALMOST HALF OF ALL DUBS TURNING OUT JUST LIKE THEIR MUM

Have you turned into Mammy yet? positive and makes for a happy relationship for 1 in 2 (48%) adults.

Conversely, 1 in 3 (30%) cl a i m t h a t having some similarities to mum can make for a happy relationship.

In terms of what adults in Dublin still rely upon their mothers for, advice (38%) ranked highest, followed by a home-cooked dinner (24%) from time-to-time.

Even as adults, the research find-

ing to their mum.

Following the cl o c k s c h a n g ing to mark the start of the summer, “There’s a grand stretch in the evening” has b e e n r e ve a l e d as one of Dubliners’ top-three favourite Irish Mammy phrases (44%), along with, ‘ T h e r e ’s g r e a t dr ying in that weather’ (50%), and, ‘Take off your coat or you won’t feel the benefit when you go outside’ (44%) finalizing the top three.

Shane Kelly, sales and marketing manager for Beko, said: “Beko Graphic: Beko

NEARLY half of all Dubliners think they are turning into their mammies, it has been revealed.

Research commissioned by the appliance company Beko to celebrate the launch of The Woman’s Way and Beko Mum Of The Year awards has uncovered some interesting insights into the much-loved ‘Irish Mammy’.

The influence of the Irish Mammy remains strong, with 1 in 2 (48%) adults in Dublin having experienced a moment when they realised they had turned into their mother!

When it comes to relationships, “mother knows best” still rings true for most, with 3 out of 5 (58%) Dubliners admitting that their mother’s approval of their other half was important to them.

Despite craving their mother’s approval, finding a partner who is different to their mum is viewed as a

ings show that we still rely on our mums for our favourite creature comforts, with (14%) of Dubs admitting to bringing home their washing and iron-

is delighted to be involved with the Woman’s Way Mum of the Year award.

“As part of the partnership we wanted to commission quirky research to celebrate Irish mothers, who play a huge part in our lives.

“Beko has been part of Irish families for over 25 years and are extremely proud to help recognise the fantastic role Ireland’s mums play in their home and communities right across the country.

“The courage and strength of character from last year’s nominees was nothing short of amazing, and it is so important we recognise their role in our society.”

If you know a mum who deserves recognition, complete the nomination form in the current issue of Woman’s Way, or see www.womansway.ie, before the closing date of May 5.

6 April 2017 GAZETTE 17

DUBLINLIFE

MUSIC

Built From The Land

N O S ’ T A H W

E D I U G S T N E EV

Daithi’s Journey from Reality TV musician to unique dance star

Rock Against Homelessness

The Olympia host a Focus Ireland event featuring a homeless musician performing alongside local stars The Blizzards, Ham Sandwich and Delorentos, with profits going to the charity. April 7.

from page 13 I’VE started releasing what makes me excited after that track. That seems really simple, but it was a revelation to me.”

Daithi’s work is truly built from scratch. More specifically, it’s built from countless, heavily layered building blocks of ambient and atmospheric sounds that he’s recorded across the country.

They include anything from the sound of the wind whistling through a gate up a Donegal mountain (a recording that took hours of battering by Irish winter weather, and one that’s his current musical plaything), to the subtle texture of the family fire, or the clang of pieces of cutlery bashing against each other in a rented room in Achill.

Sri Rama Navami

A free event exploring Hindu traditions, and introducing one of the David McSavage oldest incarnations of Vishnu. A rare glance at Indian culture in the city, hosted at Alexandra college, Milltown Road on April 8.

David McSavage Live

The Savage Eye comic brings a rare live show to the Olympia Theatre, no doubt primed to attack the political status quo with a sling of witty quips. April 8.

The Game

A theatrical production themed around prostitution and the act of buying sex, The Game was produced by TheatreCLUB, who got input from those who’ve really experienced the industry. They bring their show to The Blanchardstown Centre on April 8.

Untypical Villains

Daithi performing at the Body And Soul Festival

Picture: Ruth Medjber

Dr Jason McElligott - the keeper at the Marsh Library gives a talk on his expansive niche research into areas like the history of propaganda and censorship, and three-century-old white collar crime. The Little Museum, April 12.

The Furrow Collective

Delorentos

Winning folk band take to one of the city’s less likely stages for a one off show at the Little Museum, to play before just 100 people. April 12.

MusicTown 2017

A citywide festival of music heritage running from April 7-17, featuring cross-city performances from the likes of Richie Egan (Jape), Mel C, Chelsea Wolfe, Katie Kim, and the International Choral Festival.

Fawlty Towers: The Dining Experience

Re-live John Cleese’s short-lived but fantastically memorable car crash hotel in an event recreating its less-thanimpressive dining rooms themes. The Clarion Hotel promise everything that can go wrong will on April 8.

New album of the week: Father John Misty returns with ‘Pure Comedy’, which if past form is anything to go by will be anything but comic. Expect a dark, catchy and at times sarcastic exploration of the modern landscape set against a beautiful soundscape.

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16 GAZETTE 6 April 2017

“If I run out of inspiration, I just go outside and take a walk and it hits me.

I end up with all those elements layered in”

Picture: Ruth Medjber

Layers He takes these recordings home, isolates the sounds and slowly builds up the layers of texture, throwing in some fiddle along the way, and adding numerous loops to give a form of dance that’s highly innovative in its origins.

The mixing process is reproduced live on stage every time he performs.

“I’ve been renting AirBnBs for periods of several weeks around Ireland,” Daithi said of his recent recording process, “and adapting them into studios while I’m there. If I run out of inspiration, I just go outside and take a walk and it hits me. I end up with all those elements layered in.”

His current role as a fiddleyielding, live-mixing outsider artist on a burgeoning Irish dance scene is all a very long way from a start that saw the teenage Daithi compete in the All Ireland Talent Show, and then go on to play Wembley Arena in front of a crowd of 10,000 for Sky’s Must Be The

Music.

While crammed with traditional elements, the current incarnation is also nothing close to trad, but nevertheless could hardly be more proudly and uniquely Irish.

“I think my grandfather [acclaimed concertina player Chris Droney, who still tours internationally at the age of 92] might be upset if he saw it my music as trad,” Daithi explains.

“He’s the kind of guy who’d get upset if you play a reel at the wrong speed, but he doesn’t really equate the two styles.

“I think he’s just proud I’m working as a musician, as that was hard in his day, too.

“I do more than 150 shows a year. That’s what I need to do to keep myself doing this full time, and I’m lucky, as it’s easier to get 150 shows a year from my [solo] set up than it would be from a band. I get rid of everything I use to build my live shows and start against every six months, to keep things interesting.

“The first couple of shows are always really stressful, but it challenges me, and avoids me getting into a rut when it comes to how I play live. It’s intense, but it’s how I want it to be.”

With his constant push for innovation and love of integrating his field recordings, Daithi has a very real claim to be Ireland’s most unique current performer.

Tapping into the very heart of rural Irish soundscapes, he’s bringing the subtly layered and carefully gathered moments straight to the dancefloor.

Daithi’s latest Holiday Home - inspired by solitary post-show, late-night drives down winding country roads - came out last Friday.

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18 GAZETTE 6 April 2017

DUBLINLIFE

STYLE I US

CL EX VE !

The Donegal woman behind Powder ‘n’ Pout

 EMMA NOLAN Style Editor

POWDER ‘n’ Pout is the brainchild of Irish girl boss and successful make-up artist, Aisling Cunningham. She started in the industry aged 16, enrolling in a local college where she trained in hair and beauty.

After finishing three years of college and working in three local salons, she moved to Liverpool and trained under a senior make-up artist in MAC. As well as launching her own range of make-up brushes, Aisling also runs an incredibly successful salon under the same name in Donegal.

A testament to her hard work and product offering, Aisling recently won IBYE Best Established Business in Donegal and Young Business Person of the Year Inishowen. (For more information, see https://www.powdernpout.com)

IT’S everywhere at the moment – gingham, that is – and since we’re all after buying numerous gingham pieces, we may as well embrace the trend a little longer.

Shoppers can’t get enough of this latest take on the usually twee print, and with the creative way the high street keeps reimagining it, I say keep it coming!

Feathered Brows Brushing your brow hairs upward and outward gives them a full, feathered look. Your arches will look more natural and fuller when you groom them this way.

The small cut fibres of the Angled Liner P410 allows for exact control, while its firmly bristled,

The very sight of gingham evokes images of wholesome springtime picnics, triangle sandwiches and freshly-cut grass. A delightful image to transition us into summer.

Every high street shop in Dublin has an abundance of this trend at the moment – so, why not opt for gingham with statement sleeves or a Bardot neckline for a double whammy of SS17 goodness.

Topshop Shirt €52

LUSCIOUSBRUSHES HERE ARE Aisling’s tips for brushing up on some of the latest make-up trends, using a range of Powder ‘n’ Pout brushes ...

Square up to the latest trends in Gingham style

flat shape applies colour cleanly and precisely.

To get your brows to look full, lightly shade the hairs above and below your brow to create a slight shadow. When using either a brow gel, or powder, go for a colour that is the same shade as your brows or one shade darker.

supersoft hair and structured shape achieves flawless dimension along the cheekbones, forehead, and jawline for targeted contouring.

This is ideal for using with pressed or loose bronzer powder, liquids, and creams to create beautiful sculpting all over.

and larger because the focus falls on the centre of the eye.

Take the Fluffy Blender (P310) and place a medium to dark colour on the inner and outer corner creases, then add a light shimmery eyeshadow in the centre portion of the eye to create a popping effect.

Sculpted Cheeks We aren’t all lucky enough to have naturally chiselled cheekbones!

The Flat Contour’s (P050) densely-packed

Spotlight Eyes With summer on way, it’s time to start embracing colour and shimmer.

Spotlighting makes the eyes appear more round

Pared back skin for Spring/Summer ’17 Light up the room with a natural and beautiful glow. Stippling brushes are great for powder, liq-

uid, or cream highlighters. The Duo Tapered Powder (P210) will give you a different application strength depending on the formula used.

For powders, this will offer a sheerer application because the bristles won’t pick up as much product as other brushes, leaving an iridescent spring glow.

However, with liquid and cream highlighters you can create a medium to intense application due to its ability to easily blend without absorbing the product.

New Look Midi dress €40

Penneys Jacket €15; Bralette €13

M50MOTORING The Dublin Gazette drives you through the motoring world on a tour of the latest models, technology & industry news

ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR HELPS CHARITY CROSSCARE ENTERPRISE Rent-A-Car plans to invest €120,000 in Crosscare over the next six years.

The social support agency Crosscare has just received the first of six €20,000 annual donations to help fight food poverty in Ireland.

This grant will help to increase Crosscare’s capacity to redistribute surplus food to people in need throughout the country and to supply the

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GAZETTE

6 April 2017 GAZETTE 19

Kia reveals Stinger’s European specs

charity’s cafés.

The donation is part of a wider initiative by the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation called Fill Your Tank, which has been designed to celebrate the company’s 60th global anniversary this year and its 20th anniversary in Ireland.

Dublin-based Crosscare operates food banks which distribute food to those most in need. In addition to running food banks and community cafés, the charity provides a range of social care, homeless services, community and youth work.

Michael McDonagh, manager Crosscare with George O’Connor, managing director Enterprise Rent-ACar Ireland. Picture: Finbarr O’Rourke

Annalise’s Tokyo journey powered

by Mercedes-Benz

Kia Motors has revealed the full European specification for the new Kia Stinger, a sporty type saloon car. The new closely follows the design and engineering blueprint laid down by the 2011 Kia GT Concept, and is the highest-performance production vehicle in the company’s history.

The Stinger channels the spirit of historic grand tourers – powerful, elegant vehicles capable of moving their owners in style, at speed. At every stage of development, the Stinger has been designed and engineered to be the perfect gran turismo.

The car features a head-turning design with claims of ample room to accommodate five occupants and their luggage. The Stinger was inspired by the GT4 Stinger concept

AS she begins preparations for the next Olympic Games in Tokyo, Irish silver medal winner Annalise Murphy has taken delivery of a new, topof-the-range Mercedes-Benz Vito Mixto.

Supplied under an exclusive sponsorship arrangement, the extra-long 190bhp Vito is equipped with features fit for an Olympic star.

Wrapped in a subtle silver and grey

revealed at NAIAS 2014. While the car is a true GT in nature, the Stinger name evokes speed and excitement, two key characteristics found in the production car.

In Ireland, the Stinger will be available with a choice of three engines: a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, a powerful 3.3litre twin-turbo V6, and a 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine which is expected to account for the majority of European sales.

The Stinger is the result of years of impassioned design and development work at Kia. Six years after the company revealed its powerful statement of intent in the GT Concept, the Stinger will enter production and go on sale in Europe during the fourth quarter of 2017.

livery, the Vito Mixto will be an asset to Annalise as she prepares for glory at the games in 2020.

Commenting, Annalise said: “I am delighted to have renewed my association with Mercedes-Benz and excited to get my new Mixto on the road.

“The continued support gives a major boost to my training regime and ensures that my plans for success in Tokyo are off to a wonderful start”.

Want to reach an audience in excess of 300,000 people in Dublin each week?

Annalise Murphy has taken delivery of a new Mercedes to support her preparation for the Olympic Games

To advertise in our new Motoring section, contact sales@dublingazette.com or call

01 601 0240

GAZETTE

20 GAZETTE 6 April 2017

M50MOTORING

Mazda adds new comfort FASTNews levels in its 6 upgrade

Appointments at Renault Group announced PATRICK Magee,

MAZDA’S range topping Mazda6 model has received some mid-life updates to make the car more driver friendly, while not significantly impacting on its already modern styling appearance.

You won’t notice much change in terms of how the car looks, while there is perceptible changes with it comes to the driving performance.

I’ve had the upgraded Mazda6 on the road in recent weeks and I came away with the feeling that this car deserves to be considered a slight bit higher in terms of the company in the luxury pecking order.

The Mazda6 continues to look very well, it has a high performing 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine that allows it to deliver pace that’s comparable with its good looks.

My test drive was shorter than that of other cars, but that did not take away from the good impression that became obvious. The car is powerful in terms of styling and its engine ensures that you can capitalise on that feeling.

The 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine that powers the Mazda6 was rated at 175bhp, which is a high level of power for a car in this class. More modest versions with the same engine deliver 150bhp and it’s against that type of performance you have to compare the Mazda6 with the obvious competition of the Volkswagen Passat, Ford Mondeo and Toyota Avensis.

This upgraded Mazda6 comes with what Mazda claims are two key improvements designed to increase responsiveness and reduce engine noise, Transient Control and Mazda’s Natural Sound Smoother Technology

country operations

manager of Renault Group has announced a number of key appointments within the Group in Ireland.

LIZ O’GORMAN has been appointed marketing manager at Renault Group. Liz is a senior level brand and digital marketing strategist with extensive experience. Liz joined Renault Group in 2016 after spending two years in digital marketing at The new generation upgraded Mazda6 comes with engine and driving improvements to give a smoother and more comfortable ride

Mazda has upgraded the Mazda6 model as part of a mid-life change with enhanced driving features SPECIFICATIONS to add more comfort and ease of Engine 2.2 litre driving, while still delivering power Engine power 175hp and style. Michael Moroney drove 0 – 100km/hr 8.4 seconds Economy 20.8km/litre the new Mazda6 and feels it’s entitled to jump a

(4.8/100km or 59mpg) notch into the premium brand league.

Allied Irish Bank (GB).

Mazda6 2.2 Skyactiv-D

Fuel Tank Capacity CO2 emissions Road Tax Band Main Service Euro NCAP Rating Warranty Entry Price

(NSS).

By reducing turbo lag and boosting torque, Transient Control reduces turbo lag while boosting torque to an impressive 380Nm and it claims to provide a more positive throttle response. Mazda

62 litres 127g/km B1 €270 15,000km/12 months 5 star (2013) 3 years /100,000km €28,995

claims that this means that the engine reacts better to the driver’s intentions.

Mazda’s Natural Sound Smoother (NSS) technology aims to reduce diesel knock noise during starting and low-speed acceleration. Mazda claims

that this NSS system is complimented by an improvement in sound insulation.

This has been achieved by the use of upgraded door seals, tighter tolerances between panels and sound deadening materials added to the underbody, rear console, headliner and doors. Mazda also claims that using laminated front side windows helps to further suppress wind noise.

The result of using these twin technologies is that the Mazda6 is a very smooth and comfortable car to drive. The acceleration pace is very impressive at 8.4 seconds and the six speed automatic gearbox meant smooth power flow.

The only downside was the marginal impact on fuel economy from the bigger engine.

Mazda claims a figure of 20.8km/litre (4.8/100km or 59mpg), which is very respectable. I found that the engine performance is so good that temptation led me to another less thrifty place.

That’s probably because the Mazda6 is fitted with the new G-Vectoring Control (GVC) a system that integrates the control of the engine, transmission and chassis. Mazda claims that it enhances the connection between car and driver, varies engine torque to optimise the load on each wheel.

The overall specification of the Mazda6 is

impressive. I liked the multimedia commander unit that operated the large central information screen. The system has navigation, communication, entertainment, applications and settings features that are easy to use. Setting the mobile phone Bluetooth connection was easy and the reception clear.

The entry price for the Mazda6 is €29,995, which is keener than the equivalent Ford Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat orToyota Avensis pricing. The Mazda6 styling is distinctive and strong, the paintwork is flawless and the overall package deserves to put the car up a notch on the ladder to premium league status.

LYNNE BOUCHER has been appointed sales & network business manager for Renault Ireland operating from Renault Group HQ in Dundrum.

Lynne previously held the position of marketing manager at Renault Group for over three years and was product manager there for 18 months prior to that appointment.

BRIAN QUINLAN has been appointed used vehicle and business development manager at Renault Ireland.

Brian joined Renault Ireland as Zone Manager in 2014.

6 April 2017 GAZETTE 21

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M50MOTORING

Pedestrian Detection tech gets night vision WORRIES over night blindness, and fear of hitting someone, or something, top a new poll of night-time driving fears, in a new survey commissioned by Ford.

And for the latter at least, there is now a solution that goes beyond simply eating more carrots.

Ford is introducing new technology that is designed to detect pedestrians at night and then automatically apply the brakes if the driver does not respond to initial warnings.

The Ford Pedestrian Detection system processes information from a radar

such as trees and road signs.

Day and night, Pedestrian Detec-

Detection technology, now able to

roads in busy cities including Paris

work at night for the first time, the

and Amsterdam.

Tips to make driving at night easier

located in the bumper, and a

tion is designed to help identify

development team worked at night,

windshield-mounted cam-

people already in – or about to step

sending life-sized dummies into the

era. The system can distin-

into – the road ahead.

path of vehicles on closed tracks,

guish people from objects

For the improved Pedestrian

and testing the system on public

• Ensure windows and mirrors are clean and free of ice and condensation • Clean all exterior lights and check

they work, keep spare bulbs in the car • On unlit roads, put headlights on full beam and dip them on seeing oncoming vehicles • Don’t drive tired or for more than two hours without a break

6 April 2017 GAZETTE 23

GAZETTE

DUBLINLIFE fast

There’s Mojito Mexico than cocktails, sun and sandy beaches

TRAVEL NEWS

Wander through beautiful landscapes TO celebrate the launch of three new self-guided walking trips, Explore is offering some great deals with a free activity tracker (worth €46) for the first 200 customers to book.

The new eight day Self-Guided Walking the French Riviera follows a network of village trails between Grasses and Menton. On this moderate graded trip, admire the summits and passes of the Mercantour, enjoy the superb views over Cannes, Nice and Monaco and discover the old town of Menton. Departures run from March – November 2017 and cost from €847 per person.

 SYLVIA POWNALL

French Riviera

This price includes six nights’ hotel accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, three other meals and the services of a luggage transfer.

Explore’s new Self-Guided Walking in Madeira offers moderate graded walking on the lush volcanic island off the coast of West Africa.

Discover some of the island’s best walking trails, from the footpaths that follow its ‘levadas’ to coastal paths overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Climb to the summit of Pico Ruivo (1862m) and explore the eastern side of the island, including Porto da Cruz. Departures run from April – December 2017 and cost from €690 per person. This price includes seven nights’ hotel on a bed and breakfast basis, six other meals and the services of a luggage transfer. Prices are based on departures from the UK but flights from Dublin can be arranged on request.

For more information, or to book visit www. explore.co.uk or call 0044 1252 884 723.

TRAVEL

CA N C U N h a s b e e n one of Mexico’s hottest destinations for years because the party never seems to stop.

It is home to an almost endless array of bars, dining venues, and nightclubs each offering a unique guest experience.

The popular resort, which is on the coast of the Yucatan peninsula, is one of Mexico’s leading tourist destinations and the gateway to the resorts in Riviera Maya to the south.

Over the last number of years Cancun has grown significantly in popularity with Irish long haul holidaymak-

ers and is now one of the popular long haul destinations.

Falcon offer 14 nights all-inclusive holiday packages to Cancun which include return non-stop direct flights to Mexico.

Picture perfect beaches, ancient sites and a choice of resorts are just some of the reasons discerning holidaymakers have been returning to Mexico’s Caribbean Coast year after year.

Along the Yucatan Peninsula, purpose built resorts edge tropical beaches while jungle tours and water sport opportunities are easy to come by.

You can also engage in a once in a life time

oppor tunity to swim with dolphins at XelHa, the largest natural aquarium in the world.

The eco-park on the Riviera Maya has created a series of natural under water habitats and offers visitors the chance to swim with dolphins, stingrays and turtles.

Body paint On top of all that holidaymakers can also explore Mayan ruins, taste Mexican food and wine and watch cultural shows where dancers perform in brightly coloured body paint.

For those looking to take in some cultural sites, why not visit the

ancient settlement of Tulum?

The site was one of the last Mayan cities to be taken over by the Spanish and is set on headland that offers spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea. For a glamorous, urban-style experience on a well-developed beach, Cancun really is the resort to visit. Its strip is famous for highrise hotels and a vast collection of restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Dance to authentic Latin sounds as live bands play salsa and merengue at the Grand Mambo Cafe, or visit The City venue which has live shows featuring acrobatics.

Sizzling Sunway summer offer to save you €200 SUNWAY Travel are guaranteeing to put a spring in your step with a number of special summer offers – including a sizzling €200 moneyoff deal for sun seekers, but only if booked by April 8.

With destinations including the Algarve, Lanzarote, Costa Del Sol, Sicily, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria, there’s something for everyone, with packages including flights, transfers, accommodation, all taxes and charges, 20kg checked

in baggage per person and the services of a Sunway representative.

To get €200 off your Algarve holiday, you can fly from Dublin from June 16 to September 1 (Friday flights). For Lanzarote, fly from Dublin from June 3 to October 21. For the Costa Del Sol, fly from Dublin, Cork or Shannon from June 3 to September 23.

For Sicily, fly from Dublin, Cork or Shannon from June 3 to September 23. For Fuerteventura, fly

from Dublin from June 3 to September 6. Lastly, for Gran Canaria, fly from Dublin from June 24 to October 21.

T&Cs include the €200 off per booking applies to bookings for seven nights; minimum of two adults sharing per booking; selected properties are excluded; you must book by April 8, and the offer is subject to availability.

For reservations, contact Sunway at 01 2311 800, or book online

Grand Bahia Principe Coba

Those looking to escape the crowds should head south to the undeveloped shores of Riviera Maya and the upmarket resort of Playacar.

Tulum, an off-thegrid beach town, has a boho vibe and is set on a headland that offers spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea. Dublin to Mexico, Grand Bahia Principe Coba, Riviera Maya, 4*, AI, 14 nights departing June 14 from €1,569 per person sharing. *USE CODE LH100 to get €100 off per booking.

V i s i t w w w. f a l c o n holidays.ie or call 1850 453545 for bookings and information.

GAZETTE

24 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 6 April 2017

DUBLINLIFE

CINEMA

Set in the 1970s, there’s no way out of a Boston warehouse for a disparate group of characters when a shady gun deal does explosively wrong – entertaining mayhem ensues

FREE FIRE: A COOL CAST AIM GREAT ZINGERS AT EACH OTHER IN THIS VIOLENT BUT WITTY FILM

Takes a shot at greatness WITH six feature films under his belt since his 2009 debut Down Terrace, Ben Wheatley is one of the most prolific directors of our time.

Each of his wildly different projects has been met with considerable critical praise (from those who could stomach his proclivity toward excessive violence and enigmatic narratives), each creeping closer toward the mainstream without sacrificing the director’s unique idiosyncrasy.

Last year’s JG Ballard adaptation, High-Rise, was a further jump away from the fringes of filmmaking, packing a highprofile cast with big names such as Tom Hiddleston and Sienna Miller.

Still, based as it was on a Ballard novel, High-Rise was all kinds of crazy: violent, perverse, frantic in narrative and occasionally a chore to follow.

With yet another starladen cast, Free Fire (Cert 18, 90 mins) maintains that trademark penchant for violence and grit, but pushes affairs more into the mainstream than ever before.

 MARTIN MACNAMARA

Wheatley offers up a (relatively) straightforward crime flick, set in Boston in the 1970s and localised entirely in a single location in real time: a secluded warehouse in the aftermath of an arms deal gone south.

An executive producer credit for Martin Scorsese in the opening credits should hint at where Wheatley is drawing inspiration.

With a toe-tapping classic rock soundtrack, starting with The Real Kid’s Do the Boob, there’s a tone here that recalls the sarcastic wit of Scorsese’s later era crime-classics, partnered with the grit of Peter Yates’ 1973 gem, The Friend of Eddie Coyle.

However, for all its violence, Free Fire is a much more light-hearted affair – slick, simple and seriously funny.

Justine (Brie Larson)

arrives at a warehouse with two Irishmen, Chris (Cillian Murphy) and Frank (Michael Smiley), to broker an arms deal with a gang led by Vernon (Sharlto Copley) and Ord (Armie Hammer).

When a disagreement escalates, shots are fired and chaos erupts.

Once the action begins, the shooting rarely abates for the entirety of Free Fire’s run time. The gunshots are mercilessly loud, invariably ringing out like bomb blasts with every squeeze of a trigger.

At first the effect is alarming, refreshing even – as are the effects those gunshots have on their victims, who spend most of the action crawling from cover to cover rather than running about beneath a hail of bullets.

The enthusiastic cast turn in enormously watchable performances – of particular note are Smiley and Copley, as a grizzled, uptight IRA man and an eccentric, former Rhodesian special forces figure, respectively.

Both men are two ends of a tightly round length of barbed-wire, ready to snap

at any point and incredibly fun to watch.

The script, co-written with Wheatley’s writing partner and wife, Amy Jump, is laden with perverse wit, profanity and biting sarcasm – infinitely quotable and, if the Gods are good, likely to afford Free Fire some sort of cultstatus in the near future.

The chaotic nature of the film, along with the realism instilled in the gunshot wounds, allow Free Fire to meander and lose focus around the beginning of its third act.

When the narrative begins to ramble, the loss of focus is accompanied with a perfectly suited free-jazz score from composers Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow.

Accordingly, everything feels natural and intentional – very Wheatley.

This may not be Wheatley at his best; indeed, it’s perhaps his most unremarkable film. Regardless, at its loudest chaos and quietest respite, Free Fire is an excellently composed film from a director who is steadily becoming a modern master of the form.

Verdict: 8/10

6 April 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 25

GAZETTE

TECH

The Internet’s Dad YouTube turns into defends user data NoTube as annoyed advertisers halt ads around the planet YOUTUBE , a n d s i s ter company Google, are splashing through some choppy waters at the moment as several major advertisers, via their marketing firms, are continuing their current boycott of the platforms over concerns about their ads being inadvertently linked to extremist material.

The brands have been alarmed that ads for their products or services have been popping up within or alongside videos or content posted by hate groups or extremist figures, such as religious fundamentalists, white nationalist groups, and so on.

Flaring up throughout March, the row has now spread around the world as companies in countries from America to Ireland to Australia have halted their advertising on YouTube and Google (with both platforms part of the same parent company, Alphabet Inc).

Of course, neither YouTube or Google or the advertisers themselves chose this outcome, which is a result of the platforms’ complex algorithms curating and matching up content – very badly, in this case.

Like a string of dominoes, once one big company halted their advertising spend, others took note and halted theirs, with the row growing exponentially and seeming to catch the

platforms by surprise at the scale and speed of the boycott.

At the time of writing, a wide range of bigname brands around the world have paused their YouTube and/ or Google advertising, with Irish social media and internet users closer to home also seeing how some big brandname ads have quietly disappeared, for the moment.

A common theme in the brands’ complaints has been that not only are they very annoyed about their products appearing anywhere near extremist content, but that such figures or groups can also potentially profit financially from visitor-count revenue streams and the like – something they won’t support.

Given the evolving media landscape, this bump in the road for YouTube echoes the growing pressure for it – and other social media platforms – to seriously consider its role as a content-providing platform.

Initial steps to dampen down the disquiet by adding new controls for marketers did little to calm the mood, with Google and YouTube subsequently ramping up attempts to eradicate such content and increase ‘brand safety’ avenues.

A bit like YouTube itself, this issue is one to keep watching ...

I HAD written a neat piece about US President Donald Trump’s recent attacks on internet privacy with worrying global implications (see below), but when Tim BernersLee (AKA ‘the guy who invented the internet’, AKA The Internet’s Dad) weighed in on the move with a suitably Trumpian soundbyte (“disgusting”), well, a late night rewrite was the least I could do.

But first, some backstory, and an insight into what has brought a true Titan of technology into the fray ...

As part of his ongoing whirlwind of attacks on everything, President Trump has set his sights on internet users’ browsing history, clearing the way for ISPs (internet service providers) to sell their browsing history.

After all, whether you’re searching for a new job, a hotel, medicine or whatever, there’s a potentially

 SHANE DILLON sdillon@dublingazette.com

useful commercial aspect to at least some of that data – an aspect which has previously been largely reigned in by a number of checks and balances by governments and watchdogs around the world, with most tending to try to balance consumer and individual privacy rights against other matters.

Not so in the States any more, where President Trump has now cleared the way for ISPs to turn their users’ data into commercially viable data – needless to say, if your ISP suddenly starts actively recording everything you see and do on the internet, you’re creating a perfect profile of who you are,

what you like, want, think and feel.

That’s not to say that internet users all around the world will now start unwittingly creating perfect dossiers of info for The Man and shadowy corporations to exploit, but the move to allow such data mining sets a worrying precedent, potentially creating a domino line of tumbling user rights and a slow whittling away of civil liberties around the world.

In this context, it’s no wonder that The Internet’s Dad is so annoyed about the move.

Speaking about the internet for many years, Berners-Lee has always been a tireless advocate of the positive change for humanity as a whole than the internet, and free access to information, can make.

To see users then potentially even further turned into a commodity, open-

Tim Berners-Lee, credited with inventing the modern internet as we know it, has weighed in on the potentially escalating row over users’ automatic right to privacy versus companies looking to monetise their browsing data

ing up a can of worms about the loss of privacy – well, it’s no wonder Berners-Lee thinks it’s a terrible move, and one to oppose.

Speaking to The Guardian, Berners-Lee discussed a number of potential pitfalls that an increased commercial exploitation of users could engender, just part of his worries about the drift of certain aspects of the Internet in recent years.

He said: “There are things that people do on the web that reveal absolutely everything, more about them than they know themselves sometimes.

“Because so much if what we do in our lives that actually goes through those left-clicks, it can be ridiculously revealing.

“You have the right to go to a doctor in privacy where it’s just between you and the doctor. And similarly you have to be able

to go to the web. Privacy, a core American value, is not a partisan thing.”

Still, all is not lost for consumers – in America, at least, as just because the ISPs have been given a green light to flog user data doesn’t mean that they will.

Verizon AT&T, and Comcast – big players in the US – have said that they won’t sell customers’ individual browsing data, despite the green light to do so.

If telecoms giants settle into a gentlemen’s agreement – particularly under public and political pressure to respect user wishes about privacy and data – then all is not lost.

Ultimately, Irish, US and global internet users alike should take a greater interest in such battles and tussles for the internet’s soul – not least as The Internet’s Dad won’t always be there to try and keep things in order ...

26 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 6 April 2017

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GAZETTE

28 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 6 April 2017

SPORT

FastSport SHIELS INSPIRES BELVO SEMI WIN: OLD Belvedere earned a place in the women’s All-Ireland rugby final with a 13-12 win over Railway Union at Willow Lodge.

Railway built a ninepoint lead midway through the second half thanks to tries from Niamh Byrne and Kim Flood but the defending champions, who were hunting for a fourth final appearance in a row, showed the benefit of their nous and experience to pull off an improbable triumph.

The tension was ratcheted up when a serious neck injury to Old Belvedere’s young scrum half Kathryn Dane led to a half hour delay as an ambulance was summoned.

It came with Belvo leading by one point with six minutes remaining and Belvedere held out a series of Railway attacks on the resumption to set up a final date with UL Bohemians.

Jackie Shiels instigated their fightback, scoring all of Belvo’s points.They trailed 12-3 before she crossed to inspire the comeback

RUGBY: DUBLIN 4 SCHOOL PROVE TOO STRONG FOR BLACKROCK IN QUALITY FINAL

Five-star Michael’s sweep to Leinster Junior Cup title

LEINSTER JUNIOR CUP FINAL St Michael’s Blackrock College  sport@dublingazette.com

31 17

WILLIAM Hickey led St Michael’s College to their fourth Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Junior Cup title at Donnybrook last weekend.

They prevailed with an electric five-try performance that matched the atmosphere at the venue.

After both sides made big inroads in a frantic and physical opening period with Michael’s being the first to make a breakthrough.

It came from a scrum inside their own half, the ball was shifted right for Chris Cosgrave to simply take off, chip Shane Murray and collect on the far side for a stunning try.

He had the composure to convert from wide right for 7-0 in the 10th minute.

At this stage. Blackrock were using wing John Campbell to get over the gain-line from the scrum and Michael Lowey was never too far away from the ball.

Their ingenuity was eyecatching, Lowey almost getting around Cosgrave while their

St Michael’s celebrate their Leinster Schools Junior Cup title. Picture: Paul Lundy

forwards set up a clever maul in midfield to draw a penalty and, almost more, as prop Scott Barron went within a foot of the line.

There was the consolation of Adam Dixon’s penalty to make it 7-3 in the 19th minute.

They backed this up with strong carrying up the guts, a smart lineout and thrust from lock Mark Morrissey, destroyed

by Jack Boyle’s superb poach.

St Michael’s moved with menace from the work of wing Simon O’Kelly and full-back

Eddie Kelly until stunted by a Rock solid defence.

In return, the Williamstown school looked to their maul for profit and it was moving well when captain Hugh O’Malley gave away a needless penalty Out of the blue, St Michael’s narrowed their focus to crank up the pick-and-go relentlessly for number eight Jack Boyle to blast to the line for 12-3 in the final minute of the first-half.

There was a frantic re-opening as Blackrock came calling, wing

Lowey taken down by Kelly and scrum-half Jeffrey Woods launching the ball forward for a footrace.

It was good enough for a St Michael’s lineout which Kelly threatened to turn into five points were it not for the vigilance of Campbell.

Rock centre Small almost got away down the right and wing Lowey had to be cut down by Kelly again.

St Michael’s couldn’t escape and their eagerness to rush up in

defence onto Dixon cost them a penalty, but not the points.

Then, the winners simply moved into top gear as they took the ball through three phases and the best part of 60 metres for out-half Niall Carroll to finish into the left corner.

Cosgrave converted from the touchline for 19-3 in the 44th minute.

When Rock pushed the passes, Hickey picked one off, replacement Hugo McWade was in support and Cosgrave took it home ahead of his conversion.

Rock were not going to roll over and they rebounded in direct fashion, their number eight Liam Heylin somehow managing to ground the ball for replacement Michael Moloney to convert in the 50th minute.

Full-back Kelly’s well-judged kick and Lee Barron’s rescue of an overthrown lineout put St Michael’s back on the front foot for Harrison to cut back against the grain for their fifth try.

The game concluded with Blackrock applying sustained pressure to create space on the left for replacement Seb Lowe to exploit, Moloney converting as the final whistle sounded.

Ballymun Patriots edge out DVC to volleyball league  sport@dublingazette.com

The Ballymun Patriots volleyball team

BALLYMUN Patriots claimed the win they needed last weekend to claim the men’s Premier Division title ahead of Clondalkin-based Dublin Volleyball Club Bravo.

Going into the final round of fixtures in the national volleyball leagues, the pair were the two sides in the frame for the title with Ballymun leading DVC by one point and were first in action on Saturday at home to Garda VC. There, they proved too strong in a fixture that swung both directions. The first set was a tense

30-28 with Ballymun getting their noses in front. They went two up after a 25-16 second set before Garda fought back in the third winning 25-21 but an emotionally charged fourth set was won by Ballymun 25-21.

The result was greeted with joy and relief too in the Ballymun Comprehensive School sports hall.

The men’s team is a vibrant mix of nationalities including players originally from Estonia, Poland, Brazil and Slovakia.

Slovakian native and Ireland All-Star Lubor Halanda said after-

wards of the win: “It’s a great feeling because we came close a couple of times over the last six years so we finally made it. We’ve been waiting for a long time.”

Halanda has previously played professionally in Slovakia, Switzerland and Austria before knee injuries stopped his pro career.

He continued: “It’s basically for fun this league. There are no funds so clubs struggle to get any funds in but we have fun together on court.”

Ballymun Patriots were first formed in the mid-1980s were part of DCU’s sporting network before

going solo in 2006, moving the short distance to Ballymun.

Though in recent years the clubs has won the end of season showpiece event, the National Cup, on several occasions it had been some years since they were league champions.

In the women’s Premier, two sides were also in the mix, Garda VC and Galway VC. On Saturday, Garda beat Ballymun Patriots ladies team 3-0 to keep the pressure on. However, Galway didn’t falter, beating DVC ladies 3-0 in Colaiste Bride to take the title.

6 April 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 29

GAZETTE

FASTSport

UCD’s Duke leads way in Irish Senior Cup victory UCD claimed their fourth Irish Senior Cup title since 2009 as Deirdre Duke’s late winner saw the students snatch a 1-0 victory over Cork Harlequins at Belfield.

While just one goal separated the sides, it was end to end throughout with chances a plenty, all played at a break-neck speed with buckets of quality on display from two well-matched sides.

When the sides met earlier in March, UCD won out 4-3 and while there was not the volume of goals, there was no shortage of incident, attacking intent and moments of magic.

Duke went closest in the first half when she drew a brilliantly athletic boot from Buckley and her side kept out a trio of UCD penalty corners.

Quins’ major chance came when Roycroft’s incisive through ball located Michelle Barry and her perfect touch set her through one-on-one but she blazed a wild shot over the students’ crossbar.

Another couple of corners came and went for UCD as Gillian Pinder’s floating runs gathered momentum. Roisin Upton, though, was bossing the Cork side’s defence with a series of robust tackles while Yvonne O’Byrne’s speedy runs from right back provided plenty of inspiration.

The second half was much more structured with chances less frequent with both sides holding the balance of power at different stages.

Quins had three corners which Cassin coped with well while there was almost a bizarre goal with 16 minutes to go from Roycroft’s shot. Cassin left the ball, believing it to be off target, but it duly bounced off the base of the post and across the goal line.

UCD had their spell on top, particularly when both Upton and Rebecca Barry were sent to the sin-bin.

But it was when Mullan was sent to the bin with three minutes left that the Dublin side duly struck gold with Duke laying off for Clarke. Facing Buckley, she selflessly laid off for Duke to take her time and pot the winner with little time left to build a counter-punch.

Speaking afterwards, Duke said of the tie: “Player for player there was no difference between the two sides. We got our chance and we executed. I don’t really mind [if we win] by one goal, two goals or whatever so long as it’s a win.”

Sheridan speeding up in race against time

Dundrum South Dublin man becomes first Irish sprinter to medal at world athletics masters championships since 2010 despite only taking up athletics when he was in his early 50s  JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

DUNDRUM South Dublin Athletic’s Club athlete Shane Sheridan brought home a silver medal from the 200 metres at the World Master’s Indoor Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea late last month, as well as reaching the finals in the 60 metres and men’s 4 x 200 metre contests.

Sheridan’s achievements are particularly astonishing, however, given he only took up the sport at the age of 53. At the age of 58, is one of the oldest competitors at the sharp end of his M55 category for those aged 55 and over.

“I’m unusual,” Sheri-

dan told GazetteSport, “in that I’m still getting faster. I played rugby and tennis into my mid30s. I’ve also done a lot of hiking in my life – places like Everest Base Camp and Kilimanjaro – that has kept me fit. I joined Dundrum South Dublin as I was looking for a way to keep fit. At the time, I knew nothing about Masters Athletics, so it’s been quite a journey.”

Sheridan found a Masters scene made up largely of lifelong athletes.

“Naturally, they’re getting slower, but I’m still getting quicker,” the Dundrum athlete explained. “Obviously, I’m going to start slowing down at some point but

I haven’t had a year yet where I didn’t improve.

“I hadn’t even planned to go to Daegu, but we had a relay team of three people and they needed a fourth. I decided to go along, and seeing as I was there, compete in the other events, too.”

The relay team Sheridan’s referring to, incredibly, is a team running in the M35 (male over 35) category, one that made the finals despite the presence of Sheridan, a man 23 years older than the minimum.

“I’m about a second slower than the other runners. They’d be running around 25.5, and I’m at around 26.5,” he said. “It’s not a huge gap.”

B e i n g c o m p e t i t i ve

at the M35 age group, then, it’s no surprise that Sheridan powered to a big personal best and a silver medal in the individual M55 category.

I’d come about seventh based on the line ups.”

The results, clearly, are very promising when it comes to Sheridan’s move up to M60 in a

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

‘Obviously, I’m going to start slowing down at some point but I haven’t had a year yet where I didn’t improve’ Shane Sheridan

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

“I believe it’s only the second Masters medal by an Irish male sprinter. It’s certainly the first since 2010,” he told us.

“It was a great experience. I ran pretty much every day from the Monday to the relay final on Sunday, with the various rounds. I was a little surprised how well I did; I had hoped to make the 200 final, but thought

Shane Sheridan, left, with his fellow competitors following the M55 60m final and, right, in action in the M35 4x200m relay

couple of years’ time.

“I think the thing people can take from my story is that running doesn’t have to be about long distance when you get a bit older,” Sheridan told us. “So many people start running marathons, things like that, and it really doesn’t suit everyone, every type of body.

Track and field might be better.”

GAZETTE

30 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 6 April 2017

SPORT

FASTSport

Monkstown’s cup reign comes to end to Bann MONKSTOWN hockey club relinquished their Irish Senior Cup crown to Banbridge as they were unable to turn the tide in a 3-1 final loss last Sunday at Belfield.

They were the driving force from the start and they hit the front with barely eight minutes on the clock. Matthew Allister’s cross looked innocuous enough but it somehow managed to slip through David Fitzgerald and a defender’s clutches to allow Jonny McKee to tap in.

Town sought to fight back quickly but they got little change in the first half from the Bann defence with Matthew Bell leading the way with some major tackles and blocks allied to his immaculate range of aerial passes.

The Co Down side, however, were the much more incisive force going forward.

Fraser Mills was twice denied by brilliant Fitzgerald blocks as Magee produced a few moments of magic.

Allister thumped over a good chance while Jonny McKee’s cross flashed by the face of goal. They had to wait until the second half for the second goal but it was worth it when it came. From their first corner, Magee’s initial drag was saved but he caught the rebound and pumped in a backhand volley at full throttle for 2-0.

It brought Monkstown to life and they got one back in brilliant fashion, Davy Carson escaping Bell’s clutches on the left wing before unleashing a superb backhand shot to the top corner.

But the killer blow came with 20 minutes to go when Mills picked up the ball 30 metres out. He flipped the ball through the legs of the last defender to get clear before squaring for Magee to roll into an open goal.

Monkstown threw everything they could forward after that, winning a number of penalty corners and creating a couple of goalmouth scrambles. Gareth Lennox, though, coolly dealt with what came his way and they rode out the final quarter to land the title.

SOCCER: STRADBROOK SIDE STUNNED BY ATHLONE’S COMEBACK

Cabinteely missed the chance to go top of the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland First Division due to two late goals. Picture: Paul Lundy

Cabo struck by double blow SSE LOI FIRST DIVISION

Athlone Town 3 Cabinteely 3  sport@dublingazette.com

C A B I N T E E LY F C missed the chance to go top of the SSE Airtricity First Division last weekend as they drew 3-3 away to Athlone Town, conceding two goals in injury time.

The away side was looking for a fourth consecutive win in the league for the first time in their short histor y having opened their campaign with two losses.

They took the lead after just four minutes when Evan Galvin tapped the

ball into an empty net after Conor Gleeson failed to keep hold of a shot from Joe Doyle.

Cabo looked good value for a win when they doubled their advantage eight minutes later through Jack Watson. The former Shamrock Rovers and UCD midfielder evaded the opposition defence to get on the end of a lofted ball into the box and finish past Conor Gleeson in the Athlone goal.

Athlone managed to pull a goal back 12 minutes into the second half when Walter Invernizzi blasted home a cross from Conor Barry.

NATIONAL CHAMPION Gallagher retains 60m title with personal best DSDAC’S Laura Gallagher retained her

national title when she won the Under-15 girls 60m hurdles in the National Juvenile Championships in Athlone last Saturday, doing so in a new personal best of 9.27 seconds.

Also reaching the final of the hurdles from the club were Cian Dunne in the Under-15 Boys, ending sixth in 9.82; Hannah Bondzio in seventh in the Under-16 girls in 9.87; Liam Jenkins seventh in the Under-16 boys in 9.18 and Ciaran Carty seventh at Under-17 level.

H o w e v e r, K i e r a n “Marty” Waters restored Cabo’s two goal advantage with his third goal in as many games two minutes later. The experienced midfielder picked himself up from the ground to fire home from the spot after he was taken down in the box by David Brookes.

The game appeared to be wrapped up on 63 minutes when Cabo had the ball in the back of the net once again but the strike was ruled out by a linesman’s flag.

Athlone saw a chance from Kirils Grigorovs saved by Cabo keeper Michael Kelly with a

minute of the game left but they were giving their lifeline in the 91st minute when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Chris Rodrigues. Barry scored the spot kick to set up a nervy finale for Cabo.

With the referee’s whistle just seconds from drawing the game to a close, Athlone snatched an unlikely point. Rodrigues was once again involved as he found Invernizzi in the box. The Uruguayan managed to head the ball down to Jason Lyons who bundled it past Kelly.

The result sees Cabo sit in fourth position in

the league, just behind UCD on goal difference and one point behind Waterford and Cobh Ramblers at the top of the table. Athlone remain in sixth position but only three points off Cabo in a league that looks likely to be a closely-fought battle.

There was better news for Cabinteely’s League of Ireland Under-19 side at the weekend as they fought back from being 2-0 to Wexford in the first half, to win 3-2. Cabo also had a man sent off in the 35th minute but managed to snatch a win through goals from Conor Maguire, Cian Lynch and Ross Moloney.

6 April 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 31

GAZETTE

LADIES FOOTBALL: HAMILL PLAYS STARRING FINAL ROLE

CLUB NOTICEBOARD CUALA GRUPA Gaeilge: Bhi cruinniu ag grupa

last Saturday. Next Saturday sees the

beag maidir le Gaeilge a chur chun cinn

03 Boys’ Feile teams take centre stage

i gCuala ar an Domhnach 2 Aibrean.

with the As playing in Thomastown. All

Cinneadh 1: Ní leanfaidh aon chruin-

Well done to Michael Fitzsimons and

2: Liosta de nathanna le cur le cheile

Conor Mullally on beating Monaghan

a chabhroidh le tuismitheoirí roinnt

with the Dublin senior footballers to

Gaeilge a labhairt agus iad ag oiliúint

reach the league final.

na bpaisti; Cinneadh 3: Chead Chruin-

Congratulations to Cuala’s Mar-

niu eile Domhnach 7 Bealtaine 8.30 in i

tha Byrne and the rest of the Dublin

gCuala, Deilginis. Failte roimh chách.

panel who beat Galway in their round

Our adult footballers had mixed

Foxrock Cabinteely’s Under-14 ladies football side celebrate Division One Feile glory. Picture: Peter Hickey/GAAPics.com

Fantastic Foxes land fourth Feile victory AIG DIV 1 FEILE FINAL Foxrock Cabinteely Ballyboden St Enda’s  DAIRE WALSH

0-6 0-4

sport@dublingazette.com

FOXROCK Cabinteely added to their storied ladies football Feile history as they landed the Dublin title last Sunday in Blakestown as they just about held Ballyboden St Enda’s at bay in the final at the end of another famous weekend.

There was never more than three points separating the sides at any stage but, with wing-forward Jennifer Hamill playing a starring role, Fox/Cab held out in the closing moments to secure their fourth Dublin Feile title.

They have also won the All-Ireland Feile crown on two occasions (including a memorable triumph over Corofin back in 2005), and are certain to be strong representatives for the county in the near future.

It was proving to be a scrappy beginning to the proceedings, however, with some injury stoppages disrupting the flow of the play. Boden started

to find their feet, though, and from a left-hand angle, Auveen O’Neill kicked a fifth-minute score for the south-siders.

This was the moraleboost that Colm Bolger’s girls needed and, following excellent approach work from Jennifer Hanrahan, Grace O’Neill kicked a fine point on the turn. There was no reason for Fox/Cab to panic just yet, though, and they levelled matters in the ninthminute with a successful 30-metre free by Hamill.

The required substitutions on 10 minutes allowed both management teams to introduce fresh legs into their respective line-ups, but it was Fox/ Cab who had the more productive finish to the first-half.

Industrious play from Flannery provided the platform for Megan Dempsey to find the range, and at the end of a fine attacking move, Hamill was on target for the Kilbogget Park side – who brought a 0-4 to 0-2 cushion into the interval.

Boden were still in contention upon the resump-

tion but if they were to swing the pendulum in their direction, they needed to curb the influence of Hamill and Flannery.

Hamill was making significant inroads for Fox/ Cab and she cut inside from the left-wing to kick another outstanding point in the 16th-minute.

With neither side cutting loose in the opposition half, this score was becoming increasingly important in the overall context of the game.

Boden persevered with their challenge, however, and midfielder Michaela Fitzpatrick broke free for her team’s first point in all

of 20 minutes.

This offered a muchneeded lift to St Enda’s during a difficult spell, and when Grace Lawlor split the posts under severe pressure, it was a one-point game once more. While normal time was almost up at this point, a series of stoppages ensured that there was a total of seven minutes of injury-time at the end of an enthralling spectacle.

This acted as an incentive for Boden, but despite their best endeavours, a 33rd-minute Hamill free helped Foxrock/ Cabinteely to keep their counterparts at bay.

7 match.

results at the weekend. The seniors

Hard luck to the Dublin Hurlers,

lost out to St Brigid’s in AFL1 and our

including Cuala’s Cian O’Callaghan,

second team lost to St Finian’s in AFL4

Oisin Gough, Darragh O’Connell, David

while our fourth team drew 3-3 to 0-12

Treacy and Jake Malone, on their rel-

with St Mark’s in AFL10

egation to Division 1B last Sunday.

A date for your diary! Cuala Awards

Congratulations to Cuala’s Jennifer

Night 2017 is on April 15 in Royal Marine

Dunne and Eimear O’Loughlin after

Hotel. Tickets €25.

their victory with the Dublin minor

Hard luck to the 03 girls who lost out in the group stage of the football Feile

SHANKILL

THE result of the club development lotto

football team over Meath to qualify for the Leinster final.

Kilmacud Crokes.

draw, sponsored by Slimming World, was

On Sunday, our U-9 girls travelled

held on Thursday, March 30. Numbers

to St Marys while the U-11 girls had a

drawn were 14, 16, 17 and 31. There was

friendly with Newtownmountkennedy in

no jackpot winner. The jackpot is now a

the Castle. The adult men’s footballers

whopping €1,500.

lost to Thomas Davis in the league.

Lucky dip winners were Luke Lawless,

Registration of players (outside of the

Ann Ryan and Darren Boothman. Tickets

academy) and fees will still be accepted

are €2 each or three for €5.

on Saturday in the Castle.

Our academy, sponsored by O’ Don-

Our golf classic will be held in Wood-

nell’s Pharmacy, is back in our home

brook Golf Club on Friday, June 30. Team

ground, Shanganagh Castle, at 10am

of four players is €300 and includes

every Saturday.

a meal. Contact Jimmy Nolan on 087

The cost is €2 per child, there is no

2633203; the time sheet is open now.

annual subscription and all equipment

New adult players are always wel-

is provided free. So why not come along

come; contact Kevin on 086 8449902. For

any Saturday morning and give the

more information on the club, contact

Academy a try.

secretary.shankill.dublingaa.ie or call

There was plenty of action this week.

086 4010438.

U-9 boys football were away to St Anne’s

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

while the U-10 boys football hosted St

Join Shankill GAA Club, your community,

James Gaels/An Caislean in the Castle

your GAA club where everybody knows

and the U-13 girls football were away to

your name.

KILMACUD CROKES CONGRATULATIONS to the Dublin U-21

the receipt recently of the GAA Presi-

Team - Leinster Champions who beat

dent’s Award for his contribution to

Offaly on a score of 2-14 to 0-8.

ladies football on Friday night.

Well done to the Kilmacud Crokes

The awards, organised with the sup-

players that are involved in the panel -

port of Club Championship sponsors AIB

Andrew Mc Gowan, Ben Shovlin, Tom Fox,

and broadcast by TG4, are staged annu-

Dan O’Brien, Callum Pearson and Cillian

ally by the GAA and provide Uachtaran

O’ Shea.

Chumann Luthchleas Gael Aogan O Fear-

A medal presentation took place in

ghail, with an opportunity to acknowl-

Glenalbyn clubhouse bar on Saturday,

edge outstanding commitment and long

April 1 to our two winning championship

service across the club, and county net-

teams from 2016. Guests of honor were

work from people whose highly valued

the 1986 junior winners (acknowledging

contribution may not be recognised on

the 30th anniversary). Many thanks to

the national stage.

Marian Duggan and her team of helpers for the delicious food for all.

Congratulations to John Sheridan, on Action from the Feile final. Picture: Peter Hickey/GAAPics.com

support welcome.

niu nios mó na 30 noimead; Cinneadh

Well done to all in KC Wheelers on the donation of a cheque for €2,000 to Laura from their St Patrick’s day Charity cycle.

GAZETTESPORT

ALL OF YOUR DUN LAOGHAIRE SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 28-31

FNATASY FEILE: Fourth Dublin title for Fox/Cab’s fantastic fourteens as they land Division 1 title P31

APRIL 6-12, 2017

MICHAEL’S REJOYCE IN REPLAY: Dublin 4 school finally see off Rock in Junior Cup final P28

The St Joseph’s Boys Under-13 side that earned a place in the SFAI Cup final

Joeys’ All-Ireland date Sallynoggin club earns first SFAI Cup final berth for the season with a second potentially on the horizon as Under-13s see off Mervue United

 KARL GRAHAM

sport@dublingazette.com

ST JOSEPH’S Boys Under-13 side have AllIreland glory in their sight as they reached the final of the SFAI cup final thanks to a hardfought 3-1 win over Mervue United in Galway last weekend.

“We played very well, it was a tough game,” Joeys manager George Forsyth told GazetteSport of the victory. “They are unbeaten in their league this season and their only loss came in the final of the regional cup so they are a very good side. We were coming off a 15-game unbeaten run ourselves so we were confident going into the game.

“After their goal, we had our backs to the wall for a few minutes because the lads were annoyed, but we got our concentration back.”

The opening ten minutes were fairly even before Joey’s started to get on top and eventually took the lead 20 minutes into the game. It came about from a good through ball by Hugo McLaughlin that was fired past Mervue’s keeper by the outstanding Ruben Moloney.

It proved the only goal of a cagey first half that so Joeys on top but Mervue looking more than capable of getting back into the game.

Joeys have a habit of coming out stronger in the second half and it looked that was going to be the case again when they noticeably stepped up the pace.

Shots started to rain down on Mervue’s keeper but he proved equal to the task during the opening stages.

However, ten minutes after the restart it was 2-0 to the Dubliners when Moloney dribbled his way into the box before squaring to Fallou Niang to fire home.

The game was thrown into controversy shortly after when the referee stopped play to allow an injured Mervue player to be treated 35 yards from the Joeys goal.

Upon restarting the game, the referee asked a Mervue player to kick the ball back to the away side’s keeper but, when he kicked it over the head of the keeper and into the net, the officials allowed the goal to stand.

Incensed by this feeling of injustice, the Joeys players were determined to put the game to bed and did so when Moloney broke up the pitch from the halfway line before beating two players and burying a shot past the keeper and into the bottom left hand corner.

Joeys will now meet the winner of the other semi-final between St Kevin’s Boys and Evergreen which takes place on Saturday.

Forsyth in particular will be looking forward to the outcome of that game as he looks to secure his first win from seven finals.

This weekend also sees the St Joseph’s Under-15 side in SFAI cup semi-final action as they go head to head with Cork side Corinthian Boys.