Gazette dun laoghaire
December 12, 2013 Find us on
Month XX, 2012 Dun laoghaire • Blackrock • Cornelscourt • Deansgrange • Dalkey • Glasthule • Monkstown • Glenageary
OPINION: Are our local authorities in need of reform? Minister in charge Phil Hogan thinks so See Page 6
FREE Athletics:
Coghlan on hand to launch annual GOAL Mile Page 27
a merry dance: Youth Ballet set for spectacular Christmas shows Page 5
Slip slidin’: Santa swings by for a visit santa’s little helpers Olivia McNicholl, Robbie Johnston and Conor Barker try to pull him off a blue children’s slide in Links Creche in Blackrock to start getting ready for his big journey on Christmas Eve. Santa Claus dropped by recently to meet the local children and to see them perform in some nativity plays. Picture: Maxwell Photography
Badminton: Evans’ focus is on future glory on Euro stage Page 29
ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES....................... 8 DUBLIN LIFE....................11 OUT&ABOUT.................. 18 CLASSIFIEDS.................26 SPORT............................27
20ft sculpture to be returned to artist Attempts to move the artwork to a new site have been unsuccessful
Bairbre Ni Bhraonain
A controversial 20ft steel sculpture commissioned over 10 years ago by artist Michael Warren for the Pavilion in Dun Laoghaire will be given back to the art-
ist by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. Gateway was gifted to the council by developer Eddie Sweeney in 2002 and has been stored in Cabinteely Park since works began on The Metals in 2009.
Attempts made to move it to a new site proved unsuccessful and the piece will now be exchanged for a different sculpture. Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor (FG) said: “It became the focus for graffiti,
adding to the perception of dereliction.” However Cllr Victor Boyhan (Ind) said: “I can think of no greater insult to an artist than to reject his site-specific commissioned work.” Full Story on Page 2
2 DUN laoghaire Gazette 12 December 2013
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council Vote passes to return sculpture
Door is slammed shut on Gateway’s return A 20F T-TALL steel sculpture weighing eight tonnes is to be returned by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to Wexford artist Michael Warren following a decision made by councillors at a meeting this week. Councillors voted 19 to four to discard the sculpture, entitled Gateway, which was inspired by 18th-century Dublin gateways, and to replace it with an alternative piece by the same artist at the Pavilion Quarter complex. Gateway was installed at the Pavilion site in 2002. It was funded by developer Eddie Sweeney and gifted to the council. However, over the years, the sculpture was frequently used as a canvas for local grafitti artists. Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor (FG) said she welcomed the decision. “Art is an extremely personal experience and opinions invariably differ. For me personally, however, this sculpture ultimately created a sense of decay in the beautiful seaside town of Dun
Bairbre Ni Bhraonain bnibhraonain@gazettegroup.com
Laoghaire. “It became the focus for graffiti, adding to the perception of dereliction created by the deliberately rusty appearance of corten steel.” In 2009, the sculpture was removed and put into storage during development of The Metals. Since then, it was not reintroduced to its original location. Instead, councillors agreed with the council’s public art steering committee’s recommendations to return the controversial piece to the artist. However, some councillors were not happy with this decision. Cllr Victor Boyhan (Ind) said: “I can think of no greater insult to an artist than to reject his sitespecific commissioned work, which was previously endorsed by the council – hence, I voted against its disposal. Wher-
Gateway, by Michael Warren, in situ before being removed from the Pavilion Quarter in 2009. Councillors have voted to return the controversial piece to its sculptor.
ever its next destination, I hope it is allowed to stand proudly.” A report by the public art steering group revealed three recommendations from arts officer Kenneth Redmond and his team for the sculpture’s future. Two involved a cost of €20,000 for the piece to be reconditioned; instead, councillors opted to return Gateway to the artist. Cllr Denis O Callaghan (Lab) said: “As chair of the public art steering group, I am pleased that this matter has finally been resolved by the council.” At a council meeting in May 2012, Cllr Richard Humphreys (Lab) asked the manager about the sculpture’s possible reinstatement at the Pavilion
site, and was told that due to development, the location was no longer appropriate for the sculpture, and consensus could not be reached on where to put it. This week, speaking on the decision to return the artwork, Cllr Humphreys said: “Gateway is being returned by agreement between the council and the artist in return for another work to be commissioned at a later stage. “I think this was a magnificent piece of sculpture and it created a great sense of place at a key location in Dun Laoghaire.” Cllr Niamh Bhreathnach (Lab) said: “Should the public really have a vote on a piece’s likability? “The first we knew
about it was when a member of the public, a keeper of standards, decided to object. “I am a little ashamed to have been a member of that council, and hope we have learnt lessons on how we handle culture in the future.” A council spokesperson said: “A sub-committee of the public arts steering group will be formed to consider any new works by the artist [Warren] and their location.” T he spokesperson added that storage of the sculpture is not costing the council anything, as it is being warehoused in Cabinteely Park. The Gazette attempted to contact Michael Warren about the decision, but he was unavailable for comment.
12 December 2013 DUN laoghaire Gazette 3
business: ‘commitment to creating work in local communities’
charity
Break a world record
Stillorgan salon creates 10 jobs
Bairbre Ni Bhraonain
TEN jobs are being created as beauty salon chain Anna Schu opens its second Irish store in Stillorgan. The store specialises in beauty therapies and products including special pedicure spas imported from California. The first Anna Schu store opened in Bray in August 2010, and founder Anna Schulmeistrat said: “Since we launched, the demand for our services has been exceptional. “We are delighted to have expanded to County Dublin to open our second salon in Stillorgan village. “There has been a particular demand for our
services and premium ranges in the Dublin area, with clients commuting from the city centre to Bray, and even from Wexford and Galway for our pedicures.” Anna spent six years abroad and lived in California and Dubai, where she worked for Emirates airline, and also on a private Lear jet. She said: “This expansion demonstrates our commitment to creating jobs in local communities. We have already filled some of the positions, but we are recruiting four more immediately. “When we opened in 2010, it was a risk, but an investor believed in me and helped me fulfil my dream. Thankfully, the
demand has been there and grown primarily by word of mouth and satisfied clientele. “Going forward, I want to develop the brand and I have already begun work on an original Anna Schu product range. “We make a huge effort to treat people with honour, and create a life-giving environment, where people feel at ease and are comfortable. “Staff training and input are important, and my girls are regularly updated on new training techniques and standards,” said Schulmeistrat. The new store in Stillorgan village now needs full and part-time beauty therapists and nail technicians.
Bairbre Ni Bhraonain
Tree-mendous work: Emma wins for for making best recycled decoration emma Babos, of St Mary’s Woodside National School in Sandy-
ford, was crowned the winner of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s 2013 Recycled Christmas Decoration competition recently. Emma won for making the best Christmas decoration, using everyday household items and recyclable materials. This is the 11th year that the competition has taken place. Picture: Jason Clarke
UNLEASH your hidden Santa for a good cause this month with a world record-breaking attempt for the greatest number of Santa hat wearers gathered together. Barnardos is launching the record-breaking gathering attempt at Dun Laoghaire Harbour Plaza in a bid to beat the current world record of 872 Santa hat wearers that was set in 2010 in Brockton, Massachusetts. Everyone is welcome to join in the event at the plaza on Saturday, December 21 at 2pm. Santa hats will be available on the day, and participants are asked to make a €2 donation, with all proceeds going to Barnardos.
4 DUN laoghaire Gazette 12 December 2013
volunteer Help keep the town at its best Bairbre Ni Bhraonain
DUN Laoghaire Tidy Towns is looking to recruit new members, with organisers eager to grow the team so that Dun Laoghaire can win future Tidy Towns competitions. The group recently launched its Christmas campaign and are now on the lookout for new recruits. Organiser Stephanie Batt said: “We advocate a community spirit in relation to keeping our town clean and tidy and encourage all in the neighbourhood to support our local shops and amenities.” Anyone who wishes to volunteer can do so by calling Stephanie at 086 313 8788.
courts Teen launched unprovoked attack on other
Girl was kicked in the head in beach assault A T E E N AGE g i r l attacked another girl in an unprovoked assault, leaving her with permanent hearing damage, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard. Grace Tormey (20), of Parnell Street, Sallynoggin, Dun Laoghaire, was 17 when she kicked Georgina Power in the head. Ms Power, who was also 17, suffered severe bruising and now has permanent tinnitus in her ear. She did poorly in her
Leaving Certificate as a result of the assault and was forced to repeat the next year. Judge Mary Ellen Ring remanded Tormey on continuing bail until sentencing next March. She also ordered an updated probation report for that date.
Pleaded guilty Tormey pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Ms Power at West Pier, Dun Laoghaire, on March 17, 2011. She has six previous convictions,
including assault. Prosecuting counsel Pieter Le Vert BL presented evidence that Ms Power and her friend were walking on the beach and had entered into a scrapyard area, where they met some other teens. They decided they didn’t feel comfortable and were leaving the area when they saw Tormey and another girl going to the toilet. These girls started shouting at Ms Power and her friend.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the victim has been left with permanent hearing damage following being assaulted in Dun Laoghaire
One of the attackers then grabbed the victim’s head and tried to force it into a wall before forcing Ms Power to the ground during a struggle. Tormey then intervened and started kicking Ms Power in the head.
After the attack, Ms Power’s friend brought her home. The victim later went to hospital with severe bruising and headaches. She had a loud tinnitus in one of her ears which has failed to resolve itself.
Defence counsel Marie Torrens BL said Tormey has been “utterly out of control” since the death of her brother. Counsel said she is now trying to get her life in order and wants to apologise to her victim.
12 December 2013 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 5
ARTS Boys and girls ready for two diverse performances
Ballet company is on point for shows BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN
THE Irish National Youth Ballet (INYB) is performing two spectacular Christmas shows in the Pavilion Theatre for four days in December. Entitled Nightmare Before Christmas, and A Christmas Tale, they will run from December 12 until 15. Nightmare Before Christmas is a specially-commissioned work by the INYB, while A Christmas Tale is a newly adapted piece. The Gazette spoke to Kathleen Lewis, artistic director of the INYB. She said: “The company has gone from
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strength to strength over the years and thankfully we’ve received a grant from the Arts Council lasting 17 years. “The INYB was set up in 1996, but I took over seven years ago. Nowadays, there are many more dancers and teachers involved in the company [than previously]. “We have auditions each year in Dance House on Foley Street, where we’re based, and 33 teachers from all around Ireland put forward their best students. “We then choose the best 40 each year to join the company. This year, I chose 41 and of that
number, we have only three boys; they work really hard in the company. “Attracting boys to ballet in Ireland is still a big problem, whereas it’s not an issue anywhere else in the world. “Overall, the standard of dance is getting higher in Ireland but another problem is that we still don’t have accreditation for a full-time ballet school. “All of the teachers and choreographers at INYB are ex-professional dancers, but we’re losing the top three or four of our top dancers each year when they have to go on to England for
full-time training. “Our company gets them up to a very high standard, but they still have to go abroad to audition for fur ther shows and training. “If we had a full-time company, this would not be the case. “There would be a place for young dancers here if the Arts Council put their full weight behind creating a fulltime company,” said Kathleen. She went on to speak about the upcoming ballets due to appear in the Pavilion for Christmas. “There are three different sections to the performance. There is
Some of the young dancers of the Irish National Youth Ballet, with its artistic director, Kathleen Lewis (inset) happy to discuss its two very different upcoming performances at the Pavilion Theatre
the Nightmare Before Christmas; a dance macabre with the dancers depicting characters who’ve come back from the dead. “The young dancers really enjoyed this piece, and spent much more time backcombing their
hair than they ever have putting it up into a bun! “A Christmas Tale is a little different, as it has a Saint Nicholas figure in it instead of Santa,” she said. Evening Shows of Nightmare Before Christmas and A Christ-
mas Tale at the Pavilion Theatre cost €20 for adults, and €15 for children, while matinees are €17.50 for adults and €13 for children. Tickets can be purchased online at www. paviliontheatre.ie, or by phoning 01 231 2929.
6 DUN laoghaire Gazette 12 December 2013
opinion Phil Hogan on the Local Government Reform Bill
Abolishing outdated institutions is right for the country THE Local Government Bill 2013, which is currently before the Dail, implements the reforms in the Action Programme for Effective Local Government, Putting People First, which outlined the rationale for reform and a vision for local government to be utilised as effectively as possible as the primary vehicle for governance and public service locally (as seen at www.environ.ie/en/ publications/local government/administration). The Bill addresses fundamental weaknesses and brings renewal across the entire local government system; structures, functions, funding, governance and operational arrangements. This short piece concentrates on structural reform, which has gained much media attention due partly to a campaign by some local politicians to save their seats in the guise of defending local democracy and services. The hollowness of the “democracy” slogan is exposed by the fact that the 744 town councillors, who comprise 46% of all councillors, represent only 14% of the population – an imbalance that
is aggravated by the fact that ‘the 14%’ have double votes and two sets of councillors. As regards local services, the 80 town councils, which comprise more than 70% of local authorities, account for less than 7% of local authority activity measured by expenditure. No wonder the ‘save our seats’ campaign garnered little, if any, support during its passage at Dail Second Stage [voting].
Questions We tend to be changeaverse in relation to public institutions, but in considering the status quo in local government, we need to reflect on a range of questions, such as: • Does it serve the people well that we have a town council for 15 towns with a population of fewer than 2,000 people, while a number with more than 10,000 do not? • Why do residents living inside a boundary line have a town council, while those in the suburbs of the same town, but outside an outdated boundary, must deal with the county council? • Does it make sense that town councils operate like ‘islands’, separate from their wider hinter-
lands? • Does it serve a useful purpose that some town councils, which owe their existence to 160-year-old legislation, have virtually no functions? • Would it make sense to try to rectify anomalies by transferring territory and resources from the county councils to the towns, thereby weakening the former; or by creating new town councils and extra councillors? The current multiplicity of authorities involves massive duplication, which must be eradicated not expanded. More significant than the reduction of nearly 700 council seats is the fact that the Bill will result in 83 fewer local authority structures – that’s 83 fewer annual budgets, annual reports, annual audits, corporate plans, development plans, elections, and various other processes. The ‘83’ figure only counts local authorities, and does not capture the full extent of administrative and political streamlining. More than 190 separate organisations are being dissolved, including 34 City and County Development Boards, 35 County Enterprise
Phil Hogan, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. Picture: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland
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‘The 80 town councils will be replaced by a more coherent system of municipal districts, integrated with the county structure, unlike the duplicative, stand-alone town councils’
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Boards, eight regional authorities and more than 30 other local bodies dealing with matters such as burials, drainage, libraries and harbours. This excludes some other subsidiary local bodies, committees and sub-committees. It is an unprecedented elimination of unnecessary duplication, unproductive bureaucratic structures and process, and administrative overheads. The administrative staff released [by this elimination process] will be put to more productive use in advancing sustainable social, economic and environmental development, ensuring the best possible local services, and working to enhance the quality of life of local communities. However, the reform
programme is not primarily about dissolutions. The merging of six city/ county councils into unified authorities in Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford is well advanced, and bearing fruit. The 80 town councils will be replaced by a more coherent and comprehensive system of municipal districts, integrated with the county structure, unlike the duplicative, stand-alone town councils. Whether you live in Ashbourne orTrim, Claremorris or Castlebar, in the town centre, the suburbs, or the rural hinterland, you will be represented by municipal district members who will decide, and be accountable for, a range of important matters in the local area. With nearly 70 statu-
tory functions listed in the Bill for municipal district level, county council decisions on local matters will be brought closer to local communities, freeing plenary meetings of local issues and enhancing subsidiarity. This is recognised in a recent Council of Europe report which, contrary to some misleading comments, specifically endorsed the changes at sub-county level and, far from criticising the Bill – as some have tried to imply – welcomed the overall Action Programme. As well as modernising structures, the Bill will strengthen local government functions, especially in economic and community development, reversing a decades-long trend of marginalisation, and repositioning local government away from some traditional functions which require greater scale, resources or expertise. Local government will be more financially stable, self-reliant and responsible, with the restoration of independent revenue-
raising powers. There will be more r o b u s t g ove r n a n c e , including a National Oversight and Audit Commission, working within existing resources to oversee performance, value for money and best practice, stronger local audit provisions, and stronger council oversight of the executive, which will be headed by a ‘chief executive’, and having additional obligations with respect to the elected council. Outdated structures and practices have not served local government well. The Reform Bill opens a new future for local government, increasing its capacity to play a wider role, with public confidence in its ability to be the primary vehicle of public service at local level and a major force in enhancing the quality of life of all our communities. phil hogan Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government
12 December 2013 DUN laoghaire Gazette 7
council Initiative to boost local shopping
One hour free parking for Christmas Bairbre Ni Bhraonain
AN OFFER of one hour’s free parking in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown means only one thing – Christmas is here. The council is offering shoppers free parking in several commercial hubs within the county as part of its holiday parking promotion, which began
on December 10 and is assisting county shoppers and visitors with one hour’s free parking after they pay for the first hour, until the season is over on December 31. Drivers who go into shopping areas where pay and display systems normally apply in Dun Laoghaire, Blackrock, Monkstown, Cabinteely,
Glasthule/Sandycove, Dalkey, Stillorgan and Dundrum will not have to pay for the second hour of on-street parking. A council statement said: “Motorists who pay for a minimum 60 minutes’ parking will be given 60 minutes’ free parking time in addition to the 15-minute grace period already available
throughout the county.” Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor (FG) said: “If we want to maintain our towns and villages to the standard that we currently enjoy, it is up to each and every one of us to ensure that we place a firm focus on shopping locally. “This initiative will help to make that goal a reality, at least for three weeks.”
GOAL: Run a mile at Christmas barbara Flynn from Black-
rock and Courtenay Pollard from Cabinteely helped launch the GOAL Mile recently, and are encouraging locals to take part in the one-mile run, which takes place at Christmas to help the charity fundraise and raise awareness of its work in developing countries. The GOAL Mile will take place at Kilbogget Park on December 25 from 10am to 12pm, and at Blackrock RFC on December 26, from 11am to 1pm. For further information, see www.goal.ie.
business: company shares €100k fund
Local firm gets €5k e-commerce boost Bairbre Ni Bhraonain
A FIRM in Dun Laoghaire was one of 20 small companies to win aid through the IE Domain Registry’s (IEDR) Optimise fund, it was revealed at a recent ceremony attended by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte. The IE Domain Registry – the registry for Ireland’s official internet address, .ie – announced the news that its Optimise e-commerce website development fund will be supporting 20 small firms to improve their e-com-
merce capabilities during 2014. Minister Rabbitte presented graduation certificates to this year’s winners, including Viking Marine, which is a Dun Laoghaire-based retailer specialising in ropes, electronics, marine, outdoor casual clothing and accessories. The company was founded in 1987 and first went online in 2008. Viking Marine will benefit from Optimise fund resources amounting to €5,000 out of a total fund of €100,000 to be shared among the 20 winning
small businesses this year. Ian O’Meara, head of Viking Marine, said: “We were delighted to take part in the Optimise fund [programme], and we are really excited by the potential of our remodelled website, thanks to the expertise of the IEDR Optimise team.” The company will now have access to state-ofthe-art resources provided by IEDR to transform its website. Over the course of its four years, the IEDR’S Optimise fund has provided 45 small and micro-
business owners with tangible e-tools and features, consultation, training and e-commerce services. Speaking at the award ceremony, Minister Rabbitte said: “I would like to congratulate the winners of the Optimise fund, which will help them to develop their online presence, increasing potential markets and improving competitiveness. “One of the key aims of the National Digital Strategy, which I published in July, was to get 2,000 small Irish businesses trading online over a period of two years.”
8 dun laoghaire gazette 12 December 2013
gazetteGALLERIES
Harley and Jasmine Smith
Santa meets Sophie Moroney-Dunne, Ruby Crowley and Daniella Moroney-Dunne. Pictures: Geraldine Woods
An Cathaoirleach Carrie Smyth had a very festive look
Elsa and Caelan Lambe
Cllr Victor Boyhan (Ind) with Luke and Julie Coldrick
12 December 2013 dun laoghaire gazette 9
Have you seen yourself in the Gazette? Buy photos online from only €6.99 at www.gazettephotos.com
Santa meets some local fans
Barbara Sheridan, Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor (FG), Deirdre Smith and Frances Cushion. Pictures: Geraldine Woods
community: relaunched library starts a new chapter in its life
D
UN Laoghaire-Rathdown’s busiest library was relaunched recently following an extensive refurbishment, with many people coming along to wish Deansgrange Library well. An Cathaoirleach, Carrie Smyth, was delighted to relaunch the library, joining with a large number of local councillors and community figures to congratulate the library staff on the wonderful works that had transformed the facility, while some of the library’s many young and old book fans got on with browsing the shelves, using the IT facilities, and checking out the library’s changes.
Anh-Dien Spillane is sitting pretty at the colourful carousel that was installed at the harbour plaza
community: fireworks help launch festivities
A little light work for Santa Claus D
ESPITE his busy schedule, Santa Claus made his way to Dun Laoghaire recently to help the town start its Christmas festival. The month-long celebrations started with the Blessing of the Crib outside St Michael’s Church, with choir singing by children from the Dominican School and St Joseph’s School. From there, people moved down to the harbour plaza, just in time for Santa’s arrival. With his help to turn on the town’s Christmas lights, and a colourful firework display, it was very clear to everyone that the cheerful Christmas season was under way in town.
Felicity Fleming, Dairne O’Sullivan and Marian Keyes, senior executive librarian with the council
Ben, Thea and Lucas Devenport
Fireworks at the harbour were a hit with everyone
There was a great turnout
Part of the large crowd that gathered for the celebrations
Kate Byrne, a 92-year-old library user, with An Cathaoirleach, Carrie Smyth
10 DUN laoghaire Gazette 12 December 2013
gazetteGALLERY
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Ali Lodola and Ben Logan
Sean Munsanje and Nadia Forde were amongst those who attended the Strictly Come Dancing event. Pictures: Richie Stokes
Dublin’s gliteratti in their dancing shoes B
OBBY Kerr and Mary Buckley were recently crowned the winners of Strictly Against Breast Cancer in the National Convention Centre. Many well-known faces were seen paired with volunteer supporters of Breast Cancer Ireland on the dance
Nora Casey
floor to raise funds for the charity, including Nick Munier, Professor Arnie Hill, Triona McCarthy, Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor (FG), Sean Munsanje and Siobhan O’Connor. The competition was judged by publisher Norah Casey, tailor Louis
Karen and Mark Colgan
Copeland and rugby commentator Brent Pope, while the MCs of the night were Aidan Power and Jenny Buckley . Siobhan O’Connor and Mark Cahill came in second place, while Emma Hannigan and Damien Gallagher came in third place.
Aisling Hurley and Ciara Holmes
Genevieve Holmes with Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor
Angela and Eric Lalor
12 December 2013 Gazette 11
Gazette
dublinlife Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week
asdfsdaf diaryP27 P14
feature P12
what’son lots of fun for families at farmleigh over christmas
Sisters Cecilia Ahern and Georgina Byrne at The annual Cari charity lunch at The Four Seasons Hotel
fundraiser: well-known faces attend lunch in aid of children’s charity
Showing they care to help support CARI’s work natalie burke
SOME of the most glamorous and stylish ladies of Dublin were out in force in recent weeks in an effort to help raise much needed funds for the CARI foundation. The charity, which works to support children who have suffered from sexual abuse, held its annual Christmas lunch at The Four Seasons on Friday, November 29, which was hosted by Miriam Ahern. The fashionable event, which raises in excess of €40,000 annually, began with a champagne reception and was
followed by a four-course lunch. During lunch, guests were entertained by The Halleluiah Gospel Choir and Karl Dawson, while TV3’s Alan Hughes was MC for the event. Other guests in attendance on the day included Georgina Byrne, Cecelia Ahern, Jane Given and RTE’s Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh. Carmel Breheny from M&S also attended the event, along with Dublin Wives star Virginia Macari, Tracey Pigott, Gary Kavanagh, Sean Munsanje and designer Sorcha O’Raghallaigh, to name but a few. Guests didn’t walk away empty
handed as they received packed goody bags with treats from TanOrganic, a Cecelia Ahern book, and a Newbridge Silverware Christmas tree decoration. A fun-filled raffle concluded the afternoon and guests moved on to continue the celebrations.
Important Following the event, Mary Flaherty, chief executive of CARI, said that fundraising events, such as its Christmas lunch, are more important than ever, “[especially] in the current recession where every year state funding to charities is reducing”.
On such funding, she said it “is cut by more than 15% on three years ago, and that represents a lot of lost therapeutic hours with families and employment in our organisation. “Most would be shocked to know that statutory and voluntary services for children aged from two to 18 are significantly less than those available to adults, and yet these services are being cut on the same basis as welldeveloped adult services.” It was hoped that in excess of €15,000 would be raised at the recent lunch, which will be used to help CARI maintain its level of services.
CHRISTMAS at Farmleigh is full of great, free events for all the family this year. The festive celebrations have already begun and continue until December 22. The Christmas Food Market is running in Farmleigh’s farmyard from 10am until 5pm and storytelling for children is on at The Old Kitchen, with carols to be sung in the ballroom. There will also be a festive crib set up outdoors, and a magic show for the children in the Cowshed Theatre, starting at 12pm, with halfhour shows continuing all day until 4pm. On Sunday, December 15, a puppet show called Mr Cool’s Muppet Christmas, in the Cowshed Theatre runs from 12pm to 4pm, while horse and carriage rides are available for people to experience Farmleigh Estate in style from 1pm to 4pm. The shows and activities continue throughout the Christmas period. For a full list of what’s on at Farmleigh, see www.farmleigh.ie
Gazette
12 Gazette 12 December 2013
dublinlife
feature a day in the life: Leo Oosterweghal
Zoo’s director on its roaring success natalie burke
There’s no time for any monkeying about in his job, as Leo Oosterweghal, Dublin Zoo’s director, has a busy and diverse workload every day caring for the animals
ANYONE with a pet knows that taking care of an animal can be a lot of work, but if you were to try your hand at looking after more than 400 animals, it would be a totally different story. However, for Leo Oosterweghal, Dublin Zoo’s director, taking care of so many animals is his whole life. With his house located on the grounds of the zoo, and his office just 100 metres from home, Leo is on call 24 hours a day, but says he wouldn’t change a
thing. He says: “I live in the zoo in a beautiful old house and, because I live on site, I’m always working. My phone is always on; I’m always on call.” On a typical morning, Leo says he is woken by his pet cat, looking for breakfast. After finishing his first task of the day, he checks his emails before setting off for the short stroll to his office. “Occasionally, I am delayed if there are animals crossing ... animals have the right of way in the zoo.
“My day can start at any time. We have four pregnant elephants at the moment, so there is a lot of activity. My [busy] day’s activities are always pencilled in. “In the morning, I could be sitting down with somebody in marketing to proofread Zoo Matters [Dublin Zoo’s magazine]. “Next, I could be meeting with an engineer – we’re in the middle of an amazing new development of a fantastic habitat for sea lions, called The Pacific Coast.” Later in the morning,
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‘The sounds of the zoo are incredible. I couldn’t sleep when the elephants were mating.’
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Leo Oosterweghal, director, Dublin Zoo
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Leo often has meetings with the human resources department of the zoo, or could be meeting with the team that films The Zoo for RTE. In the afternoon, Leo makes important phone calls, one of which is to a design company in Seattle who is helping with the landscape design of The Pacific Coast. “Every day is different, and you never know what’s going to happen next. My lunchtime and finishing time is flexible, as you never know what could happen.” When he gets home in the evening, he likes to relax by the fire and take in all of the noises of the zoo at night. “The sounds of the zoo are incredible. I couldn’t sleep when the elephants were mating; it went on for days. It was extraordinary! But I don’t usually find it difficult to sleep; it’s fascinating to hear the animals.” For Leo, the highlight of his working day is seeing Dublin Zoo growing and developing. “It’s getting better and better. It’s not a short-term highlight, it’s a high. We are always doing new things and have doubled our visitors in the past ten years. We are a success story.”
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RTE TV children’s presenter Emma O’Driscoll was joined by Juliette and Isabelle Guilmartin to officially launch this year’s UNICEF and IKEA soft toy fundraising campaign, in a bid to help education programmes in the developing world
Help UNICEF make a UNICEF Ireland and IKEA in Dublin have once again launched their annual soft toy campaign. For every IKEA soft toy and children’s book purchased from now until January 4, IKEA will donate one euro to education programmes worldwide, supported by UNICEF. The Soft Toys for Education campaign aims to provide quality education to children living in poverty in developing countries. Since the campaign started in 2003, donations from the annual campaign have totalled €57m, helping more than 10 million children in 46 countries to enjoy their right to a quality educa-
tion. Peter Power, executive director at UNICEF Ireland, said: “Thanks to the incredibly generous support of IKEA and their customers who buy a soft toy in the run up to Christmas, we are closer to our goal of getting every child in the world to school.”
walk to honour peggy mangan A SPECIAL commemorative fundraising walk is being organised in memory of Peggy Mangan, who died in September. Friends and family set up the Peggy Mangan Foundation and will raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society, and missing persons in Ireland, by
retracing the same route that the Alzherimer’s sufferer took with her loyal dog, Casper, from Mount Jerome to Ikea in Ballymun, where her body was found on waste ground. Gardai and members of the Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue team, the Order of Malta and the Civil Defence are all supporting the walk, which takes place on Saturday, December 14. Participants will leave at 12 midday and make their way to Harold’s Cross and on to Ikea in Ballymun. People can join or leave the walk at any stage along the route, and all pets are welcome, too. Those wishing to take part in the Walk for Peggy
can do so by downloading www.peggymangan. ie and registering to get sponsor cards.
be smart about not losing your flash phone WITH more than 12,000 mobile phones reported stolen in the last year, worth an estimated €5m in total, Gardai are warning people to be smart with their phones in the run up to Christmas. T h e f i g u r e s we r e revealed by An Garda Siochana in recent weeks in an effort to promote a range of measures people can take to reduce the chances of their phones being stolen. Sgt Alan Roughneen, of the National Crime
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difference for children’s education Prevention Unit, said: “Mobile phone theft is on the rise as gangs target high-value smartphones. “These are expensive items, and people should take the same care of them as they would any item that costs up to €500 and more. Smartphone owners need to be more vigilant, particularly when we are coming into a time of the year when they are more likely to be socialising.” For tips and advice on reducing the chances of phone theft, see www. garda.ie
new campaign to help support alzheimer’s THIS Christmas, the Alzheimer Society of
Ireland is giving you the opportunity to share your memories of a loved one affected by Alzheimer’s or dementia and to thank them for all the great memories you share. The Christmas Memory Ribbon Campaign invites members of the public to create a virtual ribbon with your own message and donation and hang it on their online Memory Ribbon Christmas Tree at www.alzheimer.ie Alternatively, you can call into one of the daycare centres nationwide and pick up a Memory Ribbon luggage identifier or trolley coin keyring. All donations made will go directly to services provided by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, which
providess a range of specialist services across the country such as day-care centres, home-care services, carer support groups, overnight respite centres, social club services and a national helpline.
quiff-tastic fun for cecelia and amanda IT SEEMS someone has a bit of hair envy, but Cecelia Ahern isn’t one to not help a lady out. Malahide resident and author Cecelia took to her Twitter page last week to share an amusing photo of herself and Amanda Brunker donning what looked like some windswept hair, while a giggling Cecelia was laughing under her hand.
Amanda Brunker and Cecilia Ahern are hair to have a little fun on Twitter
Fellow author and TV personality Amanda first posted the picture of herself with a homemade
quiff, teasing Cecilia’s new barnet, and asking Cecilia on her Twitter page: “How’s your quiff
now?” Re-Tweeting the same picture, Cecilia took to her page to say: “Hey Amanda, for all spiffing
quiff enquires contact Dylan Bradshaw aka The Quiff King.” Nice plug, eh Dylan?!
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gifts P20
MOTORS P23
TRAVEl P24
OUT&ABOUT Never be out of the loop on what’s happening in Dublin! Let Out&About be your guide to all that is stylish, cultural and essential across the city and beyond this week
Gazette
72P fadsfdsa
PETS
this clever young dog is looking for a loving new home The Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs. Our Dog of the Week is Roxy, an adorable one-year-old female Collie cross. Roxy is a super intelligent dog and has already mastered many commands, such as “paw”, “sit” and “down”. She has also been muzzletrained and loves T-touch relaxation techniques! She can be quite a worried young dog, so would need an understanding home, with no other dogs or children. If you think you can offer Roxy a home, please contact Dogs Trust at 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off Exit 5 on the M50, and directions can be found on www. dogstrust.ie You can also find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ dogstrustireland or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE
An apple-ing pair at The Gaiety ... Snow White ((Megan Cassidy) and the Prince (David Glynn-Crowley) are just two of the dozens of characters treading the boards in a wide range of pantos across the city this Christmas, with classic tales and some imaginative reboots giving audiences lots of choice. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
families: there are lots of pantos for us all to enjoy (oh yes there are!)
Magic, music and mayhem laura webb
HE’S behind you! Oh no he’s not! Oh yes, panto season is here again with the best and brightest productions coming to a town near you. It’s the time of year that kids of all ages love, and that means going to your local or city theatre to see a pantomime production during the festive season. From Snow White to Cinderella, and from spotting Red Riding Hood to seeing Jedward in Beauty and the Beast, there is a pantomime for everyone. This week, The Gazette looks at what stories theatres are showcasing on over the coming weeks. Red Riding Hood is starring at the Civic Theatre, Tallaght, with a produc-
tion by Causeway Productions. Red is off on her latest adventure ... but who is going to protect her from the Big Bad Wolf? Well, in this story, her protector is a tall, over-confident woman with no fashion sense, that’s who! There are mad panto capers for all the family in this show, which runs from December 23 until January 5. All tickets cost €10. For further information, see www.civictheatre.ie Cinderella, the panto by Coolmine Panto Group, graces the stage of Draiocht Theatre in Blanchardstown from January 3 until January 19. Experience the magic of this spellbinding story that has captivated audiences for generations. The group will tell this story in true panto style,
bringing smiles to audience faces, and maybe even some tearful laughing. For further information on the show, see www.draiocht.ie The Cheerio’s Panto is back for a 17th year and is putting on its own rendition of Jack and the Beanstalk. This panto stars TV3 presenter Alan Hughes as Sammy Sausage, Rob Murphy as Outrageous Buffy, model Nadia Forde as The Fairy, singer/model Michele McGrath as Jill, actor Sean Casey as Jack and actor Bryan Murray as the Evil Baron. For ticket information see www.panto.ie Meanwhile, Lucan twins John and Edward Grimes – better known as Jedward – are back at the Olympia Theatre for a run of their very own panto, Jedward in Beauty and the Beast.
They will be at the renowned theatre from December 18 until next January 5, with tickets for this show on sale via Ticketmaster. Over the past 140 years, the people of Dublin have enjoyed pantomimes at The Gaiety Theatre in the city centre. This Christmas, The Gaiety Panto is bringing the story of Snow White to life. Curtains for this show have already opened, and it is due to run until January 12. Tickets for the show are available through Ticketmaster, with further information about The Gaiety to be found at www.gaietytheatre.ie So, over the festive season, why not take time out of the mad Christmas rush to go and see one, if not all of these pantomimes?
12 December 2013 Gazette 19 Commercial Feature
Don’t forget to visit Santa in his Magical Toy Workshop at Blanchardstown Centre
shopping: the only trip you need this season
Loving Christmas at Blanchardstown Centre Love Christmas? Well then you will love Christmas at Blanchardstown Centre, the only trip you will need this festive season. Situated in the heart of Dublin 15 and just off the M50, Blanchardstown Centre has gifts that delight, toys that thrill, party wear that dazzles and that something special that sparkles, whatever you have on your Christmas list, for you, for her or for him – you will find it all at Blanchardstown Centre. Spend half the day shopping for special gifts, then take a little time out at one of the many delicious eateries located throughout the centre to re-energise for some more shopping in the afternoon, or during the late night shopping nights. Not only are there tons of shops to enjoy, you could also take some well deserved time out to catch up with some
festive movies at the cinema. The kids will really want to go shopping this December to visit Santa and his Magical Toy Workshop, who will be there until December 24. Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of shopping with a Blanchardstown Centre gift card which is available at the customer service desk. Another reason for going to Blanchardstown Centre is parking is completely free so you can shop till you drop in over 180 stores and not worry about how much change you need for parking. Stores and restaurants include: Debenhams,
M&S, BT2, Penneys, Dunnes Stores, French Connection, Superdry, H&M, Topshop, River Island, Oasis, Warehouse, TK Maxx, Compu B, Aldo, Zara, Harvey Norman, Currys/PC World, DFS, Milano, Nandos, Captain Americas, Wagamama and many more! You’ll find everything you need for a perfect
Christmas at Blanchardstown Centre so make Blanchardstown Centre the number 1 choice for shopping this Christmas. For information on Christmas opening times visit the new website at www.blanchardstowncentre.com and their Facebook and Twitter pages for more details.
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CHRISTMASGUIDE CHRISTMAS Monsters University 3-D €20
Rigger’s Recipes Gift Box €14 for large Christmas giftbox Rigger’s Recipes are offeriong a selection of three jars of fine confitures and preserves presented in a festive gift box. These gift packs make a really special and unique gift for the food lovers in your life and are ideal stocking fillers for colleagues, Kris Kringle or family and friends. If you have a preference for any particular sauces from the range, message them when ordering or they will choose a complimentary set for you. For more information go to www.riggersrecipes.com
Collins Press Whiz Quiz book €5.99
Clery’s Stitches Teddy €24
A selection of DVDs and CD from Golden Discs
Something
for everyone…
Personalised One4all Gift Card
IT’S already mid-December, so if you haven’t got some Christmas presents by now, it’s time to go out and
purchase for those close to you. Whether it is for a colleague in work, a relative or your significant other, a gift is always the perfect way to say you care. The Gazette always wants to make life a little easier for its readers, so here are some of the many gifts that are available in stores across Dublin or for easier access – online. Happy Shopping everyone!
Barry’s Tea gets all dressed up IRELAND’S favourite tea has dressed up in honour of the man of the moment. Barry’s Tea also surveyed Irish people to see how they like their ‘Tea at Christmas’. Over 50% have loved-ones currently living abroad and 40% of people surveyed will be sending tea to places like Australia and Asia to give their friends and family a taste of home. This Christmas, ‘Santa’s Tea’ will be available in all major stores from the start of December, making it the ideal gift to send to loved ones or to pop in a stocking for the tea-aholic this Christmas. 62% of people said that their favourite cup of tea to drink on Christmas Day is the cup they have when opening presents with the family. 38% said that their favourite tea-time was while enjoying turkey and ham sandwiches on Christmas evening. ‘Santa’s Tea’ is available nationwide in all major shops for the month of December and is also available from the Barry’s Tea online shop.
Sony Wireless Speakers €184 AquaBabies swimming classes IF you have any new parents on your list we have the perfect present for them that will teach both parents and their baby a life skill that can’t be unlearnt. AquaBabies run baby swimming classes in venues around Dublin all year long and have very cute vouchers available for purchase over the phone or on their website for that perfect Christmas present for the new parent in your lives. For further information see www.aquababies.ie or contact Deirdre Casey at AquaBabies on 087 622 3300 or Jill O’Herlihy, OHC, on 087 795 7717.
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12 December 2013 GAZETTE 21
Golden Discs, Katy Perry’s PRISM
Accessorize Angels Folk Embroidered Scarf €15.90 Appleby Jewellers yellow gold on silver knot bracelet set with cubic zirconia stones €195
Ren’s Moroccan Rose Otto Gift Set €47
Gifts for
REN’s multi-award winning Moroccan Rose Otto body wash is just one of those things that makes life just a little rosier. Here it is twinned with the silky, easily absorbed Moroccan Rose Otto Body Cream. The perfect shower experience this hectic season.
her… Fields Jewellery ladies sterling silver and cubic zirconia set bracelet €145
Accessorize Monochrome Fairisle knee-high sock €4.90
Yon-Ka Vitality pouch RRP €68 The Yon-Ka Vitality pouch contains Pamplemousse, Phyto 58 and a travel size Masque No. 1 and comes in either a PS or PG version. The Vitality PS caters to the needs of drier skin while PG takes care of oiler skin types.
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22 Gazette 12 December 2013
OUT&ABOUT
ARTS
Theatre THE pavilioN THEATRE 01 231 2929
Nightmare Before Christmas, and A Christmas Tale THE Irish National Youth Ballet bring together very diverse stories and music to create these striking works, which feature superb scores and dancing from the country’s best young ballet dancers. Performances run from December 12 to 15; tickets priced from €10 to €20. For full details, see paviliontheatre.ie.
mill theatre 01 296 9340
Big Big Trouble with The Santa Claus Double RUNNING right now until December 23, there’s everything from a memorable dame to an evil double of Santa Claus to cheer (or boo) in this entertaining Christmas romp for the family to enjoy, with music, song, and plenty of excitement. For the full range of times and prices, see milltheatre.ie.
CIVIC THEATRE 01 462 7477 Dublin Gospel Choir
IRELAND’s best-known gospel choir have a terrific and diverse night of music ahead, making their Friday the 13th gig a very lucky experience for the audience. Hear their toe-tapping renditions of a wide range of Gospel, RnB and Soul songs at 8pm, with tickets priced €17/€15 conc for the 90-minute concert.
draiocht 01 885 2622
Reach for the Stars 2013 THE Norma Breen Theatre School present a great evening of entertainment from its young stars and a number of celebrity guests. With its first night already sold out, tickets priced €22.50 are selling fast for the Sunday, December 15 show at 6pm, which is a great showcase for the young theatre school’s stars, and also in aid of The LauraLynn Foundation, with the children’s hospice a worthy cause to support.
The Kid (Selena Gomez) and Brent Magna (Ethan Hawke) gamely do their best with Getaway’s underwhelmingly dull plot – however, audiences are likely to sport the very same glum expressions if they make it to the end of the film ...
film of the week: getaway slams the brakes on an entire cinema genre
Endless bad car chases soon turn into a crashing bore ... S TA R R I N G E t h a n H aw ke a n d S e l e n a Gomez, Getaway has to be the most surprising cinema release of 2013 – not because it defies any film conventions, but, rather, because it repeats them to the point of complete absurdity. The story is quickly established: it is Christmas time and Brent Magna (Hawke), a gruff ex-racing car driver who is down on his luck, returns home to find his house ransacked and his wife missing. A mysterious caller (Jon Voight, credited as “The Voice”) commands him to steal a Mustang car, and then tells him to follow all instructions – failure to do so means Mrs Magna will die. Selena Gomez (cred-
Dave phillips
ited as “The Kid”), a petulant rich girl who owns the Mustang, tries to steal it back from Magna and ends up being dragged along as an unwilling passenger for the film, which for the most part, is composed of connected car chases. The Voice remains a mystery to both the onscreen characters and the viewer. We are only treated to close shots of his lips curling into a cruel smile, greedily gulping some slick
cocktail, or mercilessly devouring olives as he torments Magna in a vaguely Germanic drawl; no doubt calling from the untraceable number in the VIP section of one of those high-class and decadent clubs that villains frequent ... Magna has absolutely no character development, he remains trapped in a state of perpetual anxiety, and each reckless request that The Voice makes is met with the briefest of resistance before he proceeds to careen the car down steps, through train stations, and across ice rinks in an attempt to keep his wife alive. The Kid eventually uses some of her computer knowledge to try to figure out what the
master plan is. Cue some more filler chase scenes, a turningpoint scene where they briefly step out of the car before getting back in it, and a climactic chase scene. So much focus is given to metal-on-metal crashing that the only empathy a cinema audience could have with the characters on screen stems from the shared experience of being trapped in a seat while forced to endure something terrible. There seems to be little CGI used, which is noteworthy, but the elements of the chases that are impressive are drowned
out by the sheer inanity of watching so much action that, more often than not, is very clunky. The webcams mounted inside the car by The Voice are spliced into the movie as in-car shots, which is a novel editing approach that completely fails. Hawke and Gomez s e e m
struggle in the cinema – even if you’re hungry for a mindless, fun action movie, there’re so many that already do the job better that I’m not sure the traditional “leave your brain at the door” approach would have any beneficial effect. Getaway is one step beyond that – the title needs to be read as a warning.
Verdict: 2/10
powerless to do any thing with the script. Undoubtedly, there’s an audience for every film, but this one will
Up, up, and awayyyy ... The Mustang makes a dash for freedom – no such luck for audiences
12 December 2013 DUN LAOGHAIRE gazette 23
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MOTORS road
NOISE
Peugeot 2008 wins top writers’ award
An early look at the new Mercedes-Benz GLA class, set to be launched on Irish roads in February/March next
Motors: upgraded classics and new models on the way
Mercedes-Benz set for exciting new looks cormac curtis
MERCEDES -BENZ have been surprising the motoring public in recent years with new and exciting models, as well as unexpected facelifts on some old favourites. There are more surprises in store for 2014, and, here, we profile the pick of the bunch.
Edition C From Januar y, the C-Class saloon comes under the new moniker, Edition. Equipped with a range of AMG enhancements, it carries a range of extras worth some €4,500
– but which will come at no extra cost – including AMG body styling in front and rear aprons, and side sill panels on Avantgarde models. Other features include, 17-inch light alloy wheels – highlighted in highgloss black, dark-tinted headlamps and chromed exhaust pipe ends. Interior changes include new sports seats covered in Artico leather upholstery, with fibre inlays and contrasting top stitching, matching door panels and gear selector. Other features include a luxury nappa leather four-spoke steering wheel
with 12-function buttons, dark aluminium trim, a multifunction colour infotainment display set within the instrument cluster, black fabric headlining, velour floor mats with contrasting topstitching and split folding rear seats.
S-class From the new year, it is expected that demand for the new S-class will continue to exceed the volumes allocated to the Irish market, due to worldwide demand for the new S-class running in excess of production capacity.
GLA class February/March will see the launch here of the all-new GLA class. Built on the same A-class and CLA-class platform, the compact SUV will take its place alongside its more established off-road siblings. Things to watch for will be its rugged appearance, set off by a power domed bonnet, dropping roofline and towering 20in wheels (optional). As with the A-class and CLA before it, the GLA will be offered in a choice of petrol and diesel engines, with transmission that includes the
Mercedes-Benz 4-Matic all-wheel-drive system.
Mid-late 2014 Looking ahead, and the all-new C-class range will make its first appearance on Irish roads in summer, while in or around the third quarter will see the arrival here of the new S-Coupe. With all these new models, the full prices, specifications levels, arrival sequencing and final model line-ups will be announced at the time of their launch, making 2014 another year of note for Mercedes-Benz.
THE newly launched Peugeot 2008 compact crossover was recently awarded the Continental Irish Small Car of the Year 2014 award by the Irish Motoring Writers’ Association. Des Cannon, managing director, Gowan Distributors, said: “The Peugeot 2008 is a terrific car. It’s stylish, it’s roomy and of course it’s economical. We are truly delighted with the Irish Small Car of the Year 2014 award, and I wish to thank the Irish Motoring Writers’ Association for recognising the unique qualities of the new Peugeot 2008.” He was joined by Amanda Brunker, Peugeot Brand Ambassador, to help celebrate the top award for the Peugeot 2008, which retails from €18,595 plus dealer delivery-related charges.
asdfeasfasd Des Cannon, managing director, Gowan Distributors with Amanda Brunker, Peugeot Brand Ambassador
volkswagen donate caddy maxi to help cancer charity: THE Marie Keating Foundation has agreed a new sponsorship deal with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, and picked up the keys to a Caddy Maxi van to help with its cancer support and information services. Niall Philips, head of sales and marketing,
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles said: “We are delighted to support the foundation as we recognise the vital work that they carry out every day around the country. “We wish them well in the year ahead and we hope that by providing the Caddy Maxi, we can contribute to the work they carry out and provide support to those who need it.”
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&ABOUT OUT fast TRAVEL Co-founders Debbie Flynn and Tom Kennedy, with some of their team
Stay in a real home away from home ... WHEN it comes to travelling and seeing the world, the more seasoned of us like to soak up as much culture as possible. With the introduction of Homestay.com, a brand-new travel experience and global travel website, tourists have the opportunity to stay in a homestay, rather than an empty hotel room or apartment. The guest can stay with locals, often with shared interests, which helps to make their travel experience authentic in every way. It aims to create a local travel experience for all forms of travellers, including students, professionals and families. Homestay.com was founded in Dublin by Hostelworld.com cofounder Tom Kennedy and Debbie Flynn, director and founder of Irish Education Partners, and launched in July, offering worldwide accommodation options. Homestay.com are on the look out for new hosts in Dublin – making it a great way for people to make extra cash from a spare bedroom. For further information, visit www. homestay.com.
trail: world heritage sites highlight lovely settings and friendly people
Celebrating Spain’s rich historical treasures hiromi mooney
THERE are three things I love to do on my travels: see breathtaking sights, learn about local history and immerse myself into the local culture. A recent trip to visit three of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites in Spain ticked all of these boxes for me, but what really amazed me was seeing how the old buildings and modern lifestyle were in harmony in these cities. My journey began in the rustic city of Alcala de Henares, just 15km away from Madrid-Barajas Airport. The city was the world’s first planned university city, and was considered to be “the City of God”, due to it being recognised as the city of knowledge. Here, the University of Alcala was founded in 1499 by the Franciscan, Cardinal Cisneros, and was the first modern-age university. The city thus became a model for other education centres across Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1998. The city is also famous
for being the birthplace of one of Spain’s most celebrated writers, Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616), whose work includes his novel, Don Quixote. The house where he was born is now a museum and, while it has mostly been reconstructed, it still boasts its original 16th century basement. Cer vantes is still remembered in the city, as the Spanish king Juan Carlos I has been presenting the annual Cervantes Prize at the university to recognise contributions made to Spanish literature. The ceremony is held every year in April to coincide with the anniversary of Cervantes’ death, and prize winners’ names are displayed on a university wall. A visit to The Universes of Cervantes visitor centre helps to understand the importance of Cervantes. The centre opened in 2005 in the former Church of Santa Maria la Mayor, in which Cervantes was baptised, to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Don Quixote’s first part-edition.
It features an exhibition hall, the baptismal font of Cervantes, and the 19th century Santa Maria Tower offering a panoramic view of the city – but first, you have to climb more than 100 steps to see it. The next stop, almost 150km away, was the beautiful walled city of Avila – the highest city in Spain. The old city is surrounded by a high defensive wall 1.5 miles long, which has 88 solid towers and nine official gates, each with a different function. I also discovered that the Avila Cathedral apse serves as a turret for the wall. Behind the walls hides an enclosed city with narrow side-streets and many mansions and churches, creating the illusion that you’ve travelled back in time. Looking a little deeper, however, you’ll find bustling food markets, cafes and restaurants. My tour guide informed me that the wall was built in the 11th century to defend Avila and protect its people from invaders. She added that two sec-
The classically Spanish colours of brown, gold and sepia are beautifully offset by
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‘The beautiful walled city of Avila – the highest city in Spain – is surrounded by a high defensive wall 1.5 miles long, which has 88 solid towers and nine official gates, each with a different function’ --------------------------------------------------------
tions on top of the walls are open to the public, being 1.5km and 300m in length, so of course, I wanted to test them out. We walked alongside the walls on the cobblestone pavements at night, and trekked the route on top of the walls the next morning. Both walks had breathtaking views, but the difference in lighting created completely different atmospheres. Avila is also famous for the 16th century saint, Santa Teresa, who reformed the Carmelite
Order. Best known for her writings and teachings, her relics are preserved to this day, making the city popular with pilgrims. It’s no wonder that Avila’s deep historical background helped it to be declared a World Heritage site in 1985. When we stopped for lunch, we shared the restaurant with a group of elderly men, who turned out to be professional cyclists enjoying an annual reunion. We couldn’t believe our luck when we discovered
that amongst them was Julio Jimenez, who finished in second place in the 1967 Tour de France. He kindly posed for some photos and happily shared a picture from when he competed in 1965. After we parted with the cyclists, we ventured to the final port of call, Salamanca. This university city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988, and is today bustling with students. The University of Salamanca is one of the most important buildings in the city. It’s the oldest university in Spain, having been founded in 1218, and houses the oldest library in Europe, containing 60,000 books; 500 of which are first-editions. Salamanca is also famous for housing two adjacent cathedrals – one
12 December 2013 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 25
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TRAVEL
The legacy of acclaimed Spanish writer, Miguel de
Beatriz, a worker in a ham shop, echoed locals’ enthusiasm for the dizzying variety
Cervantes, looms large over Alcala de Henares
of meats for which Salamanca is renowned
the lush grass around the historic walls of Avila city
Romanesque, and one Gothic. A short stroll from the cathedrals led us to the beautiful, tranquil garden, Huerto de Calixto y Melibea. The name translates as “the Orchard of Calisto and Melibea” – two characters in the old Spanish novel, La Celestina, which has a similar storyline to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Because of this, the garden well has many signed padlocks locked on to it, left there by couples who sealed their love with them. Salamanca also boasts the 18th century main square, Plaza Mayor, in the heart of the city. Over time, it has been used for many purposes, including for markets, bull fighting and concerts. Today, it’s a popular meeting spot, and the
buildings are mainly used as student accommodation. An interesting place to visit in Salamanca is the Art Noveau and Art Deco Museum in Casa Lis. Once a private palace with elaborate stained glass windows, this museum now exhibits 19 collections of almost 2,500 pieces of decorative art from the late 19th and early 20th century. The trip proved to me that there’s a lot more to Spain than sunshine and beaches. The inland cities of Alcala de Henares, Avila and Salamanca all retain their historic buildings, and yet modern life continues within them. Their historical and cultural contributions to Spain have truly made them the country’s treasures, and are well worth a visit.
Part of Cervantes Square, in Alcala de Henares
Part of the lovely and ornate exterior of Salamanca Cathedral
GETTING THERE: REACHING SPAIN’S HERITAGE TREASURES Hiromi flew with Iberia Express from Dublin to Madrid Barajas Airport. For flight details,
in use and to keep them maintained. As each Parador has been converted into
see www.iberiaexpress.com.
different old buildings, you are guaranteed a
To plan your own rustic experience in Spain,
unique experience as no two Paradors are
see www.spainheritagecities.com.
the same.
Where to stay
de Henares was a converted convent, once
To fully immerse yourself into rustic Spain,
known as the Santo Tomas de Aquino
and to truly appreciate the interconnection
Church, while the Paradors that she stayed
of old buildings and modern life, try staying at
in at Avila and Salamanca were converted
a Parador hotel.
“palacios”, or mansions.
The Parador that Hiromi stayed in Alcala
Parador is a chain of luxury hotels set up
For further information on the Parador
by the Spanish government in 1928, which
hotels, see www.parador.es, or see the site
A random encounter saw Spanish warmth and
uses refurbished old buildings, such as cas-
for the official Irish agents for Parador, Map
courtesy to the fore when Julio Jimenez, who finished
tles, palaces and monasteries, to keep them
Travel, at www.maptravel.ie.
in second place in the 1967 Tour de France, kindly presented the writer with an autographed photo
26 dun Laoghaire gazette 12 December 2013
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12 December 2013 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 27
awards P28
asdfsdaf gaelic games P27 P31
dublinsport Let the Gazette keep you up to date with all the best local sporting action from around the city as we cover all the stories that matter to you and your community
Gazette
badminton P29
FastSport lawrie unable to build on epic end to 2013:
Alan Brogan and Eamon Coghlan at the launch of last year’s GOAL mile with the help of and five year-old Rebecca Keenan from Cabinteely
athletics: A bit of pre-turkey exercise in aid of global development and aid
Put on your trainers for a mile for charity on Dec 25 Local sporting legends Leo Cullen, Alan Brogan and Eamon Coghlan have joined with Goal to help promote this year’s annual GOAL Mile events on Christmas Day. Athletics legend Sonia O’ Sullivan has also signed up to be part of this year’s GOAL Mile campaign as the event goes global. O’Sullivan, a longstanding GOAL patron has even agreed to lead the first ever mile in Melbourne, Australia. This is the first ever time in the 32-year history of the event that it will
be held in the southern hemisphere. Miles will also be held this year in New York and London and in more than 100 locations across Ireland. Among those locations is an array of locations across Dublin, which include meets at Skerries, Malahide Castle, and Morton Stadium in Santry. Carton House in Maynooth will host a Mile, as will Lucan Harriers athletics club, and Corkagh Park in Clondalkin is expecting to see valiant athletes out on December 25. Phoenix Park runners will meet at the
Papal Cross, while further south, runs will take place at Stradbrook Rugby Club and Kilbogget Park in Killiney. The GOAL Mile gives friends, family and neighbours the chance to simply run or walk a mile, and make a donation to GOAL. The popular fundraiser has grown and grown over the years, and is now an integral part of the Christmas period for thousands of people. Last year, GOAL Miles took place in 100 locations around Ireland and raised in excess of €158,000 for GOAL’s
programmes in the developing world. GOAL could not have done this without those who took part in and, in particular, those who organised Miles up and down the country. Your continued support is hugely appreciated as it helps GOAL to make a real difference in the 13 countries where we work. A full list of the locations where GOAL Miles are taking place, as well as more information about how to get involved, appears at www.goal.ie/ Goal_Mile/731 and at www.facebook. com/events/547697598645102/
HAVING just about secured his playing card for the 2014 European Tour season, Castleknock’s Peter Lawrie’s tough start to the year continued as he missed a third successive cut last weekend. Rounds of 77 and 70 saw him miss out at the Hong Kong Open while a week earlier he missed out at the Alfred Dunhill Championship. It meant he was unable to build on his epic tie for 18th place at the Perth International when the pressure was on. That result meant he ended the 2013 season in 110th on the Road to Dubai and inside the cut off point for a card for the 2014 season, avoiding a trip to qualifying school.
c o n ta c t s Sports Editor: Rob Heigh rheigh@gazettegroup.com
For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@gazettegroup.com Phone: 01 651 6205
Gazette
28 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 12 December 2013
SPORT
FastSport applications welcomed for gaelic4girls: Gaelic4girls, a nationwide programme offered by the Ladies Gaelic Football Association to girls aged between 8 and 12 to get involved in the game, is now receiving applications for the 2014 initiative. The camps offer an opportunity for clubs to attract vital new members to help secure their future. As an extra incentive, clubs that take part will have a chance of playing in Croke Park at a national blitz day next summer. Participating clubs will receive free training for coaches and co-ordinators and will receive marketing resources to ensure that they appeal to the maximum amount of players possible. Application forms to host a Gaelic4Girls camp are available to download from www. ladiesgaelic.ie, and must be returned to Leinster’s provincial development officer, Aisling Hubbard at gdo@leinstergaelic.ie by January 31.
nominations: rte lists show depth of quality and talent in local sport
Dublin stars to the fore in award list sport@gazettegroup.com
An array of Dublin sporting talent from across Gazette Country and beyond have been nominated in the shortlist for the RTE Sports Awards, which were announced last week, and which will be presented on Saturday, December 21. There is also a wide range of sports rep-
r e s e n t e d t h i s y e a r, reflecting the variety of achievement of Irish spor ts people on a plethora of platforms. The Dublin senior football team, containing a large Gazette representation, are nominated for the team of the year after their national league, Leinster and AllIreland achievements, alongside Round Tower Clondalkin hero and
Round Tower’s Jim Gavin at Croke Park
Dublin manager Jim Gavin for the manager of the year award. At the same time, Ballyboden St Enda’s star Michael Darragh Macauley has been nominated as one of the sportspeople of the year. Macauley is not the only local hero to get a nod in the spor tsperson shortlist, with north county resident Martyn Irvine among the potential winners following his gold and silver success at the World Track Championship in Minsk, the first Irishman to medal in the elite cycling event for over 100 years. Also nominated is champion sailor Annalise Murphy for h e r a c h i ve m e n t s a t the European sailing championships, taking gold to make up for her disappointment in the
Martyn Irvine on his return to Ireland from his victorious world championships
London 2012 Olympics. Jonathan Sexton is another of the sportspeople nominated, his part in bringing Leinster the Pro 12 title and the Amlim Challenge Cup, as well as appearing for the national team and the British and Irish Lions on their tour of Australia earning him the place among the year’s best. As well as the all-conquering Dubs, were the Ireland women’s rugby team, who achieved the holy grail of northern hemisphere rugby, the 6 Nations Grand Slam, for the first time this year, the Leinster rugby team, and the Irish paralympic swimming team, which fea-
tured a number of local stars including Ellen Keane and James Scully, and were guided by NAC’s James Malone, who were the winners of a record eight IPC World Championship medals Also appearing amid the nominees for the manager of the year are former Sporting Fingal and current St Pat’s Athletic manager Liam
Buckley for his guidance of the club to the Airtricity League title for the first time in 14 years. The winners will be revealed and presented with their awards at The RTÉ Sports Awards in association with The Irish Sports Council which will be broadcast live on RTÉ One, Saturday 21 December at 9.45pm.
The grand slam winning Irish women rugby team
Heroes in abundance in new sport photography book sport@gazettegroup.com
The Dublin team before their match against Mayo in 2012 is one of the dramatic images in Heroes. Picture: ©INPHO/James Crombie
ONE oF Ireland’s leading sports photography agencies, Inpho Photography, has launched a new book celebrating 25 years of sports photography. The book, created in association with camera manufacturer Canon, is entitled Heroes and is a visual insight into some of the most memorable sporting moments both at home and abroad. The book is the brainchild of Inpho photographer Billy
Stickland who along with his team has taken some of the most famous sports photography in Ireland using Canon cameras. From Packie Bonner ’s memorable save against Romania at Italia ’90, to Clare hurler Shane O’Donnell’s hat trick at this year’s All Ireland hurling final, Heroes is a whistle-stop tour of some the great sporting moments of our time and also includes many stunning feature pictures of well know sports personalities.
Commenting on the book, Billy Stickland, managing director, Inpho Photography said: “Over the past 25 years we have had the privilege to photograph some of the most memorable moments in sports history. Heroes is an opportunity for us to show our most creative work in one place and also share these wonderful sporting memories with sports fans around Ireland.” Jonothan Sultan, marketing manager at Canon, said: “We are delighted to work
with Billy and all the team at Inpho on this fantastic book celebrating a quarter of a century of sports photography at Inpho. “At Canon, we are passionate about the power of the image and this book really brings this ethos to life. Every image evokes a wonderful sporting memory and captures a moment in time which is the essence of great photography.” Heroes is available from www.inpho.ie/book and is priced at €29.99.
12 December 2013 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 29
Gazette
Focus on the future a gameplan for success Dundrum’s Scott Evans hit the heights nationally this time last year, but his tough year on the circuit has refined his career direction and hopes for European glory next year in Russia A year after attaining one of his first major honours in the sport at Irish Open this time last year, Dundrum’s Scott Evans has endured a tough year in the sport, but is hoping that a fresh approach and new focus will help him scale further up the heights of world badminton. Last December’s win at Baldoyle was achieved without losing a set, and was the first victory for a home player in the competition for almost forty years, but this year’s tournament has gone up a level in terms of the prize money on offer and in turn the level and quality of players taking part. This, together with the experiences of the last 12 months, will make things harder for Evans to reclaim the top honours in the open tournament. After that historic win last year, Evans went on
to success in the Cyprus Invitational, but that was his last big win on the tough international circuit, the cause being something that Evans has clearly identified and is addressing in his current planning for the future of his career. “I played a lot of tournaments and was travelling a lot in the early part of the year, so I did not have a lot of time for training and, after so much travelling, my performances started to go down. “Then I was unlucky in June when I got injured in Asia. I was meant to be there for three weeks for three tournaments and I had to pull out when I tore a muscle two days before the first tournament. “I had to travel home, and I had five weeks of rehab, so not a lot badminton, just a lot of work to get the injury better.” The fact this coincided
Scott Evans in action at the London 2012 Olympic games
with his decision to leave the Team GB camp in Milton Keynes where he had been training two weeks before the start of the world championships would give the impression that this has been a year of hardship for Evans, but the decision to return to his adopted home in Denmark proved fortuitious. “I moved back just as Peter Gade [a five-time European champion and world silver medalist in 2011] retired, and when there was a chance to start working with him, I jumped at it. “It is amazing to be able to work with someone like him , who has experienced everything in the sport. “Peter has been trying to change a couple of things in my game, and it has been harder than I expected, which is maybe why my performances have not been so good, but I believe what Peter
is teaching me. It’s clear I need to learn these new things in order to move on to the next level, and it will take time.” Evans spoke to Gazette Sport just before he was due to fly back to Ireland for the open, where he is seeded number four this year - the players above
“I need to get in a long period of training. I have not had that for a long time. That will be my main focus, and I won’t play as many tournaments as I normally would. I would prefer to do it differently this time around, give myself a really good shot of getting a medal,
--------------------------------------------------------
‘You meet good players in the first rounds these days, and if you don’t stick to your game plan, you’ll be going home’ Scott Evans --------------------------------------------------------
him are Finland’s Ville Lang, Malaysia’s Misbun Ramdan Mohmed Misbun and Denmark’s Joachim Persson. Evans has previously played and beaten both Lang and Persson, but he knows that he will need to bring his A game in the coming days. “I have an okay draw, but I need to play well and be focused. It is so tough these days. It’s not like before when there was an easy couple of opening rounds. It is who is at their best on the day who will go through. “You meet very good players in the first round these days, and if you don’t stick to your plan, you’ll be going home.” Evans has a clear game plan in place for the next few months leading up to the European championships in Russia in April.
no matter who I am up against. If I am in my best shape and I have a lot of training time in the bag, I know that is possible.” As far as the game at home is concerned, Evans is clear about what is going on here although he is based a long way from home. “The game in Ireland is moving in the right direction — they now have the national centre and there are people training full time. “I said around seven years ago that that would be necessary if badminton in Ireland is going to get more players to a better level more often, rather than every 30 or 40 years. “The people at Badminton Ireland are doing a great job with the resources they have, and are really helping the sport at home,” said Evans.
FastSport
O’Brien and Joyce named in ICC associate awards Ireland’s cricket stars Kevin O’Brien (above, Picture: IDI/Getty Images) and Ed Joyce have been named as two of the four nominees for the ICC Associate and Affiliate Cricketer of the Year at the 2013 LG ICC Awards. O’Brien and Joyce were included in the lists after their successes in the green whites this season, both of their contributions driving Ireland toward this level of recognition at the associate level in the sport. Joyce’s performances with the bat were top notch. He scored 100 against Pakistan in May and helped the side home during the world cup qualifiers in July which saw Ireland stake their place in the 2015 competition with victory against the Netherlands, his unbeaten 96 giving Ireland the impetus in Amstelveen. O’Brien, meanwhile, has been recognised for his form with both bat and ball this year, in what has been the most consistent of his career so far. The ICC Associate and Affiliate Cricketer of the Year award serves to recognise and reward the efforts in international matches of the outstanding cricketers from the teams outside the ICC full members. O’Brien and Joyce are joined on the shortlist for the award by fellow nominees Kyle Coetzer of Scotland and Nawroz Mangal of Afghanistan. Speaking to Gazette Sport, Andrew Leonard of Cricket Ireland said: “It is fantastic to have the lads named in these awards, and gives an indication of our dominance in associate cricket, but are also indicative of our great team performances. “We are at the top of the game, winning the world cup qualifiers this summer and just coming back from having won the T20 world championships. With the intercontinental cup final against Afganistan next week, there is a chance that we can do the treble of trophies at all three formats of the sport.” The team took the field at the global cricket academy in Dubai in the intecontinental cup final on Tuesday, and will finish this weekend, and the event is streaming live on cricketireland.com. Speaking ahead of the tournament. manager Phil Simmons said: “This team continues to improve and grow and their appetite for trophies and world cups shows no sign of waning.”
Gazette
30 DUN LAOGHAIRE gazette 12 December 2013
SPORT
FastSport
rugby: Wesley run up huge win over bruff in ubl2A
Seven DSDAC runners take on European elite DSDAC’S seven-strong crew produced some decent outings as part of the Irish senior and junior women’s teams in Belgrade at the European Cross Country Championships. Sarah Mulligan and Maria McCambridge were both part of the team that ended up sixth overall by virtue of their 44th and 55th place finishes respectively. Siofra Cleirigh Buttner, meanwhile, was best of the Irish in the junior race with a 37th placed finish while her clubmates Meghan Ryan (67th), Isabelle Odlum (78th), Clare McCarthy (98th) and Sarah Fitzpatrick (100th) also involved as the team ended 16th. The senior team was led by Fionnuala Britton but a medal was just beyond her grasp. The race was fast and furious from the start with Koroline Bjerkeli of Norway breaking away at the early stages. The Norwegian was reeled back in at the halfway mark by the chasing pack of quality championships performers including Britton, Dulce Felix (Portugal), Gemma Steel (Great Britain), Sophie Duarte (France), Julia Bleasdale (Great Britain) and Almensch Belete of Belgium. Duarte then began to exert her presence moving away from the field with Felix and Steel battling it out behind and Britton in fourth who continued to try to get back into a medal contention spot. It was to be the French woman’s Duarte’s day and she took the title in 26.34 from Steel in second and Felix in third with Britton fourth in 26.45. Britton who had missed the summer season due to illness spoke after the race: “I came here to take the title, I felt it was my race as much as anyone’s. I never felt comfortable and I was trying to reel the girls [Felix and Steel] back but they were driving each other on.” The rest of the women’s team battled hard but were missing three of the top scorers from last year’s winning team and finished in sixth place. Sarah Treacy improved on her 42nd place from last year to finish 31st followed by Ciara Durkan in 36th and Sarah Mulligan a late call up finishing in 44th completing the scorers. Ann-Marie McGlynn in her first major senior championships finished a solid 49th and Dublin Marathon winner Maria McCambridge came home in 55th place.
It was a profitable day for the Old Wesley backline in Donnybrook last Saturday as they ran up 57 points
Wes dish out Bruff justice ubl division 2A Old Wesley Bruff sport@gazettegroup.com
57 14
OLD Wesley maintained their unbeaten home record with a comprehensive bonus point win over Limerick side Bruff. From the start it was obvious that Bruff had the slightly better pack but Old Wesley had the superior back line. In the opening phases the Limerick side utilised their forwards in gaining advantage. However once the Wesley back line gained possession they counterattacked, regularly breaking the
gain line. Barry McLaughlin got Wesley off the mark with a 30m penalty goal after eight minutes following a fine break by Kieran Hurrell. Two minutes later, he was on target again, this time from 45m. However next it was the visitors’ turn as Declan Bannon kicked their first penalty. On 20 minutes he struck again, this time with a long range effort that crept over after hitting the crossbar to bring the two sides level at six all. A break by Richie Jermyn, who caused headaches for the opposition all afternoon, brought
luck of the draw Madigan draws Rock to play Monkstown LEINSTER’S Ian Madigan draws the name of his alma mater Blackrock College during the Beauchamps Leinster Schools Cup Draw. They have been paired to play against CBC Monkstown in both the senior and junior cup competition’s first rounds in a pair of huge local derbies. The senior tie will be played in the week of January 26 while the junior game will be the following week.
play into the Bruff half. He fed to Rory Stynes, who transferred to Iain McGann who sprinted 20m to score the game’s first try. McLaughlin, who kicked magnificently all day, converted from the touchline. Bruff responded with a penalty kick following a Wesley scrum infringement, leaving the half time score 16-9 to Old Wesley. Spectators would have been forgiven for thinking that this was going to be a hard fought low scoring game, but what followed was one of the finest second half performances of an Old
Wesley back line seen for many a year. McLaughlin was on target again with a 40m penalty kick straight from the kick off and again from a similar position five minutes later. Indeed the Bruff team will be disappointed with the large number of penalties they conceded. Then a brilliant solo run by Eoin Stynes wove its way through the defence led to Wesley’s second try. At 29-9 the game was out of sight for the visitors and the well-oiled Wesley back line was rampant. From a quick line out, hooker Craig
Telford drove over for Wesley’s third try. A bonus point didn’t take long to come as Rory Stynes transferred to McGann then to Steven Harvey who outpaced his opposite number for the fourth try. With five minutes to go Bruff eventually crossed however Old Wesley were not finished. A break by Jermyn again brought play into the opposition 22 where he passed to Stynes who crossed for his second try. From the last play, Conor Lavelle took a pass and found himself in the clear where he sprinted 40m to score under the posts.
12 December 2013 DUN LAOGHAIRE gazette 31
Gazette
Crokes second team earn promotion sport@gazettegroup.com
KILMACUD Crokes’ second hurling team are back in division following a great victory against Naomh Barrog in the AHL3 play-off, winning out 2-17 to 0-8 in windy conditions in Kilbarrack. Crokes got off to a flier with two early well taken
goals by Tom Clarke and Conor Sheehan. This set them on the road to victory, considering they were playing against a strong wind in the first half. They continued to dominate and led by 2-7 to 0-5 at the half-time break. Despite facing into the wind, the second half
continued in the same vein as Crokes fired over some great points to secure a comfortable win in the end. Caolan Conway was in fine form and finished with a personal tally of 10 points; six of these came from frees while he also clipped over an impressive 65. A solid defence, which
was well marshalled by Aodan de Paor, and the midfield pairing of Shane O’Rorke and Eoin Culligan set the foundation for this victory. It was some consolation after the club’s disappointment in the championship and sets them up well for the 2014 season.
football: sandyford side denied leinster title
Club Noticeboard cuala CONGRATULATIONS to our second
ers of the club who have worked tire-
adult footballers who capped a great
lessly over recent years, and will not
season by winning promotion to Divi-
be going too far away, as we embark
sion 5 with a 3-7 to 1-5 win over Civil
on another exciting period of growth.
Service on Sunday morning.
Special mention here for Peadar
Thanks to all those who attended last Thursday’s AGM of the club.
McAdam who is stepping down as chairman.
Congratulations to Declan Murray
There will be a festive feel to the
who takes over as chairman, Emma
club on Saturday as the academy
Schutte as vice chair and Adrian
Christmas parties take place in and
Dunne in the role of secretary, as well
around the club, followed by a big
as to all those who have stepped for-
movie night hosted by the mentors of
ward for roles on next year’s Coiste.
the 2000 age group in preparation for
Thanks to all those outgoing offic-
next year’s Feile.
kilmacud crokes CONGRATULATIONS to Gerry McGrath
evening in the club. There was a great
and the AHL3 on their great win over
crowd and a lot of money was raised
Naomh Barrog on Sunday on a score-
for a great cause.
line of 2-17 to 0-8. The win promotes
The annual benevolent fund pitch
the team back up to AHL2 for next
and putt competition will take place
year.
on Saturday, December 21 in Glencul-
The club are delighted to announce
len. All members who wish to take
Ollie Baker as the new senior hurling
part should contact Gerry Greene to
manager. Ollie has a wealth of expe-
put their names on the timesheet.
rience, winning two All-Irelands with Clare and a club All-Ireland with Doora-Barefield. Ollie was the manager
Emmet Ryan’s new book, Victory
of the Offaly senior hurling team for
Loves Preparation, is now available in
the last few years and we wish him
the club shop. The book is a sequel to
well in the club.
Emmet’s last book, Tactics Not Pas-
The hurling section AGM will take place this Sunday in the function The Naomh Olaf side that won the Dublin intermediate county title fell just short in the Leinster final
Olaf’s epic season ended by Geraldines leinster ifc final Geraldines 0-13 Naomh Olaf 0-9 sport@gazettegroup.com
IT WAS second time unlucky for Naomh Olaf at Parnell Park last Sunday as this year’s Dublin intermediate football champions crashed to a four-point defeat in the replay of the AIB Leinster Club IFC final. Seven days earlier, the Sandyford side had led deep into injury time and then extra time during the first meeting of the sides in Drogheda only to be pinned back on both occasions by late levellers
from Louth county panellist Jim McEneaney. And it was McEneaney who pulled the strings for Geraldines this time too - with his personal contribution of two frees and two 45s also proving crucial to the winner’s eventual provincial success. Naomh Olaf faced a stiff breeze in the first-half and, despite Brian Begley opening the game’s scoring with a second minute Olaf’s free, the Louth side controlled the game’s opening quarter to race to an 0-6 to 0-2 lead by the 15th minute. A second Begley free and a Fearghal Purcell
point helped Olaf’s keep in touch and an 0-8 to 0-4 deficit didn’t look insurmountable given the post-interval wind. Olaf’s began the second-half strongly - with Begley’s 36th minute free and Purcell’s point a minute later signalling their intent – and by the end of the game’s third quarter they had reduced the gap to two points. Begley almost grabbed what would have been a crucial Naomh Olaf goal on 51 minutes – strong collective Geraldines defending averting the danger – but Eoin Kinsella kept Olaf’s in real
contention with his 55th minute point reducing the gap to the bare minimum at 0-10 to 0-9. Yet the Louth side hit back immediately through Dara Hamill and, even more unfortunately from a Sandyford viewpoint, half-back Bernard Gaughran was dismissed on a secondyellow card in the dying minutes. Geraldines took full advantage of their late numerical advantage, furthermore, with points from Josh Arrowsmith and man-of-the-match McEneaney sealing a somewhat flattering win.
The U-21 hurlers play St Jude’s in Tymon Park at 2.15pm on Saturday.
room at 8pm. Well done to all involved with the benevolent fund draw on Saturday
sion. Christmas trees will be available from the club on Saturday and Sunday. All proceeds go back into the club and trees are reasonably priced.
shankill OUR juvenile academy continues
either team, then don’t delay and join
every Saturday from 12pm to 1pm and
now. Our team train every Wednesday
has now moved indoor to Scoil Mhu-
evening from 7-8pm indoor in Scoil
ire. This will continue into the start of
Mhuire and every Saturday morning
2014 and a return date to Shangan-
from 12-1pm when there is no match
agh Park will be communicated once
scheduled.
available.
For more information, please con-
Catering for children from four-
tact team manager Gabriel on 085 725
years-old at only €2 per session, cov-
4897 or any committee member - see
ering football, hurling and camogie. All
our website www.shankill.gaa.ie for
equipment is provided.
more details.
Remember, in accordance with
Our juvenile academy will have its
the GAA, all football players will be
last day before Christmas on Satur-
required to wear a gumshield.
day, December 14, recommencing on
New members are always welcome. Please note, unfortunately, we do not have an U-12 team at this stage. We are currently catering for fourto 11-year-olds.
January 18. Likewise, our U-10 indoor training will cease on Wednesday, December 11 and will re-commence on January 15. We now have Shankill GAA club children’s t-shirts for sale. They are
Due to the huge success of our U-10
available to purchase off the rail
team this year, we are aiming to reg-
(sizes: 4-5, 6-7 and 8-9) at our juvenile
ister both an U-11 boys and U-11 girls
academy each week for only €15.
football team next year. If your child
They will make great Christmas
is aged 11 or younger next year and
presents for someone while also sup-
would be interested in playing for
porting the club.
GazetteSPORT all of your dun laoghaire sports coverage from page 27-31
inter dream over: Naomh Olaf denied in Leinster final by Louth’s Geraldines in Parnell P31
december 12, 2013
TO russia with love: Badminton Olympian Scott Evans’s European focus P29
Kilmacud Crokes’ captain Ross O’Carroll will be part of a panel looking to win back the Dublin senior hurling championship title in 2014
Baker Crokes’ new boss Kilmacud’s senior hurlers have secured a marquee name in the form of All-Ireland winner Ollie Baker to manage their side next season paul healy
Ollie Baker’s appointment as Kilmacud Crokes’ senior hurling manager for 2014 last week clearly signals the Stillorgan club’s intention to recapture the Dublin hurling crown they relinquished at the quarter-final stage to eventual winners, Ballyboden St Enda’s, in October. The former Clare legend has a wealth of experience both on and off the field as a double All-Ireland winner with his county, and club All-Ireland winner with his native St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield, as well as managing Offaly for the past two seasons until standing down from that position in
August. Speaking exclusively to Gazette Sport on Tuesday, Peter Walsh, chairman of Kilmacud Crokes hurling, outlined the background to Baker’s appointment and the reasoning behind it. “We’ve a very able and ambitious young group of players. They were very well served and developed by our previous management team under Gearoid O’Riain but Gearoid indicated before the end of our participation in this year’s [Dublin] championship that he wouldn’t be able to go again next year due to family and work commitments.” Walsh explained the process that led to Baker’s appointment.
“Once we were beaten by Ballyboden, we got down to looking for a new manager in earnest and looked both internally within the club and externally. We looked for somebody whose ambition and experience would accord with the criteria we set out as a club. “Initially, we knew we wanted somebody who would work well with our [senior] players and push them on that bit further. We said to ourselves we wanted someone who had won All-Irelands on the field at club and county level and then we said let’s look at someone who has got a good track record at the highest level in management.” “Having drawn up a shortlist and talked
to a number of people, we were very, very impressed by Ollie and his ambition and his understanding of how a club should work and his enthusiasm to work with everyone in the club. There was a real meeting of minds there and we were delighted that he had the interest and the ambition that he could see being fulfilled with Crokes.” “Once he [Baker, a Tullamore based Garda] satisfied himself as to journey times and timelines, his place of work wasn’t a barrier to him taking up the post.” The Crokes hurling chairman concluded: “We now have to work hard as a club to win it back [Dublin senior hurling title] but we’re ambitious to do so.”