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

INSIDE: Hughes better than Alan to ask about his life on TV3, equality, and starring in a classic ad? P13

have an ice time: We get our skates on and check out Christmas events P12

Going loco for Santa: Crowds greet man in red Soccer:

Cabinteely’s Knight signs Derby terms Page 30

the excitement was off the rails at

Blackrock Shopping Centre recently when Santa Claus arrived in style on his magical train. A huge crowd of families and visitors came to greet the man in red as well as to enjoy the free Christmas entertainment. A number of other colourful characters were in attendance including Atomic the walking talking robot and Darth Vader and his stormtroopers.

Picture: Philip Leonard

Football:

Foxrock dream ended at semifinal stage Page 31

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ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES..................... 10 DUBLIN LIFE................... 14 OUT&ABOUT...................17 CLASSIFIEDS.................26 SPORT............................28

Man scared Irish Water workers with fake gun Home searched by armed gardai who found imitation handgun

A man who threatened Irish Water workers with a realistic imitation handgun tucked into his tracksuit bottoms has received a two-and-a-half-year suspended sentence.

Dean Moran (27), of

Emmet Square, Blackrock, pulled up his top to reveal the realistic model weapon and told the workers: “If you come near my house you will get this.”

The court heard Moran had woken up following

a night shift as a security guard to find plastic barriers against his car.

His home was later searched by armed gardai and the item was found to be a metal lighter realistically modelled on a semi-

automatic pistol.

Judge Nolan said he had no doubt that Moran intended to frighten the workers and “he succeeded in doing this”.

Full Story on Page 4

2 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 26 November 2015

people Home’s director of nursing on her prestigious win

End-of-life care earns top award  emma nolan

ANNABEG Nursing Home in Meadow Court, Ballybrack has claimed an award in the Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) Care Awards 2015.

Sinead Beirne, director of nursing at Annabeg, and whose motto is “Work with your heart and care will flourish”, received the nursing home end-of-life care award at a ceremony in the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel earlier in the month.

Beirne is extremely passionate about her job and said the win was

comparable to winning the All-Ireland Final.

She was presented with the award before a crowd of 500 people at the prestigious national ceremony, that was presented by Grainne Seoige.

Some 27 finalists from communities across Ireland went forward for nine award categories that recognised the work of nurses and carers, among others.

Tadhg Daly, chief executive, Nursing Homes Ireland, said: “Congratulations to Sinead for her magnificent achievement in winning the nursing

home end-of-life care award.

“This was the inaugural year of the award, sponsored by the Irish Hospice Foundation, which was established to celebrate innovative practices in end-of-life care in Irish nursing homes.”

‘A nurse first’ Speaking about her job, Beirne told The Gazette: “I work as the director of nursing of a 41-bed nursing home. It sounds lovely, even fancy – ‘director of nursing’ – but at the end of the day I’m a nurse first and

foremost, and delivering hands-on care is what I do best. I like to practise what I preach, not preach from the pulpit.”

She also praised her “exceptional” team, who are “dedicated, loyal and caring”.

While working as a palliative care nurse can be tough, particularly in dealing with loss and grief, Beirne said what she does at Annabeg is greatly rewarding.

“Nothing in monetary terms can give you that immense feeling of sheer joy and satisfaction when you see relatives cry tears of satisfaction after you have cared for their loved one.

“Tears of gratitude that make you think:, ‘Wow, I never realised how much my care impacts on someone’s life.’

“In the caring sector you work with your heart; you do it because you

Award winner Sinead Beirne (second left), director of nursing at Annabeg Nursing Home, Ballbrack with Sharon Foley, chief executive, Irish Hospice Foundation; TV presenter Grainne Seoige and Tadhg Daly, chief executive, Nursing Homes Ireland

care. You don’t expect a reward or bonus.”

Now in their sixth year, nominations for the Care Awards were invited and submitted by NHI’s 370 members who are based in communities across Ireland.

Nominations were submitted by nursing home residents, visitors to nursing homes, staff, and the general public.

Beirne hopes she can help to dispel what she calls the “taboo of death and dying in Ireland”.

Modern wife show extended at LexIcon AN EXHIBITION at DLR LexIcon Library in Dun Laoghaire, entitled Modern Wife, Modern Life, that was set to close this week has extended its highly successful run until January 15, due to popularity.

Curated by Dublinborn author and history lecturer Ciara Meehan, the exhibition explores the transition of the idea of the “ideal wife” into the “modern wife” in 1960s Ireland through

the media representation at the time.

The exhibition covers seven themes: print culture, advice for the newly married wife, beauty and presentation, the housewife of the year competition, new technologies in the home, women behind the wheel, and wives who work.

Visitors are able to browse features from the magazines, advertisements, and extracts from advice columnists.

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

She said: “We need to take away the fears that surround death. We are caring for people in the final stage of their lives and need to ensure that their families and loves ones can let them go with pleasant memories, knowing they were in the best of care – there is no room for error.”

Tadhg Daly emphasised the importance of end-of-life services for elderly people in nursing homes.

Speaking at the ceremony, he said: “This honour highlights their commitment to providing the best person-centred care to residents entrusted in their care.”

26 November 2015 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 3

religion A night of Gospel favourites

council: volunteer trust that helps repatriate remains praised

Funds sought for Kevin Bell Trust  aisling kennedy

A MOTION to call on the Government to allocate funding for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (KBRT) was passed at the recent Dun LaoghaireRathdown County Council meeting.

The KBRT is a charity that assists families and friends in bringing home the remains of loved ones who have died as a result of an accident/tragic circumstance abroad.

It was set up in June, 2013 after 26-year-old Kevin Bell was killed in a hit and run accident in New York. His friends and family set up the charity after his death to help other families in similar situations.

Cllr Michael Merrigan (Ind) put forward a motion at the recent council meeting to follow the example of Monaghan County Council to call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charles Flanagan, to ensure that funding is allocated on an annual basis to the KBRT. He raised the motion in view of the fact that KBRT is a non-profit making charity and operates on a voluntary basis. The motion was unanimously passed by all councillors at the council meeting.

Cllr Merrigan toldTthe Gazette that he raised the motion as he was “hugely impressed by the work of the KBRT, which assisted the family of former Dun Laoghaire Town FC player

Luke McMahon when he tragically drowned in Sydney Harbour, Australia, in July this year.”

He said that given the fact the KBRT is a voluntary charity he wanted to ensure the viability of it into the future. “ B r i n g i n g L u ke ’s remains home so quickly was an enormous comfort to his grieving family and friends. The community in Dun Laoghaire later raised funds for the KBRT in honour of Luke and in recognition of the very important and timely support the trust provides for parents and families in such tragic and traumatic circumstances.”

For further information, see www.kevinbellrepatriationtrust.com.

 aisling kennedy

The Dining Room ladies: Serving up great food, live music and charity reverend Asa Bjork was joined by volunteers Veronica O’Gorman, Rosie Breen, Dora O’Toole, Rhona Devoy and Rose Geoghegan at Dun Laoghaire Evangelical Church recently, where A Feast of Music in The Dining Room took place. Food for the soul was in rich abundance on the night, as well as a lot of delicious buffet food provided by local restaurants, while music was courtesy of Il Coro Italiano di Dublino, Rhapsody choral group and Kathy Nugent, contralto.

The night was a fundraising event for The Dining Room – an interchurch venture aimed at serving the homeless, providing food and social interaction. Picture: Margaret Brown

THE Church of the Assumption in Dalkey is set to host a special Christmas gospel service that will see Karen Under wood and her band performing with the Discovery Gospel Choir.

The gospel service will take place on Saturday, December 5 at 7.30pm and admission is €15.

Pre-booking is essential.

On the night, gospel songs, hymns and many other Christmas favourites will be performed.

Karen and her band performed two sell-out shows in Marlay House Walled Gardens during the summer.

For further information or to book tickets, see http://events.dlrcoco.ie.

4 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 26 November 2015

courts Suspended sentence for ‘entirely stupid’ action

Man threatened workers with ‘gun’ A MAN who threatened Irish Water workers with a realistic imitation handgun tucked into his tracksuit bottoms has received a two-and-a-half-year suspended sentence.

Dean Moran (27), of Emmet Square, Blackrock, pulled up his top to reveal the realistic model weapon and told the workers: “If you come near my house you will get this.”

Moran pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a realistic imitation firearm in Blackrock on September 23, 2014.

The court heard Moran had woken up following a

night shift as a security guard to find plastic barriers against his car. His home was later searched by armed gardai and the item was found to be a lighter.

Judge Martin Nolan said Moran behaved extremely irresponsibly and badly as the men were going about their lawful work. He said he had no doubt that Moran intended to frighten the workers and “he succeeded in doing this”.

The judge said he had decided not to imprison Moran “principally because of his plea of guilty”, but he added it was “a close-run thing”.

He suspended the twoand-a-half-year term and gave Moran 12 months to raise €1,000 for a charity chosen by the investigating garda, Garda Gordon Woulfe.

Gda Woulfe told Mr Paul Carroll BL, prosecuting, that Irish Water workers and a civil engineer were installing water meters in Emmet Square but not at Moran’s home.

Plastic barriers were being set up, with some near Moran’s home and car.

Moran came out of his house to speak to staff and was referred to a civil engineer. He was told the men were installing water meters and replied: “You

won’t put them in my f****** house”.

Gda Woulfe said there was a degree of pushing and shoving and Moran was told if he did not stop gardai would be called.

“F*** you and the gardai”, Moran replied; “Call who you want.”

He later returned and told staff: “If you come near my house you will get this.” Moran pulled up his top and turned his back where staff saw the top half of a handgun sticking out of his tracksuit bottoms. The people present understood this to be a threat.

Armed gardai attended at the scene and

Lots of Santas at the beach  aisling kennedy

BETWEEN 40 -50 scuba divers will dress up as Santa on Sandycove beach on December 12 as part of a charity event entitled The Santa Scuba Dive.

Karen Carty, who is a member of the Trinity College Sub Aqua Club, organised the event last year and 20 people took part. This year, Carty is delighted that she has doubled the amount of people who will take part in a scuba dive while dressed as Santa.

All money raised on the dive will be donated to the Dun Laoghaire RNLI. There will be fundraising buckets on the shore on the day of the event, and refreshments will be served afterwards for everyone.

For further information on how to get involved, email cartyka@tcd.ie.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard how Irish Water workers were threatened with what was later revealed to be a lighter realistically modelled on a pistol

approached Moran’s house. They gained access and during a search of the house they found what transpired to be a metal lighter realistically modelled on a semi-automatic pistol.

Moran was arrested and during gardai interview he accepted he had brought out the implement. He

said he wanted to scare the workers and get them to leave him alone.

Mr Stephen Hughes BL, defending, said Moran fully accepted what he did was “entirely stupid”.

He said Moran had been working a night shift as a security guard and had been under a lot of pressure and stress. He

had gone outside after waking up to see the barriers against his car.

Mr Hughes said Moran had been fully cooperative and had not come to any adverse gardai attention since. He handed in references on behalf of his client, and submitted the incident had been a “once-off”.

26 November 2015 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 5

schools ‘A’ students create a site to help others ace their exams crime Robbery at Shankill graveyard

Boys share studying secrets  emma nolan

WHEN three Junior Cert students from Clonkeen College in Blackrock realised there was a lack of study resources online for their exams, they used their “A” results from their exams as a starting point and decided to do something about it.

Entrepreneurial classmates, 16-year-olds Jack Manning and Eamon Flannery and 15-yearold Johnnie Bell from Cabinteely and Killiney founded JC Learn in September – a website that contains sample exams, study tips, discussion forums and useful information from three students who did exceptionally well in the exams themselves and want to share their experience.

Manning told The Gazette: “We thought of the idea last September when the three of us were in our Junior Cert year, so we waited till we were finished it and then got started this September, and last Sunday was the first day the website went live and was fully functional.

“It offers notes, exam answers and study tips for 11 subjects at the moment, but we are looking to get in other people who have gotten As in other subjects to cover them and to include more ordinary-level papers and exams.”

They want to focus on providing quality content that is used for study. Manning said: “quite often people study from poor notes

and bad exam answers, which just gets replicated in the exam”.

He used his self-taught web design skills to create a website that’s easy to navigate, with membership costing €5 for the year, with a 14-day free trial period in place for the Science and Irish subjects.

The students chose the pricing based on what they themselves would be willing to pay, and what they think most of their peers would be willing to pay for an online study service.

With the high costs of grinds putting a strain on many families come State exam years, Manning said: “Most things to do with school are very expensive so we thought we’d go for the lower end, to be able to

 emma nolan

Screengrab of part of the estudy site created by three Clonkeen College students

include everyone.”

He stressed that not everyone needs a full course of grinds, just a little extra help without having to spend “mad amounts of money”.

All three students have

been working flat-out on the website since they started transition year in September, but they developed the website as a side project outside of school, working till midnight every night to

get it off the ground to help this year’s Junior Cert students get off to a good start.

They plan to extend JC Learn’s model to the Leaving Cert once they have completed it.

HILLARY O’Herlihy, widow of the legendary sports presenter Bill O’Herlihy, had her purse stolen as she visited her late husband’s graveside last week.

A sum of €250 was stolen from her purse at Shanganagh Cemetery in Shankill, where Bill was laid to rest in May. The couple’s daughter, Jill, took to Twitter to express her shock and anger at what happened.

She wrote: “€250 cash was stolen from my mum’s purse in her car whilst visiting dad’s grave. I’m livid that she has to go through this.”

A wave of support for Hillary condemning the theft has since emerged on Twitter.

6 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 26 November 2015

26 November 2015 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 7

8 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 26 November 2015

dining Clodagh’s Kitchen moves on

music Paddy Cole to feature in upcoming Royal Marine Hotel show

Jazzing up Christmas cabaret  aisling kennedy

 aisling kennedy

CELEBRITY chef and restauranteur Clodagh McKenna is moving her premises, Clodagh’s Kitchen, in Blackrock to a new, undisclosed location in Dublin.

McKenna’s restaurant has been situated in Blackrock for the past number of years but she has decided to move location to create a new dining experience which she will launch in the new year.

She said: “I am so grateful for all the support of our loyal customers in Clodagh’s Kitchen Blackrock over the past couple of years.

“With great thought, I have decided to move location and to create and develop a new dining concept.”

PADDY Cole will make a return to the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire as part of the Christmas Cabaret Show in December.

Cole, the famed jazz musician and vocalist, will take to the stage a l o n g s i d e S y l F ox , George Hunter and his band Galaxy.

The Christmas Cabaret Show will see Fox perform a comedy set, with Cole, Hunter and Galaxy all performing songs to dance to.

Cole spoke to The Gazette and said that he was really looking forward to playing at the Royal Marine Hotel again this year.

He said: “We love playing there and we always try to create a

nice party atmosphere at the show.

“We will be playing all the usual Christmas party songs, like White Christmas, and Walking in a Winter Wonderland, to get everyone up dancing.”

Cole said that he won’t be playing any jazz at the show as they will be performing mainly ’60s music and Christmas party songs.

‘A great night’ “I’ll be playing the saxophone and clarinet, and I’ll be doing some vocals on a lot of the numbers. We have a great band and it’s all live so we always have a great night at the shows.”

Playing in Dun Laoghaire is always a highlight in Cole’s

year and he said that they always get a lovely crowd coming to the show.

“It’s usually the same crowd each year and they always come back year after year.

“It’s a great crowd and the hotel is always ver y good to us and look after us very well too. We’re really looking forward to it this year.”

Cole is looking forward to spending Christmas with his family this year as his son Pearse and his wife Nicki and their children will be returning home to Dublin from Calgary, Canada.

“We’re delighted that they’re coming home to stay with us this year. We’re really looking for ward to that,

and my wife is preparing already as you can imagine. “ My o t h e r s o n – Patrick – lives quite close to us. He has four children and my daughter Karen is in Boston; she has three girls.

“She won’t be home for Christmas, unfortunately, but the big e xc i t e m e n t w i l l b e Pearse and Nicki coming home from Canada.”

The Christmas Cabaret Show will take place on Sunday, December 13 (lunch only); Wednesday, December 16 (dinner only), and on Thursday, December 17 (lunch and dinner show).

Tickets are €49.50 per person. For further information, see www. royalmarine.ie.

Jazz musician and vocalist Paddy Cole

don’sdublin How the wandering College of Physicians finally found its home at No 6, Kildare Street IN 1654, Dr John Stearne – who was a professor of medicine in Trinity College – founded what was then called The Fraternity of Physicians of Trinity Hall, with the aim of improving the practice of medicine in Ireland.

Surprisingly, it was originally housed in Trinity Hall – a former prison on what is now Trinity Street.

In June, 1667, a Royal Charter was granted by King Charles II, and this was amended in 1692 as the original charter was considered “insufficient to compass the noble design”.

Sir Patrick Dun was president at

No 6, Kildare Street has many fine architectural and historical details that complement the College of Physicians’s heritage

It was not until 1864 that the

the 1916 Easter Rising.

the time, and he played a very sig-

college had a new home, and the

nificant role in the college’s history.

addition of the Kildare Street Club

sequently elected as a Sinn Fein TD,

racquet court and its conversion

but never took her seat.

He bequeathed his extensive library to the college, which is

into the Corrigan Hall in 1874 made

housed in the building and still in

No 6 one of the city’s most attrac-

Lynn was imprisoned, then sub-

She established St Ultan’s Hospital, Charlemont Street in 1919

use, and when the hospital on Grand tive and interesting buildings.

and received a state funeral when

Canal Street that bore his name

she died in 1955.

1877 saw Elizabeth Walker

was opened in 1812, the college had

Dunbar become the first woman to

its first permanent home in almost

be allowed to practise medicine in

beautiful interiors, and is a popu-

a century.

the British Isles, and Kathleen Lynn

lar city centre venue for confer-

(1874-1955) also made a mark.

ences and weddings.

The college bought the premises at No 6, Kildare Street in 1860,

She qualified in 1899, was a mem-

but before it could move in a fire

ber of the Irish Citizen Army, and

destroyed the property.

was its chief medical officer during

No 6 is a great building with

Don Cameron

www.donsdublin.wordpress.com

26 November 2015 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 9

politics Rival candidates bicker over party’s prospects

FG ‘arrogance’ at centre of new row

 aisling kennedy

A WAR of words has erupted between Cllr Josepha Madigan (FG) and her Fianna Fail election candidate counterparts Cllr Mary Hanafin and Cllr Cormac Devlin this week.

The argument came as a result of Cllr Madigan’s remarks that Fianna Fail has effectively ruled itself out of being part of the next government.

Cllr Madigan told The Gazette this week that “comments made by Fianna Fail’s director of elections make it clear that the party has now ruled itself out of being part of the next govern-

ment”.

She added: “Billy Kelleher said that Fianna Fail would ‘probably’ go into opposition if it was not the largest grouping in any new coalition.”

Cllr Madigan, who is running in the new Dublin Rathdown constituency, said this “laid bare Fianna Fail’s lack of ideas and ambition, and should make it clear to voters that they face a stark choice at the general election between a Fine Gael-led government or a Sinn Fein-led one”.

She said: “It is now clear that Fianna Fail has absolutely no interest in entering government after the next election.

Fianna Fail managed to turn the most prosperous period in our country’s history into its deepest recession.

“This Fine Gael-led government has managed to turn the worst recession in the history of the State into Ireland becoming the fastestgrowing economy in Europe; creating more than 135,000 jobs and moving the unemployment rate below 9% for the first time in seven years.”

In response, Fianna Fail’s general election candidate for Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Cllr Mary Hanafin said: “It is both premature

and presumptuous to decide the result of the next election. The voters will tell us, the candidates, what result they want, what policies they want pursued and what government they want formed.

“There are clearly alliances which would never work and which would be damaging both for the economy and the long-term interests of the country. Fianna Fail will offer alternative policies to the electorate to ensure that the two-tier recovery is rebalanced.”

Cllr Cormac Devlin (FF), who is also running in the Dun LaoghaireRathdow n constitu-

Cllr Mary Hanafin (FF) and Cllr Josepha Madigan (FG) are at odds over Fianna Fail’s strategy for the upcoming general election

ency, criticised what he described as “Fine Gael arrogance”.

He said: “It is increasingly clear that Fine Gael expect a coronation of Enda Kenny rather than an actual election.

“I have bad news for

Cllr Madigan – this is a republic, and in Dun Laoghaire, the people will decide who will represent them in the next Dail and who will make up the next government.

“What is clear to me is that Fine Gael is growing

more arrogant and out of touch by the day.

“Fianna Fail will be going to the people with a manifesto for a fairer Ireland, where enterprise is fostered and all of society gets to feel the benefit of any recovery.”

10 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 26 November 2015

gazetteGALLERY

Executive coach Shelley Crawford

Sheila McGuinness, Colette O’Sullivan and Christine O’Hanlon

Kingstown’s graduates feel on top of the world

F

ITZPATRICK’S Castle Hotel recently played host to the annual Kingstown College graduation ceremony, marking students’ successful accomplishments in achieving an international coaching accreditation, entitled Diploma in Personal Leadership and Executive Coaching.

With most accompanied by friends, families or partners, the graduates from the Killiney college were all united with a shared feeling of delight and accomplishment as welldeserved applause rippled through the room, followed by celebrations into the night.

Hailing from several countries, and with many working in a diverse range of companies – from Google to Facebook, the HSE to financial services – the graduates shared a common aim: to achieve a diploma in the growing field of life and executive coaching.

Kathryn Lott with director and coach Paula King

Paula King and Norma Santos

Fearghal Ryan and Zak Attar

Wendy and Ross Thompson with their children, Dylan, Grace, Scott and Cole. Pictures: Rose Comiskey

26 November 2015 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 11

gazetteGALLERY

Sean Murray

Pam Smithwick and Elena Tice

Irish national coach Graham Shaw with Lauren O’Leary, Orla Macken and Sarah Evans, former Rathdown students. Pictures: Adrian Boehm

Pitching in to help I

RELAND’S national hockey teams were on hand to help get the official opening of the The Merrion Fleet Arena at the Rathdown School campus in Glenageary off to a fastpaced start recently.

Despite inclement weather, nothing could dampen the enthusiasm of the players, officials

and guests at the new pitch, with the men’s and women’s teams playing some great games.

Broadcaster and local resident Pat Kenny officiated at the opening, while a number of speeches praised the positive impact that the Merrion Fleet Arena would have on local hockey games, and the wider area.

Irish Men’s national coach Jessica McGirr and Nikki Evans

Craig Fulton

12 DUN laoghaire Gazette 26 November 2015

family fun Celebrating the Christmas season across Dublin



 Tis the Season … 



With Christmas just around the corner the Gazette checked some of the best seasonal events from around the city Dun Laoghaire Christmas festival Dun Laoghaire began its Christmas market last Saturday, November 21 and celebrations will run until Thursday, December 24.

The Christmas festival by the sea is taking place directly opposite the main entrance to the LexIcon Library on the front grounds of the Maritime Museum.

As part of the Christ-

mas market, there will be 20 seasonal wooden chalets hosting a wonderful range of artisan food and craft offerings.

In addition to the Christmas market at the Maritime, the museum will also play host to a number of seasonal concerts, events, children’s ar ts/craf ts/play and magic shows to coincide with market hours.

Santa’s Grotto will also be open from Sunday, November 28 on

the first floor of the Dun Laoghaire Shopping Centre and it will operate on Thursdays and Fridays from 2pm to 6pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 noon to 7pm.

Tickets cost €10.

For more information see www.dunlaoghaire.ie

Airfield at Christmas A Christmas festival will be held in Airfield Estate in Dundrum over the next month and it will include

all things seasonal.

The Overend family home and gardens will be transformed into a winter wonderland with a charming gingerbread village, an enchanted walled garden where Airfield’s fairies spend their Christmas, giant nutcracker soldiers, and a warm welcome from an elf who will bring small children into see Santa in his cottage.

Santa’s reindeers will also be outside the cottage.

Airfield’s Christmas experience is currently running from now until Tuesday, December 22.

For more information see www.airfield.ie

Blanch The annual Carols

by Candlelight service organised by Blanchardstown Baptist Church will be held at Riversdale Community College on Sunday, December 20 at 6:15pm. The hour-long event will feature special music illuminated by 100 glowing candles.

Complimentary seasonal refreshments will be served afterwards and there will be a creche for children under five years during the event to facilitate families with young children.

For more information, call 085 702 1425 or visit www.bbc.ac.

Draiocht will host its two-day Christmas Craft Fair Extravaganza on Saturday, November 28-29.

Patrons can come along and support local crafters enjoy raffle prizes, face painting and hot chocolate; and watch featured Christmas films, Elf and The Muppet Christmas Carol. The 30 stalls will

Snow Queen Rosanna Davison and Hannah O’Reilly snuggle up at the launch of the Christmas Kingdom in Malahide. Picture: Gareth Chaney Collins

feature some hand crafted work, including knitting, crochet, baking, jewellery, needlework, wood turning, origami, cards, journals, children’s clothes, buttons, key rings, handbags, photography and much more.

See www.draiocht.ie for more information.

Dublin City Dublin is borrowing from New York this Christmas with the I BELIEVE festival at Custom House Quarter from Thursday, November 26 to Wednesday, December 23.

Inspired by the 82-year tradition behind the world-famous Rockefeller Tree in New York, I BELIEVE will be centred on a 50-foot Christmas tree, donated by Coillte. It will be a festival of food, drink, craft and horticulture, With a focus on supporting Irish businesses, traders, crafts people, producers and charities,

A carefully curated selection of the nation’s leading food, drink, craft and horticulture producers will trade in the festive village with exceptional quality and locally sourced products. They will be joined by Dublin’s iconic Clerys Santa who will be relocating his workshop and elves to the I BELIEVE Christmas Tree and Village for 2015.

For more information visit: www.ibelieveinchristmas.ie/

South Dublin County In Dublin Mid-West this year, Lucan Library is hosting a small craft’s fair for Christmas.

They’re currently looking to hear from local businesses and crafts people interested in showcasing their products in the library on Friday, December 11 and Saturday, December 12.

From candles to cakes and everything in between, they’re

open to ideas. Contact 01-6216422 or email lucan@sdublincoco.ie for more information.

On Saturday, December 5, St Andrew’s National School, Lucan are hosting their own Christmas fair, opening at 10.30am. The items for sale during the fair include: toys, bric-abrac, cakes, teas, books, crafts, a raffle and many more. Santa Claus will also be making a special appearance at 11am.

Panto tickets for Beauty and the Beast will also be on sale.

On November 29, a celebration of song in aid of the Irish Cancer Society will take place in St Mary’s Church, Leixlip at 7.30pm. Sopranos Karen Nelson and Annmarie Corcoran will perform on the night, along with Our Lady’s Nativity Parish Choir.

Admission for this event is €12 for adults and €5 for children and can be purchased at the door.

26 November 2015 DUN laoghaire Gazette 13

rte Weekly papers ‘are imperative to the community’

A look into the heart of local newspapers  aisling kennedy akennedy@dulbingazette.com

An RTE documentary centred around how important local newspapers are in the wake of the onset of digital journalism is currently airing on RTE 1.

The producer behind the series, Gerry Reynolds, is a strong advocate of the importance of local print having come from a print background himself and said that he believes now, more than ever, local papers are imperative to the local community.

Reynolds spoke to the Dublin Gazette about his documentary, The Local Eye, and said: “Local

papers are part of Ireland’s DNA and they’re absolutely vital and central to who we are as a community and as a society. In the first series we focus on the Clare Champion, the Mayo News, and the Munster Express which have been family-owned newspapers down through the generations.

“We knew that they were going through very hard times and we wanted to see how these newspapers, which had been around for over 150 years, are surviving.

“We found that absolutely yes they are surviving and we found that there’s a huge affection for them because they

reflect and speak to the communities where people live. We met a very interesting man who was an optician and he put a campaign out on social media for his business.

He said the campaign reached everywhere in the world but that nothing reached the people that he wanted to reach like the local paper.”

Reynolds also found that local papers are central to the local community especially when there is an issue that the community care about.

“There is also a huge range of material in them too with everything from court reports to humour.

The content is what makes it and the secret

is good journalism. The local papers invest in good writers and there’s nothing that can beat that.

“The reason local papers will survive is because they find the extraordinary in the ordinary, they find the wonder in the seemingly commonplace. They look at the detail in a way that you can see where the beauty is whereas in a lot of other media it’s glitz and glam and it just washes over you. They’re at the heart of it, they’re at the heart of human life and existence so I’ve a huge affection for them.”

Reynolds himself began as a freelance journalist for the Irish Times, the

The first series of The Local Eye focuses on the Clare Champion, the Mayo News, and the Munster Express and (inset) the producer behind the series, Gerry Reynolds

Irish Independent and the Sunday Independent.

He went on to win Young Journalist of the Year for a series on crime and he also worked as editor of the Garda Review.

He has worked for RTE for many years but still always takes time to read

his local newspaper.

“I think local papers are doing their very best and I think that as long as they migrate the stories and the brand that they have onto the online platform as well as print they will have a great future.

Over a third of a million

people tuned into our programme over the last few weeks which is huge numbers. So there is an appetite and an interest in local newspapers.”

The Local Eye is currently running every Thursday at 7pm on RTE 1.

14 Gazette 26 November 2015

gazetteGALLERY

The Bugle Babes, whose singing helped to set the classic musical vibe

Ken Stanley and Elaine Heaslip

Mike Hope Panti Bliss and Noel Sutton toast the ball’s success in the fundraising evening ahead. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

Helping film workers in vivid technicolour P

With plenty of witty, colourful banter from Ms Bliss, songs from The Bugle Babes, and dance routines from The Dublin Burlesque Dancers, the evening was a lively, upbeat affair, with everyone happy to help film workers who have contributed much to the nation’s cultural coffers.

ANTI Bliss was the inimitable host of the annual fundraising Cinema Ball recently, which was held at the Intercontintal Hotel. Run by the Irish Cinematograph Trade Benevolent Fund, the ball aims to help individuals in the film industry in Ireland who may for one reason or

another, find themselves in need.

Based on the theme of Glorious Technicolour – A Celebration of Movies Musicals, many ballgoers set aside formal, gloomy colours to sport vibrant hues, or accessorised classic ball staples with subtle splashes of colour.

Caroline and Grace Cassidy

Katharine Buckley, Orla King and Laura Nolan

GAZETTE

R1

26 November 2015 GAZETTE 15

DUBLINLIFE

THE BIG INTERVIEW

ALAN HUGHES: TV3 PRESENTER ON HIS BUSY LIFE

Proud to be a full and equal member of Irish society

 IAN BEGLEY

AFTER proposing to his long-time partner on national television recently, TV3’s Alan Hughes says that after years of campaigning for equal rights, he is proud to live in a society where same-sex marriage is now legalised.

As part of this week’s Big Interview, Hughes talks about his impromptu proposal to song/ scriptwriter Karl Broderick, and what it was like to live in Ireland as a gay man when homosexuality was still illegal.

He also discusses his upcoming panto, Beauty and the Beast, the famous 1980s ESB advert he starred in, and his recent health scare.

“Karl was totally stunned when I proposed to him [live on air on TV3’s IrelandAM] because I’m not the type of person who would usually do that sort of thing.

It was totally unexpected, and since the Marriage Bill was signed into law that week I thought it was the right time to do it.

“When we got back to the house, he kept saying: ‘I can’t believe you did that, I can’t believe you did that’, but he was delighted nonetheless.

“We had such a massive civil partnership celebration in 2011, and I don’t think we could ever dream of topping it, but after we finish up with the panto we’ll probably do something quiet in the country.”

Asked about the criticism he received from comic Oliver Callan, who described his public proposal as “crass”, Hughes said he thinks it’s very sad.

“For a man who came out of the closet on national television and who bases his career on television, it doesn’t make any sense as to why Oliver would have a problem with it.

“But I suppose since Mario Rosenstock is getting a new TV show on RTE, he probably feels like he needs to do something to publicise himself.”

The TV3 presenter went onto say that he first met Broderick 23 years ago, when it was still illegal to be gay in Ireland.

“When we first met it was a very different time. I knew people who would walk up and down

the street before heading into a gay bar and enter when nobody was looking.

“Myself and Karl never really went out to places openly as a couple together. It was not as if we were hiding our relationship, it was just the way Irish society was at the time for gay people.

“I remember when I got a job as the presenter of a big Friday night game show called Talk About on RTE, the producer told me not to be doing anything that would come up in the papers.

“He knew that I was gay and I’ve always been very open with people, but Karl wasn’t, so it was

a big learning curve for him at the start going out with someone from TV. “We’ve come on so far in the last 22 years, and now that same-sex marriage is legalised it’s just brilliant. TV3 have always been very tolerant of myself and Karl, and do everything they can to support us,” he said.

Talking about his health scare last year when he was rushed to hospital due to low oxygen levels, Hughes said that it was down to stress and being overworked.

“I’m grand now and don’t let myself get too stressed out. I’ve never cancelled a show in the 21 years I’ve been doing

panto, and I don’t plan on ever doing so.

“The panto is getting on really well this year.

Sales have gone up compared to last year, and I really think it’s going to be a big success.”

Asked about the iconic ESB advert he starred in during the 1980s when he played the part of a young man returning to Ireland to see his mammy, Hughes said that the commercial will most likely stay with him forever.

The Cheerios Panto – Beauty and the Beast, will start in the Tivoli Theatre from December 9 to January 10. Tickets can be purchased at www. panto.ie.

Presenter Alan Hughes (right) shocked his long-time partner Karl Broderick by proposing to him live on air recently

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ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OUR READERS CALL 01 60 10 240 (ABC: Group MFD, July–Dec 2014)

Gazette

16 Gazette 26 November 2015

dublinlife

diary

Paul puts in a massive tackle for Barnardos Irish Rugby Hero and Barnardos’ Ambassador Paul O’Connell called on people to dig deep and give children a happy Christmas and a brighter future as he launched Barnardos’ Christmas appeal recently.

Barnardos works with more than 11,300 chil-

dren and families in 40 community-based centres across Ireland, supporting them to achieve their potential in life.

Speaking at the launch, Paul O’Connell said Barnardos is working to give hard-pressed families the Christmas they deserve and the support they need

to change their future “ T h e r e a r e m a ny parents out there who, through no fault of their own, may have to say no to their children this Christmas. Barnardos will use your donation to bring some Christmas magic into the lives of the children they work with

by helping families to make sure they have what they need for a happy Christmas,” he said.

To give your support to Barnardos this Christmas with a donation or toy, visit www.barnardos.ie/ christmas.”

celebrating Trad and Folk music The annual Temple Bar TradFest returns this year for its 11th instalment from January with what organisers are calling a vibrant programme.

The festival line up for January 2016 has been announced and once again includes a programme of Irish and international performers performing in some of Dublin’s most historic venues.

The festival will include the Front Row Sessions, a series of 13 free concerts in the pubs of Temple Bar. TradFest also provides a platform for emerging artists to showcase their talents to an international audience. Other elements include TradKids from The Ark, Ireland’s only dedicated Cultural Centre for children, TradFringe embracing many of the cities established cultural venues such as The Irish Film Institute, The Gallery Of Photography, Irish Writers Centre, and The Hugh Lane Gallery. In 2016 TradFest will also host a series of newly commissioned works commemorating 1916.

Irish rugby hero and Barnardos ambassador Paul O’Connell launched Barnardos’ Christmas appeal recently with the help of Molly Kennedy and David McNally

For more information visit: www.templebartrad.com.

Lord of the Flies production Following a hugely successful run earlier this year with their production of To Kill A Mockingbird, Regent’s Park Theatre’s critically acclaimed production Lord of the Flies will visit Bord Gais Energy Theatre from November 24 to 28.

After a group of s c h o o l b o y s s u r v i ve a catastrophic plane crash, what starts as a classic desert island adventure quickly descends into a struggle for survival in a darkly sinister world of superstition and immorality.

William Golding’s 20th century classic explodes onto the stage in this remarkable production direct from London’s award-winning Regent’s Park Theatre.

This production is directed by Regent’s Park Theatre’s artistic director Timothy Sheader and co-directed by Liam Steel with design

by Jon Bausor, and composition and sound score by Nick Powell.

Tickets for Lord of the Flies are priced from €15 to €45 and can be purchased by visiting

w w w. b o r d g a i s e n e rgytheatre.ie.

see www.nationalgallery.ie.

Hennessy Portrait Prize winner

just who was in the GPO in 1916

The winner of the 2015 Hennessy Portrait Prize was announced last week at the National Gallery of Ireland.

Vera Klute was awarded the prize of €15,000 for her oil canvas painting entitled Anne Ryder and will also receive a commission worth €5,000 to produce a portrait for inclusion in the National Portrait Collection.

The aim of the competition is to showcase and encourage interest in contemporary portraiture and to raise the profile of the National Portrait Collection at the National Gallery of Ireland.

Klute has exhibited widely both in Ireland and abroad and is also currently working towards a solo exhibition in the Molesworth Gallery in 2016.

Of the 260 entrants in the competition this year, 12 were shortlisted by the judging panel and these 12 entries currently have their portraits displayed in an exhibition at the National Gallery of Ireland until Sunday February 14, 2016.

For more information

A book which seeks to definitively answer the question of exactly who was in the GPO during Easter Week 1916 was launched recently

by Dublin Lord Mayor, Criona Ni Dhalaigh at City Hall.

“The GPO Garrison Easter Week 1916 - A Biographical Dictionary”, was written by retired Dublin City Council worker and Dublin historian Jimmy Wren following 30 years of painstaking research.

The book contains over 520 names of GPO garrison members, whose ages range from 12-63 years and includes full supporting evidence from many and varied sources.

The amount of people who claimed to have taken part in the action at the GPO during Easter Week could fill a small stadium and this book aims to give a definitive answer to the many claims and counter claims.

From Geography Publications and partlysponsored by Dublin City Council, the book is priced at €25 and is available from all good bookshops.

26 November 2015 Gazette 17

asdfsdaf P27 cinema P25

food P21

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



Gazette

travel P20

The Pavilion Theatre: RTE Contempo Quartet presents unique concert experience

Getting the classical treatment  Keith Bellew

Composer Glen Austin and the RTE Contempo Quartet, featuring renowned bodhran player Aimee Farrell Courtney will present a unique concert experience that unites classical music with Irish rock and pop from the last 30 years, at The Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire on December 5.

This follows the recent release of an album in the same vein called New Airs, which features classical arrangements of songs such as With or Without You by U2, Run

by Snow Patrol and The

Boys are Back in Town by Thin Lizzy.

Other featured artists include Kodaline, The Script, Enya, and Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.

The album also introduces new settings of older Irish airs inspired by modern artist’s interpretations such as Sinead O’Connor’s version of She Moved Through the Fair and Luke Kelly’s musical adaptation of Patrick Kavanagh’s poem Raglan Road. Speaking to The Gazette, Austin said that the project is something he had considered doing for a long time as rock

music was his first love before he discovered classical music.

“Adrian Mantu, the director of Contempo Quartet, approached me and said he’d be interested in doing something with rock music and I jumped at the chance. I thought it would be great to explore Irish rock and pop because it had never been done before with classical music,” he said.

He went on to say that deciding which artists to include was quite difficult because there are so many to choose from.

“It’s only the first album and the first concert, we already have ideas for a second and third album.

It was just a matter of making a choice between all this great music.

“Everyone might feel that there’s one or two that could be included, but it won’t be the last album or concert, so if things go well, the plan is to have a second or third edition where we can actually put in those other great artists as well,” he said.

He said that adapting the rock songs and arranging them for the quartet was quite an

RTE Contempo Quartet will be joined by renowned Irish bodhran player Aimee Farrell Courtney and Glen Austin on electonics

undertaking and not one he took lightly.

“When it comes to something like this, the job is not only arranging it but interpreting it for the ensemble. On top of that you also have to try

to be true to the originals themselves, and try to show them in a different light that’s not losing the spirit of the case,” he said.

Despite the apparent gravity with which he approached the arrange-

ment, he said that the project has been a lot of fun, and he and the quartet are looking forward to their first performance.

For more information on the show, visit: www. paviliontheatre.ie/

GAZETTE

18 GAZETTE 26 November 2015

OUT&ABOUT

STYLE Raw denim

Wide L

sleeveless

eg De

deep v-neck €125 with

€69 horts nim S

All-in-One dove nubuck stacked wood sole sandal €99

Sim kno ple S tte hop d s pe tra r w ps €1 ith 15

Mary Grant AW15 Vintage floral print jersey wrap dress €195

Wrap up this winter!  PEARL PHELAN

MARY Grant hosted a breakfast at her boutique in the Powerscourt Town Centre recently to showcase her current autumn/winter collection.

The store manager, Fiona, baked banana bread for the Suede obi belt €65 occasion and a wonderful spread was laid out on an old wood turner’s bench. Accessories are displayed on beautifully textured cable drum tables in the shop. The warmth of the wholesome bread and respect for craftsmanship reflected in the choice of furniture and are revealing indicators of what the Mary Grant label stands for.

Only the finest materials are selected for use in the manufacture of her garments and knitted pieces are handmade by a family owned company in Italy. You would be very cosy wrapped up in her ribbed cowl, a clever piece which can be pulled down over the shoulders as an alternative to wearing it high on the neck. Not to mention the fine cashmere wrap to keep you chic and warm. But there is another kind of wrap that Mary Grant has on offer, and it is so flattering to all shapes. Check out the wrap tops and dresses made in jersey which falls softly and elegantly.

You can emphasise the waistline by adding an obi belt to flowy dresses, or to smarten up a plain winter coat. What a great way to add a pop of colour to a simple outfit to take you through the festive season!

You can shop online but a visit to the store is a must if you are in town so you can have a feel of the sumptuous materials and get an insight into Mary’s world.

Purple haze cashmere wrap €280

Denim dress with foldover €89

Denim drawstring back bikini top €29

D

19

ottom €

ikini b enim b

Denim bead rectangular metal ring €19

Spring for some denim

WITH COS Denim bead metal ring €19

Knotted leather sandal €99

 JESSICA MAILE

I LOVE DENIM. It’s a love that started in my teenage years even though I grew up in a decade where acid-washed jeans were chic. But in the 21st century, designing with denim has become an actual art form and no one does this better than COS. Forget the winter blues and dream of spring blues instead.

Think simple denim shorts with a crisp, white top or a func-

tional apron dress with a nonconventional drapey denim. The sleeveless all-in-one is the essence of simplicity and a modern must-have. Even the bikini gets the denim treatment with a distorted denim print.

Accent these pieces with luxurious leather shopper or an ice grey nubuck leather sandal.

From raw denim to their clever use of compressed recycled denim in the geometric metal jewellery, COS has reinvented this classic fabric with their fresh, new take on spring essentials.

26 November 2015 Gazette 19

Gazette

20 Gazette 26 November 2015

OUT&ABOUT

fast

TRAVEL NEWS

TRAVEL

skiing: find your perfect resort for a winter getaway

Turn dreams of a white Christmas into a reality  Ian Begley

Stylish comfort and luxury in the heart of the city  Ian Begley

I recently enjoyed a one night stay at the stylish four-star Trinity City Hotel, to coincide with the switching on of the Christmas light. It’s located right beside Trinity College on Pearse Street.

We stayed in a room which is interestingly part of an original Victorian Fire Station.

The room was very jazzy in style and offered the height of modern comfort, ample velux windows, a smart lounge area and a range of unique artwork.

For the day that was in it we took a trip to the Irish Whiskey Museum on Grafton Street, just a five minute walk down the road. The one-hour tour was a lot more interesting than I expected with visual stories of Irish whiskey through the ages. The highlight of course was a whiskey tasting session and a complimentary Irish coffee at the end.

Coincidentally, the annual Christmas lights were being turned on in Grafton Street on the same day, which was the perfect way to bring the afternoon to a close before we headed back to the hotel for dinner.

Building up a hearty appetite, we feasted on a delectable six-course tasting menu after a few predinner cocktails at the hotel’s front lounge.

We had a cured salmon with horseradish cream and Guinness bread to start, followed by a delicious bowl of wild mushroom and tarragon soup. After a very refreshing champagne sorbet, we dined on a beautiful fillet of pan seared sea bass followed by a very tender cut of lamb. And if that wasn’t enough, the sixth course consisted of a chocolate plate involving a mousse, hazelnut brownie and raspberry sorbet.

Up bright and early the following morning I enjoyed a full Irish breakfast before checking out and heading on my very short commute to work. Just a stone throw away from the capital’s iconic landmarks and venues, Trinity City is certainly a great location for anyone looking for a city retreat.

Rooms start from €119 for two adults sharing, see www.trinitycityhotel.com

Dreaming of a white Christmas? Well dream no more as there are many winter ski resorts to choose from this holiday season which offer a fantastic range of festive entertainment for all the family to enjoy.

With Highlife Ski & Snowboard you can spend a family winter vacation in one of three stylish French resorts – Morzine, Meribel or Val d’Lsere.

If a cosy Alpine chalet complete with an open log fire, outdoor hot tub, a sauna and your very own chalet chef sounds good to you, swap the pots and pans, long shopping queues and extended family reunions for a festive chalet.

Your chalet will be transformed into a festive retreat with open fires, sparkling decorations and your very own authentic Christmas tree to get you into the holiday spirit from the moment you arrive.

On Christmas Eve, guests returning from an action-packed day on the slopes will be greeted with warming mulled wine and mince pies fresh out of the oven.

On Christmas morning awake to the sound of crackling log fires and a visit from Santa bearing presents for the kids.

Your very own chalet chef will prepare a delicious breakfast allowing you to spend quality time with your loved ones, cherishing the precious moments of unwrapping the gifts from under the tree.

Val d’Isere offers high quality, snow-sure slopes for everyone from complete beginner to veterans

So, turn your dream of a white Christmas into a reality with departures from Dublin on December 20, from €1,120 per adult and €910 per child aged 11 or under for seven nights.

For more information, visit www.highlife.ie, or contact 01 677 1100.

With Crystal Sky Holidays, embrace the holiday season by spoiling yourself and your family with an exciting ski vacation away.

From €460 per person, you can spend one week in the Austrian mountain resort of Mayrhofen with flights leaving on December 19.

Penken and Ahorn are Mayrhofen’s mountains - with 135km of skiing and Austria’s steepest

run, Harakiri, it’s one of the most diverse Alpine resorts.

Mayrhofen’s mountains have a wide variety of more challenging runs and, in the right conditions, some impressive off-piste. Plus, the Vans Penken Park is one of the leading freestyle parks in Europe.

Also in Austria is the Niederau Ski Holiday resort, which is priced from €525 per person for seven nights, with flights leaving on January 9.

Niederau, based in the Wildschonau valley, is picturesque and perfect for both families and beginners, with wide nursery slopes and easy to use drag lifts.

There’s also the excellent 1st Wildschonau Ski

School and a nursery childcare Snowboarders should watch out for a few flat sections and experienced skiers will probably need a little more challenging terrain. The link over to Alpbach opens up the Ski Juwel’s full 145km - all covered by your pass.

If France is more to your taste then from €474 per person you can spend seven nights in the traditional French village Les Carroz, which is located in the world famous Grand Massif ski area.

This resort is made for people who prefer skiing in a homely, more personal setting in comparison to its purpose built neighbour Flaine.

In the middle of Les Carroz you’ll find a pictur-

esque village centre with a small collection of shops, cafes and restaurants. The small scale of the resort means fantastic scenery and beautiful views across the valley that should not be missed.

Accommodation wise, we have different types of self-catering, from reasonably basic to luxury residences with wellness facilities to match.

When it comes to activities there’s plenty on offer, you’ll find toboggan runs, horse-drawn carriage rides and even dog-sledding to fill the hours for non-skiers or in your hours out of the skis. There’s also a resort ice rink.

For more information about these deals, visit www.crystalski.ie.

26 November 2015 Gazette 21

Gazette

FOOD&DRINK BITESIZEDNEWS

Pat Whelan with the product

Campagne

French restaurant

The Arches, Gas House Lane Wood panelling and dark colours on the walls give this place a plush feel and seating was really comfortable

The Picky Eater

Whenever I hear Michelin Star, my mind jumps to overly formal, over the top service. I always love the food, mind you, but waiters constantly fawning over you is slightly off-putting.

When I heard about Campagne restaurant in Kilkenny, I was eager to try it as the menu seemed less fussy and less overpriced than some other establishments that hold the coveted star.

When we arrived, those views remained as the restaurant is in a very quiet part of town just below what looks like apartments or an office block.

So far, nothing over the top or ostentatious anyway. Inside the dining room is very comfortable and was absolutely buzzing on a busy Saturday night.

Wood panelling and dark colours on the walls give this place a plush feel and seating was really comfortable.

The maitre d’ was a very friendly lady who took us

through the specials and explained anything that might be unknown to myself and my friend.

After ordering a delicious bottle of Picpoul de Pinet (€30) (a wine that is having a bit of a moment) we jumped straight in to starters.

I went for a fois gras pate layered with a delicious butter served on an autumn fruit jelly and a toasted brioche (€16).

This was absolutely sublime but the outright winner was my pal’s scallop royale, served with Jerusalem artichokes and lobster bisque (€16).

So much thought and time had obviously gone into this outstanding dish and we spent ages trying to figure out how they made it. I won’t spoil the fun and will leave it for you to the same guessing game.

Next up came my mate’s fillet of Hereford beef with glazed mushrooms, spinach puree, ox tongue croquettes and porcini butter sauce

(€32).

From a lady who is considering going vegetarian, she was certainly having fun at the wake and was almost in tears at the thought of what she was about to give up.

My poached turbot (€32) came with a similar sauce and could be eaten with a spoon, it had the perfect texture and taste.

My friend had a glass of ribera del duero (€8.25) with her meat and having lived in Spain for several years, she said it was one of the best she’d sampled outside of Spain.

A stunning side of mash and parsnips went down a treat with both dishes.

We really were not fit for anything more at this point, but seeing a hot chocolate fondant being brought to most tables, we decided this dish was obviously worth trying.

The locals were going mad for it. It was served with vanilla ice cream and glazed cherries (€9) and was certainly worth the longer waiting time.

All in all this was a fantastic experience and it’s well worth the trip to Kilkenny. T here are lots of places to stay in the city, after all it’s a really buzzing place.

We stayed slightly outside in Mount Juliet, which is a stunning old country house hotel.

For more see campagne.ie.

Conclusion Campagne boasts a stylish interior featuring oak flooring, curved banquette leather seating and modern paintings. The emphasis is on high-quality seasonal produce with French influences in a relaxed and comfortable dining area. (5, The Arches, Gas House Lane, Kilkenny. Phone:(056) 777 2858

Superb old-fashioned flavour returns FOR many, beef dripping is something our parents’ parents cooked with and not widely used today. However, James Whelan Butchers has brought this nostalgic delicacy back to the kitchen with their award-winning heritage product that delivers a superb old-fashioned flavour.

Intensely savoury, the beef dripping was awarded Supreme Champion at the Great Taste Awards 2015, receiving high praise from judge and food critic Charles Campion.

Speaking at an event celebrating the beef dripping in Avoca Kilmacanogue, Campion described it as “the simplest of products, that touched the hearts of all the judges”.

Seeing the upsurge of interest in heritage foods and traditional ingredients, Pat Whelan of James Whelan Butchers, was inspired to create his own beef dripping. With the very best of beef available to him, and with the guidance of his mother, he soon perfected a product that he was proud to share with his customers.

The dripping is produced in Clonmel by Whelan, a fifth generation butcher, and made from the purest suet from grass-fed Irish Angus and Hereford beef. These magical creamy ingots transform roast vegetables and potatoes and makes the most perfectly golden fish and chips.

The product stays fresh for up to six months.

With the festive season just around the corner, a little of James Whelan’s beef dripping will go a long way to adding a depth of flavour to all kinds of dishes - with a higher smoke point than goose fat, it makes the ultimate crispy roast potatoes and paired with butter, delivers the tastiest shortcrust pastry, not to mention simply spread on toast for a seriously nostalgic trip to flavour town. “It’s the taste of my childhood,” said Pat Whelan.

“Our beef dripping is nutrient rich, high in omega-3 acids, clean, pure and carries great flavour, whether for frying a steak, roasting potatoes, or spread onto good bread.”

Available to buy at: Avoca Food Market, Monkstown, County Dublin, Avoca, Rathcoole, County Dublin Avoca, Kilmacanogue, Bray, County Wicklow, James Whelan Butchers, Clonmel, County Tipperary and at jameswhelanbutchers.com

Gazette

22 Gazette 26 November 2015

OUT&ABOUT

Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Scooter €55

S Em M&

toysfor thekids

ily Bu tton €24

WHETHER it’s your bonnie baby’s very first Christmas, or if you’re looking out for gifts for older children, there’s plenty of great toys to find in the shops as Christmas draws near, with some cutting-edge characters standing head to shoulder, dress to lasergun alongside classic toys.

This week, we’ve selected a range of toys and gifts that are available now from Smyths, ToysRUs, M&S and all good toy retailers nationwide.

Mattel

Monster High Go oli

Mega Bloks 60piece bag set €20

ope €50

All images not to scale

Mattel Barbie Rock & Royal €35

th

ly 80

po Mono o r b as

rsary annive

99

€28.

H

5

€6 k Rails

l Fisher

Matte

Wrec er Ship t s a M k ac Price Tr

26 November 2015 Gazette 23

Gazette

GIFT GUIDE MOTORING Hasbro My Little Pony Equestria Girls €24.99

Mattel Barnie Malibu Dreamhouse €150

alo book €8 M&S Gruff

Mat Pric tel Fish e g ym toddle er €80 r

al Furre pin’ o r m b Has s My Ju rF iend 72.99 € pug

otel ter H s e h Furc €28.99 bro Has Phoebe g Talkin

Hasb r Intera o Avengers ctive H u Buste r €49 lk .99

Habro Jurassic World Stomp and Strike Tyrannosaurus Rex €57.99

Habro Bop It! Star Wars R2-D2 edition game

Mattel Fisher Price Dance and Move BeatBo €55

Gazette

24 Gazette 26 November 2015

OUT&ABOUT

HEALTHYSTEPS

HEALTH

health conditions: ‘lack of reliable studies’ to support tests

Testing for food and chemical intolerances

A treatment called Lipiflow helps the meibomian glands produce more oil.

Look into preventing the causes of dry eye THE condition known as dry eye – which is an inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea of the eye, due to inadequate tear secretion – is an uncomfortable and sometimes painful condition most often caused by over-exposure. Those most at risk ------------------------

‘Every time we blink, we moisten the eye, so by blinking less we moisten the eye less’ ------------------------

are people who spend many hours in front of the computer.

Given the ever increasing numbers of people who spend long periods in front of a computer screen for work or leisure, or often both, more and more people are likely to be affected.

We tend to blink maybe 7/8 times per minute, and the moment we start looking at computer screens, we tend to blink 2/3 times a minute.

Every time we blink, we moisten the eye, so by blinking less we moisten the eye less.

The other common causes are the likes of contact lens wear and getting older.

For females, hormo-

nal changes as you approach menopause can also cause dry eye.

Many medications have dry eye listed as a side effect. These would include anti-histamines, anti-hypertensives, anticholestrols, and so on.

The following is a number of ways dry eye can be averted. Using lubricant eye-drops, being aware of blinking when you’re working on the computer, and using something called the 20/20/20 rule, where for every 20 minutes you take a 20 second break by looking at something 20 feet away from the computer.

The wellington Eye Clinic offers a treatment call Lipiflow. Where a device is placed on the lids for 12 minutes, the device warms up over time to just above body temperature.

This softens up the oils and within the Lipiflow device are little massage rollers which milk the glands and ensure that by the end of the 12 minutes the oils have been expressed out of the meibomian glands. Cost involved: Dry Eye Assessment – €100 Lipiflow Treatment – €500 per eye.

For an appointment call the Wellington Eye Clinic on 01 2807873 or email info@wellingtoneyeclinic.com

 Ellen Roche Dietitian & Clinical Nutritionist at Nutri Vive

Food intolerances effect around 15% of the population and common symptoms include headaches, fatigue, tummy upset and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The triggers are often substances that naturally occur in foods (e.g. amines or fructose) or chemicals added during food processing (eg mono sodium glutamate added to ready meals or sulphites added to wine).

Enzyme deficiencies such as lactase usually results in an intolerance to dairy products. IBS is a bowel condition which can cause abdominal bloating, pain, cramping, constipation and diarrhoea; these symptoms are frequently caused by normal healthy foods.

The symptoms of food intolerances are usually delayed, which explains why they can be difficult to diagnose.

Food Intolerance Tests Food intolerance testing has become increasingly popular in recent years. A growing number of pharmacies in addition to complimentary therapists and private health clinics offer intolerance testing services directly to the public.

These centres claim that a wide range of

Food intolerances effect around 15% of the population

health conditions such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, arthritis, sinusitis, skin problems, digestive issues and even obesity can be solved using such tests.

The kits take a small sample of blood to check the levels of IgG antibody (immune system activity) for a range of various foods eg. shellfish, wheat and dairy products.

If IgG antibody levels are elevated for particular foods, the test centres diagnose an intolerance and recommend complete exclusion from the diet to relieve symptoms.

These tests cost €100€250 approximately depending upon the number of foods tested.

Unfortunately the facts are that IgG intolerance tests are a complete waste of money and not worth the paper they are printed on.

I have seen the printouts from vulnerable and confused clients; many repor ts which

don’t even make clinical sense eg. gluten is rated high and to be avoided, yet rye (which contains gluten) is ok!

Lack of Supportive Science The websites marketing food intolerance testing claim that there is sufficient scientific evidence to prove that these tests are warranted when a food intolerance is suspected.

H av i n g e x a m i n e d these studies, many of the trials involved small numbers of people who were tested twenty years ago, therefore applications to the general population are not relevant.

The leading international food allergy and intolerance institutes are currently strongly advocating against IgG food intolerance testing.

There appears to be no correlation between high levels of a particular food antibody and the development of

symptoms. High levels only indicate the person has consumed a particular food in the past, the immune system has “acknowledged” this food and positive test results are to be expected in normal, healthy adults and children.

Furthermore, the inappropriate use of this test only increases the likelihood of false diagnoses being made, resulting in unnecessary dietary restrictions and decreased quality of life.

Food Exclusion Trials The Irish Food Allergy and Intolerance Network (www.ifan.ie) and the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (www. indi.ie) strongly advocate against food intolerance tests because of the lack of reliable studies to support them.

At present, the “gold standard” method for determining if an underlying food intolerance exists is to follow an elimination or exclu-

sion diet followed by a reintroduction challenge.

The elimination a p p r o a c h p r ov i d e s sy mptom relief and subsequently helps to pin-point the culprit food(s) within two to six weeks and it’s the preferred method as recommended by health professionals, Allergy UK’s Intolerance Group and the NICE guidelines for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

These groups recommend guidance from a health professional such as a registered dietitian or doctor to ensure that the correct type of exclusion diet is followed in the short-term and to avoid any risk of longterm nutrient deficiency.

Ellen Roche is an experienced registered dietitian with clinics located throughout Leinster.

Contact the office for private consultations and corporate services (087) 680 2248 www.nutrivive. ie

26 November 2015 Gazette 25

Gazette

CINEMA

ReelReviews

lady in the van

Motors along amusingly THE closest that The Lady in The Van (Cert 12A, 104 mins) gets to anything as exciting as a car chanse is the sight of a clapped-out van parked in the driveway of a playwright’s home for year after year. Maggie Smith plays the wily vehicle owner in this low-key but entertaining tale, as Ms Shepherd becomes a part of playwright Alan Bennett’s as the years roll by – even though the van doesn’t.

As true-life crime boss James ‘Whitey’ Bolger, Johnny Depp doesn’t keep his cards close all the time – his criminality involves many associates in a wide-ranging empire

black mass: for the first time in ages, depp delivers a great role

A great study of criminality

CHRONICLING the rise and fall of notorious South Brooklyn crime boss James ‘W hitey’ Bulger, Black Mass (Cert 15A, 123 mins) rings together a stellar cast to tell a story of crooked cops, hardened criminals, and insidious political corruption.

As the head of an Irish mob crew known as the Winter Hill Gang, Bulger rose to infamy through the ’70s and ’80s, piling up a wealth of charges including extortion, narcotics distribution, racketeering, and murder.

He also claims to have shipped more than one million dollars’ worth of weapons across the Atlantic to support the IRA. Furthermore, he racked up the litany of charges while under the watch of the FBI, with

 Dave phillips

whom he was co-operating against a common enemy – the Italian mafia families who controlled much of the black market in Brooklyn.

Yet, despite being one of the America’s most wanted fugitives (trumped only by Osama Bin Laden), ‘Whitey’ Bulger has a fairly low profile outside of the United States.

Most of us will have been unwittingly introduced to Bulger through Scorcese’s The Departed – which drew heavily on Whitey’s story for Jack Nicholson’s character.

It seems fitting then that when Johnny Depp steps into the lead role as Bulger in Black Mass, he brings a distinctly Nicholson-like energy with him.

It is safe to say that much of the buzz built up around Black Mass is connected to Depp’s transformative performance.

With thinning white hair combed tight against a balding dome and haunting dead-blue eyes, the actor is almost unrecognisable.

It is apt casting, too, given Depp’s recent propensity for familyfriendly and much more superficial characters.

The pairing of the chillingly off-kilter looks with the grisly and sociopathic character results in a monster that will stay in the

viewer’s mind long after the image fades from the screen.

Depp’s metamorphosis oozes the kind of ghoulishness that we don’t see enough of in cinema.

Part of bringing such a strong lead character to life involves surrounding him with a much less grotesque cast.

Joel Edgerton (Zero Dark Thirty) plays John Connolly, a childhood friend of Bulger who joins the FBI. While operating under the guise of justice, Connolly is often more concerned with his own career, and agrees to turn a blind eye to Bulger’s criminal ventures in return for assistance making a case against the Mafia.

Benedict Cumberbatch also stars as

Billy Bulger, the more respectable sibling, who served for 18 years as president of the Massachusetts Senate while his older brother continued to serve up corpse after corpse.

No doubt that Black Mass belongs to Depp and Edgerton, but there are great smaller parts studded throughout, including appearances from Kevin Bacon, Adam Scott, and Dakota Johnson – the latter of whom provides the most memorable scene in the film.

The story told in Black Mass is one massive tangled web of deception and exploitation, and director Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart) is happy to revel in it.

Cooper delivers a wonderfully menacing and claustrophobic feel

through shots so close we can see the pores, stained teeth and bloodstains in grim detail.

Cooper’s vision is so bleak though that, in a way, it dulls the film.

We move across a decade of Bulger’s life in a disparate fashion. There is no sense of crescendo, no righteous corruptionbusting cop to provide the narrative drive, there is actually nobody to root for, and so there is no Hollywood ending.

More of a sociopathic character study than a traditional mob drama, the narrative sloppily unfolds like an onion rotted to the core.

With more hits than misses, Black Mass remains an engaging, beautifully-shot, and superbly acted film.

Verdict: 7/10

brooklyn

A tale worth visiting SAOIRSE Ronan impresses in Brooklyn (Cert 12A, 112 mins), with its tale of a young emigre in 1950s American – guess where – finding her life taking an unexpected path going down well with audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. With Emory Cohen and Domnhall Gleeson providing strong supporting roles as would-be suitors, it’s a well-shot film that dials down Oirish overtones.

burnt

Still a bit of a stinker BRADLEY Cooper’s latest hasn’t gone down well with critics, with Burnt (Cert 15A, 101 mins) getting sliced to pieces faster than a cake made by his troubled-butbrilliant-chef character.

As a character who rides around town on a big motorcycle, wears leather jackets, and struggles with his inner demons – all while trying to kickstart his stalled career – the film is something of a mess.

26 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 26 November 2015

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Permission is sought for two number two storey residential units on site at 8 Woodlawn Park, Mounttown , Dun Laoghaire, Co . Dublin By Carol Dwyer. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority, County Hall, Dún Laoghaire during its public opening hours.A submission/observation may be made on payment of €20 within a period of 5 weeks from the date the application is received by the planning authority.

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Planning permission sought by Jason Bolton for a single storey side extension with rooflight and ancillary services at 12 Casement Villas, Kill Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of DunLaoghaire Rathdown county council,County hall, Marine road, Dun Laoghaire Co Dublin during its opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the Planning Authority on payment of the prescribed fee within 5 weeks from submission of the application to the Planning Authority.

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Permission is sought for 1 no. double doors and circular window at the rear of the first floor of no 12 Georges Street Lower, Dun Laoghaire, by Robert Furlong. The planning application may be inspected or purchased for a fee not exceeding a reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, during its public opening hours of Monday to Friday from 10:00am to 4:00pm.A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the Planning Authority, on payment of a fee of €20 within 5 weeks of receipt of the application by the Planning Authority.

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C h a r l e s a n d Mo i r a Rycraft, in relation to their 142 sq m two storey detached house at 12 Belmont Lawn, Galloping Green, Blackrock, Co.Dublin, A94 FX36, seek Permission for a 3.54 sq m extension to the entrance hall at the front (contained under the original roof overhang) and a 25.55 sq m single storey extension to the rear with associated site works.The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority, County Hall, Dun Laoghaire during its public opening hours. A submission / observation may be made on payment of €20 within a period of 5 weeks from the date the application is received by the planning authority.

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28 gazette 26 November 2015

SPORT

FastSport Search for new paralympic soccer stars: The Republic of Ireland Paralympic squad are searching for the next national hero as they begin preparations for the 2016 Paralympics in Brazil.

After finishing sixth in the Cerebral Palsy World Cup, the squad are offering a fantastic opportunity for the best players around the country with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, or those who have suffered a stroke to represent Ireland.

The FAI are partnering with Paralympics Ireland in this new campaign ahead of a trial day at the FAI national training centre on Saturday, December 12 at 12 noon.

Any players aged between 16 and 30-years-old, who have any of the aforementioned impairments, are eligible to try out for the team.

More informations can be found at http://www.fai.ie/ irelands-next-paralympic-football-star/ the-campaign.

cross country: raheny man storms to inter clubs national title

Clohisey cleans up in Santry  sport@dublingazette.com

MICK Clohisey, from Raheny Shamrocks, reigned supreme at the GloHealth inter-club cross-country championships in Santry Demesne.

A memorable day of competition saw big fields

and a large spectator crowd that needn’t have worried about the after effects of storm Barney.

A sea of colour dotted Santry Demesne with clubs from all over the country out in force with tents and tear-drop flags adding an extra dimen-

sion to the atmosphere created by Fintan Reilly and Nick Davis as the two main men on the microphone.

The senior women’s 8,000m race was one that whetted the appetite with a top-class field and with the uncertainty

Raheny’s Mick Clohisey celebrating his third title. Picture: Cody Glenn/Sportsfile

Mick Clohisey on the trail at Santry Demesne

of the form of Fionnuala McCormack.

The start of the race was a cagey affair with the diminutive McCormack nestled in the leading pack led by the effervescent Lizzie Lee (Leevale).

Lee tried to take on McCormack but the the teak tough Wicklow woman was untouchable building an insurmountable lead.

Lee hung on gamely for second leading her club to a maiden team title with the surprise package Caroline Crowley (Crusaders) coming through for third.

Dundrum South Dublin were second in the team race with Raheny Shamrocks third.

Clohisey followed up as

an impressive winner of the men’s 10,000m with a front-running performance from the gun ahead of Metro St Brigid’s John Coghlan in second and Paul Pollock (Annadale Striders) in third.

Leevale missed out on the team title by a single point to Clonliffe Harriers, 47 to 48, with Raheny narrowly behind on 51.

It was Clohisey’s third time to win the inter-clubs’ crown and he is now looking forward to competing in the European cross-country championships where his rivals will become his teammates.

“You don’t really think about these things,” he said referring to his third inter-clubs’ title. “You just move on to the next thing when you’re on form. It is

a good achievement and it was a good race out there today. I wasn’t expecting to be out in the lead so early on my own so it it was a question of keeping my concentration.

“I’m looking forward to wearing the Irish vest with pride now at the Europeans and putting in a good performance. We were all rivals today but I’m looking forward to us competing as team mates in France.”

Hope Saunders (Clonliffe Harriers) and Kevin Mulcaire (Ennis Track Club) were impressive winners of the junior women’s 4,000m and junior men’s 6,000m respectively.

DSD women and Clonliffe Harriers men won the junior team titles.

Duke and Pinder power UCD to win over Harlequins  sport@dublingazette.com

UCD’s Deirdre Duke gets away from Cork Harlequins’ Yvonne O’Byrne. Picture: Adrian Boehm

SECOND-half goals from Gillian Pinder and Deirdre Duke saw UCD land their third win of the women’s EY Hockey League season last Sunday, beating Cork Harlequins 2-0 to keep them in the shake-up for the playoff places.

UCD started the stronger of the two teams with Aisling Naughton and Sorcha Clarke creating chances down the lefthand side after good persistence from Leah Ewart.

They also had two corners but

neither were converted.

Quins duly grew into the game after an intial slow start, building from the back through Cliodhna Sargent who caused UCD problems with the long ball.

Olivia Roycroft came closest sending a deflection flying by the back post from a Sargent crash ball.

Into the second half, UCD remained patient in their build up play against a strong Quins’ defence that was proving difficult to break down. Gillian Pinder broke the deadlock with a thunderbolt into the bottom

corner after a brilliant five pass exchange that opened up the top of the circle for Pinder.

The fourth quarter started with Quins looking to get an equaliser but they found it difficult to get anything out of a disciplined UCD defence.

The Cork side earned their first penalty corner of the game with four minutes to go which Cliodhna Sargeant looked to strike home off a switch but it was brilliantly ran down by Naughton.

Deirdre Duke put the game away a minute later sliding in at

the back post to put away a good team move.

It was a fine riposte from UCD on a double-weekend as they lost 4-1 a day earlier to a resurgent Pegasus side in Belfast.

Booterstown side Hermes continued their brilliant form in the league with a pair of wins over two of their nearest rivals, seeing off Harlequins 3-0 on Saturday and then beat second placed Ulster Elks 3-1 on Sunday. Anna O’Flanagan scored three times over the weekend to extend her scoring tally to 18 goals in eight games.

26 November 2015 gazette 29

Gazette

Peat adds another Irish string to incredible bow Following spells with the Irish basketball team and the Dublin footballers, Dubliner Lindsay Peat tells JAMES HENDICOTT about her rugby debut LINDSAY PEAT - an All-Ireland winning footballer and former co-captain of the Irish international basketball team - added international rugby to her considerable sporting CV over the weekend.

Peat was called up to the Ireland Women’s squad to face England at Harlequin’s London

ground The Stoop last week, named on the bench as the women played their first autumn international.

Peat - who plays her rugby with Railway Union in Sandymount - was named on the bench for Ireland, joining the fray in the final quarter of the game to earn her debut cap.

Amazingly, Peat only joined Railway Union (her first rugby club) in the early summer, after the club - that’s only three years old when it comes to the women’s game - talked her into turning out through friends who were already involved.

She quickly became hooked: “There are

Lindsay Peat in Dublin ladies football action. Picture: GAAPics.com

huge depths to Irish rugby, and a lot of injuries right now,” Peat told GazetteSport, modestly playing down her selection. “It never even entered my mind that I might be called up, and I feel very lucky.

“I had been trying to wind down when the call came, trying to avoid getting injured and to experience playing for my club.

“I’ve been learning the tactical side,” she adds. “There are a few crossovers from GAA and from basketball.

Tactically, the game mirrors basketball, but like football you’re always trying to find space, to work to create openings. It took me a long time to stop trying to run off someone’s shoulder and to come more deep.”

Before taking up rugby, Peat had stepped away from GAA back in May, after finishing her degree. She had studied

alongside a full-time job and multiple evenings of training across several sports, leaving “more often than not, only Sunday evenings free.”

“Looking back, I love basketball and football equally,” she explains.

“It’s like trying to choose between your children. Basketball was the sport that I first put a lot of work into, getting to the top level, playing in the national league and then getting to the international set up.

“It’s the foundation, so it’ll always have a very special place.”

Rugby is the new love, though, and Peat’s just had her first international taste.

An experimental Irish side that included nine new caps lost to a last minute maul from a line out, with England barging over the line with two minutes left on the clock for an 8-3 win.

Ireland had equalised through a penalty in an extremely low-scoring game, making the game 3-3 with seven minutes left on the clock.

“The game was played in horrible conditions that didn’t really suit us,” Peat tells us, “but it was really great to get that experience. There are two Ireland training camps coming up in December, where the squad train like professionals.

“I feel very, very lucky to be involved, and my next aim is to keep getting called up to camps.

We’ll see where things go from there.

“I’m grateful to Tom Tierney [Ireland women’s rugby manager] for giving me a shot.”

And why the multisport success? “There’s something for everyone that just makes them feel alive,” Peat concludes. “For me, that’s sport. I just try to take up things that I enjoy.”

FastSport Smyth signed up as academy manager: FORMER St Mary’s and Blackrock College coach Peter Smyth has taken up the role of Academy Manager at Leinster.

As a player Peter has represented both Ireland and Leinster at A, U21 and Schools level. He coached St Mary’s College RFC to Ulster Bank League success in 2012 and also coached Blackrock College to four schools senior cup and two junior cups.

Smyth’s role as Leinster Rugby Academy Manager will see him oversee the delivery of the academy and sub-academy programmes as well as supporting the national talent and the regional development squad programmes.

He will be responsible for the development and progression of players for the professional game in Ireland and the management of talent identification.

Speaking about the new job, he said: “There is huge potential in the underage system in Leinster across schools and clubs and I am excited to be in a position to help nurture that talent into future Ireland players.”

Gazette

30 DUN LAOGHAIRE gazette 26 November 2015

SPORT

FastSport

soccer: kilbogget club see first player to sign direct terms

Derby snap up Knight as Cabo enjoy historic first  nathan kelly sport@dublingazette.com

De La Salle Palmerston celebrate 30th season THE Sold Out signs were up once again in Stratton Hall at Kirwan Park, as De La Salle Palmerston FC held their annual club dinner recently for the club’s 30th anniversary.

John Corr is the current president for the 2015/16 season and is the 31st President since Palmerston FC and De la Salle RFC, became the first two rugby clubs in Ireland to merge in 1985.

Corr played on the wing for Salmo firsts for over 15 years with distinction and will bring his wealth of rugby knowledge to his new role. He played the role as master of ceremonies.

Corr welcomed club presidents from all over the province, as well as Niall Rynne, Dermot O’Mahoney and Dennis Collins from Leinster Rugby. Included in the crowd were former Irish international and Lions’ player Johnny Moloney enjoying the evening.

Guest of Honour on the night was IRFU President Martin O Sullivan, who was attending his first “gig” as the top man in Irish Rugby and he showed his true rugby credentials, regaling the crowd with stories from a lifetime on and off the rugby pitch.

DLSP were also thrilled to have Patrick “Rala” O’Reilly on hand to accept a surprise Special Award from the club on his retirement after over 25 years as bagman for the Ireland senior team.

Former Romanian international and DLSP player Dr Mihai Vioreanu spoke with great passion about the game, in particular the medical advances being made to help players recover from injury.

Vioreanu is a knee specialist in the Santry Sports Clinic.

Finally, it was left to former DLSP Club Captain Ciaran “Shanners” Shanley to send the crowd home in floods of laughter with his brilliant and witty speech. As well as being the first DLSP senior interpro with Connacht, he has a sound future on the “After Dinner Speech” circuit.

IN RECENT years, Derby County have become one of the biggest recruiters of Ireland internationals, with Jeff Hendrick, Cyrus Christie, Richard Keogh and Alex Pearce currently donning the Rams’ shirt.

Well one of the Republic’s potential stars of tomorrow is set to follow suit after Cabinteely FC’s Jason Knight signed a three-year contract with the Championship club last week.

Knight, who has been plying his trade in Cabo’s Under-15 Premier side signed on the Derby dotted line last week in the company of the clubs Head of Youth Recruitment Chris Perkins.

Signing his first contract with a professional football club rounded off an excellent week for Knight, who just days before had been named in the Republic of Ireland Under-15 squad for its two friendly games against Poland which took place this week.

Jason is the younger

brother of Cabo’s League of Ireland player Kevin Knight, and has been with the club since the age of four, when he enrolled in the club’s excellent Cubs academy.

In signing for Derby, the youngster has made club history as the first man from Kilbogget Park to sign for an English club straight from Cabo.

Plenty of former Cabinteely players have travelled across the Irish sea in the past, but only after leaving to join other Irish clubs first.

Knight started the first of the two matches against Poland on Tuesday night, a narrow 2-1 defeat in an exciting friendly international at Rock Celtic.

On a crisp night in Co Louth, both sides produced impressive performances and the Irish were certainly unlucky not to get at least a share of the spoils.

Ireland went ahead in the 12th minute when Sean Brennan turned home a low cross from livewire wide-man Callum Thompson.

Four minutes later

Jason Knigh, left, receiving a trophy

Kacper Nowak forced a save from Irish keeper Kian Clarke but unfortunately for the home side they conceded an equaliser in the 19th minute when Oskar Nowak found the net with a shot from distance.

Five minutes into the second half Oskar Nowak smashed a shot off the Irish crossbar and the home side then launched a counter which saw the dynamic Thompson shoot just over after bursting forward from inside his own half.

south dublin swans Local Aussie Rules side get special visitors the south Dublin Swans Aussie Rules team had a number of special visitors at their 10th annual awards night, coinciding with the visiting AFL international rules team.

Swans tall ruckman Paul O’Halloran won the Best and Fairest award and top goal kicker was rookie Seamus Owens from Terenure. Included in the group photo are Luke Breust and Jarrad Roughhead from Hawthorn the 2015 AFL Premiership winners, Leigh Montana from St Kilda, Dyson Heppell from Essendon and Bob Murphy from Western Bulldogs.

In the 51st minute the Poles extended their lead after a low corner was fired in and Paweł Zuk smashed home from ten yards out.

Thompson was unfortunate not to level in the 62nd minute when he drove in from the left and drilled in a low right footed effort which keeper Piotr Zalewski got down well to save.

Adam Idah headed just over from a Marc Walsh cross two minutes later then in the 66th minute Kameron Ledwidge found the head of Barry

Coffey but his effort was a matter of inches wide.

Zalewski made another save to deny Walsh 60 seconds later then another powerful Thompson run saw him burst down the right and cross for Idah to thump a header off the crossbar.

Irish keeper Clarke showed his class to keep out a long-range effort from Bartosz Marchewka in the 83rd minute then two minutes into injury-time Sean Mahon sent Idah through but once again Zalewski got out well to save.

26 November 2015 DUN LAOGHAIRE gazette 31

Gazette

shield success

Cuala minors hold off Na Fianna to win title

Club Noticeboard Cuala ALL roads lead to Dr Cullen Park,

cuala’s ladies minor football team won

3-13 to 3-10 in their league final last week

by Na Fianna in Bray in a match of contrasting halves to claim the shield title.

The Dalkey side started at blistering pace with an early goal from Blaithin Lane and went into the break with a substantial lead.

Na Fianna stormed back in the second half but a Clodagh Sheehan penalty save proved vital in the three-point win.

The minor camogie team also had

Oulart the Ballagh in the Leinster

a good 2-9 to 1-1 win over Kilmacud in

final.

the minor B championship on Mon-

The Cuala ticket office is delighted to offer members and supporters a

ladies football: donaghmoyne a bridge too far

championship.

Carlow next Sunday as Cuala play

day. That’s two wins and one defeat in their group so far.

chance to enjoy the Leinster club

No training for the 2010s next Sat-

senior hurling final in style by join-

urday as the hall is being used for

ing Cuala On Tour - the club’s spe-

Scoil Lorcain’s Aonach na Nollaig.

cial coach service to Dr Cullen Park.

Well done to the 07 boys who took

Tickets can be booked on the Cuala

part in the November Cup run by

website.

Kevin’s hurling.

Well done to our third hurlers who

This week’s lotto jackpot will be

won their AHL8 promotion semi-final

€3,300. Our lucky dip winners last

against Commercials by 2-16 to 1-5.

week were Derek Dunne and Cor-

Congratulations to Mark Schutte

mac O’Tighearnaigh. Buy your tick-

and Cian O’Calla ghan on their

ets online at http://www.cualagaa.

respective awards as hurler of the

ie/lotto.

year and young hurler of the year at

Cong r atulations to Lor r aine

the annual Friends of Dublin Hurling

Hayes on her appointment as Cua-

on Friday, November 20. Cuala also

la’s new club manager.

won the FODH Hurling Club of the year.

There will be a social evening in the club bar on November 28th for

Well done to our minor football-

all mentors and parents of the girls

ers who beat Clontarf on Sunday

and boys juveniles and academy

morning to win the minor B football

members.

kilmacud crokes CONGRATULATIONS to the U-21 foot-

the club’s football strategy. Thanks

ballers who beat St Sylvester’s, 1-15

to all those who attended and con-

to 2-5 on Saturday in the champion-

tributed over the two evenings.

ship semi-final. They will now play St Vincent’s in the final.

The Foxrock Cabinteely squad that reached the All-ireland semi-final

Foxrock’s epic run comes to a close

all-ireland semi

Donaghmoyne Foxrock Cabinteely  sport@dublingazette.com

1-8 0-7

FOXROCK’S epic run finally came to an end at the All-Ireland semi-final stage as Donaghmoyne showed all of their vast experience to outdo the Leinster champions and book their return to the club final.

Played in fine sunshine, the Dublin club showed their appetite for the battle as they hit the front early on through their key attacker, Amy Ring.

However, Donaghmoyne responded after

four minutes with their goal, a score that was to prove decisive with Cora Courtney hitting the net.

Ring replied in kind while Fiona Claffey also lofted an effort over the bar but the three-point gap was restored by Rosemary Courtney.

Catriona McConnell, meanwhile, was to prove to be brilliant from frees for Donaghmoyne and her accuracy was key to their victory as she pushed the Ulster champions further ahead after 18 minutes.

Foxrock were finding it difficult to break out of their half but were clinging on to a foothold with

a third Ring score.

As half-time closed in, Donaghmoyne were reduced to 14 players for an overly robust tackle but Foxrock could only garner one point with the numerical advantage.

It came from four time All-Star Sinead Goldrick but her effort was cancelled out by McConnell to make it 1-6 to 0-5.

Donaghmoyne are experts at closing out a game and they showed that in the second half as they restricted the Dublin club to just two points, both from Ring, as hopes of a famous comeback never got going.

Hazel Kingham was the second Donaghmoyne player to be sin-binned but the Dubliners were unable to capitalise.

Courntey brilliantly marshalled a watertight Donaghmoyne defence as Fiona Lafferty and Cora Courtney got their two points in the second half to send the 2012 champions back to the decider.

It brought to a close a memorable year for Foxrock, winning the Dublin title before going on to land the Leinster crown for the very first time just a decade after the club was first conceived.

The AFL5 pla yoff final with St

The football section AGM will take place on Thursday, November 26 at 9pm in the function room.

Maur ’s e nd ed in a dr aw af te r

Well done to Cian MacGabhann,

extra-time on Sunday. In the minor

Oisin O Rourke and Chris Thomp-

E championship, Crokes beat Clon-

son of Crokes who took part for

tarf 5-15s to 2-5.

the Dubs in Sunday’s AIG Fenway

The football section completed its second workshop to get input on

hurling classic in Boston’s Fenway Park.

shankill THE juvenile academy, sponsored

Moran’s club who brought two U-8

by O’Donnell’s Pharmacy Shankill,

football teams to the Castle for a

is in action this Saturday morning

blitz which saw a thrilling morn-

at 10am (check the venue with your

ing’s football.

team manager), catering for fourto eight-year-old boys and girls.

The girls U-11 travelled to Ballyboden St Enda’s.

Learn the skills of Gaelic football,

It was great game of football

hurling and camogie in a safe and

where playing under lights only

fun environment.

added to the excitement.

If you would like your child to join

Hurls together with hoodies,

the academy, or any of our teams,

fleece tops and beanie hats in our

just come along on the day and have

club colours are available in both

fun with your friends.

children’s and adult sizes, must be

There are no trials, no selection processes and no annual subscription. The cost is only €2 for each child.

ordered by next Saturday for delivery before Christmas.

Follow us on Facebook and twitter.

Training for the boys U-12s and

Join Shankill GA A Club. Your

girls U-9 and U-11 is in the Castle

community, your family friendly

on Saturday morning at 10am when

GAA Club where you’re not just a

there is no match.

number and everybody knows your

Many thanks to the Geraldine P

name.

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

knight in shining armour: Cabinteely star lines out for Ireland Under-15 and signs new terms P30

nov 26 - dec 2, 2015

master of all trades: Lindsay Peat adds rugby to list of elite sports P29

Cuala’s Darragh O’Connell. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Cuala’s Kerry warrior

Darragh O’Connell has played a key part in the Dalkey club’s senior hurlers’ ascent to the heights of the Leinster club championship final

 sport@dublingazette.com

LEAVING his native Abbeydorney club to join Dublin club Cuala this year was not a decision that Darragh O’Connell took lightly but, despite some heavy soul-searching, it has really paid off.

Not only did the southsiders win their first county SHC title in 21 years but they have gone on to knock out the Offaly and Kilkenny champions and earn a crack at Oulart The Ballagh in the AIB Leinster SHC final on Sunday in Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, at 2pm.

“I certainly didn’t think this time last year I’d be sitting here talking about a Leinster club final,” said the former Kerry hurler who also threw his lot in with Dublin this year after travelling up and down to the Kingdom for four years for club and county training.

“I was on my own in the car and it was three and a half hours each way,” the 24-year-old primary teacher said. “I don’t think the travelling would have been as bad if I’d had company but eventually it just became too much.”

O’Connell has been teaching in Gaelscoil na gCloch Liath in Greystones for the past four years and when he wasn’t training at home, he had been keeping his hand in with Cuala anyway so it was a natural fit.

“I got on well with the lads, enjoyed the camaraderie from the beginning,” he said.

“They’re a tight-knit group, and it’s enjoyable.

“When I transferred to Cuala my sole aim was to make their 15 for the championship.

Then Ger Cunningham [Dublin manager] gave me a call around the end of April.”

He was surprised to start for Dublin against Galway in the championship but it is Cuala

who have been the real surprise package of this year’s AIB Leinster club championship though not when you consider some of the Dublin senior talent at their disposal, including Mark Schutte and David Treacy.

A former Christy Ring winner with Kerry, O’Connell has been a huge defensive asset to the Dublin champions but he admits he was intimidated initially when he stepped into the set-up.

“I probably worked harder than usual to prove myself,” he admitted. “I think once you get in and show you can do it it’s not a problem.

“No matter where you go you are always going to get one or two jokes about being from Kerry and playing hurling but I am well used to it at this stage.

“The thing is North Kerry, and pockets of

South Kerry, there are absolutely fantastic hurlers there.

“You are surrounded by counties probably winning All-Irelands in the past couple of years even so it’s always difficult.

“You are probably playing a level above yourself all the time but that’s the only way you are going to improve.”

He believes there are a lot of hurlers at Ring Cup level that could similarly make the step up to Liam MacCarthy like himself.

“I’ve got to play Shinty for Ireland and you get to play hurling with lads from Westmeath and Carlow, what they call ‘second tier’ counties.

“There are hurlers all over the place,” he notes. “There are hurlers from Kerry who are able to make the step up. I just think it’s very difficult to bring it all together though”.