Dun laoghaire

Gazette DUN LAOGHAIRE

September 7 - 13, 2017

Find us on

Now the evenings are getting short, it’s time to buy a stylish, long coat

STYLE P18

TO HAVE & TO HOLD: Getting hitched? Don’t miss our weddings guide P19-23

ALL SMILES FOR THEIR FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL IT’S that time of year again – time for some tears and stress as children head off to ‘big school’ for the very first time. Still, even if some of the grown-ups were briefly upset by the experience, the children were all smiles as they went to national school for their first day – like Lily Higgins, Harvey Bolger-Clohessy, Lianne Tipon and Jaden Moran, all enjoying going to St Kevin’s NS! For more of our great first day at school pics, see P6-7 Pictures: Rose Comiskey

SPORT Cuala the county champs 31

Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

HARBOUR COMPANY’S RADICAL PROPOSAL DRAWS CRITICISM

Floating homes plan for harbour ‘a crazy idea’  EMMA NOLAN A RADICAL proposal by Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company to create affordable floating homes at the harbour drew fire from local representatives this week, with one branding the plan as “another crazy idea”.

The Harbour Company defended the proposal as a possible solution to the housing crisis and said it had drawn positive responses.

Meanwhile, a radical “cross-chamber” proposal has been drawn up by three local councillors from different parties that could lead to 540 affordable homes being Full Stories - Page 4 and Page 9 built in Shankill.

2 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 7 September 2017

HEALTH | OCTOBER CONFIRMED FOR LONG-AWAITED WORKS TO START

€68m redevelopment plan for NRH approved  EMMA NOLAN THE National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) is to finally undergo a €68 million redevelopment, starting this October.

The hospital, which officially opened as the NRH in 1961, is the only national provider of complex, specialised rehabilitation services for adult and paediatric patients in Ireland.

It was announced at an information evening for all local stakeholders last week that there are plans to begin construction of the new €68m, 120-bed hospital on the same site.

Cllr Cormac Devlin (FG) welcomed the news, saying: “I am very pleased

that after many false starts, the plan for the NRH, Phase I, is finally due to start in October.

“This new hospital will replace the existing building, which dates back to the mid-1800s. As the new hospital will be located beside the existing one, I am calling on both Minister for Health, Simon Harris and the HSE to include Phase II in their budget for 2018/2019. If they don’t, the hospital will only be partly complete.”

The redevelopment of the NRH has been on the cards for many years, with Phase I being part of an overall plan that the NRH hopes to get approval for.

It is seeking funding

The National Rehabilitation Hospital

approval from the Department of Health for Phase II, which would see the refurbishment of the existing hospital building and connecting the existing hospital building with the new one, as delivered by Phase I. This would bring, if approved, the overall capacity of the NRH to 235 beds, from its current 108

beds; however no decision on the funding for Phase II has yet been made.

The news was also welcomed by Spinal Injuries Ireland (SII), whose chief executive, Fiona Bolger, told The Gazette: “SII, as the patient-representative organisation for spinal cord injuries, very much welcomes this development at the NRH which is

long overdue.”

Cllr Devlin said that the new facility will “see a transformation of the much-needed services that assist patients from all over Ireland”.

He said: “I am extremely proud to have a hospital of this calibre in the Dun Laoghaire constituency.

The staff carry out invaluable work and I commend them for being able do this to in the existing building.

“I know that the staff, along with the patients and their families are really looking forward to the new facilities and services in which they will be able to continue to offer and operate this unique and skilled care and therapy.”

FASTNews

Liz Martin, Educate Together; Anne Marie Lillis, principal, Dun Laoghaire ETNS; Paddy Monahan, Educate Together regional development officer, and Adelaide Nic Charthaigh, Educate Together new schools manager; below: settling in on the first day

Delight as Dun Laoghaire ETNS greets its first pupils IRELAND’S newest Educate Together school opened its doors last week to its first group of 27 Junior Infants.

The school is temporarily located in The Red Door School in Monkstown Grove off Monkstown Ave while the Department of Education and Skills sources permanent accommodation.

Welcoming the children and parents to the school, principal Anne Marie Lillis said: “It is a very exciting day here today for the children, parents and families of Dun Laoghaire Educate Together National School.

“I am looking forward to working in partnership with our local community to nurture and develop an inclusive, happy school environment for the children starting with us here today and for the children who will join us in the years ahead. Together we will ensure that each child is enabled to achieve and learn to the best of their ability.”

While Dun Laoghaire ETNS is the only Educate Together school opening in 2017, at least four new Educate Together schools will open in 2018, with a national school to open in Dublin south city and three second-level schools in Malahide/Portmarnock, Firhouse, and in Limerick.

DLR supporters invited to Repeal The 8th meeting

Helping dogs isn’t ruff work for Holly

HOLLY Brady happily had her hands full with pooch pals Marlo and Lacey when she joined them to help launch the DSPCA’s upcoming Great Irish Dog Walk on Saturday, September 9 at DSPCA Rathfarnham. The walk invites dog lovers to come along and stroll on a 2km route with their dogs, learning about the important work of the DSPCA in caring for many animals, and enjoy lots of fun for two- or four-legged friends of the centre. For full details of the staggered walks, which start from 11am and cost adults €12, see www.dspca.ie. Picture: Maxwells

DUN Laoghaire’s Repeal The 8th supporters are invited to a public meeting next Tuesday, September 12 at 7.30pm in the Royal Marine Hotel in the town, entitled Women Can’t Wait – Repeal The 8th.

Colm O’Gorman, Amnesty International Ireland; Rosin Cronin, trade unionist for Repeal; Philomena Canning, Midwives for Choice and Ellie Kisyombe, Movement of Asylum Seekers Ireland will be among the guests in attendance, with the meeting to be chaired by Cllr Melisa Halpin (PBP).

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

7 September 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 3

Serving upa treat

PEOPLE | ST MICHAEL’S HOUSE DOUBLE UP WITH TENNIS IRELAND FOR ACE INITIATIVE

D

GRIN WHEN YOU’RE WINNING: Liam Lawless from Swords

Malahide Tennis Club coach Hugh practises volleys with Mark Ennis at the National Tennis Centre in DCU

CU was the venue for this year’s Tennis Camp Weekend, a smashing form of respite care and just one of the fantastic initiatives that forms part of St Michael’s House and Tennis Ireland’s ‘Enjoy Tennis’ programme, which aims to promote the inclusion of players of all abilities in tennis.

St Michael’s House is one of Ireland’s largest providers of community-based services for children and adults with an intellectual disability.

This year, players from Adult Autism Services also took part in the programme.

Playing tennis since May 2016, the players have been making incredible progresses with the support of Tennis Ireland coaches and St. Michael’s House staff. This group have also been involved in demonstrating their tennis skills during disability inclusion training from tennis coaches.

St Michael’s House CEO Anna Shakespeare said: “Our partnership with Tennis Ireland solidifies St Michael’s House Strategic plan of Building community, supporting independence.

“With ‘Enjoy Tennis’ and the Tennis Camp Weekends, service users are choosing to get away for a break with their friends, doing something that they are interested in, in a community-based environment.

“They are accessing opportunities for personal development, such as building confidence, encouraging independence and socialisation.”

SMH staff member Diarmuid O’Donovan with Mark Ennis from Raheny; Johnny O’Farrell; Liam Lawless; Tennis Ireland’s Jim Watt; Donabate lad Christopher O’Loughlin; coach Hugh O’Loughlin, Dylan Ryan from Artane and Clontarf lad Oisin Fulham

Diarmuid works with Dylan

Johnny O’Farrell from Santry

4 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 7 September 2017

DUN LAOGHAIRE | UNIMPRESSED POLITICIANS BLAST PLAN AS ‘CRAZY’, ‘NOAH’S ARK’

Locals won’t harbour a floating homes proposal  EMMA NOLAN FLOATING homes in Dun Laoghaire Harbour could be a possible solution to the housing crisis – but local representatives have branded the move as a “crazy idea”.

The Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company (DLHC) proposed that up to 50 new homes could be permanently moored in Dublin Bay as part of an affordable solution to the housing crisis.

DLHC has called for statements of interest to build the homes and is seeking a partner to provide them as part of a new housing scheme.

While floating homes - such as these repurposed shipping containers in Copenhagen are found in other European cities, local representatives reject any such homes here

According to the company, the units would be moored at a pontoon on the western end of the port, boasting Dublin Bay views.

DLCH said that the homes would be twobedroom properties of

84 square metres, and would be priced between €250,000 and €300,000.

Chief executive Gerry Dunne said: “The harbour estate is 250 acres, of which 50 acres is land.

Historically, the focus in terms of development

has been on land, but we reoriented our thinking a year ago to the idea of a floating hotel.”

Due to a lack of interest in the floating hotel idea, he said they decided on affordable housing instead.

“It’s not a big quantum of homes in the grand scheme of things but, nevertheless, if 10 differ-

ent organisations in Dublin do a project like this, then all of a sudden you have 500 homes and that would make a dent.”

H o w e v e r, D e p u t y Richard Boyd Barrett (PBP) condemned the plans, describing them as “another crazy idea from the Harbour Company”.

Speaking to The Gazette, he said: “This is the latest in a long succession of crazy plans that no one asked for and will effectively privatise parts of the harbour.

“It will almost certainly lead to the exclusion of traditional harbour users and is utter madness at every level.”

Senator Victor Boyhan also slammed the proposal: “Noah’s Ark comes to mind. I am totally against

the idea of floating shacks as a solution to social housing; it’s a crazy idea.

“It’s an idea that I could not countenance or support for social housing, it’s clearly not a sustainable alternative to building housing in the a integrated community context.”

In response to claims that their plans are “crazy”, Gerry Dunne, DLHC said: “We’ve had lots of positive responses to the idea and a lot of people told us it’s about time somebody came up with a positive solution to the housing crisis.

“We’ve been told it’s a positive solution that should be applauded. We would challenge Deputy Boyd Barrett to come up with a better solution.”

FASTNews

Local retirees getting ready for a busy year IT’S September and members of Dun Laoghaire Active Retirement Association are preparing for another busy year, with 29 members soon heading to Westport for a well-earned holiday.

The trip is just one of a wide range of events the club’s members are involved with and have arranged, with the association happy to welcome any new members to come along and enjoy the fun, try new activities and make some great new friends.

For further information, call 087 235 7858, or just drop in to the Boylan Community Centre, Sussex Street, Dun Laoghaire on September 22 between 2-4pm, when a monthly meeting will be in full swing.

New summit for innovators IRELAND’S first ever Responsible Innovation Summit will take place in Croke Park in October, focusing on responsible innovation as an adaptable business concept, and as one that can generate positive, real-life changes in innovation, society and the environment.

The one-day conference will bring together local and global thinkers to explore and encourage new business and innovation opportunities with responsibility and sustainability at their core.

Taking place on October 10, the event is open to innovative organisations from all sectors of technologybased industries, with further information and tickets available now at www.responsibleinnovation-summit.com.

7 September 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 5

6 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 7 September 2017

Out and About

Zain Byrne and Seanie Maher

Amelia-Rose Forsyth

Making new friends in their new surroundings. Pictures: Rose Comiskey Jemal Byrne

Lianne Tipon

Imogen O’Connor, Rachel Kendrick, Anya Sliwinski, Camille Ryan and Rebecca Bowers

Delighted to learn all about life at ‘big school’

T

HERE were only a few tears and signs of last-minute nerves as the new class of junior infants had their first day at school at St Kevin’s NS – but whatever about the frazzled grown-ups, the children themselves seemed perfectly happy to be taking their very first steps at ‘big school’. The crowd of neatly-dressed children and their parents and guardians joined together for a morning to remember, with school staff welcoming the junior infants to the school, marking the very start of their life-long learning adventure.

IGNITING IMAGINATIONS Dun Laoghaire girls Thea Paciello, Zoe Hammond, Ciara Murphy and Sally James

GIRLS from south Dublin attended Ireland’s biggest-ever international Girl Guide camp, which took place in Rockwell College, County Tipperary. Local Guides were among 1,800 taking part in IGGNITE2017, which attracted Girl Guides from across the world.

Camp Chief Jenny Gannon said: “It is hoped that their experience at IGGNITE2017 will ignite their imaginations and a passion to contribute to their local communities.

Alex Walsh

Jaden Moran

7 September 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 7

Mark Barry, Irish Wheelchair Association Sports; Vivian Rath, disability advisor and Phd student at TCD; Pauline Sheils, staff representative on the Board of Management of the NRH; Councillor Tom Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Shane and Stephan O’Connor

Noelle Daly, Spinal Injuries Ireland. Pictures: PETER CAVANAGH

Seanie Maher

Rugby players Damien Haslett, John McCarthy and Jennifer Hester

Councillor Tom Murphy

Celebrating some sporting success

The volleyball tournament

Stas Kavanagh playing Elaine Muldoon

T

HE National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire hosted the 5th Annual NRH Spinal Sports Championships 2017 last week. Athletes travelled from across Ireland to compete in the games. Events included archery, table tennis, javelin, wheelchair rugby, basketball and many more.

Harvey Bolger-Clohessy

Rugby players Amy Fitzpatrick, Damien Haslett, John McCarthy and Alan Lynch Lily Higgins

8 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 7 September 2017

Sharing holy blessings ic Centre Dr Noah Al-Kaddo, chief executive, Islam hy, Dun Murp Tom ch oirlea Catha of Ireland with An Summayah Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and ic Centre of Kenna, head of community welfare, Islam centre Ireland; below: with young visitors to the

THE county’s rich multicultural diversity was marked with a visit by An Cathaoirleach, Tom Murphy, to the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland recently where he joined in the celebrations at its Eid al-Adha festival.

As the second of two Muslim holidays marked worldwide, Eid al-Adha – ‘the Sacrifice Feast’ – drew together young and old alike at the immaculately kept centre, where a range of celebrations were arranged.

Cllr Murphy joined in the fun at Clonskeagh, meeting lots of young citizens at the centre, where his mayoral ‘bling’ proved a big hit with the kids.

With all sharing Allah’s good wishes, Cllr Murphy passed on the county’s good wishes for all those celebrating Eid al-Adha this year.

Cllr Murphy makes some new friends

Dr Al-Kaddo and Cllr Murphy adm ire Urufa Abedm’s handiwork as she gives Amani (5) a henna tattoo

inated ds were fasc As always, ki ain ch s irleach’ by the Cathao Pictures: Peter Cavanagh

FASTNews

Ross welcomes link to Hong Kong DUBLINERS will be able to fly direct to Hong Kong next year in a move that has been welcomed by local TD, Shane Ross.

The Minister for Transport welcomed the announcement by international airline Cathay Pacific, saying: “Ireland and Hong Kong share an open global outlook and both rely heavily on aviation links with the rest of the world.

“This new service will help foster the growing trade, tourism, education and cultural links between Ireland, Hong Kong - ‘Asia’s World City’ – and the rest of China.

“The new service is of course very welcome news for the large communities of Irish in Hong Kong and the wider region, as well as members of the Hong Kong and Chinese communities living in Ireland.”

7 September 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 9

CRISIS | 200 SOCIAL HOUSING UNITS IN COUNCILLORS’ “CROSS CHAMBER” PLAN

Cross-party push for 540 homes in Shankill  EMMA NOLAN SOME 200 social houses could be built in Shankill as a crossparty proposal seeks to “think outside the box” to tackle the housing crisis in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown.

The co-sponsored “cross chamber” proposal has been drawn up by three local councillors from different parties for a Shanganagh Urban Village Cooperative Housing Development, and will be presented at next week’s council meeting in line with the council’s Woodbrook-Shanganagh Local Area Plan 2017-2023.

Councillors Michael

Merrigan (Ind), John Bailey (FG) and Shane O’Brien (SF) prepared the plans in recognition of the council’s obligations for the delivery of social and affordable homes in mixed-tenure development, as set forth in Rebuilding Ireland, and the council’s own housing strategies.

Proposal The councillors say that the availability of council-owned land at Shanganagh Castle – the site of the former open prison – is the essential driver of the proposal.

They are proposing to build 200 social houses/apartments and

340 affordable private houses/apartments of all types for private purchase throughout the scheme area, comprising 200 affordable purchase homes and 140 “rent to buy” homes.

The proposal was presented to Philomena Poole, the council’s chief executive, by these three councillors along with FG councillors Jim Gildea and Marie Baker at the end of August, with an agreement reached to further develop the idea.

Cllr Merrigan said: “With the adoption of the Woodbrook-Shanganagh Local Area Plan, 20172023 at the July council meeting, we immediately

decided to research and develop an innovative, imaginative and realistically sustainable model for the delivery of social and affordable homes on the council-owned lands at the former open prison site at Shanganagh Castle.”

Cllr Bailey said that he and Cllrs Merrigan and O’Brien “put their political differences aside” to find a solution to the housing crisis in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown.

He said: “We sought to assist the council’s executive in its endeavours to meet the council’s obligations as a housing authority and committed ourselves to finding

a deliverable solution to the current crisis in housing supply and homelessness.”

Cllr O’Brien said they had to “think outside the box” when coming up with ideas, adding: “We decided to think outside the box in our efforts to get a speedy and efficient delivery of quality homes, social and affordable, in a mixed-tenure development based on the continental urban village design model as representing the most appropriate design for the Shanganagh Castle site.”

If the project goes ahead, 540 homes could be delivered in DLR.

Furry good advice for DLR pet owners

SCHOOLS across Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown are being encouraged to avail of a free back to school initiative organised by Maxi Zoo Ireland, which has appointed a dedicated education officer to visit any local school or business. There, they’ll be happy to host a workshop to treat students or employees to a fun lesson about all they need to know to provide the best care for their pet. The education officer will cover everything from pet nutrition to providing a safe environment for pets, providing plenty of great, free advice for the county’s many four-legged friends. Any DLR schools and businesses interested in hosting the free workshops should contact mzcontactform@gmail.com.

10 GAZETTE 7 September 2017

Out and About

Don King, Ally Flood, Tarik Shebani and Ruth Devine

Aoibhin Garrihy and

her husband

John Burke

Much hula-hoopla about fun festival Dancing with the Stars judge Julian Benson

Rosanna Davison

Karen McEvoy and Julian Benson

with Tinuke and Obe. P10 Pictures: BRIAN McEVOY

T

HEY came in their thousands – rainclouds, that is, but the gloomy skies and occasional showers at Electric Picnic couldn’t wash away the delight of the crowd at this year’s sold-out festival.

Once again, hordes of Dubs joined their culchie cousins for a party and a half over at Stradbally Hall in Co Laois, where they could all become the great unwashed together, as they traipsed happily about through muddy fields from music stages to comedy tents to beer gardens and much, much more. The three-day event was another smash hit with everyone, with weary revellers, celebrities and music fans tired but happy as they made their way back home to wherever they hailed from.

Emman Idama and Sisters Ailbhe, Aoibhin and Doireann Garrihy

Soiraya Ryan

Corrina Durran and Sisters Jade and Laura Mullett

Eoghan McDermott

7 September 2017 GAZETTE 11

Out and About

Tim Moylan and Aishling Healy

Cathy Courtney, Deirdre Reddy and Deirdre Spain. P11 Pictures: Julien Behal

Kate Tierney and Julie Fitzgerald

Kellie and Laura Deans

Bridget Butler and Karl Hayes

Aoiffe Madden and singer-songwriter Jafaris

GAZETTE

12 GAZETTE 7 September 2017

DUBLINBUSINESS

Web Summit, ESB seek bright sparks for start-up award ESB and the people at Web Summit have begun the search for Ireland’s best startup.

The ESB Spark of Genius Award, which will be presented in November at Web Summit in Lisbon, will see one Irish company win €25,000 and the opportunity to exhibit at the international web industry get-together, along with mentoring support from top executives at ESB. The deadline for applications has been extended for an extra week until Sunday, September 17.

The awards are open to high-potential technology start-ups which have been in operation for less than three years and have received under €1 million in funding. Entrants will be judged on the uniqueness of their idea, their level of development to date, and their potential for future growth.

Previous winner, David Shackleton of OpenBack, said: “Winning the ESB Spark of Genius Award has opened doors for our business on a global scale.

“Winning at Web Summit has helped us explain our product differentiation and grow our business significantly so far in 2017.

“For any early stage businesses out there, there are huge benefits to being in this top calibre process – we couldn’t recommend it enough and encourage anyone with a differentiated proposition to get involved.”

Interested parties can apply at www.esb.ie/ spark-of-genius.

COUNCIL | 12-MONTH TRAINING, MENTORING PROGRAMME LAUNCHED

New focus on creative expertise over the city

Fundraising Fellows Dublin members Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan, Fishamble: The New Play Company; Muriel Foxton, Temple Bar Gallery + Studios; Paula Weir, Dublin Theatre Festival, and Anna McCarthy, Helium Arts with Cllr Vincent Jackson (Ind) and Andrew Hetherington, chief executive, Business to Arts. Picture: Robbie Reynolds

DUBLIN City Council’s Dublin’s Culture Connects, and Business to Arts, are calling on community or small cultural organisations across the city who are interested in building their fundraising capacity to apply for a 12-month training and mentoring programme.

Interested groups can apply for one of four places by completing an application form before 5pm next Monday, September 11.

T his joint programme between Dublin’s Culture Connects and Business to Arts, the Fundraising Fellowship, Dublin initiative aims to develop the pool of fundraising expertise in cultural organisations.

The four successful groups will receive training and mentorship in the areas of sponsorship and marketing, which will be facilitated under the guidance of Business to Arts by the new Fundraising Fellows Dublin: Temple Bar Gallery + Studios; Helium Arts; Fishamble: The New Play Company, and Dublin Theatre Festival.

Any community group in the

city can also book to attend an Introduction to Fundraising seminar on Tuesday, November 14 at the Wood Quay venue.

Dublin’s Culture Connects project director Iseult Byrne said: “This programme aims to develop fundraising expertise, not only in our partner organisations, but also in community groups in the city.

“We are now looking for community organisations to tell us why they should be part of this fundraising expertisesharing initiative.”

To be eligible to apply for the 12-month programme, organisations must fulfil a number of criteria, including that the groups must be located in the Dublin City Council area; be in existence for a minimum of three years; have a future planned programme of activity for at least 12 months; have at least one paid administrator, and have an advisory board or steering committee.

Further details can be found over at the Dublin’s Culture Connects website, or by emailing info@dublinscultureconnects.ie.

Innovators sought for specialist new programme in food sector BORD Bia and Maynooth University are looking for aspiring innovators to join an industry-first programme which aims to enhance the innovation capabilities within the Irish food, drink and horticultural sector.

The MSc Design Innovation (Food) is currently seeking applications from individuals with a creative flair, a passion for innovation and a genuine ambition to develop a career within Ireland’s largest indigenous industry.

Irish food and drinks companies with an interest in accelerating new product development can also benefit from having a programme partici-

pant join their team for the duration of the course.

Food is Ireland’s largest industry with an annual turnover of €25bn, exports of €10.8bn and a total of 230,000 jobs supported. The growth targets for the sector are ambitious and require a world-class capacity for insight driven innovation to be achieved.

Padraig Brennan, director of markets, Bord Bia said: “In order for the Irish food and drink industry to achieve our ambitious growth targets, we need to proactively attract, develop and retain new talent with a range of strategic capabilities.

“Novel, insight-led innovations and a creative way of thinking for the food, beverage and horticulture industry are essential in order to maintain our competitive edge.”

Applications are currently being sought from individuals and companies interested in participating in the programme, with a closing date set for Friday, September 15.

The programme is financially supported by Bord Bia and the industry, and successful participants will have their fees paid and receive a bursary of €20,000 per annum.

For further information, see www. maynoothuniversity.ie/mscdif.

7 September 2017 GAZETTE 13

MOTORS P16-17

CINEMA P25

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



GAZETTE

STYLE P18

THIS DOG IS TRULY A MUSIC: JAMES HENDICOTT ON TOUR WITH DINGLE’S FINEST FIVE-PIECE BRAN-TASTIC BEAST WHO’LL ADORE YOU OUR Dog of the Week looking for their #SpecialSomeone* is Bran, a distinguished nine-year-old Collie.

Bran is a real foodie who adores his grub, so getting to know him shouldn’t take too long. He seeks affection and attention but prefers a hands-off approach, so he would be happiest snuggling at your side rather than being petted and fussed.

Bran needs an adult home, preferably one that’s familiar with Collies and their kooky ways.

He’s adorably handsome and a firm favourite with the staff in Dogs Trust, so if you’re looking for a dog to stick to your side like glue, Bran could be the one for you.

He may be an older dog but that doesn’t stop him! He absolutely adores his walks and is an agile beast that would love long rambles with his new family.

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

Walking the walk D INGLE five-piece Walking On Cars are hot property right now – so much so, in fact, that when we finally manage to catch up with them, it’s back stage at a festival in the Czech Republic.

They’ve just performed to a crowd of tens of thousands on the main stage at Colours of Ostrava – the only Irish act on the bill – and clearly won over a heap of new fans. But it hasn’t always been quite so glamorous.

The band got off to a somewhat iffy start, in fact, as they went topsy turvy in their home town.

“We booked a gig, and then we wrote the songs to play that gig,” singer Pa Sheehy tells The Gazette. “One of the songs we still play now – ‘Don’t Mind Me’ – dates back to then. ‘Speeding Cars’ came soon after that.”

“We just stood in a kitchen for two or three nights a week until we wrote them. But the first couple of gigs were shocking. I feel sorry for people who were there.

“We’ve been quite lucky playing so many international shows,” Sorcha Durham says of the current Europe-

Walking with Cars are fast gathering an army of loyal fans across Europe

wide tour. “‘Speeding Cars’ got a lot of radio play, gaining us new fans.”

Venues The European Border Breakers Award, which the band collected for ‘success outside their own country’ earlier this year is indicative of how an act still based in rural West

Kerry has flooded onto the international market.

“You start from the bottom and work your way up, from small venues to middle-sized venues, that’s what we’ve been doing for the last couple of years,” they modestly explain.

Those ‘medium-sized venues’

now include fields.

“It’s really different going on to stages like this, but it’s not like we swapped a pub in Dingle for festival stages,” Sheehy recalls. “You can never fully get used to it, but it’s been a gradual change, and in some ways it’s more nerve wracking playing a pub. A pub is just so intimate.”

“There’s been some amazing moments, like the first time we got a tour bus. It’s all bunks, with a lounge and kitchens and stuff like that. That blew our minds. – it still does.”

‘Speeding Cars’, strangely as the band’s biggest hit, almost didn’t make last year’s debut album ‘Everything This Way’, as singer Sheehy was less than sure about the track.

“We always knew it had something,” he recalls, “but it was much slower, and I was kind of sick of it. I did suggest leaving it out, but the producer disagreed – it was his favourite track, in fact – and that was that.

Continued on Page 15

GAZETTE

14 GAZETTE 7 September 2017

DUBLINLIFE

DIARY

COMMUNITY: NEW INITIATIVE TO ENCOURAGE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE FOR ELDER CITIZENS

Think Ahead for seniors N

CASTLE Homecare, the Irish-owned and managed home care services provider for older people, has paired with broadcaster Brendan Courtney to launch Thinking Ahead, a series of free talks aimed at encouraging older people and their families to plan for the future.

Hosted by Castle Homecare, the event will take place in the Stillorgan Park Hotel on Thursday, September 28 as part of Age Action’s Positive Aging Week, and will be officially opened by Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Jim Daly, The talks aim to inform, educate and entertain the audience on matters such as future-proofing their home, the Fair Deal scheme, and what it means for home care and security for older people, both on and offline.

Brendan said: “I’m thrilled to be a part of Castle Homecare’s Thinking Ahead event and to help launch Thinking Ahead.

“I hope to share my personal story to give insight into the challenges faced with ageing. This event is an incredible way to provide valuable information for the public and to inform the audience about measures that can be taken to best prepare for the future.”

Up to 150 people are expected to attend Thinking Ahead. Registration is now open and places are limited; to register, see http://www.castlehomecare. ie/registration.

POD YOURSELF INTO A GOOD MASTERCLASS FOR those who love listening to podcasts, and people who haven’t discovered them yet, HeadStuff and Aiken Promotions have released a series of shows as a part of the inaugural Dublin Podcast Festival.

The festival brings 10 nights of headliner shows, live podcasts, comedy showcases, discussions and workshops taking place in various venues across Dublin city.

In addition, a podcast workshop and masterclasses will have something for everyone. Taking place in the Kevin Barry Recital Room of The National Concert Hall on Saturday, September 23, workshops will feature some of Ireland’s most experienced podcasters and broadcasters to show their tips and tricks.

Tickets for the 10 a m -2 :15 p m workshop cost €30; the 3-6pm master class costs €35, while a ticket for the all-day workshop and masterclass costs €60 (all available from www. nch.ie).

SING OUT FOR JERVIS AT ITS 21ST BIRTHDAY

CALLING all acoustic musicians! Jervis Shopping Centre turns 21 years old this month, and to celebrate it’s on the look-out for acoustic musicians to perform on a community stage at its big birthday bash on Saturday, September 30.

If you love to sing and you think you have what it takes, you can apply for a place to perform throughout the birthday event. Entries are now open at https://goo.gl/mB2UsR, with the deadline for entries this Friday, September 8.

Centre manager Derek McDonnell said: “We are excited to workwith local musicians and give them the opportunity to showcase their talents on the Jervis Shopping Centre Community Stage. We are celebrating 21 fantastic years in business, and what better way to celebrate than by inviting up-and-coming artists to perform at our birthday event this September!”

The birthday celebrations on September 30 will also see plenty of events, competitions and activities for guests across the centre.

O WHAT’S GUIDE

EVENTS with JAMES HENDICOTT

Zero Waste Festival

CIE Inchicore hosts the heart of the national ‘Zero Waste Week’ with workshops, stands, educational offerings, discussions and a clothes swap on offer on September 9.

The Doggie Do A wonderfully named festival aimed at pooches,

and hosted in the temporarily renamed ‘Herbert Bark’, the DogsTrust organised Doggie Do is a dog-lovers paradise expected to attract upwards of a thousand canine lovers, to attractions including photography, competitions and talks.

10 September 10.

STRIKE NOW TO HELP PREVENT A STROKE THIS month, Irish Heart wants people to ‘strike before stroke’ as it marks the beginning of a monthlong awareness campaign supported by the HSE and focused for the first time on stroke prevention among men and women over 40.

Some 60% of over-45s in Ireland have high blood pressure, which is a major risk for stroke – so people are urged to start with a check and find out what they can do to avoid the risk of a stroke.

Dr Angie Brown, medical director of Irish Heart, said: “Stroke is a serious medical emergency mostly associated with older age, but the reality is that people of working age are now accounting for one in four of all strokes in Ireland, and this is growing rapidly in spite of Ireland’s ageing population.

“Preventable risk factors such as high blood pressure and smoking are significant contributors, as well as unhealthy eating and a sedentary lifestyle.”

From more exercise to cutting out smoking, there are several steps that everyone over 40 can do to help greatly reduce the risk of a stroke. For further information and support, see www.irishheart.ie.

DISHING UP THE HOTTEST COMP IN IRELAND Food guru and competition judge Paul O’Connor is calling on all curry connoisseurs to nominate their favourite curry house for a top award via www.irishcurry awards.com

THE DOGGIE DO Picture: Audrey Dalton

All-Ireland Senior Camogie Final

As well as being a chance to get into Croker for an All-Ireland final without the ticket angst, the camogie final is invariably a great showcase, and Kilkenny and Cork always deliver. September 10.

Flogging Molly

Put aside the argument about how ‘Irish’ these Celtic punk stars are and you get the core point: the trad-inspired rockers are one of the most entertaining live acts around. Olympia Theatre, September 10.

The Big Lebowski

The Sugar Club gets nostalgic with one of the all time classic movies on the big screen. Check out Coen’s finest with the Dude, his furniture and his bowling ball bound to sit well in a bar. September 10.

Lucan Community Festival

A family festival in the Dublin suburb is set to include rafting down the weir, a selection of international food stalls, craft stalls, a duck race, and plenty of fun for all the family. September 10.

Airfield Food Festival

A rare free entry to the urban farm is enough reason to drop into this foodie delight, but throw in three dozen local food producers, lots of kids activities and foraging walks around the estate and this starts to look like the weekend’s best bargain. September 9/ 10.

Texas

Having made their name in the 90s, the power-pop act are still a formidable live force. September 7/8, Olympia Theatre.

New album of the week -

Jack Johnson - All The Light Above It Too. One of music’s most interesting characters - the laidback acoustic star and former pro surfer’s first release in four years promises to be a blend of upbeat highs and mellow emotional slow burners.

7 September 2017 GAZETTE 15

GAZETTE

FEATURE

FROM PAGE 13: WITH MAJOR LABEL BACKING AND A GROWING FANBASE, WALKING WITH CARS ARE A..

Walking tour de force

 JAMES HENDICOTT “The rest of the band liked it, too. It turned out it was the one.

It didn’t really come together until we were in the studio, basically, the guitar went through this big evolution in the studio, and then it came together.”

The studio, in fact, was never easy.

Sheehy explained: “The songs kind of evolve like that, almost like a warzone, with each of us pulling backwards and forwards. But if someone feels really strongly about something we’ll always give it a chance. By the time we go out on stage all that’s done, and we just go out and enjoy.

“We heard a really great one about how Oasis slow their songs down, because of how long they take to get to the back of their crowds, which I thought was great.

“But we don’t really think like that. We just do our thing and

Dingle act Walking with Cars’ Pa Sheehy and Sorcha Durham. Picture: YouTube/RTE2fm

hope people like it.”

The opportunities will keep coming, undoubtedly, with a major label backing the fivepiece, and a sizeable fanbase building.

“We weren’t really looking for a label when Virgin came along,” Sheehy recalls.

“We were only willing to get involved with someone who would accentuate what we

were doing. There’s not really the same need for labels that there was in the old days, you can do a lot yourself.”

“But Virgin liked what we were doing, and we’ve only

had good experiences with them. They believed in what we were doing, and just told us to keep on doing it, so they’ve been really supportive. I suppose it was easier because we

were getting radio play and selling out tours across Ireland before they came along, and so they could see that it was working.”

It certainly has worked: ‘Everything This Way’ went to number one in Ireland, and has now gone platinum. It also sold close to 100,000 copies in Germany.

The Dingle act’s 2017 tour schedule has included - on top of our encounter in the Czech Republic - stop offs in Dubai, Belgium, Switzerland, Norway, and Holland, as well as extensive trips around the UK and Ireland.

As for the future? “We’re in the middle of writing our new album,” Durham reveals. “We do festivals at the weekend and work on the album during the week, and we really can’t wait to get it out there. We’re already playing a few new songs, so it’s coming.” So, we suspect, is a whole lot more.

7 September 2017 GAZETTE 17

GAZETTE

MOTORING

DUBLINLIFE

In the FASTLANE Volkswagen ready to T-Roc VOLKSWAGEN has added a new compact-class crossover, the new T-Roc, to its range. The new Volkswagen entry is a response to the booming SUV market, especially in the compact segment.

Experts estimate that the segment will almost double in size over the next decade.

The T-Roc is a five seat compact SUV with a 445 litre capacity luggage area that extends to 1,290 litres with all rear seats folded to give a spacious load area.

The entry ‘T-Roc’ version will be offered with high-tech systems such as Front Assist area monitoring with City Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring, the Automatic PostCollision Braking System and the lane keeping system Lane Assist. It will also include air conditioning, the Composition Colour infotainment system, LED tail light cluster, visual under body guard (black) and LED daytime running lights in the bumper.

The T-Roc is being offered with turbocharged engines: three petrol engines (TSI) and three diesels (TDI). They are being offered partly with front-wheel drive and manual gearbox, partly with front-wheel drive, 4Motion all-wheel drive (including 4Motion Active Control as standard) and the dual clutch gearbox (7-speed DSG).

The T-Roc will be launched on the market in November for the 2018 market year, while Irish prices have not been confirmed as yet.

The T-Roc is the smallest SUV from the Volkswagen range

‘Mechanics need to fix their reputation’ Customers hate dealing with car repair garages more than any other trade, according to a new survey by a leading warranty company, Warrantywise. The results showed that repair garages now beat estate agents into first place, with plumbers taking the third in the podium of pain.

The survey showed that customers felt baffled by technical jargon, and are worried about taking their car to a dealer or garage for fear of being ripped off.

The anguish was felt by both men and women, but a massive 78% of female respondents said they felt likely to be ripped off by a garage when their car went wrong, versus 62% of males.

The survey showed part of the issue is a lack of understanding of car components and a use of jargon which can confuse car owners.

Fullback has plenty of showroom appeal FIAT has taken on the pick-up market with a newly introduced double cab 4x4 pick-up called the Fullback. This is a re-badged Mitsubishi L200 and MICHAEL MORONEY assesses the value and the offer from the Italian brand.

FIAT has entered the 4x4 pick-up market with a new Fullback model that was developed in partnership with Japanese 4x4 specialists Mitsubishi.

Fiat has added some style changes to Mitsubishi’s well-known L200 to give a look that’s in-line with its Fiat Professional model range; effectively with a Fullback pick-up you are driving a re-badged L200.

It takes all of the impressive features of the Mitsubishi L200 that was significantly upgraded in 2015 and presents them with Fiat badging to add more competition to the growing 4x4 pick-up market.

Unlike Mitsubishi, Fiat Professional only offers the double cab version and also only offers a four-wheel-drive version.

Fiat teamed up with Mitsubishi for good reasons so that this new pick-up aims to set new standards in 4x4 pick-up fuel economy.

And like the Mitsubishi L200 it is close to being the best performer when it comes to 4x4 pick-up in fuel economy comparisons.

I took the Fiat for some interesting test drives in recent weeks, coupled with some trailer pulling tests to assess its potential. The towing capacity at 3.1 tonnes is impressive for a pick-up, but struggles to achieve the higher 3.5 tonne towing rating being offered in the Nissan Navara.

The 2.4 litre 180bhp

The Fiat fullback is rated as one of the more economical pick-ups on the market and comes with a competitive entry price of €30,670, incl. VAT.

the BMW i3 and i3s electric cars at next

New car emission tests in place

week’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

NEW car exhaust emission testing systems will come into

New BMW i3 and i3s get Frankfurt launch BMW will be introducing new versions of

The i3 range offers the option of full

place this week in Ireland and across Europe in an effort

electric power or electric power coupled

to measure the actual levels of CO2 and other pollut-

with a range extender petrol engine.

ants from cars while driving rather than being tested in

Both models draw their energy from the

controlled laboratory conditions.

lithium-ion high-voltage battery devel-

The new tests, called the Real driving emission (RDE)

oped by the BMW Group with a capacity of

tests will measure the pollutants, such as NOx, emit-

94 ampere hours (Ah) or 33 kilowatt hours

ted by cars while driven on the road. Europe will be the

(kWh).

first region in the world to introduce such on-the-road

Located low in the vehicle floor, the

testing.

lithium-ion high-voltage battery claims a

The tests will result in higher CO2 ratings for cars.

range of up to 300km (180miles).

Initially, the test results and CO2 rankings will only apply

The new BMW i3 and new BMW i3s have a

new model car ranges introduced to the market from

number of design tweaks to update their visual appearance.

September 1, 2017. The new RDE test ratings system will BMW has new versions of the BMW i3 and i3s being unveiled at Frankfurt Motor Show

The trademark BMW i Black Belt running from the bonnet over the roof to the car’s

apply to all new cars sold on European markets from September 2019.

The new BMW i3 and new BMW i3s come

of 170hp and reaches a peak torque of

The Irish Government will have to investigate new

rear end is now complemented by A-pil-

equipped with all-LED headlights as

250Nm, all of which is available instantly

motor taxation measures based on the new CO2 readings

lars and roof lines that also sport a black

standard, which employ LED bulb units for

from a standstill. This means that step-

from the RDE tests to take account of the new figures.

finish. The restyling of the front and rear

dipped beam and high beam as well as the

ping on the accelerator pedal immediately

We can expect to see some changes in relation to car tax

emphasises on the car’s width. A chrome-

daytime running lights. The new turn sig-

unleashes a burst of speed.

levels flagged in the 2018 Government Budget.

design trim strip running across the full

nal indicators also feature LED technology

width of the rear and the positioning of

and are integrated into the front apron in

speed automatic transmission meaning

current New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) test intro-

the model and eDrive badges on the outer

the form of horizontal strips.

the zero to 100km/hr benchmark sprint

duced in 1997 and the future Worldwide harmonized Light

can be achieved in 7.3 seconds. Top speed

Vehicles Test Procedures (WLTP) but it will be additional

is limited to 150km/hr.

to them. RDE will ensure that cars deliver low emissions

edges of the boot lid serves to reinforce this impression.

The electric motor powering the new BMW i3 generates a maximum output

The power is transferred via a single-

RDE will not replace laboratory tests, such as the

over on-road conditions.

Fiat Fullback 2.4 DLX

SPECIFICATIONS Engine Engine power 0 – 100km/hr Economy Fuel Tank Capacity CO2 emissions Road Tax Band Main Service Towing rating Warranty Entry Price

turbo-diesel engine is smooth and quiet to drive. While the road holding was impressive driving across narrow winding roads, the heavy boat trailer we used was noticeable on behind, especially when driving downhill.

Across a range of driving conditions I achieved a fuel economy figure of

2.4 litre 180hp 12.1 seconds 15.2km/litre (6.6l/100km or 43mpg) 75 litres 173g/km Commercial €333 20,000km/12 months 3100kgs 5 years (200,000km) €30,670 12.5km/litre which is about 30% less than rated figure of 15.2km/litre (6.6l/100km or 43mpg).

Fuel economy calculations were a little different to normal as Fiat offered the Fullback with British economy figures and a speedo rated in miles rather than our now standard kilometres.

For me, that meant cov-

ering close to 900km on a full 75 litre capacity diesel tank. While relative to a car, this is seen as a thirsty machine.

This improved economy has been achieved by a light and efficient four-cylinder turbo-diesel Mitsubishi engine coupled with a lighter structure of its 4x4 pick-up.

The Fiat Fullback uses a higher level of high tensile steel for lower weight and added strength.

My recent test Fiat Fullback was fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox while a five-speed automatic version is available. The manual unit is impressive to drive and smooth in operation.

T he Fiat uses the proven Mitsubishi Super Select 4WD system for off-road driving. It is well able to cope with sticky off-road areas when engaged at a low setting.

This system also uniquely allows permanent onroad 4x4 driving in the 4H or higher speed setting.

Off-road the system works well, it’s easy to engage. When you opt for the lower gears you will get noticeably more pulling power at lower speeds to pull through the mud. The system is engaged electrically using a dial and a central differential lock is engaged at low speeds.

For most buying a 4x4 pick-up the ownership costs can be significant, so getting commercial tax at €333 is just one bonus. The extended service interval for the new Fiat Fullback from 15,000km to 20,000km will still mean an annual main service. Entry prices start at €30,670 incl. VAT (VAT refunds are possible for VAT registered businesses).

GAZETTE

16 GAZETTE 7 September 2017

GAZETTE

18 GAZETTE 7 September 2017

DUBLINLIFE

STYLE

Top Shop

River Island

Penneys Coat €40; denim jacket €40; jeans €21; shoes €21; socks €2.50

 EMMA NOLAN Style Editor

THERE has been a noticeable drop in the temperature this week – and while we might be in store for in Indian summer yet, it’s time to start thinking about coats and jackets for Autumn.

Even if you’re not ready to face the end of summer, the more pragmatic shoppers among us know it’s time to start mentally shopping for a coat to see us through the next few months – and shopping for THE new winter coat is one of the highlights of the shopping year.

After all, it’s something you’re going to be wearing most, if not, every day for a lot of the year (especially if it’s a big investment), so it has to be interesting enough that you don’t get sick of it, but classic enough so it goes with the rest of your wardrobe.

Last Winter’s trends are still hanging on this year, courtesy of puffers and faux fur (although faux is forever a major coat trend). Trenches and shearling styles will be everywhere and in perhaps what is this season’s gingham craze, grey and black check dominates.

It seems as though what gingham was to Spring/Summer, grey check is to Autumn/Winter.

The shops haven’t yet started stocking new season coats, but keep an eye online and be prepared to take the plunge when the day comes, soon.

River Island

Wintery wonders

Penneys Tie-sleeve coat €40

New Look waterfall jacket €50

River Island Coat €100

New Look Biker jacket €60

GAZETTE

7 September 2017 GAZETTE 19

To Have to Hold FOR YOUR BIG DAY Congratulations – you’ve decided to take the plunge and tie the knot!

That’s the ‘easy’ part out of the way – now to find the perfect venue for your wedding or civil ceremony reception.

We’ve gathered a range of beautiful venues to suit all tastes and budgets, as well as rounding up stylish tips to look your best on the big day.

And, if you’re thinking of getting married abroad, we have some great travel tips and advice to remember.

Last but definitely not least, head off to honeymoon heaven with our dream destinations to consider. Now all you have to do is get hitched ...

SEE PAGES 20-23

GAZETTE

20 GAZETTE 7 September 2017

LOVE MARRIAGE

Turn to an old-world setting to begin your future M

ODERN couples simply do not just go for any venue, but Trim Castle Hotel would be the perfect choice for your reception as it possesses the old-world charisma of the historical Anglo-Norman castle, alongside contemporary standards of magnificent food and stunning decor.

The floor to ceiling windows of the Great Hall banqueting suite, and a wonderful prefunction area, allow a view of the castle and church lawns that is truly inspirational.

The rooftop garden located on the third floor provides the ultimate backdrop for your wedding photography, with spectacular views over the grounds of Trim Castle and the surrounding area in beautiful County Meath.

This weekend, Trim Castle Hotel’s Wedding Fair takes place on Sunday, September 10, from 2.30-5.30pm and promises to be a perfect day to view this truly magical wedding Venue.

The Great Hall banqueting suite will be fully set for a wedding on the day, and there will be an array of wedding suppliers in attendance to help make your big day pass off perfectly.

Trim Castle offers an ideal combination of old-world charm and contemporary standards of comfort and style

At Trim Castle Hotel, the team of expert wedding specialists aspire to make your wedding day the most memorable and enjoyable day of your life.

They offer a range of wedding packages which are beautifully designed to suit every

couple, and the wedding team assures you of personal and professional attention in the planning and preparation of your special celebration. As you step on to the red carpet, the team at Trim Castle Hotel will ensure that your wishes are granted and your expecta-

tions exceeded.

For further information, contact the Trim Castle Hotel wedding team at 046 948 3000, or email info@trimcastlehotel.com. See also www.trimcastleweddings.com, or www.trimcastlehotel.com.

A ballroom to sweep guests off their feet A

RE YOU looking for the perfect wedding venue?

Clayton Hotel Dublin Airport promises to be the ideal venue, and after being recently refurbished to the tune of €12 million, its spectacular new ballroom opens for viewing on November 24.

The room, which is 259m sq, is a purpose-built meeting and events space that boasts the very highest spec in audivisual equipment and modern facilities. The expert events team at the hotel will ensure your wedding day is everything you have ever dreamed of, thanks to their thorough service and attention to detail.

Licensed for civil ceremonies in both the ballroom wedding venue or the more intimate surroundings of The Rose Room, choosing the right wedding venue for your big day couldn’t be easier.

From your initial enquiry, the hotel’s wedding coordinator will be with you every step of the way, as you plan menus, attend tasting, view the venue as it would be set for your day, discuss the decor, entertainment options and special rates for your guests.

After your meal, your wedding

The lavishly appointed lovely ballroom at the Clayton Hotel Dublin Airport

party can relax in the Whiskey Bar which will be reserved especially for you and your guests.

Happy couples can add on plenty of extras depending on your personal wishes and budget so that every little detail is covered and your big day is as special and unique as you.

The hotel can also offer reduced accommodation rates for you and your guests.

Whether you are planning an intimate family gathering or a larger celebration, the Clayton Hotel Dublin Airport can cater for all your needs.

The hotel offers three different packages – Golden, Platinum and all-inclusive – and offers the option to tailor-make your own.

Every experience you have with the hotel will be memorable and your expectations surpassed as its expert staff ensure all of your personal touches are included, making your perfect day your wedding, your way.

The Clayton Hotel Dublin Airport’s wedding specialists would be delighted to talk to you. Call them at 01 871 1226, or email cb.dublinairport@claytonhotels.com

7 September 2017 GAZETTE 21

GAZETTE

Say I do at the Court Yard Hotel

N

ESTLED in the heart of Leixlip, the Court Yard Hotel is a well-established 4-star luxury hotel, exceptional in design and character.

From the moment you step on to the red carpet, you will experience the true dedication of a friendly and professional team with a single focus in mind – the success of the most memorable day in your life.

The hotel’s wedding experts want to make sure that your day is everything you hoped for, and more. To them, every wedding is unique and special, as it should be.

Whether it’s a grand affair or an intimate reception, the style of your wedding is entirely up to you. The hotel has the perfect, stylish spaces to choose from – it’s your special day, so allow its experts to help make it perfect.

The bespoke wedding venue is also registered to host civil ceremonies, and there are a variety of versatile and

unique spaces within the Court Yard to provide the perfect venue.

Guests can enjoy the luxurious accommodation, a beautiful open-air terrace, the spectacular courtyard and the elegant River Bank restaurant.

Offering a commitment to host only one wedding a day, this ensures the bridal party and their guests will have all the space and personal attention needed to make the day as special as it should be.

Excellent value wedding packages at the Court Yard Hotel start from just €49 per person, with a premium Store House package priced at €89 per guest.

From the elegant red carpet and champagne on arrival, to a sumptuous champagne breakfast for the bride and groom the following morning in their bridal suite, the Court Yard Hotel has a single focus on creating memorable weddings.

Beautiful touches include personalised menus, elegant stemmed can-

tainment – is tailored to the bridal party’s exact requirements.

A late bar is organised for the reception after-party, as well as various catering options for evening guests.

Wedding guests can take advantage of special guest rates, and personalised booking forms can be mailed out with wedding invitations.

A variety of spaces within the Court Yard Hotel can provide a beautiful setting for everything from a grand gathering to a more intimate wedding affair

delabras, and chair covers and coordinating bows in the wedding suite that complement the wedding colour scheme.

The hotel’s dedicated wedding coordinators will ensure that everything – from the style of the wedding suite, to the meal, fresh flowers, and enter-

Recently engaged or looking for the ideal wedding venue?

Join the hotel’s wedding specialists on Thursday, September 14 for its superb Autumn Wedding Showcase from 6-9pm and set the scene as they present their reception suites and civil ceremony room dressed for the occasion.

Enjoy prosecco and canapes as you experience all the Court Yard Hotel has to offer you on your special day.

The Court Yard Hotel can be contacted at 01 629 5100, with weddings and other special occasion details available at www.courtyard.ie.

GAZETTE

22 GAZETTE 7 September 2017

LOVE MARRIAGE

I Do ... want us  EXTENSIVE OPTIONS  to get married abroad – but what should we keep in mind?

THINKING of marrying abroad? Well, if you’re otherwise facing a chilly January morning wedding, who could blame you?

As lovely as Ireland is, the lure of sun-kissed lands and tropical winds can be forgiven for luring the odd one or two (or a few hundred) couples away.

If you’re thinking of getting married away from home, Tropicalsky. ie’s Fred Harrison has some great tips to keep in mind ...

1. Check that you are not paying for any extra legal requirements while in the resort – always check before committing to any deal.

2. Always ask how many weddings a day your chosen hotel will have – you don’t want to be part of a ‘conveyor belt’ wedding just churning them out.

3. Always ask if you need to leave the hotel to complete formalities that could involve a visit to the local licence office or registrar’s office while on your holiday/honeymoon.

4. Go easy on the sunbathing – you definitely don’t want to get sunburnt before your wedding.

5. Always travel with your original documents and paperwork, regardless if you’ve sent copies beforehand – your wedding won’t take place unless you have these.

New service to suit your requirements IRISH brand Magee 1866 has introduced a new personal tailoring service for weddings at its South Anne Street store in the city centre.

The personal tailoring service commences with an in-depth consultation in store where Magee 1866’s expert staff will guide grooms-to-be and other wedding party members through the extensive options to find the perfect fabric, cut and style.

Choose from up to 500 fabrics, complemented by an extensive selection of linings, buttons, meltons, trim options and personalised embroidery, such as initials or wedding date monogrammed on the inside pocket or collar welt.

The service is also ideal for those with a preference for double-breasted jackets or pleated trousers (both of

which are proving elusive this season), while customers also have the option of getting a second pair of trousers made.

Precise measurements ensure that each garment will fit perfectly. The result is an investment piece that will reflect personal style and will stand the test of time.

For grooms, it also provides a suit that will not only act as a memento of their big day, but can be worn long beyond the wedding day.

From date of order to delivery takes just four weeks, with prices starting from €599 for a bespoke two-piece suit.

Find out more and book your appointment now with Hugh or Glen at Magee at South Anne Street, Dublin 2; telephone 01 67 98966, or see www.magee1866.com.

Rise to the occasion with the right outfit OCCASIONWEAR for kids is always great fun to shop for – and if your children will be attending a wedding as guests, it’s a great excuse for them to dress up for the day.

Whether they fancy a princess dress or a sharp three-piece suit, there are great options available across Dublin from the likes of Arnotts, Debenhams and House of Fraser. For online shoppers, Littlewoods Ireland has a great selection of kids’ occasionwear to suit all kinds of weddings.

Littlewoods V by Very Girls Occasionwear Sequin Tulle Dress €45

Debenhams RJR John Rocha Dress €43

House of Fraser Howick Junior Boys Cravat Waistcoat Set €35

Debenhams RJR John Rocha Dress €45

Littlewoods Mini V by Very Girls Sequin and Mesh Tutu Dress €32-35

Debenhams RJR John Rocha Jacket €38 Shirt €15 Trousers €17

7 September 2017 GAZETTE 23

GAZETTE

TravelShorts

COUPLES: DREAMY DESTINATIONS AWAIT THOSE HAPPY TO BE ADVENTUROUS

Finish off your big day with a perfect cruise IF YOU’RE a bit of a last-minuteLarry, panic not – you can discover some of the most beautiful honeymoon destinations in the world on board an amazing cruise with luxury holiday specialists Travelmood.

Set sail on Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Equinox or the recently revitalised Celebrity Constellation (above) and you will enter a zone of fun and relaxation that is out of this world.

Ideal for couples, a cruise provides stunning views and comes with exceptional staff to cater to your every wish and whim.

Prices below include flights from Dublin, cruise, accommodation and taxes and are based on travel dates this December – although other dates are also available.

Southeast Asia Immersion Cruise and Stay Spend one night at the fivestar Mandarin Oriental, Singapore, 14 nights on board Celebrity Millennium and two nights at the four-star Harbour Plaza 8 Degrees, Hong Kong, from €1,930pp.

Miami Stay and 11 Night Southern Caribbean Cruise Spend three nights at the three-star Harrisons Hotel and 11 nights on board Celebrity Equinox from €1,575pp.

Christmas and New Year Arabia and India Cruise Spend 15 nights on board Celebrity Constellation from €1,769pp.

FOR further information, see www.travelmood.ie or call their dedicated and experienced team on 01 433 1063, or drop in to the Travelmood store on Duke Street, Dublin 2, just off Grafton Street.

Paris (left) may be ‘The City of Love’ – but honeymooners will also love Bali (above, left), Essaouira (above, right) and Krabi Island

Honeymooners still spoilt for choice of dream spots  SYLVIA POWNALL Travel Editor

HONEYMOONS hhave volved from simple beach holidays – these days, couples can put together an itinerary as unique as they are. Here are a few of our favourites ....

Bali Picture postcards come to life thanks to its wide beaches, elaborate Hindu temples and terraced rice paddies set against the backdrop of a mountainous terrain.

Resorts provide the perfect opportunity to disappear into the landscape, or alternatively watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean while listening to live music

in the rooftop restaurant at Anantara Seminyak.

For serious indulgence, stay at the St Regis Bali Resort where polished villas open onto private pools.

The island’s southernmost point at Bukit Peninsula commands views from Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple perched on the cliffs above the surf.

Krabi Island, Thailand Most of the beaches in Southern Thailand are overrun with tourists, but the quiet stretch of powdery sand known as Rai Lay, on Krabi Island – which can only be accessed by boat— is an exception.

Its imposing limestone cliffs, tropical foliage, and

There are far too many places to give you the low-down on them all but other favourites include Mauritius, Patmos in Greece, Honolulu, the captivating and bohemian city of Beunos Aires and Hoi An in Vietnam.

the crystal-blue waters of the Andaman Sea make this low-key hideaway a romantic alternative to places like Phuket.

The Rayavadee boasts 103 airy split-level bungalows on 26 acres, some set in the jungle and others overlooking Phranang Beach. Cocktails at sunset at the Grotto restaurant are a must, as is the fresh food grilled by locals on the beach.

Paris It might sound a bit cliched but who could ask for a better honeymoon destination than Paris, the City of Love?

With iconic monuments like the Eiffel Tower, museums like the Louvre and landmarks like Notre Dame Cathedral, the French capital is certain to dazzle visitors.

Even more spectacular than the sights is the city’s rich culture found in its charming boulevards, cozy cafes and bustling bistros.

Opulent lu xur y good enough for celebs like Beyonce can be found at Le Meurice Hotel opposite the Louvre, while the Four Seasons Hotel George V close to

the Champs Elysees offers palatial-style decor.

Essaouira, Morocco With its strong breezes, this Moroccan beach town – known as Wind City, Africa – is one of the world’s top windsurfing and kite-boarding spots.

But there’s more to this bohemian market town, once a favourite haunt for The Doors singer Jim Morrison, than just water sports.

Its calendar is crammed with cultural events from music to art, and the restored ramparts of the medina and crumbling palaces are ideal for a mid-afternoon meander.

Dar Loulema comes highly recommended as the place to stay.

24 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 7 September 2017

GAZETTE

DUBLINLIFE When ‘unfinished’ creates success

TECH

GAMES INDUSTRY: THE GROWING IMPACT OF INCOMPLETE TITLES

WOULD you buy a new car that didn’t have any brakes? What about booking a flight where they hadn’t worked out how the landing gear would work, or even if it would work?

That sounds crazy – buying into something unfinished, with some fundamental issues still to be resolved – but it’s becoming an increasingly normalised part of gaming in recent years, with some of the world’s biggest games being anything but finished on their release.

You’d never, ever accept such experimentation in most real-world scenarios, but when it comes to virtual worlds – ah, that’s a very different matter.

T here’s something about tinkering, adjusting and experimenting with a game’s largely finished format that can prove fascinating to gamers, leading them to ignore any ‘failings’ to focus on the raw potential that a title could have.

It’s not a new phenomenon; gamers have become (a little too) well used to post-release patches for games in the past decade in particular, with unfinished, buggy games subsequently getting a steady drip of updates which do everything from fixing major and minor bugs, to fixing stability issues and even adding in new features.

Where you wouldn’t accept a brakeless car, many gamers will accept a featureless game – or, rather, a game that’s clearly missing main features, but has the bones in place to bolt them on at a later stage.

 SHANE DILLON sdillon@dublingazette.com

Minecraft is probably the most famous example of this trend, with the world-conquering, worldbuilding game of today being substantially different from its initial release, way back when.

Through its constant and continuing revisions and iterations, Minecraft’s creator – and subsequent owners, after ‘Notch’ sold his creation to Microsoft for a staggering $2BN – have substantially added to the game.

They’ve added the brakes, and fixed the landing gear, so to speak, but it’s been a journey that all

those who bought into the game have been taken on, seeing regular updates adding new features, new graphics, and new ways to play.

T his creative pro cess tends to veer wildly into hits or misses, with extremes of success or failure swiftly following depending on how well (or badly) such updates and tinkering is implemented.

At one end of the scale, it’s barely a year since the infamous galaxy-exploring No Man’s Sky was released with an incredible amount of hype, only for it to very, very quickly crash and burn.

Hyped to the hilt, the end result was a game that had some great tech and striking visuals, but it rapidly became clear that its endlessly promised features were either completely missing, or

watered-down versions, leading to the game being slated to the stars and beyond.

The game has since seen several updates, some of them major revisions of the core game, adding some substantial new features and bells and whistles – but, too little, too late, with gamers still furious with the developer, and the game now held up as an example of how not to market something.

The greatest lesson learned from that debacle was that it’s okay to give gamers extra features over time – but if you don’t deliver what they expect from day one, there’s a price to pay.

This gamble over gamer acceptance has some high stakes, with that notable failure balanced out by the spectacular success of current game du jour,

Despite its underwhelming visuals, upcoming PC and XBO title PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is one of the world’s smash-hit, red-hot games right now – but it’s not finished, and hasn’t even been officially released, yet has already sold over 10m copies

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), currently setting the gaming internet ablaze as a redhot property, despite being unfinished – and despite not even being officially released yet.

Best described as a competitive last-man-standing battle royale between up to 100 players, PUBG is still in development, and still in an unfinished state with its developers tinkering away with how the game plays, what features it needs, what its users like or dislike, and so on.

To go back to my intro, its developers, Bluehole, are still adding the brakes and tinkering with the landing gear – yet even so, PUBG has already sold (via early access) more than 10 million copies in just a few short months, making it a juggernaut hit, and one of the world’s most-watched games.

The games industry is watching PUBG’s runaway success with great interest, with several studio heads and top developers lauding its community-led approach to creating feature sets, and properly engaging with what gamers want.

With ever higher stakes and staggering costs for most games’ production, we can expect to see more cautious tinkering and ‘crowd-driven’ gaming popping up from here on in, as some companies look to capture a share of the PUBG magic.

In the meantime, just be glad that the real world doesn’t tend to adapt such experimental tinkering next time you sit in your car, or get on a plane ...

Star Wars icon supports rebellion against Trump LUKE Skywalker – oh, all right, actor Mark Hamill – is well known for fighting the dark side of The Force, with the sci-fi icon now turning his attention to The Farce spreading across this part of the galaxy, courtesy of Darth Trump (above).

Tatooine’s most famous Empire-defeating moisture farmer has tongue-in-cheek donated to a probably doomed mission: a crowdfunded attempt to buy Twitter for the Dr Evil-ish sum of one beel-yun dollars, after which its new owners will kick President Trump off the service.

As entertaining as Trump’s Tweets can be, a great many people dislike his frequently nonsensical musings, overt bullying, general insults and other such irritating issues, prompting former undercover CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson to set up the page to try to shut Trump up, at least for a while.

You could perhaps say that the campaign’s backers have formed a rebel alliance of sorts against the provocative president.

So far, there’s a wee bit to go until it’s mission accomplished – at the time of writing, the page stands at $87,043 of its $1BN goal – and possibly won’t make it. Still, you can keep track of the rebels’ mission over at https://www.gofundme.com/buytwitter

Charitable gesture was a Tolkien point for gamers IT’S thankfully rare for games developers or superfans to be immortalised in games, not least as such nods tend to be because said person has unfortunately died. That’s the case with Monolith executive producer Michael Forgey (43), who died of a brain tumour last year, but is being immortalised by the developer with a downloadable content (DLC) character, Forthog Orc-Slayer (below ) in the upcoming and highly-anticipated Shadow of War game, the sequel to the brilliant Tolkien-inspired game, Middle-Earth Shadow of Mordor, from a few years ago.

As paid DLC for use in the game, Warner Bros has said it’ll donate $3.50 of the cost of the DLC Forthog tribute to the Forgey family – but internet watchers focused on small print on how the donation will be worked out, and from what territories, at the end of YouTube videos promoting the DLC. Warner Bros have since clarified that the $3.50 donation will follow suit, regardless of what territory Forthog is bought in, so it still looks like being a great way to help support the Forgeys when the great game arrives soon enough.

7 September 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 25

GAZETTE

CINEMA ReelReviews

THE DARK TOWER

Misfires on most levels EVEN the always watchable Idris Elba can’t make The Dark Tower (Cert 12A, 95 mins) stand up to scrutiny.

Stephen King’s longrunning series of books get condensed into an initial foray onto the big screen, but the underwhelming result misfires on most levels. Co-star Matthew McConaughey mugs along, but the summer flopbuster looks unlikely to get another outing after this dour film.

THE NUT JOB 2

Nut worth a sequel THE best thing about The Nut Job 2 (Cert G, 91 mins) is its tagline: Nutty by Nature.

After that, this unexpected sequel to a very forgettable kids film proves to be as (a)corny as they come, with squirrels and other cuddly critters teaming up to save their park from urban development. As you do.

Sadly, you’ll be barking up the wrong tree if you bring your brood to this derivative animation.

VALERIAN

City of a thousand visuals VALERIAN and the City of a Thousand Planets (Cert 12A, 137 mins) has been one of the summer’s biggest flops – but what a flop, offering eyeball-melting effects and some spectacular scenes, making it worth catching for visuals alone.

Leads Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne are badly matched, but director Luc Besson’s pet project is a feast for the eyes, making it a glorious flop indeed.

Channing Tatum, Riley Keough and Adam Driver star as not-especially-lucky thieves looking to pull off a big heist at a big Nascar race, while (right) their secret weapon – Joe Bang (Daniel Craig) – is key to getting their hands on the loot

LOGAN LUCKY: THIS HILLBILLY HEIST IS ENTERTAINING, DESPITE CLUMSY EDITING

Needing a Lucky break HILLBILLY heist movie Logan Lucky (Cert 12A, 119 mins) marks director Steven Soderbergh’s much-publicised hiatus from feature filmmaking. Produced outside the mainstream Hollywood machinery, Logan Lucky treads familiar ground to Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven (and Twelve... and Thirteen...), repositioning the hyperactive action to West Virigina and swapping slick suits for Bob Seeger t-shirts.

The setting does much to breathe some new life into a well-worn concept, with several healthy doses of old-fashioned Americana and light-hearted hicksploitation helping to endear us to the cast of loveable oafs, rather

 MARTIN MACNAMARA

than have us pointing and laughing.

Still, as enjoyable a ride as this slickly edited caper is, one can’t help but feeling that a lot was left on the cutting room floor.

Channing Tatum plays blue-collar construction worker Jimmy Logan, who, along with his onearmed bartender brother, Clyde (Adam Driver), and automobile-enthusiast sister, Mellie (Riley Keogh), has supposedly inherited a family curse –

a stroke of bad luck.

When Jimmy loses his job and faces a court-battle for custody of his young daughter, the Logans set out to steal millions in cash from the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina.

Recruiting currentlyincarcerated demolition expert Joe Bang (Daniel Craig), the family devises a plan to break into the NASCAR racetrack’s underground vault. When bad luck and unforeseen circumstances push the big day forward, the gang is forced to pull off the heist during the busiest race day of the year.

If there’s one thing that Soderbergh has allowed to remain a consistent thread in a career that, while

rarely vacillating in quality, has worked through an extremely diverse range of genres and subjects, it’s his focus on building believable, human characters.

Logan Lucky is at its best when focusing on its characters, thanks to a fantastic ensemble cast that looks to have had a lot of fun working on it.

For all their flaws, each character has a redeeming quality that has us rooting to see them through to the finish line. The family bond is palpable. Tatum and Driver do a great job maintaining it with two hilarious understated performances.

Riley Keogh’s turn as the family’s youngest sibling brings a subtle sadness to the story, underlin-

ing the unfulfilled human potential that’s surely at the heart of many a true southern tale – it’s a shame she’s under-utilised in the narrative.

That’s where Logan Lucky falls short of being a truly classic caper – there’s often a sense that something is missing. While it endears and delivers big laughs in its first act and ties up proceedings very nicely towards the end, it often feels like Soderbergh was a little too ruthless with the scissors.

Aside from the underdevelopment of Keogh’s character and a seriously half-baked romantic sideplot, the entire heist segment of the films is often clumsy, taking several leaps ahead of us and hop-

ing we’ll catch up.

Much is made of this in a couple late-in-the-game twists, but with a little more precision, Logan Lucky’s climax could have packed a hell of a lot more punch.

While Logan Lucky is perhaps worth the price of admission alone just to witness Craig run as far away as he possibly can from any typecasting his Bond performances may have earned him, there’s plenty more to enjoy here.

Soderbergh’s holiday from Hollywood may have been too short-lived for anyone to really notice, but Logan Lucky certainly leaves us hoping another sabbatical isn’t on the cards.

Verdict: 8/10

26 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE

7 September 2017

DUN LAOGHAIRECLASSIFIEDS ALARMS

INSURANCE CLAIMS

ROOFING

BUILDING SERVICES INSULATION

DVDS

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

PAINTING

FOLLOW US TODAY ON OUR SOCIAL NETWORK

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ DublinGazetteNewspapers Twitter: @DublinGazette

GOT A STORY? Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240

7 September 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 27

DUN LAOGHAIRECLASSIFIEDS TAXIS

RECRUITMENT

WINDOWS

LEGAL & PLANNING APPLICATION

ANNOUNCEMENT We can now officially accept planning & legal notices from all four County Councils in greater Dublin region Dublin City · Dun Laoghaire South Dublin · Fingal

· Standard rate from €75 + VAT · Payment in advance

Ph. 01 601 0240

GAZETTE

28 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 7 September 2017

SPORT

FastSport MCCRYSTAL MAKES MARK ON WORLD STAGE: GARDA cycling club’s Eve McCrystal, with Katie-George Dunlevy, took double golds in South Africa as they powered past Poland to take the tandem world title in Pietermaritzburg.

It was a second medal of the weekend after they earlier won the tandem time trial.

Dunlevy – in the company of two different pilots – has dominated the 2017 season.

Pilot McCrystal will head on to Kilkenny to compete in the An Post Ras na mBan, which starts as we go to print, and extends over the weekend.

Elsewhere, Dublin based rider Ronan Grimes rode out of his skin in the MC4 category, as the newcomer came in just 32 seconds short of gold medal and grabbed 8th place.

Grimes, who races with the Scott Orwell Wheeler’s was appearing at world level for the first time and was the best of the Irish finishers, with Andrew Nicholson following him home in 12th place.

CYCLING: ST TIERNAN’S PLAY HOST TO SPECTACULAR FINAL RACE OF SERIES

Lavery and Boylan class tells in quality Wicklow Gap finale

 BARRY WALSH sport@dublingazette.com

TWO of Ireland’s finest riders took home the spoils from the Friends First Laragh Classic in almost perfect conditions under blue Wicklow skies last Saturday in the title races.

The men’s race was taken by Blanch’s Philip Lavery, riding for Canadian outfit H+R Block Racing, after an aggressive day at the front of a quality field.

The women’s race was claimed reigning and three time national champion Lydia Boylan, from Ringsend, of Team WNT. For the 27-year-old Lavery, it was his first ride in the series this season, outdoing the regulars over a course including the Wicklow Gap, to take the final men’s national road racing championship race of 2017.

Lavery has been competing at a higher level that many of his competitors having grabbed major results across the An Post Ras and French AC Bisontine in recent years.

Lavery was aggressive from the off forging his way into a breakaway group of 10 riders as the race approached Rathdrum. It was there he stayed,

Evntual winner, Philip Lavery leads Lucan’s Dermot Trulock up the Wicklow Gap

firstly following Lucan Cycling Road Club star Dermot Trulock on the first ascent of the Wicklow Gap before the initial break group re-joined on the N81 near Blessington.

Knowing they would not have made it to the finish with the chase being organised behind, Lavery was happy to be caught and follow the next wave of attacks and that he did,

riding clear with Sean Lacey of Aquablue Sport Academy.

Lavery was able to push away from Lacey on upper reaches of the second ascent of the Wicklow gap and descend to Laragh with 55 seconds to spare. Lacey would eventually be caught by his pursuants, Adam Stenson (Bikworx) and Conn McDunphy (Team Raleigh GAC), with the final podium consisting

of Stenson and Lacey respectively.

Lacey’s third place allowed him to claim the Cycling Ireland National Road series of which the Laragh Classic was the final race.

The women’s Laragh Classic followed the same circuit with the iconic Wicklow Gap climb dictating the shape of the race.

On the first ascent a selection of

five riders was forced containing National Champion, Boylan (Team WNT), Alice Sharp (NCC group-Kuota-Torelli), Claire McIlwane (Phoenix CC), Katharine Smyth (Team Madigan CC) and Sharon Bird (Team Madigan CC).

T his group would stay together to the finish, pulling out time on the pursuers as they worked throughout, even a little too much according to Boylan.

“The group was riding really hard which I didn’t think we needed to do so I was playing the sprinters card a little and trying to hide.”

Boylan went on to say “from the perspective of womens racing, putting on a race that is almost 100km long and takes in such an iconic climb is fantastic and all credit to St Tiernans for doing that as it makes you want to enter, it certainly made me want to ride!

“It was a great days racing and I am very proud to have won my first Irish National Road Series Race.”

Boylan now moves onto the An Post Rás na mBan which kicks off in Kilkenny this week as one of the favourites.

Carr making waves with big wins at Flushing Meadows  sport@dublingazette.com

Simon Carr with his father Tommy

SIMON CARR – son of former Dublin senior football boss Tommy Carr – is making a growing impact on the junior tennis world, as the seventeen year old charges on in the US Open Junior Tennis Championship at Flushing Meadow.

As the Gazette goes to print, Carr has won his opening two contests to progress to the last 16, defeating French teenager Jamie Floyd Angele on Tuesday afternoon in straight sets, 6-4 6-4. He had earlier beaten

American Sangeet Sridhar in the opening round at Flushing Meadow.

The two victories are comfortably Carr’s greatest achievements on a tennis court to date, with the youngster making his top-tier junior debut in Australia earlier this year.

Carr abandoned his education to chase his tennis dream in 2015, but only this year has really seen him emerge closer to the summit of the junior scene, with his season including an astonishing comeback win at the Roland Garros French Open

Juniors, where Carr came back from losing an opening set 6-0 to defeat American Vasil Kirkov.

As a result, Carr broke into the world top 1,000 in early August, rising more than 200 places in the world rankings. Carr will face Russia’s Timofey Skatov in the US Open last 16, as the Gazette goes to print, with Skatov having defeated the number three seed in the previous round in New York.

The victory pushes Carr – who was just outside the top 900 in the world going into the tournament - further up the rankings,

and will give him more tournament options heading into the tail end of the 2017 season, even if he fails to build on an impressive tournament to date.

Tommy Carr, Simon’s father, led the Dublin senior football side between 1999 and 2001 a period of relative struggle for the boys in blue – as well as later managing Roscommon and Cavan.

Carr also won the national league in both 1991 and 1993 as a player with the Dubs, grabbing an All Star place in the former season.

7 September 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 29

GAZETTE

FASTSport

Coming in like a Wrecking Ball for Quinn’s pro bow Crumlin man ready to rumble as he faces Polish opponent on Saturday in the National Stadium as part of extensive card, packed with up and coming Irish fighting talent  sport@dublingazette.com

Hyland Jr calls on The Rock to take step back CLONDALKIN fighter Stephen Ormond needs to step aside as Ireland’s number one according to his next opponent Paul Hyland Jr. Lightweight Ormond will step into the ring with the Ulsterman on October 21 as part of the Ryan Burnett v Zhanat Zhakiyanov undercard at the SSE Odyssey Arena in Belfast, where he will fight for the vacant Irish title, as well as his opponents’ IBF European title.

The 34-year-old lost his last fight by unanimous decision – also for a European belt – against Craig Evans back in June, and knows victory next month will be vital if he is to earn a chance at finally fulfilling his dream of holding a world title.

However, Hyland Jr thinks ‘the Rock’ has had his time in the limelight and it is now his turn.

“He’s a tough opponent and he’s going to come to fight,” Hyland Jr told Irish-Boxing.com. “He’s been around for a bit. I’m coming up through the rankings and I think it’s time for him to step aside – but I know that he’s not going to go out easy. I know it’s going to be a tough fight and I’m looking forward to it.”

Hyland Jr is well-known for getting involved in all-out wars when he steps into the ring, and he is expecting the bout with Ormond to be no different.

“I’ve got the ability to box if I want to box but, once I get hit, I know the two of us are going to go head-to-head in there. We’ve a similar style. He’s a very aggressive fighter, he comes forward and he’s strong. ” “I will try box, but it’s like every other previous fight, once I get clipped the two of us will go at it.

I don’t really like getting pushed back, as you can tell from previous fights.”

Many will be expecting Hyland Jr to take the next step in his career come October, but Ormond has never shied away from a challenge and has the ability to come out on top.

MARTIN Quinn is looking to make good on his “Wrecking Ball” nickname as the Crumlin man steps into a professional ring for the first time next weekend.

Quinn turns pro with Boxing Ireland Promotions and will debut on the record-breaking Celtic Clash 3 card at the National Stadium on Saturday, September 9 against Poland’s Marcin Ficner.

In a show headlined by a BUI Celtic featherweight title clash between Kildare’s unbeaten Eric Donovan and Welsh champion Dai Davies, the card will play host to the most amount of fights

in one night in an Irish ring. In that sense, the boxers on the undercard will be looking to excite and stand out from the crowd – something that suits Quinn down to the ground.

T h e m o t o r- m o u t h Crumlin Lightweight promises that “I’ll always be in exciting fights, I’m not one to punch and move. I’m one to get in there and stick with it.”

There are certainly no airs or graces about Quinn, who trains under Sean Carton at the All Saints Gym in Kimmage, formerly having fought out of Phil Sutcliffe’s famous Crumlin club.

With refreshing honesty, Quinn gleefully describes how “I love a lit-

tle rough-up, I always did, I may as well get paid for it. It works out every way for me, it’s a no brainer. I work, labouring on building restoration, I come to the gym, I go home to my baby, that’s it.”

Now 30-years-old, Quinn only picked up the gloves in his mid-20s.

Indeed, the fact he is able to turn pro despite such a late start in the pros is testament to his willingness to learn. Add to this that his all-action style is suited to the rigours of pro boxing and it looks a good fit.

Quinn explains: “I’m only boxing about four years now. I won the Novices twice, the Dublin Novices and the Third Year Novices. I got to the

Crumlin man Martin Quinn makes his pro boxing debut this Saturday

finals in an awful lot of things as well and then things didn’t go my way.

“I’m going to give this a bash and see how it goes.

That’s what everyone keeps telling me, most people think I’ll do better with the pro game. I get a bit anxious in there [the amateurs] so the pro game seems to suit me a bit better, I get to take my time,” added Quinn.

What he undeniably lacks in experience, Quinn believes he makes up for in pure brute strength and fearless ferocity. Recently he has even been christened The Crumlin Wrecking Ball in reference to his destructive approach.

“I’m strong and I’ll fight anybody,” he states confidently – and one certainly gets the impression that he is completely serious.

“With eight ounce gloves, if I hit anybody, they’ll feel it. I’ve manstrength, I’ve been in a gym all my life. That’s one of my main things, I’ve an awful lot of strength in both hands. My left and my right, they hit the same. That’s what everyone else tells me. Seany [Carton] won’t even hold the pads for me, because I hurt his hands.”

Unlike most fighters turning pro, Quinn isn’t clamouring for world titles or international superstardom. Instead, the popular Dub just wants to entertain the fans and enjoy some domestic glory.

“My goal is an Irish title. I know for a fact that I will get an Irish title,” the red-headed warrior states with a smirk.

“I’m not throwing any names out there – because I haven’t got a leg to stand on! But there’s a few out there who are pro right now that I know, with eight weeks training, I would take them out.

That’s my goal anyway.”

F i r s t t h i n g ’s f i r s t though, his professional debut on Saturday, and Quinn is promising his specialised brand of entertainment.

Addressing his fans both current and future, Quinn pledges that “I’ll always give a good fight, you’ll get your money’s worth. September 9, some bloke is getting stopped.

“I’m buzzing, I can’t wait. I’m feeling fit, I’m not where I need to be, but I’m getting there. I just want to get in there now and get the first one out of the way.”

Headlined by the Donovan-Davies title fight, the Celtic Clash 3 card also features Colin O’Donovan, Michael Gallagher, Regan Buckley, Carl McDonald, Chris Mullally, Stephen McAfee, Niall O’Connor, James Cahill, Gerard Whitehouse, Bernard Roe, John Joyce, Liam G ay n o r, a n d D y l a n McDonagh.

Tickets are available to buy from the All Saints Boxing Club, by calling 0857047533, or online at Ticketmaster.ie.

GAZETTE

30 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 7 September 2017

SPORT

FASTSport

SOCCER: MANLEY GOAL SEES STUDENTS GET THE BETTER OF WEXFORD

McAfee looking to add to growing highlight reel STEPHEN McAfee is gearing up for his second professional fight this weekend when he steps into the ring with Atilla Horvath at the Celtic Rising 3: Building Champions card at the National Boxing Stadium.

The lightweight from Sallynoggin impressed in his debut against Marcin Ficner by knocking the Pole out in style with a sweet left-hand hook that sent his opponent to the canvas for the third time in the fight.

McAfee is now hoping for a similar outcome on Saturday against a Hungarian who has lost six of his nine fights to date.

“I’m always confident but I’ve had a much better camp this time,” McAfee told GazetteSport. “I’ve had more time to prepare everything that I wanted so I’m happier going into this fight.

McAfee’s victory over Ficner was the talking point amongst the crowd at the Celtic Rising 2 card, and the 26-year-old is hoping he’ll be the one people are talking about once again this weekend.

“I want to steal the show again. I’m sure there are a few out there expecting it as well so I have to deliver it, which I will. I’ll make sure I put on an exciting show for them and show different stuff to the others.”

McAfee’s aim is to earn himself a contract and he feels another show-stopping knock out will only increase his chances of doing so.

“I wouldn’t mind another highlight reel video to go viral to wake up to the next day.

Horvath was not McAfee’s intended opponent but after the original bout fell through, the former was sworn in on short notice – leaving the latter with little idea of what to expect when he steps into the ring.

“My coach was away so it was only when he got back that I found out it was matched. I know nothing about him – I don’t even know his name to this day.

“I’ll have a little look at him so I know what to expect but I won’t concentrate on him too much.

“I’m not worried about them, I’ll let them worry about me,” McAfee concluded.

The fight is part of the biggest card in Irish boxing history with a glut of fights all taking place on Saturday night.

The UCD side that took on Wexford last Friday night

UCD bouyed by O’Neill return LOI FIRST DIVISION UCD 1 Wexford FC 0  JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

UCD’S return to the Belfield bowl for a contest with Wexford following the Women’s Rugby World Cup ended in victory after a few weeks on the road saw their outside hopes of promotion slip away.

It leaves one thing left to play for in the blues camp with Dundalk set to visit the Bowl on September 19.

The current League of Ireland champions – for another week at least – will play the Students for

a place in the Leinster Senior Cup final.

The significance of the contest for UCD, however, laid largely in the return of captain Gary O’Neill after an extended period out, as well as in the blooding of several youngsters in a depleted home squad.

A slow-paced contest against a Wexford side taken over by a fan consortium during the week – though Mick Wallace was still sighted in the university car park – was won by the hosts.

Aaron Dobbs had the first chance for the pinkshirted visitors, unable to control an effort on the volley as he hooked over

SUPER START Seapoint run up five tries against Bective SEAPOINT started their year in impressive

fashion last Thursday night as they ran up a 35-8 win over Bective Rangers in the Leinster Senior League Division 2B last Thursday night in Donnybrook.

They had conceded their opening tie in the competition five days earlier but they showed a clean set of heels to Bective, running in five tries. They next face MU Barnhall on Friday night in Parsonstown with the winner likely to advance the next phase of the competition.

Picture: Laszlo Geczo

from 12-yards out. UCD had marginally the better of the early contest regardless, with their neat passing game seeing the ball flow around the pitch in areas that largely did little damage to a poor looking Wexford side.

A goal mouth scramble 20 minutes into the contest should have seen the home side put away one of a number of chances, but the ball fired around the area and fell at several attacking feet before being scrambled clear.

Jason McClelland in midfield and the consistently controlled Maxi Kouogon impressed, but once again the blues struggled for cutting edge.

The breakthrough eventually came for the home side on 75 minutes when Wexford couldn’t get rid of a low cross and the ball fell to Robert Manley in a position where it was easier to score than miss; he duly did.

It was the return of O’Neill, though, that was the key moment for UCD in a low-key affair. Having been out of action for some time, the club captain came on as a 64th minute substitute, but had an immediate impact in the suring up of the UCD midfield, and also in the movement and fluidity of his tiring team.

Wexford are weak

opposition at this level, particularly at present, and while UCD might find next season tougher, they will already be looking ahead to a winter of strengthening and a more complete squad next time around, when the possibility of a second promotion place will return.

In the meantime, a prematurely concluded season is the key problem for second tier and the continued plodding presence of the likes of Athlone Town and Wexford does the division no favours.

An injection of higherlevel sides from above next year might not be the worst thing.

7 September 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 31

GAZETTE

LADIES FOOTBALL: NEW IRELAND INSURANCE JUNIOR FINAL

CLUB NOTICEBOARD CUALA COMHGAIRDEAS to our first adult

The Cuala Minor Bs had a 0-16 to

LGFA junior A champions after a six-

0-5 win over Thomas Ashe, while the

point win over Lucan Sarsfields in

As had a 3-9 to 0-12 win over Naomh

Fingallians last Friday.

Mearnog in their respective football

T h e p l a ye r s a n d m a n a g e m e n t

Tickets still available for the Cuala

traveled out to support the team and

All-Ireland lunch in the Ballsbridge

to their sponsors Sherry Fitzgerald

Hotel (formerly Jurys) on Frida y,

Lettings who looked after the team

September 15. MC’d by Des Cahill with

following the game.

special guests. Contact Peadar at 087

hurlers who won the junior C championship in Parnell Park on Saturday by beating Realt Dearg by 1-18 to 1-15.

The first team defeated St Jude’s

Cuala breakthrough with maiden victory JUNIOR A FINAL Cuala 3-15 Lucan Sarsfields 3-9  DAIRE WALSH sport@dublingazette.com

CUALA’S powerful first half performance saw them land the Dublin Junior A Ladies Football Championship title in Swords last Friday night.

Jennifer Dunne and Eimear Loughlin were in superb form throughout for Cuala, and even though Lucan attempted a gallant fightback in the finalquarter, John McKeown’s charges claimed their firstever title at this grade.

The 12th Lock side did open the scoring with a successful second-minute free from Aoife McKearney and they created a number of opportunities inside the opening 10 minutes.

But ultimately couldn’t build a bigger gap. Following a fine run through the heart of the Lucan defence, Hannah O’Dea restored parity to the proceeded, and the first goal arrived in the 11th-minute.

Corner-forward Lasariona Huggard found herself in an advanced

position on the right-hand side, and her subsequent shot at goal drifted into the bottom corner of Susan Scully’s net.

With centre-forward Dunne opening her account from the next attack, it was beginning to look ominous for Paul Quinn’s Lucan side.

By contrast, Cuala were now playing with confidence and another speculative effort by midfielder Loughlin led to a second goal. While there was still plenty of time for Lucan to work their way back in contention, they were struggling to get quality ball into their forward line, and were constantly forced on the back-foot by the impressive Cuala Dunne was in blistering form on the 40, and she hit another haul of 0-5 to increase their lead to 14 points. Blaithin Lane and Ciara McKeown were also on target during a strong period for Cuala, and although their scoring sequence was interrupted by a stoppage-time point from Lucan’s Emma Flanagan, they brought a seemingly insurmountable 2-9 to 0-2 cushion into the

break.

The Hyde Park brigade reinforced their superiority within 60 seconds of the restart. Grainne O’Driscoll was introduced at half-time along with Cara Sullivan, and she fired to roof of the Lucan net at the end of an incisive attacking move.

She also raised a white flag on 35 minutes and it was quickly turning into a damage limitation exercise for Lucan. A brilliant three-pointer by McKearney provided them with some degree of solace.

There were no reason for Cuala to panic, though, as Dunne and Loughlin enhanced their own personal tallies to counter-act Lucan’s second goal of the

night The Lucan performance levels were certainly improving as the half developed, and when a Katie Wisdom point from close-range was complimented by McKearney’s second goal, their deficit had been reduced to 10 points.

Lucan continued to take the game to Cuala as the final whistle approached, and unanswered scores by Mairi Moynihan (two), Flanagan and Quinn meant that they had registered 1-5 without reply in the closing stages.

This wasn’t enough to spoil Cuala’s party, however, and they finished with six points to spare.

by 3-9 to 0-12 in AHL1 on the same day.

Big championship win over Raheny

2345393 for more.

The Cuala lotto jackpot stands at a massive €12,500.

This week’s lucky dip winners were Sean Misteil and John Hickey.

Pla y now at w w w.cuala g a a .ie/ lotto.

on Sunday for our U-16 ladies foot-

Best of luck to Cuala’s Sinead Wilde

ballers as they set out on an unprec-

and the Dublin premier junior side

edented four timer at Division One.

who face Westmeath in the All-Ire-

Next up are Foxrock Cabinteely at Meadowvale next Sunday. All support

SHANKILL

land finals on September 10 in Croke Park at noon.

IT WAS brilliant to see so many new

trip to Geraldine P Moran’s where a

boys and girls at our academy on Sat-

great match ensued.

urday morning and there is plenty of room for many more.

Our juvenile academy for both boys and girls, from 4 to 6 years of age, which is sponsored by O’ Donnell’s Pharmacy, is in action every Saturday morning from 10am to 11am in Shanganagh Castle.

There will be a foundation course for new coaches on Friday, September 24 and Friday, October 2; Steve Davis, 087 6414123, has the details.

We are in the process of setting up a ladies football section.

All abilities will be catered for so check out our Facebook page and

The cost is only €2 per child and

follow the link to the ladies Facebook

there is no annual subscription.

group or contact Steve Davis on 087

Qualif ied coaches ar e alwa ys in

6414123.

attendance and all equipment is sup-

The men’s adult football team have

plied free of charge. So why not come

ambitions to climb up through the

along any Saturday morning and give

league divisions so new players are

the Academy a try.

always welcome; contact Kevin on

Action this Saturday saw our U-9

086 8449902.

and U-10 boys football teams travel

For more information on the club,

to St Kevins- Killians while, in the

contact secretary.shankill.dublin-

afternoon, the U-13 girls were away

gaa.ie or call 086 4010438.

to St Sylvester’s in what were three cracking matches.

On Sunday morning in the rain, the camogie U-9 team made the short

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Join Shankill GAA Club, your community, your Village GAA club where everybody knows your name.

KILMACUD CROKES CONGRATULATIONS to the minor A foot-

hurlers who won the U-13 competition.

ballers who beat St Jude’s 3-14 to 1-8 in

Great job by Peter Walsh, Mark Lohan

the championship.

and all who helped in the organisation

Well done also to the minor E team who beat St Sylvester’s 7-9 to 1-8. In adult hurling, well done to the AHL6 team who beat St Kevin’s 3-11 to 1-12.

of the Hurling 7s. Great club day. Next up it’s the Camogie 7s.

Hard luck to the senior ladies footballers who were beaten by Foxrock

Congrats to Beagh Hurling Club from

Cabinteely in their championship semi-

Galway who are the AppleGreen Hurling

final on Friday evening. This young team

7s senior champions for this year. Con-

will bounce back.

grats to Confey from Kildare who were the shield competition winners.

Well done to our own Crokes young Eimear Loughlin shoots. Picture: Peter Hickey/GAAPics.com

championships.

would like to thank all those who

Well done also to our third adult

Cuala celebrate their New Ireland Insurance Junior A final victory. Picture: Peter Hickey/GAAPics.com

welcome.

ladies football team who are Dublin

Hard luck also to the intermediate hurlers who lost to Scoil Ui Chonaill 3-8 to 1-20 in their quarter final match.

32 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 7 September 2017