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INSIDE: Local nurse helps to fight cholera in Nigeria Page 4

February 9, 2012

AN ICE IDEA: Fun for skaters as they

helped fundraise for a little boy P8-9

They’re on the ball: 2011 Dublin Sports Awards SPORTS stars, players and teams

Football: Dublin’s Nolan looks ahead to 2012 campaign Page 28

were out in force for the Dublin Gazette Newspapers 2011 Dublin Sports Awards, in conjunction with The Clarion Hotel Liffey Valley and Setanta Sports Ireland, which saw individual and team successes celebrated in style.

Pictured are Garrett Marrinan, manager, the Clarion Hotel, Liffey Valley; October Player of the Month, Paul Ryan, Ballyboden St Enda’s, and Rob Heigh, sports editor, Dublin Gazette Newspapers.

Picture: Geraldine Woods

Full Story on Page 29

Sports Awards: Gala celebration of Dublin sport at Clarion Hotel Page 29

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ......................8 MOTORS ........................18 BUSINESS .................... 21 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26

15 new jobs created at marketing firm An increased demand leads to announcement

I BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

A SANDYFORD-based marketing agency has announced that 15 new jobs are being created for the local area.

According to Anthony Byrne, founder and managing director of Product2Market, “there now exists a neces-

sity to expand personnel, in response to an increased demand for marketing and sales services”.

The new jobs will continue an expansion trend within the company.

The company believes its success and subsequent expansion is due to its insist-

ence on marrying online and offline marketing services for its client base.

P r o d u c t 2 M a r ke t h a d already increased their numbers of full-time staff at their offices in Sandyford over the past few years.

Full story on Page 3

2 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 9 February 2012

PLANNING: CLLR O’DEA CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS

Gael Linn glee: Winners rejoice at annual event

Goatstown LAP changes I NATALIE BURKE dundrum@gazettegroup.com

LOCAL Fine Gael councillor Jim O’Dea is calling on members of the public to forward their submissions and observations based on recent alterations made to the Goatstown Local Area Plan.

Following consideration of the draft plan, which envisaged building on the Topaz site on Taney Road and on Goatstown Road as far out as the existing pavement, Cllr O’Dea submitted a proposal for some changes to be made.

These alterations were to ensure the proposed buildings would respect the existing residential properties on both roads.

“The original plan would have seen the building as far out as the

footpath, which would have been out of line and completely out of character with the rest of the housing and buildings on Taney Road and Goatstown Road,” he said.

Cllr O’Dea believes that because of the site’s proximity to Dundrum, the commercial development of this site will inevitably be small- to medium-sized shops, such as a pharmacy or local supermarket.

The other material amendment submitted by Cllr O’Dea removes the wording “Primarily underground car parking to be provided” from the Draft Plan. However, it will still allow for the possibility of such car parking.

Cllr O’Dea expects that the forecourt of the filling station could cope adequately with future parking needs.

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BLACKROCK students Barra

O’Leidhin and Anna Ni Uiginn had every reason to look delighted after winning the 2011 Breagchuirt Ui Dhalaigh Gael Linn, which saw the University College pair triumph at this year’s Irish language moot court, which is organised annually for third-level law students

by Gael Linn in memory of the late Cearbhall O’Dalaigh, former president and Chief Justice of Ireland. Barra and Anna were awarded a cheque for €600, along with the Gael Linn Perpetual Trophy.

COURTS: 24-YEAR-OLD ATTACKER HAS 73 PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS

A ‘sickening assault’ on man in fast-food outlet A MAN serving a sentence for armed robbery will not serve any additional time for a “sickening” assault in a fast-food restaurant.

Ian Maloney (24) kicked and stamped on the head of his victim as

he lay on the ground.

Maloney is currently serving a 12-year sentence for a €1.2 million jewellery heist at Dundrum Shopping Centre.

His friend, Jonathon Murray (22), was jailed for 18 months for his role

in the assault.

Maloney, of Cashel Road, Cr umlin, and Murray, of Downpatrick Road, Crumlin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Joseph O’Brien, in Charlie’s Restaurant on Dame Street, on January 4, 2009.

Maloney has 73 previous convictions, and Murray has 48, including four for drug dealing.

There was a loud gasp from onlookers at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court when CCT V footage showed Mr O’Brien been hit across the back of the head by one of Maloney’s friends.

The victim fell to the ground, and Maloney repeatedly kicked him in the head as he lay semiconscious. Murray then kicked the victim once before the group fled.

Mr O’Brien woke up the next morning in hospital with a broken jaw, smashed teeth and a broken eye socket. He

was badly concussed, and could not remember much about the attack.

Garda Ken Foley told prosecuting counsel, Fiona Murphy BL that he spotted the group running out of Charlie’s.

They were screaming and jumping around “as if something had just happened”. A security guard told Gda Foley about the attack, and the men were arrested. “ Te l l m e w h y I shouldn’t extend his stay in prison?” Judge Martin Nolan asked after hearing Maloney isn’t due for release until 2018.

Pieter Le Vert BL, defending Maloney, submitted that his client has offered a full apology.

He said Maloney’s brother had died several years ago, shortly after being released from garda custody, and he blames the authorities for this.

He said this led to his client starting to drink and use drugs before

becoming involved in crime. Mr Le Vert said Maloney is now drugfree, and the recent birth of his son has “changed him entirely”, Judge Nolan called it a “sickening assault”, and said it appears Maloney inflicted most of the injuries.

However, he said, there is some hope Maloney will reform himself, and said that he would not extend his prison term.

He sentenced Maloney to four years, to run alongside his current sentence.

Keith Spencer BL, defending Murray, said his client had only inflicted one kick at the end of the attack. He said he was addicted to cocaine at the time, but is now drug-free.

Judge Nolan jailed Murray for 18 months, after refusing to accept that he shouldn’t be held responsible for Mr O’Brien’s injuries.

9 February 2012 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 3

RETAIL

ENTERPRISE: MARKET DEMAND LEADS TO A FULL-TIME RECRUITMENT DRIVE

Avail of a Yummy card offer

15 new jobs at marketing firm I BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

dundrum@gazettegroup.com

A SANDYFORD-based sales and marketing agency, Product2Market, has announced the creation of 15 new jobs over the next two years.

Speaking about the announcement, Anthony Byrne, founder of Product2Market, said: “There has been increased demand for marketing and sales services for both SMEs and multinationals in Ireland over the past two years.

“Our support services mean that in-house teams can achieve optimum results while adopting a number of effective tactics,” said Byrne.

Changes in the business have occurred due to its response to market demand. This has seen

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

‘Recruitment is due to profit growth in the company – a condition which is predicted to continue well into 2013’ --------------------------

a great rise in recruiting full-time employees at the Sandyford offices.

The new recruitment is due to profit growth in the company – something predicted to continue well into 2013, said Byrne.

The company’s service menu has undergone great expansion and it now offers email marketing and online marketing services to new and

existing clients.

Byrne said that Product2Market is unique because it provides a double-flanked marketing strategy online and offline for its customers, with the reward this delivers to the customer more than commensurate with the initial investment.

Product2Product also offers another service for supporting in-house teams within a company, in the area of marketing. All of these ancillary service packages have broadened the objective remit of the agency, and compelled the company to increase its workforce and expertise.

For more information on the company, see www.product2market. ie, email: june@product2market.ie, or phone: 01 544 5775.

Red-dy to impress: In fashion stakes JOINED by models Danielle

Winckworth and Sarah Morrissey, fashionista Godfrey Deeny was standing by at the launch of the Hennessy Gold Cup Best Dressed Lady Competition in association with Design Centre, ready to help find a lovely look.

Those hoping to be judged

best-dressed has best be quick off the mark – the closing date for online registrations is 5pm on Thursday, February 9 at www.hennessybestdressed.ie, while any would-be winner can also register at the Hennessy Best Dressed marquee on race day, Sunday, February 12.

DUNDRUM Town Centre is taking the recession in hand and introducing the limited edition Yummy card.

The bespoke card is being released by the popular shopping hot spot, and is offering 5,000 customers and shoppers the chance to explore a world of “delicious discounts” at a variety of restaurants and cafes in the centre.

Don Nugent, director, Dundrum Town Centre, said: “We are very proud to be able to offer such a large food choice, whether it’s a quick cuppa or a hot curry to our shoppers.

“With the introduction of our Yummy card, this is another step for us in bringing great value and premium quality offers to shoppers.”

For a full list of available offers, and how to apply to be one of the lucky 5,000 chosen customers to receive a Yummy card, see www.dundrum.ie.

4 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 9 February 2012

HEALTH: FUN FOR KIDS

Yoga classes for children LITTLE Stretchers is a new, specially-designed yoga experience for children and is about to become available in Sandyford, where it will be launched at Imaginosity by Eike Treanor, from Purely Yoga.

This six-week course for children, aged 4–7years, is specially tailored to benefit children by increasing their flexibility, singing songs, telling stories,

teaching breathing techniques and piquing their imagination. The classes are every Tuesday, from 3.30–5pm, and start on Tuesday, February 21, running until March 27.

The cost per child is €65, including a half-hour class, and an hour’s play in the museum, which encourages play and learning. For more information, contact Imaginosity at 01 217 6131.

ENTERPRISENEWS

Showcase – Ireland’s Creative Expo!

DUN Laoghaire Rathdown was very well represented at Showcase 2012, which took place at the end of January in the RDS. In all 15 businesses from the county, representing a number of varied design disciplines, took part. Showcase – which is not open to the public – is visited by buyers from all over the world who are looking for the best of Irish design to retail in their own countries.

The County & City Enterprise Boards have always been very involved in Showcase and the balcony in the Main Hall was entirely devoted to Enterprise Board clients, and was supported with a special brochure and publicity. Four Dun Laoghaire Rathdown businesses had stands in this section – Tara Hammond of Slated, Simon Hoe of Killiney Arts, Marianne Flood – Milliner and Melanie Hand of Melanie Hand Design Jewellery.

Every year at the show, there is a section reserved for selected designers who have been chosen for the quality of their new and innovative products that are imagined, designed and made in Ireland.

Dun Laoghaire-based, Susannagh Grogan was featured in this area. Susannagh introduced her latest luxurious collection of printed handfinished silk scarves, and was delighted to receive an award further to being chosen as one of the Top 50 New Products at the show. These products were chosen by an independent panel of retailers and featured in a special display area. The photo above shows Susannagh receiving her award from Laura Magahy, Chairman of the Crafts Council of Ireland.

Well done Susannagh!

PEOPLE Local’s efforts to help Nigerians

A rewarding experience for Laura’s volunteerism I STAFF REPORTER

DUNDRUM nurse Laura Duggan has recently returned home from an emergency mission in north-western Nigeria, where she spent four months volunteering with Nobel Prize-winning humanitarian agency, Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

Working in the emergency response unit, Laura and her team responded to three outbreaks of cholera – a disease that can have a mortality rate as high as 50% if patients do not get the right treatment in time.

“It was very hands-on,” said Laura, who has taken a leave of absence from her job as an intensive care nurse at St Vincent’s hospital in order to volunteer overseas.

“You would see a person almost dead, coming in with hardly any pulse.

Immediately, you’d have to get an intravenous line into them, and give them large volumes of fluid.

“But,within a few hours, they would be sitting up and talking to you. The treatment is that quick, and it’s very rewarding to see,” she said.

“My role as an MSF nurse was to train and support the local health authorities to respond to cholera.

“The health workers there are very hardworking, and doing the best they can with what they have, but, generally, there is no comparison between hospitals in Ireland and hospitals in this part of Nigeria.

“So, to help the local authorities cope, we brought all the medical supplies needed and trained the staff up in the correct treatment protocols,” said Laura.

Her role extended beyond direct nursing to

community awareness.

“When our team arrived in a town, we’d hire town criers. These were basically guys on motorbikes.

“We’d give them a megaphone, so they could go around telling people to boil their water before drinking it, and, if they had symptoms of cholera, to come to the hospital and be treated by our team, free of charge,” she said.

“I was on the move a lot. If we had ten patients arriving into the hospital from a rural village, we’d hop in the jeep and go out to the village ourselves to see what the problem was. It could be that people were drinking from a polluted river.

“We’d work with the local government to solve the problem by installing oral rehydration points, which are a system of buckets and cups with the oral rehydration solution on tap, educating the

One of the local field hospitals in which Medecins Sans Frontieres operates from

Dundrum nurse, Laura Duggan, and a Medecins Sans

community health workers, and giving medical supplies to the local dispensaries,” said Laura.

Nigeria was an eyeopener for Laura in many ways. “Before I left Ireland, I really didn’t know what to expect. A lot of people were joking with me about internet scams!

“But the people I met in Nigeria were very welcoming, and very respectful, and the patients were really, really appreciative.

“I learned how to communicate a few key health messages in the local language, such as ‘Shay rua sousi, sousi’, which means, ‘Drink lots of water, frequently’.

“If I had any free time, I’d march around the wards repeating this, over and over. The patients would be rolling around the place, laughing at me,” said Laura.

Despite the hard work and long days, Laura found time to relax in the evenings. Games of speed scrabble, darts and sing-

songs with the other team members helped to alleviate any stress brought about by the intense workload in a blisteringly hot climate.

However, what she missed most was being able to go for a walk on her own, due to the security precautions MSF put in place.

“I felt safe at all times.

My family were very reassured, because I was complaining about the strictness of the security rules.

They knew I couldn’t get into too much trouble,” joked Laura.

Having spent a relaxing Christmas at home, she is now eager to return to “the field” for another mission with MSF. “I really enjoyed the whole experience. I met great staff and patients.

The thing with [treating] cholera is that it’s rewarding, quickly, because people transform from being on the brink to being healthy in just a matter of days.

9 February 2012 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 5

battle cholera

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Frontieres colleague in northwestern Nigeria

“We treated about 8,000 patients, and we got the mortality rate to below 2% in all these responses.

“You could see a decrease in the number of patients arriving at death’s door as our community messages and awareness started to work,” said Laura.

Laura is one of 50 Irish volunteers from a range

of backgrounds – doctors, nurses, engineers, accountants, project managers, and human resources specialists – who work with MSF across the globe.

An international organisation founded in 1971, MSF opened its office in Dublin in 2006.

To volunteer, or donate to MSF, call 01 660 3337, or see www.msf.ie.

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6 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 9 February 2012

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ECOLOGY Walkers invited to celebrate nature in region

Learn more about DLR’s biodiversity AS PART of the Dun Laoghaire Biodiversity Plan 2009 – 2013, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is organising a series of events celebrating and exploring nature.

On Saturday, February 18, there will be a Dabbling Ducks event

in Marlay Park, comprising a leisurely walk around the park with an expert who will instruct those joining in on how to identify the various ducks and water birds in the park.

The leader on this family day out will be Andrew Fleming, who

recommends that walkers bring some bread.

Booking is required, so contact Andrew at 087 329 9936, or email info@ owls.ie.

On Sunday, February 26, Booterstown Marsh plays host to a beginners’ birdwatching course with BirdWatch Ireland.

The event takes place at Booterstown Marsh, and is entitled, Bird Watching For Beginners.

This walk will be led by members of BirdWatch Ireland, and is aimed at beginners with an eagerness to learn more about birds in Ireland and how

to identify them.

Participants will meet at 10.30am in the Dart car park at Booterstown.

The leader on the day will be BirdWatch Ireland’s Sean Hogan, who can be contacted at 086 820 6665. Places are limited, so booking is again necessary.

Gym’ll fix it: Prize giveaway delights Susan at Nutgrove SUSAN O’Connell was delighted to be

presented with the monthly giveaway prize at Nutgrove Shopping Centre recently, where she was congratulated

by Sean Aylward, centre manager, and Declan Crean, Energie Fitness. Susan, from Rathfarnham, is a busy mother, and was happy to take home a family gym membership to Energie Fitness in Rathfarnham, as well as going forward for the upcoming finale of the monthly prize giveaways, where €10,000 is up for grabs.

The giveaways mark just one aspect of the busy centre’s engagement with the community, with its Valentine weekend seeing new dance/pop group, Element (below) perform at the centre this Saturday ahead of the release of their debut single, Party All Night, on FebFeb ruary 17.

AMENITIES: CLLR MCCARTHY PRAISES HIGH-WIRE HIGH WIRE ACTIVITY COURSE COUR RSE

Lettie’s on the look-out for Tarzans at Tibradden I NATALIE BURKE dundrum@gazettegroup.com

LOCAL Labour councillor, and constant advocate of the great outdoors, Lettie McCarthy, has welcomed the news that planning permission for a High Wire Adventure Activity Course has been granted for Tibradden Wood, and said she is “really excited” about the upcoming amenity.

The activity course will be located in the

trees at Tibradden, and will feature zip lines, high-wire and other adventure activities for the outdoors, which Cllr McCarthy hopes will encourage the local community to celebrate their natural environment and encourage a healthier population.

She said: “The Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown area is described as being ‘between the mountains and sea’, and we’re so fortunate to have both.

“But they are of equal importance and significance, and we should continue to highlight the amenities the mountains offer and encourage people to go out and enjoy them,” said Cllr McCarthy.

“The adventure activity course will be great for families, school tours and groups of adults, and it will keep the mountains free from future development as well. I’ve seen courses such as this in

other parts of the country, such as Lough Key in Roscommon, and it works really well.”

According to Cllr McCarthy, it is uncertain as to when the forest adventure course will commence construction, but she would like to see it open in time for the summer months.

“It will be great. I can almost hear the shrieks of fun and laughter coming from high up in the trees as children and adults

come to Tibradden for adventure and to swing from tree to tree in true Tarzan fashion!

“If ever we all needed a little adventure and more fun in our lives, it is now,” she said.

Cllr McCarthy is hoping to encourage the concept in other areas, and is currently pursuing the idea with Dun LaoghaireRathdown County Council to introduce the concept into Cabinteely and Marlay Park.

9 February 2012 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 7

PEOPLE Sara Kavanagh, on her beauty parlour

‘I’m made-up about MudPie’s new location’ I NATALIE BURKE dundrum@gazettegroup.com

www.

DUBLIN model and e n t r e p r e n e u r, S a r a Kavanagh, is set to reopen her already wellestablished beauty salon in its brand-new location in Dundrum at the end of the month.

Sara is relocating her beauty salon, MudPie, which was set up by the model in the summer of 2010, to the Pembroke District at Dundrum Town Centre from its previous home at The Beacon South Quarter, and is set to open the doors at the end of February.

She said: “I’ve been thinking about the move

for some time, so it wasn’t really a spur-of-themoment decision.

“I’d always wanted to have my salon in Dundrum Town Centre; it was always in my whole vision of the salon.

“So, when the opportunity came up to move the location there, it just really worked out so well, and I’m really happy about it,” said Sara.

With business already going well for Sara and her MudPie team, the new location will be the perfect setting for the theme of the salon.

“The salon has a kind of ‘country style’ element to it, and when I saw the cottages, where the salon

will be located, I knew it was the perfect location for the salon, and it really worked in our favour,” she said.

The model, who is currently with the Andrea Roche Model Agency, plans to officially launch the salon with a big celebration.

“We never had the chance to throw a launch when we first opened the salon in the Beacon South Quarter, and time just seemed to get away from us. But I will definitely be planning a launch for the new location.”

So, what sets her salon apart from the rest? Sara admits that, when she envisioned her dream

Model, and beauty parlour entrepreneur, Sara Kavanagh

business, her idea was to be completely different from the rest.

“While some salons are quite clinical and pretty streamline, I wanted somewhere that was

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homely, cosy and relaxing.

“It’s really girly, with some of our manicures, pedicures and body treatments featuring different flavours of ice-cream, and

it just sums up the whole concept of MudPie,” said Sara.

For further information on the boutique beauty salon, visit www.mudpiebeauty.ie.

WORKSHOP

Valentine crafts at Hamleys A FREE event being run

by Giddy Studios is taking place in Hamleys Toystore on Saturday, February 11.

If you want to sweeten up your loved one, or simply treat yourself to a day of arty fun with your friends, then sign up for Giddy’s free Valentine cupcake-making event, which involves paperbased craftwork.

The organisers say that places are limited, and interest is very high, as the event has proven to be very popular.

At the workshop, you can create a one-off, personalised, hand-crafted cupcake, which will last a lot longer than the real thing.

Decorate them any way you like, under the artistic direction of the Giddy pottery team.

For further information on the Hamleys Toystore event, call 01 296 0303.

8 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 9 February 2012

CHARITY A 12-hour skate-a-thon sees locals go skating in

Elbe Ferguson (centre) with Paula and Marie Keenan, Jacob’s aunt and grandmother. Pictures: Geraldine Woods

Taking part in an ice fundraiser ...

S REPORTED in last week’s Gazette, there was lots of support at a fundraising skate-a-thon held at Dundrum on Ice, with lots of locals keen to help support the cause – three-year-old Jacob Keenan.

The little boy was diagnosed with Spastic Diplegia at 18 months old – a form of Cerebral Palsy affecting his lower limbs, and his family have been trying to raise enough money to send him for a life-changing operation in St Louis’ Hospital, Missouri, which will enable

A

him to walk independently, and which will cost €50,000.

On the day, the 12-hour skate-a-thon saw colourful characters take to the ice, while a head shave, leg wax and appearance by 98Fm added to the day’s fun. Jacob’s mother, Lynn, was full of praise for the fundraising event, thanking everyone for their support. You can visit www.help-jacob.com to see how you can help, or to keep up-to-date on future fundraising events in aid of Jacob.

Steady, steady ... Carefully having fun on the ice

Jacob Keenan and his mother, Lynn, are joined by some of the colourful characters

Cillian Sharpe

This gentleman had his legs waxed to help Jacob

Jacob, having a superhero time with Andy Stephenson

9 February 2012 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 9

R1

Dundrum in aid of a little boy, Jacob Keenan

Aiden Bond, creative director, Dundrum on Ice

Zorro made his mark on the day’s fun

Creabh Ryan, Suhra Heibe, Sadhbh Mulvanney,

Caoimhe NicEachain and Eve Berry

SALE YOU DON’T NEED TO WAIT FOR A

from the skate-a-thon

Jacob’s mother, Lynn, was full of thanks for everyone who helped and contributed

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Elbe’s reminder to go online to learn more about Jacob

Christian Byrne

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10 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 9 February 2012

FASHION Dare To Wear Red show at Dundrum Town Centre

Pippa O’Connor and Roz Purcell

Little Jude was having fun, hanging out with Sarah McGovern and Lisa Fitzpatrick at Dundrum Town Centre

Red-dily confident to update their look OCAL ladies looked red-splendent when they turned out for a Kellogg’s Special K Dare To Wear Red fashion show in Dundrum Town Centre recently, featuring a wide selection of clothes available at the centre.

Held at Frangos World Cuisine, the Dare To Wear Red fashion show

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was styled by Lisa Fitzpatrick, with a number of well-known models in attendance to help highlight some key looks for spring/summer, following which guests were treated to goodie bags, bubbly and free mini manicures.

The show was staged by Kellogg’s Special K with the aim of giving local

Niamh McCarthy and Lisa Fitzpatrick

Niamh McCarthy and Kate Sugrue

women the confidence to wear red every day. This follows a recent survey carried out by the brand, indicating that 60% of 20-something Irish women associate the colour red with confidence, yet 89% wish they had more confidence, while 92% said they would love help to overhaul their wardrobe.

Donna Byrne and Lorna Cristiona Aston, Tara O’Farrell and Hannah Devane

Weightman

Ruth Hughes and Paula McCarthy

9 February 2012 GAZETTE 11

GazetteFITNESS FITNESS

Brought to you by Derry Temple personal trainer and pilates instructor

TRANSFORMATION: POSITIVE THINKING CAN HELP TRANSFORM YOUR BODY FOR THE BETTER

Prepare for success with nutrition and training OOKING at transforming your body for the better?

There are three key elements within your control that will determine a successful transformation.

It is not the purpose of the transformation that matters; it can be focused on any goal, such as weight loss, muscle gain, improved body shape, or improved spor ts per formance.

What really counts are the three vital elements that are essential if your goal is to physically improve oneself. These three elements are the quality of your thoughts, your fuel (nutrition) and your training.

Vital to the success of these three components is being prepared. Fail to prepare then prepare to fail.

But when you successfully prepare, you can prepare for success. This principle of preparation is at the core of all body transformations.

First you should

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ensure that your mental state is rock solid and you are ready for the road to transformation.

With this foundation of a strong and positive mental outlook your chances of success increase significantly. Set clear goals and use positive affirmations and visualisations to help you achieve them. As all transformation experts agree “the power of the positive mind is exponential”.

The importance of what you consume should not be underestimated. There are many misconceptions about what constitutes a healthy diet. However, all agree that what you fuel your body with is of the utmost importance.

You cannot run a petrol car on diesel. The same principle applies to your body. If you fuel your body with the wrong foods you can expect your body to perform poorly. Prepare for success by being aware of the foods you eat. The importance of Omega

3,6 and 9, saturated and trans fats, and realise how they affect your body.

Understand the role of protein in the body and of issues such as acid and calcium balance and how they effect bone health. Recognise food allergies, toxins, stimulants and sugar and how these affect your body in a negative way. Whether you want to detoxify, rejuvenate, shed body fat or slow down the ageing process, it is vital to learn the role of nutrition so you can make food work for you.

If you are training, ensure your choice of exercise is the one best suited to your goal. If you are training for fat loss, and concentrating on cardio, then you are missing out on all the benefits of using resistance training to help you shed body fat.

If you are in a sport that requires a lot of power then you should be training to build the explosive strength required.

Educate yourself about

The three vital elements essential to physically improve oneself are the quality of your thoughts, your fuel (nutrition) and your training

the training process and choose the right training package from the beginning.

Remember, to achieve your body transformation goal, it is when you successfully prepare, that you prepare for success.

Know how training, food and mindset will affect your goal and help you achieve it.

Temple Training begins a new lifestyle and nutri-

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

‘The importance of what you consume should not be underestimated. There are many misconceptions about what constitutes a healthy diet’ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

tion workshop in February. This “Complete Lifestyle System” will empower you to “attain a lean body, healthy mind and an abundance of

energy for life”.

A lifestyle and nutrition course begins on Tuesday, February 21, at 8pm in the Le Cheile Community Centre,

Donnycarney. Gazette readers receive a discounted rate of €140 for the seven-week course (usually €165). Visit us www.templetraining.ie

12 GAZETTE 9 February 2012

Gazette Contacts

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Block 3A, Mill Bank Business Park, Lucan Tel: 01 6010240 Fax: 01 6010251 Managing Director: Michael McGovern email: mmcgovern@gazettegroup.com

Sports Editor: Rob Heigh email: sport@gazettegroup.com

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Financial Controller: Carly Lynch email: clynch@gazettegroup.com

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Phelim Drew and Marion O’Dwyer star in Bookworms

Popular play makes a return I BAIRBRE NI

BHRAONAIN

THE Abbey T heatre sees the return of Bookworms, by Bernard Farrell, on Thursday, February 9.

It is back by popular demand and was first premiered at the Abbey in 2010.

The Abbey has a new, life-extending policy regarding plays it has commissioned for itself.

Previous revivals include The Seafarrer, by Conor McPherson; Terminus, by Mark O’Rowe, and The Playboy of the

Western World, in a new version, by Bisi Adigun and Roddy Doyle.

To that end Bookworms is back for a fiveweek run.

Bookworms is Bernard Farrell’s 21st play and is described as “a laugh-a-minute romp”.

The Abbey has a long history and very strong relationship with the playwright stretching back to 1982 when the Abbey first produced his play, I Do Not Like Thee, Dr Fell.

Subsequent to this, the national theatre has staged 11 world

premieres of this Irish playwright’s work.

T hose involved in the current production are no strangers to the Abbey.

Jim Culleton, of Fishamble, directs the cast of the New Play Company and Donna Dent.

The story of Bookworms is set on the night of a monthly book club meeting.

T he hostess, however, proceeds to set her sights on expanding the experience by inviting all of the members’ husbands. Her dreams

of perfection, classical debate and elegant canape nibbling are soon annihilated as the personal lives of the couples are exposed.

What transpires is an unravelling of decorum more shocking and revelatory than any novel up for possible discussion.

Jim Culleton does a great job by giving such a cleverly, humorous play the deft treatment it deserves. The cast includes Donna Dent, Liz Fitzgibbon, Louis Lovett, Michael Glen Murphy and Marion O’Dwyer.

9 February 2012 GAZETTE 13

CHARITY: CALL FOR ANY UNWANTED INSTRUMENTS

CHILDREN

Call for Texaco artists

Give kids a musical goal THE Musical Youth Foundation children’s charity is asking people to help it in its mission to provide every child on the island of Ireland with access to a musical education by donating any old, unused or even damaged musical instruments they have.

As part of a new project designed to raise awareness for the life-changing benefits of music education, and the work the Musical Youth Foundation is doing, the charity hopes people will dig out old, unused, or even broken, instruments that are cluttering up attics, garages and other storage spaces in order to donate them to the charity.

The charity’s founder and CEO, Chris Maher, says: “There are hundreds, if not thousands, of old, unused and unwanted instruments all over the country, and we’re ask-

ing people to help us give every child on the island of Ireland the opportunity to access music education by supporting our call for instruments.”

He said: “We promise to find new homes for all instruments donated, and everyone who donates will be invited to a special, topsecret event taking place as part of the sixth annual Dublin City Soul Festival, from May 24-27.”

Musical Youth Foundation provides instruments, weekly tuition, practise sessions and supporting workshops in live performance, including singing and songwriting as part of its “guitars for kids” programme, which is running in local community centres and schools in Dublin.

If you have an instrument that you would like to donate, email saoirse@ soul.ie.

Turn to them: People in Dublin the largest group availing of a mental support website THEIR cardboard model laptop is only of

use for publicising their service, but, luckily, the online mental health support offered by brothers Oisin and Diarmuid Scollard, and their website, Turn2Me.org, is a much sturdier affair, helping to support thousands of people across Ireland with its services.

The Scollards were promoting the significant increase in the number of users on their site over the past six months, with its latest user figures revealing that membership of Turn2me has increased by 51% over the past

six months – the site now has 3,000 unique visits per month – which includes almost 29,000 visits to the website from Dublin in 2011, comprising the greatest proportion of users visiting the site.

The Turn2me website is staffed by 30 moderators, who comprise a mix of people with professional psychology training, and others who bring the benefit of their life experience, with visitors to the website able to access support forums, group support, one-to-one counselling, and a wide range of information.

THE search is under way to find the young students who will win awards in this year’s Texaco Children’s Art Competition, in this, the 38th year of the contest.

Brochures setting out details of the competition have been sent to all primary and second-level schools throughout Co Dublin, with the closing date for entries Friday, February 24.

Copies of the brochure are also available through Texaco service stations, and online at www.texacochildrensart.com.

Judging will take place throughout March, and winners will be announced in mid-April, with prize-giving to follow in mid-May. Annually, some 30,000 students compete for the 161 top prizes awarded across seven age categories, including one exclusively devoted to special needs students.

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...YOUR BUSINESS INTO GROWTH ADVERTISE & WATCH YOUR BUSINESS GROW WITH THE GAZETTE

CALL US NOW ON 60 10 240

14 GAZETTE 9 February 2012

GazetteBEAUTY BEAUTY Beauty is at the heart of it all at Karora GIVE more heart this month by being mindful of how your tanning regime can help the Irish Heart Foundation. Irish beauty brand, Karora, is donating €2 to the Irish Heart Foundation from every product sold during February. Shop online at www.karoracosmetics.com or find the product in McCabes Pharmacy Dundrum, Unicare pharmacies and select salons nationwide. For participating salons and pharmacies supporting the IHF campaign call 01-9022333

A smoky, sultry look for Valentine’s I LAURA WEBB

IT only comes around once a year, and even though many think l’amour has been overshadowed by cheesy cards and overpriced flowers, it still hasn’t stopped us from wanting to look our best on Cupid’s busy day.

Be on trend this February and get the best Valentine’s Day look, courtesy of Avon’s limited addition Smoke and Mirrors collection. The fresh tones of this collection radiate that new inlove glow that many feel

around this time of year.

Not only will this look get you through Valentine’s Day, but it’s going to big this Spring/Summer season.

“Smouldering greys and subtle apricots are big news this season.

Make a smoky eye in dusky-skied tones your secret weapon, to take your look from sunrise to sunset in just a stroke and a smudge,” commented Liz Pugh, Avon’s professional make-up artist.

To achieve the spring look this February use SuperShock gel eyeliner (€8). This super-soft for-

mula is Avon’s best selling gel eyeliner and is available in two limited edition spring-inspired shades – Blackberry and Golden Fawn. The gorgeous tones leave an intense colour finish that lasts all day.

Use Avon’s True Colour limited edition Smoke and Mirrors and Myster y Eyeshadow Quad (€11) to create a smouldering, smoky eye.

Pucker up for the Valentine’s Day kiss with help from Ultra Colour Rich Lipstick (€9). The fresh, spring look is floral-inspired with hues of apricot, nude and lilac making lips naturally pretty. This lipstick contains jojoba and vitamin

Avon’s limited addition Smoke and Mirrors collection

E leaving lips feeling fully hydrated and moisturised.

Nails should also be treated with care by using Nailwear Pro Nail Enamel (€8), available in Star and Apricot Mystery. Giving salon quality results, this nail varnish

lasts for up to 10 days, with its fortified acrylic for strength and protection, and high-gloss formula.

More information about Avon can be found at www.avon.ie. Visit Avon Ireland’s Facebook page at www.facebook.

com/Avonie. Avon product lines include Avon make-up, Avon fragrance, ANEW skincare, Skin So Soft and Advance Techniques. Avon also sells an extensive range of wellbeing products, jewellery, lingerie, accessories and gifts.

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9 February 2012 GAZETTE 15

16 GAZETTE 9 February 2011

GazettePETS PETS

Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA

THE FACTS: LACK OF EXERCISE CAN CAUSE STUNTED GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Best care for your pocket-sized pets HANDBAG dogs, the once must-have accessory for many a fickle, fake tanned, gel-nailwearing celebrity are becoming so last season dahling, it now appears many of Ireland’s fashionistas, like the rest of Europe, are bucking the trend, aping the likes of Paris Hilton and ditching the pocket-sized pooches in favour of, oh, well, who cares. The point is, these dogs are being dumped.

That means animal shelters like the Dublin SPCA are being left to pick up the pieces… literally. I wonder, does Ms Hilton et al, realise they’re fuelling this phenomenon? If so, would they care?

Once seen donning dia-

mond-studded style collars and little pink sweaters, these cutsie-pie dogs are no longer the canine companion of choice for Ladies who Launch.

No more the favourite novelty accessory for almost anyone who owns a fake Dolce and Gabbana or Gucci handbag or, sorry, dog carrier, the brutal irony of it all is these poor animals look and smell like dogs but don’t act like dogs because they, er, don’t know that they actually are dogs.

Let me explain.

Tea-cup dogs come into the rescue shelter not knowing how to walk, act or behave like a dog, in short, they’re lacking in doggy skills.

Sure who could blame the poor things; they’ve

Chihuahua

spent their lives sitting in handbags or sleeping on sofas, never having been walked or trained or fed an appropriate diet, or even been given the basic veterinary care they deserve.

Did you know that lack of exercise can cause stunted growth and devel-

opment in your dog and mollycoddling them too much can result in behavioural problems?

Every week I come into contact with pet parents who’ve paid hundreds for these throwaway, novelty pets only to complain when they’ve to cough up the meagre, highly afford-

able cost for their subsidised veterinary care; or who baulk at the thought of walking, socialising or training them.

So why is this happening?

Well, it’s a question of economics you see – a supply and demand situation.

Not by reputable, registered breeders I hasten to add, they are not the cause of this problem, but by back street puppy farmers and the people who do business with them.

I am certain that if these people were aware of the facts then surely they wouldn’t touch them with a barge pole.

Then again, maybe I’m wrong, I mean one lady told me, (as I stood in my

Dublin SPCA uniform) that she got rid of her dog because she had re-decorated the house and the animal didn’t fit in with her colour scheme.

So, for those of you who’ve bought a tea-cup dog, here’s a few basic tips in order to provide them with the best possible care, specific to their breeds’ needs.

• Exercise every day.

This breed has quick bursts of energy so short walks are best.

• Provide a diet specific for her breed. Consult your vet for advice.

• Socialise early with children and other dogs.

• Use a body harness rather than a lead to protect their delicate neck. It will also help to prevent damage to the trachea

and soft palate.

• Pet her often; this breed needs lots of attention.

• When bathing take care not to get water in her ears, this can cause infections. Brush long-haired Chihuahuas daily.

• This breed may suffer from the following: Weak knees, colds, corneal dryness, secondary glaucoma • Check with your breeder to see what/ if at all any, screening has been carried out for these health problems.

A good breeder will not mind you asking this question.

For more

information log onto www.dspca.ie or email me miriam.kerins@dspca.ie

9 February 2012 GAZETTE 17

GazetteMUSIC MUSIC ROCK REPORT: FAMILIAR NAMES ARE COMING BACK

New year, old talents I DEE WOODS

HAPPY Chinese New Year! So 2012 is the Year of the Dragon, and it’s breathing new life into some classic artists.

Van Halen and Bruce Springsteen have new albums, and we can also look forward to new music from Alice In Chains, AC/DC and Meatloaf, to name but a few.

In suppor t of the wo r l d w i d e O c c u p y movement, keep an eye out for the “Occupy This” album. A host of famous voc al i sts, i ncl u d i ng David Crosby, Graham Nash and Debbie Harry, are joining together to put the movement on the map.

New music is always good, but I’m also looking forward to seeing some of the bands we thought we’d never see again (well, almost).

The Aussie Pink Floyd play the Olympia at the end of this month, and if you think cover bands

are just well-dressed karaoke singers, did you know Pink Floyd frontman Dave Gilmour asked Aussie Pink Floyd to play his wedding?

Not only that, but Nick Mason said the cover band were “probably better than we were”?

Nuff said!

And if you’re excited about The Doors’ last --------------------------

‘New music is always good, but I’m also looking forward to seeing some of the bands we thought we’d never see again’ --------------------------

album, LA Woman, being reissued for its 40th anniversary this year, then get along to The Doors Alive at The Academy in March.

The lads called into the Nova studios when

Super-news as Dublin radio goes super-Nova DUBLIN-based broadcaster Radio Nova has surged ahead in the latest JNLR radio ratings, passing out some of its major competitors in key demographics for the first time.

The latest ratings show that the station has consolidated an 11% weekly and 6% daily reach in the Greater Dublin area after only 16 months on air.

CEO, Kevin Branigan, said: “We’ve now overtaken major competitors 2FM, Today FM, 98FM and Q102 in key demographics in the city, and we now have more than half the daily audience of 98FM. This is our fifth JNLR survey since we launched and it is by far our best yet; we’ve shown strong continued growth in our 25-54 demographic.

“In addition to major gains in ABC1s and Housekeepers, we have passed out 2FM in 25-34s, Q102 in 25-34s and Today FM in 15-34s daily in Dublin – a terrific result for a radio station that has been on air less than 18 months.

“Nova offers a unique mix of some of the best guitar songs every made and well-known on-air personalities - and, judging from these figures, we are clearly striking a chord with listeners in Dublin and the commuter belt,” said Branigan.

they played the Academy last year. Lead singer, Willie, is a lovely, sof t-spoken Scottish lad who turns into a leather pants-wearing sex god (aka Jim Morrison) when on stage, and sounds uncannily like him too!

I can’t wait to check out these bands, if only to be reminded of the good old days...you know – when if you were reading about a worldwide economic disaster, a crash or a bond you were probably holding an Ian Fleming novel!

The Australian Pink Floyd are bringing their amazing show to the Olympia

18 GAZETTE 9 February 2012

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS RoadSigns Road Signs GET MORE FUN AND VALUE WITH THE MAZDA2: EVERYBODY needs a little more fun in their lives, but we recognise the need for more value, too. The good news for drivers is that Mazda is helping their customers out with making the Mazda2 incredibly easy to afford.

During February and March, Mazda is offering the Mazda2 from only €13,495.

The Mazda2 represents some of the best value for money in the segment, in terms of low retail price and generous levels of standard equipment.

In addition, Mazda Ireland is running a promotion where one lucky customer who purchases a new Mazda during February and March will win the retail price of their car back in cash.

Mazda is also offering low-rate finance of just 5.9% with a low deposit of only 20% up to a period of four years through Mazda Finance.

From its launch, the Mazda2 has been ground-breaking. It set the benchmark for lightweight construction, helping the Mazda2 to scoop the World Car of the Year award. Less weight means more fun, with a supple chassis that will put a smile on any driver’s face.

In Ireland, the best-selling Mazda2 Sensu model now costs only €14,995.

Standard equipment includes 15” alloy wheels, air conditioning, leather steering wheel and gear knob, and side and curtain airbags.

Mercedes-Benz main dealer, Chris Germaine, from Grange Motors, Deansgrange, pictured giving thumbs up to the new Mercedes-Benz B-Class which has just arrived on the Irish market

Quantum leap for B-Class I CORMAC CURTIS

Motoring Correspondent

MERCEDES have begun their roll-out of three new models being introduced in 2012, and the new B-Class can now be seen at Irish dealer showrooms.

The new M-Class and SL follow in March/April, but the B-Class is the larger of their two compact models, fitting into the range ahead of the wellknown A-Class.

Said to represent “a quantum leap” in the compact class given its billing as the first model change in their history

to have so many new features introduced at one time, it comes on the market with a vastly improved range of standard specifications and an entry-level price that Mercedes-Benz says is 11% lower than the model it replaces.

Amongst its most striking aspects are its reduced height, lower centre of gravity, generous interior space and high standard of safety. Its redesigned electromechanical steering, new four-link rear axle and upgraded electronic stability system make it, what MercedesBenz says is, “fascinatingly agile” without cost

in comfort terms.

Arguably, its most impressive selling point and the feature most likely to appeal to potential B-Class buyers will be its high quality and spacious interior. Seats are more upright and set lower to the road with the result that headroom has been improved. Its extra interior spaciousness can be made more valuable by an optional feature that allows the rear seats to be adjusted forwards/backwards to facilitate the carriage of bulky items.

In its driving and handling characteristics, the

new B-Class outshines its predecessor. An optional lower sports suspension and direct-steer system emphasise its sporty character. Outstanding aerodynamics help to deliver low fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions, while a standard item on all B-Class models is an ECO start/ stop function.

In Ireland, the model likely to account for the bulk of B-Class sales is the 109bhp entry-level B180 CDI which comes on the market at €29,330 (ex works) with road tax of €160 per annum. A second diesel, also with four-

cylinder, common rail, direct-injection, is a 2.0litre/136bhp unit whose price will be announced later.

In petrol form, the first version to go on sale is the 122bhp B180BlueEFFICIENCY selling at €29,890 (ex works) with road tax of €225 per annum. A 2.0litre/156bhp BlueEFFICIENCY version will be added to the range at a later date, the price of which will be announced at the time.

Driving the new B-Class is a completely new six-speed manual transmission, notable for

its extremely easy gear change and low shift forces. Also available as an option is a 7G dual-clutch transmission system that combines the comfort of an automatic with the efficiency of a manual.

Described by their sales manager, Ciaran Allen, as a car that “ticks all the boxes”, its lower price, reduced running costs, interior spaciousness and exceptional range of comfort and safety features are elements he believes come together to give the B-Class a wide appeal amongst those seeking to match prestige to practicality.

Is parallel parking more stressful than going to the dentist?

It’s arguably the most frustrating part of the driving experience, parallel parking, and it has the potential to drive even the most level-headed motorist around the bend.

Enter Ford’s Active Park Assist. With more than 100,000 cars having been ordered with this feature, the appetite for this kind of technology speaks for

itself.

Ford has now tripled production levels for the technology, which calculates the optimal steering angle and quickly steers the vehicle hands-free into a parking spot.

“Ford Active Park Assist takes all the stress out of parking,” said Ford engineer Kay Müller. “At the touch of a button, it

enables you to park in the smallest of spaces, while at the same time reducing the risk of accidental damage to your vehicle and those surrounding it.”

A total of 102,460 European customers have specified Active Park Assist since it was introduced on the new C-MAX and Grand C-MAX at the end of 2010, with one-in-three buyers speci-

fying it on those cars alone. A further one-in-five have ordered it on the new Ford Focus, which went on sale last year.

A third of European drivers surveyed

by Ford last year said they struggled to parallel park. Many confessed to finding it more stressful than a trip to the dentist.

9 February 2012 GAZETTE 19

Gazetteh Valentines

20 GAZETTE 9 February 2012

RETAIL: AVOID ANY HEARTACHE OVER THE SPECIAL DAY’S COST

You could share a romantic movie treat at Brooks

Share a romantic film stay at Brooks Hotel BROOKS Hotel in the heart of Dublin has a range of Valentine offers for couples – with its romantic movie offering in the Drury Street hotel’s 26-seater private cinema just one of a number of notable features at the hotel.

This is just one feature of a number of special Valentine packages, with others including such delights as a range of overnight and two-night packages that include the chefs’ signature chocolate treats and Prosecco on arrival, a complimentary room upgrade, a rose petal bed, and dinner in Francesca’s restaurant.

However, the cinema feature stands out as a special Valentine’s treat, and is exclusive to diners on Valentine’s night, with the movie a complimentary treat for the first 26 guest bookings – and with dinner and the cinema available for €39.95 per person. For further details, and package info, see www.brookshotel.ie, or phone 01 670 4000.

Bake to your heart’s content with M&S IT’S said that the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, with Marks & Spencer taking this advice to prepare a range of offers that won’t bust the budget, and let you bake to your heart’s content.

The M&S range of Valentine’s wares are too tempting to pass up, providing some wonderful ways to help cook up a delicious treat for your loved one (or even for yourself).

12 Mini Heart Silicone

Le Creuset Heart

Cases, €7

Casserole dish, €47.50

Heart Springform Cake Pan, €10

Hearts Mixing Bowl, €27

Get a Lidl bit of help for a wonderful time LIDL has been busy preparing for St Valentine’s Day with a wide range of special offers, all designed to complement the special mood, but without any heartbreaking cost.

Whether preparing for an unforgettable homecooked meal, or looking for the perfect gift to show you care, Lidl stores are stocking up with just what you need.

For starters, look no further than Lidl for flowers, with its luxury deluxe grand prix roses. Sourced from Westland, in south Holland, which is famous for its greenhouses and mastery of all floral horticultural skills, the deluxe grand prix roses sport large flower heads and are, say Lidl, typically the heaviest and highestquality Dutch roses available on the market.

Howe ve r, t h e s e delightful roses are just part of Lidl’s Valentine

range, with other flowers including valentine tulips, luxury oriental lillies, luxury bouquets, the classic arrangement of a dozen red roses and, from Saturday, February 11, a single red rose, with prices starting from €2.99.

Celebrate the romance of the day with a sparkling champagne, with Lidl’s Comte de Brismand Champagne Brut, available for €12.99 (Super Saturday offer on Saturday, February 11). A special pink Caca – the Freixenet Cava Brut Rose – is available for €9.99.

With chocolate proving a delicious partner for champagne, make a perfect match with Lidl’s luxury brand, JD Gross, and Belgian Chocolate Sea Shells for €1.49 (also on Saturday, February 11).

Looking to sniff out a special offer? Lidl’s scentsational fragrance, Sud-

Roz Purcell and Kevin McLaughlin fill up with

denly Madame Glamour, with citrus and floral notes incorporating bergamot and jasmine, has topped blind tests carried out on the Tom Dunne Show, Newstalk and Ray D’Arcy Show, Today FM – with this remarkable level of quality available at just €3.49.

Other gifts include Valentine’s wrapping paper,

Lidl’s wares before February 14

for €1.49; heart- and roseshaped baking moulds, for €4.99; a satin negligee, for €5.99, and Valentine’s stay-up tights, for €2.99.

Last, but not least, bone up on your cooking skills with a delicious steak, with all the ingredients for a simple, yet delicious, deluxe Angus striploin steak recipe, with wilted spinach and a porcini

mushroom and garlic cream sauce, and with all ingredients available from your local Lidl store to provide a restaurantquality meal for under €24.

For these, and other special Lidl Valentine’s in-store offers, see www. lidl.ie, www.facebook. com/lidlireland or visit your nearest Lidl store.

PAMPERING: MAKE-UP TREATS TO LOOK YOUR BEST

Star treatment at LA Academy “ROSES are red, and violets are blue. Come to LA Make-Up Academy, and we will look after you!”

So says the well-known leading make-up academy, based on Chatham Street, Dublin 2, which is busy preparing for Cupid’s arrival with a range of lovely offers.

For this Valentine’s Day, ladies are invited to give themselves the pampering they deserve, with the academy marrying all of Cupid’s ideas of love to create unique packages that are designed to cater for all Valentines needs.

LA Academy’s “Love to Me” Valentine’s packages includes everything a girl could desire, such as rouge-red lips, sultry

eyes and luscious locks to make their Valentine’s Day perfect.

All of these pampering packages to look your best come with five-star treatment, such as sipping on a glass of bubbly and availing of delicious nibbles in the LA lounge, in preparation for an unforgettable experience.

Packages A number of packages and options are on offer, such as the Love To Me package, preparing you for your big night out with sultry eyes and lashes to flutter, coupled with devilishly red lips, for €35.

Alternatively, T he

Secret Sweetheart package, featues smouldering smoky eyes with individual or strip lashes and a luxurious pout.

And, for an unforgettable entrance, you could go for bouncy, waved Brigitte Bardot-style hair, for just €45.

These glamorous offers are for anyone who is dear to you, or would be ideal as a treat for yourself – after all, you deserve it, and you deserve the LA Make-Up Academy five-star treatment.

For further information, contact LA MakeUp Academy on 01 675 1999, or visit w w w. lamakeupacademy.com.

LA Academy has some special Valentine packages to draw you in, including sultry eyes and luscious locks

9 February 2012 GAZETTE 21

GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS

Supported by AIB

Interview: Mark McGarvey, of cheapstorage.ie

Cheap storage with priceless service

years left, that’s SAVING € 40,000 a year! While property bargains currently abound, there is enormous hassle from finding tenants, continuous repairs, rent reduction requests and slow payments. Add the fact that interest rates eventually can only go one way – UP. Do you really want this hassle? You can earn 5.04% gross each year by just placing it on deposit… hassle-free. Also, one lender would deduct € 36,000 from your annual income to fund your family needs – that leaves € 4,000 income availability which will get you a loan of precisely € 18,000. That’s an expensive doll house ! That € 40,000 will act as a handy Rainy Day Fund – my recommendation is that you should have at least three to six months annual income in a RDF for emergencies, sudden loss of income or that investment opportunity.

The Money Doctor’s Tip of the Week BUDGETING

Mark McGarvey, of cheapstorage.ie

on business development and management end of things.

yourself that you would like to set the record straight on?

A: I think one of my best traits,

Q: Have you achieved anything that you once thought you could not pull off?

A: Starting up business during

Q: What music/pictures/ movies do you have on your iPod/iPad? A: The National, Bruce Spring-

the height of the recession was difficult and there were times when I was worried, but, with hard work and dedication, we got our name out there and business is now booming.

Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook?

A: A variety of Irish businesses.

Q: What is the best thing about your job?

A: Having the opportunity to develop my own ideas and the ability to challenge myself daily.

Q: What part of your working day do you ‘delegate’?

A: As more work comes in, I need to delegate the operational side of the business to others so I can focus more

work next year. Peter – Churchtown D 14

– source : LV Insurance ) so, if you have 25 working

counts, so lots of paper work.

two years ago.

pre-school, but she may look for part-time

( from birth to completion of third-level education

nese takeaway

Q: When did you start your present job?

A: I set up cheapstorage.ie over

does not work financially, as the children are

you are looking at close to € 1,000,000 to rear them

in business and personally, is that I’m an honest guy, so I really would have no need to.

Q: Have you ever done a job you loathed?

A: A few, when I was teenager.

annum, am married with four children. My wife

number one asset and with those four children,

Q: What’s currently on your desk that shouldn’t be?

A: Doing my month-end ac-

chicken balls.

now as an investment ? I earn € 50,000 per

kids and a … to quote Kenny Rogers. Income is your

Q: What was your first job?

A: A kitchen porter in a ChiQ: And your first pay cheque?

A: Thirty pounds and a bag of

ings of € 40,000. Should I buy another property

A – Let us look at the facts – married, four hungry

Q&A Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be?

A: A footballer.

Q – I have paid off my mortgage and have sav-

Q: What sport do you follow?

A: Soccer mainly, started

steen, Tom Petty, Arcade Fire, Johnny Cash and lots of 80’s music.

Q: What was your last Tweet/ status update?

A: A picture I put up of Blar-

watching a bit of MMA recently.

ney Castle on a trip to Cork.

Q: What sport can you play?

A: I currently play for Mount

Q: Describe your dream meal?

A: Anything without mayon-

do you own?

A: Six. Q: What habits would you like to lose?

A: None, I think, but my wife would like me to tidy up more!

Q: At the moment, what are you looking forward to?

A: A number of good friends of ours are getting married this year, so I am looking forward to celebrating with all of them.

Q: What was your worst holiday experience?

A: Food poisoning in Thailand, so that wasn’t nice.

If you have not undertaken a budget exercise, call or email me to bring you through the consultation process. See web site for details.

Contact John with your money questions at

jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at

Canada and do lots of outdoor activities.

director of Money Doctor

Q: What would be your dream job?

A: Professional footballer

band called The National.

Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously?

A: In antique shops.

Q: What do you plan to do when you retire?

A: Relax and travel with my

Q: Is there anything about

Q: How many pairs of shoes

wife.

Q: What is your guilty music/ TV or movie pleasure?

A: Music, and it has to be a

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A: I’d like to travel around

naise, with the company of my family and friends!

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Only 45% of people in a recent survey stated they had completed an annual household budget exercise. One of the most important chores at the start of any year should be the completion of such budgets. Only when you know what your expenditure is can you plan on the surplus ( or deficit ! ), or even ask those two important questions

www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing

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MARK was born in Stillorgan, the youngest in a family of six, and spent most of his early years playing sports, especially football. He attended Oatlands College in Stillorgan and received his third-level qualifications in business and computers.

After college, he developed his sales skills in the telecommunications industry in Dublin and later moved to Sydney, Australia, where he headed up teams of telesales agents.This is where he really began to develop his flair for management and entrepreneurship.

Mark decided to return home to Ireland in 2010 to take over the directorship of his family warehousing business and opportunity arose when two of his units became available. Rather than pursue the route of finding new tenants during the global recession, Mark decided to use these offices and warehouses to start his own business and, from this, cheapstorage.ie was born.

The company has recently expanded into a removals service, which offers customers an extra security knowing that their goods will be handled with care and consideration and, of course, offering that personal touch throughout the entire storage process.

In 2012, Mark plans to expand the business more by offering a service to and from the UK, and also expanding into national wide storage units. In the past two years, Mark and his company have seen exceptional growth during this economic downturn, yet has not compromised his high standards of customer loyalty and service.

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22 GAZETTE 9 February 2012

GazetteTTRAVEL FastTravel Abbey Travel launch new Over 50s’ brochures

ABBEY Travel has just launched two new brochures for the Over 50s’ market for 2012 – Portugal for Over 50s’ and Canary Islands for Over 50s.

In these brochures, you will find great value seven- and 14-night packages to popular hotels in the Algarve, Lisbon Coast, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote.

Seven night packages start from €499 per person.

Direct flights and airport transfers, seven- or 14-nights hotel accommodation, B and B basis in Portugal and half board basis in Canary Islands and local representation is all included.

Abbey Travel also offers holidays for Over 50s to popular resorts in Spain, including Costa del Sol, Catalan Coast and Majorca and a range of walking and cycling holidays in their Adventure Holidays for Over 50s’ brochure.

Call Abbey Travel on 01 804 7100 or visit www.abbeytravel.ie for more information.

WE HAVE 146,000* READERS EACH WEEK *based on standard industry measurements

Cheer on the boys in green when they take on Croatia at the spectacular Stadion Miejski in vibrant Poznan

Making your UEFA Euro 2012 dreams come true ARE you a diehard soccer fan dreaming of following Ireland to the UEFA Euro 2012 championship? If so, Thompson Sport can make your dreams come true.

As one of two licensed tour operators in Ireland, Thompson Sport are in a great position to guarantee a match ticket. By booking this package, this means you have been assigned a ticket by UEFA and have a guaranteed right to purchase. Once you secure your travel package with Thompson, UEFA will contact you directly to take payment for the face-value of your ticket. This means you’ll be getting your ticket sent direct to your home address from UEFA. Ireland V Croatia

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OUR READERS CALL 60 10 240

You will depart from Dublin for Poznan on Saturday, June 9, the day before the match. Experience the thrill of the build-up to the big match.

Then cheer on the boys in green as they take on Croatia at the spectacular Stadion Miejski in vibrant Poznan.

Stay at the three-star Polonez Hotel from €1,549pp, which is superbly located in the centre of Poznan where you can explore the sights and sounds of everything Poznan has to offer.

Price includes access to a licensed match ticket through UEFA, plus three nights accommodation, return flights from Dublin Airport and all transfers. You will also have the services of a Thomson Sport host with a local representative for the duration of your trip to make sure things run smoothly.

Travel from June 9 to June 12.

Alternatively, stay at the three-star HP Park Hotel from €1,699pp. This hotel is located along the picturesque Malta Lake shore in Poznan, with

an artificial ski slope, cycle track and luge track within walking distance and plenty of outdoor space to explore.

Ireland V Spain

There will be nothing quite like the electric atmosphere in the PGE Arena, where Ireland meet defending European and World Champions Spain. The excitement will begin on your daytime flight from Dublin to Gdansk on Tuesday, June 12. You will have an opportunity on Wednesday to explore all that Gdansk has to offer. Then, on Thursday, enjoy the build-up to the match and also the aftermatch party.

Stay at the three-star Novotel Centrum Hotel from only €1,549pp. The Novotel Centrum Hotel is located in the culturerich Granar y Island region of Gdansk, a short walk from the Old Town.

Travel June 12 to 16.

Or stay at the four-star Mercure Hotel, from only €1,699pp.

The Mercure Hotel is set in the picturesque surroundings of the historic Gdansk Shipyard and other historic monuments.

Ireland V Italy

Trappatoni’s squad are back in the Stadion Miejski to take on the Azzuri. Both teams have a lot to prove after Italy’s 2-0 defeat in the friendly against Ireland last summer. Travel on June 16 and return on June 19.

Stay at the three-star HP Park Hotel, from only €1,699pp or the Polonez Hotel from €1,549pp.

For a 10-night trip and access to all three matches, stay at the three-star Novotel Malta Hotel from only €2,899pp.

Price includes access to a licensed match ticket through UEFA for the matches against Croatia, Spain and Italy, 10 nights

accommodation, return f lights from Dublin Airport and all transfers, including a coach transfer from Poznan to Gdansk for the match against Spain.

You will also have the services of a Thomson Sport host with a local representative for the duration of your trip to make sure things run smoothly, plus some nice little extras. Travel on June 9 and return on June 19.

For more information on the Euro 2012 packages, visit www.thompsonsports.ie or call 01 4331013.

Day trips

Joe Walsh Tours are also giving diehard soccer fans a chance to watch Ireland battle against some of Europe’s top teams.

Joe Walsh Tours have launched their Euro 2012 packages with day trips to each of the group stages

matches in Poland.

So, be there in the flesh to see the boys in green take on Croatia, Spain and Italy in what promises to be a nail-biting experience.

Ireland v Croatia on the June 10, 2012 from only €494 (including tax).

Ireland v Spain on the June 14, 2012 from only €524 (including tax).

Ireland v Italy on the June 18, 2012 from only €494 (including tax).

Offer includes direct return flights from Dublin to Poznan or Gdansk, return airport-stadium transfers in Poland, one small piece of hand luggage per person, the assistance of a Joe Walsh Tours representative throughout the duration of the trip and all airport taxes and charges. Match tickets are not included.

For further information, or to book your Euro 2012 package, visit www. joewalshtours.ie

9 February 2012 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 23

Edited by Mimi Murray

TravelBriefs

The Giant’s Causeway

Escape to the coast and stay in the charming Ballygally Castle ESCAPE to the coast with a castle retreat and overnight stay for two at the Ballygally Castle, with an evening main course from only £80 per couple.

This enchanting hotel is regarded as one of the most luxurious hotels in Antrim and is full of character and charm, boasting 44 beautiful bedrooms and many of the castle’s original features and antique furnishings, which give the hotel a unique, welcoming atmosphere.

The famous Glens of Antrim and the Giant’s Causeway are located close to the hotel and the superb scenery can be enjoyed from many coastal and glen walks.

To book or for further information, go to www.hastingshotels.com/ballygally-castle or call 048 2858 1066 and quote CASTLE RETREAT.

WEDDINGS Trim Castle is a place of legendary beauty

The perfect venue for the perfect day TRIM Castle Hotel, located in the Boyne Valley Region, is steeped in legendary beauty and is the perfect venue for the perfect wedding day.

Every woman dreams of a fairytale experience for their big day, and Trim Castle Hotel is one of the most beautiful and historic locations in Ireland in which to get married.

It sits with quiet authority overlooking the mystical Trim Castle and the adjoining rolling lawns of St Patrick’s Church.

Looking onto the Castle, alight in romantic colour amongst the evening sky, is a breathtaking scene. It brings elegance and charm to an already very special day.

Trim Castle Hotel is a registered venue for civil ceremonies.

The hotel’s Wedding Fair will take place on Sunday, February 19, 2012 from 2-5pm and, is the perfect day to view the venue.

The Great Hall banqueting suite will be fully set for a wedding on the

day and there will be an array of suppliers in attendance.

Modern couples don’t settle for just any venue, and Trim Castle Hotel possesses the old-world charisma of the historical Anglo-Norman castle, and the contemporary standards of magnificent food and stunning decor.

The floor-to-ceiling windows of the Great Hall banqueting suite and wonderful pre-function area allow a view of the castle and church lawns that is unique.

The roof-top garden, located on the third floor, provides the ultimate backdrop for wedding photography, with spectacular views over the grounds of the castle and the surrounding area.

The team aspire to achieving the highest standards of personal and professional attention in the planning and preparation of your special celebration.

All wedding packages offer a number of complimentary features, such

Trim Castle Hotel is located in the breathtaking Boyne Valley Region

as consultancy and planning with one of their experienced wedding coordinators, red carpet and champagne reception for the bridal party and complimentary stay

for the bride and groom in one of the deluxe rooms with champagne breakfast the following morning, For further information, please contact the

hotel’s wedding co-ordinators on 046-9483000 or email info@trimcastlehotel.com. Web: www. trimcastleweddings.com or www.trimcastlehotel. com

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24 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 9 February 2012

GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT

GoingOUT PAVILION 01 231 2929 How Do Actors Play

THIS workshop for children and accompanying adults will see Louis Lovett and Muireann Ahern take you through the actor’s journey on stage, with topics looking at how to take hold of the moment you’re in, how to look forward to the moment coming next and, most importantly, how to look back, presented in the mischievous but educational spirit of play. The workshop is at 10.30am on Saturday, February 11, with tickets priced €8 for children, and €10 for accompanying adults.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 David O’Doherty

LISTING David’s many comedy awards and nominations would fill half this page and so, instead, David is happy to simply list some of his modest achievements, including being the founder member of Destiny’s Child, inventing the iPad, and, most impressively, being the 1990 East Leinster under-14 triple jump bronze medallist. The Irish triple jump legend (and occasional comedy festival-winning comedian) returns to The Mill on Friday, February 10, with tickets for his 8pm show priced at €16.

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 Alternative Self Portraits

DRAIOCHT has a number of fascinating courses running at the moment, including Genevieve Harden’s alternative selfportraits eight-week course, running on Thursday mornings from 11am to 1pm until Thursday, March 29. Genevieve will guide and encourage students in experimenting and creating alternative self-portraits, drawing on the inner artist’s eye. Priced €80/€65 conc/OAP €40, contact Draiocht at 01 885 2622, or email emer@draiocht.ie

Human Muppet fan, Gary (Jason Segel) teams up with his Muppet brother, Walter (far right) to help make The Muppets famous again, as they join the Swedish Chef, Gonzo, Beaker and Doctor Bunsen Honeydew, Sam, Sweetums, Fozzie and Rizzo for a new, lively, big screen adventure

A fur-ly good film

The Muppets return, infused with the spirit of classic Muppet madness, but with a dash of modern humour I KATE CROWLEY

LET history judge me on my solemn decree – The Muppets delivered the definitive version of Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, and that’s a fact, Jack.

No, not you, Jack Black – although I’ll get to you, later – but I’m merely tipping my hand at being somewhat kindly predisposed towards The Muppets, in general.

Why, many a night I spent in front of our magnificent, wooden television in the living room, back in 197(cough, cough, no need to start pondering my age, dear readers), watching The Muppets on the small screen, while I also watched their bigscreen excursions in subsequent years.

Despite the premature death of their creator, Jim Henson, the characters have endured – and this is an endear-

FILM OF THE WEEK: The Muppets #### (G) 109 mins Director: James Bobin Starring: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Peter Linz, Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzy, Gonzo, and a cast of thousands

OUR VERDICT: NOT quite up there with the very best of earlier Muppet films, and the long-running classic television show, The Muppets still makes a pleasant return, as behind the occasional schmaltz (and outright mayhem) it’s got something rarely seen these days in family films – heart. So, while it’s not the very best of Muppet madness, it’s still fun to hang out with this raggle-taggle group of characters ...

ing return to form for our furry friends.

But first – the humans.

Gary (Segel) and his girlfriend, Mary (Adams) live in Smalltown, and, as huge Muppet fans, it seems like a great idea for them to head off to LA, to see the legendary Muppet Theatre – with Gary’s Muppet brother, Walter (Linz) in tow.

Unfortunately, the Smalltown trio soon find that the big Muppet stars they grew up with are, effectively, washed-up

nobodies, forgotten by, well, pretty much everybody, while the theatre itself is a wreck.

Not only that, but the theatre’s up for grabs, with a greedy oilman all set to buy and demolish it.

(Ten guesses why, folks.)

Goodness! Is this the ignominious end for T he Muppets?

E r r, no, of

course not.

Gary, Mary and Walter are soon on the case, as a standard round-up-theold-gang plot plays out, with them seeking out all the big Muppet stars of old, determined to stage one helluva show to raise the necessary $10,000,000 needed to buy and save the Muppet theatre (and also, basically, put the Muppets back in the public eye again).

Also of course, things don’t go according to plan, with a certain stunning, headstrong, porcine princess getting her nose out of joint, and refusing to team up with Kermee and co.

But the show must go on, and it’s not long before The Muppets are back in action, with everything going well until – Well, t h a t ’s

enough. Either you’re a fan of those furball goofballs and bug-eyed antics, or you’re not, in which case this is definitely either a one- or a four-star film for you to consider.

It’s not quite up there with classic, vintage Muppet madness of old – but then, without Jim Henson at the helm, those dizzy heights of comic wackiness are unlikely to ever be scaled by The Muppets again.

Still, this film has plenty of heart, and daftness, while the human cast – including Jack Black, Whoopi Goldberg, and a few other well-known faces as Themselves – provide able support for the inevitable pratfalls, mugging, insults and calamity that come to pass.

To paraphrase The Muppets’ Statler and Waldorf – my critic spirit guides for umpteen years – it’s great for The Muppets to be here. (It’s great for them to be anywhere.)

9 February 2012 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 25

GazetteGAMING GAMING Bytesandpieces Tiny titles spark copyright debate

With flagship launch titles such as Uncharted: Golden Abyss offering this level of graphic fidelity, Sony’s PlayStation Vita handheld device (inset) is likely to have lots of gamers reaching for it once it hits the market here

Should be plenty of Vita-lity in this one SHANE DILLON

REMEMBER the PlayStation Portable? The PSP was pretty popular for a while, but never quite set gaming markets alight for a variety of reasons.

I had one, but although I amassed a sizable collection of games, I never had the feeling that it reached its potential, with increasingly lacklustre

support from the gaming industry, and, certainly, the PSP never had anywhere near the kind of “legs” that Nintendo’s DS had.

Step forward Sony’s spiritual successor to the PSP, the VITA, which has been performing reasonably well overseas, with our Japanese friends having the advantage of early access.

As hand-held consoles

go, the Vita is taking an interesting approach, being what one gaming pundit described as “a PSP with bells on”, as in many ways it’s a straightforward evolution of Sony’s earlier piece of kit.

Of course, it’s a handheld console with greatly souped-up power and abilities, compared to its predecessor and, in a nod to modern gaming inter-

Anotherweebyte...

Some X-cellent titles on the way MICROSOFT are about to push out some interesting XBox 360 downloadable titles, with XBox LIVE Arcade House Party! seeing a number of titles hitting the XBox Live Arcade every Wednesday from February 15 until March 7.

And, as an incen-

tive for those who buy all four downloadable titles, Microsoft will give gamers 800 Microsoft Points (MP) in return.

Two titles in particular stand out – Alan Wake’s American Nightmare (February 22, 1200MP), which sees a return to the surprisingly involving survival horror game’s setting, involving a Stephen King-ish writer and the horrors

he finds in Bright Falls’ dense woods. This time, Alan finds trouble in Arizona, and should prove pretty entertaining again.

Later, I Am Alive (March 7, 1200MP) sees a long-delayed game of survival in a destroyed city finally arrive, boasting a strong narrative and an interesting setting – both adding to the XBox party experience.

ests, its “touch-enabled” functions lend it an interesting adaptability to add an extra dimension to games, including its curious rear touch pad.

So, how has the Vita been doing since its recent release, and how do they bode for its upcoming release within our own regional territory?

Well, since hitting the market in Japan in December, the Vita has performed ... okay. Sales figures haven’t been fully disclosed just yet – in fairness, it’s a little too soon to start racking up the figures, ahead of Sony’s quarterly accounts – but all accounts are that its performing solidly, if not spectacularly.

Here, there has been much focus on the impressive power of the console, which Sony have been showcasing to great effect with the Vita spinoff from one of its flagship titles, Uncharted: Golden Abyss.

With sales of 350,000

units in Japan during its first week, followed by a tailing-off but solid sales, Sony CFO Masaru Kato has said that the company had “a good start” for hitting 500,000 units within three weeks.

Will Dublin gamers take to the Vita with as much early-adopter enthusiasm as we’ve seen overseas, and which we can expect to see from the Vita’s (expected) release here in late February?

Perhaps, as, despite the recession, gamers and tech-heads still seem to find the money for the latest gadget, and Sony’s Vita certainly lays down quite a challenge for the iPhone generation, many of whom will undoubtedly be looking for something more than just an Angry Birds machine.

Despite the challenging times we live in, it’s good to see progression in the portable gaming market, and the Vita could have plenty of life once it hits its stride.

THERE’S an interesting row simmering away regarding content and intellectual property (IP), and what constitutes a publisher’s title adding to an already established genre, or being, perhaps, more similar than one may expect.

Given the stakes involved with publishing on Apple’s formats, the issues of how strongly IP is defined, and subsequently protected, are beginning to become ever more prominent.

Nimblebit, publisher of Tiny Tower, has been busy exchanging broadsides with Zynga, publisher of Dream Heights, in a continuing case that’s fascinating the gaming industry.

Launched last year, Tiny Tower’s core gameplay mechanics – building a tower block floor by floor, choosing what types of use each floor would be put to, and then filling staff positions, ordering stock, and so on – are now also on show in Dream Heights, which looks ... similar, and shares many of the same core gameplay mechanics, such as the number of employees per floor, stocking systems, express elevators, and so on.

Zynga has rejected any claims of plagiarism, and stuck to its guns that the titles merely resemble each other, and some core details coincidentally match. Still, it’ll be interesting if the renewed industry interest focuses attention on identifying greater ways to define, and then control, IP rights.

GAZETTE

26 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 9 February 2012

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GazetteSPORT

JANUARY JOY: Last month’s 2012 Sports Awards winners are announced: Page 29

SWIMMING: UNIQUE CLUB TAKES MORE HONOURS IN MASTERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT

Atlantis rises to the top as Bardi claims records sport@gazettegroup.com

ATLANTIS swimming club celebrated another milestone in their short existence last week when club member Rodrigo Bardi set a new Irish record in the 50m and 100m breastroke in the Masters’ category at the Masters’ Championships in Derry.

It provided another medal in the fledgling club’s history since they formed with just seven

members last autumn, basing themselves in the Markievicz pool on Townsend Street.

Since then, numbers have swelled to 19 but treble those numbers could be accommodated as they are in a unique position as one of the only competitive clubs based in a Dublin City Council pool.

As such, the club is grateful to the Markievicz staff who have allowed them to open the centre at 5am for morning swims

without members having to become leisure club members.

The club was formed in the wake of the change in structure at a leisure centre in Clontarf, which saw club coach Nicky Barker moving on from his management role.

A number of the children he coached there wanted to continue training under the Cabinteely resident, leading to the formation of Atlantis.

And the switch has

Members of the Atlantic Swim Club, with club coach Nicky Barker far right

given him a new lease of life, he told GazetteSport.

“When you are responsible for running a centre and a lot of staff, you can get distracted easily.

While I was there, we had plenty of national champions. Now we can just concentrate on the task at hand.

“Back in January 2011,

we looked for a new facility to train in. We looked at 22 or 23 places around Dublin, but couldn’t find space. The management at the Markieviz were incredibly amenable.”

For him, the philosophy of the club is simple: “If I was to say ‘swim fast and have fun’, it would be plagiarising too many people but, basically, it’s that sim-

ple. The committee have put an awful lot into getting the club organised.”

He brings with him a wealth of experience, working for five years at the Kilternan Sports Hotel. He has also coached a series of national champions like Leo Delaney, William Ensor and Maria Schaler.

The parents are delight-

ed he will be continuing to work with their children: “The consistency is the coach. You can swim in any pool, but it was the coach who was important to us and our children.”

The club currently is looking for new recruits of all ages. For more information, contact Irene Clonan on ireneclonan@ gmail.com.

28 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 9 February 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastGAA

SPORTS AWARDS: LOCAL STAR ON DUBS’ TOUGH YEAR AHEAD with Setanta’s Senan Connell

Learning curve in place for Gilroy’s Dublin DUBLIN manager Pat Gilroy kept his players in the dressing room for quite some time on Saturday night and, having seen the way he went about the game against Kerry, there may well be a part of him that is happy with the way they performed and ultimately lost.

Little indicators, like leaving Diarmuid Connolly on frees and having Alan and Bernard Brogan on the bench for the whole game, would indicate to me that the Kerry game was a great opportunity to try things out, and Pat was happy to do just that.

If this was a league final, or indeed a championship game, Stephen Cluxton would have been on the frees and the two lads above would have played some part.

What will have disappointed him was the manner of the defeat and that is why a few home truths were no doubt spelled out in the dressing room. They have nowhere near the amount of work done that they had at this time in 2010, or 2011, and there are cobwebs. The physicality just was not there.

Dublin are on a pedestal. All-Ireland champions, every team will raise their game to beat them and when Kerry raise their game, you know you’ll be in trouble.

Dublin will find it very difficult on the road to Mayo. I do expect a backlash from the team but going back West to get a result is not easy and I even remember being on the end of one hammering myself as a player. They will need to step it up a gear or two.

Senan Connell is a pundit with Setanta Sports, broadcasting 14 exclusively live Allianz League matches this season.

Setanta Sports Satellite customers can subscribe for just €8.49 per month to get this great GAA plus 33 Premier League games, FA Cup, European soccer and World Class Rugby. Subscribe at Setanta.com/gaaoffer or call 0818 20 30 40.

Kilmacud Crokes’ and Dublin footballer, Kevin Nolan, receives the Dublin Sports Award on behalf of the All-Ireland winning team

Nolan’s all-star 2011 sport@gazettegroup.com

DUBLIN’S Sam Maguire-winning senior football team were honoured with the September Team of the Month award at the Dublin Sports Awards, and Kilmacud Crokes’ Kevin Nolan was on hand to represent the side, who were set to line out at Croke Park the following evening, at the gala ceremony at the Clarion Hotel Liffey Valley.

T he Crokes’ halfback, who came on in the 51st minute, was delighted to receive the honour in front of the cameras of Setanta Sports Ireland, and he spoke to GazetteSport after the ceremony.

“It’s an honour to get this award on behalf of the team. We had a great 2011 and it was

something that we will hope to build on in 2012.”

Ahead of the tie at Croke Park the following evening, Nolan spoke about the expectations that Dublin have ahead of what is certain to be a challenging year.

“There has been a lot of talk about revenge, but I don’t think that Kerry are out for revenge. I think they just want to get a good start to the season, like ourselves.

“We have set ourselves a few goals, and we want to add to what we achieved last year. If we do what we did last year, we won’t go anywhere.

“We need to improve and exceed the intensity in matches and training sessions this year. We

are at the top, the champions, and people want to beat us, and that will be a motivation for us to remain at the top,” said Nolan.

New challenge With seven new faces in the starting line-up for the Dubs, Nolan was happy to see a fresh approach from Pat Gilroy and his backroom team.

“It’s a new challenge for all of us, and it’s good to have all the young lads on the panel as well - we believe we can do well.

“The new lads are fitting in well, and the management know as well as we do that we need new things, new blood in the side with new skills, that will give the management some headaches in terms of

picking the right people for all the positions right across in the side.

“Like in the O’Byrne Cup, and for a lot of teams, I think that the first league matches are being used as an experimental platform where we can see different tactics and different players.

“It’s good, especially for the young players, to get a run out at Croke Park in our home league games. It can be a bit daunting playing there, and I know from playing my first championship game that it can really affect your play in front of the big crowd,” said Nolan.

“If we can blood as many young players as possible at this stage, it can only help come championship time.”

Nolan was also posi-

tive about the future from his club’s perspective, with Kilmacud in a state of flux themselves at the moment.

“Kilmacud don’t have a senior football manager at the moment, but that should be announced in the coming weeks, as the league begins again soon enough.

“Talking to the lads, we are all motivated having seen what St Brigid’s achieved in Leinster at the end of 2011.

“A lot of clubs in Dublin believe that once they get out of the county championship, they can do well on the bigger, national stage.

“We cer tainly feel that we can achieve that given the opportunity, and we’re looking forward to a great 2012.”

9 February 2012 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 29

in association with

DUBLIN SPORTS AWARDS 2011: A CELEBRATION

2011 DUBLIN SPORTS AWARDS NOVEMBER WINNERS IN ASSOCIATION WITH

STARof theMONTH

AVA HUTCHINSON THE DSDAC athlete was in sparkling form in Montreal in January to claim the Olympic qualifying standard in the marathon, joining teammate Linda Byrne as one more Dundrum South Dublin athlete competing for a place at London 2012. Her showing in the prestigious event was further proof of the talent pool at the club.

TEAMof theMONTH

SWORDS JUDO CLUB

THE Swords club claimed an incredible nine AllIreland titles at the National schools dojo in Finglas in January, with another victory in the shape of the Nikita Levchenko in the 41kg minor men’s section and Eddie McLoughlin in the junior mens’ 55kg section at NUI Galway last week to underline the quality of the fighters and the coaches at the North Dublin club.

ANOTHER sports awards year over, and a new one just begun!

Time flies when you’re having fun and it was a huge delight to present the 2011 Dublin Sports Awards at the Clarion Hotel Liffey Valley last week in the presence of the cameras of Setanta Ireland.

But sport goes on as we know, and we’re delighted to present the first winners of the 2012 awards.

Ava Hutchinson added herself to the roster of impressive athletes from Dundrun South Dublin likely to appear at London 2012 with a qualifying performance in Montreal last month.

Castleknock GAA’s Niall Nulty receiving the team award on behalf of the club with Clarion Hotel’s Garrett Marrinan and GazetteSport editor, Rob Heigh

Dublin’s finest at Gazette celebration sport@gazettegroup.com

THE 2011 Dublin Sports Awards, in conjunction with Clarion Hotel Liffey Valley and Setanta Sports Ireland proved to be the best-ever celebration of the finest in Dublin sports, when the 24 monthly stars and teams named throughout the year were honoured last weekend.

In front of a packed house, compere Paul Dempsey, the esteemed sports journalist and presenter on Setanta, exper tly steered the evening that saw the main awards being presented to Dundr um

South Dublin high-jump expert Deirdre Ryan and the fastest-growing club in Dublin GAA, Castleknock.

Speaking after the event, GazetteSpor t editor, Rob Heigh, said: “Every year, it is a privilege to report on Dublin sport, and to have the opportunity to give something back to the people who make sport in the city so vibrant and diverse is an honour in itself.

“The variety and scope of the awards, that mean we have the chance to honour individuals, clubs, schools and teams across the myriad of

sports in the city, allows us the chance to thank not only the people who recieved the awards, but all of those whose great achievements appear in the sports pages of the eight Gazette newspapers every week of the year.”

The diversity of the event saw representatives of 14 different sports, from underage soccer to senior golf, receiving awards on the stage from the affable Dempsey.

This was the first year that the event was covered by Setanta Sports Ireland, and a pro gramme based on the events of the evening

will go out on the cable channel in the next few weeks.

“We are looking forward to another year of incredible achievement on the sporting calendar,” said Rob Heigh.

“With London 2012 and Euro 2012 on the horizon, as well as the Six Nations just started, it certainly looks like 2012 will be as packed with excitement, drama and Irish success on a local, national, and international stage to look forward to.

“These awards are about the best of our sporting communities, and the best of Dublin.”

Swords Judo Club showed the small-club ethos of grass-roots development with nine titles at the All-Ireland Schools Judo event last month.

Let us know!

Let us know about your achievements in sport, so that the Gazette can tell the rest of Dublin — and give you, or your team, a chance to be one of our monthly stars.

Contact us on 01 601 0240 or sport@gazettegroup.com to tell us all about your successes, and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/ gazettesportII. PJ, proud father of Deirdre Ryan

Host Paul Dempsey, of Setanta, with Insaka FC

30 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 9 February 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

SOCCER: FORMER DERRY CITY MAN MAKES WAVES IN IRAN

Rovers and Reds get golden Junior touch GOLDEN goals for Three Rock Rovers and Corinthian saw the Marlay neighbours become the only Leinster sides to make it through to the quarter-finals of hockey’s Irish Junior Cup. Irish U-16 trialist Johnny McCormack popped up with the winner for Rovers from Peter Hinds’ crash ball three minutes into extra time for a 3-2 win over Bangor, their second successive win on that scoreline, having also notched that result at South Antrim.

It was McCormack’s second of the game, having earlier put his side 2-0 up after fellow teenager Eoin Buttanshaw had swept home the first of the game.

Corinthian got their result despite the presence of former internationals Justin Sherriff and Gordon Elliott who accounted for Pembroke’s goals in normal time at Serpentine Avenue as normal time ended 3-3.

Kiwi Lloyd McLoughlin grabbed a double, though, while Ian Stewart and Adrian Missen were also on the mark.

Following Monday morning’s draw, the two sides will meet in the quarter-finals of the competition at Grange Road on February 25.

Mets downed DLSP and Wes by city rivals lose ground 11890 Killester had 11 points to spare over Meteors (55-44) as they kept up their hopes of finishing in the play-off positions.

Meteors have been showing good form in recent weeks but came unstuck against their capital rivals, who continue to be without the massively influential Ashling Sullivan.

“It was a big win for us as I was curious how we would react to the loss of Ashling Sullivan,” said Killester head coach Mark Grennell.

DLSP lost ground on table-toppers Dublin University in the race for promotion in rugby’s Ulster Bank League Division 2A when they lost 22-17 to City of Derry.

It leaves them six points off the pace in the division with a battle to go up looking likely with Queen’s University and Greystones. Old Wesley’s challenge is fading after a 13-21 home defeat at the hands of stadium neighbour Bective Rangers, leaving them eighth.

Eamon Zayed, seen here in action for Sporting FIngal, took the World Player of the Week title after his impressive hat-trick for Persepolis

Zayed takes the World title sport@gazettegroup.com

DUNDRUM man Eamon Zayed picked up the goal. com World Player of the Week title last Monday following his incredible hat-trick for new club, Persepolis, when they picked off one of the unlikeliest of victories in the Tehran derby.

Zayed moved to Iran from Derry City on a short-term deal which runs until June, following a 2011 season in Ireland in which he won the PFAI Player of the Year gong and was the league’s top scorer.

He played a starring role in his second game

for Persepolis in the Persian Gulf Cup derby against rivals, Esteghlal, last week.

Many members of the crowd of 90,000 were leaving the ground early as Esteghal looked set for victory, leading 2-0 with less than ten minutes to go and Persepolis reduced to ten men.

But Zayed emerged from the bench, halving the deficit in the 86th minute with a neat rightfoot finish after being set through down the left.

He nodded in an equaliser two minutes later and grabbed the winner with the clock ticking past the 90-minute mark, spinning

on a ball into the box and picking out the corner, to complete an incredible fightback.

Speaking about the fairytale performance, he said afterwards: “To score my first goals for the club and in the manner in which I did, was absolutely amazing! It was a derby here, the two biggest teams in Iran, played in front of 90,000 fans in the national stadium and 20 million people watched it live on TV. It was Roy of the Rovers stuff!”

The Libyan international is hopeful a strong run in Iran could pave the way for a big move in the summer when he will

next be looking for a new contract. Currently, he is acclimatising to life in the Middle East, a totally new experience.

“I’ve been here almost a month now and I think I’ve finally adapted to the place now. Scoring the hat-trick on such an important game will, hopefully, allow me kick on now and do well here.

“Life over here is ok.

It’s obviously different than back home in so far as they have certain rules, like drink is forbidden, so there are no bars or nightclubs. Traffic and pollution is terrible here too! But it’s a safe country, people are very friendly and there are

plenty of things to do. I’m kept busy training six days a week though.

“Football here is class.

It’s very professionally run here, with training facilities being top-notch.

The standard is very good.

The captain of my team is a legend here in Iran; Ali Karimi. He played for Bayern Munich for a few years. He’s a top player and he’s an example of the standard here. ”People love, love, love football here in the country. You have men coming up to you, shaking your hand and taking pictures all the time. You get noticed every were you go.”

Wheeler Geoghegan set for 2012 test sport@gazettegroup.com

ORWELL wheelers woman, Michelle Geoghegan, is looking forward to regaining her competitive standing on the women’s professional tour after what she described as the “season that never was” in 2011.

Her second season in the pro ranks, Geoghegan had been hoping to push on with her Dutch-based Moving Ladies team but her season became the story of a narrowed iliac artery in her leg.

An issue more commonly associated with smokers or the elderly, it slowed blood flow to her leg, reducing her capacity to compete at the top level.

Given the rarity of the condition in young athletes, it took its time to be formally diagnosed, leaving Geoghegan with little power to contest the major races on the tour.

But its detection at the tailend of last summer led to surgery and she is now hungry to getting back into the elite peloton, moving base to Antwerp for her third season.

Speaking to the Gazette at the launch of the Cycling Show, set to take place in the RDS on May 19 and 20, she said that she is keen to push on now after what was a turbulent 2011.

“I’m a little bit behind where I would normally be but, in terms of having my health and leg back 100pc, I’m in a better position than I was last year.

“Last year wasn’t great. It was completely written off with injuries and I only got to the root of that problem in the summer so I didn’t really have

a season.”

She firmly believes, though, that she can be a serious competitor as one of Ireland’s three pros on the UCI circuit.

“This is my third year at the top level in the women’s elite peloton, racing against the top road teams. It’s hard racing and you know it straight away, being up against the likes of the Marianna Vos’s of the world. At the same time, I definitely think I can compete.

Last year, I had problems with my injury but the year before showed I can be up there.”

9 February 2012 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 31

in association with

DUBLIN GAA: SENIOR SIDES RETURN TO LEAGUE

a

CLUB NOTICEBOARD BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S SUPPORT welcome for Under-21 Hurling Final vs Kilmacud Crokes in

Golf society schedule for 2012 posted on www.bodengaa.ie.

O’Toole Park on Saturday, Febru-

Social events: Monda y - Lotto

ary 11 at 2.30pm, and minor A Hurl-

draw night; Tuesday - bingo at 8.30;

ing League Final vs Kilmacud Crokes

Wednesday - Set dancing classes

in Parnell Park on Sunday, February

at 8.30; Wednesday - Art classes:

12 at 2.30pm.

for more information, contact Neil

C l u b m e m b e r s h i p n ow d u e see website for online pa yment details.

Paul Curran fundraiser in Naomh Olaf on February 10.

Brennan (087) 243 5948; Friday card playing at 9pm.

Lotto: Numbers drawn were 30, 19, 3 and 29. Jackpot of €10,000 was not won.

STARS OF ERIN

Dublin ladies were in ruthless form against Kildare in their first outing of 2012. Pictures: GAAPics.com

Jackies jubilant on return to Division 1 LADIES’ NFL DIVISION 1 Kildare Dublin

0-6 5-18

I sport@gazettegroup.com

GEMMA Fay’s reign as Dublin ladies captain got off to the perfect start when the Dublin ladies’ footballers got their year off to the perfect start, announcing their return to NFL Division One in serious style.

The Ballyboden St Enda’s woman was one of four club members in the starting line-up as the Jackies ran up an emphatic 27-point victory over a hapless Kildare, to get new manager Peter Clarke’s tenure in the hot-seat off to the perfect start.

From the throw-in, Dublin looked like they meant business, with the Kildare goalkeeper making a fine save after just 40 seconds.

This was a sign of things to come, with Niamh McEvoy and Sinead Aherne netting for the Jackies with two goals in

the first eight minutes, along with points from Olivia Leonard and Natalia Hyland to build a lead of 2-4 to no score after 15 minutes.

Kildare, to their credit, fought hard and began to win more possession, but with Siobhan McGrath marshalling a wellorganised defence, the Lilywhites only managed a point from their possession before Dublin midfielder Goldrick netted the third goal for the Jackies in the 20th minute.

Followed by points from Aherne, Ciara Murphy and Siobhan Woods, it left the score 3-8 to 0-1 in favour of Dublin when referee Pat Kehoe blew for half-time.

Kildare started the second half brightly, kicking the first score of the half and began to settle into the game.

Dublin, however, driven from midfield by the elusive Goldrick, rallied again, with points from McEvoy, Hyland and

Woods.

Kildare never gave up and kicked four points, but goals from Leonard and Aherne polished off a fine performance from Dublin which gets their campaign of to a great start.

Next up, they travel to play in Meath next Sunday.

Meanwhile, on the men’s side, Kilmacud Crokes’ Craig Dias made his senior competitive debut but there was to be no repeat of the Dubs victory of last September as they fell 1-14 to 0-11 to Kerry in Croke Park.

The kingdom dominated the second half of the first round of the Allianz NFL Division 1 clash on Saturday night to give them the spoils over a lacklustre Dublin.

Darran O’Sullivan netted the killer goal 15 minutes from time after top class build-up play to extend his side’s lead to five points.

It was a rusty start for

the Dubs who might have been further down in the final tally had Kerry converted some of their 17 wides.

Early on, Kevin McManamon’s point made it five points each in the 20th minute and the lead was grasped when Stephen Cluxton’s ’45 and another effort from Mossie Quinn made it 0-7 to 0-5 at half-time.

But Kerry bossed the second half and Dublin’s cause was also not helped by the sending off of Eamon Fennell in the 67th minutes as the home side’s challenge petered out before the finish.

THE Under-8s had a wonderful win

away from the game with some-

against Ballyboden Wanderers on

thing after a strong, battling per-

Saturday morning in a fantastic

formance.

team display. Special mention for

The U-12s had a fantastic vic-

Jack Keane and Ciara Doyle who

tory over local rivals, St Anne’s, in

registered wonderful scores. Con-

Bohernabreena on Saturday morn-

gratulations to Hugh on making his

ing. This was an excellent game

U-8s debut. Thanks to Ballyboden

from a spectator’s perspective

Wanderers for the challenge game.

with some outstanding play from

The U-10s played a very strong Ball-

Sean Roe, Shane McDonnell and

inteer St John’s team down in Mar-

Conor Kinsella.

ley Park on the all-weather pitch.

Stars were unlucky not to come

The nursery continues to grow with a good turnout on Saturday.

NAOMH OLAF COMMISERATIONS to the senior foot-

Grounds.

ballers who went down to St Anne’s by

Thank you to Dublin All-Ireland win-

just one point after putting in a great

ner, Nicky Deveraux from Ballinteer

performance in the second half. The

St John’s, who presented the juve-

score was St Anne’s 4-3 (21), Naomh

nile awards. Awards winners are on

Olaf 2-14 (20). The match report is on

nomholaf.ie.

naomholaf.ie.

A table quiz in aid of Naomh Olaf

Naomh Olaf SFs take on Lucan on

National School will be held in the

Saturday, February 12 at 11am in

clubhouse on February 9 at 8pm.

Pairc Ui Bhriain.

Tickets are available from class rep

The juvenile season started last Saturday. Fixtures are posted on naomholaf.ie.

The JFs take on St James’ Gaels on February 12 at 11am in Iveagh

or Paula.

Bridge classes for beginners will take place in the clubhouse on February 16 and 23 and March 1. Details from Joan O Mahony 086-1084701.

WANDERERS MEMBERSHIP now due and must be

and the Bs away to Kilmacud Crokes

paid in full before February 27.

at 2.30pm. All support welcome.

Playing members €100, non-play-

Junior A and B pla yers train-

ing members €50. No player will be

ing continues at Scoil Mhuire each

eligible to play unless fully paid up

Tuesday at 7.30pm, Firhouse Gym

prior to competitive matches com-

each Thursday at 7.45pm, and St

mencing on February 11. Non-playing

Columba’s College each Sunda y

members are entitled to apply for

10.45am.

Dublin tickets if fully paid up only.

Contact Damian on 086 863 2565.

Tickets for the Dublin Spring Series matches now available at discount-

Ladies’ training each Monda y at 7.15pm in Frank Kelly Park and Wednesday at 8pm in Firhouse Gym. Contact Ian on 087 630 7046.

ed price of €30 for the three home

There was no winner of the lotto.

matches. Please contact Gary for

Numbers drawn were 11, 30 and 32;

details on 086 833 0433.

€25 goes to Keith Howard, Eileen

Cup commences for Adult men

Dodd, Damian Christian, Kieran

this weekend, with the As at home in

O’Flaherty. Jackpot next week is

Frank Kelly Park to St Jude’s at 11am

€1,700.

32 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 9 February 2012