Dundrum

Dundrum Gazet te FREE

January 31, 2013

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Month XX, 2012 • Stillorgan Dundrum • Churchtown • Nutgrove • Rathfarnham • Ballinteer • Sandyford • Leopardstown • Terenure

INSIDE: Film fans get a Day to remember at the premiere of Lincoln at the Savoy Cinema P10 & 17

motoring: Works at Blackthorn Road to help improve traffic flow Page 4

Having an ice time: Watching skaters slide by Hurling:

Boden fall just short in minor championship Page 31

SHELLY and Lauren Bidduph joined Crystal Taylor-Judd for a rinkside view of the fun at Dundrum on Ice recently, as lots of locals made the most of the chance to continue the Christmassy, wintry feeling that’s lingering. There was great interest in the rink, with lots of levels of ability on show. However, whether people could skate well or not, everyone enjoyed the fun at the popular venue.

See Gallery on Page 6

Football:

MacAuley looks forward to spring series Page 27

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES.......................6 DUBLIN LIFE....................11 OUT&ABOUT...................17 CLASSIFIEDS.................26 SPORT............................27

Protesters plan rally to save Garda station Stepaside residents step up efforts to keep facility open with Sunday demo

 Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

THE ongoing campaign to halt the closure of the Stepaside Garda Station has stepped up a gear this week ahead of a rally due to take place on Sunday,

February 3.

Local residents and business people are calling on the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, to reverse his decision to close the station and are consolidating their efforts to ensure that

the station remains open to serve the local community.

A spokesman for the campaign said: “If the station closes, the nearest 24-hour Garda station will be in Wicklow – 30 miles

away – as no other station between Tallaght and Dun Laoghaire is open after 9pm.”

The rally is set to take place at the Garda station in Stepaside from 2pm this Sunday.

2 DUNDRUM Gazette 31 January 2013

dublin GAZETTe newspapers i n f o r m at i o n

wards Commission set to report in May

Block 3A, Mill Bank Business Park, Lucan Tel: 01 - 6010240 Dublin Gazette Newspapers publish eight weekly quality free titles, covering the greater Dublin area from Swords to Dun Laoghaire

c o n ta c t s Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@gazettegroup.com Acting News Editor: Rob Heigh rheigh@gazettegroup.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile jmaile@gazettegroup.com Picture Editor: Paul Hosford picturedesk@gazettegroup.com

Councillor Victor Boyhan (Ind) requested that the Boundary Commission limit the increase in councillors for DLR to 36, rather than 40, as was proposed for the county by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, last year

Councillors give views on boundary changes

 bairbre ni Bhraonain

bnibhraonain@gazettegroup.com

Acting Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sport@gazettegroup.com Financial Controller: Carly Lynch clynch@gazettegroup.com Advertising Sales: 01 - 6010240

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www.gazettegroup.com Gazette Group Newspapers Ltd. Terms and Conditions for acceptance of advertisements Reserve the right to omit or suspend or alter any advertisement(s) in any of its publications. We also decline any responsibility in the event of one or more of a series of advertisements being omitted for any reason whatever, nor do we accept liability for any loss or damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertisement. If your advertisement appears incorrectly, contact the Advertising Department immediately, as responsibility cannot be accepted for more than one week’s incorrect insertion. Responsibility cannot be accepted if the complaint is made more than two weeks after insertion. If one places an advertisement for more than one week and then cancels it after the first week, no refund or credit will be given for weeks cancelled. The advertiser undertakes to indemnify the Proprietors against any liability for any civil action arising out of the publication of the advertisement or any other matter printed or published in the Blanchardstown Gazette, Castleknock Gazette, Clondalkin Gazette, Dundrum Gazette, Dun Laoghaire Gazette, Lucan Gazette, Malahide Gazette and Swords Gazette. The placing of an order or contract will be deemed an acceptance of these conditions.

DUN Laoghaire-Rathdown (DLR) councillors have submitted their recommendations to the Boundary Commission ahead of its report on boundary realignment and potential changes to electoral areas this May. Councillor Jim O’Dea (FG) said: “As a local representative, who has served all the current Dundrum Electoral Area, I don’t wish to lose any constituents who might vote for me in the next election.

“Councillors simply don’t like boundar y

 Bairbre Ni Bhraonain bnibhraonain@gazettegroup.com

changes but, in this case, we have to accept that there will be changes.

“Councillors have no say in the changes to be made; we may submit our own recommendations, but the independent Commission has the authority to disregard the views of any or all councillors on the boundaries of electoral areas.”

Cllr Victor Boyhan

(Ind) has requested that the commission limit the increase in councillors for DLR to 36, rather than 40 as was proposed for the county by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan last year.

At present, there are 28 DLR councillors, representing six wards. Cllr Boyhan said it seems logical to have six councillors for each of the six electoral areas.

Cllr Gerry Horkan (FF) submitted that the county be split into two area committees of 20 seats each, and also asked that the commission retain

Stillorgan as an electoral area.

Cllr Richard Humphreys (Lab) also submitted a recommendation to the commission that the Stillorgan ward be retained.

“It has been in existence since 1985 and although the boundaries are shifting it has its own identity. Its district centre is a vital part of the county development plan, so it is crucial to retain the Stillorgan ward as viable, whether as a six- or sevenseat [constituency].

“I also support the alignment of boundaries with permanent transportation features, as

does the county manager.

“I am not in favour of Cllr Marie Baker’s (FG) suggestion to transfer Foxrock into the Ballybrack ward, as it would breach the N11 boundary, cut off that natural relationship, and render the Stillorgan ward unviable.”

T he Constituency Commission recommended last June that Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown “should form two constituencies, a fourseat constituency to be called Dun Laoghaire, and a three-seat constituency to be called Dublin Rathdown.”

LauraLynn House wins local authority awards  bairbre ni Bhraonain

bnibhraonain@gazettegroup.com

LAURALYNN House in Foxrock won a brace of local authority awards at a gala event hosted by RTE’s Miriam O’Callaghan on January 26 in the Crown Plaza

Hotel in Northwood.

LauraLynn House won the Grand Prix award at the Local Authority Members’ Association (LAMA) Awards for the excellence shown in the redevelopment of the children’s hospice.

It also claimed the Best Health-

care Building award, as well as the coveted Grand Prix award.

Both were presented by George Jones of IPB Insurance.

Philomena Dunne, chief executive of LauraLynn House, said: “We are honoured to win LAMA’s Best Healthcare Build-

ing 2013 Award, and the overall Grand Prix Award.

“It’s a huge testament to all who make LauraLynn a reality and a safe haven for children and their families. We couldn’t have done it without our amazing team and families,” she said.

31 January 2013 DUNDRUM Gazette 3

works

politics: cllr neale richmond (fg) publishes his complete earnings

Trees set for spring pruning

Average councillor pay for 2012: ‘€27k’

 bairbre ni Bhraonain

bnibhraonain@gazettegroup.com

THE average earnings for a Dun LaoghaireRathdow n County councillor last year were €27,003, according to local councillor Neale Richmond (FG), who has decided to publish his complete earnings for 2012.

Cllr Richmond issued a statement detailing his earnings and expenses during 2012 “in the interests of transparency”.

Last year, Cllr Richmond earned a total of €25,729.72, whereas he calculated that the average total earnings for a DLR councillor for 2012 were €27,003.

On top of a councillor’s gross salary of €16,724.04 were additional expenses covering travel, conferences, mobile phone, training and broadband.

Cllr Richmond’s travel and subsistence for attendance at conferences for 2012 came to €1,583.41, his conference fees were €615, his mobile phone expenses were €600 and his broadband from August 2010 to February 2012 amounted to €479.

Member Cllr Richmond also receives a separate a n n u a l p ay m e n t o f €851.20 from the Dublin Regional Authority, of which he is a mem-

ber. This is not factored into his overall earnings total.

He said: “This payment is f or Dublin Regional Authority meetings which occur once a month in City Hall. In my opinion, it’s a waste of time.

“We meet to discuss matters relating to the entire Dublin region, taking in all four local authorities.

“There are five DLR board members, but when the local government reforms are implemented in 2014, there should only be a total of eight board members on this authority.

“There are currently 26,” said Cllr R ichmond.

Clock this: Group calls for action on policy published seven years ago WITH help from fellow Mental Health Reform volunteers Donal

Browne and Kate Purcell, Aisling Concannon (centre) took the time to help highlight the seventh anniversary of the publication of the mental health policy, A Vision for Change. Mental Health Reform are calling on the Government to prioritise its implementation, with the group’s director, Orla Barry, saying: “It is striking that, despite the Government’s stated commitment to developing community mental health services, the years since the publication of A Vision for Change in 2006 have seen the proportion of spending on mental health services decrease from 7.2% to 5.3% of the overall health budget.”

TREES around the county are currently being pruned back, and according to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the trees around Sandyford Hall housing estate will be prioritised.

Trees in the estate are in need of pruning back as well as crown lifting, and the council intends to arrange for these works to be done before the end of March. Crown lifting involves the removal of lower branches up to a given height.

The works to be carried out in the estate include the crown lifting of 115 trees, the partial crown reduction of four trees, and the removal and stump grinding of two more trees, which are close to public street lights.

4 DUNDRUM Gazette 31 January 2013

SUPPORT Dundrum BUSINESS

planning Move to alleviate congestion

Call the Gazette on 60 10 240

Enterprisenews

 bairbre ni Bhraonain

bnibhraonain@gazettegroup.com

Map (section) shows part of the plans to address the traffic congestion at the Sandyford Business District,

Do you need a friend to help you start or grow your Business?

THE word Mentor, originally Greek, means “trusted advisor, friend and confidant”.

Everyone running a small business encounters issues – specific or general – where another view would help, especially if this is coming from someone experienced who is able to take a detached view.

For this reason, the Enterprise Board has a panel of Mentors who are appointed to small businesses for a series of meetings on a one-to-one basis, to help the entrepreneur through what ever issues are of concern.

The Mentor assigned to the company has a clear objective – to help the owner manager grow and develop skills to enable them to overcome barriers which are impeding the business’ development.

The Mentor is able to give the business the benefit of a vast amount of experience, together with an objective view of the issues which it is facing.

The Mentor’s role is to guide and advise on the course of action to be taken in a given situation.

The Mentor doesn’t become actively involved in the day-to-day running of the business, nor do they take on a role of an executive of a company.

Typically, an assignment is of six months duration and during this period, the business owner will meet the Mentors five times. Further details on the Mentor Programme, and an application form are available on the Board’s website: www.dlrceb.ie or please call (01) 494 8400

economy: blacktie jobs lost

Formal wear outlets to close



SHOP LOCALLY

R2

with the introduction of a new road system at Blackthorn Road

New Blackthorn Road works are welcomed  bairbre ni Bhraonain

bnibhraonain@gazettegroup.com

TRAFFIC congestion in the Sandyford Business District is to be addressed with the introduction of a new road system at Blackthorn Road, involving reducing the size of the pedestrian crossing’s outcrop onto the road and the addition of an extra lane.

The matter was tabled

by Cllr Lettie McCarthy (Lab) at an Area Committee Meeting for Dundrum that took place on January 28.

Improvements to the Blackthorn Road are currently being implemented

by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCC), due to numerous complaints of delays by drivers since a new two-way system was introduced.

A spokesperson from DLRCC’s transportation

department said: “Measures are being undertaken to improve traffic flows around Blackthorn Road and Blackthorn Avenue in the Sandyford Business District where motorists have experienced considerable delays during evening rush hours following the introduction of the new two-way arrangement in the area.”

The change was part of a wider series of measures introduced to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists and to increase general accessibility for drivers into and around the Sandyford Business District.

In general, the community in Sandyford has welcomed the measures, including new traffic lights, together with pedestrian crossings. However, traffic delays have caused major concern.

The statement continued: “While Blackthorn

Road will remain twoway, a second lane will be introduced on the approach to Blackthorn Avenue to increase traffic flows. The road will then have three lanes in total, allowing for two lanes exiting Blackthorn Road and one lane entering.

“The lane adjustments will be achieved through the alteration of road markings, also involving the removal of current cycle track markings.

New off-road cycle tracks will be delivered soon.”

These measures will take a maximum of 10 days, weather permitting, to be completed. They are being implemented as a priority and works have already commenced.

DLRCC will continue to monitor traffic flows in the area following the introduction of these measures.

Cllr McCarthy said: “I am delighted with the

immediate response to my motion and earlier representation asking the transportation department to urgently revisit this new two-way system.

“Understandably, I have received many complaints by email, phone and in person from frustrated commuters in the estate.

“Nobody wants to sit for an extra 20 minutes in traffic following their working day, and this change resulted in increased costs for business and loss of business due to the fact that people were beginning to avoid the area.

“The dransportation department have carried out a lot of very positive initiatives in the business estate in recent years, and they have a very good working relationship with the business association and I want to see this continue,” said Cllr McCarthy.

T WO b r a n c h e s o f the formal wear hire shop Blacktie in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown are among 11 due to close as the company goes into voluntary liquidation on Friday, February 1.

Both Goatstown and Dun Laoghaire Blacktie branches employ two staff members each and these, along with 46 other jobs, are now in jeopardy.

Owner and Dragon’s Den panelist, Niall O’Farrell, who founded the formal wear company in 1985, has said that the shops will continue to trade until a buyer can be found.

O’Farrell said the economic downturn, along with market changes, have resulted in the group’s closure.

High rates He said the liquidation had come as a result of a “decline in the formal wear rental market, increased lower-cost retailers from the high street, higher utility and branch operating costs, and unaffordable high levels of rates”.

As well as Blacktie, the local business community has also suffered the loss of A1 Computers, a computer shop and service company in Dalkey which also closed after 22 years in business.

Statement In a statement, owners Melanie and Jukka Kovero said: “Over the past few years our overheads and taxes increased while our customers have less to spend, and business customers are closing.”

31 January 2013 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 5

C O M M E R C I A L F E AT U R E

local Health&Fitness

Every member meets their fitness trainer 3 times in the first 10 days of starting their membership

Sculpt your body at UCD Sport & Fitness THE new €50 million student centre development on the UCD Belfield site which opened in June 2012 incorporates UCD Sport & Fitness, a world class fitness and leisure facility which is truly setting the pace in South Dublin With something for everyone this world class facility is open for public, corporate and UCD graduate membership.

5 Step Plan Members of UCD Sport & Fitness have the opportunity to benefit from our comprehensive 5 step plan.

This means that each and every member is assessed, educated and motivated while meeting their fitness trainer 3 times in the first 10 days of commencing their membership.

You will be introduced to your very own personalised fitness plan which is based on your assessment results and desired goals.

This process continues on an on-going basis throughout your membership with regular

Just Opened - NEW Performance Gym

Master the 6 power moves on our Olympic platforms.

reviews and assessments every 10 visits.

Our successful weight loss and toning programmes such as the Transformation Kickstart is where each participant attends a weekly seminar on healthy eating and benefits from simple suggestions to help improve your lifestyle that lead to incredible results.

This programme also offers weekly and monthly challenges to

motivate you to achieve your goals.

75 FREE fitness classes from a wide range of disciplines are run from 7am to 9pm weekdays with a reduced schedule at weekends.

Each class is prechoreographed and highlights the indicative number of calories burned per class to guarantee ultimate FAT LOSS, BODY SCULPTING and MUSCLE TONING workouts.

“Seeing is believing” when it comes to the NEW Performance Gym at UCD Sport & Fitness With wall to wall, cutting edge, high performance cardiovascular, strength, plate loaded and free-weight equipment from Cybex International, you can take your training to another level.

Strengthen your weaknesses using the latest single arm resistance machines, shred the fat on our new low impact Arc Trainers, try out the latest bodyweight suspension training systems from TRX or master the six power moves on our Olympic platforms.

Teams are also catered for here, and our newly re-vamped Team Training Gym was home to the travelling Puma team during their recent visit to Ireland.

It is also the destination of choice for many of our national and leading county and club teams.

For club bookings contact Hughie.mcgearty@ ucd.ie. So, with the New Year’s resolutions in full swing, and if YOU

really have the desire to change your look, simply phone 01 7163188, email

fitness@ucd.ie or visit www.ucd.ie/sportandfitness to find out more

or to book a tour of this world class facility.

6 DUNDRUM Gazette 31 January 2013

gazetteGALLERY

Have you seen yourself in the Gazette? Buy photos online from only €6.99 at www.gazettephotos.com

Katie Furlong and Jane O’Flynn

Shelly and Lauren Biddulph with Crystal Taylor-Judd from Drogheda. Pictures: Geraldine Woods

Skaters slip sliding away at Dundrum rink

T

HE last breath of the Christmas festive good cheer lingered in the air when The Gazette slid over to Dundrum On Ice recently.

There was no sign of interest in the venue melting away, as lots of skaters with many levels of ability took to

Megan Humphries

the rink to whirl around with friends, or alone, with skills that would put penguins to shame.

While The Gazette was frozen to the spot – cameras and ice rarely mix well – lots of locals were only too happy to glide effortlessly past,

showing how “easy” ice skating is (for some).

Birthday girls Katie Furlong and Jane O’Flynn were joined by their friends for a popular birthday on ice, with the unusual venue proving to be a pretty cool hit with all concerned.

Having a skate to celebrate a birthday proved a great idea for these friends

Katie Smullen and Edie McEvoy

Viktor Martins and Kathleen Joyce

31 January 2013 DUNDRUM Gazette 7

8 DUNDRUM Gazette 31 January 2013

schools: local student wins a trip to brussels

Maeve Walsh, Loreto High School, Beaufort

Irish skills translate into a prize  bairbre ni Bhraonain

bnibhraonain@gazettegroup.com

A SCHOOLGIRL from Rathfarnham has won a top EU translation prize in a recent competition.

Maeve Walsh, of Loreto High School, Beaufort, has been announced as the Irish winner of the European Commission’s annual Juvenes Translatores.

More than 3,000 pupils from 750 schools across Europe took part in the competition last November.

Maeve translated a one-page text from Irish into English and her entry was deemed the best from the 12 participating Irish schools.

She will be invited to Brussels in March to receive a prize from the EU Commissioner

responsible for multilingualism, Androulla Vassiliou.

Maeve will also get to meet the national winners from all the other EU countries at the prizegiving ceremony, and have a chance to see the Commission’s translators at work.

Speaking to The Gazette about her win, Maeve said: “I’m delighted to have won, as 60 students from Ireland entered. I’m really looking forward to going to Brussels. It will be a great experience for me.”

Maeve is currently doing her mock exams, so the news of her win hasn’t reached everyone in Loreto yet. “We’re all heads down at the moment with the mocks, but my friends know and they’re very happy for me.”

Courting success: Mount Anville girls cheer on their basketball team at final STUDENTS from Mount Anville showed outstanding support as they cheered on their schoolmates in the recent All-Ireland Schools Cup U–19C Girls Final held at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.

Mount Anville’s talented players courted success when

they faced Portmarnock Community School, with both teams playing a fiercely-contested match. Despite a hardfought game, the final result saw Portmarnock build on its half-time score (of 22 to Mount Anville’s 19) to slam a victory home, with 50 points to its rival’s 37.

Imagine winning a story competition IMAGINOSIT Y, the children’s museum based in Sandyford, is launching its first children’s story-making competition.

W hat’s T he Stor y aims to encourage children between three and nine to use their wildest imaginations to create a magical story.

The children can use any medium they choose to tell their tale, from a traditional story format to poetry or even painting.

The competition is a

way to celebrate children’s imaginations as well as the importance of family time, the Imaginosity team have said.

The competition will be open to all children, anywhere in Ireland, to enter individually and there will also be a school’s category open to every school throughout the country.

T here are themed categories in the competition which will have their own age ranges.

Parents are also being

encouraged to get involved in the competition and help their children to create their masterpieces.

Judges

The panel of judges who will pick the ultimate winner includes such luminaries as playwright and author Peter Sheridan, children’s author Chris Judge, TV presenter Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh and more.

What’s The Story will run from February 5 to

March 8, and the winners will be announced on April 15.

Winners and r unners-up will receive a selection of prizes sponsored by Walker Books, Hu g h e s & Hu g h e s Bookstores, Halfords and Barton’s Coaches, along with prizes from Imaginosity themselves.

If you want your child to get involved you can find out more information from Imaginosity on 01 217 6138 or log on to www.imaginosity.ie.

Two one-act plays at the Mill Theatre

THE Mill Theatre will host an evening of two original one-act plays on February 7 to 9 at 8pm.

The plays are Darkness And Light Are All Fall Down by Ciaran Murphy, and Sprinting Towards The Light by Erin Hug. Tickets cost €13 and €15. For bookings, log on to www.milltheatre. ie/shows/darkness-light

Social entrepreneurs urged to seek share of €500k fund  bairbre ni Bhraonain

bnibhraonain@gazettegroup.com

LOCAL social entrepreneurs have been encouraged to apply for access to half a million euro of new funding.

The Social Entrepreneurs Ireland programme is now open for applications for this year’s awards, with a total cash fund of €500,000 available to support individuals with new solutions for social challenges in Ireland.

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Fine Gael TD Mary Mitchell O’Connor is encouraging entrepreneurs in the county to avail of the financial support by applying for the grant.

She said: “A substantial sum of €500,000 is up for grabs. This awards programme will see eight social entrepreneurs selected to partake in one of two support programmes – the Impact programme and the Elevator programme.”

The Gazette spoke to Eamonn Fitzgerald, programme co-ordinator with Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, who discussed the funding application process.

“Impact and Elevator are two funding streams for social entrepreneurs.

We expect to receive around 200 applications, and that will be reduced down to a final eight candidates.

“These top eight social entrepreneurs will receive funding at different

levels. The Impact fund is the higher grant, and three of the eight finalists will get this grant, which offers direct funding of €130,000 and non-monetary support amounting to €70,000.

“The remaining five finalists will receive the Elevator grant of €20,000 in direct funding, and a further €10,000 non-monetary assistance.”

As far as the selection process is concerned, Fitzgerald said that the procedure is rigorous and takes vari-

ous criteria into consideration.

“Which grant stream [the entrepreneurs] get depends on many things, but it comes down to how developed an organisation is. The final eight have to pass through a three-month programme after they are selected, which assesses their needs and weighs up all the information at hand.”

For further information, see www. socialentrepreneurs.ie. The deadline for applications is February 18.

31 January 2013 DUNDRUM Gazette 9

10 DUNDRUM Gazette 31 January 2013

gazetteGALLERY

Have you seen yourself in the Gazette? Buy photos online from only €6.99 at www.gazettephotos.com

Olympic boxing gold medallist Katie Taylor with her parents Peter and Brigid

Shane Byrne and his wife Caroline

Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and director Steven Spielberg

Lights, camera, action!

Watch out for Spielberg H

UNDREDS of people gathered outside the Savoy Cinema in Dublin recently to get a glimpse of the starstudded red carpet at the European premiere of Lincoln. World famous director Steven Spielberg and the film’s lead actor, Daniel Day-Lewis, were joined at the screening

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina

with guests including U2’s Bono and the Edge, Chris de Burgh, Rosanna Davison and Olympic gold medallist Katie Taylor. Some of the guests later went to the Burlington Hotel where props from the film were auctioned off in aid of the Wicklow Hospice Foundation.

Rosanna Davison with her parents, Diane and Chris de Burgh

Oliver Callan with his sister, Aine

Shane MacGowan and Victoria Clarke

31 January 2013 Gazette 11

feature P14

dublinlife

Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week, as well as the latest from our schools

asdfsdaf businessP27 P16

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Gazette

diary P12

centenary: events should be marked in ‘appropriate fashion’

Descendants of 1916 heroes call for creation of museum  paul hosford

The direct descendants of two of the leaders of the 1916 Rising have called on Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, the Minister for Arts and Culture, Jimmy Deenihan, and the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, to back their proposal for the the creation of a 1916 Museum at 16 Moore Street. The group is also calling for the site’s National Monument sta-

tus to be protected.

The group want the premises to be ready so that the museum can be delivered in time for the 1916 centenary.

The members of the descendants group include Nuala O’RahillyPrice, the granddaughter of The O’Rahilly, the only leader of the Rising to be killed in action. He died on what is now O’Rahilly Parade, just off Moore Street.

Also in the group is John Connolly, the son of Roddy Connolly, a former Labour TD for Louth and grandson of James Connolly, who was the de facto leader of the rising.

The O’Rahilly and both Connollys were present in the GPO in Easter 1916.

John Connolly said that the museum would be a lasting legacy of a pivotal moment in Irish history.

“We want the centenary of 1916 to be marked with

a lasting legacy, not just another passing parade.

The proposed museum will be the centrepiece of an enduring legacy for our citizens and for visitors alike.”

Ms O’Rahilly-Price added; “The pivotal events of 1916 need to be marked in an appropriate and fitting fashion.”

The group also launched a newwebsite www.1916rebellion museum.com

Nuala O’Rahilly Price and John Connolly, grandson of James Connolly, with members of the Save No 16 Committee and Moore Street Traders’ Association at the launch of a new website and virtual tour for a proposed museum. Photograph: Eric Luke

Gazette

12 Gazette 31 January 2013

dublinlife

diary

Healthy way to cook and eat

Students from across Dublin have been invited to take part in the Takeaway My Way contest once again this year.

T he nationwide schools cookery competition, which was launched by awardwinning chef Neven Maguire, along with Safefood and St Angela’s College in Sligo, challenges post-primary students to cook a healthier version of their favourite takeaway dishes.

Now in its third year, the competition is open t o a l l p o s t- p r i m a r y school students, including students in Youthreach centres.

Launching the competition, Fiona Gilligan, director, marketing and

communications Safefood, said: “Learning to cook and eat healthily are skills that can last students a lifetime and we would encourage all students, whether studying home economics or not, to grab an apron, pick their favourite takeaway dish, show us their passion for food and enter the competition.”

To enter, students can submit their recipe online at www.safefood. eu/takeawaymyway or complete and return by post the entry form sent to their school before February 22.

jigs and reels guaranteed to get you moving If you are looking for

Award-winning chef Neven Maguire was joined by Sophie Sherlock from Collegiate Grammar School and Tully Irvine from Portora Royal School, Enniskillen, to launch safefood’s Take Away My Way cookery competition for postprimary students

something a little different and bit more energetic this Valentine’s Day, then a Gathering event called Ceili for

Valentine’s could be just up your street.

You and your beloved can dance the night away to a live ceili band and, whether you are a set dancing aficionado or just like to leap around, the craic is sure to be mighty.

As well as live music from Traditional Arts Collective (TAC), there will also be sean nos dancing displays on the night.

TAC’s aim is to bring ceili back with jigs and reels guaranteed to get you moving.

Special guest for the night will be Amaliya Morgan-Brown from Bandon, Oregon in the USA – named after Bandon in Co Cork.

The entrance fee is €10 at The Grand Social, 35 Lower Liffey Street on Valentine’s night from 8pm to 11.55pm.

Calling all volunteers for Lollipop Day With just one month to go until the 12th annual Lollipop Day, the Oesophageal Can-

cer Fund (OCF) is calling for the help of volunteers across Dublin this February.

Lollipop Day sees thousands of people selling lollipops for €2 nationwide every year, in an effort to raise vital funds for oesophageal cancer research, and the OCF are seeking the help of volunteers on Friday, February 22 and Saturday 23, 2013.

“We are very fortunate to have an everincreasing number of dedicated volunteers, all of whom make Lollipop Day a success every year,” said Noelle Ryan, chairperson of the OCF. “But we still need more volunteers, so if anyone or any group is interested in helping out, please contact us on www.lollipopday.ie or on Lollipop Day’s Facebook or Twitter page.”

For more information on Lollipop Day, to volunteer or to make a donation, go to www. lollipopday.ie or, to volunteer in Dublin call Sara on 087-2320970.

Got a Picture?

Call our news team on 60 10 240 or email picturedesk@gazettegroup.com

31 January 2013 Gazette 13

C o m m e r c i a l F e at u r e

Tifco Group Photo – Mary Buckley (Group Operations Manager, Tifco Hotels), Pius Furlong (GM, Crowne Plaza Northwood), Niamh Murphy (GM, Crowne Plaza Dundalk), Garret O’Neill (General Manager, Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown), Magda Rybka (Deputy General Manager, Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown), Enda O’Meara (Managing Director, Tifco Hotels)

blanchardstown: EUROPEAN HOTEL OF THE YEAR

Prestigious award for the Crowne Plaza THE annual Hotel Stars Awards for Crow ne Plaza Hotels in Europe were recently held in Dublin for the first time, and at this annual event, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) recognised hotels and people for their outstanding performance and contribution to the business and the local community in which they operate.

The winners are the best performing IHG hotels and individuals across Europe.

At the awards ceremony, Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown was awarded both the Torchbearer Award and more importantly, the Crowne Plaza Hotel of the Year award for the Europe Region.

Hotel of the Year Award This category recognises hotels that have achieved outstanding results and have gone the extra mile to exceed expectations and bring their brand to life when looking after guests, employees and the local community.

Receiving the Award – Angela Brav, CEO of IHG Europe, Garret O’Neill (General Manager, Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown), Richard Solomons (CEO IHG Worldwide) at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.

Torchbearer Award T h e To r c h b e a r e r Award recognises hotels that have achieved the highest levels of excellence through outstanding service.

The guests at these hotels have responded with extremely high guest satisfaction scores.

Garret O’Neill, General Manager, of Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown accepted the award at the IHG European Conference which was held in Dublin for the first time and said “I was very proud to accept these awards as it recognises all the hard work and team effort we’ve put in

this year.

“We’re constantly striving to go the extra mile so guests can expect a consistently high standard when visiting our hotel and we’ll continue to work together to keep delivering the same experience year on year”.

Angela Brav, CEO Europe said, “Our hotels are only as good as the people working in them, so we are fully committed to supporting and developing our people.

“We aim to provide the right environment, support and inspiration they need to fulfil their capability and these awards are a reflection of the fantastic talent we have working in our hotels across Europe”.

Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown is based at the Blanchardstown Centre with 188 guestrooms and conference facilities for up to 600 guests.

For more information please contact: Jennifer McKenna, Director of Sales & Marketing, Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown, Phone (01) 897 7741; email – jmckenna@ crowneplazadublin.ie.

All of the staff at the Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown were delighted to learn that the hotel has been awarded the acclaimed European Hotel of the Year Award by the InterContinental Hotels Group

Gazette

14 Gazette 31 January 2013

dublinlife FEATURE From Pirates to Porter, Praed’s played them all theatre: high society star talks to the gazette

 bairbre ni Bhraonain

bnibhraonain@gazettegroup.com

WHAT a swell party this is! The stage version of Hollywood musical, High Society, is coming to the Bord Gais Energy Theatre for five nights this February with a cast that includes Michael Praed – one of the heroes of 1980s TV show, Robin of Sherwood.

The show is packed with well-loved Cole Porter songs such as True Love and Did You Evah, and also stars Sophie Bould as Tracy Lord, Daniel Boys as Mike Connor, and Keiron Crook as George Kittredge.

Ahead of its Dublin run, The Gazette spoke to Praed, who plays Dexter in the musical. He started by reminiscing about his love for the city.

“It’s been a long time since I was in Dublin, and that was for the musical, Carousel – it must be 19 years ago now. I can’t wait, because Dublin is my all-time favourite venue and I really don’t give false praise.”

He discussed the genesis of the current stage musical version of High Society. “It’s very similar to the 1956 film version, but its true origin was a play called The Philadelphia Story in the 1930s.

“It was commissioned for Kathryn Hepburn on Broadway, and was then made into an awardwinning film with Jimmy Stewart.

“Then, 17 years later, High Society was made and some changes were made to the original

story, such as the Bing Crosby character – that I play – had been a yacht builder in the original, but is a jazz pianist now in High Society.”

For Praed, who has been in a string of musicals throughout his career, the music in High Society is the main star.

“It has such a beautiful score. Now, when I say that, I mean that there are very few composers who are truly iconic, and Cole Porter is one of them.”

Praed has been performing in plays and musicals since the 1980s.

“I got my lucky break with the Pirates of Penzance years ago. I love musicals, because there is a certain alchemy that can happen with them – when the music is good and the production is well done – that goes to the heart of truth.

Magic

“There is a magic in music that is different; it moves people in a different way, and with an evocative scenario, can have a huge impact on an audience.”

Harking back to his TV days, he recalled his time as Robin of Sherwood in the mid-1980s show.

“There were two seasons of it and, to be absolutely truthful with you, it was incredibly hard work.

We’d to be up at dawn and doing a fight scene, and work right through till evening. Yet, it was unbelievably rewarding, too, and the talented people I worked with were extraordinary.

“There was no time

When talking to The Gazette about his upcoming role in the musical, High Society at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Michael Praed was happy to reminisce about his roles in some of the smash-hit TV shows of the 1980s

for a private life though.

It was brutal going but, having said that, it wasn’t like coal mining or fighting the Taliban or even driving a bus.”

Praed then went on to play Prince Michael of Moldavia in the smashhit television show, Dynasty.

“It was the numberone show in the world,

and was a very well-oiled machine. I was welcomed with open arms and the crew was delightful.”

Special buzz

He does not have a preference between TV work and stage work. “I like them both, and you can’t really compare them. Yet, theatre does give you that special

buzz, thanks to the presence of an audience, and I can’t wait to feel that with a Dublin audience again.”

High Society runs in the Bord Gais Energy Theatre from Tuesday, February 5 until Saturday, February 9. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster at 0818 719 377, and cost €20.

31 January 2013 Gazette 15

DublinGazetteNewspapers cub reporters and photographers: december 2012 winners

H Reporter

Photo

of the

of the H

conor white

clara kinsella

Conor White from St Conleth’s College proved neither shaken nor stirred when he told us all about the school’s Build A Bank challenge which was given a special agent sheen with a James Bond theme. The mission was achieved and the project a big success, as was Conor’s article about the event, which wins him this month’s prize.

Clara Kinsella from St Finian’s Community College in Swords snapped a very jolly Michael Carruth when the Olympic gold medallist visited the school for its annual awards evening.

Michael encouraged the students in a motivational speech that included the wise words, “if you believe, you achieve”.

Well, Clara must have believed in her skills as a snapper, as she has achieved glory with this month’s prize picture.

MONTH

MONTH

Gazette

schools Get involved with our Gazette Schools pages

Dublin Gazette Newspapers are continuing to reach out to all the schools in our catchment areas to become a closer part of our community than ever before.

Schools are the beating hearts of communities, one of the last places around which a community can gather.

We are calling on budding writers and photographers from all of our schools to help fill the schools pages and, in order to encourage the next generation of journalists and snappers to get involved, we are partnering with Harvey Norman to present the Dublin Gazette Newspapers’ Cub Reporter and Cub Photographer of the Year awards.

For more details, contact rheigh@gazettegroup.com, or on 01 601 0240.

Gazette

16 Gazette 31 January 2013

dublinlife

Q&A

business

Each life stage needs a plan CONTINUING my examination of financial planning for each stage of your life, this week, I start by looking at where you may be after the “Young and free” stage (as detailed last week).

GWEN O’Donoghue, Fresh Images

The beauty of caring for your customers GWEN O’Donoghue of Fresh Images beauty salon in Churchtown is set to celebrate 20 years in business next month.

She qualified in 1989 at Loriam Beauty Therapy College in Dawson Street, with ITEC, CIBTEC and CIDESCO qualifications.

When she spoke to Gazette BusiHow long have you been in business?

It’s hard to believe but it’s 20 years this year. I opened my doors in 1993.

What makes your business successful?

I think it’s the personal touch. I’ve always worked in my business. There are so many salons where you are just a name. We get to know our clients, remember what treatments they like and how they like them done.

We remember their birthdays and get to know all about their families. It’s a friendship as well as a business.

What do you offer your clients that differs from your competitors?

We offer value for money and very competitive prices. We try to keep up with all of the latest trends and give the best customer care.

We really do care what our customers think about us. We want them to feel that their hard-earned money is well spent at our salon.

How has the recession affected your business?

Yes, I don’t think that any business hasn’t been affected. The spending power of people has decreased, so we have to make sure that they feel that they are getting value for their money.

What have you changed about your business to combat the effects of the recession?

We invested in a new skincare brand called Guinot from Paris two years ago, and that has a large follow-

ness this week, she said: “I worked in a couple of salons before running a salon in Rathgar for three years, before opening my own in Churchtown.

“I started with just a couple of rooms out the back of a tanning salon, and, after three years, I took it over.

And here I am today, 20 years on.” ing. We felt that people were looking for more results .

There was a time when they just wanted a massage – now, they want technology coupled with pampering.

We all want to look and feel good, and especially in a recession, morale can be low, but if you look good, you feel good too, and it reflects on in all aspects of your life.

We constantly run special offers which keep clients interested. We also have a loyalty programme that returns free treatments to our clients to thank them. This is very popular, because when you get something for free, it always feels sweeter.

Old loyalty programmes meant you had to wait forever before getting your free treatment but with ours, you see results after just a few treatments.

What law or regulation would you change overnight to help your business?

I would like to see a set standard of training across the board. When I was at college, you had to have several top qualifications to get a job; they allowed you to work all over Europe.

During the Celtic Tiger era, there were numerous beauty schools setting up and running courses, but they are only pieces of the courses instead of the full thing.

It means that not every salon has the same level of qualified staff performing treatments, but they are charging the same. That is why you get such a variation in therapists – some aren’t as qualified others.

Relationship and children If you settle down with a partner, your financial priorities will almost certainly alter, especially if you have children. The financial actions you may want to be thinking about include such thrills as: • Creating an emergency fund.

• Protecting both your incomes (if relevant) in case you are unable to work.

• Life insurance for both you and your partner.

• Buying a home with the help of a mortgage.

• Whether you should be saving money, in case you want to send one or more child to private school, and/ or in case one or more goes on to further education.

• Retirement planning.

• Short-term saving for cars, holidays and so forth.

If you have built up any debt, then becoming debtfree should be a priority.

The Middle Years Financial priorities in your middle years will vary according to how much money you have earned during your 20s and 30s – and how you have spent or invested it. For some, it can be a period of relative affluence with a higher level of disposable income

becoming available; for others, it is a period of worry as retirement looms. Your priorities may include any or all of the following: • Creating an emergency fund.

• Protecting both your incomes (if relevant) in case you are unable to work.

• Life insurance for both you and your partner.

• Paying off your mortgage and any other debts.

• Retirement planning.

• Short-term saving for cars, holidays and so forth.

• Planning for long-term care if you are worried that your pension and/or the State may not provide for you sufficiently.

Although pension planning should have been a priority as soon as you started work, the truth is it is not until many people are in their 40s or even their 50s that they begin to consider their retirement. Providing for a comfortable old age, therefore, may be the most pressing need. Next week: retirement.  Contact John with your money questions at jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing director of Money Doctor

technology: storymap tells capital’s stories

Reasons to be ’appy when uncovering Dublin’s story  laura webb

EXPLORING Dublin has taken on a whole new dimension, thanks to two film-makers who are behind a new smartphone app that sets out to tell the capital’s hidden stories.

The Storymap App was launched last week and aims to rejuvenate the old tradition of storytelling, while combining the latest technology in film and mobile apps to capture a portrait of Dublin life, past and present.

The app includes a library of 80 stories, presented in audio or HD video, each tied to a particular location in the city and told by a differ-

ent Dubliner.

C o - f o u n d e r s To m Rowley and Andrew Flaherty first launched the project in 2011 as a website, www.storymap.ie.

They discussed how they came up with the idea.

“We both arrived back from working abroad and we were really frustrated with the way the city was being represented – bleak, empty and finished,” says Flaherty.

“For us, the things that made Dublin truly special were still there to be celebrated – its people, its stories, its humour and its charm.

“We couldn’t find work, and so we began Storymap as a way to use our skills to showcase the real cultural wealth

Tom Rowley and Andrew Flaherty are pictured at the launch of Storymap. Picture: Dominic Ledwidge O’Reilly

of Dublin, in a way noone had ever seen before.

The support we got from people amazed us.”

Co-founder Rowley says: “For a local person, it gives them a chance to see the city with fresh eyes.

“By using the app and seeing a well-told story on the spot, you get to see it in a whole new light, and build a new

connection with it.”

Stories include The Spire by Roddy Doyle, The Gap In The Map with Ciaran Wallace, and The Liberty Boys by Colm Keegan.

The app was developed in DIT by Jamie Osler and Eoin Rogers, and overseen by Bryan Duggan, and is on sale in the Android and iPhone app stores for €2.59.

31 January 2013 Gazette 17

asdfsdaf P27 TRAVEl P24

MOTORS P23

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



Gazette

style P18

Pets can you give faye a new home?

A remarkable line-up: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and Stephen Spielberg at the premiere of Lincoln at the Savoy

red carpet: legends of cinema come to dublin for lincoln fundraiser

A Presidential premiere

 rob heigh

A bitterly cold Sunday in January was brightened considerably last week when the stars and director of the acclaimed new movie, Lincoln, came to town to support a cause close to the heart of lead actor Daniel DayLewis.

The European premiere of Lincoln at the Savoy Theatre on O’Connell Street, and a special post-screening dinner and charity auction, were held in aid of the Wicklow Hospice Foundation, a fundraising organisation of which Day-Lewis, Katie Taylor and Chris de Burgh are among the patrons.

Wicklow-resident Daniel’s mother passed away in a palliative care cen-

tre in England and was moved to support the campaign for the creation of a similar facility in his adopted county.

Speaking at the premiere, Day-Lewis said: “I’m really grateful people turned out for this. We’ve been doing benefits like this for a while, but with the economic situation at the moment, we were not sure an event like this would be possible. But we explored it a little bit and it turned out we could do it.

Hospices are vital facilities that every county needs. We need these places, and we need to take care of people in the late stages of their lives.”

The screening and gala event afterwards are believed to have raised over €250,000 for the foundation, bringing it ever closer to its fundraising target of €3 million.

Director Stephen Spielberg explained how he came to debut his latest film in Dublin.

“Daniel really believed in the cause, and once he explained it to me, I believed in it as well. I’m very close to Ireland. I made Private Ryan here, and it’s a film close to my and Tom Hanks’ heart, and that was my introduction to the culture. It was such a wonderful experience; we have come back to Ireland time and again ourselves, myself and my wife and children.

“Daniel didn’t have to convince me for long to bring the European premiere here. He threw it out as a possibility, and I said we should commit to it now, it was a great idea.”

The film tells the story of the passing of the 13th Amendment to the

Constitution that abolished slavery at a time when the country was in the midst of the Civil War, which lasted for four years and claimed the lives of 750,000 citizens. Lincoln himself was committed to the reunification of the country at a time of extreme division, and his belief in democracy, the constitution and America helped to deliver peace and emancipation to the nation. Sadly, he only lived to see a few days beyond the end of the civil war before he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.

The film has been roundly hailed as another Spielberg masterpiece, and the lead role appears to have been one that Day-Lewis was born to play. continued on Page 22

DUBLIN Gazette Newspapers has teamed up with Dogs Trust, Ireland’s largest dog welfare charity, to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs.

Our Dog of the Week is Faye, a three-year-old Lurcher cross. This lovely lady was abandoned because she was pregnant and went on to break records in Dogs Trust having the largest ever litter, 15 puppies.

All of her puppies have found their forever homes and we now hope its Faye’s turn to finally get a chance to relax and look after herself for a while.

Faye is polite, sweetnatured, affectionate with a beautiful soul. This supermom just wants to snuggle up on a big sofa with plenty of toys to occupy her.

If you think you can provide a good home for Faye, contact Dogs Trust at 01 879 1000. Further information about their work can be found at www. dogstrust.ie. All dogs that are adopted from Dogs Trust are vet-checked, vaccinated, neutered and micro-chipped before being re-homed.

GAZETTE

18 GAZETTE 31 January 2013

OUT&ABOUT Dressing right  LAURA WEBB

LIFE STYLE SPORTS recently launched its first Men’s Fitness and Running Campaign – No Excuses. No Regrets.

This campaign is dedicated to men’s running and fitness and is supported by the store’s top brands Nike, Adidas, Asics and Under Armour.

Basically the message to everyone that as we all decide to get fit, following some overindulgence over Christmas, the one thing we need to make sure is that we train in the right clothing.

With this in mind, the retail giant is also launching Fitness

Accessorize Leather Driving Gloves €34 NOW €16.90 Nike Steady €50 Miss Selfridge Zip Detail Embellished Dress €85 NOW €32 rs: wea penterNOW Accessorize Mod Egyptian Study Belt €10.90 Car€23.50 el Holl

(Life Style Sports Exclusive), Adidas Prime Zip Hoody - €46 €35 , Adidas TF Perfect ¾ Pant Adidas Clima Long Tank - €30

Under Armour Coldgear Compression Mock €55

Adidas 3 Stripe Fitness Track Top €52 NOW €35

Nike Shape Medium Support Bra Top €35 NOW €25

Adidas Kanadia €70

Nike slim shorts €28 Adidas Clima Core 3/4 tight €35

31 January 2013 GAZETTE 19

when getting fit Product Experts in store. Their job is to advise customers on the right footwear and clothing to wear for each sport.

Mark Stafford, chief executive, Life Style Sports said: “More and more Irish people are looking to fitness and outdoor training to give them a release from the pressures of modern life. We know that participation levels are at a record high as people take to the streets, beaches, roads and bootcamps everywhere, determined to get active and be social. At Life Style Sports we are confident we have the best running and fitness range on the high street.” All items featured are available at Life Style Sports.

NIke Flex €65

Adidas Adiviz Jacket €65

Adidas Response 7in Shorts €32 €25

Under Armour Coldgear Compression Mock €50

Adidas Duramo 4 €50

NIke Dri Fit Cotton Sleeveless Tee €22

Acc essStyle orize Egy Life Sports ptian StuTeam d Belt Member €23.50 NOWAlvaro €10.90wears: Under Armour Storm Hoodie - €48, Under Armour Tech SS Tee - €22, Under Armour HG Mirage Short - €22 Adidas Clima 365 pants €45

GAZETTE

STYLE

Gazette

20 gazette 31 January 2013

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

Theatre

THE pavilioN THEATRE 01 231 2929 David Meade- Mind Reader

BBC’s fastest rising star is returning to the stage hot on the heels of his smash hit record-breaking TV series Make Believe, after three years of unprecedented success on BBC One. With a show that is as hilarious as it is jaw dropping, Meade has just returned from a US tour February 4, tickets €20.

Draiocht 01 885 2622 Beckett X 3

GODOT Theatre Company London are back with three more short Beckett plays on Wednesday, February 6 at 8.15pm in the Draiocht Studio. Tickets are priced at €10.

CIVIC THEATRE 01 462 7477 WAG

Former Fair City actress Gemma Doorly makes her directorial debut with her play WAG starring her former Fair City colleague and good friend Sorcha Furlong. Following its sell-out tour, WAG is a black comedy and modern fable. Set in the lavish surroundings of a sports star’s mansion while he is away, his wife has invited a guest around for a drink and a chat – his mistress. Running from Thursday, January 31 until Sunday, February 2, tickets are priced at €16 with €12 concessions.

Hugh Jackman takes Anne Hathaway’s Fantine to safety

review: les miserables hits the screen, led by hathaway

Not revolutionary IT IS one of the most famous stage musicals in the world.

It has continued to thrill audiences across the globe and has been the subject of countless school plays.

It is odd then, that Les Miserables would still, to this day, be without a definitive screen version.

It has been seen as unfilmable and a 1998 adaptation of the Victor Hugo novel, sans musical numbers, limped to a paltry $14 million at the US box office.

The difficulty comes from a number of different factors.

Firstly, it is a story that jumps forward in time of ten and suddenly.

Secondly, it is a story that is not about any one thing. It is ostensibly the story of Jean Valjean ( Hu g h J a c k m a n ) , a convict attempting to

Film of the Week: Les Miserables h h h (12) 158 mins Director: Tom Hooper Starring: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen

 Paul Hosford phosford@gazettegroup.com

make a better life while evading the clutches of police inspector Javert (Russell Crowe).

But the story of Valjean is weak as a central strand for a film that clocks in at two and a half hours.

Jackman does an admirable job, particularly vocally, in infusing his Valjean with whatever humanity he can, but the film is so scattergun, the exposition so wanting that he just doesn’t have the room to be a character on which to hitch such a large film.

It is a shame, ultimately, because Jackman does

OUR VERDICT: AMBITION is not a problem here, as Hooper takes on a massive task. He tries to capture a definitive screen version of one of the most famous musicals ever. Unfortunately, he comes up short, with excellent performances and some nice visual flourishes not enough to compensate for a weak script, muddled scenes and rushed characterisation making for a film that feels more like a missed opportunity.

his best and takes the film on Valjean’s famously broad shoulders.

He is aided by a star turn by Anne Hathaway, all blotched skin and short hair.

As her Fantine becomes more and more desperate, selling her hair, teeth and body, Hathaway excels and her version of I Dreamed a Dream, shot in one extended close-up, is spine tingling.

In one take, she claims the song as her own, demanding that hers be the definitive touchstone for the performance going forward.

It is incredible to see, particularly given that there were some who thought that Catwoman could not play the heroine of Les Mis. There are less good performances, though.

Russell Crowe’s Javert is purposely rigid and inflexible, but Crowe’s complete lack of humanity makes any late character changes completely pointless.

Amanda Seyfried is another who, while obviously talented, is hobbled by the script’s inability to nail down a central narrative.

Her Cosette, essentially the most important character in the film, is lost in the maelstrom of songs, revolution and characters.

Another criminally underused is Samantha Barks, the British actress making her film debut.

Her Eponine is excellent, but underutilised.

With the popularity of Glee, there is a weariness of musical film and television and much of that comes down to autotune and the lack of authenticity it brings.

Luckily, Hooper kept a dedication to live performance throughout the shoot and the results are mixed, but at least they are authentic.

Jackman str uggles occassionally and Crowe slips into rock power balladeer, but Hathaway, Barks and the surprisingly good Cohen and Carter lift the film as close to definitive as possible.

31 January 2013 GAZETTE 21

GAZETTE

GAMING BYTES&PIECES

NIKE+ KINECT FITNESS: STEP UP TO EXERCISE

Plenty of help to fight the flab FOLLOWING Christmas over-indulgences, I’m probably not the only person wishing to ditch a few, um, unexpected kilos that have mysteriously jumped onto my weight.

How did that happen?

Why do I suddenly resemble Homer Simpson?

Well, step forward an interesting and well-developed Kinect title that should get that unwanted flab moving.

Nike+ Kinect Fitness for the XBox 360 is something that seems tailor-made not just for the New Year (and all those resolutions to get fit and healthy that we all tend to make, and then ditch by the time February rolls around), but for the whole year round.

Certainly, given our generally miserable weather,

A COLLAPSE OF NOTE

HMV vouchers anger many AT THE time of writing, HMV’s recent collapse in Ireland has stung a lot of consumers, angered at the now worthless HMV vouchers they have.

As was seen with the GAME chain’s collapse last year, the Irish wing of the international chain has been shut and shuttered, although the British stores have remained open and trading, as the Irish stores were placed into receivership, while the British stores entered administration – both procedures are disastrous for any company to face, yet have very different operations.

Of course, the most regrettable collapse of HMV in Ireland is the loss of hundreds of jobs across its 16 stores here (and the knock-on impact on local economies and sub-contractors). However, as extensive media coverage has shown, consumers have felt stung by its collapse, with the decision not to honour any gift vouchers sold in Ireland up to the point the chain closed its stores angering many.

This decision was not helped by the announcement that the still trading British HMV stores are honouring vouchers sold up to its administration, there.

With the news that restructuring firm Hilco has bought HMV’s debts, thus stabilising the firm – in Britain, at least, thus giving some breathing room to attempt to rescue the chain – HMV’s 90-year history isn’t fully concluded.

Unfortunately, for now, it seems likely that HMV Ireland’s legacy has struck a sour note with many ...

Although I’m not normally a fan of such home exercise titles, there’s no denying that Nike+ Kinect Fitness is a very well put together title – with ubiquitous Nike branding here and there, of course – and will reward those who want to get fit and will make an effort. As always with such titles, a decent amount of exercise space

 SHANE DILLON

sdillon@gazettegroup.com

and the continuing budgetary pinch of the recession, anything to help you exercise at a more than affordable price all year round at home is to be welcomed.

Enough wittering – what, exactly, is Nike+ Kinect Fitness about?

Well, as the name suggests, it’s all about getting fit, courtesy of a wide variety of programmes devised with Nike.

By picking a virtual fitness instructor, an initial fitness assessment then determines your general

BYTES&PIECES THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME

is advised to help get the best results from Nike+ Kinect Fitness.

fitness etc, right now.

From that starting point, the title – you couldn’t call it a “game”, – then puts you through your paces over the following weeks, with a wide variety of exercises to put you through your paces.

And, believe me, there’s plenty there to face up to, as you’d be surprised how much you can do at home, and how challenging it can be.

While we’ve seen plenty of similar titles before – the entertaining Wii Fit on the Nintendo Wii

springs to mind – there’s no doubting that Nike+ Kinect Fitness is a step beyond (no pun intended), as the range of exercises, challenging goals, genuine sense of achievement should be enough to motivate you towards becoming healthier.

Obviously enough, for such an all-round fitness title, you’ll need a decent amount of space for some of the more challenging exercises (just as you would at a gym, or exercise spot), and also for the required Kinect sensor

WITHOUT more solid details, I’m not delving too much into this just yet, but given all the smoke signals, wild speculation and pure gossip here and there, it looks very likely indeed that 2013 will see the successors to the PlayStation 3 and XBox 360 released, following on the heels of the recently released Wii U. All of the current-gen consoles (well, really, that just leaves the PS3 and the 360, now) have enjoyed

attachment to properly track exactly what you’re doing.

And, of course, the biggest “flaw” with Nike+ Kinect Fitness is you, the user – it’s a great title that’s very polished and pretty comprehensive, but, not unlike learning Latin, it’s either something you want to do, or you don’t.

However, as a welldesigned title with a consistently good use of the Kinect sensor, and a genuinely motivating feeling of progress, it’s to be recommended.

the longest lifecycle of any console, to date, and both consoles continue to see remarkable games and franchises being rolled out – 2013 has some outstanding titles on the way for both consoles.

However, it’s no secret that both Sony and Microsoft are keen to release their next consoles, and given the evidence to date, 2013 looks set to be a lucky year for gamers (with deep pockets, of course). Watch this space ...

Gazette

22 Gazette 31 January 2013

OUT&ABOUT

Interview

stephen spielberg from p17 In the movie, Day-Lewis utterly inhabits the title role as the iconic leader Abraham Lincoln, which has led to him being tipped for more Oscar glory come February 24. Spielberg was fulsome in his praise of the actor.

“I’m so grateful Daniel agreed to play Abraham Lincoln. I never imagined anyone could play Lincoln other than Daniel. I approached him three times over a five-year period, and, eventually, he said yes.

“We had to get the research right. Lincoln is the most compelling figure on the American national landscape. He saved the American experiment in democracy, and pretty much saved the constitution. He didn’t do it alone, a lot of people helped him do what he did.

“We’re only telling a small part of the gigantic Lincoln story, on the last four months of his life, but it’s enough of an intimate focus to give you a real idea who he was as a human being,” said Spielberg.

Although the movie documents a very specific and significant moment in American history, Spielberg said that he felt there was a message in the movie for an international audience.

“The film is really about the power and responsibility of personal, intimate leadership.

It’s about a leader who was one of the people.

There was no firewall between him and the people who elected him, and no firewall between him and the compassion he had for the people of the United States of America, and the tremendous anguish and mourning [he felt] for the war that took more lives than all of the American wars combined.

“I think it’s a great story, he’s one of the most amazing characters in global history. Every country has a Lincolnian figure who was inspirational and did great things in its formation or during a crisis, and everyone can relate to Lincoln, based on figures from their own nation.”

Stephen Spielberg at the European premiere

MUSIC

MUSIC REVIEW: sophomore release from welsh power trio

Utterly Formidable and Joyous effort  ROB heigh rheigh@gazettegroup.com

THERE are some things about music that are indesputable. That Prince will always test your patience as a fan.

That you will never completely get Captain Beefheart. That there are some people whose lives you’ll change when you introduce them to Tom Waits.

Another indisputable truth is the enduring appeal of the power trio.

Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, The Jam, Husker Du, Nirvana, Muse, the original PJ Harvey lineup — legends all.

Get set to reserve a place on that list for The Joy Formidable, who have just released their second album, Wolf’s Law, and who last weekend demolished The Academy with an astonishing live set.

The Welsh trio began to stake their claim for a place on rock’s pedestal with a couple of EPs and their debut release, The Big Roar, which collected some of the stand-out tracks from their initial releases.

Their studio incarnation, though, is only a small part of the story — live, The Joy Formidable truly soar with an energy and ferocity few current acts in any genre can muster, and they have thrilled and awed crowds

The Joy Formidable: Matt Thomas, Ritzy Bryan and Rhydian Dafydd

at festivals internationally over the last two years since the release of The Big Roar. You don’t get an opening slot for Foo Fighters without being a little bit special, and TJF are way more than just a little special.

Some of that lightnng has been caught in the bottle of Wolf’s Law. From the dramatic, operatic strings that open the record and lead into their explosive lead single,

This Ladder Is Ours, this is a stadium-sized statement of intent.

From Cholla onward, there is a progression through the record as TJF seem to be intent to document their growing maturity and confidence as a band. Drawing on what they have learned on stages across the globe and in the studio, the dynamic and drama that fill this record are unparalleled. Recording

in Maine in winter obviously agreed with the band, and the fruits of those sessions have made for something that could well be high on the lists of the albums of 2013.

Even the beautiful acoustic Silent Treatment is filled with wisdom and power. When Matt, Ritzy and Rhydian play together, their unity of purpose comes out in the glorious rock noise they create.

Wolf’s Law is a pretty

amazing achievement for a second album. The kinds of heights achieved here are usually reserved for bands much further down their career paths.

Hopefully, this will lead to an absolutely legendary third record, which will have the added ingredients that the experience of loftier slots on festival bills will bring.

They are truly Formidable indeed.

31 January 2013 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 23

GAZETTE

MOTORS road

NOISE Fiesta, a stylish mobile workshop

The Audi A3 has a top speed of 216 km/h and goes from 0-100kmh in 8.6 seconds

AUDI: ENTRY-LEVEL MODEL WITH THE FEEL OF AN EXECUTIVE MODEL

Awe-inspiring A3 is a cut above the rest  CORMAC CURTIS

AS a rule, I don’t like to know too much about a vehicle I am testing until I’ve been behind the wheel for a few days. I have even gone so far as to avoid walking behind the car entirely in case I see what size engine is under the hood.

So, a few weeks back, while I was waiting for the keys of the Audi A3 that the dealer was trusting me with for a week, I happened to glance at the spec sheet of the model in question.

The car was packing a 4-cylinder, 2-litre diesel engine pumping out 150bhp (almost as much pulling power as my first 6-cylinder, 2.5-litre petrol saloon), it was going

to go from 0 to 100km/h in 8.6 seconds, top out at 216km/h and produce a paltry 106g of carbon per km (combined).

But that’s not all.

On top of all that, this little beauty was going to sip an average of just 4.1 litres of diesel per 100km driven (combined).

If you’re anything like me, the first time you sit in this car, the build quality alone will give you pause for thought.

Combine that with an exceptional driver’s cockpit, and you begin to feel that you are about to drive something very special indeed.

Frankly, I get the distinct feeling that the tens of thousands of euros more spent on each of Audi’s executive models

somehow trickles down to each of the A3s.

I was told that the air vents alone contain 42 moving parts, just so the driver can adjust the “shape” of the airflow – to me, that sounds like the kind of R&D reserved for the A8 fleet, but somehow makes it to this incredible entry-level model.

Even in the base-level trim, the driver is treated to a clean, uncluttered and incredibly intuitive set of controls.

T h e n ow- f a m i l i a r “i-drive” style wheel just rear of the gear stick takes care of much of the adjustments and settings of the sat nav, stereo and phone – there is even an option that gives the surface of the controller a touchsensitive feature that ena-

bles the driver to write letters and numbers in order to prompt and control sat nav, telephone and stereo functions without taking their eyes off the road.

I will fess-up that it took me at least a day to figure out how to make the LCD screen disappear back into its housing in the dash, but when I did, it was a delight.

I’m not a fan of the new big screens that seem to be in every car, the ones that stick straight up out of the console I find particularly annoying as most drivers only use them occasionally.

Going to the trouble of making this feature available in the A3 speaks volumes of the attention to detail that Audi have committed here.

T he test model I enjoyed was in Glacial White Metallic and is just so well-proportioned it almost seems a shame to offer it in a four-door version.

The front grille is almost disproportionately large… almost. In reality it, along with the gorgeous, slightly jaunty headlights, gives the front end of this car a perfect look and expression.

The body looks strong without resorting to an overly “muscular” look, so it really offers something different and attractive.

I’m not sure what I was expecting from the A3, but what I drove was something special, and I would gladly sit in it every morning for many years and never get bored.

THE new Ford Fiesta Van, which has just arrived in Ireland, delivers class-leading fuel efficiency and segment-first technologies for both large and small businesses.

All diesel engines in the new van achieve sub-100 g/km CO2 emissions and 3.7 l/100 km (76.4 mpg) or better.

“The new Fiesta Van is a stylish mobile workshop for light duty tools and equipment that makes great business sense,” said Eddie Murphy, chairman and managing director of Ford Ireland.

“Both local tradesmen and urban delivery fleets will appreciate its sharp, professional looks, while relying on its versatility, dependability and exceptionally low running costs.”

Fiesta Van powertrain choice now includes the new 75 PS 1.5-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel, alongside the 95 PS 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel and 82 PS 1.25-litre Duratec petrol units.

The van’s package of leading Ford driver assistance and safety features includes a number of important segment-first technologies.

In Ireland, the vehicle is available in three series: Fiesta Van, Trend Van and the really stylish Sport Van. Prices start at €14,620 excluding delivery and related costs.

CUTTING OUT THE NONSENSE ABOUT INSURANCE: LOW-COST car insurance company, No Nonsense, has announced the launch of SmartDriver – an innovative technology aimed at cutting out the nonsense in the car insurance market by offering cash back based on individual driver behaviour. This state-of-the-art telematics technology aims to

cut out the nonsense in the car insurance market by rewarding safe drivers for their behaviour on the roads.

The news comes as the EU gender directive has banned insurance discounts based on gender and will be seen by many younger women as an ideal way to avoid the significant increase in premiums and instead get cash back of up to 30% with No Nonsense.

Kate Cepeola and Darragh Griffin (both four) and Jackie McMahon, general manager of No Nonsense, pictured at the launch of SmartDriver

24 DUNDRUM gazette 31 January 2013

Gazette

&ABOUT OUT fast TRAVEL NEWS Set your heart on a romantic getaway for two Valentine’s Day: perfect escape for two

Hotels.com have it all for a city break

If you plan on spending this year’s Valentine’s Day enjoying a romantic city break, choosing the right place to stay isn’t as complicated as you may think. Since love is in the air, Hotels. com are offering some great offers on some of their top hotels in some of Europe’s most romantic city destinations.

If it’s passion in Paris you’re looking for, the Platine Hotel is situated in the heart of this romantic city. The Art Deco hotel is in easy reach of the Eiffel Tower and plays homage to the life of Marilyn Monroe with pictures adorning every bedroom. Prices start from €252 per room, per night.

Love can also be found in Rome and staying at the Eurostar’s International Palace means you’re within easy walking distance of some of Rome’s most popular tourist hotspots. Prices start from €84 per room per night. For more information, visit www.hotels.com.

Make haste north with great offers Heading up north this Valentines? If so, Hastings Hotels have some great offers to help ensure your romantic getaway is one to remember.

With Valentine offers available from Thursday, February 14 until Saturday, February 16, why not enjoy a luxurious overnight stay, a romantic dinner for two, a glass of bubbly, as well as a full Irish breakfast (and an exclusive Valentine’s duck) from just £65pps.

Choose to stay at the Everglades Hotel in Derry from £65pps, Ballygally Castle in Antrim from £70pps, Europa Hotel in Belfast from £80pps or the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa in Newcastle from £85pps. Culloden Estate and Spa in Belfast is also available to book from £110pps.

Luxury extras are available at each hotel including champagne and chocolates in your room on arrival, or why not surprise your other half with a luxury spa treatment at the Culloden or Slieve Donard.

See www.hastingshotels.com or call 048 9047 1066.

Loved-up couples everywhere have plenty of choice when it comes to planning a romantic getaway this Valentine’s.

W hether you’re tempted to fly abroad for a romantic city break, or fancy making the most of the Emerald Isle, there are plenty of special offers and idyllic escapes to choose from.

Romantic Escapes Whisking your one and only off to west Cork will mean you find the perfect spot to enjoy long romantic walks at The Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery. From February 15-17, visitors will enjoy two nights’ accommodation with a full Irish breakfast and a romantic dinner in

Druid’s Restaurant.

The Valentine’s and Romance package includes some extra treats such as wine, chocolates, a love-heart balloon as well as a late check out. One night stays are available at €179.

For more information, visit www.selecthotels. ie For those interested in spreading the love while still keeping it within the budget, the Clarion Hotel in Sligo is offering the perfect escape for two.

The hotel is offering one night’s B&B on either February 15 or 16, with the addition of some subtle romantic touches.

Offering Valentine

dates a free upgrade to a suite – the package also includes a mini-spa treatment per person, a four-course dinner with a glass of bubbly and chocolates, as well as a complimentary drink.

Plus, the check-out time is extended to 2pm.

Available at just €99 per person.

Details: 071 9119000; www.clarionhotelsligo. com If it’s that something extra you’re looking for, The Twelve Hotel in Bearna leaves no stone unturned with its special Lovebomb package. In keeping with its name, the hotel is offering 12 special Valentine specialities.

First, you check into a suite. Next, petals are

LocalMatters S u p p o r t lo c al bus i n e ss

Advertise with the Gazette call 60 10 240

The Twelve Hotel in Bearna is offering 12 special Valentine specialities

strewn across the bed and you enjoy some bubbly, two red-iced muffins from the hotel bakers, a packed picnic for a romantic stroll and a candlelit dinner.

Then comes the pampering in-room treatments, Love Potion cocktails, fun framed caricatures of you and your other half, as well as a discount gift voucher for Hartman’s Jewellers (just in case the need to drop to one knee suddenly presents itself!) and a wrapped rose on checkout… And as for the twelfth? “The wonderful 12th itself!”.

At €450 per couple, the package is available from February 13-15.

Details: 091 597000; www.thetwelvehotel.ie

There is plenty of choice

Loved-up chic While the infamous Irish countryside pulls at most heartstrings, city chic can also spell romance.

A getaway to the fourstar Pembroke Hotel, located in the heart of Kilkenny City, promises a two-night escape with chocolates and champagne on arrival.

Couples can enjoy dinner in Statham’s Restaurant on the evening of their choice, as well as breakfast each morning.

And since it’s just a twominute walk from Kilkenny Castle, the stunning canal walk and the city’s renowned nightlife can ensure you see some of the local sights on the second day. Priced at €149pp.

Details: 056 7783500; www.pembrokekilkenny.com Whites of Wexford has the ideal package to help couples unwind

31 January 2013 DUNDRUM gazette 25

Gazette

Travel

fast

TRAVEL NEWS The Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery in west Cork

Cayo Coco in northern Cuba

Cliff House Hote in Ardmore, west Waterford

in romantic getaways this Valentine’s Day. Picture: Karolina Laser

this Valentine’s.

The four-star luxury hotel is located in the heart of Wexford Town and its Valentine’s offer includes an overnight break with dinner and a glass of bubbly on arrival for just €69 per person.

Relish the time out with a treatment in the Tranquillity Spa followed by afternoon tea or candle-lit dinner in the Terrace Restaurant.

For more information, visit www.selecthotels. ie.

Sultry Spa Break If you really want to spoil your loved one, adding a special spa treatment to the romantic night away will win y o u m a j o r b r ow n i e points.

Just minutes from Dublin, Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa is the perfect setting for a romantic getaway.

From €112 per person sharing, guests can enjoy an overnight stay with a chocolate and rose-petal turn down, dinner in the hotel’s Ivy Brasserie restaurant with a complimentary glass of bubbly and access to the award-winning Seoid Spa, offering a range of Valentine’s treatments, including couples massages.

See www.dunboynecastlehotel.com or call 01 8013500.

Nothing else says I love you quite like a fivestar escape and where better than luxury on our own doorstep at The Shelbourne Hotel.

Enjoy an Elemis facial for her and an indulgent hot-towel shave for him, plus full use of the hotel’s fitness and thermal suites.

To round off your pampering treat, cosy up in the Saddle Room

Restaurant for a gourmet dinner by candlelight before ending the evening with a night cap at the popular Shelbourne Bar. This overnight break is priced from €370 per room per night, and the package is available until February 17, 2013.

Details: 01 663 4500; www.theshelbourne.ie

Food Lovers Food is the language of love this Valentine’s Day, according to the Cliff House Hotel, a five-star hotel overlooking the historic village of Ardmore, west Waterford.

And what other way to spend a romantic V-day evening then a feast at Martijn Kaiuiter’s award-winning, Michelin-starred cuisine.

The House Restaurant showcases the best produce to be found on Irish land and sea and

The luxurious spa at The Shelbourne Hotel

guests can savour the applauded delights of the prestigious chef. To complete the gourmet experience, wake in the morning to a full Irish breakfast before depart-

Whites of Wexford

ing for home. The Valentine’s Gourmet package is priced from €360 per room.

Details: 024 87 800; www.thecliffhousehotel.com

Pack your bags and enjoy an exotic Valentine destination Telling your loved one on the evening of Valentine’s Day to pack their bags for a flight the next day can only prove one thing – that your partner is clearly on to a winner.

For those looking to really spoil their partner this year, Thomas Cook Far and Away has two exotic Valentine destinations to offer.

Whisk your special someone off to the West Coast of Africa and stay in the threestar Hotel Seaview Gardens in gorgeous Gambia, just a short stroll from Kololi beach. A 14-night stay is priced at €1,249 per person sharing, departing on February 15 from Gatwick.

Or how about celebrating Valentine’s Day itself on a romantic beach on the sundrenched island of Cayo Coco in northern Cuba?

A hideout by buccaneers in the early colonial period, Cayo Coco is part of a chain of beautiful islands called King’s Gardens.

Thomas Cook is offering 14 nights on an all-inclusive basis at the three-star-plus Tryp Hotel, with all meals and drinks included from just €989 per person sharing, including transfers from Gatwick, departing 15 February. Connecting flights from Irish airports can be arranged.

Call the Thomas Cook Far and Away team in Dublin on (01) 514 0316, log onto www. thomascook.ie or visit your travel agent.

26 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 31 January 2013

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athletics P28

asdfsdaf gaelic games P27 P31

dublinsport Let the Gazette keep you up to date with all the best local sporting action from around the city as we cover all the stories that matter to you and your community



Gazette

awards P28

FastSport lucan make dream debut:

Michael Darragh MacAuley was on hand to launch Setanta Sports’ coverage of the Allianz National Leagues in Dublin city centre last week

football: ballyboden man admits 2012 league form did not reach full intensity

MacAuley hoping for fresh Dubs’ outlook for new year BALLYBODEN St Enda’s man Michael Darragh MacAuley believes there is a much stronger resolve around the Dublin senior football panel going into 2013 after a tepid reign as All-Ireland senior football champions.

Speaking at the launch of Setanta Ireland’s live coverage of the Allianz league last week, he admitted that the sky-blues “didn’t reach the intensity levels required last year in the league and consequently didn’t get results.

“In 2011 we reached the league final on the back of our high intensity levels

and this gave us a great platform for our successful championship campaign.”

But 2012 was a lower key affair in the league and it permeated into the championship campaign.

“I think we didn’t realise it at the time, but lads’ heads just weren’t as clued in as much as the year before, simple as that.

“I knew we’d struggle with that early in the year, but thought we’d get our heads together. But in talking to people, all the panel, everyone’s heads weren’t in the right place at the right time. Eve-

rything has to be 100%.

“If one player is off, and we had a few players not hitting full whack last year, that’s all it takes. It’s only a matter of inches in winning in All-Ireland, it really is,” he added.

But the Boden man says that, with the fresh impetus of Jim Gavin at the helm, the mood is confident.

“With Jim in place there is a blank canvas for all the players, consequently new players will want to show the new management team just what they can do and Cork will offer a great test first

day out.”

He is speaking of the opening day clash against the Rebel county on February 2 at 7pm in Croke Park.

The clash of the Dubs and Cork is not the only action from headquarters and at 5pm Kildare and Donegal throw in for what should be a great curtain raiser between the newly promoted Lilywhites and of course the reigning All-Ireland champions.

The third and final televised game of the opening weekend is the all-Ulster clash between Down and Tyrone.

CHESS teams from St Jude’s, Skerries, Lucan and Malahide all took part in the first community games event of the year in Jobstown last Friday night.

At U-12 level, Lucan were competing for the very first time and claimed the gold with former national champions taking silver with the former, featuring Muhtarim Ul Haiq, Jordan Maldianu, Andrei Buda, Mustakim Ul Haiq and Brandon Amerai, making it through to the Leinster finals.

Malahide took gold at U-16 level with a team featuring David Deneher, Killan Burke, Aaron Cummins, Alessio Roselli, Jacob Flynn, David Kearney. The Leinster finals will take place in Longford on Sunday, April 7.

c o n ta c t s Acting Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@gazettegroup.com

For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@gazettegroup.com Phone: 01 651 6205

Gazette

28 DUNDRUM Gazette 31 January 2013

SPORT

DublinGazetteNewspapers 2013 dublin sports awards january nominees

AMID the winter weather and a glut of cancelled fixtures, local stars from around the city braved the elements to produce some truly stunning sporting feats, starting off the New Year in breathtaking fashion. Conor McGregor saw in the year with one of the earliest victories, further announcing himself on the world stage. A number of Dublin’s young stars made strong impacts in the O’Byrne Cup with Eric Lowndes, stepping straight up from minor into the senior ranks, chief among them while Swords man James Cluskey is in the form of his life on the tennis circuit. On the team front, January means basketball’s cup finals with Palmerstown CS shading out a number of other Dublin schools for this month’s nomination. Malahide United claimed All-Ireland glory to add to their 26-county title of last summer while St Joseph’s, Lucan made a significant camogie breakthrough.

H STARof the MONTH

james cluskey

eric Lowndes

conor mcgregor

THE Swords LTC club member had an amazing January, winning an ITF Futures doubles title in Germany before finishing as runner-up at another event in Germany and also in France, making for the perfect warmup for the Davis Cup

THE Naomh Peregrine tyro enjoyed a hugely impressive month as he made a smooth transition from minor level to Jim Gavin’s senior set-up, lining out to great effect in Dublin’s run to the O’Byrne cup final despite his tender years

LUCAN resident Conor McGregor became just the second double weight world champion in the history of mixed martial arts with a first round knock-out against Ivan Buchinger at Cage Warriors fighting championship on New Year’s Eve

st joseph’s college, Lucan

malahide united

palmerstown CS

IN QUICK succession, St Joseph’s College in Lucan landed the school’s first and second A camogie titles with their juniors starting the run with victory over St MacDara’s. Their senior side followed up with a win over Maryfield to match the feat.

MALAHIDE United’s U-16 side added an All-Ireland title to the SFAI crown they won last summer when they defeated St Oliver Plunkett’s from Belfast at the inaugural DB Sports Tour national cup finals in Dundalk’s Oriel Park

A BREATHTAKING display in the middle stages of their All-Ireland U-19B final at the National Basketball Arena saw Palmerstown claim the national honours with Cyril Kwan scooping the most valuable player title into the bargain

TEAMof the MONTH H

Sweeney and Cullen the Raheny star attractions  sport@gazettegroup.com

DSDAC’S Joseph Sweeney in the lead Picture: Peter Mooney /flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets

DSDAC’S Joe Sweeney stormed to another decisive win in last weekend’s AXA 29th annual Raheny 5 road race but the star of the show was undoubtedly North Sligo AC’s Mary Cullen who lives in nearby Santry.

Her career has been blighted by injury and illness in the last two years but, in her first serious competitive race in over 15 months, she smashed the women’s course record finishing a remarkable 12th overall in the race in 25:55.

The magnitude of her achievement is underlined by the fact that she is the first Irish female athlete to dip under 26 minutes for five miles on Irish soil. The defending title holder and Olympic marathoner Linda Byrne, another DSD club member, stayed with Cullen in the early stages of the race but eventually had to give way. She finished second in the women’s race in 26:35.

The standard at the top of the field is underlined by the fact that 119 athletes finished under 30 minutes. At the head

of affairs Sweeney and his Tallaght AC rival Tom Fitzpatrick had broken away from the rest of the field by the one-mile marker while Kilkenny’s Brian Maher was alone in third spot.

In the end Sweeney prevailed in 23:53; Fitzpatrick was second in 24:02 while Maher took third place in 25:00. Simon Ryan was the host club’s top finisher taking fifth place in 25:11 just ahead of Cillian O’Leary while Ian Conroy was eighth.

Notable too was the performance of 47-year-old Mick Traynor who finished a remark-

able 17th overall and won the O-45 category in 26:10; his clubmate Damien Martin was second in O-45 in 26:46.

Of the other local clubs involved, 17 athletes from Lucan Harriers took on the race. In the men’s field, First home for Lucan was Derek Taylor, in 29:40 ahead of Patrick Holden in 32:13.

On the women’s side, Lucan’s first home was Bernie Stapleton in 37:01, she was quickly followed by Lisa Convey in 37:26 and Deirdre Counihan was seconds behind them in 37:50.

31 January 2013 DUNDRUM Gazette 29

Gazette

30 DUNDRUM gazette 31 January 2013

SPORT

FastSport

soccer: terenure struggles continue against ports

Mount Anville take All-Ireland silver MOUNT Anville’s spirited battle came up just short in the U-19C schoolgirl’s basketball All-Ireland final last week in the National Basketball Arena after Portmarnock Community School had the greater cutting edge down the closing stretch.

Inspired by MVP Megan Connolly, they pulled away at the final stages of a game which had been close throughout.

Mount Anville were quickest off the mark, separate jump shots from Aoife Gillespie and Rebecca Hunt giving them a four-point advantage early on.

Caoimhe McDonnell responded for PCS followed soon afterwards by Connolly who found her range from distance to tie the score at six apiece. Kate Donnellan was on target again, right on the buzzer to give Mount Anville a 10-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Portmarnock, though, scored successive baskets at the beginning of the second to restore the lead. They found an extra gear and had soon established a five-point lead through Ciara Clarke.

Donnellan and Gillespie had Mount Anville back within one soon after but Connolly continued to fire when she re-emerged from the bench to drive PCS back into the lead, and soon afterwards added to her tally for a fivepoint lead. Hunt came up with an important response with moments remaining to make it 22-19 PCS at half time.

The sides cancelled each other out somewhat at the beginning of third quarter. Donellan was looking like her side’s most likely route back into the game, and she converted her ninth point of the day to bring Mount Anville back to within one point.

Jennine Leenane followed up to give Mount Anville the lead with three minutes remaining in the quarter.

Connolly was on fine form for PCS however, and levelled the scores soon after before Daly and McDonnell added to make it 33-29. PCS managed to establish a 35-29 lead heading into the final quarter.

With it all to do, Mount Anville battled desperately to get back within range. PCS were in no mood to relinquish their lead however and claimed the title with a final score of 50-37.

Portmarnock AFC celebrate their late winner against CYM Terenure last Sunday morning

Charman double sinks CYM lsl sunday senior 1b CYM Terenure Portmarnock AFC  carl duffy

1 2

sport@gazettegroup.com

SUPER sub Ryan Charman’s two late goals ensured a second half comeback for Portmarnock AFC on a blustery Sunday morning at the Terenure Sports Grounds.

The opening 20 minutes was a scrappy affair with both sides struggling to maintain a decent spell of possession due to the unfavourable weather conditions.

Portmarnock had

the best of the opening chances and looked to have a certain goal when a series of well placed passes found Alan O’Shaughnessy on the edge of the box, his first time shot rattling the crossbar to the relief of the home side.

The home side began to gain control halfway through the first period as they looked to spread play down the wings, in particular to David O’Toole who skipped past several challenges to cut inside the opposition penalty box, where he squared a pass in towards Ian Hartford only for keeper Brian

winter wonderland Marlay Park thronged for Transformation walk over 350 people braved the wintry conditions to take part in a 4km walk around Marlay Park last week as part of Operation Transformation.

Organised by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Sports Partnership, this event was part of a national initiative to promote walking as a fun way for people to get fit and stay active as part of a healthier lifestyle.

People of all ages and fitness levels took out their walking shoes and came along to walk and talk in the picturesque park.

Kane to be quickest to the ball.

The visitors looked to have scored, when a cross from the right evaded the CYM defence and found Joseph O’Riordan unmarked at the back post but he failed to connect with his header and give his side the lead.

The game looked to be going in as a stalemate at the break when on the stroke of halftime, CYM captain Aaron Jewell collected a loose ball on the edge of the box and hit a superb looping shot over Kane, to the delight of his teammates and give his side the lead.

The second half started much like the first, neither side maintaining any meaningful spell of pressure with John Kerr having the best of the chances for the visitors early on.

Kerr was instrumental in creating another golden opportunity for his side when he played through O’Riordan whose deflected shot fell into the path of fellow strikerWotjciech Korzan, who hit a thunderous volley just inches past the far post.

With 20 minutes left it looked like it wasn’t to be Portmarnock’s day when substitute Charman collected a pass on the edge

of the box, where he did superbly to turn and curl an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net and give his side a deserved equalising goal.

CYM fought back and created a series of half chances, the best of which fell to Noel Tallon when he was played through by Jewell but he couldn’t get a clear shot on goal.

The visitors ensured victory was theirs when a half clearance from a corner fell into the path of Charman who whipped a curling effort across goal for what was a carbon copy of his first goal to give his team a vital win.

31 January 2013 DUNDRUM gazette 31

Gazette

Lisbon lion Bowe opens brand new gym  sport@gazettegroup.com

ONE of the country’s top Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitors, Chris B owe , h a d a n o t h e r fantastic outing at the European championships last weekend in Lisbon.

He claimed a silver medal in the super heavy division and a bronze in

the absolute (free weight) division, only losing out to one of the world renowned Miyao brothers.

“I lost in the final of my own weight division to a guy I had previous matches with,” said the Dundrum resident.

“To take on one of the Miyao brothers was fantastic but it was impos-

sible to pass his guard and in the end he beat me via advantage when I was forced to stand up to block an attempt sweep.

“I would have probably given him the win too with him being the smaller man,” said the humble school teacher.

Bowe has opened the first official Gracie

Barra gym in Dublin in Dundrum’s main street, just over Ladbroke’s, where training sessions take place Monday to Friday at 6.25 to 9.40pm and on Saturday mornings.

Contact Chris Bowe via the club’s Facebook page Gracie Barra Dublin for more information.

hurling: saints comeback falls agonisingly short

Club Noticeboard naomh olaf CLUB membership is due. You can now

was St Anne’s 1–5 to Naomh Olaf’s 0–7.

pay for your membership online, just

Naomh Olaf had a panel of 25 players

go to naomholaf.ie and click the link

for the game and 10 players were sub-

for myclubfinance.com and follow the

stituted freely throughout. The final

simple steps.

score was Naomh Olaf 0–15 St Anne’s

Juvenile matches resume this week-

1 –12.

end. We would like to remind every-

The club shop is in urgent need of

one that it is mandatory to use gum-

new volunteers. Lack of numbers at

shields. Failure to wear one can result

this present time means that we will

in players being sent off so it is vitally

only be able to open the first Tuesday

important.

of every month from 7.30-8.30pm and

Boys and girls’ academies have

the second and fourth Saturday of

resumed after the Christmas break;

every month from 10.45am-12pm. We

girls – Friday from 6.30pm to 7.30pm,

would need approximately 10 volun-

boys – Saturday from 10am to 11.30am.

teers to commit to going onto a rota.

If you have been attending we will be

If interested please email magskyne@

delighted to see you back, if not why

hotmail.com

not come along and give us a try.

There was no winner of the jokers

Our intermediate footballers had

wild prize of €1,150. Joey Jackson had

their first run out in a friendly on Sat-

his name drawn but failed to turn over

urday against St Anne’s. The game

the joker so next week’s jokers wild

was played in a good spirit and was

jackpot is €1,200. There was no winner

an excellent preparation for the 2013

of this week’s lotto. Numbers drawn

season which opens with a cup game

were 17, 19 and 27. Next week’s lotto

in two weeks. At half time, the score

will be worth €1,100.

ballyboden st enda’s LOTTO - there was no jackpot winner

The Ballyboden St Enda’s minor hurlers prior to the final of the A championship

Boden blown just off course by Na Fianna Minor a hurling final Na Fianna 3-7 Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-14  sport@gazettegroup.com

B A L LY B O D E N S t Enda’s were unable to turn the tide last Sunday against Na Fianna in Chanel after the northside team used a strong wind to good effect to ultimately claim the minor laurels.

Playing against a stiff breeze, Boden were the first to take the initiative with a point from the left by James Roche and another from Eoin Murphy.

But Na Fianna

responded instantly with the first of their three goals following a tussle in front of the goal and the Mobhi Road side soon took advantage of the conditions and put a number of scores on the board.

This was despite some resolute defending by Donal Butler and Cathal Bergin in particular and great work under the puck-out by Darragh Bolger and Niall Keegan. Further points from Roche and Conor McHugh had the halftime score at Na Fianna 2-6 to Boden’s 0-5.

As the teams headed

for the sanctuary of the dressing rooms, this was felt to be a surmountable gap but Na Fianna continued their ascendancy in the first 10 minutes of the second half No score was registered but the clock began to tick loudly for all present supporting Boden. Eventually, a free by Keith Robinson and a superb point by substitute Keith McCarron had Boden within four points.

After a Na Fianna point, their only one of the second half, Boden again turned their pressure into scores and a magnificent sideline cut by Eoin Mur-

phy was matched by a Bolger long-range point.

James Madden and Tom Hanafin were dominating the middle-field exchanges at this point.

This left one point in it with about eight minutes to go. Disaster then struck for Boden when a break forward by Na Fianna saw them fire their third goal to the net.

Boden’s character to fight back helped earn a penalty but it was blocked and cleared to safety and while they mustered a late brace of points by Murphy and Roche, final glory was tantalisingly just out of reach.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.

of last week’s draw. Next week’s draw

The countdown is on in Ballyboden

will be for €9,500. Tickets are available

St Enda’s as the club kicks off with two

in the clubhouse or on www.bodengaa.

big fundraisers. Our coaching confer-

ie. Michael Tuohy, Templeogue, Liam

ence organised by chairman of coach-

Delaney, Ballyroan Cresent, Anne and

ing and games development executive

Deirdre Ryan, Rathfarnham and Conor

Brian O’Regan is set for February 9 in

Sheehan, Knocklyon Green all matched

Ballyboden St Enda’s.

the first three numbers while Mau-

Key speakers are former Dublin

reen Walsh from Delaford Avenue was

senior football manager Pat Gilroy,

drawn in the subscribers draw.

George O’Connor - former Wexford All

Hard Luck to the minor A hurlers who

Star and Brian Cuthbert - selector on

lost the championship final to Na Fian-

the Cork senior football team.Tickets

na with a scoreline 3-7 to 0-14. Next

are €10. For more information log on to

Sunday, February 3 sees the minor B

www.bodengaa.ie.

footballers take on St Peter’s in Balgriffin at 11am. All support welcome.

Tickets are on sale for Battle of the Boden. Over 40 of Boden’s finest will

Sincere sympathy to club member

take to the ring in the National Bas-

Niall Sudway and his family on the

ketball Arena in order to raise much

death of his father, Terry. Also to Pat

needed funds for the continued work

McGrath and his family on the death of

of the club in the community. There will

his mother Mary and to ladies senior B

be a box office operating in the club on

footballer Claire Butterly and her fam-

Thursday evenings from 8-9pm for the

ily on the death of her father, Ciaran.

sale of Battle of The Boden tickets.

ballinteer st john’s THERE was no winner of the Thursday,

house starts at 8pm and all welcome

January 24 lotto draw of €6,200. Next

for a great night’s entertainment.

week’s draw will be for €6,400. Tick-

Any new adult players looking to join

ets are available online at www.ball-

for the coming season, contact Robert

inteerstjohns.com or from the usual

Doyle on 086 8843996.

outlets.

Club membership fees for 2013 are

Wednesday night is a great night of

now due. Forms are being distributed

traditional music, no cover charge.

to the teams and are available in the

Why not come up and join in or enjoy a

clubhouse. A form can also be down-

night of music and craic?

loaded from the BSJ Website. Early

Bingo every Monday night in the club-

payment much appreciated.

GazetteSPORT all of your dundrum sports coverage from page 27-31

final hurdle: Ballyboden come unstuck at the hands of Na Fianna in their minor hurling decider in Chanel P31

january 31, 2013

sports stars nominees: January’s shining lights up for monthly awards P28

Scott Evans says his confidence is sky-high following his breakthrough on the international badminton circuit

Super success for Evans Ballinteer native Scott Evans backed up his Irish Open win in December with another international title last weekend, annexing the Cyprus Open  stephen findlater

sport@gazettegroup.com

SCOTT Evans says his confidence is sky-high after a ground-breaking six-week period in his professional badminton career saw him land his second international title last weekend, the Cyprus Open.

It followed hot on the heels of December’s Irish Open success for the Ballinteer man and has raised his belief that he can push for the world’s top 30 by the end of 2013.

Evans was speaking to GazetteSport ahead of a particularly hectic period. After the Cyprus success, he returns to Ireland this weekend in a bid to become the first player

to win the Irish men’s national title on eight occasions – having won the last seven in succession – before going to Denmark for club matches with Gentofte.

Those games prelude the European team championships in Russia. Evans, though, was ebullient about the next few months.

“I’m feeling fantastic,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of energy for training and am pushing myself really hard every day. When you get these wins, it makes it so much easier to push yourself. I’m confident at the moment and am really happy with where I am and just want to go that step further.”

The two-time Olympian says the reason for his reinvigoration has some roots in his deci-

sion to refresh his training base, moving from Denmark to the Great Britain training centre in Milton Keynes in the wake of the London Games.

In the subsequent months, his form rose, reaching a peak at the Irish Open when he finally broke his international tournament duck after seven final defeats.

“The Irish Open was the huge one for me, being my home tournament and the first victory. Cyprus was a lot different. Obviously, it feels great to win a tournament again but the competition wasn’t as strong at the Irish Open and I was the favourite.

“Getting over that hurdle was really big for me. I thought Cyprus would be perfect for me

to win again to start the year and answer ‘I’ve done one now, can I do it again?’It was important to get the win and use that feeling to focus my mind and then get up the rankings.”

Evans is now keen to regularly compete at a higher level of competition and take on the world’s best at elite Super Series level.

First up, though, it is the national championships which will always be special for him.

“I love coming back and winning the nationals and hope to continue doing that for many years to come. I used to rely on it, saying to myself ‘no matter what, I have to win this’.

Now I have international wins under my belt, I don’t know how I will feel about it but it is important for me to be national champion.”