Dundrum

Gazette DUNDRUM

August 18-24, 2016

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A BEATLES-THEMED TRIP TO LIVERPOOL

Our supplement has all you need as you continue your studies

SEE P13-21 P&O FERRIES is offering you and a friend a Beatles-themed break in the city that helped the Fab Four rocket to international fame – lovely Liverpool! The ferry service operates three times daily, offering a relaxing eight-hour crossing.

The prize includes: • Return travel for a car and two passengers with P&O Ferries on the Dublin to Liverpool route, including cooked breakfast and high tea; • On board, the winners can also relax in their own personal cabin; • Two nights’ bed and breakfast in the Crown Plaza Hotel; • A three-course meal for two at Muray restaurant; • A Beatles Fab Four Taxi Tour.

To be in with a chance of winning, answer this question: How many hours is the sailing from Dublin to Liverpool?

A) 8; B) 9; or C) 10 Email your answer by Friday, August 26 to: competitions@dublingazette. com, or see our Facebook page.

TECH To infinity and beyond Page 22

Annalise shows her medal Silver hero Murphy

Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

 EMMA NOLAN CELEBRATIONS are underway from Rathfarnham to Dun Laoghaire as our very own Annalise Murphy took home a silver medal for Ireland.

Members of Annalise’s home club, the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire, gathered in the club to cheer their Olympic hero on in Rio. Annalise has been sailing at the club since she was a child, following in the footsteps of her mother C a t hy,

who competed in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

“We’ve no nails left,” one supporter told RTE ahead of her heroic effort in the laser radial medal race on Tuesday night.

“I think Annalise is a very strong character, determined and focused – she knows what she has to do.”

After she finished in second position a club member said: “She sailed so well and it’s a such an reward for all her efforts especially after the heartbreak of London 2012.”

Another said: “My heart was in my mouth for the last leg but we now have an Olympian in the club which is brilliant!”

See full story in Gazette Sport

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SANDYFORD | COLLECTIVE HIGH COURT ACTION OVER ALLEGED DEFECTS

The Cubes’ residents square up for a fight  EMMA NOLAN RESIDENTS and owners of The Cubes apartments in Sandyford – including U2’s Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jnr – are taking legal action over alleged defects at the luxury complex.

Residents say that serious issues with the apartments have arisen over the last few years and more than 200 investors have now launched a High Court action.

The Cubes are located in blocks as part of a large 600-apartment complex developed by Paddy Shovlin’s Landmark Developments around 2007.

Many of the units were

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‘Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jnr are [among those] taking legal action’

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sold off the plans, with the most expensive selling for €1.1m.

One woman told the media that she has been living in the apartment for eight years, but the problems only began recently.

She said: “I have problems with the bathroom with damp and now there’s mould growing.

There are also problems around the windows and with the ventilation.”

Another woman who has children said that her apartment has poor ventilation and does not get any natural sunlight.

“There’s very noticeable marking on the walls, and the air feels damp, which I’m concerned about with the kids.

“These were supposed to be apartments built to the highest standard – I can’t believe we are having these problems.”

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, who have tenants in the Sandyford complex, are one of the prosecuting parties in the case against the developers.

FASTNews

Stepaside ETNS planning permission is lodged  EMMA NOLAN

Part of the Cubes luxury complex at Sandyford

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

PLANNING permission for the Stepaside Educate Together School building in Belarmine has been lodged by the Department of Education.

Stepaside Educate Together National School is currently located at Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua in Ballyogan, but has not yet moved to its own premises.

The new school will be a three-story building with 24 classrooms, a large hall and two special needs classrooms located at Belarmine Vale in Stepaside. There will be a car park with space for 48 cars, and ball courts and project gardens will also be constructed if planning permission is approved.

Deputy Josepha Madigan (FG, above) welcomed the news, saying: “While Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua is a great facility, I know that parents and staff are keen for the school to move to its permanent home in Belarmine.

“It is vital that students and teachers spend their days in an environment that is comfortable and conducive to study, and I’m delighted that the Stepaside Educate Together School in Belarmine has now moved to the next stage.”

€100,000 funding boost for micro-enterprises  EMMA NOLAN

SMALL businesses in South Dublin are set to get a boost after it was announced that Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are to receive €100,000 funding.

The funding is being made available to assist micro-enterprises in creating local jobs. €55,000 will be provided to the South Dublin LEO, and €45,000 to the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown LEO, as they have identified a pipeline of demand for financial assistance for projects in the local area. The projects due to receive the funding are either new micro-enterprises or existing small businesses seeking to expand.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross (IA) welcomed the announcement and has urged all small business owners to engage with their LEO, whether they are currently in need of funding or not. He said: “They provide an excellent support for entrepreneurs in our local community.

“This additional funding will be vital for several micro-enterprises in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown and Dublin South area and will provide them with the assistance they need to realise their business plans. These new businesses will add to the local economy and will create jobs. One of the priorities in the Programme for Government is to assist local businesses in accessing funds to start or grow their business, and I am delighted that this announcement will be able to do that for many in our area.”

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CONTEST | PET INSPIRES OWNER TO RAISE MUCH-NEEDED FUNDS FOR DOGS TRUST IRELAND

Hopes high Holly the collie can take ‘Nose Of Tralee’ title  SYLVIA POWNALL

Holly and Angela love nothing more than walking along Portmarnock beach

MEET Holly the collie – Dublin’s entrant in the nationwide Nose of Tralee contest.

The 11-month-old border collie came out tops in the capital’s canine stakes beating 1,200 other pets in the process.

Now with just over a week left in the voting, devoted owner Angela Murphy is hoping she’ll win the title.

Angela, from Glasnevin, revealed: “When our last dog Trixie passed away before Christmas, the house seemed so empty and quiet.

“We never dreamt another pet could ever take her place, until we set eyes on new puppy, Holly.”

Holly – who won Petmania Puppy of the Year in April – was painfully shy when Angela first got her but now she’s coming out of her shell.

Legal executive Angela said: “She has gained a lot of confidence since then, though she is still very shy and hides under the sofa when people come to visit.

“She’s terrified of strangers, bicycles, skate boards, balloons and any kind of noise, but she is trying her best to be more brave.”

Holly loves nothing more than a walk along Portmarnock beach or the Bull Wall and although she can be boisterous, Angela says she was incredibly gentle around her mum when she got ill.

“Sadly after she passed away in February Holly stepped in and filled yet another empty space in our hearts,” said Angela.

“She never fails to make us laugh or smile. We can’t

imagine life without her now.”

The coddled collie – groomed by Angela’s sister Jennifer - has started taking part in competitions and events like sponsored walks, and has inspired Angela to raise muchneeded funds for Dogs Trust Ireland.

She told the Dublin Gazette: “If Holly is lucky enough to win the Nose of Tralee crown she will work hard and help me promote animal awareness and raise funds to help less fortunate animals.

“I think every animal should have the love of a good home.”

Vote for Holly online at http:// wshe.es/aWkqK2Dg. People can vote every 24 hours up to 22 August.

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PEOPLE | PARENTS OF BABY KILLED BY COLD SORE VIRUS HOPE TO INFORM, SAVE OTHER LIVES

Honouring Eibhlin’s life by raising awareness  EMMA NOLAN A R ATHFARNHAM couple whose 12-day-old baby died from a cold sore virus are calling for greater awareness and policy changes to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again.

John and Louise Wills’ baby daughter, Eibhlin, died aged just 12 days old because of the common cold sore virus.

Eibhlin Grainne was born on Thursday, November 19 last by emergency Caesarean section in the National Maternity Hospital at Holles Street.

She weighed 7lb 11oz, but was sent to the neonatal intensive care unit as a precautionary measure.

John said: “After five nights in hospital she came home. Initially, all appeared well and she had a high level of alertness for a young baby.”

The couple explained that their daughter became “a little out of sorts” a few days later.

“There was no cause

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‘Following a post-mortem, the cause of death was identified as the Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1), more commonly known as the Cold Sore Virus’

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for alarm until 11pm that night when her colour suddenly changed and she became listless.”

John and Louise headed frantically to Tallaght A&E where upon arrival Eibhlin was immediately taken in and a crash team called.

Tragically, Eibhlin was pronounced dead at 1:09am a week to the day since she had come home from hospital.

Following a post-mortem, the cause of death was identified as the Herpes Simplex Virus 1

Although Eibhlin (left) lived for only 12 days before her tragic death, her parents – John and Louise Wills – want to honour her life and legacy by helping to educate others about the common cold sore virus, and how potentially fatal it can be to babies

(HSV-1), which is more commonly known as the Cold Sore Virus.

In Eibhlin’s case, it was Disseminated Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus 1, which incubates for a time and results in multiple organ failure, but there are no symptoms until it is too late.

While this type of death is rare, it is even rarer in Eibhlin’s case, as 90% of these infections come from the mother.

Louise has been tested and was found not to have carried the virus.

Louise said: “Eibhlin contracted the virus postnatally and, although we may never know from whom or exactly when it happened, we know from tests that the virus was already in her system when she came home from the maternity hospital with us,” said Louise.

Louise said that she and John were in total shock when they realised that such a common virus caused their daughter’s death, and were horrified at the lack of information available.

She said: “In Eibhlin’s legacy, we now want to ensure the general public is aware of how lethal a cold sore can be to a newborn baby.”

John and Louise now aim to provide an information leaflet with Eibhlin’s story and website details in the welcome packs issued to mothersto-be in Ireland’s maternity hospitals, along with placing information leaflets in clinics and reminding hospital visitors not to visit not to visit new mothers and babies if they have a current cold sore.

Speaking on TV3’s Ireland AM this week, Louise said that she and John are trying to remain positive.

“We have to be Eibhlín’s voice. She didn’t come here and give me the happiest eight and a half days of my life for no reason – we’re doing this in her memory and we’re going to save more babies.”

For further information, see www.rememberingeibhlin.org.

It’s a dog’s life as pups arrive

DUBLIN Zoo’s African painted dog population is on the increase as they have welcomed seven new pups. This brings the total number at Dublin Zoo to eleven. In preparing for the birth, the female excavated a deep burrow in the ground and for weeks the animal care team could only guess what was happening. It is not until the new-borns open their eyes approxi-

mately three weeks after birth that she brings them to surface to the sunlight. To see the pack, visit the African Plains at Dublin Zoo. African painted dogs may also be known as African wild dogs or hunting dogs and have a unique coat pattern which makes them easily recognisable. There are an estimated 6,000 African painted dogs in the wild. Picture: Patrick Bolger

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GazetteGALLERY | FUN FOR ALL AT THE WILD AIR RUN IN MARLAY PARK

Getting ready for the run and the fun ahead with some warm-up stretching exercises

Charlie Murray is happy with the course

Siobhan Murray with her sons, Charlie and Sean

Just scream if you want to go faster ...

Jenny Casserly and Michelle Mulville hurtle with delight down the main slide.

Pictures: Alison O’Hanlon

Running, sliding and falling their way to happiness M

ARLAY Park welcomed Europe’s largest water slide last weekend for the final Wild Air Run of the year.

Lots of people of all ages took to the 5k course with great enthusiasm – with a much shorter route for much younger participants – with young and old alike looking

forward to some giant inflatable obstacles to overcome along the way.

While the highlight for many was the giant slide, the rest of the obstacles didn’t disappoint, with lots of smiles and plenty of laughter to be found as families and friends gamely completed the run.

Adam McGealy surges through the course

Ken O’Farrell with his daughters, Lily and Abbie

One of the giant inflatable obstacles along the way

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GazetteGALLERY

| DARE TO BE DIFFERENT BEST DRESSED CONTEST

Lisa Fitzpatrick congratulates Bernadette

Finalist Amanda Danielle Shaw

Longmore

Bob Geldof and members of The Boomtown Rats congratulate winner Bernadette Ni Chadhain from Galway. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

All dolled up for a stylish event B

ERNADETTE Ni Chadhain from Galway was announced the overall winner of The Beacon Hotel’s “Dare to be Different” Best Dressed Competition at Leopardstown Racecourse. Bob Geldof and members of The Boomtown Rats were on hand to congratulate Bernadette. Bob and his band performed live on stage after the last race on the night.

Kelly Bolger, Aisling Egan and Claudia Boucher

Sarah Whelan ,Eve Morgan and Rachel Kelly

Francesco Porquillo and Sarah Keane

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DUBLINGazetteGALLERY |

STUNNERS FROM ALL OVER IRELAND GATHER IN

Natalia Piechaczek and Bogdan Petric. Pictures: Brian McEvoy Shannen Reilly McGrath

Allanna Hennessy and Sharon Hennessy

Jasmine Gerhardt and Aoife McGrane

Aisling O’Reilly and Tierna Slevin

Eileen Moore and Ann Marie Blake

Ciara Quinn and Zara Crowley

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DUBLIN’S LILLIE’S BORDELLO FOR THE LAUNCH OF THE 69TH MISS IRELAND

Beauty queens bidding for title B

EAUTIES from all over the country descended on Dublin’s Lillie’s Bordello for the launch of the 69th Miss Ireland.

The hotly contested heats have drawn to a close, with 35 contestants emerging victorious in the beauty, poise and personality

stakes.

The final is set to take place on September 23 in Dublin’s Crowne Plaza Hotel and the winner will represent the country at the final of Miss World, which will be held on December 20 in Washington DC.

Sinead Connery and Niamh Burke

Ciara Buckley and Niamh Kennedy NIamh Enright and Lauren Guilfoyle

Nicole Forde and Niamh Boyle

Colleen O’Reilly and Sorcha Farrell

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DUBLINBUSINESS

Top tips for those seeking employment in today’s market THE recruitment industry has changed significantly in the past five years, according to Irish recruitment consultancy, Osborne.

T heir recr uitment experts have compiled five top tips on how to search for a new job in today’s market.

1. Ever y thing and everyone is online now.

When CVs land on employers and recruiters’ desks, a candidate’s online profile is often checked.

Before applying for a

role or sending out a CV, view your public online profile from a prospective employer’s position.

Maybe it’s time to tidy up your online and social media presence?

2. Optimise your LinkedIn page and ensure your profile is completely upto-date and focused on the sector or industry you would like to work in.

Also, ensure you can be easily found (via keywords) and contacted online by potential employers.

3. Use your existing

networks and contacts and don’t burn bridges!

4. As cultural fit becomes more and more important to employees and employers, investigate the companies you are applying to and make sure their organisational culture is aligned with your values.

5. Personalise your application to the role and company you are applying for. Employers are looking for people with a genuine interest in working for their company.

Tackling the deficit of women in technology careers

PICTURED are Ringsend College students Shauna Montgomery, Chloe McDonnell and Laura Byrne with mentors Dovile Janusauskaite, Laura Murphy and Sophie Sorel from Murex as they took part in the Teen-Turn programme. The pioneering initiative is helping to get more schoolgirls interested in technology careers. Once placed, each intern is assigned a female mentor and all those involved participate in a two-week tailored technology project.

INSHIP | SAVING BUSINESSES TIME AND MONEY

Start-up strives for paperless office  EMMA NOLAN A DUBLIN start-up is working towards creating paperless offices by eliminating what it labels one of the ‘last hurdles’.

InShip provide automated invoice processing software to SMEs to deal with their suppliers’ invoices and their aim is to save businesses time and money by removing the need to process invoices manually.

Phil Lennon of InShip explains that as every transaction ends with an invoice, 99% of businesses process these documents manually

and file away a paper invoice.

“It takes around 10 steps for a company to process an invoice costing in the region of €2 per invoice,” he says.

Founded by Adrian Kelehan, InShip’s business model removes the hassle by grabbing a business’s incoming invoices from their supplier’s email, handle the invoice and then upload to their accounts package.

The company removes the need to, open post, print invoices, sort, send for approval, match to purchase orders, code, input into accounts packages, store or rec-

oncile. As all these tasks are completed online by InShip.

“This eliminates the need for paper when processing invoices and reduces the human error that may cause the business to be under or overpaid by suppliers.

“We already have a number of businesses on the system from the southside and northside of Dublin and we are attracting new business each week from all over Ireland,” Phil says.

“The business is growing and we have already created three jobs and plan on creating more in the coming year.”

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HOUSEHUNTING P16

ASDFSDAF STYLE P27 P20

LEARNINGCURVE Whether you’re a first-time student or want to boost your existing qualifications, there’s a lot to learn about college life – luckily, The Gazette has everything you need to know



GAZETTE

STUDY ABROAD P14

Supporting the ITB Learn + Work programme: Bernard Hickey, Damovo; Mary Meaney, ITB and Patrick Cotter, Fleet Connect

An innovative new programme at ITB

GOOD NEWS!

No matter what your Leaving results were, you have plenty of options ahead PAGES 18-19

IN RESPONSE to demands from companies in the ICT sector, and increasing interest in technology programmes amongst school leavers and mature students, the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown’s (ITB) Department of Informatics is launching a new programme in networking technologies.

Its Higher Certificate in Science in Computing is a new and innovative third-level programme that has been designed with the industry in mind, combining in-company placement with up-to-date technical skills that are currently very much in demand.

The programme takes place over a two year period, with more than 50% of students’ time being spent applying their knowledge whilst learning new applied skills in the workplace through a work placement.

Motivated Dr Mary Meaney, ITB president, said: “The Learn and Work programme will create a practical path for students to acquire in-demand skills whilst offering companies access to a motivated, productive new talent pool.”

Praising the programme, Bernard Hickey, operations and service delivery manager at Damovo Ireland said: “Damovo has experienced an increase in business over the last few years which has created some challenges in resourcing customer contract commitments and new projects.

“Damovo has identified the Learn and Work programme from ITB as a perfect fit to enable us to develop the right competence and skills through this accredited programme.”

To find out more about the programme, see www. itb.ie/learnandwork, or contact Justin Purcell at 01 8851372. Interested applicants are welcome to an open evening on Tuesday, September 6, from 5 – 7pm to find out more.

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LEARNINGCURVE

ADVICE: STUDYING AWAY FROM HOME IS REWARDING FOR MANY

Why not study abroad?  IAN BEGLEY

STUDENTS choose to study abroad for a number of reasons, such as entry requirements may be easier, they may have access to courses that are not available in Ireland, or they may simply want the experience of living outside the country.

It is important to know the differences between studying in Ireland and studying abroad.

You should find out about the application procedures, length of courses, fees and living expenses before you make a final decision on whether a course of study abroad is suitable for you.

If you are a third-level student in Ireland, your university or college may have information about opportunities for studying outside Ireland.

If you don’t have a specific course or institution in mind, there are several sources of information on overseas learning.

According to Citizensinformation.ie, many Irish third-level institutions offer their students the opportunity to travel through their course of study, often through student exchange programmes.

Such institutions establish initial contact with

institutions abroad and maintain an ongoing relationship with them.

Students move between the two institutions on study and work placements and are offered services such as student orientation, language training, and accommodation services.

Contact your college for information about any student exchange programmes they may offer.

Audrey Byrne, Exchange Co-Ordinator at the International Office at DCU, said there are a multitude of advantages for students taking part in Erasmus programmes.

She said: “We would have a lot of students

who select a programme which has a year abroad as part of their course. In all of our language programmes, it is compulsory that students spend their third year abroad to immerse themselves in the language they’re studying.

“We also encourage students who aren’t studying a language to still avail of a year abroad.”

For further information on studying outside Ireland, see citizensinformation.ie. You can also find detailed information on the range of Irish grants and funds for students in further and higher education at www.studentfinance.ie.

Lots of alternative courses are also available to pursue FOR school-leavers who may have their eye on a more alternative or specific course not offered by universities, City of Dublin Education Training Board (CDETB) and Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education Training Board (DDLETB) offer a vast choice of training alternatives.

Some of the colleges in the CDETB include the Liberties College, Crumlin College, Ballyfermot College, Rathmines College and 13 others. Ballyfermot College is currently running courses as diverse as animal rescue and millinery to multiplatform journalism, while Rathmines College offers courses in areas such as business, accounting and more.

Colleges offering further education courses within the DDLETB area include the College of Further Education in Dundrum, Greenhills College, Deansrath College in Clondalkin and six others. The College of Further Education in Dundrum offers courses from horticulture to nursing studies, while Greenhills College has courses in sports studies, engineering and more.

Just check with your desired college for a full list of courses, and if it meets your progression needs.

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LEARNINGCURVE SEARCH: SOARING DEMANDS ACROSS THE CITY

Cutting-edge training at a leading hair salon academy

Househunting is challenging for all

 IAN BEGLEY  EMMA NOLAN HAIRDRESSING is an option that many school leavers pursue each year in Dublin.

Hairdressing education facility, the Dylan Bradshaw Academy, is now accepting registration for the year commencing 2016/2017.

Taught by their award-

winning team of leading educators in the hairdressing industry, students will graduate with an internationally recognised City & Guilds Level II Diploma.

For both beginners and established hairdressers looking to expand their skills, the academy provides a full curriculum and hands-

on training with Ireland’s leading experts across an intensive 18-month period, focusing on practical skills and all the latest techniques to be at the sector’s cutting edge.

T he management team also offer CV and interviewing technique workshops in order to prepare students for life after learning.

AS FRESHERS’ Week draws near, odds are that you’ll have hundreds of questions running through your mind – such as where to live.

Some may choose to live at home, but for many others college means trying to find accommodation for the first time.

With the shortage of accommodation in Dublin and other urban areas, the Union of Students in Ireland recently set up a site encouraging people with spare bedrooms to rent to students.

This service is deemed very necessary as the student population in Dublin faces a serious shortage of accommodation, with CAO offers and the subsequent start of the academic year just a few short weeks away.

Speaking ahead of the first information drive in Dublin city centre, USI president Laura Harmon said: “This is an access-

to-education issue. The cost of accommodation in and around Dublin has risen enormously, pricing many students out of the accommodation market.

“Many buy-to-renters have repurposed accommodation they had previously made available to students for wealthier renters.

“To compound this, the value of the student grant has fallen against inflation over a number of years. The end result will be students unhoused and dropping out.

“USI is calling for the Government to form a task force on student accommodation – there needs to be a specific strategy on this serious and growing problem,” she said.

As a short-term measure to support the initiative, the USI has put together a simple website, allowing homeowners to list their spare rooms and their conditions, with the objective of providing

On yer (Dublin) Bike ... be prepared to look a little further afield, and to avail of all transport options, when looking for a place to live while at college

students with contacts for those willing to help.

The system also allows for landlords and agents to place their available accommodation online at www.homes.usi.ie – and it’s free to use.

The USI also mentions that there are many useful accommodation-hunting websites out there, including Daft.ie and Property. ie, which makes it easy to search through lots of accommodation listings on the internet quickly.

These sites also have maps that point out where the specific accommodation you are looking at is located.

Accommodation lists may also be available from your Students’ Union. It’s recommended that you contact a Students’ Union rep as it’s the best port of call when hunting for a place to live and if you experience problems during the year. For further student accommodation tips, see www.usi.ie.

Majority of young people are not pursuing their passions – Pitman SOME 84% of 16 to 24-year olds are not pursuing their passions as a career, according to statistics released by Pitman Training.

The training centre’s statistics show a huge mismatch in career dreams and career choices, with many risking missing their true calling after leaving school.

Research reveals that 84% of 16-24 year olds don’t know how to turn their passions into a career, and 49% feel a lack of qualifications halts them exploring aspirational career opportunities, suggesting that the next generation of employees are at risk of career

dissatisfaction when entering the job market.

Research also revealed that young people are also against more ‘traditional’ jobs such as admin or accounts.

An advice centre is now available at Pitman-training.ie to help school leavers discover how personality and passions can be channelled into careers.

It also shares tips from PAs who are ex-Pitman students, who now work for the BBC and ITV. They came together to challenge the myth that being a PA is old-fashioned and “boring”.

Roy Lalor, at Pitman Training Swords, said: “We’re really excited about meeting school leavers not going to college to help them structure their next steps.

“At school age, young people can fall into jobs or further training that is a ‘filler’ [job], so they risk not achieving their true potential.

“Many of our training courses can open doors to help people work in the industries they really want, if they are focused on progression. PA, web design and accountancy courses in particular can open up a huge variety of doors into interesting careers.”

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LEARNINGCURVE GUIDANCE: WHETHER YOU WANT TO TRY AGAIN

STUDYNOTES

Continue your learning in the heart of old Dundrum THERE are very good reasons for students to consider undertaking a course in Dundrum College of Further Education.

The FE route provides a real alternative to Higher Education. While traditionally FE (PLC) colleges have been considered the “Plan B” for many students, there is a growing realisation that this option delivers better outcomes for those wishing to use it as a stepping stone to both higher education or direct entry to the labour market.

Dundrum CFE offers a wide variety of full-time courses leading to QQI-validated awards at Levels 5 and 6, and suitable for school leavers to mature students.

Courses are available in the areas of Business, Computing, Nursing and Healthcare, Early Childhood

Care and Education, Social Studies, Art Crafts & Design, and Horticulture.

This year, the college has added some exciting new courses to their prospectus, and has revamped existing programmes to reflect the latest developments in technology and the workplace.

The College is hosting an open day and an art and crafts exhibition of graduates’ work on Wednesday, August 31 at its Main Street campus (next to the AIB bank).

This will provide an opportunity for those considering upskilling or reskilling to talk to teachers about course options and see the IT facilities available. All are welcome.

Applications can be made online at www.cfedundrum.com. All courses commence during September.

Don’t panic as you Leaving Cert – many

SO YOU have received your Leaving Certificate results – congratulations!

Hopefully, you are happy with your achievements and they reflect the hard work you have put in over the last two years.

The next important date in your calendar – if you have applied for higher education courses through the CAO – is Monday, August 22.

This is when the points for this year’s courses are published and college offers are issued from the CAO (available from 6am); see cao.ie for further information.

 EDEL MCMANUS Guidance counsellor, Lucan Community College

It goes without saying that you should have fully researched your course before you accept a place.

There is no shortage of information in this regard on college websites, qualifax and careersportal.

Please ensure you follow the instructions carefully when accepting your

offer and make sure you pay close attention to acceptance deadlines.

For lots of reasons, not all students will be happy with their results. Perhaps you did not reach your potential, or you are disappointed that your results do not reflect your efforts. This can be an emotional and stressful time.

It is crucial to remember that your Leaving Certificate results do not define you, nor measure your worth as a person.

If you have determination, passion and a willingness to work hard, you

can accomplish whatever your goal may be.

Here are a few options to consider if you have not received the results you were hoping for ...

Review/Re-correction of your exam script.

You may wish to consider viewing your corrected exam script. This will allow you to view the marks awarded to you, and if you feel there has been an error in the marks awarded, you have the option to have your paper re-corrected.

It is free to view a script, although there is a fee for having it remarked.

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GAZETTE

LEARNINGCURVE

OR MOVE ON, FOCUS ON TAKING POSITIVE STEPS STUDYNOTES Payroll tasks add up to a satisfying job

face life after your options lie ahead When you receive your results from your school, the details on how to avail of this will be included.

Pay close attention to closing dates.

Higher Level Maths exam – second chance exam. If you failed HL Maths and it is a requirement for your course, some institutions offer an alternative exam in the days after the results.

If you pass this, you could still qualify for your course. Contact the admissions office of the institution immediately or check online.

Consider repeating the Leaving Certificate.

Search for repeat Leaving Cert courses in your area,

and apply. You will soon be called for interview.

This may be the best option if you feel you could improve your results with another attempt.

Consider a course in a College of Further Education. Places have already been awarded to students who applied earlier in the year, but there will be some vacant places available.

Apply online; use websites like Qualifax and CareersPortal to help you decide on a course you would be interested in.

Most such courses have an excellent progression route linked in, meaning that the Level 5 award

may allow you to progress onto Level 6/7/8 courses in Higher Education.

Vacant place courses available on CAO. If a Higher Education Institution has added a new course after the change of mind closing date or places remain unfilled after CAO offers have been made, there may be an opportunity to apply for a course at this stage.

See the CAO website for information.

Consider an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships can be an excellent way of working towards a qualification that is vocationally-based whilst earning a wage. See Careersportal. ie for specific apprentice-

ship information; Solas.ie is also helpful.

Go straight to employment. Getting into the workplace straight away can be an appropriate option for some students.

This allows you to begin earning money and can allow you to pursue training opportunities within the workplace if they are available.

Mature Entry. Some students take this route and decide to pursue third-level education later in life. Mature students are considered from 23 years of age onwards. Life experience is given consideration at this point.

Life experience Very few people can say at age 17/18 that they know what career they would like to be working at in later life.

As such, you do not need to know exactly what you want to do just yet. Do something in an area that interests you and for which you have an aptitude.

Life experience will guide your journey. Continuing your education will undoubtedly allow you more f lexibility, opportunity and choice as well as increasing your earning potential.

A national helpline is run by The National Parents’ Council in association with The Irish Independent, Eir and supported by the Department of Education and Skills.

The Institute of Guidance Counsellors provide qualified guidance counsellors to give advice and support to students and their parents.

The helpline phone number is 1800 265 165, and you can email helpline@npcpp.ie.

PAYROLL is a vital function in every company, yet the vast majority of payroll personnel have no formal payroll qualifications.

Dealing with ever changing revenue, social welfare and employment law legislation, working to strict deadlines, being proficient in the use of IT and dealing with a myriad of queries from employees and management alike, means that the role of payroll personnel is a highly demanding one, whether operating as a one-person payroll department, or as a member of a pay-

roll team in a large multinational.

If you would like to pursue a career in payroll or would like to enhance your career prospects, the Irish Payroll Association (IPASS) is Ireland’s leading provider of payroll and VAT training and certification. Their qualifications are accredited by QQI (Quality Qualifications Ireland) at Level 6.

Classes are held nationwide and by distance/online learning.

For further information, contact IPASS at 01 408 9100, or see www. ipass.ie.

20 GAZETTE 18 August 2016

GAZETTE

LEARNINGCURVE Lessons in refreshing style, thanks to ilac Centre

HEADING back to college shortly or looking forward to your very first day?

W h i c h e ve r i t is, you will want to look your best walking through the doors of your new home for the next year or more.

So, with this in mind, the Ilac Centre asked Xpose stylist Rob Condon to pick out some really cool and casual looks to help you feel even more proud and confident.

Yo u c a n p i c k u p some really great pieces that won’t break the bank from stores such as Catch, Unique M e n s we a r, J a c k & Jones, Angel, Emotion, TKMaxx, River Island, H&M, Quiz and Diesel.

And, for cosy boots and footwear, check out Cans fabulous new store,

Korkys, Emotion Shoes, Debenhams and Dunnes Stores, who all have their fabulous aiutumn/winter ranges arriving in daily.

Not forgetting the essentials like stationery, bags, phones, calculators, laptops and battery packs – for these, the Ilac has a number of stores for you to choose from.

Check out FoneFixer, The PC Clinics, Gadget Geek, Meteor, Virgin Media, Bag City, Argos and Dealz With all the fun and hard work going on, don’t forget to keep healthy.

Stock up on multivitamins and supplements at Boots, Holland & Barrett and SO Nutrition.

If you, or someone you know, is starting college this year, they will be interested to read the Ilac Centre’s 12 Tips for Starting College – see ilac.ie/news – but even more than that, they might just fancy winning €500 worth of Autumn/Winter style in the Ilac Centre.

All they have to do is post a selfie of their favourite look on Instagram, tagged #CollegeStyle, and also tag @Ilac_Centre anytime between now and Friday, August 26.

Entrants must be over 18 to enter but can enter as often as they like.

See ilac.ie/terms for full terms and conditions.

The ilac Centre’s retailers offer superb style for everyone heading on to college and further education

DUN LAOGHAIRE: COURSES FOR ALL EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS ON OFFER AT DFEI

All abuzz at a busy hub of learning

YOU may not immediately notice the Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute building on Cumberland Street in Dun Laoghaire, situated in the quiet end of the town.

However, there is a completely different buzz when you pass through the DFEi’s automatic doors – the buzz students feel between classes or at break time when the stairs and corridors are filled

with learners of all ages, and from all diverse backgrounds.

They might be heading for the library to type up an assignment, heading to the sound studio to do a recording, the radio studio to do an interview or to the TV and film studio for a casting call.

Why not tune into 107.8fm and listen to DFEi’s very own radio station, The Wave? You will find an archive of accom-

plished documentaries, thanks to the journalism students.

Other learners of a more scientific bent might be bracing themselves for a dissection in the lab, or for testing their newly acquired veterinary assistance or grooming skills on real animals.

Meanwhile, more corporate-minded business learners will be grappling with computerised payroll, bookkeeping,

spreadsheets and databases courses, while office administration learners will be acquiring the languages of medicine and the law.

In DFEi, you are as likely to see learners carrying T-squares and tool kits as guitars and cameras.

That’s because courses such as Furniture Making and Restoration, and Musical Instrument Making and Repair

demand the tools of the trade.

These are just some of the many diverse courses on offer at the DFEi building, and so if, for whatever reason, you do not get enough points for your chosen third level course, consider spending a year in DFEi. DFEi courses are open to learners from all walks of life with all types of prior experience who for whatever reason are seeking the knowledge,

skills and competencies to enhance their employment or educational progression opportunities.

DFEi’s quality-assured courses are designed to meet current industry standards, while also ensuring students’ individual needs are met.For further information on all DFEi courses, see http://dfei. ie/, telephone 01 280 9676, or email info@dfei.ie.

18 August 2016 GAZETTE 21

GAZETTE

22 GAZETTE 18 August 2016

DUBLINLIFE

GAMING

LITTLE BITS OF CODE MADE QUINTILLIONS OF GAME WORLDS IT’S difficult to convey in print the exhilarating visual impact at the heart of No Man’s Sky – gamers can walk about on any planet, look up at a moon in the sky, and then hop in their spaceship, fly straight to that moon, land, hop out and explore, before choosing to head off to another planet or star system – all without any loading screen.

Repeat to infinity, and beyond ...

We’ve never seen such a visually arresting spectacle in games before – at least, never at this truly vast scale – where there is an entire universe to explore, with one vast world following after another.

How is this universe-

sized game possible?

It’s all thanks to maths.

Yes, maths! While there are several in-game assets that are manmade and re-used – for example, space stations, planetary shelters, chairs – the game otherwise uses complex algorithms to create the worlds.

All kinds of variables are used to create everything you see – and then, once you leave, the game “throws away” the planet/system you just left, as its complex algorithms will recreate it exactly for you if you ever return – or for any other intrepid explorer who may stumble across it.

From such little bits of code working together, an entire universe thus springs into existence.

Here’s another random planet to land on, explore, mine for resources, and maybe even name everything for posterity – although if you do, there’s no guarantee that millions of other players will ever even stop at this system, let alone see Planet Fuzzybottom IV... Screengrabs: Shane Dillon

18,446,744,073,709,551,616 *

REASONS TO PLAY NO MAN’S SKY  SHANE DILLON

Tech Editor

* BELIEVE it or not, that’s how many worlds that No Man’s Sky (PS4, PC, Cert 7+) offers gamers to explore.

A n d w h e n I s ay “worlds”, I mean worlds – the game creates entire moons and planets (see panel, left) in little star systems, each of which are all part of a single, shared online universe containing 18,446,74– yes, well,

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‘Space is big. You just won’t believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it’s a long way down the road to the chemist’s, but that’s just peanuts to space.’

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Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

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you know the rest!

Perhaps best described as a blend of Minecraft and Star Trek, players come to beside a crashed spaceship on their own random planet on the far-

flung edge of a universe, with an overall aim of reaching the far, far away centre.

They do so by exploring, mining and trading resources, gradually

upgrading their spaceship (or buying a new one), suit, and mining tool/ weapon, moving a few stars closer to the centre, and becoming ever more capable explorers, traders

or fighters – and often, a mix of all three.

The oddball game has made a moon-sized impact on the games industry, with enormous interest scrutinising its technology and emergent gameplay, flaws and all.

Although a very divisive title – many dismiss its “boring” exploration and meandering across the stars, which is precisely what appeals to many others – No Man’s Sky is out of this world indeed ...

Much of the game is spent using inventory and upgrade screens, which are somewhat unwieldy to use. Future

Postcards from the edge ... With some fantastically pretty planets to discover

No Man’s Sky updates could iron out this clunky wrinkle.

(as well as plenty of dull ones), there’s always somewhere new to find and explore

18 August 2016 GAZETTE 23

fast

GALWAY: A TREASURE TROVE FOR NATURE NUTS

Revealing enchanting Take advantage of some September sun and hidden worlds

TRAVEL NEWS WITH September almost on our doorstep, many of us are feeling a little bit deflated. The summer is almost gone, and the sun is becoming a less frequent sight with each passing day.

But don’t pout because there are plenty of reasons why you should take a sun holiday during the month of September.

1. Stock up on prewinter Vitamin D Vitamin D plays an important role in the absorption of nutrients; it helps to prevent osteoporosis and arthritis; and it helps regulate things like blood pressure, stress, tension, as well as various body aches.

Well guess what?

The sun is one of the best sources of Vitamin D. With the Irish sun going missing for most of the summer and going into hibernation for the winter, a September holiday really is an investment in your health…right?

2. ‘Us’ time As much as we all love our kids, let’s face it; summer is hard! Minding and entertaining the kids is a 24/7 job dur-

ing the summer. With schools reopening in a few weeks’ time, why not grab the opportunity to call in the favour of a grandparent and head away to the sun with your other half?

After all, every couple deserves time to themselves!

3. Special Offers on September Sun Holidays Peak season for sun holidays is mid-summer.

As we approach September, sun holidays get cheaper.

Not only that, your favourite shops will have huge sales on all their holiday ranges. So not only can you enjoy the sun on a budget… you can also enjoy the sun on a budget and in style!

Fancy going on a sun holiday in September?

Of course you do!

Why not check out Abbey Travel’s sun holiday offers.

Think Costa Dorada for €299. Costa del Sol for €239. Algarve for €199. Malta for €309.

All prices are per person based on four sharing and include flights and seven nights, 3-star accommodation.

 IAN BEGLEY

THE Freshwater Detect i ve , P r o f e s s o r K e n Whelan, has combined forces with Delphi Resort, County Galway to craft a unique weekend experience at the lovely Aasleagh Lodge in Leenane.

Delphi Resort and Ken W helan have designed an in-depth (pun intended) and intriguing weekend at Aasleagh Lodge, an offpiste adventure exploring the Ice Roads, the hidden river valleys gouged out by glaciers millennia ago.

Detecting the presence of furtive predators such as otters and mink, learning how other predators such as herons, cormorants and seals interact with 10,000-year old populations of silvery sea trout and the majestic wild Atlantic salmon, on this unique nature trail you’ll hopefully come face-to-face with some of the most fascinating creatures to be found in abundance around the Connemara region’s waterways.

Ken will teach you how to identif y the

Children can enjoy identifying insects and other invertebrates in rivers

insects and other invertebrates in the rivers and streams you visit and you’ll also learn how to identif y the more common birds and animals, and how to read a river corridor, a river channel or a lakeshore.

Professor Whelan previously led a team of scientists who worked throughout the River Erriff catchment area for almost a decade so he knows this area like the back of his hand, and will guide budding Freshwater Detectives on a unique freshwater

trek from the cosy base in Aasleagh Lodge to some of the more remote rivers and hill loughs of the west of Ireland.

He will reveal an enchanting and fascinating world, largely hidden from view to the casual visitor with field trips accompanied by lively talks, slides and video clips, in a conversational, fun and relaxed weekend.

Designed for nature nuts and freshwater fans, or anybody who wants to explore this unique aquatic world, Aasleagh Lodge is

hosting three weekend Freshwater Detective courses – one each in August, October and November.

The first course runs from August 26 to 29, the second from October 7 to 9, and the third from November 18 to 20. Each Freshwater D e t e c t i ve we e ke n d course is limited exclusively to small groups of guests, and costs €349 per person.

T his includes two nights B&B at Aasleagh Lodge, two lunches and one dinner plus all course fees.

GAZETTE

TRAVEL

Guinness Storehouse still top for visitors THE Guinness Storehouse is once again the top choice for visitors coming to Ireland on holiday.

In Failte Ireland’s annual list of Ireland’s top visitor attractions it stated that last year, the Guinness Storehouse welcomed almost 1.5 million visitors - an increase of almost 230,000 (18%) over the previous year’s performance.

Amongst the nation’s fee-paying attractions, the Storehouse was followed closely by the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience and Dublin Zoo which both registered significant increases in paying visitors during 2015.

Amongst Ireland’s “free to enter” attractions, the National Gallery of Ireland once again continues to lead the way with numbers up 21% to over 718,000.

Also performing well were the National Botanic Gardens, National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology on Kildare Street and Farmleigh all making the top five.

The Irish Museum of Modern Art climbed the rankings to third place recording impressive growth of 58% which can be attributed to a more extensive programme overall in 2015.

GAZETTE

24 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 18 August 2016

DUBLINLIFE

CINEMA

ReelReviews

JASON BOURNE Jason Bourne (Cert 12A, 123 mins) is the fifth movie in the Bourne franchise and marks the return of Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon to the series.

When we reconnect with Bourne, he’s keeping a low profile, making a living as a fighter for hire in some East European outpost.

But when his old CIA colleague and fellow rogue agent Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) tracks him down with information about his father’s death, Bourne heads to Athens to meet with her at a street riot.

That, unfortunately, puts him back on the radar of the CIA, whose top boss Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones) seems determined to take him out.

A little boy has been living in the woods for years, but he wasn’t alone

SUICIDE SQUAD

DISNEY’S PETE’S DRAGON: THIS SOULFUL FAIRY TALE IS MAGICAL STUFF

One of the most highly anticipated films of the year, Suicide Squad (Cert 15, 123 mins) is jam-packed with action, star power and mayhem. To counter threats too dangerous to risk a hero’s life, the US government creates the ‘Suicide Squad’: a black ops team of supervillains whose lives are completely expendable.

They’re the worst of the worst: master assassin Deadshot. The Joker’s girlfriend Harley Quinn.

Human crocodile Killer Croc. In exchange for a better prison deal, they’re sent on an insanely risky mission that will probably get them killed. performances, that’s okay.

A soaring breath of fresh air MUCH like its titular monster, Disney’s Pete’s Dragon is a rare, mythical beast – a contemporary, live action kid’s movie that doesn’t pander to its target audience and refuses to tell jokes just for the parents.

While it suffers from occasional pacing issues, this dreamy, soulful fairy tale should delight audiences young and old.

Disney have hit upon a winning formula in recent years, turning out big budget remakes of reliable classics.

While that trend continues here, 1977’s Pete’s Dragon seems an unlikely source – the original received mixed reviews and only moderate commercial success.

This update, helmed by indie favourite David

 MARTIN MACNAMARA

Lower y, doesn’t rely heavily on its source material and consequently, feels fresher than the standard Disney remake.

Pete’s Dragon manages to tell a relatively simple, heart-warming tale without stumbling into the all-too-easily trod territor y of the sickeningly sweet.

Even so, its stor y begins on a sorrowful note: Five-year-old Pete (Oakes Fegley) survives a car crash while holidaying with his parents.

Wandering into the woodlands of the Pacif-

ic Northwest, he is rescued by an enormous, furry, green Dragon, naming him Elliot after a character in his favorite book.

Six years later, a ferallooking Pete has his first interaction with society by way of a clumsy encounter with a young girl, Natalie (Oona Laurence), her father, Jack ( We s Bentley), and his fiancee,

Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard).

Taking in Pete while they investigate his ori-

gin, the group develops a special bond.

Meanwhile, after a star tling br ush with Elliot, Jack’s brother Gavin (Karl Urban) attempts to hunt down the legendary dragon.

Lowery tells Pete’s story with a healthy dose of Americana – Robert Redford, playing Grace’s father, kicks off the tale with a wonderful bit of satisfying, gravelly-voiced exposition.

A gentle folk score accompanies visually sumptuous shots of endless, Northwestern woodland, and

scenes of life in small town America are captured with quiet transitions and a relaxed, wandering camera.

Lowery has cited film McCabe & Mrs Miller as an influence on his filmmaking and Robert Altman’s presence is certainly felt here – strange as that may be for a contemporary kid’s film.

P e t e ’s D r a g o n i s entirely without the wild hyperactivity that dominates the market these days and jokes are few and far between.

Drifting dreamily from scene to scene, Pete’s Dragon ambles along at a leisurely pace, perhaps even a little slow at times – though only in comparison to its contemporaries.

Consequently, it could be difficult to have a little one sit through it.

Indeed, the performances are relatively muted, the dialogue often long and wordy,

and at times it suffers from a notable lack of dragon.

However, when it picks up in the third a c t , P e t e ’s D r a g o n fires along – a highspeed car chase makes for an exciting finale, and when Elliot finale decides to come out of hiding and demonstrate his distinctly draconic talents, younger kids should be jumping in their seats.

Deviated as it is from the contemporary mainstream, Pete’s Dragon is a film experience outof-time: a classic kind of children’s movie and a breath of fresh air. While it might take a little extra concentration for the youngest audiences, Pete’s Dragon will warm the hearts of children and parents alike.

Verdict: 8/10

18 August 2016 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 25

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26 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 18 August 2016

DUNDRUMCLASSIFIEDS RECRUITMENT

ABC CERTIFIED 52,958 COPIES EACH WEEK (ABC: Group MFD, Jan- Dec 2015).

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OUR READERS CALL 01 60 10 240

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GOT A STORY? WE WANT TO KNOW!

TELL US ABOUT YOUR LOCAL EVENT, CELEBRATION OR FUNCTION

Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 OPTION and SELECT

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or email news@dublingazette.com ADVERTISE WITH THE GAZETTE CALL 60 10 240

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18 August 2016 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 27

DUNDRUMCLASSIFIEDS

RECRUITMENT Are you looking for a career change?

Dublin Gazette Newspapers are looking for bright enthusiastic people to work on our Dublin Gazette.

We offer full training.

Relaxed working environment.

Hours 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Competitive salary.

Excellent commissions based on achievable targets.

Also if you are currently working in a sales environment and would like to break into the newspaper industry we would like to hear from you.

To apply: send CV in first instance to: David Kelly dkelly@dublingazette.com or call Mob: 085 8242626.

GAZETTE

28 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 18 August 2016

SPORT Magical Murphy an Irish icon

FastSport

OLYMPICS: ANNALISE MURPHY SAILS HER WAY TO SILVER FOR IRELAND

DUNDRUM WIN GLOHEALTH:

DUNDRUM/ SOUTH DUBLIN won the Women’s National Athletics League in Tullamore earlier this month, coming through the finale after earlier team victories in Santry and Belfast propelled them to the season’s heights.

The team relied on a number of impressive dual-event athletes picking up points in a hard-fought finale, with Grace O’Rourke’s unusual double in the 800 metres and the high jump complemented

by Fiona Clinton’s first and third places in the 3,000 metres and 1,500 metres respectively.

Grainne Moggan followed her long jump effort by chipping in for the 4x400m relay, with Rachel Dunne also competing fresh from the single lap hurdles.

Sprinters Kate Doherty, Mollie O’Reilly and Katie Berney also scored highly as Dundrum South Dublin took the title ahead of St Abban’s in second.

 JONNY STAPLETON sport@dublingazette.com

ANNALISE MURPHY put to bed the ghosts of Weymouth to win Ireland’s second medal of the Rio Olympics on Tuesday night, with the radial sailor from Dun Laoghaire National Yacht Club com ing through a tense medal race to pick up a longoverdue silver.

T he 2012 London Oly mpics had hung over Murphy ahead of the medal race in particular. She surprised many then to win the first four races of those Games, only to fall victim to nerves over the last two days The finale - which sees the field narrowed

to the top dozen competitors and holds a greater weighting than the dozen races that proceed it - had been Mur phy’s undoing when she raced in the Weymouth-based event at the London Olympics. That time around, she slipped from a narrow second place to a wrenching fourth. With any position from the gold medal to fifth a possibility going into the finale this time around, Murphy held her nerve.

Wo r k i n g o n h e r weaknesses over the last four years had become a big part of Murphy’s game and it’s easy to see why when, at six foot one, she stands seven inches above most of

her competitors. Speaking to GazetteSport in Rio, she found it hard to contain her delight.

“I realised that it was going to be gold or silver when I reached the second top mark because I was a good bit ahead of Anne-Marie [Rindom, from Denmark, who eventually took bronze] and Marit [ B o u w m e e s t e r, t h e eventual gold medallist from Holland],” Murphy said after the finale, “so I think I was in gold for a good while but lost a few [places] on that last downwind. Once I crossed the line I knew I was in silver and I was absolutely delighted.”

“It feels amazing,” she continued. “This time four years ago I

Annalise Murphy posing during a pre-Rio photo shoot.

was just devastated, I had just finished fourth and to come back and get the silver medal, it’s just an incredible feeling. I said I was going to do this but for the last few years I didn’t think I was going to be able to, so it’s incredible.”

Murphy celebrated by throwing herself into the Guanabara Bay, with much of her family looking on from the beach.

“I felt like I drank three litres of water as I jumped in, ‘cause I

was screaming,” she e x p l a i n e d . “ I we n t out today knowing I couldn’t treat it any d i f f e r e n t t h a n a ny other race I’ve done this week, so I was just going to attack it and not being afraid of losing ‘cause that’s what happened four years ago, I was afraid of losing instead of trying to win.”

“I started this year and I kinda thought that my best was past me. To be able to come back when it actu-

ally mattered and get a result in a really difficult week of racing, I’m just so happy.”

With the Laser Radial World Championship having taken place in Dun Laoghaire, Murphy is already looking to the future after clocking Ireland’s first Olympic sailing medal since the Moscow Olympics 36 years ago. “I hope I can inspire a whole new generation of sailors to get to the Olympics and achieve something,” she concluded.

Rebel’s yell loudest as they end Trojan’s win streak  sport@dublingazette.com

Rebels players plead with referee

DUBLIN REBELS upset hot favourites Belfast Trojans to take home the Shamrock Bowl at the Tallaght Stadium last week, ending a run of four successive titles for the Northern side with a spectacular final-seconds snatch and grab.

Traditionally amongst the country’s top American football outfits, the Rebels have struggled against their rivals in recent years, and in a low-scoring season finale, needed every ounce of nous to edge through a low

scoring encounter.

A fumble by the Trojans close to their own end zone presented the Rebels with the only notable chance of a cagey first quarter, one which enabled quarterback Andrew Dennehy to find receiver Cathal Keane in a crowded end zone to give the Rebels a six point lead, with an attempt at the two point conversion foiled.

The score remained that way until early in the third quarter, when Jonah Siri and Neil Montgomery combined to charge downfield and make up the ground that the Trojans have

consistently racked up all season. It was Montgomery who barged over from inches out, with Rick Duffield adding the extra point to hand the favourites a narrow 7-6 lead.

The absence of a solid kicker for the Rebels appears an obvious weakness, with a number of scoring opportunities passed up for the home side over the course of the contest, chances offering points that could have negated the day’s late drama.

There are few finer ways to win an underdog title than in the dying seconds, however, and

the Rebels served up the critical score right as the clock ticked away.

Ciaran Fitzpatrick was the man for the moment, as he ran in a twenty yard completion off a pass from Dennehy to turn the game on its head with only seconds left to play.

The Trojans tried their best to force some serious yards in the dying second of the game, but the timely Rebels score marked the end of a dominant era: the Trojans rule of American football in Ireland ends at a four year streak.

18 August 2016 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 29

GAZETTE

Croquet on up thanks to world class Irish

Danny Johnston believes there is room for the game to grow in Ireland as they battle to beat the pre-conceptions, he spoke to James Hendicott about teaching others the game he loves TUCKED BELOW the Wimbledon-lite grass courts of the Carrickmines lawn tennis club and its opulent clubhouse are four smooth-as-velvet croquet pitches, a small scoring hut and the very heart of an unheralded game in which Ireland is truly world class.

Croquet might not be one of the world’s more celebrated sports, but in the past the Irish championships have attracted the very best, including a visit from Australian world number one Robert Fletcher and a host of other visiting stars.

This year’s event is a little more low key while Croquet Ireland - under the leadership of bubbly president Joe McGowan - are working on developing more options for future matches. The loss of a couple of key national-level players and pro-

motional difficulties have seen a recent ebb in the sport, one they’re fighting hard to turn around.

In some ways the ebb is strange; whilst making for a slow-paced spectator sport [a particularly close association match could easily run to three hours], Ireland’s captain Danny Johnston - a Trinity student who’s been playing virtually all his life - sits alongside Simon Williams, Evan Newell and Jane Morrison in being genuinely globally competitive.

The sport is unusual in that it allows men and women to compete against each other directly, with no notable advantage to be gained by being physically stronger.

There’s also a clever, tactical system that allows relative newcomers to compete competitively with players like John-

Danny Johnston and his doubles partner Niamh Walsh.

ston and Williams.

What stands out about Irish croquet is how accessible even the top level players are during competition. Ireland captain Johnston takes time between shots to coach curious visitors on the rules of the game, and the strategy involved, even pausing between shots to explain why he played them.

“What I don’t like is the clique around the sport - things like the Pimms adverts,” Johnston says. “If you had to compare it to another sport, it’s a lot like snooker. There’s a lot of positional play, and once the best players get ‘in’, you might not get another shot. As you can see,” he adds, pointing around the Carrickmines venue, “it’s really something for any age group, and it’s really quite a cheap sport

to get involved in, too.”

McGowan is more focused on the history, as well as the potential for development. He sketches out the broad historical connections of the sport, which take in the matchplay of Billy the Kid, as well as a number of historical accounts suggesting that croquet’s origins may well be Irish.

ment of facilities as far afield as Westport and in various parts of Wicklow.

McGowan’s also keen to emphasize the family-like atmosphere of the sport, including the tendency of clubs to put up visiting international stars around match days. It’s a homegrown solution for a sport that receives just €5,000 in annual

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‘What I don’t like is the clique around the sport - things like the Pimms adverts’ - Danny Johnston

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His recent additions to the sport focus heavily on persuading venues to add croquet lawns and bringing the game to the public, with efforts including a historical, costumed event in Strokestown Park and the develop-

government backing, and spends that almost exclusively on funding the competition-essential travel of its younger and more serious players.

The Irish nationals themselves - which took place over a week in early August - saw Ireland’s highest-ranked played Simon Williams take both the singles and doubles titles.

Johnston and Newell will front the Irish team when they return to action in the McWeeney trophy on August 20th and 21st, with the annual match against England, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man taking place in Carrickmines .

Croquet Ireland are always keen to hear from those interested in the sport, with contact details available via their website.

GAZETTE

30 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 18 August 2016

SPORT

SOCCER: UNITED HOPING TO PUSH FOR PROMOTION AFTER SIGNINGS

FASTSport Six in a row for impressive Dundrum DUNDRUM South Dublin women’s team have won the GloHealth National League for the sixth time in a row.

The first round took place in Santry, with the second in Belfast and final round in Tullamore.

Grace O’Rourke won the High Jump before switching her attentions to the 800m – which she also won to obtain maximum points.

Grainne Moggan finished fifth in the Long Jump and sixth in the Shot Putt, before joining Sinead Denny, Rachel Dunne and Mollie O’Reilly for the 4x400m relay.

Denny also won the 400m in a time of 54.57 as well as leading the 4x100m ladies to victory.

Dunne was good enough to forego the first week of her holidays in order to compete for the club and as well as competing in the relay, she also finished second in the 400m Hurdles.

Fiona Clinton finished third in the 1500m after crossing the line in a time of 4.52.18 before impressively winning the 3,000m in 10.23.96, despite having very little time to rest between races.

Kate Doherty also made a massive contribution to the points tally by winning the 100m Hurdles and 4x100m relay to score maximum points.

As well as the 4x100m and 4x400m, O’Reilly also competed in the 200m, where she finished third in a time of 24.74.

Katie Berney finished fifth in the 100m, while also competing in the 4x100m relay.

The team also obtained points through Aleyna Narbey in the 1500m Walk, Rose Alice Murphy in the Discus, Lucy Moore in the Hammer and Javelin, and Ailbhe Kenny in the Triple Jump.

The men’s team had less success, however, with a depleted team finishing eight after sitting in fifth for most of the campaign.

Sean Roth managed to win the Pole Vault after recording a height of 4.7m, before picking up further points by finishing joint fourth in the High Jump and fourth in the 110m Hurdles.

Emmet Jennings produced a great run to finish just over a second behind first in a time of 9.27.30, while John Eves finished 2nd in the 5,000m.

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TEK cause stir with star LOI signing sport@dublingazette.com

TEK United look set to swap a relegation battle for a promotion push after making vast improvements to their squad over the close season.

United finished just one place above the Leinster Senior League senior Sunday 1 drop zone last term, but hope to push towards the Intermediate top tier this time around.

The LSL side have made a quantity move and brought in sixteen new faces, a w h o l e s q u a d wo r t h o f changes, but it is the quality amidst that quantity that has raised eyebrows.

Indeed, among the sixteen incomings could well be the transfer coup of the summer as TEK secured themselves a star player and young coach in one swoop.

Former UCD, Shelb o u r n e , B r ay Wa n d e rers and Gateshead player Darren Forsyth joined a management team led by Less Flynn, and has been double jobbing at the club since pre-season started on July 9th.

Forsyth, whose brother wo n t h e FA I I n t e r m e diate Cup with Crumlin United just last season, has 10 years’ experience on the professional and semiprofessional circuit and was a star performer for Firhouse C l ove r l a s t s e a s o n a s t h e y m o u n t e d a s u rprise assault on the Leinster Senior Sunday title.

Considering the TEK player coach was a stand out performer in the top flight it would be safe to assume he

DUBLIN’S BOWL DELIGHT XXXX Rebel’s Xxxxx yell loudest as they defeat the Trojans

XXX xxxRebels upset hot favourites BelDUBLIN fast Trojans to take home the Shamrock Bowl at the Tallaght Stadium last week, ending a run of four successive titles for the Northern side with a spectacular final-seconds snatch and grab.

Traditionally amongst the country’s top American football outfits, the Rebels have struggled against their rivals in recent years, and in a low-scoring season finale, needed every ounce of nous to edge through a low scoring encounter.

can do more than a job in the second tier.

While Forsyth brings a host of experience to the squad, hence his coaching role, the club have also signed from the other end of the spectrum.

They have bolstered the roster with some young, hungry and talented players, with two of said players having come in from the League of Ireland.

Talents

Both Adam O’Brien and Jordan Brown have signed from the Bray Wanderers Under-19s. Centre back O’Brien has played for Bray’s Under-17s and Under-19s while left-full Brown was a school boy at St Joseph’s Boys before playing two seasons as part of the Seagulls’ Under-19 side. Both are said

to be talents worth keeping an eye out for.

The recruitment didn’t stop there however, with the ambitious club adding players to their squad from all walks of amateur football life.

Firhouse Saturday regular Derek Rogerson follows Forsyth from Tallaght to TEK, John Kavanagh comes in from Ballybrack, as does Paddy Byrne.

Kyle Kelly joins from Enniskerry, Dean Tiley and Daragh Smyth both join from St Patricks CY of Ringsend, and John Flood from Wayside Celtic.

Also returning to the club are Alan Doyle, who signed for Cabinteely Elbana in January, while Daniel Flynn Fallon, Cozzy Harmon and Barry Allen make their back from America.

18 August 2016 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 31

GAZETTESPORT ALL OF YOUR DUNDRUM SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 28-31

AUGUST 18-24, 2016

TEK UNITED: The Dublin side with the Egyptian name MURPHY’S SILVER SAILING: Annalise Murphy lands Iremakes major signing to boost promotion push P30 land’s first sailing medal P28

Boxer Byrning it at both ends  JONNY STAPLETON

sport@dublingazette.com

JAY Byrne will add some Dublin flavour to a Belfast boxing card this October.

The Loughlinstown novice who thrilled crowds on his professional debut in the National Stadium in June, will box on the MHD Promotions show at the Devenish Venue on Saturday October 8th, just a few days after his 30th birthday.

However, the Enni-

skerry FC player manager doesn’t want to hang around, and he looks certain to fight on a yet to be officially confirmed fight night in the National Stadium on September 17.

Indeed, such is his ticket selling capabilities, he may also be asked to return to the home of Irish boxing for a proposed November 5th show.

T hat r un of bouts could see the Eddie Hyland and Tommy McCormack trained

fighter push to 4-0 within five months of making his debut.

He won’t admit it but in the current climate, if he then manages to squeeze in an eight round contest early next year he will be in Irish title contention.

“I’m buzzing about October 8th to be honest. It’s great to get the chance to fight in Belfast. I have been really looking forward to boxing on Mark Dunlop’s show,” Byrne said.

“It’s an honour to be

a part of another promotional companies show and I will not let Mark or the people that travel to see me down.

I’m also hopeful that the proposed September show in Dublin goes ahead. If it does then hopefully I can get a nice run of fights.

“I’m talking to Red Corner about November 5th in Dublin as well, so could be four fights before Christmas, which would be great and a great start to the career.”

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Boxing is not the only sport Byrne is involved in, nor is it the only thing that keeps him busy. Byrne oversaw

promotion and Tom Cullen Cup success last year as player manager of Enniskerry, and has added the role of direc-

tor of football for the season ahead.

S o w h i l e p r e p a ring himself for fights, he has also been preparing his players for the new challenges ahead.

All this while tr ying to virtually run a club and set-up structures to ensure Enniskerry continue to progress.

“Since the last fight I h ave b e e n r e a l l y busy with my Job at Enniskerr y YC AFC as well as been Director of Football and first team manager.”