Fingal

Gazette FINGAL

April 6 - 12, 2017

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FIDDLER ON THE HOOF: Dance sensation Daithi talks to The Gazette P16-17

PHOENIX RISING SPORT Garristown land three in row 31

Ciaran’s family speak of ‘living nightmare’  SYLVIA POWNALL

Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

HOW DUBLIN ZOO See Page 3 BECAME A GLOBAL TV STAR

THE sister of coastguard Ciaran Smith, who has been missing for three weeks, has described the tragedy as a “living nightmare”, adding: “We need them home now.”

Orla Smith issued a heart-

felt plea for help in finding 38-year-old winch operator Ciaran (right) from Oldtown and his colleague, Paul Ormsby (53) from Ballyfermot.

They have not yet been located since their Sikorsky S-92 helicopter crashed

into Blackrock island off the Mayo coast in the early hours of March 14. Orla said: “For my family and Paul Ormsby’s family, it is a living nightmare.

We need those boys home now. We really do.”

A minute’s silence was

observed at a minors match involving players from Wild Geese GAA Club, of which Ciaran was an active member, on Saturday. The dad-ofthree was due to celebrate his 39th birthday this Sunday Continued on Page 4 Still missing: Coastguard Ciaran Smith

2 FINGAL GAZETTE 6 April 2017

EDUCATION | DEPARTMENT NOT DOING ENOUGH, SAYS FG DEPUTY

Warning as schools place crisis worsens for Swords parents  SYLVIA POWNALL

A SCHOOLS crisis lasting several years is looming in Swords because the Department of Education cannot predict the town’s needs, it has been claimed.

The issue was raised in the Dail last week after it emerged that up to 100 families in the River Valley area of the town have no place for their child to start school this September.

Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) warned Education Minister Richard Bruton the situation was already at crisis point and was set to get worse as the town’s population is set to grow from 67,000 people to

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‘I do not believe the Department of Education can accurately determine the amount of school places ... needed in Swords over the coming years given the amount of development which will take place’

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Deputy Alan Farrell, FG

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100,000 by 2025.

Deputy Farrell said: “I understand that in January the Department provided the local authority with a comprehensive report on the availability of space for the coming year.

“Regrettably, it has been found that once enrol-

ment was complete in those schools, there were excessive applications in the hundreds throughout the community of Swords.

“The reality of the situation is that it does not appear the Department has adequately catered for educational demand.”

Deputy Farrell later told The Gazette: “I do not believe the Department of Education can accurately determine the amount of school places which will be needed in Swords over the coming years given the amount of development which will take place in our local community.”

He said he had been contacted by several parents who could not get their children into junior infants this year, adding: “Serious issues exist regarding the capacity of primary schools to accommodate every child in need of a school place in their local community.

“Every child must be

provided with a school place for this September, and we must avoid a scenario whereby two children in the same family would be in two different schools.

“It would simply not be in any way feasible, given traffic issues alone, to expect a parent to travel between two schools in Swords and make the starting times of both.”

Deputy Farrell warned that under the current development plan Swords is forecast to expand by 10,000 housing units by 2025 with the arrival of Metro North. He vowed to keep up the pressure on the Department of Education.

FASTNews

Malahide Muggles invited to a magical experience PLACES are filling up fast at the Malahide Muggles Easter Academy which will be held on the west lawn of Malahide Castle on Saturday, April 15.

On entry, a custom-made wand will choose people to help find the magical creatures that have escaped in the West Lawn by following the trail and figuring out some mysterious clues along the way!

All successful Muggles will receive their academy reward at the end of their adventure. The first event runs from 10am to 12 noon, then 11am to 1pm, 2.30pm to 4.30pm and 3.30 to 5.30pm.

Tickets cost €12 per child, €7 per adult. No online booking is available – for details and to book your tickets, contact 01 816 9538.

Creative Writing classes are beginning in Balbriggan ALL those looking to improve their writing are welcome at the Creative Writing classes now under way at Ardgillan Castle, Balbriggan.

A Beginners course starts on Wednesday, April 19 and will run for 10 weeks, while an Improvers course starts on April 20 and 21.

These courses explore a range of topics, from character and plot development to voice and style.

Through writing exercises and examples from literature, participants will develop an awareness of various literary tools and techniques. These morning classes provide space for the writer to share their work in a supportive workshop environment.

To book a place, contact Ross at 085 1395 320, or email ros1_@hotmail.com. The ten-week course costs €120; for further information see www.balbriggan.info/creative-writing classes.

Ready to abseil off Croker to support mental health?

ALONE initiative to support older people across Fingal

A NEW support service for older people living in Fingal was launched at Swords County Hall last week. ALONE, the charity that supports older people to age at home, has partnered with the HSE to expand its support services to all older people living in these communities.

The initiative aims to address issues facing older people to enable them to continue living independently in their own homes. For those who have concerns about their own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of a vulnerable older person in their community, ALONE can be contacted at 01 679 1032, or at www.alone.ie.

Pictured are Mary Walshe, head of social care, HSE; Eileen Power, chairperson of Swords Senior Citizens; Cllr Tom O’Leary (FG); Brendan Sherlock, Skerries Age Friendly; Nora Owens, chairperson, Fingal Age Friendly Alliance; and Sean Moynihan, chief executive, ALONE.

TAKE on the Jigsaw Croke Park Abseil on Saturday, May 27, to help raise vital funds to support young people with their mental health.

Jigsaw, Ireland’s National Centre for Youth Mental Health, is seeking 60 brave individuals to join in an abseil fundraising challenge from the top of the famous Hogan Stand at Croke Park. The challenge aims to raise more than €30,000.

You can register your interest in taking part online at www.jigsaw.ie/abseil, or by calling 01 472 7010. There is a €50 registration fee, and participants are asked to raise a minimum of €300.

Jigsaw – which has two Dublin offices in Balbriggan and Clondalkin – works closely with communities providing training and workshops that help build confidence and understanding to help young people with their mental health.

6 April 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 3

 SYLVIA POWNALL ZOOKEEPER Gerry Creighton has told how the success of RTE’s The Zoo sees him regularly stopped for selfies by visitors from all over Europe.

The head of operations at Dublin Zoo – who returned to our screens on the hit reality show last Sunday – says it is watched by millions of loyal viewers here and abroad.

Dad-of-two Gerry, a second-generation zookeeper who followed in his father Gerry Sr’s footsteps, told The Gazette: “It’s in the top three shows in Belgium.

“I’m regularly stopped by people from Belgium asking me for a photo and saying they’ve come to Ireland just to see Dublin Zoo. “It’s one of the most popular programmes on Animal Planet UK; sometimes they loop it for 24 hours.

“On a busy day I probably get stopped 100 times by people who say they were first introduced to the zoo through the show. It’s great to see that level of interest.”

The first episode of season seven featured home improvements for the meerkats, a sloth examination and exciting news of Lena’s pregnancy at

ZOO ALORS!

RTE’s hit fly-on-the-wall documentary is Belgium’s third most popular TV show

Gerry, seen here with a pair of tiger cubs, is regularly asked for selfies from tourists

the Gorilla Rainforest.

Each week, viewers will get to watch her progress right up to when she gives birth and feeds her newborn baby for the first time.

The programme clearly shows keepers’ passion for their work as the cameras follow the team around the Phoenix Park facility, which attracted 1.1 million visitors last year.

“After 33 years in this job there isn’t a single day I don’t look forward to going into work. It’s become such a wonderful place and I love that I’ve been part of its evolution,” said Gerry, who manages Dublin Zoo’s elephant programme.

“Now I travel all over the world setting up animal welfare programmes.

We’re actually world leaders in elephant wellness; it’s quite staggering.”

Gerry has nothing but praise for show producers and directors Shane Brennan and John Higgins of Moondance Productions. He added: “We’ve made sure to show the public the realities of life and how a zoo works. It’s not all cute and cuddly.

Animals die, there are births, deaths and triumphs along the way.”

The Zoo airs on RTE One this Sunday at 6.30pm.

4 FINGAL GAZETTE 6 April 2017

Sister’s heartfelt plea to help bring men home

FASTNews

Senator Reilly welcomes new tobacco packaging legislation FORMER Health Minister Dr James Reilly has welcomed legislation which will see the packaging on all tobacco products standardised from September.

The Fine Gael Senator, who spearheaded the campaign during his tenure as Minister for Health, said he was glad to see it signed into law.

He added: “This is a monumental step in the crusade against tobacco and cigarettes. The aim of standardised packaging is to make all tobacco packs look less attractive to consumers by making health warnings more prominent.

“No conversation is complete without referencing the 6,000 lives lost annually through tobacco-related illness.

“Tens of thousands of Irish people live in misery and pain, literally struggling for breath, because of these awful products. I have seen thousands of people suffer from debilitating tobacco-related illnesses in my work as a GP. “This will protect our children and is a positive step towards a brighter, tobacco-free Ireland.”

Continued from Page 1

Would-be panto kings and queens sought for exciting new group setting up in Swords  SYLVIA POWNALL A NEW pantomime group is coming to Swords – and it’s on the lookout for budding actors and dancers both young and old.

Tempus Productions, a panto and drama group founded in 2009 and currently based in Clontarf, is setting up roots in the North County capital this summer.

The group will be based at Colaiste Choilm on Swords Main Street and organisers are already recruiting children from the age of six upwards.

Tempus director Ciaran

Kavanagh from Swords said: “I’ve been involved in theatre for over 20 years and we’ve always prided ourselves on the professional quality and standard of our shows.

“Pantomime isn’t just for extroverts. We’ve worked with some very shy and quiet people over the years.

The beauty of panto is the freedom – it’s not you, it’s

the characters that you get to have fun with.”

No experience is necessary and anyone interested should get in touch via the website (www.tempusproductions.net) or the Tempus Productions Facebook page.

Registration will close at the end of May and rehearsals will run from September to December when its panto will be staged in Dublin.

REPORT | PRICES UP 8.7% IN A YEAR

Average home in Fingal now past the €280k mark THE average price of a three-bed semi in Fingal has increased by 40% from their lowest point during the slump, new figures show.

A report by property website Daft.ie reveals how prices across Dublin rose at an annual rate of 8.7% in the year to March – up from just 1% at the same time last year.

Some economists are now predicting that house prices in the capital are set to hit Celtic Tiger levels by 2020 as the gap between rural and urban property prices becomes even more stark.

In north county Dublin, the average price for a three-bed semi-detached house now stands at €283,000 – up more than €90,000 in value since the property crash.

As you move closer to the city centre, the price increases substantially and the average for Dublin overall for a threebed semi is now €340,000 – rising to €637,000 in the leafy and sought-after suburb of Dublin 4.

A lack of housing stock is being blamed for the sharp price increases

Fingal’s climbing property prices echo the rise across the capital

and it’s predicted that property prices in Dublin could reach 2006 levels within three years.

The national average is a much lower €230,000. The sharp rise in Dublin is being blamed on what Daft.ie report author Ronan Lyons described as the “mini London effect” of charging an “urban premium” for property in the capital.

Orla said the kindness and support shown to her parents, Teresa and Michael, and the rest of the family had helped them through the tragedy.

She also praised the efforts of rescue workers and investigators – and appealed for local fishermen to help bring Ciaran and Paul home to their loved ones.

She said: “We’re doing our best to keep going, to stay as strong as possible and to stay as positive as we can. But it is tough.

“My parents need them home, my sister-in-law needs him home. My nieces need him home. They have to come home now.

“To all fishing vessels big and small, we are appealing to them to please come to help us now. We want to try and find Paul and Ciaran. If they’re in the sea and they’re there to be found, we need to use the fishermen’s knowledge to try and find them.”

Ciaran, a keen GAA footballer and cyclist, was due to celebrate his 39th birthday this Sunday with his wife, Martina, and his three young girls, aged 7, 10 and 12.

Orla said: “We were hopeful that the two guys would be with the wreckage, but they’re not. Both families need their men home. That’s where they belong.”

Rescue agencies expressed deep disappointment at the failure to find any trace of the missing men after the wreckage of Rescue 116 was lifted from the seabed.

Irish coast guard operations manager Gerard O’Flynn said: “The hope remains; we haven’t given up hope.”

Captain Dara Fitzpatrick was recovered from the sea within hours of the crash, and the body of co-pilot Mark Duffy was retrieved by divers from the cockpit last Sunday.

6 April 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 5

6 FINGAL GAZETTE 6 April 2017

Out and About

Bee-sy kids help the BUMBLEance The BUMBLEance mascot loved the buzz of upbeat excitement at the busy school

Nicola O’Sullivan from BUMBLEance with St Marnock’s PA chairpersons Cabena Carroll Smith and Valerie Miland, and pupils Beth Miland and Craig Smith.

Pictures: ALISON O’HANLON

Inside the child-friendly, welcoming BUMBLEance

C

HILDREN at St Marnock’s NS in Portmarnock kept the crew of a child-friendly ambulance – the BUMBLEance – very bee-sy answering questions when they paid a special visit to the school recently. The children have beeen helping to fundraise for the special national ambulance service, which provides a welcoming way to transfer children to hospitals, with its fun exterior and imaginatively colourful interior helping kids to relax for any ride they may have to take.

Anna O’Hanlon, Lorna and Jack Smith, Nathan Miland, Craig Smith and Beth Miland from St Marnock’s NS, Portmarnock

6 April 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 7

Out and About

Oisin O Mairtin O Duilearga, Gaelscoil na Giuise Ballycullen Drive Firhouse Dublin 24 and Fionnuala Meehan, VP and Danny Zhao (14) Castleknock College

head of Google Ireland. Pictures: Conor McCabe

Finals of this year’s Doodle 4 Google D

OODLES were done. Votes were counted. And the time had finally come to announce the winner of this year’s Doodle 4 Google contest. This year’s theme “If I could create anything it would be…” gave students the ability to use their imagination as much as they wanted to create their doodle. Erica Redmond from Scoil Carmel in Firhouse was crowned the overall winner.

Daire Stafford (15), Loreto Secondary School Balbriggan County Dublin and Fionnuala Meehan, VP and head of Google Ireland

Isaac German from Monkstown Park Junior School, Dublin

Emma Landers and Daire Stafford from Loreto Secondary School Balbriggan

8 FINGAL GAZETTE 6 April 2017

COURTS | STATE ALLEGES ACCUSED ONE OF FIVE PEOPLE WHO HELD FAMILY HOSTAGE

Swords man denies any role in tiger kidnapping A FOOTBALL top bearing the DNA of the alleged associate of a man accused of a tiger kidnapping was found in the victims’ car, a jury has been told.

Jonathan Gill, 35, of Malahide Road, Swords, is accused of a kidnapping a Drogheda postal worker, his partner and their 10-week-old baby daughter before robbing over €600,000 from the man’s workplace.

It is the State’s case that Mr Gill was one of a group of five people who were involved in holding the family hostage in their own home before moving them to a shed about a 90-minute drive away.

Mr Gill has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to falsely imprisoning Warren

Nawn, Jean Marie Nawn and their baby in Drogheda between August 1 and August 2, 2011.

The prosecution has presented evidence that Mr Gill is an associate of Anton Singleton and that Mr Singleton’s DNA was found on an Arsenal sports jacket connected to the kidnapping.

On Monday, Vincent Heneghan SC, prosecuting, called evidence that gardai retrieved a number of items from the family’s Ford Focus, the car used in the kidnapping. These included cable ties, duct tape and the Arsenal top.

The jury has previously been told that DNA matching Mr Singleton was found on the top, and that Mr Gill was seen on Rathbeale Road in Swords on August 1, 2011

in front of a house with Anton Singleton.

The jury also heard last week that Mr Gill was seen buying a litre of milk at a petrol station in the early hours of the alleged offence.

In her evidence, Ms Nawn said the baby started crying as they were being taken to the shed in Swords because she was hungry and the raiders stopped to buy a litre of milk.

It is the State’s case that gardai later recovered the empty container from a partially burnt out vehicle after the kidnapping ended.

They say they also recovered other items

from the shed where the family were held, including some cigarette butts.

The trial continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jur y of seven men and five women.

Sinn Fein deputy slams state of ambulance services for Fingal AMBULANCE delays in Fingal are “unacceptable”, according to Sinn Fein health spokesperson Louise O’Reilly.

Deputy O’Reilly demanded “urgent action and investment” after a HIQA report revealed that the fleet is not fit for purpose and speedy reforms are needed.

She said: “The report shockingly states that significant shortcomings in Dublin are putting

patients’ lives at risk.

“The people deserve an operational, properly funded and wellresourced ambulance service that is fit for purpose. They are clearly not getting that.”

She added that the issues regarding co-operation between the ambulance service and fire brigade have been “well flagged and need to be dealt with” as a matter of urgency.

Kids act Naul together to welcome a very special EU guest to their school

THE boys and girls at Naul National School were politely seated for an outstanding visitor recently when they welcomed MEP and first vice-president of the European Parliament, Mairead McGuinness (back, centre) to their school.

Pictured with the pupils and principal Martina Arthurs and Blue Star coordinator Amanda Moore, MEP McGuinness was visiting Naul NS to mark its involvement in the Blue Star programme. The programme aims to foster better

knowledge and understanding amongst primary pupils about the European Union, thanks to classroom projects and activities.

The children had lots of interesting questions to ask about Ireland and the EU, as well as about Brexit.

Investigation continuing into deaths of couple who drowned on river cruise GARDAI are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a husband and wife who drowned while on a cruise in the River Shannon.

The bodies of Frank Dunne (39), originally from Malahide, and his wife, Alexandra Malkin Dunne (34), who was originally from the UK, were recovered near Carrick-onShannon, Co Leitrim, last Friday morning.

The couple lived in Munich and were a few days into a holiday in the area when tragedy struck.

Missing They had hired a boat earlier in the week and were reported missing last Friday morning.

Early unconfirmed reports indicated that Mr Dunne had fallen into the water and that his wife then jumped in to try and save him.

The couple, who had been married for several years, were last seen having a meal in a local restaurant on Wednesday, March 30.

The alarm was raised when they failed to answer their mobile telephones after a number of their friends tried to contact them.

6 April 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 9

Government splashes out €55k on county’s harbours

Deputy Alan Farrell praised the funding allocation

PIERS and harbours in Fingal are in line for a major facelift thanks to €54,750 in government funding.

The bulk of the money – €39,750 – is earmarked for works at Rush Harbour, including restoring stonework, new access ladders and improved mooring points.

Balbriggan Harbour is to get €7,500 for the installation of new access and egress ladders while Loughshinny Harbour will receive an investment of €1,875 for the same purpose.

A total of €5,625 has been

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‘This funding is essential for Fingal’s fishing communities as it supports the ongoing development of fishing-related activities’

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Deputy Alan Farrell, FG

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allocated for Skerries Harbour to install four new ladders, while the Rush improvement works will include €22,500 to lift and relay original stones, €11,250 to replace missing stones and €6,000 for ladders and moorings.

The investment in coastal infrastructure was confirmed by Marine Minister Michael Creed and welcomed by Deputy Alan Farrell (FG).

Deputy Farrell said: “This funding is essential for Fingal’s fishing communities as it sup-

ports the ongoing development of fishing-related activities.

“The money can also be used for increasing participation in marine leisure, and other measures to attract greater numbers of tourists.

“We know that tourism is crucial to the local economies of coastal communities and has been very important for job creation here in the north county.”

Fingal County Council is required to fund at least 25% of each project under the terms of the Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme.

ENTERPRISE | PUSH TO ENTICE TOP EU MEDICAL AGENCY TO AREA IN A POST-BREXIT BOUNCE

Fingal bidding to bring 900 jobs to airport site  SYLVIA POWNALL FORMER Minister for Health Dr James Reilly is pushing for the relocation of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and its 900 highpaid jobs to Fingal.

The EMA is leaving London in the wake of Brexit and Senator Reilly says he will work with the Government on a pitch to have it based near Dublin Airport.

The European Union agency, which has a budget of €287million for 2017, aims to protect public and animal health through the regulation of medicines.

Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Reilly outlined his case for the relocation of the key organisation to the new International Business Campus – Dublin Airport Central – on a 70-acre site beside the airport.

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‘This is an ideal location for the European Medicines Agency.

These well-paid and highlyqualified employees moving to Fingal would obviously be a huge benefit to the area.’

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Senator James Reilly

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He said: “With all its facilities and connectivity, this is an ideal business hub for an international agency with the added advantage of being located in Fingal.

“Fingal is famous for all its amenities, such as castles, golf clubs, beaches, scenic rural villages and its popular residential towns such as Skerries and Malahide.”

Fingal County Council has already granted planning permission for four blocks capable of holding 4,000 employ-

ees, with 450,000sq ft of state-of-the-art office space.

Senator Reilly said: “This is an ideal location for the European Medicines Agency. T hese well-paid and highlyqualified employees moving to Fingal would obviously be a huge benefit to the area.”

The Fingal Senator recently met with Dublin Airport chief executive Kevin Toland, who outlined ambitious expansion plans for the hub which already employs 16,000 people

Dublin Airport chief executive Kevin Toland and Senator James Reilly study Fingal’s plans to entice the EMA (right) to relocate beside the airport

directly and supports 100,000 other jobs.

Other EU member states who have expressed an interest in pitching for the cen-

tre include Croatia and Romania.

Last week, Minister of State for Health Promotion Marcella Corcoran Kennedy also claimed

Dublin is the perfect new home for the EMA. Speaking following a trip to Brussels, she said: “A relocation of the EMA to Dublin would

be a significant boost, as the agency directly employs 900 staff and needs over 350 hotel beds a night to service visitors.”

10 GAZETTE 6 April 2017

Gazette babies are the cutest...

s) Amelia Carroll (9 month

sent in by Marie Carroll

by Sinead Treacy Donnacha Gillen, sent in

Grace Aher n (13 month s) sent in by Br ian Ahern

Lily Conlon (13 months) sent in

by Joan King

Send in your baby photographs and...

W

Neela, sent in by Tunde

WIN!WIN!WIN!

E’VE had a wonderful response to our Gazette Bonnie baby competition – and we’re hugely grateful to the multitude of proud mums, dads, grandparents and family friends out there who so kindly shared some of the cutest photos we’ve ever seen.

Make sure you pick up a copy of next week’s Gazette, when we’ll reveal our lucky finalists, who’ll then go forward to a public vote to see who’s the ultimate Gazette Bonny Baby.

(You’ll be able to vote for your favourite pic on our Facebook page, or by emailing competitions@dublingazette.com from this day week) We have some great prizes to give away – including two hampers worth €90 each from our friends at NUK Ireland – and one lucky winner will win a free family or newborn photoshoot worth €180 from Gazette photojournalist and expert baby photographer Ali, of Alison O’Hanlon Photography.

And keep an eye out for more great Gazette Giveaways in your free weekly Dublin Gazette – because remember folks, the future is local, the future is free!

6 April 2017 GAZETTE 11

Gazette competition

Maia (23 months) sent in

by Tomasz Kurkowski

Aneta Patriak shared this thoughtful shot of Maia Kurkowska

Zack sent in by

Karolina Ga sinska

onnell Cami-Li sent in by J McD

GAZETTE

12 GAZETTE 6 April 2017

DUBLINBUSINESS

Taxi app Lynk motors along to a merger deal with Blackrock Cabs CONTINUING its growth, Dublin taxi app Lynk (www. lynk.ie) has merged with the prominent South Dublin firm with Blackrock Cabs.

With a history of working together, their merger was finalised recently, with the move expanding Lynk’s availability, particularly in the south Dublin area, meaning further availability of vetted drivers through the unique app and online booking technology.

The merger see more than 100 new drivers added to Lynk’s southeast Dublin fleet, with the merger just one of many that Lynk is focusing on finalising in the coming months as part of its planned ongoing expansion in Dublin and nationwide.

Noel Ebbs, chief executive of Lynk, said: “It’s great to be focusing our attention in new local areas and expanding our driver network. It’s important we continue to grow in Dublin before fully rolling out nationwide in the coming months.”

Dublin Chamber president Brendan Foster and chief executive Mary Rose Burke. Picture: Jason Clarke

Quote happy with Dublin Babriggan Subway wins Store of the Year award Chamber’s new rebrand THE Balbriggan Subway branch served up a big slice of success after claiming the national title of Subway Store of the Year.

The eaterie’s Nadine Vickers and Bastian Wiebenga (right) accepted the prestigious award on behalf of the Balbriggan team, acknowledging the hard work to come out first ahead of 170 other Subway stores in Ireland.

One of 45 Subway outlets situated within an Applegreen site, the Balbriggan outlet was judged on a combination of in-store operational performance and year-on-year sales growth, with Balbriggan excelling in both fields. Neil Black, development agent for Subway Ireland, said the achievement “is a testament to the Balbriggan store’s dedication to their service and to their customers that they won this year’s Store of the Year award”.

DUBLIN Chamber, the organisation which represents the interests of businesses in the Dublin region, has unveiled its new corporate brand and logo.

Following a five-month rebranding process, the Chamber will drop the words ‘of commerce’ from its logo, which sees a return to the colour blue that is so synonymous with Dublin.

The rebrand has been

overseen by the Chamber’s chief executive, Mary Rose Burke, who took up the role in October last year. The design work was carried out by Evolve Design.

Burke said the new look perfectly captures what Dublin Chamber is all about – listening to its 1,300 members and speaking out on their behalf to make Dublin a better city for all.

She said: “The new

the naming convention reflects how our members and the people of Dublin know us: Dublin Chamber.”

As part of the rebrand, Dublin Chamber has adopted the new tagline of ‘Dublin is our business’. This tagline reflects the Chamber’s core aims of improving the reputation of Dublin, making sure it is a competitive and attractive place to businesses, visitors and

locals alike.

Burke added: “This is a very exciting time to be in business in Dublin. Our goal in Dublin Chamber is to enable companies to do business better and to help them to grow and create jobs in a successful Dublin.

“Our new brand is reflective of the ambition to further Dublin’s credentials as a smart, liveable and competitive capital city.”

Funding shares from €70,000 Energia, Grow It Yourself partnership revealed

Extra push for broadband DUBLIN schools are set to get superfast broadband through the 100Mbs for Schools project.

Irish internet provider enet has announced it have started a contract to supply the schools in conjunction with educational and research network HEAnet on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills.

In total, over 150 post primary schools are now connected to enet networks in Dublin City, Blanchardstown, Clondalkin and Rathfarnham.

brand is a reflection of the Chamber’s position as the business voice for Dublin.

The Chamber’s aim is to ensure that Dublin is a modern, welcoming and vibrant place in which to live, work and do business.

“Our new brand represents the modern and dynamic organisation that Dublin Chamber is.

We will always be Dublin Chamber of Commerce, but the change in

Alison Canavan, wellness coach; Liz O’Rourke and Karen O’Donohoe, GIY, and Amy O’Shaughnessy, Energia

THE Get Ireland Growing Fund run by GIY (Grow It Yourself) in partnership with Energia has announced the winners of the grants from a fund of €70,000 for 2017. Grants will be awarded to the successful food growing projects planned by community groups, schools and notfor-profit organisations all across the country.

In Dublin, a funding award goes to the Ballymun Job Centre for the Ballymun Adult Read and Write Scheme.

The team there says: “A group of adult

students are studying the QQI L2 Life Science: Horticulture module during January to May. Students will undertake practical horticulture skills to complete gardening tasks and learn basic principles about plants and trees.

“We will undertake field trips to Santry Community Garden and the new Ballymun Boiler House Eco Project, and this grant will be spent for the purchase of tools, plants, tubs and materials to enable students to complete practical skills required for certification.”

6 April 2017 GAZETTE 13

GAZETTE

TRAVEL: PARTY? YES WE CANCUN P23

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



MOTORING: TESTING THE NEW MAZDA6 P20

CINEMA: FREE FIRE IS A CULT MOVIE IN THE MAKING P24

MUSIC: CLARE MUSICIAN DAITHI O’DRONAI IS A HARD MAN TO PIN DOWN

Going back to his rural roots  JAMES HENDICOTT AT 27 YEARS of age, Clare musician Daithi O’Dronai has already been through more phases of his career than many manage in a lifetime.

Developing from a young fiddle player to a reality TV show star, then onwards to a Sony-signed, offbeat-pop performer and finally a unique and soulful dance act, he’s a

hard man to pin down.

Recently relocated to Dublin, the man who simply uses the stage name Daithi’s latest incarnation is nevertheless a profound tribute to the rural roots that connect him tightly with the Burren, and the Irish landscape.

“When I was writing the pop stuff I was doing my best to write these perfectly little three minute pop songs,” Daithi explains of his Sony album, and subsequent departure

FINE FILLY IS LOOKING FOR A DEDICATED FAMILY HOME

from the label.

“I lost my angles. I enjoyed it at the time, but I kind of lost my identity,” he recalls.

The departure from a major outlet like Sony was, no doubt, a tough call, but one Daithi made on the basis that he didn’t feel able to create things with purely commercial aims like radioplay in mind.

His next single – a sentimental track called ‘Mary Keane’s Introduction,’ based around a dance

remix of an interview with his 90-year-old grandmother – ironically turned out to be his most acclaimed.

“It was a sign,” he said.

“The new record leans more heavily into that idea. I was at a point where I wasn’t even sure I was going to keep making music after Sony to be honest. The thing I fell into was the idea that I was working towards a success of some kind.”

Continued on pages 16-17

OUR Dog of the Week looking for their #SpecialSomeone* is Filly, a beautiful eightmonth-old female Collie cross who unfortunately missed out on vital socialisation as a puppy.

She loves to play with her toys, and with other dogs and people, but is still quite worried about sudden movements and hands approaching her head, so she is looking for a dedicated and understanding family who will let her take things at her own pace.

In the time Filly has been in a foster home recently, she has shown herself to the a very sweet, affectionate and playful dog who will blossom in the right home.

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

GAZETTE

14 GAZETTE 6 April 2017

DUBLINLIFE

DIARY

SCHOOLS: NEW PROGRAMME TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO RECYCLE IN EVER BETTER WAYS

Repack it in, lads!

RECYCLING company Repak has launched a nationwide Recycle And Change For The Better schools programme, starting in Dublin.

The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten, and Repak chief executive Seamus Clancy launched the programme at O’Connell CBS Primary School in Drumcondra.

The nationwide education programme will target First to Sixth class pupils across 3,300 primary schools, reaching a total of 398,812 children.

It will endeavour to educate students about the benefits of best recycling practices to change b e h av i o u r s t ow a r d s recycling and ultimately reduce recycling bin contamination.

Commenting on the launch of the new programme, Minister Naughten said: “I am delighted to launch this excellent programme.

“How and what to recycle is something we probably all need to work harder on. Education is key to this and if every child here today brings home the message of any of the engaging characters that form part of this programme, it will be a good start.

“I would like to thank Repak for taking this initiative and wish them the best with the roll-out.”

YOU’RE GROWING TO LOVE THIS CAMPAIGN AWA R D -W I N N I N G garden designer Diarmuid Gavin joined forces with TV3’s Anna Daly to launch GroMor 2017, a

nament to Ireland as it is due to return after being held here in 2011, in Killarney.

Would-be karaoke kings or queens should see karaokeworldchampionships.com.

GIVE DANCE FESTIVAL A WHIRL IN MAY

Minister Denis Naughten with Joseph Delaney and Daniel She, O’Connell CBS Primary School pupils, launching Repak’s Recycle And Change For The Better schools programme. Picture: Robbie Reynolds

nationwide campaign to get the country growing.

GroMor is an initiative by Retail Excellence garden centres and growers across Ireland, in association with Bord Bia, and sponsored

by Bord Na Mona and Westland Horticulture.

The aim of the campaign is to give clear and useful advice on how to best grow plants, herbs, flowers, fruits, vegetables and to highlight the health benefits of gar-

dening.

T he GroMor 2017 campaign encourages people to visit their local garden centre for expert advice on how to enhance their living space with nature.

A series of 50 free gardening demonstrations will take place in throughout the nation in GroMor Garden Centres from April to September offering a whole variety of themes.

For those who can’t

attend the events, www. gromor.ie contains easyto-follow guides and videos on how to grow a wide range of plans, whether on your windowsill, balcony or in the garden, as well as offering a taste of what you can expect to find in a GroMor centre near you.

KARAOKE KINGS AND QUEENS TO DO BATTLE KAR AOKE fans are celebrating 30 years of karaoke in Dublin, with

the singing sensation having made its debut in Ireland with Doug Murray of Starmaker on The Late Late Show in November, 1987.

T h a t ’s w h e n G ay Byrne and his crew left the RTE studio for a live outside broadcast from the nearby Merrion Inn. N o w, D o u g h a s teamed up with KWC to give two lucky people – one male and one female – the chance to represent Ireland in the karaoke

world championships in Helsinki this November, where they’ll battle to win $50,000 against 20 countries from around the world.

At last year’s finals in Vancouver, Ireland was not represented; however we have previously won the competition, with Rachel Brown winning in 2005 and more recently Adrian Kenny in 2009.

Doug is also in negotiation to bring the tour-

THE Dublin Dance Festival is back this May with an eclectic multinational line-up to look forward to.

Acts from around the globe and across Ireland will take place, ranging from a baroque feast to a Hip-Hop dance battle, from world-class dance on the stages of the Abbey Theatre to a baby boogie in Merrion Square Park.

The 2017 programme features more than 40 events by artists from 11 countries, with more than 50 dancers performing in venues across Dublin.

They will be accompanied by three DJs, an opera singer and a graffiti artist, with props including 18 wine glasses, two portions of brine shrimps, a cauliflower and a pomegranate.

Leading traditional Irish dance artist Colin Dunne will open the festival with his highlyanticipated new solo show, Concert, performing alongside the music of fiddle player Tommie Potts’ iconic album The Liffey Bank.

Tickets for the events can be booked online now at dublindancefestival.ie. or from May 2 at the Dublin Dance Festival Box Office located at Festival House, No 12 East Essex Street, in Temple Bar.

6 April 2017 GAZETTE 15

GAZETTE

FEATURE SURVEY: DATA SUGGESTS ALMOST HALF OF ALL DUBS TURNING OUT JUST LIKE THEIR MUM

Have you turned into Mammy yet? positive and makes for a happy relationship for 1 in 2 (48%) adults.

Conversely, 1 in 3 (30%) cl a i m t h a t having some similarities to mum can make for a happy relationship.

In terms of what adults in Dublin still rely upon their mothers for, advice (38%) ranked highest, followed by a home-cooked dinner (24%) from time-to-time.

Even as adults, the research find-

ing to their mum.

Following the cl o c k s c h a n g ing to mark the start of the summer, “There’s a grand stretch in the evening” has b e e n r e ve a l e d as one of Dubliners’ top-three favourite Irish Mammy phrases (44%), along with, ‘ T h e r e ’s g r e a t dr ying in that weather’ (50%), and, ‘Take off your coat or you won’t feel the benefit when you go outside’ (44%) finalizing the top three.

Shane Kelly, sales and marketing manager for Beko, said: “Beko Graphic: Beko

NEARLY half of all Dubliners think they are turning into their mammies, it has been revealed.

Research commissioned by the appliance company Beko to celebrate the launch of The Woman’s Way and Beko Mum Of The Year awards has uncovered some interesting insights into the much-loved ‘Irish Mammy’.

The influence of the Irish Mammy remains strong, with 1 in 2 (48%) adults in Dublin having experienced a moment when they realised they had turned into their mother!

When it comes to relationships, “mother knows best” still rings true for most, with 3 out of 5 (58%) Dubliners admitting that their mother’s approval of their other half was important to them.

Despite craving their mother’s approval, finding a partner who is different to their mum is viewed as a

ings show that we still rely on our mums for our favourite creature comforts, with (14%) of Dubs admitting to bringing home their washing and iron-

is delighted to be involved with the Woman’s Way Mum of the Year award.

“As part of the partnership we wanted to commission quirky research to celebrate Irish mothers, who play a huge part in our lives.

“Beko has been part of Irish families for over 25 years and are extremely proud to help recognise the fantastic role Ireland’s mums play in their home and communities right across the country.

“The courage and strength of character from last year’s nominees was nothing short of amazing, and it is so important we recognise their role in our society.”

If you know a mum who deserves recognition, complete the nomination form in the current issue of Woman’s Way, or see www.womansway.ie, before the closing date of May 5.

6 April 2017 GAZETTE 17

DUBLINLIFE

MUSIC

Built From The Land

N O S ’ T A H W

E D I U G S T N E EV

Daithi’s Journey from Reality TV musician to unique dance star

Rock Against Homelessness

The Olympia host a Focus Ireland event featuring a homeless musician performing alongside local stars The Blizzards, Ham Sandwich and Delorentos, with profits going to the charity. April 7.

from page 13 I’VE started releasing what makes me excited after that track. That seems really simple, but it was a revelation to me.”

Daithi’s work is truly built from scratch. More specifically, it’s built from countless, heavily layered building blocks of ambient and atmospheric sounds that he’s recorded across the country.

They include anything from the sound of the wind whistling through a gate up a Donegal mountain (a recording that took hours of battering by Irish winter weather, and one that’s his current musical plaything), to the subtle texture of the family fire, or the clang of pieces of cutlery bashing against each other in a rented room in Achill.

Sri Rama Navami

A free event exploring Hindu traditions, and introducing one of the David McSavage oldest incarnations of Vishnu. A rare glance at Indian culture in the city, hosted at Alexandra college, Milltown Road on April 8.

David McSavage Live

The Savage Eye comic brings a rare live show to the Olympia Theatre, no doubt primed to attack the political status quo with a sling of witty quips. April 8.

The Game

A theatrical production themed around prostitution and the act of buying sex, The Game was produced by TheatreCLUB, who got input from those who’ve really experienced the industry. They bring their show to The Blanchardstown Centre on April 8.

Untypical Villains

Daithi performing at the Body And Soul Festival

Picture: Ruth Medjber

Dr Jason McElligott - the keeper at the Marsh Library gives a talk on his expansive niche research into areas like the history of propaganda and censorship, and three-century-old white collar crime. The Little Museum, April 12.

The Furrow Collective

Delorentos

Winning folk band take to one of the city’s less likely stages for a one off show at the Little Museum, to play before just 100 people. April 12.

MusicTown 2017

A citywide festival of music heritage running from April 7-17, featuring cross-city performances from the likes of Richie Egan (Jape), Mel C, Chelsea Wolfe, Katie Kim, and the International Choral Festival.

Fawlty Towers: The Dining Experience

Re-live John Cleese’s short-lived but fantastically memorable car crash hotel in an event recreating its less-thanimpressive dining rooms themes. The Clarion Hotel promise everything that can go wrong will on April 8.

New album of the week: Father John Misty returns with ‘Pure Comedy’, which if past form is anything to go by will be anything but comic. Expect a dark, catchy and at times sarcastic exploration of the modern landscape set against a beautiful soundscape.

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16 GAZETTE 6 April 2017

“If I run out of inspiration, I just go outside and take a walk and it hits me.

I end up with all those elements layered in”

Picture: Ruth Medjber

Layers He takes these recordings home, isolates the sounds and slowly builds up the layers of texture, throwing in some fiddle along the way, and adding numerous loops to give a form of dance that’s highly innovative in its origins.

The mixing process is reproduced live on stage every time he performs.

“I’ve been renting AirBnBs for periods of several weeks around Ireland,” Daithi said of his recent recording process, “and adapting them into studios while I’m there. If I run out of inspiration, I just go outside and take a walk and it hits me. I end up with all those elements layered in.”

His current role as a fiddleyielding, live-mixing outsider artist on a burgeoning Irish dance scene is all a very long way from a start that saw the teenage Daithi compete in the All Ireland Talent Show, and then go on to play Wembley Arena in front of a crowd of 10,000 for Sky’s Must Be The

Music.

While crammed with traditional elements, the current incarnation is also nothing close to trad, but nevertheless could hardly be more proudly and uniquely Irish.

“I think my grandfather [acclaimed concertina player Chris Droney, who still tours internationally at the age of 92] might be upset if he saw it my music as trad,” Daithi explains.

“He’s the kind of guy who’d get upset if you play a reel at the wrong speed, but he doesn’t really equate the two styles.

“I think he’s just proud I’m working as a musician, as that was hard in his day, too.

“I do more than 150 shows a year. That’s what I need to do to keep myself doing this full time, and I’m lucky, as it’s easier to get 150 shows a year from my [solo] set up than it would be from a band. I get rid of everything I use to build my live shows and start against every six months, to keep things interesting.

“The first couple of shows are always really stressful, but it challenges me, and avoids me getting into a rut when it comes to how I play live. It’s intense, but it’s how I want it to be.”

With his constant push for innovation and love of integrating his field recordings, Daithi has a very real claim to be Ireland’s most unique current performer.

Tapping into the very heart of rural Irish soundscapes, he’s bringing the subtly layered and carefully gathered moments straight to the dancefloor.

Daithi’s latest Holiday Home - inspired by solitary post-show, late-night drives down winding country roads - came out last Friday.

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18 GAZETTE 6 April 2017

DUBLINLIFE

STYLE I US

CL EX VE !

The Donegal woman behind Powder ‘n’ Pout

 EMMA NOLAN Style Editor

POWDER ‘n’ Pout is the brainchild of Irish girl boss and successful make-up artist, Aisling Cunningham. She started in the industry aged 16, enrolling in a local college where she trained in hair and beauty.

After finishing three years of college and working in three local salons, she moved to Liverpool and trained under a senior make-up artist in MAC. As well as launching her own range of make-up brushes, Aisling also runs an incredibly successful salon under the same name in Donegal.

A testament to her hard work and product offering, Aisling recently won IBYE Best Established Business in Donegal and Young Business Person of the Year Inishowen. (For more information, see https://www.powdernpout.com)

IT’S everywhere at the moment – gingham, that is – and since we’re all after buying numerous gingham pieces, we may as well embrace the trend a little longer.

Shoppers can’t get enough of this latest take on the usually twee print, and with the creative way the high street keeps reimagining it, I say keep it coming!

Feathered Brows Brushing your brow hairs upward and outward gives them a full, feathered look. Your arches will look more natural and fuller when you groom them this way.

The small cut fibres of the Angled Liner P410 allows for exact control, while its firmly bristled,

The very sight of gingham evokes images of wholesome springtime picnics, triangle sandwiches and freshly-cut grass. A delightful image to transition us into summer.

Every high street shop in Dublin has an abundance of this trend at the moment – so, why not opt for gingham with statement sleeves or a Bardot neckline for a double whammy of SS17 goodness.

Topshop Shirt €52

LUSCIOUSBRUSHES HERE ARE Aisling’s tips for brushing up on some of the latest make-up trends, using a range of Powder ‘n’ Pout brushes ...

Square up to the latest trends in Gingham style

flat shape applies colour cleanly and precisely.

To get your brows to look full, lightly shade the hairs above and below your brow to create a slight shadow. When using either a brow gel, or powder, go for a colour that is the same shade as your brows or one shade darker.

supersoft hair and structured shape achieves flawless dimension along the cheekbones, forehead, and jawline for targeted contouring.

This is ideal for using with pressed or loose bronzer powder, liquids, and creams to create beautiful sculpting all over.

and larger because the focus falls on the centre of the eye.

Take the Fluffy Blender (P310) and place a medium to dark colour on the inner and outer corner creases, then add a light shimmery eyeshadow in the centre portion of the eye to create a popping effect.

Sculpted Cheeks We aren’t all lucky enough to have naturally chiselled cheekbones!

The Flat Contour’s (P050) densely-packed

Spotlight Eyes With summer on way, it’s time to start embracing colour and shimmer.

Spotlighting makes the eyes appear more round

Pared back skin for Spring/Summer ’17 Light up the room with a natural and beautiful glow. Stippling brushes are great for powder, liq-

uid, or cream highlighters. The Duo Tapered Powder (P210) will give you a different application strength depending on the formula used.

For powders, this will offer a sheerer application because the bristles won’t pick up as much product as other brushes, leaving an iridescent spring glow.

However, with liquid and cream highlighters you can create a medium to intense application due to its ability to easily blend without absorbing the product.

New Look Midi dress €40

Penneys Jacket €15; Bralette €13

M50MOTORING The Dublin Gazette drives you through the motoring world on a tour of the latest models, technology & industry news

ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR HELPS CHARITY CROSSCARE ENTERPRISE Rent-A-Car plans to invest €120,000 in Crosscare over the next six years.

The social support agency Crosscare has just received the first of six €20,000 annual donations to help fight food poverty in Ireland.

This grant will help to increase Crosscare’s capacity to redistribute surplus food to people in need throughout the country and to supply the



GAZETTE

6 April 2017 GAZETTE 19

Kia reveals Stinger’s European specs

charity’s cafés.

The donation is part of a wider initiative by the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation called Fill Your Tank, which has been designed to celebrate the company’s 60th global anniversary this year and its 20th anniversary in Ireland.

Dublin-based Crosscare operates food banks which distribute food to those most in need. In addition to running food banks and community cafés, the charity provides a range of social care, homeless services, community and youth work.

Michael McDonagh, manager Crosscare with George O’Connor, managing director Enterprise Rent-ACar Ireland. Picture: Finbarr O’Rourke

Annalise’s Tokyo journey powered

by Mercedes-Benz

Kia Motors has revealed the full European specification for the new Kia Stinger, a sporty type saloon car. The new closely follows the design and engineering blueprint laid down by the 2011 Kia GT Concept, and is the highest-performance production vehicle in the company’s history.

The Stinger channels the spirit of historic grand tourers – powerful, elegant vehicles capable of moving their owners in style, at speed. At every stage of development, the Stinger has been designed and engineered to be the perfect gran turismo.

The car features a head-turning design with claims of ample room to accommodate five occupants and their luggage. The Stinger was inspired by the GT4 Stinger concept

AS she begins preparations for the next Olympic Games in Tokyo, Irish silver medal winner Annalise Murphy has taken delivery of a new, topof-the-range Mercedes-Benz Vito Mixto.

Supplied under an exclusive sponsorship arrangement, the extra-long 190bhp Vito is equipped with features fit for an Olympic star.

Wrapped in a subtle silver and grey

revealed at NAIAS 2014. While the car is a true GT in nature, the Stinger name evokes speed and excitement, two key characteristics found in the production car.

In Ireland, the Stinger will be available with a choice of three engines: a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, a powerful 3.3litre twin-turbo V6, and a 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine which is expected to account for the majority of European sales.

The Stinger is the result of years of impassioned design and development work at Kia. Six years after the company revealed its powerful statement of intent in the GT Concept, the Stinger will enter production and go on sale in Europe during the fourth quarter of 2017.

livery, the Vito Mixto will be an asset to Annalise as she prepares for glory at the games in 2020.

Commenting, Annalise said: “I am delighted to have renewed my association with Mercedes-Benz and excited to get my new Mixto on the road.

“The continued support gives a major boost to my training regime and ensures that my plans for success in Tokyo are off to a wonderful start”.

Want to reach an audience in excess of 300,000 people in Dublin each week?

Annalise Murphy has taken delivery of a new Mercedes to support her preparation for the Olympic Games

To advertise in our new Motoring section, contact sales@dublingazette.com or call

01 601 0240

GAZETTE

20 GAZETTE 6 April 2017

M50MOTORING

Mazda adds new comfort FASTNews levels in its 6 upgrade

Appointments at Renault Group announced PATRICK Magee,

MAZDA’S range topping Mazda6 model has received some mid-life updates to make the car more driver friendly, while not significantly impacting on its already modern styling appearance.

You won’t notice much change in terms of how the car looks, while there is perceptible changes with it comes to the driving performance.

I’ve had the upgraded Mazda6 on the road in recent weeks and I came away with the feeling that this car deserves to be considered a slight bit higher in terms of the company in the luxury pecking order.

The Mazda6 continues to look very well, it has a high performing 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine that allows it to deliver pace that’s comparable with its good looks.

My test drive was shorter than that of other cars, but that did not take away from the good impression that became obvious. The car is powerful in terms of styling and its engine ensures that you can capitalise on that feeling.

The 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine that powers the Mazda6 was rated at 175bhp, which is a high level of power for a car in this class. More modest versions with the same engine deliver 150bhp and it’s against that type of performance you have to compare the Mazda6 with the obvious competition of the Volkswagen Passat, Ford Mondeo and Toyota Avensis.

This upgraded Mazda6 comes with what Mazda claims are two key improvements designed to increase responsiveness and reduce engine noise, Transient Control and Mazda’s Natural Sound Smoother Technology

country operations

manager of Renault Group has announced a number of key appointments within the Group in Ireland.

LIZ O’GORMAN has been appointed marketing manager at Renault Group. Liz is a senior level brand and digital marketing strategist with extensive experience. Liz joined Renault Group in 2016 after spending two years in digital marketing at The new generation upgraded Mazda6 comes with engine and driving improvements to give a smoother and more comfortable ride

Mazda has upgraded the Mazda6 model as part of a mid-life change with enhanced driving features SPECIFICATIONS to add more comfort and ease of Engine 2.2 litre driving, while still delivering power Engine power 175hp and style. Michael Moroney drove 0 – 100km/hr 8.4 seconds Economy 20.8km/litre the new Mazda6 and feels it’s entitled to jump a

(4.8/100km or 59mpg) notch into the premium brand league.

Allied Irish Bank (GB).

Mazda6 2.2 Skyactiv-D

Fuel Tank Capacity CO2 emissions Road Tax Band Main Service Euro NCAP Rating Warranty Entry Price

(NSS).

By reducing turbo lag and boosting torque, Transient Control reduces turbo lag while boosting torque to an impressive 380Nm and it claims to provide a more positive throttle response. Mazda

62 litres 127g/km B1 €270 15,000km/12 months 5 star (2013) 3 years /100,000km €28,995

claims that this means that the engine reacts better to the driver’s intentions.

Mazda’s Natural Sound Smoother (NSS) technology aims to reduce diesel knock noise during starting and low-speed acceleration. Mazda claims

that this NSS system is complimented by an improvement in sound insulation.

This has been achieved by the use of upgraded door seals, tighter tolerances between panels and sound deadening materials added to the underbody, rear console, headliner and doors. Mazda also claims that using laminated front side windows helps to further suppress wind noise.

The result of using these twin technologies is that the Mazda6 is a very smooth and comfortable car to drive. The acceleration pace is very impressive at 8.4 seconds and the six speed automatic gearbox meant smooth power flow.

The only downside was the marginal impact on fuel economy from the bigger engine.

Mazda claims a figure of 20.8km/litre (4.8/100km or 59mpg), which is very respectable. I found that the engine performance is so good that temptation led me to another less thrifty place.

That’s probably because the Mazda6 is fitted with the new G-Vectoring Control (GVC) a system that integrates the control of the engine, transmission and chassis. Mazda claims that it enhances the connection between car and driver, varies engine torque to optimise the load on each wheel.

The overall specification of the Mazda6 is

impressive. I liked the multimedia commander unit that operated the large central information screen. The system has navigation, communication, entertainment, applications and settings features that are easy to use. Setting the mobile phone Bluetooth connection was easy and the reception clear.

The entry price for the Mazda6 is €29,995, which is keener than the equivalent Ford Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat orToyota Avensis pricing. The Mazda6 styling is distinctive and strong, the paintwork is flawless and the overall package deserves to put the car up a notch on the ladder to premium league status.

LYNNE BOUCHER has been appointed sales & network business manager for Renault Ireland operating from Renault Group HQ in Dundrum.

Lynne previously held the position of marketing manager at Renault Group for over three years and was product manager there for 18 months prior to that appointment.

BRIAN QUINLAN has been appointed used vehicle and business development manager at Renault Ireland.

Brian joined Renault Ireland as Zone Manager in 2014.

6 April 2017 GAZETTE 21

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22 GAZETTE 6 April 2017

M50MOTORING

Pedestrian Detection tech gets night vision WORRIES over night blindness, and fear of hitting someone, or something, top a new poll of night-time driving fears, in a new survey commissioned by Ford.

And for the latter at least, there is now a solution that goes beyond simply eating more carrots.

Ford is introducing new technology that is designed to detect pedestrians at night and then automatically apply the brakes if the driver does not respond to initial warnings.

The Ford Pedestrian Detection system processes information from a radar

such as trees and road signs.

Day and night, Pedestrian Detec-

Detection technology, now able to

roads in busy cities including Paris

work at night for the first time, the

and Amsterdam.

Tips to make driving at night easier

located in the bumper, and a

tion is designed to help identify

development team worked at night,

windshield-mounted cam-

people already in – or about to step

sending life-sized dummies into the

era. The system can distin-

into – the road ahead.

path of vehicles on closed tracks,

guish people from objects

For the improved Pedestrian

and testing the system on public

• Ensure windows and mirrors are clean and free of ice and condensation • Clean all exterior lights and check

they work, keep spare bulbs in the car • On unlit roads, put headlights on full beam and dip them on seeing oncoming vehicles • Don’t drive tired or for more than two hours without a break

6 April 2017 GAZETTE 23

GAZETTE

DUBLINLIFE fast

There’s Mojito Mexico than cocktails, sun and sandy beaches

TRAVEL NEWS

Wander through beautiful landscapes TO celebrate the launch of three new self-guided walking trips, Explore is offering some great deals with a free activity tracker (worth €46) for the first 200 customers to book.

The new eight day Self-Guided Walking the French Riviera follows a network of village trails between Grasses and Menton. On this moderate graded trip, admire the summits and passes of the Mercantour, enjoy the superb views over Cannes, Nice and Monaco and discover the old town of Menton. Departures run from March – November 2017 and cost from €847 per person.

 SYLVIA POWNALL

French Riviera

This price includes six nights’ hotel accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, three other meals and the services of a luggage transfer.

Explore’s new Self-Guided Walking in Madeira offers moderate graded walking on the lush volcanic island off the coast of West Africa.

Discover some of the island’s best walking trails, from the footpaths that follow its ‘levadas’ to coastal paths overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Climb to the summit of Pico Ruivo (1862m) and explore the eastern side of the island, including Porto da Cruz. Departures run from April – December 2017 and cost from €690 per person. This price includes seven nights’ hotel on a bed and breakfast basis, six other meals and the services of a luggage transfer. Prices are based on departures from the UK but flights from Dublin can be arranged on request.

For more information, or to book visit www. explore.co.uk or call 0044 1252 884 723.

TRAVEL

CA N C U N h a s b e e n one of Mexico’s hottest destinations for years because the party never seems to stop.

It is home to an almost endless array of bars, dining venues, and nightclubs each offering a unique guest experience.

The popular resort, which is on the coast of the Yucatan peninsula, is one of Mexico’s leading tourist destinations and the gateway to the resorts in Riviera Maya to the south.

Over the last number of years Cancun has grown significantly in popularity with Irish long haul holidaymak-

ers and is now one of the popular long haul destinations.

Falcon offer 14 nights all-inclusive holiday packages to Cancun which include return non-stop direct flights to Mexico.

Picture perfect beaches, ancient sites and a choice of resorts are just some of the reasons discerning holidaymakers have been returning to Mexico’s Caribbean Coast year after year.

Along the Yucatan Peninsula, purpose built resorts edge tropical beaches while jungle tours and water sport opportunities are easy to come by.

You can also engage in a once in a life time

oppor tunity to swim with dolphins at XelHa, the largest natural aquarium in the world.

The eco-park on the Riviera Maya has created a series of natural under water habitats and offers visitors the chance to swim with dolphins, stingrays and turtles.

Body paint On top of all that holidaymakers can also explore Mayan ruins, taste Mexican food and wine and watch cultural shows where dancers perform in brightly coloured body paint.

For those looking to take in some cultural sites, why not visit the

ancient settlement of Tulum?

The site was one of the last Mayan cities to be taken over by the Spanish and is set on headland that offers spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea. For a glamorous, urban-style experience on a well-developed beach, Cancun really is the resort to visit. Its strip is famous for highrise hotels and a vast collection of restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Dance to authentic Latin sounds as live bands play salsa and merengue at the Grand Mambo Cafe, or visit The City venue which has live shows featuring acrobatics.

Sizzling Sunway summer offer to save you €200 SUNWAY Travel are guaranteeing to put a spring in your step with a number of special summer offers – including a sizzling €200 moneyoff deal for sun seekers, but only if booked by April 8.

With destinations including the Algarve, Lanzarote, Costa Del Sol, Sicily, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria, there’s something for everyone, with packages including flights, transfers, accommodation, all taxes and charges, 20kg checked

in baggage per person and the services of a Sunway representative.

To get €200 off your Algarve holiday, you can fly from Dublin from June 16 to September 1 (Friday flights). For Lanzarote, fly from Dublin from June 3 to October 21. For the Costa Del Sol, fly from Dublin, Cork or Shannon from June 3 to September 23.

For Sicily, fly from Dublin, Cork or Shannon from June 3 to September 23. For Fuerteventura, fly

from Dublin from June 3 to September 6. Lastly, for Gran Canaria, fly from Dublin from June 24 to October 21.

T&Cs include the €200 off per booking applies to bookings for seven nights; minimum of two adults sharing per booking; selected properties are excluded; you must book by April 8, and the offer is subject to availability.

For reservations, contact Sunway at 01 2311 800, or book online

Grand Bahia Principe Coba

Those looking to escape the crowds should head south to the undeveloped shores of Riviera Maya and the upmarket resort of Playacar.

Tulum, an off-thegrid beach town, has a boho vibe and is set on a headland that offers spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea. Dublin to Mexico, Grand Bahia Principe Coba, Riviera Maya, 4*, AI, 14 nights departing June 14 from €1,569 per person sharing. *USE CODE LH100 to get €100 off per booking.

V i s i t w w w. f a l c o n holidays.ie or call 1850 453545 for bookings and information.

GAZETTE

24 FINGAL GAZETTE 6 April 2017

DUBLINLIFE

CINEMA

Set in the 1970s, there’s no way out of a Boston warehouse for a disparate group of characters when a shady gun deal does explosively wrong – entertaining mayhem ensues

FREE FIRE: A COOL CAST AIM GREAT ZINGERS AT EACH OTHER IN THIS VIOLENT BUT WITTY FILM

Takes a shot at greatness WITH six feature films under his belt since his 2009 debut Down Terrace, Ben Wheatley is one of the most prolific directors of our time.

Each of his wildly different projects has been met with considerable critical praise (from those who could stomach his proclivity toward excessive violence and enigmatic narratives), each creeping closer toward the mainstream without sacrificing the director’s unique idiosyncrasy.

Last year’s JG Ballard adaptation, High-Rise, was a further jump away from the fringes of filmmaking, packing a highprofile cast with big names such as Tom Hiddleston and Sienna Miller.

Still, based as it was on a Ballard novel, High-Rise was all kinds of crazy: violent, perverse, frantic in narrative and occasionally a chore to follow.

With yet another starladen cast, Free Fire (Cert 18, 90 mins) maintains that trademark penchant for violence and grit, but pushes affairs more into the mainstream than ever before.

 MARTIN MACNAMARA

Wheatley offers up a (relatively) straightforward crime flick, set in Boston in the 1970s and localised entirely in a single location in real time: a secluded warehouse in the aftermath of an arms deal gone south.

An executive producer credit for Martin Scorsese in the opening credits should hint at where Wheatley is drawing inspiration.

With a toe-tapping classic rock soundtrack, starting with The Real Kid’s Do the Boob, there’s a tone here that recalls the sarcastic wit of Scorsese’s later era crime-classics, partnered with the grit of Peter Yates’ 1973 gem, The Friend of Eddie Coyle.

However, for all its violence, Free Fire is a much more light-hearted affair – slick, simple and seriously funny.

Justine (Brie Larson)

arrives at a warehouse with two Irishmen, Chris (Cillian Murphy) and Frank (Michael Smiley), to broker an arms deal with a gang led by Vernon (Sharlto Copley) and Ord (Armie Hammer).

When a disagreement escalates, shots are fired and chaos erupts.

Once the action begins, the shooting rarely abates for the entirety of Free Fire’s run time. The gunshots are mercilessly loud, invariably ringing out like bomb blasts with every squeeze of a trigger.

At first the effect is alarming, refreshing even – as are the effects those gunshots have on their victims, who spend most of the action crawling from cover to cover rather than running about beneath a hail of bullets.

The enthusiastic cast turn in enormously watchable performances – of particular note are Smiley and Copley, as a grizzled, uptight IRA man and an eccentric, former Rhodesian special forces figure, respectively.

Both men are two ends of a tightly round length of barbed-wire, ready to snap

at any point and incredibly fun to watch.

The script, co-written with Wheatley’s writing partner and wife, Amy Jump, is laden with perverse wit, profanity and biting sarcasm – infinitely quotable and, if the Gods are good, likely to afford Free Fire some sort of cultstatus in the near future.

The chaotic nature of the film, along with the realism instilled in the gunshot wounds, allow Free Fire to meander and lose focus around the beginning of its third act.

When the narrative begins to ramble, the loss of focus is accompanied with a perfectly suited free-jazz score from composers Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow.

Accordingly, everything feels natural and intentional – very Wheatley.

This may not be Wheatley at his best; indeed, it’s perhaps his most unremarkable film. Regardless, at its loudest chaos and quietest respite, Free Fire is an excellently composed film from a director who is steadily becoming a modern master of the form.

Verdict: 8/10

6 April 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 25

GAZETTE

TECH

The Internet’s Dad YouTube turns into defends user data NoTube as annoyed advertisers halt ads around the planet YOUTUBE , a n d s i s ter company Google, are splashing through some choppy waters at the moment as several major advertisers, via their marketing firms, are continuing their current boycott of the platforms over concerns about their ads being inadvertently linked to extremist material.

The brands have been alarmed that ads for their products or services have been popping up within or alongside videos or content posted by hate groups or extremist figures, such as religious fundamentalists, white nationalist groups, and so on.

Flaring up throughout March, the row has now spread around the world as companies in countries from America to Ireland to Australia have halted their advertising on YouTube and Google (with both platforms part of the same parent company, Alphabet Inc).

Of course, neither YouTube or Google or the advertisers themselves chose this outcome, which is a result of the platforms’ complex algorithms curating and matching up content – very badly, in this case.

Like a string of dominoes, once one big company halted their advertising spend, others took note and halted theirs, with the row growing exponentially and seeming to catch the

platforms by surprise at the scale and speed of the boycott.

At the time of writing, a wide range of bigname brands around the world have paused their YouTube and/ or Google advertising, with Irish social media and internet users closer to home also seeing how some big brandname ads have quietly disappeared, for the moment.

A common theme in the brands’ complaints has been that not only are they very annoyed about their products appearing anywhere near extremist content, but that such figures or groups can also potentially profit financially from visitor-count revenue streams and the like – something they won’t support.

Given the evolving media landscape, this bump in the road for YouTube echoes the growing pressure for it – and other social media platforms – to seriously consider its role as a content-providing platform.

Initial steps to dampen down the disquiet by adding new controls for marketers did little to calm the mood, with Google and YouTube subsequently ramping up attempts to eradicate such content and increase ‘brand safety’ avenues.

A bit like YouTube itself, this issue is one to keep watching ...

I HAD written a neat piece about US President Donald Trump’s recent attacks on internet privacy with worrying global implications (see below), but when Tim BernersLee (AKA ‘the guy who invented the internet’, AKA The Internet’s Dad) weighed in on the move with a suitably Trumpian soundbyte (“disgusting”), well, a late night rewrite was the least I could do.

But first, some backstory, and an insight into what has brought a true Titan of technology into the fray ...

As part of his ongoing whirlwind of attacks on everything, President Trump has set his sights on internet users’ browsing history, clearing the way for ISPs (internet service providers) to sell their browsing history.

After all, whether you’re searching for a new job, a hotel, medicine or whatever, there’s a potentially

 SHANE DILLON sdillon@dublingazette.com

useful commercial aspect to at least some of that data – an aspect which has previously been largely reigned in by a number of checks and balances by governments and watchdogs around the world, with most tending to try to balance consumer and individual privacy rights against other matters.

Not so in the States any more, where President Trump has now cleared the way for ISPs to turn their users’ data into commercially viable data – needless to say, if your ISP suddenly starts actively recording everything you see and do on the internet, you’re creating a perfect profile of who you are,

what you like, want, think and feel.

That’s not to say that internet users all around the world will now start unwittingly creating perfect dossiers of info for The Man and shadowy corporations to exploit, but the move to allow such data mining sets a worrying precedent, potentially creating a domino line of tumbling user rights and a slow whittling away of civil liberties around the world.

In this context, it’s no wonder that The Internet’s Dad is so annoyed about the move.

Speaking about the internet for many years, Berners-Lee has always been a tireless advocate of the positive change for humanity as a whole than the internet, and free access to information, can make.

To see users then potentially even further turned into a commodity, open-

Tim Berners-Lee, credited with inventing the modern internet as we know it, has weighed in on the potentially escalating row over users’ automatic right to privacy versus companies looking to monetise their browsing data

ing up a can of worms about the loss of privacy – well, it’s no wonder Berners-Lee thinks it’s a terrible move, and one to oppose.

Speaking to The Guardian, Berners-Lee discussed a number of potential pitfalls that an increased commercial exploitation of users could engender, just part of his worries about the drift of certain aspects of the Internet in recent years.

He said: “There are things that people do on the web that reveal absolutely everything, more about them than they know themselves sometimes.

“Because so much if what we do in our lives that actually goes through those left-clicks, it can be ridiculously revealing.

“You have the right to go to a doctor in privacy where it’s just between you and the doctor. And similarly you have to be able

to go to the web. Privacy, a core American value, is not a partisan thing.”

Still, all is not lost for consumers – in America, at least, as just because the ISPs have been given a green light to flog user data doesn’t mean that they will.

Verizon AT&T, and Comcast – big players in the US – have said that they won’t sell customers’ individual browsing data, despite the green light to do so.

If telecoms giants settle into a gentlemen’s agreement – particularly under public and political pressure to respect user wishes about privacy and data – then all is not lost.

Ultimately, Irish, US and global internet users alike should take a greater interest in such battles and tussles for the internet’s soul – not least as The Internet’s Dad won’t always be there to try and keep things in order ...

26 FINGAL GAZETTE 6 April 2017

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GAZETTE

28 FINGAL GAZETTE 6 April 2017

SPORT

FastSport SHIELS INSPIRES BELVO SEMI WIN: OLD Belvedere earned a place in the women’s All-Ireland rugby final with a 13-12 win over Railway Union at Willow Lodge.

Railway built a ninepoint lead midway through the second half thanks to tries from Niamh Byrne and Kim Flood but the defending champions, who were hunting for a fourth final appearance in a row, showed the benefit of their nous and experience to pull off an improbable triumph.

The tension was ratcheted up when a serious neck injury to Old Belvedere’s young scrum half Kathryn Dane led to a half hour delay as an ambulance was summoned.

It came with Belvo leading by one point with six minutes remaining and Belvedere held out a series of Railway attacks on the resumption to set up a final date with UL Bohemians.

Jackie Shiels instigated their fightback, scoring all of Belvo’s points.They trailed 12-3 before she crossed to inspire the comeback

RUGBY: DUBLIN 4 SCHOOL PROVE TOO STRONG FOR BLACKROCK IN QUALITY FINAL

Five-star Michael’s sweep to Leinster Junior Cup title

LEINSTER JUNIOR CUP FINAL St Michael’s Blackrock College  sport@dublingazette.com

31 17

WILLIAM Hickey led St Michael’s College to their fourth Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Junior Cup title at Donnybrook last weekend.

They prevailed with an electric five-try performance that matched the atmosphere at the venue.

After both sides made big inroads in a frantic and physical opening period with Michael’s being the first to make a breakthrough.

It came from a scrum inside their own half, the ball was shifted right for Chris Cosgrave to simply take off, chip Shane Murray and collect on the far side for a stunning try.

He had the composure to convert from wide right for 7-0 in the 10th minute.

At this stage. Blackrock were using wing John Campbell to get over the gain-line from the scrum and Michael Lowey was never too far away from the ball.

Their ingenuity was eyecatching, Lowey almost getting around Cosgrave while their

St Michael’s celebrate their Leinster Schools Junior Cup title. Picture: Paul Lundy

forwards set up a clever maul in midfield to draw a penalty and, almost more, as prop Scott Barron went within a foot of the line.

There was the consolation of Adam Dixon’s penalty to make it 7-3 in the 19th minute.

They backed this up with strong carrying up the guts, a smart lineout and thrust from lock Mark Morrissey, destroyed

by Jack Boyle’s superb poach.

St Michael’s moved with menace from the work of wing Simon O’Kelly and full-back

Eddie Kelly until stunted by a Rock solid defence.

In return, the Williamstown school looked to their maul for profit and it was moving well when captain Hugh O’Malley gave away a needless penalty Out of the blue, St Michael’s narrowed their focus to crank up the pick-and-go relentlessly for number eight Jack Boyle to blast to the line for 12-3 in the final minute of the first-half.

There was a frantic re-opening as Blackrock came calling, wing

Lowey taken down by Kelly and scrum-half Jeffrey Woods launching the ball forward for a footrace.

It was good enough for a St Michael’s lineout which Kelly threatened to turn into five points were it not for the vigilance of Campbell.

Rock centre Small almost got away down the right and wing Lowey had to be cut down by Kelly again.

St Michael’s couldn’t escape and their eagerness to rush up in

defence onto Dixon cost them a penalty, but not the points.

Then, the winners simply moved into top gear as they took the ball through three phases and the best part of 60 metres for out-half Niall Carroll to finish into the left corner.

Cosgrave converted from the touchline for 19-3 in the 44th minute.

When Rock pushed the passes, Hickey picked one off, replacement Hugo McWade was in support and Cosgrave took it home ahead of his conversion.

Rock were not going to roll over and they rebounded in direct fashion, their number eight Liam Heylin somehow managing to ground the ball for replacement Michael Moloney to convert in the 50th minute.

Full-back Kelly’s well-judged kick and Lee Barron’s rescue of an overthrown lineout put St Michael’s back on the front foot for Harrison to cut back against the grain for their fifth try.

The game concluded with Blackrock applying sustained pressure to create space on the left for replacement Seb Lowe to exploit, Moloney converting as the final whistle sounded.

Ballymun Patriots edge out DVC to volleyball league  sport@dublingazette.com

The Ballymun Patriots volleyball team

BALLYMUN Patriots claimed the win they needed last weekend to claim the men’s Premier Division title ahead of Clondalkin-based Dublin Volleyball Club Bravo.

Going into the final round of fixtures in the national volleyball leagues, the pair were the two sides in the frame for the title with Ballymun leading DVC by one point and were first in action on Saturday at home to Garda VC. There, they proved too strong in a fixture that swung both directions. The first set was a tense

30-28 with Ballymun getting their noses in front. They went two up after a 25-16 second set before Garda fought back in the third winning 25-21 but an emotionally charged fourth set was won by Ballymun 25-21.

The result was greeted with joy and relief too in the Ballymun Comprehensive School sports hall.

The men’s team is a vibrant mix of nationalities including players originally from Estonia, Poland, Brazil and Slovakia.

Slovakian native and Ireland All-Star Lubor Halanda said after-

wards of the win: “It’s a great feeling because we came close a couple of times over the last six years so we finally made it. We’ve been waiting for a long time.”

Halanda has previously played professionally in Slovakia, Switzerland and Austria before knee injuries stopped his pro career.

He continued: “It’s basically for fun this league. There are no funds so clubs struggle to get any funds in but we have fun together on court.”

Ballymun Patriots were first formed in the mid-1980s were part of DCU’s sporting network before

going solo in 2006, moving the short distance to Ballymun.

Though in recent years the clubs has won the end of season showpiece event, the National Cup, on several occasions it had been some years since they were league champions.

In the women’s Premier, two sides were also in the mix, Garda VC and Galway VC. On Saturday, Garda beat Ballymun Patriots ladies team 3-0 to keep the pressure on. However, Galway didn’t falter, beating DVC ladies 3-0 in Colaiste Bride to take the title.

6 April 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 29

GAZETTE

FASTSport

UCD’s Duke leads way in Irish Senior Cup victory UCD claimed their fourth Irish Senior Cup title since 2009 as Deirdre Duke’s late winner saw the students snatch a 1-0 victory over Cork Harlequins at Belfield.

While just one goal separated the sides, it was end to end throughout with chances a plenty, all played at a break-neck speed with buckets of quality on display from two well-matched sides.

When the sides met earlier in March, UCD won out 4-3 and while there was not the volume of goals, there was no shortage of incident, attacking intent and moments of magic.

Duke went closest in the first half when she drew a brilliantly athletic boot from Buckley and her side kept out a trio of UCD penalty corners.

Quins’ major chance came when Roycroft’s incisive through ball located Michelle Barry and her perfect touch set her through one-on-one but she blazed a wild shot over the students’ crossbar.

Another couple of corners came and went for UCD as Gillian Pinder’s floating runs gathered momentum. Roisin Upton, though, was bossing the Cork side’s defence with a series of robust tackles while Yvonne O’Byrne’s speedy runs from right back provided plenty of inspiration.

The second half was much more structured with chances less frequent with both sides holding the balance of power at different stages.

Quins had three corners which Cassin coped with well while there was almost a bizarre goal with 16 minutes to go from Roycroft’s shot. Cassin left the ball, believing it to be off target, but it duly bounced off the base of the post and across the goal line.

UCD had their spell on top, particularly when both Upton and Rebecca Barry were sent to the sin-bin.

But it was when Mullan was sent to the bin with three minutes left that the Dublin side duly struck gold with Duke laying off for Clarke. Facing Buckley, she selflessly laid off for Duke to take her time and pot the winner with little time left to build a counter-punch.

Speaking afterwards, Duke said of the tie: “Player for player there was no difference between the two sides. We got our chance and we executed. I don’t really mind [if we win] by one goal, two goals or whatever so long as it’s a win.”

Sheridan speeding up in race against time

Dundrum South Dublin man becomes first Irish sprinter to medal at world athletics masters championships since 2010 despite only taking up athletics when he was in his early 50s  JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

DUNDRUM South Dublin Athletic’s Club athlete Shane Sheridan brought home a silver medal from the 200 metres at the World Master’s Indoor Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea late last month, as well as reaching the finals in the 60 metres and men’s 4 x 200 metre contests.

Sheridan’s achievements are particularly astonishing, however, given he only took up the sport at the age of 53. At the age of 58, is one of the oldest competitors at the sharp end of his M55 category for those aged 55 and over.

“I’m unusual,” Sheri-

dan told GazetteSport, “in that I’m still getting faster. I played rugby and tennis into my mid30s. I’ve also done a lot of hiking in my life – places like Everest Base Camp and Kilimanjaro – that has kept me fit. I joined Dundrum South Dublin as I was looking for a way to keep fit. At the time, I knew nothing about Masters Athletics, so it’s been quite a journey.”

Sheridan found a Masters scene made up largely of lifelong athletes.

“Naturally, they’re getting slower, but I’m still getting quicker,” the Dundrum athlete explained. “Obviously, I’m going to start slowing down at some point but

I haven’t had a year yet where I didn’t improve.

“I hadn’t even planned to go to Daegu, but we had a relay team of three people and they needed a fourth. I decided to go along, and seeing as I was there, compete in the other events, too.”

The relay team Sheridan’s referring to, incredibly, is a team running in the M35 (male over 35) category, one that made the finals despite the presence of Sheridan, a man 23 years older than the minimum.

“I’m about a second slower than the other runners. They’d be running around 25.5, and I’m at around 26.5,” he said. “It’s not a huge gap.”

B e i n g c o m p e t i t i ve

at the M35 age group, then, it’s no surprise that Sheridan powered to a big personal best and a silver medal in the individual M55 category.

I’d come about seventh based on the line ups.”

The results, clearly, are very promising when it comes to Sheridan’s move up to M60 in a

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

‘Obviously, I’m going to start slowing down at some point but I haven’t had a year yet where I didn’t improve’ Shane Sheridan

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

“I believe it’s only the second Masters medal by an Irish male sprinter. It’s certainly the first since 2010,” he told us.

“It was a great experience. I ran pretty much every day from the Monday to the relay final on Sunday, with the various rounds. I was a little surprised how well I did; I had hoped to make the 200 final, but thought

Shane Sheridan, left, with his fellow competitors following the M55 60m final and, right, in action in the M35 4x200m relay

couple of years’ time.

“I think the thing people can take from my story is that running doesn’t have to be about long distance when you get a bit older,” Sheridan told us. “So many people start running marathons, things like that, and it really doesn’t suit everyone, every type of body.

Track and field might be better.”

GAZETTE

30 FINGAL GAZETTE 6 April 2017

SPORT

FASTSport

SOCCER: MANAGER QUIGLEY UPBEAT AFTER NINE-GOAL CLASSIC

All-Ireland bid starts on front foot for Malahide MALAHIDE rugby club opened up their AllIreland Provincial Round Robin campaign with a strong away 25-17 win over Omagh Academicals on Saturday.

Wet and blustery conditions made ball handling difficult and the early periods, although dominated by Malahide, remained scoreless. On 15 minutes, Malahide finally got the breakthrough with a Marcus McAllister try however the hosts responded quickly with a try of their own.

A converted Marc Hewitt try brought the half time score to 12-5 in Malahide’s favour.

Two early tries in the second period from Conal Keane and Marcus McAllister gave Malahide a healthy 26-5 lead before an Omagh try kept them in touch.

Although Omagh dominated much of the remainder of the game strong Malahide defence restricted them to just one further try with the last play of the game and Malahide ran out 25-17 winners.

The Estuary Road side now have a home fixture this Saturday against Clonmel who were also victors over Ballina in their opening fixture. The Connacht champions lost their opening game on the road to Clonmel 10-6.

Carbery takes on ambassador role for Bulls JOEY Carbery has taken on the role of ambassador to Clontarf rugby club’s newest team, the Clontarf Bulls, a side for local children aged six to 14 with intellectual additional needs.

Many of the children involved have challenges such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, visual or hearing impairments, or other

learning needs.

The Clontarf Bulls is being led by a group of rugby coaches and volunteers with a particular interest in promoting the abilities of these children and rightfully including them in Clontarf Rugby.

Sunday mornings on the new all-weather pitch in Clontarf consist of drills, games and training. Parents interested in getting their child with intellectual needs involved with the Clontarf Bulls should contact 01-8336214.

The Rivervalley Rangers AUL Saturday Division 1 side

Weafer weaves late magic AUL SAT DIVISION 1 Darndale 4 Rivervalley Rangers 5  KARL GRAHAM sport@dublingazette.com

RIVERVALLEY Rangers came out on top of a nine goal thriller as they defeated Darndale FC in the AUL Saturday division 1 at Darndale Park last weekend.

The visitors got off to a slow start and soon found themselves trailing. However, Lee Murray levelled the scores with a shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Darndale responded in positive fashion by

continuing to press the opposition and their efforts paid dividends with a 2-1 lead going into the half-time break.

Deja v u str uck for Rivervalley during the opening stages of the second half as they once again started slowly and conceded an early goal.

Manager Simon Quigley responded by throwing Paul Currivan into the fray and it proved an inspired substitution.

Murray fed the ball to Mark O’Brien who inturn produced an inch perfect pass into the path of Currivan. The striker played off the shoulder of his defender

ALL-IRELAND SEMIS Gannon Park side face Belvedere revenge bid MALAHIDE United will play their SFAI All-Ireland semi-final tie against Belvedere this Saturday morning at Gannon Park at 11.30am.

Malahide saw off Waterford’s Villa in the last round with a 4-0 win on home turf, backing up earlier successes against Temple Villa (3-1) and St Francis on the national stage having made their way through three rounds of the regional qualifiers, beating Cambridge Boys, Mount Merrion and Finglas United. They lost to Belvo 2-0 earlier this year and so will hope to turn that tide around.

and managed to find the net and pull his side back to within a goal.

However, Darndale continued their habit of scoring goals at vital points in the game when they did so again moments after Rivervalley’s last goal to restore their two goal advantage.

Few would have given Rivervalley any hope of getting something from the game at this point but their hopes were raised when Andy Conway found himself free at the back post and nodded home to make it 4-3.

The visitors looked buoyed by that goal

and they were finally on level terms again when Gary Weafer rose highest to steer Jimmy Rock’s whipped cross past the Darndale keeper.

The game inched into the last ten minutes with Rivervalley pushing to complete an epic comeback. It came about when they won a corner that was swung in by Neil Hainsworth onto the head of Weafer yet again to head home.

“Darndale is a tough place to go; it’s always a battle there so it wasn’t an easy affair,” Quigley told GazetteSport.

“We played Ballyogan the week before in

the JJ O’Toole cup and that took a lot out of us.

Sometimes if you lose a big game like that, it’s hard to get motivated for the next game.”

The win sees Rivervalley move up to eighth position in the table but Quigley is optimistic that with eight games remaining his side can still finish significantly higher up the table.

“We look safe but, in saying that, we have seven or eight games at home now and we are well capable of beating anyone so if we get a string of wins together we could shoot up to third or fourth.”

6 April 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 31

GAZETTE

SUPER SYL’S

Malahide club continues perfect start to AFL1

CLUB NOTICEBOARD FINGALLIANS

ST SYLVESTER’S made it two wins from two in AFL Division 1 courtesy of a 0-14 to 0-6 win over Castleknock at Somerton last Saturday evening.

It makes them the only side in the league at this early stage with a perfect record following their win over the recenth promoted Skerries Harps, conceding just 12 points across the two games.

Picture: Martin Doherty

LADIES FOOTBALL: STUNNING SECOND HALF COMEBACK

FEILE Cailini 2017: Our girls showed great

Intermediate hurling championship:

fight and spirit on Saturday as they were

Na Fianna v Fingallians on Saturday, April

narrowly defeated. The players and

29 at 6pm (away at Mobhi Road).

mentors wish to pass on their thanks

Football championships: seniors v

to Erin’s Isle for hosting the day and the

Skerries on Friday, April 21 at 7pm in

girls’ parents and sponsors.

Garristown, junior A on Sunday, April 23 v

Feile Buachailli 2017: This will take

Round Tower, Clondalkin at 11am at home

place next Saturday morning, starting

and also junior D v St Pat’s Palmerstown

at 10.30am. We have two teams taking

away at 3pm.

part; Division 2 - Finglas: Erin’s Isle (host

Dublin minor ladies: Congratulations

club), Fingallians A, Ballymun Kickhams

to Shannon Murtagh (corner back) and

and Templeogue Synge Street A; Division

Derbhla Snow (centre forward) who

8 – Swords: Fingallians B (host club), St

helped the Dubs reach the Leinster final.

James Gaels/An Caislean, Castleknock B

They will now play Kildare on Easter

and Kilmacud Crokes C.

Monday. (venue and time to follow)

Division 3, 6 and 10 footballers: The

H&W: We are currently forming a

first team remain unbeaten with a draw

Health and Welfare Group within the

away to Ballyboughal. The Division 6

club. Anyone interested, please email

team suffered their first defeat of the

Fingallians@gmail.com for further

league v St Vincent’s and the Division 10

details.

team recorded victory v St Brigid’s.

be placed in the bar before Friday, April

going up next week declaring the club

7 at 8pm. Camp is limited to 250 places so

a no smoking zone. It will also include

get booking.

Balheary, Kettles Lane and Holywell

Well done to all coaches who took

areas. There will be two designated

part in the recent Level one child course

areas adjoining the club bar and hall for

which was hosted by Fingallians over the

smokers. The new rules will be policed by

last two weekends. We had numerous

members from May 1.

nursery and CCC1 coaches taking part .

ST FINIAN’S Garristown celebrate their AIG Division 7 Feile success. Picture: GAAPics.com

Garristown’s U-14’s three Feiles in a row AIG DIV 7 FEILE FINAL Garristown 1-10 Lucan Sarsfields 1-5  sport@dublingazette.com

GARRISTOWN Under14 girls were celebrating on Sunday after walking away from the Trinity Gaels ground as Division 7 Feile champions following a 1-10 to 1-5 win over Lucan Sarsfields B. On a sunny day in Drumnigh that proved ideal conditions for football, the next generation of potential stars took to the field in a great advertisement for the game, closing out a memorable weekend.

Garristown went into the final having won all their qualifying round games, including an emphatic win over Fingal rivals Skerries Harps B, the day beforehand.

Although invigorated by their performances on Saturday, they took nothing for granted when they came face to face with their opponents in the final.

It was a typical game of two halves as Lucan sprang from the traps in the first to score a goal and several frees to sit on a four-point lead going into the break.

However, whatever

mentors Sinead GormleyO’Brien and Edel Carberry-Quinn said to the Garristown girls at half-time oworked as they produced a spirited comeback.

In fact, Garristown were camped in the Lucan half of the pitch for the majority of the second half as they hit 1-7. The goal came from the boot of Chloe O’Brien, with Emer Quinn, Emma O’Brien and Maria Duffy all kicking points in front of their excited travelling support.

Lucan were restricted to just one point in the second half as Garristown showed great spirit to work tirelessly, and get

themselves back into the game.

The victorious Garristown side was a mixture of the club’s Under-15 and Under-12 sides, with the younger players in particular deserving praise for the character they showed to come back in the second half.

Incredibly, this is the third Feile title in a row for the Garristown club, with some of the girls having been on all three winning teams. However, for some of the younger players this has been their first experience of the annual competition, and a good one at that.

Easter Camp, April 10-14: Bookings to

No Smoking Club: Signage will be

CONGRATULATIONS to the adult LGFA

Please email the club children’s

team who beat St Anne’s in the Division

officer Sharon Callanan at sharcall48@

6A cup in River Valley.

gmail.com to register your interest. The

It was mixed fortunes for the adult

course is being run by the county board

football teams; the AFL8 team won

and places are limited as it will be opened

against St Peregrine’s in Ridgewood on

up to other clubs to attend.

Sunday morning. The AFL4 team were

A reminder also that the Easter Camp

beaten by St Jude’s in Ridgewood on Sat-

will take place from Tuesday, April 18 to

urday evening.

Friday, April 21. Prices are €35 for first

Well done to the U-14 LGFA girls who

child member, €60 for the second child

put in a great team effort in the Feile

member and three children plus €70. For

on Saturday in Russell Park. Thanks to

non-members, it’s €50. Those registered

Tesco Ridgewood for their sponsorship.

attending the nursery and academy are

Congratulations to the U-12 boys who

classified as members.

played two games in less than 24 hours

Parents can also register their chil-

due to a backlog of fixtures and who won

dren using the ‘book and pay online’

both of them.

option under the Easter Camps menu

The executive committee would like to

on the Club Website www.stfinians.com.

thank all those who donated cakes and

Forms are available in the clubhouse

also to the fundraising committee for

office or to download from Easter

arranging the cake sale in the clubhouse

Camps menu on the club website, www.

on Saturday, especially Mary Murray

stfinians.com.

and Caroline Savage which, along with

Fhionn’s afterschool and breakfast

the Easter Raffle, were successful fun-

club operates in the clubhouse activ-

draising events for the club.

ity room daily on Monday to Friday. For

The committee would also like to thank those who donated prizes and who supported the Easter raffle. Your support is greatly appreciated.

further details, please contact Karen at 087 771 1856.

The club lotto jackpot on March 31 was €1,800 and the numbers drawn were 2,

The club is hosting a Child Protection

14, 19 and 24. There was no winner. Lucky

in Sport Awareness (CPSA) course on

dip winners of €25 were Patricia Ellison, T

Tuesday, April 18 at 7pm in the clubhouse.

Clarke, Mags & Rose, O’Donoghue family.

It is mandatory for all coaches and men-

Next week’s jackpot is €1,900.

tors and those working with children to complete this course.

The club bingo takes place this and every Friday upstairs in Peacocks.

GAZETTESPORT

ALL OF YOUR FINGAL SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 28-31

FEILE FEVER: Garristown produce memorable series of results to claim their division of annual festival P31

APRIL 6-12, 2017

MICHAEL’S REJOYCE IN REPLAY: Dublin 4 school finally see off Rock in Junior Cup final P28

Thunder strike out Swords Thunder celebrate winning the Hula Hoops Men’s National Cup. Picture: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Memorable season for Swords basketball club comes to a close in the playoff semi-finals as Tralee edge out the National Cup winners

 STEPHEN FINDLATER

sport@dublingazette.com

GRIFFITH Swords Thunder’s hopes of adding the Superleague playoff title to the National Cup title won in January came to an end last Saturday evening, falling 66-64 to Garveys Tralee Warriors in Letterkenny.

They fought back to within a point of the Kerry side with 35 seconds to go with Alex Dolenko dropping a big three-pointer.

But Tralee held their nerve with Kieran Donaghy running down time and drawing a foul and subsequently nailing one of his free throws with three seconds to go.

Swords could not land a basket from the

last play and Tralee were through to Sunday’s final where they duly prevailed. Thunder had led 59-58 with under four minutes to go before the Warriers made their crucial series of plays, Trae Pemberton adding to Donaghy’s influence to land six key points without reply.

Earlier, Jose Maria Gil Narbon had landed 17 points for Swords with the usual support from Isaac Westbrooks and Kevin Lacey.

Nonetheless, the ALSAA-based club can reflect on a fine third season in the top tier of Irish basketball, winning the National Cup and finishing second in the regular season table in the Super League.

“We look back at only our third season in the Superleague, once again, as a very proud

year both on and off the court,” coach Dave Baker said.

“This year’s team were a special basketball team and a pleasure to coach, they were focused, and even more important a great bunch of men and teammates.”

He went on to hail the support he received in the background from his staff.

“It’s not often seen or said but the work done in the background to keep Thunder as one of the top teams in the country never ends and wouldn’t be possible without the management of Ger O’Leary who has but blood sweat and tears into this team over the years.

“This year we had the addition of Rob

Kearney in charge of strength and conditioning and workouts who has really helped us reach such a high level. Emily Crawley joined us this season along with the voice of ALSAA, Abdul Mikael as announcer; we’re delighted that all management team will be returning next year.

“We look ahead to next season and as we have done each year we hope to be an even better team representing Swords, Fingal and the Thunder.”

He also thanked the Swords fans as well as sponsors Griffith College, Swords basketball club’s committee, ALSAA Sports Complex, Holywell Sports, Raw Fitness and Basketball Ireland.