Dublin Gazette: Fingal Edition

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SPORT FOOTBALL:

Peregrine’s Eric Lowndes on Dublin’s Leinster final focus.

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Fingal Edition FREE

THE LATEST NEWS & SPORT FROM THE FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL AREA

‘Disgrace’ as Fingal’s homeless families pass 500 SYLVIA POWNALL THE number of families on the council’s homeless list has breached the 500 mark – as 1,433 acres of State-controlled land in Fingal which could deliver 18,520 housing units lies vacant.

The local authority is in contact with 522 families who are either homeless or at risk of homelessness, it emerged at the monthly council meeting.

Residentially-zoned land totalling 172 hectares (412 acres) in the ownership of Fingal County Council lies empty, with another 425 hectares (1,022 acres) of NAMA-

AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE NATURAL CHARMS OF THE ‘MOUNTAINS’ BY THE CITY

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ENJOYING SUMMER TREATS

THE weather may have been very hit and miss lately – mostly miss – but these girls were determined to make the most of the sunshine beaming down at the Skerries Mid-Summer Festival last week. Maria and Lajana Quinn were among the many locals of all ages spotted tucking into delicious candy floss, while the whole community could also enjoy a diverse range of family-friendly fun. See Gallery on P11. Picture: Alison O’Hanlon

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JUNE 21-27, 2018

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Slamming the number, Darragh O’Brien said: “Fingal County Council need to be allowed to get on with the job”

controlled land also undeveloped.

Fianna Fail’s housing spokesman Darragh O’Brien told Dublin Gazette: “This is a disgrace – but it can be fixed. Fingal County Council need to be allowed to get on with the job, but they are being constrained by the Minister for Housing.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Audi delivers with ease in this great car

OWN the road with the new RS4 Avant sports estate car – a motor that truly offers a special driving experience.

Page 28

2 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 21 June 2018

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CRIME: SHOCKING INCIDENTS SEEN AT MALAHIDE, BLANCH

Car drags woman along in mugging GARDAI are appealing for witnesses after a woman was dragged up to 30 metres along the road by a car in a mugging at Malahide Castle on Monday.

The woman, aged in her 40s and from Howth, had her handbag snatched by someone in a passing car near the entrance to the busy tourist spot shortly after 5.30pm.

But as the thief and his male accomplice drove off, the bag snagged on the woman’s clothing and she was dragged along the road behind the speeding vehicle.

The park ranger came to the aid of the shocked woman, who sustained heavy bruising to her arm, and gardai and an ambulance rushed to the scene.

An eye witness told Dublin Gazette: “The lady suffered bruising and

 SYLVIA POWNALL

spownall@dublingazette.com

shock, but the park ranger was quickly on the scene along with a local woman and luckily an A&E nurse who happened to be visiting with his family. A blue hatchback was spotted on security cameras.”

Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee (FF) described the attack as “absolutely horrendous”, adding: “I hope the perpetrators are caught soon.”

Meanwhile, a woman has told how she narrowly escaped being mown down by a car after being pushed off her bike and down an embankment in Blanchardstown.

The woman said she was verbally abused and attacked after being confronted by two men as she cycled past the Islamic centre on Friday afternoon.

The woman told Dublin Talks on 98fm: “There were so many people in front of me and I was ringing the bell, I was along the cycle path.

“I was slowing down and had to get off the bike and a man in his 50s turned around and started shouting: ‘You stupid woman,

this is the footpath, the footpath’ while pointing at the cycle path. “[He] stood aside and as soon as I thought he was letting me past he got his two arms and sent me flying. All I could see was oncoming traffic. I was trying to stop the bike flying onto the middle of the road and it came down on top of me.

“Most of the people just kept walking. Two men came running over to me and helped me up.”

Fingal in €900m wastewater plan IRISH WATER yesterday (Wednesday, June 20) submitted a planning application for a major project

which will see Fingal take waste from all four Dublin authorities and parts of Kildare and Meath.

Plans for the €900 million Greater Dublin Drainage Project were lodged with An Bord Pleanala and, if approved, will provide capacity to treat wastewater for up to half a million people.

The scheme includes a giant sewage plant on a 43-acre site in Clonshaugh linked to an underground orbital sewer from Blanchardstown to intercept existing flows at Ringsend.

One of the most controversial aspects of the plan is the location of the outflow pipe into the Irish Sea, which will be just off the Portmarnock coast near the Baldoyle Estuary.

An Bord Pleanala will commence a seven-week statutory public consultation on Thursday, June 28.

The planning application can be downloaded from www.greaterdublindrainage.com.

FASTNews Sinn Fein chip in objection to controversial drive-thru SINN Fein Cllr Malachy Quinn says he will lodge a submission opposing plans for a drive-thru restaurant at Skerries Point.

The original planning application for a 24-hour take-away was withdrawn and a second proposing an 11pm closing time was submitted earlier this month.

Cllr Quinn said plans to locate the facility opposite a national school was “very worrying”.

He added: “The locating of a fast-food outlet across from a primary school flies in the face of efforts by the Department of Health to tackle childhood obesity.

“Here is on an opportunity to safeguard the health of our next generation by refusing planning permission for a fastfood drive-thru across from a primary school.”

Farrell welcomes funding boost for partnerships FINE Gael TD Alan Farrell has welcomed confirmation that €230,500 is being allocated to the Fingal Leader Partnership, and €560,000 is being granted to EmPower, formerly the Blanchardstown Area Partnership.

The funding is allocated under the Ability Programme, which provides training

programmes for people with a disability between the ages of 15 and 29.

Deputy Farrell said: “This funding will provide for training programmes for people with a disability which will support them in acquiring new skills and empower them to enter the workforce.”

Council assessing caravan encampment at private land FINGAL County Council says its planning enforcement section is “assessing” an encampment created on private land at Blackwood Avenue, Portmarnock.

Dozens of caravans rolled into the field on Monday evening as locals were informed they were there for a religious event and would remain for the next fortnight.

A French pastor in their midst also sparked confusion when he claimed that they had been in discussions with the landowner and had permission to use the 1.3-acre site.

On Tuesday evening, FCC issued a statement revealing it was aware of the situation that had developed over the previous 24 hours.

A spokesperson added: “The land is owned by a group of individuals and FCC has been in contact with one of the owners to inform them of the processes open to them.

“The council’s Planning Enforcement Section has also been alerted and the section is currently assessing the situation with a view to commencing enforcement action under the Planning Development Act 2000, as amended.”

21 June 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 3

DONABATE: COWS, FARMING, ARTISAN FARE AND MUCH, MUCH MORE AHEAD FOR ALL THE FAMILY

Plenty to a-moo-se you all at this year’s Flavours of Fingal festival SYLVIA POWNALL

THE fifth annual Flavours of Fingal will bring farming to the city (sort of) with a celebration of all things agricultural on Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25.

Last year’s county show attracted a record 80,000 visitors, and organisers are expecting similar numbers to flock to Newbridge House and Farm in Donabate.

The event showcases the best of Irish farming and artisan foods on the edge of our capital city with livestock competitions, equestrian activities and much more.

This year’s two-day calendar features an exhibition demonstrat-

ing farming techniques from 100 years ago, with horse ploughing and a farrier demonstration as well as tilling, mowing and hay-making using restored machinery from bygone days.

Some of the more novel attractions will include a wood-carving act and a performance by The Cavalry of Heroes displaying

horsemanship, stunts and tricks.

There’s also plenty for the kids with face-painting, a bouncy castle, velodrome, sheepdog trials, a petting zoo, dog agility tests and a great line-up of live music.

As always, those who make their way on foot or using public transport can get in for free, with a

The fifth annual Flavours of Fingal festival looks set to be another brilliantly diverse event for all ages

parking fee for motorists (who are advised to check the traffic restrictions in advance).

The event is a joint venture between Fingal County Council and Fingal Tourism with input

from local farmers and craftspeople.

Fingal Farmers group spokesperson Sheila Corbally said: “We look forward every year to showcasing the best livestock, crafts and cookery Fingal

has to offer.”

Free shuttle buses will be available from Balbriggan, Skerries/Lusk, Swords and Donabate/Portrane.

For further informa-

tion or to book advance on-site parking, just see www.flavoursoffingal.ie.

4 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 21 June 2018

FAST NEWS

PUBLIC SERVICE: FINGAL’S NEW MAYOR ON PRIORITIES

See More Than Bricks And Mortar at a new exhibition

Looking forward to a year of trying to help the county

AN EXHIBITION of works from the Irish Museum of Modern Art goes on display at Draiocht Gallery in Blanchardstown this Friday, June 22. More Than Bricks and Mortar is a collection which has been selected by 50 pupils from Room 13 Inquiry – two school-based artist studios at Scoil Bhride Cailini NS in Blanchardstown and Tyrrelstown Educate Together NS. The exhibition reveals personal, deeply-felt and multi-layered experiences of what ‘home’ means to a new generation of children living in Dublin 15, itself characterised by a young, diverse and multi-ethnic population.

A multimedia installation, entitled Carrier of Memories, opens on the first-floor gallery. By Ella Bertilsson and Ulla Juske, it is the product of the artists’ own personal family histories. Both exhibitions run until October.

A new ‘Smart’ bike scheme is rolled out in Dublin 15 A SCHEME which allows cyclists to use their phone to unlock ‘Smart’ bikes with GPS technology has been launched in Blanchardstown.

The bicycles can be locked manually using the BleeperBike mobile phone app and so can be left at any bike parking facility. By downloading the BleeperBike app, users can register and find their nearest BleeperBike at designated bike racks throughout Dublin

15, scan the QR code on the bike to unlock it and it is ready for use. Other locations will be considered as the pilot proceeds, with a view to expanding the scheme to additional locations in the county.

The stationless bikes will be on display at Flavours of Fingal, in Newbridge Demesne, Donabate, on June 23 and 24, where the public are invited to come along and try them out.

SYLVIA POWNALL

HOUSING, MetroLink and the development of Dublin Airport are three key areas incoming Mayor of Fingal Anthony Lavin hopes to influence during his term of office.

Cllr Lavin (FG) was elected Mayor at the annual meeting of Fingal County Council last Friday, with Cllr Grainne Maguire (Ind) elected Deputy Mayor.

Cllr Lavin, who lives in Malahide, defeated Cllr Paul Mulville (SD) and Cllr Sandra Kavanagh (Soli-

darity) while Cllr Maguire defeated Cllr Lorna Nolan (Ind) in the chamber vote for Deputy Mayor.

Cllr Lavin, who represents the Howth-Malahide Electoral Area, has been a member of Fingal County Council since 2011. He is originally from Swinford, Co Mayo and is a customer care manager with AXA Insurance.

After the AGM he told Dublin Gazette: “Obviously, the issue of people being able to buy a house they can afford is a big one.

I hope to support the local authority in the supply of more housing.

“For older people, assisted housing or step-down housing also needs to be looked at – where there are people living in larger houses who want to stay in the same community but wouldn’t necessarily want to remain living in a large house.”

Cllr Lavin said he hoped to see Fingal continue to promote itself as a place to do business and said industrial sites across the north county, including Stephenstown in Balbriggan, had the potential to draw overseas investment and create jobs.

He also said he looked forward to supporting his local area of Portmarnock, Malahide and Kinsealy

Fingal’s new Mayor and Deputy Mayor – Anthony Lavin, and Grainne Maguire

and noted that the completion of the long-awaited Casino project during his tenure would be “a very special one for me”.

Cllr Maguire, who represents the Balbriggan electoral area, has been an elected representative for the past 10 years and succeeded her mother, May McKeon, who served on the council for almost 40 years, in 2013.

Tributes were paid to outgoing Mayor Cllr Mary McCamley (Lab) who was presented with a commemorative medal and a photo album recording her year in office.

Cllr McCamley listed

meeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, signing off on a historic €70 million loan agreement with the European Investment Bank, and a visit to Chengdu in China among the highlights of her year.

She added: “I have discovered such beautiful places in Fingal that this time last year I knew nothing about. It has been enlightening getting to know the county.”

The outgoing Mayor was overcome with emotion as she stood down – to a standing ovation and applause from both councillors and officials alike.

FASTNews

Lightning-fast comedy to hit Swords pub ANOTHER rip-roaring night of laughter is expected on Sunday, July 1 as ‘Lightning Comedy’ returns to the Lord Mayor’s pub in Swords.

Local writer and performer David Gilna will MC a packed bill of comic talent headlined

by Joanne McNally.

Swords playwright David has moved from acting into stand-up comedy and aims to bring touring comedians and local stand-up newbies together to put on a show for a local audience, six times a year.

He said since he put the idea out there, “the feedback has been great”, with the opening night set to play to a packed venue.

Sunday week’s event will see the return of Gary Lynch, Seamus Stackpoole, Joseph McGucken, Eddie Mullarkey, Mags McHugh and AJ O’Neill.

A special music interval act comes from local artist BUA, and spinning the decks for the night will be local man Ian Monaghan.

Doors will open at 8pm, with the show set to start at 8.30pm, and there is a small cover charge for the gig of just €5.

Learn all about ‘Men’s Sheds’ PORTMARNOCK Men’s Shed is holding an open week until this Sunday, June 25, from 10am to 12.30pm at its premises behind the White Sands Hotel.

Members have spent weeks preparing for the event and will be on hand to explain and demonstrate what Men’s Sheds are about.

The event is free – they won’t even charge for the tea and biscuits – and all are welcome.

21 June 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 5

6 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 21 June 2018

GALLERIES

Cillian Beere scores a point for St Patricks NS Diswellstown

Brothers James and Ethan Monaghan with the Corn Marino.

Pictures: Niall O’Connell/@KnockPhotos

Aga, Adaul and Youssef. Pictures: Alison O’Hanlon

Yoga In The Park raises €14,000 T

HE sun shone down on Malahide Castle last week as crowds of locals came together for a massive outdoor Yoga session. The event was a charity event aimed at raising vital funding for Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice, Chernobyl children, and to provide free yoga classes in nursing homes. It attracted big crowds and raised over €14,000 for these worthy causes.

The St Patricks NS Diswellstown winners

Delight for Diswellstown

S

T Patrick’s, Diswellstown, were victorious following an action-packed Sciath Sheain Ui Rinn last week as they won out against Beamount’s St Fiachra’s SNS in the final.

This year’s Cumann na mBunscol finals took place in Croke Park in Dublin and was quite a spectacle. There was some fantastic hurling and camogie on display, with 30 matches played over the two days, and 1,500 children taking to the pitch at GAA HQ.

Sonyia McQuillan and Marian O’Herlihy

Frankie and Carol-Ann

Arthur and his dad Luke Dylan Clarke

Puttamaporn Torphrom

A cool head

21 June 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 7

FAMILIES

Anger as homeless figure up CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Deputy O’Brien said Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy “has not come up with a scheme for building affordable housing” and this was frustrating local authorities in their efforts to effectively cost, tender and build homes.

Fingal’s landbank is one of the most significant in the country, according to ‘The Land Scarcity Myth’ by architect Mel Reynolds, which shows that between NAMA and local authorities, the State controls more than onequarter of the land in the country.

Deputy O’Brien said: “We have land that is zoned in Fingal. One of the main reasons building is being held up is the lack of an affordable housing scheme, because the Government stopped the old scheme in 2011 and hasn’t come up with an alternative.”

Councillors voiced their concern at last week’s full meeting of Fingal County Council, when chief executive Paul Reid delivered his monthly report.

It states: “Fingal County Council is currently in contact with circa 522 families who are in homeless circumstances or at risk of homelessness.”

It also emerged that since the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme was introduced in 2015, less than 1,000 such tenancy arrangements have been put in place in Fingal.

Between 2015 and the end of 2017, Fingal County Council built 78 homes, acquired 114 under Part V, and purchased a further 96. The council says it plans to construct 1,389 homes between now and 2021.

Last week, Deputy O’Brien took Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy to task in the Dail and claimed his proposals were not grounded in fact but were “absolute fantasy”.

HOUSING CRISIS: HARD-WORKING MUM BLASTS ‘SHAM’ GOVERNMENT LOAN SCHEME

‘Rebuilding Ireland’ sees would-be buyer facing broken dreams SYLVIA POWNALL

A YOUNG mum who has been saving for a decade to buy her own home, has blasted the Government’s Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan Scheme as a sham.

Rebecca Cowman (29) has worked and saved all her adult life, but she says she is being squeezed out of the housing market and would be “better off on the dole”.

The mum-of-one was told she earned too little to qualify for a mortgage from the banks, yet has been turned down for the Government scheme for earning too much.

She has now written to Minister of State for Housing Damien English demanding answers – and wants details on how the home loans are approved clarified.

Rebecca, from Castlek n o c k , to l d D u b l i n Gazette: “I am a single parent. I am in permanent, part-time employment. I have never claimed any rental supplement.

“I have no problem paying my own way. I worked my a**e off for 10 years to save a deposit, but the

“

Rebecca Cowman

banks wouldn’t give me a mortgage because I didn’t earn enough.

“When Rebuilding Ireland came along, I thought: ‘Finally, I can buy my own home’.”

Earlier this week, it emerged that half of applicants for the scheme – introduced to help firsttime buyers access cheap credit – had been turned down.

Just 455 home loans have been approved nationally, and these were issued in just two counties.

What is more, so far just five buyers have drawn down money.

Rebecca resolved to purchase a house with a friend and their combined income was under the €75,000 threshold.

But their application was turned down because,

The families and people who are most vulnerable yet still work for what they have are left out of the scheme, so what is the objective of Rebuilding Ireland? unlike banks, 100% of overtime earnings were included.

Rebecca, who was given notice to quit her Dublin home by the landlord earlier this year and had to move to Meath, fumed: “You expect to progress in life. I’m in temporary accommodation, paying €1,300 a month for a onebed apartment, and I have to share a bed with my five-

year-old daughter.

“We’re in Ashbourne and her school is in Castleknock, then I’m driving to work in Coolock. We’re in our fourth rental property now; my daughter has lost her bedroom.

“Because I’ve saved €34,000, I don’t qualify for social housing. The irony is I saved so I could get a house.

“It’s crazy – there’s no

incentive to try and pay your own way. I’d be better off on the dole. I have countless people on to me daily telling me the same thing.

“The families and people who are most vulnerable, yet still work for what they have are left out of the scheme, so what is the objective of Rebuilding Ireland?

“There is no hope for people.”

Rebecca is now heading a national campaign calling for a review of the loan scheme, as well as transparency and tighter regulation.

She wrote to Minister English – who recently admitted there were “teething problems” with the scheme – on May 22 but has yet to receive a reply.

The Department of Housing said bonuses and overtime “are reckonable” but the final decision “is a matter for each local authority and its credit committee on a case-bycase basis”.

It added that loan decisions may be appealed to the relevant local authority.

‘Lip-service’ excluding borrowers – TD DUBLIN West TD Jack Chambers says the Rebuilding Ireland (RI) Home Loan Scheme is failing the very people it was set up to help.

The Fianna Fail deputy told Dublin Gazette: “The safest cohort of borrowers, the people who would receive a mortgage through this, are being excluded because of an

anomaly.

“When gross income is calculated for a normal mortgage, overtime is excluded, but on this scheme additional income is being included, which pushes people over the limit.

“This was announced to great fanfare, but I think it was just to tell people there was a scheme to help first-time buy-

ers. This is lip service to pretend they are trying to deliver for low- and middle-income earners.

“People who want to buy, who are working hard in their jobs to build a home and a long-term future, are being squeezed out. That means they are paying through the nose to rent, which leaves

them little hope of saving or getting a home of their own.”

A meeting of Fingal County Council earlier this month heard that a total of 83 RI home loan applications have been declined by the local authority since the scheme was introduced.

Cllr Ted Leddy (FG) said: “Those 83 people will have

probably exhausted nearly every avenue for housing.

They’re ineligible for social housing and don’t qualify for HAP. “I can’t think of anywhere else for them to go, so a number of those people will probably end up in homeless services, which is exactly what we don’t want.”

8 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 21 June 2018

FAST NEWS

Five Guys set to serve up a new eaterie at the Pavilions BURGER gurus Five Guys are set to open another Dublin location – at the Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords later this year.

The iconic American chain will operate in a new 3,000sq ft ‘restaurant quarter’ at the centre along with a branch of Italian eatery Milanos. The restaurant will also include Coca Cola’s Freestyle touch-screen soda machine, which includes more than 100 flavour varieties.

The project, at a cost of €3.3 million, will be located on the upper level of the mall next to the Movies@Swords cinema and fashion store Zara.

Broadmeadow Way project stalled ‘to address concerns’

One, two, tree ... plant!

THE Broadmeadow Way project has hit a snag which could delay its delivery, it has emerged.

Fingal County Council revealed that the long-awaited greenway across the estuary linking Malahide to Donabate has been pushed back to clarify a number of issues.

Officials said issues raised by the National Parks & Wildlife Service had prompted a number of amendments “to address, as far as possible, any potential environmental concerns”.

An application is expected to be lodged with An Bord Pleanala within the next two months.

LABOUR Cllr Mary McCamley launched the Shackleton Gardens project in Beechpark last week in the presence of An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar.

It was one of her last official duties as Mayor just hours before she returned to the council chamber to hand over the chain of office to Cllr Anthony Lavin (FG).

The historical site, first known as Beechpark when it was bought by Captain Richard Wilson

Hartley in 1857, has been added to Fingal’s list of tourism attractions. A group of restoration volunteers are bringing what Bord Failte describes as a “historical gem” back to its former glory.

The 1.5-acre site, once one of the finest walled gardens in the country, includes a wide range of rare and exotic plants and flowers and will be open to the public next year.

Planting a tree on Friday, then Mayor McCamley thanked the Shackleton family for attending

and said the gardens would become “a place of great interest for tourists from across Ireland and abroad”.

Group shot: Mayor of Fingal Cllr Mary McCamley is pictured with An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar; Fingal County Council chief executive, Paul Reid; and elected members of Fingal County Council and the Oireachtas. Above: Paul Reid, Leo Varadkar and Mary McCamley jointly plant a tree at Shackleton Gardens.

PORTRANE: WARNING OF THREAT TO AREA’S ‘AMBIENCE’

Concern as 900 mature trees cut down at St Ita’s SYLVIA POWNALL

DONABATE Portrane Co m m u n i t y Co u n c i l (DPCC) has hit out at the loss of 900 mature trees and warned against felling any more to facilitate development.

A total of 900 trees have been cut down in St Ita’s hospital grounds to make way for the new National Forensic Mental Hospital campus.

Some indigenous oaks were centuries old, and 121 of them were rated high-value and moderatevalue according to An Bord Pleanala’s consent for the project.

DPCC described the move as “deeply disappointing” and said hedgerows are also being dug up “at an alarming rate” on the peninsula.

A surge in housing

An approach to St Ita’s. Picture: Google Maps

development has raised a number of concerns – with hundreds of new homes under construction and several significant planning applications pending.

DPCC secretary Corina Johnston told Dublin Gazette: “A few years ago, Fingal County Council removed the graceful poplars on Portrane Road, claiming they were dangerous.

“These trees were a feature of the area. Replacements were planted but are proving slow to grow, with some of them now dead.”

Ancient trees have also been cut down in the Ballymastone area in preparation for the new Donabate distributor road and a very mature tree was recently felled on the Hearse Road.

Meanwhile, the coun-

cil is forced to repeatedly replace young trees on the Beaverstown Road because vandals keep snapping them.

Corina said: “We accept that the removal of trees is a direct consequence of development works that are being carried out in the area, but the loss of so many trees is deeply disappointing.

“It’s a shame that decades-old trees had to be removed in such large numbers in an area renowned for its greenery.”

She stressed the need to retain as many mature trees as possible given how long they take to grow and asked that this be given greater priority by planning authorities, warning: “The ambience of the area will be damaged if more trees are lost.”

21 June 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 9

10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 21 June 2018

FAST NEWS

Schools in pilot creative initiative SCHOOLS in Balbriggan, Balrothery and Lusk have been chosen to participate in a pilot Creative Schools scheme from this September.

Balbriggan Educate Together NS, St Oliver Plunkett’s NS, Lusk Community College and St Peter and Paul’s JNS will all have increased access to creative activities.

Welcoming the news, Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) said: “Arts and music are part of who we are as a nation. This pilot initiative will celebrate the arts and creativity in our schools. I have no doubt the scheme will prove a creative success.”

WiFi roll-out welcomed FINGAL County Council has revealed the roll-out of free public WiFi in Balbriggan and local Cllr Malachy Quinn is welcoming the move.

The Sinn Fein representative said the communications infrastructure would “help bring connectivity and investment to rural and urban Balbriggan”.

He added: “I have been in contact with FCC over the last two years to encourage this development. I now urge all communities without this type of infrastructure to keep an eye on the scheme and avail of it when it is rolled out in other areas.”

POLITICS: ‘BIZARRE’ MOVE BLASTED BY SOME, BUT SOME CHANGES ARE WELCOMED

Electoral boundary changes divides politicians’ reactions SYLVIA POWNALL

LABOUR Party representative John Walsh has criticised the electoral area boundary committee’s decision to split Blanchardstown village, describing it as “bizarre”.

A report on the Local Electoral Boundary Review, issued last week, shows the 40 Fingal County Council seats re-allocated across seven areas instead of five.

As a result, the Balbriggan LEA, which previously included Rush, Lusk and Skerries and elected eight councillors, loses Lusk and Rush and elects five councillors.

A new five-seater Rush-Lusk LEA has been created which will incorporate Donabate and Portrane (previously Swords ward).

But it’s the changes in D15 that have raised most hackles as the commission has drawn a boundary through Blanchardstown village to reconfigure the Castleknock and Blanch-Mulhuddart wards.

Mr Walsh said: “This transfer makes no sense and is directly contrary to the terms of reference of the commission, which required the preservation of village centres as a key element within local authority wards.

“Instead, the Blanchardstown village area is split and part of the boundary now runs along

Castleknock Road.”

He was also critical of the revised boundary between Castleknock and the new Ongar ward, noting: “You would need an advanced degree in geog-

raphy to work out the exact boundary between Castleknock and Ongar in this convoluted scheme and once again, Clonsilla has been split between the two wards.”

Under the revised plan, the M1 is now the boundary between Swords and Malahide, so the new Howth-Malahide LEA is reduced from eight seats to seven with Holywell now part of

the Swords area.

The Swords LEA, which is reduced from nine to seven seats, encompasses Rolestown, Forrest, Glasmore, Lissenhall, Swords village, Turnapin and parts of Balgriffin, Kinsealy and Seatown which are west of the M1.

Swords-based Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) said: “As per the submission I made to the commission, I am delighted that the town of Swords remained intact and was not split down the middle.

“Whilst I am disappointed to lose Donabate, Portrane, St Margaret’s and Meakstown, I am pleased to finally welcome Holywell and the areas west of the M1 into the Swords LEA which, I believe, is their natural home.”

The local elections will take place on Friday, May 24 next along with the European elections.

Green Party candidate Joe O’Brien said he was looking forward to securing party approval to run in the new BalbrigganSkerries ward, adding: “I think the new configuration will provide a great opportunity to better integrate the two towns.”

Meanwhile, Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell warned that action was needed to tackle cyber threats and prevent “online disinformation” in the lead up to the local elections.

Irish Water boost for reservoir levels IRISH Water are considering an upgrade to the pumping system at Thomastown reservoir in a bid to tackle disruptions to supply in Skerries.

Cllr Tom O’Leary (FG) said he was optimistic of a solution following a meeting with the utilities company last week.

He said: “I am delighted to report that they are positively examining a solution I proposed to

them ... that the pumping capacity at the Thomastown reservoir be upgraded.

“I am informed Irish Water Capital Projects are examining that solution, to increase the current pumping capacity into Skerries from 2.8 million litres per day to 4 million litres per day.”

More than 250 homes and businesses in Skerries were left without water for five days over

the bank holiday weekend due to low levels in the reservoir.

Raising the issue in the Dail, Deputy Clare Daly said: “What we have is a scenario where it’s not water restrictions, but it’s no water within a 30 kilometre radius of the city centre.

“Where would you get it? There’s parts of Africa that don’t stand over such inadequate infrastructure.”

21 June 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 11

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Hayden Day and Conor Murray. Picture: Alison O’Hanlon Jennifer and Amber Brennan

Liz and Greg with their children Darragh and Sean

Andrew Fox, Cadhla Wilson, Esme Fox and Riley Wilson

Heidi and Anna O’Hanlon

Enjoying Summer fun in Skerries

T

Alex

HE Skerries Mid-Summer Festival took place last week. Locals enjoyed a Summer Beach Party, 5k Beach Run, Rowing Regatta, traditional Irish music, Craft Fair and beachside amusements.

Millie, Selome, Gerry and Bernie

Brian and Freya Wilson

Leah Dungan

12 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21 June 2018

LOVE YOUR DUBLIN: THE BREAKDOWN OF THE BEST THE DUBLIN MOUNTAINS HAS TO OFFER

ENJOY A BREAK FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF THE CITY

DUBLIN MADE EASY

AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN THE DUBLIN MOUNTAINS

T

HEY may be officially known as the Wicklow Mountains but we Dubliners generally refer to them as the Dublin Mountains. If you’re looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, you could do worse than head for the mountains.

There are a host of activities and things to do, whether it’s a walk, mountain biking or a nice relaxing drink surrounded by the rolling hills.

We take a look at some of the best things to do in the Dublin Mountains.

TAKE A TREK ON THE DUBLIN MOUNTAINS WAY OFFICIALLY opened in 2010, the Dublin Mountains Way stretches for over 40km from Shankill to Tallaght.

Travelling from east to west, the route of the Dublin Mountains Way starts on the Main Street of Shankill and passes through Rathmichael, Carrickgollogan, Barnaslingan, Glencullen, Ballyedmonduff, Three Rock Mountain, Two Rock Mountain, Tibradden Mountain, Cruagh Wood, Featherbed Forest, Glenasmole and Kiltipper before ending at Sean Walsh Memorial Park in Tallaght.

The route is fully waymarked and takes in several places of historical interest, such as prehistoric monuments at Ballyedmonduff and on Two Rock and Tibradden Mountains.

If 40km seems too daunting a walk, the route is split into three sections; Shankill to Three Rock, Three Rock to the Hellfire Club and Hell Fire to Tallaght. You can download the maps for each section from www.dublinmountains.ie.

TICKNOCK MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL TICKNOCK Mountain Bike Trail is a network of purpose-built single-track trails and forest roads that are designated for use by mountain bikes on a waymarked circular route of 8km in length.

The trails take the rider through beautiful forest and heathland with fantastic views over Dublin City and Bay and the Wicklow Mountains beyond.

Forest road climbs lead you into tight, twisty single-track with plenty of fast descents, ups and downs, tight turns and technical rocky bits.

This trek isn’t for beginners or the faint of heart. It is a challenging rocky, technical trail throughout. The trail is quite exposed on the upper slopes and can be very windy in poor weather, so make sure your bike is in good order and that you have an appropriate fitness and skill level to undertake these trails.

RELAX AT JOHNNY FOX’S THIS Glencullen pub is one of the oldest and most famous traditional Irish pubs in the country and is a real Dublin institution.

Popular with tourists and locals alike, this is the perfect place to stop off for a drink, a meal and a quiet chat after you’ve trekked your way through the Dublin Mountains.

Johnny Fox’s is also well known for their traditional Irish music, with bands playing seven nights a week, as well as on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Patrons can also avail of the ‘Johnny Fox’s Hoooley Experience’. For €55 per person, guests can enjoy a four-course meal, featuring the pub’s award-winning seafood dishes, followed by a live traditional music session.

The music session is then followed by Johnny Fox’s famous Irish dancers.

The evening is then closed out by another music session from one of Johnny Fox’s regular acts.

21 June 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21 June 2018

ACCESSORIES, ACCESSORIES

BAG yourself some colouful, handy accessories courtesy of River Island, which has a wide range of hip, on-trend goodies to pick up at prices which won’t give the summer blues, whatever the weather has in store

GRANTASTIC FUN FOR THE FAMILY P16

DUBLIN

HOME & STYLE

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SUBLIME SLOVENIA OFFERS A SPECTACULAR BREAK P24

MAGAZINE

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF THE NEWS AND EVENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND COUNTY

THE GIFT OF THE GAZ | FOOTIE PUNDIT HELPS KICK OFF RARE AGREEMENT

Tulips nod along at Brian Kerr’s wisdom THE brother finally headed home the other day, thank God. He’s a good skin underneath it all, but Jaysus, he’s hard work all the same.

It’s great not to walk down into the kitchen in the mornings and not find a mountain of teabags stacked up on a mountain of dirty dishes.

I’ll miss Ray, but I won’t miss his mess.

On the plus side, with Ray occupying my time, I haven’t had time to catch up with Davy lately.

He’d wear you out at times, so it’s nice to have a bit of a break from his ramblings.

If the measure of a man is who he spends his time with, then I must be a full bouquet of tulips.

To make matters worse, as soon as the brother arrived over, Davy miraculously finally figured out how to send text messages and he’s been hounding me for the past few weeks and now I’ve no excuse to avoid him, so I said I’d meet up with him for a pint.

“Ah, there ye are now, Gaz,” he greets me with. “The other tulip gone off back over the water then?”

“He has,” I says. “I’m only left with the one tulip now.”

“Get me a pint and I’ll let that one go,” he rasps back at me.

He has me there, to be fair to him, and sure I was at the bar anyway so I says to Paschal to stick another one on for Davy.

He’d gotten us a decent table right in front of the telly so we could watch the World Cup. Normally he’d be stuck into the football, but when I dropped his pint in front of him, he was staring down at his phone, with his thumb frantically scrolling up through something.

“Please tell me you’ve not discovered online betting,” I says to him.

“Can you do that?” he says, his eyes lighting up.

“No!” I says, firmly.

“I was only messing.”

Davy does me head in at times but I don’t want to be the one that sends him down that particular rabbit hole.

“What are ye at, anyway?” I says to him. “Are ye not watching the football?”

“Ah, I am,” he says. “But I’m just looking through Twitter. I joined it

the other day. It’s fascinating really.”

“Twitter?” I says to him. “Have you done a course or something?”

This new-found tech savviness is quite baffling.

“I just thought I should catch up with the modern world a bit,” he says. “It’s interesting to read what people are saying.”

“Sure, it’s all just attention seeking,” I Davy’d says to him, swivelwear you out at ling around to get a times, so it’s nice better view of Sweden to have a bit of a against Not-Headcase break from his Korea. ramblings.

“Ah, you’re probIf the measure ably right,” he says. of a man is who he “There’s a load of spends his time people on here giving Brian Kerr stick. Saywith, then I must ing he’s crap and hard be a full bouquet to listen to.” of tulips.

“Sure, what would they know?” I says.

“That’s all just snobbery because he talks like us. The man has forgotten more about

“

football than they’ll ever know.”

“He never forgets anything though,” says Davy.

I can’t argue with him there, and sure he’s up on his soapbox now, so there’s no stopping him.

“It’s a sin that he’s not involved with the FAI at some level,” he says.

“And he’s incredibly intelligent too, but just because he’s not posh, people look down on him.”

“He comes out with some crackers too,” I says. “Ye wouldn’t hear them anywhere else.

He was going on about some team playing a banger the other day.

Bolivia, it was.

“Who else would combine classic Dublin lingo with knowledge of South American football?”

Right on cue, a Korean lad goes over and does his hamstring, and the physio starts wrapping it in cling film.

“That’s the stuff you’d normally use for wrapping your sandwiches,” says Kerr.

“One of our own,” I says, taking a sip of me pint.

“Yet one of a kind,” says Davy.

21 June 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

PEOPLE BALLYFERMOT SERVED UP THE PERFECT SPOT TO FILM DES AND PEGGY, A NEW SHORT FILM BY RITA-MARIE LAWLOR

Brought together by a bus stop, and finding a shared humanity MARK O’BRIEN

SINCE the advent of smartphones, many of us have possibly become more insular. Instead of striking up conversations while waiting for a bus, many of us are happy to get lost in the digital world at the expense of real human connections.

But what happens when we decide to make those connections?

This is the question that is explored in Des and Peggy, a new short film by Dublin filmmaker RitaMarie Lawlor.

The film – which was shot in one day in RitaMarie’s native Ballyfer-

mot – explores themes of loneliness and the power of random human connections.

Rita-Marie tells Dublin Gazette that she came up with the idea following a conversation she had with an elderly man at a bus stop a few years ago.

She says: “The idea just came from that a couple of years ago, and I just wanted to write a script about two people who come together at a bus stop, because there’re a lot of lonely souls out there.”

The film stars Fair City’s Tommy O’Neill as Des and Michele Burton as Peggy.

“It [the film] just basi-

Lonely Des (Tommy O’Neill) and Peggy (Michele Burton) strike up a connection as they wait at a bus stop, in the new short film by Dublin filmmaker Rita-Marie Lawlor (right)

cally focuses on loneliness and two people coming together through bereavement and through loneliness, and meeting up at a bus stop with their own sad stories.

“But there’s actually

a lot of black humour in it; it’s not all doom and gloom.”

Despite writing the film a few years ago, it took Rita-Marie a while to find the right location to film it before she eventually

Young theatre makers set to make their mark on arts

work aims to address universal issues through the mediA YOUNG Dublin-based um of contemporary theatre, theatre maker is among five while engaging with and 18 to 25-year-olds chosen to involving its community. programme a two-week fesMartha is currently protival at the Abbey Theatre. duction-managing their The Abbey put out the latest project, funded by an call for submissions in incubation award from CreaMarch, with more than 120 tive Ireland South Dublin. people answering the call.

She recently performed After some very impresin DU Players’ production sive presentations, Martha of, pool (no water), and Knight was amongst those advanced, DROWN, both in chosen. the Samuel Beckett Theatre.

Jen Coppinger, head Martha has taken part in of producing (New Work two international theatre Development) at the exchanges with students Abbey said: “We have been from New York in collaborahugely inspired by the vast tion with Tallaght Commuamount of applications nity Arts. She also works as that we received and have Allie Whelan, Aoife Nugent, Colin Smith, Martha a freelance performer and thoroughly enjoyed reading Knight and Luke Casserly. Pictures: Mark Stedman facilitator. each and every one, knowThese Young Curators will ing the future of Irish theatre is in Martha Knight (22) is a student attend work at various Irish festisuch safe hands. of Drama Studies and Music at vals, starting with Cork Midsum“In choosing these five partici- Trinity College Dublin. mer Festival. pants, we look forward to being She is a founder of Freshly Together with the Abbey staff, challenged, excited and energised Ground Theatre, a theatre company they will then programme a twoby their ideas and relish the oppor- based in Tallaght. week Young Curators’ Festival in tunity to work with them on shapTheir work includes FRICTION 2019. ing the inaugural Young Curators’ (2017) and Curve (2018) in the Civic You can follow the project at Festival in 2019.”

Theatre Tallaght. Freshly Ground’s #AbbeyYoungCurators.

MARK O’BRIEN

found the perfect spot – right on her doorstep.

“I eventually found the bus stop in Ballyfermot where I’m from so it just made sense,” she says.

“It was kind of a nobrainer in the end to make

it at this particular bus stop at Markievicz Park, where it was nice and leafy and quiet.”

Rita-Marie has been making films for the past 22 years and is particularly fond of making lowbudget films with a tight cast and crew.

Her 2015 feature film, The Last Show, was made on a budget of just €4,000 and is now available online all over the world on Amazon Prime, YouTube and Vimeo.

“I love getting people together,” she says, of working on small, independent projects.

“I like to enjoy the process and have fun as well

as get the work done.”

She is now currently working on entering Des and Peggy in to film festivals and when asked for advice that she could offer young filmmakers, Rita-Marie says that they should just go for it and make films even if they have a tiny budget.

“Years and years ago, you wouldn’t have heard of low-budget films b e c a u s e f i l m m a ke rs couldn’t get their hands on cameras and sound equipment and editing.

“But now there’re people shooting films on their iPhones. There’s actually a film festival just for iPhone films.”

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21 June 2018

LEGAL EAGLE

ARTS

BY WALSH & PARTNERS SOLICITORS

Straightforward help to support workers’ rights THE establishment of Whilst an employee employee.

The Workplace Relations can fill out the application The policies which Commission (WRC) in form without legal rep- the employer has in 2015 is one of the biggest resentation, it is recom- place such as regarding developments in workers’ mended to obtain legal grievances, bullying and rights of the past 30 years. advice as employment harassment are key in The Workplace Rela- legislation is complicated ascertaining whether fair tions Commission was and there is a substantial procedures were in place, established on October 1, body of employment leg- and these are factors 2015, and is an independ- islation which has built which will be considered ent statutory body. up over the years. at a hearing.

The Commission was It is advisable to give as Accordingly, it is imporestablished by The Work- much detail as possible tant to keep records, corplace Relations Act, 2015 when lodging the applica- respondence and docuand replaces a number tion form, in respect of the ments throughout the of existing bodies such nature of the complaint. complaint procedure. as the Labour Relations The application form An oral hearing will Commission and the give a number of options then take place before Equality Tribunal. to assist with what com- an Adjudication Officer Common complaints plaints can be made. where evidence is heard. that are brought to the All complaints made to They will then make a Commission are unfair the commission must be decision, which they have dismissal and employ- made within six months 28 days to do. ment and equality com- of the complaint, but if If a finding is made plaints. you can show reason- against an employer, T h e C o m m i s s i o n able cause for a delay, they are then required to provides advisory, con- an extension up to 12 enforce the order. If either ciliation and mediation months will be granted party is not satisfied with services with a view to in certain exceptional cir- the decision, they are parties trying to resolve cumstances. entitled to make an appeal any issues without resortNormally, the procedure to the Labour Court in ing to formal adjudication under the Commission is respect of the decision. proceedings. that legal arguments and Since the establishBringing a complaint is evidence should be sent ment of the Commission a lot more straightforward to them within 21 days in 2015, it is now a lot than it was under the pre- from the complaint being more straightforward to vious regime. made. bring a claim against your Employees who want Evidence would include employer. to make a complaint or statements from witnessWhere previously there refer a dispute can do so es and any documents the were a number of bodies by filling out an applica- employer and employee dealing with the various tion which is available on wishes to rely upon, such facets of employment the Commission’s web- as the contract of employ- law, it now all dealt with site, at www.workplac- ment and personnel docu- within The Workplace erelations.ie. ments.

Relations Commission.

Before bringing a comA key issue in employThe process is now a plaint, it is advisable that ment cases often is as to lot more streamlined and the employee notifies whether fair procedures ultimately it is easier for their employer to ascer- have been followed by an employee to now bring tain whether the matter the employer in dealing a complaint against his can be resolved through with the employee’s com- employer to the Commismediation or other means. plaint or in dismissing an sion.

WALSH & PARTNERS SOLICITORS specialise in litigation, personal injuries, probate, conveyancing, employment law and family law. Their offices are located at Unit 7E, Nutgrove Office Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14. For further information, please call 01 291 0300, email info@walshandpartners.ie, or else visit the site at www.walshandpartners.ie.

DISCLAIMER: While every care is taken to ensure accuracy of information contained in this article, Walsh & Partners Solicitors do not accept responsibility for errors or omissions howsoever arising, and you should seek legal advice in relation to your particular circumstances at the earliest possible time.

Come along and have a smashing time with the one and only Gangsta Granny (right) in this fun family production

Gran-tastic capers over at the Olympia RACHEL D’ARCY

THIS week sees David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny take to the stage at The Olympia for a three-day run, bringing David’s book exploits – which sees a young boy, Ben, and his grandmother embark on an exciting adventure on a Friday night – to Dublin audiences.

Gangsta Granny has already had a successful run in the UK, with Louise Bailey starring as Granny alongside Tom Cawte as Ben. There’ll be performing up to three shows a day, having started last night, Wednesday 20. The show runs until this Saturday, with some tickets still available.

For the Dublin shows, the Gangsta Granny cast are joined by a special guest – Ariane Tighe, a member of Dundrum’s own Debbie Allen Dance School.

Ariane was picked to perform in Gangsta Granny as part of the tour’s ongoing commitment to enlist a young, local dancer in each show.

“No doubt, Gangsta Granny would have been my favourite of [Walliam’s] books,” Ariane said.

Speaking about the opportunity to perform in the show, she added: “I’m delighted to be given the chance to meet new people and perform on stage with them on a stage I have never performed on before.

“It will be an amazing experience

Dundrum dancer Ariane Tighe is stepping up to perform in the show based on David Walliams’ book, right

that I know I will learn so much from and will never forget.”

Ariane has been dancing since she was four years old, and began to pursue dance and musical theatre as a career when she was 11.

“As I got older, my passion grew stronger. It started as just a fun after-school activity for me and my friends, but the passion grew and dancing soon became my life.

“It has been an uphill battle for me, but as they say: with hard work comes great reward.

“I’m proud to say I have been a member of the Irish National Youth Ballet company for the past four years.

“During my time in this com-

pany, my passion for ballet and dance has become stronger and it has provided me with great life lessons as well as a lot of experience, performing in two shows per year with talented dancers from all over Ireland.”

The talented young dancer was accepted into the prestigious College of Dance at 16 before returning to school to do her Leaving Cert.

Ariane is now set to go on to audition for a number of dance and theatre colleges across the UK and Europe following her performance in Gangsta Granny.

Tickets for the show available now from ticketmaster.ie, a steal at being priced from €19.50.

21 June 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS I N F O R M AT I O N

SOME OF THE LATEST DUBLIN EVENTS

DIARY

Heritage House, Dundrum, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240 Dublin Gazette Newspapers publishes four weekly quality free titles, covering the latest news, sport, entertainment and lifestyle from the four local authority areas of Dublin

Bringing back those bygone eras C O N TA C T S Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@dublingazette.com Group Editor: Patrick Finnegan pfinnegan@dublingazette.com Deputy Group Editor: Shane Dillon sdillon@dublingazette.com Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile jmaile@dublingazette.com Picture Editor: Aisling Conway aconway@dublingazette.com Advertising Sales:

01 - 6010240 sales@dublingazette.com

FIND US ON

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

EIGHTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD Seamus Haverty, resident at Central Park Nursing Home with fellow residents Sabina Tierney (91) and Esther Mc Donagh (84), and Stella Grogan, staff member, at the launch of ‘Reel Memories’, a Nursing Homes Ireland/Irish Film Institute initiative, taking place during Nursing Homes Week 2018, from June 18 to 24. Residents in nursing homes across the country will gather to watch specially selected films of Ireland’s past, which have special resonance for them. Films from the IFI Irish Film Archive are available to view on www.ifiplayer.ie, or via the newly updated IFI Player suite of apps, available via Google Play, the App Store, Amazon TV, Android TV, and Roku. Picture: Declan Monaghan

Snapshot contest back for second year THE Volkswagen Snapshot Competition, powered by The Snapys, is back for its second year.

The Instagram based contest encourages photography enthusiasts to discover their creativity and upload photos to Instagram using the #VWSnapshot hashtag along with their chosen category hashtags. The categories for this year’s competition are ‘Design’, ‘Light’, ‘Roadtrip’, ‘Technology’ and ‘Volkswagen.’

This year there are some fantastic prizes

including a trip to Barcelona. Other prizes include an escape to Bubblehouse, Finn Lough, drones and premium photography lighting equipment. Twelve entrants will feature in the 2019 Volkswagen Snapshot calendar, the sales proceeds of which will be donated to Volkswagen Ireland’s 2018 charity partner Focus Ireland.

Earlier this year, €3,000 was raised for Pieta House through sales of the 2018 Snapshot calendar. For details visit: https://vwsnapshot.ie/

New college courses Judges announced for Art Prize BIMM Institute Dublin has announced the launch of two new college courses which are set to be game changers for the Irish music scene.

The BIMM Institute Dublin Diploma in Music and Audio Production and the BIMM Institute Dublin Diploma in Music Business are the latest courses to be added to the range of courses available to students.

BIMM Institute Dublin has also announced the BIMM Institute Dublin/2FM Diploma in Music & Audio Production Scholarship which will offer one student the opportunity to study on the yearlong Diploma course free of charge.

Prospective students can apply for the scholarship by submitting an application at info@bimm.ie

THE National Gallery of Ireland has announced the panel of judges for the 2018 Zurich Portrait Prize.

Judges are Geraldine O’Neill, Sue Rainsford and Tanya Kiang. The Zurich Portrait Prize invites applications from artists living in Ireland, and from Irish artists based abroad. Deadline for submissions is June 22, 2018.

The Zurich Portrait Prize competition is open to artists working in all media. Shortlisted artists’ works will be exhibited in the Gallery from October 6, 2018 to January 13 2019. Admission to the exhibition is free.

The winner will receive a cash prize of

€15,000, and a commission worth €5,000, to create a work for inclusion in the National Portrait Collection.

There will also be two awards of €1,500 for highly commended works. For competition entry details see nationalgallery.ie/ art-and-artists/zurich-portrait-prize Last year’s Portrait Prize winner was Jack Hickey, with commendations awarded to Myra Jago and David Hamilton. Previous winners are Vera Klute; Gerry Davis and Nick Miller.

There will be local talks by shortlisted artists, tours and workshops on portraiture.

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21 June 2018

GOINGOUTOUT Dublin duo Hvmmingbyrd take rising popularity in their stride

Fluttering past darkness

PICKWEEK OF THE

JUNE 23 (SATURDAY)

Billy Joel @ The Aviva Stadium, €43 THERE’RE a few decent gigs across town this coming week, and truth be told, even tonight music lovers are a bit spoilt for choice.

Still, there’s soemthing about wee Billy that makes him an enduring, endearing staple of the gig scene.

He’s not quite the powerhouse of hits he once was, but when you’ve got such a passionate, varied body of work to draw upon, you’re guaranteed to hear plenty of classic tracks that haven’t aged a day, making this a great gig.

JUNE 21 (THURSDAY) Jenny Greene and the RTE Concert Orchestra @ Donnybrook Stadium, €49.50 Hudson Taylor @ Leopardstown Racecourse, €17 Willie and the Bandits @ The Bowery, free Moon Looks On @ Whelan’s, €10 Jamie Harrison @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €10

JUNE 22 (FRIDAY) Changing Gears @ Bellobar, €8 The Pale @ The Unitarian Church, €25

JUNE 23 (SATURDAY) Elvis Costello and the Imposters @ Bord Gais Energy Theatre, €66 Crazy Town @ The Bowery, Rathmines, €15 Bone Machines play the music of Tom Waits @ The Grand Social, €10 Luke Clerkin @ Whelan’s, €10

JUNE 24 (SUNDAY) Chainsmokers + Rita Ora + Chasing Abbey @ The RDS, €50-55 Sean + Conor Price @ Vicar Street, €25 Ho-Ro @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €15

JUNE 25 (MONDAY) Beth Rowley @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €13 Sean + Conor Price @ Vicar Street, €25

JUNE 26 (TUESDAY) The Killers + Franz Ferdinand @ The RDS, €70 Two of the great mid-00s indie bands on the same bill at the RDS: these two take glamorous indie rock n’ roll to huge highs, with singa-longs aplenty.

Roger Waters @ 3Arena, €131 The Ruby Sessions @ Doyle’s, €7

JUNE 27 (WEDNESDAY) Roger Waters @ 3Arena, €131 Pink Floyd legend returns to Dublin, and he’s sure to compel after his previous The Wall tour blew the roof of the 3Arena. This one’s less album-focused, so expect a mix of hits.

HVMMINGBYRD, a Dublin duo, only started out in 2016, yet their steep learning curve, delicate harmonies and intensely moving sound has quickly established them as a real Irish act to watch.

Having featured on the cover of Hot Press and made the Irish Times’ list of 50 Pe your Deborah Byrne and Suzette Das’s music has featured on TV shows Made In Chelsea and Striking Out, as well as on H&M’s playlist, despite their having released less than half a dozen tracks, to date.

With the duo working as a self-producing DIY act and proud perfectionists, an average track takes hour upon hour of studio time to construct.

“I’ve learnt not to put anything out until we’re completely happy with it,” Byrne tells us. “That’s been an important lesson. Parpillon [inset], which we put out in March – I still love that.

“We’re new to production, so it takes time, but it’s important we get it

 JAMES HENDICOTT

right. We find it very hard to let go of a song.”

Their latest, Prisms, came in the wake of the Belfast rape trials, and explores the darkness faced by many women in 2018, and the slow process of being able to speak out.

It’s a subtle track; its lyrics loaded with love for women, but dripping with angry undertones come the chorus, and crammed dense with meaning.

“It started in March.

The rape trial really upset us, and we went to the [verdict] protest,” Byrne says.

“We left really moved; there were a lot of people in tears. There was a lot of anger and sorrow for the woman involved, and a sense that things might change.

“Pretty much every woman has experienced

sexual attacks, to some extent.

“We felt like writing a love song to the women in our lives; something tender. It’s all lovely in the bridge, just hinting at the dark side, before going into full-on darkness at the end.

“It’s about the idea that sometimes the brightest lights can attract the most darkness, if that makes any sense. It’s tender, but there’s anger there, too.”

“I feel like there’s been a shift, particularly in the last year or two,” Byrne adds. “The #MeToo movement and the way people talk about sexual violence has really changed things.

“We feel a bit more empowered, but there’s still a lot of pain about stuff that has been left unsaid for so long.

“As weird as it sounds, it feels strange to be heard.”

In the musical sense – as well as the genderrespect one – Hvmmingbyrd are finding it increasingly easy to be heard.

They can’t quite trace how their music travelled to H&M stores, TV shows and some high-profile Spotify playlists, but Byrne suspects the three are connected, and thinks the signs are promising.

“We’ve talked about an album, maybe next year, maybe the year after,” she says. “We have 45 minutes of material now, ready for this summer’s shows, and that’s taken six months to prepare. It’s a bit of a step up.

“I guess it is an album, length-wise, but you need a bit of backing to actu-

ally do it.”

Byrne adds: “We’ve learnt how to do the electronic stuff from scratch over the last couple of years”; astonishing, given the quality of the band’s use of their media.

“We were looking for a way to make the sounds we wanted to just the two of us. It’s quite a change, but the songwriting’s still the core of it.”

Hvmmingbyrd play Inspirefest on Friday, June 22, and Body and Soul on Saturday, June 23. Their latest single, Prisms, is out now.

21 June 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

ENTERTAINMENT US TRIO ARE QUIETLY RISING TO GREATNESS

CROKER GIG IS A SOLID SUCCESS

So LANY things Taylor-made to delight her fans ahead for band RACHEL D’ARCY

IF THERE’S one thing to be said about Taylor Swift, it’s that the woman knows how to put on a show.

From theatrics to stage presence, there’s no denying that Swift truly has the ability to captivate her audience from beginning to end.

Swift took to the stage for two dates at Croker last week – becoming the first woman to headline two dates at GAA headquarters, and the fourth woman to headline a show there at all.

Opening up the show was Boom Clap songstress Charli XCX, who’s impressive physical workout on stage, teamed with her dance-based pop, left an infectious tapping in my toes. Charli’s set saw the early birds at Croke Park have a whale of a time while waiting patiently for the arrival of Ms Swift.

Camila Cabello, of Havana-oohna-na fame), was the main support act of the night. While there was no

RACHEL D’ARCY

IT’S difficult to define an ‘overnight sensation’ in 2018. People who’ve been working hard at their craft for years are gaining more prominence thanks to social media, their dedication to their work coming to the fore seemingly, well, overnight.

Enter LANY – a US based, bi-coastal trio comprising vocalist Paul Jason Klein, multi-instrumentalist Les Priest and drummer Jake Goss.

They’ve sold out stadiums in Manila, garnered millions of streams on Spotify, and were even billed as one of the best bands at New York’s Governors Ball by the one and only Rolling Stone Magazine.

You could say they’re a fairly big deal, even if the masses haven’t heard of them just yet.

The band were in Dublin on Monday night to play their third ever show

(and second headliner) on Irish soil.

“I’ve only been in Dublin an hour, but it’s great,” laughed frontman Paul Jason Klein. “We’ve been here once before, I flew in on the day of the show and had an amazing hamburger, but I hope I’ll get to see a little bit more this time around.”

LANY were in Dublin to play The Academy as part of their unofficially titled, End of the Rose, tour.

The band played to a packed-out room, which diligently sang back every lyric with as much zest and passion as Klein himself.

Having played several festival slots – including the prestigious Coachella – and numerous shows across the globe since the release of their eponymous debut album in 2016, the band are preparing themselves for the next ‘era’ of LANY. It’s seen as the ‘demise’ of the rose adorning the

cover of their first release, before the beginning of the Malibu Nights album cycle later this year.

“I kind of just locked myself into a room and wrote for 50 nights straight, and I came out of it just kind of like, ‘Wow, I think I just wrote the next album’,” Klein told Dublin Gazette.

“We got to work with some really great people on it – an Irish man, actually – and got a lot of knowledge out of the process. We write from the heart, and we write our truth, and I’m glad it resonates.”

Recorded in California earlier this year, LANY took to social media to announce their second full-length offering would be called, Malibu Nights, much to the delight of fans.

Their first album deals with themes of heartbreak and love and family, and Klein said they’re sticking to what they do

best on album 2.

“We want to be the biggest band in the world, but we want to do it while staying true to ourselves.

There’ll be a lot of the same themes from the first album, for sure,” Klein said.

As for their plans for the rest of 2018, Klein promised that fans new and old will get to hear a taste of what comes next for LANY before the colder months draw in – and a return to the Emerald Isle might be on the cards too.

“There’ll be a song out before the end of the summer, and the album, hopefully, before the end of the year. I’m excited for people to hear it, and the people seem to be excited too.

“We’ll be touring again soon too. I definitely want to go back to the UK and I hope Ireland will be included as well.”

For more on all things LANY, check out social media tags @ThisIsLANY.

denying the vocal range of the former X-Factor USA contestant, parts of her set felt somewhat disjointed.

Still, Cabello is a name to watch out for – she had everyone (myself included) practically eating out of her hand by the time her set wrapped up.

Now, on to the main act. As someone who’s seen Taylor Swift live before, the Reputation Stadium Tour was something I was excited for.

Whilst Reputation as an album didn’t set my world alight like Swift records of the past, there was no denying Swift could put on one hell of a show.

The theatrics of floating snakes and Roman-themed costumes and stage design were truly something to behold.

Fans in my section visibly lit up when the starlet played older tracks like Love Story, Style, and Should’ve Said No, though they were mixed into medleys, rather than played on their own merit.

That, however, was the only downfall in ‘Tay Tay’s’ set. She managed to captivate the Croker crowd through a dazzling pyrotechnic display, and light-up wristbands handed out to the entire stadium, truly getting everyone involved in the theatrics of the show as well as the music.

Leaving at the end of the night, I found myself almost wanting to go again, like it was a fun theme park ride of sorts.

While I don’t know if I would go and see the Look What You Made Me Do vocalist again, it’s clear that she has a band of everlasting fans that want to see her Long Live ...

Charli XCX 8/10 Camila Cabello 6/10 Taylor Swift 8/10

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21 June 2018

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Kevin Kennedy, 19 and aquatics coach, Martina Kennedy. Pictures: Ricardo Guglielminotti

President Michael D. Higgins performed the official opening of the 2018 Special Olympics Ireland Games at Tallaght Stadium

Grace O’Brien, Shauna Stewart and Fiona Byrne following the Ladies Basketball.

Noel Murphy

Joe O’Hanlon

Supporters cheer on athletes at the Opening Ceremony

Bridget Walsh

Torch Bearer: John Keenan

Special Olympics Off To A Flying Start T HERE was great excitement when President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins performed the official opening of the 2018 Special Olympics Ireland Games at Tallaght Stadium. The Opening Ceremony kicks off three full days of competition, in what is set to be one of the largest and most prestigious sporting events to take place in Ireland in 2018.

The athletes from throughout the island of Ireland accompanied by their families and friends cheered on the flag bearers and specially selected torch carriers, as Air Corp pilots in their jets performed a special show in the skies above the stadium.

The Olympic Flame was lit to great aplomb to mark the start of what is sure to be a super games.

Athletes enjoying the celebrations

21 June 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

Athletes enjoying the celebrations

Athlete Joseph McNamara

Munster Male 3 players celebrate after the Men’s Basketball Final. Pictures: Sportsfile

Glenn McBride in action against Graham O’Neill

Anita Forde

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21 June 2018

ENTERTAINMENT

FORMULAIC OCEAN’S 8 ENTERTAINS

TOP TWEETS

One thing I know for sure: no one on the right side of history has ever had to nitpick what the definition of “cage” is @StephenAtHome

It’s not quite a heist-erpiece WITH Jurassic World currently laying waste to all and sundry around it, you could be forgiven for not noticing another dinosaur that’s slunk into cinemas: the return of the heist flick.

Last thought to be as

 SHANE DILLON

dead as the proverbial dodo, the Ocean’s [Num-

ber] franchise has been dug up, had a hormone switch, been zapped full of electricity – or at least given a little on-screen crackle – and sent back out into the world, via Ocean’s 8 (Cert 12A, 110 mins).

StillShowing...

BOOK CLUB

Comes with 50 shades of excrutiating gags SOME glamorous grannies start reading the 50 Shades books, and decide they’d like some of the sexy, sexy times too with the silver-haired foxes in their lives. Yeesh. That’s the premise of Book Club (Cert 15A, 104 mins), which digs up a whole bunch of (ahem) mature actors and actresses, uses every bit of lighting and camera trickery known to man to de-age them, and starts lobbing in predictable gags about seniors’ sex drives. It’s all as wonderful and entertaining as that all sounds.

SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY

Not the most stellar of origins stories WIDELY regarded as the Star Wars film that nobody was asking for, Solo: A Star Wars Story (Cert 12A, 135 mins) is already officially a flop, barely a wet weekend since its release. If you’ve ever wanted to see all about the misadventures of a young Han Solo (how he got his name and reputation, how he won the Millennium Falcon etc), you’re in luck. However, it lacks classic Star Wars magic, its lead looks nothing like Harrison Ford, and it just feels like a cynical cash-in on the august franchise’s name.

LIFE OF THE PARTY

Not quite a comedy masterclass, but still gets a pass YOU pretty much know what you’re getting with a Melissa McCarthy film, but her latest character, Deanna, patently clearly doesn’t know what she’s in for when she decides to go back to college in Life of the Party (Cert 15A, 105 mins). It’s the kind of lovable-underdog-triumphs role that McCarthy can trot out in her sleep, but still, this tale of a dumped mom trying to better herself – at the same college as her initially mortified daughter – has some okay laughs in store.

JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM Dino-ugh, already - give us something new!

AS WE all know by now, it’s hard to go wrong with dinosaurs – as movie stars, that is, as the dinos at the heart of Jurassic World (Cert 12A, 128 mins) soon go very, very wrong indeed once they’ve been rescued from their exploding island home.

As nobody wants to see Jurassic World: Peaceful Park, the ensuing mayhem is fun enough, but at this stage it’s hard not to feel that we’ve finally seen pretty much everything dinosaurs can do. Maybe the next one can give them guns. In space.

In case you somehow missed the extensive marketing push, it’s the rebirth of the Ocean’s series, with its core concept being – shock – that the crew this time round are all women.

Wimmen! What sacrilege is this, a variety of knucklehead men have grunted, showing the same Neanderthal outrage that greeted the recent all-girl Ghostbusters reboot (although that film was… fine, in its solidly average way).

The very thought that – shock – women can be just as cool as the usual male suspects, and that a bunch of gals might like to be serious crooks onscreen too, has caused some unrest amongst some threatened males, poor lambs, though not as vociferously as seen with Ghostbusters (and much of that film’s cowardly criticism was laced with blatant racism aimed at Leslie Jones).

Diving away from that analysis, Ocean’s 8 finds that too-cool-for-school Danny Ocean (George Clooney) is out – way out, as he’s as definitely dead as that damn dodo in this film – and his sister, Debbie (Sandra Bullock) is in.

Or, rather, she’s out – outta jail and outta get the big score she’s been planning during her years in the slammer.

A more modern criminal might be musing how

to hack bitcoin cryptocurrency exchanges, but frankly, who wants to watch a bunch of nerds running mining PC farms in gloomy basements, making small talk as pizza boxes pile up?

Instead, Debbie’s an old-skool crook who’s all about the bling, baby – the McGuffin bling here being a fabulously expensive necklace that’ll be on show at the Met Gala, courtesy of a conveniently placed socialite (Anne Hathaway).

Even a fast-talking, fast-thinking jailbird like Debbie’s going to need a diverse crew to carry that heist off, rounding things up – and also down – to the eponymous eight from the title, so in timehonoured fashion she sets about rounding up The Crew, organising The Plan, and then executing The Heist.

If you’ve read this far, you’d be forgiven for thinking that The Film is rather formulaic, with its single biggest raison d’etre so far being to create a new all-girl (or allwomen) star vehicle.

Perhaps. In this regard, its director (Gary Ross) is largely irrelevant to how this particular Ocean’s pans out.

Given a large enough cast to manage (I haven’t even nodded at The Guys also along for the ride), he’s little more than a bus driver, dropping everyone

off at predictable stops along the film’s route.

As such, this particular Ocean’s Star Vehicle is powered by some A-list stars (the likes of Rihanna and Cate Blanchett are also along for the ride), as well as slightly more leftfield choices (such as Helena Bonham Carter, rocking an unfortunate Oirish accent), while fashionistas may squeal at spotting the likes of Anna Wintour or a wretched kollection of Kardashians in their kameos.

Ultimately, does 8 do enough to distinguish itself from the clappedout dozen or whatever previous Ocean’s films?

Not so much. Ignoring that the film’s core hook is that, ‘Hey, They’re Girls!’ when it comes to the crooks and the cons, you’re deep in standard heist territory here.

It’s worth pointing out that the crew here are anything but motley – director Ross seems to have decided that the most criminal thing about the film would be to show any stray hairs, imperfect make-up or less than Christmas-perfume-tellyads levels of lighting and shots – making them an unusually perfect group of thieves.

As such, the 8 crew may not steal your full attention, but hey, they’ll at least nab most of it for a couple of caperrific hours.

Verdict: 6/10

TV host Stephen Colbert pointedly shows some of the humanity the current US administration are busy trying to crush. Or cage.

Tayto Park – Mr Tayto is handing out crisps Little girl: “I want one!” Mr Tayto hands her a packet Mother: “What should you say to Mr Tayto now?”

Little girl fiddling with the packet, looks up at Mr Tayto and shouts: “Open this!” @OverheardDublin Our own little darlings would have said: “Open this NOW!”

Oh God. Flashback!

Trying to put my trainers back on after Coppers, sitting on some steps, and I kept handing this guy beside me one of my socks and saying “YOU’RE A FREE ELF NOW DOBBY” @Dizzydub1 And this isn’t even the strangest thing to have happened at the (cough) beloved Culchie landmark in the heart of the capital

21 June 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

PUZZLES

CHALLENGE YOUR BRAIN...JUST FOR FUN!

CODEWORDS

SUDOKU EASY

MODERATE

in association with

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK BACK NEXT WEEK FOR THE SOLUTIONS TO THIS WEEK’S PUZZLES

WORD SEARCH

HOW TO SOLVE Codewords are like crossword puzzles - but have no clues! Instead, every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number, the same number representing the same letter throughout the puzzle.

All you have to do is decide which letter is represented by which number!

To start you off, we reveal the codes for two or three letters.

As you find letters, enter them in the key and into the grid.

Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION FIND THE HIDDEN WORDS Adam Bede Animal Farm Anna Karenina Bleak House Burmese Days Frankenstein Jane Eyre Kim Lanark Nana

Nostromo Of Mice and Men Orlando Scoop The Secret Garden She Vanity Fair Women in Love

24 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21 June 2018

SLOVENIA | GREAT LOCATIONS TO CHARM EVEN THE MOST DEMANDING GUEST

A treasure trove of beauty and culture

Lake Bled

From the top: Predjama Castle, Ljubljana and Triglav National Park

SYLVIA POWNALL

Travel Editor CENTRAL Europe might lack glitz, but when it comes to scenery and value for money, you’d be hard pressed to find better.

Slovenia is fast emerging as a must for savvy travellers. Tucked away in the heart of Europe, this tiny country hides a treasure trove of beauty and culture.

Considering it’s three times smaller than Ireland, it’s incredible how much diverse scenery can be found here – from imposing mountains to glacial lakes, mysterious caves and rolling hills.

Then there are the unique towns and cities begging to be explored, with a friendly welcome from the locals guaranteed wherever you roam and delicious locally-produced food and drink to be sampled.

Lake Bled is the most photographed location in Slovenia and once you’ve seen it up close you’ll understand why. The emerald lake, surrounded

by mountains with a tiny island at its centre, may well have spawned the phrase picture-postcard views.

Limestone particles give the lake its v iv i d c o l our, and tinge the

bouring Italy, Austria, Croatia and Hungary has crept across the border over the centuries, resulting in a vibrant swirl of cultures that’s evident throughout Slovenian villages, towns and cities.

Iconic B l e d ,

authentic Bohinj and waters of lively Kranthe Soca and jska Gora invite Radovljica Old L j u b l j a n i ca you to explore Town Square rivers. traditional archiHead furtecture, frescoed ther into the c h u rc h e s a n d Triglav National Park, local museums – with spread across the peaks plenty of pavement cafes and valleys of the Julian and shops to stop at along Alps, to find an endless the way. bounty of rugged trees, Legends live on here blooming wildflowers too – from Predjama Casand jagged gorges. tle, once owned by SloAnd dive deeper into venia’s version of Robin the earth to explore the Hood, to the peak of fantastical Postojna or Mount Triglav, home to Skocjan caves, carved the mythical buck, Zlaout of the Karst region’s torog.

Swiss cheese-like rock.

Ljubljana is a bustling The influence of neigh- cosmopolitan hub with

a traditional soul, where chatter fills the cobbled streets, dragons guard the bridges, and a proud castle keeps watch from above.

Plot your own path starting with a friendly farm stay in the hamlet of Kupljenik – just an hour’s drive from Ljubljana airport and a ten-minute drive from Lake Bled.

Ride the Julian Alps via a new self-guided cycling tour along a route dotted with three and four-star hotels, taking in Lake Bled and finishing up in Radovljica.

Or head to an eco farm in the heart of rural Slovenia, where the focus is on wellness and fresh produce.

Turkish baths and jacuzzis will help you unwind and make the most of the peace and tranquility.

TUI offers seven-night packages flying to Salzburg and staying in Kranjska, Bled, or Bohinj from e562 per person sharing.

Visit www.tuiholidays.ie, call 1850 453545 or visit a TUI store or travel agent for more details.

21 June 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 25

TRAVEL & FOOD

A huge thirst for Gin and Tonic fest THE Irish Gin & Tonic Fest is back with a bang this weekend.

Now in its third year, the week-long 2018 edition features 26 Irish gins that hail from every province in Ireland.

There are Irish gins distilled with potatoes (sure what’s a gin without a potato) and organic apples.

Irish gins that feature botanicals such as Wexford strawberries and Dublin city rhubarb will also make an appearance and Irish gins aged in casks.

Since launching the festival in 2016, many of the venues that have

been involved have seen huge uptakes in Irish gins.

There will be a number of different events taking place hosted by all the brands that include tastings, tours and food pairings.

On the first day of the festival, June 23, there will be two opening parties on in Urban Brewing on George’s Dock.

For €15, you will get a full serve of an all Irish Gin & Tonic and you’ll be able to sample over a dozen premium Irish gins.

The festival is running from June 23 to 30.

For more info visit www. greatirishbeverages.com

Third of parents have no clear rules on alcohol consumption ONE in three parents do not have clear rules around alcohol consumption for kids.

New research by Drinkaware showed that parents rarely look for information about some of the effects of underage drinking, such as the link between alcohol and mental health, illegal drug use and sexual health, according to the Behaviour and Attitudes research of 503 parents.

The research also found an increase in the number of parents who believe it’s ok for their children to drink at home before the age of 15 years.

Drinkaware research reveals that parents are the key source for children to learn about alcohol.

Ms Niamh Gallagher CEO of Drinkaware said: “We are regularly contacted by parents who worry that friends and peers have more influence on when their child will drink alcohol, but this just isn’t the case.

“Drinkaware research shows that all family members, and in particular parents, are the single strongest influence on their child’s opinions and future behaviour around alcohol.”

As the state exams drawing to a close, Drinkaware is appealing to parents to talk openly and honestly to their children about alcohol and their plans for celebrating the milestone. For more information see www.drinkaware.ie

New pre-theatre is menu full of Sole

Sole Seafood and Grill on Dublin’s South William Street

REBECCA RYAN

Food Editor SOLE Seafood and Grill on Dublin’s South William Street have launched a brand new pre-theatre menu.

The new menu incorporates a range of dishes, including Howth Smoked Irish Organic Salmon and West Cork mussels just in time for the summer months.

The dishes range from a traditional seafood chowder with Irish fish and shellfish in a creamed broth, rock oysters sourced from Irish coastal waters, tempura-coated octopus, to chilli and wild garlic pasta with crisp shallots.

Speaking about SOLE’s supplier connections, executive chef Richie Wilson said: “We work really closely with our supply chain led

by Kish Fish, to ensure when possible we our supporting the Irish fishing industry.

“Our new pre-theatre menu is perfect for the foodie community to enjoy some of the highest quality seafood around.”

Still in it’s infancy, SOLE opened its doors in March of this year and prides itself on offering the ultimate high-end casual dining experience.

SOLE’s pre-theatre menu is available daily, Monday – Thursday from 5pm – 6.15pm and Friday and Saturdays from 12pm – 6.15pm, at a cost of €30 for two courses and €36 for three courses.

For more information on SOLE Seafood & Grill visit www.sole.ie

Airport trials honesty-based food offer RUNNING for a plane and not having enough time to grab a bite to eat because of long queues at the airport could be a thing of the past.

Dublin Airport have teamed up food hall Marqette to trail a new honesty-based food and beverage takeaway offer.

An Honest Eats Co fridge will be installed at Marqette’s airside location in Terminal One later this month stocked with a selection of sandwiches, wraps, salads, pastries, snacks and drinks.

Passengers will pick the items they want, scan them and pay for them via a cashless self-service checkout that accepts cards and mobile payment applications.

The fridge unit, which will have a range of up to 73 different food and drink products, texts Marqette’s kitchens as sales are made

to ensure that stock levels will be properly maintained.

Dublin Airport managing director Vincent

Harrison said: “We are constantly seeking to improve the passenger experience at Dublin Airport and are delighted to be working with

Marqette to trial the new Honest Eats concept.”

Marqette owner Michael J Wright said: “Honest Eats has the potential to work really well in an airport setting where passengers in a hurry want to grab high quality food and drink on the go.

“We’re really excited to be working with Dublin Airport to test this new concept.”

Retail software company CBE is supplying the software for the trial and this will provide for a simple and efficient payment system for passengers.

The initial trial will last for about four weeks and data from the trial will be shared with participants in the upcoming InspireFest Conference in Dublin as part of a minihack competition to further refine and improve the Honest Eats concept.

26 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21 June 2018

HOME | GETTING READY FOR SUMMER

HOME | THE LATEST DESIGN CRAZE

Printed Ruffle Neck Blouse €45

Sedums are less likely to flop if they’re cut back now

Asters, or Michaelmas daisies, are good candidates for the chop

The Chelsea

C HOP Anne Byrne Garden Design provides easy to follow garden plans that you can implement right away or in stages.

Her design flair and passion for plants brings a touch of magic to gardens of all sizes.

Anne Byrne Garden Design – Creative Ideas  ANNE BYRNE – Practical Solutions – Stunning Gardens. info@dublingazette.com

THE CHELSEA CHOP – it sounds like a rather edgy haircut, doesn’t it?

In fact the term refers to the cutting back of flowering perennials in early summer in order to slow down flowering and extend the season until later in the year.

Named after the world famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show, it’s a technique that’s usually carried out around the time the show is held, which is during the third week in May. Plants that flower later in the season are cut back by about one third to a half, which results in flowers that may be smaller but are usually more numerous.

It also helps to keep the flowering season going into late summer and even early autumn, and helps the plants to maintain a more compact structure, which lessens the likelihood of them flopping over and reduces the need for staking.

Because spring came so late this year, garden growth has only been catching up over the last couple of warmer weeks, so this year you should be safe carrying out the Chelsea Chop even now, halfway through June.

As a general rule, the closer to flowering time you cut the plants back, the more you will delay flowering, so it’s usually a good idea to limit the chop to plants with good new season stem and leaf growth that haven’t started to form flower buds yet.

You needn’t be too fussy – a trim with a shears will usually do – but you might just want to tidy up any stems left exposed down to the next set of leaves.

Do keep an eye out for slugs who may be attracted to fresh, new growth that results.

Here are some favourite garden perennials that might benefit from the chop: • Aster frikartii “Monch” and other perennial asters, also known as Michaelmas Daisies • Sedum “Herbstfreude”, otherwise known as Sedum “Autumn Joy” • Echinacea purpurea • Rudbeckia “Goldsturm” • Phlox paniculata

FOR further information on Anne Byrne Garden Design, call 086 683 8098, or see www.annebyrnegardendesign.com

Magical FOR THE FIRST TIME, H&M will do a mini print collaboration with the Swedish fairy tale-brand Mrs Mighetto for Baby Exclusive. Mrs Mighetto’s magical prints of Mini Mighetto’s will decorate parts of the Baby Exclusive collection new-born and baby. The collection is exclusively online.

The theme of the collection is sweet, yet mysterious, with a fairy-tale story specially written for the collaboration.

In a pastel mix of pink, grey and blue, the collection offer different tops, a dress, leggings, jersey pants and a sweater in soft materials together with accessories.

“We are extremely proud and happy to be a part of the first design collaboration for Baby Exclusive.

We instantly felt that our motifs would be a great fit for the well-coordinated colour and material choices at Baby Exclusive” says Malin and Anna, founders of Mrs Mighetto.

“It is a wonderful opportunity for us to be able to invite our customers to the fairy tale world of Mrs Mighetto with this collaboration for Baby Exclusive. We hope our customers will love it as much as we do,” says Pernilla Wohlfahrt, H&M’s Design Director.

21 June 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 27

FRESH IDEAS FOR YOUR HOME AND WARDROBE

g n i h s i n i F e Th OUCH T

€4, River Island

€80, River Island

€60, River Island

 Rachel D’Arcy IT’S WELL known that accessories can make or break an outfit. They can tie together the perfect look for day or night, bringing emphasis to different aspects of a look

€17, River Island

to truly help it shine.

River Island’s latest accessories drop has something for everyone in the accessories department.

There’s the more eccentric patchwork shoe and fluffy, beaded handbag, or a more traditional block-coloured shoe and gem earring.

The accessories from the latest edit are designed to make a statement, packed with bold colours and

€87, River Island

eye-catching fabrics. A simple wardrobe staple - like the iconic little black dress - can be perked up in an instant with the introduction of the perfect accessory.

All accessories listed here are available from River Island stores, and riverisland.ie.

BeautyBITS

Eau Thermale Avéne

Cleansing Gel, €15; Anti-blemish kit, €30, Sunscreen, €20

Be Acne aware of your skin this June JUNE IS Acne Awareness Month and Eau Thermale Avène has a range of gentle, non-comedogenic products specially formulated for oily skin, blemishes and blackheads. The Cleanance range has been developed purely to help fight acne while respecting the balance of the skin.

The Cleanance range by Avène contains 8 key products and an anti-blemish starter kit. The hero products from the range include a cleansing gel, an expert moisturiser, a mattifying toner and high protection factor 50+ SPF. Speaking about Acne Awareness Month, skin expert and CEO at The Skin Nerd, Jennifer Rock, said “Acne truly debilitates anyone who suffers with it regardless of age, sex or the severity of the acne itself.

“I believe skin should be focused around health as opposed to vanity as it can truly impact people’s confidence daily. Acne awareness month is much needed as it addresses the issues in an open forum educating us all that it is common, needs addressing and encourages those that live with it to feel less isolated.”

Avene’s full range of products and a list of stockists can be found on Avene.co.uk.

€17, River Island

€40, River Island

HOME & STYLE

€43, River Island

Keep your teeth white while you tan with new travel kit IRISH teeth whitening brand Spotlight Whitening has launched a travel friendly teeth whitening kit, perfect for the holiday season.

The Teeth White Travel Kit is available exclusively at Boots and Boots.ie and contains 4 award winning Teeth White Strips, a travel-sized Teeth White Paste and a Spotlight toothbrushall the essentials to keep your smile sparking in the sun.

Speaking about the launch, Spotlight Whitening co-founder Dr Lisa Creaven said: “Vanessa and I do so much travelling, a travel kit was a no brainer for us. Spotlight strips can be easily used when travelling but it’s great to have all the essentials in one kit!”

“This has been in the works for some time and came about as lots of our customers were looking for travel versions of our toothpaste in particular. We wanted to create a comprehensive kit that will keep teeth gleaming without taking up precious packing space!” said cofounder Dr Vanessa Creaven.

The kit is available Spotlight Whitening Teeth White Travel Kit now. €9.99

28 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21 June 2018

TECH TIME

Celebrating astonishing worlds coming to gamers SHANE DILLON

sdillon@dublingazette.com

THE biggest annual gaming showcase in the world – E3 – took place last week in LA, and while Dublin Gazette’s bus fare fund doesn’t quite stretch that far, it was easy to keep up with what was on show.

E3 is always a hyped-to-the-max event that gives the industry, gamers, the public and beancounters alike a

look at all the biggest, best, strangest and most creative games on the way in the next 6-9 months, as well as providing a snapshot of gaming in general, from industry trends to evolving tech.

While E3 can be a bit hit and miss, and while the public have only recently been given access to what was traditionally a trade-only affair, E3 2018 had some incredible highs (and some lows, too), making it one to note.

Many of the games on show and in the works were absolutely stunning to watch, even for jaded old gamers and hacks like myself.

As gaming matures as an industry – unsurprisingly, as the average gamer is now aged about 37 – it’s clear that many games are hitting some incredible creative highs that can surpass TV and cinema experiences. Below are just a few of E3 2018’s many highlights ...

MACHINE OF THE WEEK

Style and substance in Audi RS4 Audi has a halo car in the new RS4 Avant sports estate car that combines power and style in a unique styling package that sure to impress.

MICHAEL MORONEY took the RS4 on a road trip and quickly got into the mood for special driving experience.

CYBERPUNK 2077 LONG in the making – and still with no sign of a concrete release date, although it’s hoped not to be too far off – Cyberpunk 2077 effortlessly stole the show with a snappy, blistering trailer showcasing some must-see visuals.

Looking like a cross between Blade Runner, The Fifth Element, and some of the worst excesses of the neon-soaked

Eighties as we remember them, there was nothing else on show quite like this stunner (which, as with all these titles, you can – and should – easily look up for yourself on social media).

The futuristic city-set adventure game with very heavy cyber and techno influences marked a dramatic change for its developer, CD Projekt Red, previously best known for its all-conquering

GHOST OF TSUSHIMA GAMES with zom-

global hit, The Witcher 3, which fused complex storytelling with a medievalplus-magic setting.

Will the game live up to the astonishing visuals and vision portrayed within its in-engine trailer? Hopefully.

Still, even if not, Cyberpunk 2077 made one hell of an impact at this year’s E3.

THE DIVISION 2 SOMETHING of a

bies are – yawn – two-a-penny these days, but samurais?

Not so much. Set during the Mongol invasion of 13th Century Japan, this open world game looked simply beautiful, offering a mix of exploration, missons, action and plot in a richly detailed, and lavishly realised world.

curate’s egg, the first game divided many gamers. Its tale of an abandoned, plagueridden, wintery Manhatten looked great, but underwhelmed many. Moving the story on to summer, and over to an equally ravaged Washington DC, could be just the shot needed to reinvigorate this interesting online shooter.

DEATH STRANDING NOBODY even

THE LAST OF US 2 DON’T be fooled by

knows what this game from auteur Hideo Hojima is, exactly – but seeing the likes of stars Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen, Guillermo del Toro, Lea Seydoux, and even Lindsay Wagner (remember her?) involved makes it something that continues to spark enormous interest and debate.

this tender moment – this sequel to the classic post apocalyptic game in a fallen world looks to be even darker, grimmer and more intense than the already nerve wracking first game. For those old enough, its dark violence and complex characters look set to provide uneasily rivetting fare.

DRESS to impress and deliver with substance, that’s the mood of the new Audi RS4, a performance car that tops the Audi A4 range.

The RS4 sets the pace for just what Audi engineers can do and for Audi enthusiasts this is the ultimate head turner, their absolute desire car.

You simply cannot use words such as competitive, economical or practical when writing about cars with the performance ability of the Audi RS4 Avant.

Driving this estate car is motoring at a different level and you’ll know that even before you experience the tempting growl of the 2.9 litre Audi TFSI petrol engine.

This is a car in which you will be seen and heard in. If your pocket is deep enough and your image can cope with the attention, then read on.

Audi has crafted this very unique car to lead its range, with so many features included to make the car very spec ial and that spec ial feeling rubs off on you when you get behind the wheel.

The low profile stance on 19in tyres, the exclusive badging and some not so subtle design features all create a car that’s hugely desirable, even if it’s not remotely affordable.

RS specific front and rear bumpers and side skirts, along with exterior mirror housings in carbon fibre look and RS specific rear bumper and diffuser along with dual oval tailpipes, all combine to create a very distinctive car.

T h i s c a r ’s p e r fo rmance ability starts with the engine. Audi has released 450bhp from this 2.9 litre V6, twin-turbo petrol engine and you can experience every bit of power and the 600Nm of engine torque. This engine gives the car a dual personal-

acceleration figure of 4.1 seconds will excite.

On regular Irish roads, this power capacity has limited application, but you know it’s there. The a c c e l e r a t i o n p e r fo rmance means that overtaking is never an issue, perhaps the engine’s throaty sound as you accelerate may put other drivers off a little. Many others will simply grin with envy.

Audi claims a new chassis for this performance car, and in truth it’s probably needed to cope with the power ability from the massive

RS 4 Avant 2.9TFSI 450HP Quattro Engine Engine power 0 – 100km/hr Economy Fuel Tank Capacity CO2 emissions Road Tax Band Main Service Euro NCAP Rating Warranty Entry Price ity, smooth and relaxed to drive around the city or massively energetic when you want it to be on the open road.

To get the full performance value from the car you really need to drive it on a race track where the 0 to 100km/hr

2.9 litre 450bhp 4.1seconds 11.4km/litre

(8.8/100km or 32mpg)

58 litres 199g/km F €1200 20,000km/12 months 5 star 2009 3 years €102,350 engine. Bring the car out on the road and it will thrill in terms of performance and handling supported by the proven Quattro all-wheel-drive system.

The car is fitted with a RS Sports suspension w i t h va r i a b l e s h o c k

21 June 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29

WHAT’S NEW IN TECHNOLOGY AND ON WHEELS

TECH & MOTORS

Fourth generation BMW X5 has landed

BMW has launched its new fourth-generation X5 once again combining elegant and strong design with impressive on and off-road ability. The new BMW X5 claims an even greater blend of premium luxury performance and comfort with entry prices significantly higher and starting from €94,325.

The new generation Audi RS4 Quattro is a superb performance car that’s packed with technology to match its sporty credentials

BMW Ireland claims that the new X5 demonstrates the latest BMW advances in technology, design and safety, with the highest level of autonomous capability yet seen on a BMW X model. There is a choice of TwinPower and M Performance petrol and diesel engines which can be matched to a new

absorption and for once I could notice the difference.

There are four Drive Select settings available by means of a button on the dash, Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual.

I started in Individual mode and later opted for Comfort mode when out on the open road.

Fo r t h e e c o n o my record this car does what it says. The rated economy figure of 11.4km/litre (8.8/100km or 32mpg) was almost achievable over my lengthy test

drive.

As I criss-crossed the countryside to experience its power, my Audi RS4 attracted attention for the combination of stylish looks and the instant engine response as I accelerated.

Don’t expect the Audi RS4 to be economical as with its CO2 rating of 199g/km, the road annual tax will cost €1,200.

For someone with over €100,000 to spend on an image car, I doubt that the road tax rate will be a concern.

There is also a significant technology feel to the Audi RS4.

The dash and controls resemble those of other models in the A4 range, with a lot more features as standard to allow the driver to maximise the car’s ultimate potential.

The Audi virtual cockpit is part of the RS4 package and you can easily change the dials layout to suit your style.

The car includes Audi Pre Sense City automatic safety system, plus a host of other safety features.

The Euro NCAP rating is more out of date than other brands, even though the car has one of the most impressive safety packages on board.

Despite the huge technology offering, the Audi Smartphone interface was easy to get set up with and the car’s sound system was equally impressive.

The RS4 packages also include a 3 years subscription to the Audi connect system along with Audi emergency

c a l l a n d b re a kd ow n assist.

With an entry price of €102,350, this Audi RS4 is going to be as rare on Irish roads as it is unique.

Like all Audi models there is potential for personalisation and the test car package added over €27,000 to the base car list price!

The RS4 is not a big car in terms of stature on the road, but it is a very special car, for me that special driving experience will live on.

Mercedes Benz sets prices for new Sprinter van

THE latest generation range of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter panel vans have arrived on the Irish market with entry prices from €21,950, excluding taxes and charges.

The spacious, high-spec, high-tech Sprinter claims to bring new levels of intelligent connectivity and superior comfort.

This Sprinter range now comes with a new front wheel drive version, plus a new 3-years warranty which is now standard across the entire Mercedes–Benz van range.

This is the third generation of the Sprinter van and so far over 8,000 have been sold in Ireland with over 3.4 million produced worldwide.

Equipped with all of the features buyers look for in a panel van, this latest Sprinter comes with a new design and passenger car levels of comfort and safety.

I took it on a short test drive in the Wicklow Mountains to be

impressed with the comfort, handling and driving ease of the new van range.

Mercedes Benz claims that the with the generous load volume and carrying capacity, the addition of front wheel drive, and a new infotainment and connectivity system van owners will see the benefits in terms of better fleet management, lower operating costs and maximum cost effectiveness.

The new Sprinter is available in six different body variants in five wheelbase options.

There are three diesel variants developing between 114bhp (84kW) and 177bhp (130kW) power output. Three body heights range from 1,719 mm to 2243 mm.

It comes in five weight classes with load compartment volume increased up to 17cu. metres with 5.5 tonnes capacity, three drive configurations, front, rear and 4-wheel drive, LED strip lighting in the load compartment, and a towing capacity up to 3.5 tonnes.

eight-speed Steptronic gearbox and the latest version of xDrive with claims o maximum comfort, capability and performance.

The latest X5 comes on a wheelbase that’s 42mm longer than its predecessor. This makes it 36mm longer, an extra 66mm of width and 19mm higher.

BMW claims that the new X5 has both an imposing appearance and generous levels of space for passengers and their luggage.

There is one petrol engine and two diesel engines available for the new X5. The new entry level BMW X5 xDrive30d is powered by a straight-six diesel engine, this time with displacement of 3.0 litres and featuring a single turbocharger with variable inlet geometry. The engine is rated at 265hp, while offering 620Nm of torque. BMW claims that it is capable of reaching the 100km/h mark from rest in 6.5 seconds, and has a combined fuel consumption of 6.1l/100km (16.6km/l or 47mpg), equating to CO2 emissions of 158g/km.

The BMW X5 M50d is powered by a six-cylinder in-line diesel engine with a quartet of turbochargers, with a six-cylinder inline unit in the BMW X5 xDrive40i and BMW X5 xDrive30d.

Fiat has electric plans for its future in Europe LAST week, Fiat in Europe announced plans to reduce its model range in Europe to fewer models all of which will be based around an electrified version of the Fiat 500 and the Fiat Panda.

Fiat said that it was ceasing production of the Punto and withdrawing the Tipo from European markets, while this Turkish built car will still be sold outside of the EU, and also in the Middle East and Africa.

For the future in Europe, the Fiat 500 will get full-electric and mild hybrid drive systems, while the 500L and 500X will get mild hybrid drives but not full-electric versions.

Fiat is strong in the minicar market in Europe and the Fiat 500 was Europe’s top-selling minicar last year, followed by the Panda and well ahead of the next nearest rival, the Volkswagen Up.

30 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 21 June 2018

DUBLINGAZETTECLASSIFIEDS  FINGAL DVD TRANSFERS

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

ROOFING

DRIVEWAYS & PATIOS

INSURANCE CLAIMS

STAIRLIFTS

FUND RAISING SINGLES CLUB

21 June 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 31

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

RECRUITMENT

MEDICAL CENTRE

BASIC and Advanced Scaffolders, General and Skilled Operatives, Qualified Electricians, Welders, Carpenters, Roofers, Plumbers, Painters Steel Fixers, 360 Machine Drivers, Groundworkers, Kerb layers, Cleaners, General & Skilled Operatives, SLG & TM Operators, All Tradesmen/Plant & MEWP Operators required for Dublin and Leinster Region. Pracownicy Budowlani z safe passem potrzebni .

PAINTING

FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL NETWORK Visit: Facebook: www.facebook.com/DublinGazetteNewspapers Twitter: @DublinGazette

PET’S CORNER PET HOTEL Our hotel is segregated into two buildings, our dog hotel & our cat hotel.

Our dog hotel has 52 Suites & our cat hotel has 18 pods.

• Every pet is housed individually (unless from the same household) • Each suite is indoors with their own individual radiator & air conditioning • Meals are served on our ‘Meals on Wheels’ Trolley • All pets receive 1-2-1 playtime and cuddles with our canine carers • Dogs receive out door 1-2-1 playtime in our enclosed area & on lead walks • NO dogs are mixed unless clients book the extra service of doggie day care • Cats get playtime out of their suites in our cat play-zone, fully equipped with scratch posts & toys

PET HOTEL & DAYCARE: Direct Line: 01-4994790 petboarding@dspca.ie www.petboarding.dspca.ie

DOGGIE DAY CARE

DOG TRAINING ACADEMY WHAT WE OFFER:

Our doggie day care operates Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm.

What is doggie day care?

Day care is off lead socialisation for all breeds and sizes. Owners go off about their day or to work and collect a happy, tired dog at the end of the day. We have paddling pools, sprinklers, play houses, enrichment toys and much more to keep doggies occupied throughout the day.

Day care is for all breeds, all ages.

• Free puppy play dates • Free behaviour assessments • Private 1-2-1 training • 3, 4 week training classes level one & level two • Agility classes • In house bootcamp training • Workshops

DOG TRAINING LOCATIONS • Onsite @ DSPCA, Mount Venus Rd, Rathfarnham, D16 • St Enda’s Park, Grange Rd, Rathfarnham, D16 • Marlay Park, Rathfarnham, D16 • Shanganagh Park, Shankill, Co.Dublin • Bushy Park, Terenure, D6 • St Anne’s Park, Raheny, D3 • Millenuium Park, Blanchardstown, D15 • St Catherine’s Park, Lucan, Co. Dublin

HUMAN EDUCATION

We run a diploma course in ‘Canine Behaviour & Dog Training’, this can be run onsite at the DSPCA or online.

This course aims to give a full introductory overview of the modern canine, looking at such topics as core physiology, evolution and canine learning theory. This programme is designed as a short introduction with only a small practical component. Students can progress on to become assistant dog trainers & join our pet boarding internship.

DOG TRAINING: Direct Line: 01-4994795/2 dogtraining@kingofpaws.com www.kingofpaws.com

By using our services 100% of the income goes directly to fund the work of the DSPCA in helping sick, injured and cruelly treated animals.

10%

OFF Level One Dog Training Class

32 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 21 June 2018

DUBLINGAZETTEPLANNING  FINGAL PLANNING NOTICE Fingal County Council I, Sorcha Byrne Apply to Fingal County Council For Planning Permission for erection of two storey bedroom extension over existing extension to side with internal alterations to existing first floor plan and for addition to existing single storey extension to rear with associated site and drainage works at 127 Clonsilla Road, Clonsilla, Dublin 15.

This application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority, during public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the Planning Authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00 within the period of five weeks beginning on the date of receipt of the application by the local authority and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission.

31772

PLANNING NOTICE

Fingal County Council Permission is sought for a new porch and downstairs w.c. to the side, new dormer windows to the front and rear roof surfaces, 2 roof windows to the front roof surface and provision of a dutch gable wall to the existing side hipped roof at first floor level. All at: 2 Lohunda Downs, Clonsilla, Dublin 15. D15 C97C. For Dermot Kavanagh. The Planning Application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority during its public opening hours and a submission or observation may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.”

31740

PLANNING NOTICE

Fingal County Council I, Pat Lynch am applying for full planning permission for a proposed new flat roof dormer extension to the rear and two no new rooflights to the front pitch of the existing converted attic space at 16 Riverwood Court, Castleknock, Dublin 15.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and a submission or observation may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (20Euros) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of this application 31751

GOT A STORY? Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 and SELECT OPTION 2 email news@dublingazette.com



21 June 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 33

GAELIC GAMES P38-39

THE BEST IN DUBLIN

SPORT

ROVERS AMBITION: CRICKET: RUSH and Balbriggan’s Irish

Senior Cup hopes came to an end over the weekend as they bowed out at the last 16 stage in their respective ties.

Phoenix, though, will represent the north county in the latter stages of the competition following their big win over high flying Ulster side Instonians in their second round tie to reach the quarter finals



GAZETTE

KENNEDY CUP P34

PAGE 37

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS INFORM YOU OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORES OF YOUR FAVOURITE TEAMS ULTRA-RUNNING | CONLON CHALLENGE PASSES HALFWAY

Struggle is very real for marathon man  JAMES HENDICOTT

sport@dublingazette.com

CHARITY focused distance runner Mark Conlon has passed the midway point in his Peter McVerry Trust fundraising challenge, a marathon opus designed to raise awareness of Dublin’s growing homelessness problem.

Conlon had originally set his ‘marathon a day’ challenge at an unlimited length, with the hope that he could fundraise substantially as well as drawing a huge amount of awareness to the cause by simply carrying on. Of course, life was always going to get in the way at some point.

The Bawnogue man reached the 16 marathon mark on Sunday – 419 miles (674 kms) – in just over a fortnight. The experienced athlete is running most of his marathons around the same course: a loop heading from Clontarf towards Howth, past North

Bull Island, circling the Howth Summit route a couple of times, and then heading back to his starting point.

He describes his attempt as “rustic”, in that he’s living his life around it with a minimal support team, and making it intentionally more difficult by including the hills around the Howth route. The typical marathon is taking him between four and a half and five hours to complete the 42km route.

“It’s about struggle which is why I’m trying to make it that little bit more difficult,” Conlon says of his already extraordinarily ambitious plan.

“I haven’t seen a physio during this so far. I’m having a bit of trouble with my achilles and with my knees, so I’m going really slowly up the steep hills around Howth. I’m tired, and I wake up with a lot aches every morning.

But it’s going okay, and I can start to

Mark Conlon on his route around north Dublin as part of his incredible marathon challenge

count down instead of up now.”

Conlon plans to finish with a reception on the night of the final marathon of 30, which falls on Sunday, June 30. He hopes to have the opportunity to speak about homelessness to the Dail through his endeavours, ideally before the summer break.

“It’s about awareness, and I really

hope they’ll let me speak to them about the problems,” he says, adding that he hopes to raise a substantial sum for Peter McVerry through a couple of events towards the end of the month.

“I’ve set it at 30, I hope I get the chance to say my piece before it loses momentum.”

SPORT CONTACT INFO SPORTS EDITOR: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com

For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@dublingazette.com Phone: 01 601 0240

34 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 21 June 2018

CLUB NOTES

ROUND

1

ERIN GO BRAGH NO WINNER of our lotto jackpot this week. Next week’s jackpot is €6,900. numbers drawn were 1, 18, 20 and 27 . Thanks to everyone who supports our club lotto it is very much appreciated.

Congratulations to our adult footballers who won the Mooney Cup on Sunday . Great achievement lads and well done from all the club.

Our underage teams all had great success at the weekend. Well done to all the teams involved.

Cúl camp to be held from July 16 to 20 in Castaheany Community Centre. Cost will be €65 per child.

EGB summer camp to be held from August 13 to 17 in Castaheany Community Centre. Cost will be €50 per child with a €5 discount for siblings; 9.30am to 2pm for both camps. Please book early to avoid disappointment.

FINGALLIANS CONGRATULATIONS to Paul Flynn on been named the new chief executive of the Gaelic Players Association (GPA). Paul has been on the board of the National Executive Committee of the players representative body since 2012 and will take up his new position in September.

Inter Hurling Championship this Saturday, June 23, Fingallians v Erins Isle at 6.30 at home.

AFL2: Our senior footballers continued their climb into the play off places with a win over Raheny on Wednesday night.

Their next league fixture is away to Round Towers Clondalkin, on Wednesday, June 27 at 7.30pm.

Dublin Hurlers: The U21’s progressed in Leinster with a win over Westmeath, mid week.

We were represented by

Shane Howard at corner back. The minor hurlers had Daragh Power at number nine in their victory over Antrim on Saturday evening. They now meet Wexford in the Leinster semi final.

Race Day: Bellewstown on July 7 - funds raised will go towards various projects including upgrading dressing rooms. Book your ticket/table by contacting Teresa Collins at fingallians@gmail.com to date our race days are raised €31,200 towards the club.

Summer Camp Program: The first camp will be the Kelloggs Cúl Camp July 9-13, 9am-1pm; €50 members/€70 non members.

Application forms are available from the club bar after 6.30pm each evening.

Fleadh Ceoil na hÉireann: This year’s Fleadh Náisiúnta will be held in Drogheda between August 12 and 19.

GARDA/WESTMANSTOWN UNLUCKY last week for inters and juniors, both going down narrowly in their league games to Parnells and Ballyboden respectively.

Next fixtures have Inters out against Kilmacud Crokes away on Wednesday, June 27 and juniors away to Na Fianna on Tuesday, June 26. With exams finishing up shortly, minor activity resumes on July 1 with league fixture away to Clontarf. Next ladies match is away to Skerries Harps on July 4.

Well done to our U-12 footballers who travelled to St Vincent’s and came away with a great 5-11 to 5-6 victory over the home side who were unbeaten until then.

This, coming on top of a win over Lucan Sarsfields on Wednesday, means they go top of their league. Excitement mounting for our girls Feile Squad who head to the National Competition next week in Termonfeckin, Co Louth-all club members wish them every success in their efforts.

Next Saturday, June 23 is the club family fun day and BBQ starting at 6pm.

SOCCER: CAPITAL OUTFIT ONCE AGAIN PREVAIL IN LIMERICK

Quinn crowns yet more DDSL glory

Cherry Orchard man fires a final hat trick to propel the league to a 32nd SFAI New Balance Kennedy Cup title as they prove too good once again at the annual festival of Under-14 football  sport@dublingazette.com

A STUNNING hat-trick from Ben Quinn helped the Dublin and District Schoolboy League (DDSL) retain the SFAI New Balance Kennedy Cup with an exciting 4-2 final win over Kildare at the University of Limerick on Friday afternoon.

Kildare had rallied from two goals down to trail 3-2 with eight minutes remaining of a highly entertaining contest before hattrick hero Quinn collected the ball from Glory Nzinga’s pass and rifled a terrific left foot shot into the bottom right corner of the net.

The goal finally broke Kildare’s resistance as they had fought

valiantly to claim the prestigious Under-14 inter-league title for a first time.

The DDSL’s success is their third in successive years and their sixth in the last seven editions.

The free-scoring Kennedy Cup winners managed 22 goals in their six games, conceding just three times.

Kildare made a dream start in the final when Jamie Duggan’s free-kick was headed home by striker Dean Owens inside three minutes.

However, the DDSL drew level two minutes later when Quinn finished a rebound to the net from close range after Evan Ferguson’s

goal attempt was parried.

The pre-tournament favourites were in front in the 14th minute when Cherry Orchard’s Craig King’s cross was headed home superbly by Evan Ferguson of St Kevin’s Boys.

The DDSLs 2-1 half-time lead was quickly doubled when Ferguson turned provider for Quinn to grab his second of the game three minutes after the restart.

Battling Kildare, who recovered from losing their opening group game against Limerick County to reach the final, pulled a goal back with 10 minutes remaining when Owens, of Athy Town, scored his second with a superb volley, fol-

lowing excellent work from Matthew McCarrick.

However, the DDSL nerves were settled in the 52nd minute when Quinn completed his hat-trick, bringing his tally to four goals in two days, to help the competition’s most successful side retain the Kennedy Cup. The side itself was drawn from five clubs with Malahide United (three players), Cherry Orchard (four), St Kevin’s Boys (six), Crumlin United (three) and Belvedere (four) providing large contingents to the squad.

There was further success for Dublin leagues in the Shield final as the NDSL beat home hosts, Limerick Desmond, on penalties after normal and extra time had ended 0-0. They held their nerve to win out 4-2.

The side featured Clonee United’s Darragh Gorman, Jack Supple, Cian Nolan and Abdulquadri Balogun, Tolka Rovers Sean Darling and Josh Dunne, Baldoyle United’s Callum Ralph, Adam Lynch, Aaron Duffy, Aaron Hughes, Daniel Barry and Daragh Mooney, Donnycarney’s Craig Walsh and Swords Manor’s Destin Bismwa and Stephen Finnegan.

The DDSL, top, celebrate their Kennedy Cup success while the NDSL raise the shield; player of the tournament Callum Warren, right. Pictures: Tom beary/Sportsfile

21 June 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 35

LEAGUE OF IRELAND: ST PAT’S DROP INTO BOTTOM HALF

LOI SHORTS Watts on top sides’ radar

St Pat’s Lee Desmond tries to escape a tackle against Sligo Rovers. Picture: Martin Doherty

Denied penalty grates on frustrated Buckley LOI PREMIER DIVISION St Patrick’s Athletic Sligo Rovers  DAVE DONNELLY sport@dublingazette.com

0 3

ST PATRICK’S Athletic ushered in the midseason break with a fifth straight defeat – and arguably their most damaging – against a clinical Sligo Rover side on Friday night.

The visitors were devastating on the counterattack as Patrick McClean, Ally Roy and Jack Keaney fired them to a 3-0 win at Richmond Park.

The misfiring Saints were held scoreless for the third time in those five defeats after it was confirmed star striker Christy Fagan will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Liam Buckley’s side dominated possession in both halves and created the majority of the chances, but a mixture of wasteful finishing and some impressive last-ditch

defending kept them out.

Centre-half McClean – the younger brother of Ireland star James – scored with Sligo’s first attack of the game, a wonderfullytaken finish at full-stretch after Pat’s were slow to react to a short corner.

The goal came very much against the run of play, after Pats’ promising early play yielded a chance for captain Ian Bermingham, who headed Simon Madden’s cross narrowly over.

The goal allowed Sligo to sit back more and attack with pace on the break, and there were clear indicators that the Saints would struggle against their pacey transitions.

Caolan McAleer gave one warning when he won the ball deep in his own half and within seconds had played Roy through on goal, but the Scot’s finish was poor.

There was nothing poor about Roy’s finish for Sligo’s second on the

half-hour, but the Saints were incensed they weren’t awarded a penalty moments earlier.

Ryan Brennan looked to be shoved in the back

by Seamus Sharkey in the box, but referee Derek Tomney deemed there not be enough contact and the Bit o’ Red broke with pace.

Rhys McCabe found Roy, and he exchanged passes with Adam Wixted before planting a beautifullytaken finish past Barry Murphy.

Pat’s had chances to get back into it after the break but Jake Keegan and Brennan were denied by fantastic flying blocks from Keaney and the impressive John Mahon.

And Keaney wrapped up the win late on when Michael Barker and Lee Desmond ran into each other and the teenager made no mistake with time to pick his spot under Murphy.

Saints boss Buckley picked out the non-award

of the first-half penalty, and Sligo’s subsequent goal, as the turning point but conceded his side were toothless in front of goal.

“It looked like if we were going to be there all night we weren’t going to score,” Buckley told the Dublin Gazette.

“We bounced around, had a few shots, but we needed to get a goal or two.

If we had, we’d have been back in the tie. But, that

said, the critical point for me was that penalty incident.

“Having watched it back, it’s a penalty. The referee saying ‘no, there’s no contact’ – it’s ridiculous for me. It’s a stupid call.

“They’ve gone down the other end of the park and we’ve gone 2-0 down because of that, which makes it all the more difficult. If it’s 1-1, it’s a different game.”

Dean Clarke holds possession. Picture: Martin Doherty

IRELAND Under-19 midfielder Dylan Watts is being tracked by Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers following his release by English Premier League club Leicester City.

21-year-old Watts has spent the first half of the season on loan with Bohemians and has grown into one of the league’s most exciting attacking talents.

The former St Joseph’s Boys schoolboy was nominated for the league’s Player of the Month award for April as he shone for an inconsistent Gypsies side in their win over the Hoops in Tallaght.

However, with his loan due to expire at the end of the month when his Leicester contract also comes to an end, the Dubliner has attracted the attention of Rovers boss Stephen Bradley.

Watts broke through for UCD during the 2015 season and was part of the side that progressed two rounds in the Europa League, beating F91 Dudelange of Luxembourg before bowing out to Slovan Bratislava.

ROVERS INTO TOP FOUR SHAMROCK Rovers moved up to fourth in the Premier Division with a comfortable 2-0 win over struggling Limerick at the Markets Field.

Joel Coustrain scored against his hometown club on the stroke of half time to send the Hoops in a goal to the good.

And departing hero Gra-

ham Burke scored his 13th goal of the season early in the second half in his final game before completing a move to English side Preston North End. The result sees the Hoops move above Derry City into fourth and cut the gap to third-placed Waterford to seven points ahead of the midseason break.

10-man Cabo cling on to precious point TEN man Cabinteely put a dent in Shelbourne’s promotion aspirations as they battled to a 0-0 draw at Tolka Park.

A momentary rush of blood to the moment cost Kevin Knight a first half sending-off. The Cabo defender was tripped by Shelbourne’s James English on 26 minutes but his reaction seemed out of proportion and referee Paula Brady brandished a red card.

Shels dominated possession from then on and forced eight corners to Cabinteely’s two but could not make their numerical advantage count.

Several chances fell to Dayle Rooney in particular but the clinical touch was lacking. Cian Kavanagh smashed a shot just past a post from the pick of their openings.

The sending-off forced Cabinteely to change their 3-5-2 formation.

However the southsiders’ well-drilled defence coped well and Christian Lotefa, Marty Waters and Luke Clucas worked tirelessly further up the pitch to ensure the second scoreless draw at Tolka Park this season.

36 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 21 June 2018

CLUB NOTES

ROUND

2

NAOMH PEREGRINE

THERE was a record breaking turn out and participation in the mini leagues this week. Thanks to all all the mentors and parents who volunteered their help to ensure that the children enjoyed the matches during the week to the finals and fun on the Family Funday Sunday.

There was also an away event in Croke Park enjoyed by many of the participants, big thanks to Jimmy O’Connor.

The first of our summer camps for children aged 5 to 13 takes place each day from 10am to 2:30 pm from July 9-13. Each child will receive a set of Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camp gear (including a jersey and training top) and backpack included in the cost of the camp. Registration online is open on the website at www.cnp.ie.

Well done to the junior team on their big win in the Murphy Cup semi-final in Silver Park.

There was no winner of the club lottery, numbers drawn were 8, 9, 10 and 13. Next week’s jackpot is €8,000.

St Peregrine’s GAA Club proudly presents Rory’s Stories in the clubhouse Saturday, June 30 followed by live music. Tickets are on sale at €10 each, with limited availability. Get your order in quickly by contacting Ger Harford or Dave McEneaney at 086 0462253.

SKERRIES HARPS • Skerries Harps 2018 WELL done to the AFL6 Ladies on their midweek win over Stars of Erin in the league.

Hard luck to our senior footballers on their defeat in the AIB Cup final and the intermediate footballers on their defeat in the Joy Cup semi final on Saturday.

Fixtures: Saturday, June 23: AHL2 Football vs Na Fianna, away, 6.30pm.

Sunday, June 24: junior hurlers vs Oliver Plunketts ER away in the championship at 11am.

Minor hurlers vs St Peregrines, home at 11am.

See www.skerriesharps. ie/fixtures for details of all upcoming games.

Adult and juvenile games weekly meetings continue this coming Thursday, June 21 in the clubhouse.

Zingo Result: 3-7-1-25-6-4. We had no winners of jackpot or dividend.

Jackpot €1,900, Jackpot Dividend €300.

Next Draw will take place on Sunday, June 23 in the Clubhouse. How do you win? You buy a ticket!

You can also play on line at skerriesharps.ie and follow the links. Envelopes only €2 or three for €5.

UPCOMING FUNDRAISING AND SOCIAL Events:

Golfing Schedule is now available to view on our websitewww.skerriesharps.ie/news. Contact Paul on 0851740474 for details of the next outing on 17 Aug to Lisburn GC. • August 4 - Annual Golf classic at Skerries Golf Club. Save the date - more info to follow.

Harps Juvenile Academy has finished for the summer break.

Many thanks to all who helped organise and run our Fun day and BBQ on Saturday, June 16.

Thanks to Gerrys Fresh Foods for sponsoring the healthy fruit pots for the kids and to Lean Gilbride for giving an excellent nutrition talk to the parents in the clubhouse Summer Camps: Multi Sport Camp : July 16-20; Cul Camp 1 : July 23-27; • Nursery Camp : August 7-10; Cul Camp 2: August 13-17.

Very limited spaces available in all camps - any registrations for Cul Camps must be completed online to ensure availability.

Clubhouse available for Functions/Parties - contact Pat on 087-2505479 for details, or email bookings. skerriesharps@gmail.com.

SOCCER: EYE-CATCHING NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM COMES FOR

Ballymun snap up dynamic duo after Sheriff success LSL SUNDAY SENIOR  DAVE DONNELLY

sport@dublingazette.com

ONE of the more surprising developments of the off-season was Ballymun United manager Joey Graydon, having guided his team to successive promotions up to LSL Sunday Senior, to step down.

The former Killester United boss led his side to a third-place finish in Sunday Senior 1 – ahead of Glenville on goal difference – to complete a remarkable rise to the top level of intermediate ball.

Ballymun wasted little time in finding his replacement, hiring the recently-departed Sheriff YC duo Alan Reilly and Chris Giles to lead them into their first season in Sunday Senior, the top tier in intermediate football.

Reilly and Giles had won everything there

was to win in their seven years at the north inner city club, taking in six back-to-back AUL Premier A titles and four FAI Junior Cups.

It was an unprecedented period of success for the Sheriff Street club backed by a golden generation including the unerringly prolific striker John Rock.

But having quit two years ago before reversing course to yield yet more success, the wildlysuccessful pair made the decision to seek a new challenge this summer.

That new challenge came more quickly than they expected as Ballymun got in touch and sold them a chance to manage at the pinnacle of the amateur game.

“It came up out of the blue,” Reilly told the Dublin Gazette. “ It wa s a c a l l we weren’t expecting. We sat down and we thought

hard and long about it, and it was an exciting challenge, and a challenge I was looking for in regards to myself and Chris.

“We had a good chat.

We looked at it and we said maybe it’s time to look at something different.”

After a remarkable six years, Sheriff relinquished their crown as Premier A champions to worthy successors in Usher Celtic last month.

Reilly and Giles – son of the legendary former Ireland player and manager John – had already decided that it was time to challenge themselves at a higher level of football.

With the entire Ballymun squad eager to stay on for next season – and Reilly already eyeing a couple of judicious additions – the future looks bright on the northside.

“They have a bunch of players looking to com-

pete at the next level.

We’re looking to come in and add one or two faces to it and hopefully they can have a crack at intermediate football.

“It’s a big challenge.

It’s top intermediate football. It’s a challenge every week in itself. Everybody can take points off everybody.

“It is new to us, but it is a challenge for myself and Chris and one I’m greatly looking forward to.”

Rivervalley parkrun

Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

THE River Valley parkrun saw Vhi host a special event to celebrate their partnership with parkrun Ireland.

Vhi ambassador and Olympian David Gillick was on hand to lead the warm up for parkrun participants before completing the 5km free event.

Parkrunners enjoyed refreshments post event

at the Vhi Relaxation Area where a physiotherapist took participants through a post event stretching routine.

Parkrun, in partnership with Vhi, support local communities in organising free, weekly, timed 5k runs every Saturday at 9.30am.

To register for a parkrun near you visit www.parkrun. ie.

21 June 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 37

LSL CHALLENGE

Ballymun United are looking forward to welcoming a new management team

CRICKET: NORTH COUNTY SIDES BOW OUT OF CUP

Rush slowed by Tarf’s last over ISC victory IRISH SENIOR CUP  sport@dublingazette.com

STAR TURN

Syl’s Aherne named May player of month ST SYLVESTER’S Sinead Aherne is the Croke Park Hotel/LGFA Player of the Month award winner for May. The individual accolade for the 32-year-old Dublin skipper adds further gloss to what was a memorable Lidl National League campaign.

Throughout the 2018 competition, Aherne weighed in with 3-35, including a 1-9 haul in the final victory over Mayo at Parnell Park, which earned Aherne the player of the match award.

Picture: Piaras O’Midheach/Sportsfile

CLONTARF produced a final over win to beat Rush in the second round of the Irish Senior Cup, making them one of five Dublin clubs to advance to the quarter-finals.

Despite always being well in control, they made slightly heavy weather of their win.

With only Sean Terry [54] making a meaningful contribution from the top order it was left to Harry Archer [35] and Naseer Shout [23] to get The Hills to a score of 168.

Shariful Islam did the damage with the ball with five wickets for 34. Clontarf, and this has surely become their specialty, did just enough to win. Four scores in the 20s and 35 extras helped them struggle to 170/8 to win in the last over.

Three wickets each for Albert van der Merwe [3/36] and Daya Singh [3/26] were the main wicket takers but as usual pressure was exerted by Shoukat who bowled his full compliment of overs for 18 runs.

They join Leinster, Merrion Pembroke and Phoenix in the last eight following the weekends results.

Phoenix produced an excellent win over Instonians, currently riding high in the NCU Premier League. Having made 273/5, via a century for Murray Cummins, they were in a good position at the halfway stage against Phoenix.

But quick runs by Reinhardt Strydom (86) and Rory Anders (45) at the top of the order had Phoenix 149/1 after 20 overs to set the platform for a five wicket win with three overs to spare. Given the strength of the Instonians bowling attack with Nikolai Smith and Shane Getkate on hand, this was an impressive effort by Phoenix.

CSNI proved to be too strong for Balbriggan. Batting first the visitors only managed 140 which were duly knocked off by CSNI for the loss of one wicket.

Rush ran up 170 for eight from their innings at Castle Avenue last weekend. Picture: Deryck Vincent

Early wickets for Rathmines’ Leinster in a rain effected game in Carrickfergus proved decisive. The home team subsequently recovered well to 174/6 but following more rain and DLS, Leinster were left to score 116 in 20 overs. This they duly did thanks to a 50 from Gareth Delany [67].

Merrion won a last over battle with CIYMS, defending a total of 273. CIYMS went into the final over needing 11 runs to win and two wickets remaining but Merrion nicked those two wickets for the win.

YMCA bowed out at the hands of Waringstown, blown away in the first innings.

Murray lands Transplant bronze TRANSPLANT GAMES  sport@dublingazette.com

CLONSILLA’S Aoife Murray, Balbriggan’s Chikoyo White and Skerries Paul Heffernan were all part of the Irish team that took part in the European Transplant Games in Sardinia.

In swimming, Heffernan proved he was a force to be reckoned with by winning a silver medal in the 100m freestyle.

He also won two bronze medals in the 400m freestyle swimming event and the 50m freestyle race.

In tennis, Murray played in the semi-final and came away with a Bronze medal after losing out to the eventual overall Italian winner.

“It was a great experience taking part in the tennis competition today,” she said of her performances.

“Some fantastic games of tennis were played by

all the athletes in some extremely hot conditions. I just want to thank the team for all their support and my mother who is here with me and also family and friends at home.

“But most of all I want to thank my donor and the donor family for giving me a new life which means I can compete at these wonderful games with athletes from 25 different countries. It’s been a great expe- Irish team members Sheila Gregan, Orla Hogan, Peter Heffernan and Deirdre Faul rience.”

38 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 21 June 2018

CLUB NOTES

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3

ST BRIGID’S

THANK you to An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, to Jack Chambers TD, to LGFA Player of the Year Noelle Healy and to all who came to Russell Park on Saturday to celebrate our mini-league finals.

Congratulations to all the participants who gave a great display of skill and teamwork in their matches during the week and especially at the finals. A huge thanks to Bradys Garages Castleknock who sponsored the mini-leagues and Go Games.

Nursery sponsored by Sherry Fitzgerald continues on June 23 and 30, then takes a break for the summer.

Our car park project commenced this week. The work is scheduled to take 10 weeks. The work area is no longer accessible to St Brigids, and anybody found on the area will be a trespasser. There will be no access whatsoever to work area. Access to complex, dressing rooms and all weather pitch is via footpath.

Access to grass pitches is via camogie pitch, with parking on the camogie pitch.

Young people’s disco on June 22, details are on the website.

St Brigids Lip Sync event will take place on October 6, make sure to put in your diary, a huge evening of entertainment in store.

Well done to the U-14 Dublin Ladies Football team and all our St Brigid’s squad members, they have had a great season, narrowly losing out to Cavan in the All-|Ireland final. Good luck to Paddy Andrews and the Dubs in the Leinster final on Sunday next.

Junior A Hurling championship is in Russell Park on Saturday at 6.30pm, St Brigids v Naomh Fionnbarra, all support welcome.

St Brigids Club Summer Camp is on July 23 to 27, GAA Cúl Camp from August 13 to 17 and GAA Nursery Camp from August 20 to 24. Booking is via website.

FOOTBALL: MOONEY CUP FINAL SUCCESS

Erin Go Bragh win first cup title in over 70 seasons

ST FINIAN’S IT WAS mixed fortunes for the AFL teams this week. The AFL8 team beat St Peregrine’s in Ridgewood while the AFL4 team were beaten by Raheny in Ridgewood.

The AHL4 Team are at home to Clanna Gael-Fontenoy in the Championship on Saturday at 6.30pm.All support welcome and appreciated.

St Finians GAA Club extends sincere sympathies to the Courtney & Cahill families on the passing of Bridget Courtney (nee Phelan) RIP. Bridget was mother to Joanne, wife of U-11 LGFA and camogie coach Keith Cahill and grandmother of Freya and Addison who also play with the club.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

Congratulations to Annabel Timothy from the U-14 LGFA team who represented the club on the Dublin U-14 ladies team in the All Ireland final versus Cavan in Dunleer on Saturday.

Details of the club Family Funday on June 23 have been circulated by email and are on the club Facebook page and website followed by a social evening in Peacocks.

Please contact Ann O’Connor 087 610 9452 if you can if you are available to help with the arrangements on the day.

Please put vouchers given in store for all purchases over €20 into the St Finians GAA Box in Supervalu Boroimhe for training balls for the club.

Please contact GPO Paul Lyons 087 176 1302 or Paul.Lyons.GPO.Dublin@gaa.ie if you are free to help out as a head coach with the Cúl camp which is taking place Monday, July 2 to Friday, July 6 (Cúl Camp) and for the club summer camps (sponsored

by Sky Handling Partner ) Tuesday, August 14 to Friday, August 17 and Tuesday, August

21 to Friday, August 24 respectively. Applicants must be over 18 years of age, must be Garda vetted and have completed the Child Protection in Sport Awareness course, have completed the Foundation Level coaching course and must also be fully paid up members.

Online payments for all three camps are available on the club website http://www. stfinians.com. Please note that the cut-off for online payments for the Cúl camp is Saturday, June 23. Payments will still be accepted in the office after that date.

Online payments are also available on the club website http://st.sfinians.com for the Advanced Football, hurling and Camogie camp for 13 to 17 year old boys and girls from July 9 to 13 inclusive, 10am to 1pm. There will also be camps for Nursery & Academy members (4 & 5 year old boys and girls) running alongside the Cúl Camp from July 2 to 6 and the club camps from August 14 to 17 and 21 to 24.

Congratulations to the 15 members who were picked in the draw for Taylor Swift tickets donated to the club by MCD! There are Yoga classes taking place in the Clubhouse Activity Room every Thursday evening. For further details, please contact Jacquie at 087 786 8363.

Club Lotto - The club lotto jackpot on June 15 was €3,600 and the numbers drawn were 5, 8, 16, 28. There was no winner. Lucky Dip Winners of €40 were Ann Day, Bridie Canavan, Sonia Flanagan, Brendan McGroder. Next week’s jackpot is €3,700.

The club bingo takes place this and every Friday upstairs in Peacocks at 8.30pm.

The Erin Go Bragh side that won the Mooney Cup

MOONEY CUP FINAL Erin Go Bragh 3-12 O’Dwyer’s 0-5  sport@dublingazette.com

ERIN Go Bragh’s junior footballers made it a Father’s Day to remember as they hammered O’Dwyer’s in the Mooney Cup final in St Catherine’s Park last Sunday.

They took the silverware in front of a decent turn out of supporters from both sides, creating a strong atmosphere.

EGB started the game at a blistering pace with

some knife-cutting runs with the ball from the half backs and midfielders. This made life much easier for the forwards as they peeled away from their markers to tap over the bar; after five minutes of play, they led 0-3 to no score.

Pressure Relentless pressure f ro m E r i n G o B ra g h paid off as they scored their first goal after 20 minutes. O’Dwyer’s battled away with some good football and made

SKILLS STAR Austin the Leinster leader in Kilkenny NAOMH MAUR’S Kerri Austin

won the Leinster Feile Skills competition last Saturday in Clara, Co Kilkenny.

She won the annual competition ahead of local representative Ellen Gunner and Carlow’s Rebecca Kelly who took third and second respectively in the competition which featured 16 players who shone at their county Feile skills competitions.

chances of their own but scoring from play was obsolete as they only managed three points from frees.

The Dublin 15 club ended up leading 1-8 to 0-3 at half-time and very much had a stranglehold over the game.

At the start of the second half, O’Dwyer’s played with the intention of chipping into the deficit but EGB’s full back line were giving very little away as the Balbriggan club only managed two points in

10 minutes.

EGB were slower to start the second half but they got back on their game and quickly started to add to the scoreboard, some excellent point-taking were a joy for the home supporters as they soon galloped towards a cup final win.

Two more goals came late in the game, quashing any hopes of a comeback by the Balbriggan men as EGB junior footballers picked up their first piece of silverware since 1945.

21 June 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 39

FOOTBALL: PEREGRINE’S MAN ESTABLISHING HIMSELF IN STARTING TEAM

GPA

Fins’ Flynn lands the top job at players group

Eric Lowndes, inset, will be hoping to keep the Dublin juggernaut rolling on to an eighth Leinster title in a row. Main picture: James Crombie/Inpho

No mistaking Lowndes’ Leinster final intensity LEINSTER SFC FINAL JAMES HENDICOTT

sport@dublingazette.com

NOW A FIRM fixture in the Dublin senior football line-up, Eric Lowndes is in flying form a few days ahead of the boys in blue’s latest assault on the Leinster title on Sunday.

They are gunning for what would be an eighth consecutive provincial title should Jim Gavin’s side defeat Laois at Croke Park.

The St Peregrine’s clubman recalls how his day job colleagues reacted to the huge cheer from Hill 16 he received as a late replacement in last year’s All Ireland semi-final against Tyrone.

The cheer was a case of mistaken

identity: Lowndes looks a little like Dermot Connolly, who at the time was on the bench, set to return from a long suspension.

“We had a thing at work and one of the lads got me a mug with my face that turns into his when you put the hot water in. There’s a bit of a resemblance there,” he jokes.

There’s some fun memories to be had about the Meath rivalry, too. “All of my lineage is Meath and Westmeath. We played them twice in the All Ireland finals [at age group level],” Lowndes says of the Meath link.

“It was interesting in school, St Peter’s in Dunboyne, sitting next to guys who I’d be playing against in English class. I wasn’t marking any of them

or anything, we all played in defence.

They did ask me to bring the cup back to the school though. That was slightly awkward.”

The final, though, is serious business, even if it has become run-of-the-mill for the fans in recent years.

“We know how difficult it was for Dublin to get their hands on the Leinster title for so many years,” Lowndes says of the provincial title’s meaning.

“When I was growing up, Dublin weren’t winning Leinster Championships on the regular. It’s still a massive celebration for us. We’re all aware success goes in cycles, it doesn’t last forever.”

Lowndes own place in the side has become more established this year but

with John Small and Davey Byrne both on the way back from injury, he’s about to face some serious defensive competition for the blue jersey.

“Everyone knows we have a lot of competition in there, a lot of guys who can play all over the pitch. When you get in, it’s about doing your best, and getting to keep the jersey as long as possible.

“When we’re going training, we’re all aware that whoever’s performing well is going to play. It’s great when you’re in that position, and it’s up to someone else to get in.

“There’s a lot of experience coming back. I suppose I have to just keep performing in training and at games, and driving it on, driving the standards.”

FINGALLIANS man Paul Flynn was named as the Gaelic Players Association’s new chief executive, taking up the new role in September 2018.

Speaking on the announcement of his appointment, Flynn said; “I am very proud and honoured to be taking up the position of CEO of the GPA at this time of enormous change and development for the game.

“The GPA has a fantastic member base who are passionate about the game and I will work hard to represent them and the Association.

“From personal experience, I know the great work that the GPA does. It has played an important role in my development on and off the field and I know the valuable work the association does day in day out to help players all over the country.”

Flynn has been an active member of the board and the national executive committee of the GPA since 2012.

He will leave a senior executive role with Lincoln recruitment with whom he will spend the rest of the summer serving out his notice period and concentrating on his player commitments to the senior Dublin football team.

40 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 21 June 2018