Dublin Gazette: Fingal Edition

DublinGazette JANUARY 16-22, 2020

EDUCATIONFORLIFE: See our supplement for a wide range of great education-related matters and content to consider SEE PAGES 13-19

Fingal Edition FREE

THE LATEST NEWS & SPORT FROM THE FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL AREA

The dragon, the girl, and the Year of The Rat ...

QING Ying Chen and her big, furry friend were happy to help launch details of the upcoming Chinese New Year Festival 2020.

Running from Friday, January 24 to Monday, February 10, the citywide festival at many venues looks set to be fun for all. This year will see the Year of the Rat being celebrated. Picture: Julien Behal Photography

SPORT

SOCCER: From a

chance encounter in Corduff Park, Yassine En Neyah’s star continues to rise.

SEE P28

style

‘TEXAN CHIC’ WINDS ITS WAY OUT EAST TO IRISH SHORES P20

Hundreds rallying to help grieving family Outpouring of love for late Ashley, 11

SYLVIA POWNALL

Find us on Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

THE family of an 11-year-old schoolgirl who died after a road crash at the weekend have thanked the community for their outpouring of “care and love”.

Ashley Bombita, from Ongar in west Dublin, lost her battle for life at Temple

Street Hospital on Monday following a crash that left her father, Billy, and sister, April, injured.

Hundreds of people have donated to an online fund set up by friends to help the family with funeral and medical expenses – raising €7,500 in 24 hours.

Ashley’s devastated mother, Rowena,

paid tribute to her “inspiring and full of life” daughter who she said had “touched so many lives”.

In a heartbreaking social media post, she said: “I thank God for 11 wonderful and meaningful years spent with you. You lived your days so bright.

“It has been a pleasure and honour to be your Mom.” FULL STORY ON PAGE 3

Politics WITH the starting gun now fired on General Election 2020, there’s already at least one change in store for Fingal – Labour TD Brendan Ryan will not be contesting it, passing the baton to party colleague Cllr Duncan Smith. Labour chief Brendan Howlin has paid tribute to Deputy Ryan for his years of service.

SEE PAGE 4

Counting the cost of Storm Brendan

BRENDAN’S now long gone – but the damage left behind by the latest storm will be felt for quite a while yet.

The storm was just the latest for the battered Fingal coastline to face, with a growing clamour for action to tackle the damage and erosion left behind by such storms.

As the hungry sea chomps away at the shrinking coastline, embattled homeowners of The Burrow in Portrane are behind ever more urgent calls for meaningful action.

SEE PAGE 2

2 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 16 January 2020

PICK UP YOUR

ENVIRONMENT: ‘BRENDAN’ JUST LATEST BATTERING

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FASTNews

Homes and gardens mere feet away from destruction, mounds of sandbags at the ready, and cracked roads – all connected to Storm Brendan’s impact on Fingal, but a glimpse at the future for thousands of worried Fingal citizens

Coastal dwellers left to count storm’s cost  SYLVIA POWNALL

spownall@dublingazette.com

RESIDENTS of The Burrow in Portrane are counting the cost of yet another storm as properties inch perilously close to being washed away by the sea.

Local Labour representative Corina Johnston has hit out at the delay in tackling coastal erosion – calling on the council and the OPW to take urgent action.

Fingal County Council is drawing up plans for a long-term solution to the issue, but Labour TD Brendan Ryan was told this will not be ready

before mid-2020 at the earliest.

Ms Johnston said: “Over the years there has been enough consultants’ reports produced to wallpaper every house in The Burrow, while at the same time its properties are being washed away.

“This delay is totally unacceptable, and the residents deserve much better. If it wasn’t for Brendan Ryan’s ongoing representations with Minister Boxer Moran, the initial funding may not have been allocated.”

Last year, a house at The Burrow which was d e e m e d u n s a fe wa s demolished, and at least two others are now teetering on the brink of being washed away.

In reply to a Parliamen-

tary Question, Deputy Ryan was told that consultants are assessing options for a permanent solution.

However, the process will be a lengthy one, because the council must carry out a public consultation, environmental assessment and consent process – and then must apply for funding from the OPW “if a viable option is identified”.

Elsewhere, Storm Brendan made its presence known in Skerries where flooding caused the closure of part of the Coast Road and the re-routing of the 33 bus to Balbriggan.

The Irish Coast Guard also hit out at reckless behaviour of those who gathered around the harbour and seafront in

Howth despite warnings to avoid the area.

Fingal County Council issued a flood risk on Monday for Sutton, Baldoyle, Portmarnock, Malahide, Portrane, Rush, Skerries and Balbriggan.

A spokesperson for the local authority told Dublin Gazette: “Sandbags were made available to the public in Watery Lane, Swords and Fancourt, Balbriggan depots.

“Flooding caused damage to Holmpatrick Road, Skerries at the rugby club and our teams assessed the damage and closed the road, with a diversion in place via Shenick Road and Golf Links Road.

“A meeting took place on Tuesday morning to plan for remedial works at the site.”

More traffic woes for Donabate and Portrane locals as peninsula road closed without warning at weekend SYLVIA POWNALL

DONABATE and Portrane residents have expressed their outrage after a key road on the peninsula was closed without advance warning at the weekend.

The Balcarrick Road was closed overnight from 8pm to 6am on Friday and Saturday to facilitate works linked to the new Donabate Distributor Road.

Following the public outcry, Cllr Adrian Henchy (FF) contacted the contractor, who said the council’s traffic department were informed of the closure but failed to alert local residents.

A post on the Donabate Village Facebook page claimed Portrane was “cut off for hours” and pedestrians had to “walk on a footpath not fit for purpose”.

Bus services also terminated in Don-

abate village as a result, leaving commuters with a long walk to Seaview and The Burrow in Portrane.

The post also noted: “This distributor road has not and will not make life any easier for us. It has traffic lights at every junction. They want to double the size of Donabate and Portrane without any proper services. Four thousand extra homes still coming out onto the same two roads.”

CÓILÍN Duffy has been appointed as Group Editor of Dublin Gazette.

He replaces Patrick Finnegan, who was appointed in October 2017, and retired at the end of 2019.

Cóilín is originally from Laois and has more than 16 years’ experience across the media industry in a variety of roles in broadcast (radio and TV), online and print media.

He has an extensive background in both sports and current affairs media, and has provided content for both Irish and international media outlets and organisations.

A fluent Irish speaker, Cóilín came on board with the newspaper group in 2018 as a freelance sports journalist, and also provided occasional cover as Sports Editor. He said: “I am excited by the challenge that taking on my new role as Group Editor of Dublin Gazette entails.

“It’s my aim to continue to help maintain our quality newspaper and digital coverage, while continuing to provide the people of Dublin with the high standard of local content that has placed the Dublin Gazette as a forerunner in local media over the past 16 years.”

Tesco gave €237,000 to help Dublin Dublin Bus increases No 33 trips

Services, Hht Ireland; Swords Express – Meals on Wheels, Little Blue Heroes Foundation, Order of Malta Share to Care.

TESCO Ireland donated €237,000 to local projects across Dublin in 2019, supporting 903 worthy projects, it has announced.

Voting is open to February 1 for the current cycle of projects. The fund has enabled Tesco to help more than 15,000 projects nationwide since its inception in 2014.

The current cycle of the Tesco Community Fund runs for two more weeks, with customers encouraged to vote with their blue tokens for their preferred project.

Nominations across Fingal are as follows: Balbriggan – Balbriggan Cancer Society, Men’s Shed, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind; Blanchardstown – Tessa Garry Trust, Fingal Youth Orchestra, Genesis Psychotherapy & Family Therapy; Donabate – Muscular Dystrophy Ireland, DPETNS, Lissenhall; Malahide – Meals on Wheels, Rainbows Ireland, Malahide Senior Citizens; Rush – St Maur’s Parish, Senior Citizens Club, Rush Athletic FC; Swords – Snowflakes Autism Support, Anew Support

DUBLIN BUS has added 25 extra journeys per week to the No 33 timetable following public outcry over BusConnects proposals to downgrade the service.

From Sunday, January 26, there will be four additional departures from Skerries throughout the day from Monday to Friday and one extra mid-afternoon departure from Lower Abbey Street.

The changes have been co-ordinated as part of the Transport Framework Ireland network and have been welcomed locally.

Full revised timetable can be viewed at the Dublin Bus website.

Customers can also get updates on Facebook, on Twitter @dublinbusnews, or call the customer service line at 01 873 4222. Lines are open from 8:30am, to 6pm, Monday to Saturday (excluding bank holidays).

16 January 2020 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 3

COMMUNITY: BLANCHARDSTOWN SET TO HOST AN INAUGURAL COFFEE MORNING EVENT

All welcome on ‘Blue Monday’ to help counter any isolation SYLVIA POWNALL

A HOME care service in Dublin is set to open its doors to fight loneliness on ‘Blue Monday’ (January 20) – and is sending out an open invitation.

Right at Home will host its inaugural Blue Monday coffee morning at its headquarters in Patricia Lodge, Blanchardstown from 11am to 1pm.

The organisation wants to give something back to the community by inviting them to a New Year’s party to counter the isolation that is often felt in January.

Right at Home Ireland managing director David McKone said: “Blue Monday, typically the third Monday of the month of January, is associated with being the most depressing day of the year.

“In our experience, people experience a dip at this time of the year, when the party season has ended and everything is returning to normal.

“We decided this would be a perfect opportunity to give our clients and staff a lift by inviting them out to our offices to have a chat and a cuppa and raise the spirits.

“Our carers see the positive impact their visits can have on clients. When someone takes time

Mum’s tribute to girl, 11, killed in crash who ‘lived life so bright’ SYLVIA POWNALL

THE grieving mum of a schoolgirl who died following a car crash last Saturday has paid tribute to her “inspiring and full of life” daughter.

Ashley Bombita (11), from Ongar in west Dublin, died from injuries sustained in a collision in Lucan which left her father, Billy, and sister, April, also hospitalised.

She was rushed to Temple Street Hospital for Children but sadly lost her

fight for life on Monday.

Her devastated mother, Rowena, who moved to Ireland from The Philippines, posted a tribute to her on social media saying she “loved being alive and just in the moment” and that she “touched so many lives”.

She said: “I thank God for 11 wonderful and meaningful years spent with you. Those days when you inspired me to be grateful even for the littlest and simplest blessings in life.

“Nothing compares to you giving me hugs and kisses when I am down.

“You loved kissing and clinging unto me. I felt so much compassion from you.

“You reminded me not to hold grudges and to just enjoy and celebrate life. You lived your days so bright. You loved being alive and just being with the moment.

“Your smile was contagious. You loved people.

And people loved you.”

The family will host

Ashley’s viewing this Thursday and Friday from 10am to 1pm, and from 4pm to 7pm at Lucan Baptist Church for those who want to pay their respects.

Gardai have appealed for anyone with dashcam footage or information on Saturday’s fatal single vehicle collision at 11.30am on the Lower Lucan Road to come forward.

Ashley’s dad, Billy, and her seven-year-old sister April were also treated in

out to sit, chat and listen to them, it can make all the difference to their day.”

More than one third of older people over 65 live alone in Ireland and this number is expected to rise to 1.4 million people by 2046.

For further information on the coffee morning, or Right at Home, contact 01 495 4030, email enquiries@rightathome.ie, or see www.rightathome.ie.

FASTNews Community gardai total criticised

The late Ashley Bombita, 11

FAMILY friends have set up an online fund to help the family with funeral costs and medical expenses.

To donate, see https://www.gofundme.com/f/ compassionate-aid-for-ashley-bombita-tragedy. hospital for their injuries, which are described as non-life threatening.

Mum Rowena revealed: “You were April’s advocate. You were her mentor.

You were an inspiration, my Ashleytot. It has been a pleasure and honour to be your Mom. “Til we meet again my tweeny.”

Blanch lady wins €15,000

IWONA Kwacz was over the moon when she landed a €15,000 Winning Streak Bonus on the same week as her tenth wedding anniversary.

Iwona, who is from Poland but has lived in Blanchardstown for more than a decade, got lucky on the National Lottery TV game show last Saturday, January 11, just four days before she celebrated her tenth anniversary of marriage to husband Charles.

Mum of one Iwona, who works in Penneys in Mary Street, revealed many of her colleagues were glued to their televisions on Saturday, with others in the audience to cheer her on.

Iwona (centre) is pictured being congratulated on her win by Marty Whelan, Winning Streak co-host; Charles Ananaba, Iwona’s husband; George Canavan, The National Lottery, and Sinead Kennedy, Winning Streak co-host. Picture: MacInnes Photography.

THE number of community Gardai serving north Dublin has been almost halved over the past decade, with a reduction from 332 in 2009 to 184 in November, 2019.

Social Democrats coleader Roisin Shortall has called on Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to increase numbers.

She said the 45% reduction was of particular concern “because our area has the highest number of juvenile referrals in the country”.

‘Cornerstone’ Deputy Shortall added: “Community policing is supposed to be a cornerstone of An Garda Siochana’s strategy.

“It promotes community engagement and develops public trust in the gardai, which reduces anti-social behaviour and juvenile crime. It is about taking a preventative, community-first approach to policing.

“It is short-sighted and counter-productive to have slashed the Community Garda numbers over the past decade.”

Figures from the Department of Justice show that the DMR North division (Balbriggan and north Fingal) has gone from 71 community gardai to just 39.

DMR West (Blanchardstown) has been cut from 83 to 66.

Worst affected is DMR North Central (city), which is down from 178 in 2009 to 79, a decade later.

4 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 16 January 2020

FASTNews

ELECTION: PARTY STALWART PASSES ON THE BATON

Woman airlifted to hospital after cliff fall A WOMAN in her 50s was airlifted to hospital on Sunday after falling off the cliff path near Red Rock in Sutton.

The Irish Coast Guard received a 999 call shortly after 4pm and the Coast Guard Rescue 116 helicopter and a Coast Guard cliff rescue team from Howth were dispatched.

The team located the woman, who had fallen 30 feet off the coastal path, and adminis-

tered first aid, before she was winched aboard the helicopter and taken to Beaumont Hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries.

A spokesperson for the Coast Guard advised people to call 112 or 999 if they see someone who may be in trouble on a beach, cliff or in the water, adding: “Most people have mobile phones, but don’t assume someone else has made the call”.

Brendan Ryan not to contest for Labour SYLVIA POWNALL

LABOUR TD Brendan Ryan has announced he will not contest the upcoming general election as the party passes the baton to Cllr Duncan Smith.

Labour confirmed on Monday that Cllr Smith, who polled strongly in the Dublin Fingal by-election, will be its candidate for the general election on Saturday, February 8.

T h e Swo rd s - b a se d councillor said he was “honoured to be taking the torch” for the party from Brendan Ryan, who was first elected to the Dail in 2011 and was one of just seven Labour TDs to keep their seat in 2016.

Cllr Smith added: “These are certainly big shoes to fill but I am really encouraged that with Labour’s deep roots here in Fingal, and such a positive recent by-election campaign, we can go the distance in the general election.

“I love my home town of Swords and truly believe that the county of Fingal is the best place to raise

Labour party leader Brendan Howlin (inset) paid tribute to Deputy Brendan Ryan for his years of service

my young family.

“But people are facing a number of real challenges, like long daily commutes and a public transport crisis, as well as a lack of affordable housing, crippling childcare costs and not enough school places to cater for our young and growing population.”

Deputy Ryan (66) announced last Thursday that he would be standing down as an elected representative but would continue to work as a party “activist”.

He said: “I spoke to all our councillors after the May local elections and told them I had no desire to hold any of them back if they wished to take the next step and run for the Dail.

“The recent by-election presented an opportunity for the next generation to come through, and our candidate, Cllr Duncan Smith, showed the strength of the Labour party in Dublin Fingal.

“I am confident that we can hold our Labour

seat in a general election with a new candidate and, because of that, I believe the time is now right for the transition to the next generation.”

Party leader Brendan Howlin thanked him for his years of service, adding: “I fully appreciate this was a difficult decision for him to reach.

“For more than a decade, Brendan Ryan has been a stalwart of the Labour parliamentary party, and I want to acknowledge his years of service.”

20-hour ordeal for woman in Portmarnock house invasion A YOUNG woman (right) has told of her terror after a gang of masked men held a knife to her throat and threw bleach on her during a breakin at her Portmarnock home.

Eve Ryan (24) was locked in an en suite bathroom for 20 hours before being rescued by her aunt and a neighbour after the horror invasion last Thursday.

Gardai have appealed for information about the aggravated burglary at a house on Strand Road which unfolded at around 7pm.

Eve described the ordeal on social media, revealing how she came home to find men wearing balaclavas and armed with knives and screwdrivers in her house.

Her grandmother, who suffers

from dementia, was also in the property at the time.

She said: “They put knives to my neck and screwdrivers to my eyes.

They threw bleach on me and asked

where the jewellery and money was.

“They then dragged me by the hair into a tiny toilet in the back bedroom with no window, locked me in and took the key. They also took my iPhone XS.” Eve said she screamed for help but her confused granny could not understand how to use the phone to call 999.

Ms Ryan, who is signed to Catwalk Models agency, said she thought she was going to die during her ordeal, adding: “I don’t think I will ever be able to sleep again or feel safe.”

The men were described as having strong Irish accents and Gardai have trawled CCTV at the property. No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.

16 January 2020 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 5

6 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 16 January 2020

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

New Member of Accounting Technicians Ireland Agrita Vindzanova, from Castleknock, is congratulated by Brendan Walsh and Rebecca Vindzanova

Liam Redmond from St Margaret’s with his parents, Grainne and Declan

Natalia Carvalho, from Castleknock, is congratulated by Laura Doyle and Jessica Brunetto. Pictures: Fintan Clarke

Alexandra Badonyi-Bocsi, Balgriffin with Linda O’Reilly

Tunde Tarjanyi congratulates Julija Laurusonyte

Years of study adds up to graduation success for accounting students Y EARS of dedicated study added up to success for several north Dublin students who were conferred as a Member of Accounting Technicians Ireland at a ceremony at

the Talbot Hotel, Stillorgan recently, where they also received Diplomas for Accounting Technicians.

Congratulated by partners, family members and friends, the ceremony

marked a celebratory finish to the journey the graduates had dedicated themselves to, earning some well-deserved congratulations for their efforts before posting for some delighted photos.

16 January 2020 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 7

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Your best year yet!

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8 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 16 January 2020

BT YOUNG SCIENTISTS 2020: COUNTY’S BRIGHT YOUNG MINDS SHOWCASE DIVERSE PROJECTS

Fingal’s finest impress with strong showings at the RDS SYLVIA POWNALL and CÓILÍN DUFFY

THE planet is in safer hands with the next generation if the calibre of projects at this year’s BT Young Scientist Competition is anything to go by.

Last year Fingal produced the overall winner when 17-year-old Skerries student Adam Kelly won the title with his breakthrough findings on quantum computers.

This year saw another healthy batch of future biologists, physicists and climate activists taking part in the renowned expo at the RDS in Dublin.

Transition Year students Marcella Mallon and William Leonard from Ardgillan Community College in Balbriggan may have stumbled upon an ingenious and eco-friendly way to generate electricity.

Explaining their project on Hybrid Home Appliances, Marcella said: “We were looking at ways that we can reduce energy usage in our homes.

“The first thing we looked at was a lamp with solar cells in it that collects energy.”

William added: “We have just one prototype, but it was surprisingly easy to put together, so this could be mass produced.”

Third class pupils from St Francis Xavier Senior School, Dublin 15 claimed the title of the youngest exhibitors at the science fair, with their project, Why is the Sky Blue?, even getting the attention of RTE reporter George Lee. Teacher David Stokes revealed: “At the beginning of the year, and particularly during Science Week, the class had a lot of ‘Why?’ questions.

“I asked the children to write these down on a piece of paper and one question came up quite a bit: ‘Why is the sky blue?’ I

decided to choose this one because of the particular interest in it.”

One of five projects entered by students from Pobalscoil Neasain in Baldoyle was entitled RefAid, and explored the feasibility of an electronic safety device worn by players alerting the referee to high tackles within contact sports.

Dennis Power and Nathan Reilly have worked on their prototype since the start of the school year and say it could play a vital role in reducing the number of concussions or other serious injuries suffered playing contact sports.

A cautionary tale with a sinister twist was presented by students Abi Cunningham, Kerri-Ann Walker and Emma Connolly from Le Cheile Secondary School in Tyrellstown.

Their project, Are They Listening to Us?, found that the type of advertising they were exposed to on social media relates to conversations had in the vicinity of their Apple iPhones.

Experiments Abi revealed: “We did two experiments overall and had 10 phones, and we went into groups of two.

“We had staged conversations about water slides and garden furniture and the like with five of the phones nearby, and five left outside the room.

“The phones in the room must have picked up on the conversations, because they started showing ads relating to the conversations we’d had.”

Meanwhile, fifth class students from Rush and Lusk Educate Together who exhibited in the schools’ fair produced some shocking findings about drinking water.

They compared ‘designer’ (bottled) water to other sources such as well water,

Ellen McLoughlin, Phoebe Duncan and Sienna Lacey, from St Brigid’s National School, Castleknock. Picture: Karl Hussey/Fennell Photography

Deputy Darragh O’Brien (FF) with Cleo and Xianib from Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan

rain water and tap water to see were they worth the cost, and found that they were the purest source of drinking water – with tap water the most contaminated.

There was a special award from the Science Foundation for Jennifer Bura and Alana-Foy Nicolleau from Loreto Balbriggan whose investigation into the components of Picea Sitchensis (spruce) Sap piqued judges’ interest.

Microbeads Fellow Loreto Transition Year students Cleo and Zainab also won an environmental award for their work on replacing microbeads with biodegradable alternatives.

Alison Egan and Caoimhe Harrington, from Castleknock Community Col-

lege, won a special award for their study into how the structures of pyrite degrade using artificial oxidation.

And Emma McCann from St Joseph’s Secondary School in Rush won first place in social and behavioural sciences category for her analysis of dual-coded information in aural exams entitled Sans Eyes, Sans Ears.

Elsewhere, staff at Fingal County Council proved it’s never too late to get involved in the exhibition as they took part for the first time to showcase digital initiatives the council has undertaken.

These ranged from drones to prevent illegal dumping to Smart street furniture that can charge your phone and provide free WiFi.

Emma McCann, from St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rush, shows her project to Senator Lorraine Clifford Lee (FF)

Ruth Murphy, legal director, BT presents the Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Senior Group Second Place Award to Zainab Shahid & Mizna Shahid, Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan. Picture: Chris Bellew/Fennell Photography

Fingal Libraries, Digital Fingal and Smart Dublin teams showcasing their stall at this year’s BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition at the RDS

Teacher David Stokes with his third class pupils from St Francis Xavier Senior School, Dublin 15 – the youngest exhibitors at this year’s event

16 January 2020 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 9

10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 16 January 2020

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Orla Reddy with Sarah and Des Abid

Sinead McDermott, Joyce O’Hare, Alison O’Sullivan and Emma Harding. Pictures: Alison O’Hanlon Aine McLaughlin and Aoife Nolan

Alison Silver and Jamie Bruce

Run, two, three ... sharing the fun of a first Parkrun in 2020 A

SEA of colourfully-dressed runners, walkers and supporters gathered in the grounds of Malahide Castle recently for the first weekend Parkrun of the new year.

Already established as a hugely popular event, the Parkrun saw close to 500 people of all ages assemble to take part, with many spotting neigh-

A sea of colourfully-dressed runners gathered at the park

bours, friends and familiar faces in the throng.

The free event proved to be fun and accessible for everyone, with the serious runners taking up prime spots at the front of the crowd, while more casually-focused participants assembled towards the back.

However, whether they were giving the 5k

Volunteers Lauren, John, Mike, John, Hugh, Eoin, Robert and Derek

And they’re off ... the more hardcore runners set the pace from the front, followed by hundreds of other people

their all with an intense run, or whether they were walking the route with babies, dogs or pals in tow, everyone was able to enjoy the great get-together in one of Fingal’s most relaxing spots.

There were also plenty of nods to the volunteers and stewards also giving up their time and attention to help make the run so great for everyone.

Seamus Kavanagh, Eoin Mahony, Anda McArdle and Karl Bingham

Conor Burke, Aine Tully, Anne Burke, Lorna Dwyer and Stephen Costello

16 January 2020 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 11

Furious councillors slam Bartra build plan SYLVIA POWNALL

LOCAL politicians have described as “an outrage” a decision to allow a 206bed co-living development on the site of Brady’s pub in Castleknock to go ahead.

The five-storey block, which includes 182 single rooms, 12 double rooms and four shared living areas, was given the green light by An Bord Pleanala (ABP) against its own inspector’s recommendations.

Bartra lodged plans directly with the board under controversial fasttrack guidelines for strategic housing developments introduced by Fine Gael, meaning council planners were bypassed and there is no avenue for appeal.

Cllr Tania Doyle (Ind) criticised the fact that conditions attached to the permission would not be published on the ABP website for a full week after its ruling.

She told Dublin Gazette: “This type of development does not alleviate the current lack

A render of the proposed build, which local councillors rounded on, with one saying the plan “beggars belief”

of appropriate housing in Dublin15, it does not foster a sense of community, either.

“It is a development purely for rent. The process is wrong – it is ignoring the democratic will of the communities of Dublin 15 and the elected members of the council.”

Social Democrats election candidate Aengus O Maolain said the approval was “an outrage” and a sign that the race to the bottom for standards of accommodation had entered “a new and frightening stage”.

He added: “I thought

the days of bedsits and tenements were behind us. Accommodation that is just one small step above a hostel is not suitable for long-term residence.

“To get a grasp of how crowded this will be, planning permission was previously granted at this site for 41 apartments.

This development will contain 198 units on the same site.”

Green Party Dublin West election candidate Cllr Roderic O’Gorman laid the blame squarely at Fine Gael’s feet, accusing them of pushing the co-living

model.

He added: “Co-living is the wrong model for Ireland and this suburban site is absolutely the wrong place for co-living.

This decision is completely the fault of Fine Gael’s housing policies.

“The guidelines that Minister [for Housing] Eoghan Murphy introduced in 2018 to allow for co-living developments and high-density building out of the city centre are the direct basis on which An Bord Pleanala made this decision.”

Labour Cllr John Walsh said the Government had sidelined responsible planning to create a developer’s charter.

Describing the scheme as a “substandard, for profit development”, he added: “It beggars belief.”

His party colleague Cllr Mary McCamley, who also objected to the development, said it was “a very disappointing outcome for the community” and that “the views of anyone with local knowledge of the area have been disregarded”.

€2.1m funding boost for TU Dublin BLANCHARDSTOWN Enterprise Hub has been awarded €2.1 million in funding through the Regional Enterprise Development Fund, with a new cyber security hub to be developed at the centre at Technological University Dublin’s (TU Dublin)

Blanchardstown campus.

Based at Blanchardstown, the centre will support start-ups, scale- ups, SMEs and other businesses in the Dublin North West region and nationwide in identifying opportunities available through emergent technologies.

Pictured at the announcement of the funding are Minister for Business, Enterprise, and Innovation Heather Humphreys, with Enterprise Ireland’s chairperson, Terence O’Rourke, and its regional director in Dublin, Eoghan Hanrahan. Picture: Maxwells

MOTORING, PAGE 21

The all-new Renault Clio: See for yourself why this is the best yet in the Clio’s 30-year run.

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CASTLEKNOCK: CO-LIVING SCHEME ‘AN OUTRAGE’

12 DUBLIN GAZETTE 16 January 2020

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

QUIRKY MATTERS

DUBLIN BITS & BOBS

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

C O N TA C T S Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@dublingazette.com Commercial Director: Liz Ferris lferris@dublingazette.com Group Editor: Cóilín Duffy cduffy@dublingazette.com Deputy Group Editor & Travel Editor: Shane Dillon sdillon@dublingazette.com Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile jmaile@dublingazette.com Picture Editor: Alison O’Hanlon picturedesk@dublingazette.com Online & Style Editor: Rachel D’Arcy rdarcy@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 City Gazette, Fingal Gazette, South Gazette and West Gazette. The placing of an order or contract will be deemed an acceptance of these conditions.

ROBBIE McCarthy was happy to line up lots of Irish Coffees at The Old Storehouse in Temple Bar, where thoughts were turning to the upcoming International Irish Coffee Day, on January 25. On the day, the bar will see a Guinness World Record attempt at noon for the most Irish coffees being made in under three minutes, with four bartenders going head to head for the challenge. Picture: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Cops rush to rescue Rambo A CONCERNED neighbour in Florida called the police after hearing a woman screaming “Help, let me out” – but things weren’t what they seemed.

Four sheriff’s deputies responded to the call in Lake Worth Beach and found a man working on a car on his driveway.

When the police enquired about who was screaming, the man brought the ‘screaming’ woman out to the waiting police, revealing the

source of the noise to be Rambo – his 40-year-old parrot.

Footage was captured on the unnamed man’s video doorbell, showing the bird greeting the officers, who are shown to be sharing a laugh before leaving the premises.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office posted about the event on Facebook, saying that “hilarity ensued” after they made the call.

Woman rescued from a bin

A WOMAN in New Jer-

sey has been freed from a clothing recycling bin after three days, when a passer-by heard her screaming for help.

Po l i ce i n Pa te rso n responded to a call from a concerned citizen reporting that the woman was trapped inside.

When police arrived and the woman was freed, the 38-year-old told police that she was reaching inside the bin when somebody pushed her inside and closed the door, causing her to become trapped.

With temperatures in New Jersey dipping as low as 0C when she was trapped inside, the woman was found to be

suffering from frostbite and taken to a local hospital for treatment.

‘Wrong trousers’ halt sport

AN ICE hockey game in the UK had to be delayed last week, after one of the referees forgot to bring his trousers to work.

Ice h o c key re fe re e Richard Belfitt left his officiating trousers at home, meaning that the imminent game between the Peterborough Phantoms and the Telford Tigers had to be delayed while he found appropri-

ate trousers.

Ice hockey officials need special black trousers with padding, due to the speed of the puck.

The game began 15 minutes behind schedule after Belfitt found some official trousers to wear, but not before a gentle ribbing from the crowd and on social media.

Speaking to BBC sport, Peterborough Phantoms player Tom Norton said everyone “saw the lighter side of it”.

He added: “As annoying as it was for us, having done our warm-up and been ready to go, these things happen and it’s a bit of comedy, really.”

DOG OF THE WEEK DUBLIN Gazette Newspapers has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for lost and abandoned dogs.

This week’s dog of the week is Sonny, an older dog (9) but don’t be fooled – this handsome dog has bundles of energy. He loves to play with his toys but also loves a good cuddle; he’s super friendly both with dogs and people, so it’s important that Sonny lives with another dog.

Sonny’s ideal home would be with a family with another dog for him to play with and cuddle up to; he also loves children but, given his exuberance, there is a potential for him to bowl

smaller children over.

As Sonny loves attention so much, he would struggle being left been alone for long periods, so he is looking for a home where this won’t happen If you have room in your heart and home for Sonny then please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website www.dogstrust.ie.

You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE. (Remember: Always have your dog on a lead when in public.)

sonny

16 January 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

STUDY EXPENSES P18

GREAT ADVICE P19

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

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GAZETTE

YOGA THERAPY P14 ACCESSIBLE OPTIONS P16

We must embrace lifelong learning for everyone MINISTER OF STATE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION MARY MITCHELL O’CONNOR

LAST year the Sloan School at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) took part in a major conference at Dublin Castle on the Future of Work and how education providers, business and government can prepare our graduates for these challenges.

At that conference, we heard how nearly every conversation about the future of work and the modern economy is dominated about the everlooming influence of robotics and intelligent machines.

Studies forecast that up to half the jobs we know today will disappear over the next two decades.

During 2019, I launched four new Masters’ programmes, two in Dublin City University – one in Artificial Intelligence, the other in the Internet of Things.

A further two in NUI Galway – Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence.

These programmes are highly innovative in terms of their content.

There is a clear need for education to enhance the skillset of graduates facing into a more futuristic workplace.

There are currently around 100,000 tech professionals working in Ireland, with another 60,000 projected job opening over the next four years.

Greater learning in the In-

formation and Communications Technology (ICT) sector is the future of our jobs.

Ireland’s third ICT Action Plan 2019 to 2022 tells us of the demand for professionals with high-level ICT skills. That means the delivery of 5,000 graduates in this area by 2022 to keep up with growth in the sector.

That is why facilitating our education system with myriad courses in ICT will not only prepare and train for the technological changes that lie ahead but establish Ireland as a forward-thinking nation and one that is prepared for the incredible changes that lie ahead.

And what will a futuristic jobs market look like?

The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report gives us a taster.

Calling our times “the Fourth Industrial Revolution” it talks about how the skillsets required in both old and new occupations will change in most industries and transform how and where people work.

It says: “Of the children entering primary school today, 65% will end up working in job categories that do not yet exist”. It brings a whole new meaning to the phrase, “when I go grow up, I want to be…”

In March 2019 , the government published details of Future Jobs Ireland, which aims to prepare people and companies for coming technological changes.

It takes account of the challenges facing us, then translates these into a small number of impactful and deliverable actions. An immediate aim is to double the “lifelong learning” rate to 18% in six years times.

There are plans for a new female entrepreneurship strategy – I have already begun to right the wrongs of gender imbalance at the top level in our higher education institutes.

So reader this is why we must embrace lifelong learning for everyone.

The future of jobs hangs on an ability to think ahead and allow our imaginations to run.

In doing so, we can we prepare for the daunting and unforeseen challenges ahead.

Our young students need to be adaptable and flexible, creative and resourceful. They need to be problem-solvers.

They need to be researchers in their own right. They need to be innovators.

The world is changing so fast that no longer will young people enter a job in their early twenties and exit forty years later with a pension.

Our graduates will probably have several careers in their lifetime. The transferable skill that will allow them to navigate this terrain is a passion for life-long learning.

As the American philosopher John Dewey observed ‘Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.’

GAZETTE

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 16 January 2020

EDUCATION FOR LIFE

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Sabina Higgins

Join Yoga Therapy Ireland as it celebrates 20 years YOGA Therapy Ireland (YT) marks 20 years as a leader in the yoga training sector on Saturday

February 1, with celebrations taking place at Marino Institute of Education.

Events include yoga, chanting and yoga dance with music by Jack Harrison.

Lectures by: • Heather Mason, Minded Institute UK: Yoga and Mental Health • Trinity Researcher Michael Melynchuk: The Yogi Masters were right; breathing exercises can

sharpen your mind • Dr Raj Kaur: The Yoga/Ayurveda Connection Special Guests include, Mrs Sabina Higgins, YTI Patron and Mr Sandeep Kumar, Indian Ambassador to Ireland.

YTI are passionate advocates of yoga and its benefit for physical,

mental and emotional wellbeing for all.

The organisation holds teacher trainings, specialist trainings in pregnancy, sport and children.

They also host guest trainers in areas such as cancer care, osteoporosis and autism.

For experienced teachers, advanced yoga therapy courses are provided with a strong emphasis on the anatomy and body mechanics.

Relevant YTI is taking the centuries old practice of yoga and applying it to the modern day world; making it relevant for daily life, health concerns and chronic conditions.

Yoga Therapy Ireland was founded by five passionate women with a mission to bring yoga to all – in particular those less able bodied and those with impaired health; YTI looks forward to continuing its mission over the next 20 years and its 2020 Vision is to have yoga included in mainstream healthcare and education.

16 January 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

GAZETTE

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 16 January 2020

EDUCATION FOR LIFE

Trust Sallynoggin CoFE for a great education experience WHY choose Sallynoggin College of Further Education?

Aside from our long history of excellence in the provision of PLC and further education courses, and our track record for student progression to employment or higher education, SCFE

Third level studies are increasingly accessible to everyone, with financial supports and a welcoming attitude towards mature students making your potential area of interest ever more within your reach

is renowned for providing a positive student experience by supporting a holistic approach to education.

Our students become involved in many learning experiences above and beyond the curricular requirements.

Whether it’s a relaxation session in meditation, yoga or Indian head massage, an activity supporting positive mental health and resilience-building, a fashion show or theatre production, there is always a buzz being created around the college by our students.

The buzz doesn’t stop when you finish your course – former students of SCFE are making waves in all corners of the world.

One notable former student achiever is Harry Austin, who was awarded The Times Higher Education award for best STEM project, relating to research carried out as part of his PHD study on Characterisation and engineering of a plastic-degrading aromatic polyesterase.

Another former student making waves is designer Sarah Murphy, whose custom-designed dress was worn by fashionista and advocate Sinead Burke when she appeared on The Late Late Show in November.

To find out more about student life in SCFE, see our Facebook page, and Instagram, at www.scfe.ie. Applications are now open for September – apply online at www.scfe.ie

Third level study becoming increasingly accessible THIRD LEVEL education is becoming increasingly accessible to adults on

both a full-time and a part-time basis.

Many colleges and universities hold information events for people who want to study as mature students. The Qualifax website has a calendar of career events that run throughout the year.

Third-level colleges reserve a small number of places specifically for mature students who want to participate in full-time day programmes.

If you are over 23* you can apply for one of these places. This means that you will compete for your place on a different basis to those who are just leaving school.

The number of places reserved for mature students are limited, however, so it is likely that you will still have to compete with your peers. ( * G e n e r a l l y, y o u are considered to be a mature student if you are at least 23 years of age on January 1 of the year you enter your course.)

If you are interested in a particular college you should check how it defines a mature student.

If you opt for a fulltime course in this way,

you will be expected to attend classes or lectures every day and you will be assessed in the same way as the other students on your course.

However, if the fulltime model does not suit you, there are other options available, including part-time courses, modular programmes and distance learning.

If you choose to study on a part-time or modular basis, you can spread your studies over a number of years.

This gives you the opportunity to organise your time and to study in bursts when it is most convenient for you.

It has the obvious drawback that it will take longer to complete than a full-time course, but it also has the advantage that it allows you to work at your own pace, gradually building credits towards your qualification.

A modular programme is made up of separate modules, which are selfcontained units within a course.

You can study and complete each module separately at different stages during that course.

Modular programmes

can take place in regular classroom settings or can be part of a distance learning programme.

Modular courses are available at degree level in some universities.

The term distance learning covers a wide range of learning programmes that take place away from the physical presence of the classroom and the tutor.

If you participate in a distance learning programme, it is likely that you will use a wide range of packaged materials and media throughout your course.

Some courses organise periodic classes where students come together for a day, a weekend or a week at a time, in order to study intensively.

University access programmes aim to increase the partic ipation of under-represented groups at third-level.

They do this by supporting young adults and mature students to study at third-level colleges.

Students attending access or foundation courses that are on the Department of Education’s approved list of post-leaving certificate courses may be eligible for funding under the

Student Grant Scheme.

However, students attending a foundation or access course in any other college or university will not be eligible for funding.

An access or foundation course is considered to be a second-level course for the Back to Education Allowance.

You should check your options around access programmes with the university of your choice or local Education and Training Board.

Generally, you will need to have completed your Leaving Certificate. However, if you are applying for a place as a mature student, you will not be asked to meet the usual entry requirements.

Different courses operate different entry procedures, but, in general, the colleges will take into account your educational background, work history, community involvement and other achievements and interests.

This system is known as the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning or Recognition of Prior Learning.

In some cases, you may be asked to take an entrance exam.

16 January 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

TOP 10 TIPS FOR CAO APPLICANTS 1. Save money: apply before january 20 for a reduced application fee.

2. Check to ensure that your name on the CAO application is the same as on your birth certificate and/or passport.

3. The CAO will email you a verification code to complete your application. if you don’t seem to have received this, check your email’s spam folder.

4. Enter the correct years of school attendance – you’d be surprised how many students can’t remember the year in which they started!

5. When creating a password, create one which is just for your cao application; a nice idea is to think about your future course and create a password based on your goal. keep this password in a safe place.

6. You don’t need to f i na l ise you r cou rse choices until july 1st, 2020. However, you can add some course choices when making your initia l application. have those codes to hand when applying; if you get distracted while looking up course codes, your online application may time out and you’ll have to start over. add now, tweak later!

7. if you want to apply for a grant, don’t forget to tick your maintenance fee grant application status on your cao application form.

8.if you have an exemption from irish or a third language, you must modify your nui exemption status on your form.

9. if you are applying for hear or dare, you need to tick the appropriate box on your cao application. for more information on hear and dare schemes, see: www.accesscollege.ie 10. Don’t panic! the application process may seem daunting but, it’s not complicated.

GAZETTE

EDUCATION FORFOR LIFE EDUCATION

Develop your knowledge and skills at Inchicore College THINKING about college? Choose Inchicore College and discover The TEN BEST reasons why you should study with us.....

1. What we’re about – our friendly and welcoming atmosphere where students are central to our purpose.

2. What you can study – our exciting range of innovative courses will meet your interests and needs.

3. How you learn – our class sizes allow for greater individual participation and you can learn in ways that suit you.

4. What we provide – our excellent track record in providing quality-assured full and parttime courses for more than 30 years.

5. What you pay – our lower fees – our courses cost an average of €500 which usually covers all your college requirements for the year.

6. Who we are – our highly qualified staff have vast experience in your chosen area of study and are committed to you and your success.

7. Where you go – the opportunity to work and study in Europe on an Erasmus + programme

in countries such as Sweden, The Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Finland, Slovenia, Italy and France.

8. How you work – our highly regarded work placement programmes enable you to develop your knowledge and skills in your field of study.

9. Where you go next – our graduates go places – we have an outstanding track record for student progression to employment and higher education.

10. How to get here – we are easy to get to by bus, Luas and train.

GAZETTE

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 16 January 2020

EDUCATION FOR LIFE

Uversity’s scholarships help unlock adult learners’ potential

Unlocking their potential with adult education – scholars Adina Bocotan, Karina Grustane, Helen Noble (TCD) and Lukasz Olszewski (UCD)

WANT to start college in 2020 but not sure how to fund it! Uversity’s Higher Education Scholarships for Adult Learners might be your answer.

Since 2018, Uversity has awarded 49 scholarships to mature students to pursue Bachelor’s Degrees for the first time.

Uversity’s scholarships provide support throughout the course of the degree and are tailored to Scholars’ circumstances.

Eligible applicants must be 23 years and older, a citizen of an EEA member state or

Switzerland and resident in Ireland for 3 years or more by 1st January 2020.

They should be returning to higher education after a break from education of 3 years or more or have recently completed a progression / preparation course.

Apply They need to apply to a Bachelor’s Programme for 2020/21 or have deferred a place from 2019/20.

Successful candidates must be able to demonstrate academic preparation and potential, a

clear motivation and ambition for their education / future, a drive to succeed and strong work ethic. What distinguishes Uversity’s Scholars is their commitment to being transformed and transforming others.

Applications for the 2020/21 academic year must be submitted by March 1, 2020 via www. uversity.org.

All applications will be reviewed for eligibility and may be shortlisted for interview. See w w w.uversity.org or contact apply@uversity. org for further information.

Get saving now: forward planning by parents pays off for expense of college ACCORDING to financial advisors HerMoney, the average cost of educating a child from primary school to college is estimated to be over €60,000.

Furthermore, by far the biggest portion of the expense is incurred during a child’s time in third level education.

This is indicated in research done by Technological University (TU) Dublin, which shows that the average cost of going to college for students living away from home is €12,171 for the year.

That figure is roughly halved at €6,771 students who continue to live at home.

Karen Goodlife, director of HerMoney has advice for parents who are thinking about saving for their child’s future in third level education.

She said: “The most important word when it comes to saving for your child’s education is ‘start’. The earlier you start, the easier it is to manage your finances.

“For example, if your child is starting college in 16 years’ time, and living away from home, you would now need to save €250 per month in order to accumulate €48,000 by 2035.

“Whereas, if your child is starting college in four years’ time, in 2023, you would now need to start saving €1,000

per month,” she said.

HerMoney recommends that if your child is starting college within five years time; your best bet is to start a bank or credit union deposit account.

The financial advisor says that this is because there is not enough time to look at investment options and you are foregoing growth for safety – HerMoney says to save as much as you can afford and shop around the various institutions to try an achieve the highest interest rate possible.

In regards to long-term plans, HerMoney says: “There are a number of investment vehicles available at all levels of investment risk.

“Our most popular options available are investment and savings policies through the various life companies.

“These policies enable you to invest in a range of funds, from low to medium to high risk and will accept lump sums of money as well as regular monthly savings from as little as €75 per month.

“Many of our clients opt to invest in multi-asset funds within these policies which spread their money across a number of different asset types, such as shares, property, bonds and commodities.”

Be aware - interning isn’t always a positive route EXPERIENCE can be the key to gaining employment.

But when you’re a college student who has yet to join the workforce, experience is often the one piece of the puzzle that is missing.

It is for this reason that one of Ireland’s leading recruitment agencies, Matrix Recruitment, is keen to highlight the benefits of doing an internship before starting out on the career ladder.

“While the jobs market in Ireland is buoyant right now, we are finding that college leavers can really struggle to get a foot in the door.

“Experience is something that we see our clients looking for more and more as they search for the right candidate and it can really help applicants stand out from the crowd.

“An internship is a great way for those starting out to gain experience, but unfortunately internship programmes are not as plentiful as one might think,” Breda Dooley of Matrix Recruitment said.

Warning Not all internships are cut from the same cloth, Dooley warns. Some companies take advantage of people who are eager to get worthwhile experience on their CV. Be wary of companies that advertise six-monthlong unpaid internships or seem to have a steady flow of interns entering and exiting the business.

Do the maths before you apply for an internship.

Check how much it will cost you to travel to and from work experience, will you be using your own phone as part of your work?

How will you pay rent and bills If you are interning for free? Are there other expenses to consider, such as paying back a loan?

16 January 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

GAZETTE

EDUCATION FOR LIFE

A wealth of options open to Leaving Cert students BEATRICE DOOLEY, PRESIDENT OF THE INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS, HAS SOME EXCELLENT ADVICE FOR STUDENTS

P O S T- L e av i n g C e r t (PLC) courses, apprenticeships and traineeships are attractive pathways after the Leaving Certificate.

Their graduates are rated highly by Irish employers as graduates from third-level colleges.

PLCs offer practical/ academic work and work experience in areas such as business studies, childcare, computing and more. Log onto fetchcourses. ie, a useful link to research and apply to a variety of courses. Application closing dates vary, applications are accepted until all places are filled.

With a strong emphasis on practical skills and hands on learning, apprenticeships lead to careers,

where you can “earn while they learn”. A formal contract usually spans 2–4 years, with a minimum 50 percent on-the-job learning, you’re also paid by your employer. Qualifications vary from Level 5 to 10 in NVQ’s.

Apprenticeship.ie is the main website with links to specific programmes in different sec-

tors, there is no central application system. Many have deadlines for applications from March/May. Research your eligibility for each programme and how to apply.

T h e r e ’s c u r r e n t l y over 52 apprenticeships available in areas like accounting, insurance, engineering, logistics, construction, electrical, engineering, ICT, hospitality, motor with more in development.

Traineeships combine learning in education and workplace settings and are delivered by Education & Training Boards (ETBs,) with employers. Traineeships exist in areas identified to have skills shortages, such as business, construction, finance and beauty and offer high employability.

Beatrice Dooley

They are ideal for learners not yet ready to commit to a lengthy course or job.

Is Studying abroad popular?

Eunicas.ie is an independent application support service which offers advice on the application process for programmes in Europe.

Germany, France, the Nordic countries and more offer free university degrees through the English language. Deadlines for applying vary from country to country, and many programmes are still open for entry in 2019.

Entry requirements are generally lower than the equivalent courses in Ireland, yet nine Dutch universities are higherranked than Trinity College, Dublin. They just don’t use points! A group of Dutch universities are returning to Dublin on October 23 to meet prospective students. Booking is free, at Eventbrite.

If you are looking to study in the UK, UCAS application deadlines

Committed to providing education and training of the highest quality THE programmes we offer are

welcome all ages from school

learner-centred and provided in

leavers to Mature students.

a friendly, inclusive and support-

We are situated 5 minutes from

ive environment. In fact we won

Killester Dart Station which is two

an Award for Excellence through

stops from Connolly Station.

Accessibility in 2011.

PLC Grants; Back to Education

All our courses range from

Allowances; Vocational Training

QQI(FETAC) levels 4, to levels 5

and Opportunities scheme (VTOS)

and 6. They are accredited by

are available.

Quality and Qualifications Ireland

If you are an early school leav-

(QQI) They are qualifications in

er, unemployed, wanting to upskill,

themselves but can also be used

seeking to go on to Third level-we

to progress onto Third Level. We

offer you a platform.

were January 15, but now a second opportunity to apply occurs during Clearing.

Research the UCAS website, but first talk to your parents/guardians about the feasibility of funding this option.

While the impact of Brexit is unclear, www. ucas.com/brexit provides information on tuition fees and student finance support for EU nationals hoping to start a course in the 2019/20 academic year. Work experience is an excellent way for students to discover what

they are good at and enjoy doing.

Building up work experience, gaining transversal skills, independence and developing as a person are all very valuable outcomes of employment.

The follow-on chances of gaining employment are high, unemployment levels are low right now at 4.5%.

Organisations offering volunteer programmes should be carefully researched as the quality and safety of such programmes can vary significantly.

The Value of Repeating the Leaving Certificate The decision to repeat is not to be taken lightly; it requires ref lection and professional advice, preferably from a qualified guidance counsellor.

Any student considering repeating a year should ask themselves, what will I do differently next year to guarantee different results?

You can only use Leaving Certificate results from one sitting for points purposes, but you can repeat one subject to satisfy minimum entry requirements.

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 16 January 2020

DUBLIN STYLE

RIDE ‘EM, COWGIRL!

BeautyBITS

Jo Malone launch new spring fragrance JO MALONE have added a new scent to their Cologne Intense collection, designed to warm the soul with it’s scent through these colder months.

The new addition is Vetiver & Golden Vanilla, a combination of Madagascar’s two prized ingredients.

The sensual scent opens with a dash of cardamom teamed with the freshness of grapefruit tea, ushering in the earthy depths of native vetiver. Precious Vanilla Bourbon warms and envelops, hand-picked from the jungles of Madagascar.

Celine Roux, Global Head of Fragrance at Jo Malone, said: “Through Cologne Intense we want to whisk you away on a journey using ingredients that have a true, strong story.

“We consciously magnified the name of the new fragrance with ‘Golden’ to call to mind the warmth of the scent. It’s glowing and bountiful – like the island of Madagascar itself.”

The new scent is available now, priced at €135 for 100ml, or €90 for 50ml.

Punk Prairie

 Rachel D’Arcy

AS WE COME into the

slightly warmer time of the year - meaning a degree or

two higher than freezing - our minds have turned to what lies ahead for Summer.

This year, so-called ‘texan chic’ is playing a part in trends in a big way. From faux leather to

New massage therapy ideal for chronic pain A WOMAN has said her backpain has been greatly helped by the introduction of CBD oil into her daily routine, as well as CBD massages.

Eileen Fleming was speaking about the new CBD massage on offer from the CBD Spa, saying massage therapy had been brought to a new level for her.

“CBD oil was recommended to me by a trusted friend in March 2019 and not only has it helped my overall mental health and wellbeing, I can hand on heart say it has helped reduce the consistent back pain I suffer from as well as help me get a better nights sleep,” Eileen said.

“I’ve had two CBD full body massages now and they both have brought massage therapy to a whole new level for me.

The targeted techniques used are ideal for a person like me who suffers from chronic back and nerve pain.”

The CBD Spa are offering their massage services now at The Buff Day Spa on South King Street.

For more information on CBD massages on offer, see cbdspa.ie.

tassles to prairie style dresses, looking like you’re on your way to a punk concert in the deep south is what’s in this season, for the most part. Whilst most of the high street will be taking a turn at this trend, River Island have launched a range of the styles that will suit all body shapes and all tastes.

From tassled statement dresses to ruffled, delicate two-pieces, there’s a garment to suit everyone on offer this Spring and Suffer. All of these styles are available now from River Island.

16 January 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

WHAT’S NEW IN THE WORLD OF TRANSPORT

DUBLIN MOTORS An appreciation of a true motoring legend

The all-new Renault Clio is ‘a driver’s car’ offers power, style, safety and terrific value DECLAN GLYNN

THE hotly-anticipated all-new Renault Clio has been launched in Ireland, to much acclaim.

With the previous generation Clio proving itself to be a huge sales success for the French manufacturer, the new model could not afford to be anything but perfect.

Thankfully, the allnew Clio is the most advanced, most driverfocused, safest, and most comfortable model in the Clio’s illustrious 30-year history.

There are four trim levels to choose from in the new Renault Clio – Expression, Dynamique, Iconic, and range-topping RS Line.

The new Clio is better equipped than ever before, with even the entry-level Expression model benefiting from full LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, body-coloured door handles and mirrors, and traffic sign recognition.

Further features include cruise control

with speed limiter, and heated front seats, along with a suite of active safety systems, including lane-keep assist and automatic emergency braking.

Presently, there are four engines to choose from – three petrols, and one diesel.

The range starts with the SCe 75, a naturally aspirated 1.0-litre threecylinder unit with 71bhp

that’s only available with a five-speed gearbox.

A more sophisticated, turbocharged version of this engine is offered in the TCe 100, producing 99bhp and offered with a five-speed manual, or optional continuously variable transmission (CVT).

A four-cylinder petrol engine is offered in the form of the TCe GPF, a 1.3-litre unit that’s

already been used in some much larger Renault cars, including the Megane and Kadjar.

It produces 128bhp and only comes in combination with a sevenspeed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

The single diesel engine option is a 1.5litre four-cylinder unit (Blue dCi 85), with 84bhp and a healthy 220Nm of torque.

My review car was a Renault Clio RS Line TCe 100, which looked amazing in Iron Blue metallic paint.

On the road, the new Clio proved itself to be a fun, proficient car to drive, with excellent driving dynamics for an overall terrific driving experience.

Well-weighted steering and solid brakes ensure that the new Clio is a true driver’s car, while excellent levels of damping allows the car to handle road imperfections with ease.

Pricing for the new Clio starts at just €17,195 and represents terrific

THE late, great, Henry Ford (right) was ahead of his time in more ways than one.

He is best remembered for pioneering assembly-line low-cost car manufacturing, his Model T, and his famous slogan: “You can have any colour, as long as it is black”.

Henry Ford launched his Ford Motor Company in 1913, and it has grown in to a global vehicle manufacturing giant.

He was known to be in favour of ‘lightweight’ engineering, believing that the most beautiful things in the world are those from which all excess weight has been eliminated.

Ford was also to the forefront of cutting prices to boost sales.

Parallel to his simple design philosophy was

his belief that sales would go up, not so much by improving the product, but by lowering the price.

He also rightly believed that building a car and just selling it was not enough.

He once said that a car was 75% complete when it left the factory, and the other 25% was done by the dealers.

Ford would be proud of the blue oval firm he founded back in 1913.

What the world needs now are more people like good ol’ Uncle Henry.

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 16 January 2020

DUBLIN SENIORS

This week, we look at some of the common challenges for CHALLENGE YOUR BRAIN...JUST FOR FUN!your money people in retirement, and managing

Tips for managing your money in retirement Common challenges for people in retirement THE three main challenges that people are faced with in retirement are identity, routine and relationships.

Identity Identity can be a challenge because for many people, they describe themselves by what they do rather than by whom they are. This change may also impact the spouse/ partner whose own identity may be categorised to that of their partner.

Routine For a very long time, there has been a definite rhythm to life (alarm, commute, work, commute, non-work activities) five days a week, every week.

When the world of work is no more, they get 50 hours per week back every week for the rest of their life.

What new routine will the retiree establish?

Every day is a weekend. For many, the real issue is what to do with their time, not finances at all!

Relationships The Retirement Planning Council of Ireland suggests relationship dynamics face a challenge.

Partners may now be spending more time in each other’s company than they have for years.

Beware of doing everything together as the conversation may dry up. Plan for separate as well as joint activities and conversation will thrive.

Thinking, communicating and planning are key fundamentals in helping to deal with these challenges.

Think about what a typical week or month would look like. Do not plan every minute of every hour, but rather plan for chunks of time.

Discussing your ideas with spouse/ partner/ family and friends is important – don’t assume they will fit in with you (the retiree)! Be flexible, but it is important to learn to say “no” as others may assume that you (the retiree) have nothing else to do and may try to organise things. You may begin to resent them if you don’t have time to do the things you want to do.

Planning to include a purpose or a reason to get out of bed. Start with a mental challenge such as volunteering, return to education, working on, hobbies, sport, etc. Maintaining/ developing a social network of real people is king.

Remember many of your friends will still be working and so will not be available to socialise with you during the daytime. Did you know 80% of our contacts are through work, only 20% are family and friends. Developing new friends has proven to be vital in living a long, healthy and happy retirement.

THE Retirement Planning Council of Ireland (RPCI) is advising retirees to get organised and start thinking about their finances this January.

By establishing new saving and spending habits, retirees can avoid falling victim to common financial mistakes in 2020.

Make a plan The average worker gets back 50 hours per week in retirement and according to the RPCI, it is easier to spend money when you are not working.

Establishing a plan will allow retirees to closely monitor income and outgoings to ensure they have a grasp of their financial position.

Co u rs e L e a d e r fo r the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland and former Pensions Ombudsman Paul Kenny said: “It is useful to know what’s coming in, and when, what the likely expenditure is, and when it is likely to arise.

“That way, you can anticipate large outgoings (such as a tank of heating oil) and put some money aside regularly for those.

“New retirees should budget for miscellaneous spending each month, including coffees, lunches, books and clothes. It is also

a good idea to use cash during the first weeks of retirement – as it feels like real spending – instead of tapping a bank card, where the charge might not be taken from your account for 2-3 working days. This is recommended to measure and control spending.”

File a tax return According to Paul, one of the first steps to take is to file a tax return. PAYE tax payers, should make sure they complete a tax return to ensure they are getting the allowances and credits they are entitled to.

“First off – and this doesn’t just apply to retirees – make a tax return.

People on PAYE often don’t feel the need to make regular returns, but it is a useful way of ensuring that you get all your entitlements, such as age allowance. Revenue can also look back over four years, to see if there are things you missed out on previously.”

Spread out payments The not-for-profit organisation is also advising retirees to look at spreading out payments over a period rather than being

met with lump sum payments.

“Many companies, such as motor and home insurers, will allow payments to be spread over most of the year, in some cases without any extra charge.”

Shop around The RPCI also notes the importance of shopping around with different service providers to get the best deals.

“Retirees should look to shop around and be open to switching service providers in order to save money. Bonkers.ie is a free and impartial service,

where you can compare charges for gas and electricity, broadband, phone and TV providers, banking services and insurances such as life, health and serious illness cover.

Ask for discounts “Older people should also be aware of discounts that are available in retirement.

“Many retailers offer discounts to older people, usually on specified days of the week. Some gyms offer reduced membership prices for daytime hours, when other members are at work.”

Key features of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act THE Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act applies to everyone and has relevance for all health and social care services.

The Key features of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act are: • It applies to everyone and to all health and social care settings.

• It provides for the individual’s right of autonomy and self-determination to be respected through an Enduring Power of Attorney and an Advance Healthcare Directive – made when a person has capacity to come into effect when they may lack decision-making capacity.

• It provides for legally recognised decision-makers to support a person maximise their decision-making powers.

• It places a legal requirement on service providers to comprehensively enable a person make a decision through the provision of a range of supports and information appropriate to their condition.

• It abolishes the Wards of Court system.

• It provides for a review of all existing wards to either discharge them fully or to transition those who still need assistance to the new structure.

• It repeals the Lunacy regulations gov-

erning the Ward of Court system.

• It establishes a Decision Support Service with clearly defined functions which will include the promotion of public awareness relating to the exercise of capacity by persons who may require assistance in exercising their capacity.

• The Director of the Decision Support Service will have the power to investigate complaints in relation to any action by a decision-maker in relation to their functions as such decision-maker.

For further information see Citizens Information - Incapacity or get legal advice.

16 January 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

CHALLENGE YOUR BRAIN...JUST FOR FUN!

CODEWORDS

You could advertise here

DUBLIN PUZZLES SUDOKU EASY

MODERATE

SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS

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 BOOKMAKER BOURNE BUNGALOW CRUISING DISCRETION ESPOUSED FRILL FURY GODWIN JACK JULIE

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To advertise here please contact sales@dublingazette.com or call 01 6010240

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16 January 2020 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 27

HURLING P30

THE BEST IN DUBLIN

SPORT

ONLY WAY IS UP: SOCCER: IT’S A LONG way from Cor-

duff Park to Stamford Bridge – more so, perhaps, metaphorically than geographically – and Yassine En-Neyah has grafted more than most to make it. Leaving his family behind in Dublin at the age of 16 to begin a new life at the Nottingham Forest academy was the latest in a series of momentous leaps for the 19-year-old Dubliner.



GAZETTE

RUGBY P29

PAGE 28-29

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS INFORM YOU OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORES OF YOUR FAVOURITE TEAMS RUGBY | LEINSTER CONTINUE PERFECT RUN ON ALL FRONTS

RDS beckons for quarters  sport@dublingazette.com

LEINSTER all but secured a home Champions Cup quarter-final with a six-try, 42-14 victory over French side Lyon at the RDS on Sunday afternoon.

The Blues’ ninth successive Champions Cup win – a first in the club’s history – ensured a draw away to bottom-placed Treviso on Saturday will guarantee home advantage in the last eight.

A brace from wing Dave Kearney and further tries from Josh van der Flier, Max Deegan, Sean Cronin and Andrew Porter saw Leinster bring up a fourth try bonus point of the pool stages.

Leinster dominated territory in the first half but, despite scoring three tries, held a slender seven-point advantage at the break as Lyon made good use of their meagre possession.

Tries from Virgil Bruni and, three minutes before half time, Hendrick Roadt kept Leo Cullen’s side honest but they added three unanswered scores in the second half to put gloss on the scoreline.

Leinster hit the front after nine minutes as quick thinking from Ross Byrne, taking a quick penalty to pick out James Lowe with a crossfield pass, and he batted the ball inside for Kearney to crash over.

Byrne added the extras on a day when he would land a flawless five kicks from five, and a lovely offload from scrum-half Luke McGrath sent van der Flier through for the second four minutes later.

Lyon weren’t prepared to lie down as they battled to maintain their slim hopes of qualification, and number eight Bruni picked off a loose pass from Garry Ringrose to stride home under the posts.

Byrne and Lowe linked up once more on the half-hour as the New Zealand-born wing once again provided the skilful offload for Kearney to dot down, his ninth try in as many games.

Once again, Lyon fought back and Roadt was the beneficiary as a series of pick-and-goes on the Leinster line ended with the South African lock burrowing over the line.

Leinster upped the tempo in the

Leo Cullen was pleased with how his side’s accuracy improved in the second half against Lyon. Picture: Martin Doherty

second half and, after Felix Lambey was yellow-carded for cynical play, Deegan brought up the bonus point with a well-taken try under the sticks.

Replacement hooker Cronin added the fifth try off the back of a maul following Xavier Mignot’s sin-binning before another sub in Porter forced home a sixth late on.

“There were a lot of stoppages in the game and we never got any real rhythm,” said Cullen.

“We looked a little bit edgy in the dressing room at half-time. In the second half the players applied themselves well, put more pressure on Lyon and were a bit more accurate in what they were doing.”

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

28 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 16 January 2020

CLUB NOTES

ROUND

1

FINGALLIANS MANAGERIAL appointments for the 2020 Season: Senior Men’s Football – John Quinn (Sligo man who has previously coached & managed in DCU); Senior Hurling – Ryan O’Dwyer (former Tipperay & Dublin senior hurler).

Membership 2020: Membership can now be paid on line. www.fingallians.com for all further details.

GAA Draw: Teams must start returning all tickets to the club bar. Any tickets not sold must be returned by 27th January.

Gormanstown 2020: Another season of Sunday hurling for the juveniles has started. A big thank you to all those parents and mentors who are helping.

Adult Training Times for New Players: AFL2 & AFL6 – Tuesday & Thursday 8pm. Hurlers @ 8.30pm in the club on Monday & Wednesday.

Coaching Committee: The club would like to thank Jarlath Lennon, who has stepped back from his role as Chairperson of the Coaching Committee, due to work commitments. Jarlath will continue in his position with the Minor football management team.

Gym Opening Hours: This week the gym facility will open as normal. For further information or team bookings, please contact noel.cowman40@ gmail.com Grúpa Comhrá / Irish Language Conversation Group: Our Grúpa Comhrá starts back on Wednesday 8th Jan at 9pm. Relaxed, non-classroom environment suitable for all levels. Fun and free. Fáilte roimh chách. Tuilleadh eolas ó Liam: 086 3814422 Adult Refs: A foundation course has been organised for new adult refs, for January 2020 (16th, 23rd & 27th) at 7.30pm each evening in Parnell Park. Any members interested in signing up and requiring further information, please call Aidan Sheills 087 2442 764.

Valentines Ball: The club is hosting a Ball on 14th February 2020 in the Carlton Hotel. Tickets are €65 per person and will be available very soon.

Tickets are on sale at the bar or by contacting fingalliansfundraising@gmail.com Funds raised will go towards regeneration of the area beside the ball wall.

Dublin Footballers League Fixtures: Kerry – 25th Jan @ home; Mayo – 1st Feb away; Monaghan – 8th Feb @ home; Donegal – 22nd Feb @ home; Tyrone – 29th Feb away; Meath – 15th March @ home and Galway – 22nd March away.

Dublin Hurlers League Fixtures: Kilkenny – 26th Jan away; Laois – 2nd Feb @ home; Carlow – 15th Feb away; Wexford – 22nd Feb @ home and Clare – 1st March away.

Academy is back: We had great numbers on Saturday morning. New players aged 4 – 6 are most welcome. Please call to the club @ 9.45am and register.

Na hUimhreacha Buaiteach Lotó: 3, 8, 13, 17 and 28. We had 5 winners. The jackpot this week will be €2,250.

Team of 1957: This period was a very successful era with the club going senior after an intermediate championship win. The death occurred last week of Dominick Kiely who played on that team.

He was also played Dublin minor in 1955.

Déanaimid comhbhrón le clann Kiely faoi a méala. Go dtuga Dia suaimhneas síoraí dá anam.

We extend our sympathies to the Kiely family on their recent bereavement.

SOCCER: MCGUINNESS’S CHANCE ENCOUNTER IN CORDUFF

The only way is up  DAVE DONNELLY

sport@dublingazette.com

IT’S A LONG way from Corduff Park to Stamford Bridge – more so, perhaps, metaphorically than geographically – and Yassine En-Neyah has grafted more than most to make it.

Leaving his family behind in Dublin at the age of 16 to begin a new life at the Nottingham Forest academy was the latest in a series of momentous leaps for the 19-year-old Dubliner.

While that could equally apply to his penchant for spectacular bicycle kicks, it was a leap of faith to go out on his own in the English midlands.

As it was when his mother relocated the family from Morocco, where ‘Yaz’ was born and spent his early years with a football at his feet, to Blanchardstown on Dublin’s northside.

A potentially careerending injury suffered following a brutish tackle in an Under-23s match with Watdord threatened to curtail the remarkable progress he’d made since moving across the water.

For those who know him, there was never any doubt that the strongwilled teenager would recover from the blow.

And his hard work and perseverance was

rewarded on January 5 when he was introduced for the final nine minutes of Forest’s 2-0 FA Cup defeat away to Chelsea.

Ya z ’s s t o r y i s a l l the more remarkable because, unlike the vast majority of elite footballers in Ireland, he didn’t go looking for football – it found him.

A young En-Neyah was kicking a football around the park in Corduff with his uncle when his talent was spotted from afar

by Corduff FC PRO John McGuinness.

Corduff, now one of the premier names in Dublin schoolboy football, was in a period of transition from a club that fielded a handful of teams in the late 90s to a thriving club of 25+ underage teams.

McGuinness chanced his arm and approached the pair and invited the young man to train with the club, and his talent was such that soon he was playing two years above.

En-Neyah was part of Davey Travers and Clive Keogh’s all-conquering 1998 group, who won all before them at local level and broke ground at AllIreland level.

Of that group, JeanYves Poame signed for Sunderland and Ismael Diallo joined Nottingham Forest along with EnNeyah, but Yaz is the last man standing in England.

Yassine En-Neyah prior to his Nottingham Forest debut last week; inset, during his days with Corduff

“It’s funny because t h e re ’s a b a c k s to r y behind it,” Steve Morley, who coached En-Neyah for the final two years before he made the move to the City Ground.

“John happened to be down the park – he lived down the park at that stage – and he saw this little kid knocking

around with a man kicking a football and he said ‘he can hit a ball’.

Spotted “He went over and said ‘would he be interested in playing football?’ That’s how he was drafted in – he was just spotted in Corduff kicking a ball on a Sunday or Monday

afternoon.

“No matter where he was going, he had a ball in his bag or under his arm, and it’d be a battered ball you might find on the road. I’ll never forget that he’d always arrive with a ball.

“You’d see programmes on TV with guys like George Best and they’d

Swords cut down

Kilnamanagh AFC and Swords Celtic batte for a dropping ball

SWORDS Celtic fell to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of promotion-chasing Kilnamanagh in Tallaght to leave them in second bottom in LSL Sunday Senior 1 A goal early in each half for Anthony Haveny, either side of Daniel Cibotar’s equaliser, saw Kilnamanagh lead going into the final minutes.

An own goal, brought about by good pressure from Luke Halpin, made it 3-1 two minutes from the end before

Barry Caulfield netted an injury-time consolation for the visitors.

It leaves Swords on seven points after 11 games, one point clear of bottom side Greystones United and with four points to make up over the course of their last 13 fixtures if they are to escape the drop.

Glebe North also find themselves in difficulty in 12th place out of 14 following their Sunday 2-0 loss at the hands of UCD AFC.

16 January 2020 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 29

PARK PAVES THE WAY FOR HIS RISE AT FOREST

for Duff’s Yaz

always have people on saying ‘I knew when I seen him playing that he had something special’.

“I must have watched thousands of footballers over the years, from our own teams to academy teams and Ireland teams, and you can always pick out the guys who are exceptional.

“A lot of guys are successful because they’re solid and fill positions because they’re in the right place at the right time, but the Yaz guy has serious natural talent that is few and far between.”

The disappearance of the fabled ‘street footballer,’ as mythologised

NATIONAL LEAGUE

McCann off to flying start in indoor opener

DUBLIN City Harriers’ Jodie McCann put in a brave front running performance to hold off North Down AC’s Rachel Gibson in the 1,500m in round one of the national indoor league.

The two opened up a slight gap ahead of Ciara Wilson (DMP.A.C) before battling it out on the final lap. McCann ended in 4:32.25, a mere 0.12 seconds ahead of Gibson in the final reckoning.

McCann’s club mate Nadia Power showed her class in the 800m with a comfortable win in a time of 2:06.05.

Picture: Ben McShane/Sportfile

by Eamon Dunphy and John Giles, is well-documented.

Few grow up with a ball glued to their foot like Giles or Liam Brady amid the concrete jungle of Ormond Quay or Whitehall – though the likes of Wes Hoolahan and Troy Parrott may buck the trend.

Those players still exist in working class enclaves like Sheriff Street and Corduff, but it was on the faraway streets in Morocco that En-Neyah honed his close attachment with a football.

Mo r l ey d r aws t h e parallel with Zinedine Zidane, who also happens to be of north African heritage, who developed his unique skillset in the working-class banlieues of Marseilles “His speciality is bicycle kicks, or scissor kicks, the Pele goal from Escape to Victory. I don’t know how many of them he scored over the years in the park on a rainy day against someone.

“I remember asking him one day: ‘how come you’re so good at them?

Because your technique is fantastic’.

“He says, ‘well, in Morocco, we played on the concrete and it’s no problem doing it on grass’.

“That summed it up to me. He is a genuine street footballer.

“I would compare him to the likes of Zidane who grew up in a block of flats with a patch of concrete ground in between, and that’s where he played his football. You can see that in Yaz. He’s got that.”

Though born in Morocco, and also eligible for Italy through his mother, En-Neyah is a Dub who would like nothing more than to play for his country.

He was called up to the international side at Under-15 level but, as he is still in the process of applying for his Irish passport, his international future remains up in the air.

“He does want to play for Ireland, so we’re just trying to sort it out between ourselves and the various departments in the government, to sort of out his passport.

“He has options, which is great for him. He’s not restricted.

“We’d love him to play for Ireland, and he would too, and the FAI are quite interested in him.

“It would be great to get Yaz in because with the European under-21s next year, which he’d be eligible for if he had the passport sorted.

“He wouldn’t have an issue with the workrate or skill to get into the team, so hopefully he can get that break, if we can sort out that paperwork.”

JUNIOR ALL-IRELAND FINAL

Coolmine to host marquee event COOLMINE RFC have been given the honour of hosting rugby’s AIL

Junior Cup on January 25 with Kilfeale RFC set to play Dromore RFC at Ashbrook.

The River Road club are looking forward to welcoming a big crowd to their home with the club set to be open from 10am ahead of the 2.30pm kick-off with tickets €10 per person. There will also be a barbecue for spectators and toastie sandwiches also available.

In the Leinster leagues, Coolmine enjoyed a double success with their first team, pictured, running up a bonus point win over Wexford Wanderers with a 26-12 success.

Their seventh win of the campaign has them in second place with four rounds of matches to be played but a large eight-point gap to leaders Mullingar. Up next is an away date at North Kildare next Sunday.

Coolmine’s second team, meanwhile, ran up a comprehensive eight-try performance against Wexford, easing to a 54-12 victory.

That was their ninth win out of nine outings so far this season, puttin them within one win of sealing the title which could happen next weekend at North Kildare.

Picture: martin doherty

30 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 16 January 2020

NOTES CLUB

HURLING: MANAGER RINGS THE CHANGES FOR WALSH CUP SEMI

SKERRIES HARPS AS ALL teams continue their return to pre season preparations, we remind parents and players to keep in contact with team mentors re training slots.

Matches will recommence in Feb 2020 and fixture details will be available on our website once finalised by the various boards.

Skerries Harps caters for boys and girls from U8 to U16 and Minor across all 4 codes - Football, Hurling, Ladies Football & Camogie We also cater for Adults with our teams fielding in Ladies Football(Senior & Junior) Camogie (Senior & Junior), Mens Football (Senior, Inter & Junior) & Hurling (Junior) &Gaelic for Mothers & Others.

We always welcome new members, mentors and volunteers - please contact Skerriesharps@gmail. com for more info.

ZINGO RESULT Sun 12 Jan 2020: 7-1-2-3-6-4-5.

No jackpot winner but we had 2 dividend winners Madeline Grogan & Brian Beggs who both win €100.

Next week’s jackpot a cool €8500. Envelopes still €2 or 3 for a fiver! Play on line at skerriesharps.ie and follow the links. Thanks to all who support the Zingo every week. Draw every Sunday evening at 6.30pm. Always good fun!

Academy Term 2 starts this Sat 18th January from 10-11AM.Term Fee €60. Please contact Louise 085 1465673 for more details.

Irish Blood Transfusion Service, next Blood Donation Clinic Thurs 23 Jan @ Skerries Community Centre #giveblood

ST BRIGID’S OUR CLUB Dinner Dance takes place in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Blanchardstown on 14th February, 2020 and tickets are now on sale from Yvonne McCormack (0868548282), Paula Jackson (0872858574) and Elaine Curtin (0872025129).

It promises to be a great club night with Aidan Tierney from ‘Tierney Talks’ performing LIVE also!

Our St Brigids *Community of Practice* Coaching Workshops are now open for booking! Check out our club website for all the details! Thanks to all those involved in this great initiative.

Our Club Shop is open every Saturday morning from 9.30am to 1pm and is located in our Club Coffee Shop. There will be samples of our new gear to try on as well as Gift Vouchers for sale! Our new Clothing range is also available to view on our Online Shop which is now LIVE on our website! Check it out by visiting our club website!

If you have a query on your order please email; stbrigidsgaaclubshop@ gmail.com

It’s that time of year again!

Club Membership for 2020 is now due and must be paid before 31st March, 2020.

Please click on the membership link on our website.

Thanks to all our members for your continued support.

There was no winner of our Club Lotto Jackpot last week. Our next Jackpot rises to €8,000 and will take place on Thursday week, January 16th in the Roselawn Inn. Get your tickets from our usual sellers, in the club bar on play online via our club website!

Our Club Nursery, in association with Sherry Fitzgerald continues this Saturday (January 18th) from 9.30am to 11am in Russell Park. All boys and girls aged between 4 and 7 are welcome, especially new families! Just arrive down and speak to any of our friendly coaches or email us at; Pro.stbrigids.dublin@ gaa.ie for more information.

Tickets for the GAA’s National Club Draw are now on sale for €10! Some brilliant prizes on offer including a brand new Renault Clio! Speak to Jerry Nolan on 0872272518.

All focus on Kilkenny after Walsh Cup exit WALSH CUP SEMI-FINAL Galway 0-19 Dublin 0-18  CÓILÍN DUFFY sport@dublingazette.com

FOR the second time in as many days, a Dublin team were pipped by the minimum, and lost out on a final berth as Dublin’s senior hurlers were denied a Walsh Cup final spot by Galway at Parnell Park on Sunday.

Playing their third game in a week, following wins over Carlow and Laois, Mattie Kenny’s charges pushed the Tribesmen all the way, but in the end the visitors held out for a hard earned victory.

Kenny wasn’t overly disappointed with the display by his side.

“After every game, I always say that it’s about getting something out of these Walsh Cup games, so we are not overly disappointed,” he said.

“It was a competitive game. There was very little between the sides all the way through. It was a good work-out for both teams.

“There was a couple of positives today. Danny Sutcliffe was out with an injury for the last while, so he got 15 minutes into his legs towards the finish

up. Sean Moran was away for a while, so he was back today and he got some time.

“We had a number of Under-20 guys there today.

“Alex O’Neill and Andy Dunphy, I thought played well today. Andy played well at corner back.

“He has played all of the Walsh Cup games, and has been very impressive.

Those two young guys have been a big plus for us over the last couple of weeks.

“We have a Walsh Cup panel and an extended panel for the last six to eight weeks. We are probably coming under a bit of pressure in the next week or two to pick our league panel.

“A number of guys have stepped up there, and it’s very, very positive. Hopefully now we’ll push on in the coming weeks, and get ready for January 26, which is just two weeks away now.

With 14 players Fitzgibbon Cup tied, the Dublin management made a number of changes, with five different players named to start, from the side which accounted for Laois at the same venue on the previous Thursday.

Sean Brennan, Alex

AIL DIVISION 2C Lennox double key for Skerries SKERRIES completed back-to-

back wins over Clonmel in rugby’s All-Ireland League Division 2C to keep up their push for top spot in the division thanks to a 13-12 result.

The Holmpatrick side tralied 5-3 at half-time with Paul O’Loghlen kicking a penalty but two tries from Conor Lennox edged them in front in the second half. The result leaves them level with Enniscorthy in the league, something for captain Kevin McGrath and number 8 Ross McAuley, pictured, to celebrate.

Debutant Alex O’Neill with young fans following his first Dublin appearance

O’Neill, Chris Crummey, Lorcan McMullan and Cian Derwin were all handed starting berths.

Dublin began brightly to take a four-point lead, however, Shane O’Neill’s new charges turned the tables to take a lead they wouldn’t relinquish by the interval.

Scores from John Hetherton, Oisin O’Rorke, Eamonn Dillion and Chris

Crummey helped the hosts to a 0-7 to 0-3 lead after 11 minutes.

The lead was again at four points in the final stages of the half, with Hetherton and O’Rorke continuing to impress, but Galway finished strong to take a 0-12 to 0-11 advantage at the half-time whistle.

On the restart Dublin battled hard to try and take

the lead, but too no avail, despite the best efforts of Marc Howard, Sutcliffe and O’Rorke.

Dublin’s focus now switches to the league opener against Kilkenny “We had three games in a wee so the legs are a small bit weary but we’ll get the boys recovered now, and we’ll start pushing on getting ready for the 26th,” Kenny said.

16 January 2020 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 31

FOOTBALL: FARRELL’S REIGN STARTS WITH DEFEAT BUT BIG GUNS TO RETURN FOOTBALL

U-20s caught by late Kildare surge

Longford’s Iarla O’Sullivan and Dublin’s Niall Walsh contest possession.

Picture: Bernie Farrell

Dessie’s experimental Dubs lose to Longford O’BYRNE CUP SEMI-FINAL Longford 1-13 Dublin 3-6  CÓILÍN DUFFY sport@dublingazette.com

DESSIE FARRELL may have got off to a losing start as Dublin senior football manager but there were plenty of positives to take from this O’Byrne Cup semi-final at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday.

The visitors made full use of the rolling substitutes rule, and gave game-time to 26 players with many of Dublin’s established senior stars still away on holidays.

Cuala’s Niall O’Callaghan netted twice with Templeogue Synge Street’s Killian O’Gara getting the other in what was a potential trial for many of the faces to be part of the Allianz League squad which begins against Kerry on January 25 at Croke Park.

“The objective today was to give fellas a run out,” Farrell said after the game.

“Obviously we want to identify a couple of players that we can bring forward into the official squad.

“It was good to get back out on the pitch after the last couple of weeks. It’s all about the football at the end of the day, and it was great to kick off today.

“The players come back from their holidays over the next couple of days, and

back to training next week and focus on the opener.”

Stephen Cluxton was among those in the large travelling crowd that watched an experimental Metropolitan outfit come acropper to Longford, just as they did at the same stage in the same venue back in 2016.

In a tight and keenly contested encounter, little separated the sides throughout but it was Longford who made the more impressive start.

The hosts led by 0-4 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter, with Rian Brady and Darren Gallagher among their early scorers, and Lucan Sarsfields clubman CJ Smith keeping Dublin in touch.

Dublin made the first of 23 substitutions over the contest with Ross McGowan replacing Cian Murphy, before the only goal of the tie.

O’Gara found the net for the visitors opening goal soonafter, before being substituted - a fate that also befell O’Callaghan after he bagged his second goal 20 minutes from time.

O’Gara’s effort levelled the tie in the 19th minute before a raft of Dublin subs, with the Templeogue Synge Street clubman replaced by Scott Fulham.

Longford regained the lead through a point from play by Rian Brady, but this was cancelled out by Diarmuid McLoughlin, who landed a fine score off his left

boot.

Ballyboughal’s Gerry Seaver put the visitors ahead but an Oran Kenny score ensured the sides were tied 1-3 to 0-6 at the break.

O’Callaghan, brother of senior star Con, found the net for the first time inside the opening minute of the second half, but Longford fought back with 1-2 unanswered, including a 45th minute Kevin Diffley goal.

Dublin offered the perfect response four minutes later, when O’Callaghan netted for a second time to push his side into a two-point lead.

Longford battled hard in a keenly contested final quarter, with Dublin leading 3-6 to 1-10 in the 64th minute, before the hosts grabbed three unanswered points, including scores from Darren Gallagher and Darragh Doherty on the way to a onepoint win.

The midfield battle in Pearse Park. Picture: Bernie Farrell

A LATE scoring surge saw Kildare secure a draw with Dublin in Saturday’s John Kerins U20 Football Development League at Manguard Plus Hawkfield.

Dublin led by four points as the game moved into added time before a Findlay Nairn goal and Shane O’Sullivan free saw Kildare draw level before the full-time whistle.

The Dubs face Laois in their concluding game this Saturday following their narrow lose to Meath and draw with Kildare.

Dublin face Wicklow in the Leinster Under20 football championship first round on Saturday, February 8.

Luke Swan kicked three early points for the Dubs with Ciarán Archer converting a free to give the Dubs a 0-4 to 0-0 lead.

Kildare responded before points from Mark Lavin and Seán Lowry settled Dublin again.

The Lilywhites, however, took the lead courtesy of four frees from Shane O’Sullivan before scores from Mark Lavin and Lorcan O’Dell helped Dublin to a 0-9 to 0-7 interval lead. Dublin scored four of the opening six points of the second half with Pádraig Purcell doing well and with 15 minutes remaining Tom Gray’s side were six points clear.

Darragh Kirwan’s goal from the Lilywhites brought them back into contention but still Dublin led by four points late on before Kildare snatched a draw with Findlay Nairn’s goal and Shane O’Sullivan’s equalising free.

Gazette SPORT JANUARY 16-22, 2020

ALL OF YOUR FINGAL SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31

YAZ IS ON RISE AT FOREST

SOCCER: Chance

encounter in Corduff Park proved an unlikely starting point for youngster’s rise to the first team in Nottingham. SEE P28-29

FINAL HOSTS RUGBY:

Coolmine excited to host marquee day at Ashbrook with AIL Junior Cup final.

SEE P29

SEMI-FINAL SHUT-OUTS GAELIC GAMES:

Dublin senior footballers and hurlers both rung the changes for O’Byrne and Walsh Cup semifinals.

SEE P30-31

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Rush in a hurry to write more FAI Cup history  DAVE DONNELLY

sport@dublingazette.com

THE BIGGEST game in the history of Rush Athletic awaits in just over two weeks as the Fingal club welcome Donegal club Greencastle in the last 16 of the FAI Junior Cup. A 3-1 away win over Villa of Waterford on Sunday afternoon saw Rush reach uncharted territory as they reached the last 16 for the first time ever.

Rush have been as far as the last 32 before – fittingly with a win over Greencastle – but three successive title wins see the club transformed and on the brink of intermediate football.

They currently top LSL Sunday Major 1, ahead of heavyweights Sheriff YC, who have won four of the last seven FAI Junior Cups, and Usher Celtic, who meet at Grangegorman in the last 16.

However, much the same can be said about the club from Inishowen, who underlined their credentials by knocking out holders St Michael’s, winning 2-1 after extra time. “ T h e re ’s n o d o u b t about it [it’s the biggest game in the club’s h i s to r y] , ” c h a i r m a n Adrian Kelly told Dublin Gazette.

“As a chairman, I’m very, very proud of the lads who’ve got this far.

We’ve made history now, so now it’s up to us to keep re-writing it.

“They’ve been on to

Rush Athletic’s first team before their FAI Junior Cup date with Villa last weekend in Waterford

“We’ve made history now, so now it’s up to us to keep re-writing it.“ me already asking have we got any better. And we have gotten better because we’ve won all the leagues since.

“On our day, we’re good enough to beat anyone in that draw. We have guys who can score goals, and we’re going to give it a go and enjoy it.”

Rush, who have signed defender Luke Ring from Drogheda United, saw off the challenge of Villa

in testing conditions on Sunday, sealing the tie in injury time as Villa pushed to force extra time. A brace from Barry McAllister, either side of a Brian Gillen strike, saw Declan Whyte’s side to victory despite Danny Walsh pulling one back late on.

The visitors took the lead just before the break as a long ball from Dylan Kelly picked out

striker McAllister to slot the ball home.

Mc A l l i s te r s e t u p Gillen for the second 20 minutes from time before Walsh pulled one back from a corner and, with Villa pushing an equaliser, McAllister made sure of the win in added time.

W h i l e G re e n ca s t l e have requested the game be played on Saturday, February 1 so they can

stay over in Dublin, the tie is likely to go ahead on Rush’s usual Sunday matchday.

“You could see on social media our travelling support – it was amazing. We’re going to have three times or four times that at home. The atmosphere will be fantastic – it’ll be a carnival atmosphere.

“We’ll enjoy it. The whole town is going to

enjoy it, and the young kids will get out and support it. I was very nervous. I couldn’t believe it at the draw – I was very nervous waiting on us to come out.

“Once I heard us come out first, it was lovely. I didn’t care who it was [we got]. The preparations start now and I have to get home and s ta r t m a k i n g p h o n e calls!”