Dublin Gazette: Fingal Edition

DublinGazette MARCH 7-13, 2019

DUBLINMAGAZINE: The weather turned

a bit nippy this week – but nip on over to our Magazine for some sunny features SEE PAGE 12

Fingal Edition FREE

THE LATEST NEWS & SPORT FROM THE FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL AREA

Families THERE was a happy ending for a gay couple from North Dublin now living in Canada when they finally secured an Irish passport for their son, Jake. Irish paperwork thwarted their efforts for a long time, but the delighted dads finally got the precious passport for their lovely little lad.

SEE PAGE 4

SPORT SOCCER: Portmar-

nock battle their way to huge win in LSL Sunday Senior in battle to avoid the drop SEE P28

THE KANSAS CREW: A farmgirl, a scarecrow, a tin man and a cowardly lion helped to delight audiences in Donabate recently courtesy of a six-night run of the musical, The Wizard of Oz. See Gallery on Pages 10-11. Pictures: Alison O’Hanlon

travel

WANT A STUNNING BREAK? CONSIDER PORTUGAL SEE P20

Measles breaks out in north Dublin, warn HSE Parents warned to be vigilant for disease

SYLVIA POWNALL

Find us on Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

THE Health Service Executive has confirmed an outbreak of measles in north Dublin and is advising parents to be vigilant.

HSE chiefs are describing it as a “community outbreak” of measles affecting

both adults and children, with five cases reported since the start of February.

Anyone who thinks they may have the disease – the symptoms of which include fever, a red rash, red eyes and a cough – is advised to stay at home and contact their GP. Public health specialist Dr Ruth McDer-

mott warned: “Measles can be a serious illness and is highly-infectious. The best protection is to be vaccinated with the MMR [measles, mumps and rubella] vaccine.”

People who are infected are being asked to avoid their local school, creche, or public spaces as the disease is airborne and, in extreme cases, can prove fatal.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Skerries thrilled as Eva sings on

SKERRIES girl Eva Campbell has the hopes of the community behind her as she does battle in The Voice UK. The modest but hugely talented teen has wowed judges in the smash-hit show, with her noteworthy singing seeing her win last Saturday in a battle against fellow Team Olly member Callum Butterworth.

Despite her well-deserved success so far, Eva’s thinking of the family and folks at home as she contines following her dream, with the show continuing next Saturday on Virgin Media One.

SEE PAGE 3

2 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 7 March 2019

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CRUEL BLOW FOR ‘LAST CHANCE’ FAMILIES DENIED MORTGAGES

Axed home loan scheme a bitter blow for families  SYLVIA POWNALL

spownall@dublingazette.com

THE Government has been accused of dashing the hopes of young people in Fingal hoping to get a foot on the property ladder.

The Dail heard on Tuesday that the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme had suddenly run out of money – with local authorities directed to stop taking

applications.

The scheme offered loans to single people earning under €50,000 a year or couples with €75,000 a year who had been turned down for a mortgage by the banks.

Cllr Duncan Smith (Lab), who is chair of the Fingal Housing Special Policy Committee, called on the Minister for Housing to increase the resources.

He said: “Fingal has led in the delivery of this scheme and it was really starting to make an impact despite the tight criteria.

Young people trying to get a foot on the property ladder face an even harder struggle with the scheme’s ending

“It is aimed at lowincome families who’ve been refused by two

banks. Families trying to access these loans will typically be paying

high rents for insecure accommodation and are not eligible for social housing.

“These loans are often their last chance to get a permanent, secure home for their families. This is a massive dropping of the ball by the Government.”

Fianna Fail housing spokesperson Darragh O’Brien TD said the Housing Minister’s interest in the scheme “lasted only as long as the publicity”.

He added: “Once again, it appears that the entire focus of Fine Gael was on generating publicity rather than developing and resourcing an actual policy that would have an impact in the real world.

“Just two weeks ago the Minister referred to the home loan scheme when I raised concerns but failed to acknowledge any issues, despite now knowing that at least one local authority had flagged funding problems.

“This raises two possibilities – the Minister deliberately withheld important information, or he is just not on top of his brief.

CLARIFY “The Minister needs to quickly clarify when he discovered that the scheme was running out of funding? He also needs to quickly clarify why local authorities were kept in the dark.”

Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee (FF) also voiced her fury. She stated: “I am beyond furious that the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme has been put on hold due to lack of funds.

“This scheme offered a glimmer of hope to working families who are locked out of the housing market. I wonder how the Government will try to spin their way out of this.”

FASTNews

Fingal helpers still needed for Daffodil Day THE Irish Cancer Society is appealing for volunteers in Fingal to help sell flowers on Daffodil Day, March 22.

The annual fundraiser helps the ICS in its work to support cancer patients and families with a €4 million target to meet ever-increasing demands for support.

ICS chief Averil Power said: “On average, more than 8,700 people from Dublin are diagnosed with cancer annually. We are determined to be there for everyone who needs us.

“But with the number of people getting cancer at a record high, we can’t do that without public support.”

As reported in Dublin Gazette last month, mumof-two Sarah Murray, from Malahide, is the face of the Daffodil Day campaign this year.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer when her daughter was just one year old but despite the odds Sarah finished her treatment and gave birth to her ‘miracle’ second baby, Sean, last summer.

If you can help by volunteering on March 22, contact Brenda at 087 280 7197 or bmccarthy@irishcancer.ie for information.

A welcoming dementia get together in D15 THE Castleknock branch of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland is inviting people with dementia and their carer/s or family members to come along to their weekly social club meetings.

They meet at Castleknock Community Centre, Laurel Lodge Road every Monday from 2-4pm, where a friendly get-together is guaranteed, with all people living with dementia welcome (accompanied by a carer or family member).

7 March 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 3

PEOPLE: TALENTED TEEN WOWS JUDGES ON THE HIT SHOW, AS ROLLERCOASTER RIDE CONTINUES

It’s all about Eva as Skerries schoolgirl wins Voice UK battle SYLVIA POWNALL

SKERRIES singer Eva Campbell has revealed that even her own PARENTS are not allowed on The Voice UK set so her performance can remain top secret.

The talented teen, who made it through the battles round last weekend, says mum Andrea and dad Jason must drop her at the door of the London studios.

Skerries Community College student Eva (17) told Dublin Gazette: “Mum and dad have been brilliant; it’s been a real rollercoaster ride. It’s so surreal for them.

“When I went into it at first I don’t think they knew what I was getting into, or the hugeness of this competition.

“They are not allowed on set because it’s all top secret, so because I am under 18 I need an adult chaperone with me.

“The whole thing has been unreal.”

Eva, whose haunting blind audition performance of Massive Attack’s Teardrop went viral, came out tops in Saturday’s battle after going head to head with fellow Team Olly member Callum Butterworth.

She said: “I never thought I’d get to this stage of the show. The whole town of Skerries is behind me. I actually feel sorry for my mum and nanny because they can’t even go to the shop without being stopped by loads of people.”

Eva got the performing bug when she took to the stage with her guitar for Skerries Got Talent at the age of ten and won the entire competition.

She said: “I’ve always loved being up there performing and now I feel I’ve found my own style and unique tone. I’ve been writing for a while so the plan is to produce my own music one day.”

The Voice UK continues on Virgin Media One on Saturday at 9pm.

Talented Skerries Community College student Eva Campbell giving it her all as she sings with Callum Butterworth in The Voice UK

4 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 7 March 2019

FAMILIES: IRISH PAPERWORK CAN’T STOP DADS FROM DOING THEIR BEST FOR JAKE

Passport joy for gay couple after ‘year of stress and tears’ SYLVIA POWNALL

A GAY married couple have told of their joy after they managed to get an Irish passport for their Canadian-born son following a bureaucratic nightmare.

Jay O’Callaghan (35), from Baldoyle, and his husband Aaron O’Bryan (36), also from north Dublin, outlined their struggle in the Dublin Gazette a year ago.

They had their baby boy, Jake, through a surrogate in Toronto, but were forced to jump through hoops by Irish officials to prove one of them was the biological father.

After six months of phone calls, web chats and

emails they were told they needed to apply through the courts for an application of parentage.

The couple were also shocked to learn that the surrogate had more rights to their child than they did, despite their being named as legal parents on his birth certificate.

Earlier this week, doting dad Jay told Dublin Gazette that Jake was now the proud holder of an Irish passport – but he blasted the Government for making the process so painful.

He said: “Although myself and my husband’s names are the only two names on Jake’s birth certificate, we were still required to provide addi-

tional documentation, including DNA evidence, to prove Jake was indeed our son.

“We had to prove that we are both habitual residents of Canada and that Jake is also an habitual resident of Canada.

“We were also required to complete an affidavit of laws prepared by a Canadian lawyer stating myself and my husband are the main decision-makers for our son, our surrogate does not have parental rights to our son, and that if our surrogate has a husband, that he does not have rights to our son.

“Once all of this was submitted, we finally received Jake’s Irish passport. It took

Proud to be Irish: the doting dads and little Jake, who has finally got an Irish passport

over a year – a lot of stress and tears, but we are so happy to officially say that our son is an Irish citizen.”

Jay and Aaron married in

Ireland after the 2016 Marriage Equality referendum and emigrated to Canada.

Despite getting the passport, the State here

does not recognise the two men as equal and only one of them can be the legal parent under current legislation.

FASTNews

‘Balance over castle concerts is needed’ BALANCE is needed when it comes to live concerts at Malahide Castle, according to a local community activist.

James T Doyle (above), who lives in Seabury, cautiously welcomed news of a sixth gig but he also warned against the over-commercialisation of Malahide Demesne.

He said: “Malahide Castle and grounds are a fantastic public amenity for local residents and visitors alike.

“The revenue generated from tourists and concerts contribute to the council’s ability to provide other services for Fingal residents.”

Last week Mumford & Sons were announced to play a gig in 2019, bringing the number of concerts this summer to six.

James added: “Clearly the number of events is escalating, year on year. While the economic benefit to local businesses is very welcome, we should not forget that the castle grounds are not a commercial enterprise.”

Flavours of Fingal again set to delight PLANS are advancing for this year’s Flavours of Fingal festival at Newbridge House and Farm in Donabate, with more than 90,000 visitors expected over two days in June.

It is now widely recognised as Ireland’s largest familyfriendly summer festival and the event brings together city and country in a celebration of food, family and fun.

The Fingal County Councilrun event features six acres of children’s playzone, farmers’ field, entertainment and food in the Walled Garden, an equestrian zone and more.

Those interested in becoming involved as a sponsor are invited to contact Con or Karen at 041 983 0142, or email info@wlc.ie for more information.

7 March 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 5

CHARITY

PROMOTING BETTER MENTAL HEALTH

Help for phoneline wanted

Tackling suicide’s pain for Travellers SYLVIA POWNALL

A PLAY looking at the issue of suicide in the Traveller community was performed in Blanchardstown this week to launch a mental health initiative.

Blanchardstown Traveller Development Group (BTDG) launched its mental health leaflet on Tuesday, March 5 in the Draiocht Theatre.

The performance of Magpies on the Pylon, written and directed by Traveller actor Michael Collins, looks at the impact of suicide on the family and on where they live.

It also looks at the exclusion faced by members of the Traveller community and the way they view services and supports on offer.

According to a recent survey, Travellers have

a suicide rate that is six times the national average, with an estimated 80% unemployment rate.

BTDG chairperson Freda Hughes said: “No matter who we are, or what background we come from, we are all shaped by the cultural context which we grew up in.

“It shapes how we understand and make sense of the world around us. It shapes our understanding of our health and of our mental health and wellbeing.

“People who are from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds and socially excluded groups will have different perceptions of what good health means and what is meant by good mental health.”

Ms Hughes said services needed to be inclusive and

where possible tailored to the community they’re aimed at, adding: “It has been shown that one size does not fit all, and that this perspective unknowingly excludes people from marginalised groups.”

The leaflet provides practical tips for looking after your mental health as well as providing useful contact numbers for local services.

BTDG was founded in 1992 by locals concerned about living conditions of Travellers in the Blanchardstown area, including families on Grove Road who were served eviction notices for the development of Blanchardstown Shopping Centre.

It is based in Ladyswell, Tyrrelstown and can be contacted at 01 820 7812.

Celebrating the legacy of Seamus Ennis, 100 years on A YEAR-LONG programme of events is under way across Fingal Libraries to mark the birth of Seamus Ennis 100 years ago. The celebrations, in partnership with the Seamus Ennis Arts Centre in the Naul, were launched by piper Ronan Browne (pictured right, with Ivor Browne) at a function in County Hall in Swords recently. The evening featured a performance from talented pipers on Seamus Ennis’ pipes and the reminiscences of people who knew him, including Ivor Browne.

Born in 1919, Seamus Ennis transformed the lives of those lucky enough to have known him. A world-class musician, singer, raconteur, mimic and linguist, he was also renowned as a folklore collector for the Irish Folklore Commission. The songs, music and lore he collected now form part of the National Folklore Collection held in UCD. He continued to collect (and broadcast) songs and music and to perform in public up to his death in 1982.

A series of concerts and presentations in honour of Seamus, curated by Ronan Browne, will take place in Fingal Library branches throughout the year and at the Fingal Festival of History in Swords Castle this October.

THE Irish Cancer Society is looking for new volunteers in Fingal for its phonebased Survivor Support programme.

BICS programme coordinator Deirdre Murphy said: “It is really important to us because it means that newly diagnosed patients have someone to talk to about the emotional, physical and practical impact of their diagnosis.

“Having someone that knows what getting that news is like is so valuable, and it means that patients who are facing a possible diagnosis, or starting treatment, have someone to share their worries or anxieties with.”

If you have had cancer, and would like to know more, contact Deirdre at 01 2310 564 or email dmurphy@irishcancer.ie.

6 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 7 March 2019

HEALTH

Measles warning for north Dublin CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Measles can be transmitted through direct contact with an infected person or through the air when the carrier coughs or sneezes.

It can have serious complications such as pneumonia, seizures and inflammation of the brain and two people out of every 1,000 infected with measles will die.

The Fingal outbreak follows a spike in Donegal where there were seven cases confirmed last month.

In January, a global charity issued a warning as Irish cases increased by a staggering 244% between 2017 and 2018.

According to UNICEF, there were 86 cases in Ireland last year, up from 25 the previous year. The charity warned of a global increase with 98 coun-

tries reporting a surge.

UNICEF Ireland’s executive director Peter Power described the figures as a “wake-up call”.

There is an increased risk for those who have not been vaccinated with MMR or have not had measles in the past. There is also a risk of shingles.

Children should be vaccinated at 12 months and again at five years, according to the HSE, as should adults under 40 years who have not had the disease.

Health chiefs also advise that there is a risk of developing measles for up to 21 days after contact with a case of measles.

The HSE attributes the latest outbreak to a fall in vaccination rates. There have also been reports of outbreaks of mumps, with a suspected case in Dail Eireann.

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Joan and Karen Gemma, Aisling, Fiona and Sinead. Pictures: Alison O’Hanlon

Sean, Caoimhe, Nik and Megan Alan, Cyril and Mark

Making running fun at Porterstown parkrun

F

OR the first time ever, Dublin 15 athletics club, Metro St Brigid’s (MSB) ‘ran’ Porterstown parkrun.

The damp weather conditions didn’t deter over 200 people turning up for this extra special parkrun in Porterstown Park.

Led by Run Director and MSB member Stephen McGuinness, MSB club members successfully carried out all the Porterstown parkrun volunteer roles from marshalling, barcode scanning to tail walker.

“We are delighted to be volunteering at Porterstown parkun today. Volunteers are the backbone of every parkrun.

“We want to give back to our local parkrun and provide volunteers with opportunity to walk, run or jog the event instead,” said run director, Stephen McGuiness.

Stephen and Ella

Lisa and Julie

David and James

7 March 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 7

8 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 7 March 2019

CHILDREN: TALENTED KIDS ADD TG4 AN RIL DEAL VICTORY TO SCHOOL’S GLORY A marathon effort to help more runners

Swords dance academy prove they’re the reel deal SYLVIA POWNALL

AN IRISH dance school in Swords is jigging for joy after winning TG4’s An Ril Deal 2019 and performing at the Peace Proms in front of President Michael D Higgins.

Dance Hall Academy, based at Applewood Community Centre, is putting its best foot forward this year with a string of achievements already under its belt.

DHA dancer Robyn Caffrey (15) and 13-year-old Anna Kearney won TG4’s

Talented Dance Hall Academy kids Robyn Caffrey, Alison Scalon, Eleanor Besse, Maeve Rudisteanu, Leia Clooney, Jose Luis Barrera, Jamie Caffrey and Alejandro Barrera

flagship Irish dance contest after their bold decision to perform barefoot as Na Sioga.

For the final danceoff, Anna described their “bold, Irish/Hip-Hop

infused dance that had edgy and dark undertones so we could display the versatility of our Irish dance and general dance vocabularies”.

Dance Hall Academy

were invited to perform to an audience of more than 6,000 people for the Peace Proms 2019 at the RDS. They have also been commissioned to perform at the Peace Proms in Belfast for 11,000 people at the iconic SSE Arena in the renowned Titanic Quarter.

Dance Hall Academy was founded and developed by Irish dance teacher and adjudicator Lori Hall and dance master Joey Comerford.

Both have an extended resume and have performed professionally in 26 countries on shows including Riverdance, Gaelforce Dance and Ragus.

Joey said: “This is a community-based and community-supported Irish dance school.

“Our vision is that Irish dance education enables every child, regardless of physical capabilities, to be expressive in a nonver-

That winning feeling – Robyn Caffrey and Anna Kearney, the champions of TG4’s flagship An Ril Deal 2019

bal manner.”

The academy caters for all levels from beginners to advanced from the age of three upwards, and has choreography accreditations with Johnnie Fox’s famous Hooley, Croke Park corporate entertainment

“

and Extreme Rhythm.

Classes in Applewood are on Saturdays from 12.30pm. For further information, contact Lori at 087 639 5150, email classes@ dancehallacademy.com or see Facebook @dancehallacademylori

Our vision is that Irish dance education enables every child, regardless of physical capabilities, to be expressive in a nonverbal manner

IT HAS been announced that 2,500 extra entries will go on sale for the KBC Dublin Marathon on Monday, July 1, ahead of the late October marathon.

This follows the sellingout of the 20,000 entries last December, close to a year before the event takes place on Sunday, October 27.

The level of entrants has been increased from 20,000 to a record number of 22,500 people following an agreement with key authorities.

The 2019 Dublin Marathon will celebrate its 40th year anniversary with KBC with the 13 runners who took part in the first Dublin Marathon in 1980 and all 39 Marathons since present to mark the announcement.

In addition to the 2,500 extra entries to go on sale, some other additional places are also expected to be made available following an opportunity for current entrants to avail of a refund window from 9am on Monday, June 3.

The refund will be available on ‘Manage My Bookings’ available via the entrant’s confirmation link.

Fingal’s marathon runners should also note entries are now also open for the 2019 KBC Race Series which starts with the South Dublin 10k on Sunday, July 21.

This will be followed by the Frank Duffy 10 Mile on Saturday, August 24 and the KBC Dublin Half Marathon on Saturday, September 21 – both in the Phoenix Park.

For further information, see kbcdublinmarathon.ie.

‘Town architect should be appointed to oversee €23m Balbriggan project’ SYLVIA POWNALL

FINGAL County Council should appoint a town architect to oversee its ambitious €23 million rejuvenation project in Balbriggan, it has been claimed.

Local election candidate Garrett Mullan (Social Democrat) says a designated town architect is needed to ensure the project is a resounding success.

He pointed to success stories in other towns such as Westport and Clonakilty and said having a town architect in place was a key factor.

He said: “Applying urban planning

utilising skills of an architect will help make this plan a success and this simple change could make a big difference to improve our quality of life.”

Meanwhile, the results of the Our Balbriggan public survey found that leisure experiences hold the key to future growth in the town.

Some 70% of locals chose the development of leisure experiences around the harbour, river, coastline, and local castles as the highest priority in developing the town economically.

Proposed developments include the transformation of Bremore Castle

into a premier visitor destination, a new greenway connecting Balbriggan and Skerries, a river park and a revamped marina.

A total of 43% of respondents supported creating a food and arts quarter for the town while 40% would like to see Fingal County Council taking a more proactive role in property management in the town centre.

A Balbriggan Socio-Economic Strategy, which will be published later this month, will contain an implementation plan with a list of actions, activities and timeline, directly influenced by the results of the Our Balbriggan survey.

7 March 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 9

WORKS: MOUNTING PRESSURE ON PENINSULA PUSHES LOCALS TO CALL FOR HALT

THAT’S LIFE

Donabate residents demand ban on new builds until road is ready

EU rules on end to changing the clocks

ment levies last year, yet its operational expenditure budget for 2019 is less than €180,000.

Speaker after speaker raised concerns about the volume of heavy goods vehicles, the poor state of the roads and paths, and the risks posed to motorists and pedestrians.

Cllr Adrian Henchy (FF) said he recognised residents’ frustrations but was not in support of a moratorium – a view shared by Deputy Darragh O’Brien (FF) and Cllr Cathal Boland (Ind).

Local Labour representative Corina Johnston said she was in favour of a moratorium, along with Fine Gael candidate Bob Dowling and Independent Glenn Brady

IT’S OFFICIAL – under a new European policy, the much-loved (and loathed) changing of the clocks will end in 2021.

Each member state must decide by April 2020 whether or not they want to remain on ‘Summer’ time.

No longer will the clocks jump forwards or backwards an hour, as Ireland has been told to choose between ‘Winter’ or ‘Summer’ time after officials in Brussels ruled that clock changes across the EU will cease.

Last year, 80% of people voted to have the seasonal clock change abolished, in an EU commission-sponsored consultation process to see what citizens across the Eurozone felt on the issue.

SYLVIA POWNALL

A PUBLIC meeting last week endorsed a call for a temporary ban on new large-scale developments in Donabate – as the peninsula suffered flooding at the weekend.

Residents at the meeti n g ove r w h e l m i n g l y called for infrastructural deficits to be dealt with before planning permission is granted for any more major building projects.

Donabate Portrane Co m m u n i t y Co u n c i l wants a halt to new builds until the Donabate Distributor Road is completed later this year and the road at the railway bridge has been widened.

At the weekend, DPCC

p o s te d p h o to g r a p h s showing the extent of the flooding (right) adjacent to the distributor road arising from the inclement weather.

Donabate has been identified as having a high risk of flooding in the Fingal East Meath flood assessment report commissioned by the local authority.

The community council warned: “The current levels of development, combined with inadequate levels of oversight by the planning authority, have caused a number of gullies to become blocked on the Main Street where flooding has occurred.”

A motion calling on Fingal County Council to impose a temporary

Flooding adjacent to the distributor road in Donabate

moratorium on new construction projects has now been submitted by

Cllr Paul Mulville (SD).

The large attendance at last week’s meeting

heard that Donabate had generated €15.5 million in rates and develop-

10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 7 March 2019

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

7 March 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 11

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Scoil Phádraic Cailíní pupils enjoying The Wizard of Oz musical. Pictures: Alison O’Hanlon

Magical moments in Donabate S

COIL Phádraic Cailíní in Donabate’s six-night run of the musical The Wizard of Oz was a wonderful display of talent, singing and dancing. Two casts, of 120 pupils in each, took to the stage on alternate nights in an entertaining and capturing display of ability and professionalism.

The atmosphere in the school both back stage and from the audience was one of anticipation, excitement, delight and pride.

Ms Greene, the Principal commented on the inclusivity and camaraderie between pupils, the drama team, the staff and parents in producing these outstanding performance and amazing experience that will stay with girls forever.

12 DUBLIN GAZETTE 7 March 2019

MAGAZINE

DUBLIN

Put pretty Portugal top of the travel list P20

CHICKEN WINGS WORTH GETTING IN A FLAP OVER P22

FASHIONABLE FRAMES ARE ALL ABOUT PERSONAL STYLE P19

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

COUNTDOWN IS ON FOR WOMEN’S MARATHON THE Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon is now open for entries!

Pictured are broadcaster Georgie Crawford; Dublin Ladies footballer Nicole Owens; Ailbhe Garrihy; Aoibhín Garrihy; presenter Pamela Joyce; fitness enthusiast Leanne Moore; Clare Garrihy and Doireann Garrihy who will make up

the 2019 Vhi Squad and are calling on women all around the country to run stronger together and join them at the largest all female event of its kind in the world this June!

Enter now at www.VhiWomensMiniMarathon.ie.

Picture: JULIEN BEHAL PHOTOGRAPHY

7 March 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 7 March 2019

Touching The Stars: THE growth of the cover band industry is substantial, in fact. Gone are the days of a few shows in the pub for the biggest acts in the game: now they’re playing venues with capacities in the high hundreds to low thousands, and gaining nationwide reputations.

Take ‘Flash Harry’, a Belfast-based group who take the cues from Freddie Mercury’s opera-rockers Queen. They’re headlining Vicar Street this Spring, and it all came off the back of an independent career that they ended up twisting into a riff on the stadium-filling stars.

“Flash Harry was a gigging band when Freddie Mercury died,” they explain.

“As we all loved Queen and already included four or five queen songs in the set, we decided to have a special night just playing all Queen music. That was 1992. The night went so

The cover band is a long and well established musical tradition, be it in the form of a facsimile take on an established great, or a chance to see clever twists on songs performed to a high standard.

 JAMES HENDICOTT

well we did a few more and eventually evolved into a full “tribute” show.

“We love the diversity of the music. From early hard ‘progressive’ rock to 1920/30’s style.

“For a musician, the music of Queen is interesting, clever and challenging to do. Queen evolved over the 20 years of their recording career, but the quality of their songs was consistent.”

Pink Floyd, like Queen, have always been a great option for cover bands, offering recognisability and plenty of scope for experimentation.

‘Breathe,’ who cover the psychedelic legends, are less well-established than their counterparts, but take their version of Waters and co equally seri-

ously.

“A lot of work goes into reproducing the music of Pink Floyd, and the most important thing is for us is to be able to faithfully recreate the sound and feel of a Pink Floyd concert,” they explain.

“We spend a lot of time getting the sounds as close to the originals as possible, sometimes by using the very same instruments, effects and keyboards as the band themselves used.

“We use a lot of equipment at these shows!

There is nothing better than seeing the look of surprise on people’s faces when they hear us playing opening notes of a song they love.”

Another outfit, ‘A Foreigner’s Journey’, cover New York rockers Foreigner through the decades of their 80-million selling arena rock career, and explore the sound of San Francisco legends Journey.

“This was my vision

PICK OF THEWEEK

DUBLINERS: THE STORIES ON

Sisters

A Meath Native, Clodagh

Flash Harry play Vicar Street this Spring

after witnessing a Foreigner show in Las Vegas back in 2006, I was blown away and thought that this would be a great tribute show,” they explain.

“We finally have the right line up now, which really does feel like a family, so performing together on stage is always a pleasure and when the crowd get behind us and the

songs, it really is magical.”

Breathe perform Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon at the Dublin Academy on March 16.

Flash Harry play Vicar Street on April 13.

A Foreigner’s Journey play The Button Factory on May 5.

See the full-length article on our website at www.dublingazette.com

MARCH 8, 9 AND 10 Country to Country @ 3Arena, €57+ Country to Country; Europe’s biggest country music festival is back at 3Arena Dublin for its sixth year from Friday 8 to Sunday 10 March 2019, with yet another incredible line up from the C2C team. With his first show in Ireland for over ten years, the international superstar Keith Urban (pictured) will play C2C for the first time ever.

GOINGOUTOUT...

MARCH 7 (THURSDAY) Choice Music Prize @ Vicar Street, €28 LANY @ Olympia Theatre, €24 Peter Bjorn and John @ Whelan’s, €20 Elles Bailey @ Whelan’s (upstairs), €15 Tebi Rex @ Workman’s Club, free

Alarmist @ The Grand Social, €15 Branko @ Sugar Club, €10 Nick Harper @ Whelan’s (upstairs), €15

MARCH 10 (SUNDAY) Ariel Posen + Gareth Dunlop @ Sugar Club, €13

MARCH 8 (FRIDAY)

MARCH 11 (MONDAY)

Bircurious @ Workman’s Club, €12 AE Mak @ The Grand Social, €15 Gerry Cinnamon @ Olympia Theatre, sold out Skinny Living @ Whelan’s, €12 The Elective @ Whelan’s (upstairs), €10

Jack and Jack @ Olympia Theatre, €26

MARCH 12 (TUESDAY)

MARCH 9 (SATURDAY)

Christy Moore @ Vicar Street, sold out Brother Ali @ Sugar Club, €20 Dan Elliott @ Whelan’s (upstairs), €10

Gerry Cinnamon @ Olympia Theatre, sold out Country to Country @ 3Arena, €57+

Bastille @ Olympia Theatre, sold out Colter Wall @ Whelan’s, sold out

MARCH 13 (WEDNESDAY)

I MOVED to Dublin from Meath to study radio at Ballyfermot [Co l l e ge o f Fu r t h e r Education].

I was quite a shy person when I started my course, but obviously in radio, you have to talk to people! It really brought me out of my shell a good bit.

I’m quite an anxious person, so doing radio was a good experience - I got some knowledge of the media and how that worked, learned how to get out there and talk to people, to branch out.

I’m quite an anxious person, so getting to push myself out of my comfort zone a little bit and take on the challenge of radio was great.

L a s t ye a r, i n M ay 2018 - the day of the 8th Amendment referendum, I think it might have been

actually - I made the decision to set up EMPWR. ie.

The idea behind the website is to allow women, non-binary people and others like that to have a place to go, to read and write content that empowers them.

Obviously there’s an amount of female based sites in Ireland, but there wasn’t really anything before EMPWR that tackled things that were a bit more taboo [in mainstream media], like female masturbation, and periods I wanted to read this content, and I knew if I wanted it, others would too.

To set up the website, I needed to teach myself everything pretty much.

How to buy a domain, how to make a website look good, it was all me

Swing on over to a great night of Big Band music FANS of classic Big Band and Swing music are in for a treat in just a few weeks when Legends of Swing takes the stage at the National Concert Hall (NCH).

Led by the dulcet tones of Irish singer Connor McKeon (below), the Legends night will see a wide range of hits from the inimitable likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin, Louis Armstrong and many more.

As a warm-up, Connor’ll be playing in New York, where popular club TJ Bentley’s will see the talented singer and his band play many of the hits that will delight Irish audiences.

With his passion for Big Band, Swing and classic crooner hits, Connor’s also applying his pitch-perfect skills in unusual ways, with his Manhattan trip seeing him “bringing my recording of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody to life in a totally unexpected way.

The song was arranged by Gavin Murphy with a Big Band/Swing feel, and Gavin did an incredible arrangement of this iconic song.”

That versatility is just part of the skills Connor and his crew will be bringing to the NCH. For a night to remember with the Legends of Swing on April 4, get your ticket now at www.nch.ie.

7 March 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

WHAT’S BIG IN MUSIC, CINEMA, TV AND BOOKS

ENTERTAINMENT

PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WHO CALL THIS CITY THEIR HOME

doing it for themselves set up EMPWR.ie as a safe space for women to share art, poetry and more essentially, but I was - I am so passionate about the website.

EMPWR is what I would consider a safe space, and I attempt to keep it that way.

We allow people to publish anonymously, with their names, whichever. They can contribute regularly or once off, the choice is theirs, but we’ve gotten such a good response.

I remember one particular case with the website where a young girl, she was about 17, she submitted this beautiful poem but said she wanted to contribute anonymously, which was fine.

About a week later she contacted me to say that she was so happy with how the poem was recieved, she told her mam about it, and the two of them were so moved by the poem’s content that

Clodagh ní Maonaigh, the founder of EMPWR.ie

they both cried.

That was a highlight of having this website for me, for creating this space.

That young girl was so scared to put her work

out there, to get her name out there, but now she contributes with her real name attached, and I’m so delighted about that.

We have a segement on

our social media as well called ‘Pussy Positivity’, which explores different health issues among women and non-binary and transgender people.

One woman took over our Instagram a few months ago to anonymously share her story of having a miscarriage, and it was so warmly recieved.

We get so many [direct messages] and comments on Instagram when we run ‘Pussy Positivity’, because it isn’t very often that these topics are discussed elsewhere. People felt comfortable asking about miscarriages and their side effects and everything, or even discussing their own.

We’re slightly different from a traditional website in that we share art, poetry and things a bit more creative. As much as I can, I try to contribute myself like the other day, I did an Instagram story following me along on my first ever smear test.

I t r i e d to a n s we r questions about what exactly happens, stuff

like that, it was really interesting to do.

Going forward, I’d love to keep growing EMPWR. It’s great to be behind a website that does for women what we do.

You can talk about your experiences of abortion, miscarriage, rape, in ways that I hope are helpful!

My course in ‘Ballyer’ was helpful when I was setting up EMPWR, as it helped me learn that sometimes it’s alright to break out of your comfort zone sometimes.

We’re entering the second year of EMPWR soon, and I hope it keeps going.  What’s your story? Do you have an interesting connection to Dublin and why you call it home? Please email your story to news@ dublingazette.com.

CINEMA | NEESON FANS KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM HIS LATEST, COLD PURSUIT

Liam’s an ice-cold killer – again SHANE DILLON

AT THIS stage, it’s hard not to think of Liam Neeson lazily hamming it up as something of a walking cliche, given his seemingly endless conveyor belt roles of Relentless Mad Dad characters.

And – surprise – that’s exactly what he’s doing in this week’s film, Cold Pursuit (Cert 16, 118 mins), which yet again sees the dulcet-toned star pushed too far and – well, at this stage, you can probably guess the rest.

You’d be forgiven if you hadn’t heard of Cold Pursuit: it’s the new film he was supposed to be promoting on its recent release when he cannonballed into hot water instead, making global headlines about his ill-advised comments on – well, you probably know the rest there, too.

While the world read agog about a prefame, young Neeson roaming the streets in a racially-charged mood of vigilantism, nobody paid much attention to the fact that he had a new film out.

That’s a shame, because with the

conversation becoming all about young Neeson, the film itself became lost in the blizzard of headlines about him.

And blizzards and snow are at the heart of the Colorado-set film, where Neeson’s character is anything but flakey.

He plays everyman character Nelson Coxman (a surname that’s something of a running joke): a snowplow operator extraordinaire, loving husband and dad, proud new recipient of his town’s Citizen of the Year award – and an ice-cold killer when his son is imaginatively murdered by a local drug cartel.

While his wife (a criminally underused Laura Dean) pretty much falls to pieces after the murder, our revenge-driven Mr Plow decides it’s time to clear the streets ... of drug dealers, as the local cops do their best to keep up with events.

Nelson’s shifty brother with a crooked past gives him the Intel he needs on the gang that killed his son, setting him up to set off on a violence-fuelled process of elimination (literally) as he churns through the chain.

Liam aims to please in his new film, Cold Pursuit – but does it hit the mark?

Complicating matters, another cartel – this time run by Native Americans – gets drawn into the increasingly violent mess, with Nelson doing his damnedest to play both sides against each other.

The film isn’t exactly carving out a new path for Neeson, but it’s handsomely shot with some beautiful Canadian scenery standing in for a deep-chilled Colorado.

It’s also laced through with black

humour and sprinkled with some style.

It’s not quite in, say, Coen Brothers or Tarantino territory, but has enough directorial touches to give it a fresh identity.

You might even say it’s a cool new Liam Neeson film (pun intended), but despite its admitted strengths, it’s resolutely just another Mad Dad character for him.

Time to plow ahead with some new roles, Liam ...

Verdict: 6/10

Tensions on the rise as families feel stressed out YOU love Fair City, and we love Fair City – so look out for our great new preview column every week giving you the low-down on what’s happening over in Carrigstown ‘somewhere on the north side’ ...

STESS mounts for Jackie and she puts her foot down over Ellie’s behaviour, which causes a rift with Renee. Renee accuses Jackie of being unstable as they spiral into a row over Jackie’s treatment of Ellie.

Bob is suspicious and begins to question if Ellie is using the situation to her advantage and Pete gets to the nitty-gritty about why Elle lied about Jackie.

Pete discovers his bond with Jackie may be stronger than he thought.

Lee steps in to helps Anto after his scheme to boost the family deposit fund doesn’t go so well. Will Lee’s plan save the day?

Mondo is put out when Melanie prioritises working for Paul over Comet, and things heat up as Melanie feels Mondo is interfering.

Melanie is floored by a surprise declaration made by Paul.

Dolores is on a mission to keep Orla and Wayne’s relationship intact, for Junior’s sake, and warns Orla not to let Tommy get too close.

Watch Fair City on RTE One on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Jackie overreacts when she catches Ellie misbehaving

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 7 March 2019

DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS I N F O R M AT I O N 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 Group Editor: Patrick Finnegan pfinnegan@dublingazette.com Deputy Group Editor: Shane Dillon sdillon@dublingazette.com Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile jmaile@dublingazette.com Picture Editor: Aisling Conway aconway@dublingazette.com Travel Editor: Sylvia Pownall spownall@dublingazette.com Advertising Sales:

01 - 6010240

SOME OF THE RANDOM AND

‘Fake President Uhuru’ cons businessman out of €87,000 A KENYAN court last week charged seven men for impersonating President Uhuru Kenyatta and swindling a wellknown Kenyan businessman out of 10 million shillings (€87,000.)

The suspects called tyre firm boss Naushad Merali and his finance director Akif Butt pretending to be the president and asking to sell them land.

The seven pleaded not guilty at a Nairobi court and were released on bail before their case resumes on March 12.

One of the suspected fraudsters impersonated the President’s voice, while the others arrived in fancy vehicles and suits to collect the money, police said.

Merali gave the go-ahead to the finance director to process payment believing he was talking to the head of state.

A Kenyan newspaper, The Star, said the gang are so well organised “they have perfected the art of mimicking the President’s voice to near perfection.”

Investigators say the conmen operate as government officials.

President Kenyatta’s government has been repeatedly criticised over corruption scandals in the health sectors,

sales@dublingazette.com

Spring int

DUBLIN Gazette Newspapers has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for lost and abandoned dogs. Milo is a cheerful one year old male Collie cross who enjoys fun and company. He is an active dog who loves outdoor activities such as hiking, running and chasing a ball in the park. Milo can be a little shy initially, but after a few minutes he is reassured and will want to play - his favourite game is fetch!

Milo missed out on crucial socialisation when he was a puppy and is sometimes unsure of other dogs, but he is a very smart boy, who loves training and food, so helping him to relax around dogs should not take long at all! After a lovely walk he loves nothing more than a relaxing belly rub and gentle cuddles.

If you have room in your heart and home for Milo 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.)

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.

national youth service and construction contracts.

Dozens of senior officials and business people were charged in May with various crimes relating to the theft of $100 million from the National Youth Service (NYS), a state agency.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations said last week it was also investigating the “fraudulent construction of two dams valued at 63 billion shillings.”

Some payments were already made out despite the dams not being built!

Milo

DOG OF THE WEEK

7 March 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

D QUIRKY THINGS THAT CAUGHT OUR EYE THIS WEEK...

BITS & BOBS TOP TWEETS

THRIVE Festival is a brand-new bespoke health, fitness and wellness event taking place in The Convention Centre, from March 30 to 31. Discover new fitness classes to try, hear some of the country’s top wellness advocates give you their best advice and be inspired to get into the kitchen. Wellness talks, Fitness classes and food demonstrations will be aplenty with Signature Speakers Gemma Atkinson and Dr Hazel Wallace, The Food Medic leading the line-up. Picture: Jason Clarke

to a new you and Thrive!

North Carolina girl’s message in a bottle washes up in Ireland A YOUNG American girl’s message in a bottle that travelled 3,500 miles has been found by a grandmother walking on an Irish beach.

In October 2017 nine- year old Laura Terry and her science class at Summit School in Winston-Salem in North Carolina sealed messages inside wine bottles to be released into the ocean for a lesson about ocean currents.

On January 14th this year Irish woman Bridie Patten was walking on Doohoma Beach

in Mayo when she came across Laura’s bottle.

Patten sent a letter to Summit School saying she had found the bottle, which contained a drawing by Laura and a note explaining the project.

“I kind of thought it would sink.

“I didn’t know if it was going to be gone or if someone would find it,” Laura told her local paper The Winston-Salem Journal.

“I was so happy, like is this really true?”

Teacher Susan Schambach said she was surprised the bottle showed up earlier than expected, and in Ireland.

Laura’s bottle is the fifth to be found out of 70 bottles dropped into the Gulf Stream, the ocean current that runs along the North Carolina coast before crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

Another bottle has been found in northern Portugal, while three others have been found along the coast of France.

The bottles generally take 14 to 26 months to cross the ocean, Schambach said.

Once the bottles are found, the class sends the finder of the bottle a box of goodies, including Summit T-shirts.

My ma would get a H1 in the English comparative in the Leaving Cert because all she ever does is compare me to everyone else @KennyTiegan

So weird when someone you went to school with has had 3 babies and you’re sleeping in the porch after a night out because you forgot your key @AshGriffo

I hope when humanity is finally wiped out and aliens uncover only one piece of evidence that we ever existed, that it’s boom boom pow by the Black Eyed Peas. @sianvconway

How do I get subtitles….but in real life ? cause I literally cannot hear what anyone is ever saying to me. @peytonryann

Just been informed by the Nigerian chap in my course that Westlife were one of the biggest bands in Nigeria during his childhood and that “If you couldn’t sing a Westlife song you’d never get a girlfriend” and I’m so pleased to find out Nigeria is just Africa’s Sligo @creamygoodness

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 7 March 2019

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DESPITE the recent crazy weather my mind is definitely on all things SPRING such as lighter fabrics, bare ankles and, hopefully, a touch of sun-kissed skin! But nothing has gotten me more excited about spring than Anonyme’s new collection of floral dresses. These dresses feature feminine silhouettes with pretty ruffle and tie details and striking floral prints. These prints are a bold statement that this spring is going to be a beautiful and bright one! Dublin stockists include, Ribbon Rouge, Coco C and KOKO.

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GLOSSIER PLAY | CULT BRAND GO WILD WITH NEW ‘PLAYFUL’ MAKE-UP RANGE ONE OF THE WORLD’S most exciting brands have launched their newest line this week.

Glossier, a cult favourite for their cheap,

There are four products in the line so far - the Niteshine highlighter, Glitter Gelée glitter paste, the Colorslide ‘technogel’ eye

good quality and universal products,

pencils and the Vinylic Lip, a high shine lip

launched Glossier Play on Monday, billing it

lacquer. There’s also two tools - the detailer,

as a series of ‘dialled up beauty extras’.

a silicone precision multitool and the ‘blade’,

The new line is incredibly exciting to both the average make-up wearer and all out

a “German” engineered sharpener.

Products range from €14 for the Glitter

beauty fiend, with a series of usually mun-

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dane products remixed into a rainbow of

however you can grab one of each product

never-before-seen colours, with a formula

in shades of your choosing, and both tools

that’s bound to be iconic, as is usually the

on offer in The Playground - all bundled

case with Glossier.

together for €59.

7 March 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

FRESH IDEAS FOR YOUR HOME AND WARDROBE

HOME & STYLE

Fashionable frames are all about personal style  RACHEL DARCY THOSE OVER 40 might find it difficult to try and adapt what may seem like younger trends to their wardrobe or personal style, but what if we told you that trends don’t really matter at all?

We caught up with renowned fashion stylist, Cathy O’Connor, who told us that it isn’t trends that matter, but your own unique personal style.

“I’m not really about trends, I’m about style.

Style is what makes you comfortable, what you feel good wearing. Really good style, to me, is where you can wear something and forget about it. Even if it’s a bold blouse, those chunky trainers that are in at the minute, as long as you’re comfortable, that’s what’s in style,” Cathy said.

“A lot of people think once you get older you need to sacrifice fashion for comfort, and that’s not the case. You can wear whatever you want, as long as it works for you, your body shape, your lifestyle. Trends come and go, but your personal style always lives on.

“It’s easy to pick out parts of trends that we like and to work them into our wardrobe with colours we

like or that compliment us, but it isn’t essential to fully dive into a trend if it doesn’t work for you.”

C a t hy wa s s p e a king to us as she partners with Vision Express to launch their Over 40s Eye Health campaign, a drive to encourage regular bi-annual check ups on

STYLE SOS WITH

Martha

Who needs labels – great style is ageless!

“

It’s important when picking glasses to get a pair that work with the prescription you need and your own style your eye health.

With glasses becoming ever more stylish, we had to ask the fashionista about picking glasses that complement your face and style.

“Tom Ford has some of the nicest glasses, he’s a favourite of mine for eye wear, but styles that I liked weren’t necessarily suited to my face. When I went to pick out my glasses, the team at Vision Express couldn’t have

Beauty Review

 MARTHA GILHEANEY

Irish fashion stylist, Cathy O’Connor, has partnered with Vision Express to launch the Over 40s Eye Health Campaign

been more helpful – I went in with my heart set on these beautiful Tom Ford frames, but a lovely and honest gentleman in the store told me I might be better suited to something else, and he was right.

“It’s important when picking glasses to get a pair that work with the

p r e scription you need, and your own style.

Tortoiseshell is effortlessly glam, but those clear glasses are also in at the minute as well, they have a really modern look.

“A great tip for when you’re picking out glasses is to get frames that just graze the tip of your cheek – nothing too big, as cool

as they might look!”

Irish fashion stylist, Cathy O’Connor, has partnered with Vision Express to launch the Over 40s Eye Health Campaign and to highlight the importance of having regular eye tests. For more information or to make an eye test appointment, visit www. visionexpress.ie.

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DO YOU REMEMBER Bridget Jones’s method of introducing people with thoughtful details? Well, a favourite fashion inspiration of mine is a poodle-owning, 70-year-old, former model called Linda Rodin. Now park that thought a minute.

I have this comedian friend. When we meet we talk digital marketing, social media platforms, creative content and the likes. It’s refreshing because she never questions why I want an outfit picture. Likewise, I never urge her to ‘say something funny’.

In this wonderful friendship we support each other in our complementary, creative pursuits of comedy and fashion.

The other day, this friend, lets call her Emma, because that’s her name, told me that in order to build a name for yourself you need to identify your personal labels. Ones that Bridget Jones or Ryan Tubridy would use to introduce you.

She explained that hers were ‘Female comedian,’ ’Mother of three’ and ‘Ginger.’ “They’re not necessarily the tags you particularly identify with, but ones the public remember,” she informed me before proceeding to tell me that mine were ‘Leitrim lass,’ “Rose of Tralee contestant’ and ‘Irish dancer.’ “Aggghh,” I groaned. “Why so twee? I’m a borderfree fan who has lived in Dublin more than a decade, I was on the Rose of Tralee years ago and ok, I LOVE Irish dancing, but not the flashy costume, wig-cladded kind!”

“You can’t choose them,” she shrugged.

Later it got me thinking, given the choice, what labels would I choose? I am a personal stylist, a fashion blogger, an English language teacher, a volunteer, a cute cat owner and a city-centre dweller. Still, when you turn the page, I wonder which ones you’ll remember… Was my funny friend right?

I pondered this some more when I caught myself telling someone about the poodle-owning, 70-year-old, former model I admire. I wondered if there was ever an introduction for her that didn’t reference her age. I’m guilty of it myself, having just referenced her age. It shouldn’t be so surprising that a 70-year-old is trendy. I wish it weren’t, but I guess until we have more people like Rodin in her vintage denim, bright faux fur and funky footwear or the zany but brilliant Iris Apfel who delights us all with flamboyant prints and extra accessories, it will be. We need more women like these who are breaking boundaries and lessening age labels by showing us all that maintaining a cool sense of style needn’t go out of style as you age.

By the way, what words would introduce you?

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 7 March 2019

TRAVEL

Turn to GoHop to find a perfect family holiday on your next break AS THE final term of the school year approaches many families now turn their attention to booking their annual break in the sun.

Price is often a key consideration for many families, followed by short-haul flights and of course those allimportant children’s facilities that mean mum and dad can also enjoy that well-earned break in the sun.

All-inclusive family packages continue to prove popular as they can make overseas spend a lot easier to manage and eliminate many of those expensive little extras in resort that can prove a drain on hard-earned family holiday budgets.

Parents are often frustrated with attractive leadin prices advertising dates when children are still attending school.

With that in mind, award-winning Irish holiday firm GoHop.ie have set up specific site-landing pages that focus purely on dates when most children are on their school holidays from June to August.

2019 family friendly destinations that continue to prove popular include, The Algarve, Majorca, The Costa del Sol and Salou. All are serviced with a good range of short-haul flights from Dublin, Shannon, Cork and Knock and offer an excellent selection of welllocated properties for families to choose from.

GoHop have a great range of deals for families, based on two adults and two children travelling, and include return flights from Dublin, taxes and seven nights’ accommodation (baggage and transfers extra).

You can find out more at: https://www.gohop.ie/ g202/family-summer-holidays and https://www. gohop.ie/g204/all-inclusive-family-holidays.

GOHOP.IE is now considered one of the most popular holiday websites in Ireland.

Irish owned and managed, the brand continues to broaden its appeal to holiday consumers’ offering great value holidays to suit every budget at some of the best prices on the market with flights from Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Knock airports.

The company boasts over 45,000 followers on Facebook and enjoys a Feefo rating of 4.8.

Consumers can sign up to the GoHop weekly newsletter to ensure they are kept up to date with unbeatable worldwide holiday deals and exciting product updates.

For further information, see GoHop.ie, or call 01 241 2389; on Facebook see GoHop.ie; on Twitter follow @GoHop_ie; or on Instagram follow #GoHop.ie.

Even by Portugal’s high standards, the Palacio da Pena – one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal - is an unforgettable sight to take the breath away

Bob the Boulder may have helped to develop the Moorish village of Monsanto, built around – and even into – local rocks

The ancient Capela dos Ossos is a particularly powerful ossuary

Put pretty Portugal top of the travel list SYLVIA POWNALL

Travel Editor PORTUGAL has been vo te d b e s t s u m m e r destination at the 2019 Irish Travel Industry Awards.

S u s a n a C a rd o s o, director of the Portuguese National Tourist Office in Ireland, said it came as no surprise, adding: “Portugal is a beautiful country with historic cities, world-renowned cuisine, natural landscapes and some of the world’s most spectacular beaches.”

And while she might be a tad biased, she’s not wrong. As a summer sun

Visit The Azores for stunning scenery above the waves – and some of the planet’s most incredible life below them

option Portugal has it all – it’s the longest-lived of Europe’s modern empires with a complex history to match its breath-taking terrain.

From whale watching

to a visit to a chapel made of human skeletons, here are just a few of our favourite things to see and do ...

The Algarve is famous for its stunning beaches

(there are 150 to choose from) not to mention its spectacular waves.

Surfers keen to avoid gaggles of tourists should steer clear of the south coast and head west

instead.

Praia do Amado on the Costa Vicentina is Portugal’s best-known surfing beach, with good reason.

W h i l e h u ge Atlantic waves attract international competitors, it is also family-friendly and has its own surf school.

The opulent castles and palaces of Sintra are located on the central we s te r n Po r t u g u e s e c o a s t, n o t fa r f ro m Lisbon.

The most notable is the Palacio da Pena, a s u m p t u o u s r oy a l summer retreat built in the Nineteenth Century

7 March 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

While for many Irish people, Portugal’s golf courses are a big attraction, her stunning beaches will delight

Another angle on the incredible Azores

for Ferdinand II. It is one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal boasting an eclectic and heady mix of Gothic, Moorish and Renaissance architecture.

Not only that, but it is just one of several well-preserved castles and palaces dotting the Sintra region which has, unsurprisingly, been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status.

Visiting the Beira Baixa region in Eastern Portugal is like going back i n t i m e. T h e Moorish village of Monsanto is perched 2,486ft above sea level and built from granite boulders.

It looks like something straight out of Lord of the Rings, with boulders used as floors, walls, and even roofs in houses dating back 500 years. Keep an eye out for the Casa de Uma So Telha – the house with only one tile, which

“

is essentially a massive lump of granite.

If you fancy a spot of whale watching then the Azores is where it’s at. This Atlantic Ocean outcrop has one of the best marine habitats in the world, with one quarter of the world’s known species identified off its coasts.

Boat trippers in any

then they pretty much become a must-see. They can be found in the old walled citadel of Evora in the wine region of Alentego which is one of Portugal’s best-preserved medieval towns.

From the Praca do Giraldo to the Se de Evora Cathedral the city is awash with history. The Capella dos Ossos (chapel of bones) is estimated to have the human skulls and other bones of around 5,000 bodies cemented into its walls.

If you’re a city slicker then why not stroll around the atmospheric capital of Lisbon, which is just a short train hop away from the hippy dippy seaside resort of Estoril?

Alternatively there’s Porto, the city which gave its name to the country and to its most famous export, port.

For further information, see www. visitportugal.com.

The Algarve is famous for its stunning beaches (there are 150 to choose from) season can expect to spot pilot and sperm whales as well as a variety of species of dolphin. Blue, humpback, orcas and fin whales are also in evidence from April to June.

Human skeletons are not your average tourist attraction but when they’re cemented into the walls of an old chapel,

A Country music treat in a spa deal MUSIC fans are in for a real treat this month as the very first Big Country Weekend takes place at The Hillgrove Hotel and Spa Monaghan, from Friday, March 22 to Sunday, March 24.

The three-day event sees legends of the genre take to the stage including Irish favourite Michael English and Barry (above) and Dominic Kirwan.

If you want to kick up your heels in style, the four-star Hillgrove Hotel & Spa is offering a special two-night Big Country weekend package.

Arrive on Friday evening and check-

in for a two-night stay in a double or twin room with full Irish breakfast each morning, a four-course evening meal on Saturday evening, and entry to all three days of live country music.

Guests will also enjoy complimentary access to the leisure centre’s 20-metre heated pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room – the ideal rest and relaxation needed for those weary dancing feet after a wonderful night of music!

Book the Big Country Weekend package from only €230 per person online at www.hillgrovehotel.com or call 047 81288.

the UK or Prague.

For further details, see www.jurysinn. com/48hoursale.

Quick – a Jurys Head to Vegas in flash sale is on a great €500 deal IF YOU fancy a spring break that spells value for money, then Jurys Inn has a 48-hour flash sale with a 30% discount on stays between March 31 and December 30.

It started on Wednesday, March 6 but if you book by March 8 you can get money off at any of its hotels in Ireland,

Porto’s colourful architecture will leave you breathless

The Alentego region is home to many stunning towns

CASSIDY Travel is offering a four-night trip to Las Vegas departing from Shannon Airport from €499 per person sharing.

The deal includes flights and accommodation at the four-star MGM Grand, travelling on September 7.

For further information, see www. cassidytravel.ie.

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 7 March 2019

FOOD&DRINK

MORSELS OF NEWS IN THE CAPITAL

REVIEW: DINING OUT AT ELEPHANT & CASTLE, MONKSTOWN

Chicken wings worth getting in a flap over REBECCA RYAN

IF YOU haven’t tried the wings in Elephant & Castle, you haven’t lived yet!

The franchise has just opened up a brand-new restaurant in Monkstown and the place was absolutely buzzing during opening week last week, with queues out the door and their legendary crispy wings literally flying out of the kitchen to the salivating diners.

Elephant & Castle has really been expanding lately. They first opened their doors in January 1989 in Temple Bar, with their second location opening in Rathmines just before Christmas and now in Monkstown Village, too.

The new 90-seater restaurant has a very friendly, laid-back service style.

It fe a t u re s c o m f y booths and is decked out with wooden ‘decking’ on the walls, giving a warm feel with quirky black and white images throughout adding to the relaxed vibe.

There was a mixture of young and old customers, of friends and couples as well as families, and the low-beat music in the background was at a perfect level for chatting and keeping the atmosphere alive.

When you walk in you can see the gra for their infamous Spicy Chicken Wings with almost every table tucking into a basket.

Well, you know you’re onto a good thing when you overhear one of the customers saying to his mate: “Those wings are serious, man, what!? I’m sweatin’!”

However, there is plenty more on the menu to choose from, such as fluffy omelettes, buttermilk pancakes, caesar salads, saucy ribs and juicy burgers.

The staff were very friendly and hardworking, keeping up with the fast turnover of people while having fun amongst themselves, which was nice to see and added to the busy but relaxed atmosphere.

With any new restaurant opening you would expect normal

‘Rural’ retreat is

A winning formula JUST off Stephen’s Green, Hartigan’s may take the award for the least amount of change made to a pub. The place does not appear to have changed anything, stoutly resisting every urge to update or refurbish in any way.

From the front bar, you can twist and turn all the way through to a basic but relatively spacious beer garden. Due to this approach, Hartigan’s really feels like you could be anywhere in Ireland, except for Dublin. The pint was a smooth one, aided by good consistency and volume.

It was, however, on the cold side, which meant it was hard to determine clearly whether the taste was where it should be. @guinnessadvisor

Hartigan’s, 100 Lesson Street Lower, Dublin 2

World foods add a dash of flavour to Paddy’s Day THE St Patrick’s Day Festival 2019 is just around the corner, with Merrion Square set to be transformed into a bustling Festival Village from March 16 to 18, including a World Food Market.

Revellers can enjoy a super-charged festival kick-start with specialty Irish coffee company Cloud Picker, or grab a slice of delicious organic Dough Kitchen Pizza.

Shaka Poke (inset) will bring a pinch of Hawaii to the festival, and over at Taco Truck, Texas will meet Mexico in a selection of meat and veggie tacos.

Ireland’s multi-award-winning ice cream company, Arctic Stone, will bring their hand-rolled treats to the village, and Tesco will also be on hand to serve up Irish meats and fresh ingredients.

For the full list of events, see www.stpatricksfestival.ie.

Man arrested for unusual dip with an order of salsa

Regular Elephant & Castle patrons will already know of their legendary chicken wings – and the new eaterie in Monkstown keeps up the great, delicious standard

teething problems to arise; however, Elephant & Castle Monkstown was working like clockwork.

Manager Ronan Gleeson told Dublin Gazette he is delighted with the successful opening and feedback.

He said: “Delighted that

WEEBites

we have opened straight away with the same buzzing atmosphere we have become renowned for.”

Ronan is inviting locals to come and try their menu, as well as their wings.

“I always recommend that customers try some-

thing different each visit off our extensive menu apart from our famous wings and burgers. Oh, and everyone should have a [new house cocktail] Pink Elly.”

Tip – try the wings and go hungry, the portions are a good size.

A MAN in Tennessee has been jailed on felony charges after appearing to dip his testicles into a container of salsa that a customer ordered online.

Howard Matthew Webb (31) was allegedly annoyed about a customer’s stingy tip, so filmed the act and posted the video online, saying: “This is what you get when you give an 89 cents tip for an almost 30-minute drive.”

US police said Webb was a passenger in the vehicle when the order was delivered, and the driver filmed the video (above).

The clip went viral, and meal-ordering service Dinner Delivered soon notified authorities. Webb was arrested and charged with adulteration of food.

CRAFTBEERCORNER Grey Area - Lemon Thyme Saison Rascals Brewing Company, Inchicore  PALE MAILE, Beer Aficionado FOR THOSE OF YOU that are new to craft beer this style will take you out of your comfort zone. A Saison is a pale ale but spicy and can be fruity, as well.

This offering from Rascals is very light and the lemon and thyme may not appeal to all pallets but makes for a refreshing beer.

The spicy hints balance out the tart of the lemon and it comes in with a 5% ABU and is light and fruity in body. Best advice is pop down to the Rascals HQ in Inchichore and buy the drink on draft.

7 March 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

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7 March 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 27

FOOTBALL P31

THE BEST IN DUBLIN

SPORT

KEEPING IT CLEAN: SOCCER: FINGLAS native James Talbot is looking to use some tough lessons from spells at Sunderland and Darlington to make a big impact at Bohemians At the tender age of 21, the goalkeeper says that while “really anxious” about the challenge ahead, he is “really excited at the same time” to get stuck in at Dalymount and get back to enjoying his football.



GAZETTE

RUGBY P30

PAGE 28

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS INFORM YOU OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORES OF YOUR FAVOURITE TEAMS LEAGUE OF IRELAND | STUDENTS FINALLY GET REWARD FOR EFFORTS

UCD off mark with Pat’s tie  DAVE DONNELLY

sport@dublingazette.com

COLLIE O’Neill hopes his UCD side’s first point of the season can be something to build on after the Students held St Patrick’s Athletic to a 1-1 draw in Belfield on Friday night.

Conor Davis’ goal midway through the second half secured a point for the newly-promoted side after Mikey Drennan had fired Pats into a half-time lead.

UCD were impressive in their meeting with the champions Dundalk at Oriel Park last Monday but came away with a third successive defeat despite leading at the break.

And O’Neill confessed he had grown weary of ‘moral victories’ as strong performances were undone by the opposition’s greater cutting edge in front of goal.

It was centre-half Liam Scales who displayed that cutting edge for the Students on Friday with a moment of individual magic to run half the length of the pitch to lay it on a plate for Davis.

The defender was the subject of interest for Dundalk, who signed top

scorer Georgie Kelly from UCD last summer, in the off-season but the Wicklow man opted to remain and complete his studies.

“Scales was just brilliant for it,” O’Neill told the Dublin Gazette.

“It was nearly one of those where you’re thinking, ‘what the bloody hell are you doing up there?’

“I was nearly having a heart attack seeing a centre-half on the edge of their box. In fairness to him, it was a great bit of skill and a great little poacher’s goal by Conor. “[Liam is] vital. He’s a top-class player and he will go and win league titles with other clubs. But at this moment in time we’re fortunate to have him.”

O’Neill was disappointed with his side’s dip in form in the first half after a promising start that very nearly yielded the opening goal for Davis.

The former Reading striker found himself free in the box and volleyed Dan Tobin’s cross first-time on goal, but Brendan Clarke got down brilliantly to turn his effort away from goal.

The Saints asserted themselves thereafter and took the lead just before the half-hour in similar circumstances

UCD’s Jason McClelland on the attack against St Patrick’s Athletic’s Kevin Toner. Picture: UCD AFC

as Drennan volleyed Rhys McCabe’s cross spectacularly into the top corner.

Gary O’Neill went close for the Students with a pair of long-range strikes but they started the second half slowly and were fortunate to see McCabe overrun the ball when sent in on goal.

They worked their way back into the game and deserved their equalis-

er, but Pats continued to threaten and went close through McCabe again and Drennan late on. ““It’s nice to have some rewards for their effort that they did tonight.

“I was getting a little bit tired of kind of having moral victories where the performances were good but we didn’t have anything to show for it.”

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 7 March 2019

CLUB NOTES

ROUND

1

SOCCER: PADDY’S HILL CLUB RECORD CRUCIAL WIN OVER LIFFEYS Portmarnock AFC got a key win in their battle to avoid relegation.

Picture: Bernie O’Farrell

FINGALLIANS WE HAD our three Adult Football Teams in action on Sunday, First up were the Div 1 side who had a very narrow one point loss to St Maurs,Next up were the Div 6 side who beat Wanders and the day finished out with the Third team coming from behind to beat O’Dwyers.

Lotto winning numbers: 2,4,11,19,30; Lotto winners: 7 winners, Ray Lambe, Ava&Daniel, Kevin Dardis, Lisa Prendergast, Ann McNally, Donna Barry, Michael Clancy. Next week’s draw: €2,362 Seachtain na Gaeilge :Tá Seachtain na Gaeilge ar siúl ó 1-17 Márta. Molaimid le gach duine a chuid Gaeilge a úsáid, pé mhéid a bhfuil agat.

Seachtain na Gaeilge runs from 1-17 March.

We encourage everyone to use their cúpla focal, regardless of how much or little you have.

Imeachtaí Sheachtain na Gaeilge ag CLG Fine Ghallainn (Go léir saor in aisce) 13ú Márta: 21.00 Seisiún cheoil tradisiúnta in éineacht lenár ngrúpa comhrá sa chlubtheach.

17ú Márta: 11.00 Paráid Lá ‘le Pádraig. Siúl sa pharáid linn faoin ár meirge na Gaeilge; 13.00 ‘Lá mór na nGael’ sa halla mór ag CLG Fine Ghallainn.

DJ, ceol, rinceoirí, cluichí agus craic le béim mór ar an nGaeilge; 14.00 Cluichí Ceannais na gClub beo ar TG4 ar an scáileán mór sa bheár.

Easter Camp: This year’s Easter Camp has been confirmed for Tuesday, April 23 to Friday, April 26 from 9am til 1pm. Please note this is a slight change to previous years. Applications forms will be available shortly from the bar .Summer and Kellogg’s Cup Camp dates will be confirmed in the next few weeks.

Ball Wall Resurfacing : The Work on the Ball Wall resurfacing will begin on March 11, this will be the same surface as the All Weather Pitch .This means that the Ball Wall will be off limits for about a week while the work is completed.

GARDA/WESTMANSTOWN INTERMEDIATES had excellent three point win over Clann Mhuire at Westmanstown on Sunday morning despite missing some regulars through injury.

They won by three points 1-15 to 1-12 in very difficult conditions.Juniors lost away to St Pats,Donabate by 1-7 to 0-6. Next fixture for both teams is on March 31. Training continues on Tuesday,Thursdays and Saturday mornings.

Adult Ladies pre season training continues with Mark Lacey’s Gym as well as Wednesday night and Saturday morning sessionsleague kicks off in four weeks time.

Lots of juvenile activity last week for both boys and girls teams. U-15 girls beat Ballinteer St Johns by 3-7 to 2-5 in their opening league game,U13 Girls beat Na Fianna in their first football outing and return to play

the same opposition in Camogie next week. U-13 hurlers won their grading match away to Lucan Sarsfields by 3-6 to 2-2.

U-11 boys hosted Crumlin at Westmanstown and U13 Footballers won their grading match against Ballinteer by 7-15 to 5-12.

This years Easter Camp takes place at Westmanstown from Tuesday, April 23-Friday, April 26 for Football,Hurling and Camogie-Everyone welcome-Kids 5 Years + €50 per child.You can register your child and pay online at https://payments. gardawestmanstowngaels. com/camps Some club memberships still outstanding-subscriptions can be paid online at https://payments. gardawestmanstowngaels. com/registration or by Garda weekly deduction form.

Porto fight back to eke out LSL breathing room LSL SUNDAY SENIOR Portmarnock AFC Liffey Wanderers  DAVE DONNELLY sport@dublingazette.com

2 1

PORTMARNOCK earned themselves some muchneeded breathing room in Leinster Senior League Sunday Senior as they came from behind to beat Liffey Wanderers at Paddy’s Hill.

Second-half goals from David O’Connor and Philip Rusk earned the north Dublin side all three points and moved them level with Liffeys and five clear of the relegation zone with nine games to play.

Porto went into the game on a rotten run of form that had seen them

go without a win in the league for four months after a positive start to the season.

Three draws in their last four games – including at home to league leaders Crumlin United and away to Liffeys – had arrested the decline somewhat.

Both sides had chances in the first half, and both Chris Burgess and Philip Rusk forced Liffeys keeper Philip O’Connor into early saves.

They looked to be up against it when Kirwan nudged Liffeys into the lead on the hour, running onto Carl O’Brien’s pass and dinking the ball over the home keeper.

Porto held their nerve, however, and drew level

within five minutes as David O’Connor ran onto a ball in behind the defence and lobbed the keeper.

And Philip Rusk completed the turnaround as his free kick skidded off the slick surface and Philip O’Connor couldn’t stop the ball squirming into the net.

Portmarnock had a goal disallowed in the closing stages as they looked to finish the game off, but they had enough to hold out for their first win since beating Cherry Orchard in December.

“It was an even enough game,” O’Leary told the Dublin Gazette.

“They’re a decent side.

They’ve won the FAI Intermediate Cup in the

WOMEN’S HOCKEY North secure strong point DUBLIN North picked up a strong point in women’s Leinster Hockey’s Division 2 against the visiting Three Rock Rovers last Saturday at Abbotstown.

The 1-1 result keeps them mathematically in the race to avoid the bottom rung of the table and potentially escape relegation but they need to get points from each of their last three ties, starting with a battle with Clontarf next Saturday.

Picture: martin doherty

last few years and got successive promotions, and we drew with them in their place a few weeks ago.

“We changed to a 3-5-2 because they play one up top and [the extra defender] would be wasted a bit.

It kind of worked and we had a lot of possession in the first half.”

The win moved Porto up to ninth on 20 points, along with Liffeys and Malahide United, and any team from fifth-placed Cherry Orchard down could easily be dragged into a relegation battle.

O’Leary has identified 30 points as the mark that should ensure safety for the season, and they begin on Sunday with another

six-pointer at home to tenth-place St Patrick’s CY. “It’s very tight down there. It was a bit like that last year as well. The aspiration is to get higher up the league but you’re always looking over your shoulder first to get yourself safe.

“There’s still a lot of games to be played and a lot of teams are fighting for their lives. It’s stll all to play for so we’re taking one game at a time.

“It’s very competitive.

Crumlin and Killester have run away with and then there’s a bunch of about eight teams who could be dragged into a dogfight and we’ll keep an eye on each other.”

7 March 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 29

SOCCER: FINGLAS MAN RECORDS BACK-TO-BACK CLEAN SHEETS IN PREMIER DIVISION

Talbot using tough English lessons to make it at Bohs LOI PREMIER DIVISION  GAVIN DALTON

sport@dublingazette.com

FINGLAS native James Talbot is looking to use some tough lessons from spells at Sunderland and Darlington to make a big impact at Bohemians At the tender age of 21, the goalkeeper says that while “really anxious” about the challenge ahead, he is “really excited at the same time” to get stuck in at Dalymount and get back to enjoying his football.

And he has started in super style with back-to-back clean sheets in wins over UCD and Finn Harps.

“It’s very different [from England],” he said. “I’m definitely enjoying it more. I had a bit of a bad time over there, this time last year I was in a dark place.

“I came home just at the start of May so it was different being back initially. Obviously, I sat around for the first few months when I was home, I didn’t have a job, it was the summer and I was out with my mates.

“It was tough but over there was even tougher. I had so much time during the day, I didn’t know what to

be doing. However, I’m working now and I’m trying to adapt to work and football and just trying to keep on top of everything.

“I’m definitely enjoying it more than when I was away in terms of where I’m at with my head.”

With experience of playing on both sides of the Irish Sea, the former Irish underage keeper says there isn’t a major difference in the standard of football between Sunderland and Bohemians.

“There isn’t a whole pile of difference in the quality. There’s a heap of young lads over here who’d be well able to go to England and play 23s football and there’s lads here who are in fact better than lads that are over there.

“It’s just the word about the League of Ireland where people say ‘oh its crap’ and it’s long ball stuff, but at the end of the day its competitive football.”

“If you go over to League 1 or League 2, you’ll find the same as what you will here with the LOI. There’s probably more money over there but that’s about it, there’s no real difference in terms of quality.

“LOI teams, the likes of Cork and Dundalk, they’d go over and play

some English teams off the park if they wanted to”, said the Dublin native.

With the retirement of the experienced Bohs’ keeper Shane Supple this year, Talbot is aware of the huge boots he has to fill and added how he was unaware Supple was due to retire at the time Keith Long called him to sign up with Bohs.

“I would’ve loved to have been able to work with him. Although I’m gutted for him, it’s a bigger opportunity for me to play so I’ve huge gloves to fill because he was easily the best keeper in Ireland when he was playing in the league.”

Some might see Bohs’ as a stepping stone for Talbot getting back to England to play football, he insists this isn’t the case. “I don’t see it like that at all, I’m happy where I’m at.

Like I’d a couple of contracts offers in England, nothing big, but contracts to stay over there, to make a living, but I wouldn’t want it.

“Maybe when I’m like older like 25/26 it might be different, but definitely not now.

“I really want to do well for Bohs and stay there and sign on again next year having had a good year, but I don’t look at it like that at all.”

Roganstown’s Joshua McCabe.

Picture: GUI/Cashman Photography

McCabe named in Irish team QUADRANGULAR GOLF  sport@dublingazette.com

ROGANSTOWN’S Joshua McCabe has been called into the Irish boys gold team for their upcoming quadrangular tournament in Chantilly where they will take on hosts France,

Spain and Italy from March 15-17 He is among six players travel to Chantilly for the Quadrangular Tournament featuring hosts France, Spain and Italy.

Separately, an eightmember team play Wales in Rosslare. Each event

counts on the Bridgestone Boys International Order of Merit with valuable points up for grabs at both venues.

Five of the s ix players selected for the Quadrangular were capped at last year’s Boys Home Internationals: Max Kennedy

(Royal Dublin), Odhran Maguire (Slieve Russell), Aaron Marshall (Lisburn), Tom McKibbin (Holywood) and Luke O’Neill (Connemara).

These matches form part of the GUI’s High Performance programme for Junior Golf in 2019.

Bohemians new goalkeeper James Talbot

30 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 7 March 2019

CLUB NOTES

ROUND

2

SKERRIES HARPS HARD luck to our AFL 1 & AFL 4 teams who both suffered league defeats at home in Sun 3rd in some very difficult conditions. Well done to the Minor Hurlers on their win in Div 3 over Commericals.

The Moriarty Supervalu sponsored U16 Div 2 Hurlers & U15 Div 3 Hurlers got their respective league campaigns off to a start with both teams recording draws & the U13 Div 6 hurlers had a strong win over Castleknock in difficult conditions for hurling over the weekend.

Congrats to the Dublin Senior Ladies on their win over Westmeath in the League on Sun 3rd. Well done to Ben Jones & Eoin Wilde who played for the Dublin u16s vs Mayo over the weekend.

Upcoming Fixtures: Sat 9 March:- Minor Ladies Div 3 Vs Garristown AWAY 3pm; Sun 10 March:- MFL1 Vs Ballyboden AWAY 11 am. MFL4 vs Clontarf AWAY 11am; AHL5 vs Lucan Sarsfields AWAY 12 noon Reminder, Skerries Harps Annual Membership fees are now due and are available for renewal online at www.skerriesharps.ie/club-membership. All Players (Adult & Juvenile) must have membership and injury fund fees paid up to date before commencement of the 2019 season, which for some teams has already occurred. Contact club registrar Peter Farmer.

ST FINIAN’S THE MAJORITY of our teams have started their season’s and got off to a flying start.

We have a such an super Club and so many enthusiastic players, coaches and mentors and not forgetting the unfailing support of the parents and friends who turn up to our team matches to support our players.

Our St. Patrick’s Day event planning is well underway. Make sure to watch our website and social media for updates.

After the huge success of last years event, make sure to get involved and make this years event as big if not bigger than last years!

The Instagram Competition draw took place and our Winner of a dinner for 2 in The Crowne Plaza Hotel is Louise Whelan. Well done Louise, Congratulations. Make sure you follow St. Finians GAA on Instagram for loads of info and more competitions!!

With this in mind, lets see what happened

over the last week on the pitches : Our Club are very proud of our Adult Camogie team who have had 3 players named on the Dublin intermediate panel, Jules McDonald, Ciara Buchanan and Claire McManamon. They played at Parnells GAA, Coolock v Antrim. It was a tight match and final score was Dublin 0-7 to 0-9.

Great support was shown on the day and pictured is Ciara Buchanan and Jules McDonald. Huge congrats to Emma Howe and Teagan Cromber who made the U16 LGFA Dublin panels from St. Finians GAA. So proud of our girls!

It was a busy opening league weekend for the adult Hurlers. The first team showed good spirit to claw back a significant deficit heading into the final quarter to get a draw.

With Adam O’Shaughnessy with Eoin O’Connor and Conor Halpin energetic in attack scores began to flow.

NAOMH MEARNOG OUR club is endeavoring to build a community outreach team to help us to communicate more effectively with our members and with the community in general. If you can spare 30 minutes per week, there’s lots of ways you can get involved, posting on social media, website, compiling content for our weekly emails or designing our marketing materials. If you would like to get involved please e mail pro.naomhmearnog@dublingaa.ie.

We are also looking for 2 people to join the stats team and work with our senior footballers. If you are interested, contact Richie Fitzmaurice.

Despite the appalling weather, it was a very busy weekend on the playing fields. Our senior footballers collected their first league points of the season with a hard fought 3 point victory over Raheny. Our AFL11N team made it 2 wins in a row when they defeated Starlights. We had victories also for our Under 15 and 16 hurlers. Our under 10 boys played Raheny and it was interesting to notice the same sponsors name on both sets of jerseys.

The girls had a very busy weekend also with the Under, 11, 12 and 14 ladies football teams recording decisive victories. Due to a blizzard, the under 16 game was abandoned when someone mistook the referee for a snowman and shoved a carrot in his mouth.

Congratulations to our Under 12 camogie girls who last weekend won a very competitive tournament in Gormanstown.

Our adult hurlers are back in action next Sunday. Our AHL3 team is away to St. Pats Palmerstown at 10-30 while the AHL8 lads are away to Lucan at 3pm.

Our minor footballers have a home fixture against Round Towers Clondalkin at 11.

RUGBY: HOME PLAYOFF TIE NOW THE TARGET

Malahide grind out crucial 2C success AIL DIVISION 2C Malahide 19 Midleton 14  sport@dublingazette.com

MALAHIDE RFC continued their remarkable rise in AIL Division 2C as they eye a potential home semi-final for the promotion playoffs.

They battled their way to a 19-14 win over Midleton at Estuary Road, making it nine wins in their last 11 games, bouncing back from a slow start to the campaign in which they lost their first three ties.

David Quirke showed serious gas to get them over for the first try on a wet and windy day last Saturday.

Mildeton replied in kind to tie the game up at 7-7 off the back of a scrum but the north Dublin club edged back in front in the second half

Malahide on the attack in the wind and rain against Midleton last Saturday.

Picture: Bernie O’Farrell

with a try just before half-time.

With the gale at their backs, John Shine then got the game winning try when he finished off after sustained pressure and good carries from the likes of Rory Kavanagh

and Marcus McAllister.

It put them 19-9 clear with time running out and while the second placed east Cork side did get a try back, Malahide had another key win against one of their promotion rivals.

It leaves them in fifth place in the 2C table with four rounds of matches to go. They face struggling Thomond next before hosting runaway leaders Ballina before winnable ties against Omagh and Bangor in April.

FIRST EVER CAMOGIE SIDE IN 100 YEARS Garda/Westmanstown break new ground

GARDA/Westmanstown Gaels’ Under-13s took part in the first competitive camogie league fixture in the near 100 year history of the club last week.

The girls enthusiastically welcomed Erin’s Isle to Westmanstown and started their league campaign in style.

Traditionally a football club, hurling and camogie were introduced into Westmanstown in recent years and since then have continued to grow and flourish. The first camogie team formed in 2015 as an Under-9s team and are now ready for the next challenge.

There are now over 110 girls actively enjoying the sport on the field with teams at Under-13s, 12s, 11s, 9s and 8s. Every Saturday morning in the nursery, the next generations are taught the fundamental skills in a safe and fun environment.

7 March 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 31

FOOTBALL: MALAHIDE CLUB ENJOY BIG WIN OVER WHITEHALL COLMCILLES

FOOTBALL

St Sylvester’s Andrew Cunningham (2) has played a key role in their super start to the season.

Fins’ Duff central to TG4’s Laochra Gael show

Hazley heroics keeps Syls perfect run going AFL DIVISION 2 St Sylvester’s Whitehall Colmcilles  sport@dublingazette.com

3-17 0-3

ST SYLVESTER’S senior footballers maintained their perfect start to Adult Football League Division Two, with a comprehensive victory over Whitehall Colmcille.

Following a narrow victory over Kilmacud Crokes ‘B’ in the first round of matches, Sylvesters were ruthless, racing into a 0-12 to 0-2 lead at half time.

Syls started strong and had a threepoint lead in the first five minutes, which was increased to six by the tenth. A high work rate was maintained throughout the half, to leave the Malahide side in a commanding position at the interval.

They didn’t let up after the break and a brace of penalties from Mark Hazley quickly put Syls out of sight, with a scoreline of 2-15 to 0-3.

After the break, corner-forward Hazley began to dominate, grabbing a second half hatrick for the away side.

He also added four points from frees to go along with his two spot kicks and he was equally adept in open play as he was in front of the posts, finishing with a score of 3-7.

In defence, Conor Quinn, Andrew Cunningham and Dan Deneher made sure Syls were organised and disciplined in their work.

It was a great all-round team display and the competition for places was summed up by the performance of substitutes like Pearse Gibney and Sean Daly.

There was also a senior debut for Josh Bannon and a return to action for Jamie Kennedy following a long time out with injury.

The panel now focus on another away assignment in AFL 2 against Scoil Ui Chonaill on the last Sunday of the month.

Sylvesters are joined in the early race for promotion by Ballyboughal and Castleknock. Boughal had the edge over Round Tower Clondalkin on home soil [3-13 to 1-5], while Castleknock, relegated alongside Syls in 2018, emerged on the right side of a 1-12 to 1-8 result in Clontarf.

Round Tower Lusk couldn’t make it two wins from two but remain unbeaten following a 0-10 to 1-7 result against Naomh Olaf.

The weather proved the difference in Portmarnock as Naomh Mearnog were able to bounce back from their opening game defeat, beating Raheny by 0-11 to

0-8.

Meanwhile, in the AFL 1, two Fingal teams faced off as Naomh Maur and Fingallians met at Lawless Park, St Brigid’s grabbed a draw against Na Fianna.

After both sides earned impressive victories in the first round of games, it was Fins who looked the more likely as they

led by 2-3 to 0-5 at halftime.

However, despite playing the second half with 14 players, the Rush side dug deep and ultimately ran out with the slenderest of wins [2-9 to 2-8].

A brace of goals from Philly Ryan was enough for St Brigid’s to claim a share of the spoils at Russell Park [2-12 each].

St Sylvester’s Ross Hazley

FINGALLIANS’ Kieran Duff will be the centrepiece of Wednesday, March 13’s Laochra Gael as he gets the TG4 treatment, telling his personal story in a one-hour special.

Duff was the darling of Hill 16 but he was the subject of much controversy in his playing career.

He was Dublin’s key forward in the 1980s but his hard man image made him very unpopular outside The Pale, especially after his sending off in the infamous 1983 All Ireland Final.

But was his illrepute deserved?

What effect did that reputation have on his personal life? Is there more to his story than meets the eye? This episode is a deeply personal journey with an iconic GAA figure.

His story is told by his beloved wife Mags Duff, former Dublin team mate Barney Rock, archrival and former Galway player Brian Talty and journalist Vincent Hogan.

The show airs first at 9.30pm on Wednesday, March 13.

GazetteSPORT MARCH 7-13, 2019

ALL OF YOUR FINGAL SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31

MALAHIDE ON THE MARCH

RUGBY: Estuary Road club beat second placed Midleton to close in significantly on a potential home playoff place SEE P30

SUPER SYL’S FOOTBALL: Mark

Hazley runs up big personal total at Sylvester’s make it two wins from two. SEE P31

BOUNCING BACK AT BOHS SOCCER: James Talbot reflects on tough times in England and shining now on his return to Dublin with Bohemians SEE P28

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Rowe and Healy dovetail to lead Dubs victory  sport@dublingazette.com

DUBLIN overcame a spirited challenge from Westmeath at the DCU Sportsgrounds on Sunday to make it three wins on the bounce in Division One of the Lidl National Football League.

Despite the best efforts of Westmeath attacker Anna Jones, the experience of Clann Mhuire’s Carla Rowe and St Brigid’s Noelle Healy helped the Sky Blues to maintain their push for a semi-final spot.

Dublin stay hot on the heels of unbeaten Galway and Donegal with their third win on the bounce, but they were made to fight hard for it by Sean Finnegan’s spirited side.

“To be honest, when you play in those conditions it obviously changes the way you can view things. There was a lot of good, battling qualities from the players,” said manager Mick Bohan of the performance as he gave pitch time to Sinead Goldrick for the first time this season.

“Obviously today, that spirit just to fight for dirty ball was a key element, so we’re happy to get through it. A lot of girls got game time again, which is obviously our objective.

“The Sinead Goldricks and the Sinead Ahernes need to play. They can’t just come back on the stage and play a certain level without game time.

That’s Goldie’s first 15 or 20 minutes of football this year.

“It’s a thin line between

Dublin boss Mick Bohan.

Picture: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

“That spirit to fight for dirty ball was a key element, so we’re happy to get through it.“ trying to give people game time and at the same time making sure the players that you certainly know are going to be involved, are going to get game time and they’re going to be sharp.”

Dublin broke the deadlock through an Eabha Rutledge point, before the impressive Jones responded at the opposite end. Amidst a torrential downpour at the St Clare’s venue, Dublin slowly settled into their customary

attacking stride.

After Rowe’s closerange free edged them back in front, Aoife Kane split the posts in effortless style on the rightwing. She subsequently added a brace of points to her personal tally, including a sublime effort from play on the stroke of 20 minutes.

She dovetailed effect ive l y w i t h W hy t e throughout the opening period and her Clann Mhuire compatriot raised

another white flag to give Dublin a 0-6 to 0-1 interval cushion Having welcomed back Healy to the starting lineup for this contest – a precursor to the summer meeting between the two counties in the Leinster Championship – Bohan subsequently introduced Sinead Goldrick as one of four half-time substitutions.

Even though Siobhan Killeen’s point was cancelled out by the industri-

ous Jones, Dublin grabbed the opening goal of the game on 41 minutes.

Healy’s speculative shot looked set to float over the crossbar, only to ultimately drift beyond the reach of stranded Westmeath goalkeeper Karen Walsh.

While this offered Dublin a seemingly unassailable eight-point buffer, a gallant Westmeath persevered with their challenge. Leanne Slevin found the range on the third-quarter mark, and

with Metropolitan midfielder Olwen Carey in the sin-bin, Westmeath secured a three-pointer of their own.

With just nine remaining, Jones bravely palmed beyond the reach of Dublin’s replacement ’keeper Rachel Fleming.

This was as close as the Lake County came to staging a comeback, however, and a stoppage-time point by 2018 Footballer of the Year Sinead Aherne eased Dublin over the line.