Dublin Gazette: Fingal Edition

DublinGazette JUNE 13 - 19, 2019

DUBLINMAGAZINE: It’s an Irish summer

out there – the rain confirms it – but you’ll find plenty of sunny content inside! SEE PAGE 13

Fingal Edition FREE

THE LATEST NEWS & SPORT FROM THE FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL AREA

JANUARY 4-10, 2018

MALAHIDE YOGA FUN SPORT GOLF:

Portmarnock and The Island set to play hosts to huge Amateur Championship. SEE P28

YOGA-T TO ENJOY YOURSELVES: This group of women were just some of the many people who came along to the fifth Yoga in the Park on the lawn of Malahide Castle and Gardens. The day was a great success, raising a whopping €14,100 in aid of Chernobyl Children International, LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, and St Michaels House Baldoyle. See full gallery next week. Picture: Alison O’Hanlon

TRAVEL

EXPLORE SOME OF MEXICO’S MANY DELIGHTS PAGE 18

New Mayor gets a special delivery Son born just hours into the job

SYLVIA POWNALL

Find us on Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

NEWLY elected Mayor of Fingal Cllr Eoghan O’Brien is celebrating on the double after he and his wife Lynn welcomed their baby son into the world on Friday.

The Fianna Fail representative, who

topped the poll in Howth-Malahide, became proud dad to little Oisin O’Brien on the same day he donned his chain of office.

Oisin arrived four weeks early and was born at 11.41pm on Friday, just hours after the new council held its inaugural meeting to elect a Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

A beaming Eoghan told Dublin Gazette:

“My head is still spinning. You’d be alive a long time to find a day like that with two huge events one after the other.

“Little did I know that being elected Mayor of Fingal would be the second-best thing that would happen to me that day.

“Lynn was in the gallery at Friday’s meeting and there’s been speculation that the excitement might have brought on an early labour!”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Communities in mourning as two killed in accidents TWO Fingal communities are in mourning following the tragic deaths of a man and women, with tributes paid to both. Balbriggan teacher Fiona Geraghty (27) died after the bus she was travelling on reportedly hit an overhead sign in Dubai; less than 24 hours later, Oldtown native John Byrne (39) died after he was hit by a car while crossing a road in Rush last Friday.

SEE PAGE 5

2 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 13 June 2019

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DAD – AND NEW FCC MAYOR – ON BIRTH OF SON OISIN

Mayor honour ‘the second-best thing to happen that day’  SYLVIA POWNALL

spownall@dublingazette.com

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Cllr O’Brien will take up his mayoral duties once he catches his breath, with newly elected Clonsilla-based Cllr Tom Kitt (FF) voted in as Deputy Mayor.

He revealed that baby Oisin, who arrived into the world weighing in at 6lb 8oz, will spend some time in the Intensive Care Unit because he was born prematurely.

He said: “He was four and a half weeks early and there’s a couple of small things that we were told are par for the course, difficulty with breathing, and they are monitoring other things as well.

“He’s still in the NeoNatal ICU and there’s a possibility he’ll be in the Rotunda beyond when

Cllr Eoghan O’Brien (FF) with his newborn son, Oisin; right: Oisin’s big brother, Tadhg, inspects his dad’s chains as the newly appointed Mayor of Fingal

Lynn is discharged. But he’s doing well, all things considered. Lynn is healing up well also.”

Lynn was in the gallery at Friday’s council meeting along with the couple’s two-year-old

son, Tadhg, and Eoghan’s extended family.

He explained: “Lynn headed on home after the meeting and I was going across the road with council colleagues and staff.

“I got a call at 8pm to say she was in the car with her dad on the way to the Rotunda. Luckily my folks were still in Swords having a meal and they dropped me in.

“I got there at 8.45pm and Oisin was born at 11.47pm. I’m still reeling from it all. I’ve already had to lean on my Deputy Mayor who, in fairness, is only in the door as a newly elected councillor.

‘Brilliant’ “But my colleagues have been incredibly helpful. Everyone has been brilliant.”

Cllr O’Brien has been a member of Fingal County Council since he was coopted in 2007 to fill the seat vacated by his TD brother, Darragh.

Originally from Malahide, he now lives in Kinsealy and works as a business development re p re s e n ta t ive w i t h FMCG.

FASTNews

Major drop in Fingal’s jobless figure noted UNEMPLOYMENT figures across Fingal have dropped significantly in the past year, the latest report from the Central Statistics Office shows.

Live Register figures in each social welfare office serving Fingal show a year on year drop in numbers signing on – in some areas exceeding 20%.

Welcoming the news, Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) said: “In the Swords office, which also serves Malahide and Donabate, the number of people on the Live Register has fallen by 15% in the last year.

“In the Balbriggan office, serving Skerries and the North County, the annual reduction up until May of this year is 21%. Figures for the Kilbarrack office, which serves Portmarnock, show a 13% decrease in those on the Live Register in the last year.”

The Labour Force Survey, Ireland’s key source of employment data, last month published figures indicating that more than 2.3 million people were employed in Ireland in the first quarter of 2019 – a 3.6% increase on the same quarter of 2018.

‘Temporary’ Rush school road closure gets Google questioned funding DONABATE Portrane Community Council (DPCC) has questioned plans for a six-month “temporary” road closure of the Hearse Road in Donabate.

The community council wants the arrangements – to facilitate laying new water pipes – to be modified and has hit out at what it describes as a lack of prior consultation.

Fingal County Council proposes that the road will close Sunday to Thursday from 10pm to 6am the following morning, from Monday, July 1, to Friday, December 20.

A DPCC spokesperson said: “We suggest alternative closing times of 12:30am to 5:30am to reduce this, particularly as a number of buses are due to run on the Hearse Rd and would be impacted by the closure.

A stop-and-go system will also be in place between 8pm and 10pm nightly – something which was not mentioned in the published closure notice and which only came to light via representations from local councillors.

ST JOSEPH’S Secondary School in Rush is among six Irish recipients of a Google funding programme aimed at bringing coding and digital literacy to all in a fun and engaging way.

The school will receive an allocation of up to €6,000 under the EU Code Week Grants scheme which will run from October 5-20 and see more than 3,000 children across Ireland participate in fun coding activities.

Claire Conneely, CS Education Programme Manager at Google, said: “The European Commission predicts that in the next 10 to 15 years, 90% of all jobs will require some level of digital skills.

“Therefore, it has become more important for teachers to incorporate coding and digital skills in the classroom, something that both the Educator Grants and EU Code Week Grants aim to address from different perspectives.

“The interest and standard of applications this year was unprecedented.”

13 June 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 3

ARTS: DUBLIN 15 GROUP WOW AUDIENCE WITH TERRIFIC MUSICAL

Mamma Mia! What a show from special needs actors SYLVIA POWNALL

A GROUP of adults with special needs had the audience dancing in the aisles with their performance of the ABBA-inspired musical Mamma Mia recently.

The 11 service users from The Westenders and Stepping Stones in Dublin 15 tapped into their creative side to put on a spectacular show at Huntstown Community Centre.

TU Dublin drama lecturer Maria Kenneally said she was blown away by the group of five men and six women aged in their 20s and 30s who were ready to take to the stage after just seven rehearsals.

She told Dublin Gazette: “I taught them drama for eight weeks and the focus was to improve their imagination, confi-

dence, concentration and communication skills – and just to have fun and work as a team.

“They chose Mamma Mia themselves. It was about giving them selfbelief and by the end of it they had so much confidence that they wanted to do solo performances.”

The performance was staged on May 30 with children from the local creche among the rapt audience.

Maria revealed: “It was an absolutely amazing performance with both adults and children joining in the celebration.

“They were up on their feet dancing and singing.

It was a brilliant example of community integration, respect and diversity.

“My spec ial needs actors were brilliant – and

FASTNews

Kids turn stones into €2k for Pieta House BIG-HEARTED kids from a Casleknock school recently presented a cheque for €2,000 to Pieta House, thanks to the pupils’ efforts to support the popular charity.

Pupils from Fourth Class in St Patricks NS, Diswellstown sold hand-painted ‘mandala stones’ – flat, circular painted stones that are said to have healing properties – selling approximately 600 stones.

The hand-painted stones were a hit, with Deirdre Hayden, collecting the cheque for Pieta House, paying tribute to the pupils for their fundraising efforts.

Toastmasters’ new committee The 11 service users from The Westenders and Stepping Stones in Dublin 15 were hailed for their hugely entertaining staging of Mamma Mia at Huntstown Community Centre

it was a very emotional day for them and their families.

“We want to do it again because it was so successful and are thinking about a talent show later in the summer.

“The participants in this drama group have special needs but also special talents, and this project combined music, drama and movement in a hugely entertaining, educational way.”

The cast of 11 were Fiona Blake, Lauren Byrne, Mary O’Connell, Adam Eglington, Stevie Ford, Margaret Curtis, Conor Howe, Jerome Moran, Alicia Power, Muanait Kennedy and Stephen Bradley.

DUBLIN 15 Toastmasters has elected its new committee for 2019/2020 and is inviting new members to join the public speaking club.

Clodagh O’Donovan is the incoming President and Edward Murphy is Deputy President, with Oran O’Neill in the role of PR. The club’s next meeting takes place on Wednesday, June 19 at 7.45pm in St Mochta’s Parish Parochial Centre, Porterstown.

This will be the last meeting before September.

No invitation is needed for anyone who wants to drop in and find out a bit more about the club. Just turn up, or phone Tony at 086 822 1274 for more information.

4 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 13 June 2019

COURTS: FULLY SUSPENDED SENTENCE HANDED TO SWORDS FATHER-OF-ONE

Man with 4,000 child porn images walks free A FATHER-OF-ONE who was caught with more than 4,000 images and videos of child pornography has walked free from court with a fully suspended sentence.

Michal Wojciak (36), of Ridgewood Grove, Swords came forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on a signed plea of guilty from the District Court.

He admitted possession of the child pornography at his former home in Sandyford on September 19, 2012. He has no previous convictions.

Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced Wojciak to two years in prison but suspended this sentence due to his cooperation with gardai, his remorse and the administrative delay in dealing with the offence.

The judge also noted that Wojciak had not come to garda attention since and that both a probation report and a psychologist’s report had assessed him as being at low risk of re-offending.

At an earlier hearing Detective Garda Suzanne Carlos said gardai secured

“an address of interest” following peer-to-peer software monitoring in which the downloading of a number of images was “flagged”.

During a search of Wojciak’s apartment, two laptops, two external hard drives and a CD were seized.

The items were not forensically analysed until August 2016, during which 681 videos and 3,873 images of child pornography were discovered.

Det Gda Carlos confirmed that the images and videos, one of which was 24 minutes long, were of pre-teen girls and teenage girls engaged in various sexual activity, including interactions with adults.

Wojc iak made full admissions, although he initially denied that he had “actively looked for child pornography”. The court heard he had not shared the images.

Det Gda Carlos said the delay in having the confiscated items analysed was due to “a major resource issue” within

“

During a search, two laptops, two external hard drives and a CD were seized. The items were not forensically analysed until August 2016, during which 681 videos and 3,873 images of child pornography were discovered. the unit at the time.

Wojciak told gardai in January 2018: “A lot of stuff happened in the last five years ... I regret what I did, what I did was wrong and I have to take the consequences.”

Tusla became involved

when gardai learned that Wojciak had a child but no concerns came to light.

His legal counsel said he lost his job in 2018 as a result of this case.

Judge Quinn ordered Wojciak to keep the peace

and be of good behaviour for two years and to remain under the supervision of the Probation Services during this time.

Wo j c i a k w a s a l s o ordered to continue to engage in a sex offenders’ treatment programme, to

take part in any offence and victim-focused work as directed, and not to have any contact, direct or indirect, with any child under the age of 18, except in the presence of the parent or guardian of the child.

Council lodges an application for ‘iconic’ greenway to link Malahide with Donabate FINGAL County Council has lodged an application to build an “iconic” greenway across the Broadmeadow estuary linking Malahide with Donabate.

The Broadmeadow Way proposes a 6km walking and cycling coastal boardwalk running adjacent to the railway line from Malahide Demesne to Newbridge Demesne.

If it gets the go-ahead, it is expected to connect with the proposed Fingal Coastal Way – a 32km stretch of greenway connecting Donabate, Rush,

Skerries and Balbriggan.

Plans for the route have been lodged with An Bord Pleanala.

The council said, if approved, the project would provide “an iconic route” for walkers and cyclists of all ages and abilities.

Interim council chief executive AnnMarie Farrelly said the Broadmeadow project was part of “an exciting programme” of greenway infrastructure under development in Fingal.

Senior engineer Paul Carroll said it will “showcase the stunning natural scenery of the north County Dublin coastline

Broadmeadow estuary

and provide a scenic and direct route between the growing communities of Malahide and

Donabate, as well as linking the two popular destinations of Malahide Castle and New-

bridge House”.

He said “considerable” preparatory work had gone into bringing the scheme to this stage and a Natura Impact Statement, Environmental Impact Assessment Report and a Compulsory Purchase Order would form part of the application.

Mr Carroll invited anyone with an interest in the scheme to provide their views on the proposal. Full details are available on www.fingalcoco. ie via its public consultation portal.

FASTNews Swords Castle to host a fun day for kids and youths FINGAL Libraries will host a day of free creativity for children and young people at Swords Castle on Saturday, June 15.

Cruinniu na nOg will have something for everyone with story time, circus performers, Lego workshops, a magic show, a puppet show and an animal road show featuring exotic creatures including lizards, snakes, owls, tortoises and more.

As part of the event, there will also be a series of creative workshops for children in Dublin 15 with projects displayed at Blanchardstown Library.

These will include musical instruments, minispeakers, motion motors, wearable tech and stunning LED artwork.

All events are free of charge though some may need to be booked in advance.

For further information, contact Blanchardstown Library at 01 890 5563, or email linda.larrigan@ fingal.ie.

Full details of the programme can be found at http://fingal.ie/communityand-leisure/libraries/cruinniuinthecastle/.

Get fit for free in Swords gym programme IF YOU fancy getting fit for free then Gym Plus in Swords wants to hear from you.

For the second year running the gym has partnered with Ireland Active for a Europe-wide initiative aimed at encouraging 60,000 adults across eight countries to become active and lead healthier lives.

Gym Plus Swords team is looking to recruit 30-40 inactive adults to join a free tailored exercise programme to improve overall fitness and eating habits over six weeks starting in July.

For more information visit www.gymplus.ie. To speak to the Gym Plus Swords team about #BeActive or to join the programme just contact 01 807 5620.

13 June 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 5

DEATHS: TRAGEDIES IN RUSH AND DUBAI SHOCKS COMMUNITIES, AS TRIBUTES TO VICTIMS FLOW

Two Fingal families in mourning as man, woman die in road accidents SYLVIA POWNALL

TWO Fingal families have been plunged into grief following road tragedies in Rush and Dubai which claimed the lives of loved ones.

Oldtown native John Byrne (39) died after he was hit by a car while crossing the Whitestown Road in Rush at lunchtime on Friday.

Less than 24 hours earlier, Balbriggan teacher Fiona Geraghty (27) died after the bus she was travelling on reportedly hit an overhead sign in Dubai.

John had Down syndrome and attended the Prosper Fingal centre for people with disabilities in Rush daily. He was also a popular member of Remember Us. His parents, Tom and Barbara, and his siblings, Daire and Aine, decided

to donate his organs after his passing.

His heartbroken dad Tom said: “As my wife Barbara said to me, ‘If John is alive in other people, he is not dead at all’.

John was very healthy.

“He didn’t smoke or drink, so he ticked all the boxes when it came to organ donation.

“Although he was 39, he was only five feet tall and weighed less than eight stone. To us, he was our boy, he was our pal.

He was a very sociable lad and loved the discos and meeting people.”

Social media was flooded with tributes for John in the aftermath of the tragedy with Fingal Ravens GFC among the clubs to honour his memory.

A book of condolences has been opened in Prosper Fingal, Rush for any-

one who wishes to sign it.

Remember Us posted: “It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of our beloved Cool Rocker member John Byrne ... John will be greatly missed by everyone, especially his friends here in Remember Us.” Gardai are reviewing CCTV which captured images of Friday’s incident. They have appealed for witnesses to contact Balbriggan garda station at 01 666 4500.

Fiona’s family flew to Dubai last Friday after receiving the devastating news that she was one of 17 people killed in a bus smash on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed road.

The popular teacher from Hampton Cove in Balbriggan was the daughter of Christopher and Mary Geraghty and sister to David and Rob-

Baldoyle users to benefit from fashion sale’s €62k for St Michael’s House ONE of the country’s largest providers of communitybased services for children and adults with intellectual disabilities received a cash boost via a fashion sale.

The New To You event raised €62,000 in aid of St Michael’s House – with Google generously matching the donation raised by the fashion sale.

This year, the money raised will aid the development of respite and specialised care projects that will benefit 18 service users from St Michael’s House Baldoyle Day Service with profound intellectual disabilities.

ert, who announced her death online “with broken hearts”.

Posting on Facebook, David wrote: “Today is the saddest day of my life.

I lost my sister Fiona in a bus accident in Dubai last night.

“She will be forever in my memory and in my heart as she was loved deeply.”

Fiona, a past pupil of Loreto School in Balbriggan, was a popular teacher at St Mologa’s SNS who had been taking a yearlong break in Dubai.

Her boyfriend was injured in the crash.

She was recalled in a message circulated to parents by St Mologa’s as “an enthusiastic, energetic teacher who always got the best from her students ... lively but calm, strong but gentle ... and loved by staff and pupils alike”.

Pictured above are Michael Farrell, director of Adult Services at St Michael’s House and New To You chairperson Niamh Hanratty with the cheque for €62,000, and (inset) St Michael’s House staff member Carol Farrell, from the Day Service in Baldoyle, with local service user Kathy McCabe.

John Byrne (39), of Oldtown

Fiona Geraghty (27), of Balbriggan

Major works begin at Clonsilla garden

MAJOR restoration works have commenced at The Shackleton Gardens (right) in Beech Park, Clonsilla as part of a €400,000 investment.

The development of a major tourism attraction has moved a step closer after Fingal County Council awarded contracts for the main restoration and reconstruction works.

The gardens, which include an internationally famous plant collection, were acquired by the council last year with a view to opening them to the public as an important visitor attraction in the Dublin 15 area.

The work will involve the rebuilding of large sections of the garden walls, upgrading of paths and the restoration of garden buildings.

Workers will be on site in two weeks to begin the restoration and it will take approximately three months to complete.

The council’s Parks and Operations staff are also working with a local volunteer group on the conservation and replanting of the collection which includes a wide range of herbaceous perennials, shrubs and specimen trees.

The Shackleton Gardens at Beech Park

Interim council chief executive AnneMarie Farrelly said: “The restoration and rebuilding of The Shackleton Gardens will provide a fantastic recreational and tourist attraction for Dublin 15.

“The gardens were once considered the best walled gardens in the country, with a unique collection of plants.”

During the 1980s, the 1.5-acre gardens were included in The Good Gardens Guide and were awarded two stars – the highest accolade awarded and reserved for the very best gardens in Britain and Ireland.

6 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 13 June 2019

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

The Dunne family. Pictures: Alison O’Hanlon

Ciara, Conor and Justin O’Toole

Leo Plunkett and Cathal Loftus

Clodagh and Cara

Communion Day for St Francis Xavier SNS and St Marnocks

Olivia Morrissey

Joey Farrell

The Gibson family

Kate with her parents

The O’Brien family

Nina and Laura

13 June 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 7

FASTNews

CRIME: POLICING BOOST WELCOMED – BUT WARNING MORE NEEDED

A cautious welcome as 27 Garda recruits set for Blanch SYLVIA POWNALL

No plans to run 33D through port tunnel CLLR Paul Mulville (SD) has hit out at a decision not to expand the 33D direct bus route from Portrane to the city centre via the Port Tunnel.

He was told that there were no plans to add to the timetable, despite his calls for more frequency in light of the rapid building development on the peninsula.

The NTA indicated it was considering an application from a private bus operator to provide a direct route to the city centre during peak hours.

While giving this a cautious welcome, Cllr Mulville warned of possible price increases, adding: “This is a vital route to and from Dublin at peak hours. This [private operator] is welcome news if it genuinely means a marked improvement in access to the city.

“However ... it would be very much against the interests of the peninsula if the plan here is to introduce a private operator on the same route as the 33D, and then eventually phase out the Dublin Bus service.”

NEWS that 27 of the new garda recruits will be stationed in Blanchardstown has been given a cautious welcome.

Almost half of new graduates will be sent to areas hardest hit by gang violence, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan announced last week.

As a result of this decision, 28 of the 201 new gardai leaving Templemore last week have been assigned to Coolock, with 27 assigned to Blanchardstown, and 30 stationed in Drogheda.

Reacting to the news, local Cllr Paul Donnelly (SF) said: “27 new gardai for Blanchardstown is very much welcomed in tackling not just gun crime and gangland violence but also burglaries, theft and anti-social behaviour.

“This must be seen as only a first-tier response in tackling gangland violence – we also need a second- and third-tier response that includes all local community, voluntary and statutory agencies.

“We must have a well-funded early intervention team that identifies young people at risk of being groomed by drug gangs.

“We are still nowhere near the full complement required for a population of well over 100,000 people.

“Dublin 15 is expanding rapidly and these recruits should only be seen as the first wave of extra garda resources.”

Minister Flanagan said the new garda members were already earmarked for those areas before the recent murders in Coolock.

He said high-visibility polic-

ing would “ensure that ordinary people can go about their lawful business safely”.

Earlier this month, a man was shot and injured at Lidl in Blakestown and last month a secondary school in Blanchardstown went into lockdown after shots were fired outside the gates as students were preparing to leave for the day.

Cllr Donnelly told Dublin Gazette: “In the short term, we need more gardai policing this until these feuding gangs hopefully come to their senses.

“In the medium- to long-term we need organisations like Tusla, Safer Blanchardstown and all the therapeutic services and schools to sit down and figure out a way to support young people.

“There are young people being traumatised by this violence,

Hikers give a Kerry-ffic thumbs up

All welcome Repair work at 30th Mass to begin on for hospice 22 schools MASS in celebration of St Francis Hospice’s 30th anniversary will be held in St Mary’s Pro Cathedral, Marlborough Place on Sunday, June 23 at 11am.

The hospice was born from the vision of Dr Mary Redmond, whose father had received palliative care when he was very ill.

Mary recognised the need for a hospice to serve north Dublin and in 1989, with the support of the Daughters of Charity, the Capuchin Friars and the forerunner of the HSE, set the project in motion.

The fledgling service, comprising one GP and a few community palliative care nurses, began operating from three porta cabins based in the Capuchin Friary.

Today, St Francis Hospice, with in-patient facilities in both Blanchardstown and Raheny, provides a service to those with life-limiting illnesses who require specialist palliative care.

All are welcome to attend the mass later this month for the Feast of Corpus Christi service.

REMEDIATION works on several Fingal schools found to have structural flaws last year are to begin this summer, the Department of Education has confirmed.

Precautionary measures are already in place at the schools built by Western Building Systems, which has been embroiled in controversy over building standards.

Education Minister Joe McHugh last week announced a remediation programme for all 22 schools affected.

However, a separate remediation plan is being put in place for Ardgillan Community College in Balbriggan, part of which remains closed.

The Department said: “Detailed investigations took place in the schools. They were completed recently, allowing engineering experts to design permanent remediation works for affected schools.”

Works will be carried out at Castlemills Education Centre in Balbriggan, Tyrellstown Educate Together National School and St Luke’s National School, Tyrellstown.

either directly through their own families or in the community when they hear the shots or see the bodies or see armed gardai.

“These are the kids we need to have intervention for. I’ve been working in the community for a long time and I’ve never seen this level of violence or scale of weapons being used by people so young.

“The Criminal Assets Bureau needs to hit the mid-level dealers – the 18- and 19-year-olds who are driving top of the range sports cars, with jet skis and Rolex watches, holidaying abroad six times a year without having worked a day in their lives.

“Kids in some working-class areas look at them and want all that, because they don’t know any different.”

SWORDS local Helen Finnerty from Kinsealy Court and Ciaran Mahony, Swords Manor, are pictured as they undertook Debra Ireland’s Kerry Challenge recently.

The three-day trek through the Dingle Peninsula in late May saw the duo joining many others to help raise funds for Debra Ireland, the charity that supports people with the rare and incredible painful skin condition EB (epidermolysis bullosa).

Also known as ‘butterfly skin’, the condition causes the skin, both inside and out, to blister and wound at the slightest touch, with Helen and Ciaran hiking in Kerry to help EB sufferers.

Picture: Willie Dillon Photography

Two food businesses fall foul of checks TWO food businesses in Fingal were ordered to partially or fully close after being found in breach of food safety legislation in May. A Food Closure Order was served on the Garda Recreation Club at Westmanstown Sports Centre in Dublin 15 after rodent droppings were found.

All areas related to food

and drink in the restaurant were closed on May 16 under the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act 1998, and were reopened the following day.

A food hygiene inspection report found that rodent droppings were present “through the premises”. This included kitchen, bar and carvery areas.

“Adequate procedures are not in place to control pests,” the report states.

A Closure Order was served under the EC (Official Control of Footstuffs) Regulations 2010 on the Orient sushi restaurant at Unit 1, Castlemill Shopping Centre, Balbriggan.

It was ordered to cease all aspects of activity relating to the production,

sale and distribution of foods using raw fish and/ or acidified rice including sushi, nigiri, maki and sashimi.

The restaurant was closed after an inspection dated May 31 found that “both chefs informed this department that they had received no food hygiene training”.

The inspection also

stated: “The chef could not tell this department how long raw fish for sushi had been in the freezer. This is important for killing pathogens in raw fish.”

FSAI chief executive Dr Pamela Byrne said poor standards and lack of staff training was posing a serious risk to consumers’ health.

8 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 13 June 2019

FAMILIES: DAD HAILS SPIRIT OF HIS CHILDREN, AND POPULAR ACTIVITY

Cerebral Palsy is no obstacle to Charlie, 15, in the Scouts SYLVIA POWNALL

Joe Watson and his eldest son, Charlie, were both having a great time with their local Scouts unit

DUBLIN BUS driver Joe Watson is well known for his banter with passengers – but for many, his real claim to fame is as a leader

with the 164th Scout Troop in Swords.

The 47-year-old first began volunteering with the Brackenstown unit nine years ago because he wanted his eldest son, Charlie, to get involved in a social activity.

Charlie, now 15, has Cerebral Palsy and Joe was keen for him to broaden his horizons and experiences and indulge his love of outdoor pursuits.

He told Dublin Gazette: “When Charlie was born we were told he’d never walk, he’d never talk, he’d be blind, he’d be fed through a tube.

“I remember being outside Crumlin Hospital crying ... but look at him now.

He’s out cycling a bike, he’s in Scouts, he’s active and doing everything he wants to do.

“When we entered him into Beavers, he used a walker at the time but he still went on all the trips.

Then when he moved up to Cubs, one of the leaders asked me to get involved and that was that.

“They say it’s one hour a week, but I volunteer a lot more than that. My wife Sinead doesn’t see much of me, but if you commit to something you have to follow through. I love it and so do the kids.”

Charlie is now a seasoned Scout and is showing the ropes to his younger sister, Ella (13). Daniel (9) is now in Cubs and seven-year-old Blake is in Beavers.

Joe, from Abbeyvale, said: “They make friends for life and they also learn skills that will see them

through life. It’s all about teamwork at the end of the day.

“That is where the Community Spirit Awards come in because it pushes the focus of community and working together.”

The Swords dad-of-four says volunteering has become a vocation – and he is encouraging community groups to apply for a Community Spirit Award grant to reward their efforts.

Voluntary and community groups based in any area served by Dublin Bus are eligible to apply for the grants of up to €5,000 which have been put to good use by other Fingal organisations including Portrane Hockey Club.

Joe said: “Charlie is in the middle of his Junior Cert exams but at times you’d think there’s no exams going on in the house.

“If he was any more laid back, he’d be asleep. He’s amazing, he’s an inspiration to me – he’s an inspiration to everyone he meets.

“In general, we don’t give our kids enough credit, but I couldn’t ask for better than mine, they’re great kids.”

• Applications for the 2019 Dublin Bus Community Spirit Awards are available now on www. dublinbus.ie and will be accepted up to 5pm on July 12.

Any voluntary and community group based in an area served by Dublin Bus is eligible to apply for a grant of €1,000, €2,000 or €5,000.

FASTNews

Frothy fun for all at a Bubble Rush event THERE’S lots of frothy fun in the offing thanks to the Bubble Rush fundraiser which is coming to Malahide Castle on Sunday, August 11.

The family-friendly fun run will feature four stations where foam cannons will pump out masses of coloured bubbles to create a four-foot deep bath.

The event is in aid of Make-A-Wish Ireland, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening conditions, and the fun starts at 10am.

Irene Timmons, head of fundraising at Make-AWish said: “We are so excited that Bubble Rush is coming to Malahide. It is a unique, family-friendly event, with no minimum or maximum age limit, and the course is pushchair- and wheelchair-friendly. “ Make-A-Wish is asking people to include some fundraising in their preparation for the event by starting their own fundraiser at https://bubble-rushdublin-2019.everydayhero.com/ie/get-started, or to make a voluntary donation when they sign up through Eventbrite at http://bubble-rush.co.uk/ dublin/ where early bird tickets are now on sale.

Have your say on a Fingal digital strategy FINGAL County Council is inviting input into a digital strategy which will describe how technology can help improve the way we live, work and do business in Fingal.

The council is asking members of the public to say what they would like to see in the strategy which will focus on digital economy, skills and services as well as community, infrastructure and planning for the future.

Over the past months, the local authority has introduced electric car charging points, free town centre public WiFi in Balbriggan, Smart benches and Smart bike-sharing schemes.

It plans to expand the WiFi scheme and Smart benches to other towns as well as introducing solarpowered compacter waste bins, digital signage and phone charging facilities.

Members of the public can make submissions at fingal.ie or via email to digitalfingal@fingal.ie before the deadline of Friday July 12.

Pictured are interim council chief AnnMarie Farrelly and digital strategy manager Aishling Hyland with the Digital Strategy consultation paper.

13 June 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 9

COURTS: WOMAN SUBJECTED TO A VICIOUS, REPEATED ATTACK AT DONABATE CARAVAN HOME

Man who kicked partner in face and head is jailed A MAN who repeatedly kicked his former partner in the face and head has been jailed for 12 months.

Philip Kernan (48), told Angela Bisset: “You like that, do you; do you want more?” during a sustained attack at her caravan home in Donabate which lasted 45 minutes.

She later told gardai that Kernan kicked her in the face and head around 20 times after they came home from a night out drinking in a local hotel.

He also tried to strangle her with his hands around her throat and only stopped the attack

when Ms Bissett pretended to be dead and he left.

She left the caravan and began calling for help and he came back and kicked her again and dragged her back to the caravan.

Ms Bisset lay on a bed and he got into the bed beside her and asked for sex but she said no, the court heard.

Kernan then told her: “He would finish me off if I got the guards” and forced her to make up a story that somebody else had attacked her so she could call an ambulance.

Kernan, of Moreen Road, Sandyford, pleaded

guilty to assault causing harm on September 4, 2016.

Prosecutors told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that Ms Bissett was treated for severe swelling around the eyes and face, a cut lip and a wrist fracture. She received 14 sutures to her face and lip.

In a victim impact statement, Ms Bissett said she still wakes up screaming and with a fear that “he is going to find me and finish me off”.

She said she had nothing left in life to hold on to and that she had difficulties applying lipstick

because of scarring to her lip, adding: “It hits me again each time I look in the mirror.”

Kernan’s legal counsel said he had no previous convictions for violent crimes. She said that this was an isolated incident and that he had since stayed away from alcohol.

She said he was a victim of abuse while at school, suffered chronic post-traumatic stress, and was liable to bouts of anger.

Kernan was given a prison sentence of three years, with the final two years suspended.

In a victim impact statement, the court heard the victim said she still wakes up screaming and with a fear that “he is going to find me and finish me off”

Colaiste na Tulchann looks ahead to a busy second year SYLVIA POWNALL

A well-deserved big party for Tesco staff’s marathon help

TESCO Balbriggan colleagues Catriona Delany, Sandra Hoey and Brenda Ferguson are pictured at The Davenport Hotel, Dublin 2, as part of celebrations following the recent VHI Mini Marathon.

Tesco hosted a celebratory gathering to thank its colleagues from across the country for participating in this year’s Mini Marathon in aid of its charity partner, Temple Street.

Tesco staff from all across Dublin and farther afield put their best feet forward to take part in the mini marathon, joining tens of thousands of other women from

all across the city, county and country to participate in the popular event.

This year, the Tesco ladies came running to help the retail giant support its charity partner, Temple Street, with the staff keen to help support the busy medical hub with its tireless work to help support some of the country’s sickest children, and their families.

The bash at the Davenport was a welcome chance to rest sore feet, meet colleagues, and take a moment to cheer on the fundraising help that the Tesco ladies had helped to give to Temple Street.

COLAISTE na Tulchann is nearing the end of its first year as part of the vibrant learning community that is Luttrellstown Community College.

The school is located on the Luttrellstown campus on the Porterstown Road in Dublin 15, offering students of existing gaelscoileanna the option of continuing their Irish language education locally right through to Leaving Certificate.

Colaiste na Tulchann has made its mark both in the mainstream school and the wider community, and will open an ASD unit for the new school year starting in September.

In its first year, the school initiated a joint school trip to the Gaeltacht, including students from the mainstream school and fielded a hurling team for the first time.

Students from Colaiste

Some of the school’s students, with Colaiste na Tulchann’s students helping the school to already build on the successes of its early days

na Tulchann ran away with awards in orienteering, rugby and they play important roles on various school committees, including Student Council and Green Schools.

School PRO Evelyn Ni Raghaill said: “We participated in the successful world record attempt at the longest Comhra18 as Gaeilge, the events of

Seachtain na Gaeilge and for the first time in the history of Scleip, an entire school was represented on stage in one act.

“We took every chance to engage with the community here in Dublin 15 – the team at Blanchardstown library organises regular literary events as Gaeilge.”

Keep an eye and ear out

on social media as staff and students have been doing radio interviews on PhoenixFM and Raidio Na Life and celebrating their achievements on Twitter (@tulchann).

Staff look forward to welcoming the second cohort of students in September and are looking to create links with other Gaelcholaisti.

10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 13 June 2019

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Pictures: Alison O’Hanlon

St Francis Xavier NS Ready Steady Fun Run F

AMILY and friends of St Francis Xavier NS recently took part in the school’s annual Ready Steady Fun Run followed by an afternoon of games, face painting and fun.

The Fun Day consists of a sponsored walk in the area surrounding the school with refreshments and activities including face painting for the children after the event.

All treats are free of charge to children with a stamp having completed the walk.

13 June 2019 FINGAL ď‚ˆď‚ˆ DUBLIN GAZETTE 11

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

People of all ages came along, with the focus of mental health proving a hit with everyone

Helping mental health The HSE-funded day, held as part of a nationwide initiative aimed at breaking down the stigma of mental illness, provided a valuable community focus for everyone

P

EOPLE of all ages and backgrounds came along to the Beech Park Allotments at Beavers park, Clonsilla recently for an open day focused on supporting mental health.

Hosted as part of a HSE-funded mental health day service in Blanchardstown, the gathering was held as part of the national

Green Ribbon campaign to bring people together to talk and help break down the stigma of mental illness. The open air, pleasant setting, friendly faces and the chance to share a cuppa and a chat all helped to promote the positive message of taking care of your mental health, and supporting mental illness.

12 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13 June 2019

Get going and share the International Picnic Day fun

DUBLINERS: THE STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WHO CALL THIS CITY THEIR HOME

JULIANA REYES

NEXT Tuesday, June 18, is International Picnic Day and there are various beautiful places in Dublin that are perfect for a picnic - weather permitting, of course.

For a good walk and a scenic place to picnic, try the South Wall Walk with the Poolbeg beach and lighthouse.

The walk from the Irishtown Nature Park to the lighthouse is a gorgeous walk and at the end is a nice beach for a picnic. Make sure to grab a blanket to sit on the sand.

Much, much closer to town, St Stephen’s Green is a great place for a central choice for a picnic.

There are places all around for a proper picnic with a blanket on the grass or on a picnic bench under a lush tree, making it a great location for a lunch picnic with some friends.

Another picnic gem in Dublin is the Dubh Linn Garden by Dublin Castle.

It is a quiet place that has a lot of space to lay out and have a good meal in the sun. It is close to the city centre and not a far walk from other areas.

Adventure For an afternoon picnic adventure, the Phoenix Park has many options, from areas for a nice meal and various grass areas to a picnic area that has many tables and seating.

It has enough room for someone to bring a football or frisbee and even options of biking around the park, or possibly to visit the Dublin Zoo. No matter where the picnic is happening there are a few things that are needed to make it a proper picnic, such a blanket and food that was packed beforehand, or bring take-away (making sure to clean up afterwards).

For a longer picnic, bring something to play soft music or a book to read while relaxing.

So, try to take some time on Tuesday for a lunch outside and celebrate International Picnic Day.

Eddie Smyth

Meeting Eddie

Author tells a tale of life and death, heaven and hell and everything in between I was born in Dublin in 1961 and grew up, if I ever did, in a place called Manor Estate in Dublin 12, a small housing estate that bordered Greenhills, Perrystown, Terenure and Walkinstown, with Kimmage, Crumlin and even Templeogue not much more than a stone’s throw away.

Our official address was Manor Estate, Terenure, Dublin 12.

Though say that to anyone that came from actual Terenure and they would, most likely, disown us and remind us that Terenure was not in Dublin 12.

Misfortune We were amalgamated for sports with Perrystown, hence Manortown United, who I played soccer for very badly for a while

at under-age, our parish was My novel The Prince was pubGreenhills, and I went to St. lished in the 1990s and, even Peter’s school in Walkinstown, though with very little publicity, which was actually just at the it sold quite well, and I was able end of my road, and if you to make a living from it for a ever had the misforwhile, but then I ran out tune to fall foul of money and I ran If you of them, or even out of books, and ever had the needed the ir misfortune to fall foul realised that I’d assistance, we have to get a job of them, or even needed for a while, that were under the j u r i s d i c t i o n their assistance, we were was over twenty of the Crumlin under the jurisdiction of years ago! police.

Now though, the Crumlin It was all very because a lot of people police c o n f u s i n g, a n d , I enjoyed it, and I always think, might even have left wanted to get it out there again, me with an early identity cri- I’ve finally got around to releassis that maybe helped with my ing a new version and titled it inspiration to write.

‘The Revenge Of The Stoned Rats I’ve been writing bits and bobs (The novel previously known as since the age of about five, that’s The Prince)’ all I ever wanted to do!

The novel revolves around the

life and times of the, ultra-imaginative, young Billy Sikes, who is neglected and abused, especially by his awful cousin Agnes, whose life will never be the same again when his mysterious halfbrother Herbert suddenly arrives into it.

Set in Dublin in the 1970s, Billy tells his story to a background noise of the preaching of the Catholic Church, the ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland and the war in Vietnam, the warbling of popular music, and the wisdom of his revered, older cousin, Anna.

In my life I’ve also worked as a stores and warehouse operative, forklift driver, motorcycle courier, and as a door-to-door and telephone sales person.

I now live in Slane, in County Meath.

13 June 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

STYLE:

RENAULT ZOE COULD WELL BE SOMETHING OF A LONG-RANGE HERO P22

TREAT DEAR-OL-DAD FOR FATHER’S DAY: FATHER’S day is almost here! It’s time to treat dear-ol-dad with something he will love.

DUBLIN

MAKING THE MOST OF MEXICO SEE PAGE 18



PAGE 20

MAGAZINE

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

EXCITING NEW ACTS PICTURED is dance instructor Don King with Katie Calleary and Sophie O’Brien (both from Dizzy Footwork), at the announcement of an array of new and exciting entertainment acts which have been added to the line-up of the inaugural ‘Funfest’ Family Festival at Tayto Park which takes place this June (29th & 30th).

For an extra €13.50 per person on top of the usual entry and wristband price, Funfest ticket holders get to enjoy unlimited entries on all the attractions and these amazing acts, family entertainment including the Magical World of Pirates Show, puppet shows, street food stalls, dance workshops, juggling shows and much more.

Picture: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13 June 2019

GOINGOUTOUT

PICK

OF THE

Try sublime sounds WEEK from this Mongoose

WE’RE not even going to try to pick out a single highlight – how could you, in a single week with (deep breath) Elton John, Bon Jovi, Pink,Liam Gallagher, Gladys Knight and Mumford and Sons all playing Dublin, somehow? (We just need Sinatra, Elvis and Cher for a Royal Flush.) Enjoy!

JUNE 13 (THURSDAY)

Fleetwood Mac @ The RDS, sold out Classic, iconic rock at the RDS,Fleetwood Mac are sure to be one of the highlights of a series of big outdoor gigs across the capital this summer.

Elton John @ 3Arena, €164+ One last showing from the Rocketman: these pricey tickets are likely to be the last chance to see the likes of ‘Tiny Dancers’ grace the stage anywhere in Ireland.

Plaid @ Whelan’s, €20 Sophie Ellis Bextor @ Vicar Street, €47 Deep Sky Objects @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €10

JUNE 14 (FRIDAY)

Mumford and Sons @ Malahide Castle, €70 Rofi James @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €10

JUNE 15 (SATURDAY)

Bon Jovi @ The RDS, SOLD OUT Scala and Kolacny Brother Choir @ Olympia Theatre, €34 Mumford and Sons @ Malahide Castle, €70 Skinny Lister @ The Academy Green Room, €23 Sam Wickens @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €12 Junior Brother @ Lost Lane, €15

JUNE 16 (SUNDAY)

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds @ Malahide Castle, €52 Bon Jovi @ The RDS, €93+ Taking Back Sunday @ Whelans, €30

JUNE 17 (MONDAY)

Il Divo @ 3Arena, €69+ Gladys Knight @ Olympia Theatre, SOLD OUT

JUNE 18 (TUESDAY)

Pink @ The RDS, SOLD OUT Gladys Knight @ Olympia Theatre, €72+ The Magic Numbers @ Whelan’s, €22 Beartooth @ The Academy, €26

JUNE 19 (WEDNESDAY)

Billy Corgan @ Olympia Theatre, €66 WHATS next for the residents of our favourite Dublin suburb? Our special preview will give you some of the highlights and low points that’ll hit Carrigstown this week ...

Hughie and Heather’s tale takes another odd twist ...

RAY threatens Fiona, leaving her worried about what Ray could say.

Sean chides Paul for his treatment of Ray and Fiona warns Paul to sort it out. Paul tells Nora to give Ray another chance, but Ray’s left bereft when things don’t go to plan.

Renee orders Heather to move home but Ellie insists she doesn’t want Heather back. When Jackie steps in, Renee realises she’s made a terrible

A LITTLE folky, a little twee, and host to an ever-evolving palette of stunning harmonies and surprisingly punchy, ‘kiss with a fist’ lyrics, the evolution of the wonderfullynamed Dublin folk-pop act Mongoose has been a sight to behold.

Comprising four friends drawing on very different musical backgrounds, there’s an open, shared approach to songwriting and a ‘capable of anything’ feel to Molly O’Mahony, Ailbhe Dunne, Muireann Ni Cheannabhain and Cara Dunne’s music.

That happy variety feels particularly prevalent on their latest release, second album, Suck The Wound.

“It’s very much rooted in folk,” O’Mahony says of the new album. “We had a synth set up, guitars, cello, all of this.

“We didn’t set out for the album to be anything in particular, really, it’s a big melting pot of our ideas.

“There’s everything from pretty heavy-going Rock to jazzier stuff, a South American ballero, and then some more Tradinfluenced stuff.

“We didn’t know we’d written a ballero until we hired a South American musician to play on it, but apparently it is one. The whole thing is a mix of all our tastes.”

Picture: Ray Keogh

 JAMES HENDICOTT

There’s a real confidence to the way Suck The Wound comes together; a faith that the disparate influences can untangle and melt into a coherent and memorable whole.

“Everything is a little bit more extreme on it,” Dunne says. “It does feel like it’s an album, as opposed to disparate songs.

“We had a flugelhorn for the first time – that was an exciting day at the studio!

“We had more time with it when we were writing, but then we just recorded it, mixed it, and it was done. It was very much about recreating our live sound, with the vocals are still very essentially to it.”

Harmonies – beautiful, soaring ones and darker, mood-setting ones – are right at the heart of what defines Mongoose as a band, and they’re here with abundance.

“Tonally, we’ve got a lot darker. It covers those middle 20 years that are a wee bit turbulent, trying desperately to mature. Or trying not to,” O’Mahony says. “‘Body and Soul is a little track I wrote after coming

mistake but Renee refuses to take responsibility for her mistake.

Renee enlists Will’s help with Heather, but Heather is suspicious when Renee covers poorly about a referral form, leading Heather to explode when she makes an unwanted discovery.

Hughie tries to calm Heather down whilst Heather dismisses Jackie’s words of comfort. Hughie is forced into making Heather a promise.

Lorna, the psychiatric nurse, has agreed to see Heather, leading to Hughie lying to Heather to get her to see Lorna.

Hughie is left reeling when Heather

home from the festival, and it feels like the cross point of three different stages,” says Ni Cheannabhain.

“It’s like there’s a mix of sounds from different stages, noise from the bars, that kind of thing. It’s from a time that Cara and I shared a poncho in the rain. That doesn’t rhyme very well, so it’s ‘jacket’ in the song.”

In the past, Mongoose have gone openly political, but this time there’s far more of an element of personal discovery.

“This one isn’t pointedly political. It’s a very

shows how infatuated she is with him, with Renee deciding to act when Hughie tells her of Heather’s latest behaviour.

Eoghan takes on more work to go on holidays with Fionn. Eoghan pleads with Wayne to valet his cab when an ill patient gets sick in it but is left in a bind when his cab won’t be cleaned in time to do an important job.

Sharon warns Hayley that putting all her focus on work is making her hard-hearted.

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

personal album this time, unlike the old Repeal The 8th song,” Ni Cheannabhain continues.

“I think it’s all of the political spectrum making its way into how we experience things, if anything.

“In one of the songs I’m in the middle of renting a house, and that uncertainty is almost a stressful thing.

“Those kind of things make their way in, but we don’t really pointedly talk about those things, apart from how the political affects the personal.

O’Mahony adds: “Higher Ground is all about feeling,

all about being lost and directionless. A lot of that is the political climate.

“I feel like I’m pushing on and not able to make a living. It’s the state of the nation, sure. It works its way in there.

“The climate influences what you write, and sometimes really resonates with us, then you end up marrying both together.”

For all the hefty content and fun-loving asides, though, Mongoose have depth and a really distinctive, memorable style.

They’re set to soar.

Suck The Wound is out now.

WIN A SUMMER SIZZLER FOR YOU AND THREE FRIENDS TO SEE THE BLIZZARDS LIVE AT LEOPARDSTOWN THIS WEEK we’re

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13 June 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

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

ENTERTAINMENT

Something Unmanageable should be a hit at the Abbey Theatre RACHEL D’ARCY

TWO hit shows are scheduled to make a return to the stage of The Abbey Theatre this Summer.

Following a successful run last year, Deirdre Kinahan’s The Unmanageable Sisters and

Roddy Doyle’s Two Pints, are set to return to the Abbey Stage this June until August.

Graham McLaren and Neil Murray, directors of the Abbey Theatre, said: “Every year we look to bring back an unmissable production. This gives audiences a chance

to see some of the really popular productions they may have missed, or a chance to see them again if they really loved them.

“This June we are bringing back The Unmanageable Sisters which will run in tandem with Two Pints, with alternating performanc-

CINEMA | DARK PHOENIX DISAPPOINTS

It’s exasperating, not too exciting SHANE DILLON

AS WITH the recent Pokemon film, I don’t have a superfan’s grasp of core lore in such pop culture fare, but I know just enough about the X-Men universe to know that Dark Phoenix (Cert Sophie Turner 12A, 114 mins) as an increasingly takes a classic erratic Jean Grey X-Men story, but (AKA Dark Phoenix) doesn’t quite hit the mark.

As has occasionally happened with previous X-Men films, this one largely hangs on the fate of a single core character, and the battle for their very soul as their incredible power can be used for good or evil alike.

In this case, Jean Grey’s (Sophie Turner) in the frame, as she’s already arguably potentially the most powerful Mutant, thanks to her incredible psychic and telekinetic powers – but getting zapped by a mysterious alien power during a space shuttle rescue mission gone wrong in this film is just the start of her problems.

The film has already nicely set Jean up as a force to be reckoned with, as a nod at young Jean’s deadly, accidental-parentkilling-powers has her pegged as someone struggling to control her abilities, but zapping her with a bazillion volts of a mysterious alien space energy even further ramps them up.

Cue the usual dithering from the divided X-Men over what to do about Jean, whose surging powers are very attractive to the good and bad mutants alike, but threaten Jean’s identity as a new personality – that of the titular Phoenix – emerg-

es; an identity that’s increasingly happy to surrender to the growing dark power within.

It becomes clear that the only way to save Jean might be to kill her – but can even the X-Men take on the Dark Phoenix?

Unfortunately, while Dark Phoenix is going out as a franchise finale, the end result is more exasperating than exhilarating, with some turgid dialogue, underwhelming set-pieces and a general feeling of going through the motions.

Even the final act – a decent fight sequence on a train – fails to tap into the diverse characters’ potential, with the resultant scrap (which only arose because of extensive reshoots) unleashing the characters’ powers, but it’s all just too little, too late.

Sophie Turner does her best as a conflicted Grey, but it’s hard not to think of what she endlessly mutters about her unwanted new powers throughout the film: variants of “I didn’t ask for this”.

I’m afraid that neither did we, Sophie.

Neither did we ...

Verdict: 4/10

es on the Abbey Stage, over the course of the Summer.”

Two Pints takes to the Abbey stage this summer from June 24 until August

10. Liam Carney and Philip Judge make a welcome return to their respective roles alongside director Caitriona McLaughlin.

The Unmanageable

Sisters returns from June 14 to August 3.

The Abbey Theatre have also announced a special summer ticket offer whereby theatre

goers can see both shows, from the best seats, for just €40 when tickets are booked at the same time.

For further information, see abbeytheatre.ie.

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13 June 2019

16 June 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

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

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CAUGHT OUR EYE THIS WEEK...

Feathers fly in All-Japan Pillow Fighting Championships

Heritage House, Dundrum, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240

QUALIFYING for the All-Japan Pillow Fighting Championships has just concluded following the regional competition.

A small town called Ito, a well-known hot springs spot 150 kms south of Tokyo, recently played host to 16 teams looking to qualify for the national finals in February.

The game is described as a mixture of chess and dodgeball and starts off with the five players from each team “asleep” under duvets.

When a whistle blows the game is on and the players must jump up and reach for a pillow.

The aim is for each team to protect their King from being hit while at the same time trying to lash the other team’s King out of it with pillows.

Each set last 2 minutes and one player from each side

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 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:

sales@dublingazette.com

FIND US ON

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

can use a duvet as a shield.

The game was invented in 2013 by some secondary school children from Shizuoka and is based on the Japa-

nese ritual of pillow fighting when away from the supervision of teachers and parents.

Here’s hoping it eventually becomes an Olympic sport.

Swarm of ladybugs so large it registers on weather radar

Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@dublingazette.com

01 - 6010240

BITS & BOBS

HELP TO HIGHLIGHT IRELAND’S HIDDEN HEROES: Former Hidden Hero award winner Fergus Lennon, from Blood Bike Leinster, and fellow volunteer Sharon Percivall, were joined by children from Junior Genius Forest School in Baldonnell to launch this year’s Hidden Hearing Heroes Awards. Nominations can be made at www.hiddenhearing.ie/heroes, where you can honour ordinary people who make an extraordinary contribution to their community, workplace or family. The winners will be revealed on September 9. Picture: Photocall Ireland

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

This week’s dog of the week is Navy, a dog that’ll brighten up your day and give you belly laughs.

Look no further than this six-yearold Akita cross! Although he can be quite shy at first, once he gets to know you, Navy unveils his comedic and affectionate side.

He loves company and forms a strong bond with understanding and patient people.

Navy is a born entertainer and his

hilarious way of playing has his canine carers laughing all day long!

He would like to be the only pet in the home so that he can have all the toys and attention to himself.

If you have room in your heart and home for Navy 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.

Yo u c a n a l s o f i n d t h e m o n Facebook www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @ DogsTrust_IE. (Remember: Always have your dog on a lead when in public.)

navy

Noisy crowing causes a legal row A FRENCH rooster has become a national celebrity after starting a legal row with his early morning cock a doodle do.

Known as Maurice, the noisy bird who hails from Saint-Pierre d’Oleron has landed his owners in trouble and sparked a countrywide debate in his native France.

The family he lives with are being sued because Maurice crows too loudly in the morning and disturbs some of the neighbours.

His owners claim because they live in a rural environment crowing is a part of daily life but an influx of tourists into the area looking for peace and quiet are calling Maurice’s noises a

nuisance.

The family say they’ve tried keeping Maurice in the chicken coop until 8:30 in the morning but because he is a rooster he has to crow.

The neighbours aren’t happy however so they’ve filed a complaint at a regional court.

This action has not gone down well with the locals who feel the case highlights the growing rural urbandivide in France.

“Today it’s the cockerel, but what will it be tomorrow?” asked the Mayor of SaintPierre- d’Oleron Christophe Sueur.

“Seagulls? The noise of the wind? Our accents?”

A SWARM of ladybirds moving through San Diego County was so large it registered on a weather radar.

The swarm covered an area 130 km by 130 km and centred around the town of Hesperia, 110 km east of Los Angeles and showed up on the US National We a t h e r S e r v i c e ’s (NWS) radar.

The NWS office in San Diego tweeted a video of the radar that looked to be showing precipitation but was in fact what they called a ladybird “bloom.”

“The large echo showing up on SoCal radar this evening is not precipitation, but actually a cloud of ladybirds termed a ‘bloom,’” the tweet read.

The ladybirds, who were flying between

5,000 and 9,000 feet high, are considered beneficial by gardeners as they feast on aphids, spider mites and mealy bugs.

The insects are small so a person standing under a swarm would only see dots in the sky.

Man guesses code to safe unopened for 40 years A SAFE that lay locked for forty years has been cracked by a man on his first attempt. Canadian Stephen Mills was visiting Alberta’s Vermilion Heritage Museum last month where one of the attractions is a one tonne safe that hasn’t been opened since the 70s.

While being shown round by a tour guide Mills decided to have a go at opening the safe which had perplexed volunteers at the museum for years. After pressing his ear against the metal, he began spinning the dial.

With numbers going from zero to 60, he turned clockwise three times to 20, counter-clockwise two times

to 40, and then clockwise one time to 60.

He was amazed to hear a click as the safe opened!

Unfortunately, the contents weren’t very exciting.

Inside lay an old pay sheet and part of a restaurant order pad, dating from the late 1970s.

The safe was originally housed in a town hotel, which opened in 1906, and was donated to the museum in 1992.

The museum had previously tried default combinations, asked experts to try to crack the code, and even contacted former hotel employees to see if they could help.

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13 June 2019

latitude&longitude Book your place at an iconic sporting event IF you’ve always dreamed of being courtside at Wimbledon drinking in the atmosphere and watching the world’s greatest do battle then dream no more.

Keith Prowse are the appointed reseller for Wimbledon hospitality in Ireland and still have availability for a wide range of dates for both No1 Court and Centre Court with full hospitality up to and including the men’s and ladies’ finals.

No 1 Court has hosted some amazing moments over the years and now with the new roof, there will be even more and with fewer interruptions.

The All New Lawn Hospitality packages provides return flights from Dublin to Heathrow, an overnight stay in the 4-star Deluxe Royal Lancaster London Hotel and a reserved seat on No 1 Court or Centre Court with full hospitality including three-course a la carte menu, traditional Wimbledon afternoon tea, complimentary bar and bespoke cocktails designed and served by mixologists.

Prices start from €1307pps and they’ve even thrown in a travel card for the London underground.

More information and bookings on (01) 878 3500 or www.keithprowseattractions.com.

The Grand Bahia Principe Coba in Cancun is a hotel where adults and children can have fun together, but at the same time enjoy their own space, all while delighting in beautiful natural surroundings

HOLIDAY IN MEXICO | TOP TIPS TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR VACATION

Everything you need to know about… travelling to Mexico An Post delivers new ten-currency card AN Post has taken the hassle out of money exchange with the launch of its new currency card.

The prepaid and reloadable Mastercard is available at post offices across Dublin and can hold up to ten currencies at one time.

This really is the ultimate travel buddy as it can be used at millions of merchants and ATMs worldwide – either online or in store via contactless payments.

Once loaded the exchange rate of the chosen currency – which is commission free by the way – is locked in.

This means whatever your destination, or destinations if you are lucky enough, you can travel outside the eurozone without having to worry about money orders or exchange rates.

It also allows you to shop online in the local currency of the online retailer without having to incur costly transaction fees or being subject to an exchange rate set by the merchant.

Cardholders can change into the currency of choice with ease via the online portal, and a mobile phone app will be launched later this summer.

Sounds like a win win…

SYLVIA POWNALL

Travel Editor IF you’re lucky enough to be heading to Mexico for the first time then here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your holiday.

The basics One of the first things that may surprise you is the size of the country and population.

With island territories, Mexico covers almost 1,975,000 square kilometres, and the nation has an impressive 122 million people within its borders.

The main language of the country is Spanish, with around 92% of the population speaking this as their first language, and the Mexican peso is the unit of currency.

Passports As we l l a s ta k i n g yo u r passport with you to enter or exit the country, you should also carry copies of your passport w h i l e yo u t r ave l a ro u n d Mexico. There are some special

circumstances for children under 18 years of age.

If they’re travelling alone, they must report to an immigration officer upon entry and exit from Mexico with a passport and notarised authorisation from their parent(s) which gives permission to travel. This authorisation must be translated into Spanish.

Guardians should note that if Mexican authorities have reasonable grounds to suspect the child is not yours — for example, if you have a different name or appearance – you may be asked to show notarised parental authorisation, birth or adoption certificates or similar documentation.

Mexico and money Note that Mexico takes defacement of currency seriously. If you happen to take bank notes out of your purse or wallet, and they tear as you do so, the recipient can’t accept it.

By the same token, if someone hands you a torn piece of cash, politely ask if they can provide

you with one that is fully intact.

You’ll also find that many places in Mexico accept payment in dollars, which you can use as a backup.

Enjoying the sights and the weather If you’re staying in delightfully su n - k i s se d C a n c u n , you should take a day trip to the sacred site of Chichen Itza to ex p l o re M e x i c o ’s M a y a n heritage. Be aware that the famous, towering temple El Castillo is steeper than it looks.

Also, even though the site is inland, the temperature will feel a little hotter than on the coast. Naturally, on hot days, visitors who are climbing up the temple will be carrying bottles of water — watch out for any being accidentally dropped from above!

Of course, you can’t visit Mexico and not make the most of its fantastic beaches.

One coastal destination you might fancy trying is Playa del Carmen. The main beach runs in front of downtown Playa del Carmen – you should set up at the northern end if you fancy a spot of sunbathing.

The tides tend to come in at the southern end a n d wo u l d

The beautiful beaches of Playa del Carmen cut your tanning session short. As you’ll be likely taking a dip in the waters of the beautiful beaches of Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta, or Cancun, you should make sure you’re wearing waterproof sun cream.

TUI is offering last-minute deals to Mexico from €1,279pps for 14 nights. For details see www.tuiholidays.ie.

13 June 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

A GUIDE TO TEMPTING FOOD AND LOCATIONS

FOOD & TRAVEL

TASTE OF DUBLIN | CHAMPIONING THE CHEFS TAKING CULINARY RISKS HEALTHY RACHEL D’ARCY

NOTHING says summer in the city like the return of the beloved Taste of Dublin to the Iveagh Gardens.

Running from June 12 until June 16, this year’s festival will be celebrating the so-called revolution of the Irish menu and aims to champion the chefs across the country taking culinary risk to provide dining delights.

Avril Bannerton, Managing Director of Taste of Dublin said: “Over the past 14 years, Taste of Dublin has championed Irish Chefs, restaurants and artisan producers who put Dublin on the international culinary map.

“This year we are championing the evolving Irish dining experience, the revolutionary new menus and the new dynamic chefs that are changing perceptions of Irish food and the Irish menu.”

Here’s our pick of some of Taste’s highlights this year.

A New Irish Menu One of the festival’s main sponsors, NEFF, will be hosting a taste kitchen featuring some

FOOD OPTION COMES TO JUST EAT

o f I r e l a n d ’s m o s t renowned chefs, as well as those who are shaping a new concept of the Irish menu.

Those expected to make an appearance include Kevin Dundon, Clodagh McKenna, Rory O’Connell, and Edward Hayden as well as rising culinary stars including Mark Moriarty, Holly White, Aoife Noonan and JR Ryall.

Taste Tea Garden This year, Taste will provide a rare opportunity to enjoy Afternoon Tea in the historic Iveagh Gardens, produced by one of Dublin’s most creative and popular bakers, The Cupcake Bloke.

Booking is advised on site and is subject to availability.

The Lazy Basics Simon Lamont, also k n ow n a s T h e L a z y Chef, is back this year with The Lazy Basics.

Hosted by Regina Wish, it’ll provide handy hacks for cooking everything from day to day basics to a delicious dinner party.

Taste Tunes!

There is an eclectic line up of music at Taste of Dublin 2019 to kick off the summer, from party tunes to live music.

S m a s h H i t s, The Swing Cats, Ryan J, Qween

Taste of Dublin runs at the Iveagh Gardens from June 12 until June 16

Vive La Food Revolution and Spring Break are on the line up for the Taste Entertainment Stage.

DJ, Chef and Comedi-

In search of the

smoothest, creamiest pint “De Bruns home of the Creamy pint” is a very bold statement to have on the front of your pub. In this particular case, however, they were more than able to back it up. The small, cosy front bar opens up into a massively impressive back lounge and smoking section. The use of space is brilliant in De Bruns, they really haven’t missed a trick here.

The pint was as smooth as they come. The balance between the stout and cream was perfect. It didn’t reach the dizzying heights of an 8/10 in terms of taste, but it is a valiant effort and a pint not to be ignored. @guinnessadvisor

De Bruns of Castleknock

an Marcus O’Laoire will DJ a mouth-watering BBQ with delicious, food drinks and music.

To find out more about Taste of Dublin 2019, visit www.tasteofdublin. ie or follow Taste of

Dublin on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

Tickets are available from €15.

LEON, who recently opened their first ever Irish store, have announced that their Mediterranean ‘healthy fast food’ is now available for delivery on Just Eat. Just Eat customers can order breakfast, lunch or dinner from LEON’s delivery menu, inspired by the flavours, variety and hearty healthiness of the Mediterranean diet. With a menu full of plants, fresh herbs, spices, good fats from olive oil, seeds and nuts LEON has been built on ingredients that are good for you, affordable and kind to the planet.

Foodies in selected areas of Dublin 1, 2, 7 & 8 will be the first to benefit from this exclusive new signing. LEON’s nutritious breakfast menu, which includes wholesome breakfast muffins and egg pots available for delivery six-days a week from 8am and from 10am on Sunday.

Stuart Fitzgerald, MD LEON, added; “LEON’s Irish launch has been incredibly positive.

We’ve been overwhelmed with the kindness and the genuine warm welcome we’ve received from the people of Dublin. It’s great to see our guests enjoying naturally fast food in Temple Bar every day and we’re excited to announce that we are expanding our reach through our partnership with Just Eat. Order from the diverse LEON menu - from 8am to 8pm Monday to Wednesday, 8am to 10pm Thursday to Saturday and 10am to 8pm on Sunday – through Just Eat.

CRAFTBEERCORNER Plenary Indulgence Porter Priory Brewery Tallaght  PALE MAILE, Beer Aficionado I really enjoyed this porter from this new Dublin brewery. It’s light bodied with a slight coffee/ caramel taste.

It’s not too over powering however so it’s kind to your taste buds. Handcrafted in small batches, this 4.3% is worth a try.

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13 June 2019

HOME & STYLE

FRESH IDEAS FOR YOUR HOME AND WARDROBE Dr Bronner’s mint Organic Pepper Shaving Soap 207mls €12.50

nd River Isla Light blue suit jacket m islandco w w w .river €120

Great Regatta ngari Su rs o o Outd e and shorts, Blu 0 Green €5

Weir & Sons Montblanc Petit Prince notebook, www.weir.ie €75

Simon C Chess C arter u www.a fflinks rnotts.i e €60

on Remingt Vacuum Kit Grooming €59.99 Boss Bottled In fini 50ml, avai te labl Arnotts an e in dB Thomas na rown tionwide €68

Super gifts

FOR SUPER MEN  Jessica Maile, Style Editor

FATHER’S DAY is almost here! It’s time to treat dear-ol-dad with something he will love. There are so many options for all types of dads.

A classic watch? A stylish blazer?

A designer fragrance? A writing pad? Treat him to a smooth shave with some organic lotions and potions? But, no matter what is chosen, a gift from the heart is the most Sebago important gift Spinnaker Waxed Leather Boat Shoe of all!

Green An Seaweed & gel Te Rescue Cr a Tree eam with Vitamin E (50ml), €22.95

Remus U omo Leather B i-Fold Wallet ww w remusuom . o.com €55

River Isla Black RI m nd onogram holdall www.river islandcom €60

www.sebago.co.uk €126.50

Thomas Sab Black Code o TS Watch ww w. thomassa bo. com €239

beauty review

Toleriane Ultra 8 - Your skin’s new best friend COMPANY: La Roche Posay PRODUCT: Toleraine ULTRA 8

 Rachel D’Arcy

combatting the dry skin one must suffer when

AS OF LATE, skincare has become the centre

jetting abroad.

of my self-care world. A clear complexion has

Thanks to a combination of Glycerin, Allantoin

or two a day.

Colleagues even noted a new ‘glow’ to my skin, providing a dewy yet semi-matte look to

PURPOSE: Soothing and moisturising

become number one priority, but as a sufferer

and the renowned La Roche-Posay Thermal

the skin that was comfortable throughout the

TEXTURE: 

of eczema, meaning I’m nervous about intro-

spring water, the formula instantly comforts

day, making this, already, a product I know I’ll

ducing new products to my strict regime.

the skin. Any patches of eczema I had along my

continuously use.

FRAGRANCE:  PERFORMANCE: 

Deciding to take the 100ml Toleriane Ultra 8

jawline managed to clear and were instantly

La Roche Posay Toleriane Ultra 8 100ml is

for a whirl on a trip to Amsterdam, the mois-

soothed, and most importantly, the dreaded

available from pharmacies across Dublin, and

PRICE: €€

turising water seemed a perfect solution to

dry skin post-travel was avoided with a spritz

from select online retailers.

13 June 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

SHAPING A BETTER SOCIETY AND PLANET

FEATURES

Dublin’s popular annual Pride parade looks set to be another societal and economic winner for the year this year, with lots of fun events on around Pride weekend

CULTURE | LGBT+ RIGHTS

Another Pride, and another chance to join one of the city’s biggest festivals JULIANA REYES

LGBT+ Pride is celebrated throughout the month of June all over the world and Dublin has many events that LGBT+ people and their family members, friends and supporters can be a part of.

There are many Pride-related events throughout June, from historical LGBT+ tours of Dublin to the Dublin Pride 5K run.

The main festival weekend is June 29-30, with events taking place all around the city.

The Dublin Pride Parade is on Saturday, June 29 at 1pm.

Floats and people are assembling at O’Connell Street and Parnell Square before they start on the route and will end in Merrion Square with a family-friendly, free outdoor event.

The parade’s organiser, Dublin LGBT+ Pride, is expecting more than 150 groups with more than 7,000 participants marching in the parade. All spectators are allowed to walk in the parade/march with a group, or they can follow along behind.

After the parade, there are many parties throughout the city, with DJs and performances from Drag Queens.

June is known as Pride month to commemorate the Stonewall Riots in New York city that sparked the gay rights liberation movement in the 1960s.

Today, many cities all over the world celebrate Pride with parades, marches and festivals.

Dublin has had Pride marches and events since the 1970s.

The first large march was in March 1983, with a large march held in protest against violence against gay men and women in Ireland.

That June saw the first organised Dublin Pride parade, with the parade being a staple of the city ever since.

Last year, more than 60,000 participants, spectators and marchers were a part of the parade.

Dublin LGBT+ Pride says within a generation the parade has turned into one of the “biggest and most popular events in Ireland.”

For further information on the various events and the parade/march route, see http://dublinpride.ie.

There’s no corner on Earth that isn’t touched by tourism – and related waste – but you can, and should, reduce your impact on your travels

ENVIRONMENT | TRY SOME TIPS TO MINIMISE YOUR IMPACT

Yes, you can travel in a Greener fashion JULIANA REYES

SUMMER is here, which means more people are beginning to plan their holidays from their destinations to the outfits.

Yet, with a little more planning, travelling in an environmentally-friendly manner is the best way to travel on a budget while protecting the Earth.

With the ongoing focus on climate change and the environment, there are various ways people have practiced eco-friendly living in their daily lives such as bringing their own shopping bags and using public transportation daily.

However, there are also ways to continue being environmentally-conscious while travelling, no matter the distance – whether you’re going abroad or just to a neighbouring city.

Pack bars of soap instead of liquids Eliminating single-use plastics is a significant way to be more environmentally-conscious and while travelling, this can be the easiest way to continue the practice.

Many companies, such as Lush, sell bars of face soap, body lotions, shampoo and conditioner along with travel containers.

Since a bar of soap is a solid, there are no limits on the amount you can bring on an airplane, making it easy to travel with.

However, if liquid shampoo and conditioner is preferred, just bringing a solid body wash bar can make a difference.

Bring a reusable water bottle By bringing a water bottle, you’re eliminating a large part of single-use plastics since filling one up before

the day begins can save money and time of buying a single bottle of water every morning and afternoon.

After the Security area, most airports have a water bottle fill-up station, and many coffee shops can fill it up.

Even refilling a plastic water bottle multiple times is more environmentally-friendly since it does not end up in the bin so quickly – just make sure to recycle it at the end of its use.

If staying in a hotel, utilise the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign so the room is not cleaned every day.

Every time your hotel room is cleaned, the staff use cleaning chemicals that can get into the water and makes it harder to clean.

Also, reusing the bed sheets and towels for a couple of days can be

impactful, since this is saving a washing load.

So, hang up a towel after use to make sure it fully dries for next time, and make the bed every morning for a nice, welcoming feeling.

Using public transportation to travel By taking a train, bus or ferries while travelling, this can be cheaper, quicker and better for the environment overall.

Compared to driving, using public transportation for the main source of travel can be beneficial since they use less fuel and more people are being transported to a single place.

While taking an airplane, try to stick to direct flights, as this reduces the amount of carbon dioxide that is released in the air on every take-off and landing.

Try local beers and drinks while eating out.

Another easy way to participate while travelling in an environmentallyconscious way is drinking and eating at local places.

By sticking to local beers, you leave less of a carbon footprint since this cuts out transportation of the product.

It allows more cultural experiences while supporting local restaurants and companies.

Also, this might be cheaper, since the drink does not have to be transported long distances.

And remember...

With just a bit more planning, these steps are attainable for most travellers to participate in, and can be a great way to travel at any time, being both easier on the budget and better for the planet.

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13 June 2019

MOTORS

WHAT’S NEW IN THE WORLD OF TRANSPORT

Latest stats show a rise in registrations for this May OFFICIAL statistics released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show that total new car registrations for May are up by 4.7% (6,341 vehicles) when compared with May 2018 (6,055).

New car registrations in the year, to date, are down 7.6% (79,343) on the same period last year (85,868).

Impressive Renault Zoe could well be something of a long-range hero DECLAN GLYNN

FRENCH vehicle-manufacturing giant Renault has a long history in producing electrified motoring solutions, and with their ZOE fully-electric supermini, they are proud to offer an affordable electric car, which is fitted with a lithium-ion battery for great performance and durability.

The Renault ZOE was initially launched in Ireland in 2013, and received a face-lift in 2017, which brought with it a new 41kWh battery capable of a real-life driving range of up to 300km.

Thanks to Renault’s electric vehicle experience and expertise, they were able to offer motorists a greater driving range, and full flexibility.

This set a new milestone in the market of affordable electric vehi-

cles, making innovation from tomorrow, and electric driving pleasure, accessible to everyone, today.

The ZOE has the stylish appearance of a coupe thanks to built-in rear door handles, which have been branded with the designer’s fingerprint.

Combined with an interior design that is thoughtful and spacious, the Renault ZOE offers the best of both worlds.

My review car was a Renault ZOE ZE (Zero Emission) 40 Signature Nav, finished in Pearl Black metallic paint.

Generous standard equipment can be found across the ZOE range, with my test car equipped with 16” ‘Grey Shadow’ alloy wheels, automatic climate control with onetouch demist function, Renault R-Link Multimedia system, electric

front windows, ZE Voice Control AND ZE Connect system.

Other features included satellite navigation, partleather seating, parking camera, rear parking sensors, keyless entry with push button start and a BOSE 3D sound system.

All models in the Renault ZOE range are fitted with an automatic gearbox as standard.

This single-speed gearbox provides linear and fluid acceleration, which maximises driving pleasure.

The ZOE’s electric motor produces 108bhp and a healthy 225Nm of torque, allowing the car to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 11.4 seconds, and achieve a top speed of 134km/h.

O n t h e ro a d , t h e Renault ZOE feels very little different to a petrol or diesel supermini, with

one striking difference being the lack of sound from under the bonnet.

Power delivery is terrific from takeoff, with the single-gear automatic gearbox providing plenty of forward momentum when asked to do so.

The Zoe turns into corners with great poise, helped by its light and precise steering, and there’s plenty of grip.

Taking inspiration from seating found in electric trains across Europe, the seats in the ZOE are comfortable and contemporary, while the uncluttered dashboard is

functional and intuitive in equal measure.

Although it shares some components with its sibling, the Renault Clio, the exterior designs of both cars are completely different.

A low loading lip on the ZOE allows for easy access to a generous 338-litre boot, which can be easily extended to 1,225-litres when the rear seats are folded.

The Renault ZOE is uniquely fitted with Renault’s patented Chameleon charger, which is compatible with a range of different sockets and

FACT BOX

1) Fully electric city car.

2) Up to 300km range.

3) Easy to drive and charge.

4) Boot space up to 1,225L 5) Priced from just €23,490 (ex-works)

sources.

It is also able to charge at the maximum power available, from 3.6kW to 43kW. This means that charging is quicker, more efficient and saves money.

For example, using a 43kW charger will allow the car to charge fully in less than 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Pricing for the new Renault ZOE starts at just €24,990 (inclusive of an SEAI grant and VRT relief). Metallic paint is an additional €640.

Overall, the Renault ZOE is enjoyable to drive, quiet, classy, stylish and a desirable-looking small car.

With extremely low running costs guaranteed, this wonderful small car could be the ideal car to introduce motorists to the world of pure electric motoring.

New Light Commercial Vehicle registrations are up by 5.2% (1,726) on May 2018 (1,641), with registrations down 8.4% (14,617).

New Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HGV) increased 31.3% (298) on May 2018 (227), and are also up 7.7% (1,491) on the year, to date.

Imported Used Cars increased 4.1% (9,346) on May 2018 (8,978), while year to date imports are 3% (45,062) ahead of 2018 (43,739).

New electric vehicle (EV) registrations continue to grow month on month, with a total of 1,902 EV cars registered so far this year, surpassing the total number of EVs registered for 2018 (1,233).

Brian Cooke, SIMI director general, said: “Registrations for May showed an improvement on May 2018, although the increase in numerical terms was relatively small.

“However, sales overall year to date have been disappointing with both business and consumer Brexit-related uncertainty contributing to dampened demand for new vehicles.

“The industry is now focused on preparations for the start of the July 192 registration period.”

13 June 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

PUZZLES

CHALLENGE YOUR BRAIN...JUST FOR FUN!

CODEWORDS

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

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

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

Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.

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13 June 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 27

HURLING P31

THE BEST IN DUBLIN

SPORT

HOME COMFORT: GOLF: PORTMARNOCK’S Conor Purcell

hopes home advantage can help him overcome a stellar international field at The 124th Amateur Championship in Ireland next week which runs from Monday, June 17 to Saturday, June 22.

The 20-year-old is a member of the home club which will co-host one of the biggest events in amateur golf with The Island.



GAZETTE

CRICKET P30

PAGE 28

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS INFORM YOU OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORES OF YOUR FAVOURITE TEAMS CRICKET | MIDDLESEX A PERFECT MATCH IN SANDYMOUNT

Leinster’s summer smash  sport@dublingazette.com

JUNE 21 marks midsummer in Ireland, and the longest day could also be the most glorious one for Leinster cricket as they welcome their most distinguished guests in more than 70 years.

Middlesex are truly fitting visitors, as the county with the longest and deepest links with Leinster and Irish cricket.

From Tim O’Brien, who captained England and Ireland at the turn of the 19th century, through Ed Joyce and Eoin Morgan, up to Andrew Balbirnie and Andrew Poynter, Lord’s has always been a haven for Leinster men.

The Middle Saxons are coming to Sydney Parade for the Smartwater Summer Smash Twenty20 Challenge Match at 5.30pm on Friday June 21, a game that will serve as perfect preparation ahead of their Vitality T20 Blast campaign, while for Leinster Lightning it will serve as a major challenge ahead of the Cricket Ireland Interpro-

vincial Twenty20 Festivals.

The Summer Smash is also the showcase of the Cricket Leinster Centenary Year celebrations.

The Cairn Homes-sponsored Leinster Lightning were triumphant in the Twenty20 cup last year, as they sealed the title over a memorable festival weekend in 2018 at Sydney Parade and have a formidable record in the format.

The Dublin match will also see the debut of Middlesex’s new Twenty20 kit, sponsored by the Irish company Kingspan for the first time.

Middlesex’s new coach Stuart Law will be looking for a victory in Dublin to help springboard an extended run for his side in the T20 Blast.

Steven Finn, Toby Roland-Jones and Dawid Malan all could come to Dublin Lightning coach Albert Van der Merwe sees the game as an important fixture for his side: “This will undoubtedly be the showcase event for the summer.

“Not only does it highlight Cricket

Irish cricket star Paul Stirling in action for Middlesex. Picture: Jordan Mansfield

Leinster’s ambition, but also it gives our players the opportunity to measure themselves against an incredibly strong professional outfit under coach Stuart Law’s guidance.

“It’s a feather in the cap of Cricket Leinster Chief Executive, Philip Smith and his team in securing such a high profile fixture.

“It gives the Lightning side a great

opportunity to go toe to toe with one of England’s biggest counties in a competitive fixture. Middlesex’s recent announcement that they have signed arguably one of the greatest players in recent time, AB de Villiers, has added more interest to this already-exciting contest.

For tickets, go to www.cricketleinster.ie.

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 13 June 2019

CLUB NOTES

ROUND

1

GOLF: TOP CLASS FINGAL CLUBS WELCOME AMATEUR WORLD

FINGALLIANS GREAT win by the AFL 1 Team on Saturday night in Lawless against a near full strength St Oliver Plunketts on a score line of 3.12 to 1.15.Next up for the Lads is a home fixture against Thomas Davis on Wed 19th June at 7.30pm.Great support for the lads on Saturday night.

The AFL 11 Team lost out to a strong Whitehall Colmcilles side at home on Sunday.Next up for them is a home fixture on June 20th against Round Towers Lusk at 7.30pm. The AFL 6 Team had a one Point win over Round Towers Lusk.Next up for them is a fixture against Civil Service on Tue June 25th at 7.30 pm.

U14 Hurling: Great win by the U14/U13 Hurlers in the North Leinster Regional Hurling Feile in Abbotstown on Saturday. They played great during the day beating teams from all over Leinster with a narrow one point win over Raheny in the Final.

Summer Camps : Forms are now available in the bar for the Summer Camps.We are running Two CUL Camps this year as the numbers wanting to join are huge the dates are Mon 8th July to Fri 12th July and Mon 12th Aug to Fri 16th Aug times are 9am to 2pm.The Dual Football Hurl-ing/Camogie camps are Mon 22th July to Fri 26th July and Mon 19th Aug to Fri 23th Aug start time is 9am tie 1pm.

The Hurling School of Excellence is Mon 29th July to Thursday 1th Aug start time 10am til 2pm.The Paul Flynn Football School of Excellence is from Tue 6th Aug to Fri 9th Aug with a start time of 10am tie 2pm.Details of prices are in the Forms available in the Bar. Calling all juvenile musicians: We will have a seisiún ceoil on Wednesday evening, 12th June 7-8 o’clock in the old gym. No cost, just a nice chance to practice and get advice and tips from fellow maestros. Fáilte mór roimh gach uirlis agus gach duine.

Further info from 086 3814422.

Well done to the Dublin Senior Football team on a great win over Kildare in Croke Park on Sunday to book a place in the Leinster Final with Neighbours Meath.

Dublin Minor and Senior Hurling : Great double header on Saturday next with Dublin Minor and Senior Teams Playing at home in Parnell Park.Best of luck to Eoin O’Connor and Aaron Lacey on the Dublin Minor Hurling Team.

NAOMH MEARNOG OUR adult footballers continued their good run of form during the week.

Our seniors defeated St Mary’s Saggart and remain second in the league while our AFL7 team were hugely impressive in their win over St. James Gaels. Well done to both.

Our junior hurlers are at home against Round Towers on Thursday at 7-30 also in the championship. We need support. So please come along.

Our under 12 boys made their annual journey to Cooley Kickhams on Saturday to participate in the Bammell Malone Tournament. We had two

teams involved and after an entertaining days football, we came away with a trophy. The teams looked immaculate in their new jerseys which were generously sponsored by Carrick Electrical and Molloy and Sherry. Once again we thank all our sponsors.

Our under 13 footballers kept their 100% record with a win over Geraldine P. Morans.

Congratulations to the Dublin footballers on reaching another Leinster final and good luck to Cian Hendricken and the senior hurlers in their vital championship game on Saturday evening against Galway.

Portmarnock’s Conor Purcell. Picture: Thos Caffrey / Golffile

Purcell’s home comforts for big Portmarnock date AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP  sport@dublingazette.com

PORTMARNOCK’S Conor Purcell hopes home advantage can help him overcome a stellar international field at The 124th Amateur Championship in Ireland next week which runs from Monday, June 17 to Saturday, June 22.

The 20-year-old, who reached the semi-finals of the championship at Royal Aberdeen last year, is a member of the home club which will co-host one of the biggest events in amateur golf with The Island.

Purcell, the son of Joey, the former long-serving Portmarnock head professional, is part of the 288-player field regarded

as the strongest of the modern era.

At close of entries, three players sat inside the top 10 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking and 17 inside the top 50. In total, there are competitors from 37 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, India, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Africa and the United States of America.

With Alan Dunbar the last Irish player to win the title in 2012 at Royal Troon, Purcell hopes to build on a season that has seen him win the Australian Amateur Championship in January.

The Walker Cup squad member, the leading player from Great Britain and Ire-

land in the field, said, “I’m looking forward to The Amateur Championship.

I have had a good build up all year and to be able to play at home is always nice.

“I joined Portmarnock as a member when I was aged 12 and I’ve been playing ever since. It’s going to be nice in a sense that I won’t need to take notes in practice and I will have family and friends around.

Hopefully a few other local people will come out and support me and watch the event.

“The hardest thing to do in the championship is to probably make the cut after 36 holes. If you can do that, it’s about playing who is in front of you and

going on a run.

“I’ve been playing nicely and not really been treating any one week different to the other so I’ll look to do the same.”

Purcell defeated David Micheluzzi at the quarterfinal stage last year, with the Australian returning to the event for a fourth occasion in 2019 – this time as the highest-ranked player in the field at fifth in the world ranking.

With exemptions into The Open at Royal Portrush next month, the 2020 US Open at Winged Foot and, by tradition, an invitation to play in the Masters Tournament, there is much at stake as the field look to emulate last year’s champion,

Jovan Rebula from South Africa.

The Island is also one of the oldest golf courses in Ireland, established in 1890, and has previously hosted Regional Qualifying for The Open.

The Amateur Championship sees the field take part in the stroke play stage, playing 18 holes over each of the two courses. From there, 64 players and ties will advance to the match play stage at Portmarnock.

Entry is free of charge throughout the week for all spectators at Portmarnock and The Island, while live scoring, news and video can be followed on The R&A’s website and social media platforms.

Rendina plays part in history

CASTLEKNOCK’S John Rendina was part of the Irish Over-45 men’s tennis team won the Potter Cup in the Real Club de Polo, Barcelona over the weekend.

This is effectively the World Championships Over 45s event for tennis-playing nations. It is run by the International Club, a global organisation that operates events for players who have represented their country at junior, senior or veteran’s level.

The Irish men’s Over45s team at Real Club de The Irish team also featured Scott Barron Polo in Barcelona with the Potter Cup (Monkstown) and Stewart Doyle (Blackrock)

along with Owen Casey (Donnybrook), Ross Niland (Limerick), Alan Donnelly (Naas) and captain Garbhan O’Nuallain (Greystones).

Played on clay, the team was unseeded and came through the draw with wins against powerhouse teams from the USA (4-3), Spain (5-2) and France, in the Final, (5-2).

The US team included Mikael Pernfors, who reached the final of the French Open in 1986 (beaten by Ivan Lendl) and reached a career high ranking of 10 while representing Sweden in a Davis Cup Final.

13 June 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 29

FOOTBALL: FLYNN, LYNCH AND KEANE POWER SWORDS CLUB TO CRUCIAL THIRD WIN

Flying Fingallians see off star studded Plunkett’s in AFL1 AFL DIVISION 1 Fingallians 3-12 St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh 1-15  sport@dublingazette.com

FINGALLIANS picked off a big win over St Oliver Plunkett’s.Eoghan Ruadh to put daylight between them and the bottom three of AFL Division 1 as the league enters its second half.

It was a tie with plenty of star quality on display as Fins welcomed back Paul Flynn and Aaron Molloy while others were unavailable as the usual summer exodus to sunnier climes.

Plunkett’s arrived with most of their big guns in the shape of the Brogan trio of Paul, Alan wearing 13 and Bernard donning the number 15 jersey alongside Ross McConnell at full-forward.

With such a strong full-forward line, Plunkett’s opted for the direct ball into the top line and one Bernard showed his elegance and touch was still in the boots with some subline points from play and the dead ball throughout the night.

Fins starting off trying to pick out Oisin Lynch and Flynn but the quickness of the final ball was a little slower than their opponents.

As such, their primary scores came from the trusty boot of Lynch from dead ball and was followed by two quick scores from great movement out of the back into Donie Keane and Paul Flynn with both parties raising the white flag.

Keane’s point came from a subline pinpoint kick out from Ian O’Reilly to Flynn who laid it to Keane who duly split the post.

Plunkett’s quick passing was starting to fine a few tiny gaps in the rear guard of fins and with three quality saves from O Reilly to prevent either Brogans. Fins got themselves into a three point lead with a well taken penalty from Lynch after some great work by Cillian Power which put Plunket’s full back into a muddle O’Reilly got himself on the score sheet with two beautiful placed kicks from round the 45 meter mark

one in either half.

Plunket’s replied with a couple of frees from Bernard Brogan and a well-worked point from McConnell and just before the break, they levelled the game with quick hands leading to a lob over O’Reilly which made it over the line.

After the break Plunkett’s add a bit of height and strength to the full forward line by introducing Paul Brogan onto the square and Alan moving to the forty.

It had an impact as Bernard Brogan kept on scoring with two quick points. Not to be out done, the elder brother decided to add one more point.

Fins side-line needed to get a reaction and, within minutes of going two behind, they started to get quick ball into the front three and Flynn and Lynch grateful accept by raising the with flag.

Injury to Karl Connolly and Gary Donnelly meant a significant reshuffle for the Swords side and Bernard Brogan added a couple more points.

Fins needed something special to spark a revival and captain Keane stepped up with a peach of a goal which was arrowed straight into the bottom corner.

It put their tails up and with O’Reilly adding his second 45, the momentum had shifted. Plunkett’s did keep tacking on scores but a quick turnover led to Dillon Staunton pounding the yardage to release Gareth McCaffery who in turn fed Flynn.

With two defenders left for dead, he powered in from the right and unleashed a rocket that left the Plunket’s keeper on his knees taking the ball from the back of the net.

His side went for the jugular after that with Lynch adding two more points from the dead ball and while Bernard Brogan ended with 0-11, Fins were home and hosed.

The victory was Fningallians’ third of the campaign and see them put three points between them and Thomas Davis who currently occupy 14th place.

Next on the agenda for Fins is a home date against Davis at Lawless Park where a victory could see them jump further away from the danger zone with six rounds of games to go.

Clinton fires Skerries’ clincher AFL DIVISION 1 St Brigid’s 0-10 Skerries Harps 1-9  sport@dublingazette.com

SKERRIES Harps well deserved their two point win as they picked off a 1-9 to 0-10 win over St Brigid’s at Russell Park on Saturday.

A powerful strike by wing half back Robbie Clinton five minutes from the end of normal time saw Harps finally shake off a determined Brigids side.

With a further nine

minutes of stoppage time to endure, the Skerries side, marshalled by Bryan Cullen, held Brigid’s scoreless despite their opponents playing with a strong wind.

Harps fielded with Eoghan McGinley slotting in at full back in place of injured team captain Sean Rocks and young Donal Cotter at midfield in the absence of Mark Boylan.

They had the advantage of the elements in the first half and led by 0-7 to 0-4 at the break

with Stephen Smith getting three points.

They were denied three goals in the opening period chiefly by their own over elaboration. A lead of three points, having to face the wind, looked very precarious.

Colin Daly stretched the lead to four inside a minute of the restart but then it was backs to the wall time as the home side bombarded the Harps defence.

Cool heads were demanded and the Skerries side responded,

maintaining their lead until the 48th min when Brigids levelled at 0-8 all.

By the 22nd minute, Brigid’s were two points clear following frees.

Smith pulled one back and then Clinton struck following a great turnover by McGinley, carried on by Reilly and Cullen to send Clinton racing clear from midfield and from wide on the left he drilled the ball across the keeper into the top right corner.

At the end it was Skerries on the attack as they claimed victory.

Fingallians’ Paul Flynn in action against St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh.

Picture: Kyran O’Brien

30 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 13 June 2019

CLUB NOTES

ROUND

2

CRICKET: SKERRIES CLUB EASE TO CUP CROWN

CASTLEKNOCK ANOTHER fabulous Feile an nGael victory this time for our Div. 3 Hurlers (pictured) who won the All-Ireland U-14 title in Cork beating their hosts Glen Rovers 1-12 0-3 in the final in Ballincollig. Castleknock had been leading by 7 points when the referee blew prematurely for time but then restarted the match to play out the remaining 5 minutes. Castleknock had earlier beaten Bruff from Limerick 1-4 0-4 in the semi-final and Mount Leinster Rovers in the Quarter-Final in Killeagh 0-5 0-3. In the Group Stages the Castleknock lads drew their first two games against Watergrasshill and Cois Fharraige before easing past Glen Rovers (2-6 2-4) the team they met again in the Final.

All in all a memorable weekend.

Also on Sunday the Calum Farrell Memorial Cup brought an incredible crowd to Somerton – many thanks to the players, mentors and families of players from Tyrrelstown, St. Peregrines, Erin Go Bragh, St. Brigid’s and St. Oliver Plunkett’s who participated in the U-8’s Football Blitz and stayed on to make it a day to remember. Well done to the organisers of this hugely successful event.

The AFL9 team beat St. Finian’s, Swords 3-18 2-12 to maintain their league challenge. Congrats also to Ciaran Kilkenny on helping Dublin footballers.

Upcoming: The Annual Golf Classic takes place in Westmanstown Golf Club on Friday June 21st.

For further information contact Mick Lynch 0862531600 or Charlie Spillane 085-1101008.

SKERRIES HARPS

WELL done to the AFL1 team on their win over St Brigids on Sat 8th. The AFL4 team lost out to St Finians Newscastle on Sat evening.

Hard luck to the Skerries Community Games U12 Girls Football team who were defeated by Malahide in the semi final stages midweek in a very competitive game. Best of luck to Malahide in the remainder of the competition and to the Skerries girls who will play Lusk in. 3rd/4th place playoff.

Well done to Kevin Gilmore and Jack Smith who lined out for Longford & Westmeath Senior teams respectively yesterday in the Championship qualifiers. Both teams

recorded wins!

Upcoming Events /Diary Dates.

• Skerries Harps Golf society outing on Fri 14 June @ Swords Open GC. Tee times 12noon-2pm. Meal & Prizegiving 8pm in Harps Clubhouse. Contact Paul Murray 085 1740474 The major club fundraiser for 2019 will be the Chaser! Taking place Sun 27 Oct 2019!

Keep an eye on social media for more info and save the date! You wont want to miss it.

We are actively seeking sponsorship for this event - if you can help contact Joanne 0864058523.

ST BRIGID’S OUR MINI-LEAGUES are a week long fun games competition open to all boys and girls from 6-12 years of age. Each player is assigned a team for the week and gets to play and meet with new friends, finishing with our finals and family day this Saturday.

Our Club Nursery, in association with Sherry Fitzgerald takes a break this Saturday morning as our Mini-Leagues finals take centre stage! Nursery will return next Saturday.

Our Hurling Section are running a Laughter Lounge Comedy Night in the Club on 29th June in Russell Park. Tickets are €15 and including a free drink on arrival. BBQ and Raffle also on the night. Contact Mark for tickets on 0858131498.

Well done to our AFL 3 Footballers on a great league win against Ballymun on Saturday.

Lots of Adult games this week including our Inter and Junior Hurlers who are in Championship action in midweek while there is a full round of Adult Hurling league games this weekend! All the details are on our website and twitter page!

There was no winner of our Club Lotto Jackpot last week. Our next Jackpot rises to €3,600 and will take place in the Greyhound this Thursday evening (June 13th).

Important Coach Education evening on Friday, 21st June at 7pm with Paul Kilgannon, all are welcome.

Gaeltacht Scholarships available for club members, contact 0876339238 for info.

Online Booking for our Kelloggs GAA Cúl Camp in August is now open on our website! Places are limited and are filling fast so please book early to avoid disappointment! Each child receives FREE Kellogg’s GAA gear and a backpack!

The Hills’ Naseer Shoukat.

Picture: Oisin Keniry/Inpho

Shoukat stars with magnificent seven LEINSTER SEN CUP FINAL  sport@dublingazette.com

NASEER Shoukat, the ageless wonder of Leinster cricket, stole the show as The Hills won the centenary IBI Corporate Finance Leinster Senior League Cup by seven wickets in Milverton on Saturday.

In the space of two overs bowling up the hill, Shaukat reduced the much-vaunted Phoenix top-order to 35/5 from a relatively comfortable position of 31 without loss.

Ben Beecroft and Louis McDonough looked to get the Phoenix innings off to

a good start and a six over square leg as the first runs of the day seemed a good sign.

Then up stepped Naseer to take the best bowling figures in Senior Cup final history, his 7-20 in ten overs a phenomenal effort under the grey skies.

Shaukat’s ability to move the ball in both directions had the Phoenix team unsure how to play him and made sure the cup would be in The Hills clubhouse in their 50th birthday season.

Daya Singh, Joey Carroll and Devender Ranolia all chipped in with wickets themselves as Phoe-

HOCKEY HERO Hawkshaw swoops for two key goals

FORMER St Brigid’s GAA, MSB Athletics Club and Mount Sackville star Sarah Hawkshaw shone in Irish hockey colours this week as she scored twice in three games to propel the Green Army into the final four of the FIH Series Finals at Banbridge.

This is her major ranking tournament debut and she netted against both Czech Republic and Singapore as they topped their group and set up a semi-final spot in preliminary Olympic qualifier.

Picture: adrian boehm

nix were dismissed for 84 before the drinks break, but there was no denying that Shaukat was the star of the show.

Poonish Mehta threatened and teased that Phoenix might do the impossible dismissing McLoughlin-Gavin in the first over of the reply.

That was as good as it got for the men from the park as Lakhotia, Carroll and Donegan ensured The Hills comfortably chased down the modest target inside twenty overs.

Donegan stroked two boundaries in that final over to spark the celebrations in the large local crowd that had gathered

to watch the denouement.

Thanks to the live stream hosted by HBV Studios, it won’t just be in his mind that Naseer Shaukat is replaying his outstanding performance.

There was little time to rest as the Skerries side were back in action in the league a day later as they beat Rush with 87 from Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin and 80 from Bhavesh Lakhotia leading to a total of 243.

In chase, Rush were bowled out for 184 with the 53-year-old Shoukat picking off another three wickets.

13 June 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 31

HURLING/CAMOGIE: CASTLEKNOCK, FINGALLIANS AND MAUR’S ALL SHINE

FOOTBALL

Second half goals Knocks Towers over

Castleknock celebrate their Division 3 title above; St Maur’s shared the Division 2 regional camogie title with Ruairi Og Cushendall

Feile fever for trio of Fingal clubs

FEILE NA NGAEL  CÓILIN DUFFY

sport@dublingazette.com

CASTLEKNOCK and Fingallians Under 14 hurlers had a memorable weekend winning John West All-Ireland and Regional Féile na nGael silverware respectively, with Naomh Maur Camogie side ensuring a trio of successes, after they jointly shared the Division 2 Regional Camogie title with Ruairí Óg Cushendall.

Castleknock captured Division 3 AllIreland Cup honours in Cork, following a comfortable 1-12 to 0-3 win over Glen Rovers in the decider in Ballincollig on Sunday.

It was the Blue and Gold clad sides second win of the weekend over the famed Cork club, having already beaten them in the group stages.

The final produced a strange ending as with Castleknock holding a seven-point lead the referee signalled full-time, only to realise that there were five minutes left on the clock!

Having accepted their defeat in good spirit Glen Rovers were understandably reluctant to continue but the referee insisted the remainder of the match be played out and as a result Castleknock

went on to win take a 12-point win.

In the group stages, Castleknock drew their opening two games on Friday against Watergrasshill and Cois Fharraige before easing past Glen Rovers 2-6 2-4, the team they met again in the final.

This was enough to advance to the Cup quarter-finals, where they accounted for Mount Leinster Rangers of Carlow by 0-5 to 0-3 in Killeigh, before beating Bruff of Limerick by 1-4 to 0-4 in a tough semifinal, where a Castleknock point was the only score of the second half.

A Garda escort, sirens blaring, through Castleknock to Tir na nÓg on Sunday evening was the signal for wild celebrations as the team and their supporters arrived home.

On the Regional front it was a Saturday to remember for Fingal clubs with Fingallians capturing the North Leinster Regional Hurling Féile, and Naomh Maur as hosts jointly sharing the Division 2 Regional Camogie Féile.

At the GAA National Development Centre in Abbotstown, a youthful Fingallians side, which included some of their Under 13 panel claimed honours thanks to victory over Raheny in the decider.

The Swords lads edged their North Dub-

lin counterparts by just point in an entertaining final, after beating Kildare’s Coill Dubh; Donaghmore-Ashbourne of Meath and Maynooth on the way to the decider.

In Camogie, Naomh Maur and Ruairí Óg Cushendall played a cracking decider in Rush.

Maur’s led for most of this game in normal time, but their Antrim counterparts powered back to grab an equaliser in second half injury-time and force extra-time with a pointed free.

Four points were shared in the extra ten

minutes, and rules decreed that the title be shared. A fitting result, to a thrilling final in which neither team deserved to lose.

Earlier, Maurs accounted for Modeligo (2-9 to 1-1), and although losing to Cushendall by 7-2 to 2-7, bounced back to beat Ballinascreen of Derry in the last-four of the competition.

It was a brilliant display by Maur’s, as they played most of their games with just 15 players and no substitutes, due to a combination of players being unavailable on the day and injuries.

FINGALLIANS HURLERS:Árón Gargan,

Tara Brady, Sanya Baloch, Saoirse

Finin Brady, Charlie Griffin, Cormac Hen-

Mehigan, Colleen Moran, Shauna Ryan,

derson, Cameron Clarke, David Morris,

Sinéad Devane, Aoibhinn Moynihan, Amy

Adam Blake, Ryan Bourke, Cillian Bren-

McGee.

nan, Seán Delaney, Cormac Dromgoole, Kevin Finan, Nathan Hardy, Stephen

CASTLEKNOCK HURLERS: Oisín Tolan, Ben

Hickey, Dan King, Matt Lawton, Adam

Foley, Louie Woodger, Conan Feeney,

Kelly, Glen Madden, Tadgh O’Connell,

David Strappe, Dylan Clark, Bobby

Hughie O’Connor, Rowan Ó Murchú.

Lynch, Matthew Coughlan, Enda Slevin, Conor Roche, Calum McKinley, Adam

NAOMH MAUR CAMOGIE: Lucy Caulfield,

Nagle, Oscar Horgan, Cian Doyle, Sean

Ellie Hanratty, Rebecca Fitzpatrick,

Doyle, Anthony Kelly, Lenny Cahill, Sean

Cianna Flynn, Lucy Clarke, Ella Hegarty,

Dempsey, Cillian Clark, Orin Connolly,

Isobelle Lyster, Kerri Austin, Zara

Hugh Golden, Cillian Murphy, Ben O’Neill,

Thorne, Kelli Carthy, Ava McGee, Katie

David Richmond.

Birney, Laura O’Brien, Ella O’Connell,

THREE well worked second-half goals helped Castleknock ease to a 3-13 to 2-9 victory over Round Towers, Clondalkin in this AFL2 game in Somerton on an evening that also saw the historic first use of the Club’s new dressingrooms.

Playing with the wind in the first-half, the home team trailed throughout the opening quarter as Round Towers Thomas Galvin pointed three frees.

Shane Boland took advantage of a poor kick-out to shoot Castleknock’s first point. Rory Corcoran turned well to fire over the second and it was Shane Boland again who floated over the equalising point on 16 minutes.

Gerard McDermottroe, who scored a total of 1-7 pointed twice from frees to put daylight between the sides for the first time.

However right on the blow of half-time Round Towers Mark Hallows strolled forward to grab the goal that sent the teams in on level terms.

Castleknock hit the ground running at the start of the secondhalf with a sweeping move ending with Seamus O’Carroll setting up McDermottroe for a superbly palmed goal.

Indecision in the Towers’ defence saw Seamus O’Carroll on hand to volley the ball to the roof of the net.

Kevin Stephenson took a Rory Corcoran pass to shoot low to the Towers’ net for a third Castleknock goal with 8 minutes to go to kill off the game.

GazetteSPORT JUNE 13-19, 2019

ALL OF YOUR FINGAL SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31

ROLLING BACK THE YEARS

CRICKET: The Hills won the Leinster Senior Cup thanks to a stunning spell of bowling from the timeless Nazeer Shoukat. SEE P30

PORT OF CALL GOLF: Famous Port-

marnock and The Island courses to play host to Amateur Championship SEE P28

KNOCK LAND FEILE TITLE HURLING: Festival fever around the country as Castleknock, Fingallians and St Maur’s national and regional stage of competition SEE P31

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Gabriel makes more history at Mulhuddart  DAVE DONNELLY

sport@dublingazette.com

MULHUDDART Boxing Academy celebrated their latest milestone last week when Chloe Gabriel took home gold from the European Junior Championships in Romania.

The Blanch native, who fights in the 50kg weight class, beat Russia’s Valeria Linkova to claim the ultimate prize in Galati, one of nine medals Team Ireland claimed at the championships.

Gabriel was one of two Irish fighters, alongside Athy’s Mickey Donoghue, to claim gold, while Ireland also took one silver and six bronzes to place third in the final medals tally.

Neilstown’s Winnie McDonagh took silver following her loss to Italy’s Viola Piras, while an astonishing six Irish boxers lost semi-final bouts to Russian opponents.

For Mulhuddart Boxing Academy, who receive no government or boxing union funding, Gabriel’s achievement is a huge boost after she lost to the same opponent in last year’s final.

Chloe’s trainer in Mulhuddart, Gerard McDaid, was a coach for the Irish team that travelled, which was a bonus for her, but it was all her own work once she got into the ring on Saturday.

“I went myself as a coach, which was a bonus for Chloe, but the Irish team were fantastic,” McDaid tells the Dublin Gazette.

Mulhuddart Boxing Academy’s Chloe Gabriel and her coach Ge r McDaid with the European Junior medal

“It’s absolutely fantastic considering the size of

our population in comparison to others, and we come away with nine medals“ “We finished third in the medals table. We won nine medals in total – two gold, one silver and six bronze.

“It’s absolutely fantastic considering the size of our population in comparison to others, and we come away with nine medals.

“I have to say the future of Irish boxing looks very, very promising. We have a lot of good kids and will have a lot of success in the Olympics going forward.”

The Mauritian-born and full-blooded Irishwoman

Gabriel’s success isn’t the only success the Dublin 15 club has enjoyed in recent years.

Dervla Duffy, the only adult boxer competing out of the gym, hopes to go to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

The 2024 Olympiad in Paris, or even Los Angeles in 2028, is a more realistic target for 15-year-old Gabriel, who is studying for her Leaving Cert in Blakestown Community School.

She had the support of a handful of teachers from the school, which has also produced Ireland Under-16 basketball star Ryan Djoussa, when she returned to Dublin Airport from Romania.

“When we came home to the airport, I think there was about eight or nine teachers from Blakestown to welcome her back, which is rare. You can see how well-liked she is.

“It’s great for a school like that to be producing

athletes like that at that level. There must be something in the school.”

McDaid stresses that none of the club’s success would be possible without the support of local company Knife Edge, who provide them with the premises on which all the boxers train.

“I’ve sat down with these guys and we’ve talked about days like this. This is the reason they give us the type of sponsorship they gave us,

for days like this.

“It wouldn’t be possible if we didn’t hadn’t got their sponsorship or what they do for us and the community.

“They’re the backbone behind what we do.

“They might not be on the floor, but they give us the means.

“They allow me and the coaches in the club to do what we do on a daily basis. If we didn’t have that type of support, we’d be in trouble.”