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WITH THE LATEST NEWS AND SPORT FROM YOUR FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL AREA  MARCH 8-14, 2018

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‘WIT’S END’ IN PORTRANE FACING THE END AS EROSION DEVOURS HILL

Desperate plea as sea ready to destroy home

 STAFF REPORTER A PORTRANE woman whose home – Wit’s End – backs on to Burrow beach in Portrane could become the latest statistic in the homeless war if Mother Nature has her way – and it seems there’s nothing can be done to help her. Grainne Hannigan’s home at Healy’s Lane is set to topple into the sea unless drastic action is taken immediately to curb the advancing sea that has almost won the battle on her doorstep in Portrane’s coastal eroContinued on Page 3 sion war.

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SWORDS | MAJOR PIPES REPLACEMENT PROGRAMME UNDER WAY

FASTNews

Fein want your input Warning as €9m water Sinn on Rivermeade bus service works to disrupt town to give long-term gains SWORDS residents look set to brace for water disruptions as the longawaited Swords Water Main Replacement Project ramps up, with the shortterm pain offering longterm gains for the bustling town. With the major project already under way, work has been completed on the Forest Road and at Balheary, with more works to take place over the Easter school break. Councillor Darragh Butler (FF) told Dublin Gazette of the problems in store for Swords motor-

ists and retailers, as the water pipe replacement programme inches its way through the town. He said: “There were major traffic delays and problems particularly for Ridgewood residents, but once we got traffic signals changed, these problems where eased somewhat. “Like most Forest Road residents, we accept that this project has to take place – we are glad it is finally taking place, as we’ve had enough of the bursts and disruption that have taken place down through the years.

The major works will address ongoing leaks in the area

“At the same time, we look forward to the day when it is all fully completed. However, there will be disruption ahead for all Swords residents as this project makes its way down Main Street

towards Balheary. “This €9 million investment will provide a longterm upgrade of the ageing water networks in Swords, which has a long history of bursting and causing significant disruption to customers. “It is estimated that this project will reduce leakage by 44 million litres of water per month and will provide a reliable water supply to householders and businesses. “This involves replacing the existing leaking concrete pipe with a modern plastic pipe, from the junction with Cooks Road and Forest Road and terminating near the Swords M1 motorway junction at Lissenhall across a length of 5.2km, including the

replacement and installation of new valves and branch connections. “Whilst this will lead to traffic disruption and major inconvenience, we have had many, many bursts and emergency road closures dow n through the years, so it is great that this problem will be resolved once and for all.” He added: “I have met with Irish Water and the contractors and I am confident that they are doing everything that they can to minimise disruption.” A spokesperson for Irish Water told Dublin Gazette: “The project commenced in January and is expected to take 23 months to complete. “The 30” concrete water main was laid in 1970 and will be replaced between Cooks Road and Forest Road south of Swords, along Forest Road to the junction with the Dublin Road/Main Street, then along Main Street and North Street and onwards to Lissenhall, ending near the Swords north M1 motorway junction.”

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SINN Fein Cllr Philip Lynam has organised a public meeting with residents from Rivermeade and surrounding areas to discuss the possibility of extending the Knocksedan bus service to Rivermeade. Local Link spokesperson Miriam McKenna outlined the process, with local residents welcoming the fact that the process is now under way. Cllr Lynam said: “Local Link outlined a number of potential routes to the residents that would keep to the timetable already in place for the residents in Knocksedan. This process is ongoing and in the coming weeks there will be another follow up meeting to update residents. “While this is ongoing, Sinn Fein Deputy Louise O’Reilly, MEP for Dublin Lynn Boylan and myself are appealing to all local businesses, schools, community groups, residents associations and sports clubs to contact us in our constituency office in Swords to show their support and we can pass it onto Local Link.”

Council launches e-zine to help connect with citizens FINGAL County Council (FCC) has launched a new monthly e-zine – Fingal News – with the first edition now available to download from www.fingal. ie. Fingal News, which is available in both Irish and English, will keep residents informed as to what the council is doing for them and the actions being taken on their behalf. This new e-zine replaces a printed eight page hard-backed newsletter, which had been produced previously, but was discontinued in 2013. Welcoming the e-zine’s launch, FCC’s chief executive, Paul Reid, said that Fingal News would provide a valuable insight to residents as to what the council is doing to help to make Fingal a good place in which to live, work, visit and do business, and added: “Creating awareness of what the council is doing on behalf of its citizens and businesses is a key element of our communications strategy, so I am delighted we will be doing that each month through Fingal News and outlining how the council is working for citizens.” WHERE TO PICK UP YOUR DUBLIN FINGAL GAZETTE: Swords, Malahide, Donabate, Portmarnock, Skerries, Balbriggan, Ongar, Coolmine, Castleknock, Tyrrelstown, Mulhuddart, Blanchardstown, Clonsilla, Carpenterstown, Holystown, Mulhuddart, Hartstown, Huntstown

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FASTNews Are you disabled with a valid parking permit? No? Then don’t park in a disabled bay!

Fine for ‘selfish’ disabled bay car parkers doubled THE fixed charge for motorists who park in a disabled bay without displaying a valid permit is to be increased from €80 to €150. Speaking about the increase, Minister for Transport Shane Ross said: “In response to the selfish and thoughtless behaviour of certain motorists who think it is alright to park in a disabled bay without a permit, thereby depriving disabled drivers of safe, convenient access to parking spaces reserved for them, I have decided that the fixed charge should be increased from €80 to €150.

Increase “I hope that this increased charge will encourage able-bodied motorists to refrain from taking parking spaces reserved for those who need them.” Motorists have 28 days to pay the fixed charge of €150, which rises to €225 if paid within the following 28 days. Failure to pay will result in proceedings being initiated. Disability advocate Sean O’Kelly said: “I am pleased to see further action taken on those who park in the disabled parking bays without a badge. “As a driver with a disability, I need the parking space to allow room to get my wheelchair out. When people who use the space without a badge make some excuse of ‘I’ll only be a minute’, that is very frustrating and inconsiderate.”

PORTRANE | TIME RUNNING OUT FOR ‘WIT’S END’ AS EROSION CONSUMES HILL

Desperate ‘don’t let the sea take my home’ plea Continued from Page 1

Grainne, who has been living at Wit’s End for the past 18 years, and now lives there with her daughter and granddaughter, has lost up to 45 feet in garden space to the rear of her home. At the moment, her home is about two feet away from sliding into the sea. She revealed that the 45 feet were lost in only two storm events – one in 2013, and last week’s Storm Emma. Speaking to Dublin Gazette, Grainne said: “Where I’m standing at the moment, clinging onto the wall of my house, used to be part of my lovely garden. “I don’t want anything from the council – all I want is for them to allow me to put up rock armour and I’m prepared to pay for it myself. I just want them to rely on me to put up a proper sea defence, whether it’s rock armour or girders or something hat will protect what’s left

Under siege from the sea... Grainne Hannigan stands at the precarious edge of her ‘back garden’ which the sea has already claimed

Just inches from its destruction ... the edge of Wit’s End in Portrane, as the rapacious ocean devours its base

of my home. “They told me they couldn’t put hard rock armour, boulders or stones because it would affect the neighbours, and they cannot allow us to put up any metal structure or sea wall, because it would affect the whole coastline. “They said they can provide us with sandbags, but because my fence has fallen, they are effectively

on private property, and therefore they cannot help us to fill them and that would be our responsibility. “All I know is that with one more high tide, my foundations would be exposed, which will mean the end of the house. “Minister for Flood Relief, Boxer Moran, who paid a visit to the area about two weeks ago, said that the money was

available for such projects, but his department has not received any proposal from Fingal County Council. “We’ve got nothing from the council and we have paid in excess of €5,000 for supply of temporary measures since 2013. Either they give me a hand, or allow me to do it myself – it’s as simple as that.” Grainne had nothing

but praise for two local councillors, Paul Mulville (SD) and Adrian Henchy (FF). “They’re putting up a great fight for me, but I don’t know how much luck they’re having.” In response to queries about Wit’s End, a council spokesperson told Dublin Gazette: “Fingal County Council is aware of the situation regarding Ms Hannigan’s house and staff from the council have been in contact with her. “Ms Hannigan has not, however, requested the council to carry out any erosion control measures. “It should be noted that expert reports commissioned by the council

have confirmed that the erosion problem at this location is not amenable to localised engineered solutions such as those mentioned. “During recent discussions with Minister Moran’s office, the council outlined plans for extensive flood protection measures for Portrane. “The Minister confirmed that he is well disposed to assisting with the funding of these measures. “The council is pursuing the implementation of these measures having regard to all the necessary planning and regulatory requirements.”

SWORDS | TODDLER GETS ONE OF 11 NATIONAL ‘LITTLE HERO’ AWARDS

Jenna, 3, makes a splash with her swimming attitude Water great kid! Jenna Foley McGroarty (3), from Swords, and her Water Babies Little Hero award

WATER Babies, Ireland’s leading baby and toddler swim school, have announced the winners of their 2018 Little Heroes Awards following a nationwide search to find Ireland’s most inspiring young swimmers – with one Swords toddler scooping one of the prestigious awards. Sile Seoige presented the awards at Junction 6 Health & Lifestyle Village in Castleknock, where 11 ‘Little Heroes’ who have battled illness and adversity, including premature birth and physical disabilities and have shown great courage in their little lives so far, were honoured. Each child has a story of how water and

swimming has helped their development or improved their lives and the lives of their family in some way. One of the 11 award winners was Jenna Foley McGroarty (3), from Swords. Last July, Jenna (then aged two) had an accident while away on her summer holidays and broke her leg. Jenna and her family had to fly home the next day, so that Temple Street Hospital could assess the situation. She had a broken femur and had to be in a Spica cast for four weeks. After the cast was removed, her parents were advised that it would be two to three weeks before Jenna

would be able to walk properly. Jenna’s Mum took her to her Water Babies class and was amazed that Jenna was able to swim like nothing was wrong. Her swimming classes really helped in her recovery and even though she couldn’t walk properly, she was still able to have fun and enjoy swimming. Swimming was a great form of physio and within three weeks Jenna was walking again. By the four week mark she was back running around again, to her parents’ delight, and also to the delight of her doctor at Temple Street Hospital.

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FUNDRAISER | STAFF USING MOTHER’S DAY TO SUPPORT TEMPLE ST

Salon’s hair to help sick kids with €1,000 A BLANCHARDSTOWN woman has decided to spend Mother’s Day not in the comfort of her home, but by helping to raise much-needed funds for Temple Street Children’s Hospital. Big-hear ted Jolene McCarthy, who is the proprietor of a hair salon in Blanchardstown village called The Hair Room, located in the newly renovated Deanstown House, has decided along with her staff to spend Mother’s Day at work fundraising forTemple Street Hospital. She told Dublin Gazette: “On Sunday, March 11 – Mother’s Day – we are doing a fundraiser for Temple street

Jolene McCarthy, Lea Kendellen, Clara Duke, Kate McGarry and Aisling Dardis

Children’s Hospital called ‘Blow Drys for Temple Street’. “Normally we don’t open on Sundays, but this Sunday we are opening for blow drys all day, so that

everyone can take part in the day. The idea is that when people come in, they pay €20 for their blow dry and every cent will go to the ICU in Temple Street. “We also have a big raf-

fle with lots of prizes, with around €500 in vouchers. It would be really great to get over €1,000 and at the moment, with the salon full with blow dries, it works out at about €900

raised so far, so hopefully the raffle will bring us over €1,000,” she said. Jolene chose Temple Street ICU as her chosen charity when she had her baby, Rose (now seven months old). “I always wanted to collect for a charity and when I opened the salon, I became pregnant. I wanted something local and non-profit and I wanted it to be related to children and I thought that Temple Street fitted the bill perfectly. “I haven’t had to use the facilities at Temple Street, thank God, but I’d like to think if I ever had to, I at least did something to help,” added Jolene.

Call for Ongar, Clonee link to be made safer GREEN Party councillor Roderic O’Gorman has called on Fingal County Council to engage with Meath County Council and to work with them to make the route between Ongar and Clonee village safe for pedestrians and walkers. He told Dublin Gazette: “A significant number of residents in Ongar have contacted me about safety concerns for anyone travelling between Ongar and Clonee village on foot or bicycle along the R149. “This route is still a country road with bends, poor visibility and very little footpath. “I have put down a question to Fingal County Council to clarify whether there are plans to upgrade the pedestrian and cycling facilities linking Ongar to Clonee village.

FASTNews

Minister challenged to do more to address Fingal’s growing broadband needs SINN Fein TD for Dublin Fingal, Louise O’Reilly has challenged the Minister for Communications, Denis Naughten, to increase broadband provision and speeds for Fingal. She said: “There is a serious problem with broadband in Ireland. We are 21st out 25 EU member states in terms of broadband speeds, behind Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, and Jersey. “In Fingal, there are severe connectivity problems. This is particularly acute in Balbriggan, where the issue of the availability of broadband is preventing the town and the rural area from achieving its potential economically. “Even on a social level, it is having a devastating effect. The people of Fingal want to be able to Skype their parents or children or book tickets for a concert or to go see the Dubs online, but the connectivity problems are restricting what they can do. “Minister Naughten needs to make sure that, under the National Broadband Plan, that Fingal, Balbriggan, and other broadband blackspots in north county Dublin get access to high-quality broadband and that they get it as quickly as possible. “High-speed broadband has the possibility of transforming Ireland, but we can’t just bring it to big population centres – the small towns and countryside needs it too,” she said.

Have a say on draft Local Area Plan for Rivermeade Cllr Roderic O’Gorman, GP

“Obviously, this falls within Meath County Council’s remit, and I have requested that Fingal County Council contact Meath County Council and work with them to facilitate safer travelling along this road. “Both councils should do what they can to facilitate safe movement of people on foot and via bicycles. As more houses are built in both Ongar and around Clonee, this road will only get busier, so it is important that the two councils coordinate their approach,” he said.

THE draft Local Area Plan for lands at Rivermeade is now on display and members of the public can make submissions up until Wednesday, March 28. There will also be a public information evening on Tuesday, March 13 from 4pm to 8pm in Mary Queen of Ireland, National School, Rivermeade.

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EVENTS Opera Gala in aid of Home-Start and Special Olympics

Jennifer Murphy, Angela Canavan and Niamh Murray. Pictures: Simon Peare

Brendan Costello and Eimear Devlin

Jackie Newman and Diarmuid

Jim and Geraldine Walsh

Siobhan Devlin and Sile Devlin

A heavenly show at St Brigid’s Church

N Opera Gala night was held recently in St Brigid’s Church Castleknock in aid of Home-Start and Special Olympics. The event included well known arias, a sprinkling of romantic songs and much more. Guest performers included Soprano Florence Chong, flautist Colm Scully and pianist Mary Scarlett.

Bernie Sullivan and Mary O’Sullivan

Irene Martin and Margaret Crean

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HOUSING | HAP SCHEME

Local councillor reveals only one improvement notice served on HAP landlord PAUL Mulville, Social Democrats councillor for the Swords local electoral area, has received information from the council’s housing department, stating that only one improvement notice has been served to date on a HAP (Housing Assistance Payment ) landlord, and that there has never been a prohibition notice served. “Information provided to me in response to questions I tabled at the Balbriggan/Swords local area committee meeting shows that since the HAP scheme has been introduced in Fingal’s administrative area, only one improvement notice has been served by the council to date in the Balbriggan/Swords area on a HAP landlord, and there has been no prohibition notices served on landlords.” A prohibition notice is a notice to direct the landlord not to re-let the property until the breach of the regulations has been rectified and in such circumstances the HAP to the landlord can be terminated. “The council’s housing department has replied to me to state that: ‘All private rented accommodation, including accommodation provided under the HAP Scheme, is required to meet the statutory standards for rented accommodation with HAP inspections arranged by the council. “Given the prevalence of the HAP as a source of social housing support, I have been raising the need for the council to ensure that houses and apartments meet the minimum regulatory standards for rented accommodation. HAP is not an acceptable substitute for people as compared to permanent council homes, however given the fact that so many people have no choice but to take up the HAP scheme, it is of the utmost importance that the minimum standards are stringently enforced by the council. ”

Rush student awarded UCD scholarship A FORMER pupil of St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rush, Culann Noonan, has been awarded an Ad Astra Academy scholarship for academic excellence by University College Dublin. Culann Noonan, 18, from Rush was awarded an Ad Astra Academy scholarship for his outstanding academic achievement at an awards ceremony on January 30, to celebrate the University’s new high calibre students. Culann is a qualified Gaelic Games referee for juvenile matches and has played hurling and Gaelic football throughout his school years, both for his school and club. He was also on the North Dublin Development Hurling Panel at U13 and U14 level. He has volunteered extensively with So Joseph’s Secondary School with SVP to order, assemble and package Christmas hampers for local recipients that involved several weekend mornings fundraising via bag-packing in supermarkets.

Information meeting on Fingal heritage

THE council has prepared a Draft Heritage Plan for Fingal covering the period 2018-2023. A public information evening will be held on March 12 from 4pm – 8pm in the Civic Offices, Grove Road, Blanchardstown. Alternatively, written submissions or observations marked Draft Heritage Plan 2018 – 2023 can be

sent to the Heritage Officer, Planning & Strategic Infrastructure Department, Fingal County Council, County Hall, Swords, Co. Dublin K67 X8Y2. Submissions or observations may be made by email to heritage@fingal.ie. Observations and submissions received before 5pm on April 3 2018 will be taken into consideration.

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ECONOMIC NEEDS | CALL FOR MORE OF A FOCUS ON BALBRIGGAN

‘National Planning Framework must not neglect North Fingal’ FINGAL Sinn Fein Cllr Malachy Quinn, has said the Government’s National Planning Framework must not neglect the economic needs of North Fingal. Cllr Quinn said: “Fingal Sinn Fein have carefully analysed the Government’s National Planning Framework (NPF) and

are very concerned at the political will to deliver on Metro North and the DART to Balbriggan. “However initial impressions indicate that north of Swords is merely an addon to the economic and infrastructural priorities of the Government identified in the NPF. “The greater Dublin

City area appears to be the focus once again, leaving the imbalance between the North Fingal region and the remaining Dublin area, I very much welcome the emphasis on Drogheda as an urban centre, but there is a need to identify greater opportunities to attract larger businesses to towns such as Balbriggan. Sinn Fein Cllr Malachy Quinn

“The economic potential of Balbriggan, as an integral part of a wider strategy for the North Dublin region has not yet been realised. “With central government support and the pos-

sibility of European investment bank opportunities to a North Fingal Strategic Growth Plan, which we continue to explore, the longstanding regional imbalances, deprivation and economic deficiencies of areas in North Fingal will remain unaddressed. “ T h e G ove r n m e n t must remember that Fingal does not end at Lissenhall and must deliver on Metro North, as well as the extension of the DART Line to Balbriggan coupled with economic development of the North Fingal Region through targeted planning, sustainable housing and support of economic activity of the region.”

TD demands fair price for Fingal food producers

LOCAL Fianna Fail TD and spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Darragh O’Brien has demanded that the Government and European counterparts do all it takes to ensure the full protection of the agri-food sector in Ireland, ahead of Britain’s exit from the EU Customs Union. Last week, Deputy O’Brien and the Fianna Fail Brexit team travelled to Brussels to meet with key stakeholders across industries to discuss to potential challenges and impact on sectors such as agrifood. Commenting following his meeting with European Agriculture Commissioner, Phil Hogan, he said: “Weekly trade between Ireland and Britain amounts to over €1 billion in goods and services; this underlines the importance of the relationship between the two countries. “The agri-food sector in Fingal is especially successful, given our county’s strategic location and healthy land. In fact, over half of our land is utilised farmland for produce and is the heartland of fresh food produce in Ireland. “Our county’s 600+ farmers produce 15% of national potatoes, almost 50% of vegetable and over 35% of protected fruits, veg and nursery plants. We need to protect these farmers, their exports and the jobs that they subsequently cre- Darragh O’Brien ate. “I took the opportunity during my meeting this week with EU Agriculture Commissioner, Phil Hogan to raise many of the specific needs and concerns that have been relayed to me by these farmers and growers in north county Dublin. While on my visit to Brussels, I further reiterated these concerns with Michel Barnier’s EU Brexit team and the Irish Farmers Association. “The depreciation of the Sterling has led to a loss of income for many and producers are growing increasingly concerned that Britain’s impending exit from the Customs Union will result in unfair prices, particularly for primary producers in Fingal.”

Council opens consultation for Strategy 2018 -2022 AS part of the Creative Ireland Programme, Fingal County Council is preparing the Fingal culture and creativity Strategy 2018 -2022. The core aim of the Creative Ireland Programme is to improve the well-being of individuals and communities through increased participation in cultural activities and creativity. As part of the process, they are inviting feedback on the draft strategy from members of the public, creative practitioners and organisations in Fingal. You can view and comment on the Draft Fingal Culture and Creativity Strategy 2018 -2022 at https://consult.fingal.ie/ until 22 March 2018.

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10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 8 March 2018

Out and About

Poppy paws-es to enjoy the snow

The council’s Crisis Management Team meeting

Eileen Hopkins

" " '

" fun for'kids

'Snow much ' Heidi, Caoimhe, Ciara and Anna are having an ice time in the snow

Sean and Jack Whelan

Barry, Zoe, Claire and Abbi Gogarty

' across'Fingal T

HE Beast from the East and Storm Emma did their best to leave the city and country shivering and shaking in their wake, but across all of Fingal squeals of delight filled the air as thousands of children – and more than a few adults, too – dashed out to go skiing, sledding and having fun in the snow. From the coast to the northwestern city edge, Fingal’s old and young alike had a memorable few days in the wintery wonderland.

Theres no frostiness as Joe and Luke Brody pose for a pic with a new pal

Queueing to get into Hartstown Spar

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Out and About

Ploughing on with the work of clearing the road

Lorna Gibbons Sweeney with Grace Kiernan and Grace Sweeney and their cool friend

Craig, Jack, Sean and Lorna

Hard at

Grace Plunkett and her mum, Sonya

Oisin, Ailish and Isla Gilroy with their mum, Cliodna

Aimee, Sophia and Cathal Loftus

work in Swords

GAZETTE

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DUBLINBUSINESS Takeda Ireland Limited’s investment will see the creation of a facility dedicated to manufacturing a novel stem cell therapy

Sky, Netflix partner with new bundle deal  RACHEL D’ARCY

SKY and Netflix are set to team up for a new bundle subscription pack, deemed to be the first of its kind. Through the Sky Q platform, millions of Sky customers will be given seamless access to Netflix. Both new and old customers of Sky will be extended the opportunity to purchase the new ‘entertainment TV’ pack, which is the first time Sky and Netflix content will be combined side-by-side. The Netflix app will be integrated into Sky Q, and Netflix programmes will be promoted alongside Sky content. Customers will be able to watch Skyexclusive programming such as Big Little Lies, and Billions, alongside Netflix Originals such as Stranger Things, and Black Mirror, as well as free-to-air TV on the Sky platform. Jeremy Darroch, group chief executive of Sky said that the new partnership makes the “entertainment experience simpler for customers”. He said: “By placing Sky and Netflix content sideby-side, along with programmes from the likes of HBO, Showtime, Fox and Disney, we are making the entertainment experience even easier and simpler for our customers. Our recent announcements mean we will extend our leadership in delivering customers the best viewing and user experience in Europe.” It will also reduce the need for a Netflix bill also, as customers will be able to be be billed for their Sky and Netflix usage in the same bill. Existing Netflix users will be able to migrate their account to a new Sky TV bundle, or will be able to sign into Netflix on Sky with their existing account details.

Baldonnell Business Park adds major hub A NEW €40m development was launched in Baldonnell Business Park early last week. The new development by logistics company Mountpark EU will potentially see nearly 1,000 jobs created within the local area. During the construction phase, 120 jobs will be created, with a further 850 jobs expected to be created by companies that will operate from the logistics hub. There are set to be up to 150 ancillary services jobs also created from the new project. The first phase of the development is currently under construction, with the first unit due for completion in October. Mountpark EU’s Baldonnell development will provide units in excess of 350,000 sq ft for companies to rent for distribution purposes.

CONSTRUCTION | JAPANESE FIRM CREATING SPECIALIST €25M FACILITY

70 new jobs dispensed by Grange Castle pharma  RACHEL D’ARCY

UP TO 70 new jobs are to be created at a new pharmaceuticals facility in Grange Castle. Takeda Pharmaceuticals are to invest €25m in the construction of a new regenerative medicine facility, dedicated to manufacturing a novel stem cell therapy. Up to 70 construction

jobs will be created in the building of the new facility, which is scheduled to be in commercial operation by 2021. Local Fine Gael TD Frances Fitzgerald welcomed the announcement from Takeda Pharmaceuticals, saying: “I am pleased with this announcement. This is in addition to the €40 million investment in

the construction of a standalone production facility which I was delighted to turn the sod on last year. “Takeda’s decision to invest in Ireland is a great win and a vote of confidence in Ireland and it builds on our ongoing expansion of the sector here. “The pharma industry contributes greatly

to the Irish economy in terms of jobs and exports, and is one of the fastest growing sectors,” said Deputy Fitzgerald. The new project is set to deliver a boost for the Lucan and Clondalkin areas. L a s t we e k , a € 4 0 million Logistics Park Development was launched by Mountpark EU in Baldonnell.

Deputy Fitzgerald has said that projects such as these show a ‘vote of confidence’ in the workforce of the area. She added: “This continued investment by companies such as Mountpark and Takeda is a demonstration of the strong business offering that the county has for Irish and International businesses.”

Bioscience company Grifols reports some impressive ’17 profits STAYING with Grange Castle, a bioscience company with a base there has announced that its reported profit for 2017 has reached more than €663 million. In its 2017 annual report, Spanish pharmaceutical and chemical company Grifols reported that revenues increased by 6.6% to €4.3m in 2017, and its reported profits have grown by 21.5%. Grifols announced a €85m investment in the construction

of a new specific plant for the purification and sterile filling of a plasma product (albumin) at their Grange Castle site in 2016. Last year, the Spanish company also filed plans with South Dublin County Council for a €77m expansion to its Grange Castle site. In its 2017 report, Grifols reported that its bioscience sales have grown by 7.3% to €3.43m, something that the company report shows their ‘leadership’ in

their specific sector. They also report that their overall workforce grew by more than 23% in 2017, with the company now hiring 18,300 individuals in over 30 countries. In 2015, they announced they would be hiring 140 individuals at their Grange Castle facility, with this number expected to grow with the expansion of their

facilities in Dublin. Grifolds produces plasmaderived medicines for patients, and provides hospitals with tools, information and services needed to deliver medical care. They have three main divisions –bioscience, diagnostic and hospital, with their products available in more than 100 countries worldwide.

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

Fido’s Agility class fun  MARK O’BRIEN

A NEW dog training school in Kilternan is planning on getting your dogs active by teaching the canine sport of Agility. WaggyMamas Agility has been set up by Agility enthusiast Laura Murphy who has been competing at the sport for a number of years with a variety of different pet dogs. She says: “Agility is a win-win sport. Even if

it all goes completely wrong, it’s still adorable. You can’t lose!” Agility is a little bit like show jumping for dogs, being a competitive sport that involves a human or ‘handler’ who guides their dog around a course of obstacles including jumps, tunnels and a see-saw. The school also offer courses with qualified trainers in basic obedience for puppies and adult dogs.

Dogs under a year old can take part in nonstrenuous ‘Agility-themed games’ that are suitable for growing bones. They cater for complete beginners and first-time dog owners who haven’t tried anything like this before. According to WaggyMamas, what makes Agility training special is that it combines mental stimulation with physical exercise in a way that’s challenging

for both the owner and their best team mate – their dog. Laura says: “I’ve seen all kinds of dogs do agility. They don’t need to be a particular breed. Sometimes, it’s the ones you least suspect that end up really surprising you.” Wagg yMamas only uses force-free positive reward-based training and aims to train all students to a high standard

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GAZETTE

8 March 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

WE’RE SURE YOU’LL LOVE THIS WINTER

compatible with entering competitions in the future. The school welcomes dogs of all shapes and sizes, from Bichons to Bull Mastiffs. To book a class for your perfect pooch, or for more information, see Waggymamasagility.com, or phone 087 299 8182

DUBLIN Gazette has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for lost and abandoned dogs. Meet Winter – a playful, active twoyear-old greyhound with a taste for mischief! He is looking for a home with owners who can keep him busy and entertained, in a home where there is somebody there for the majority of the day. He would be best as the only dog in the home, where this cool dog is more than ready to delight older children with his snack-stealing skills. If you think that you have room in your heart for Winter, please contact Dogs Trust at 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website www. dogstrust.ie. You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE.

GAZETTE

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 8 March 2018

DUBLINLIFE

DIARY

LEGENDARY ‘CULCHIE EMBASSY’ GETS READY TO RAZZLE-DAZZLE

Are you ready for WE’VE all had an experience in Coppers over a weekend or several – now that experience is being embodied forever in the form of a musical!

Opening in the Olympia on July 5, Copper Face Jacks: The Musical is described as a “celebration of a club that started life as something of a Culchie

embassy in Dublin”. Written by Paul Howard, the creator of Ross O’Carroll Kelly, the musical tells a love story set on the evening of a Dublin

vs Kerry All Ireland final when a Kerry girl who moves to ‘the Big Shmoke’ falls head over ‘flat shoes’ for a Dublin team member. Speaking about the show, Howard said that it was “impossible” not to want to write a musical about the legendary Harcourt Street venue. “Once you hear the name Copper Face Jacks: The Musical, it’s impossible not to want to make it happen. We’ve been talking about it for a few years now so it’s brilliant to think in just a few months it will be up and running,” Howard said. The musical is being produced by the same team behind ANGLO: The Musical, with tickets from €28 on sale now from Ticketmaster. Follow @CoppersMusical on Twitter for more information.

YOU WON’T BE BARD OF THIS COURSE THE Ranelagh Arts Centre has announced that it will be holding a six-week acting course this summer. The Summer Shakespeare Bootcamp will help those taking part learn how to perform one of Shakespeare’s funniest comedies, The Comedy of Errors. Working with professional director Joe Devlin, the six-week course

includes five weeks of training before a week of performances of one of Shakespeare’s best plays. The course is set to help gain confidence in public speaking, with no experience in acting necessary to take part in the course. It will begin on July 16, and run from 9:30am to 5:30pm five days a week for the duration of the bootcamp. For further information or to book a place on the course, email ranelaghar tscentre@ gmail.com.

SHINING A LIGHT ON WES ANDERSON FILMS CINEMA fans are in for a treat with a brand-new film season at the Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield. Fantastic Mr Anderson – also known as Wes Anderson Season – began in the cinema on March 5 and continues until March 30, showcasing some of the best of the Texan director’s feature films. Events will also take place across the month, including the Grand Budapest Hotel: Prosecco and Patisserie event where viewers will be treated to a glass of Prosecco or a Grand Budapest-themed mocktail alongside patisserie treats during a screening of the 2014 film. Three of Anderson’s

best-known films (The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Acquatic and The Darjeeling Limited) will all be shown in 35mm film as part of the almost month-long festival. Tickets for all films and events are available now from lighthousecinema.ie.

DRAG YOURSELF TO A COOL FUNDRAISER AS RUPAUL once said: “You’re born naked, and the rest is drag”, and DCU’s LGBT society will be celebrating the art-form at their annual Drag Race on March 14. DCU Drag Race is the largest student-organised drag competition in Ireland, with eight contestants set to compete in the show to raise funds for BeLonG To youth services, an organisation for young LGBT people in Ireland. It will be held in Temple Bar’s Button Factory, and promises to be an exciting night. Based on the popular TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race, eight drag queens will compete in lip-sync battles and show off their finest fashion and makeup skills to raise money for the worthy cause. Hosted by well-known Dublin-based drag queen Victoria Secret, the judging panel will comprise

some of Ireland and Britain’s best drag acts. Tickets are priced at €6, with all ticket sales and profits from the event going to BeLonG To. For further information, see facebook.com/DCULGBTASOC.

YOUR KIDS WOOD LIKE THIS FUN CAMP LOCATED in Tibradden, near Rathfarnham, The Hazel House has a number of events running across March, including Easter camps for children. Its organisers will have a bird-house building event, a chair making course, as well as a screening of Disney’s Brave at their cafe in the Dublin mountains. The Hazel House also hold monthly mountain walks on the last Saturday of every month – weather permitting, of course! As well as these, they will hold a three-day camp for kids to learn how to work with wood to build their own vegetable trough. Running from 10am until 2pm from March 27-29, the camp is suitable for children aged over seven. The camp costs €100, with a deposit of €20 required in advance. For further information and to book a place, see thehazelhouse.ie.

8 March 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 8 March 2018

Out and About A LITTLE BREAKFAST LUXURY BREAKFAST at the Westbury Hotel was a little extra

of Extra-Firming. Irish TV presenter Amanda Byram was

luxurious with the launch of Clarin’s latest anti-ageing

also on hand to celebrate the launch.

skincare innovation, Extra Firming. Clarins Scientific

A Clarins staple for over 40 years, the 2018 editions

Communication Director, Marie Helene Lair presented

include new skin care duo with new formulas and new

the groundbreaking research and scientific discoveries

scientific and plant discoveries.

Triona McCarthy and Laura Bermingham

Laura Erskine

Jessica Grealis and Alba Walsh

Marie Helene Lair and Amanda Byram pictured at the launch. Pictures: BrianMcEvoy

ICE TO SEE SOME FUN IN THE SNOW AT THE ZOO WHATEVER about the impact of ‘The Beast from the East’ on the shivering country, these beasts were only too happy to get to grips with the white stuff at Dublin Zoo. With snow being a natural environment for many of the zoo’s creatures – but as novel for many of them as for the rest of the city’s citizens – the heavy sprinkling was welcomed by many of the animals, while the rest stayed indoors in their extra-warm enclosures and homes, bedding down like most of us until the cold had passed.

While some of the animals were just curious about the snow, many others enjoyed experiencing it

8 March 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

Out and About

Jessica Grealis and Alba Walsh

GAZETTE

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 8 March 2018

DUBLINLIFE

PUZZLE PAGE SUDOKU

CODEWORDS EASY

MODERATE

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

HOW TO SOLVE

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

WORD SEARCH

Codewords are like crossword puzzles - but have no clues! Instead, every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number, the same number representing the same letter throughout the puzzle. All you have to do is decide which letter is represented by which number! To start you off, we reveal the codes for two or three letters. As you find letters, enter them in the key and into the grid. Cross off the letters in the A to Z list. SCRIBBLE BOX

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

FIND THE FOLLOWING HIDDEN WORDS affair

mistress

amour

office romance

cheating

philandering

dalliance

seduce

doings

thing

episode

tryst

fling

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

flirtation intrigue liaison lover

8 March 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

GAZETTE

FEATURE

Shining a light on a busy arts scene

WEDNESDAY, March 7 saw the start of the 11th annual Five Lamps Arts Festival, which runs until March 11. Events range from family-friendly to adults-only and include theatre, film, dance, magic, comedy, workshops, exhibitions and many more. Several upcoming events will be free and run from 9am to 5pm daily. Maps, Coastlines – a Message in a Bottle at Connolly House, Marino College is one such event. Children from St Laurence O’Toole Girls National School have been working on this art show since last September with artist Martina Galvin’s guidance, and their very own artwork will be on display. Another free daily event is an exhibition featuring the artwork of Tara Kearns, Niamh Molloy and Barbara O’Meara at Custom House Quay. Of particular note is O’Meara’s

project, The Covering, a baby blanket made out of 796 squares, one for each of the babies found buried at the Tuam mother and baby home. Visitors are encouraged to meet the artists and knit, stitch, crochet or weave their own baby square. Another such exhibition will be put on by SWAN Youth Service, entitled What’s Your Issue, at Connolly House. Artwork by Megan Kavanagh, Aaron Connolly, Claudio Marsella and others will be featured tackling issues such as the daily difficulties faced by women, the coming out experiences of LGBT youth, and raising awareness of homelessness in Dublin. On Friday, The Charleville Mall Library will host Bloom and Buzz, a free interactive theatrical performance for children aged three to six years old. The event promises to explore mature themes such as life and death in a playful, sensitive and

age-appropriate manner. Connolly House, Marino College will host a free performance of, Sweet Dreams Mr Heroin, a play dealing with heroin addiction, prostitution, heartbreak and family on Friday at 12pm. Odeon Cinema Point Village will be showing the films Stalker at 4:45pm and Cardboard Gangsters at 7pm for €5 each. The former is an Irish psychological thriller following a volatile homeless man who believes God has given him a mission to “clean up” society, while the latter follows a group of young lads who set out to move up in the world of illegal drugs. T here will be a free Donal Vaughan Science Magic show for children aged five and older at Connolly House on Saturday. Children will learn fun science tricks that appear magical and that they can perform safely at home.

The Five Lamps Arts Festival organisers have curated an eclectic range of content and events for people of all ages to enjoy in Dublin

Conversation Salons will present, A Feast of Strangers, at Cloud Cafe on Friday from 7pm to 10pm. The festival concludes on Sunday, March 11, with the Dublin Circus Project, a free family circus workshop at 3pm, and a free circus

performance at 4pm. The performance will feature both professional and beginner circus performers. For the full programme of events, as well as booking details, check out www.fivelampsarts.ie.

8 March 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

DUBLINLIFE

MUSIC

SPOOK OF THE THIRTEENTH LOCK: 18-PIECE DELVING INTO A STIRRING PIECE OF OUR HISTORY

Sounding the Lockout

LET’S GO OUT

PICK

BEST OF THE REST OF THE WEEK MARCH 13 (Tuesday) Erasure @ Olympia Theatre, (rescheduled date) From humble beginnings Erasure have easily kept their place at the top of the synthpop league. Never afraid to speak out about things they care about, you’ll know Andy Bell and Vince Clarke’s tunes within seconds – with an Erasure gig guaranteed to leave you with an infectiously upbeat, sunny vibe.

MARCH 8 (Thursday) The Gloaming @ National Concert Hall, €40 Chris Jones and the Night Drivers @ Pavilion Theatre, €16 RTE Choice Music Prize @ Vicar Street, €28 The annual celebration of the best of Irish music is always a worthwhile night out, and has the added bonus this year of featuring every nominated artist performing live. A great summary of the Irish music scene as it is today, and the afterparty is something else... The Strypes @ The Bowery, €25

MARCH 9 (Friday) Luka Bloom @ Pavilion Theatre, €20 Inni-K @ The Cobblestone, €12 Willy Mason @ The Grand Social, €15 The Revellions @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), late show The Riptide Movement @ Number 22, €20 Paddy Hanna @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €10 Unquestionably one of Dublin’s most interesting current musical men, Paddy Hanna’s latest album (Frankly, I Mutate) is heavy on the self-examination and soulsearching, but delivered in quirky pop vocals. Beautiful.

NEWLY expanded to an 18-piece and back with a beautiful concept album dedicated to a key moment in Irish history (just in time for St Patrick’s Day), Spook Of The Thirteenth Lock look set to cement their place as one of Ireland’s most original acts. THERE’S very little that’s conventional about Spook Of The Thirteenth Lock. Their conversation flits happily between their pervasive politics – substantially Left-leaning – and the charisma of their music. They work on albums for years before launching them onto the market, playing relatively rarely, with a focus on areas like historical accuracy. They also make sure they enjoy the ride. The product is rock that’s riddled with Irish inf luence and hef ty chords, but also comfortably distinct from trad, the Irish punk scene or even local folk. Their growth has been an incremental one, in a sense, though rarely less than fantastically ambitious. “We started out as a four-piece, around 2006,”

 JAMES HENDICOTT

says guitarist Enda Bates. “For the second album we bounced up to a five-piece, then added an extra guitar. After that last album, we started to change our approach, and added all the extra guitars.” That growth to an 18-piece has seen Spook Of The Thirteenth Lock develop into a different kind of band, one that’s able to produce layered power and gorgeous, jarring nuance.

Divided guitars “Technically, it is a full orchestra,” Enda adds, “in that it’s lots of different people playing the same part. There’s the core group, and they take care of the more complex, melodic stuff, and then the guitars are divided into four parts, playing together. “There are some American groups that put together symphonies for 100 or 200 electric guitars, but there’s not much out there like it. It’s an incred-

ible sound; it’s like the comparison between one violin and an orchestra of violins. You get this really thick, slightly jarring feel.” Of the change, he explains: “It was something we were always interested in, and it kind of thematically fit with Lockout, with the big groups of workers all working together.” The Lockout he refers to, of course, is the industrial dispute between 20,000 workers and their employees that took place over the rights of workers to unionise, and over their preposterous working conditions, led by Jim Larkin and James Connolly in late 1913 and early 1914. The Lockout had an impact across Dublin society. “You really have to do your reading for something like this,” vocalist Allen Blighe says of the project, having approached the new album with all the vigour of a passionate historian. “We got a few different sources. There was a housing collapse on Church Street in inner city Dublin, for example, that killed a lot of people. It was kind of the Grenfell Tower of its

time. “There’s a very short book that’s recently been put out locally in Stoneybatter about it that’s very powerful. That was a big influence.” Enda recalls: “Some of our songs in the previous albums had historical themes, but they were distinct songs. With this one, we wanted to tell the story of the Lockout on a full album. “Before we had much music written, we already had the narrative and structure all planned out. We knew the lyrical ideas, which is the other way round to how we used to work in the past, with the music coming first.”

Narratives Those narratives filter naturally into the music. Allen explains: “We use this very harmonious open tuning on all the guitars to represent the strength and unity of the unions.

“But then there are the dark moments in the story, in which we very deliberately create dissonance, whether it’s rhythmic or harmonic dissonance, to represent those themes. “There’s also big and small. There’s all guns blazing, all guitars going,

and different points where it really shrinks back. “In terms of arrangement, it can be really interesting. It uses the dynamic range in different ways. It’s not just ‘a noise fest’; in fact, it’s quite sparse at times.” The two aren’t afraid to express their own admiration for the Lockout strikers, or their sense that the relative absence of such

collective action is a sad reflection of modern society. Allen says: “It’s about capital versus labour, ultimately, even if it’s not really expressed that way any more. “Historically, we lost the battle of the Lockout, but when World War I broke out there was no surplus of labour anymore, so it was a superficial failure, as there was no surplus of labour anymore. “The union involved became SIPTU, still the biggest union in the country. It created conditions for what came next. “There are huge differences between then and now, but there are some similar themes,” he argues. “That capital against labour fight is still very much relevant. Tenement slums back then were full of vermin, and people were struggling for food. “It was about accommodation, and the security of accommodation is a huge thing again now.

One of the successes of capital, I guess, has been to take that debate out of the equation. It’s not really discussed any more.” The 1916 anniversary, though, has brought some clarity to the era, in Enda’s opinion. “It’s perhaps less mythologised, and treated with a bit more context. I remember the Lockout being talked about in very positive terms, but not being explained as this Socialist action. “As a subject, though, it’s handy in a way. We’ve always liked tying our songs together, with big intros and outros, and this is just that idea, times ten! It’s complex, but it’s cohesive, and you know where you’re going.” The journey might have had its simplistic sides, tonally at least, but the result is spectacular: a deep, detailed and original album no other Irish act could have written.

MARCH 10 (Saturday) The Gloaming @ National Concert Hall, €40 Daniel Avery @ District 8, €22 MARCH 11 (Sunday) The Gloaming @ National Concert Hall, €40 Tommy Fleming @ Bord Gais Energy Theatre, €31 Damien Jurado @ Whelan’s, €22 DVSN @ The Academy, €28 Sophie Coyle @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €10 MARCH 12 (Monday) The Gloaming @ National Concert Hall, €40 Niall Horan @ 3Arena, €50 The former One Direction man drops in as near as he’s going to get to home with a date at the cavernous 3Arena, where he’ll run through his debut album Flicker (and no doubt a little of the old stuff, too). Rejjie Snow @ Olympia Theatre, €22 MARCH 13 (Tuesday) The Ruby Sessions @ Doyle’s, €6 LU TYSKY @ Whelan’s, €8 Vince Clarke and Andy Bell better known as Erasure a duo responsible for such

Spook Of The Thirteenth Lock play Dublin’s Pepper Canister Church on March 16, as part of the St Patrick’s Day Festival, with support from Landless. Lockout is released the same day.

hits as A Little Respect, Chains of Love, Always and many more...

MARCH 14 (Wednesday) The Wombats @ The Academy, €25 Death From Above @ Tivoli Theatre, €30 Keep Shelly In Athens @ The Grand Social

GAZETTE

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 8 March 2018

GAZETTE

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 8 March 2018

DUBLINLIFE

GARDENING

NARCISSI: EXTEND THE DAFFODIL SEASON UP TO APRIL BY INTRODUCING DIFFERENT VARIETIES

Daffodils with a difference - and the perfect planting partners Anne Byrne Garden Design provides easy to follow garden plans that you can implement right away or in stages. Her design flair and passion for plants brings a touch of magic to gardens of all sizes. Anne Byrne Garden Design – Creative Ideas  ANNE BYRNE – Practical Solutions – Stunning Gardens. info@dublingazette.com

MARCH is the month when daffodils, or narcissi, really come into their own and look wonderful planted en masse, especially around the base of mature trees. You can extend the daffodil season, however, by introducing different varieties so as to enjoy golden yellow or white blooms from February right through to April. One of the earliest to bloom is the reliable “Tete a Tete”, a miniature variety often with two or three flowerheads on the same stem. It’s a great one for spreading throughout a border, as it’s very small but really makes an impact when planted in dozens. Other lovely early cultivars are “Minnow” and “February Gold”. For a change from yellow, you could try Narcissus “Thalia” – the

flowers are a traditional shape but are a lovely clean white. This particular cultivar is one of my favourites and I use it a lot in planting plans – it’s very reliable and has the most elegant shape and habit of any narcissus I know. For something a little different, consider trying some double varieties. Many of these are scented and are brilliant for cutting, as well as displaying some beautiful petal combinations. “Bridal Crown” and “Cheerfulness” are widely available doubles and one of the best has to be “Sir Winston Churchill”, an orange – splashed double with a particularly sweet fragrance. Longer stemmed doubles are safer in a sheltered spot and some

Anemone blanda helping out with the Easter Egg Hunt in the garden

Thalia works well with pinks such as these Tulipa Margarita

individual plant has to work hard to earn its place. A perennial is really any plant that lives for more than one season, but in this context we’re looking at herbaceous, or non-woody plants, rather than shrubs. Some are evergreen and retain green leaves all year, with seasonal flowers, and some die back in winter with new leaves appearing in spring. The beauty of the latter is that their newly emerging foliage helps to disguise the browning leaves of early bulbs, which you shouldn’t really cut down until six to eight weeks after flowering. The brown leaves can get a bit messy but are easily disPulmonaria guised by fresh new perennial foliage. Here are a few of my favourite perennials for early spring: • Pulmonaria – some have leaves attractively splashed with white, and flowers are white, blue or pink • Anemone blanda – grown from tubers and often avail-

support can be useful, even if it’s just a few twiggy sticks. If you plant them in pots near doorways, you can appreciate the lovely scent easily without venturing too far outdoors. As a garden designer I’m constantly looking for ways to improve people’s enjoyment of their outdoor spaces, and even though the year’s still young, there are so many beautiful perennials that can brighten up borders in early spring, so it’s well worth seeking them out. If you’re lucky enough to have a very spacious garden you’re spoiled for choice, but in a smaller space editing is everything as each

Bressingham White

able growing in pots, dainty daisy like flowers in blue or white – really pretty under a tree. • Bergenia cordifolia: Also known as Elephant’s Ears for its evergreen, rounded leaves, a reliable all-year-rounder with early spring flowers in white, pink or red. “Bressingham White” is a good choice if you want to avoid colour clashes with yellow daffodils!

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

8 March 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

THERE’S NOTHING MINOR ABOUT THE CHARMS OF OUR NEIGHBOUR’S SOUTHERN SIDE

WALES

WONDROUS WONDERFUL

With views like this - of Garn Goch (Picture: Anthony Pease) - who can resist visiting Wales? Such magnificent views are just part of the attraction; consider also (from top, right) Hay Castle (Picture: Dan Santillo), Felin Fach Griffin, in Brecon, or Booths Books, Hay-On-Wye.

 JAMES HENDICOTT THE trendy Danish concept of ‘hygge’ – a cozy, memorable, charming feeling of being utterly at ease – might have peaked as the big conceptual winter fashion, but it remains a wonderful concept. Here’s why a trip to the hills of Wales is full of just the right kind of hyggelike, cuddly charm... Somewhere between Anglesea’s expansively named Llanfairpwllgwyngyll... (yes, I cut off two thirds of the name, it is that long) and the Brecon Beacons National Park, you hit the winding hillside roads of Snowdonia. You cruise gently under tunnels of trees, the climate seemingly changing as you cross through each little hillside pass and rugged, three-house village. The land has that soggy green depth that feels like it hasn’t been dry in months; the texture reminiscent of an ancient realm of Hobbits. It’s the kind of place you almost drift through, giving re-emerging onto a dual carriageway the air of a post-dream slap around the face. If Snowdonia is the realm of Hobbits, the Bre-

cons feel more like they belong to the giants. The southern park is all expansive sweeping valleys, soaring hillsides and picture box villages that look unchanged in generations. The main draw of the Brecons, then, is the scenery. In Winter, the slow rising roads lead you through tiny clusters of ageing houses, the pathways edging above the treelines until they burst out suddenly into great soaring valleys. In the Summer, this is a hiking hub. In Winter you’d need to be more hardy to hit the upper slopes, but the delicate stone of the tiny towns comes into its own, lit up in slanting light and offering cozy corners next to fires to envelop guests. For somewhere to stop over, the award-winning Angel Hotel in Abergavenny delivers casual class. Tucked in behind a fairly innocuous looking facade is something of a community hub, bustling with activity. You can grab a tiny electric car to roam the hills in (provided on the house), or explore local artists’ work in the hotel shop.

TO VISIT RYANAIR fly (usually cheaply, though watch out for rugby weekends) to Cardiff, just over an hour from Abergavenny. Given its outstanding scenery and quirky stop-offs, however, we far prefer making a day of it with the longer drive down from the Holyhead Ferry. If you’re hiring a car, it’s worth noting the evening ferry arrival isn’t much good (or at least you’ll need to stay in Holyhead overnight), as the car hire companies close their doors by six. They do, however, allow return trip drop-offs when they’re closed. TO STAY THE Angel in Abergavenny is the kind of enticing rural hotel it would feel utterly opulent to lounge in for the weekend without ever passing the porch. That said, the many nearby hill walks give the place an air of ‘earnt luxury’, and add to the feel of the Welsh hotel of the year.

It’s the social side of the hotel that stands out, though: it’s unobtrusively welcoming, popular as a conversation-driven night out as well as in its capacity as a hotel, with plenty of little corners in which to plant yourself. Naturally, there’s also an oak-clad bar crammed with heady local brews, while the afternoon tea (a Tea Guild delicacy, no less, featuring ample scones and pastries) and top-tier restaurant (crab, scallops and succulent local venison, as well as local beef and cheese) are both sublime. They’ve even opened an in-house bakery, spe-

cialising in delicate pastries and flavoured breads, and expanded the hotel outwards into various utterly luxurious buildings around its outskirts, including a wedding venue-meets-organic cafe. You’re similarly treated in the hills, where many semi-rural restaurants – both walker stop-offs, and Sunday drive-tos for locals – have grown to produce some genuinely memorable food in fireside pub settings. You can learn more about every aspect of the Brecon Beacons via the tourism website at breconbeacons.org.

GAZETTE

TRAVEL

24 DUBLIN GAZETTE 8 March 2018

DUBLINLIFE

BeautyBITS

SPRING/SUMMER18

Karl Lagerfeld Pyramid earrings www.Karl.com

Karl Lagerfeld Pyramid Cluster ring www.Karl.com

Founder of Inglot Ireland Jane Swarbrigg

The first ever Inglot Awards show to be a ‘celebration’ of make-up  Rachel D’Arcy EVER since it entered onto the Irish beauty scene in 2009, Inglot have become a household name to anyone with a love of beauty across Ireland. Jane Swarbrigg, alongside her mum Geraldine and brother Peter, were responsible for introducing Inglot to Ireland back in 2009 when they opened their first store in Liffey Valley. Speaking to Dublin Gazette, Jane said: “It’s amazing, I keep calling us the babies of the make-up industry here in Ireland, but after nearly nine years, I can’t really call us babies anymore!” Inglot have set an industry standard across Ireland, with their use of social media marketing, and creative make up artists within their stores being able to recreate any and all looks. “Any look that a client brings into our store, say

DRESSING

littlew oo detail d ds.ie V by Ver enim jac y ket €65 pearl and stu d

UP or DOWN?  Jessica Maile, Style Editor

WHAT if you are going out and you have to dress up but you don’t feel like dressing “up” up? The best option? Dressing down. Yes, dressing down! You can mix skirts, sequins, denim, eclectic jewellery, sporty backpacks in luxe finishes, pearls, blazers and t-shirts in combinations that keep dressing up just that bit more comfortable

they see something on Instagram, it’s important that our artists can recreate that. We have these trend Thursdays, where we encourage our artists to be as creative as they can – it’s amazing what they can do, what all artists can do,” Jane explained. On March 26, the brand will host their first annual Inglot Award show in the Raddisson Blu Hotel in Dublin City, on a night that founder Jane Swarbrigg promises to be a ‘celebration’ of make up across the board, not just Inglot. “It’s going to be glamorous. I wanted to put something together to celebrate not just the Inglot family, but make up and undiscovered artists as a whole,” she told Dublin Gazette. “I have a lot planned, there’s set to be exciting entertainment and everything.”

polk a do ts €

There will be 11 categories over all on the night,

but leave no doubt you are dressed to impress. For Spring/Summer 18, Mint Velvet have given a soft, elegant approach of dressing down with a motif sweatshirt in a soft grey and blush pink sequined skirt matched with simple white trainers. For a more structured look, RIver Island has combined a striped blazer, t-shirt and a ripped denim shirt embellished with pearl beading. Topping off the look are killer statement shoes. So, when you are going out and want the best of both worlds, just experiment with dressing Penneys ir redescent b down. ackpack €14

for Inglot Make-up Artists, artists with a high social media following, and artists who were previously with Inglot and since left.

lle le athe r

The awards aren’t just for artists either, with Jane saying there will be 200 tickets available for fans to

Gaze

attend on the night, as well as a special ‘Inglot Addict’

Jane Swarbrigg and Inglot are also delighted to announce that the Inglot roadshows are returning this March and will be taking place in new locations across the country. The roadshows will provide expert tips and tricks. Tickets are €15 and available at www.inglot.ie

Dressing down River Island style from their Spring/Summer 18 collection

Sch

The shortlist of those nominated is available now on inglot.ie, with voting open until this Sunday, March 11.

uh a

dida s

award for their biggest fan, as voted by the public.

littlewoods.ie Benefit High Beam liquid highlighter €27.50

8 March 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 3

FASTNews Are you disabled with a valid parking permit? No? Then don’t park in a disabled bay!

PORTRANE | TIME RUNNING OUT FOR ‘WIT’S END’ AS EROSION CONSUMES HILL

Desperate ‘don’t let the sea take my home’ plea Continued from Page 1

Under siege from the sea... Grainne Hannigan stands at the precarious edge of her ‘back garden’ which the sea has already claimed

Just inches from its destruction ... the edge of Wit’s End in Portrane, as the rapacious ocean devours its base

SWORDS | TODDLER GETS ONE OF 11 NATIONAL ‘LITTLE HERO’ AWARDS

Jenna, 3, makes a splash with her swimming attitude Water great kid! Jenna Foley McGroarty (3), from Swords, and her Water Babies Little Hero award

8 March 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 25

WHATTA

DEALZ  Rachel D’Arcy

I am Busy sweatshirt €79, sequin midi skirt €149, Circle and bar stud earring €35 and Allie silver contrast detail trainer €119 from Mint Velvet

WHAT could be better than cheap clothes with a decent quality? Last Friday, PEP&CO launched their first nine Irish stores inside Dealz shops across the country. Launching in four Dublin stores - Blanchardstown, Dundrum, Finglas and Nutgrove – prices begin at €1.50, with the most expensive item costing just €19.50. “We are very excited to bring our fashion and brand to Irish consumers,” said Adrian Mountford, managing director of PEP&CO. “By the end of this year, with over 300 shop-inshop fashion stores [across the UK, Ireland and France], we’re set to become a major fashion player,” he said. Stock in PEP&CO stores changes every six weeks, meaning there’ll something new for you to get your hands on each month. Take a look at our top picks from their debut Irish release.

GAZETTE

STYLE

GAZETTE

26 DUBLIN GAZETTE 8 March 2018

DUBLINLIFE

FEATURE

From the Battle of Clontarf to Wood Quay, the Vikings left an indelible mark on Dublin

HERITAGE: CELEBRATING THE HARDY, COMPLEX PEOPLE

Quick, quick – the Vikings are coming (so don’t miss their four-day festival)  MARK O’BRIEN A NEW four-day festival celebrating Viking culture is coming to Dublin this Easter weekend. VikingFest 2018 takes place at Dublinia and Wood Quay from Friday, March 30 to Monday, April 2. The festival of Viking heritage will include Living History demonstrations and Viking ships moored and on display in Wood Quay. The highlight of the festival is a live outdoor spectacle with the Follow the Vikings audiovisual and theatrical performance on Saturday, March 31 at the historic Wood Quay amphitheatre. D e n i s e B r o p hy, director of Dublinia,

said: “Dublinia is delighted to be part of the Creative Europe Follow the Vikings project which seeks to create a borderless tourism destination focusing on the Viking world. “Working with our

international partners we have created the Follow the Vikings roadshow which travels to 12 important Viking heritage sites across Europe, with Dublin and Waterford being two of those sites. “With the support of our partners, Dublin City Council and Failte Ireland, we have upscaled this event to bring you VikingFest.” Living History, Viking weaponry, coin minting and crafts will all be on display at Dublinia throughout the festival, allowing visitors to experience activities from Viking times. T he Vikings are coming back to Wood Quay in style, with two Viking ships sailing up

the Liffey to Wood Quay. These will be moored and on display for all to see, with a shoreside Viking ship to be found at Wine Tavern Street. Lakeland Viking warriors will be on hand to tell visitors all about Viking life and the sea. The organisers say that one of the highlights of the festival will be the Vikings-focused audiovisual and theatrical extravaganza on Saturday night, March 31. Audiences will be enthralled by the international Follow the Vikings show, taking place outdoors in the Wood Quay amphitheatre. The creative narrative of the show uses the life and times of Icelandic warrior poet Egill Skallagrimsson as its inspiration.

For everything you could want to know about the Vikings, come along to VikingFest 2018 at Dublinia and Wood Quay, where in addition to their well-deserved warrior reputation (above) you’ll learn much more about the Vikings’ complex culture

Egil, a revered and fearsome warrior saves his own life not with the sword or axe as you would imagine, but by reciting a poem to make his great enemy, Erik Bloodaxe, immortal!

The 45-minute show mixes film, animation, projection, sound, dance, drumming, battle reenactment and live action. The performance takes place at 8.30pm with a second show at 9.45 pm.

The show is free of charge but is ticketed, and tickets are now available at www.dublinia.ie. Dublinia is also offering discounted admission to its exhibitions during this exciting weekend.

8 March 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 27

ReelNews

GAZETTE

CINEMA

Director Guillermo del Toro was delighted with his well-deserved wins for The Shape of Water, one of the night’s more upbeat moments as Hollywood faces into a range of lingering issues

COURTING JUSTICE Legend’s lawsuit nears

WHILE most eyes have been bent on Hollywood’s current elite as the awards season culminated in the Oscars (right), other eyes are firmly focused on one of the very, very last of Hollywood’s old guard, Olivia de Havilland (above), as the regal actress readies for a battle she’s likely to lose. ‘Old’ is the word – like fellow legendary luminary Kirk Douglas, Ms de Havilland is more than 100 years old, but despite her age she’s at the heart of a long-awaited, upcoming court case due to be heard on March 20 – one which, in the unlikely event that she wins, would have a signifiicant impact on film. In essence, her lawsuit against the FX network and Ryan Murphy Productions takes issue over Catherine Zeta-Jones’ portrayal of her in the docudrama, Feud: Bette and Joan, about the bitter rivalry between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.

Golden age The Oscar winner is suing over the unauthorised use of her name and image in the production, making a rare move into the public eye from the fading shadows of the golden age of Hollywood. She’s particularly annoyed about her portrayal as (as she basically put it) a coarse gossip – quite at odds with her quiet character. It’s an interesting lawsuit that’s not without merit, given how many people can be the subject of films without their knowledge or approval, and are largely left at the filmmaker’s mercy. Although she’s expected to lose her case, we all know that the Gods can be fickle and it’s not certain by any means that she’ll lose. If so, the repercussions for filmmakers could be huge, effectively blocking all kinds of (American, at least) biopics and TV docudramas. One way or another, the verdict should be known later this month ...

ANALYSIS: VIEWERSHIP HIT AN ALL-TIME LOW

Oscars sparkled a little less NOW that the Oscars are done and dusted, the glittering gowns have gone back to the designers, and Frances McDormand has been reunited with her missing Best Actress Oscar – more on that, below – let’s delve a little deeper into some aspects of this year’s Oscars. A number of shadows were cast over the 2018 awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 90th, which – shockingly – saw US Prez and man with seemingly absolutely nothing else to do Donald Trump actually getting something absolutely correct in a Tweet, typing: “Lowest rated Oscars in HISTORY.” In this, the orange one was dead right: just 26.5 million US TV viewers tuned in, down a whopping 16% from last year’s figure, and marking a nadir for the august academy awards. While TV viewers now only represent some of the metrics, as I bet huge numbers watched the Oscars online, watching the conventional viewership spiralling downwards must have given TV and Hollywood execs food for thought.

 SHANE DILLON

sdillon@dublingazette.com

Despite revamping some criteria years ago to try and give the Oscars better reach, which arguably favours US-centric blockbusters at the expense of other

films, the prodding and poking just doesn’t seem to have reinvigorated the ceremony or the buzz. In commercial terms alone – not that I’d be so crass to say that the Oscars should just honour whichever films made the most wheelbarrows of money – the past year’s box office juggernauts were noticeably absent, even from the more technical awards. For all of the hype

over one such absolute money-making machine – Wonder Woman – and the intense international critical and academic focus on that film’s cultural significance, the Oscars rolled right on past. Not only that – despite the current buzz over the #MeToo and #TimesUp campaigns, and their (quite right) attempts to crush sexism and exploitation within

Oscars are invaluable for a film, but what if owners wanted to just flog them? AS FOR Frances McDormand’s richly deserved Best Actress Oscar – which briefly went walkabout during an after party but was later retrieved, with a man arrested after a suspicious photographer didn’t recognise him while he brandishing the very conspicurous bling about – here’s some Oscar statue info that you may not know. There’s not much that can be done with any Oscar, which aren’t literally worth as much as people think. In fact, the Oscar winners don’t own their Oscar – following rule changes in the 1950s, they remain the property of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Oscar awards are little more than long-term loans from the Academy, which has legal first dibs on any Oscar statuette up for sale, which must be offered to them, first, for the princely sum of ... $1. While there are plenty of older Oscars (right) out there for sale (some of which often have astronomical price tags), their literal worth isn’t exactly sky-high. It costs about $400 to produce each 24-karat gold-plated award, which – at today’s fluctuating metal prices – are currently worth only about $650.

the industry, that anger and high-profile focus didn’t translate into anything much during the ceremony itself. By and large there were some ripples of frisson rather than waves of rebellion running through affairs, with things pretty much running smoothly under its blandly popular host, Jimmy Kimmell, who, lacking the edginess of some of his peers, kept matters mostly efficient and safe. It’s a sign of how conventional matters were that more people seemed to be talking about the late, dulcet-toned Batman and pop icon Adam West being inexplicably absent from the In Memoriam listing rather than any did-you-see moment from the ceremony itself. I won’t run through the winners here, which we’ve all r e a d over the p a s t f e w

days absolutely everywhere, and it’s hard not to agree with the generally excellent winners, and shortlisted names and titles, which didn’t see any We Wuz Robbed shock wins. Perhaps the only slightly surprising win came with The Shape of Water scooping the Best Picture Oscar, given that the academy is notoriously resilient to sci-fi. The film resolutely falls into this category, no matter how much it’s dressed up with romance, social commentary and period drama elements, but the academy voters fell for this very fishy tale, hook, line and sinker.

Interest There was great interest in whether smash-hit Call Me by Your Name would win the top title instead, marking two years in a row for resolutely gaythemed films following last year’s superlative Moonlight (because, hey, why not), but Water was still a well deserved win. Perhaps the film’s win, and some of its shortlisted peers, have opened the door for quirkier content to win at Oscars 2019. Here’s hoping ...

GAZETTE

28 DUBLIN GAZETTE 8 March 2018

DUBLINLIFE

FASTNews

Opel adds extra features to 2018 Combo Life OPEL has launched the new Opel Combo Life, which is based on a fifth-generation Combo that claims to be spacious, highly practical and versatile. The Combo Life, due here in April, is equipped with one or two rear sliding doors and can be ordered as a short (4.40 metres) or long (4.75 metres) version and as a five or seven-seat people carrier car. This new Opel claims to raise the bar in terms of level of safety and comfort. It is fitted with technologies and driver assistance systems well-known from the compact or SUV segment such as Driver Drowsiness Alert, Rear View Camera with 180° bird’s-eye view, head up display, and IntelliGrip. Comfort features include heated seats and a heated leather steering wheel. One of the new assistance systems fitted to the Opel Combo Life is the Flank Guard which supports drivers when turning at low speeds. The Combo Life also offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible infotainment systems with up to eight-inch colour touchscreen. The fun-factor for occupants is further increased with USB ports in the front and second row ensuring that tablets and smart phones can be recharged even while the devices are in use. A 230V power socket in the front footwall even allows one passenger to plug in a laptop. Compatible smart phones can also be charged wirelessly via the inductive charging pad located below the air-conditioning controls. The Combo Life can also double as a small transporter. With the rear seats folded down the boot volume of the standard version more than triples to 2,126 litres

X-Class adds touch There’s a new and more luxurious option in the growing 4x4 pick-up market with the arrival of the new Mercedes-Benz X-Class. Michael Moroney took the luxury load carrier for an on and off-road test drive and here he evaluates the luxury appeal.

MERCEDES-Benz aims to add more than a touch of luxury to the 4x4 pick-up market with the arrival of the new X-Class at the start of this year. As the growth in pick-up sales accelerates, Mercedes-Benz aims to boost that with a new pick-up that adds German star brand features to widen its appeal. While the general car market struggled to grow in 2017, the market for 4x4 pickups rose by 10%, even if that’s starting from a low base. Ford’s Ranger topped the market and while that’s not the place Mercedes-Benz aims to take on, the new X-Class will compete at the top end

Mercedes Benz X-Class 2.3 Engine Engine Power 0 – 100km/hr Economy Fuel Tank Capacity CO2 emissions Road Tax Band Main Service Euro NCAP Rating Warranty Entry Price of this growing market. Externally, this Mercedes-Benz pick-up has its own clear identity. The most obvious of these features is the Mercedes-Benz twinlouvre radiator grille, centrally positioned star and honed bonnet

2.3 litre 190 bhp 10.9 seconds 12.7km/litre (7.9l/100km or 36mpg) 80 litres 207g/km Commercial €333 20,000km/12 months 5 stars 2012 2 years unlimited €39,950 and headlamps, extending far into the wings, designed to give the pick-up a distinctly upmarket appeal. Jump into the X-Class and you’ll instantly feel that this new generation of pick-up combines a hint of luxury with prac-

tical off-road ability. On the inside, the Mercedes-Benz design means that the X-Class interior is very similar to that of other MercedesBenz models in the range. You clearly feel that your onboard a Mercedes-Benz vehicle, with a brushed metal effect dash and controls laid out in a similar way to many other Mercedes-Benz cars. Out on the road the driving experience is smoother than many other pick-ups while not really on a par with passenger cars. Make no mistake that it’s still a pick-up and you’ll notice that after you’ve driven over 650km as I did, mainly

meaning that getting camping equipment, larger luggage or bikes from A to B is no longer a problem. Again, the longer version of the Combo Life offers even more capacity when the rear seats are folded down. In this configuration, it can carry an impressive 2,693 litres. The front passenger seat folds flush with the rear seats, extending the length of the loading area so that

Peugeot shows its outdoor side in 4x4

even surfboards can be transported. Under the bonnet, Opel Combo Life customers will have the choice between a variety of turbo-charged, direct injection petrol and diesel engines. All of the engines are paired with five or six-speed manual transmissions with a segment-first eight-speed automatic option also being available.

PEUGEOT has unveiled its new Rifter 4x4 concept car at the Geneva Motor show this week for those with an outdoor passion to their driving. This car comes with an Overland roof tent and houses a new electric Peugeot mountain bike. The Rifter comes with distinct bright yellow features and badging and is presented in a shade of spangled grey, punctuated with mat black and onyx black features. The car is shod on 16-inch diamante, varnished alloy wheels for extra attitude. The Rifter 4x4 concept is fitted with full-wheel drive developed by Dangel, the brand’s partner that specialises in four-wheel drive transformation. The Rifter concept is raised to give 80mm ground clearance so as to allow the vehicle to

overcome most obstacles. A selector is located at arm’s reach on the dashboard, to the right of the gear lever, giving the option of three driving modes. The 2RM mode engages front-wheel drive mode, for everyday trips. The 4RM mode powers the rear wheels, in the case of loss of motor function. The Lock mode locks the rear axle, which is useful for extreme travel and crossing bridges. Peugeot Rifter 4x4 Concept is fitted with allterrain wheels provided by BF Goodrich. They combine endurance, style and traction while the BlueHDi 130bhp diesel engine, with a manual sixspeed gearbox, produces a comfortable 300Nm torque.

on the road. Mercedes-Benz claims that the X-Class has a wider track than the competition, including the Nissan Navara and that its spring and damping system is tuned to deliver Mercedes-Benz levels of comfort. It is fitted with a multi-link rear suspension with coil springs not leaf springs to help deliver more comfort. For off-road driving the selectable 4MATIC all-wheel drive with its low-range gearing and optional rear axle differential lock showed its ability to master any terrain. Mercedes-Benz says that a permanent all-wheel drive version will be available next year. The X-Class comes with safety features that include Active Brake Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Traffic Sign Assist. Billed as the first intelligently connected pickup, ‘Mercedes me’ connect means owners are linked to theirX-Class via smart phone at all times. When you delve under the skin of the X-Class you’ll quickly see the similarities. It is powered by the same Renault designed 2.3-litre engine that’s fitted to the Nissan Navara. This engine is available with a choice of two power outputs 163bhp in the single turbocharged X220d, and 190bhp in the biturbo X250d version, matching accurately, Nis-

8 March 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29

launches 2nd of pick-up luxury BMW generation X4 BMW has unveiled the second

twin headlight units, while the new

generation of its X4 Sports Activity

horizontal LED fog lights are inte-

Coupe at the Geneva Motor Show.

grated into the outer air intakes.

The X4 will arrive in Ireland this

All models feature Adaptive LED

summer and will start with an on

headlights as standard.

the road price of €67,190. The X4 claims to come with

housing, are slim in design and

standout exterior design and with

positioned at the extreme edges

a strong coupe silhouette and

of the rear. Together with the twin

even more refinement, along with

exhaust tailpipes (shared by all

state-of-the-art driver assistance

engine variants) magnify the width

systems and connectivity. There

of the rear end. allow drivers to tailor the appear-

M40i and M40d, to cater to cus-

ance of the all-new BMW X4 to

tomer tastes.

reflect their personal tastes. Each

was unable to challenge its towing ability. The X-Class is pitched at a more luxury end market, so why pay more than you would for a Nissan Navara that has all of the same performance features. Entry prices for the 190bhp versions start from €46,300 for the Progressive

models; that’s about €4,000 more than the equivalent Nissan Navara LE offer. That indicates that the price lift is not as much as you would initially think; there’s a more luxurious feel to the X-Class with all of the performance features that you would expect from a 4x4.

comes with standalone design

its predecessor, with 54mm added

features as well as model-specific

to the wheelbase and 37mm extra

19-inch light-alloy wheels.

width. It is also lower by 3mm. BMW

The X4 can now also be specified

claims that these emphasise its

with options from the BMW Indi-

perfect 50:50 weight distribution

vidual portfolio. Extras designed to

and hint at the enhanced perfor-

give the exterior design an exclu-

mance potential.

sive feel include the BMW Individual

The car retains the brand’s

I had on the road. That gearbox is smooth to use, adding to the luxury feel and easy driving. I’ve driven the X-Class both on and off the roads and its luxury feel belies its very impressive off-road driving ability. The test version was not fitted with a towbar, so I

Two optional model variants

models in the range, the BMW X4

The BMW X4 is 81mm longer than

san’s Navara performance. T he 80 litre capacity fuel tank includes an AdBlue tank and I was able to achieve an impressive 600km range from the full tank. Six-speed manual transmission is standard on the more powerful 190bhp X250d 4MATIC version that

The L-shaped LED rear lights, with their three-dimensional

enhanced driving dynamics,

are two additional M Performance

Mercedes-Benz has a new 4x4 pick-up on the market with strong hints of the MercedesBenz heritage in terms of styling, comfort and safety with entry prices starting at €39,950 for the higher power 190bhp versions.

GAZETTE

MOTORING

trademark BMW kidney grille and

paint finish Sunstone metallic and 21-inch BMW light-alloy wheels.

February delivers steady car sales AFTER a disappointing January, the latest official new car sales statistics released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show that the total new car registrations for the month of February were steady at 17,081 compared with 17,089 new cars sold in February 2017. Irish new cars registrations for the year to date remain -3.5% (54,143) down on the same period last year (56,092). For the Dublin region, 7,291 new cars were registered, up by 4.73% compared with the same month last year, giving a year to date total for Dublin of 20,039, just marginally behind last

year’s levels. Used car imports continue to soar as sterling stays weak against the euro. The latest SIMI figures show that in the Dublin region 5,234 used cars were registered so far this year, compared with 3,980, a 31.5% increase compared to the first two months of 2017. Sales of petrol electric hybrid cars have risen by 56%, while plug-in hybrid car sales rose by 88%, indicting a significant change in car buyer fuel choices. Electric car sales are still slow across the country apart from the Dublin region when they have significantly increased with 90 new electric cars registered so far this

year. Sales of automatic cars are on the increase and the latest SIMI figures show an increase from 19% of all cars sold in 2017 to 23% this year. The best-selling new car in Ireland for February was the Skoda Octavia. While the Hyundai Tucson was the best-selling car in Ireland, Dublin buyers put the Nis-

san Qashqai at their leading choice, followed by the Volkswagen Golf, Skoda Octavia, Hyundai Tucson and Nissan Micra, in that order. Toyota led the Irish market as the leading car brand for the year to date, while the Volkswagen brand topped the Dublin market.

Subaru and Castle Garage sponsor Monkstown Hockey Club SUBARU Ireland and Castle Garage, a family-owned, Subaru dealership in Bray are providing new kit and support for the U-16s Monkstown Hockey Club. The new kit is a welcome boost for the rising stars of the well-known & very successful South Dublin hockey club. Castle Garage was established in 1955, and the business is based right in the heart of Bray, just 2 minutes off the N11 with ample customer parking. The dealership is the longest serving Subaru Dealer in Ireland. Monkstown Hockey Club was established in 1894, and are one of the oldest Hockey Clubs in Ireland. They are a South Dublin based hockey club with Mens, Ladies, Colts and Fillies teams. Striving for

The Nissan Qashqai was number 1 with Dubliners

success and the craic!

30 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 8 March 2018

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FASTSport

Phoenix’s Strydom in MCC side for unique tour Lydia Boylan in action during the omnium at the world track cycling championships

CYCLING: SANDYMOUNT RIDER UNCLIPS AT APELDOORN ARENA

Boylan finds going tough at track world championships

SANDYMOUNT’s Lydia Boylan, working with Lydia Gurley, finished ninth at the 2018 UCI Track Cycling World Championships tonight. Gold went to Great Britain, silver to the Netherlands, and Italy took bronze. In the men’s Omnium Felix English finished 19th. The championships take place in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands. A ferociously fast start dictated the final podium in the Women’s Madison, with a

group of five taking a lap. “It started super-fast,” noted Gurley after the race. “A group of five got away and got the lap really quickly. It was unfortunate we missed that first move was we could have been in the top five. “It was not a power issue missing out, it just started so quick. After missing that move we minimised damage and were in the mix.” Boylan described a series of unfortunate incidents in

the race that didn’t help: “we kept fighting after they got the lap but I unclipped during a change and crashed down. Puncture “Then I got a front wheel puncture which wasn’t ideal. But we managed to keep fighting to the end.” “There were a few unfortunate, unforeseen things, but it was a better result than last year, and we did the best we could do, but you always want

to do better,” added Gurley. T he Madison has been added to the Olympic programme for Tokyo, and was added to the World Championship programme last year. Earlier in the week in the women’s omnium, Boylan finished in 17th place after the four races. Speaking after the race, a dispirited Boylan said “I’m disappointed with today’s race but I’m going to have to put it behind me and refocus.”

PHOENIX CC’s Reinhardt Strydom has been selected for Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) as they depart for Brazil and Chile next week. MCC begins its 2018 touring programme next week and Strydom will form part of a thirteen-man squad of Playing Members from around the United Kingdom that departs for Brazil and Chile. The fifteen-day trip is the first of three overseas tours which will take place this year, with visits to Sweden and Kenya to follow. Strydom has played One-Day International and T20 International cricket for Ireland as well as having played extensively for Ireland A. Starting on Thursday, March 8, MCC will take on the Brazilian, Chilean and Peruvian national sides during the trip, as well as several other fixtures against leading clubs in Brazil and Chile. All matches on the tour will follow the T20 format. The squad will arrive first in the Chilean capital, Santiago, where they will take on the Prince of Wales Country Club, before fixtures against the national teams of both Chile and Peru. They will also partake in nets and training sessions with the Chilean national women’s team. The squad will then fly to Brazil and the city of Sao Paulo, where they will play Sao Paolo Cricket Club in two T20 matches, and the Brazil national team, also in two short format games. Rio de Janeiro is the final stop on the tour, where Carioca Cricket Club will be their opponents in four T20 matches across two successive days.

GAZETTE

34 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 8 March 2018

SPORT

FastSport FENNELLY AND DEEGAN IN FED CUP LINE-UP: DUBLINERS’ Jane Fennelly and Lauren Deegan – along with former St Andrew’s student Amy Bowtell – have all been named in the Irish team for this year’s Fed Cup by BNP Paribas in the Europe/Africa Zone Group III. Yvonne Doyle the Irish team captain welcomes back Bowtell after a lengthy lay off with injury; US collegiate player Ruth Copas along with Fennelly and Deegan complete the line up. The tournament will take place in Ulcinj Bellevue in Montenegro the week commencing April 16. Ireland will compete with the following nations for promotion to Group II for 2019: Montenegro, South Africa, Finland, Morocco, Malta, Kenya, Cameroon, Mozambique, Andorra and Uganda.

CLUB REOPENING: INSURANCE CLAIMS ISSUE SAW INNERCITY CLUB CLOSE DOORS

Sheriff YC finally back on its feet after frustrating wait

 DAVE DONNELLY sport@dublingazette.com

SHERIFF YC were celebrating a long-awaited return to their home grounds after an insurance problem locked them out of their facilities in the north inner city. The Sheriff Street-based club were stung at the end of November when their insurance claim came up for renewal and they were informed they presented too high a risk. A couple of claims, relating to functions in the club bar, that were paid out several years ago saw the premiums rise to unmanageable levels – and left their premises unusable. That was the case for more than two months – with football teams playing all their matches away from home – until financial firms JLT and AIG stepped in to help solve the problem. “There were 300 kids being left on the street,” Sheriff PRO Hugo Richardson told the Dublin Gazette. “We’re a voluntary organisation. Kids come down here to the academy on Saturday morning – closed. Badminton – closed. Bowls – closed. Bingo

symbolised just how vital the club is to the local area, providing a link to the outside world for many elderly people. “The main thing is the bingo. The local women come into the bingo every Wednesday. “That was closed for six to eight weeks, and some of the women didn’t even leave their homes until that started back up. It’s a small bingo, but it’s great for them to get them out.” The club can once again look to its future now, and with their 50th anniversary coming up in 2022 they can look ahead to remaining a vital part of a community that lacks amenities. Sheriff YC President Jack Russell, AIG Ireland GM Declan O’Rourke, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe, An “What we hope to get out of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and JLT Director Amanda Harton at the club’s reopening. Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile it is to keep the club going for as long as we can. Keep more for the old folks – closed. credit to the whole North Wall of recreation activities to the kids off the streets, more kids “Declan Woods is a local area. local community from badmin- involved in sport, no matter. goalkeeper – he played for the “It’s a lesson-learner for other ton to bowls, with indoor facili- The more the merrier. club. He keeps in touch with clubs. We’ve been educating ties provided for basketball and “You’d need to be going here his mates and all that and he’s them on the same system – if five-a-side football. 24 hours to keep the kids occuChris Giles, the son of the pied around the area – there’s with JLT. They got in touch with you have a small bar in your AIG, who are based around the clubhouse, have the bar private legendary Irish footballer not enough for them. We’re just financial area. to the sport. You’ve no prob- John, runs the kids’ academy one of the big things in the area. “You have the boxing and from ages five to nine, while “They linked up together and lems then.” Sheriff are best known for volunteers keep the club open other stuff as well but we need worked on it for a couple of weeks and by the grace of god their senior men’s football team, around the clock for the local more. If [the club] shuts down, the whole street shuts down, they sorted the problem out for who have dominated junior youth. football for the past decade. However, it was the loss of the whole area shuts down and us. The club also offers a range the weekly bingo night that there’s nothing doing.” “We’re back home and it’s a

Trio call on Dubliners to support 32-county challenge  sport@dublingazette.com

Runners Noel McNally, Niall Farquharson and Paul Tyrell

IN AUGUST, Noel McNally, Niall Farquharson and Paul Tyrell are taking on the challenge of a lifetime this summer to raise funds for the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity They are calling on various running clubs across Dublin to volunteer in support of a good cause. The trio are in training to run 32 marathons on consecutive days, covering every county on the island of Ireland. The adventure will begin on August

2, in Derry, and stopping in Dublin on August 11. The finishing race, all being well, will take place in Ormeau Park in Belfast, with the runners joining in on the Laganside 10K on the 2nd September. Noel McNally explained why the trio are taking on the unique challenge. “I know it sounds a bit crazy and there are a lot of logistical things to get organised, and that’s all before we pull on the runners and start the first marathon in few months time. “But August 11 in Dublin, we

know we can call on the support of various running clubs, like the Crusaders AC, as well as members of the wider running community throughout the county. “We will be relying on these local volunteers to marshal our routes, time the runs and most importantly to join us for a day, even it is for a few miles, a half marathon or the full 26.2 miles. “Myself, Niall and Paul are committed to raising as much money as we can to support the work of the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity.

“We all know someone who has been affected by cancer and we know the amazing work undertaken by the staff at the unit. If we can help the Unit to support the families who desperately need that help, then all the better. Local runners in Dublin are encouraged to join in on August 11. Details of the event and how to support the initiative can be found at www.http://ccu32. com/ and donations can be made via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ccu32

8 March 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 35

GAZETTE

FASTSport

Hayes pursuing the ice hockey dream in Canada  JAMES HENDICOTT

STEPHEN Hayes has become the second player from Blanchardstown-based ice hockey side the Flying Ducks to head for Canada, in the hopes of forging an career in the game. Stephen Hayes, who attends St Peter’s College in Dunboyne, turned 14 while in Canada, and is currently playing with Somang, a team well known for their player development. He trains with ex-NFL star Francois Landreville, and will stay in Canada this time around for a period of six weeks, joining older teammate Mark Murphy, who has already signed on for a year at Somang. Hayes has been playing ice hockey for half his life, having picked up the game through the Flying Ducks at the age of seven, playing at the nowdefunct Castleknock on ice. Reports from Canada indicate that Hayes has already improved substantially as a result of his short stay, whilst studying at the local international school, and has earned an invite to return for an entire year when he enters his next school year. While funding will be an issue, Hayes – with the support of his family – is determined to take up the opportunity. He was also part of a young Irish side that traveled to South Korea ahead of the Winter Olympics, showcasing the game’s development in this part of the world, and earning a surprise 3-2 win over their hosts. They also played world-class age-group sides from Russia, Canada and the USA, and got a taste for the lifestyle. His stay back in Ireland before heading for Canada was just 24 hours. “He wants to go as a far as he can in the game,” Stephen’s dad Ross Hayes, who is heavily involved with the Flying Ducks, told the Dublin Gazette. “He’s loving the life over there, and would ideally like to play in the NFL, though there are also other professional and semi-professional options like the Elite League and leagues in Asia to look at. “He’s really gone through the roof in terms of ability. He’s training six days a week and doing all the other stuff that come with the game, too. We’re hoping to get funding for a return in September, but if not we’ll have to fund the trip as a family.”

Local curlers battling to put game on Irish ice A highlight of the winter Olympics every four years, the Irish Curling Association is hoping their sport can get a permanent home on the island to allow them to grow  JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

EVERY FOUR years, as the Winter Olympics roll around, the sport of curling suddenly takes a rare moment in the limelight. It’s a strategic contest played across ten ‘ends’, the objective being to finish an alternating series of turns with your stone – slid across ice – closer to a marked target than your opponents. This year, the stars of the show were the host nation South Korea’s “garlic girls”, an obscure provincial team that’s grown in the sport in preparation for the Pyeongchang hosted Olympics, and despite a lowly expectation, soared through to a final, only to be outplayed by Sweden at the last. You might be surprised to hear, though, that the heavily winter-leaning sport is also active in Ireland. John Burns, a mem-

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ber of the Irish Curling Association committee, outlines the surprisingly diverse history in Ireland to the Dublin Gazette. “Curling started in Scotland over 500 years ago and was played outdoors on frozen ponds,” he explains. “It had spread to many countries in the late 1800s, especially Canada and the United States, but other countries included Russia, Sweden and Ireland where there were three curling clubs around Belfast. “Ireland missed out on the move to indoor rinks and on the explosion in world curling leading up to the re-introduction of the sport to the Winter Olympics at Nagano, Japan in 1998. “But, in 1990, several Irish expatriates living in Scotland founded the Irish Curling Association. Our membership of 60 are all entitled to curl for Ireland by birth or parentage but most of us learned to curl

in Scotland and continue to live there.” There’s been some substantial successes for the small association. “In 2012, in Copenhagen an Irish seniors (over50s) team drawn from our membership of 60 beat a Canadian team (drawn from a million Canadian curlers) to win a world title, and we have won two more bronze medals at senior level since then,” Burns tells us. “Our mixed doubles team [a new Olympic discipline introduced this year] won qualifying points to play in the Olympics, but unfortunately not enough to qualify as one of the eight playing teams. We are recognised by the Olympic Council of Ireland and the World Curling Federation. “Our main challenge is that there are no ice rinks in Ireland other than the rink at Dundonald in Belfast which struggles to cope with the local

demand for ice time as well as ice hockey players and skaters who travel up from the Republic. “Curling can be played from age eight to age 80 or more – one of the players in a forthcoming Irish Mixed championship is aged 11 – and we would love to develop Juniors curling in Ireland. “It can be played by able-bodied and wheelchair contestants. Men and women play on equal terms, which makes it a very social sport. It combines physical exercise (as many calories are burnt while sweeping curling stones as in 100m hurdles races) with an intellectual tactical challenge. “It would be a great sport for Ireland, if only we had ice to play on. We need flatter, harder, colder ice than skaters do, but it is perfectly possible to

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convert ice from curling ice to skating ice and back again, given a few hours and good ice technicians.” But is there demand in Ireland? Burns thinks so. “If curling was available in Ireland, would it be a popular sport? We see no reason why it should not be as popular as in Scotland, where around 30,000 curlers play in 20 curling rinks.” Like Dublin’s ice hockey teams, then, the curlers are part of the drive to build winter sports facilities in the capital. “We need an ice rink to share with ice skating and ice hockey.” Burns agrees: “Anywhere in Ireland would do but Dublin is ideal if only because there are many Canadian students in Dublin who curled in Canada and miss their sport over here.”

GAZETTE

36 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 8 March 2018

SPORT

FastSport SWORDS LAST CHANCE AT PROMOTION: SWORDS Rugby Club will have their last chance to break into the top two of the Leinster League Division 3 this weekend when they take on current second placed side Garda. They will meet at 3pm on Sunday at ALSAA with the north Dublin outfit looking for a big win to leap-frog over Garda. It is Swords last regular season game while Garda have a game in hand and so a close defeat or better will work for them.

ATHLETICS: RAHENY RUNNERS SWEEP THE BOARD AT INAUGURAL LUSK AC RACE

Lusk 4 Mile beats way by Storm Emma sport@dublingazette.com

THE first running of the Lusk 4 Mile battled all the elements and odds to provide runners with a superb event last Sunday. The event and the Lusk AC club were undeterred by one of the most severe weather events to hit the country. The hard work and determination to ensure that the race route was safe and clear was made all worthwhile by the

huge turn out of participants and onlookers. This was a sell out event and organisers went to extremes not to let the running faithful down. After many of the participants were still suffering from “cabin fever” this was a great way to get back on track and moving again. Just under 450 runners of the 580 who signed up headed out on the four-mile route around the village. M a ny l o c a l c l u b s

Kevin Dooney (549) leads out the field at the Lusk 4 Mile last Sunday

came out in suppor t with Raheny Shamrock AC, Dublin Bay Running Club, Balbriggan & District AC ,Clonliffe Harriers, Portmarnock AC, Drogheda & District AC and many more were in strong attendance.

The race itself was a won in style by Raheny Shamrock’s Kevin Dooney in a time of 19:10. The pack behind gave spectators a lot to shout about with some close finishes. The men’s Over-35 age category was won

by Kevin English of Tallaght AC and the Over45 was won by Shane Larkin of Drogheda & District AC. T he female winner was junior athlete Ailish Murtagh of Raheny followed by a train of fellow Raheny female

runners including Zoe Quinn, Tara Kennedy and Lucy Barrett. The Over-35s was won by Catriona Cosgrove of Portmarnock AC with Siobhan McCardle of Dublin Bay Running Club claiming the Over45s title.

8 March 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 37

GAZETTE

SOCCER: STRONG SUMMER SIGNINGS A BIG BOOST

RUGBY

Abdaladze’s new Leinster goals Despite a disappointing league campaign, Shelbourne did win the League Cup. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Shels’ Graham confident of WNL league title push WNL PREVIEW  DAVE DONNELLY sport@dublingazette.com

RACHEL Graham is confident Shelbourne can wrest back their Women’s National League crown following a disappointing fifth-place finish in 2017. The Drumcondra club won a league and cup double in 2016 but were left to rue a slow start last year that saw them wait two months for their first win as Wexford Youths took their crown. There was a muchimproved performance in the Champions League where they were unlucky to narrowly miss out on top spot in their qualifying group, finishing the round unbeaten. The off-season has seen

a change in management with manager Mark Leavy and head coach Shaun Maher leaving and Ireland men’s junior international coach Danny Crowley taking charge. Striker Noelle Murray has returned from Glasgow City and defender Jess Gleeson has arrived from the champions Wexford, while they’ve kept hold of the bulk of their first-team squad. And Graham has sent out a warning that the club are in the the strongest position they’ve ever been – and have put right the mistakes that dogged last year’s campaign. “It’s the first time I’ve ever really felt you wouldn’t know what 11 would be going out on the pitch,” Graham told the

Dublin Gazette. “Having Noelle and Rebecca [Creagh] back is great. I think it’s the strongest squad we’ve had. Last year, we had a really strong squad as well and it obviously didn’t go really well for us. “We didn’t achieve what we wanted to achieve, so having a strong squad definitely isn’t enough. We still need to play well and work hard every week.” Pre-season has been disrupted not only by the change in manager but by the loss of key internationals with both the senior and Under-19s squads in extended training camps this week. Shels are worst-afflicted as they supply more players than any team to

the international set-up, with Leanne Kiernan and Roma McLaughlin among those away with the seniors in Fota Island. With champions Wexford away in their opening encounter on Sunday, she admits there could be gentler ways to begin what promises to be the most competitive league yet. “It’s been drilled into us this year that we’re not going to get anything easy. No game is a gimme. We’re not going to get a certain three points from any game. “It’s been well-drilled into us that you do whatever you can to defend your goal. I think we’ll be a lot harder to beat this year and hopefully up the other end we’ll get a few more goals.”

BLANCH man Vakh Abdaladze’s early starts in his formative years are beginning to pay dividends as he forges his way through the Leinster rugby academy. The 22-year-old prop made his debut before Christmas for the senior team against Benneton following three years in the academy/ It is quite the journey for the Georgian-born Abdaladze who moved to Ireland aged five for whom members of his family were caught up in the Russo-Georgian war. Initially, his first love was playing football with St Mochta’s in Clonsilla while rugby was a slow burner with Coolimine where he was a centre in the first instance. All the while, his father Nikola, the former Georgia international number eight, tried to steer his oldest son towards his first love – rugby. There were the one-on-one drills and the chatter that increased in regularity as Vakh’s body shape grew to resemble that of his father. The bug began to seep through to his bones and the Leinster and Ireland Youths were his stepping stones into the professional net. Abdaladze did it the hard way, rising at 5.30am at home in Blanchardstown, catching the two buses into town and another out of town to make it to Dave Fagan’s Sub-

Academy grind where the men are sorted from the boys. He spent three years working through the Sub-Academy from an initial development year, into his second season out of school when Abdaladze missed the Under-20 Six Nations but was drafted in for the World Cup in Manchester. This was where Ireland made it all the way to the final for the first time with current Ireland senior internationals James Ryan, Andrew Porter and Jacob Stockdale leading the charge of the not-so-light brigade. There was also the fact that Abdaladze was at the beginning of his transition from loose-head to tighthead, playing an important role in what were just his fourth and fifth matches in a new position. “I played against New Zealand, coming on as a replacement for 10-15 minutes, and I started against Georgia,” he said in the lead-up to Leinster’s game with the Southern Kings last week. It turned out to be the first time a male Ireland rugby team beat New Zealand as the forwards turned on the set-piece power. “Mentally, you have to prepare for New Zealand like it is any other game. You can’t build them up too much. You just go out there and do your job.”

GAZETTE

38 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 8 March 2018

SPORT

HURLING: CASTLEKNOCK HURLING DON CO-OPTED FOR DEVELOPMENT

FASTGAA

O’Dwyer relishing new HURLING DEVELOPMENT  PADDY HEWSON sport@dublingazette.com

Niamh McEvoy in club action. Picture: GAAPics.com

McEvoy heads up Skills 4 Girls camp at Syl’s ST SYLVESTER’S and Dublin footballer Niamh McEvoy and fellow inter county stars will host a Skills4Girls Easter Gaelic Football Camp at the Malahide club this Easter. “The aim of the Skills4Girls Camp is to provide top tips for girls on how to effectively practise their skills along with simple lifestyle tips to help improve their overall Gaelic football enjoyment,” the All-Ireland winner said of the camp of which she is head coach. All bookings and correspondence can be made via http://skills4girls.com.

NEWLY installed GAA President John Horan has made a number of high profile appointments in recent days, including that of Castleknock GAA man, Jimmy O’Dwyer, as Head of Hurling Development. O’Dwyer, whose association with Castleknock dates back to 2007, was taken aback by the appointment. Speaking to Dublin Gazette, he said his first reaction to the phone call was that of “total surprise, I wasn’t expecting it”. Not having sought out the office, he was still clearly excited at the prospect of helping to steer the course of the

game that he loves. Unassuming and soft spoken, the Tipperary native comes to the role with a life-long passion for hurling, and a CV that reveals experience in GAA coaching and administration which makes him a choice few could argue with. With par ticipation in Gaelic games at the core of his philosophy he oversaw the hugely successfully GAA “Cul Camps “as national coordinator. Back in 1978 as a young teacher in the Bishop Galvin National school in Templeogue he was one of the founder members of St Jude’s club. Football was first to blossom there and hurling soon followed. O’Dwyer recounts a story from those days

familiar to those who have been involved with fledging clubs. “We started hurling in a very modest way; T h u r s d ay n i g h t w a s hurling night, we spread the word out through the schools and dropping into houses. Anyone who had any interest at all in hurling, from

eight to 80, was invited down to the field.” Whilst the genesis of the Tipp man’s inf luence on hurling in Dublin might not have originated in Castleknock the Somerton Club were glad to claim him for themselves. Involved with Castleknock over the past ten

years, most recently with the minor section, the seeds of his recruitment were actually sown in the early 1970s when, in his first teaching post in Finglas, he encountered Erin’s Isle player and part of the Dublin’s 1976 all Ireland winning panel, Johnny Corcoran.

Jimmy O’Dwyer, left, at Castleknock awards and, right, on the sidleines. Pictures: Shay Hogan

CLUB NOTICEBOARD CASTLEKNOCK

OUR nursery, with thanks to Tiger Childcare, is in full swing in CCC every Saturday. New members always welcome. Nursery enquiries to lisakiernan1@gmail.com. Plenty of opportunities to support this year’s Feile teams coming up. Cake sale rescheduled to Mother’s Day, Sunday March 11. Feile Quiz will take place in the Carpenter on March 16. Also, time to think about getting tickets for the acclaimed “The Plough and The Stars” performed by the Draiocht company in Castleknock Community College on Thursday, March 22. Just text 086 8901147 There was no lotto draw on Thursday, March 1 due to adverse weather conditions. Draw will resume in Kavanagh’s on March 8. Congrats to Jimmy O’Dwyer on his recent appointment as the GAA Head of Hurling Development.

ERIN GO BRAGH

NO LOTTO draw this weekend and no games played due to the snow. Membership subscription for 2018 is now due and

for your convenience membership can now be paid online. If you have not already paid, please ensure it is paid at your earliest connivence. Our launch night for 20k drop was on Wednesday, March 7 in the Paddocks pub. The event takes place on April 14. It is guaranteed to be an amazing night’s entertainment so please support this event. Tickets are €20 each or four for €60. Congratulations to the Gilmartin girls who won our snowman competition. Thank you to all those that entered, they were all fantastic. We were lucky enough to be selected as one of 15 clubs in Lenister to take part in a project called Gaelic for teens. The aim of the Gaelic4Teens Programme is to increase the retention rate of teenage girls within the LGFA, encourage past players to come back and attract new players aged 15-17. The programme takes place over eight weeks. Our Easter camp will take place from March 26 to 29; first three days in Phibblestown Community Centre and final day Mary Mother of Hope National

school. Cost €50 per child with a €5 discount for siblings. Time 9.45am to 2pm. Everybody welcome Our nursery (Little Green Machine) continues in Hansfield on Saturday morning from 9.30-10.30am and in Phibblestown on Tuesdays from 6-7pm and on a Saturday from 11.30am to 12.45pm. New members are always welcome. Summer camp details are as follow. Cúl camp to be held from July 9 to 13 in Castaheany Community Centre. Cost will be €65 per child with a €5 discount for siblings. Everybody welcome. EGB summer camp to be held from August 13 to August 17 in Castaheany Community Centre. Cost will be €50 per child with a €5 discount for siblings.

FINGALLIANS

ALL mentors should check on re-scheduled games and pitch availability, after the unforeseen weather last week. Thanks to all who helped out clearing the entrance to the club. Bingo will go ahead as normal this Tuesday evening as will the majority of activities. New President:

Congratulations to John Horan (Na Fianna) who was installed as the President of the GAA for the next three years. St Patrick’s Day Parade: Ireland’s biggest day and also our town of Swords. It is most important that all teams from U-6 upwards are organised for this celebration. Please contact our juvenile games chairman or secretary bng.fingallians. dublin@gaa.ie. Bingó trí Ghaeilge: Ag 3 a chlog i halla Fingallians ar an nDomhnach, 4ú Márta. Costas €2 an leabhair. Ócáid clainne a bheidh oiriúnach do chách idir óg is aosta. Arís, fáilte mór roimh chách. Easter Camp Dates: Monday, March 26 to Thursday, March 29 - each day from 9am to 1pm. It will cost €40 for members and €60 for non members. It is for girls and boys aged four to 13 years. GAA Congress 2018: An important stance on gambling was approved by the GAA: “Sponsorship by a betting company of any competition, team, playing gear or facility is prohibited.” Lotto winning numbers: 4, 6, 11, 16 and 29. We had four winners: Debbie Gordon, Tim

Ralph, L. Murphy and Laura Murphy winning €697 each. The jackpot this Tuesday will be €1,864. Na hUimhreacha Buaiteach Lotó: 4, 6, 11, 16 agus 29. Bhí ceithre buaiteoirí againn: Debbie Gordon, Tim Ralph, L.Murphy agus Laura Murphy. Gheobhaidh siad €697 an duine. Ar an Máirt seo beidh an Pota Óir €1,864.

GARDA WESTMANSTOWN

ALL playing and training activity fell by the wayside last weekend due to the arrival of storm Emma. Hopefully pitches will be back on track this week but all team mentors are asked to check with pitch coordinator Alan Egan before scheduling any training or games. Fixtures cancelled last weekend will be rescheduled for May 19-20. Thanks to all who have paid their club membership but some are still outstanding. It is imperative that members be fully paid up to comply with GAA insurance requirements in the event of a serious playing or training injury.

Payment can be made online at payments. gardawestmanstowngaels. com or club Registrar Marco is available on Saturday mornings to take cash or cheques. Garda members can sign the weekly deduction form available from Runai Sean Burke. It’s Easter Camp time again from April 3-6. Our camp is one of the busiest and well organised under GPO Declan Jennings and his coaches and early booking is essential. All details available at https://www.surveymonkey. com/r/WMTGaelsEaster2018 Anyone fancy being a referee? Contact Kevin Doherty at 087 2754075 re DLGFA Grab Your Whistle Course. Congratulations to Davy Cryan on his wonderful performance on Operation Transformation. Davy has faded away but hasn’t faded from view and we expect to see him back on the playing field shortly.

NAOMH PEREGRINE

JUST when we thought we were getting into the new season, we had to take a

back seat to extraordinary weather conditions. We hope everyone managed ok but the club is back to full operations this week. As this week is Seachtain na Gaeilge, we are celebrating it in a number of ways. Our first “Pop up Gaeltacht - Naomh Peregrine CLG” took place on March 6 in the clubhouse. A Feile quiz to support our Feile teams takes place in the Clubhouse on Friday, March 9 from 7pm. This is specifically aimed at our younger members though adults can join in as well. The cost per table of four is €20 and there will be prizes for the winners and plenty of spot prizes also. As it is part of our Seachtan Na Gaeilge celebrations, we will feature Irish Dancing and a Bonus Round of questions “as gaeilge”. On Saturday, March 10, there’ll be live music and ballads with Shamróg in the clubhouse. St Patrick’s Day features a sponsored walk at 10.30am in Hartstown Park. Breakfast rolls will be available in the clubhouse beforehand. Sponsor forms are available for team mentors at the back of the hall. There’ll be music and Irish

8 March 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 39

GAZETTE

OFFICER ROLE

XXX EMMA STORM

gig

Later to be one of the co-founders of Castleknock GAA, Corcoran c o nv i n c e d O ’ D w y e r to get involved. “I had no intention of getting involved with Castleknock but Johnny (Corcoran) heard I was around and that was it!” Still unravelling the full dimensions of his new role as Head of Hurling Development, his initial thoughts are “we need to protect the game where it is strong, making sure there is no slippage in those counties. “We need to grow the game, there are some places where hurling isn’t even on people’s radar, there are lots of clubs where there isn’t even a hurling section, and we need to look at that”.

Picture: Martin Doherty

County board confirms refix dates LAST weekend’s senior club football fixtures had to be rescheduled

due to Storm Emma with the Dublin county board imposing a blanket ban. The senior football refixtures will now take place on Saturday, May 19 at 6.15pm for AFL Division 1 to 4 and Sunday, May 20 at 11am (AFL5-8) and 3pm (AFL 9-11) respectively. The rescheduled minor hurling league fixtures will take place on Wednesday, July 18 at 7.15pm.

CLUB NOTICEBOARD Dancing in the club house from 4-6pm that afternoon. Registration for our Easter Camps is now available. The academy camp (six to seven-years-old) and the GAA Skills Camp (8-12 years old) both run from Tuesday, April 3 to Friday, April 6. Details of times and fees and Registration are now available online at cnp.ie. There was no winner of the club lottery. The numbers drawn were 6, 16, 17 and 18. Next week’s jackpot rises to €5,000. Membership fees for 2018 are now due and payable. Check cnp.ie for the easy on-line way to pay. Details of all membership registration plans available are included.

ST BRIGID’S

ST BRIGID’S Easter GAA Camp for five to 13-year-old boys and girls takes place from March 26 to 29 from 10am-2pm daily. To book your place email: eventsbrigids@ gmail.com. Nursery continues each Saturday from 9.30 to 11am, all four to seven-year-olds are welcome. There was no lotto draw on March 1 and our next lotto draw will be held in the Roselawn Inn on March 8. The jackpot will be €2,200.

A huge thank you to our committee and to everyone who supports our St Brigid’s weekly lotto. Thanks to all who helped clearing the snow from the clubhouse area at the weekend. Fit15 Gym and Classes are now back in action. Training availability for the next few days is weather dependent. Keep up with all our news on our website, www. stbrigidsgaa.com. Club membership fees are now due – they can be paid online from our website. St Brigid’s would like to extend sympathy to the Monaghan family following the passing of Susan Monaghan.

ST FINIAN’S

THE weather wreaked havoc with the weekend fixture list with all games cancelled. The club is participating in a Fantasy Cheltenham fundraiser from March 13 to 16. There is €10,000 in prize money. All entries must be in by 12pm on the race day. There are double points for the first race each day and there are no points for non-runners. Tickets are €20 and can be bought online http://www.

fantasycheltenham.ie and select St Finians GAA. Tickets are also available in the clubhouse. The results and leader boards are on http://www. fantasycheltenham.ie. With St Patricks Day approaching, a reminder that all juvenile members are invited to walk with their team in the Swords St Patrick’s Day parade, accompanied by their parents, wearing their St Finian’s colours or something else! The parade starts at 11am and all parents and children are requested to meet in Coláiste Choilm car park on the Forest Road at 10am. Parents and coaches are by now aware of the club’s plans for the parade and a big thanks to all those who spent a great deal of time helping with the preparations. Everybody is invited back to the clubhouse for some ceol agus craic and refreshments afterwards from 12.30pm onwards - all are welcome. The AHL4 team are playing St Maurs on Sunday, March 11 at 10.15am while the AHL8 team are away to Castleknock at 2.30pm. All support welcome and appreciated for the adult hurling teams.

Membership subscriptions for 2018 are now due. The membership open day will now take place on Saturday, March 10 from 10am where payment can be made in full. Payments can be also made online under Club Membership on the homepage of the website, www.stfinians.com. Membership can be paid over three months online (after the initial amount is paid, the subsequent two monthly payments come out automatically). The Easter Camp will take place from Tuesday, April 3 to Friday, April 6, 2018. Prices are €40 for 1st child member, €70 for two children and three children plus €90. For non-members, it’s €50. Those registered as attending the Nursery, Academy or Development Academy (2011 boys and girls teams) are classified as members. Parents can register on the club website http://www.stfinians.com. Forms are available in the clubhouse office or to download from Easter Camps menu on the club website. Fhionn’s afterschool & Breakfast club operates in the clubhouse activity room daily on Monday to Friday.

GAZETTESPORT

ALL OF YOUR FINGAL SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 34-39

MARCH 8-14, 2018

DEVELOPING HURLING’S FUTURE: SNOW PROBLEM: Lusk AC’s inaugural 4-mile race Jimmy O’Dwyer gets nod to beats the conditions in new addition to calendar P36 head up big role in GAA P39

Craig O’Brien continued his superb run of results to land the Irish super welterweight title

O’Brien outboxes Byrne Celtic Warrior fighter added the Irish super welterweight belt to the BUI title won before Chrismas with a strong showing last Saturday

 sport@dublingazette.com

CRAIG O’Brien continued his rapid rise as he landed the vacant Irish super welterweight title to go with the BUI title he won at the back end of 2017 last Saturday at the National Stadium. O’Brien, who is based at the Celtic Warrior Gym in Corduff, got a unanimous decision over Sallynoggin’s Jay Byrne on the scorecards of the 10-rounder, extending his record to eight professional wins with no defeats to date. The event took place alongside the Last Man Standing competition and was one of few sporting events in the city to beat the snow. Indeed, O’Brien said afterwards that 28 family members were stuck in London and could not attend

due to the weather conditions. Nonetheless, he was not about to blow his opportunity, fulfilling a long-held belief that he could attain the Irish belt. He turned pro in 2015 but, after three initial bouts, he spent 18 months without a contest before Red Corner promotions got in touch to give his career that extra impetus. This was his fifth win since February 2017. “I knew one day, three or four years ago, the Irish belt would be mine,” he said afterwards. “I trained hard for it and maybe my time came a little bit too soon as I am only really back in the ring in the last 12 months and this is just my fourth fights. But I have picked up the BUI belt and Irish title so it’s a dream.”

As for the bout, O’Brien paid tribute to his opponent – indeed, they embraced ahead of the final round – but felt he always had the upperhand. “It was a pacy fight, a good fight and tough going at times. Jay is game and he kept coming. He was banging his chest and wanting more but I thought I had the bigger work rate in between the rounds. “I probably gave him one or two rounds. But don’t forget this is my first time doing a ten-rounder so I will probably drop to an eightrounder in the summer and then go back up. “When you are in there, you can’t really think too much about [your performance]. I will have to watch it back. The scorecards were very wide

so it must have been [good]. “At times, it was natural to me and I didn’t have to work; at times, Jay made me work very hard. He is a gentleman and without him, the show wouldn’t have gone on. It takes two to tango. He’ll come back but I always visualised this would happen.” He is now looking forward to more opportunities in an Irish boxing scene that is back on the way up. “It’s amazing. To have TG4 here, Irish boxing is coming back and its booming and its great to be part of it. I remember being at the Bernard Dunne days and thinking ‘it would be great to be part of that’ and we’re not too far away from it.”