Dublin Gazette: Fingal Edition

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THE LATEST NEWS & SPORT FROM THE FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL AREA

Warnings as ‘bogus’ collectors prowling SYLVIA POWNALL

GAZ HAPPY TO BE BLUE This champion of tomorrow looked ready for anything during the St Brigid’s GAA Easter Camp, with a hat, a hurl and a great smile at the ready. Picture: Alison O’Hanlon

EE FR

DublinGazette APRIL 5-11, 2018

BURGLARS are posing as charity collectors and using young kids to call door-to-door targeting vacant houses over the Easter holidays, it has been warned.

Neighbourhood Watch has had reports of youths calling to estates in Tyrrelstown claiming to be collecting for a boxing club – checking windows and doors.

There have also been reports of bogus collectors in Swords over the past fortnight using children

and false sponsorship cards to con people out of cash.

Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) warned: “Most organisations and sports clubs do not collect door to door.

No matter how official somebody looks, with high-vis jackets, clipboards and IDs, our experience seems to be that the majority are fraudulent.”

Suspicious behaviour should be reported to the gardai in Blanchardstown (01 666 7000) or Swords (666 4700).

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

2 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 5 April 2018

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Parents welcome to join EASTER HONOURS: Paying annual tribute to 1916 heroes in Cuidiu support group EASTER Sunday saw Garris-

town host the Fingal Old IRA Commemorative Society’s annual commemoration, which commenced with the reading of the Proclamation by volunteer Ciaran Banville, who was flanked by volunteers presenting arms.

Ian Daly of Swords led the Colour Party, while Balbriggan native and Lusk resident Ernie Donnelly, and Rush man Robin Bollard accompanied Ian carrying newly-commissioned flags remembering the men who fought in the Mendicity Institute.

These included Peter Wilson from Swords, who was shot and killed in that action.

Deputy Darragh O’Brien (FF) gave the oration, and a wreath was laid at the grave of James Heery, a local man who served in the GPO in 1916.

COUNCIL: ONGOING IMPACT ON RESIDENTS RAISED

Ed Sheeran gigs spark concerns FINGAL councillors have voiced concerns over the upcoming Ed Sheeran concerts in the Phoenix Park, asking that the location for gigs be varied in the future.

At an area meeting of the local authority, Cllr Sandra Kavanagh (Solidarity) asked why every event had to be “pushed right up to the Fingal border” of the park.

She said Castleknock residents were frustrated and fed up with the “antisocial behaviour” and it was unfair that they were always “left to deal with the aftermath”.

Several councillors recounted instances where residents’ front gardens were used as toilets and some claimed they felt under siege and afraid to

 SYLVIA POWNALL

spownall@dublingazette.com

leave their homes.

Cllr Eithne Loftus (FG), who lives close to the Castleknock gate of the park, said it was “a disgrace the way it was left after, I think it was, the Arctic Monkeys”.

She added: “Our gardens are regularly used as toilets. The last concert was well policed but the previous one was a nightmare.

My new car was nearly turned over.

“As I approached Deer Park [estate] they [concertgoers] were literally trying

to get into the car. As I locked it they were rocking the car. You have no idea what went on that night.

“It was the most horrendous experience for local residents.”

Cllr Ted Leddy (FG) said the fact that Dublin City Council was merely obliged to inform the Fingal authority of its plans was “a bit tame” and greater co-operation was needed.

Cllr Howard Mahony (FF) said he had made a number of submissions on the licence application for the concerts and was concerned that some issues were ignored.

“Some of it was put on the long finger,” he said.

“Toilets ‘to be arranged’, Garda plan ‘to be looked at

nearer to the time’. If we gave permission with a set of conditions like that we’d have a serious situation on our hands.”

He also asked why some public events could not be located nearer to the Papal Cross, where Pope Francis will say mass in August, adding: “I was told that area was to be preserved for flora and fauna. If that is the reason, then fine.

“I suppose it makes sense for the Papal mass to be held in the vicinity of the Papal Cross.”

Council chief executive Paul Reid assured that officials were actively engaging with Dublin City Council regarding public events at the park. He added: “Any notification we get we will let councillors know.”

THE Irish Childbirth Trust, Cuidiu, has a Fingal branch covering Swords, Malahide, Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush, Lusk, Donabate and surrounding areas.

The Irish name ‘Cuidiu’ means care and support for all parents with bumps or babes, tots or teens, and is a parentto-parent support group run by volunteer parents.

Its aim is to provide information to parents which allows them to make informed choices about pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.

The group helps thousands of mums and dads each year through pregnancy, birth and early days of parenthood. They offer antenatal and postnatal courses, local support and reliable information to help all parents.

Each week a different member hosts a coffee morning in their house (Motherlink), which provides an invaluable opportunity for parents and their babies and small children to meet and play together. They also run two Humpty Dumpty toddler playgroups during term time – one in Malahide parish centre and one in St Cronan’s Parish centre in Swords.

For further information, see Facebook (‘Cuidiu Dublin County North’) or www.cuidiu.ie.

Free public lecture to help with raising teens A FREE public lecture for parents of teenagers takes place in Mulhuddart Community Centre, Blanchardstown on Saturday, April 14.

Positive Parenting and the Challenges of Raising the 21st Century Teenager takes place from 12.30pm to 4.30pm.

The Idowu Olafimihan Foundation is providing the

talk with the aim of providing advice for parents on how to open the lines of communication with their kids.

Issues such as drugs and alcohol, sexual health, addiction to social media, crime and gangs, and exposure to pornography will be discussed, and all are welcome.

Public policing meetings to highlight local issues THE annual series of Fingal Joint Policing Committee public meetings got under way in Blanchardstown earlier this week.

The second in a series of meetings takes place next Wednesday, April 11 at the Marine Hotel in Sutton (7.30 to 9pm). On Wednesday, April 18, there is a meeting in the Bracken Court Hotel, Balbriggan (same time) for the areas of Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush, Lusk and Naul.

A Swords/Malahide area meeting takes place on April 25 at the Carnegie Court Hotel in Swords, starting at 7.30pm.

Tea/coffee will be available at all venues from 7pm and all are welcome.

Race on over to this big Fingallian’s fundraiser FINGALLIAN’S GAA is having its annual day out at the races on Saturday, July 7 with a trip to Bellewstown Races. This is the club’s

most important fundraiser in 2018. For further information on tables and sponsorship, email teresacollins9@gmail.com.

5 April 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 3

RUSH: US TRIP FOR SELFLESS YOUTH VOLUNTEER NIALL GOSSON

Washington trip for lad who’s a tireless helper SYLVIA POWNALL

LEAVING Cert student Niall Gosson has been named one of two AllIreland Youth Volunteers of the Year for his phenomenal community work.

Niall, a student at St Joseph’s Secondary School in Rush, and a local Scout leader, was awarded €1,000 for charity, a gold medallion and a crystal trophy for his school.

The selfless teenager will also go on an allexpenses-paid trip to Washington to compete in the international Spirit of Community Awards finals.

Niall volunteers with Rush Tourism and is supporting Fingal County Council in its efforts to develop a coastal heritage route and a Kenure House trail in Rush.

He single-handedly curated an exhibition in the local library celebrating 700 years of Kenure House, delivering talks at Ardgillan Castle where he

FAST NEWS

All welcome at Malahide school’s Wellbeing Expo MALAHIDE Community School will host a Wellbeing Expo to showcase the work it does in promoting wellbeing in the school and local community.

The main event takes place on Tuesday, April 24, with the Malahide CS Wellbeing 5K which is open to entry from the general public.

Healthy eating demonstrations will take place in the school canteen from 6pm to 9.30pm with the Wellbeing 5K starting at 7.15pm. The race will start and finish in the school grounds and will bring participants through

the beautiful surroundings of Malahide Castle and gardens.

Entry fee is €15 (U-12s free), with a commemorative T-shirt for the first 200 registrations.

You can register online at Myrunresults.com (before 6pm on Sunday, April 22).

On the day, registration will take place in the school building and will be available between 5pm and 6.45pm.

Category and spot prizes will also be presented on the night.

Further information can be found at the event Facebook page, Malahide CS Wellbeing 5K, or by emailing malahidecs5k@gmail.com.

Darragh delighted to be given a key housing role volunteers throughout the year.

Niall raised funds to start the heritage trail by selling commemorative mugs and as a result of his hard work maps are now in place in the town to highlight the routes.

Launching the project last year, Deputy Darragh O’Brien (FF) noted that Niall had been collecting for the exhibition since his first year of secondary school.

He added: “Niall deserves a lot of credit for

his efforts to bring to life again the lost history of Kenure House – a story that dates back to the Dukes of Ormonde and also the Palmers and their connection to England’s King Charles I and King Charles II.” Outside of the heritage project, Niall also helps out with his local park run and Scouts group, where he is a Rover leader.

He was nominated for the award by his principal Patricia Hayden and his proud dad Michael said he

was the first person at his school ever to win the title.

He told Dublin Gazette: “Niall is thrilled. He’s very grateful to his principal for putting him forward, and to Angela Byrne and Rush Tourism who have helped him with his volunteering since he was 15.”

Michael added: “He is also very thankful to us, his parents, for putting up with all the volunteering he does and for our constant support. He said it was the best way to end the best six years of school

with the best year group.”

Scouting Ireland also heaped praise on the young volunteer, as did local Senator James Reilly (FG) who described him as “a young man with a bright future”.

He added: “His community service and constant positive spirit is incredible and to be admired ... A young man Rush and Fingal can be very proud of.”

Niall will travel to Washington along with joint winner Danielle Timperley from Antrim (both above).

FINGAL TD Darragh O’Brien (right) has been appointed to the position of Fianna Fail spokesperson on housing by party leader Michael Martin.

He moves from his Foreign Affairs role as a result of a reshuffle last week which many interpret as early preparations for a general election.

Deputy O’Brien said: “I want to sincerely thank Michael for this appointment. It is a massive challenge, but one which I relish.

“Housing and homelessness are issues that I feel passionately about. Resolving the housing crisis in all its facets, from affordability to supply of new homes, social housing, homelessness, rents and security for tenants and pyrite ... is an absolute priority for me and my party. I will do everything in my power to bring about the changes that are so badly needed for our country.

“I really enjoyed my time in Foreign Affairs & Trade and I want to thank all those who worked with me over the past two years.”

EYE SEE: Sinead wants everyone to get their sight checked often

TV DOCTOR Sinead Beirne stressed the importance of regular eye checks as she officially opened the new Vision Express optical store in Balbriggan – and got her eyes checked in the process.

The TV3 resident medic, who also features on hit show Doctor in the House, warned that problems other parts of the body can often be detected in the eye first.

She told Dublin Gazette: “It’s incredible what it can tell you, to be honest. It’s like a window to what’s going on elsewhere. An eye check can detect a range of broader health issues, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes.

“Sometimes this is the first a person will hear about it.

You can see small vessels at

the back of the eye and ripping where they’ve become damaged.

“Everybody should be getting their eyes checked every two years, whether they have an issue or not, and the younger you start the better, to be honest.

“A friend of my dad had a watery eye and when he got it checked they found a melanoma. He was very lucky they got it in time.”

The new Vision Express at Tesco in Balbriggan opened two weeks ago and manager John Delaney is encouraging the local community to get regular tests.

The optical store has the latest sophisticated sight screening equipment and offers 100 different ways to have your eyes tested.

4 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 5 April 2018

DONABATE

RUSH: HOPES BEACH CAN RECLAIM BLUE FLAG STATUS CRIME

North Dublin relief as €9.7m wastewater Council looking to works finally finished take the reins over SYLVIA POWNALL

horses at beaches

FINGAL County Council is considering new measures to prevent horses being exercised on beaches in Donabate and Portrane.

Horses are already banned from both strands because they are within a Special Area of Conservation – but seven complaints have been lodged of horses on Donabate beach over the past two years.

In response to a query from Cllr Paul Mulville (SD), the local authority said Donabate was part of the Malahide Estuary SAC and Portrane the Rogerstown Estuary SAC. This means horses are only permitted where there are bridle paths. The report stated: “In light of this, it will be necessary to explore what options there may be to prevent horses accessing either beach while still allowing the public to access them.”

Cllr Adrian Henchy (FF) said horses had caused a lot of issues on Donabate beach (above) and that if they were banned the message needed to be clearly communicated.

A WATER upgrade in Rush which will halt the equivalent of 8,300 wheelie bins of raw sewage being dumped into the sea every day has been completed.

The €9.7 million wastewater treatment project involved the construction of new pumping stations

by Irish Water at South Shore, North Beach and East Shore.

Bathing water quality is expected to improve significantly as a result and hopes are high that the beach at Rush will now regain its Blue Flag status.

Cllr Darragh Butler (FF)

Rush Harbour

said: “This is great news for Rush and the entire coast of north county Dublin.

This project was long overdue but I’m delighted now that it is fully completed.”

New pipes have been installed to collect and transfer wastewater to the treatment plant at Portrane which according to Irish Water are “sized to accommodate an increase

in the local population”.

Senator James Reilly (FG) said he had first raised the issue of untreated water being discharged in 2013 and was relieved to hear it had been resolved.

He told Dublin Gazette: “From this week no more raw sewage will be pumped into the sea in Rush, a lovely town where I live.

“I look forward to the

beaches rebuilding their reputations over the next few years and regaining their blue flags for clean bathing water.

“It takes three years of continuous good results before a blue f lag is restored. Rush will have no problem doing that now.”

He also welcomed news of a €83,963 capital investment in Rush Harbour announced last week by Marine Minister Michael Creed.

FCC has been allocated €65,625 to lift and relay original stones on the pier, €10,688 to replace missing stones and €7,650 for grouting.

Warning as ‘bogus collectors’ spotted in estates CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Last week Tyrellstown Neighbourhood Watch received a number of reports of two youths claiming to be collecting for a boxing club.

A spokesperson stated: “The boxing club in question confirmed that they do not represent them.

They have been seen looking in windows of the houses as they go around.”

In the Swords scam, a number of adults accompanied by children have been calling door to door in several estates over the past fortnight.

Cllr Butler, who received a number of reports, posted a warning on Facebook advising extreme caution when collectors call to the door.

He said: “Unless you know the people involved, if you know them from your estate or your local club, or you are able to 100 % verify them, please work on the assumption that they are most likely fraudulent and do not hand over money.

“We are a very generous nation and unfortunately there are a lot of unscrupulous people out there glad to take advantage of this.

“Please be extremely cautious when collectors call to your door looking for sponsorship or donations and call gardai if you have any doubts.”

Just a few weeks ago the ISPCC issued a warning for householders to be wary of bogus collectors in north Dublin.

It issued a statement after con artists targeted estates in Rush, Lusk and Portmarnock advising that it “never encourages” cash collections at the door.

To check if a charity is registered or raise a concern you can contact the Charities Regulator at www.charitiesregulatoryauthority.ie.

5 April 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 5 COMMERCIAL FEATURE

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6 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 5 April 2018

GALLERIES

Stephen and Jessica Reid

Noel Wilson, Brian Donovan and Peter Brosnan. Pictures: Alison O’Hanlon

Conor Reid

The fun run was a great way to take the dog for a walk at the park, or just to run without a pet

Sun shines for a 5km fun run

T

HE weather was very kind to local runners and walkers as they headed to River Valley Park to take part in the park run in the bright sunshine and the crisp, clean air. The

event attracts people of all ages to come along, join friends and others in running against the clock, and taking in some of the most relaxing, natural views in the area.

Johnny Barker, Ger O’Rourke and Anne O’Malley

5 April 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 7

8 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 5 April 2018

INQUEST: BALBRIGGAN MAN DIED AFTER FALL AT END OF NIGHT OUT SWORDS

Family asks why ambulance was sent from distant source THE family of a Balbriggan man who died suddenly after a night out have questioned why an ambulance was dispatched from 20 miles away instead of the local depot.

Leonard Farrell (40) died after attending a social gathering in a friend’s ‘man cave’ on Saturday, August 20, 2016 his inquest heard.

As he arrived home he fell and cut his head and emergency services were called. A second call was made when he stopped breathing.

The man’s sister – a nurse – began cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

She said the ambulance seemed to take “a long time”.

A Dublin Fire Brigade crew from Kilbarrack was notified at 4.56am and arrived at the scene at 5.20am. Mr Farrell’s brother described this as “odd”.

“It’s odd that they would send someone from 20 miles away as oppose to four miles away in Balbriggan,” Larry Farrell said.

The coroner told the

“

The ambulance was dispatched initially to treat a fall with a head injury but after the second call the priority level was elevated court the ambulance was dispatched initially to treat a fall with a head injury but after the second call the priority level was elevated.

Mr Farrell, who had just been made manager of a local underage football

team, ate dinner before heading to the gathering with his brother-in-law, Mark Ryan.

They went to a friend’s house 10km away, where the man-cave was set up as a bar with a keg of alcohol, the court heard.

“It was set up like a full bar; we paid for our drinks. Lenny had a good bit more than I had; he was drunk,” Mark Ryan said.

Family members said the man’s booze habits had become a concern and he was prone to binge drinking.

The pair returned home in a taxi to Balrothery some time after 3am and Mr Farrell stumbled and fell, cutting his head.

Attempts to resuscitate him failed and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem report gave the cause of death as asphyxia due to aspiration of gastric contents as a result of acute alcohol intoxication.

Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane returned a verdict of misadventure and said the man was inebriated to the point where he was vulnerable.

She said: “His alcohol level was so high he seems to have lost his gag reflex. If you are intoxicated you are more inclined to vomit.

“Tragically, when he did get sick, he wasn’t in a position to protect his airway.”

Salmonella the cause of mum’s death A MOTHER-OF-ONE who contracted food poisoning at a First Communion function died due to salmonella, an inquest has heard.

Investigations into the outbreak are continuing, an inquest into the death of 55-year-old Sandra O’Brien (above) heard last week.

Ms O’Brien, from Rivervalley, Swords died on May 21, 2017 following the consumption of food prepared at O’Dwyer’s Bar and Grill, Strand Road, Portmarnock.

Ms O’Brien’s husband, Garda Sgt Michael O’Brien, attended a short inquest hearing into her death at Dublin Coroner’s Court last week.

Investigations by the Health Service Executive and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland are ongoing and reports will be filed to the Director of Public Prosecutions, the inquest heard.

Noel Donnelly, principal environmental health officer for Fingal, said: “It’s an investigation into the outbreak in relation to compliance with food safety legislation. We are not investigating the death of a particular person.”

The cause of death was given as acute myocarditis – inflammation of the heart muscle – as a consequence of salmonella infection, with previous myocarditis as a contributory factor.

After the incident the HSE said it became aware of more than 50 people from different family groups supplied by the same company over the weekend of May 13 and 14 last year who became ill.

The catering company, Flanreil Food Services, who provided the food served on the day of the First Communion function, was represented at the inquest by solicitor Elaine Byrne.

Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane extended her condolences to Mr O’Brien and adjourned the inquest to November 8 at the request of investigating gardai.

5 April 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 9

10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 5 April 2018

GALLERIES

Christy Keane, Rory Farrell, John Farrell and Maria Hayes Grainne Quinn and Dave Skakeshaft

Mairead Murphy

Busy times for Erin Go Bragh members

I

T was all happening for Erin Go Bragh GAA recently as the club held the launch event for their 20K Drop sports fundraiser in The Paddocks Clonee. David Cryan of Operation

Maura and Eoghan

Transformation 2018 fame was the special guest on the night. Great fun was had at the Easter Camp where everyone enjoyed an egg hunt and a special visit from the Easter Bunny.

David Cryan, Fiona Byrne and Laura Conwell

Children enjoyed a special visit from the Easter Bunny

5 April 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 11

12 DUBLIN GAZETTE 5 April 2018

HOME & STYLE:



FROCKS APPEAL: NOW that the sun has started to return with the grand stretch in the evenings, you’ll want to stretch to get a bit of a golden glimmer yourself. Thankfully, some pops of colour have started to dazzle on the high street, with & Other Stories very much on trend with its cool fashions to help you get some of the hottest looks around this season.

ARE YOU READY, PLAY ONE? P20

MAGAZINE

PAGES 26-27

DUBLIN

TEE OF UP NORTH FOR A TRUE GOLFING DELIGHT PAGE 24

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

THE GIFT OF GAZ | GARRULOUS GAELIC

Irish I didn’t have to listen to Davy’s guff about his ‘Celtic soul’ DAVY would drive you to distraction. We were sitting in Would ye believe how often I have to put up with lisa nice cafe in town having a grand auld chinwag when tening to this guff? he stands up and says loudly to me: “An bhfuil cead “The people of Castleknock probably don’t think so,” agam dul go dti an leithreas?”

I says. “Why not?” he says.

“Jaysus, Davy!” I says to him as I pulled the biggest “Well, yer man Sheeran is coming to the Pheono but reddner you’ve ever seen. the residents there say they’re worried about people “This isn’t high babies. You don’t need my permission using their gardens as the jacks.” to go to the bleedin’ jacks.”

“Really?” he says to me, leaning in like this is some “I know,” he says. “But I’m trying to use me cupla sort of grand conspiracy. focal. It’s dying out, so it is. I hear they’re not even using “Yeah, they’re worried about anti-social behaviour – it in Dingle anymore. A load of tourists said they went that’s what we used to call acting the maggot.” down there and didn’t hear anyone speaking Irish. In a The wrinkles on Davy’s forehead tend to swim up Gaeltacht area, like.” and down his head when he’s thinking. It’s almost like “And sure why would they be speaking you can see his brainwaves slowly Irish to someone from Germany or Spain clicking into gear.

Even still, I or wherever?” I says to him. “Sure, they’re After a while, he says to me: not gonna have a clue what they’re saying like using the cupla “Here, I heard they were thinking focal. Puts me in anyway.” of putting in a farm in Ballymun to “I suppose you’re right, Gaz,” says Davy. touch with me Celtic tackle anti-social behaviour.”

“But even still, I like using the cupla focal. soul.

“So?” I says.

Puts me in touch with me Celtic soul.”

“Well maybe the animals have a “Celtic soul?” I says. “You’re some tulip! calming effect,” he says.

But sure, I’m sure your Celtic soul is a fine “Wha’? So ye reckon if the peosoul indeed.” ple of Castleknock get a few rab“Ah now, don’t start again,” he says bits and whatnot in their gardens with his face creasing up again. it’ll stop people using their garden “The Celtic soul is a powerful thing. as a jacks?”

People of the diaspora all possess it. Look “I dunno, maybe.” at yer man Ed Sheeran, king of the pop I can think of more than a cupla world thanks in part to his Celtic things wrong with that, Davy, for soul.” focal sake.

“

Pippa O’Connor looked as perfectly styish as ever when she came along to the La RochePosay Baby Skincare Masterclass in the Iveagh Garden Hotel recently. For more shots of the glamorous guests at the launch, see the gallery on P22-23.

5 April 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 5 April 2018

PEOPLE

WAYS TO HELP OTHERS, AND TO HELP YOURSELF, TOO

How Dynamo usually looks (above) versus (right) his appearance battling Crohn’s disease at its worst

No magic solution for Crohn’s – but get help to treat it REBECCA RYAN

DUBLINERS with Crohn’s disease are being encouraged to reach out for support, with the illness getting a high-profile nod from the magician Dynamo, who has opened up about his struggles with the illness.

Crohn’s disease is a long-term condition which causes ulceration of the digestive tract, and symptoms can include recurring diarrhoea, blood, abdominal pain, fever, chronic fatigue, nausea and vomiting.

Dynamo, whose real name is Steven Frayne, recently posted a video on his social media accounts revealing the shocking toll the disease has taken on his body.

The 35-year-old has had the inflammatory bowel disease since he was a teenager and half of his stomach was removed at the age of 17 to help combat the disease.

On Twitter, the magician said he has been keeping a low profile for the past eight months as he ended up in hospital last summer due to “a really bad type of food poisoning, which having Crohn’s disease and food poisoning is a really bad

combination”.

He is also suffering with arthritis as a side effect and said the reason his appearance has drastically changed is because he is on a lot of medication.

His post has been a source of encouragement to those suffering with the disease. One person wrote: “Here’s my moon face when I was on steroids.”

Another wrote: “Sympathy! Don’t fret about hamster cheeks & spots.

It’s just the steroids & will go away. I had it too & am now slowly looking more like myself. Arthritis means I cannot practice as a doctor at the mo so I know how you feel about hands especially. Get well quickly and safely.”

Speaking to Dublin Gazette, athlete C a ra d h O’Donovan (right), who a l s o b a ttles with C r o h n ’s disease, said Dynamo has created great awareness about the effects of the disease.

The kickboxing champion said: “As this disease isn’t obviously vis-

ible it can be difficult to get through day to day activities in public such as accessing public bathrooms in emergencies without judgement.”

She is encouraging Dubliners who are battling with the disease to get help.

“The biggest mistake I made before getting diagnosed was ignoring the symptoms for years until they got so severe that I got incredibly sick.

“So, my advice to anyone is that if they think they have symptoms to get help. Go to your GP straight away!

“I [also] looked at other athletes with IBD who were doing quite well in their careers to motivate me.”

The Irish Society for Colitis and Crohn’s disease, headquartered in Dublin, h a s m e e tings across Dublin and Ireland, and they are also launching a new self-management programme this summer called Living Well With IBD. For further information, see www.iscc.ie.

Pat Dennigan, chief executive, Focus Ireland shares a fundraising cuppa with Deirdre O’Kane. Picture: Sasko Lazarov

Get together and help to support 10,000 homeless RACHEL D’ARCY

FOCUS Ireland have launched Ireland’s Great Get Together, a brandnew fundraising campaign aimed at encouraging the people of Dublin to ‘get together’ to raise vital funds for the charity.

Taking place from April 20 to 22, the event was launched last week by comedian, actress, and Dancing with the Stars finalist Deirdre O’Kane.

Deirdre said that she is “delighted” to be part of the launch of the campaign, one that holds particular relevancy following An Taoiseach’s Leo Varadkar’s announcement that homelessness in Ireland is now at a level of national emergency.

She said: “Ireland’s Great Get Together is a fantastic chance for the people of Dublin to get

together with the important people in their lives and raise money for a very worthy cause. It’s great to see Bord Gais Energy getting involved and helping Focus Ireland to combat this crisis.”

Almost 10,000 people are currently without a home in Ireland, with a child becoming homeless every 3.5 hours, based off the most recent statistics.

Deirdre added: “It’s shocking to think that one child becomes homeless every 3.5 hours in Ireland.

It is also unacceptable and we all need to do our bit to try and help change this.”

The new initiative from Focus Ireland, who have teamed up with Bord Gais Energy, asks for the public to come up with any kind of initiative to get people together.

From a dinner party to a sports tournament, it

doesn’t matter as long as vital funds are raised for Focus Ireland.

Focus Ireland’s chief executive Pat Dennigan said: “Focus Ireland helps more than 14,000 people a year and we need the great support we get from the likes of Bord Gais Energy and the public so we can reach all these people.

“Ireland’s Great Get Together is a new event and it will be really positive as it gives people the opportunity to do the things they love, and bring their friends, family and community together, while also helping our work.

“Thanks to the support of Bord Gais Energy, all the funds raised will go towards helping provide services for families who are homeless or at risk and we hope this campaign

will also raise awareness of the deepening crisis in Ireland.”

Mark Prentice, managing director of Bord Gais Energy, said the partnership with Focus Ireland has recently been extended until 2021, and they hope to help more and more families through the Great Get Together and other initiatives in the future.

He said: “To date, this partnership has already supported more than 5,182 families in need, but there is still more to be done to tackle this issue and that is why fundraising initiatives such Ireland’s Great Get Together are so important.”

Anyone looking to take part is asked to register their get together at focusireland.ie, where they can download a host pack and get more information.

5 April 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

NEED HELP?

ASK MARY

EMAIL MARYAT MARYBYRNE@ DUBLINGAZETTE.COM DON’T DELAY – EMAIL MARY

TODAY! Is my husband not the man I thought he was? Carla, Tallaght

I’M a happily married woman with three children, living in a lovely home at the foothills of the Dublin mountains.

During the recent bad weather we were snowed in for five days and couldn’t leave the house.

I was shocked to see a side of my husband that I’ve never seen before.

He was angry, impatient with the kids, rude and inconsiderate towards me and almost like a stranger.

He’s been OK since the snow went but I’m worried. Have I been living a lie for the last 12 years and is my husband not the man I thought he was?

Dear Carla,

WE ALL love the snow, in small doses! Once the excitement of the first flurries wear off the reality sets in and the practicalities of dealing with the weather hit home.

We all saw the mad rush for bread and milk,

and I must admit that I was drawn into the panic at one stage.

Your husband was thrown into a situation where his routine was completely disrupted.

Some men are ‘hunter/ gatherers’, meaning that they subconsciously feel that they need to provide for their family at all times.

Being trapped and unable to provide can have, and in your husband’s case, did have a profound effect on behaviour at a basic level.

This subconscious ‘failure’ on his part led to frustration and anger and unfortunately he expressed these emotions in a negative way towards you.

No doubt the big thaw saw him thaw as well as he was able to fulfil his subconscious needs.

Now he’s back to normal, have a chat to him about how he behaved, tell him how it hurt you and the kids, and hopefully in future he can be more understanding toward you all.

I’m attracted to another man in the office and don’t know what to do. Shane, city centre I’M 19 and work in a busy solicitors office in town.

I’m single, happy and have a small apartment that I rent with a couple of other guys.

My problem is that I’m attracted to another man in the office and don’t know what to do.

We occasionally meet at the coffee machine and he’s always charming and almost flirtatious with me and I literally go weak at the knees.

I don’t want to make a fool of myself but I can’t go on like this.

What would you do in my situation?

Dear Shane,

IN THE words of the famous song, ‘Love is a many splendoured thing’, and certainly in my experience it has its highs and its lows.

Attraction isn’t defined by rules, it can happen any time and any place, often when we least expect it.

Your coffee machine encounters suggests to me that the object of your desire feels some positive vibes towards you but how do you test the waters?

Probably the best way is to try to meet outside the office environment.

Ask your flatmates for help, organise a night out as a group, invite a few of your work col-

leagues as well, and invite him along.

You’ll soon gauge his interest by his reaction to your invitation.

If he rejects your invite I’m afraid it’s cold coffee from now on, but if he gratefully accepts, with his flirtatious charm you could be in for something that’s really hot.

Outside the office environment it will be up to you to work your charm, and safe to do so as well.

Good luck, Shane!

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 5 April 2018

DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS I N F O R M AT I O N Heritage House, Dundrum, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240 Dublin Gazette Newspapers publishes four weekly quality free titles, covering the latest news, sport, entertainment and lifestyle from the four local authority areas of Dublin

C O N TA C T S Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@dublingazette.com Group Editor: Patrick Finnegan pfinnegan@dublingazette.com Deputy Group Editor: Shane Dillon sdillon@dublingazette.com Commercial Director: Sue Griffith sgriffith@dublingazette.com

Production Editor: Jessica Maile jmaile@dublingazette.com Picture Editor: Aisling Conway aconway@dublingazette.com Advertising Sales: 01 - 6010240 sales@dublingazette.com

FIND US ON

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

WELCOME TO SUN-KISSED... DUBLIN? Memories of snow were firmly banished by an Easter cracker of a sunset over Dublin last Saturday, which brought an LA vibe to the slightly less exotic M50 link roads. If you have great, high-res shots of the city that you’d love to share with our readers, email them to news@dublingazette.com. Photos: Shane Dillon

Hop into the Disney Store for an egg hunt

THE Disney Store on Grafton Street will play home to an exclusive event on April 8.

Participants are invited to ‘hop’ in store to take part in an exclusive Disney Egg Hunt event to find eggs placed around the store.

Those taking part will receive a free Ufufy soft toy (while supplies last), as well as a free activity sheet which allows children to design their own Disney eggs.

The event is suitable for children aged three and up, and will start at 9am for all Sunday’s early birds, but spaces are limited.

TRAVEL, PAGE 24

It’s Tee Time Putt yourself on a Northern golf course



Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com

5 April 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

SOME OF THE LATEST EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN DUBLIN

DIARY

DOG OF THE WEEK

Tidy Towns calls on Dubliners to get involved THE 2018 SuperValu TidyTowns competition has opened for entries.

Now in its 60th year, the competition is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development and is sponsored by SuperValu.

Minister for Regional Economic Development, Michael Ring, said that the success of the long-running competition is due to the ‘selfless effort’ of those that take part.

Last year, over 870 towns participated in the competition, with over €1.3 million provided to 900 TidyTowns committees across Ireland to spend on improving their communities.

This year’s competition will also see the addition of the Schools Award that aims to encourage schools in communities across the country to get involved with their local TidyTowns committee.

The closing date for receipt of entries for this year’s competitions is May 23, 2018.

Entry forms for the SuperValu TidyTowns competition can be obtained by visiting tidytowns.ie or supervalu.ie.

Little Museum salutes trailblazing females A BRAND new exhibition launched in the City last weekend, in another event to mark 100 years of women getting the opportunity to vote.

Hosted by The Little Museum of Dublin on Stephen’s Green, ‘What’s She Doing Here?’ is set to be an photographic exploration into women who have excelled in industries that have traditionally been dominated by men.

Looking at the last 100 years, there will be a focus on historical heroines such as renowned suffragette Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington, as well as a look at the women of more modern times who defy sexist attitudes to propel themselves to the tops Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington of their respective industries. It was launched last weekend by Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaelteacht, Josepha Madigan, and is set to run until June 10.

DUBLIN Gazette Newspaper have teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for lost and abandoned dogs.

Lady is a gentle and caring four-year-old female Lab cross that is looking for a family to share her love with.

Lady was a wonderful mum to her babies, and now that all of her pups have found loving homes, she is looking for a home of her own with someone who is going to give her lots of love.

She feels best around people, especially when she can rest on someone’s lap.

This beautiful girl craves the attention and adores her gentle cuddles, so if you are looking for an affectionate companion she may be the one for you.

Lady is such a sweetheart, and she will make a wonderful pet and a great addition to a young family. She could potentially live with children, but like all dogs, she will always need to be supervised while interacting with them.

This beautiful girl would like nothing more than a loving and caring family to take her home and give her a happy life.

If you have room in your heart for Lady, then 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.

Ten days of magic music in the city

MUSICTOWN will be back with a bang this April, with a ten-day musical celebration taking place from April 13 to 22. The event sets out to explore and celebrate the diverse constellation of music cultures that exist in Dublin city.

MusicTown aims to unify the city, making its music relatable and accessible, instilling a sense of pride in Dublin’s musical heritage, whilst welcoming newcomers and visiting artists.

Highlights include another unique collaboration between one of Ireland’s most acclaimed indie-rock groups, Little Green Cars, and acclaimed painter Andrew Vickery, at The Abbey Theatre on Thursday, April 19.

John Sheahan and Colm Mac Con Iomaire with special guests will be at the Abbey Theatre with a special collaborative performance on Saturday, April 21.

For all other events at various locations, just visit www.musictown.ie Little Green Cars

Wreath-laying ceremony to remember The Rising’s dead GLASNEVIN Cemetery began nationwide commemorations last week to honour those who perished in Easter week 1916. Ceremonial events included a number of wreath-laying ceremonies that took place at the Sigerson Monument and the graves of Edward Hollywood (the man who delivered the first Tricolour flag to Ireland from France), and Peadar Kearney (composer of Ireland’s first national anthem).

Minister Josepha Madigan was joined by Sarah Tiffan, deputy head of Mission at the British Embassy, HE Excellency, Ambassador Stephane Crouzat, on behalf of the French Embassy, members of the Irish Defence Forces and the chairman of Glasnevin Trust, John Green, to begin the nationwide day of remembrance for all those who served on Easter week in 1916.

Picture: Colm Mahady / Fennells

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 5 April 2018

GOINGOUTOUT A Dublin dance group’s quest for greatness just took a twist by adding a stellar Irish legend. Meet

Le Galaxie PICKWEEK OF THE

APRIL 6 (FRIDAY)

A Night For Aware @ Olympia Theatre, €25 Cry Monster Cry (above) are just one of the highlights of a night to remember at the Olympia, where Christy Dignam, In Tua Nua, Mundy, The Pale, Barq, Jem Mitchell, Trouble Pilgrims and The Skatuesques are also set to delight in a dizzying night in aid of Aware.

The bands and artists are doing their bit to help keep the mental health momentum going, with the fundraiser acting as a great way to help support Aware’s work with those impacted by depression, bipolar disorder and related mood conditions – and get a brilliant night out, too.

APRIL 5 (THURSDAY) Toto @ Vicar Street, €55 Karine Polwart Trio @ Pavillion Theatre, €23 Tandem Felix @ The Workman’s Club, €13 Theo Katzman and the Four Fine Gentlemen @ Whelan’s, €23

APRIL 6 (FRIDAY) Arcade Fire @ 3Arena, €60 Canada’s finest return to Dublin to explore several albums of driving, melodic indie rock.

Expect some beautiful harmonies and catchy choruses.

David Kitt @ The Button Factory, €18 Bahamas @ The Grand Social, €15 The Nordanians @ The Workman’s Club, €10-15

APRIL 7 (SATURDAY) Le Boom @ Button Factory, €14 Jeremy Loops @ The Academy, €20 Black Label Society @ Tivoli Theatre, €30 Vernon Jane/Thumper @ The Sugar Club, €10-15 Shame @ Whelan’s

APRIL 8 (SUNDAY) The High Kings @ Vicar

Street, €33.50 The Outcasts @ Toner’s, €10 Raucous, old-school Belfast punks choose Dublin as the venue to record their latest live record.

Heavily backed by the local punk scene, they play in the 70s tradition, their edges suitably roughed. Outcast by name, but music to bring in punk fans.

Jive Aces @ Whelan’s, €12

APRIL 9 (MONDAY) Dua Lipa @ Olympia Theatre, €26 Jessica Lea Mayfield @ Whelan’s, €18 Marillion @ Vicar Street, €40

APRIL 10 (TUESDAY) Beth Hart @ Vicar Street, €39 Dua Lipa @ Olympia Theatre, €26 Ruby Sessions @ Doyle’s, €6 Epica @ Tivoli Theatre Laoise @ Whelan’s, €10 Tiger’s Jaw @ Whelan’s, €16

APRIL 11 (WEDNESDAY) Keeva @ Whelan’s, €12 Calum Scott @ The Academy, €19

DUBLIN’S most popular dance act might have left behind the world of major labels, but with the addition of former Fight Like Apes vocalist Mary-Kate Geraghty to the band, an international-class distance runner on drums and an absolutely pulsating live show, they remain an act to be watching out for.

FEW acts are quite like Le Galaxie. Locally notorious for their late-night festival shows, glowstick showers, shiny stage outfits and thumping dance-pop beats, they’ve evolved where their peers have stagnated.

With the addition of an Irish music legend in Mary Kate Geraghty, they have the potential to push the boundaries a whole lot further, despite saying goodbye to major label Universal after just one album.

Their sound is euphoric: bleepy and charmingly sing-along, lively and driving. They bounce across the stage, blazing through tracks like impressing at any individual show is the criteria for ever getting to do another.

 JAMES HENDICOTT

They’ve established a phenomenal depth of local loyalty in Dublin, in part thanks to the constant, lively evolution. It’s personified this time around in Geraghty.

“The decision to bring Maykay [Geraghty] in full time came in the middle of our sessions with the producer on this album,” frontman Michael Pope says of the band’s new addition.

“She was doing vocals already, and came in during the latter third in more of a songwriting kind of

way. We should have done it a year earlier, really.”

“It was like a movie. I kept it really cool in the office when they asked me, and then got outside and flipped,” Geraghty jokes. “Before that I’d been doing one song a show with them for a while, but it’s frustrating to go out, go crazy for three minutes and then come off.”

“We’d started to bring her on for more songs,” Pope continues. “The dynamic of her being on stage is like a bolt of lightning. It isn’t all about myself and Mary, call and response or anything like that, though. It’s still about the band and what they’re doing. If anything, it’s become more dynamic, more intense, more joyous.”

Whilst Geraghty had been fronting Fight Like Apes for most of Le Galaxie’s career, she’s long been a fan, and being part of their latest offering, Pleasure, gives her the outside per-

spective to see how she fits into their progress.

“I’d already seen as an onlooker that the band really aren’t afraid to adapt, to move and change,” Geraghty says, throwing in the planned addition of her own synth station – ideally a rotating one – to the Le Galaxie repertoire.

“As a fan, I’d seen them go from completely kind of ambient instrumental, to a bit dancier, then to having vocals, then to having me.

“It’s not like going into a company where there’s no room for promotion. Le Galaxie always h a s space to change.

They’re open to anything. But they’re also very sure.

“You’re more than welcome to make suggestions, but if they don’t l i ke t h e m , you’ll be very politely told

‘No’. I like that.”

So drummer Al Higgins will continue to show up to practise a few hours after running 24-hour races and batter his drumkit like it’s not a thing.

Michael Pope, dressed in a silver shellsuit with glitter flashes smeared across his face, will egg on the crowd with glow sticks and triumphant gestures.

Mary-Kate Geraghty ... she’s a Dublin music icon, and for Le Galaxie, right now she’s their great unknown.

Le Galaxie’s third album, Pleasure, is out soon on this Friday, April 6.

5 April 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

ENTERTAINMENT AMERICAN SUPPORTER IS CLUELESS ABOUT THE SPORT BUT BACKS OUR BOYS IN BLUE

Happy to cheer on the Dublin team at ... whatever it is you do in football QUINN KANNER

WITH no knowledge of Gaelic Football other than its existence, I decided to go see a match of what I’d been informed was ‘proper football’. So it was that I recently attended the Dublin v Monaghan game at Croke Park.

The morning of the match I attempted to research the game, and what I found reminded me of the games played during elementary school PE when we’d have only a soccer field, baseball bases and a dodgeball to use to play something resembling a real sport.

With its inclusion of ele-

ments from soccer, rugby and basketball, Gaelic football seemed like a similar amalgamation.

Watching the athletes warm up at the stadium did not provide any more clarity on what to expect from the gameplay.

Some groups appeared to be playing basketball, dribbling and swerving in an effort to keep possession of the ball.

Others were running and practicing throwing passes. Another group was kicking balls into a rugby goal fork on top of a soccer goal, many of which went so high they flew over the net behind the contraption into the stands.

“

Gaelic football seems to involve elements of soccer, rugby and maybe basketball

Quinn was happy to pitch in with plenty of support for her adopted city but alas, the mighty men from Monaghan won the day

During the warmups, one of my friends decided Dublin’s #9 was going to be a star player, though he didn’t end up being put in play until the second half.

Once he was, I bemoaned the monitor’s lack of close-ups, because I really wanted to know what was going on with his hair, which had some

great movement every time he jumped or ran.

Because I didn’t really understand the gameplay, I decided to follow the crowd’s cues on when

to cheer. That was complicated by the fact that behind me was a row of vehement Monaghan fans and in front of me was a very vocal Dublin fan.

At one point, I was slightly worried about being caught in the middle of a brawl, hearing a muttered comment from the guy behind me about the guy in front of me shouting about jersey pulling.

It wasn’t until the Monaghan sup-

U2 retain reign as richest Irish stars MARK O’BRIEN

IN A NOT so shocking twist, it turns out that U2 are still the richest entertainers in Ireland, according to the recent 2018 Sunday Times Irish Rich List.

The Sunday Times Irish Rich List surveys the wealth of the 300 richest individuals and families on the island of Ireland in a variety of areas, including entertainment, sport, business, technology and construction.

U2’s riches flow in part from their extensive touring and a €3m annual income from their back catalogue,

merchandising and airplay.

Their 14th studio album, Songs of Experience, peaked at number five in the UK album charts as well as topping the Billboard chart in the US. The €2m increase in their overall wealth helped them finish ahead of husband and wife team Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, who have a combined fortune of €443m.

United States-based Burnett (57), is president of MGM Television and is the king of reality television, devising The Apprentice, Survivor, and The Voice, while his wife – Derry-born Roma Downey

(also 57) is chief content officer of the faith and family division of MGM Television.

She co-produced the TV miniseries, The Bible, seen by 100 million people.

The couple made their fortune from a successful production company, in which MGM took a 55% stake in 2015 for $364m, with the couple exchanging their remaining holding for 1.3 million MGM shares, currently worth €107m.

The wealthiest Irish actor is Liam Neeson, who at 65 remains one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars.

Most recently seen as the star

of The Commuter – which has grossed $108m worlwide, to date – Neeson’s movies have earned more than $6.9bn at the box office overall.

Valued by The Sunday Times at €113m this year, he has been lined up to co-star in Widows, directe d by S teve McQueen, starring Colin Farrell and R o b e r t Duvall.

porters gave a standing ovation to their team’s narrow win in overtime that I realised how many of them were blending in to the sea of blue-clad fans.

I left the match disappointed by Dublin’s loss, but really impressed with the athletes’ abilities. I’m not good at a single sport, and I feel like they have to be good at all of them to play Gaelic football effectively.

Liam Neeson has taken seventh place in the chart, with an estimated 2018 wealth of €113m

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 5 April 2018

5 April 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

ENTERTAINMENT

VIRTUALLY ASSURED TO BE PLEASED

CINEMA | READY PLAYER ONE LIVES UP TO THE PRE-RELEASE BUZZ WITH EASE

VIDEOGAME -related content largely continues to be a tricky issue for directors, with plenty setting their sights on films based around games, but rarely delivering anything more than mediocre movies.

For all the narrative

 SHANE DILLON

sdillon@dublingazette.com

richness and depth that can be found in plenty of

games now as the medium matures, capturing the same potential complexity and core essence of a great game continues to prove difficult.

With Ready Player One (Cert 12A, 140 mins), director Stephen Spiel-

SUDOKU

Wade (Tye Sheridan) may look a bit of a plonker in that hightech virtual reality gear, but he’s actually helping to save the world – at least, an online one...

Spielberg plays along with tech in terrific style

CHALLENGE YOUR BRAIN...JUST FOR FUN!

TOP TWEETS EASY

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

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

@ibrahimhalawa13 Ibrahim Halawa has his priorities right

up largely contemporary tech (extrapolated a little further down the road), alongside some classic Spielbergian themes.

Set in the near future, an American youth, Wade (Tye Sheridan), is pretty much like everyone else living in now commonplace slum-like conditions, using tech to escape the modern, messy world by jumping into the Oasis – the crazily complex global virtual reality that most

“

with the high-octane race featured extensively in the trailers the first stumbling block that they can’t get past.

Now, what are the odds that Wade will find a way?

Throw in an evil corporation with indentured players doing its bidding, real world danger versus the virtual world drama, and something of a classic hero’s quest for Wade and his allies to take in both realities alike, and RPO

The film’s about much more than gaming – it’s a packed potpourri of pop culture references people spend a lot of time in, where people can be or do pretty much anything.

Apart from just escaping impoverished reality, many Oasis users also know that its late creator, James Halliday, left a hidden easter egg legacy – there’s a Halliday secret hidden somewhere in the Oasis, and whoever finds it can take control of the entire network, as well as finding riches galore.

The fate of the (virtual) world is potentially at stake, but in the real world nobody’s even been able to get off the starting block in the particular game that leads to Halliday’s legacy,

delivers a high-energy, high-stakes tale that’s highly entertaining in parts.

The eye-popping visuals can be overwhelming, but then again they should be, given the nature of Oasis. Still, Wade/Sheridan successfully drives the film - including in the most literal sense - under Spielberg’s masterful control.

As a result, even if you don’t know your augmented realities from your global neural networks, you’re virtually guaranteed to enjoy the often spectacular ride.

Verdict: 8/10

CODEWORDS in association with

I never let the hate get to me and I go out and enjoy the things I’ve really missed. The Cliffs of Moher are something I always wrote about from prison and how they express so much freedom. I wanna thank all the people who supported me and caused this to happen.

berg takes a stab at capturing some of the giddy excitement and individual engagement at the heart of much of modern gaming, and for once the medium gets a decent cinematic presentation, RPO is about much more than gaming, mind you – it’s a packed potpourri of pop culture references, liberally sprinkling about a dizzying range of nods and winks to all kinds of blink-and-you’llmiss-them easter eggs that refer to cinema, TV and other cultural themes.

Many of these were present in the 2011 book that the film is based on, but seeing them on screen is a different matter.

While the trailers have made heavy use of The Iron Giant, for example, eagle-eyed culture vultures will find a long, long list of classic (and some contemporary) characters and icons popping up in overt and subtle ways alike.

The end result is something of nerd heaven, given the amount of gaming and pop culture elements to spot, with many flashing by in very subtle ways.

Still, as fun as it is to spot all these things they’re largely incidental to the film itself, which is very on-trend in serving

MODERATE

PUZZLES

WORD SEARCH

Taking note of anyone that Instagrams a Lindt Easter egg this weekend and sending it to the tax office because nobody should have that kind of disposable income to be throwing around.

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

@Ciara_Knight Ciara isn’t eggsactly yolking as she keeps watch

Ok so once in ikea dublin, someone came back after over a year complaining that their blue kitchen was peeling. they had never taken the protective wrap off it & thought they got sent a blue kitchen by accident but decided that they liked it better than the white 1 they ordered. @earley Retweeting another post, and hey, who hasn’t been in this situation too? We’re not aware of being able to try the same thing with houses, however, as they tend not to come pre-wrapped.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION FIND THE HIDDEN WORDS bladderwrack

mozuku

carola

nori

cochayuyo

oarweed

dulse

sea grapes

gutweed

sea lettuce

hijiki

spiral wrack

Irish moss

sugar kelp

kelp

wakame

laver

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

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

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

Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 5 April 2018

GALLERIES

Janette Ryan, Pippa O’Connor and Niki Ralph. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

Stars step out for a baby skincare class S

KINCARE brand La Roche-Posay hosted a special baby skincare masterclass in Dublin’s Iveagh hotel recently. Pippa O’Connor, Gail Kaneswaren and Grace Mongey were among the well-known mums who attended the class to find out the best way to care for their skin. Guests enjoyed a discussion with consultant dermatologist, Dr Niki Ralph, and La Roche-Posay skincare expert, Janette Ryan.

Laura Erskine and Ciara Swan

Lisa Brady

Niamh Durcan

Edel and Pearl Lawless

5 April 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

Pippa O’Connor

Tara O’Farrell

Kelly Felton and Kellie Kearney

Ursula Walsh

Ciara Swan and David O’Brien

Ece Parlar

Niki Ralph

Gail Kaneswaran

Deirdre Woods

24 DUBLIN GAZETTE 5 April 2018

Hit the North for some of the finest golf courses around QUALITY COURSES | HONE YOUR SKILLS IN A GOLF PARADISE IT’S no secret that Northern Ireland is a golfer’s paradise – some of the world’s best courses are dotted along its spectacular coastline.

But while probably best known for its famous links, it’s also home to some of the best parkland tracks in Ireland and beyond.

Two of those, both boasting stunning views of beautiful Belfast Lough, were the setting for the Writer Cup – an annual golf tournament held over two days in which a team of media

The ROI Writer Cup team

men from the Republic take on the North’s finest journalists in a format not unlike the slightly more vaunted Ryder Cup. McHugh’s Bar in Belfast City Centre

Holywood G C i s w h e re Rory McIroy honed the skills that would lead him to four majors, and it’s a golfer’s Mecca.

Set in the picturesque Holywood Hills just outside bustling Belfast, replicas of Rory’s trophies are

proudly on display in the warm and welcoming clubhouse. You can even pose with the famous Claret Jug, the impressive PGA trophy, or the US Open cup – better still, all three, which probably just about every visitor to the club does.

The course itself is a cracker, tough but fair, with smart play and prudent club choices rewarded.

The sixth hole is a little gem of a par three, while the fourteenth is a par four that shows the lough at its most spectacular.

The other track we were lucky enough to play this year is the majestic and historic Royal Belfast, an absolute beast of a course that oozes class from the clubhouse to the last tee.

The opening five are up there

Michael McGovern teeing off

amongst the finest golf holes you’ll find in Ireland – but be warned, the chances are you’ll need your sandwedge.

Like Holywood, the views show Belfast at its finest and, like Holywood, Royal Belfast is a beautifully maintained and wonderfully challenging course.

And, also just like Holywood, a certain Mr McIlroy is a member.

But back to the action.

My ‘ f i r s t time’ on tour with the ROI Writer Cup team was anything but gentle – packed full of excitement, disappointment and most of all, good craic with a great bunch of lads from both sides of the border.

Before we teed off at Holywood, Team NI were reminded that Team ROI held a 5-2 lead over the past seven years.

We should have kept our mouths shut...

By the end of the day’s play the score was 3 ½ to ½ in favour of the northerners.

Naturally, we headed to the pub to drown our sorrows, and our hosts kindly treated us to a top-quality meal in the magnificent McHugh’s

Pub, one of the oldest bars in Belfast and also one of the friendliest.

After a few pints and a great night’s sleep in the lovely four-star Hilton Hotel in the city, we made the short trip to Royal Belfast for day two and the eagerly awaited singles matches.

For a while, it looked like our strategy of plying the e n e my w i t h One of the world’s top golfers, Rory McIlroy

pints the night before might prove to be a winner, but alas it wasn’t to be, and when we had to forfeit a point after our star player hurt his ankle halfway through his match it was curtains. In the end, Team NI deserved their 6 ½ to 4 ½ victory.

Thanks to all in Tourism NI who sponsor the event and do so much to help it grow bigger and better every year.

My only regret was that I didn’t have longer to explore the majestic coastline – it’s no wonder Belfast and the Causeway Coast are Lonely Planet’s number one region to visit in 2018…

For more visit www.discovernorthernireland.com.

5 April 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 25

A GUIDE TO TEMPTING FOOD AND LOCATIONS

‘Start serving up more chefs for the industry’ DUBLIN Senator Catherine Noone has called for the chronic chef shortage to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

She said: “The current shortage of qualified chefs in Ireland is reaching unacceptable proportions and it is negatively affecting countless Irish businesses.

“Currently there is an estimated deficit of 7,000 chefs in this country. Training colleges are only producing 1,800 new chefs per year, while the industry needs at least 5,000 annually.

“While new apprenticeships have made some impact in alleviating the current situation, it is my understanding it is not sufficient to meet the current demand in the short- to medium-term.

“In fact, it is estimated that even with all the new apprentice and mentoring initiatives coming on stream now, it will be three to four years before they will have any impact at all on the current shortage.

“In the short-term, I am calling for chefs to be added to the critical skills employment permit list as a matter of urgency. In the long-term, I believe the re-establishment of the hospitality agency CERT would assist in addressing the enormous shortage by producing more graduates,” said Senator Noone.

Beer we go ...

Heinken bring 0.0% to Ireland

HEINEKEN Ireland has launched a new non-alcoholic lager: Heineken 0.0%.

According to the drinks giant, the launch of He ineken 0.0% comes as a response to Irish consumers’ needs and demands, driven by the global and local cultural trend of living a balanced lifestyle.

Heineken added that the new drink empowers those who can’t or don’t want to drink alcohol to be involved in every beer and non-beer moment without compromising on quality or taste. Currently, the number-one reason Irish consumers choose not to go alcohol-free on a night out is for fear of being seen as unsociable or not good fun, and abstaining from alcohol completely is their primary moderating behaviour.

Radina Shkutova, marketing director at Heineken Ireland, said: “Heineken has seen strong growth within the low- and no-alcohol segment and expects this to continue, driven by the global cultural trend of living a balanced, healthy lifestyle.”

Willem van Waesberghe (pictured), global craft and brew master at Heineken, said: “Heineken 0.0% is double-brewed; we then remove the alcohol and blend with natural flavours, allowing Irish beer lovers to enjoy a world-class tasting alternative on any occasion without compromising on quality.”

FOOD & TRAVEL

TUCK INTO A SUCCULENT, TIMELY DISH FROM NEVEN

Spring for lamb for genuine Easter fare THIS week we have a delicious Easter-inspired recipe (to serve 6-8) courtesy of Neven Maguire: aromatic crusted butterflied lamb with caramelised garlic and orange salsa.

The marinade is a version of bulogogi, which originates from Korea and is normally used with beef, but it is absolutely delicious with lamb – particularly if you leave it to marinate for a couple of days before cooking it.

INGREDIENTS 3kg (7lb) leg of lamb, boned and well trimmed, roughly 5cm (2in) thick 1 bunch spring onions, trimmed and roughly chopped 5cm (2in) piece fresh root ginger, peeled and chopped 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil 3 tbsp dark soy sauce 2 tbsp dry sherry Half tsp light brown sugar 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds 1 tsp black peppercorns SALSA 3-4 garlic heads, separated into cloves (you’ll need about 300g (11oz) in total) 3 tbsp olive oil 1 small orange 4 tsp sugar 2 tsp balsamic vinegar 1 red chilli, seeded and finely chopped 15g (half oz) fresh mint, leaves stripped and shredded 1 tbsp lemon juice Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Charred little Gem lettuce or Savoy cabbage wedges, to serve (optional) PREPARATION Place the lamb in a shallow non-metallic dish.

Place the spring onions in a food processor with

the ginger, sesame oil, soy, sherry, sugar, sesame seeds and peppercorns, then blend to a thick paste and rub all over the meat in a shallow non-metallic dish (or use a turkey bag if you have one).

Cover with clingfilm and chill for up to two days, or leave to stand at room temperature for 2-3 hours if time is short.

Preheat the oven to 230C (475F), Gas mark 9. If the lamb has been chilled in the fridge, bring

it back to room temperature, then place, cut side up on a rack in a large roasting tin and season with salt.

Roast in for 20 minutes, then turn over and roast for another 15 minutes for rare.

Meanwhile, make the salsa. Bring a mediumsized pan of water to the boil, then add the garlic and blanch for two minutes.

Drain and repeat the blanching process again.

Drain well on kitchen paper and then peel off the skins; they should come off easily.

Wipe out the pan, add the olive oil and then place over a medium-high heat.

Add the garlic cloves and cook for 4-5 minutes until golden on all sides, stirring occasionally.

Add one tablespoon of the sugar, the balsamic, a quarter teaspoon of salt and six tablespoons of water.

Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer on a medium heat for 3-5 minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated and the garlic cloves are covered with a nice thick syrup. Leave to cool.

Pare the rind from the orange, avoiding the white pith and then cut into 1mm julienne and put into a small pan.

Squeeze out the juice from the orange and make up to 100ml (3.5fl oz) with water. Pour over the julienne and add the remaining teaspoon of sugar.

Bring to a simmer over a medium heat and cook for 6-8 minutes until the liquid has reduced by about a third.

To finish the salsa, stir the chilli, mint and lemon juice into the caramelised garlic syrup and then stir in the orange julienne without the syrup.

Remove the lamb from the oven and leave to rest in a warm place for 10 minutes.

If you don’t like your lamb too pink you can cover it with foil at this point and it will continue to cook.

Carve into slices and add any of the cooking juices to the orange salsa.

Taste and add a little of the remaining orange syrup if you think it needs it.

Arrange the carved lamb on warmed plates with some of the caramelised garlic and orange salsa on the side or on top.

Ad d s o m e o f t h e charred little Gem lettuce wedges or cabbage to serve if liked.

26 DUBLIN GAZETTE 5 April 2018

HOME | COLOUR THEORY IS KEY TO A HAPPILY DECORATED HOME

Tangled up in blue (or red, or green)  Rachel D’Arcy rdarcy@dublingazette.com

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW...

Bold patterns and cool colours are a-plenty in the upcoming home collections from Aldi (bottom left and right) and Harvey Norman (top and centre)

COLOUR theory is key to a well designed and furnished room. One colour can say the world about your home (and you!) so it’s key to match your furnishings to that oh-so important shade range.

Compliment bolder walls with muted furniture, or vice versa, or find a distinct pattern choice to throw into the mix to liven things up.

There’s no wrong way of designing your room, as long as the colours and furnishings feel authentic to you!

BOLD AND BRASH | FURNISHINGS WITH MINIMAL IMPACT THAT STILL PACK A PUNCH

Penneys Mandala soft cushion €10

Next LYLA chair €135

HomeSense Circle Foot stool €69

5 April 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 27

WEDDING SEASON IS IN FULL SWING

HOME & STYLE

BeautyBITS

Kaftan dress, & Other Stories, €125

Crochet dress, & Other Stories, €145

Louis Vuitton reveal new artistic director  Rachel D’Arcy

Robe dress, & Other Stories, €99

Louis Vuitton have appointed their first ever African-American artistic director in the form of Virgil Abloh.

Appointed as artistic director for their quickly

Grafton Street’s & Other Stories are set to launch their bridal capsule collection later this month.

blossoming menswear line, Virgil has become a wellknown name on social media as the founder of luxe

Baby doll dress & Other Stories, €89

Patterned dress, & Other Stories, €89

street-wear brand Off-White.

As a brand, Off-White has become something of a social media firestorm in the last year, with It-Instagram Models Bella Hadid and Kaia Gerber

Smock dress, & Other Stories, €89

known to be fans of the bold yet relaxed designs. At last year’s Paris Fashion Week, a near riot incited outside Off-White’s fashion show as fans battled to get in for a prestigious look at the next collection.

Virgil is also known as Kanye West’s creative protege, even being nominated for a Grammy as part of his artistic work on West’s 2011 ‘Watch The Throne’ collaboration with Jay-Z. Editor of Vogue, Edward Enninful, said: “Virgil is one of the few designers who truly marries street culture with high fashion - and the first black designer to be given such a position in the gilded halls of [Vuitton’s parent company] LVMH. “His appointment is a step in the right direction for diversity, as well as a particularly exciting creative moment for the industry”. His first collection for Louis Vuitton Menswear will hit runways later

S

r e m m u

 Rachel D’Arcy

Lovin’

AS THE weather gets warmer, we’re coming into wedding season. The season for the struggle of finding that perfect outfit to wear to a wedding, of secretly hoping you’ll find a look that might take everyone’s eye off the bride – for just a split second! & Other Stories have the answer. They will launch their Bridal Capsule collection, filled with vibrant colours and soft silhouettes at the end of this month. Prices range from €89 to €145, and the collection will be available in store and on stories.com.

this year.

Pro make-up on pocket prices Beauty has become somewhat of a luxe-hobby in recent years. An eyeshadow palette can cost upwards of €50, and some concealers can even set you back around €30. It’s become a serious game thanks to YouTube and Instagram, both financially and in terms of upping your skill, but now a low-cost brand has come to answer our prayers.

Make-up Revolution have just launched their ‘pro’ range, offering high-quality products at a low price. Their concealers are already being praised as dupes for more expensive Nars and Tarte counterparts, at the pocket change price of €4.99.

Their eyeshadow palettes are also retailing at just €8.99 for 18 pigment packed shades – and are perfect dupes for some pricer palettes from popular brands Huda Beauty and Anastasia Beverly Hills.

To take a look at the full ‘pro’ range, check out revolutionbeauty.com.

28 DUBLIN GAZETTE 5 April 2018

TECH TIME

MACHINE OF THE WEEK Illustration: Shane Dillon

The possible US demands to see our social media could lead us to...

SHANE DILLON

Tech Editor

SO YOU’RE going to America. Great!

Have you got your dollars? Is your passport up to date? And have you provided the US authorities with access to five years-worth of your social media and email activities under all of your usernames?

Wait, what?

Alarmist as that sounds, that’s something that the administration across the pond are currently mulling over.

The powers that be are considering a tough, positively Orwellian stance over linking social media activity directly to visa applications, with countries that don’t currently have automatic visa exclusions to be hardest-hit.

Don’t panic just yet – Irish visitors to the States don’t travel with a ‘visa’ as such, given the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) programme that’s been in place between

Visa-tor problems

our countries since 2009.

However, given the current chaotic and rather ugly state of American politics, it’s difficult not to consider this potential social media analytic ‘creeping’ into other access methodologies – such as the ESTA programme – as part of the Make America Whatever Again mindset that’s seized control of much of the country’s mechanisms.

There are still some two months of public consultation to go before any decision is made, with the public invited to make their thoughts on the proposals clear.

Loosely speaking, it’s proposed that visa applicants from countries which don’t have automatic US access – which would affect about 14.7 million people – would have to provide details of their social media activities.

They’d have to provide five years of their telephone numbers, email addresses and travel history, alongside more obvious, standard matters such

as saying if they’d ever been deported from a country, or if any relatives involved in terrorist activity.

While every country has the right (and these days, the need) to keep out undesirables and try to protect citizens, the proposals would represent another disturbing turn for America, all but presuming guilt of would-be immigrants and others.

It’s also difficult not to note the recent net neutrality farrago, which saw a truly huge number of US citizens and companies objecting to the de-facto creation of a two-tier internet (prompted by – surprise, surprise – commercial factors), which was approved despite their mass objections.

To use a crude Americanism, the net neutrality matter is something that will come back to bite us all in the ass – but this visa move, if passed, is something that millions of people will have to face a lot sooner, if not all of us down the road ...

Another cracking good bad news story about Facebook TAKING a break from writing on the international Facebook data mining row – which is still blazing away like an underground coal mine fire – let’s look instead at ... another Facebook bad news story which created plenty of negative press late last week instead.

To wildly misquote Oscar Wilde: To be at the centre of one international bad news story is misfortune, but to be at the centre of two looks like carelessness.

The tech titan found itself under attack from a new front when an internal 2016 memo written by a vice-president was leaked to Buzzfeed: “Maybe someone dies in a terrorist attack coordinated on our tools. And still we connect people. The ugly truth is that we believe in connecting people so deeply that anything that allows us to connect more people more often is *de facto* good.”

Internal Facebook consternation was met by widespread external criticism,

with the memo – since disavowed by its author – being roundly rejected by Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg (forced into damage control yet again).

With apologies to Mark (sorry, Mark), as a blase comparison you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs, and as such it’s fair to say that Facebook – and any and all other social media platforms – could be used for terrorism or in negative activities, statistically speaking.

However, as a general rule, eggs don’t like to hear about omelettes, and I imagine that most social media users don’t particularly like to consider the odds of there being genuinely bad people running around online, doing shifty stuff, with the tech powers that be appearing to be considering the statistics of connecting ‘more people more often’ to be good, as opposed to ... well, it’s not quite clear.

As it’s often said that bad news comes in threes, it’s hard not to wonder what the next such story will be ...

Skoda delivers a car worthy of its Superb title The Skoda Superb has got a reputation for being a big car and that’s well founded. The latest model has even greater comfort and good economy with a 2.0 litre turbo-diesel engine that Michael Moroney found a real treat.

IF YOU want space in a car, then you just have to consider the new Skoda Superb; and if you want to add an extra bit of style opt for the SportLine versions There is simply no other car on the market that brings together the balance of space with competitive pricing, low running costs and new, impressive styling.

You have to drive the Superb to get the full impact of the space within the car. With this new third-generation Superb, the car is bigger, more modern and packed with additional features to make it more comfortable to drive.

The 2.0 litre turbo-diesel engine is the engine of choice for me and was the engine in the car that I drove some weeks ago.

This allows the big car to achieve its best when it comes to on-road comfort and driveability. Volkswagen fits a very similar engine in the new generation Passat.

Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI DSG SportLine Engine Engine power 0 – 100km/hr Economy Fuel Tank Capacity CO2 emissions Road Tax Band Main Service Euro NCAP Rating Warranty Entry Price The performance figures are almost identical between the Superb and the Passat, even though the Superb feels such a bigger car.

There’s virtually nothing to separate them in terms of performance and economy – and that’s even if the Superb was 35% poorer in economy terms than the Skoda-rated figure.

It still meant that with some longer journeys I was able to return a range of more than 1,000km from the car’s 66-litre fuel tank.

2.0 litre 150hp 8.6 seconds 24.4km/litre (4.5/100km or 63mpg) 66 litres 118g/km A47 €200 20,000km/12 months 5 star (2015) 3 years/100,000km €40,945 When you couple that with a low 118g/km CO2 rating for the automatic version fitted with the renowned Volkswagen Group DSG gearbox, then this Superb has to be a very low cost car to run.

There is little to separate the Superb from the Passat in terms of performance and the pricing is merging now, too.

So, once again it’s a space thing, and here the Superb wins out against all comers – even the big Ford Mondeo.

Opel Ireland appoints its new GM OPEL Ireland has appointed Gillian Whittall as the company’s new general manager. Gillian joined Opel Ireland in 2008 as head of marketing & PR, bringing extensive experience from high-profile brands within AIB, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson and Danone.

Gillian said: “I’m delighted to take on the role of managing Opel in Ireland. The brand is embarking on a new era, already evident in the new Grandland X. By combining the agility of Groupe PSA with the design and engineering excellence of Opel in Germany, the brand will continue to strengthen its offering, impressing loyal customers and newcomers.”

5 April 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29

TECH & MOTORS

Range Rover Velar is planet’s most beautifully designed car THE Range Rover Velar has been judged the most beautifully designed vehicle on the planet, winning the World Car Design of the Year title at the 2018 World Car Awards.

Bringing glamour, modernity and elegance to the Range Rover family, Velar claims a unique combination of design excellence and engineering integrity.

The distinctive design of the Range Rover Velar features super-slim Matrix Laser-LED headlights, flush deployable door handles and sleek Touch Pro Duo infotainment.

The Skoda Superb SportLine is handsomely designed – and its power under the hood and all-round fuel efficiency also impress

While against the measuring tape it is a little shorter than the Mondeo, it has far more legroom, especially for the rear passengers, and the Superb’s boot area, with the large hatchback-type opening, gives acres of load space.

While it’s big on the inside and very spacious it doesn’t feel too big on the outside. This is a comfortable car to drive and I found it easy to get used to its overall dimensions, helped by the reversing camera kit in the SportLine version.

And now Skoda has added more technology to the car. This includes

a variety of custom-built applications that drivers can use to send data from their car directly to their smart phones.

The system also allows drivers to control smartphone applications from their car dashboard. The system has connectivity with both Apple and Android via SmartLink technology. Skoda retains the facility to insert an SD card for storage and to play music files.

There are a number of USB ports to allow you to connect and charge external storage devices and the car comes with Bluetooth audio streaming.

Skoda’s new SmartGate technology allows the driver to see the performance and economy data from the car’s electronic control unit using special apps created by Skoda.

I found it interesting that you could convert the car into a WiFi zone and use it to connect other mobile devices to the outside world.

There is no shortage of technology in this car for Dublin drivers to use. Individual drivers can have the flexibility to pick and choose from this technology menu for entertainment or for work.

The new Superb fea-

tures a range of new assistance systems that provide a new level of safety for drivers, passengers and pedestrians.

This third-generation model has seven airbags (front side, curtain and driver’s knee) as standard and there ISO-Fix couplings in the rear seats for two children.

The car comes with a number of other features as standard including Automatic Post Collision Braking System, and Front Assist, and has a Euro NCAP five-star rating.

Skoda Superb cars seem to be holding their values well with low depreciation

costs which make this a very cost-effective large car to own.

It has load space, passenger space and good towing ability all wrapped up in a more modern looking car that gives ownership value.

The entry prices for the 2.0 litreTDI SportLine Superb start at €40,945.

Prices have dropped marginally since last year to give improved value.

This is a car worth driving if you need the space and don’t want to pass up on passenger comfort, leaving you impressed by a car that’s Superb in more than its name alone.

Are kids safe in your car?

SCORES of parents are cutting corners on safety when driving with their kids, according to a new UK study which surely has very similar parallels in an Irish context.

The research of 2,000 mums and dads found 34% have allowed their children to travel without a suitable child restraint, and around 37% have driven with someone else’s child as a passenger despite not having a suitable child seat for them.

It has also emerged that one in 10 have (or would) travel a short distance without their child or children safely secured in the vehicle.

Shockingly, 16% revealed their kids have travelled while sat in the boot and more than one fifth have perched them on a cushion instead of a suitable car seat.

The study also found 32% have driven

New UK research has shown that found 34% of parents have allowed their kids to travel in their cars without a suitable child restraint

with their children sat on someone’s lap and 20% have ‘squeezed’ their kids into a backseat containing four or more passengers.

The survey was Commissioned by mifold (corr), a grab-and-go portable child restraint, which also found that ‘pester power’ is one of key the reasons why parents don’t always take in-car safety into account.

Other factors include not having access to suitable child car seat and a lack of understanding of the rules and regulations of travelling with kids in road vehicles.

It also emerged that one in four parents didn’t know it’s potentially dangerous for kids to use a standard seat belt without a suitable child restraint – even in the back of the car.

More than half didn’t know kids could slide under a seatbelt in the event of a crash, if the lap strap is too high over the abdomen.

The Range Rover Velar luxury SUV overcame the Volvo XC60 and the Lexus LC 500 to take the World Car Design of the Year award, as voted for by the World Car Awards jury, comprising 82 influential motoring journalists from 24 countries. Velar’s success follows the 2017 double win for the Jaguar F-PACE. Designed, engineered and manufactured in the UK, the Velar claims to deliver the practicality, connectivity and capability expected from the Range Rover family.

With the latest technology and the inclusion of more sustainable materials, this Range Rover Velar is priced from €62,240 in Ireland, and is available to order now at Land Rover dealers across Dublin.

Volvo scoops World Car of the Year 2018 award with the XC60 THE new Volvo XC60 midsize SUV has been named World Car of the Year 2018 at the New York Auto Show, adding another accolade to Volvo’s growing list.

The XC60 also scooped the prestigious North American Utility of the Year Award earlier this year, while the XC40 small SUV was named European Car of the Year at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month. The World Car of the Year win is the first in this competition for Volvo Cars.

In the new XC60, Euro NCAP’s best overall performer in 2017, Volvo’s City Safety Autonomous Emergency Braking system has been enhanced with steering support for when automatic braking alone may not help avoid a potential collision.

In addition, Oncoming Lane Mitigation with Steer Assist which helps mitigate head-on collisions and Blind Spot Information System with Steer Assist functionality has been added to reduce the risk of lane-changing collisions for the XC60 (below).

30 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 5 April 2018

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32 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 5 April 2018

GARDENING

LOVELY TREES | FOR SMALL GARDENS

Let Spring blossoms brighten the April garden

WITH daylight increasing all the time this month, spring is definitely in the air, and if you don’t already have a tree in your garden for spring blossom, now is the time to remedy that.

In a smaller garden where space is limited, you could consider Magnolia stellata, the Star Magnolia.

Compact and slowg r o w i n g, i t c a n b e treated like a shrub and incorporated easily into a mixed border.

Its starry white blooms are one of my favourite sights in the spring garden and have a sweet fragrance.

Un d e r p l a n t w i t h snowdrops or grape hyacinths and you will be enchanted by this lovely magnolia in bloom for many years to come.

Amelanchier lamarckii, or snowy m e s p i l u s, is a lovely choice for a small tree and as well as snowy spring blossom it offers glowing leaf colour in autumn.

We can’t really talk about spring blossom without giving the flowering cherry a mention.

Fleeting but glorious, in a sheltered garden they bring a touch of magic with single and double blossoms in white or pink.

Choose carefully

though so that your tree won’t outgrow the space you have, and make sure the shape is attractive – it’s easy to be distracted by pretty flowers and forget about the structure of the garden.

When thinking of spring flowers it’s often bulbs that come to mind and most of us tend to plant them in borders in any space that’s available.

This can work very well and planting them like this adds colour and interest to otherwise brown and green borders early in the year.

But there is another way to make them work for you, and that’s to naturalise them in grass.

“Naturalising” in grass just means Grape hyacinths

you plant the bulbs and allow them to die down each year and spread themselves about naturally, which they will often do by means of seeding about.

This works on a number of different scales – larger flowers in larger areas – like the “host of golden daffodils”

made famous by William Wordsworth – and smaller blooms in a more modestly-sized space.

“Ten thousand saw I at a glance” said the poet – but I suspect most of us would have to be content with knocking a zero or two off that number!

In a smaller garden, snowdrops work very well in grass, as do crocuses, scilla and anemone blanda.

Anemone nemorosa, the wood anemone is very pretty too in white drifts around the base of a tree.

In fact if you have a deciduous tree in your lawn, around the base is usually a good place for naturalising bulbs, as they can produce their leaves and flowers while the tree’s branches are still bare, allowing in the necessary light.

Don’t plant too close to the trunk – allow a little space – and scatter the bulbs loosely on the grass, planting them where they fall, so that it looks as if they’ve appeared there naturally.

Don’t cut the grass in the planted area until six to eight weeks after the bulbs have flowered, to allow them to build up strength and flower and multiply each year.

The perfect excuse to leave mowing till a few weeks later – don’t say I never give you anything!

 Anne Byrne Garden Design

Flowering cherry and Magnolia stellata (inset) both boast stunning flowers

Anemone nemorosa is very pretty too in white drifts around the base of a tree

5 April 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 33

34 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 5 April 2018

5 April 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 35

LEINSTER MARCH ON TO SEMI FINALS P36

GAZETTE

RONAN GRIMES PARA-CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIP DEBUT P37

THE BEST IN DUBLIN

UCD LOSE OUT ON PENALTIES P37

SPORT

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS INFORM YOU OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORES OF YOUR FAVOURITE TEAMS HOCKEY | RATHFARNHAM CLUB MISS OUT ON EURO HOCKEY LEAGUE

Three Rock Rovers miss out on quarter-finals  STEPHEN FINDLATER

sfindlater@dublingazette.com

THREE Rock Rovers missed out on a place in the Euro Hockey League KO8 – what would have been a first for an Irish club – in painful style as they succumbed 3-2 to Saint Germain in Rotterdam.

While the performance was somewhat ragged at times, there were plenty of moments of what might have been for the 170 travelling fans amid a sold out crowd of over 6,400 on the day.

Rovers were level at half-time at 2-2 due to a Harry Morris turn and smash just before the break. It cancelled out Martin Genestet’s closerange finish with field goals counting for two in this competition.

In the end, Francois Goyet’s penalty corner tip-in settled the game

in the 34th minute. Rovers were left to rue Morris’s stunning strike from the top coming back off the crossbar while Luke Madeley had a pair of drag-flicks cleared off the goal line

by Hugo Genestet.

Indeed, adding in Ross Canning’s early flick at goal being batted away

by Frederic Gohlke and Richard Pautz shooting into Arthur Thieffry’s chest, Rovers had enough big moments but could not make them tell.

As such, the Irish wait for a place in the quarter-final of world hockey’s best club competition goes on.

Two days later – on Easter Monday – Rovers faced Belgian side KHC Dragons in the ranking matches, a new introduction to the EHL. It was a tough ask from the start, facing a side featuring seven of the European Championships silver medal win-

Three Rock Rovers hockey Captain Jody Hosking running towards goal against Saint Germain in Rotterdam. Picture: Frank Uijlrnbroek

ning side and five Olympic silver medalists.

Rovers, by contrast, had a virus afflicting their team with Ravin Nair and Ross Canning sitting out the tie while Luke Madeley, Ben Walker and Mark Samuel all played limited roles due to stomach complaints.

As it was, Rovers got involved in one of the most bizarre games in EHL history, one which ended 20-10

– in old money, it would have been a similarly strange 12-5.

The Belgians stormed clear in the early stage but Rovers hit the next five times in the last 12 minutes to reach double figures with John Mullins, Harry Morris, Daragh Walsh, Kevin Mullins and Jody Hosking all hitting the net.

They return to action in Ireland with Irish Senior Cup on Saturday.

SPORT CONTACT INFO SPORTS EDITOR: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@dublingazette.com Phone: 01 601 0240

36 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 5 April 2018

CLUB NOTES ST BRIGIDS

ROUND

2

ST Brigids Nursery resumes on April 7th from 9.30 to 11.00, all four to seven year olds are welcome.

Well done to all who attended St Brigids Easter GAA Camp last week. Hope to see you all down training and building on your skills in the coming weeks.

Great news for the club as Brady’s Garages Castleknock have announced that they are continuing as our Mini Leagues sponsor for 2018 and will also further commit to the club and sponsor our Go Games for 2018. Many thanks to all in Brady’s.

Club membership fees are now overdue – they can be paid online from our website. All players need to have paid or commenced payment of their club membership in order to train or play.

Senior Hurlers meet Cuala in Parnell Park on the 7th April at 5.45pm as we start our 2018 Championship campaign. Junior A Hurlers are away to Faughs on the 7th and Junior E home to Realt Dearg on the 8th. All the teams would appreciate a big St Brigid’s support for their games.

Well done to Paddy Andrews and the Dublin Football team on winning the National League Division 1 title.

Fit15 have a three day Peak Performance Program running from Tuesday 3rd April - Thursday 5th April for 12 to 16 year olds. To book use the Fit15 app or email fit15.fifteen@gmail.com Thank you to everyone who supports St Brigid’s Lotto and to our great Lotto Committee. There was no winner of last week’s Lotto Jackpot Draw on the 29th March. There will be no draw this week as our team take a well-deserved Easter mini-break. Our next draw is in the Greyhound Inn on Thursday 12th April with the Jackpot now €3,000.

ST FINIANS WELL done to the combined St Finians/St Margarets Adult LGFA team who beat Fingal Ravens in their first league outing on Wednesday evening in St Margarets.

St Finians GAA Club extends its deepest sympathies to the family of Fiona O’Carroll who passed away on Thursday 29th March. Marie, Fiona’s mother, is an active member of our club over many years. Ciaran and Larry, Fiona’s brothers, have played for the club at several levels. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

Online registrations for Easter camp 2018 are now closed but a limited number of registrations will take place on the Tuesday morning between 9:30am and 10am.

The AHL4 team are away to Ballyboden St Endas Saturday 7th April at 6pm in the Junior A Hurling Championship while the AHL8 team are away to Erins Isle in the Junior F Hurling Championship. The Adult Camogie Team are playing Na Fianna in their first league outing in the Senior 7 League North on Tuesday evening at 6:45pm in River Valley. All support welcome and appreciated for the Adult Hurling & Camogie teams!

Well done to Rachel Fagan from the Under 16 LGFA team who was named on the Dublin team against Kildare in the Leinster Under 16 Championship on Saturday.

If you would like to be kept up to date with the latest news from St Finians GAA Club, please send your email address to pro.stfiniansswords. dublin@gaa.ie .

RUGBY: LEINSTER CRUSH ENGLISH SIDE SARACENS AT AVIVA

Leinster win over English opposition A thunderous third-quarter surge launched Leinster Rugby into the Champions Cup semi-finals as they knocked out last year’s champions Saracens in a 30-19 victory at Aviva Stadium.

Converted tries from man-ofthe-match Dan Leavy (46 minutes) and James Lowe (57) had Leo Cullen’s men almost out of reach, and although Blair Cowan’s maul tried to give Sarries some hope, Leinster were able to see out a deserved win.

Garry Ringrose’s third-minute try put the province on course for a 13-12 half-time lead, with Saracens making it a one-point game courtesy of three penalties from Owen Farrell and one from halfway by Marcelo Bosch. Johnny Sexton kicked Leinster’s other first-half points.

Sexton, who finished with 13 points, kept up his 100% record with a long-range penalty and the conversions of Leavy’s terrific try, which exhibited James Ryan’s deft hands and the flanker’s pace off the mark, and a poacher’s effort from Lowe – his seventh try in nine starts.

Roared on by the majority of the crowd, Leinster unlocked the visitors’ defence in the opening minutes.

Theywent wide from just outside their 22 as Lowe broke a tackle from Liam Williams and the supporting Isa Nacewa put the foot down to create a two-on-one and send Ringrose in behind the posts.

Sexton converted for a 7-0 lead.

Saracens had a strong response, using their forwards to gain ground and work some space out wide for Sean Maitland. Leinster leaked a penalty close to their line, allowing Farrell to split the posts. He added a second one on the quarter hour mark after Ringrose was whistled up for an infringement on the deck.

Sexton pushed Leinster into double figures with a well-struck 20th-minute penalty, following some ground-gaining carries by Sean Cronin and Leavy, but another period of possession and collision-

“

winning earned a third successful place-kick from Farrell in the 26th minute.

Richard Wigglesworth failed to challenge Sexton, getting away with just a penalty. Leinster took advantage of the territory, winning a maul penalty before Cian Healy got his side of the scrum up and the Leavy-led pressure on Jackson Wray, off the base, resulted in a turnover.

Having got within range of the tryline, a Sarries offside allowed Sexton to make it 13-9.

However, Sexton was penalised for kicking the ball away before the restart and Argentinian centre Bosch stepped up, from halfway, to immediately claw back those three points. Saracens had two late lineout opportunities just before the interval, but Ryan got up well to disrupt and Scott Fardy was first to the loose ball.

Healy was the victim of a high tackle in the second half’s early exchanges, and although a fleetfooted break from Rob Kearney promised more than three points, Sexton was able to slot the 42ndminute penalty from long range to restore the four-point gap – 16-12.

It got even better for the home support a few minutes later when lock Ryan led an attack out of the home 22.

Ringrose threaded an excellent kick to touch, five metres out from Sarries’ whitewash.

The visitors were able to kick clear through Wigglesworth but Leinster struck a couple of phases later, a clever interchange between Leavy and Ryan exploiting space at the side of a ruck as the in-form openside took the return pass, darted through and evaded Maro Itoje’s tackle to dot down under the posts.

Sexton’s conversion nudged the lead out to 23-12, and a bonecrunching tackle by Tadhg Furlong on Mako Vunipola soon led to a Leinster penalty in their own half.

Roared on by a majority of the crowd, Leinster unlocked the visitors’ defence in the opening minutes

”

Leinster found themselves with a 21 point lead over Saracens last weekend.

Picture: Leinster Rugby

Further breaks from talismanic captain Nacewa and Leavy had Saracens scrambling in defence, but they forced a knock-on at the end of 22 breathless phases.

The third try duly arrived just before the hour mark, Ryan again building momentum with a powerful carry and Fergus McFadden and Sexton’s attacking of the blindside had Sarries hanging on close to their line. The pressure told when Lowe came in on a hard line, kept his feet and the drive took him over, the New Zealander doing really well to stretch and ground the ball successfully.

With Sexton receiving treatment, McFadden added the extras, yet Saracens were able to hit back due to the impact of their bench. One of their replacements, back rower Cowan, touched down under a pile of bodies from a well-executed 63rd-minute lineout maul. Farrell converted from wide on the right to reduce the arrears to 11 points.

Rhys Ruddock made a welcome return in blue for the final quarter of an hour – his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury away to Exeter Chiefs in December. Young half-backs Nick McCarthy (23) and Joey Carbery (22) and 21-year-old

Champions Cup debutant Max Deegan also came on to help Leinster hold Sarries at arm’s length.

Mark McCall’s charges made the hosts fight all the way, but the men in blue kept coming up with big moments in defence. Toner’s tackle on Farrell forced a knock-on, Leavy got in to win turnover ball a few minutes later and, with Nacewa continuing to play a key role, Leinster kept their line intact with Sarries guilty of crossing.

Although Toner’s outstretched boot gave away a penalty and a yellow card, 14-man Leinster were able to end the game in possession and in control of field position. Their swarming defence led to another couple of knock-ons from Saracens, one by George Kruis off a close-in maul near the right corner and another after Mako Vunipola had slipped through in midfield.

The home side kicked downfield, pressed again and from a late scrum with Ruddock at lock and Lowe at flanker, they wound down the clock before McCarthy booted the ball dead and the jubilant Leinster fans savoured the prospect of hosting Scarlets in a mouth-watering Celtic clash in three weeks’ time.

5 April 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 37

EA SPORTS LEAGUE CUP: UCD LOSE OUT ON PENALTIES

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Bohemians teach UCD students a lesson EA SPORTS CUP DAVE DONNELLY

sport@dublingazette.com

ST FINIANS SAY THANK YOU St Finians GAA Club extends a big thank you to Hennessy & Perrozzi local Solicitors, Town Centre Mall, Swords who sponsored a new set of jerseys for the Under 8 girls team. The team (pictured) presented a framed jersey to John & Omar from Hennessy & Perrozzi.

THERE was penalty shoot-out drama at Dalymount Park on Monday night as Bohemians overcame UCD in a tense EA Sports Cup second round tie.

Just three of Easter Monday’s eight scheduled fixtures went ahead as heavy rain caused games to be postponed across the country, and this was the only one of four in the capital to go ahead.

St Patrick’s Athletic and Shamrock Rovers saw their ties with Dundalk and Longford Town rained off, while St Mochta’s first round game with Drogheda United was also unplayable.

Bohemians looked set to rue the referee’s decision to proceed as they fell into a 2-0 deficit by half time as the Students put on a display of quick-passing football.

Daire O’Connor was the creative force behind both goals: his pass set up Yoyo Mahdy for the opener, before captain Gary O’Neill curled home a stunning second.

O’Neill’s strike was a thing of beauty, started by O’Connor as he won possession in the middle before fixing a defender to create the angle for the sublime finish.

Bohs were a changed side after the break, however, and they pulled one back early on through former Leeds United striker Eoghan Stokes.

It was the ingenuity and raw pace of 18-year-old Grant that led to the opportunity for Stokes, who had just moved up front in a tactical switch that reaped instant rewards.

They levelled eight minutes from time through JJ Lunney’s penalty after Grant had outstripped sub left-back Darragh Corcoran before being dragged down.

The sides couldn’t be separated by 30 minutes of extra time, and the first three penalties from each side were also on target.

Lunney stepped up again and this time saw his spot-kick saved by UCD keeper Conor Kearns, only for wicked backspin to then see the ball kick back and over the line.

Bohs keeper Colin McCabe was the hero

UCD’s Gary O’Neill and JJ Lunney tussle for the ball. Picture: Peter Fitzpatrick

then as he saved from UCD substitute Paul Doyle, and Stokes stroked home his penalty to send the Gypsies into the quarter-final.

“I was just watching it spinning and spinning and I was hoping he wasn’t going to get up and save it,” the shoot-out hero McCabe told the Dublin Gazette of Lunney’s fortunate finish.

“I thought we could have gone on and got the third in the second half. We made the saves and had gotten the goals.

“I was just hoping, for all our hard work, we didn’t concede one, for all our effort we put in in the second half.”

“Penalty shoot-outs are just a bit of luck here and there. Fortunately, he saved it and it just didn’t stay out, and when I saved it did

stay out. That was the difference in the end.”

UCD manager Collie O’Neill told the Dublin Gazette: “It is a little bit hard to take but we only have ourselves to blame.

“We were excellent in the first half, deserved to be 2-0 up, and had enough chances in the second half to put it to bed.

“Even when they got the one back, we basically broke straight away and Daire was clean through one-on-one.

“It’s a little bit hard to take when you’ve had the chance to go and put it to bed and just got done in the end.

“It comes down to lack of experience.

When Bohs got the first goal back, they panicked a little because it got the crowd up a little bit. It’s something that we’ll learn from.”

38 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 5 April 2018

CLUB NOTES

ROUND

3

Erin Go Bragh

WE would like to wish all our members a very Happy Easter. Our Easter camp took place during the week and we had a fantastic turn our and great fun was had by all, while still learning new GAA skills.

Thanks to all the coaches who gave their time and to Martin Carroll for organising the camp.

The Easter bunny even dropped in to say hello to everybody. Thanks to all who gave up their time and helped at the bag packing in Dunnes on Easter Saturday. Special thanks to Amanda O Donnell for organising this vital fundraiser.

Our main fundraiser for the year (20k drop) is taking place on Saturday 14th April in Westmanstown sports centre at 8pm. Anyone who buys a ticket is in with a chance to be one of the lucky 8 contestants who will have a chance to win €2,500.

Tickets are on sale Monday night in Paddocks from 8 to 9pm, Tuesday evening Ongar Astro 6-8pm and in clubhouse Saturday morning 10 -11am.

Bus available-E5 return from The Paddocks to Westmanstown. Book your seat when buying your tickets.You can also get tickets by calling 087 7545478. Tickets are €20 each are 4 for €60. We still have a few places for any local businesses who would like to advertise on the night.

Advertisers receive large screen advertising on the night of the show and will also be listed on a Directory of Services on our club website which will encourage members to support the businesses.

All advertisers receive two free tickets to the show and an invite to a networking reception pre-show.

Please email Maria.hayes114@gmail.com for further details.

Well done to our adult team who had a great win in their first league match last week against Garristown.

Fingallians It was great week of sport at the Easter camp, the weather was nearly perfect. We had 215 kids taking part at the camp.

Thank you very much to Nicola Fitzgerald and her team of coaches.

Senior Football Championship game one will take place between Fingallians and Round Towers, Clondalkin in Cloghran at 6pm on Saturday 14th April. Game two will see Fingallians take on St Patricks, Palmerstown at 6pm on Saturday 28th April. Details on Game three v Fingal Ravens TBC. Intermediate Hurling Championship will see Fingallians Game one v St Sylvesters at home with throw in at 6pm on Saturday 7th April. Game two v Scoil Ui Chonaill, will be played on away soil at 6pm on Saturday 21st April. Game three v St Vincents, will be thrown in at 7pm on Wednesday 2nd May in Marino. Game four v Erins Isle will take place home at 6.30pm on Saturday 23rd June and game five v St Judes, will be played away at 6pm on Saturday 8th September.

U12 Ball Wall Challenge: Árón Gargan from our U12 boys group had a great win in the O’Tooles annual Good Friday U12 Hurling ball wall challenge and in doing so Fingallians and Árón Gargan become the first club and name to be engraved on the newly commissioned “ Jim Murphy” perpetual trophy.

Race Day will take place on Saturday 7th July at Bellewstown Races. It will be our most important fundraiser in 2018. Further information on tables and sponsorship can be obtained from teresacollins9@gmail.com Adult Irish conversation group: This takes place each Wednesday at 9. Grúpa comhrá na daoine fásta ar siúl gach Céadaoin ag a 9.

Na hUimhreacha Buaiteach Lotó: 1, 9, 21, 23 & 31. We had one winner, Alex Parrett. The jackpot this Tuesday will be € 2,532.

IRELAND U 17’S: IRELAND LEARDERS IN EUROPEAN GROUPS

Blanchardstown youngster aiming for European success  DAVE DONNELLY

sport@dublingazette.com

ONE of the quiet success stories in Irish sport over the past 18 months has been Colin O’Brien’s under-17 men’s international football team.

The Boys in Green breezed to their second successive Euros with an incredible six wins from six in qualifying – the best record in Europe.

Ireland will be seeded when then the draw for the finals – which take place in England next month – is made on Thursday.

And, rare enough for an Irish football team of any stripe, will make the trip across the Irish Sea with a genuine belief they can win the tournament.

Ireland’s only previous tournament wins at underage level are the under-16 and under18 Euros wins that came with Brian Kerr’s golden generation in 1998.

Much of the focus this year has been on the phenomenal form of Cork goalscorer Adam Idah – who scored seven goals in three games in the first round of qualifying.

The star of the elite round in Poland last week was Southampton midfielder Sean Brennan, who scored in the wins over Macedonia and Georgia that guaranteed qualification with a game to spare.

The Blanchardstown teenager has been a full-time member

Sean Brennan in action for the Republic of Ireland U-17’s. Picture: Football Association of Ireland

of the Saints academy – one of England’s most celebrated – since July, having spent much of the past year travelling back and forth.

The 16-year-old is part of a new generation of young Irish footballers who are combining quiet confidence in their ability with the humility and hard work they’re traditionally associated with.

“We’re all very confident and upbeat because we haven’t been beaten in a long time,” Brennan tells the Dublin Gazette following his return to the south coast of England.

“We want to go into the tournament and take it game by game and see how far we can get. We obviously know that we have the potential to win

SUPPORTING ST PATS AFC THE Green Isle Hotel has now joined forces with St Patricks athletic Football Club in Richmond Park, Inchicore.

After announcing the Sponsorship deal Director Ger O’Brien along with St Pats Head Coach Liam Buckley presented a signed team jersey to the hotel’s Sales and Marketing Manager Sharon Moylan.

Located minutes from the N7 & M50 intersection this iconic hotel is known for its large bedrooms, spacious restaurant and locally renown carvery menu. The swimming pool and fully equipped fitness centre gives the team players the ideal breakaway and revitalisation needed during the games. The location is ideal for

the visiting teams with the easy accessibility off the motorway and ample parking for team coach buses.

The iconic Green Isle hotel boasts a long history in the local areas for hosting special occasions, christenings, communions, weddings and anniversaries.

There are special entertainment packages also in the horizon, the new operations and sales department have their sights set on utilising the large event space to entertain and draw new and promising events to the area.

The Green Isle hotel is also delighted to be in partnership with Cherry Orchard and Crumlin Football Club and look forward to working with all the teams.

the tournament.

“If we don’t go into it thinking we’re going to win, what’s the point?”

Brennan is the son of the former Shelbourne midfielder Anto Brennan, and his dad has been a constant source of encouragement for the blossoming creative talent.

“My dad played for Huddersfield for a few years. He’s been very good for me since I started playing.

“He’s kept me grounded and told me what I’ve done well in matches and what I need to improve on.”

Having started out with local side Hartstown Huntstown, he moved to his dad’s old team Belvedere as an eight-year-old and stayed there until making

the move to Southampton at 16.

Brennan chose Southampton because he had a good feeling the moment he walked in the door, and they have a track record for giving chances to young players.

Ireland under-19 international Michael Obafemi was the latest to benefit from that when he made his debut in the Premier League against Tottenham, and Brennan feels the opportunity is there.

“If you’re good enough you play. That’s the way it is here.

You’ll keep going if you’re good enough and that’s an exciting thing to know.

“It’s not hard all you have to do is work hard, keep your head down and play well in games.

5 April 2018 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 39

DUBLIN WIN NATIONAL LEAGUE

Dublin hold off Galway to reclaim league title ALLIANZ LEAGUE FINAL Dublin Galway  JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

0-18 0-14

DUBLIN were crowned Allianz Football League champions for the fifth time in six years on Sunday. A battling performance and the team’s knack of taking control at key moments saw the boys in blue over the line against a tough Galway side.

Galway have looked increasingly impressive this year, and had finished top of the Division One group stage after a much-changed Dublin side were pipped by Monaghan at Croke Park last week.

The Dubs have recently been solid but less inspired, and looked under threat of a second successive loss midway through the second half. A match that had been nip and tuck throughout appeared to swing the Tribesmen’s way due to the dismissal of Niall Scully after 50 minutes.

With Ciaran Kilkenny, Jonny Cooper and Stephen Cluxton restored to the Dublin starting 15, Galway full-forward Damien Comer was nevertheless the stand out in the early stag-

es, a constant threat as he buzzed around the Dublin backline.

It was a scrappy, physical contest, centred heavily around the impact of Galway’s increasingly notable defence, with Kilkenny and Paul Mannion both finding tiny fractions of space in the Galway defence early on to open up a 0-5 to 0-3 lead for the Dubs.

Galway’s stifling aggression started to take hold, however, with Barry McHugh as good as Dean Rock from the set-pieces, they were Dublin captain Stephen Cluxton lifts the Irish National Insurance Cup. Picture: Official Dublin GAA via Facebook. the better side heading into the break, with Dublin a little fortunate to remain sions. building win that led to Cluxton lifting the Then came the character that has helped Jim trophy again than the emphatic victory Dubat 0-8 a piece.

The best chance of the half had fallen to Gavin’s side stand out: come the hour, come the lin fans have become used to. Despite the win, Mannion, with Ruairi Lavelle tipping a fine push. Philly McMahon and Rock were critical there are a few areas of concern around the in taking chances, while Colm Basquel is look- Dublin camp at the moment, not least in the effort over the bar on 23 minutes.

Dublin had edged into a two point lead early ing increasingly like a Championship player, continuing unexplained absence of Diarmuid in the second half, a lead that held until Scul- as he made an impact off the bench, grabbing Connolly, and the side’s propensity for red ly was shown red for two quick consecutive 0-3. Stepping up when it counted, the Dubs cards over the course of the league. bookings. That margin was almost immedi- snatched a succession of points in the closing That said, we’re still a way short of the sharp ately eliminated by Galway as soon as the half- stages, and remained league champions by end, and that the Dubs have come out on top forward trotted from the field. An exchange of 0-18 to 0-14 thanks to that late flurry. Though anyway is a sign of how strong Gavin’s side points ensued as the contest remained tight, the score flattered a touch, the winning margin have become. They’ll take the win, and work though it appeared Dublin were staying in the was obtained entirely whilst down a man. on adding that polish with the championship contest largely thanks to Galway’s free concesAll in, it was more a ground out, character- around the corner.

40 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 5 April 2018