Dublin Gazette: Fingal Edition

DublinGazette MAY 30-JUNE 5, 2019

STYLE: This week has brought us heavy hail

and rain, but you’ll still find plenty of sunny, breezy fashion in this great section SEE PAGE 19

SPORT

SOCCER: River Valley Rangers’ glorious cup form continues into LSL. SEE P32

Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

Fingal Edition FREE

THE LATEST NEWS & SPORT FROM THE FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL AREA

Sweeping ‘Green wave’ shifts balance of power Party more than doubles its seats SYLVIA POWNALL

A GREEN Wave swept over Fingal at the weekend with the Green Party more than doubling its seats on the

council.

They are up from two to five seats, including 20-year-old student Daniel Whooley in Ongar who is one of the youngest councillors in the

country.

Roderic O’Gorman, who topped the poll in Castleknock with an impressive 3,731 votes, told Dublin Gazette: “It will be a slightly different landscape at council meetings now.

“We’re looking forward to getting

more Green policies passed.”

A surge in support for the Greens, combined with a low turnout in working class areas, resulted in heavy losses for Sinn Fein, SolidarityPBP and Independents.

FULL ELECTION REPORT ON PAGES 4-5

2 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 30 May 2019

PICK UP YOUR

DublinGazette FINGAL EDITION

EVERY THURSDAY! at the following locations:

• Westmanstown • Eurospar Dunboyne • Ongar Community Centre • Eurospar Hartstown • Lidl - Blakestown • St Peregrine’s GAA • Mountview Community Centre • Spar - Mulhuddart • Tyrrelstown Community Centre • Blanch Centre • An Draiocht • Blanch Library • Justin’s • SuperValu - Blanch • Centra - Laurel Lodge • Castleknock Community Centre • Fingal County Council • Tesco - Roselawn • Londis - Castleknock • ITB • Blanch Hospital • Hartstown Community Centre • Blakestown Community College • Coolmine Community College • Centra - Estuary Rd • EBS - Swords • Energie Fitness • Eurospar - Applewood • Fingal County Council • River Valley Community Centre • Holywell Community Centre • Kinsealy Garden Centre • Londis- Yellow Walls Rd • Malahide Library • Malahide RFC • Hilltop, Malahide • Swords Central SC • Tesco - Clarehall • Texaco - Portmarnock • Portmarnock Leisure Centre • B&Q - Airside • Tesco - Airside • JC’s Supermarket Swords • SuperValu - Balbriggan • Tesco - Balbriggan • SuperValu - Skerries • DCC Office - Bunratty Road • Tesco - Omni Park • SuperValu Swords • Rivervalley Community Centre, Swords • Tesco Rush • Marks & Spencers - Omni

For further info

www.dublingazette.com

01 60 10 240

COUNCIL PASSES FOUR KEY PLANS FOR SWORDS

Master plans could deliver 18,000 jobs  SYLVIA POWNALL

spownall@dublingazette.com

FO U R m a s te r p l a n s which will bring up to 18,000 jobs and 10,000 new residents to Swords h ave b e e n fo r m a l l y passed by Fingal County Council.

Blueprints for development on lands at Fosterstown, Airside, Estuary West and Barrysparks & Crowscastle will shape the town’s expansion over the next decade.

The plans went on public display earlier this year and hundreds of submissions were lodged by residents and interested parties.

More than 120 submissions were lodged regarding Fosterstown, most warning of urban sprawl and protesting at plans for six-storey apartment blocks and an eight-storey hotel.

Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) congratulated residents of Boroimhe whose submissions resulted in the master plan being amended, with building

The central site (large, enclosed agricultural field) at the heart of the Fosterstown master plan. Picture: Google Earth

heights closest to the estate reduced from a maximum of five storeys to three.

He s a i d ve h i c u l a r access to lands in Boroimhe, which residents had feared would lead to it being used as a rat run and an overflow car park, were not provided in the plan.

Cllr Butler said: “Our concerns were recognised. This is a good win and as good as we could have got and is particularly applicable to Boroimhe Birches, Boroimhe Laurels, Boroimhe Pines

and Boroimhe Willows.

“Fingal County Council states that it is not considered that the development as proposed will unduly impact the surrounding residents.”

Submissions lodged with the council during the public consultation phase had warned that the proposed density of buildings was “way out of kilter” with the surrounding area.

Concerns were raised over the lack of car parking spaces, the lack of open green space and the shortage of amenities,

including sports pitches, local shops and playgrounds.

One objector described it as a “recipe for disaster” while another warned: “Developers are trying to cram people on top of each other. This development will be a social disaster in years to come.”

Ryanair DAC, which owns some of the Fosterstown land, asked for certain constraints to be lifted so it could proceed with building its headquarters.

Planning applications for housing developments of more than 100 residential units can bypass the council and go directly to An Bord Pleanala.

However, Cllr Butler said it was important to have the master plans adopted as a point of reference for the planning board.

He added: “I believe that the modifications that we succeeded in achieving were the best that we could achieve and we can only hope that the Bord adhere to these limits. when they approve any planning applications.”

FASTNews

The retention of the Blue Flag status (above) for the Velvet Strand was just one bit of good news in relation to the county’s carefully protected coastline

Council delight with haul of coastal awards FINGAL County Council has welcomed news that Portmarnock’s famous Velvet Strand has retained the Blue Flag status, which recognises its high level of water quality.

And there was further good news for Portmarnock, along with the Burrow Beach in Sutton, as they were both awarded Green Coast awards.

The Blue Flag is an international award for beach excellence and is operated in Ireland by An Taisce with support from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

Volunteer groups An important aspect of the Green Coast Awards is the involvement of Coastcare Volunteer Groups. Its aim is to acknowledge, promote and protect the environment of rural beaches.

The council’s director of operations, David Storey, urged the public to play its part in keeping Fingal’s coastline clean over the warmer summer months.

He said: “While the council will continue to play its part, I would encourage all beach users to ensure that they remove all their waste and unwanted items as they depart our beaches.

“Litter bins are provided on all our beaches, so there is no excuse for leaving rubbish strewn on beaches.”

30 May 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 3

PEOPLE: CASH AND GLORY FOR LOCAL TEEN AT ARIZONA FAIR

SWORDS

Asteroid to be named after a Skerries whiz kid Adam, 17

Quiz night to help Intercultural festival

SYLVIA POWNALL

SCIENCE whiz Adam Kelly is set to have an asteroid named after him following his runaway success at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

The 17-year-old, who is a student at Skerries Community College, won the top prize in the Systems Software category at the fair in Phoenix, Arizona earlier this month.

Adam, who was named BT Young Scientist of the Year in January, was chosen to represent Ireland at the international event after he came first at the SciFest national final last November.

Along with a $3,000 cash prize and an asteroid named after him, Adam qualifies as one of just 25 students from all over the world attending a weeklong Stockholm international youth science semi-

nar in December, where participants get to attend Nobel events, meet Nobel Laureates and visit top Swedish science and tech companies.

Adam said: “I was very excited to have the opportunity to travel to Phoenix and to present my work to some of the top STEM professionals in the world.

“I really enjoyed meeting young people from all over the world and seeing the different projects that they are working on.

“This was a wonderful opportunity to share ideas and to learn, and I am so thankful to my family, friends, teachers and everyone at SciFest who have supported me.”

The science ace also picked up a $5,000 prize in the ‘Best in category’ section as well as $1,000 for his school.

The recognition comes on the back of Adam’s

work in the area of physics and computing, involving quantum computer software which works “at an unprecedented speed with applications in fields such as astronomy and climatology”.

Some seven million school students across the world develop and present research projects at local science competitions in a bid to make it to the prestigious Intel international convention.

Around 1,700 winners, of local and regional mix, make it to the competition which hands out more than $4 million in awards and scholarships.

SciFest founder Shelia Porter said: “Adam has developed a truly innovative project and we are delighted that he has had the opportunity to bring it to an international audience. We wish him every success for the future.”

You’ll bee impressed by Fingal’s garden at Bloom FINGAL County Council’s Bee Positive garden is bound to turn heads at the annual Bloom Festival in the Phoenix Park this weekend from Thursday, May 30.

The local authority has once again collaborated with the Technological University Dublin’s horticulture department for its entry.

The Fingal Bee Positive Garden is particularly targeted at children to increase their understanding and awareness of the importance of pollinators and help to sustain a diverse range of pollinator insect species for the future.

The garden is designed by Fingal County Council and TU Dublin, with help from garden designer Jane McCorkell.

The space demonstrates how to create and protect habitats for pollinators – including bees and many other insect species – within a usable, outdoor recreation space.

It features a pathway so visitors can walk through the garden and learn more about pollinators. A large honeycomb wall is decked with fun facts, and offers a glimpse of the working beehive on the other side of the screen.

Fingal manages more than 300 acres of species-rich meadows within its parks, including four acres recently planted at Bremore Castle, to increase biodiversity and pollinators and has significantly reduced the use of pesticides.

Adam Kelly, whose work in the area of physics and computing wowed judges at an Intel science fair in Phoenix

A QUIZ night is being held in the Old Borough pub in Swords on Thursday, June 6 at 8pm, to raise funds for the 2020 Swords Intercultural Festival in Swords Castle.

The festival has a very dedicated committee which comprises different nationalities who are working very hard to make the event a reality and a great success.

Swords Tidy Towns chairperson Ken Duffy said: “Our committee have put their full support behind this festival as it fits in very well with our integration policy. The national integration average is 12%; in Fingal it is 18.2%.

“This festival will show off that diversity through its music, food and dance. It is estimated there are more than 40 nationalities residing within the Swords area, and Swords Tidy Towns believe our diversity is worth celebrating.”

The festival committee look forward to seeing you all there and thank you in advance for your support.

4 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 30 May 2019

ANALYSIS

The winners and losers of the 2019 local elections SHANE DILLON

Deputy Group Editor AS THE dust settles, one can only imagine the delight – and despair – writ large in the psyche of the country’s main parties after an election weekend that certainly upset the political apple carts.

‘All politics is local’ is the well-known phrase, but in choosing local representatives, the electorate across the country sent a clear message of discontent to the Government in particular, with other parties also caught off guard by the local election outcomes.

Widely lauded by political scientists and pundits as the ‘winners’ of the elections, nobody seemed more surprised than the Greens themselves at their election successes.

The Green Party’s haul of several seats sees the party edging closer to influence than it’s enjoyed in recent years, with a slew of global environment-related protests and stories also doing the party no harm in the past year.

However, the undoubted ‘losers’ were Sinn Fein, with a significant collapse in support seeing several well-known names and newcomers booted out of office. Party boss Mary Lou McDonald is a skilled old hand, but the party’s losses must be prompting some serious soul-searching over at the Sinn Fein headquarters for the SF chief and colleagues.

At least SF weren’t the only party to lose seats – while Fine Gael came out on top in Dublin, claiming the largest amount of seats across the four local authorities, nationally it was a different story as the electorate turned away.

The national loss of seats could be blamed on many things, with the party’s handling of the housing crisis, in particular, infuriating many across the country.

Meanwhile, embattled Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy’s recent tone-deaf comments on ‘co-living hubs’, the cost overruns on the National Children’s Hospital, the neverending National Broadband saga – these and other topics and individuals hit the party at the polls, providing An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with a crystal-clear message of voter discontent that could prove even more damaging down the road.

Fianna Fail emerged as top dog in the elections – at least, in terms of the most council seats claimed, giving the party plenty to cheer about, although it’s difficult to say how much of that success was down to genuine mass support, as opposed to protest votes.

Still, a win is a win is a win, and the shift in power could set FF up nicely to prove an even bigger thorn in its old arch rival FG’s side in the future.

There were no great surprises in Labour’s haul, which seemed to come in largely as expected, arguably drawing on the power and popularity of local Labour figures rather than a more compelling message from the party itself, while the Solidarity People Before Profit haul of seats may well have suffered from the relatively low voter turnout on the day.

However, last but very definitely not least, the Independents/ Others came in yet again as a force to be reckoned with, with their third-place haul of seats underscoring the ‘all politics is local’ power of local elections, and the power such representatives wield.

Whenever the next general election rolls around, it’ll be interesting to see if the voters again turn on the main parties, or if the political pendulum swings back anew...

CHANGING POLITICAL TIDES SWEEP FAMILIAR FACES

Elections caught several parties off guard with some surprise changes Electorate’s displeasure sees a changing of the status quo SYLVIA POWNALL

THINGS are looking a lot greener in Fingal than they did a week ago as the Green Party more than doubled its quota of council seats in Friday’s elections.

The party now holds five seats, with three gains by Joe O’Brien in Balbriggan, Ian Carey in Swords and Daniel Whooley in Ongar.

Castleknock candidate Cllr Roderic O’Gorman (GP) was the third-highest poll topper in the country, with a whopping 3,731 firstpreference votes.

The 35-year-old law lecturer told Dublin Gazette: “I’m out canvassing all the time and from about nine months ago people started bringing up plastic and the environment.

“Then, after Christmas, they started bringing up climate change. That reached a crescendo over the past two weeks.

“I think there was also recognition for me as I’m doing this for 15 years and this is my ninth election.

But I was really shocked with the final tally – I never expected that.”

Fingal’s mix of urban and rural areas and an 8% cent increase in population to 296,020 people resulted

in significant boundary changes, with the number of Local Electoral Areas increasing from five to seven.

The dismal 42.3% turnout saw the Greens make the biggest gains, followed by the Social Democrats and Fine Gael. Sinn Fein, Independents and Solidarity-PBP suffered the worst defeats.

Party trend Sinn Fein’s Paul Donnelly bucked the party trend by topping the poll in Ongar, and Breda Hanaphy gained a seat in Blanchardstown, with Natalie Treacy clinching the final seat in Castleknock and Ann Graves scraping in in Swords by a margin of just two votes.

But Cllr Malachy Quinn lost his Sinn Fein seat in Balbriggan, as did Daire Ni Laoi in Howth-Malahide.

Cllr Donnelly told Dublin Gazette: “It was a very low turnout, which hurt us. A job of work needs to be done by all of us to ask why people are so disconnected from their local authority and the electoral system.

“Part of the problem is that local authorities have stripped the respon-

sibilities and powers that councillors have. That renders us in people’s eyes as pretty much useless.

“We can’t even look at a live planning application like we used to at an area meeting. People see that there’s very little we can do – that is something we will have to address.”

In Balbriggan, where sitting Cllr Tony Murphy (Ind) topped the poll and Green candidate Joe O’Brien came in second, it was obvious from the first count that Malachy Quinn would struggle to retain his seat.

He posted online after his elimination, stating: “I am proud to have served as a Sinn Fein councillor and played my part in the Our Balbriggan strategy ... I am very worried about the make-up of the new council as it does not reflect the interests of the ordinary people of Fingal enough.”

Solidary-People Before Profit also suffered losses, with Matt Waine and Sandra Kavanagh both losing their seats in Dublin 15, and Eugene Coppinger defeated in Swords.

The party now holds just one seat in Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart where newcomer John Burtchaell

was elected.

Mr Waine posted: “It is a very disappointing and sad day for me personally, but the struggle continues.

We lost out for a number of reasons; the low turnout in working class areas, which amplified the socalled Green Wave, and the boundary changes.

“I do not feel bitter; elections are never easy terrains for Socialists and revolutionaries.”

Fianna Fail’s Eoghan O’Brien, a brother of TD Darragh O’Brien, topped the poll by a considerable margin in Howth-Malahide, where there were no changes with the exception of Daire Ni Laoi (SF) losing out to Fine Gael’s Aoibheann Tormey.

New ward In the new ward of RushLusk, Rush Cllr Robert O’Donoghue topped the poll with 1,982 votes and was elected on the first count. Labour’s Corina Johnston narrowly missed out as the other four seats were filled by sitting councillors.

In Swords, Darragh Butler (FF) topped the poll with his running mate Brigid Manton also elected along with two other new

faces – Ian Carey (GP) and Dean Mulligan (I4C).

Cllr Butler said: “I could never have dreamed of achieving 2,298 first-preference votes (18.9%), topping the poll and almost 1,000 votes ahead of second placed.

“Out of the 40 Fingal councillors over the seven electoral areas, there will be 14 first-time councillors.

“Now it is back to work.”

In Swords, Anne Devitt and Justin Sinnott did not stand for re-election, while Fine Gael’s Emer Currie took the seat vacated by retiring Cllr Eithne Loftus in Castleknock.

Fingal’s first Indianborn councillor, Punam Rane, was elected for Fine Gael in An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s Dublin West constituency.

The 49-year-old technology company owner and former investment banker from Mumbai won her seat in BlanchardstownMulhuddart, bringing the party’s seat total to seven, up from six.

Labour’s Mary McCamley, who topped the poll in the five-seater Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart LEA, said she was “delighted and honoured to be chosen by the people again to rep-

30 May 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 5

AWAY, WITH A NEW WAVE OF COUNCILLORS ELECTED

ELECTIONS

An unsurprising ‘Yes’ to changing divorce law Emer Currie (FG) gets congratulated by supporters as she is elected in the Castleknock ward

A moment of quiet thanks for Daniel Whooley, who was elected for the Greens in Ongar ward

Outgoing Mayor of Fingal Anthony Lavin (FG), who was re-elected for the Howth-Malahide ward

Balbriggan ward’s Joe O’Brien gets a congratulatory hug from fellow GP Roderic O’Gorman (Castleknock ward), who was the third-highest poll topper in the country

Deputy Darragh O’Brien (centre) congratulates fellow FF figures Darragh Butler and Brigid Manton on both being elected in the Swords ward

resent them”.

She told Dublin Gazette: “This is a very diverse area both in population and geography and

and as small as they like.

“Developments over 100 units have been taken out of the hands of local authorities and put into

with very different needs and concerns.

“We certainly need more houses, but we don’t need them at any price. We

need to build communities and not just transitory housing – developers are now allowed to build as high as they like, it seems,

the hands of An Bord Planala – local democracy is being savaged. First it was the waste, then the water, now planning.”

Meet your new local councillors, as chosen by you BALBRIGGAN (5 seats available) • Tony Murphy (Ind, 1st count) • Joe O’Brien (GP, 7th count) • Seana O Rodaigh (Lab, 9th count) • Tom O’Leary (FG, 9th count) • Grainne Maguire (Ind, 9th count) BLANCHARDSTOWN-MULHUDDART (5 seats available) • Mary McCamley (Lab, 1st count)

• Breda Hanaphy (SF, 7th count) • Punam Rane (FG, 8th count) • John Burtchaell (Sol-PBP, 8th count) • Freddie Cooper (FF, 8th count) CASTLEKNOCK (6 seats available) • Roderic O’Gorman (GP, 1st count) • Emer Currie (FG, 1st count) • Ted Leddy (FG, 3rd count) • John Walsh (Lab, 3rd count)

• Howard Mahony (FF, 6th count) • Natalie Treacy (SF, 8th count) HOWTH-MALAHIDE (7 seats available) • Eoghan O’Brien (FF, 1st count) • David Healy (GP, 1st count) • Cian O’Callaghan (SD, 1st count) • Brian McDonagh (Lab, 1st count) • Jimmy Guerin (Ind, 2nd count) • Aoibheann Tormey (FG, 3rd count) • Anthony Lavin (FG, 4th count)

ONGAR (5 seats available) • Paul Donnelly (SF, 1st count) • Tania Doyle (Ind, 5th count) • Tom Kitt (FF, 9th count) • Kieran Dennison (FG, 9th count) • Daniel Whooley (GP, 9th count) RUSH-LUSK (5 seats available) • Robert O’Donoghue (Lab, 1st count) • Adrian Henchy (FF, 10th count)

• Brian Dennehy (FF, 10th count) • Cathal Boland (Ind, 10th count) • Paul Mulville (SD, 10th count) SWORDS (7 seats available) • Darragh Butler (FF, 1st count) • Dean Mulligan (I4C, 8th count) • Ian Carey (GP, 8th count) • Duncan Smith (Lab, 11th count) • Joe Newman (Ind, 13th count) • Brigid Manton (FF, 14th count) • Ann Graves (SF, 14th count)

SHANE DILLON

WHILE political bloody noses were dished out at the polls, at least the Government had one certainty in the bag – overwhelming support from the electorate to change references to divorce in the Constitution.

Faced with removing Article 41.3.2 (i) in Bunreacht na hEireann – in effect, reducing the waiting time for a divorce to two years, instead of four – voters approved the change with a landslide vote.

Coming in at more than 8 to 2 in favour of the change (1,304,949 in favour of the

change, or 82.1%, with 284,735 against, or 17.9%), the vote paves the way for legislation to make the required amendment.

With divorce once one of the country’s biggest controversial topics that bitterly divided people, the public vote on divorce came and went with hardly a whimper in public and political discourse.

The public’s expected backing, although all but guaranteed, must have come as a welcome bit of news for the Government, with the voters’ approval again endorsing the country’s move to a progressive culture.

Our new MEPs all face a particularly hard job SHANE DILLON

THE electorate will be wishing our new MEPs lots of luck – they’ll certainly need it, with what was once widely regarded as “an easy gig in Europe” now anything but.

Working with the rest of the continent’s MEPs in Brussels has always been important, but Ireland’s need for strong representation and sympathetic ears has never been so needed.

While Europe is facing the rising dangers of toxic populism and ultranationalism, Irish interests are firmly focused on the Brexit menace, which remains a matter of grave

import for the island.

Still, the electorate’s choice of Dublin MEPs are a perfectly capable lot, as were their predecessors.

Former Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald was always a likely shoo-in – though by less of a margin than FG may have liked, while Ciaran Cuffe is riding ‘the Green wave’ all the way to Brussels, as was widely expected.

Clare Daly (I4C) narrowly defeated Barry Andrews (FF) in a fiercely contested battle for Dublin’s third MEP seat.

Andrews will be Dublin’s fourth MEP; however, this seat will only be triggered when Brexit takes effect – if at all ...

6 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 30 May 2019

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Myriam Ait El Hadj

Callum Gillick

Sharon and Caoimhe Murray with Anna Kadzik-Bartoszewska. Pictures: ALISON O’HANLON

Zuhair Alam

PJ Hickey

Coco, Tim and Camelia Ford

Ava Gilmartin and Paula McDermott (teacher)

Students showcase beautiful artwork M

ALAHIDE Portmarnock Educate Together in conjunction with The Gaiety School of Acting, presented their Fashion the Identity project last week. Students worked with drama tutors to engage and connect with their own identities and to channel this into installations.

Danni Caines and Paul Roe, CEO Educate Together

Sinead O’Donnell and Maura Cassidy DAA

30 May 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 7 COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Alfresco alm Leaf P y le 0 h s  Laura ACollections from €7.5 Dining ugh Pack eno are & h s food to s r supplie keep you in g n ri to s fresh by rs and containe ags cooler b

 Next O

utdoor Recycle d Rug €72-€1 72

 Mounta

Wareho in use Moon O utdoor Chair € 69.99 Membe rs Price €34.99 ntain

 Mouse Plastic

ain unt e x2 o  Mehous nt e r Wa rson t bers m e p Me .99 99 9 .

2 9 €5 rice € P

hou €5.99 9 Ware Glass .9 e n i W ce €2 rs Pri e b m Me

Be pr e for w pared hatev the w er e & don ather bri n ’t witho leave ho gs me ut lig htwe cloth igh ing sun p , raingea t r, rotec ti a hat on &

 Mountain Warehouse Kit Neale Collection Shirt €49.99 Members Price €24.99; Bag €59.99 Members Price €29.99

l

tai st De xt Ru €36 e N  m Bag Bu

Monochrome Cushion €35

Happy Camping at Westend Shopping Park Picnic Blanket €12.99

 Homesense Outdoor

k Loo Dye ew d Tie N  loure €7.99 o Hat ltic Mu ucket B

your sure e ot k a M to sp easy e s i n t o n g te oosin rs by ch old colou b a s t with ight prin & br

 Argos Global

WHETHER YOU are planning a family camping trip or heading off for a weekend of festival fun with friends, you’ll find all the essentials for your outdoor adventure at Westend Shopping Park!

Get 10% off your entire purchase at Mountain Warehouse when you present a valid festival ticket in-store!

Keep up to date with the latest in fashion, home & lifestyle and log onto westend.ie or follow us at fb.com/westendshoppingpark

8 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 30 May 2019

ENTERPRISE: CONCERN OVER COSTS

FASTNews

Diverse range of Irish businesses busy gearing up for BizExpo 2019 BIZ Expo 2019 on Thursday, June 6 at Citywest Convention Centre is the b2b networking event where every business owner should be.

Designed as a one-stop-shop for business solutions, you can find a wide range of products and services to take your business to the next level.

With free workshops and speakers offering great advice, there are 140 exhibiting businesses ready to help you overcome any obstacle such as compliance, cyber-security, funding, Brexit, outsourcing, digital marketing, web-design, staff-retention and a whole lot more.

Meeting to look at impact of new airport charges SYLVIA POWNALL

It is free to attend and there are very affordable packages for exhibitors.

There will be more than 1,000 attendees, the majority of whom are business owners. Get a free ticket or find out more on www.BizExpo.ie.

Sponsors include Cisco Ireland, Printroom, HR Locker, IE Domain Registry, Directorwealth, Radio Nova, BCS Recruitment, Whatswhat.ie and Dublin Gazette.

FINGAL Dublin Chamber will host a breakfast briefing this Thursday, May 30 to discuss the impact of the proposed reduced charges at Dublin Airport.

Dublin Airport Authority has criticised the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) proposal to cut airport charges, claiming it puts its future development at risk.

CAR wants passenger charges levied on airlines by the DAA to be reduced to €7.50 per person by 2024 – a drop of 15% from the €8.81 maximum levied this year.

Fingal Chamber is warning that this could have a drastic effect on the local economy and could put thousands of jobs at risk.

The organisation is inviting businesses to attend a briefing from Dublin Airport head of planning and regulation, Simon Fagan, at the Dublin Airport Carlton Hotel.

A Chamber spokesperson said: “Dublin Airport is the international gateway to the island of Ireland.

“More than 31.5 million passengers travelled through the airport last year and with 23 new routes, passenger traffic is expected to grow further.

“To cope with this expected and future

development of Dublin Airport in doubt.”

CAR argues that the proposed reduction in airline charges is in the best interest of passengers to ensure value for money, which will result in lower

The issue of whether or not to reduce airport charges – and any subsequent knock-on impact on development – will be the subject of the breakfast briefing

growth, Dublin Airport has presented a €1.8 billion investment programme to enable it to grow to 40 million passengers.

“The proposal includes no increase in passenger charges for five years, the duration of this regulatory period. CAR’s proposal to reduce airport charges by 22% puts this entire programme and the future

fares and lead to growth at the airport.

However, DAA says it will jeopardise planned investments in new facilities including fast-track services and upgraded boarding areas which are needed to cope with growing demand.

Consultation on the proposed charge reduction continues until July 8.

BleeperBike scheme is extended out to coast A POPULAR public bike sharing scheme in Fingal has been extended to Swords, Malahide and Howth. The system allows cyclists to use Smart bicycles with inbuilt GPS technology via the BleeperBike app.

Registered users can find their nearest BleeperBike, scan the QR code on the bike to unlock it and it is ready for use – removing the need to develop and construct expensive docking stations.

Once cyclists arrive at their destination, they can park at any cycle parking stand near their destination and lock it manually.

Outgoing Mayor Cllr Anthony Lavin (FG) launched the extension of the

scheme after its successful pilot in Blanchardstown last year.

The local authority’s director of operations, David Storey, said: “Since we launched it in Blanchardstown last year, it has proved very successful and popular.

“We are looking forward to continuing our work with the operators, BleeperBike, to ensure the continued success of the scheme. Fingal County Council is committed to implementing sustainable schemes that provides for safe cycling across Fingal.”

For further information on how the scheme operates, see www.bleeperbike.com.

SHORTS

Appeal to help find a missing man GARDAI are appealing to the public for assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 55-year-old Gerard Taylor, who is missing from his home in Sandyford since May 25.

He was last seen when he left his home in Sandyford at approximately 9am on Saturday morning. He is described as 6ft in height, medium build with grey hair and blue eyes. When last seen he was wearing a navy blue jacket with a hood, green trousers and a navy blue cap.

Any information on Mr Taylor’s whereabouts should be reported to Dundrum Garda Station at 01 666 5600, or via the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111.

Community award funds available DUBLIN Bus employees have launched this year’s Dublin Bus Community Spirit Awards, aimed at rewarding the work done by community groups across the city.

Dublin Bus employees came out in force to share how they volunteer in their own local areas, while encouraging local voluntary and community groups across Dublin to apply for the awards.

Any voluntary and community group based in an area served by Dublin Bus is eligible to apply for a grant of €1,000, €2,000 or €5,000 as part of the Dublin Bus Community Spirit Awards (CSAs).

Last year, the CSAs helped local sports clubs to buy defibrillators, asylum seekers living in Direct Provision to establish cooking groups, and more.

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

30 May 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 9

10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 30 May 2019

HELPED MOVE €3.4M COCAINE HAUL

FUNDING

Nine-year jail term for man’s drug role

€174k boost for coastline COASTAL communities in Fingal are set to benefit from €174,000 investment in ten local projects.

The grants are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union under Ireland’s European Maritime & Fisheries Fund Operational Programme for the seafood sector, and are awarded

by Ireland’s seven Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAG).

Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) welcomed news of the investment, adding: “Our local FLAG group is providing a wonderful source of investment for seafood and marine projects in our coastal communities.

“More than 800 projects in seven coastal regions have benefitted from EMFF funding since the present FLAG scheme was launched in 2017.”

Hospice heroes Bridie and John thanked for support TIRELESS volunteers John Hayes and Bridie O’Neill have been honoured for their work in raising funds for St Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown. They were named Hospice Heroes ahead of the national Sunflower Day for their many years of fundraising on behalf of the west Dublin charity, and were presented with plaques for their efforts.

Following a personal experience with St Francis Hospice, John (inset) began working as a volunteer four years ago in various roles, including centre co-ordinator for the annual Hospice Sunflower Days collection in the Blanchardstown area and beyond.

Bridie, from Clonsilla, became involved with fundraising for the hospice in 2004 following the sad death of her beloved husband, Ray, who received fantastic support from the home care team at St Francis Hospice. Bridie plays a key role in supporting the fundraising team during the annual Sunflower collection. Bridie (second left) is pictured with Karen O’Hara, St Francis Hospice; Mary Kennedy, Hospice Sunflower Days Ambassador and RTE broadcaster, and Margaret Atkinson, St Francis Hospice. Picture: Bryan Brophy

A DUBLIN 15 man who admitted his involvement in transporting more than €3.4 million worth of cocaine has been jailed for nine years.

Wayne Duffy (46), of Deerhaven Close, Clonee admitted possessing cocaine for sale or supply at B&Q car park, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre on December 6, 2018.

Darren Coughlan (46), of Piercetown, Dunboyne, Co Meath pleaded guilty to the same offence and was handed a six-year sentence.

Bernadus Jozef Scherrenberg, with an address in Zoetermeer, Holland, was sentenced earlier this year to seven years imprisonment for the same offence.

Judge Patricia Ryan told the Circuit Criminal Court that this was a planned

and premeditated operation. She noted the value of the drugs and Duffy’s previous convictions for drug offences.

At a previous sentence hearing, Garda Eoghan Byrne said gardai got a tipoff about a large quantity of controlled drugs and a Peugeot car.

A covert surveillance operation was set up around Duffy’s home in Clonee on the day, and gardai followed as Duffy drove the Peugeot to a house in Ratoath and picked up Coughlan.

The pair were then followed to the carpark of B&Q at the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre where they met up with Scherrenberg, who had arrived in a jeep.

Scherrenberg used a B&Q trolley to transport

five large plastic tubs from the jeep to the back of the Peugeot. Duffy helped him load the tubs into the back of the car where Coughlan was sitting.

The three men were then arrested, although Scherrenberg attempted to flee and threw his mobile phone away before being caught by gardai. Two additional tubs were discovered in the jeep.

The court heard that each tub was filled with a sand-like substance that concealed blocks of cocaine. The total amount of cocaine weighed 49kg and had a street value of €3,435,000.

The court heard that Duffy, who has 11 previous convictions including three for drugs, had “expressed fear of certain individuals” in relation to a debt.

30 May 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 11

FASTNews

Human rights game leads to Trocaire win STUDENTS from Loreto Secondary School in Balbriggan were voted overall winners at the 2019 Trocaire Game Changers competition earlier this month.

Young people from across Ireland were trying out the games of fellow finalists at the event, exploring issues such as human rights, the hazardous journeys of refugees and the challenges of delivering aid to countries affected by poverty. The first ever Trocaire Game Changers, a competition for young people who want to change the world and believe games are a way to do this, attracted more than 80 entries.

Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan were winners in the Post-Primary category as well as overall winners of the Game Changers event by popular vote with their game, The Hunt for Human Rights.

Pictured are Eve Mathews, Molly Egan, Jaia Kavanagh, Laura Masterson, Ellen Kearney, Lucy Edgeworth and Willemijn Bosscheart with teacher Paula Grace as they receive their award from Trocaire chief executive Caoimhe de Barra.

€33k sports OPW called funding for to ‘rewild’ three clubs Phoenix Park THREE sports clubs in Fingal are set to benefit from €32,949 in funding from the latest round of Sports Capital Equipment Grants.

Minister Shane Ross has approved €22,454 for Skerries Rowing Club, €6,595 for Rush Athletic Club and €3,000 for Balbriggan Cricket Club.

The grants are for clubs who applied under the 2018 Sports Capital Programme for equipment only, with no other proposed developments in their application.

A further 1,500 nonequipment only applications from across the country are still being processed by the Department of Sport and will be allocated in September.

Welcoming the news, Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) said: “We know how important sport is to all communities here. My focus is on the applications currently being assessed in the Department, including many clubs seeking major capital works such as pitches, dressing rooms and flood lights.”

GREEN Party Cllr Roderic O’Gorman has called on the Office of Public Works (OPW) to ‘rewild’ the Phoenix Park.

He urged the OPW to revise the visitor experience strategy review for the park and to return the focus to an urban centre for nature rather than large-scale redevelopment for tourism.

The review is open to public consultation until May 31 and Cllr O’Gorman has called on locals, visitors and interested parties to make submissions to the process in support of a moratorium on new development and a refocus on supporting nature and wildlife in the park area.

He said: “The idea of rewilding and a return to nature will require collaboration among multiple organisations, each doing their part to achieve the end goal of a thriving Phoenix Park.

“We’re at a juncture where the decisions we make now will impact many generations of Dubliners to come.”

EDUCATION: TRANSITION YEAR GRADUATES ON INNOVATIVE COURSE

Fingal students lauded for football, school focus THE country’s only football and fitness course for Transition Year students held its graduation ceremony recently in the company of FAI president, Donal Conway, and exinternational and current Ireland U18 Head Coach, Andy Reid.

The special guests joined 22 TY students, along with their parents and family members, for a certificate presentation ceremony ay in front of an audience that included their parents and family members at Fingal County Council’s (FCC) civic offices in Blanchardstown.

Speaking at the event, Margaret Geraghty, director of service, FCC, congratulated the students who and added: “Within the council we have a can-do attitude, and this is another great initiative by our Sports Office.

“We are aware that young people within our community have sporting ambitions and this programme gave the students an excellent opportunity to develop and enhance their sporting

The Transition Year students with their certificates after completing the innovative football and fitness course – the only one of its kind in the country

skills while staying within the education system, and also giving something back to their local communities through the work experience module of the course.

“It ticks many boxes for us as an organisation, which is focused on the development of communities within Fingal.”

The ground-breaking course has been running for three years and is a partnership between FCC and the FAI, with support from Empower, Blanchardstown.

The course provides the young students with the opportunity to meet their educational requirements while developing a whole range of football skills, and also gaining a full ITEC Fitness Instructor’s qualification from Litton Lane Training.

The football-centred education initiative was run in Corduff Sports Centre over the course of the 2018-19 academic year, with all students getting permission from their respective schools to attend on a daily basis,

with the course recording an average attendance rate of 93% throughout the school year.

Also congratulating the students was FAI chief Donal Conway, who encouraged the students to continue to pursue their education while playing football.

He commended the tutors and those involved in delivering the course, which allows participants continue with their education while gaining skills they can put to use both on and off the field

and which will be important to them in the future.

In his address, former Republic of Ireland senior international player, Andy Reid spoke about his footballing career and the unique opportunity that the students had been given.

He encouraged them to follow their dreams, and said that the skills they had gained would stand to them in all walks of life, including whatever sport or sporting role they may decide to pursue in the future.

Reporting parking misuse is as easy as texting A NEW text service allowing citizens to report misuse of parking in disabled bays has been launched in Malahide.

The text service will be operated by Fingal Parking Services on behalf of Fingal County Council with the support of Malahide Retail Forum and the local Chamber of Commerce.

A council spokesperson said: “Disabled parking bays are provided for members of

the public who require them due to restrictive disabilities and should never be misused.

“A valid disabled parking badge must be displayed clearly at all times when parking in a disabled bay.”

Each disabled bay will be numbered to identify their location, along with a contact number to report misuse which will be sent straight to the enforcement team.

The service will be expanded in Malahide within weeks and introduced to other Fingal towns and villages on a phased basis.

Pictured are the outgoing Mayor of Fingal Anthony Lavin demonstrating the new text reporting service with Caroline Power, Administrative Officer, Fingal County Council, and several other interested parties.

Picture: SON Photographic

12 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 30 May 2019

30 May 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 30 May 2019 COMMERCIAL FEATURE

All the ladies at Celtic Careers

Celtic Careers celebrates 20 years in business CELTIC CAREERS, a recruitment company in Citywest set up by Kildare woman, Deirdre Moore is proudly celebrating 20 years in business this year. The company pulled out all the stops at a big celebration at the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel last Thursday May 23rd to thank their clients for two decades of support. The celebratory event featured guests including Father Ted actor and comedian Joe Rooney as well as expert Psychologist Dr. Brenda O’ Connell of Maynooth University who gave an empowering talk on positive psychology.

In 1999, the company was established by Managing Director Deirdre Moore as a result of what she saw as a gap in the market and a disparity between what was sought from an agency and the services being provided. Without any candidates, clients or equally experience, Deirdre set out to establish what she believes is an agency that does things differently.

Deirdre is responsible for the toplevel management of a company whose core goal is to provide a professional and client-centric service to both candidates and clients. “Our business was created to provide the type of service we would like to receive.” Deirdre’s lead-

“

ership skills have led to Celtic Careers’ resilience and consistency of exceptional service.

The company specialises in five areas of recruitment including Sales & Marketing, Accountancy & Finance, Office Support & Operations, Light Industrial and Executive Search. Celtic Careers offers employment prospects for those seeking full time, part time or temporary work.

With its expert staff, Celtic Careers has a combined recruitment experience of over 90 years. The company prides itself on its’ friendly and personal service.

love and it is all thanks to Celtic Careers.

Gemma is an asset to the company and could not have been more welcoming to me when interviewing me to put my C.V forward for this position. She rang me on the morning of my interview also which really put my nerves at ease.

I have to mention Sandra as well who rang me on a Friday evening after she had finished work to give the news I had been waiting for, that I had been successful and got the job!

Thank you for the card you sent wishing me luck in the job and thank you Celtic Careers and Gemma for the lovely Christmas gift you gave us!”

The company are proud supporters of local charities, including FOCUS Ireland, Barretstown and GOAL. Celtic Careers is a member of the South Dublin Chamber, The National Recruitment Federation and Guaranteed Irish and were also this year proudly accredited by the All Ireland Business Foundation.

With its expert staff, Celtic Careers has a combined recruitment experience of over 90 years.

The company prides itself on its’ friendly and personal service.

“We provide a professional, honest and customer-driven service to both candidates and clients. We interview 100% of candidates and only send the best talent to our clients.” Celtic Careers has worked with over 3000 clients and have placed people in over 30,000 jobs.

The company are also proud to boast over 70 5-star Google reviews. “I’m 5 months into my job that I absolutely

If you are looking for a job or looking to fill a role, contact Celtic Careers on 01 627 8750 or email info@celticcareers.com



30 May 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

STYLE:

MUSICAL FARE FROM HAM SANDWICH P18

EMBARCING BRIT-POP:

FOOD: Morelands Grill is tucked away in the Westin Hotel –

MAGAZINE and you’ll certainly want to tuck away whatever you choose at this urban eatery and steakhouse SEE PAGE 21

DUBLIN



GRILL IS SO ... MOREISH

Colour is always in vogue and never goes out of season, but only a few brands revel in all the colours of the rainbow – and hue better than Benetton to bring out a blaze of colourful clothes?

This season, United Colours of Benetton have a range of modern Brit-Pop-inspired clothes that even our Irish ‘Summer’ can’t hold back, with lots of fun, funky pieces to give your outfit a real lift.

PAGE 19

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

AN EXOTIC CREATURE RENOWNED naturalist Adrian Shine stopped to admire this exotic creature when he called to the National Museum of Ireland recently as part of a trip down to Dublin to highlight the natural beauty of Carlingford Lough and the Mourne Mountains.

Taking in some of the natural wonders at the Dublin landmark, he also discussed the beauty of heading north to further explore Ireland’s striking landscape and ancient history.

He was also highlighting a new ferry service, Carlingford Lough Ferry, which has opened up a direct new transport route across Carlingford Lough, further opening up access to northern nature, beauty and heritage.

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 30 May 2019

30 May 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

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

SOME OF THE RANDOM AND QUIRKY THINGS THAT CAUGHT OUR EYE THIS WEEK...

Pokemon Go Grandpa

A 70-YEAR-OLD grandfather from Taiwan has gone viral thanks to his Pokemon GO playing prowess.

Chen San-yuan last year mounted 11 smartphones to a bike to play the cult game in an effort to catch all the Pokemon possible.

Now, the super fan has ‘mega evolved’ to attach a further 11 smartphones to his Pokemon rig, bringing him up to 22 smartphones all dedicated to playing the game. He also carries a bag of batteries, allowing him spend up to 20 hours straight playing Pokemon GO. San-yuan says the game helps him to meet other people,

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

Talking Trump-on-toilet

Deputy Group Editor: Shane Dillon sdillon@dublingazette.com Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile jmaile@dublingazette.com Picture Editor: Aisling Conway aconway@dublingazette.com Travel Editor: Sylvia Pownall spownall@dublingazette.com Advertising Sales:

01 - 6010240

Walking back to 1845: This deliberately bedraggled, footsore group of walkers are pictured doing their bit to help bring the past back to life as part of the launch of the National Famine Way – a new 165km national heritage trail that will wind through Dublin on May 30. See www.nationalfamineway.ie. Photo: Nick Bradshaw

sales@dublingazette.com

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

Rocky is a fantastic two-year-old male crossbreed who is looking for his special someone.

He is a really playful dog who loves playing with all of his toys, but he is also pretty chilled out too.

Rocky loves to spend time in his cosy bed and is the happiest little boy when getting belly rubs, kisses and cuddles from his favourite people. Rocky is looking for a family who will have the time to invest in him and help him with his anxiety - but don’t worry, our experienced Training and Behaviour Advisors will be more than happy to support his future family with this.

If you have room in your heart and home for Rocky then please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website www.dogstrust.ie.

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

FIND US ON

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

BITS & BOBS

rocky

DOG OF THE WEEK

A 16ft talking robot of Donald Trump sitting on a gold toilet is on it’s way to the UK ahead of the US presidents visit to the country next week.

American Don Lessem paid $25,000 to make the robot, which spouts phrases often used by the president including “I’m a very stable genius”. The giant robot will also fart.

Lessem, 67, from Philadelphia, worked with a factory in China which builds mechanical dinosaur models to sell to zoos and museums to create the Trump-bot.

Lassem said: “I can’t stand the guy. I decided something funny, as offensive as possible, would work.

“I thought that, well, if they can make a 60ft dinosaur, they can make a 16ft high Trump on a toilet because that is where he spends most of his day and that’s where all of his best ideas come from.”

It’s not known if the robot will make an

appearance in Ireland when Trump visits next Wednesday, but let’s hope it has a trump-ing good time in England.

Composting humans legalised WASHINGTON has become the first US state to legalise human composting in a bit to cut down on carbon emissions from cremations and burials.

Under the new law that will go into effect in May of next year, people who die in Washington will have the option to have their bodies transformed into soil suitable for use in gardening in a process called recomposition.

The approach usually calls for a dead person to be placed in a hexagonal steel

container filled with wood chips, alfalfa and straw.

The container is then shut, and the body is decomposed by microbes within 30 days. The end product is a dry, fluffy nutrient-rich soil resembling what one would buy at a local nursery and suitable for vegetable gardens.

According to statistics, more than one in two Americans opt for cremation. In Washington state, nearly 75% of people choose that option.

and believes it helps to combat Alzheimer’s disease.

A Taoist priest by day, Chen San-yuan is now a local celebrity when he roams the streets of Taiwan playing the smartphone-based game. Known lovingly as Uncle Pokemon now, he started playing in September 2016 when his son gave him a smartphone as a present, with his obsession growing since.

Uncle Pokemon estimates that between maintenance on the bike and on the phones, he spends about 35,000 yen per month on playing Pokemon Go – which works out at around €285 – in an effort to catch ‘em all!

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 30 May 2019

MUSIC

Ham Sandwich

Wild Youth

Mellowing Into Form Ham Sandwich

 JAMES HENDICOTT

NOW long-established as one of the most desirable suites amongst the Irish indie scene’s popular furnishings, Kells band Ham Sandwich have started taking life at a different pace.

With their boisterous live reputation established and a firm fanbase in tow, there’s no particular need for Niamh Farrell and her band to keep on churning out the tracks.

Instead, they’re taking time to explore other interests, hopping in and out of their lives as musicians as the mood strikes them.

There are songs being structured, gigs being planned and touchpapers being lit. It’s all just a little more casual, a little more confident than before.

“We’ve just taken a step back, taken a chance to enjoy other sides of our lives for a while,” Farrell

explains.

“We’re still writing stuff in the background, and working towards releasing an album. We’re not putting too much pressure on ourselves, but we’re keeping the Ham Sandwich train going.

“The people who generally come to our shows, it’s because they love the live experience, the party atmosphere that we try to bring to every gig. It’s a good thing when we go back to gigging, it’s really exciting when we haven’t done one in a while, like

now.

Ham Sandwich will be breaking their time-out with a debut 2019 show at Leopardstown Live in early June, at a venue Farrell has fond memories of.

“It’s really good fun, sort of a fun early-afternoon evening thing,” she says.

“You get a race named after you. It’s really good craic, and it’s the kind of gig where you might get a few people who haven’t seen us before.

“Last time I had to stand there while the horses walked around me in a circle and pick out my favourite. I put a €2 bet on and it won, so that was good fun.”

There have been some fun moments in the last few months in general, in fact.

“We did some covers for Slane Whiskey, and one of those was Eminem’s Stan, which Podge (gui-

tar, vocals) suggested. We hadn’t rehearsed it at all, but there was a man fully rapping the whole thing right in front of me, really into it. We love doing stuff like that, a little bit left of centre.”

Farrell has also been off working on her own during the quiet period, taking on a growing range of solo projects. “I don’t know about going off doing proper solo stuff,” she says.

“I’ve loved singing with other people, doing the Mix Tape gig on New Year’s Eve, stuff like that. It’s a really fun set up, just to sing and do different things.

“I’m doing the Carpenters cover thing at Lost Lane, too. If it wasn’t for Ham Sandwich I wouldn’t have got to do these things, and they’re great fun. It’s just a pleasure.

“From a Ham Sandwich point of view, we have a couple on the backburner,

WIN A SUMMER SIZZLER FOR YOU AND THREE FRIENDS TO SEE HAMSANDWICH

HamSandwich on

competitions@dub-

Thursday, June 6.

lingazette.com before

The prize includes four Summer Sizzler

Wednesday, June 5.

For more concert info,

tickets with a welcome

visit www.leopardstown.

drink, food voucher,

com.

a tote bet and the chance to see HamSandwich in concert

THIS WEEK we’re delighted

as well as getting to see

to pair up with Bulmers

some racing action.

Live at Leopardstown to

but we won’t be rushing ourselves, releasing stuff for the sake of it. It takes a while to prepare for live gigs, so we’re getting ourselves all fresh and ready to go again.”

Ham Sandwich’s live set often features confetti cannons and oversized balloons, while Podge is particularly notorious for his slightly messy stageantics alongside Farrell’s soaring, mesmerising vocals.

“We have two big shows supporting Hermitage Green at Limerick Castle in the summer, then we’ll hopefully be doing a tour with new music towards the end of the year, too, so we’ll get back to things in full flow then.”

At full flow, Ham Sandwich are quite the tour de force.

They play Live at Leopardstown on June 6, with tickets starting at €17.

To be in with a chance of

give you and three of your

winning, email your name

friends the chance to see

and contact details to

It’s almost time for the keenly awaited Leixlip Festival weekend WILD Youth (above), Hermitage Green and The Riptide Movement are just some of the exciting headline acts all set to delight music lovers at the upcoming Leixlip Festival this June Bank Holiday Weekend.

The spectacular open air music festival, staged in the Court Yard Hotel, Leixlip, has lined up four days of outstanding entertainment with some terrific national and local musical talent coming to town.

The 30th Leixlip Festival – which is also the Court Yard Hotel’s 15th live music festival – sees Olympia headliners Wild Youth opening the festival on the Rock the Yard main stage tomorrow night on Friday, May 31.

The Irish four-piece has been enjoying a breakthrough year with their hit single, Can’t Move On, following earlier chart-toppers, All or Nothing, and Lose Control, with the band’s melodic brand of pop-rock seeing them support artists such as Niall Horan, The Script, Zara Larsson and Kodaline, playing across Ireland and the UK. Wild Youth are just the first of many unmissable acts, with this Saturday, June 1 welcoming Hermitage Green back to Leixlip, following a sold-out international tour covering Ireland, the UK, the Middle East, Australia and the US, with such hits as Quicksand, Not Your Lover, and Save Your Soul to draw upon.

The band has a new EP of six progressive sonic masterpieces, Gold & Rust, made with producer Matt Lawrence, known for his Grammy Award-winning work with acts such as Adele, Amy Winehouse and Mumford & Sons.

Sunday, June 2 sees The Riptide Movement bring their soaring guitar rock that’s drawn comparisons with U2, Kings of Leon, The Clash and Oasis. The four lifelong friends from Lucan toured extensively last year on the back of critically acclaimed releases, All Works Out, Elephant in the Room, and Changeling, and with a huge fanbase and following need no introduction at the festival.

Last but definitely not least, Bank Holiday Monday in the Court Yard Hotel featues Smash Hits – a unique tribute band to the golden era of 90s dance, pop and R’n’B who’ll close out the open air festival’s weekend line-up with rip-roaring, feel-good boogie and the best of classic 90s tracks.

Tickets for the eagerly awaited open air music weekend are now on sale, with Day Tickets at €10 each plus booking fee, and a Weekend Ticket at just €30, offering four days for the price of three.

More than a dozen amazing live music acts, top bands and DJs are appearing, with main stage music action from this Friday evening, May 31, until Monday night’s closing gig with Smash Hits, which starts at 9pm.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite and via the Court Yard Hotel website, and will be sold at the gate each day, subject to availability.

30 May 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

R P T P B I O FRESH IDEAS FOR YOUR HOME AND WARDROBE

HOME & STYLE

Martha is a Personal Stylist and Image Consultant. To find out more visit www.marthaslookingglass.com or follow Martha on Facebook/Instagram @Martha’sLookingGlass

STYLE SOS WITH

Martha Change your mood, change your haircut

beauty review

CLEAN LINES, brazen colours, cropped cuts, and strong volumes, all inspired by modern Brit-Pop, is the look being embraced by United Colors of Benetton this Summer.

The line features colour block pieces, T-shirts and sporty sweatshirts that recall the ‘70s look of football club shirts, joggers, and chic, thin-waist jackets.

It offers an eclectic mix of sport, heritage and a revamped preppy look, illustrated in the use of tricot fabrics, mélange, and patterns.

Benetton has four stores in Dublin - St Stephen’s Green, Grafton Street, Arnotts Department Store and Liffey Valley Shopping Centre.

The beauty of Ayu  Jessica Maile, Style Editor

Ayu Make Up aspires to

I LOVE BEING introduced to beauty brands

empowering women with

that are not on my radar and I said a very

the tools and knowledge to

enthusiastic ‘hello’ when I was introduced

bring out the best version of

to Ayu, an Irish make-up company set up by

themselvesand show women

make-up artist Suzie O’Neill. Ayu was born

how to enhance what

out of the realisation make-up brushes given

they already have rath-

to students at college were poor in quality

than mask it.

and after some research AYU was born.

The range started with a range of pre-

er

Suzie also volunteers for Look Good Feel Better – a cancer charity to help women look

25 lette € dow Pa Eyesha e r tu a more pale. d Sign

n

€95 a lam set

ll g Ayu Fu

It is definitely a staple

to keep in your eye-shadow arsenal.

The comprehesive Full Glam Brush Set comes in a stylish pouch and covers all your

mium, affordable brushes back in 2015 and

and feel better after chemotherapy. AYU

has expanded to the Signature Eye Palette,

donates over 1,000 brush sets and make-up

beauty brush needs. I also found it very con-

Radiance Cream and the newly launched

to the charity each year.

venient to pack on any journeys, as it didn’t

easy-to-use eyebrow pencil.

I adore the Signature Eye Palette. The

seem to take too much space.

The name “Ayu” is derived from an Indone-

colours are incredibly versatile and looked

Ayu is available to buy online at www.

sian word meaning “very feminine and beau-

just as good on my newly tan skin as on my

ayumakeup.ie and from selected stockists

tiful” which is a fitting name for the brand.

“winter skin” which is much, much, much

nationwide.

 MARTHA GILHEANEY YEARS ago I came to the realisation that regardless of how often I got my hair cut, it was always dry, fine and broken. From thereon, I decided to keep it to my liking, which was long and in bad condition, rather than short and in bad condition. Good reasoning, right?

A few weeks ago I was in for my biannual inch.

I even said, ‘A little inch’ to lessen it some more but five minutes, five inches later I was left with a lob (aka a long bob).

I suppose that’s the price you pay when you’re paying nothing as a hair model in a training centre, so I can’t complain, besides, I don’t want to. I actually love it! I would never have got this haircut intentionally but I’m delighted it happened accidentally.

While my accidental haircut doesn’t have its own Wikipedia page like the most serendipitous one of all time, also known as ‘The Rachel,’ the lesson is the same. When it comes to our hair, we often get stuck in a haircut rut and never entertain the thought of another, maybe better one.

Bobs and lobs are hot right now. Long hair had reached saturation point and, similarly with the trend of high heels and skinny jeans, it’s all about the opposite. So we move to lobs and bobs, runners and flares.

Another hot right now hair trend is hair accessories – clips, slides, bands, bows and scrunchies. Carrie Bradshaw made it near impossible for scrunchies to ever come back with her ‘No woman, bathroom face washing aside, would be caught dead in one’ comment. But they are most certainly back and are much gentler on our hair than regular elastics, which comes just in time for my new hair care pact. This is the healthiest my hair has looked in years and I’m determined to look after it!

Ultimately, I’ll always prefer long locks, but this feels fresh and for the first time in my life I understand that new haircut high. If you’re in the mood for change let your hair down, cut the rut, maybe the length or at least experiment with new accessories. And if you’re not sure whether you’re in the mood for change, simply put your head in a student hairdresser’s hands and see what magic awaits you.

Martha is a Personal Stylist and Image Consultant. To find out more visit www.marthaslookingglass.com or follow Martha on Facebook/Instagram @Martha’sLookingGlass

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 30 May 2019

latitude&longitude All welcome on a stunning Sea of Arousa Camino walk CAMINOWAYS.COM, the Camino experts, have launched a wonderful new Camino route available for pilgrims – the Sea of Arousa Camino walk and boat, also known as Camino Espiritual.

Recently approved by Santiago Cathedral as an official Camino de Santiago route, the trail takes pilgrims through quaint coastal villages, lush forest tracks, vineyards, sandy beaches and ancient monasteries, following an alternative route to the classic Camino Portugues.

This fascinating Camino trail is also known as Camino Espiritual as this unique Camino includes a boat trip across Arousa Estuary, retracing the route taken by the body of St James on its way to Santiago.

Take to the trail on a self-guided tour, including five nights from Pontevedra to Santiago, starting from €485PPS; including five nights’ accommodation with breakfast, luggage transfers, boat ticket, holiday pack with route information, 24/7 assistance number.

An eight-night self-guided tour from Baiona to Santiago starts from €755 PPS, including eight nights’ accommodation with breakfast, boat ticket, luggage transfers, holiday pack with route information, 24/7 assistance number.

Dinners, airport transfers and hotel upgrades are also available; flights, lunch and insurance not included. To book, see caminoways.com or email the experts at info@caminoways.com.

CYPRUS | AN INTOXICATING MIX OF HISTORY AND MODERNITY

Paphos perfection in southern Cyprus

SYLVIA POWNALL

Travel Editor

Delight dad with a Titanic Game of Thrones experience LOOK north to find the perfect Father’s Dad gift for June 16, thanks to the Game of Thrones experience package with the stunning Titanic Hotel.

The package includes two tickets to the limitedrun Game of Thrones Touring Exhibition, which is located at the TEC Belfast, just a short stroll from the Titanic Hotel.

Of course, the Titanic Hotel is a destination in itself, offering a direct window into the doomed liner’s past, whilst also celebrating the historic contribution by Belfast shipbuilders to the White Star liner, and shipbuilding, in luxurious style.

If dad’s a total landlubber, however, he’ll also relish the superb Game of Thrones experience, which has a limited run until September 1 but has more than enough authentic sets, props, costumes and more from the hit show to keep even an arch Tyrell matriarch happy.

Prices for this terrific offer start at £149 per person. See https://www.titanichotelbelfast.com/ offers/game-of-thrones-the-touring-exhibition/51-27327/

IRISH travelmakers have been seeking out Cyprus bargains for many decades, with the ancient sun-kissed country offering an irresistible blend of beaches, history, landscape and culture.

And, by the Gods, you’d be hard pressed to find a better spot than the southwest city of Paphos, which has been inhabited from as far back as Neolithic times, and where the Gods and Man left their mark.

Paphos, where you can be whisked back to ancient days with temples and colourful mosaics yet enjoy lively nightlife that brings you right back into the 21st century.

In Paphos, visitors can stroll through ancient ruins and temples, relax on a striking Blue Flag beach, and party the night away with the city’s vibrant nightlife scene.

Whatever you like to do on holiday, Paphos truly has you

Some of the stunning ruins around Paphos

covered, and with so much to see and do, it can be tricky narrowing down your options.

To give you a helping hand, below you’ll discover some of the top things to do in Paphos, courtesy of www.tuiholidays.ie.

Soak up the sun at the beach: While Dublin city and area can lay claim to several beaches and strands, there are approximately 27 beaches around Paphos, covering a total of around 50km of coastline.

This means, no matter what type of beach getaway you like to enjoy, there is sure to be some-

thing to match your preferences.

Wildlife and parks: The pleasant climate and unique geographical location of the city makes it a haven for wildlife.

There are lots of parks dotted around the city, many of which feature stunning themed gardens.

Explore the c ity’s culture: While Paphos beaches are certainly worth visiting in this remarkable city, it’s also renowned for its vibrant culture.

The city is split into two parts, including the New Town and the Old Town areas, and you’ll

find a range of churches, shrines, ruins and monasteries to explore, helping you to really soak up the city’s culture.

To book a dream holiday in Paphos, or for a range of alternative dream breaks in Cyprus, see www.tuiholidays.ie, call 1850 453545 or visit a TUI store or travel agent.

Of course, Paphos is just one of the many unforgettable destinations on offer through TUI Holidays, which has a dizzying range of other holidays and special offers up for grabs at the moment, including the following ...

• June 10, Dublin to Cancun, Mexico, Catalonia Riviera Maya Resort, Riviera Maya, 4*, AI, 14 nights from €1,479pps.

• June 13, Shannon to Lanzarote, Hyde Park Lane, Puerto Del Carmen, 3*+, B&B, seven nights from €499pps.

• June 30, Dublin to Thailand, Khao Lak Bhandari Resort, Khao Lak, 3*+, B&B, 11 nights from €1,319pps.

30 May 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

A GUIDE TO TEMPTING FOOD AND LOCATIONS

FOOD & TRAVEL

MORELANDS GRILL | WELL PREPARED FOOD AND WELCOMING STAFF IN THE CITY CENTRE

A fabulous food experience GARY IBBOTSON

LOCATED in the iconic Westin Hotel on Westmoreland Street, Morelands Grill is a relatively new addition to Dublin’s h i g h - e n d re s ta u ra n t offerings.

Opened in April 2017, the establishment is marketed as an “urban eatery” and steakhouse.

Although just over two years old, the restaurant’s decor seems almost dated.

Teal and gold suede dress the chairs while the dim lighting brings little vibrancy to the often monotone colour scheme of the space.

With contempora r y e s ta b l i s h m e n t s frequently opting for quirky, rustic, or more colourful decoration, Morelands Grill sleek take on a classic cosmopolitan restaurant feels outmoded or stale.

However, the most important part of a restaurant’s offerings, is and always will be, the food.

The starter of choice was scallops and the

notoriously difficult to cook molluscs were served with cauliflower “textures” and black pudding crumble.

Perfectly browned and simply plated, the scallops were delicious.

A simple dish that is so easy to get wrong, the natural umami flavour paired well with the crunch of the cauliflower and black pudding.

Prominently advertised on the menu and website, Morelands Grill says it uses a Josper Grill to cook their steaks.

Apparently hitting temperatures of 500°C, the grill is meant to create a perfectly crispy seal which locks in “the natural flavour and juices of the meat.”

Upon hearing such bold claims, the obvious choice for the main course was the 14oz ribeye.

Served with a mushroom puree and potato fondant, the meat was p e r fe c t l y c o o ke d to medium-rare.

There wasn’t a massive difference in the crispiness of skin com-

YOU CAN NOW ORDER WOWBURGER ON THE JUST EAT APP BURGER fans rejoice, as from today onward, foodie favourite Wowburger is available on Just Eat for delivery. Hungry fans can now choose from a selection of their WOW burgers, with a range of delicious free toppings, delivered straight to their door with the tap of the Just Eat app.

Available 7 days a week, customers of Wowburger in Tallaght will be the first to benefit from the new partnership, with restaurants in Ranelagh, Parnell Street and Wexford Street also launching on Just Eat in the coming weeks.

Thrilled Edel Kinane, commercial director at Just Eat Ireland said: “We are thrilled to welcome Wowburger to the Just Eat platform and to give our customers the chance to enjoy this delicious menu, delivered straight to their home or office.

“With locally sourced quality produce serving up those big signature flavours, this popular American-inspired diner is the latest addition to our expanding portfolio, which now features over 2,100 restaurants and a choice of over 40 cuisine types.”

Order your favourite Wowburger from 12pm, 7 days a week, at home or to the office on the Just Eat app.

pared to a regular sear but that wasn’t really an issue for me. It was s t i l l m e l t- i n - y o u r mouth level tender and an example of what a perfectly prepared and cooked steak should taste like.

For dessert, I decided to go for the staff recommended ice-cream sundae.

Not a conventional

dessert recommendation for a high-end restaurant but I respect the ingenuity and creativeness of adapting such a time-honoured staple.

Fan-favourite Constructed with icecream made on Glastry Farm in County Down with pecans, caramel drizzle, fresh cream, and an assortment of other decadent garnishes, it was a great tribute to the fanfavourite dish.

Finished off

with a glass of Morgan Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, it is hard to find fault with overall offering of Morelands Grill.

The decor may be slightly dated but with food that hits such high standards, it feels dishonest to say the furniture is a turn-off.

Quality ingredients, well prepared food and welcoming staff is more than enough to make a restaurant feel special – and the Morelands Grill is certainly not lacking in any of them.

Taking apple cider vinegar into the mainstream AN exciting new drink has made it’s way into SuperValu stores across the capital, sure to pack some delicious health into your diet.

The Lost Coast apple cider vinegar drinks may sound slightly intimidating, but we can promise – they’re delicious. Coming in a range of flavours, including a blueberry, elderberry and lemon mix to a delectable strawberry, hibiscus and rose combo, there’s something for everyone to trial.

There are many health benefits to apple cider vinegar, including the lowering of blood sugar levels and assisting in weight loss, meaning these drinks don’t just taste like juice, but they’re also good for you too! The Lost Coast apple cider vinegar drinks are available in all Supervalu stores now, and on Supervalu.ie, priced at €2.69.

The pint was good – and

the pub was definitely great

MANY A a person has made the mistake of thinking they were walking into another standard Dublin pub upon entering Ryan’s of Camden Street.

However, they soon found out that’s not the case. For many born outside the capital, Ryan’s is a home away from home.

Like a number of others in Dublin, the pub’s roots lie in Tipperary; however, everyone and anyone is welcome here. The pub has one of the most vibrant atmospheres in Dublin, where a quiet pint can turn into a night of madness at the flick of a switch.

Recently renovated, the pub has held on to its traditional look and feel; the long bar counter hasn’t changed, but the large windows are a welcome feature and open the place up.

The pint itself was good and was creamy enough but was just that bit too cold, so the taste was hindered. If you haven’t been recently, do go – you won’t be disappointed Ryan’s of Camden Street – well worth the visit @guinnessadvisor

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 30 May 2019

MOTORS

WHAT’S NEW IN THE WORLD OF TRANSPORT

A racy new addition to the fabulous Fiesta DECLAN GLYNN

THE new Ford Fiesta ST has been designed, and engineered, for even greater mass-market appeal than ever before, with a pioneering three-cylinder engine ready to combine performance and efficiency in rare proportions, and suspension tuned for a more balanced, comfortable ride.

All-New Engine Ford’s all-new, all-aluminium, 1497cc three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine takes pride of place in the new Fiesta ST. P ro d u c i n g 1 9 7 b h p (200PS) and a healthy

290Nm of torque, this new engine replaces the old car’s 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder unit.

Advantages of the new engine in the new Fiesta ST are many, including the fact that it creates a broader band of peak torque than the old four-cylinder unit, it’s lighter too, and it is also the world’s first three-cylinder automotive engine that can switch to two-cylinder operation under low load conditions.

By marginally downsizing the new ST’s engine, Ford have made advances in fuel economy, while also enabling the new car to be cheaper to run than its predecessor.

New Dacia TechRoad Models Revealed CELEBRATING its 7th birthday this year, with over 21,000 happy owners in Ireland, ‘shockingly affordable’ Dacia is excited to announce a new Special Edition, the TechRoad, for 192.

Available to order now from €16,440, the TechRoad offers generous equipment at the pinnacle of the Sandero Stepway, Logan MCV Stepway and Duster ranges, including naviga-

S e l e c t a b l e D r iv i n g Modes The all-new Fiesta ST is available with 3 selectable

driving modes – Normal, Sport, and Track.

Each setting fine tunes the car’s performance by modifying engine mapping, throttle positioning, brake pedal and steering response. With a combination of Enhanced Torque Vectoring, Electronic Stability Control, and a performance tuned chassis, optimum handling is guaranteed.

Review Car My review car was a new Ford Fiesta ST3 (200PS) 5-Door, and was finished in ‘Ford Performance Blue’ metallic paint.

Standard ST3 specification includes 18” machined alloy wheels, powerfold mirrors, large rear spoiler, partial-leather Recaro Performance Seats, satellite navigation, keyless entry, rear view camera, rear parking sensors, auto highbeam assist, driver alert, road sign recognition, auto wipers, auto dimming rear view mirror, and a leather steering wheel with red stitching.

As we have come to expect from Ford of late, the car is also laden with an impressive array of standard comfort features, along with the very latest safety technology – allowing the new Fiesta to achieve a full 5-star Euro NCAP (New Car

Assessment Programme) crash test rating.

Quality materials are used throughout the cabin of the new Fiesta ST, while good levels of interior space are matched by an equally generous 311-litre boot, with the prospect of dropping the rear seat backs to dramatically increase the space on offer.

Growling Soundtrack The new Fiesta ST’s engine is fantastic, as it pulls enthusiastically from low revs, and is accompanied by a muscular, growling soundtrack that is enhanced tastefully by a “Sound Symposer” which pipes engine noise through to the interior, with proper pops and cracks from the sports exhaust.

This is a car that can be happily driven with the radio volume down to zero, as the glorious noises from the car’s exhaust will be music to many keen motorists ears.

The pure enjoyment of the new Fiesta ST’s

engine is enhanced by the car’s standard six-speed manual gearbox, which has a slick, short lever, and well-stacked gear ratios.

Cruising at a relaxed pace allows cylinder deactivation to occur (where the car can run on just two cylinders to save fuel), but it is extremely difficult to tell this is happening.

There’s nothing on the dash to indicate any switchover, and no perceivable change in sound or smoothness inside. This is modern-day engineering at its very best.

Outstanding Fuel Economy The major advantage of the cylinder deactivation system in the new Fiesta ST is that the car is capable of consuming as little 5.99-litres of petrol for every 100kms driven on an extra-urban driving cycle.

Pricing & Verdict The new Ford Fiesta ST range starts at just €25,277 (ex-works).

FACT BOX

1) All-New Petrol Engine 2) Selectable Driving Modes 3) 200PS, with 290Nm of Torque 4) 5-Star NCAP Rating 5) Priced From €25,277

tion with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and reversing camera.

The TechRoad Special Editions feature striking new interior trims and a choice of two new metallic paint colours – Fusion Red and Highland Grey.

The brand is also launching a new TCe 130 petrol engine on Duster – the most powerful Duster ever.

Dacia has also announced its unmissable offers for the busy 192 registration period.

Customers can avail of ZERO deposit and 4.9% APR across the shockingly affordable range including the Sandero, at €10,990, the rugged AllNew Duster from €17,390, and the striking new TechRoad Special Edition models.

Dacia 7th birthday sales events will take place at dealerships from Thursday 13th – Saturday 15th June.

Don’t forsake the opportunity to take advantage of Dacia’s unmissable 192 offers on their ‘shockingly affordable’ range.

These unique offers are available from now until 31st July 2019 at all dealerships through Dacia Bank.

30 May 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

PUZZLES

CHALLENGE YOUR BRAIN...JUST FOR FUN!

CODEWORDS

You could advertise here

SUDOKU EASY

MODERATE

SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

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

WORD SEARCH

HOW TO SOLVE

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

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

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

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

Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

FIND THE HIDDEN WORDS AROUSED BATHSHEBA BROCCOLI CAVITIES CLANG COCKNEY CONVICT DEVONPORT DISSOLVES GENERIC INTEGER

MUSICALLY OLYMPUS OVERGROWN PROSE QUEEN RADAR SLUMBER SPECTRA VEHEMENCE WETS

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

24 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 30 May 2019

DUBLINGAZETTECLASSIFIEDS  FINGAL DVD TRANSFERS

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

GARDENING PAINTING

RECRUITMENT

30 May 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 25

FINGAL  DUBLINGAZETTECLASSIFIEDS ROOFING

GOT A STORY? Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240

FOLLOW US TODAY ON OUR SOCIAL NETWORK

WINDOWS

Visit: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ DublinGazetteNewspapers Twitter: @DublinGazette

GOT A STORY? Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 and SELECT OPTION 2 email news@dublingazette.com



26 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 30 May 2019

30 May 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 27

CRICKET P29

THE BEST IN DUBLIN

SPORT

BLOOM IN THE PARK: FOOTBALL: NICOLE Owens says it’s

important to talk about mental health, with the Dublin Ladies Footballer having gone through tough times with depression and panic attacks affecting her daily life.

Owens has been speaking about how she has dealt with her own personal struggles, as an ambassador for ‘Grounded’.



GAZETTE

COMMUNITY GAMES P28

PAGE 31

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS INFORM YOU OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORES OF YOUR FAVOURITE TEAMS GOLF | EPIC JOURNEY TO PORTRUSH TAKES SHAPE

The Open trophy tour visits Dublin  sport@dublingazette.com

THE OPEN trophy rolled into Dublin this week as part of its 500-mile journey, visiting every county in Northern Ireland and the city of Dublin as the competition returns to the island for the first time in almost 70 years at Royal Portrush this July.

The celebratory tour, coordinated by Tourism Northern Ireland, allowed Dubliners from businesses, schools, golf clubs and sports fans to join the buzz at Custom House Quay.

The event also offered an opportunity to win coveted tickets to The Open which are currently like golddust.

Unprecedented demand has led to record-breaking ticket sales and the Championship will be a sell-out for the first time in its history.

In total, the event is set to be beamed live to over 600 million

households across the world. It is set to attract more than 215,000 eager spectators, with a team of 6,000 staff and 350 volunteers warmly welcoming visitors.

Fiona Cunningham, ROI Market Manager at Tourism NI, said, “The 148th Open is the biggest event that Northern Ireland has ever held and we are delighted to be able to bring a part of it to Dublin and celebrate its return, engaging the community and golfing fans alike.

“It is building up to be a great occasion and The Epic Journey is a powerful and fun way to take the excitement on the road.

“The Championship is set to leave a lasting legacy, and visitors are encouraged to soak up the buzz before, during and after the global sporting event visits our shores.”

As part of the event, The Epic Journey to The 148th Open tour brought Rory McIlroy’s Claret Jug from his win at Royal Liverpool in

Benjamin Cunningham from Belgrove Junior Boys National School, Clontarf, at Custom House Quay. Picture: Fennell Photography

2014 to Dublin.

Along with a giant #TheOpen letter sculpture, designed by Tourism NI and made of 4,000 golf balls, was unveiled by McIlroy last October.

He commented: “The Open returning to Portrush is massive for Northern Ireland, everyone is so excited and is getting behind it.

“I never thought I would have the opportunity to play in a major championship at home and I’m really looking forward to it.

“You can really feel the buzz already, it’s going be a fantastic year as we get ready to welcome The Open for the first time in over half a century.”

SPORT CONTACT INFO SPORTS EDITOR: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com

For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@dublingazette.com Phone: 01 601 0240

28 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 30 May 2019

CLUB NOTES

ROUND

1

COMMUNITY GAMES: NORTH COUNTY SHINES IN LIMERICK

CASTLEKNOCK CHAMPIONS! The Adult Junior 2 League Camogie team were confirmed league winners after beating Na Fianna 2-12 1-3 in Glasnevin.

The Senior 2 League is over with Castleknock finishing third behind worthy winners Good Counsel and runners-up Kilmacud.

May 22 – An evening to forget for the Ladies IFC team as they lost heavily to Clanna Gael Fontenoy in Somerton. The Junior ‘C’ Championship team did much better but still lost by a point to Whitehall Colmcille, 2-9 1-13.

The senior footballers fared better again, also against Whitehall, in AFL2, pulling away in the end to win by 3-11 1-13. The AFL4 team lost by a point to a more street-wise Garda outfit in Westmanstown. The MFL5N side recorded a good win over St Vincent’s and great to see Evan McSherry and Matthew Lynam (2-1) on the winning Dublin Clarke team against Dublin Plunkett in the Celtic Hurling Challenge (U-17) Tournament.

May 25 – Congrats to Aoife Keane who was part of Dublin’s Ladies Football squad in the All-Ireland U-14 Stage 2 Competition against Monaghan, Down and Armagh in Monaghan. Congrats also to Ciarán Kilkenny and his team-mates on Dublin’s LSFC Q-F win over Louth. Big day too for young referees Eva, Roisin and Emma who made their ‘whistling’ debuts for the U-10’s Camogie teams.

May 26 – A successful Sunday morning saw an AFL2 victory over Raheny (1-10 1-8) and an AFL4 win over St. Monica’s (3-22 1-6). The afternoon brought more good news as in the AFL9 Castleknock overcomes Portobello 2-6 0-8.

Upcoming – Don’t forget the Club Race Night is being held in Kavanagh’s, Laurel Lodge this Friday, May 31. The Calum Farrell Memorial Cup, a great family day being organised to celebrate the life of one of our 2012 Boys, will be held in Somerton on Sunday, June 10.

FINGALLIANS MIXED fortunes for the Div 1 Team in the League playing Two games one at home to Skerries Harps a late goal by Shane Howard gave them Two much needed points at meeting with the Cuala lads away on Saturday afternoon didn’t go as well loosing out.

Next game will be Saturday 8th June at home in Lawless Park at 6.30 .We would like to wish Ciaran Murtagh a speedy recovery after his shoulder injury during the game.

The Senior Ladies Div 1 played their third game of the Senior Champ on Wed Night last to Thomas Davis but lost out on the night by a single point .

The AFL 6 team enjoyed a super win to Cuala in Lawless Park on Sunday on a scoreline of 2.13. to 2.11.Also the AFL 11 Team recorded a win over local rivals Fingal Ravens ,they were kitten out well for the

win win a new set of Jerseys sponsored by Freight Management Limited.

Visitors to the club will notice the Wall at the far side of the All Weather Pitch has brightened up ,thanks to Richie and the Lads the wall has a new lick of White Paint and is to become the Irish Wall with the help of Liam O’Culbaird..

U12 Hurling and Camogie Tournaments : Next weekend sees the first of our Annual Tournaments taking place with the U12 Boys playing hosts to teams from around the Country for a Hurling Competition.

Then the U12 Girls will be part of an Eight team Tournament on the Sunday .All games will be played on the main pitch an will start early and continue to mid afternoon.This will be a great weekend celebrating Hurling and Camogie in the Club .

The Malahide chess team with their medals

Malahide masterful at Community festival

 CÓILIN DUFFY

sport@dublingazette.com

THERE was plenty to cheer about from a Fingal perspective at the Lidl All-Ireland Community Games weekend, which drew the crowds and plenty of sunshine to the University of Limerick across Saturday and Sunday last.

Malahide in particular had plenty to celebrate with gold medal successes in both basketball and chess, with a silver medal also making its way to Castleknock, after a busy weekend of action.

A hard-earned 40-34 win over Youghal from Cork saw Malahide take gold in the basketball Under-16 and Over-13 boys competition.

Malahide had come through a tough semifinal before taking a 49-46 win over St Patrick’s from Cavan, and again delivered a strong display in the decider to take a six-point victory over the Cork side.

The winning squad was David Farrell, Sean Fitzpatrick, Oran Flannery, Joseph Keogh, Christian McDonnell, Mark O’Mara, Matthew Poole, Thomas Sheen, Eoin Timmons and Cian Whitney.

In chess, the Under16 mixed team delivered more Gold medals for Malahide – bridging a 30-year gap with Ryan Bonell, Finn Ellingboe, Isaac Flynn, William Hackett (Capt), Aisling Ní Laighléis, Darragh Ó Floinn and Gianmarco

Roselli included on the winning panel.

In their semi-final, Malahide had a close 3-2 win over Erne Valley from Cavan, with Darragh Flynn producing the winning point.

They faced reigning champions Ennis St John’s in the decider.

In the final, Malahide gave an excellent display, recording a 3.5 to 1.5 win, with Clare taking the first win, before Isaac Flynn equalised.

A draw by Darragh Flynn saw the scores tied.

Ryan Bonnell put Malahide ahead, before William Hackett secured the win.

Castleknock’s Cameron Jackson claimed silver in the Under-12 and Over-10

boys two lengths backstroke in swimming with a time over 37.42 – just a second and a half behind Limerick’s Daragh Horgan in first.

Jackson was one of two swimmers involved over the weekend from Castleknock, with Cian McGrath also taking part in the Under-14 and Over12 Boys two lengths backstroke.

Also in swimming, Euan McInnes from Mid-Sutton finished fifth in the final of the one length backstroke Under 10 and Over 8 Boys in a time of 22.17.

In cross-county, Castleknock’s Luuk Jackson, Jack Carr, John Daly and Murrough McMahon were part of the boys Under12 mixed distance relay

squad who came third in their heat behind Kerry and Laois.

Castleknock’s Lorraine O’Connor was part of the nine strong Dublin mixed team that took part in the 1200m Under-13 and Over-11 mixed cross country, but didn’t feature in the medal placings.

Castleknock’s Ellie O’Connell, Bobby Flannery and Anna Derham also represented Dublin in the Art competitions.

Over 3,600 participants from across the country took part over the weekend in over 30 different disciplines with everything from indoor soccer, badminton and mini rugby to culture corner, projects and talent competitions.

Rush man to lead England

Rush man Eoin Morgan

RUSH native Eoin Morgan will lead England into cricket’s World Cup as they go into the competition as one of the favourites for the title.

England start with a tie against South Africa on Thursday, May 30 and will be hoping for a much improved performance from a “humiliating” experience in 2015 according to Morgan.

Ahead of the event, he said: “We were humiliated and so far off the mark.”

The 32-year-old made his Irish debut aged 16 before switching to England in 2009 to pursue test cricket and an elevated level of the sport.

He says 2015 was a turning point for the side where they implemented major changes and they have since risen to number one in the world rankings and they carry that confidence.

“It’s a huge opportunity for us this summer and I don’t think it is pressured.

“Everywhere we have been for the past two or three years - tough places like Australia and India away - we’ve been favourites.

“If guys didn’t enjoy being favourites, it would become pressure.

“I see it as opportunity.”

30 May 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 29

CRICKET: SEMI-FINAL SPOT ASSURED BY SINGH AND BEECROFT’S BIG HITTING

Phoenix Singh a sweet song LEINSTER SENIOR LEAGUE CUP  sport@dublingazette.com

A SECOND wicket partnership of 117 in just 17 overs between Ben Beecroft and Simi Singh saw Phoenix cruise into the semi-finals of the IBI Corporate Finance Leinster Senior League Cup with Malahide beaten by eight wickets with almost 20 overs to spare.

Both batted sublimely, playing shots all around the ground and powering massive sixes at will too. In the 20th over Singh planted three maximums over long-on as the accelerator was kept pushed to the floor.

Beecroft was beautiful to watch with ten boundaries and just the two sixes, he manoeuvred the field and threaded the gaps all day. He deserved to carry his bat alongside Singh but was unfortunate to be run out at the non-striker’s end with just six runs required.

Earlier, Louis McDonough had got the chase off to a flying start with seven boundaries in his 39 before Kelvin Donnelly upended his off-stump. Another elegant batsman, McDonough played more than his part in an opening stand of 75 with Beecroft, the first time Phoenix passed 50 this season.

In the first innings Malahide lost wickets at regular intervals and didn’t have anyone to build a partnership with the excellent Damien Mortimer.

Mortimer was last man out having come in after the seventh ball of the innings and set about anchoring the home side’s batting effort.

The Ford brothers were the heroes in Saturday’s Irish Senior Cup match but they were out in successive overs on Sunday with nobody passing 25 in support of Mortimer.

Poonish Mehta bowled well for his 2 for 25, while Matt Lunson and Amish Sidhu also picked up a brace of wickets, limiting Malahide to 197 all out which was chased down in the 31st over.

As a result, Phoenix advance to face Merrion in the semi-finals of the League Cup next Saturday while Pembroke will play The Hills.

Malahide do have the consolation of having finished in the top four in Group A and will play Premier League cricket after the playoffs are completed.

In Group A’s other matches, North County were consigned to sixth place after a defeat to Dublin University.

In Group B, all eyes were on Kenure and Rush versus Balbriggan.

The winner would play Premier League cricket, the loser finish fifth and play Championship cricket.

Rush captain Neil Rock was the hero of the day with a scintillating 150 that included 14 fours and ten sixes, as the home side compiled 351 off their allocation. Rock was almost outshone however as Clinton Hinchcliffe scored 142 and brought Balbriggan to within six of the Rush total.

It was close but not quite close enough as Rush squeezed home and will play in the Premier League alongside Malahide, apt given they were the top two in Division 2 in 2018.

Umpire Bala Kailash, Malahide’s Fintan McAllister, Phoenix’s Adam Chester and umpire Steve Wood at the coin toss

Siblings Eve and Jamie McMahon after their wins in Cork in April. Picture: David Branigan/Oceansport

Howth siblings in Irish squad SAILING  sport@dublingazette.com

HOWTH brother and sister, Jamie and Eve McMahon, are the first Irish siblings to qualify for the same Irish youth sailing team.

The pair will compete in the Laser Radial class at the Hempel Youth Sailing World Championships in Gdynia, Poland, starting on July 13.

Qualifying for the Irish youth team alongside

them are Rian Geraghty McDonnell and Nathan van Steenberge (of the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire), and Leah Rickard (from NYC) and Eimer McMorrow Moriarty (from Kerry’s Tralee Bay Sailing Club) in the 29er class.

Joining the team will be Irish Sailing Laser Radial coach Sean Evans, and Thomas Chaix who will coach the 29ers.

Both Jamie and Eve McMahon emerged top at last month’s Irish Sailing

Youth National Championships hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club. Jamie won the class, and Eve finished as best girl in fifth overall out of 27 entries.

All teams had to attain a rigorous international standard before their places were ratified.

After a successful outing at the RYA Youth Nationals for the first time, Ireland will have both boys and girls represented in the 29er class. Eve McMahon achieved her standard in

spectacular fashion winning the Under-17 category at the Europa Cup in Lake Garda last week.

The Hempel Youth Sailing World Championships will see over 100 nations compete and is the world’s leading championship for youth sailors. Ireland first competed in the championship in 1971. The 29er is a two-person skiff, and very similar in design to the larger 49er. It is one of the fastest growing sailing classes in Ireland.

30 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 30 May 2019

ROUND

CLUB NOTES

2

NAOMH MEARNOG WE HAD another superb week on the playing pitches. Our senior footballers (men) recorded 2 league wins to remain 3rd in the table just 2 points off the league leaders. Our AFL7 team had 2 wins also while our AFL 11 team had 1 win and got a walkover at the weekend.

Our newly formed adult ladies football team are in flying form and they recorded their second championship win to go top of their group. Our junior camogie team drew with Naomh Baróg and it’s great to see some of the stars from the recent past back on the playing field. Our adult hurlers are back in action this week. The Inter team play Clontarf at home on Wednesday night in a vital league game while the juniors are at home on Thursday night. There has been a massive increase in the numbers of club members attending our home fixtures recently. This is a huge positive for the players and we hope it continues.

Our Annual Govan Jolliffe- Byrne tournament takes place on Saturday when we will welcome 16 teams from all over the country to our club. Once again we thank Cathal and Niall O’Reilly of KOBA restaurant for the generous sponsorship. As with all sponsors, we ask club members to support them as often as possible. We will have approximately 600 players at the club on Saturday.

SKERRIES HARPS WELL done to the Senior Ladies Football team on their win over St Maurs midweek in the Intermediate Championship , & the Junior ladies who defeated Ballymun Kickhams.

AFL4 recorded a win over Sylvesters on Tues night at home.

Well done to The U8 boys who participated in the Festival of Football blitz hosted by Kilmacud Crokes and the U12 Girls who took part in the Caman to Leinster organised by the Camogie Association and held in Abbotstown.

Hard luck to the Skerries Community Games U11 Hurlers & U10 Gootballers who lost out in their respective games last week, despite so great performances and displays of skill.

Another weekend with plenty of representation on underage Dublin squads - Ronan Geoghegan, Greg McEneaney & Eoghan O’connor Flanagan (pictured) travelled to Sligo with Dublin U15 Football, Joe May,& Eoin Wilde represented the club on the Dublin u16 team vs Kildare in Celbridge, Megen Frazer played with the u15 Ladies Football against Kerry & Hannah McGinnis played in the All Ireland u14 Ladies Football series. Well done all.

Upcoming Events /Diary Dates.

• Sat 1st June Elvis Extravanganza in the Clubhouse Tickets €20 available now from clubhouse bar (Limited availability) Last few tickets now available.

• Skerries Harps Golf society outing on Fri 14 June @ Swords Open GC. Tee times 12noon-2pm.

Meal & Prizegiving 8pm in Harps Clubhouse. Contact Paul Murray 085 1740474 The major club fundraiser for 2019 will be the Chaser! Taking place Sun 27 Oct 2019! Keep an eye on social media for more info and save the date! You wont want to miss it.

Zingo result 3-7-2-1-5-4-6.

No winners.of Jackpot Dividend winner Fiona Casey.

Next week’s draw Sun 2 June 6.30pm.

Jackpot now a amazing €5200. See you there! Play on line at skerriesharps.ie Annual Primary School Football Leagues Finals day Mon 3rd June. Over 400 boys & girls take part each week, with 24 teams in total, so a great atmosphere around the club!

All welcome to come down and support these young players !

Check the tournament Social media page (Skerries Harps Primary Schools Leagues 2019) via Facebook to keep up to date with weekly news and fixtures.

GARDA/WESTMANSTOWN GOOD week for Intermediates and Juniors with three wins out of four played.

Juniors did the double in the league, beating Kilmacud Crokes at home home and O Tooles away with Inters beating near neighbours Castleknock at home and losing narrowly away to Cuala.

Ladies lost in their Championship outing away to Templeogue Synge St.Busy week of Juvenile activity with U13 Girls winning their league,minor ladiesbeat St Judes to go second in Div 5,U-9 Boys beat Erin Go Bragh,U11 Girls welcomed Scoil Ui Chonaill and look forward to next weeks Blitz in Naas.

Well done to club members Gavin Curtis and Conor O Byrne who played for Coolmine Community School in their win in the Dublin School Hurling Championship.

Club summer camp takes place from Monday August 19-Friday August 23-places can be booked online at https://payments.gardawestmanstowngaels.com/camps Two Diary Dates re fundraising are the Club Golf Classic on July 4th and Club Race Night on October 4th.

FOOTBALL: SOMERTON SIDE WIN AFL2 BATTLE

Knock’s late double AFL DIVISION 2 Raheny 1-8 Castleknock 1-10  KEVIN MALLON sport@dublingazette.com

ONCE again, it all came down to the final few minutes with Castleknock needing points from John Kindlon and Gerard McDermottroe in the last four minutes to finally see off a determined Raheny challenge in AFL2 at a wind-swept St Anne’s Park.

The sides were level four times in the opening quarter. Fintan Sweeney came from wing half-back to land the first Castleknock point followed by a second from Rory Corcoran after a good through ball from Sean Gibbons.

McDermottroe got the third from a 40-metre free and it then took a fine save by the Raheny goalkeeper to deny Rob Shaw a Castleknock goal on 11 minutes.

Two minutes later, Tommy Corcoran ended a great move with another point to make four points each on the quarter hour.

Further scores from Sweeney and Corcoran put Castleknock into a two-point lead for the first time but, after a Shane Boland effort had been debatably waved wide, Raheny ended the half on a high with 1-2 in the last five minutes to go in at the break three points to the good (1-6 to 0-6).

Castleknock’s senior footballers are on the march. Picture: Shay Hogan

The first point of the second-half, six minutes in, also went to Raheny to leave the home team four points in front.

Castleknock’s response was almost immediate.

Following a searing Ben Galvin run through the centre of the Raheny defence, the ball was laid off to McDermottroe. The corner-forward’s first palmed effort came back off the crossbar but the Roscommon native reacted quickly to drive the rebound to the net.

Within a minute, however, had it not been for a

NUMBER ONE Purcell selected in Irish side PORTMARNOCK Golf Club’s Conor Purcell has been selected as part of a six-man Irish team for the European Amateur Championship at Diamond Country Club, Austria in June.

The Ireland number one, winner of the Australian Amateur Championship in January, currently leads the Bridgestone Order of Merit and, at number 17, is Ireland’s highest ranked player on WAGR -- the world amateur golf rankings.

Picture: GUI/Cashman Photography

marvellous Morven Connolly save at the expense of a 45, Raheny would have cancelled out that vital goal.

Another defence splitting solo run by Galvin ended with a superb equalising point (1-7 1-7), the prelude to 13 hard-fought but scoreless minutes during which the game hung in the balance.

The deadlock was broken five minutes from time when Corcoran struck a huge point from a free into the wind and from a difficult angle, to put Castleknock back in front.

Within a minute, Raheny levelled it up with a fine point from distance.

A draw was looking more and more likely until Boland ran at the Raheny defence before setting up substitute Kindlon and he split the uprights with a classy finish.

Despite a late Raheny siege at the other end, Knock – following a great Peter Sherry block – broke down-field to win a free which was converted by McDermottroe to give Castleknock another really hard-fought two league points.

30 May 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 31

MENTAL HEALTH: ST SYLVESTER’S STAR ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO TALK

FOOTBALL

Brigid’s pull away from relegation trouble

Bloom in the Park ambassador and Dublin ladies footballer Nicole Owens

Nicole Grounded for Bloom in the Park  CÓILIN DUFFY

sport@dublingazette.com

NICOLE Owens says it’s important to talk about mental health, with the Dublin Ladies Footballer having gone through tough times with depression and panic attacks affecting her daily life.

Owens has been speaking about how she has dealt with her own personal struggles, as an ambassador for ‘Grounded’ – one of the gardens which will feature at this weekends ‘Bloom in the Park’ in the Phoenix Park.

“My rationale is that the more mental health is talked about and the more that it is normalised, and to give people an insight into self-awareness and how they are feeling, and give them ways to verbalise how they are feeling,” Owens told the Dublin Gazette.

“It’s hard to go to someone to talk about it. It is becoming easier, but it is hard to go to someone and say ‘I’m not feeling great today, I’m feeling really sad today’ – it’s something that traditionally wouldn’t have been done.”

Owens hopes that speaking out from her position as a Dublin Ladies Footballer, can help.

“The reason why I like talking about it is that there is a platform based off playing for Dublin,” she said.

“It is a privilege to have that platform. If me speaking out means that one person can come to me and say ‘I understand what you are feeling’ then that’s what I’m hoping to get out of it.”

Speaking on a personal basis, Owens gave an insight into how she struggled to motivate herself to go to football training at times.

“When it was at its worst everything came in on top of me and I just couldn’t do anything,” she said.

“Part of it was that I couldn’t be around people, and obviously in teams you are around lots of people. I didn’t have the mental strength.”

Owens revealed that she took time away from the Dublin squad in 2017, and they were very supportive of her.

“It was only for a few weeks, but I was supported very well by the management and the team. It has impacted

on me at times.

“Sometimes, in the week leading up to a match, I haven’t had a good week and obviously you want to be coming into a game like an All-Ireland semifinal with a really positive mindset.

“It’s very tough when you are not. I think that is something which in the last year or two has definitely improved for me a lot.

“Looking back on 2017, I would say that was when it was probably at its worst.”

However, Owens says losses on the pitch didn’t necessarily impact more than normal on her mental health.

“It’s not something I thought about, and I don’t think it impacted any more than anyone else,” she said.

“In terms of football for instance – the All-Ireland semi-final loss hit me hard for a few days, and I didn’t want to think or talk about it, but I don’t think it affected me more.”

Looking ahead to the summer, Dublin face Westmeath in the Leinster final on June 30.

Owens says there’s not much focus

on the game yet.

“At the moment, the focus is mainly on the clubs. For the county, it’s about focussing on what we can improve upon from the league, and Mick [Bohan] is focussed on the fundamental skills which can only have a knock-on affect.

“Obviously, we have it in our heads that the next game is June 30, but the fuel is just for us all to get better at the moment, and then as we get closer to the match we’ll start looking at Westmeath in isolation and how we can deal with them and their threats.” ** ‘Grounded’ was designed in collaboration with people living with or affected by mental illness will be one of the gardens featured at this year’s Bloom in the Park over the June bank holiday weekend.

On Bloom’s opening day, a panel discussion will be held in the ‘Grounded’ garden featuring campaign ambassador Nicole Owens, psychiatrist Dr Lee Motherway, Aware ambassador and Director of Services Brid O’Meara, and See Change ambassador and Project Coordinator Barbara Brennan.

ST BRIGID’S recorded their second win of the AFL1 season as they overcame highflying Ballinteer St John’s, bouncing back from a slow start to win out 3-10 to 3-6.

Early goals from Glenn Whelan and Aaron Bradshaw had Brigid’s on the back foot early one before Sean Egan and Cathal Doyle both rattled the net for the visitors - Doyle’s strike coming at the tail end of a superb team move involving Philly Ryan and Dublin senior star Paddy Andrews.

Playing with the aid of a gale force breeze, Ballinteer struck a third goal prior to the interval.

Dan O’Leary brilliantly gathered possession off his side’s kick-out and released Bradshaw for his second of the half. Although they found themselves two points adrift (3-3 to 2-4) at the break, Brigid’s were confident of a big impact with the elements behind them.

It remained a tight affair for long stretches of the play, until Collie Carr bagged a 50th-minute goal to effectively determine the outcome of the contest. The presence of a fully-fit Andrews is a major plus for Brigid’s and he kicked five points to aid the cause of the Russell Park outfit.

Ryan and Lorcan McCarthy (two points apiece) were also dangerous throughout, while Mark Donnelly and Eoin Devitt impressed in defence.

GazetteSPORT MAY 30 - JUNE 5, 2019

ALL OF YOUR FINGAL SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31

OWENS STAYS GROUNDED LADIES FOOTBALL: Dublin senior star speaks about the importance of asking for help after her own mental health struggles SEE P31

PHOENIX RISING CRICKET:

Singh and Beecroft combine to lift Phoenix into league cup semi-finals at the expense of Malahide.

SEE P29

LAST MINUTE KNOCK MAGIC FOOTBALL:

Castleknock snatch last-ditch win over Raheny to keep good run going in AFL Division 2 SEE P30

Find us on

PICK US UP

EVERY THURSDAY!

Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

Glorious River Valley cup runs keep rolling  DAVE DONNELLY

sport@dublingazette.com

RIVER VALLEY Rangers marked the end of their first season in the Leinster Senior League by lifting the Polikoff Cup following a 2-1 victory over CYM Beechwood on Sunday.

T h e Swo rd s c l u b signed out of the AUL last year by lifting the RPD Cup and they continued their good form in knockout competitions by coming from behind to win.

Beechwood, who are a league above Rangers in Sunday Major, took the lead early on through Jack O’Connor but goals from Darren Doyle and Paul Currivan turned the tie.

O’Connor opened the scoring after ten minutes with a well-taken curling finish from the edge of the box, though Rivervalley players protested there was a foul in the build-up.

Within five minutes, Declan Eivers’ side were level as Ruairi Deasy released Doyle on the left with a crossfield ball and he beat the full back before shooting back across the keeper.

The winner arrived shortly afterwards as Doyle surged upfield and dug out a looping cross that came back off the crossbar, where Currivan was on hand to slot home the loose ball.

Currivan has been a revelation since swapping his regular position of centre-half for striker

River Valley Rangers celebrate their Polikoff success. Picture: Anto O’Brien/LSL

“I wouldn’t fear any team – we could even go up

another league – but maybe we just play better against better teams“ in March and finishes as the club’s top scorer for the season.

Beechwood are the third team in succession Rivervalley have had to beat in this competition, having seen off St Kevin’s in the quarters and Castleknock Celtic in the semis.

Both Castleknock and Kevin’s have been promoted to intermediate level which, for Eivers, begs the question of why their promotion chal-

lenge never got going.

Goalkeeper Yohann Bedos was the unanimous choice of both the coaches and the squad for player of the year, which sums up their troubles this year.

“Three teams from the league above we had to beat back-to-back, so it shows we can compete but our league form has been pretty poor,” he tells the Dublin Gazette.

“We’ve not been able to get any consistency

going in the league, but when we play better teams and we get that underdog mentality, there’s something in us.

“Same as last year, we won the RPD Cup in the AUL – same thing, poor league form but we won the cup. It’s something about this set of lads and cup games.

“I wouldn’t fear any team – we could even go up another league – but maybe we just play better against better teams.

“There’s more football, whereas if you play teams that are below you and it’s more of a scrap, maybe we don’t have the players for that.

“But when we played Kevin’s in the quarterfinals, it was the best we’ve played this seaso n a n d Kev i n’s a re renowned as a good footballing side.”

Eivers – who replaced Patsy O’Neill as manager early in the season – will sit down with the

club next week and discuss what, if any, plans they have for next season.

“I’d hope to stay on. I haven’t had a discussion with the club yet or the coaches and assistant managers I’ve had. We’ll have a chat and see what to do.

“If we did stay on, we’d have to bring in four or five players I’d say if we want to get some consistency and challenge for promotion.”