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‘Help to find how my Liga died in India’
SYLVIA POWNALL A FINGAL man whose partner was found dead in an Indian forest is pleading for information to help determine how she died. The decapitated remains of Latvian national Liga Skromane (33) were discovered by fishermen last Friday in an isolated riverside area near the capital of Kerala. She had been reported missing by her sister Ilze more than a month earlier after vanishing from a yoga retreat on March 14. Andrew Jordan, from Rolestown near Swords, hit out at local police
who said a preliminary inquiry ruled out foul play and suggested suicide as the cause of death. He said: “Had the police taken it more seriously, it would have been a different story. I plead with the people of Kerala to come forward with information if they have any idea what happened. We are sure it’s not suicide. We appeal to the police for a full investigation.” Garden manager Andrew flew back to India last week to continue the search for Liga, who moved in with him five years ago after they met at a music festival in Cork. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
2 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 26 April 2018
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ENTERPRISE: NATIONAL GLORY FOR ENTREPRENEUR
WeBringg delivers a top win to D15 man CASTLEKNOCK native Alan Hickey has won a national award for his crowd-sourced online delivery platform, WeBringg. Alan, who co-founded the business with his lifelong pal Sean Murray, was crowned Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur in the best start-up category. He was shortlisted as a finalist for the awards which took place at Google HQ on Sunday after winning the county and regional heats. Alan beat the other seven regional winners to emerge with the coveted award as well as an investment fund of €20,000, bringing his total IBYE prize fund to €35,000. WeBringg was set up in 2015 to fill a gap in the market for quicker deliveries of consumer goods bought online, using crowdsourcing technology to find drivers to carry deliveries to their destination.
FASTNews
Delight as council looks to this noteworthy event SYLVIA POWNALL
spownall@dublingazette.com
The company currently has more than 4,000 drivers in its database with operations in eight cities in Ireland, the UK and Australia, and plans to increase that number in 2018 to 35. Irish consumers spent €5 billion online last year and WeBringg wants to eliminate the two to five days’ wait to have items delivered. Alan said: “We live in a time of instant gratification. Whether it’s Paddy Power on your phone or Netflix or Just Eat, it’s ‘Give it to me now’.” WeBringg charges a modest commission on delivery fees but the bulk of the money goes to the drivers who range “from retirees to students and
Minister of State Pat Breen with Castleknock businessman Alan Hickey and Oisin Geoghegan, LEO Fingal
stay-at-home parents”. Alan added: “It’s actually increasing orders. It’s a different need. If that online store can’t send it to me for four days, but this one can send it in 90 minutes, well, I know where I’m going to buy it.” Another Fingal entrepreneur, Kevin Kelleher from Ostaform, reached the final three in the Best Business Idea Category and will receive a €4,000
investment fund. Kevin has developed a novel medical device that manages and effectively reduces skin complications caused by colostomy bags. Oisin Geoghegan, head of enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Fingal, congratulated both winners, adding that he had been “blown away” with the level of talent encountered this year.
Council under fire for enforcing policy on use of community halls FINGAL County Council has come under fire for enforcing a policy banning the use of community halls for political gatherings as campaigners seek venues in the run up to the referendum on May 25. The issue was raised after local residents in Baldoyle who are involved in the Repeal campaign held a public meeting in a community hall.
Cllr Cian O’Callaghan (SD) questioned the enforcement of the rule and pointed out that many community facilities, while part-funded by the council, mostly rely on local fundraising to stay afloat. He said: “At what point does it go from a residents’ meeting to a political meeting; who decides that? It’s a grey area. It could make it difficult for a community to gather to
discuss a local issue.” He said the Baldoyle meeting was an “open public meeting aimed at residents and anyone who wanted to hear from the Yes side why they were advocating a Yes vote”. The council said the “longstanding” policy has been in place “throughout campaigns for referenda, general, bye and local elections over many years”.
FINGAL County Council launched the Leinster Pipe Band Championships in The Atrium at County Hall last week. The championships – which sees the event return to Fingal for the first time in many years – will be held over the bank holiday weekend in Swords Castle on Saturday, May 5. Senior bands from all across Ireland will be competing at the event which will run from 12-4 pm. Admission to the Leinster Pipe Band Championships is free of charge and all are welcome to attend. The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Mary McCamley also attended the launch on Wednesday evening, where she said: “Heritage and culture are hugely important to Fingal County Council and Fingal’s residents. “I am delighted that the championships will be held in Swords Castle, which is the perfect venue to celebrate the talent and skill of so many Irish musicians.” Weather permitting, the council also plans to hold a parade of the competing bands which will proceed through Swords Main Street after the competition.
Retired zoo expert’s talk to be a roaring success RETIRED curator of animals at Dublin Zoo, Gerry Creighton, will give a talk about his time there on Saturday, April 28 at 1.30pm in Culture Corner, Blanchardstown Library. Gerry is well known from his time in the zoo as the lion keeper and the primate keeper before he became curator of animals. He has also featured in many TV programmes on the zoo. Members of the history society will have priority booking, but the
general public are also welcome, space permitting. The society is open to non-members. Those attending a meeting or talk for the first time are treated as guests and admission is free. Subsequent visits entail joining the society (€15 per annum). Anyone intending to attend is asked to notify Jim Lacey at 087 240 1308 or Angela McMorrow at 085 749 1672, as a lot of interest is expected in this talk, which has limited seating capacity.
Spring for a great annual garden sale at D15 school NOW that Spring has sprung it’s time to add colour to your gardens – and Castleknock Community College’s annual plant sale will soon take place on Saturday, May 12 and Sunday, May 13 May, from 10am – 5pm. Alongside the wonderful plants, window boxes, pots and garden items, there will also be a raffle for a BBQ and patio set, lucky dip and lots more, as well as tea, coffee and homemade cakes. All funds raised go towards upgrading the school, including the library and learning support centre, music department and IT support department. For further information, email cccplantsale@gmail.com.
26 April 2018 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 3
SWORDS: SINGER READIES HER DEBUT EP
There’s strum-thing about Rachel that’s a delight to listen to SYLVIA POWNALL
SINGER Rachel Hickey looks set to become the next big talent to come out of Swords as she prepares to release her debut EP. The 20-year-old English and music graduate took a break from gigging to spend a year in Paris but since returning home she rediscovered her first love. Rachel, from River Valley, told Dublin Gazette: “I found that I was writing a lot while I was over there and as soon as I got back I started writing again. “Now I’m back on the gig train and that is going really well. I’m excited about the EP as well and working hard to get the kind of stripped-back acoustic sound I want. “Swords has a great scene for music, so I have built up a few contacts and a bit of a regular following that way.” Rachel, who cut her teeth as a teenager performing at the infamous Chandelier sessions in Swords, played a gig at the Wiley Fox earlier this
Rachel’s aware of the power of stripped-back sound in songs
week and will play at the famous Kildare pub in the bog – Roche’s of Donadea – at the weekend. She works part-time in the bar at the Forty Four on Swords Main Street, which gives her plenty of time to devote to writing, recording and performing at weekends. The former Loreto College student, whose eclectic set list includes Swedish House Mafia, Coldplay and Lana Del Ray, said: “When people hear a song on the radio they don’t hear the lyrics but when you strip it back they get hooked. “I’m working from a home studio because I wanted to do this myself,
I just want it to sound perfect. I’ve played keyboards since I was seven and taught myself guitar from the age of 12.” Rachel’s parents, Jackie and Paul, are a great support but she admits: “I drive everyone up the wall because I’m recording away wearing earphones and next of all I get this bang on the wall!” As for following in the footsteps of Kodaline, who play Malahide Castle in June, she said: “I used to go to see them when they were playing in the community centre around the corner. Fair play to them!” Follow Rachel’s music at https://www.facebook. com/rachelhickeymusic/.
Cappagh Hospital’s helpful heroes are honoured at a top awards evening CAPPAGH Hospital Foundation celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this month with an evening in honour of supporters who have fundraised tirelessly for three decades. Fo r m e r Ta n a i s t e M a r y O’Rourke, a longstanding patron of the foundation, presented awards to a host of volunteers, including two particular Oldtown heroes – Leo Halpin and Charlie Rooney. Leo has raised thousands of euro through the annual Leo Hal-
pin Great Capp a g h Wa l k , while 99-yearo l d C h a r l i e Mary O’Rourke with a pair of tireless Cappagh Hospital was honoured Foundation fundraisers – Leo Halpin and Charlie Rooney with the title (aged 99), both from Oldtown of Oldest Fundraiser. to implement include the estabSince 1988, more than €11m lishment of a bone tumour regof the generous donations raised istry, a new Out Patients departby such tireless supporters has ment, a 10-bed isolation unit, made a significant difference to supporting nurses in advanced the staff and patients at Cappagh education and new spinal surgery navigation equipment and National Orthopaedic Hospital. Developments they’ve helped software.
4 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 26 April 2018
COUNCIL: RUNWAY TALKS ONGOING
DEATH
‘Money not a factor in moving Traveller families by airport’ Andrew’s
The late Liga Skromane, 33
SYLVIA POWNALL
FINGAL County Council says it is working with Traveller families at Collinstown Park regarding relocation and monetary compensation has not been discussed. The local authority reacted to media reports at the weekend claiming that families living on land owned by airport authorities were seeking compensation to move. Up to 14 families based at Collinstown – some of whom have lived there for more than 30 years – must leave to make way for the €320 million second runway at Dublin Airport. Initial reports suggested they were looking for sums ranging from €100,000 to €800,000 to vacate the site.
But Fingal County Council issued a statement on Monday saying it wished to “clarify several issues which have arisen”. It continued: “Fingal County Council’s Traveller Accommodation Programme 2014-2018 sets out the requirement for a Collinstown Park replacement site as the current site is required by the Dublin Airport Authority for airport expansion purposes. “The council is now engaged in a statutory planning process, in accordance with the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), in relation to the provision of the alternative accommodation. “Details of this propos-
al are available for inspection at the council’s offices at Grove Road, Blanchardstown, or County Hall, Swords, or online on the Fingal County Council website at http://consult.fingal.ie/en/browse. “The council can confirm that it has worked with the families concerned to identify their housing need and will continue to do so. “However, contrary to recent media reports, an issue of monetary compensation does not arise.” It is understood that an alternative site for the families is being sought at Coolquay. The DAA had asked Fingal County Council to ensure the lands are vacated to pave the way for the 3.1km landing strip at the airport.
Mayor Mary McCamley formally launches the exhibition as co-ordinator Paddy O’Byrne and Fingal heritage officer Gerry Clabby look on
Delighted to help dig into the past of Early Christian Swords
THERE was a large turnout for the opening of an exhibition on Early Christian Swords at St Cronan’s Pastoral Centre at the weekend. Among those attending was Canon Robert Dean (rector of St Columba’s Church of Ireland), Fr Dan O’Connor (head of education in the Dublin Archdiocese), and Fingal heritage officer Gerry Clabby. There have been a number of major archaeological sites recently uncovered due to development in the Swords area. The exhibition, co-ordinated by Paddy O’Byrne, brings these finds to light for the information of the general population. The display is free and is open Monday to Friday from 10.30am to 5pm, and on Saturday/Sunday from 10.30am to 7pm.
desperate search for answers
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
She travelled to an Ayurvedic healing centre in Kerala on February 4 with her sister, Ilze, for treatment for post-traumatic depression and was last seen taking an auto-rickshaw to Kovalam beach. Speaking to Dublin Gazette before returning to India, Andrew said he and Liga were “life partners” and he would not rest until she was found. He criticised local police in India who at first did not take Liga’s disappearance seriously and did not establish a dedicated crime team for 10 days. And he said Liga could not have reached the remote location where her decomposed body was found without help. He explained: “We went to Kovalam to see if it is possible for someone to reach the spot alone. “There are only two options, either with the help of a local or on a boat. Liga ... cannot [have] reach[ed] that place without external help.” Liga’s younger sister Ilze requested a post-mortem to be conducted by private doctors of her choice but this was denied. According to local media reports, doctors who conducted the post-mortem examination told police there were no open wounds or bone fractures. A report stated: “There are no injuries to her body parts. But the exact reason of the death can be established only after the chemical analysis report.” S ta te p o l i ce c h i e f Loknath Behera said all enquiries into the death would be pursued.
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6 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 26 April 2018
GALLERIES
Teachers and Students at Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s visit to Luttrellstown Community College. Pictures: Simon Peare
Aaron Munster singing for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
Michael O’Donovan and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
Leo Varadkar and Gary Cole
An Taoiseach Pays a Visit to Luttrellstown
A
N Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar paid a visit to Luttlrellstown Community School last week where he checked on the progress of the new school extension which is under construction. There was great excitement among the students to meet the head of Government. Some students put on a musical performance for their guest of honour. He also took the time to listen to speeches from some of the students.
Student Luke Russell and principal Fionnuala Ní Chaisil with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
FASTNews
Laugh along at the Lord Mayor with ‘lightning’ wits IF YOU’RE game for a laugh, head to the Lord Mayor’s pub in Swords this Sunday, April 29, as ‘Lightning Comedy’ returns with another packed bill. Comic talents from Fingal and further afield will take to the stage for the second in a series created by local writer and performer
David Gilna. His aim is to bring touring comedians and local stand-up ‘newbies’ together to put on a show for a local audience, six to eight times a year. On Sunday, Eric Lalor is headlining, ably supported by a hugely talented bill of comedy acts
including Mark McConnell, Ben Butler, Jess Collins, Greg Marks, Mags McHugh and the author of ‘How to Deal with Poxes’, Aoife Dooley. Doors will open at 8pm, with the show set to start at 8.30pm. There is a small cover charge for the gig – just €5.
26 April 2018 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 7
RUSH: PROHIBITION NOTICE FOR FORMER EMPLOYEES
Central Bank rules on credit union staff SYLVIA POWNALL
THE manager and assistant manager of a credit union which owed €2 million have been prohibited from working in financial services indefinitely. The Central Bank issued its “most serious possible outcome for a fitness and probity investigation” to Rush Credit Union’s former manager, Anne Butterly. Former Rush assistant manager Geraldine Harford has also been barred from carrying out senior functions in a regulated financial entity for an indefinite period. The Central Bank’s prohibition notice was issued under its Fitness and Probity Regime, but the bank said it could not disclose further information pending a criminal investigation. The ruling follows a probe into unauthorised transactions on
accounts after the High Court appointed liquidators on November 21, 2016. Court documents recorded that the institution owed about €2 million more than it held in assets as well as serious issues surrounding the management of its car draw. The report was able to uncover payment transactions in relation to the car draw, but not the details of winners because “no information is recorded or published on Rush’s website”. Forensic accountants hired by the Central Bank to look into Rush Credit Union were unable to track down winners of 15 car draws, involving an outlay of €220,860, between November 2012 and April 2016. In a statement, the Central Bank said its investigation into Butterly has not concluded, with “the issue of a prohibition order of indefinite
duration”. “This prohibition notice has been issued pursuant to the Central Bank’s fitness and probity regime following the bank’s investigation into financial irregularities at Rush Credit Union,” Seana Cunningham, director of Enforcement and AntiMoney Laundering, said. “The Central Bank’s fitness and probity regime is in place to ensure that individuals performing key roles in regulated financial services firms are competent and capable, and act honestly, ethically and with integrity. “The prohibition of individuals for an indefinite period of time from performing specific roles in financial firms is the most serious outcome under the fitness and probity regime,” she added, noting this was the fourth prohibition notice issued by the Central Bank since its introduction.
New Ballymastone school welcome – as long as it’s not made of prefabs SYLVIA POWNALL
The rafting trip down the Boyne was a great success
Oar blimey! 42 rafters raise €5,000 for school
PARENTS and staff of Gaelscoil an Chuilinn in Tyrrelstown took to the water for a good cause earlier this month. A group of 42 parents, teachers and friends took part in a sponsored river rafting trip down the Boyne over the weekend to raise money for the school. Their target was to raise more than €5,000, and the event was organised by four parents – Margaret McMahon, Liz Kelly, Andrea Daly and Justin O’Connell. The challenge was completed over eight trips with two rafts going in the morning and two in the afternoon, with Trim-based company Boyne Valley Activities.
DONABATE Portrane Community Council has welcomed news of a new primary school but says it needs to be built immediately – and prefabs will not suffice. A housing boom in the area will add demand for an extra 1,800 primary school children, with an additional 1,000 secondary students with no place for them. The newly-relaunched community council says the Ballymastone South primary school should be delivered in line with Education Minister Richard Bruton’s announcement. Current development is centred adjacent to the site identified in the Local Area Plan (LAP) and this piece of critical infrastructure is urgent-
ly needed at this location. There are three primary schools in Donabate – St Patrick’s Boys’ School and St Patrick’s Girls’ School and the Donabate-Portrane Educate Together. A spokesperson for the community council said: “With new house builds at a record high, schools have exceeded capacity, with waiting lists for school places growing on a daily basis.” One of the key challenges identified by the Donabate LAP is the population growth of young people and children and the lack of activities/facilities. There are three fiveacre primary school sites designated in the LAP at Corballis, Ballymastone south and Ballymastone north.
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26 April 2018 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 9
10 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 26 April 2018
GALLERIES OF THE WEEK
Sinead Mulvey McHugh, Adam Storey and Morgan O’Brien. Pictures: ROB KENNEDY
Wendy Storey
Back To School For Leo A
n Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar paid a visit to Blakestown Community School recently. Along with Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton and Mayor of Fingal Mary McCamley they met with students and teachers. An Taoiseach is pictured here delivering a rousing speech to the pupils. See our picture gallery from the day next week
Picture: Simon Peare
Andy Marsh
C The group’s performance of Officer Krupke went down a storm
oolmine Musical Society recently took to the stage in Draiocht with Let Us Entertain You which brought the audience to a show that left them wanting more! The hardworking cast have been rehearsing since the cold nights in January where the talented production team of Gladys Coyle (director), Eoghan Connolly (musical director) and Louise Hudson (choreographer) made sure the show was musically melodic and in time with the music!
A show-stopping performance
High Jumps and High Jinx in America
26 April 2018 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 11
Gavin Inspires Syl’s Youngsters T
here was great excitement at St. Sylvester’s GAA Club when former Dublin player and Current Dublin Manager, Jim Gavin paid a visit to the club. The inspirational manager who has led Dublin’s senior team to a number of league and AllIreland trophies was on hand to offer some advice and training tips to the young club players. There was even time to pose for a few selfies. The day will live long in the memories of the aspiring All-Ireland winners.
St. Sylvester’s players and coaching staff with Dublin Boss Jim Gavin.
12 DUBLIN GAZETTE 26 April 2018
LOVE YOUR DUBLIN: THE BREAKDOWN OF THE BEST HANG OUTS AND HISTORICAL GEMS
MOUNTJOY PARK LOOKING BLOOMING GREAT
THE LITERARY PARADE & SENSE OF HISTORY AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT SOME OF THE CITY’S BEST PARKS
H
IDDEN just off the beaten path in the Liberties, St Patrick’s Park surrounds the historic St Patrick’s Cathedral on the south side of the city. It’s a sun trap in the slightly warmer months, with flowers and trees adorning the surrounds of one of the city’s bestkept springtime secrets. Developed by Lord Iveagh under the St. Patrick’s Park Act of 1897, work was completed by July, 1904. Dublin City Corporation – now known as Dublin City Council – took ownership of the park from Lord Iveagh in the 1920s. The park also features a ‘literary’ parade and several sculptures, celebrating various aspects of Ireland’s life and history. The Literary parade is decorated with flowers, and a peep through the beautifully sculpted grills will show you things celebrating the life and works of such luminaries as Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett and Jonathan Swift, who was the dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral.
MOUNTJOY SQUARE
BLESSINGTON STREET PARK
HERBERT PARK
LOCATION: Dublin 1 BEST FEATURE: The quiet solace
LOCATION: Dublin 7 BEST FEATURE: Scenic views of the water feature
LOCATION: Ballsbridge BEST FEATURE: Wildlife
LOCATED right in the centre of Mountjoy Square – at one time known as ‘Dublin’s premiere Georgian area’ – this northside park was originally developed around the 1800s by Lord Mountjoy. One of the smaller Georgian squares in the city, it’s a much-loved amenity by locals and tourists alike. It’s known by Dublin locals as a small respite from the hustle and bustle of the city, being a small bit quieter than its southside counterparts. A big enough green space, it’s a lovely spot to take in a lunchtime stroll from work, or even a picnic al-fresco on the weekends – weather permitting, of course. There’s a large p lay area in the park for children to play on, equipped with a climbing frame, slide and a few swings. Mountjoy Square is also equipped with a basketball court for those who play, and multiple fields for a kickabout if that’s more your style.
SET between the city centre and Phibsboro, Blessington Street Park is the definition of a hidden gem. Also known as ‘The Basin’, the main feature of the park is a massive lake, dotted with small islands blossoming with greenery. Originally build in 1811, the water in The Basin came from Lough Owel in Westmeath through the Royal Canal. The water in the Basin was used almost exclusively to supply the Jameson Whiskey Distillery and the Powers Whiskey Distillery from the 1860s until the 1970s. It was refurbished in 1994. Naturally, it’s home to a number of birds and ducks. It’s an easy stroll from O’Connell Street, located near student accommodation in a developing, bustling area of the city. Some new play areas add to the park’s attractiveness to citizens of all ages.
OVER IN the heart of Ballsbridge lies Herbert Park, one of the city’s best-loved green spaces. Its 32 acres house a number of lakes and sporting amenities and it was recently developed to include an all-weather pitch and a new playground. The park is named after Sidney Herbert, the father of the Earl of Pembroke, who gave the site to Pembroke Urban District Council in 1903 to use as a park. It was developed into a public park in 1907, finally opening its doors to the public in 1911. Considered relatively small by Phoenix and Marlay Park standards, Herbert Park is neverthless a small space with a lot of personality. Football pitches, tennis, boules and croquet courts are all actively used in the park. Some particularly vibrant graffiti has appeared on the outskirts of the park, and can be seen while passing the park.
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14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 26 April 2018
PENSIONS
OUR GREAT GUIDE ON PENSIONS
INSIDE...
P15 Retirement research P16 Facing ‘complex’ rules P17 Keep/transfer scheme P18 Vox Pension Pops
CITIZENS’ THOUGHTS
Why not learn what the ‘Vox Pensioni’ think?
PENSIONS may not exactly be a hot topic for most of us – but Dublin Gazette soon learned that, once we put Dubs and citizens on the spot for some vox pops, many of you shared the same concerns and outlooks about the little-discussed but oh-soimportant money matter. Our reporters picked people at random on the streets of Dublin to hear what you think about pensions – and our vox pops included in this special pensions supplement saw many of the same answers and thoughts coming up time and time again. From worries about the future (or a more relaxed outlook from those who’ve started saving) to more general concerns, take the time to read about what many of us think about pensions – and start thinking about what you plan to do about your pension...
Planning for the Best years of our Lives Everything you wanted to know about pensions, but didn’t know who to ask THIS supplement emphasises the importance of planning for your retirement as early as possible. You will read about the importance of getting a pension that will provide you with a comfortable living. We also provide information about the benefits and peace of mind that a good pension scheme gives you and your family after you retire from work. Talking to Dublin Gazette in our extensive vox pops (see panel, left, and scattered
across these supplement pages), the results were quite startling, with many citizens clearly unaware of how to go about getting a pension that would provide financial security for themselves after retirement, or for their families. The reality is that you need to start saving young (ideally in your 20s or 30s) and to save at least 10% of your income each year. If you start saving late (in your 40s and 50s), you’ll have to save a large portion of
your income – as much as 50% a year. With the pressures of modern day living and the financial burden of rearing young families, many people are unwilling to make the commitment and lifestyle changes they would need to make, in order to save enough to afford a comfortable retirement. This feature provides some very valuable information about the benefits of having a good pension and how to secure one that suits your requirements.
26 April 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15
PLANNING FOR THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES
Congratulations on retiring – so what’s next? RESEARCH conducted by the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland shows that half of us who haven’t planned for retirement feel anxious about the impending change to our lifestyle, finances and family life. According to Derek Bell, chief operations officer of the Retirement Planning Council, how we prepare for retirement greatly affects our experience of it. Here he outlines how to best plan for the next stage of our lives ... Graduate into retirement If you can, consider gradually exiting the workforce rather than a sudden departure. Consider dropping to a three-day week, or mornings only. Ideally, we recommend that employees start reducing their work sched-
ule up to a year in advance of retirement to start acclimatising to their new routine. Consider when to retire In Ireland, the weather plays a huge part in our lifestyles. If you retire in spring or summer, the weather is better and the evenings longer – a more pleasant time to be off work and be out and active. Those who retire at this time of the year tend to transition more easily than those who do so in autumn or winter. Establish your identity Ask yourself who you are, outside of your work life and personality. Make a list of all the other aspects of your identity – husband, grandfather or wife, grandmother, musician, tennis player, art enthusi-
Retirement is time to reconnect with who you are as a person outside ‘just’ your work identity
ast. Where does your work identity come on that list? Those who start with their work identity and struggle to identify other identities can find it difficult to transition into life without work. This can also seriously impact partners.
Tap back into old hobbies Your average work and commute time can add up to over 50 hours a week. Re-visit old hobbies to help fill up that big space once you’ve retired. Consider summer, winter, team, individual, physical, mental, old and new hobbies.
Be wary of developing bad habits With no work to get up for in the morning, it’s easy to lie in bed, have that extra glass of wine or two in the evenings, or graze on food during the day. Ask yourself if you would be doing this if you had work tomorrow. If not, think twice. Plan your new routine Set as much into routine as is possible. What time will you wake up, what time of day you will go for a walk, visit friends, engage in activities etc. Structure will help you settle in to your new daily routine. Plan chunks of time, not every minute of every hour. Plan your finances Our research shows that 65% of people feel financ-
es are their greatest concern when approaching retirement. Having completed our course, this percentage dropped to 25%! Give your finances some attention now. What will your new income be? Check your benefits and entitlements. Set aside a budget for any new activities, travel or socialising that will be new expenses. Check your legal affairs Make sure you have made a will and consider setting up Power of Attorney or an Enduring Power of Attorney in case a health situation may arise in which you may not be capable of managing your affairs. Planning properly with a reputable solicitor can help minimise expenses and complications further
down the road. Enjoy your new life Some 80% of our social contacts come from workbased contacts. Invest time in meeting new people through activities, community organisations or volunteering. Now is the time to indulge in hobbies and passions and approach this new stage with enthusiasm and confidence.
DEREK Bell is COO of the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland. To find out more about retirement planning and the courses available, see www.rpc.ie.
16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 26 April 2018
PENSIONS
Whether male or female, make time to start your pension now AS PEOPLE develop through their lifetime they have an expectation that a time will come when they will be able to retire. For some people, the State pension is sufficient to provide a basic level of income. Others may have an opportunity to accumulate wealth without pension schemes – perhaps through their business ventures or other assets. But most people will want to supplement what they have with some form of pension scheme. Many employers also take the view that, while their employees are working, they should be building up an entitlement to a pension when they retire. Pension arrangements have several advantages: • When people come to retire they will experience a reduction in income – a pension makes up for some of this loss of income in retirement; • Pension schemes can
provide protection in the form of lump sums and pensions to dependents in the event of a member’s death; • In order to encourage pension schemes, the State provides tax relief on contributions made to pension schemes and the growth in their investments. Saving for retirement is extremely important. People are living longer and leading more active lives in retirement. As a result, it is more important than ever for you to think about where your income will come from when you retire. Pension saving is one of the few areas where you can still get tax relief. About half of the people working in Ireland are members of pension arrangements. The State pension is intended to ensure that everyone receives a basic standard of living in retire-
SHARON FLANAGAN, 32 DO YOU have a pension? No. It’s definitely something that I need to set up! Some people start thinking about it in their 20s, but I think I’m a bit late to the party! Do you think there’s enough information on pensions out there? No. They’re not really advertised a lot; I wouldn’t have a clue where to
JAMES AARON DOYLE DO YOU have a pension? I don’t have a pension, I should set one up. I’ve had it suggested to me many times. I guess I don’t have enough information on it really, to be honest. Would you like to learn more about pensions? I would. Going out and finding out about it yourself when you don’t know anything about it, can be really confusing. I would probably turn
ment. For example, the full State Pension (Contributory) currently is €243.30 per week, or approximately €12,000 per annum. When planning for retirement you will need to decide whether this is enough to live on in retirement, and if not, where your additional retirement income will come from. Few people realise that having the required level of income in retirement requires a substantial level of pension savings. Example If you were to buy a pension from an insurance company at retirement of €10,000 per annum, you could need a pension fund of €200,000 or more. To avoid having to put aside large amounts, it is better to join a pension scheme and start saving as soon as you can. Although men and women are treated equally
look for one. Is there any family member you could talk to about a pension? Probably my dad; I know that he has a pension.
to a family member [for more information]. Would any of your family members have a pension? As far as I’m aware, my dad did, but he passed away when I was young. I don’t even think my mother has one now, [but] she’s on the widow’s pension. As far as I’m aware, the only ones that have pensions in the family are my sisters Elaine and Sharon. Do you think it is easy to get information on pensions? I haven’t looked into
it too much, but from what I’ve gathered, no. I could walk into a bank today, and they could probably give me a load of spiel about it, and I wouldn’t understand it. But at the same time, I’m always open to going in and asking about it. I just haven’t really thought about it.
in relation to pension provision, there are a number of areas, such as maternity leave, part-time working and breaks in employment that are of particular interest to women. Some women are homemakers and rely on benefits available from their spouse/partner’s pension scheme. Also, women generally live longer than men and so are more likely to need their pension to last longer. These factors mean that women can be more vulnerable in relation to retirement. Ultimately, the earlier a pension plan is started, the more time the fund has to accumulate and the better off you will be. It is even more important now to provide for your retirement, considering that the age from which the State Pension becomes payable is increasing over the next few years.
RUTH MCCOY, 34 DO YOU have a pension? I actually don’t, no. I think when you get to your 30s it kind of hits you that you need to. I suppose it depends on the jobs or career that you’re in as well, if you see it as a long-term profession, like teaching or nursing. Do you think there’s enough information on pensions out there? Not really, no. Maybe I haven’t looked hard enough! Would you go to family members for pensions advice?
DON KIERNAN, 46 DO YOU have a pension? I do. I have a couple of pensions. I work in RSA; I’ve had various pensions over the years, through the English side of the company, and then the Irish side of the company, and now we’re on a defined contribution through Irish Life. Do you find you’re less worried about the future because you have a pension? I think I do, because they project that I have enough to do me. Where did you get pension advice?
The rules can be complex, but they’re set up to help you PERSONAL pensions mean pensions that are organised individually by self-employed people or employed people who do not have an occupational pension scheme. The rules governing personal pensions have changed very considerably in recent years. Personal pensions are not subject to the regulation of the Pensions Authority. Instead, personal pensions are subject to tax law and financial services legislation (including the general law on insurance). Tax relief is available for contributions to personal pensions and the amount of the relief is age-related. Most personal pensions policies are insurance policies. Unlike other insurance policies, the contributions
Yes, my sister – w h o ’s a teacher – would b e g re a t for advice. She’s only a few years older than me, [but] she has a pension, so she’d be a good person to go to for advice. But maybe the Government or a State agency should have a campaign to make people more aware of the importance of getting your pension sorted.
Through work. Initially it was included in my salary – not that you were forced into it, but it fell into your lap, so you didn’t have to think about it. Do you think, in general, there’s enough information out there for people? I think people probably need a push. I know lots of people who don’t have pensions because they never actually sat down and said, ‘Do you know what, I need to do [this]’. It’s a lot of money – you’re talking 400 quid a month. If you’ve 400 quid in your back pocket that’s not somewhere
attract tax relief if various conditions are met. The traditional personal pension arrangement was that you invested your money – usually on an annual basis – with an insurance company. The premiums you paid were then invested by the insurance company in an investment fund. You could not remove your funds and invest them with another company. When you reached the age specified in the policy, you were obliged to use your accumulated funds to buy an annuity. Since 1999, you are no longer
else, and you need it, [then] you hold onto it. Would you have any advice for anyone who doesn’t have a pension? I would advise people to start, even if they start small. Because once it’s there, and as you get older, and maybe your salary increases a bit, you can up it. But I would say, just start.
obliged to buy an annuity and you also have considerable flexibility about moving between different funds. Note that you may get tax relief on contributions to approved personal pension arrangements. This relief is more generous as you get older. Since January 1 2011, you pay PRSI and the Universal Social Charge on your pension contributions.
26 April 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17
PLANNING FOR THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES
A new job doesn’t necessarily mean moving over to a new pension scheme WITH the economy now improving, many employees are moving their services to new employers. When an employee moves employment, they have a number of choices in relation to their pension plan: • They can leave the monies with the former employer; • They can transfer the monies to their new employer pension scheme, if they have one; and • They can transfer the funds into a Personal Retirement Bond. Some believe they should simply transfer their benefits to the new employer scheme – so they can keep things ‘nice and neat’. However, there may be some good reasons to retain your funds with the former employer – the charging structure
might be very attractive, or the scheme may have access to a wider range of funds. In the case of premature death, the deferred benefits will be paid to your estate as a taxfree lump sum. If your first instinct is to move the monies to the new employer scheme – tread carefully. The new employer may offer a ‘lower charge’ pension scheme and while it may be nice to keep all your pension pots in one place, there are a number of considerable drawbacks to this approach. Locking in your pension monies If you enjoy working for your new employer and you don’t anticipate retiring until 65 (or later) – if this is you, then you have effectively tied up your for-
continue to work. Having Less Control over how your monies are invested If you invest your monies into your new employer scheme, they may have more limited fund choices and you may have less choices in relation to how your monies might continue to be invested. A transfer to a Personal Retirement Bond allows you to take full control over how the monies are invested.
mer pension scheme such that you can’t access these monies until you retire from your current employer. However, if you had trans-
ferred your former employer funds into a Personal Retirement Bond, you would retain full access to these monies from as early as age 50 – even if you
Don’t let any ageism clip your wings as a travelling pensioner IT SEEMS that once we reach the ripe old age of 66, we just fall off a cliff and become invisible. However, today’s pensioners are far removed from those of 50 years ago. People are now living much longer and are much more conscious of their health. Many have ‘bucket wish’ lists that need to be filled, with people saying that they’re so busy now that they don’t know where they got the time to go to work in the first place. A couple of weeks ago, Pricewatch attended a Senior Times expo. The event was dedicated to things of interest to an older audience. One of the things that came up more than once was the difficulty that many older people have in getting travel insurance. The refrain that was heard repeatedly was that people are now living longer and staying healthy for longer; and just
because they hit a certain arbitrary age, they don’t feel their horizons should be shortened by outside forces – but too often they are, with ageism rife in the travel insurance business. Someone who tries to get travel insurance at 66 can often pay twice as much as someone aged 65, even though there is no difference in the level of risk the two people pose to companies! However, there are companies that make it their business to offer travel insurance to older people. There is oktotravelinsurance.ie and goodtogoinsurance.eu, which you will probably never have heard of, and the AA, which many will have heard of, while VHI covers most of the travelling public in Ireland aged 70 to 80. Age Action Ireland has a comprehensive list of companies that insure older people, although it does make it clear that it
does not endorse any of the companies, and – as with most things – it is
very important that you do your homework before you agree to anything.
Payment of your pension benefits on premature death before retirement This issue is often overlooked and it is a KEY decision for NOT transferring your monies into your new employer scheme. Under current legislation, if you die in service (death in ser-
vice), the pension scheme can pay a lump sum not exceeding the greater of €6,350, or four times the deceased employee’s final remuneration may be provided. In many instances where an employee dies and where the pension fund value exceeds four times their salary on death, the payment of a lump sum is limited to four times their final salary. If the employee transfers his former employment benefits into a Personal Retirement Bond, the full value of the Personal Retirement Bond can be paid as a tax-free lump sum on premature death. For further information on this type of cover, contact Full Circle Financial Services Limited at 01 253 0060, or see www. fcfinancial.ie.
18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 26 April 2018
PENSIONS BRIAN RYAN, 43 DO YOU have a pension? No. But I suppose I would like to have a pension. Would you worry about not having a pension? I suppose I would, but I’m living life in reverse – I only started going back to studying late in life, so I’m doing it all kind of backwards. Did you put any money aside when you were younger? No, I spent it! I do save at the moment, but I suppose at some point I’ll probably consider a pension, I just have to wait until there’s more money coming in. Do you have a family member you could ask for advice about a pension? My wife – she has a pension. I’ve no idea [what kind of pension it is], but it’s through the bank.
A message on pensions you should heed
TOMMY D’ARCY, 55 DO YOU have a pension? I do. I had a couple of companies, so I had a pension through my own business. But then I lost it, so I also now have a pension through my work, so I have a couple of different types. When did you first take out your pension? When I was 21. I didn’t know what I was doing at the time! But I really didn’t get into them until I started the business, which was in my 30s. Then I understood the concept a lot better. Did you find you were more clued up about pensions because you ran your own business? Totally. I could put money into a pension which was tax-efficient as well, so it made it a bit easier. Do you think it is
EDDIE HEALY, 32 DO YOU have a pension? No, [but] I would like to get a pension. Do you think there’s enough information out there about pensions? I don’t think there’s enough information out there at all. There’s a lot of things I don’t understand when they start trying to describe a pension to me. You were saying your employer is looking into getting a pension for you? As I believe, it’s mandatory for an employer to offer you a pension, so I’ve said it to him and he’s trying to go down that road of offering a pension to me. Do you have a family member you could ask for advice about a pension? I haven’t gone to any family member. It’s not a very talked about subject. Do you worry about money for when you retire? Yes, in my trade [refrigeration], I think I’ll be finished at about 60, so [I do worry].
CATHAL LYNCH, 40
easy to get information on pensions? No. People have to go and look for it; there’s nobody telling them. [There’s] salesmanship too, there’s a lot of commission involved in that business, which is not telling the facts. What advice would you give to anyone who doesn’t have a pension? Definitely take one out, because no matter how small the amount you put into it, it’s nice to know the comfort of having it for later in life. It’s difficult in today’s society to do it, but definitely consider it, because it’s so worthwhile.
CHAP PARPALUTA, 31 DO YOU have a pension? Yes, I do. It’s just a regular one from work. And I also have a private one back home in Romania, which I pay every year. Do you find you’re less worried about the future because you have a pension? Of course, because I look at my parents and I see their situation. They’re getting [about] €150 a month, which is nothing, it’s just to pay their bills. Would you have any advice for anyone who doesn’t have a pension? Make it a priority. It makes you more secure. When you get old, you don’t want to just stay in the house. You want to enjoy life.
IT USED to be the case for many of us that a pension was something that your mum or dad (probably) had, and that it was something we’d all think about “some other time”, most likely when we’re “a bit older”. Not any more – changing demographics and much better awareness of taking care of ourselves means that, with luck, most of us will live long and healthy lives – and a secure financial future isn’t based on luck, but on proper planning. With this in mind, it’s especially important that at any age – but especially if you’re young, and for those of us with families – we all plan on putting together a pension plan for that dim and distant day when we’ll need more than what the state may be able to provide. After all, that day’s rushing towards us all quicker than you’d think, and you’ll be glad indeed you’ve saved for a pension! And, just in case you think Dublin Gazette is trying to scare you into being sensible, just take a look around at some of these thoughts and comments from these other vox pops. Ask yourself if you share the same thoughts, worries and concerns as the rest of these Dubliners and citizens who shared their thoughts on pensions with us. If so – and even if not – don’t delay, start planning your pension today!
LOUISE LEONARD AND DAUGHTER ROISIN DO YOU have a pension? No, I don’t. Is i t s o m e t h i n g you’ve thought about? Yes, I have, but I think I’m getting to the stage now where I’m getting too old to start looking into it! Do you worry about not having a pension? I do. Because what am I going to live off? How am I going to pay my bills? Do you think it is easy to get information on pensions? R: It’s not really advertised; you have to actually search [for] them
DO YOU have a pension? I do indeed. It’s a defined contribution pension; [I got it] pretty much as soon as I started working. Where did you get pension advice? From my parents. They worked in the public sector, so they knew the importance of having a good pension. I work in the private sector. I think if [pension payments] comes out [of wages] from the start, you don’t miss it. And when you get to 40, it’s actually nice to know you have something there. Do you find you’re less worried about the future because you
have a pension? Ah, I always worry about the future, but I’m less worried I suppose!. Would you have any advice for anyone who doesn’t have a pension? I think it’s probably better to start it sooner rather than later because we’re all living longer, and the State pension isn’t particularly generous. So, if you want a pretty good quality of life after you retire, it’s best to plan for the future.
KATE ZYROMSKA, 36
yourself. L: And then they use language that people don’t understand. They’re throwing these big mad words out, where as if they just put it in plain English, [it would be easier]. Do you think chatting about it now with us, is getting you thinking about it?
Yeah, definitely. Myself and my husband have sort of talked about it, but it’s just laziness as well because pensions aren’t on your doorstep; they’re just not there for you, no one publicises them. You don’t hear or see much about them, not unless you’re in a pensionable job, [such as] a state job.
DO YOU have a pension? No. I would like to get one. I’m starting to worry, especially now, since I became a mam. Savings aren’t always enough, so it would be great if employees would introduce that to you. Do you think there’s a lack of information out there? Yes, I’m sure [most] people would have no idea when we should start thinking about it, so definitely there should be more information about it. If I was given an option 10 years ago I could have started. Would you know where to look for one? No! Maybe you can write an article about that!
26 April 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19
HOME & STYLE SPRING ELEGANCE: TV’S
Michelle Keegan launches a lovely, elegant line for Littlewoods Ireland
DUBLIN
WESTWORLD AIMS PEUGEOT IMPRESS WITH TO ENTERTAIN P25 EASE WITH THE 5008 P28 PAGE 27
MAGAZINE
LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF THE NEWS AND EVENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND COUNTY
THE GIFT OF GAZ | I JUST WANTED TO GET ME MESSAGES, NOT A MAUREEN RANT
Banking on a quick escape from an epic moan THE summer was nice there for the few days. I made sure I got out and about in it because ye never know – that could be it for another year. I had a grand few strolls round the place, but of course the only time someone stops you on the street is when it’s wet and horrible out and, sure enough, didn’t I bump into Davy’s wife, Maureen, on Tuesday afternoon. If I’d just left it five minutes later to pop down and grab me mes-
sages, I’d have missed her, but I was gasping for a cup of tea and had no milk in the house. I knew from the look of thunder on her face that I wasn’t getting away from this encounter quickly. She didn’t even say “Howya” before launching into it. “The bowsies,” she roars at me. “The utter bleedin’ bowsies! Charlatans, that’s what they are! Never trust any of them. Be better off with me money in the mattress.” “What’s wrong, Mau-
reen?” I says to her. to keep me strength up. or something?” “Three hours I’m after What if I was a diabetic “Ah, Maureen, come being up in on now. You’re that bank,” not dire and If I’d just left it five she says. p a t h e t i c, ” I “Three feck- minutes later to pop down and s ays. I w a s i n ’ h o u r s ! grab me messages, I’d have only half lisC a n y o u missed Maureen tening, to be believe that, fair. Gaz? “I said ‘dia“Three b e t i c ’ !” s h e hours and roars at me. they didn’t “ W h a t ’s offer any of diabetes got us a chair, a to do with the cup of tea – bank?” I says. nothing. Not Look, I’ll even an auld admit I was Hob Nob or probably consomething fusing the
“
situation more than it needed to be confused, but sure, I hadn’t had me cup of tea. I needed a sugar rush meself. “Nothing, ye feckin’ eejit,” she says. “Other than the fact that I was up in the bloody bank for so long today, that’s all.” “How come?” I says. “The money has disappeared,” she says. “Disappeared?” I asked her. “How has that happened?” “I dunno how these things work,” she says. “But it’s just disappeared. Some computer
error or something. “It’s affected loads of people and they were all in there queuing to get emergency cash until it’s sorted.” “And did you get sorted?” I says to her. “I did, but it was an awful waste of a few hours,” she says. “Me day is gone, basically.” I left her to it and then it dawned on me that I’d seen Davy eying up the Punchestown card the day before. I hope it was the bank that made the money disappear ...
20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 26 April 2018
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26 April 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21
COMMUNITY
GALLERIES
Help to nominate the best of Dublin for a top 98FM award IT’S that time of year again – time for people across the city to help sing the praises of the businesses, groups and people that make Dublin so great, thanks to 98FM’s Best of Dublin Awards 2018. Now in their fifth year, the awards shine a light on Dublin’s hidden gems, with 98FM on the lookout to find all the people and places that make Dublin great. Nominations are now officially open until May 4, when five deserving nominees in each of the 16 diverse categories will be shortlisted. Shortlisted nominees will be sent a promotional pack to encourage customers, family
and friends to vote for them, before the winners are announced at the 98FM’s Best of Dublin Awards on May 31 in Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin 8. The 16 award categories cover all the best ser-
vices Dublin has to offer, including local legends, favourite food and drink venues – and even the best bus driver. Last year, the awards received 18,733 nominations, with a staggering count of almost 800,000
votes undertaken to find and crown the winners. Finalists last year included local heroes such as paramedic David Kelly who won the coveted Dublin Hero award, Marcus Richardson who won Best Taxi Driver, as well as high-profile Dubliners such as comedian Brendan O’Carroll, who won Best Dub. The dizzying range of ‘Bests’ includes Barber, Restaurant, Shop, Butch-
ers, Gym, Coffee, Breakfast, Dub, Taxi Driver, Sports Person, Local Sports Club, Restaurant, Salon, Takeaway and Bar. Those shortlisted for a Best of Dublin award can also be in with a chance to win €10,000 worth of advertising with 98FM for the Best Campaign, with businesses urged to get people voting for them by posting on social media, or displaying the nominee poster front of house, and engaging with the great 98FM search for the city’s best, well, everything! Nominate your Best of Dublin favourites at www.98fm.com/bestofdublin, and stay tuned to 98FM for updates on the awards.
Megan Henehan and Emma Delaney
Benita Wrochna, Tiegan Harris, Tammy Wright and Yannaah Somers
Junk Kouture Grand Final
J
Student Benita Wrochna
Student Tina Geoghegan
UNK Kouture is a national contest which encourages young designers in second level education to create striking couture designs and impressive works of wearable art from everyday junk that would normally find its way into the bin. The competition aims to inspire and ignite passion in these teenagers while at the same time subtly educating them about the importance of recycling and reusing waste. The Grand Final took place in the 3 Arena on Friday, April 19 and there were a host of local schools and A-list stars in attendance.
Julian Benson and Louis Walsh. Pictures: Brian McEvoy
22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 26 April 2018
GOINGOUTOUT
PICKWEEK OF THE
MAY 2 (WEDNESDAY)
Tears for Fears + Alison Moyet @ 3Arena, €65 EVEN if that lick of sunshine late last week hadn’t sent everyone a bit doolally, abandoning thoughts of gigs and great music to add a dash of colour from that big hot yoke in the sky to pasty-coloured limbs stretched out in parks and back gardens across the city, it’s a little bit of a quiet week out there, gig wise. Quiet – but not dead – as you’re guaranteed to enjoy some classic choons courtesy of the once worldruling Tears for Fears, who’re teaming up with the mighty Moyet for a gig and a half at the 3Arena. Treat your ears to some of the catchiest songs from the past couple of decades.
Growing Up In Soulful pop: The Brave Rebirth of Delorentos
APRIL 26 (THURSDAY) William McCarthy (of Augustines) @ The Grand Social, €22 Lotto Boyzz @ The Academy, €14 Tiz McNamara + Pat Maloney @ Whelan’s, €10
APRIL 27 (FRIDAY) Sharon Needles @ The Button Factory, €30 Gomez @ Olympia Theatre, €32.50 One of the most overlooked and underrated bands of the turn of the century, Gomez’ debut two albums, ‘Bring It On’ and ‘Liquid Skin’ were works of noisy brilliance. Jack L @ Vicar Street, €36.50 Robert John Ardiff (of Come On Live Long) @ Whelan’s, €8 The Alarm @ The Academy, €22.50
APRIL 28 (SATURDAY) Yo La Tengo @ Olympia Theatre, €31 Jack L @ Vicar Street, €36.50 Ultimate Painting @ The Grand Social, €14 Ultan Conlon @ Whelan’s, €15 The Wood Burning Savage @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €9 John Bramwell (of I Am Kloot) @The Purty Kitchen, €15
APRIL 29 (SUNDAY) Of Mice and Men @ The Academy, €26 Just another outstanding Icelandic act (for a country with the population of Galway, they sure are everywhere) - Of Mice and Men are in the Mumford and Sons mold, and full of beautiful harmonies. Roy Orbison (hologram tour) @ 3Arena, €59 Bruno Major @ The Workman’s Club, €16.50 Mick Konstantin @ Whelan’s, €12
APRIL 30 (MONDAY) Tokio Myers @ Olympia Theatre, €31
MAY 1 (TUESDAY) The Ruby Sessions @ Doyle’s, €7 Metz @ Whelan’s, €17.50
Dublin’s deeply-personal indie-popsters Delorentos are growing up, fast. In ditching and rewriting their fifth album, they hope the result – True Surrender – shows them for who they truly are. AS AN embedded mainstay of the Irish music scene since their debut album, In Love With Detail, propelled them to regular radioplay and local acclaim, Delorentos – some of whom have been friends since childhood – have been fairly quiet since 2014 release, Night Becomes Light. In part, that period of quietness has come about because they’ve produced two different albums. The Dubs entirely abandoned the first of the two, written in a Spanish vineyard, in favour of a sound that more reflects the changes in their lives. “As an independent band, that was a really hard call to make,” vocalist and guitar player Kieran McGuinness says of the decision to simply
ditch their first effort. “Everything we do directly affects us as a result of being independent. “With the Vineyard album, we’d taken several days off a tour to record, and the owner of Sonorama [a Spanish music festival] gave us access to a recording studio and a vineyard. “We had 16 songs at demo stage, and we were happy when we finished. “It gradually became clear that it wasn’t ‘us’ any more. A lot has changed for us in the last few years. Three of us have married and one has got engaged. Three have moved house, three have had babies. “There’s been a crazy amount of things going on. That wasn’t reflected in the album we’d made. “It was difficult, and
scary,” McGuinness recalls. “You don’t get a lot of guarantees in music, and this meant putting aside touring, things like that, to start again. “We have certainty with this album, though. I believe it stands up, and shows who we are.” He added: “There are songs with no guitar. Songs with beats instead of drums, songs that are ‘built’ rather than played in a room, and that adds another layer to things. “We wanted to write songs that reflect that movement into adulthood. The independence, the fear and anxiety, but also the joy, comfort and self-reliance. “We’re not Snow Patrol,” McGuinness continues. “We’re not about
JAMES HENDICOTT
to tour the world playing the same songs every night, and we know that. “But we mean a lot to people, and we have to respect that and put everything into what we do. “We played five nights in small venues recently and there were some people who came to all five nights to hear the new music. “I guess it’s Delorentos ‘mark three’. We had mark one with the first two albums, that I feel kind of came together as one thing, and mark two with Little Sparks, and Night Becomes Light. “This feels like mark three because of the way it’s produced. We’ve put aside the idea of writing radioplay tracks aimed at 18-20 year olds. “We don’t want to write any more songs
about meeting girls or drinking with your friends.” The result of that personal touch has been an intensity of connection with fans, one that’s clearly working, as a debut headline show at the Olympia Theatre, taking place in November, shows. “If you’d told me as a 15-year-old that I’d be able to live my life making music, playing gigs and DJing [McGuinness is a semi-regular presenter on Radio Nova], I’d have thought that’s the most amazing news ever,” he admits. “We burst ourselves with this, we left everything on the floor of the studio. “You see a lot of bands quitting, and putting out press releases about how hard it is in the music industry now. They’re right, it is tough. But these are also joyful times.” True Surrender is out on Friday, April 27.
26 April 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23
FEED THE SOUL AND BODY WITH A BBQ MOOD IN THE AIR, WHY NOT GRILL TASTY CHICKEN
Keogh’s Crisps land a spud-tacular air deal
A NORTH Dublin farm are set to go global in the coming months, as their crisps have secured them a major contract with Emirates Airlines. Keogh’s Crisps will be made available to first-class passengers on Emirates following a blind taste test of 15 different brands. The hand-cooked Irish crisps will be served as part of the airline’s snack service. The flavours selected by Emirates include Keogh’s Irish Mature Cheddar, Shamrock and Sour Cream, and their Lightly Salted variety. Tom Keogh, managing director of Keogh’s Crisps, made the announcement at Bord Bia’s recent food buyer event, Marketplace International. He said: “We designed an innovative new 25g pack for first-class to accompany drinks. Quality and consistency is what first-class demands, so we’re just over the moon that our crisps will be flying premium all over the world. It’s just a great success story for a farm-produced brand like ourselves.”
Trust George to help serve up a delish dish NOW that Summer is here – well, just about – the George Foreman 10 Portion Grill & Griddle (€89.99) is perfect for a BBQ with friends. There’s a four-portion grill and a six-portion griddle in one, meaning you can cook a number of portions at once. The grill and griddle even allow for healthier
Get cooking with this great griller
cooking, with grease channelled away from the food into a separate grease tray. (This also makes for easier cleaning up, too!) To show you how to use the grill, take a look at this delectable Piri-Piri chicken recipe (right); it’s perfect for any time of year. INGREDIENTS * 4 skinless chicken breasts * 6 to 8 fresh red chillies, depending on how hot you want * 1 clove garlic, ro u g h l y
chopped * 1 tsp salt * Half tsp dried oregano * Half tsp paprika * 100ml olive oil * 50ml red wine vinegar PREPARATION Preheat the grill to maximum temperature. Char the chillies on the grill for 2-3 minutes. Set aside until they’re cool enough to handle, then roughly chop and put them in a saucepan with the garlic, salt, oregano, paprika, olive oil and vinegar. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool, then
blend it to a puree. Put the chicken breasts in a lidded container or sealable plastic bag. Add the piri-piri sauce, spreading it evenly over the chicken. Seal and marinate the chicken in the refrig-
erator for at least one hour. Cook on the grill for 8-10 minutes until cooked through. Serve, and enjoy – the chicken is particularly delicious with salad and potatoes, or rice.
24 DUBLIN GAZETTE 26 April 2018
PUZZLES
CHALLENGE YOUR BRAIN...JUST FOR FUN!
SUDOKU EASY
MODERATE
CODEWORDS in association with
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.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION FIND THE HIDDEN WORDS affix
grapnel
anchor
harbour
ballast
hobble
bind
killick
chain
make fast
clamp
moor
dock
secure
drop the hook
tie
fix
tractor beam
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
26 April 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 25
TOP TWEETS A Quiet Place is a movie about a world in which, if you say anything at all, you are viciously attacked by blind monsters. In other words, it’s a movie about being on the internet. @KevPow3 The secret’s out, Kevin Power
Nothing like that feeling at the end of the day when your toddler says ‘I love you too, Chris O’Dowd.’ @BigBoyler Happens to us all the time,Chris O’Dowd
Tasha Yar was MURDERED 30 years ago today and yet that dirty binbag thing responsible has yet to be brought to justice.’ @LeGalaxie Star Trek: The Next Generation fans are still demanding TV justice for Yar one...
ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX WESTWORLD RETURNS WITH A PISTOL-FULL OF HIGH-STAKES DRAMA
Sequel aims to entertain SHANE DILLON
WITH many critics claiming that we’re living in the golden age of television, it’s easy to forget that Westerns – formerly a reliable staple of big- and smallscreen storytelling for decades – were for many years just as dead and face-down in the dirt as any number of nogood varmints left behind by grizzled sharpshooters. Enter We s tworld at the very end of 2 0 1 6 , with the
complex character- and narrative-driven TV series based on the classic 1973 film (ignoring the misfiring 1980 dud of a very short-lived TV series) wowing critics and audiences alike. With an incredible cast (including Tony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Thandie Newton, Sidse Babett Knudsen, James Marsden, Jeffrey Wright and Evan Rachel Wood, to name but a few), critics and fans went wild for the show, digging into myriad theories about what it was all really about. Obstensibly a show about rich humans going on holiday to a truly vast Wild West-themed park whose citizens (Hosts) don’t know they’re robots, thus making them mere toys to chat to, play cards with – or even
Fan favourite Dolores returns as the complex robot rebel on an increasingly violent path
Unlikely alliances between human and robot characters who hate each other? Just another facet of the complexities of Westworld...
gruesomly murder if the humans (Guests) wished – Westworld explored some pretty dark topics. While Game of Thrones has a much more visible public presence – even your granny knows who Jon Snow is – Westworld quietly became the other show that many people not just talked about, but obsessed over, as fans
and critics alike tried to solve its riddles, disjointed narratives, non-sequential hints and clues, and work out just what the hell was happening in the show. That’s quite a lot of baggage to have to run with, but the just launched second series of the show last Sunday night (on Sky) looks set to ramp up the human
(and inhuman) tension and drama to new levels. Set in the immediate aftermath of the series one finale, which basically saw many of the Hosts gain sentience, realise they’re robots, and then violently turn en masse on the Guests in their midst (as well as at the park’s management centre), the S2: 01 episode has upped the ante for potential spectacle and character drama alike. Whether you’re interested in exploring the nature of consciousness and self-identity, or like complex narratives and superb cinematography, or simply like cheering on murderous robots hunting humans, it looks like Westworld has even more violent delights in store for this second season. However, I think I’ll skip visiting any robots parks and just stick to the zoo, for now...
26 DUBLIN GAZETTE 26 April 2018
BeautyBITS
Printed Ruffle Neck Blouse €45
Jeremy Scott & Gigi Hadid in H&M [TV] MOSCHINO
H&M ready to team up with MOSCHINO H&M HAVE revealed their next, highly-anticipated designer collaboration at last week’s Coachella festival. This year’s collaboration will see H&M team up with the eccentric and colourful MOSCHINO for the MOSCHINO [tv] H&M collection. The iconic Italian fashion brand have curated a collection specifically for H&M, which was announced by model Gigi Hadid at the annual MOSCHINO party at Coachella. Creative director of MOSCHINO, Jeremy Scott, has become a highly regarded name in the fashion world since he became Creative Director in 2013. Scott is known for his colourful, youthful patterns and innovative shapes. “I am so excited about MOSCHINO [tv] H&M. My life’s work has been to connect with people through fashion, and with this collaboration I’ll be able to reach more of my fans than I’ve ever had the ability to do,” Scott said. The collection will be available in H&M stores across the globe (including Ireland) from November 8th.
Feelin’ Fit(Flop) at Swords Pavilions FITFLOP have opened a brand new, dedicated kiosk in Swords Pavilions. The ‘state-of-the-art’ kiosk is dedicated to the world’s ‘most addictive’ ergonomic footwear, packed to the brim full of the best styles for Spring/Summer this year. It will showcase the must-have pieces in the SS18 collection, as well as their latest innovation, the iQushion™. The iQushion™ works by mirroring the natural shape of the foot. iQushion flip flops come in an array of new summer colours, two-tone prints and ombre colourways, proving that comfortable shoes aren’t always boring. Be sure to pop by the FitFlop™ kioski at the Pavilions Swords, open now. One of FitFlop’s SS18 styles
Spring
Rachel D’Arcy
Elegance
FORMER Coronation Street actress and current star of BBC series Our Girl, Michelle Keegan has launched her brand new collection, designed exclusively for Littlewoods Ireland. The collection took inspiration from Michelle’s own spring wardrobe, with the versatile range featuring printed dresses, tailored separates, statement co-ords and distressed denim. The range has a soft colour palette, teamed with vibrant floral prints for a spring / summer look that is sure to stand out. With looks created for the chicest summer events, the collection features premium and delicate fabrics, with attention to detail a key turnstone of the designs. Michelle Keegan said: “I love the opportunity to design pieces that my friends, family and I would all love to wear. As we get ready for holidays and exciting occasions, I have designed a range which has the flexibility to be worn all summer but I’ve also added that extra special dress for a big event.” Rossa Butler, marketing director at Littlewoods Ireland, said: “We are delighted to work with Michelle on this stunning capsule collection. The range covers everything from formal wear to occasion wear, ensuring our customer both looks and feels great when stepping out this spring summer.”
26 April 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 27
FRESH IDEAS FOR YOUR HOME AND WARDROBE
Sarah O’Hegarty
Denise Cantwell, Laura Downing, Orla Walsh and Jennifer Rock aka The Skin Nerd pictured at the Eau Thermale Avène Skin Speed Dating event this week which celebrated a selection of new launches by the brand Ruth Griffin and Lia Stokes
Grace Mongey
Terri Cooper
Tiered Geo Lace Dress €90
Beauty Review Some Vitamin C for skin vitality COMPANY: Vichy PRODUCT: Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Brightening Skin Corrector PURPOSE: Revive tired, stressed or dull skin TEXTURE: FRAGRANCE: PERFORMANCE: PRICE: €€€
Jessica Maile, Style Editor DOES YOUR skin need a wake-up call? Mine certainly did. My winter skin was its usual pale, dull
skin.
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Vichy’s LiftActiv Vitamin C Brightening Skin Corrector RRP €32
HOME & STYLE
Rosemary McCabe gets a date with her soon-to-be perfect skincare regime. Pictures: Karen Morgan/Lensmen
SPEED DATING
E
au Thermale Avene celebrated the launch of its spring summer heroes this week with a Skin Speed Dating event at Studio 10, Wicklow St. The event celebrated some of the brand’s most exciting innovations to date including a range of sun care that actually works for your skin while protecting it. The brand also launched the latest in its antiageing range, the PhysioLift serum. Guests were treated to a nutritionist approved breakfast before taking the opportunity to ‘date’ 4 experts – Jennifer Rock, ‘The Skin Nerd’, nutritionist Orla Walsh, The Fabulous Pharmacist Laura Dowling and Avène expert, Denise Cantwell, learning how to best care for their skin from the inside out. Eau Thermale Avène products are available from pharmacies nationwide. Visit www.AVENE.ie for more information
28 DUBLIN GAZETTE 26 April 2018
3008 tops new car satisfaction survey
MACHINE OF THE WEEK
BRITAIN’S biggest new car satisfaction survey, Driver Power, has seen the Peugeot 3008 come out on top as the car which makes its owners happiest, with a remarkable 93.88% satisfaction score. That’s a record score compared to previous winners such as the Skoda Superb in 2017 at 93.42%. The new 3008 SUV has got the SUV style that’s in huge demand, and this is now backed up with a high-quality interior, plenty of space, a great drive and excellent reliability and that’s according
with 14.36% of those polled reporting an issue with
to the survey organised by Auto Express maga-
their car, compared to 12.15% in 2017.
zine. The results from this year’s survey show an
Hybrids continue to make waves this year, with more hybrids featuring in the Driver Power Car of
improvement in driver satisfaction in every single
the Year Top 10 than ever before. Cars such as the
category, as well as a rise in overall satisfac-
Kia Niro, Lexus RX, Lexus NX, Lexus IS and Toyota
tion. There’s still work to be done, though, as new
Prius were rated particularly well for engine,
car owners continue to tell reported that their
gearbox and running costs in this year’s survey.
motors aren’t always trouble-free. New car own-
Now in its 16th year, Driver Power survey received
ers are reporting more problems with their cars,
more than 80,000 consumer responses for 2018.
Peugeot takes a lead in SUV style for 2018 Peugeot’s new 5008 car will make a strong impression on the Dublin car market for a combination of its distinctive styling, flexible seating, modern dash design and total package offer. MICHAEL MORONEY took a second drive in the new Peugeot 5008, this time the petrol powered Pure-Tech model that smoothly impressed him.
Ford joins hybrid market with new Mondeo Hybrid FORD IRELAND’S first Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) car, the Mondeo HEV, is now available at Ford dealerships across Dublin. The new Mondeo HEV is based on a four-door body style with a 2.0-litre, 187bhp petrol engine coupled with an automatic transmission in either Titanium or Vignale series. The Titanium version has an entry price of €32,745 (including a promotional launch discount and VRT rebate), while the Vignale version prices start from €35,280. Hybrid Electric Vehicles are the most popular of the electric models available as they neatly bridge the gap between traditional internal combustion engines and electric motors without the range anxiety that some motorists feel in relation to full electric vehicles. The new Mondeo Hybrid uses the third-generation Ford petrol-electric hybrid system that claims to deliver the efficiency and refinement benefits of an electric drive in many driving scenarios while maintaining the driving range and freedom offered by a traditional combustion engine. Two electric motors are used in the hybrid system. One motor supports the petrol engine in driving the wheels and another is used for regenerative charging to the 1.4 kWh lithium-ion battery, located behind the rear seats. The Mondeo Hybrid’s high voltage electric system is claimed to be designed to working-life standards similar to Ford’s traditional combustion engines and transmissions. The Mondeo Hybrid is capable of driving at up to 135 km/ hr in electric mode, and the combination of a speciallydeveloped 2.0-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine and electric drive claims to give Mondeo HEV impressive fuel efficiency
with a fuel consumption rate of 4.2 l/100km (23km/l). For comparison purposes, a 2.0-litre diesel 150bhp Powershift automatic transmission would deliver a fuel consumption rate of 4.8l/100km (20.8km/l). Drivers can also use Ford’s Smartgauge interface to help monitor, manage and reduce fuel and energy consumption, with features including “Brake Coach” that encourages gradual braking to help return more energy to the battery.
Nissan, Ford, Fiat hit with 55 European car market dip NEW car registrations across Europe fell by 5.2% for the month of March with Nissan, Ford and Fiat brands seeing their European sales decline. There were new car sales drops in three of Europe’s five biggest markets, Germany, the UK, and Italy. Nissan’s sales across Europe dropped by 16.3% last month, while Ford brand sales were down by 14.6% and Fiat sales fell by 13%, according to the latest data from the European car manufacturers association ACEA. ACEA reports that Brexit concerns impacted on the market as well as a slump in diesel car sales, while the German market dropped following a court rule that cities can ban diesel vehicles to tackle pollution.
PEUGEOT’S new 5008 marks a hat-trick of SUV cars that are setting new standards in car design and style for 2018. The French car brand has moved up more than two notches with a new threesome range of SUV models that stand out in terms of style, engine options and flexibility. While the 5008 is the newest model to the range and the most spacious, the 3008 introduced in 2017, sets a high bar as it was voted European Car of the Year for 2017 and Irish Car of the Year 2018. For entry level SUV participants the recently upgraded 2008 offers a whole lot more than you can expect, to complete the hat-trick. While I had an early drive in the diesel powered Peugeot 5008 at the start of 2018, recently I simply had to take a re-run in the car, this time putting the very impressive 1.2-litre turbo-petrol PureTech engine to the test. This 130bhp engine comes with plenty of acclaim as it was voted the category winner in the International Engine of the Year over three years from 2015 to
2017. This new 5008 brings Peugeot into a growing market segment of seven seat SUV’s, with a unique design style that stands out from the crowd in a modern and distinctive
additional €520. Peugeot claims that the new 5008 is lower and more spacious, yet less bulky than its competitors. And while it is a full seven seat car it retains the same height as
Peugeot 5008 1.2 PureTech Petrol Engine Engine power 0 – 100km/hr Economy Fuel Tank Capacity CO2 emissions Road Tax Band Main Service Euro NCAP Rating Towing rating Warranty Entry Price way. What’s noticeably different about the new 5008 is that it now comes with the new Peugeot iCockpit and digital instrumentation across the range. The 5008 range prices start from €29,345 plus delivery related charges for the Access 1.2 130bhp PureTech petrol version, while the entry diesel versions cost an
2 litre 130hp 10.9 seconds 19.6km/litre
(5.1l/100km or 55mpg)
56 litres 117g/km A4 €200 20,000km/12 months Five Star 2016 1,200kgs 5 years (100,000km) €29,345 before at 1.64m while the third row passengers get an extra 21mm of head height. This new SUV design model is longer than the previous 5008 and Peugeot claims that this delivers additional knee room for the second row passengers who also have the benefit of individual sliding seats. The extra length means
26 April 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29
WHAT’S NEW IN TECHNOLOGY AND ON WHEELS
TECH & MOTORS
Get peace-of-mind motoring at Bluebell Motor Company BLUEBELL MOTOR COMPANY, located
down, even into April, traditionally
just off the Long Mile Road in the Blue-
a quieter month. I believe that suc-
bell Industrial Estate, Dublin 12, enjoys
cess is down to a number of factors.
a hugely loyal customer base as a
The range has never been as strong:
Main Peugeot Dealer in west Dublin.
from the nippy 108 and 208, to the
Delivering peace of mind-motor-
The new Peugeot 5008 is an impressive new seven seat SUV from Peugeot with great space, stylish modern looks and good economy. The new Peugeot iCockpit dash (below) design that’s especially modern in terms of style with plenty of functionality and a range of easy to use display options.
that the camera reversing kit is useful option for the 5008. The second row of seats are matching and each separate and can be folded and tilted, while the two third row of seats can be easily folded or removed. All three seats in the second have three-point ISO-fix child seat anchor points. The seating arrangement gives the car great flexibility. In the five seat mode, the boot space is impressively huge, while the boot itself is a shade heavy and could benefit from an auto opening system that’s available from other brands. My most recent driving test was with the Peugeot 5008 Allure 1.2 PureTech petrol and this is the trim level that has so far accounted for 56% of the model sales so far this year. Petrol sales for
the 5008 are growing with the benefit of the improved economy, and now account for 28% of all 5008 models in Ireland. This 1.2 -litre turbo-petrol engine is impressively smooth in the Peugeot 5008. The engine power at 130bhp coupled with 230Nm of torque, means that this car is only marginally behind the bigger 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine version of the car in terms of acceleration performance. What’s impressive is the smoothness of the driving experience. The
engine start stop system is at its perfection in a petrol powered car, such as the new Peugeot 5008. The downside is the fuel economy figure, which in a strange sort of way is the price that you pay for a cleaner driving experience. This petrol car’s economy rating is 19.6km/litre (5.1l/100km or 55mpg), which is almost 20% lower than the equivalent 1.6-litre diesel powered version that’s almost €2,000 more expensive. The Peugeot petrol engine range has a good
reputation for reliability, economy and low emissions. This 1.2 litre turbopetrol engine was economical to drive and over a shorter than usual test run, I found the car to be only about 16% off the officially rated economy figure. That’s why you need to spend some time looking at your annual mileage use to clearly identify the value of moving from diesel to petrol power in a modern SUV such as the Peugeot 5008. Petrol cars will also have lower servicing costs due to longer service intervals. The cost decision will also need to factor in petrol and diesel price differences at the pump, to complete the equation. Peugeot now offers a five-year warranty on the full range of cars and that too helps to ensure lower motoring costs.
range-topping Peugeot 5008, from
ing for Peugeot new vehicles and
the practical Partner van to the
used vehicles of all makes and mod-
load-lugging Boxer, we have a model
els, Bluebell Motor Company has a
that will suit every single custom-
fully stocked Parts Department for
er’s needs. Our quality is second-to-
genuine Peugeot parts and acces-
none and we’re so confident in our
sories sales and prides itself in being
line-up, we offer a five-year war-
a busy hub for Peugeot servicing,
ranty on all our Peugeot cars.
boasting an eight-bay workshop. The company was set up in 1988
“Finally, our consumer offers have never been as attractive with
by Derek Sheppard and in 1991, they
scrappage offers of up to €4,500
were appointed to the Peugeot
allowance towards selected Peugeot
franchise Dealer Network. Today,
motors. We also have a very com-
the business is headed by son David
petitive finance package of between
Sheppard, who spoke to Dublin
0% and 4.9% APR and people are now
Gazette about the buoyant and
pre-ordering for our 182 models.”
exciting motor industry in Ireland. “We are very accessible to people
“We have a very loyal customer base, with people returning to
on the Naas Road, Clondalkin, Bal-
service or update their cars on a
lyfermot, Walkinstown, Crumlin
regular basis. I know that is down to
and indeed all of west Dublin, where
the people and the team at Bluebell
we retail the expansive and indeed
Motor Company. I am very proud of
award-winning Peugeot car and van
our wonderful and loyal staff, whose
range, including the very popular
professionalism and attention to
current Peugeot 2008, 3008 and the
detail plays a crucial role in ensuring
new 5008 SUV models – everyone has
our customers get the best possible
gone SUV mad!
service at all times.”
“The stunning Peugeot 3008,
Emma Toner, Marketing Man-
awarded both European Car of the
ager of Peugeot said: “Peugeot has
Year just after its European launch
maintained its momentum in Q1 2018
and then subsequently crowned
as the fastest growing car brand in
Irish Car of the Year 2018, in associa-
Ireland, with its tremendous growth
tion with Continental, is our best-
in passenger car sales in the first
selling model this year. The new 5008
three months of 2018, recording a
7-seat SUV model, the big brother of
57.7% year to date increase, to the
the group, has room for three car
end of March. The lion-brand thus
seats in the second row, making it
remains the fastest growing car
the ideal model for families. On the
brand in Ireland in 2018, enjoying a
business side, our Partner, Expert
4.3% combined car and van market
and Boxer van sales are flying. “Peugeot sales are excellent in 2018 and show no sign of slowing
For further info contact: Emma Toner Tel: 01-4092474 or Email: etoner@peugeot.ie Web: www.peugeot.ie
Strong performance for Peugeot in Irish new car market PEUGEOT recorded the strongest performance in the Irish new car market this January, as demand for the Peugeot range continues to soar. The lion brand saw a huge 71% increase in passenger car registrations for the first month of 2018. The success comes on the back of demand for the Peugeot 2008 SUV, the Peugeot 3008 SUV, crowned Irish Car of the Year 2018 and the newly launched 5008 seven-seat SUV. The strong growth assured the Peugeot marque of a top ten place in the sales league and a 4.3% overall market share, cars and vans combined. Colin Sheridan, sales and marketing director said: “Despite the slight contract in the new car market, we are delighted to report a growth of 71% in what is clearly the most important month of the year for new
vehicle sales. Indeed, it’s the strongest performance Peugeot has recorded in Ireland since the year 2007. Our excellent SUV line-up, together with a five year warranty and attractive low-cost finance options across the range, plus attractive consumer offers across many Peugeot models has most certainly attracted conquest sales.” “Thanks to a number of dealer appointments in the last 12 months and our ongoing network development plan, we’ve seen particular gains in the all-important Dublin new car market,” he said The growth has solidified Peugeot’s position as a top ten best-seller in the country, as the brand now looks forward to a number of further new product launches and dealer appointments in 2018.
David Sheppard, managing director of Bluebell Motor Company
30 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 26 April 2018
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32 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 26 April 2018
FEATURES HANDBALL, HURLING AND GAELIC FOOTBALL
‘Great craic’ getting to grips with GAA sports QUINN KANNER
AFTER watching a Gaelic football match, I decided to try to learn how to play some traditional Gaelic sports for myself and see if that would help me understand the games better. So, alongside 11 other American students, I went to the Na Fianna GAA Club on a Saturday afternoon to learn how to play handball, hurling and Gaelic football from a session with Experience Gaelic Games. That’s a company that allows visitors to experience Irish traditions like traditional sports and dancing. They do programmes for various groups including visiting students like me, business groups, travelling sports teams and even hen and stag parties to try and expose the visitors to aspects of Irish culture and identity that you probably won’t hear about abroad. I am a moderately athletic person even though I’ve never played any sports. I’ve been dancing since I was four years old, but I’m not used to working with props, i.e., the various balls. The first sport we tried was Handball, which involved bouncing fistsized rubber balls off of walls. I spent most of the warmups and drills chasing my ball around the room after failing to catch it on the bounce back. I did accidentally win my first game playing with someone else. It took me three tries to serve the ball (in my first two attempts, my hand missed the ball.), but then
A painting from the study of the matadors
Blending the intellectual with the creative in a unique, moving display
Learning to play hurling and handball (right) at Na Fianna GAA Club
the game was in play. My serve bounced off the wall to my opponent who returned it. I flailed and accidentally made the perfect shot: the ball hit the wall just above the floor, making it impossible for my opponent to reach before it bounced twice. After handball, we tried hurling, using special rubber hurleys to reduce the chance of injuries. When it came to hurling, I couldn’t even get the “sliotar” as the ball is
h a n d . Alas, I just sucked. When it came time to actually play, I was quick to volunteer for goalie, since I couldn’t catch, pass or even pick up the sliotar. My only success at hurling was a brilliant save in which I deflected the sliotar with my hurley, much to my surprise.
called off the ground. I was so bad at the drills, the coach thought that I was accidentally playing with my non-dominant
After mostly failing at two sports, I was really hoping to have some natural talent for Gaelic Football.
“
I was so bad at the drills, the coach thought that I was accidentally playing with my non-dominant hand
JORDAN UPSHAW
I did not, but it was still the most fun for me to play. Unburdened by bulky equipment and desperate for a win, I raced around the field attempting to prevent my opponents from keeping possession of the ball, while hoping to never end up with the ball myself. I did have a fun wipe out while attempting to check a guy who was bigger than me. After my attack, the guy made an iffy pass causing my team to regain possession, which I’m taking credit for. One success per sport makes a successful day in my book; it was “great craic”.
“Elsewhere, To Be Found”, a new exhibit by artist Colm Mac Athlaoich will be opening this Friday, April 27. Mac Athlaoich has been exhibiting his artwork since 2007. His past exhibits have included “Travelling Without Moving” which was funded by the Fingal County Council. In 2016 he presented a series of oil on linen block paintings called “Pastille”. The “Monumental Activity Paintings” were created during a residency at the prestigious Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin. “Elsewhere, To Be Found” is an amalgamation of Mac Athlaoich’s work from the past two years. During this period of time, Mac Athlaoich used painting as a way to express his ideas and thought processes. Mac Athlaoich’s paintings vary in scale and chronicle the emotional, mental and physical journeys he made across Ireland, Cyprus and Spain. Mac Athlaoich was inspired by the writings of French philosopher Roland Barthes, which is quite unique for a painter. “Elsewhere, To Be Found” attempts to blend the intellectual with the creative in a unique and moving display. Both Barthes and Mac Athlaoich
focus on finding alternative ways of visualising the truth in addition to unmasking memories and experiences through their respective works. The paintings are greatly influenced by the gorgeous Portuguese market tiles, focusing on the minute details found within the large designs. In this way they shine a light on the wear and tear caused by human activity. A few paintings of note include Mac Athlaoich’s creative and emotional study of the matadors competing in violent bullfights. The artist himself witnessed this bloody sport in the famous Las Ventas bullring in the Spanish capital of Madrid. Mac Athlaoich described it on Twitter as, “Like what R. Barthes says of wrestling in his ‘Mythologies’, as on the stage in antiquity, one is not ashamed of one’s suffering, one knows how to cry, one has a liking for tears’. “The series of works that look at the Matador, questions this spectacle while depicting it as it is presented to us, with the drenching and vertical quality of a flood-lit Greek arena. The exhibit is a free event taking place at The Cowshed Theatre, Farmleigh House every day from Friday, April 27 to Sunday, May 6. Doors open at 10am and close at 5pm.
26 April 2018 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 33
LIVERPOOL COMING TO TOWN P35
GAELIC GAMES P39
THE BEST IN DUBLIN
SPORT
DECADECATHLON: IT’S all go for the inaugural Ballymun Running Festival – a community festival of running taking place on May 8-9 at Trinity Comprehensive Secondary School which was launched earlier this week at the Reco, Ballymun. A key aim of the festival is to raise awareness of mental health issues and of the harmful effects of alcohol and drugs. May is Mental Health Month and the event will be strictly drug and alcohol free.
GAZETTE
MUN RUN:
PAGE 34
LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS INFORM YOU OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORES OF YOUR FAVOURITE TEAMS HOCKEY | UCD ADD LEAGUE CROWN TO SENIOR CUP GLORY
Students in seventh EYHL heaven STEPHEN FINDLATER
sfindlater@dublingazette.com
UCD powered to the EY Hockey League title in typically emphatic style, leaving nothing to chance with a thunderous 7-1 win at Ards. It was a 15th win from their last 16 in the league and they have just one loss all season to date on the opening day of the season against second placed Cork Harlequins, their only loss in two regular league seasons. Quins still had a mathematical chance of the title prior to the weekend but UCD quickly put such notions to bed and added the regular season title and a spot in Europe to the Irish Senior Cup won a fortnight ago. Their next task will be a clean sweep when they contest the EY Champions Trophy in two weekends time at Grange Road.
“We will enjoy this but we have one more league game next week and want to finish strong and then take that on to the EY Champions Trophy finals,” UCD captain Deirdre Duke said afterwards. “We are pretty proud of our record but it does bother us that we have that one loss [in the last two seasons] but that has driven us on and is testament to ho hungry we are for success. That loss at the beginning of the season spurred us on to where we are to today.” They did so despite the absence of coach Miles Warren who remained in Dublin following the birth of his second child earlier in the week. Nonetheless, any of his nerves would have been eased in the early Twitter updates. Mick McKinnon took on coaching duties. It took less than eight minutes for Katie Mullan to put UCD in front and
CHAMPIONS: UCD are on course for a clean sweep of women’s hockey’s national titles with the Irish Senior Cup and EYHL already won. Picture: Adrian Boehm
six minutes later, Sara Twomey produced a great effort from the top of the circle for 2-0. Abbie Russell made it three off the back of good build-up play by Mullan before the end of the first quarter. Katherine Egan stretched the lead further to 4-0 before Chloe Brown pulled one back from a corner.
It was not the start of a remarkable comeback, however, with Emma Russell sending the ball in to her younger sister Abbie to convert for 5-1. Lena Tice shot straight down the middle for number six and Mullan produced a typically powerful shot from the top for a magnificent seven.
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
34 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 26 April 2018
CLUB NOTES
ROUND
1
CASTLEKNOCK OUR nursery, with thanks to Tiger Childcare, is in full swing in CCC every Saturday. New members always welcome. Nursery enquiries to lisakiernan1@gmail.com. Well done to both our boy’s Feile teams who were in action over the weekend. Division 1 boys who just missed out on winning their group while our Division 6 were unlucky to missed out on a place in the final after they were pipped at the post by Lucan. Hard luck to our senior hurlers who lost out to Kilmacud Crokes in the second round of their championship. The club is very excited to announce a new partnership with West Pharmaceutical Services to support our adult amd minor men’s sides together with our juvenile girls. Look out for more news to come from “West” and Castleknock GAA . Date for your diaries! Race Night on Friday, May 11 in Kavanaghs at 8.30pm, set to be a great night as always. “Horses” are available from the Race Night Committee and from the Club Shop. No winner of our lotto jackpot with thanks to Rialto Ford. Numbers were 3, 16, 18 and 21. Nine ‘match 3’ winners winning €35 each. Lucky dip winner was Seamus Murphy who takes home €30. Our new jackpot is €2,400 with the next draw in de Bruns on April 26.
ERIN GO BRAGH NO WINNER of our lotto jackpot this week. Next week’s jackpot is €6,100. numbers drawn were 5, 13, 16, and 20. Thanks to everyone who supports out club lotto. Well done to our Feile hurlers on Saturday who won all of their 3 group matches, but unfortunately were beaten in the semi final by Craobh Chiarain. The lads played fantastic and did their club proud. Thanks to all who helped in the preparations and special thanks to the management team. A big thank you to
O’Dwyers of Balbriggan for hosting the Feile. Well done to our adult hurlers who came from 5 points behind to beat Fingallians in opening championship game 0-13 to 0-14. Both our U-15, 16 and minor boys all had great wins over the weekend and our minor girls secured two wins during the week. Our U-14 girls were triumphant against Kilmacud Crokes on Friday evening. If anyone is shopping in Tesco , please remember to put your blue tokens in EGB tube.
RUNNING: BALLYMUN RUNNING FESTIVAL
Mun on the Run for mental health
Decadecathlon the centrepiece of the inaugural Ballymun runn ing festival as Trinity Comprehensive School hosts groundbreaking new initiative to highlight the importance of exercise for mental health sport@dublingazette.com
IT’S all go for the inaugural Ballymun Running Festival – a community festival of running taking place on May 8-9 at Trinity Comprehensive Secondary School which was launched earlier this week at the Reco, Ballymun. A key aim of the festival is to raise awareness of mental health issues and of the harmful effects of alcohol and drugs. May is Mental Health Month and the event will be strictly drug and alcohol free. The festival, which is free, also aims to get locals of all ages active; the theme is “The More you Move, the Better your Mood”. The key feature of the 24-hour festival is a 100-mile run by Decadecathlon winner (10 Iron-
mans in ten days) Ger Prendergast, who runs the gym in the school, along with Ken “Coco” Coakley, a youth and community worker with the Ballymun Regional Youth Resource and a keen ultra runner. Prendergast and Coakley will run a 500m loop around the school grounds between 12 noon on Tuesday May 8 and 12 noon on Wednesday May 9, with friends and other ultra runners keeping them company and providing support. Other events taking place over the 24 hours including 5km, 10km, half marathon and marathon runs later on the first day and the annual “Mun Fun Run 5km” for all the Trinity CS students, their families and friends at 11am on the second day. Live music will keep spirits high from 4-8pm on Tuesday
and also from 11am on Wednesday; also on offer is healthy food and a number of guest speakers, who may run a lap or two.
“
We will be running around in circles which is what we sometimes do in our heads when we have mental health issues
”
“Everyone can set their own target – for me and Ger, it’s a hundred miles, but for others it could be a 5km – that’s ten laps,”
GARDA WESTMANSTOWN CHAMPIONSHIP action next weekend for both Intermediates and Juniors.Inters first up on Saturday evening away at St Marks with a 6pm throw in while Juniors host Ballyboughal on Sunday in Westmanstown at 3pm. Minors had an excellent league win away to Craobh Chiarain on a scoreline of 4-16 to 2-13.Next fixture at home to St Finbarrs on May 6. Ladies lost narrowly to Castleknock in a home cup match last Wednesday by 2-9 to 1-11.
Great effort by U-14 boys at Feile last weekend in getting to the semi final but unfortunately lost out to a strong Craobh Chiaraan side by 2-7 to 1-2.Well done to the players,coaches and parents who made the weekend possible. U-16 girls made it five from five with a 2-5 to 0-5 win over O’Toole’s at Westmanstown,U12 hurlers had one point win away at St Sylvester’s,U-12 Girls were away to Thomas Davis in Camogie and host Naomh Mearnog next weekend.
The Ballymun Running Festival will take place on May 8 and 9 in Trinity Comprehensive School. Picture: Lindie Naughton
said Ken Coakley at the launch. “We will all be running around in circles – which is what we sometimes do in our heads when we have mental health issues. Our mind goes around in circles and we don’t know how to break out of it.” Both Coakley and Prendergast believe firmly that an active life can help ward off mental health problems. In Prendergast’s case, the issue is personal; his brotherin-law Michael took his own life a year ago after a long struggle with depression. “I had tried to persuade him to come out and train with me before the Deca Decathlon, but he had never done anything like that in his life. “After he died, I was full of guilt - what if I had tried harder?” he says. Local organisations involved in the Ballymun Festival of Running include Ballymun Regional Youth Resource, Ballymun Local Drugs Task Force, and See Change – End Mental Health Stigma. Supporting the festival is the local SuperValu, which will provide much of the healthy food over the 24 hours, the Poppintree Parkrun and Dublin City Council. While entry to all runs is free, sponsorship cards for local charities are available. Students from Trinity Comprehensive will help out on the day and participate in the various runs. Cutting the ribbon to launch the Ballymun Festival of Running were Cheslea Byrne, who represents the Trinity Comprehensive students on the organising committee, Shauna O’Connor from See Change and Joe Campbell of Poppintree Parkrun, who has 200 parkruns to his credit. O’Connor lit a Candle of Hope which will remain alight for the 24 hours of the festival.
26 April 2018 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 35
STAR STRIKER: FORMER SHELS MAN PREVIEWS NAPOLI DATE
LEAGUE OF IRELAND SHOTS Bohs fall to champions
Liverpool legend Ian Rush at the launch of the English club’s game with Napoli later this summer. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Rush relishing Dublin return for Liverpool DAVE DONNELLY
ANFIELD legend Ian Rush spent some time in Italy as a player with Juventus – so he has an idea of what to expect when Liverpool take on Napoli in Dublin this summer. The Reds will be the major draw at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, August 4, where there’s a real chance it’ll be the European champions facing off against Italy’s number one. For Rush, who has for decades been dogged by a misquote attributed to him that “Italy is like a foreign country,” he has more reasons to be interested in the tie. In the mid-eighties, when Rush was looking to try something new outside England, he had the opportunity to play alongside arguably the
greatest player of all time – but it fell through. “My biggest regret is probably not getting the opportunity to play with Maradona,” Rush said at the launch in the Aviva. “Napoli tried to sign me just after they signed Maradona in ‘84 and the chairman at the time, Sir John Smith, didn’t let me go. “I was lucky enough to play against him but never got to play with him, unfortunately. To even be on the same pitch as him was absolutely incredible. “He made such a big impact everywhere he went. When he went to Napoli they were just an average side and he then won the league for them. “He also won the World Cup for Argentina so that in itself tells its own story.” While Rush never had
the opportunity to play with arguably the greatest player ever to grace the beautiful game, he stood alongside his fair share of legends. He partnered Stephen Geoghegan for Shelbourne in a one-off friendly in 1996 against Danish champions Brondby, scoring in a two-goal second half comeback. At Liverpool, he formed a lethal strike combination with John Aldridge. The Reds’ multiple league-winning squad was backboned with Irish p l aye rs l i ke Ro n n i e Whelan, Steve Heighway and Steve Staunton. He played in the thenEuropean Cup in Ireland, in a 5-1 aggregate victory over Dundalk in which Whelan netted in both
legs. At the time, Rush admits he didn’t fully understand the depth of admiration held by Irish fans for Liverpool as a
“
Any game in Ireland is a sell-out. It’s only when you retire you see how many passionate supporters are there.
”
club. He continues to be astounded by the amount of support there is for the English side in Ireland – which is why it’s so important games like this take place.
“Any game in Ireland is a sell-out. I didn’t realise how big the support was. When you’re playing, you just get on with it. “It’s only when you retire and you go there as a spectator, you see how many passionate supporters there are and how many Irish players have played for Liverpool. “We always used to play a pre-season in Ireland and it was a great support then, and it’s the same now. It’s just got bigger. That’s what it’s all about. “At Liverpool, we see ourselves as a family club and everybody doesn’t get the chance to go over to Liverpool. “What we’ve got to try and do is get first team players to come over here and entertain the supporters in Ireland.”
BOHEMIANS fell to a second defeat in a week as they were beaten 2-0 by the champions Cork City in front of the TV cameras at Dalymount Park on Friday night. The Gypsies defied their status as part-timers as they dominated Bohs Kevin Devaney. Picture: Martin possession and Doherty chances in the game but were overcome by the nous and clinical finishing of the visitors. Colm Horgan opened the scoring early on with a cross that ran all the way through to the net, before the league’s top scorer Graham Cummins sealed the win against the run of play in the second half. “We’ve a pain in our backside coming out and saying how well we’ve played,” defender Ian Morris told the Dublin Gazette. “It’s not going to matter in two weeks time when everyone looks at the results and the points on the board. You can play as well as you like, but if you’re not winning games it doesn’t mean anything. “They sat in and we found them difficult to break down. We’re giving away silly goals at the back and we’re not scoring at the other end. That’s a combination you can’t have. “It’s usually one or the other, but we’re having both. You can talk about how well we’ve played, but it’s a results business and we’re not putting points on the board.” Seventh-place Bohs travel across the Liffey to face St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park on Friday night where they’ll look to avenge their 1-0 defeat at Dalymount earlier in the season.
Shels magnificent seven washes over the Waves SHELBOURNE Ladies made it three wins on the bounce with an emphatic 7-0 demolition of UCD Waves amid all four seasons of weather at Jackson Park on Sunday afternoon. The Students came into the game in good form of their own, unbeaten in their two games so far, but they weren’t given a sniff by the dominant visitors. Leanne Kiernan scored a hat-trick, while Isibeal Atkinson scored two alongside goals from captain Noelle Murray and substitute Fiona Donnelly. Shels led 2-0 at the break after playing into a strong wind but cut loose and added five after the break. “The first half wasn’t the performance we wanted, but we showed character and played better second half,” Kiernan told the Dublin Gazette. “We played football. Instead of hoofing it over the top, we got the ball down, passed it and played it quickly. Obviously we got five goals so it worked well.”
36 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 26 April 2018
CLUB NOTES
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2
FINGALLIANS FOOTBALL Championship fixtures – Round 2: senior v St Pats, Palmerstown in Rolestown on Saturday at 6pm. Junior 1 v Ballymun at home at 11am on Sunday and Junior 5 v Ballymun at 3pm at home. Féile Boys Hurling: Thank you to Naomh Mearnóg for their exceptional hospitality on Saturday. Commercials, Naomh Olaf and Naomh Mearnóg were the opposition. Our boys made it to the semi final before a narrow defeat to Skerries 4-9 to 3-12. Summer Camp Program: Kelloggs Cúl Camp: July 9 - 13, 9am-1pm. €50 members/€70 non members. Fins Summer Camp: July 23 - 27, 9am-1pm; €50 members/€70 non members. Hurling School of Excellence: 31st July -3rd August, 10am-2pm. €50 members/€70 non members. Paul Flynn, Football School of Excellence: 7th August- 10th August, 10am-2pm. €50 members/€70 non members
NAOMH PEREGRINE THANKS to everyone who helped prepare the Feile hurlers this year and to all those who helped with hosting the preliminary rounds and the two finals at the club last weekend. Hard luck to the hurlers who had a tough tasks in their matches. Well done to the minor footballers on their win. There was no winner of the club lottery. The numbers drawn were 3-6-23-27. Next week’s jackpot rises to €6,400. Please support your club’s and players’ development at €2 per ticket. Thanks to Amanda Scallon and Colm O’Toole for their excellent presentation in Session 2 of Coaching on Strength and Conditioning and Concussion Protocols together with a reminder on interpreting the signs of possible concussion. Entertainment in the clubhouse this Saturday is provided by Noel Porter.
We offer our deepest sympathies to the Byrnes family and to the Lynch Family following their recent bereavements. A group of club members has formed up to organise a hike and Gala night on Saturday, May 19 to benefit St Francis Hospice. The hike takes place from 9.30am at the Band Stand in Bray along the cliff path to Greystones. All the funds raised from ticket sales and raffle tickets will be donated to St Francis Hospice. Contact Richie at 086-2752789 for further details. St Peregrine’s GAA Club inaugural Golf Classic celebrating 40 years takes place in Luttrelstown Golf Club on Friday 1st June and features a 4 Ball Scramble. The entry fee is €400 for a team of four. The Time Sheet open from 8:30am. Please contact Vinnie at 087-6753194 or Dave at 086-0462253 for more information.
SKERRIES HARPS WELL done to the Moriartys Supervalu sponsored Div 3 Hurlers on reaching the Feile final and losing out by the narrowest of margins to Commericals. Some fantastic hurling played over the 2 days by this spirited young team. Thanks also to the Feile committee , Co ordinators and parents who put in a huge amount of work into the hosting of the group stages on Saturday. Congrats to the senior camogie team on their league win over Castleknock. The Ollies Place sponsored AFL6 ladies footballers recorded a league win against Craobh Chiarain. Zingo Result: 5-2-7-3-1-6-4. No winner of jackpot dividend winner Anne Dillon. Next week €1200 Jackpot Dividend €100 Next Draw will take place Sunday, April 29.
SOCCER: CASTLEKNOCK SNATCH LAST MINUTE WINNER TO KEEP
Omara cuts gap to Swords in Sunday Division 3 title race LSL SUNDAY DIVISION 3 Castleknock Celtic 2 Swords Celtic 1 sport@dublingazette.com
CASTLEKNOCK Celtic celebrated a superb week with both their Sunday teams picking up important wins in league and cup action. They came hot on the heels of their new sponsorship by Healing Nature Health Food Store, Roselawn, adding to the feel good factor. Against Swords, it was a Leinster Senior League Division 3 top of the table clash which second placed Castleknock needing to win in Porterstown Park to put maximum pressure on their league leading rivals who led the table by five points at start of play. It was remarkable from the off how fired up the home side was as they chased down every ball.
No one demonstrated this more than centre forward Mikey Aherne as he didn’t give the visiting defenders a moment’s rest. D e m i D a re o n t h e right side was in a similar mode as he chased down every ball. He was the first to have a serious chance when he raced forward to win the challenge against Swords’ Conor McNeill. Dare was just beaten to the ball by the excellent keeper Aaron McCormack who was a virtual extra defender as he frequently cleared up any danger on the edge of the box. Despite an extremely competitive first half, c h a n c e s w e r e f e w, though Swords probably went closest to breaking the deadlock. Alex Bradean had to be alert to keep his goal intact late in that first half. The second half was
Mohamed Omara scores a dramatic winner for Castleknock Celtic in their 2-1 win against Swords Celtic in their top of the table clash.
equally competitive. Castleknock’s captain and man of the match, Barry Neville, exhorted his team mates throughout and they responded. On 60 minutes, Greg Tobin latched onto a t h row- i n f ro m Nu r u Butalezi and he hit a screamer from 30 yards that bulged the top corner of the net and Castleknock were ahead. Their lead only lasted five minutes when Swords hit back through
inside forward Steve Doyle. There was a lot of tension as both sides chased a winner, but all the while wanting not to concede. But, in the last minute, Castleknock’s Mohamed Omara raced into the box to get on the end of Brian Whealan’s pass, and he was the coolest man on the pitch as he placed his shot into the bottom right hand corner. Porterstown Park erupted as the game was
won in that last minute flourish. Castleknock, with 2 games in hand, move to within 2 points of Swords and an exciting finish to the season is assured. Castleknock Celtic’s LSL Major 1 side also had a great weekend as they won through to the semi final of the Polikoff Cup after a 5-3 victory over Corduff United. Pick of the goals was a brilliant 20 yard strike by Cillian Daly.
Portmarnock’s big Pro-Am date PORTMARNOCK Links is set to host the richest single day Pro-Am event on the Irish PGA calendar on July 16 with the event worth €16,000. It is expected that the event will host 50 teams on the day. Team entry is €550 for 3 amateurs, details available from resident club professional Conor Russell (crussell@portmarnock.com/018666547/www.portmarnock. com). Russell is confident that the event will attract all of the top resident Irish PGA professionals.
He noted that many of the PGA professionals already have strong links with the course, playing there week in week out over the winter months in the clubs increasingly popular Winter Series. He added that the intention was to accommodate 50 teams on the day with shotgun starts in both the morning and afternoon. He also stressed that the event is open to all and he invited potential teams to contact him. The event will be sponsored by specialist Irish construction company mac-group.
26 April 2018 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 37
UP THEIR CHASE
SOCCER : TOLKA SIDE ENJOY FINE WEEK
Shels enjoy brief taste of top table DAVE DONNELLY
sport@dublingazette.com
WINDMILL RUN
Garristown race back on THE WINDMILL Run in Garristown will now take place on May 27 at 9.30am. The event was originally due to take place on March 4 but was scuppered by the Beast from the East and Storm Emma. This run is very popular in the running calendar, with 2018 being the sixth year of the attractive and challenging hilly 5k/10k road run with plenty of views to enjoy, including the historic landmark Windmill. The 5K/10K run will be chipped for all entrants, €20 register online or €20 on the day. Under-16s are €15 while there are shorter distances for younger runners. Funds raised go towards a much-needed playground in Garristown and for Garristown Community Centre. A donation will also be made to the Laura Lynn Foundation.
SHELBOURNE made a brief return to the top of the First Division thanks to an impressive 2-0 win over pre-season favourites Galway United at Tolka Park on Friday night. The three points moved Owen Heary’s side above UCD on goal difference for 24 hours but wins for the Students and Drogheda United on Saturday leave the Reds third after eight games. Davy O’Sullivan scored his tenth goal of the season late on to seal all three points after Alan Byrne had given the home side a deserved first-half lead. The result was Shels’ fourth home win from four in the league so far this season – equal to their tally for the entire 2017 campaign. While Galway boast the league’s record goalscorer in a season in Danny Furlong, in O’Sullivan Shels have unearthed this year’s star turn in front of goal. The former First Division winner with Longford Town has averaged more than a goal a game so far for his new club, including two hat-tricks. The Dubliner had an
Shelbourne continued their lively start to 2018 with victory over Galway
early chance to get on the scoresheet when he caught Galway defender Gary Shanahan in possession, but he couldn’t muster the power in his shot to trouble Tadhg Ryan. James Brown was next to go close when played in by forward James English, but the defender struck his effort just past the post. Veteran midfielder
Byrne broke the deadlock three minutes from the break when he met a Fitzgerald corner with his head and powered it past the helpless Ryan. Substitute Carlton Ubaezuonu – a winger on loan from Dundalk – provided a spark when he came on for Galway and his fleet of foot set up Conor Melody for a shot
Dean Delany did well to turn behind. O’Sullivan delivered the knockout blow 15 minutes from the end, however, showing the predatory instincts that already have him in double figures to bundle a loose ball into the net. Ubaezuonu and captain Ryan Connolly had late chances as the Tribesmen
looked to salvage something from the game but the Reds rearguard held firm to close out a comfortable victory. Shels followed up with a spectacular 7-2 victory over Drogheda as Jamie Doyle finished with a hattrick in the EA Sports Cup. Shels will now play Derry City in the quarterfinals.
O’Driscoll named in Irish U-18 squad U-18 BASKETBALL sport@dublingazette.com
CILLIAN O’ Driscoll - from Gaelcholaiste Reachrann and Malahide BC – has been named in the Irish Under-18 men’s basketball team by head coach, Paul Kelleher. The team is busy preparing for FIBA U18 Men’s European Championship Division C this summer, which will take place in Pristina in Kosovo from
July 22nd to 29th, 2018. Speaking about the selection, coach Kelleher stated: “Over the 12 years I have been involved in international basketball, selecting players for any phase of a program, never mind the final 12, is the hardest and most disliked position to be in as a coach. “We have continuously extended the decision over the last number of months because of the
difficulty of the decision - it can be quite emotional and the thought of telling any player they haven’t made a selection still keeps me awake at night. “We have played a number of games in recent weeks, experimenting on different line-ups, different defensive formations, to decide which 12 works best and we believe this is the 12 that will help us get promoted back to Division Irish Under-18 coach Paul Kelleher B basketball.”
38 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 26 April 2018
CLUB NOTES
ROUND
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ST BRIGID’S ST BRIGID’S Nursery, sponsored by Sherry Fitzgerald, runs each Saturday from 9.30 to 11am, all 4 to 7 year olds are welcome, come down to take a look and get involved. Best of luck to our Féile camogie teams who are out this weekend, with boys football on the following weekend. The coming weekend is a big championship weekend for our adult footballers. St Brigid’s play Castleknock on April 28 at 4pm in Parnell Park in the senior championship. Our Intermediate team has a bye, with Junior 1 away to Ballyboden at 11am on Sunday and Junior 2 away to Naomh Olaf also at 11am on Sunday. Junior E are away to Kilmacud Crokes on Sunday at 3pm. Make sure to support our teams. Well done to Noelle Healy, Deirdre Murphy and Ciara Trant and all the Dublin senior ladies who won their semi-final against Galway and will meet Mayo In Parnell Park in the LIDL NFL Division 1 Final on May 6. Our annual club mini leagues, sponsored by Bradys Garages Castleknock, will run on the week starting June 11, 2018. St Brigid’s Club Summer Camp is due from July 23 to 27, GAA Cúl Camp from August 13 to 17 and GAA Nursery Camp from August 20 to 24. Club membership fees are now overdue – they can be paid online from our website. All players need to have paid or commenced payment of their club membership in order to train or play. There was no winner of last Thursday’s club lotto jackpot, our next draw is on Friday, April 27 and the Jackpot will be €3,400. A huge thank you to everyone who supports our club lotto and to our fantastic lotto committee. Keep up with all our news on our website www.stbrigidsgaa.com
ST FINIAN’S CONGRATULATIONS to the U-14 boys hurling team on making it to the Division 5 Féile final in Parnell Park on Sunday. Although narrowly losing to Round Towers Clondalkin, the future looks very bright for the lads. A big thanks to all those who were in involved in the preparations for hosting the 2018 Hurling Féile on Saturday in River Valley pitches. It was a great showcase for the club in glorious weather. Thanks also to the members, parents & supporters who provided refreshments for the day including Supervalu Pavilions, Keelings and Dublin Meat Company, and not least Peacocks who provided the post match meal. A word of thanks also to long stand club supporters Logmein who sponsored new jerseys, shorts and socks and to John Walsh Plumbing who sponsored the training tops. Check out the Club Facebook page and website over the coming days for some photos of the day. The adult camogie team drew away to St Brigids on Tuesday in the Senior seven League North. Well done to the adult LGFA who beat Stars of Erin on Wednesday evening. After five rounds of the Football League, the U-16 boys had only lost one match. Taking on an unbeaten Na Fianna team, on Tuesday evening, the lads run out winners in out an exciting, physical contest. That win puts them into second place with only three games left. The Thomas Ashe Minor Football team had an away win in their Division 3 clash against St Maurs Rush on Sunday morning.
Football Championship action next weekend. The AFL4 Team are away to O’Dwyers in Intermediate Championship Group 1 One at 6pm on Saturday. The AFL8 team are at home to Castleknock in the Junior 3 All County Championship Group 2 at 3pm on Sunday. St Finians GAA Club is pleased to announce that O’Dea Hurls Adrahan County Galway as their new hurley supplier as used by some members of the Galway All Ireland winning team and not least by our own Ian Fahey who is also a Galway native! All hurls in sizes 22 inch to 28 inch have a grip on it already as a help to players and parents and are available from the club shop every Wednesday evening 7pm to 9pm and Saturday morning 10am to 1pm. Price details are on the club website and the Club Facebook page. St. Finians GAA club present “I’m a Celebrity, Get me Out of Here” as their main fundraiser for 2018 on Saturday, June 2 in City North Hotel. Doors open at 7.15pm with the show starting at 8pm sharp. The evening will finish with a late bar and DJ. Tickets will be available for purchase both online and directly from contestants or the fund raising committee. Adult ticket price - €25, juvenile tickets €10. 24 club members will take on a gruelling set of challenges, which many of you will have seen on TV, as they compete for the crown of King or Queen of St Finians. The club encourages all of you to get involved and the contestants will need all of your support to get through the evening.
HURLING: FEILE NA NGAEL
High-scoring Lusk cut loose to land Division 6 Feile title sport@dublingazette.com
FINGAL clubs soared last weekend at the Feile tournaments around the county with Round Towers, Lusk, Skerries Harps and the Fingal Gaels all reaching their respective finals. For Towers, it ended up in Division 6 overall glory at Tallaght Stadium as they overcame Lucan Sarsfields B team in the final on a monster 6-11 to 1-2 scoreline. They had raced through the group stages with a 14 point win over St Vincent’s before dispatching St Jude’s by nine. A 10-6 to 0-3 win over Cuala guaranteed them a semi-final shot and they duly topped the group with an 11-6 to 0-2 win over Scoil ui Chonaill. Castleknock were knocked out in the semifinals and so it set up a final showdown with Lucan, second in Group A. In the final, Lucan started off well with a couple of points from
Round Tower’s Under-14 hurlers celebrate their victory.
Ross Campion and Darragh Lyons, adding to a Ronan McGrath goal. But the Lusk outfit was always the more lively and they soon took over with Oisin Johnson and Neasan Kerrigan hitting their straps while Cillian Johnson, John Power and Daniel
GET BREATHLESS McMahon togs out for COPD DUBLIN football star Philly McMahon togged out for the launch of COPD Support Ireland’s annual ‘Get Breathless for COPD’ Dublin Cycle. The cycle runs from Lansdowne Road to Howth, aiming to raise awareness and funds for COPD. There is a 50km route and a 100km route which takes the riders to Wicklow and back. Find out more at www.copd.ie, on Facebook @COPDSupportIreland or on Twitter @COPDSupportIre.
Grobler also shone in a spectacular 24-point win. For Skerries, they won t h ro u g h t h e i r g ro u p stages and semi-final to reach the Division 3 final where they took on Commercials in Parnell Park. It w a s a t h r i l l i n g encounter with Com-
mercials eventually winning after extra time on a 3-3 to 2-7. For the Fingal Gaels, their path took them to the Division 5 final where they ended up playing Round Tower, Clondalkin in the decider, falling 3-9 to 1-3, also in Parnell Park.
26 April 2018 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 39
HURLING: PLAYOFF CHANCES OUT OF REACH FOR RUSSELL PARK CLUB
CAMOGIE
Premier run ends at semi stage
St Brigid’s and Ballyboden St Enda’s battle for possession in midfield. Picture: Cliona Mellett
Brigid’s succumb to big momentum swing DUBLIN SAHC GROUP 3 Ballyboden St Enda’s St Brigid’s sport@dublingazette.com
2-19 1-12
A CRUCIAL goal line save from Gary Maguire in the 42nd minute from Eoghan Dunne provided the crucial momentum shift for Ballyboden St Enda’s to get one over St Brigid’s, knocking the Russell Park men out of contention in the Senior A hurling championship. Soon after, Paul Ryan nicked a goal and a game that Brigid’s were well in for long periods at O’Toole Park suddenly got away from them. With Cuala also winning their second game from two in the group, Boden advanced with them, leaving Brigid’s to meet Craobh Chiarain in a battle to avoid last place in the group. Cian O’Sullivan’s fifth minute goal gave
Brigid’s the perfect start and they continued to show up well, staying level at halftime – 1-8 to 0-11 – before going tit for tat early in the second half before Dunne was denied. The scenario going into the tie was very simple for both sides. Boden needed a win to qualify from the group along with All-Ireland Champions Cuala. Brigids needed the win to keep their title bid alive. With that in mind, the men in red opened up with real intent. Within the first quarter, they had set the bar high with a couple of points and a fine goal from Cian O’Sullivan. Paul Winters, Luke Purtill and Jack O’Neill stood out took the game to their more fancied opponents. Boden responded with points from Niall McMorrow, Paul Doherty and Shane Durkin after Conor Dooley had used his immense reach to grab high ball.
The half continued with mostly ‘tit-fortat’ scoring. Purtill maintained his quality but was perhaps bettered by Boden’s Conal Keaney. He only contributed two points but his general play and distribution was the key for Boden to stay in touch with Brigids. Loose ball was in short supply but what there was of it rewarded Niall Ryan with a brace. Namesake Paul Ryan also did his part with three first half points. The half ended with the equalising score from Keaney, when he was well and truly ‘stood-up’ on the side-line, only to swivel out of the situation and point from fifty metres. The second half opened with a Paul Ryan point, to be followed by Johnny McGuirk with his equalising score. Niall Ryan with his third, balanced out a monster pointed free from Dublin keep-
er Alan Nolan. There then followed a period of almost eight minutes without a score, when both sides failed to beat the well organised defences. Boden’s first goal opportunity came to Conor McCormack and somehow his touch was enough to direct the ball out of Nolan’s reach. Niall Ryan followed with his fourth point and then followed a deciding sequenced of play. Brigid’s attacked with purpose and had the Boden defence beaten, only for Maguire to rescue the situation with a quality save. The ball went through the lines to Paul Ryan who managed to flick the ball past the advancing Nolan to open a seven point gap. Finn McGarry, the Ryans, and Aiden Mellett added late scores to flatter Boden to a double digit win.
THE DUBLIN junior premier side’s run in the Littlewoods Division 2 came to an end as Westmeath repeated their win from last year’s All Ireland Final in a 3-9 to 1-6 score. A yellow card either side of half time for Niamh Gleeson saw Dublin reduced to 14 which didn’t help their cause. And neither did three Westmeath penalties. Mairead McCormack opened the scoring for Westmeath early as they piled a massive amount of pressure from the throw in. The first penalty came in the fourth minute when Ciaran Buchannan brought down Sheila McGrath which Kathryn Kantounia saved but it set a tone, though, and Pamela Greville soon added a goal in the 12th minute. Dublin did reply in kind with Caragh Dawson laying on a pass for Aoife Dooley to fire home but it was their only score of the first half. With the wind in the second half, Aoibhe Dillon did get a couple back for Dublin but they remained 12 points behind going into the closing 10 minutes. Ciara Carolan and Aoife Moiloy saw them finish strong but it was too much to make-up.
GazetteSPORT APRIL 26 - MAY 2, 2018
ALL OF YOUR FINGAL SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 33-39
BROTHERS IN ARMS
FOOTBALL: Round
Tower, Lusk produced an amazing series of high scoring wins to land their Under-14 Feile title in style SEE P38
LATE WINNER SOCCER: Omara
leaves it late but Castleknock Celtic score big win over Swords rivals SEE P36
MUN ON THE RUN
RUNNING: Trinity Comprehensive School to host unique 100-mile event at the Ballymun Running Festival to raise mental health awareness SEE P34
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Owens leaves it late to keep first NFL shot alive sport@dublingazette.com
ST SYLVESTER’S late, late match-winner Nicole Owens admitted that coming off the bench to score the decisive goal for Dublin against Galway in the Lidl Ladies NFL Division 1 semi-final was “not the ideal way” to clinch victory. But Owens was pleased nonetheless to see Dublin advance to a final clash with Mayo on May 6 – and put themselves within an hour of a first-ever league crown. Supersub Owens, who came on at half-time, struck at the death to deny Galway and she said: “It’s not the ideal way,” she said afterwards. “We left it until the end but we won. That’s all that matters. “They led for the entire game and they really brought it to us and they’re probably feeling very sick. We’ve been in that position. We’ve had it snatched away from us in the last minute so it’s nice to be on the right side. “We’re not entirely happy with that performance. At least we’re in a very, very opportunistic position where we get to go away for a few weeks and work on everything that let us down in that match going into the final. “It was a poor choice of hand-passing, poor execution of hand passing and kicking. We brought our game down to a level that we’d built it up from over the last few years. “Galway are a very, very good team and they played very well. But I think we
Lyndsey Davey on the attack for Dublin against Galway. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
“It’s not the ideal way. We left it until the end but we won. That’s all that matters” - Nicole Owens played ourselves out of most of the game. “They didn’t score for the last 25 minutes which reflects so admirably on our defence. But we really struggled to get our own scores as well. And I suppose we were lucky that our defence put up such a strong resistance.” Galway hit the ground running at the start, finishing to the net inside 60 seconds. Tracey Leonard, Caitriona Cormican and Nicola Ward did the spadework to set up Leanne
Coen before a Leonard free on four minutes left it 1-1 to 0-0. Dublin were creating and they forced two saves from Dearbhla Gower but did open through a Sinead Aherne free on eight minutes. Leonard and Sinead Goldrick traded white flags but when Dublin did equalise on 20 minutes, their goal was as slick as Galway’s first. Aherne and Emily Flanagan carved open space on the right before Lynd-
sey Davey was allowed her shot. Her attack needed assistance and Niamh McEvoy was placed to hit the net and the Leinster side were back in it. They gave the perfect response on 23 minutes when Aine McDonagh found Mairead Seoighe and she found the top corner to make it 2-3 to 1-3. Leonard and Olivia Divilly added points as Dublin went down to 14 players following an Olwen Carey yellow card but Aherne’s kick before the break left
four between them. The second half’s commencement started with Dublin still favoured but as time passed, they struggled to unlock their opponents. Galway were 2-7 to 1-5 ahead on 38 minutes with Coen and Leonard raising white flags but that was their final score. Lauren Magee had scored the Dublin minor a n d t h ey g ra d u a l l y reduced arrears with McEvoy, Noelle Healy and Aherne reducing the gap
entering stoppage time. Both defences were working hard and both managements brought on fresh legs. It was always going to take something special to decide it and Owens delivered when required, starting the move and interchanging passes with a couple of team mates before getting bagging the crucial goal. Galway needed one more point to force extra time and they had a late free that tailed just wide, as Dublin prevailed.