Fingal

Gazette FINGAL

February 16-22, 2017

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Pages 16-17

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House-hunting frenzy ‘a WIN bigger threat than Brexit’ A pair of tickets to the Irish Motorbike & Scooter Show at the RDS SEE P13

 SYLVIA POWNALL

Queues at Portmarnock Bay in north Dublin last weekend. Photo: ALISON O’HANLON

HOUSE hunters queued for almost 48 hours for new homes in Portmarnock last weekend as economist David McWilliams warned of Celtic Tiger 2 hysteria.

McWilliams, one of the few commentators to predict the crash in 2008, said the demand for starter homes in Dublin was at a level not seen since 2005.

He likened advertising campaigns which target young

couples as a form of “property porn” which, he said, poses a greater threat than Brexit.

All 33 houses in the first phase of the 101-unit St Marnock’s Bay build were sold on the first day of viewing after couples slept out in

their cars to secure their place in the queue. The three- and four-bed homes range in price from €450,000 to €665,000.

One successful buyer, Laura McDermott, said: “It’s a bit of a whirlwind, really.”

Continued on Page 9

2 FINGAL GAZETTE 16 February 2017

HOWTH | COAST GUARD URGES PEOPLE TO AVOID PIER IN STORMS

Waves of danger see a warning for walkers  SYLVIA POWNALL HOWTH Coast Guard remains on high alert after issuing warnings earlier this week for people to steer clear of the east pier during stormy weather.

The rescue team received a number of phone calls on Sunday and Monday about people going under the giant waves to photograph them.

Coast Guard spokesperson Fergus Cooney told The Gazette: “We’re asking people to stay away from the east pier during high tide, and certainly to exercise caution and just use common sense.

“If you see the waves breaking in front of you as you walk down the pier, turn around.”

Easterly winds reached

Worth risking your life over? A wall of water smashes over the pier; right: some of the ferocious waves pounding the coast.

gale force 8 on Monday and Met Eireann has forecast unsettled weather and heavy rain for coming days.

Cooney said: “On Sunday, several calls were received from the public about people going under the waves to photograph them. This puts their own

life and the lives of the coast guard and RNLI at risk.

“Waves can be unpredictable. A lull of ten minutes can be followed by intense waves powerful enough to knock you over and cause injury or wash you off the pier wall.

“These waves are strong

enough to take people, if not vehicles, off the pier and into the harbour so I certainly wouldn’t underestimate the power of the sea when it comes down to it.”

Howth Coast Guard has urged anyone who wants to photograph the waves to do so from the relative

safety of the seafront – and to keep an eye out for others.

Their statement said: “We ask the public to call the coast guard at 112 or 999 if they see people who are likely to get into difficulty on the beach, cliff or water. Don’t expect someone else to make the call.”

Fears substance could hurt dogs at Skerries beach SKERRIES Coast Guard issued a warning to dog owners at the weekend to avoid the beach area while reports of pollution were investigated.

Clumps of a wax y white substance washed up on Skerries north shore, sparking fears that it might be solidified palm oil which had been dumped at sea.

The deadly substance can kill a dog if they swallow even a tiny amount of it.

In 2014, swathes of

the toxic oil – possibly contaminated with cleaning f luid or diesel oil – washed up on beaches along the UK coastline in Devon and Cornwall.

At least three dogs died and dozens more were left writhing in agony. Maritime, environment and animal welfare groups warned dog owners to steer clear of the toxic substance.

The waste is typically driven ashore in severe storms.

FASTNews

Council staff present a new bus to autism service STAFF at Fingal County Council – officially the nation’s best local authority – handed over a brandnew bus to Abhainn Adult Autism Service in Swords earlier this month.

The donation was thanks to the Network Fingal Forum which introduced sponsored lunchtime walks for staff in 2014 to raise funds for local charities.

The adult autism service, which is part of the St Michael’s House organisation, benefited from three years of fundraising, which realised an impressive €30,000. Abhainn spokesperson Diarmuid O’Donovan said: “The bus has enabled us to access new and more varied locations and has helped us provide a better service.

“Watch out for the blue bus with the ‘Donated by the staff of Fingal County Council’ sticker on I,t and know that it is making a difference.”

Fingal County Council’s Ann Gibson said: “This is a fantastic achievement and one that we are very proud of. Thank you to all those involved, including the members of the forum and its sub groups.”

Get fit in 2017 with a range of classes at St Finian’s CC A SERIES of fitness classes gets under way at St Finian’s Community College Gym in Castlefarm, Swords later this month.

The type of classes includes circuits, bootcamps, high-intensity interval training, legs bums and tums, strength and conditioning, kettlebells and tabata.

The sessions – led by qualified fitness instructors – will be held on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8pm from February 27, at a cost of €8 per class, or €50 for four weeks’ unlimited classes.

All levels of fitness are catered for, whether male or female. To book your place and for more information contact Orla at 087 646 7717, Michael at 086 267 4299, email McAttackFitness@gmail.com, or see the McAttack Fitness Facebook page.

No plans for green space FINGAL County Council has no plans to take charge of the green space at Lambourne Park Estate in Donabate, it emerged last week. Cllr Adrian Henchy (FF) asked the chief executive to clarify the timeline for taking the estate in charge. However he was told that while the roads and services within the estate have already been taken in charge, the open space “was not designed to be taken in charge but rather to be managed by a management company, and ... there are no plans to take [it] in charge”.

Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Second Floor, Heritage House, Dundrum Office Park, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240. Email: sales@dublingazette.com news@dublingazette.com web: www.dublingazette.com twitter: @DublinGazette Visit us on Facebook at DublinGazetteNewspapers

16 February 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 3

 ALISON O’HANLON

Bertie helped Malahide Allotments break the world record for tree planting.

PIctures: ALISON O’HANLON

FORMER Taoiseach Bertie Ahern wouldn’t have looked out of place at the Ploughing Championships as he mucked in to give a very worthy cause a dig-out at the weekend.

The Ex Fianna Fail leader and famous Dub was true to his word, turning up as promised and braving some of the worst weather we’ve seen this year to do his bit for a charity challenge in aid of the Epilepsy Care Foundation.

The Malahide Allotments had aimed to plant a world-record 500 trees in one day, but despite the weather managed a staggering 687 – all by lunchtime!

Fair play to all who gave it a right good welly on the day!

Full Gallery – See Page 7

Architectural render presenting the proposed College Green Civic Plaza Malahide Allotments members Brian Geraghty and Bertie brave the cold for a good cause

4 FINGAL GAZETTE 16 February 2017

HEALTH | CALL FOR TOWN TO GET FACILITY RATHER THAN RELY ON OTHERS

Give Swords its own day hospital – Reilly  SYLVIA POWNALL FORMER Health Minister James Reilly has called for a day hospital to be established in Swords.

The Fine Gael Senator and deputy party leader has lobbied Health Minister Simon Harris to provide a facility where smaller medical procedures can be carried out.

This, he said, will take the pressure off major

hospitals where numbers on trolleys reached record numbers during the height of the winter flu epidemic last month.

Senator Reilly – who was once voted the worst health minister ever in a public poll – was mired in controversy on more than one occasion during his time at the department of health, and accused of bias towards his own constituency.

His decision to add Balbriggan to the list for primary care centres almost toppled the Government – but the badly-needed centre is due to open shortly and will cater for a large population.

Addressing the Seanad, he said: “Whilst we have terrible trouble now with waiting times and people on trolleys, they are influenced very much by what happens in primary care

and early diagnosis and early intervention, which are critical.

“What happens after treatment, in terms of facilities for people to return home? Most people want to go home.

“In that context, I want to raise the need for a day hospital in Swords to serve the needs of the people of north county Dublin.

“Both the Mater Hospital and Beaumont Hospital are large regional hospitals with national specialities and regional specialities and services.

“Very often, surgery has to be day surgery and places are taken up by acute admissions from the night before.

“If we had a separate day hospital in Swords,

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‘A separate day hospital in Swords would mean a wide range of procedures could then take place locally’

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James Reilly

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which is accessible to over 100,000 people and beyond, many of these procedures can take place there, like hernias, gall bladder surgery, cataracts, plastic surgery etc.

“These are very successfully being carried out currently in places like Ennis,

Dundalk, Roscommon and Nenagh.

“I am calling on the Minister to give consideration to the provision of a day hospital for Swords and hopefully he can come in to the Seanad at some time to discuss this proposal at length.”

FASTNews

Suite deal goes a bit sour with red tape tangle THE transfer of the former marketing suite at Racecourse Park in Baldoyle to the local community has become bogged down in red tape.

Cllr Cian O’Callaghan (SD) asked for a report on the issue but was told the council was no closer to having the privately-owned building transferred to its ownership.

Officials are awaiting an assessment of the condition of the building and a costing for refurbishment works before planning how best the facility could meet the needs of local community groups.

Senior council official Paul Smyth told councillors that the local authority was doing all it could to complete the transfer, but needed “a willing partner on the other side”.

Alternative sites for forest park being considerd

Community joy as Castleland centre is opened by the mayor NUALA O’Connor, the Mayor of Fingal Cllr Darragh Butler and Michael O’Leary, principal, Ardgillan Community College had every reason to smile as they took in the official opening of the Castleland Community Centre, Balbriggan.

Joining Cllr Butler for his official opening duties were Paul Reid, chief executive of Fingal County Council and Paddy Lavelle, chief executive, Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education Training Board, with them showering praise on the community centre.

Built in 2015 and opened to the community in 2016, the modern multi-purpose facility offers a wide range of activities and facilities available for community use, with a number of spacious meeting rooms, a dance studio, sports hall and an all-weather pitch available for classes or training purposes.

FINGAL County Council is considering a number of alternative sites for a forest adventure park after plans for a new facility at Malahide Castle were abandoned.

It is understood that Ardgillan Castle in Balbriggan is in its sights.

Cllr Adrian Henchy (FF) wants Newbridge House and Farm in Donabate in the mix too. He mooted the idea at a council meeting, adding it would be ideal “given its very close proximity to the large population areas of Malahide, Swords and north Fingal”.

The council withdrew plans for a treetop and zipline adventure amenity at Malahide Demesne after locals mounted a legal challenge.

16 February 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 5

6 FINGAL GAZETTE 16 February 2017

Out and About

Catherine Gillanders and Marie Farrell. Picture: ALISON O’HANLON

Kathleen Cuthill and Wendy Devereaux

Michelle LaGrue and Barry Duggan

Sarah and Ciara Hayes

Tony Murray with his photograph Anne Hayes, Paul Curran and Ann Marie Hovel

Venice Sunset

Photographic exhibition launch M

ALAHIDE Camera Club is hosting its fourth successive photographic exhibition. It opened in the Parish Pastoral Centre (beside the DART station in the village) on February 11 and it will run until February 26. Many of the club’s members have received prestigious awards at home and abroad in recognition of their exceptional artistic abilities. The exhibition will feature a fantastic display of images by the members covering many topics with a Fingal theme running throughout.

Stephen McConnell enjoying the exhibition

16 February 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 7

Out and About

Friends and family enjoying a great day out tree planting

Dave Dodd with his children Tara and Jack. Pictures: ALISON O’HANLON

Planters brave cold to warmeveryone’sheart A

S you saw on page 3, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern donned his wellies and did his bit for a charity challenge to plant 500 trees in one day last weekend. The ex-Fianna Fail leader mucked-in and got his hands dirty along with other big-hearted volunteers at Malahide Allotments near Swords – and they ended up planting almost 700 saplings by lunchtime! The endeavour, a fundraiser for the Epilepsy Care Foundation, was part of a nationwide initiative by the Forestry Foundation and the Woodlands Trust to plant one million trees in a day.

Kevin Berry and his son Kayne

Kat Henway, Nadia Seaver Eileen Ryan with her daughters Sorcha and Aoibheann

and Fiona Kelly

Bruno Arce twigs the best way to help plant trees

8 FINGAL GAZETTE 16 February 2017

DONABATE | POLICING

Community urged to head over to pilot garda scheme DONABATE residents with policing concerns are being urged to attend a pilot garda clinic being held each Tuesday from 11am to 1pm at the community centre.

According to Cllr Adrian Henchy (FF) the initiative will run for two months and if it is well utilised will become a regular fixture.

Welcoming it, he said: “One of the key issues I have been campaigning on over the last two years is an improved and sustained model of community policing for the peninsula of Donabate and Portrane. “ D e sp i te red u ced resources, gardai have been doing a great job in ensuring our com-

munity is as safe as it can be. In recent months the peninsula has seen an improved garda presence, both in uniform and undercover, and there have been a significant number of checkpoints.”

Reduction A street battle arranged on Facebook and involving upwards o f 10 0 y o u t h s w a s quickly dispersed by gardai last month and recent statistics show a reduction in burglaries in the area.

The clinic will be headed up by Sergeant Terri Ferguson, along with community gardai Tom Doherty and Darragh Hynes.

The pilot scheme was welcomed by Deputy Darragh O’Brien (FF).

PORTRANE | EMERGENCY MOTION OVER THE BURROW

Dail hears of fears homes will be lost to coastal erosion  SYLVIA POWNALL

URGENT defence measures are needed to guard homes and businesses in Portrane at risk of being washed away by coastal erosion.

Fingal County Council heard an emergency motion on Monday unanimously backed by members – regarding the worsening situation at the Burrow.

Speaking af ter the meeting, Cllr Paul Mulville (Ind) said: “There is a serious concern and fear among local residents and traders because of the threat of rapid coastal erosion.

“As I have said before, our own house is amongst those at risk. This is an area of environmental protection, but as part of this the council is supposed to be protecting the dune habitat, not letting it be washed away.”

Deputy Brendan Ryan

(Lab) raised the matter in the Dail chamber a week ago calling for urgent action – and for the Minister to visit Portrane and see the scale of the problem for himself.

The issue has been on the table for more than two years and the council set up a coastal liaison

group. A study on flood defence and prevention measures against erosion will now be carried out.

But Cllr Mulville wants emergency measures taken in the interim, to include extending the existing boulders at Seaview and strengthening and extending the old sea wall.

He said: “The emergency reinforcement of existing coastal protection works is allowable under the terms of the EU directives, and related national legislation, and funding for emergency works has been provided in our budget. We need to see action on the ground now.”

Cllr Adrian Henchy

(FF) has asked the council why it did not apply for the funding of €200,000 which was allocated from the Office of Public Works in February 2014 to address damaged coastal infrastructure at Portrane.

The money was allocated following the severe storms of winter 2013/2014, and part of the funding was for a dunes repair project at Burrow beach, Portrane.

The baffling reply was that the local authority was not in a position to avail of the funding “due to a combination of negative cost benefit ratio analysis and environmental constraints”.

Relentless erosion damage along the Portrane coast. Pictures: Portrane Coastal Erosion Facebook page

FASTNews

Coastal cycle greenway link proving elusive THE elusive MalahideDonabate greenway – part of a wider scheme to connect all of Fingal’s coastal areas via walkway and cycle path – appears to be no closer to fruition than it was a year ago.

Cllr Adrian Henchy (FF) raised the issue with the council and was told that no update had been received on the discussions held between the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Irish Rail, which owns much of the land.

Officials could give no timeline for advancing the project as it depends on “the issue of the potential use of Irish Rail land being resolved”.

The NTA has already allocated €423,000 towards the design costs of the project. Funding for construction cannot be secured until planning is granted.

Big fishing show to reel in crowds

CHECK the tackle on show at the country’s biggest fishing show, which returns to the National Show Centre in Swords this weekend.

The angling expo on February 18 and 19 features more than 100 exhibitors including tackle retailers, boat builders and fishing holiday providers.

Charter skippers from all around the Irish coast line and providers on our inland waters, rivers and lakes will be showcasing what our waterways have to offer.

A family zone for kids includes workshops, entomology, tuition, and a host of kid-friendly attractions.

Buses will run to and from the show; for further information see www.irelandanglingexpo.ie.

16 February 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 9

PEOPLE | PORTUGAL NATIVE HONOURED FOR ETHOS

Nuno better than a hard-working Balbriggan man A BALBRIGGAN worker has been recognised as an unsung hero in his community.

Nuno Felipe Vieira Coelho, originally from Portugal, was one of 150 people honoured at the ISS Going the Extra Mile awards.

According to the judges, Nuno, who is married, joined the Hatch Hall Catering team in the summer of 2014.

Friendly Since his arrival, his attention to detail has been remarkable and his friendly and welcoming personality comes through in his daily interactions with residents.

A spokesperson for ISS Ireland said: “His organisational skills and punctuality are faultless and he has set a high standard for other security officers that have come to train on the site.

“Nuno is described as

FASTNews

Would-be homeowners sleeping out in cars at Portmarnock prompts fears of a ‘property porn’ return – McWilliams

Continued from Page 1

Speaking on RTE on Saturday night, McWilliams said: “This property porn is what really annoys me ... houses, that are just accommodation, are advertised as some kind of dream for people.

“For example, in Portmarnock today there are people queuing out for a new housing estate. That is something that goes back to 2005. What really angers me is that the property market divides the country.”

He said we were on the cusp of “another crisis” and asked why credit unions, who hold €14bn in deposits, are not allowed by the Central Bank to use it for housing.

Fingal County Council reported a surge of almost 20% in planning applications for housing last year, indicating that the boom may be back.

The St Marnock’s Bay development signals a return to the area for Sean Mulryan’s Ballymore Homes, which launched nearby Drumnigh Wood in 2002.

Six of the top-ten searches for property nationwide are in Fingal, according to Daft.ie’s latest report.

New figures show that the average deposit for first time buyers in Dublin has risen from €30,000 to €50,000.

Alan Gilligan, who took his first step on the property ladder with partner Lisa McDermott, said: “We have been looking for more than a year; mainly looking at the used market because there were very few new builds, so this is the end of a long process.

“We thought the days of queuing outside housing estates were behind Ireland, but unfortunately that’s not the case.”

Nuno Filipe Vieira Coelho is congratulated by Kilkenny GAA hurling star Richie Hogan (right) and ISS managing director Eric Doyle

an integral part of the Hatch Hall team.”

The Irish GEM Awards were presented by Kilkenny hurler Richie Hogan. He said: “I have great respect for these

individuals who consistently work hard and go beyond what is expected of them.”

City west-based ISS Ireland employees are involved in out-sourced

operational and support services, such as catering, cleaning, security, maintenance, landscaping, post-room, reception, property management and pest control.

It’s very easy to find – you just go left, right?

THE Gazette is used to some strange sights around Fingal, but this newly painted road marking spotted near Baldoyle has left us speechless – or right us speechless? We have a 50:50 chance of being correct (a bit like the road painter in this case).

Stronger policies needed to tackle illegal dumpers; time to publicly name and shame them – Farrell

Get ready for marital musical bliss MALAHIDE Musical Society are currently working hard to put the final touches to their 40th anniversary production, The Wedding Singer, which runs from Tuesday, February 21 to Sunday, February 25 next.

Based on the popular film, the

hilarious feel-good musical is set in 1985 and follows the (mis)fortunes of New Jersey’s favorite wedding singer, whose own life has hit some sour notes until, of course, love comes calling.

Performances are nightly from

8pm at Scoil Iosa Hall in Malahide Community School, with tickets priced €16 (concs. available on Tuesday and Wednesday night).

Bookings can be made at malahidebookings@gmail.com, or by calling 086 375 8196

IT’S time to name and shame illegal dumpers, a Fingal TD has claimed.

Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) wants stronger measures to combat fly-tipping – including a website publicly listing repeat offenders who don’t pay their fines.

He said: “It’s time to think outside the box in our efforts to

tackle illegal dumping.

A ‘name and shame’ approach may make offenders think twice before engaging in this practise.

“For those who fail to pay the fixed penalty notice and are taken to court, their names should be published either on the website of their local authority or in their local papers.”

Deputy Farrell added: “Skerries, having won the Tidy Towns competition, provides an example of the benefit that local Tidy Towns volunteers bring to our towns and villages.

“We cannot stand by while illegal dumping detracts from the work of all of those involved in keeping our local communities clean.”

10 GAZETTE 16 February 2017

Out and About

Jenny Buckley and Rachel Kavanagh

Kerri Nicole Blanc and Sinead Noonan. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

Tripthi Rodrigues and Charlotte Doyle

Sinead Keary and Sarah Keary

Enjoying a girls’ night out in Dundrum T

o celebrate their February LOVE Box GLOSSYBOX held a Girls Night Out at Movie’s at Dundrum. Guests got to see the latest chick flick releases and each got to take home the February GLOSSYBOX. The evening was hosted by MD of Ireland & UK Rachel Kavanagh and included many well-known faces to include Jenny Buckley, Teodora Sutra, Gail Kaneswaren, to name but a few. From cult classics to innovative new launches, this February, GLOSSYBOX and La Mer have curated the ultimate skincare routine, boxed which launches on 20th February.

Lianne Traynor and Michelle Reggazoli Stone

Avila Lipsett

Stephen Kelly and Fergus Daly

Lorna Duffy

16 February 2017 GAZETTE 11

Out and About

Ellen Waters and Jonathan Crawley

Enny Buono and Jade Hanlon

Therese Ryan and Cormac Moore

Wayne Cronin and Leah Kilcullen

Sean McEvoy and Amanda Reid

January Winters. Photos : BRIAN MCEVOY

Fans out in force for John Wick sequel K Jason Brennan and Darragh Doyle

Baz Ashmawy

Helen Clinton and Niall Clinton

EANU Reeve’s fans were out in force at the Lighthouse Cinema for the Irish premiere screening of his latest film “John Wick Chapter 2”. Keanu Reeves plays the legendary hit man John Wick is forced back out of retirement by a former associate plotting to seize control of a shadowy international assassins’ guild.

Bound by a blood oath to help him, John travels to Rome where he squares off against some of the world’s deadliest killers. Spotted at the screening were Baz Ashmawy, Spin 1038’s Cormac Moore, as well as model January Russell.

12 GAZETTE 16 February 2017

GAZETTE

DUBLINBUSINESS Hoping for Irish win in Singapore ENTREPRENEURS: IRISHWOMAN JUST ONE OF THREE SHORTLISTED EU FINALISTS FOR TOP AWARD

 EMMA NOLAN

Ciara Donlon, the founder and chief executive of THEYA Healthcare, has been nominated for an entrepreneurial award that will be revealed in Singapore in April

ENTREPRENEUR Ciara Donlon – the founder and chief executive of T H E YA H e a l t h c a r e (www.theyahealthcare. com), an award-winning medical device company – has been shortlisted as a finalist for the prestigious 2017 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards.

Ciara is the only Irish entrepreneur shortlisted for the European Award category, alongside an entrepreneur from Russia, and another from the UK. The awards are an international business

plan competition created in 2006 to identify, support and encourage projects by women entrepreneurs. The initiative aims to encourage inspirational women entrepreneurs worldwide to solve contemporar y global challenges.

THEYA Healthcare, which was formally launched by Donlon in 2015, designs and manufactures healthcare garments.

The company’s flagship post-surgery lingerie range, designed primarily for use by breast cancer patients, retails across

Ireland and the UK, and has also been launched in Europe and Canada.

THEYA Healthcare uses a unique fabric mix made from OEKO-TEX bamboo, which is ideal for post-operative products as it is anti-bacterial, thermally regulating, 59% more absorbent than cotton and extremely soft, thus helps reduce skin irritation.

T he design of the THEYA Healthcare range focuses on comfort, support, femininity, functionality and the promotion of healing.

Headquartered at

NovaUCD, the centre for new ventures and entrepreneurs at UCD, THEYA Healthcare is an Enterprise Ireland highpotential start-up client company.

Donlon said: “It’s a huge honour to have been chosen by Cartier as one of the three European finalists for such a prestigious worldwide award.

“I s et up THEYA Healthcare because I wanted to help women undergoing breast cancer treatment feel better about themselves and heal faster; for that to be acknowledged by an

organisation like Cartier means a lot. “ H o p e f u l l y, m o r e women who can benefit from our products will now have a chance to access them.”

She was shortlisted alongside fellow chief executives Marina Ross, Nanobarrier (Russia), and Lise Pape, Walk with Life (UK).

The winners of the 2017 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards will be announced at the awards week and ceremony which will take place in Singapore from April 8 to 13.

Take key steps to help realise business goals WITH entrepreneurial spirit having an ever greater impact on Irish business, it can be tempting to plan to start your own business. However, as with any business, a focused plan with realistic, practical goals is a key part of achieving success.

Carol Brick (right), of HerMoney, has compiled some simple yet essential pointers towards being your own boss and maximising your entrepreneurial spirit.

Research and plan right Before cutting ties with your fulltime job, be sure that there is a market for the product or service you offer.

Talk with freelancers in the industry to learn more on the market and clients, and ask about their transition from fulltime to self-employed work and check on any potential pit falls.

Maintain positive business relationships with your co-workers and your boss – they could potentially become your first clients or refer others to you.

Financial backing is key Ensure you have enough capital

to cover your living expenses for the first several months you will be selfemployed. You may take a second parttime job, or get some weekend clients within your new self-employed profession, ahead of quitting your current day job. Also talk to your local enterprise board and a financial advisor.

Prepare the right set-up A reliable accountant will advise on the sole trader versus company director approach, and on the tax implications of both. Managing your own income tax and charging for VAT on your products or services is one of the sea changes of being self-employed. Get a userfriendly software system to account for your income and expenditure on a day to basis (see www.contracting365.ie).

Security Replacing key employee benefits like a pension, income protection for when you cannot work, and death in service (life cover) is important. Talk to an independent advisor about savings and investments like live cover or pensions. Also check out the different types of insurances needed.

Finally, Citizens Information also has helpful information on many practical business and financial implications; see www.citizensinformation.ie.

16 February 2017 GAZETTE 13

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ONE OF THIRTY PAIRS OF TICKETS TO THE CAROLE NASH IRISH MOTORBIKE & SCOOTER SHOW IN THE RDS FROM MARCH 3-5

THE annual “The Carole Nash Irish Motorbike and Scooter Show takes place from the 3rd to the 5th of March 2017 in the RDS Dublin – and we’ve got thirty pairs of tickets worth 18 euro each - to give away to this exciting event for all the family to enjoy.

All you have to do to win a pair of tickets to join 27,000 other motorcycle and scooter aficionados at the RDS next month is visit the Dublin Gazette Facebook page and Like

and Share our Carole Nash Motorbike & Scooter Show post.

Alternatively, you can simply email your entry to competitions@dublingazette.com - please make sure to put Carole Nash Comp in the subject line, and your name and address in the main body of the email.

Hop on your bike and go to the show - you would simply be mad to miss it! Best of luck all!

George Fitzgerald’s film explores the overlooked history of Dublin’s working-class citizens. Screengrab: YouTube

Delve into the capital’s ‘real’ past with a new documentary  EMMA NOLAN

A DUBLIN man has made a documentary that shows the dark side of Dublin. In Dublin Behind the History, Finglas man George Fitzgerald examines the history of working-class people in Dublin in the 1900s.

George (51) made the 25-minute documentary last year while he was researching his latest book, The Secret life Of Ashley Brown.

His research uncovered descriptions of Dublin often overlooked by history, of rats lining the streets, workhouses and barefoot, starving children.

“Dubliners are divorced from their own history,” he told The Gazette. George said he wanted to shed light on the history of the city that was forgotten because major events in history, such as the world wars, take precedence in the history books.

“I only just touched on [such content] in my documentary, there’s so much more – it was horrific,” George said.

Mixing footage of the

city as we know it with old photographs, illustrations and readings, the film shows how Dublin went from being the “flamboyant” city of the 1700s to having the worst slums in Europe by the early 1900s.

He shows two main catalysts that set about this change; the Act of Union in 1801 and The Famine.

George says that The Famine changed the course of working-class history as it led to suburban towns such as Swords being established.

The Monto He also explores the fact that the biggest red light district in Europe at the time – the Monto – was located in Dublin.

What modern Dubliners can learn from this history is an appreciation of simplicity and embracing our neighbours and communities, according to George.

“Get out and talk to your neighbour, and stop spending so much time on social media.”

Dublin Behind the History is available to watch on YouTube.

ENJOY A FEAT OF FREE LIVE ACTION ENTERTAINMENTAT THE RDS THIS MARCH….

WE’VE got new bikes, the latest accessories, clothing, helmets, training, adventure holidays … in fact just about everything you need for you and your bike!

NEW AT THE SHOW FOR 2017: JOEY DUNLOP TRIBUTE One of the main attractions of this year’s show has to be the exclusive personal Joey Dunlop Tribute which is the first time it will be on display in southern Ireland. See his race bikes, trophies, leathers, helmets from his astonishing 31 years of racing. Celebrities such as John McGuinness, Mick Grant and Eddie Laycock are scheduled to speak over the course of the three day show.

AMD INTERNATIONAL CUSTOM BIKE SHOW It is a firm show favourite with over 50 stunning custom bikes on display that are works of art and engineering genius from all over the world. Sponsored by Deltran Battery Tender with the support of Zodiac Intl and AMD World Championship.

ACE GLOBAL STUNT STARZ COMPETITION Be ‘wowed’ by 20 top freestyle motor-

cycle stunt riders competing for the title of ‘Ace of Aces’ all day ever day of the Show. The Ace Global Star Starz Competition is sponsored by Rock Oil and R&G Racing plus supported by Ace Café London.

ACE CAFE CLASSIC & RETRO ZONE Motorcycle enthusiasts all over the planet know about The Ace Café London and its pivotal role in the cultural revolution that shaped both the music and machines for future generations.

WORLD FAMOUS PURPLE HELMETS At speeds approaching 100 miles per hour – check out this mad cap Isle of Man riders and their crazy gang show.

ROCKABILLY LIVE STAGE SHOW The Rockabilly band, Skinny Elvis, will be performing on the main stage supported by the rather fine Rockabilly Roses and Fire Show with everyone dressed by one of the cool Rusty Pistons.

GRAFTON BARBER The Grafton Barber team will be offering to groom the visitors that ‘modern’ Rockabilly look. Check out the Harley Davidson’s in the Shop - they’ll even have the bike to match your new look.

FLAT TRACK SPEEDWAY There’s lots of speed and excitement with the Off Road Flat Track Racers and

for the first time show visitors can learn to ‘flat track race’ too.

EDDIE IRVINE RACING CHALLENGE Don’t miss your chance to see how fast you are on a MotoGP Motorcycle Racing Simulator. This is free of charge to all visitors each day of the show.

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE TALKS Since this year’s show is heavy on travel and adventure - expect to hear from some very interesting people who have done some amazing things on two wheels Visit www.irishmotorbikeshow.com for more information.

BMW Motorrad have announced that it will be introducing its 2017 models to the Irish public for the first time at the Show. Among 18 BMW bikes going on display are three brand new versions of the most popular travel enduro bike in the world - the BMW GS

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DIARY

SCHOOLS: ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO GET TO GRIPS WITH KEY SUBJECTS IN AN UPBEAT WAY

Spelling out the wonders and fun of science ... Katie Dixon helping to launch SciFest 2017. Picture: Keith Arkins

Knowledge is a fun science KATIE Dixon had her hands full as she helped to launch the tenth annual SciFest event.

All budding secondary school science students have the opportunity to demonstrate their science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills for the event, which gives students of all abilities the opportunity to develop research, problem-solving, critical thinking and presentation skills.

Sheila Porter, SciFest founder and chief executive said: “Over the past 10 years we have had the opportunity to experience some of the best young minds that Ireland has to offer.

“2016 was our best year ever, with more than 8,000 students participating and exhibiting their projects at local or region-

al science fairs all across the country, and we hope to build on this success in 2017 and beyond.”

Students can now showcase STEM projects at a series of one-day science fairs held locally in schools and regionally at DCU and a range of other institutions.

The winners from each regional science fair will go on to compete at a national final in November. The closing date for entries is March 10, so enter online or download a paper entry form from scifest.ie.

DRIVING INNOVATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE THIS year, Young Social Innovators Ireland (YSI) are aiming to reach 50% of secondary schools by 2020.

Currently featuring

in 30% of secondary schools nationwide, the scheme, in partnership with Ulster Bank, has set a target of bringing its social innovation programmes to 367 secondary schools in Ireland by 2020.

Sr Stanislaus Kennedy, co-founder of YSI, said that social value “must become an integral part of innovation in Ireland to address societal challenges and build social cohesion”.

YSI sees students from schools around the country select issues they care about, explore them and collaborate to develop and implement their social innovations.

Previous YSI projects have included a successful campaign calling for the introduction of a National Missing Per-

son’s Day and the development of a water-saving device for use on showerheads in homes.

Sr Stan added: “Policies and practices that align social and economic value will ultimately lead to a fairer, more inclusive and sustainable society.

“Through YSI, education is already playing a major role in developing a culture and understanding of innovation for social good among young people and we need to build on that.”

VALENTINES DAY IS SO ... MEH – SURVEY IT SEEMS we’re not the most romantic bunch ...

Nearly 60% of Irish people say they feel that Valentine’s Day has become a cliche.

A survey by Durex has revealed that 26% of us

generally mark the occasion by going out for a classy dinner while only 22% stay in with a bottle of wine and a movie.

However, the majority of us (70%) think Valentine’s Day has become too commercial. In fact, the survey found that more than one-fifth of Irish married couples won’t celebrate the day in any way this year.

Of those couples who are choosing to opt out of Valentine’s Day, 36% say it’s because there is too much pressure around it.

A fur ther 23% of couples say they prefer to engage in spontaneous acts of romance rather than abiding by the tradition, and 18% say it is because their partner doesn’t want to embrace the day.

Rising pressure hasn’t

lowered expectations, however, as almost two thirds (58%) of people still say they would be disappointed if their partner didn’t mark the occasion.

Irish men seem to be a little more laid-back, as more than half of them wouldn’t mind if the day went unnoticed, compared to just a quarter of women.

FARMERS MARKET TRAINING FOR ALL URBAN farmers and m a r ke t s e l l e r s t a ke note – Bord Bia has just launched a farmers market training workshop.

Starting with a Dublin city centre workshop on February 20, the workshops are designed for those thinking of starting or developing sales in such a market.

Aspiring Dublin-

based food market entrepreneurs can attend the workshop at The Fumbally Stables in Dublin 8 for a half-day interactive masterclass that will provide practical solutions to the challenges most frequently faced by market sellers.

Wicklow-based food producer, farmer and successful stallholder Margaret Hoctor, from Kilmullen Farm, will deliver the workshops. Margaret, a regular at the Marley Park food market, will share her own knowledge and wide experience of how she developed the family business through this channel.

For registration and further information, see www.bordbia.ie/FarmersMarketsTraining, or email maria.stokes@bordbia.ie.

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Hop on the bus and see a real Dubs’ fare city

 ALISON O’HANLON DUBLIN Bus has been ‘doing Dublin’ bus tours across the capital since 1988 through its Dublin Sightseeing City & Coastal Tours (the green bus!).

It is Dublin’s original, authentic bus tour and this year it’s shaking things up by rebranding to DoDublin.

The drivers – who also happen to be the best tour guides in the world – are Dublin natives, Fáilte-Ireland trained and know every nook and cranny, anecdote and scéal across the streets broad and narrow of our fair city. And one thing the Gazette can confirm after taking a ride on one of the newly rebranded green buses this week – they clearly love what they do!

Priding themselves on having the ‘banter’ with Irish and international tourists alike, the 63 DoDublin drivers are a busy bunch. Between The Hop On Hop Off Tour, Coastal Tours, Ghostbus Tour and The 1916: Beyond Barricades Tour, they

travel 275,000 miles across the city and county each year.

They’re an honest lot too as one driver found a bag with €3,500 left on his bus! It was duly returned to a very relieved tourist while he was visiting Trinity College.

Visitors to the city can avail of the best value with a DoDublin Card.

At €33 for adults and €16 for children under 14 it offers unlimited travel for three days, including direct transfers to and from Dublin Airport on Airlink Express, The Hop On Hop Off Tour, and all public buses on Dublin Bus routes.

Tickets for The Hop On Hop Off Tour include free for kids (two under 14 with a fare paying adult), a free Pat Liddy Walking Tour of Dublin worth €10, free entry into The Little Museum of Dublin worth €7, and two for one meal deals and discounts at participating attractions.

Tickets can be bought at dodublin.ie, Dublin Airport and from ticket agents across Dublin City Centre.

RTE’s Jennifer Zamparelli launches Do Dublin with drivers Martin Connolly, Joe Morris and the company’s Miram Brady.

Pictures: Alison O’Hanlon

THALIA HEFFERNAN | DUBLIN’S HOTTEST MODEL LAUNCHES DENIM KING DIESEL’S SPRING/SUMMER 2017 CAMPAIGN

16 February 2017 GAZETTE 17

NOW YOU’RE LOOKIN’ DIESEL: Thalia Heffernan looks amazing in her photoshoot alongside male model Savio De Chiara.

Pictures: Dara Munnis

Queen Diesel

JEANS Queen Thalia Heffernan looks a million dollars in this stylish new shoot for denim king Diesel’s Spring/Summer campaign.

The Dubliner put the disappointment of being voted off Dancing With The Stars behind her as she jetted out to sunny Spain for the one-day shoot with Italian model Savio De Chiara.

And to celebrate the launch of Diesel’s new campaign – which hits the stores THIS WEEK – we have a €100 voucher for a lucky reader to win.

All you have to do is Like and Share the Diesel post on The Dublin Gazette’s Facebook page.

Best of luck folks!

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River Island

 EMMA NOLAN Style Editor

WE THOUGHT we’d left oversized belts in the early Noughties – but we were wrong ... This new trend sees belts meet corsets to create a cinched waist silhouette, regardless of the rest of the outfit, as the waist has become the body part du jour.

Easy to wear, this trend is forgiving on most shapes and gives a bit of

curve and swerve to those who are challenged in the waist area.

What is most appealing about this trend is the creative ways we’ve see it worn thus far; over baggy jumpers and long dresses and men’s shirts – it works with any combination, from jeans and t-shirts to ball gowns.

One of these is a definite worthy investment to go with numerous outfits for the next few months.

Ana Mac is sew stylish  EMMA NOLAN

A DESIGNER from Rush has realised her lifelong dream of becoming a professional dressmaker.

Ana Mac is the brainchild of local dressmaker Anna Maguire (above right), who specialises in creating bespoke garments.

The 30-year-old is an expert at constructing garment designs of any kind, from christening gowns to bridal gowns and everything in between. She also offers garment reconstruction

services and has her own line of ready-to-wear pieces.

“I watched my mam dressmake from a very early age and this is how I picked up this passion,” Anna told The Gazette.

“She created all sorts, from debs to weddings to little christening gowns.

“I used to pick up leftover fabrics from the floor and hand-sew dresses for my Barbies and dolls.

“I loved it! Mixing fabrics, different colour threads, and redesigning four-inch skirts – my Barbies always looked great!”

As a teenager, Anna

started making things for her friends: “Simple things like furry boots for festivals, or taking in or taking up their clothes for them.”

Though she had a career in social care, Anna says that all she really wanted to do was sew so she applied for a fashion design course.

After acing the course, she began her career as a professional dressmaker, and confidently says: “I can create absolutely anything.”

To find out more about Anna’s services, see dressmaker.ie.

River Island 3-buckle waist belt €30 New Look Lace up corset belt €12

River Island Lace up corset belt €25

River Island Foldover waist belt €30

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brown and blonde.

3) CAILYN PURE LUXE

BELT &

BUCKLE BEAUTY

THIS weather is doing n o b o d y ’s s k i n a ny favours. Below are some products that are getting me through these fresh months, with everything available in pharmacies nationwide.

LIPSTICK, DARK PINK

1) IDC ULTIME DECOL-

favourite, this overnight liquid peel is suitable for even ver y sensitive skin. Great for oily skin, it tightens pores, improves skin texture and smooths fine lines.

Skin is left feeling softer and looking brighter the next morning.

LETE (€79.95) For all skin

types, this richly textured serum smooths and tightens the neck while getting rid of crease lines around the decollete.

2) EYLURE BROW PALETTE (€12.99) A kit gives

you everything you need to shade and sculpt and add definition. Available in dark brown, mid

( €19.50 ) Highly pigmented and delivers full colour coverage, also long-wearing and smudgeproof.

4) VICHY IDEALIA PEELING ( €30 ) A personal

5) DELAROM DECONGESTING HYDRATING EYE GEL (€35) Helps reduce the coloration of dark

circles, soothe the eyes and reduce signs of fatigue with instant brightness.

6 ) T H E BO DY S H O P ALMOND MILK AND HONEY BODY SCRUB (€24.95) Per-

fect for sensitive skin as it contains no colourants, mineral oil or petrolatum, this scrub is great for gently exfoliating skin.

7) GUINOT PUR CONFORT SFP15 PROTECTIVE AND SOOTHING CREAM (€58.50)

Protects the skin against environmental irritants.

8) EUCERIN AQUAPHOR SOOTHING SKIN BALM (€8)

All-in-one cream for the season, use on extremely dry, chapped, and even cracked skin.

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DUBLINLIFE

Great offers at Bagots Hutton for February  AISLING KENNEDY

BAGOTS Hutton is currently running a Neighbourhood Menu for the month of February which offers a complimentary glass of wine as part of their early menu from 5pm.

T h e N e i g h b o u rhood Menu, which runs from Monday to Thursday all night and Friday and Saturday before 7pm, features two courses for €19.50 or three courses for €22.50.

The restaurant, which is based on South William Street

recently opened a second location at 6 Ormond Quay Upper, Dublin 1 and this offer is available with their early menu in both locations.

The new Bagots Hutton venture on Ormond Quay is larger than their flagship restaurant and features a 120-seater restaurant.

It also features a cafe bar at the entrance, the fine dining area in the basement, and first floor mezzanine with main bar and stage for live entertainment.

For more see www. bagotshutton.com

A flawless balance of sweet, salty with a hint of spice

FOOD&DRINK Thai Sticky Chicken Ingredients Chicken  15g (1/2oz) packet fresh coriander  1 green chilli, seeded and chopped  2 garlic cloves, chopped  2.5cm (1in) piece root ginger, peeled and chopped  3 tbsp dark soy sauce  50g (2oz) Siucra Light Golden Brown Sugar  6 chicken thighs, trimmed  1 tsp sunflower oil Dipping Sauce  2 tsp white vinegar (rice or wine)  juice of ½ lime  2 tbsp Siucra Caster Sugar  1 red bird’s eye chilli, finely sliced To serve: Steamed Thai fragrant rice. Pomegranate seeds and sesame seeds Method  Reserve a handful of the coriander leaves for the dipping sauce, then roughly chop the remainder and put into a food processor. Add the chilli, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, Siucra Light Golden Brown Sugar and blend to a paste. Spoon all over the chicken thighs in a shallow Pyrex dish and if time allows leave to marinade for 10 minutes at room temperature. If preparing the day before, cover with clingfilm and place in the fridge.  To make the dipping sauce, put the Siucra Caster Sugar in a pan with 2 tablespoons of water and simmer for a few minutes to make a sugar syrup. Then stir in the vinegar, lime juice and chilli. Leave to cool and stir in the coriander leaves.  Preheat the oven to 190°C / 350°F / Gas mark 4. Drizzle the sunflower oil over the chicken thighs and roast for 35 minutes until cooked through and golden brown, basting occasionally to give them a nice sticky glaze.  Arrange the chicken on plates or in oriental bowls with the rice and scatter pomegranate seeds and sesame seeds on top. Put the dipping sauce in small dishes alongside to serve.

Recipe courtesy of Siucra. For more information on Siucra products along with recipes, tips and videos visit www.facebook.com/siucraireland, Instagram.com/ SiucraIreland and www.siucra.ie.

Get spoilt for choice in food heaven  AISLING KENNEDY

LOCAL MATTERS

TO PLACE AN AD CALL OUR SALES TEAM ON 60 10 240 OR EMAIL SALES@ DUBLINGAZETTE.COM

THE Dine In Dublin festival is back again this year for its ninth year and will run from Monday, February 27 to Sunday, March 5.

Organised by Dublin Town, over 70 of Dublin’s most renowned restaurants will take part in the seven-day foodie festival this year.

Restaurants including Pichet, Rustic Stone, Zaragoza, Fade St Social, Fallon & Byrne and Marco Pierre White’s will be taking part and running amazing offers on their menus for the sevenday festival.

The Gazette were lucky enough to head along to the launch of Dine In Dublin at Fire Restaurant in the Mansion House last week and sample some of the many delicious courses that will be on offer from a selection of the restaurants taking part around the city.

A specific mention has to go to San Lorenzo’s Roast Hogget with minted salsa verde, chantaney carrots and duck fast roast potatoes by Chef Temple Garner. It was a truly brave dish that was absolutely divine. There is so much choice on offer from the participating restaurants so it is well worth a visit to www.dineindublin.ie to see which offer might appeal to you.

San Lorenzo’s Roast Hogget with minted salsa verde, chantaney carrots and duck fast roast potatoes

16 February 2017 GAZETTE 21

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TRAVEL

RAMBLING AND ROAMING: SUPERB TRAILS AND SIGHTS AWAIT ACROSS THE BORDER

Slope off to Andorra for a top ski holiday TOPFLIGHT are preparing for their Copper Face Jack’s ski trip which departs on March 5 to Arinsal, Andorra where guests will include Paddy Casey and DJ Mark McCabe.

All-inclusive prices start from only €959 per person sharing. See www.topflight.ie.

Foodie heaven for all at Dine in Dublin festival DINE in Dublin Festival from February 27 to March 5 will have 70 dining experiences on offer from Pichet, Rustic Stone, Zaragoza, The Woollen Mills, Fade Street Social, Carluccios, Brother Hubbard, Saba, Fallon & Byrne and Marco Pierre White Steakhouse & Grill.

Ryanair ready to land average fares at €30 RYANAIR says it’s on target to reduce its average fare to €30 after it reported fares down 17% to €33, with passenger numbers up 16% to 29 million for the third quarter of 2016.

St Patrick to turn 300 sites green this year TOURISM Ireland chief executive Niall Gibbons said he expected the number of sites that will go green for St Patrick’s Day to rise to 300 this year.

Predicted tourist numbers for 2017 have been revised upwards, from -1% to 3%, with the rise reflected by booking trends reported by the city’s hotels.

Northern delights Whether rambling over the Sperrins or taking to the hills and valleys across Northern Ireland, nature lovers and hikers are never far from a relaxing, welcoming destination

 SYLVIA POWNALL

IF YOU fancy a staycation embracing the great outdoors, grab your walking boots and woolly hat and discover some of Northern Ireland’s most scenic locations. With eight Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), 47 national nature reserves, 43 special areas of conservation and 10 special protection areas, it’s a rambler’s paradise.

Belfast A crisp morning is arguably the best time to walk the Lagan Towpath as the mist hovers just above Belfast’s main river.

Divis and Black Mountain rest in the heart of the Belfast Hills and provide a backdrop to the city’s skyline, offering spectacular views across Northern Ireland, Belfast Lough and as far as Donegal and the

coast of England, Scotland and the Isle of Man. Stay: The 4-star Ramada Plaza Hotel Belfast in Lagan Valley Regional

The Sperrins Spanning 40 miles and over the two counties of Tyrone and Derry, the Sperrins mountain range is the largest in Ireland and walkers can expect undulating hills covered in heather, quiet valleys, boggy uplands and a land teeming with wildlife.

Add in more than 90 sets of stone circles, the best known being Beaghmore, and numerous other intriguing, megalithic structures, and the Sperrins are most definitely a walking wonder.

Check out The Robber’s Table near Gortin. The highest point of this route provides superb views of the Bluestack and Derryveagh Mountains of

Donegal to the west and the high Sperrins to the north east.

Stay: Blessingbourne Estate offers 5-star luxury pet-friendly self-catering accommodation with premier 13k mountain bike trails

The Mourne Mountains These are the highest and most dramatic range in Northern Ireland and are criss-crossed by an unrivalled network of paths and tracks, providing enthusiastic walkers with incredible opportunities for exploration.

Northern Ireland’s highest peak, the Slieve D o n a r d , cl i m b s u p through forest to meet the famous Mourne Wall for the final steep ascent to the top.

The dramatic views of Newcastle and the sea below definitely make it

worth the 850m climb.

N e a r b y To l l y m o r e Forest Park offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and the sea at Newcastle while Castlewellan Forest Park offers an array of loops through one of the most outstanding tree and shrub collections in Europe.

Stay: The 4-star Slieve Donard Resort & Spa in Newcastle.

Causeway Coast & Glens The Causeway Coast Way, especially the section from Portballintrae to Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, is among the most scenic coastal walks you can find anywhere.

Follow a stretch of breathtaking coastline between Ballintoy and Bushmills for a great 12.4 mile walk. The route includes walking on

beaches, across rocks and along clifftop paths.

Winter creates the perfect backdrop to explore the mature woodland of Glenariff Forest Park with freezing waterfalls and open, frosted moorland.

The trail first takes you down the Inver River gorge, to the edge of the Ess-na-Crub Waterfall and your path back offers spectacular views straight down the misty glen to the coast and the sea beyond.

Stay: The 4-star Causeway Hotel.

County Fermanagh Whilst Fermanagh is renowned for its lakelands, the first destination for any keen walker should be its highest summit – Cuilcagh Mountain, standing at 665m.

This area is part of the UNESCO endorsed Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark due to its unique

geology and spectacular landscapes.

A new boardwalk meanders through one of the largest expanses of blanket bog in Northern Ireland.

Crom Estate near Enniskillen offers walks amidst a tranquil landscape of islands, woodland and historic ruins.

Along the shoreline to Crom’s beautiful boathouse you can enjoy stunning views up to the 19th century castle which sits to the right of the trail dominating the landscape.

Stay: The 4-star Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel & Lodges TRANSLINK run a Sperrins & Mournes Rambler bus service all year round with stops in key towns which are ideal starting points for many circular walks. For further information, see www.discovernorthernireland.com.

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DUBLINLIFE

FASTNews

The Nissan e-NV200 full electric van is Europe’s best-selling electric powered van.

Nissan e-NV200 is top-selling electric van THE Nissan e-NV200 topped the charts to become Europe’s best-selling electric van in 2016. The all-electric van ranked number one in 17 countries across Europe, ahead of its competitors in the category. The UK is the top market in Europe for Nissan e-NV200, followed closely by Norway and France.

The Nissan e-NV200 is an alternative transport solution for families and businesses alike as it combines the best of Nissan’s NV200 van with zero-emission technology from the world’s bestselling electric car, the Nissan LEAF. Available in both commercial van and fully trimmed Combi and Evalia passenger variants, the e-NV200 line-up offers a variety of options including a panel van, five-seat and seven-seat option and a driving range of up to 170km (106 miles) on a single charge.

New Seat Ibiza claims to be the best ever THE new Seat Ibiza is the Spanish brand’s most important model and for 2017 comes with new styling while preserving the same sporty spirit. It does so with a fresh design that Seat claims reflects the latest Seat distinctive character by continuing with the brand’s DNA but with an edgier, sportier design. This fifth generation Seat Ibiza will make its public debut at the next Geneva Auto Show and go on sale in Ireland from July 2017.

The new Ibiza, is claimed to be a completely new model bringing a major step ahead in safety, design, performance and comfort. This advance in quality was claimed to be achieved by the use of the new Volkswagen Group MQB A0 modular platform.

This platform allows the new Seat Ibiza to be much wider by a 87mm, while it is 2mm shorter and 1mm lower than the previous model. The wheel track is 60mm wider at the front axle and 48mm at the rear axle, while the wheelbase is 95mm longer giving claims of a more comfortable car.

The new Ibiza will be on sale in Ireland in July 2017

Citroën brings presence to stylish new C3

Citroën is back in the supermini market with style and strength following the launch of the new C3 model at the start of this year. This new design gives improved driving performance as Michael Moroney found out in his test drive.

CITROËN’S fresh attack in the supermini market with the new C3 makes a strong statement from the French brand and their biggest new entrant to the market for 2017. This new C3 has grown up significantly in terms of size and road presence, making it a more distinguished looking car than before.

This new Citroën C3 has scope to add flair and style with new options available that can either tone up or down how you feel about your car choice.

What’s standard is a car that feels, looks and drives with a stronger nature than before.

I’ve had the diesel powered Flair version Citroën C3 on the road for a week to test its metal. I took across a variety of city and country driving conditions that spanned 1119km, so it was well and truly tested in Ireland’s muggy winter driving conditions.

The 1.6 litre turbo-die-

sel engine is well accomplished. It can deliver pace giving the car a lively driving feel. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the car handled with this power and torque in what is a relatively light car. The road holding was impressive and at all times I felt that I was in control.

The smooth engine performance is average for a car in this class, even though the engine size is larger than some others.

The acceleration pace at 13.8 is no rally car, while it does give the car a better pace than some of the competition.

I had expected a better fuel economy figure where the rated numbers are impressive at 28m/litre (3.6/100km or 78.5mpg).

In practice this performance was well outside my reach, both in terms of what the car’s trip and range meter returned as well as my own consumption figures. The actual

figure was close to 40% off this and that was one of shocking surprises that you only realise when at the pumps.

The fuel tank is rated at 42 litres and in theory that should give me a range of over 1,110km but I had a pit stop along the way to reaching that figure. That economy figure does not take away from the performance of the engine which meets the challenge on the open road as much as in city driving, it’s just that as you tour on the motorways and come close to the 120km/ hr limit the car edges over the magic 2000rpm figure on the engine, which is the sweet spot when it comes to bridging the gap between performance and economy.

That all means that the Citroën is a good car to drive in terms of comfort, road holding and but keep an eye to that rev counter is economy is your priority.

The new Citroën C3 brings more style and stature to the market and the Airbump feature for the Flair models is both stylish and practical.

Citroën C3 BlueHDi 75

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine 1.6 litre Engine power 75hp 0 – 100km/hr 13.8 seconds Economy 28m/litre (3.6/100km or 78.5mpg) Fuel Tank Capacity 42 litres CO2 emissions 93g/km Road Tax Band A2 €180 Main Service 15,000km/ 12 months Warranty 5 years /100,000km Entry Price €17,890

The dash has a very modern feel to it and comes with the Citroën ConnectedCAM system

For city driving I expect better performance as the engine’s start/stop system is smooth and comfortable to use. I probably just didn’t do enough city driving to maximise its true economy benefits.

The Citroën C3 looks aesthetically pleasing and the free Style Pack which

Citroën claim is worth €500 brings a distinctive Airbump and Bi-Tone roof to the car. With the C3 the Airbumps are both practical in supermarket trolley defence and is stylish in appearance.

On the inside the C3 is more modern looking than in the past. There is a

16 February 2017 GAZETTE 23

GAZETTE

MOTORING

The new Nissan Navara Trek-1° version is a limited edition and high spec version of the well-known 4x4 pick-up

GM and Honda to establish joint fuel-fuel operation

new ConnectedCAM Citroën system included on the higher specification models which uses a fully integrated camera, located behind the rear view mirror, to capture images and video that can instantly be shared on social media channels, or saved as evidence in the event of an accident.

T he 17-inch alloy wheels gives the car great road stature and there are useful features in the topend Flair specification that include automatic lights and windscreen wipers, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. Other options that improve the driving experience include voice controlled 3D navigation, a reversing camera, keyless entry and start and blind-spot monitoring.

While this pushes up the price from the Touch specification entry model at €17,890 to €20,790 for the top of the range Flair model with all of this kit.

That €3,000 difference brings a lot of features, many of which you’ll find in the mid-range where the price jump is exactly

half that figure. Citroën is offering enticing scrappage options and low rate finance options.

The rear space is what you would expect from a supermini car, adequate as long as you’re not 6ft tall. There are two ISO-Fix units in the rear for child seats but not much room between them. The car has yet to achieve a Euro NCAP safety rating.

The boot space is good at 300 litres extending to 922 with the rear seat folded. The other plus is that there’s a space saver spare wheel included.

Ford’s Fiesta is the big competition for the Citroën C3 and the new bigger C3 is very price competitive at the entry and middle end, while the higher specification Flair model that I drove has more kit included that the equivalent Fiesta Titanium.

Citroën has a strong offering in the new C3 supported by a 5 year warranty and for me the improved driving and handling of the car was what won the day.

General Motors and Honda has announced establishment of the auto industry’s first manufacturing joint venture to mass produce an advanced hydrogen fuel cell system that will be used in future products from each company. Fuel Cell System Manufacturing will begin around 2020 and create nearly 100 new jobs. Fuel cell technology addresses many of the major challenges facing automobiles today: petroleum dependency, emissions, efficiency, range and refuelling times. Fuel cell vehicles can operate on hydrogen made from renewable sources such as wind and biomass. Water vapour is the only emission from fuel cell vehicles. Honda began delivery of its new Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle to U.S. customers in December 2016 following a spring 2016 launch in Japan. The Clarity Fuel Cell received the best driving range rating from the US Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of any electric vehicle without a combustion engine with a range rating of 550km (366 miles) and fuel economy rating of 24km/litre (68mpg) of petrol-equivalent combined.

GM is currently demonstrating the capability of fuel cells across a range of land, sea and air applications. The company has now accumulated millions of miles of real-world driving in fuel cell vehicles.

The C3 comes with Airbump doors that don’t add a feeling of weight to car, more in terms of protection from other car opening doors and straying supermarket trolleys

Skoda announces Kodiaq SUV prices SKODA in Ireland has revealed Irish pricing and specification details for its new five and seven-seat Skoda Kodiaq SUV, due to be launched next month, with prices for the entry level Kodiaq Act 1.4 TSI petrol from €29,395 including delivery charge.

The Skoda Kodiaq will come in three trim levels (Active, Ambition and Style), with five engine and trans-

The engine gave impressively smooth acceleration but comes with a thirst

The new Skoda Kodiaq is due here in March with entry prices from €29,395 including delivery charge for the I found the road holding and handling impressive across a range of driving conditions

Kodiaq Act 1.4 TSI petrol model

mission options and fourteen different exterior colour options. There will be a seven seat option available for just €1,000 more than the standard five seat model.

That entry level Active trim level includes a host of impressive features, including 17” Ratikon Alloys, Cruise Control, Bluetooth, Climatronic air conditioning and the clever Smartlink technology for Smart Phone integration with the infotainment system.

The Skoda Kodiaq will also come with a host of connectivity features.

Smartlink+ smartphone integration system containing Apple Car Play and Google Android Auto is now available as standard. The Columbus Navigation & Infotainment system which is standard on the Style trimline also comes with an additional 4G LTE SIM card slot to enable a high speed Wi-Fi hotspot within the car (data plans sold separately) and a host of additional connected services from Skoda Connect.

GAZETTE

24 FINGAL GAZETTE 16 February 2017

DUBLINLIFE

ReelReviews

LEGO BATMAN MOVIE Wholly entertaining

EVERYBODY’S favourite superhero (in your face, Spidey) gets yet another twist via The Lego Batman Movie (Cert G, 104 mins).

An unexpected breakout star of the smash-hit Lego movie from a few years ago, Batman gets his own pretty brick-tastic plastic film, while a whole host of familiar Gotham characters, superhero and supervillains fight for screen time. It’s a batty-ful film to watch, too.

La La Land didn’t quite sweep the boards as had been predicted, but still took home a great haul of top Baftas

 SHANE DILLON RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER Promises, promises

MUCH like the undead horrors at the heart of this franchise, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (Cert 15A, 106 mins) is the latest in the tired franchise that refuses to die. Nothing seems able to stop the zombies – or Milla Jovovich – from returning in the unstoppable series, with Milla attempting to save the world (again) despite the undead (again).

50 SHADES DARKER Grey Steele strike back

STEAMIER than drying socks on the radiator, and about as erotic as a weekend away with your in-laws, here comes 50 Shades Darker (Cert 18, 118 mins). Continuing the contrived misadventures of Grey and Steele, it’s got less romance than an old Mills and Boon book, and is even less grounded in reality than a Christmas episode of Eastenders – but fantasists may enjoy some of it.

GIVEN all the turmoil of recent months, thank heaven there’s still something cinema fans can still rely on – the Baftas, which are usually a fairly decent indicator of how the Oscars will play out soon afterwards.

The weekend’s glittering (if a little rainlashed) red carpet guests traipsing in to the Bafta 2017 awards were giving nothing much away, but all eyes were on the critics’ (and audiences’) darling on the night – La La Land.

Would it sweep the board in charming Technicolor fashion, tapdancing an i m p r e s s i ve haul of golden Baftas into a basket to take home?

BAFTAS: FAVOURITE WON PLENTY – BUT THE GLITZY CEREMONY STILL HAD SOME SURPRISES FOR VIEWERS

La-vely haul of awards for upbeat hit musical Err, no – perhaps because of all the unpredictability sweeping the world in recent months, this year’s Baftas turned out to be a little less predictable than usual.

Of course, La La Land was still the big winner on the night, claiming an impressive haul of wins (including Best Original Music, Best Cinematography, Best Director and, the best ‘Best’ of all, Best Film), in addition to a stack of other nominations and wins.

However, it didn’t quite sweep the board as decisively as had been expected, with this year’s diverse range of films claiming some well deserved wins of their own.

While Emma Stone took a well deserved Best Actress win, her La La Land co-star Ryan Gosling lost out to Casey Affleck for the Best Actor nod. Gosling’s game I’m-almost-as-goodas-Emma-see song and

dance skills were appreciated by audiences, but critics raved about Casey – brother of Ben – and his bravura turn in Manchester by the Sea. Other critically acclaimed films also raised some eyebrows by not claiming the coveted golden statue – not that there’s any shame in ‘just’ being nominated for a Bafta, of course, but there were still some surprises in store.

For example, Moonlight – widely tipped for award glory – didn’t win on the night, despite the widespread acclaim it’s received all around the world.

Indeed, some of the aw a r d n o m i n a t i o n s were themselves surprising – for example, Hugh Grant popping up for Best Supporting Actor in the amusing, eccentric Florence Foster Jenkins (which also stars Meryl Streep as the charmingly

talentless titular character – a role which saw her up for the Best Acress award), while Ken Loach came back with a powerful tale (I, Daniel Blake) to claim Outstanding British

Film.

The Best Animated Film shortlist, meanwhile, curiously omitted Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name – an anime now much more commercially successful than the world-conquering Spirited Away, some years back – to run with more predictable fare, such as Finding Dory.

Still, if there were disappointments on the night, there was one big delight thanks to an aging American gentleman that everybody was delighted to see – the inimitable Mel Brooks, scooping the prestigious Bafta Fellowship.

Wisecracks Promising not to flog his latest momento on eBay, Mel showed a flash of the irreverent charm and wisecracks that you’d expect from such a comedy legend.

He wasn’t alone with the gags – host Stephen Fry took aim at another aging American gentleman throughout the night, with President Trump providing a constant source of amusement and annoyance in

some politically charged moments.

Closer to home, and a number of Irish hopes were scattered throughout the awards, with acclaimed Irish-Ethiopian actress Ruth Negga arguably the most prominent Irish figure in this year’s Baftas, given the praise she’s enjoyed for her great performance in Loving.

Unfor tunately, she didn’t win the EE Rising Star award, losing out to Tom Holland, but has certainly proven that she’s one to watch.

It’s the broader, more general award categories which have given the Baftas their critical cachet and worth, and which usually – not always, but usually – see the Bafta wins echoed at the bigger, glitzier Oscars.

With this year’s Oscars rapidly approaching at the end of the month, expect to see plenty more about several of these films once again when February 26 rolls around, and the Oscars steal the limelight in California – worth making another song and dance about ...

16 February 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 25

GAZETTE

CINEMA

To be a woman in an important role in 1960s NASA was already unusual, but to be an African-American as well made it an even greater achievement for the women at the heart of the film

HIDDEN FIGURES: A GREAT LOOK AT STRUGGLES FOR EQUAL RIGHTS

Well worth finding  ROMY CARROLL

The little-known key roles of African-American women in NASA’s early days finally gets a great film

DIRECTOR Theodore Melfi’s Hidden Figures (Cert PG, 121 mins) is a very compelling true story of how a group of exceptional women were at the forefront of launching the first American into space, and into orbit around earth, whist also believing in their highly personal quests for equal rights in early 1960s segregated America.

Katherine G Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson were just three of the 30-strong group of African-American mathematician women who had to live in a very male-dominated world in NASA whist also having to deal with

the day-to-day challenges of America’s turbulent civil rights movement.

Johnson (played by Taraji P Henson) was a “human computer” at NASA, who proved to the plethora of engineers, mathematicians and strategists at the agency that her formula was correct, making her the first woman to outdo her male associate, Paul Stafford (Jim Parsons).

We see how Paul makes her life very hard from start to finish – a day that was already hard enough having to sit at the back of the room, drinking coffee from a different coffee maker, and having to run 40 mins each day to use the “colored bathrooms” which were on the other

side of the campus.

Her daily routine finally caught up with her boss (played by Kevin Costner), who decided to do something about it.

With some sledgehammer subtlety, his character strikes a blow for Johnson, sending a clear signal that she, and every other African-American woman, should be treated with respect and equality at the busy agency.

We also see Dorothy Vaughan (played by The Help’s Octavia Spencer), always hoping that one day she would make supervisor, but it wasn’t to be as she kept getting undermined by other women, including her Caucasian boss (Kirsten Dunst).

We see how she, and other characters, were always spoken to in a demeaning way, while Vaughan and all the other African-American women just had to put up with it – in this climate, speaking back or out of line would see them swiftly out of a job.

We also follow Mary J a c k s o n ( p l ay e d b y Janelle Monae), who had a family of three to bring up but still passionately believed in her dream to become an engineer in the white, male-dominanted world.

Despite her lack of civil rights, she still believed in her dream, even though she wasn’t allowed to go to college, never mind be an engineer.

The film shows how her hard study and fighting for her right to be an engineer would prove everybody wrong, seeing her become the top of her class.

This true-life story really gives audiences an insight into how hard it was for African-American men and women of the era to fight hard for their civil rights, and to keep believing in what they could achieve.

Handsomely shot and with several likeable leads – including some great performances from the trio of women at its heart – Hidden Figures deserves to be seen by as many people as possible.

Verdict: 9/10

26 FINGAL GAZETTE 16 February 2017

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28 FINGAL GAZETTE 16 February 2017

SPORT

FastSport GORDON AND BYRNE IN IRISH TEAM FOR LA: DUBLINERS Martin Gordon (stoker) and Eamonn Byrne – from Sundrive Track team – have been confirmed in the Irish team to compete in the UCI Para-cycling track world championships in Los Angeles, USA in March.

They will be making their debut in the men’s tandem, competing in the men’s B tandem sprint events.

Cycling Ireland performance coach Neill Delahaye said of their inclusion: “Martin has been on the Development Squad for the last couple of years and this is a new partnership with Eamonn.

“They are an exciting prospect. Eamonn is an experienced and accomplished sprinter and with the sprint events back on the Tokyo Paralympic programme of events we are excited to see what they can do.“ This is the first time that a World Track Championships for Para-cycling has been held in the post-Paralympic season, and this is the first competition for the Irish team.

BASEBALL: MASON KEEN TO SEE SPORT WELCOME NEW PARTICIPANTS THIS YEAR

Shankill club giving it Sox for 2017 league campaign

 JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

THE DUBLIN Black Sox have kicked off a recruitment drive, with the Shankill-based baseball team on the lookout for anyone interested in taking part in the sport, particularly ahead of the new season.

The Black Sox play out of Shanganagh Park, and are part of a littlepublicised Irish baseball league that has been in place since the late 1990s.

T here is plenty of Irish interest on the ground, as well as an abundance of players from traditional baseball hotbeds the USA, Dominican Republic and Venezuela.

Chris Mason, who plays with the Black Sox, was keen to tell GazetteSport of the inclusiveness of the spor t in Ireland, in terms of welcoming a broad array of players and when it comes to ability.

The Black Sox are preparing for their 2017 Baseball Ireland season

“There’s space on the teams [which operate at an ‘A’ and introductory ‘B’ level] for anyone who wants to play regularly,” he explains. “One of the teams we played last year had an 80-year-old playing for them, and he plays in the same position at me. He was getting some great balls, I don’t know how he did

it!”

Mason’s interest in baseball dates back to fuzzy images on NBC as a kid, though it took him a number of years to stumble across Baseball Ireland and get involved in the sport outside of watching on TV. “It’s a young sport, and doesn’t get a lot of support in Ireland,”

he tells us. “The adult league is open to anyone aged 16+, and a lot of people come in having to learn simple things.

“Throwing, for example, is something you have to learn.

“You need someone to show you how to throw properly.

“It can be a little jarring to play a new sport,

and people don’t always stick with it but a lot of people transfer in from sports like hurling and cricket. There are parallels.”

“The game is spreading in Ireland,” he continues. “We have two divisions now, North and South.

“T here are several teams in Dublin and

Belfast, and others based in Cavan, Kilkenny, Clare, Ashbourne and Greystones.

“It’s all part time and amateur, so we often play two games on one day.

“The rules are just the same as Major League b a s e b a l l , a n d we ’r e wo r k i n g w i t h D u b lin City Council to get things set up as well as possible.

“We can supply bats and gloves; the club have invested a bit in that kind of stuff and there’s always equipment to use.

“All you really need is a pair of football shoes or trainers.”

The Dublin Black Sox can be contacted via their Facebook page or, at DublinBlackSoxBaseball@gmail.com.

Those with a broader interest in baseball can get in touch with the Irish association, whose website can easily found by googling ‘Baseball Ireland’.

Clarke snatches winner as UCD keep double hopes alive  sport@dublingazette.com

Sorcha Clarke, 9, celebrates with UCD team mate Sally Campbell. Picture: Adrian Boehm

UCD and Cork Harlequins both took advantage of HermesMonkstown’s enforced inactivity - their visit to Pegasus fell victim to a frozen pitch - to shake things up at the top of the women’s EY Hockey League.

UCD are at the league’s summit for the first time this season as their unbeaten run continued with a 2-1 success over Railway Union.

The students, who along with Monkstown are the only side yet to lose this term, led

through Lena Tice’s drag-flick but Zara Delany’s pace got her in behind the UCD rearguard for an equaliser shortly after.

UCD’s winner came in stylish fashion though, a seemingly pre-planned set play off the fourth quarter restart with Katie Mullan and Emma Russell linking up to tee up Sorcha Clarke to score.

Cork Harlequins were dominant in their 3-0 success over second-from-bottom Pembroke, Karen Bateman’s magic half-volley getting them on the board after 28 minutes.

T hey did, however, miss a hatful of chances - hitting the post twice - before Kay Gaffney’s short corner bunt and a fine team goal, walked into an empty net by Yvonne O’Byrne, made it safe in the final quarter.

Loreto kept the pressure on the top three with a hardearned 2-1 victory at Ards.

The hosts made all the early running but a pair of short corner goals from Ali Meeke and Freya McDermott built a useful lead before half-time.

Lucy McKee finished Ards’

fourth corner with eight minutes to go to give them a lifeline, but Loreto held firm to take all three points.

On Sunday, UCD continued their superb season with a 7-0 win in the Irish Senior Cup semi-final to reach a showdown with Cork Harlequins.

Deirdre Duke spent the majority of the last three months out injured with a broken bone in her shoulder but returned in some style, netting a hat trick with fellow international Katie Mullan weighing in with a pair of goals too.

16 February 2016 FINGAL GAZETTE 29

GAZETTE

FASTSport

Ais the Bash looks to write her next episode Daly admits her “devastation” at having to retire from mixed martial arts but is now keen to develop the next generation of the sport in Ireland as one of Straight Blast Gym’s coaches

Eight Dubliners named in Irish Winter Games team THE countdown is now on as Team Ireland prepares to travel to the Special Olympics World Winter Games in just under two months, and eight local athletes are gearing up for the chance of a lifetime.

Thomas Caulfield (23) and Lorcan Byrne (35) from Ballyfermot, Niall Flynn (30) from Dun Laoghaire, Stephen Lee (23) from Navan Road, LJ Byrne (19) from Donaghmeade, Anthony Murray (46) from Balbriggan, Matthew Colgan (45) from Swords, and Laoise Kenny (16) from Monkstown are part of a 26-strong Team Ireland squad at the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2017 in Graz and Schladming, Austria in March.

Some of the Dublin athletes will be competing in floorball (Caulfield, Murray, Colgan and Byrne), a team sport similar to unihoc or ice hockey but played in a rink on a standard playing surface, whilst others are looking forward to representing Ireland in alpine skiing, namely Flynn, Lee, Byrne and Kenny.

All of the athletes are extremely excited to be representing their country in the World Games this year and have been training hard in preparation with many incorporating swimming, football, athletics, and basketball into their exercise regime to ensure they are fit and ready for the Games in March.

Commenting on the Team Ireland floorball team’s progress, head coach, Michael Lynch said: “I think they’re all training very well and I think we’ve got a great bunch together. They’re looking forward to it. We understand that we’ll be playing against countries where floorball is their main sport.

“It’s going to be a fair competition because if you get beaten in the first game, you go into a different group. I think we have a good chance of staying there anyways.”

The Special Olympics World Winter Games Austria 2017 will be the largest sports event to take place in 2017, hosting 3,000 athletes from 110 countries worldwide. Team Ireland will join almost 3,000 Special Olympics athletes from 107 countries for the Games, which are already set to be one of the sporting highlights of 2017.

 JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

AIS ‘THE BASH’ DALY is taking a pragmatic approach to her recent enforced retirement, telling GazetteSport of her plans to stay involved in MMA, both in coaching and in continuing her work in the safetyfocused side of the sport.

The Drimnagh native and former Allied Fight Series champion learnt she had suffered a mild brain aneurysm following a routine head scan before Christmas.

This forced her immediate retirement from her UFC career, right as she was nearing a full recovery from a recurring knee

injury.

Daly said she was “devastated” to be told the news, adding: “I felt I had a lot still to give.

“I knew about it for a couple of months before I went public. I didn’t want to spend my Christmas talking about it, but there’s a sense of loss.

“It’s a big part of your life just taken away. It’s a little ironic, as I’ve spent a lot of time talking about the sport’s safety.”

The safety aspect of her work is something Daly is already committed to continuing with, and, strangely, an area in which her injury might even prove an advantage.

“It’s hard telling amateurs a sport is danger-

ous, everyone thinks it won’t happen to them,” Daly admitted.

“W hen it’s coming from me now, and it has happened to me, it might be an easier message, especially when it costs money to get checked, and that cuts down on the already limited earnings.”

Ref lecting on her career, Daly talked of the difficulties weight classes presented to her, but also of her pride in her acheivements.

“It wasn’t ideal for me that the weights were 115lb and 135lbs.

“I’d be so drained training for 115lbs; my ideal weight was really 125lbs and that took

some of the fun out of it.

I damaged my body staying at that weight, and it created a few issues for me.

“It was very much ‘eat. sleep, repeat’. While I’m still training, it’s great to be out of that mindset

you’re well off because you do these things, but that’s not why I did it.”

Today, Daly is coaching at SBG g y m in Swords, and expects to start shortly in Portarlington, too.

“I teach kids on

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘It’s a big part of your life just taken away. I felt I had a lot still to give’ - Ais Daly

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

for a while. I’ll take some time to work out exactly what I want to do next.”

For all her successes, however, Daly admits that a career in mixedmartial arts has been difficult at times, in particularly financially. “I’d probably be financially better off if I’d never done it,” she says.

“The money you earn isn’t enough to get by on, really. People think

Wednesdays and Fridays, and on Saturday mornings,” she says.

“I think it’s important to realise not all kids are into hurling, gymnastics, soccer or camogie.

“Particularly for girls, there’s an expectation that they’ll do certain types of sport.

“MMA scares people, but Jiu Jitsu is a great, respectful outlet, and it really suits some people.”

Ais “The Bash” Daly has taken up new coaching roles with the Straight Blast Gym in

Aisling Daly, centre, with fellow SBG team members

Swords and in schools around her native Drimnagh since her enforced retirement.

Conor McGregor and Paddy Holohan

GAZETTE

30 FINGAL GAZETTE 16 February 2017

SPORT

FASTSport

RUGBY: 14-MAN ESTUARY ROAD OUTFIT DEFY RED CARD TO WIN CUP

Portmarnock keep third promotion in their sights PORTMARNOCK left it late at Paddy’s Hill but eventually grabbed a winner to beat Verona 1-0 and keep pace near the top of the LSL Sunday Senior 1.

Chris Burgess was the hero of the hour after his strike in the final minute of the game saw his side re-take third position from Glebe North. They are now four points off Newbridge Town on top and two off second-placed Dublin Bus, but hold two games in hand over both.

The win was their third from three in 2017 and also helps them stay ahead of the chasing pack – in what is proving to be a very competitive league.

Portmarnock manager Willie O’Leary spoke with GazetteSport about his delight at his side’s latest win.

“It was a horrible day for football. The wind was moving across the pitch and with the wind-chill it was below zero so really just a slog.

“They had a great chance to win it themselves with a couple of minutes left but their striker missed a sitter so we got the rub of the green.”

Only nine points separate first and seventh in the table so a run of wins from a team could propel them up the table in a short space of time, and Portmarnock now hope that their run of 11 wins in 12 games in the last part of the last season could happen again.

“There are about seven or eight teams who could still go up so all you can do is try to look after your own and let the other results take care of themselves. Trying to get away from the chasing pack is the aim and then take it from there.

“There is a lot of football still to be played. We have to play Glebe, Home Farm, Leixlip, TEK and Newbridge so a lot of teams still have to play each other. Also, anybody can beat anybody because it is a very competitive league so the form guide goes out the window.”

Despite having two games in hand over some of the teams around them, O’Leary believes that even if they had been played already, it wouldn’t have afforded them anymore breathing space.

“There are still 10 games left and it went right down to the last game last season so I don’t think there is any breathing space in our league.”

Portmarnock have won promotion in each of their last two seasons but they are not getting ahead of themselves and dreaming of a three in a row just yet.

Malahide’s Jim Byrne Cup final winning side

Corkery kicks Hide to title JIM BYRNE CUP FINAL

Malahide 19 Stillorgan 3  sport@dublingazette.com

M A L A H I DE R u g b y Club’s second team put in a gritty performance to win the Jim Byrne Cup 19-3 against a well organised Stillorgan team.

Conditions were difficult for both teams with a stiff breeze slicing across the pitch. Malahide started strongly from the kick off, Sean Halligan claimed the ball and a strong run made good ground into Stillorgan’s half.

Strong carrying from Ger Mularkey and the pack laid the platform

for the first points of the game, a straightforward Colin Corkery penalty giving Malahide a 3-0 lead.

Stillorgan came back strongly and won a number of turnovers at ruck time. They could not, however, make the possession or territory count on the score board.

More patient play from Malahide yielded two more Corkery penalties and they headed towards half time 9-0 up before one of the game’s major talking points.

Stillorgan worked their way back into the Malahide 22 where a stray boot at a ruck led to a red card

JANUARY’S HEROES Swords sweep board in monthly awards GRIFFITH Swords Thunder swept the board at

the Basketball Ireland monthly awards with Jose Maria Gil Narbon landing the Super League player of the month gong while Dave Baker was awarded the coach of the month title.

It followed the ALSAA club’s maiden National Cup success and they continued their winning ways last weekend with an 81-69 success over Belfast Star on Friday before notching a 100-61 win over KUBS on Sunday.

for Malahide.

Stillorgan kicked the resulting penalty, leaving the score 9-3 at the interval. Malahide continued to dominate territory and possession in the second half with excellent kicks from Daragh Sweeny, Corkery and Oisin O’Toole.

Excellent defensive line-out work from Sean Halligan and Sean Power decimated the Stillorgan line out. Malahide were dealt another blow with a yellow card leaving them down to 13 men for 10 minutes.

Despite plenty of possession, Stillorgan could not make the two man

advantage count and wasted a number of overlaps out wide.

After seeing a penalty come back off the cross bar, Corkery landed his next kick at goal giving Malahide a more comfortable 12-3 lead. Dave Morrin put in a thumping tackle to snuff out Stillorgan’s last attack of the game.

From the resulting turnover, Sweeny who had been threatening to find a gap in the Stillorgan defence finally broke through to score the only try.

Corker y added the extras to end the game, landing the cup and put-

ting them within touching distance of the double.

They sit nine points clear in the Leinster seconds Division 1A with two games remaining, meaning just two points from their remaining games will be enough to get them over the line.

Elsewhere, Malahide’s first team swept through to the Spencer Cup final in midweek with a 36-17 win over a Coolmine side which battled all the way to the end.

Malahide seized control of the game running into a 24-0 lead at the break and never looked in trouble from that point on.

16 February 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 31

GAZETTE

HALLOWED TURF

St Finian’s enjoy special Croke Park appearance

CLUB NOTICEBOARD FINGALLIANS

ST FINIAN’S Under-11 boys hurlers enjoyed

an evening to savour last Saturday night as they got to line out on the hallowed Croke Park turf as part of the half-time show for the Dublin versus Tipperary national league game.

The occasion was organised by Jim Shelly and Sandra Murnane and was a memorable one for all involved despite the awful weather conditions.

PAIDI O Se: Good luck to Fingallians senior

girls and boys aged four to 13 years. It

men as they will make the trip south west

will take place from Monday, April 10 to

to compete in the Comortas Peile Paidi O

Thursday, April 13 from 10am to 2pm.

Se 2017. The famed club Gaelic football

St Patrick’s Day Parade: Mas maith le

tournament and festival will take place

heinne cabhraigh linn leis an bparaid La

February 17-19 in Comortas HQ at Paidi O

Fheile Padraig, teigh i dteagmhail le Liam

Se’s pub in Ventry and various GAA ven-

ar 086 381422.

ues across the Dingle Peninsula.

Club hurlers: Well done to the squad as they retained their intermediate championship status, beating Erin’s Isle on

CAMOGIE: MEARNOGS WOMAN INJURED FOR EARLY TIES

Sunday afternoon.

U-14 Girls: Best of luck to our girls who will do a sponsored 5km run in Malahide Castle next Saturday at 9.15am as part of their fundraising efforts for Feile.

Membership: To qualify for All Ireland hurling and football finals, subscriptions

CAMOGIE LEAGUE

 sport@dublingazette.com

NAOMH Mearnog’s Laura Twomey will spend the first few weeks of the intercounty camogie season on the sidelines following an eventful start to 2017.

In the same week that she was named Dublin’s joint-captain with Eve O’Brien, she also sustained a dislocated knee in a challenge game that rules her out of action for the next few weeks.

Nonetheless, she is looking forward to the season with plenty of gusto which, despite being

just 26 and a PhD holder from DCU, will be her 10th year with the squad since making her debut against Kilkenny in the championship a decade ago.

“I was absolutely delighted and very honoured [to be named jointcaptain]. There’s a lot of excitement for the year ahead,” she said this week.

She added that it is a far cry from her beginnings in the sport. “My earliest camogie memory is hiding in the bushes as a six-year-old in Naomh Mearnog, trying to escape the Saturday morning nursery!”

Twomey got over those initial qualms to become an intercounty star along with her sister Miriam.

Their Dublin side face into a date with Cork on Saturday in the first round of the national camogie league.

The competition this year has received marquee support from Littlewoods who are hoping to elevate the visibility of the sport.

Speaking at this week’s launch of the league, Littlewoods Ireland managing director Geoff Scully said: “Over the coming years we will be working closely with the Camogie Association on a number

of shared objectives such as bringing this great sport to a larger audience along with highlighting the skill and commitment of the players through our ‘Style of Play’ campaign, and rewarding the most dedicated fans.

“We want to make a meaningful impact as sponsor of camogie and hurling by creating a greater conver-sation around the game and showcasing it to more people.

“We hope it will inspire more girls to play at a grassroots level and more people to watch the sport of camogie.”

New members – athletics: any new juvenile members wishing to join the athletic section should contact Joe Evans onjdevansathletics@hotmail.com.

Training times are Monday on the club track at 6pm, Wednesday in Balheary at 6pm and Sunday at Colmcilles Grounds at 11am.

Lotto: The numbers from last Tues-

available at the club bar or on our web-

day are: 4, 16, 17, 18 and 36. There was one

site, www.fingallians.com.

winner, Emily Gallagher who won €2,148.

ST FINIAN’S

Twomey honoured with Dub captaincy

086 3814422.

must be paid by February 28. Forms are

Easter Camp diary: This is open to

Dublin will hope to enjoy some more victories in 2017. Picture: Lorcan Doherty/Inpho

If anyone would like to help with the St Patrick’s day parade, contact Liam at

The jackpot on this Tuesday is €2,268.

CONGRATULATIONS to the U-11 boys

and local business man Greg Davis Appli-

hurling team who were playing in the

ance Repairs - contact 087 265 6895,

half time game at the Dublin v Tipper-

gregdavisappliances@gmail.com – who

ary league game on the hallowed turf of

purchased four sets of goal posts for the

Croke Park last night.

nursery/academy.

Well done to Jim Shelly, Sandra Mur-

The executive committee strongly

nane and Dave for making this such

instructs those borrowing the goal

a memorable occasion for the team

posts to return them with all of their

despite the awful weather. The club is

parts intact.

very proud of you. Congratulations also

Membership subscriptions for 2017

to the Thomas Davis U-11s. Check out the

are now due. Payments can be made

club Facebook page for some photos of

directly online under the club member-

the event.

ship menu on the club website www.

The U-15 LGFA team also did the club

stfinians.com.

proud by beating the Dublin U-14 devel-

Payments can also be made in the club

opment panel in fantastic game of

office from Monday to Thursday from

football in River Valley. This was a huge

7pm or Saturday morning from 10am to

achievement for Sean Halpin, Conor Col-

1pm by cash or credit/debit card. Mem-

lier and the girls to be asked to play a

bership forms can also be downloaded

Dublin team in a preseason friendly.

from the Downloads menu on the club

Well done to the AHL4 team who beat

website.

Skerries Harps by 3-13 to 12 points in a

For insurance purposes, it is essential

challenge game in IT Blanchardstown in

that adult players and juveniles who play

very difficult cold conditions.

on U-8 teams and upwards have their

A word of thanks to academy coach

subscriptions paid in advance.

FINGAL RAVENS WE WANT to thank all who attended

Anyone requiring club gear, contact

Wednesday’s quiz night. It was great fun

Ann Fox (086 1771027). Lotto numbers

and a great success. Many thanks to all

drawn were 4, 9, 31 and 37. No winner; €20

who donated prizes. Special thanks to

to Mick and Peggy Kinsella, Pat McDon-

MC Carl O’Flaherty and Kettles Hotel for

agh and Sarah Kiely. Next’s week’s jack-

their hospitality. Well done to our first

pot was €17,000 and the second jackpot

team for organizing the quiz.

was €8,443. Thanks for supporting our

Membership is due. Please contact

lotto.

Ann Convery (087 4112319) or your team

If anyone knows a person who would

mentor to do so. If membership is not

be interested in working at the club-

paid, we will enforce our ‘no play policy’.

house under the Fas community work

This is following the GAA guidelines.

scheme, please contact Bernadette

Please remember all players must wear gum shields.

Kavanagh (087 9397642) or John McCarthy (087 6599348).

GAZETTESPORT

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Swords man Eoin Morton at the launch of the 2017 An Post Ras which will begin on Sunday May 21 at Dublin Castle and finish on Sunday, May 28, in Skerries. Picture: Billy Stickland/Inpho

Marked man Morton Swords cyclist admits he will not have the element of surprise at the 2017 Ras after his groundbreaking victory on stage two over the professionals

 JAMES HENDICOTT

sport@dublingazette.com

SWORDS cyclist Eoin Morton has admitted he’ll be a “marked man” coming into the 2017 edition of the round-Ireland cycle tour the An Post Ras, but hopes to take another stage victory along the way.

He became the first man with a day job to win a stage of the Ras since 2013 when he took stage 2 last year.

And he told GazetteSport that his UCD team spend much of their year – from October onwards – preparing specifically for the Ras, and hopes that might give them an advantage come the race’s start on May.

“My name is on the radar after last year,” he explained. “I expect the competition will be watching me and won’t let me get away too easily. It was stage two that I won last year, and there was a similar scenario in stage five that went differently, probably because of stage two. I think this might be similar.”

Morton was speaking at the launch of the Ras, which will take in several stages in the hills of Donegal in 2017, making it one of the toughest courses of recent years.

Morton admitted that beyond the stage win, his main aim in such circumstances is “to make the finish,” and he doesn’t expect to keep pace in the hills.

Having recently won Cycling Ireland’s Rider

of the Year Award for 2016, Morton explains that his dad, former Ireland international cyclist Peter Morton, is still his main sponsor.

“He’s a huge supporter and really proud of my cycling,” Morton tells us.

“I started late at 22, and perhaps I could have been a pro if I’d start a few years earlier.

“I got a great job, a great education and a mortgage, and that kind of stability is fantastic compared to the world of pro-cycling. I still train 20-25 hours a week, which is as much as anyone does.

“The main difference is I train by riding to and from work, maybe an hour in and two or three hours back every day. It doesn’t give the same kind of recovery times that a pro rider

would get, but that’s the main difference. It is possible to compete.”

That’s particularly the case when the Ras is a key focus around Morton and his team, as it has very much become.

“Every other big race we do is about four days,” he concluded. “This one is eight and it’s our focus from October. The support on the sidelines from spectators is what really pulls you through.”

The 65th edition of An Post Ras runs from May 21 to May 28, starting in Dublin Castle and finishing in Skerries. The climbs over Donegal’s Glengesh Pass and Mamore Gap are expected to be critical in determining the victor.