Dublin Gazette: Fingal Edition

DublinGazette FEBRUARY 21-27, 2019

DUBLINMAGAZINE: Spring’s bright and DUBLIN

breezy ‘out there’ – but you’ll find plenty of fresh, sunny content ‘in here’, too! SEE PAGE 13

Fingal Edition FREE

THE LATEST NEWS & SPORT FROM THE FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL AREA

DublinGazette FEBRUARY 21-27, 2019

DUBLINMAGAZINE: Spring’s bright and DUBLIN

breezy ‘out there’ – but you’ll find plenty of fresh, sunny content ‘in here’, too! SEE PAGE 13

Fingal Edition FREE

THE LATEST NEWS & SPORT FROM THE FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL AREA

SPORT

FOOTBALL: Fingalli-

ans return to life at the top table with fine win over fellow promoted side Templeogue Synge Street. SEE P31

travel

FORMER PRISONS OFFER TOP-NOTCH LUXURY SEE P20

SUCCESS IS A SNAP THE cameras were turned on some of the people responsible for many of the best photographs in the country recently at the Press Photographers Association of Ireland’s (PPAI) Press Photographer of the Year awards. Pictured are actor Liam Cunningham, Press Photographer of the Year 2019 Tom Honan, MC Miriam O’Callaghan, and PPAI president, Crispin Rodwell. See Gallery on Page 11

Swords to hit 100,000 – but not without Metro

Rail route vital to open up key lands SYLVIA POWNALL

Find us on Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

AMBITIOUS blueprints providing for the future growth of Swords to a population of 100,000 people will go on public display next month.

The local community is being urged to have an input into four master plans for land-

banks which will deliver houses, schools and up to 18,000 jobs over the next 20 years.

Consultant Robert McLoughlin said the plans would provide a “robust urban framework” for development, adding: “Really, what’s driving a lot of this is MetroLink.”

Finalising the rail route will open up key lands and Fingal County Council chief execu-

tive Paul Reid has called for the northern segment to be built regardless of delays south of the city centre. He warned: “We are ready for it and we need it. And, when we get it, our future is set to shine very brightly indeed.”

Master plans for future developments at Airside, Fosterstown (Forest Road), Barrysparks (Holywell), Estuary West (Balheary) will go on display for three weeks from March 5 CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 to March 26.”

Naul the luck in the world with a giant win on the Euromillions BREAKING NEWS: THE lucky north Dublin shop that sold the €175 million Euromillions ticket is celebrating today – as it wishes the winners every good fortune.

Reilly’s Daybreak in The Naul was revealed yesterday (Wednesday) morning by the National Lottery as the outlet where the winning numbers were played.

Shocked owner Les Reilly said: “I’m over the moon, I still can’t believe it. We never sold a big one before.”

As speculation mounted as to the identity of the winners he added: “If it’s who I think it is, I’d be over the moon for them.”

The lucky winner is believed to be a family syndicate from Duleek in Co Meath, though this has yet to be confirmed.

A National Lottery spokesperson confirmed that the winner had contacted them on Wednesday morning and seemed “calm and collected” about the mega windfall.

4 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 21 February 2019

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DEATH: WIDESPREAD SHOCK AT NEWS OF YOUTH’S DROWNING

Community pays tribute to late teen, Finley Gannon  SYLVIA POWNALL

spownall@dublingazette.com

A COMMUNITY mourning the tragic death of a teenager who died after a night out with friends has rallied to support his grieving family and friends.

Finley Gannon drowned after he tripped and fell into the water on Friday night. His body was recovered from Balbriggan Harbour on Saturday.

The popular 19-yearold was a former student of Skerries Community College and a keen footballer and his death has sent shockwaves through the community.

His distraught pal Conor Fitzgerald set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral costs, which raised more than €15,000 from 733 donations in less than 48 hours.

Conor said: “The pass-

ing of Finley was unexpected and devastating. I can only imagine how this has affected his parents and family.

“Like the rest of us, I’m finding it difficult to believe it even happened, but I know it would be a dis-service to a person like Finley to just pay tribute and move on.

‘Beloved friend’ “Finley Gannon was a popular and beloved friend, student, and colleague, and he genuinely touched a lot of lives; especially mine.”

Finley played football for Skerries Town FC and Rush Athletic and was widely remembered as a “smiley person” always ready with a kind word or a joke.

In a statement, his local club said: “All at Skerries Town Football Club are shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic death of Skerries local boy and former player Finley Gannon.

“Finley was an enthu-

siastic footballer with a sweet left foot and as full back or winger he always gave the opposition a tough time.

“He had a few tricks up his sleeve and scored a few crackers in the green and white of Skerries Town.

“The fiery redhead always had a smile when talking football and gave his all when the white line was crossed.”

Tributes flooded social media where friends wondered if Finley was now reunited with his Skerries Town team mate and fellow football fanatic Oran Tully, who died last August aged 19.

One wrote: “Wherever they are, I can only imagine the banter between Finley and Oran as United take on Chelsea tomorrow night. RIP Finley.”

Finley is survived by his parents, Paddy and Cathy, brothers Shaun and Jack, sister Amy, granny Margaret, extended family and a wide circle of friends.

The event, organised

by Fingal Local Enterprise Office (LEO), takes place on March 4 and early booking is advised as spaces are limited to 50 and these are normally in

high demand.

The advanced boot camp is designed to give busy entrepreneurs the space to think away from the everyday running of their business so they can

The late Finley Gannon, 19

Entrepreneurs urged to join boot camp

BUDDING entrepreneurs and owners of fledgling businesses are invited to attend a Fingal start-up boot camp during Local Enterprise Week next month.

plan for the future.

Fingal LEO’s head of enterprise, Oisin Geoghegan, said: “The demand for our Start Your Own Business programmes and other business supports is consistently high.

“Last year, we ran 13 full Start Your Own Business programmes, for 151 entrepreneurs, most of who will go on to establish a new business.

“We are targeting startups that have real job creation potential to join us in this highly interactive and intensive business boot camp. It will be an intensive and memorable learning experience.

“All participants will come out of this boot camp with lots of ideas as to how they can drive their new business for-

ward.”

A w h o l e ra n ge o f events have been organised for Local Enterprise Week including learning how to run your business successfully (Portmarnock, Tuesday); a finance-raising seminar (Bank of Ireland Enterprise Hub, Ballycoolin, Wednesday); a marketing workshop (Balbriggan, Thursday); and a HR essentials breakfast (Clayton Hotel, Friday).

After leaving the startup boot camp inspired and energised, participants can attend a range of other events throughout Local Enterprise Week to support their business success.

For further information, see www.localenterprise.ie/fingal.

FASTNews

Balbriggan to get a new skate park by Summer BALBRIGGAN will have its very own skate park open for use at Millpond Park

by Summer, it has been confirmed.

UK company Freestyle Skateparks, which has designed and built more than 600 roller facilities in the past 30 years, has been contracted to build the amenity in Balbriggan.

The classic plaza-style facility – one of the projects identified in the 2018 Balbriggan socio-economic strategy – will cater for families and spectators as well as users across a wide age range and level of experience.

Before tendering for the project, the council held a series of workshops with the local community to determine their requirements.

A spokesperson for Balbriggan Skatepark Committee said: “It is heartwarming to know that the local community and Fingal County Council can work so constructively together towards the completion of such well-sought-after recreational projects.”

Funding set for works at St Brendan’s NS FUNDING has been approved for St Brendan’s NS in Loughshinny to carry out emergency repair works.

The school’s application for a grant for mechanical works under the Department of Education’s emergency works programme was successful, Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) has revealed.

He said: “With the youngest population in the state, it is of the utmost importance that schools in Fingal are maintained to the highest possible standard to ensure each of our children can reap the greatest possible benefit from their time in education.”

21 February 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 5

DETERMINED RODELLE WON’T LET STUTTER SILENCE HIS SUPERB SINGING

Shyly nursing a talent and a hope to impress with his singing skills SYLVIA POWNALL

A SINGING nurse who grew up with a stutter says he hopes to inspire others after making it through the first round of a TV talent show.

Rodelle Borja, who was born in The Philippines but now lives in Swords, blew judges away on last Saturday’s episode of Ireland’s Got Talent.

The shy 29-year-old appeared almost sick with nerves as he prepared to go on stage, but he brought the auditorium to its feet after belting out an Elvis hit.

After his rendition of I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You won him four yeses from the judges, the soft-spoken nurse told Dublin Gazette: “Growing up with a stutter was quite

“

I’ve always wanted ... to inspire everyone that it’s never too late to chase their dreams

difficult and I’m not really that confident.

“I started singing when I was a little child. I always used singing as a way to express myself.

“My stammer was much worse when I was young.

Now I’ve been able to come up with some techniques to hide it, but it’s always worse when I get nervous.”

Rodelle said he organises regular “sing-songs” for the elderly patients at the Tara Winthrop Private Clinic in Swords where he works, and they seem to love his voice.

He revealed that his col-

leagues encouraged him to apply for IGT “because they said my voice needs to be heard on telly”.

Rodelle, who visited his two brothers and one sister in The Philippines shortly before Christmas, said winning the show would see his dream become a reality.

He said: “I’ve always wanted to sing in competitions to make my parents and friends proud and to inspire everyone that it’s never too late to chase their dreams.

“I can’t always express myself by talking, so music is my ultimate outlet.”

Talented singer and nurse Rodelle Borja,who wowed judges on Ireland’s Got Talent at the weekend as he confidently crooned an Elvis Presley classic

POLICING

Call for gardai to end havoc CLLR Jimmy Guerin (Ind) is calling for more garda resources in Portmarnock, claiming locals are under siege from gangs travelling

by DART to wreak havoc in the seaside town.

In a letter to residents he said: “These gangs are congregating at the green opposite Strandmill and also up at the beach area.

“The behaviour of these youths is totally unacceptable and needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency by An Garda Siochana. It is wrong that people feel intimidated in their homes.”

Residents in the estate have born the brunt of a spate of anti-social behaviour including unprovoked assaults, muggings and throwing rocks in the past few months – with the worst of it around last Halloween.

6 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 21 February 2019

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Having a ball learning the world of Gaelic Games T

HE stars of the future were honing their skills last week at St Brigids GAA Club located off the Navan Road in Russell Park, Clondalkin. The nursery runs every Saturday from 9.30 – 11am for children aged 4 to 7 years. Pictures: Alison O’Hanlon

21 February 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 7

8 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 21 February 2019

HOUSING: BARNHILL LOCAL AREA PLAN ADOPTED, DESPITE FLOODING CONCERNS

Up to 1,000 homes on way to D15 SYLVIA POWNALL

UP TO 1,000 new homes will be delivered in Dublin 15 after the council adopted the Barnhill Local Area Plan – despite local concerns over flooding.

The LAP was adopted at a full meeting of Fingal County Council just four days after some local area councillors expressed

g rave re se r va t i o n s regarding flood risks.

Councillors from all parts of Fingal voted overwhelmingly in favour of the plan, which covers 110 acres of land southwest of Blanchardstown alongside the railway line.

A new road linking Ongar to Hansfield will be built providing access to the landbank which

is earmarked for “mixed tenure” housing, recreational facilities including a skate park and playground, a school and childcare facilities.

The first pre-draft consultation was held in 2017. A total of 31 submissions were received during the public consultation period from October to December 2018.

Ne ighbouring resi-

SWORDS

Public to have a say on plans

In submissions on the Barnhill Local Area Plan, locals wrote about their fears of the potential for flooding, with some councillors also echoing their concerns – but a range of extensive facilities could be delievred alongside 1,000 housing units

dents warned of the increased risk of flooding posed by 1,000 additional housing units.

One wrote: “We are exceptionally concerned regarding the increased risk of significant flooding to our dwellings ... and the houses built in recent years in Hansfield.”

Flooding Other residents submitted photographs of flooding in back gardens and fields, with one suggesting the council should accept liability for any flood damage arising.

L e s s t h a n a we e k before the LAP was a d o p te d , s o m e D 1 5 councillors questioned

whether it adequately addressed the issue of pluvial flooding arising from heavy rainfall.

Solidarity Cllr Matt Waine said past experiences pointed to flooding issues, adding: “I am very, very reticent and very, very nervous about giving this the green light.”

Cllr Paul Donnelly (SF) agreed that the council must be “cognisant of people’s lived experience”.

At the full council meeting he called for building at Barnhill to be stalled until the N3/ Littlepace intersection was upgraded and a new bridge constructed.

He later said he voted in favour of the LAP “on

the basis that I have assurances that the infrastructure deficit will be addressed. We need housing to be developed alongside infrastructure.

“I think my motion would have really helped to cement that assurance but I’ll continue to fight and campaign for the upgrade.”

Green Party councillor Roderic O’Gorman put forward a motion, that was later passed, requesting that a flood justifications test be required for planning applications.

In his presentation on the LAP, senior planner Colm McCoy said the plan was subject to a robust Strategic Flood Risk Assessment.

Dublin West ‘consistently left out’ of transport plans – Labour SYLVIA POWNALL

DUBLIN WEST has been “consistently left out” of new public transport projects, according to a local Labour Party representative.

John Walsh claimed Transport Minister Shane Ross “could not care less” about public transport as he criticised Government failure to improve public transport in Dublin 15.

Mr Walsh said: “West Dublin has consistently been neglected when major public transport projects are being implemented. At different times promises were made to run the Metro to Blanchardstown and to establish a Bus Rapid Transit ser-

vice from Blanchardstown to Belfield – but neither ever materialised.

“More significantly, the DART expansion project – which involves electrification of the railway line to Maynooth – has been delayed repeatedly.

“Minister Shane Ross has been unable or unwilling to give any realistic timescale for the expansion of a DART service to Maynooth. At this stage, it is like a mirage in the desert.”

He said while some improvements had been made to off-peak train services, major issues remained during peak travel times.

He said: “Trains are routinely overcrowded ... More carriages should be provided on the Maynooth line at peak times.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Members of the public will have an opportunity to make submissions before a report is brought back to councillors in late April and a vote will be taken on May 13, just before the local elections.

In total, the plans provide for 3,400 new housing units (700 at Barrysparks, 1,200 at Fosterstown and 1,500 at Balheary) along with two new schools, two metro stations, a hotel, a 3,500sq m local centre and 237,000sq m of commercial space.

Public transport infras t r u c t u re – n a m e l y MetroLink and BusConnects – dictate opportunities with an upgrade to the R132 and a link road from Airside to Feltrim recommended.

Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) said the plans represented a “very important” element of the future growth of Swords which is expected to expand to a population of 60,000 people in the medium term and 100,000 in the long term.

Meanwhile, the chief executive of Fingal County Council, Paul Reid, reinforced his stance on MetroLink, calling for the northern segment to be built without delay.

Delays Mr Reid warned that the light-rail network was “a key piece in our development jigsaw” and ongoing delays in publishing the preferred route had led to “genuine fears that MetroLink will not be in place by its 2027 target”.

The council’s director of planning and strategic infrastructure AnnMarie Farrelly said the local authority has already laid the foundations to transform North County Dublin when MetroLink arrives.

The Fingal County Development plan 20182023 provides for 49,000 homes and a significant stock of undeveloped land along the MetroLink route will play “a fundamental role,” she said.

21 February 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 9

FED-UP DONABATE PENINSULA RESIDENTS HIGHLIGHT SAFETY CONCERNS

PETS

Frustrated locals to meet as roads get even worse

Dogs and bye-laws focus of meeting

SYLVIA POWNALL

A PUBLIC meeting will be held in Donabate next week as anger mounts over the “dangerous condition” of roads and footpaths on the peninsula.

Donabate Portrane Community Council has invited councillors and local residents to an open forum in the parish hall on Tuesday, February 26 at 8pm.

Top of the agenda is to discuss a moratorium on granting planning permission for large-scale developments in the area – first called for almost two months ago.

The community council wants an outright ban on new planning permissions until the new distributor road is open and the road at the railway bridge has been widened.

‘Risk’ DPCC warns that the network of narrow roads and footpaths cannot cope with the volume of heavy construction traffic, which is posing a risk to both motorists and pedestrians.

The upgrade and widening of the road at the railway bridge is a planning condition for the National Forensic Mental

Health Hospital attached

by An Bord Pleanala.

A spokesperson for the community council said: “We are asking people to attend this meeting so that our voices can be heard by elected local representatives and nominees for the upcoming local elections.”

DPCC has stressed that members of the community will be given the floor to speak at the meeting ahead of politicians and election candidates.

T h e s p o ke s p e rs o n warned: “Construction traffic is compromising the road safety of the community. This is evi-

Traffic driving onto footpaths and vehicles barely able to inch past each other – just another day on the Donabate peninsula as development continues

denced by the state the roads are being left in on a daily basis by certain building firms.”

The community council said the “chronic infra-

structure deficit” resulting in traffic gridlock left it with no choice but to call on the council to halt new projects.

It added that this was

“the only reasonable course of action” because it is now proving “highly problematic” for traffic to get on and off the peninsula at rush hours.

FINGAL Dog Owners’ Group (DOG) is holding a public meeting next Tuesday, February 26, at 7pm in the Carnegie Court Hotel in Swords.

The group was formed last October in opposition to the new bye-laws which require dogs being walked in public parks to be kept on a leash unless using designated offleash areas.

All 40 Fingal County councillors have been invited to attend the meeting to hear of the growing public demand to reverse the dog walking clause in the parks and public spaces byelaw.

All are welcome to attend the public meeting next Tuesday.

10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 21 February 2019

RETAIL Use a Tesco token to help a local cause

PLANNING: ROYAL CANAL LINK IN FOCUS

Public event to help detail new greenway route SYLVIA POWNALL

PLANS for the Royal Canal greenway route from Maynooth to Docklands which will run through west Fingal will begin a public consultation stage next month.

A public information day will take place in Blanchardstown Civic O f fi ces o n Tu e sday, March 5, from 11.30am to 7.30pm where engineers will outline their proposal.

An information leaflet is being dropped to around 9,000 households within the catchment area this week and letters have been posted to

properties that could be affected by the emerging preferred route.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) and Fingal County Council have been examining design options for the greenway for some time.

Once the public consultation process is complete, the NTA are prepared for a lengthy planning process with work on the project not expected to begin before late 2020.

Clonsilla-based Cllr Tania Doyle (Ind) told Dublin Gazette: “This is an important project which is long overdue and I have fully supported it since it was first

proposed.

“I have no doubts whatsoever that the greenway will benefit the community in so many ways.

“I would strongly urge surrounding communities to attend the briefing if at all possible and make an observation on any proposal you have for this project – a project to enhance our community, right on our doorstep.”

Last month in response to a question from Fianna Fail TD Jack Chambers, NTA deputy chief executive Hugh Creegan outlined progress on the route, to date, whilst noting environmental and engineering constraints.

Council scoops top energy award with charging system FINGAL County Council’s electric vehicle charging on public street lighting system won the Best Energy Smart Initiative at the All Ireland Community and Council Awards. The local authority scooped a second national award with St Catherine’s Park named Best Public Park at a ceremony in Croke Park last week.

The two winning projects were among 11 Fingal nominations for the awards which are organised by the Local Authority Members Association (LAMA)

in recognition of projects that are the joint effort of councils and community groups.

Council chief executive Paul Reid paid tribute to all involved in the various projects. He said: “To get 11 nominations is a tremendous achievement and great credit must go to all the staff who were involved in the various projects.”

Pictured are Senior Engineer Karen Gallagher and Director of Services David Storey with the electrical charging point.

TESCO customers across Fingal are being encouraged to use their blue tokens to vote for their preferred local cause before the initiative closes.

Over the next few weeks, Tesco’s stores across Dublin will be using their blue token to support a wide range of local projects.

In Swords they will be supporting Order of Malta Ambulance Corps, Swords Educate Together National School and Swords Boxing Club.

Blanchardstown community causes being supported include 92.5 Phoenix FM, Gaelscoil An Chuilinn, and Special Olympics Elm Eagles Golf Club.

The Balbriggan causes are Dance Amad, Balbriggan Dyslexia Workshop and Bremore ET secondary school; while Rush customers can choose between support for St Joseph’s school, Bizzy B’s preschool and St Catherine’s school.

Further information and criteria for entry is available at www.tesco.ie/communityfund.

21 February 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 11

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Eskimo Boy. Picture: Tom Honan

Press Photographer of the Year’ 2019 was presented to Tom Honan. Tom, a freelance photographer from Dublin started his career with Inpho Photography before moving on to work with the Irish Times and The Irish Mail on Sunday. Picture: Paul Sherwood

Brian Downes - MSL Grange Motors; Stephen McCarthy - Sportsfile and Crispin Rodwell - President PPAI

Tony Ferguson in action against Anthony Pettis in UFC229. Picture: Stephen McCarthy

Bertie Ahern, Tony Blair and Bill Clinton attend an event to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Picture: Clodagh Kilcoyne

A view of Dollymount Strand during the fine weather. Picture: Tom Honan

Bono performing. Picture: Tom Honan

Brian Downes, MSL Grange Motors and Michael Chester

UBLIN-BASED freelance photographer Tom Honan has been named PPAI Press Photographer of the Year by the Press Photographers Association of Ireland (PPAI).

The annual event was held in Dublin last week, with photographers from around Ireland attending the awards which are now in their 41st year.

This year’s awards were presented by RTE broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan and were presented across nine categories: news, daily life and people, nature and the environment, politics, sports action, sports feature, portrait, art and entertainment and reportage, alongside a dedicated award for multimedia.

Celebrating some amazing pictures D

12 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21 February 2019

DUBLINERS: THE STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WHO CALL THIS CITY THEIR HOME

Gambian kindness

Dub Paul Dowling on the generous nature of people with far less than us H AV I N G moved to Dublin from Laois at the tender age of three, I’ve enjoyed the luxuries of living in the suburbs of a capital city in a fully developed country all my life.

With my culchie life far behind me, I’ve been a Dub ever since, and today I call Lucan home.

Although I’ve travelled a lot, I’d never visited a country that was considerably underdeveloped, but when the prospect of volunteering in Africa presented itself I immediately jumped at the opportunity.

Along with five friends, I recently returned from a week in Madina Salam, The Gambia, set hours of travelling away from Gambia’s capital.

The Gambia last year was ranked the 12th poorest country in the world with a life expectancy of 61 years.

It’s one of the few countries on the planet that has actually gotten poor-

society

er in the past ten years, surviving on only a very small tourist trade and its peanut production.

I remember when I was in school, the emphasis that was placed on looking presentable in school uniform, and I was amazed at how children in The Gambia likewise take pride in their uniform.

It was their one good outfit, and they kept it in impeccable condition.

O n c e h o m e, t h ey changed into their home clothes, which can only be described as rags, while the uniform gets washed and dried for the next day.

Aware of how limited their clothing is, this year we volunteers chose to bring football tops/jerseys with us.

A jersey is a highly desirable item of clothing in The Gambia, so thanks to the generosity of Clonee United FC, and many other clubs across the country, along with countless individuals, we collected more than 400 tops – a massive 140kgs

worth, so it was a good thing we travelled light The compound as we had highlights things we take no room for for granted on an everyday o u r o w n basis, and I was grateful to be things! able to turn on the lights while The tops having a warm shower on were very our return back home well received; to Dublin it was fantastic to see the pleasure they got from them, and all thanks to everyone who donated.

We stayed in the compound of WYCE, a charity supporting the school and clinic. By Irish standards, the accommodation was “rough”: cold showers, no lights, a few spiders and It’s a long way from Lucan to The Gambia – but Paul even a toad for company Dowling and pals are determined to help one local one night, but by their community build a new classroom there, costing €6k standards, it was 5-star.

The compound high- contrast at the busy adults alike.

We spent a day paintlights things we take for nature of everyone back granted on an everyday home compared to the ing the local school and another day fixing tables, basis, and I was grate- local community.

We were constantly hanging blackboards, and ful to be able to turn on the lights while having greeted by a friendly other odd jobs.

Hav i n g se e n t h e a warm shower on our “Hello”, “How are you?”, return back home to Dub- asked what our name school’s capacity chalwas, and even the ques- lenges, we decided while lin.

The first time we left tion “Minto?”, meaning out there to fund the the charity compound, I ‘Where are you going?’ by building of a new classwas amazed at the stark young kids, teenagers and room – a cost of €6,000.

The people of Madina Salam are starting to know where Dublin and Ireland is, and they really will when we build their classroom.

If any reader would like to help us reach that classroom target, we’d be delighted if they’d check our charity fundraiser account, at https://

www.gofundme.com/ build-a-school-classroom-in-the-gambiawith-joal.  What’s your story?

Do you have an interesting connection to Dublin and why you call it home? Please email your story to news@ dublingazette.com.

Shining a light on living with Asperger’s and depression PADRAIG CONLON

A DOCUMENTARY coming to Dublin cinemas next week sees its filmmaker turn the camera on himself.

This Is Nicholas — Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder is a powerful, moving film in which former Ballyfermot College student Nicholas Ryan-Purcell shares his experience of living with Asperger’s and depression.

Talking to Dublin Gazette, he said: “I want my film to show people that there is hope, there is a way through obstacles in life.

“I am deeply moved by the response to the film so far from people all over Ireland; the most joy I’ve got from this is the positive impact it has had on so many people.”

The documentary, which Nicholas produced, shot and edited himself, took a year and a half to complete.

The Tipperary man is full of praise for Ballyfermot College from where he graduated in 2012 with a Higher National Diploma in Television Operations and Production.

He said: “I learned all about film-making there – what a fantastic college it is. All the staff helped me so much; it’s such a small, tight-knit community [there], where everyone helps each other.”

After leaving Ballyfermot, Nicholas set up his own company producing corporate videos which led to him producing some award-winning films.

In 2016 he received great praise for his debut documentary, Against the Odds, which tells the life story of the champion racehorse Lord Byron and also won him two awards at the Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards.

Last October, This is Nicholas was premiered at the NYC Mental Health Film Festival in Man-

hattan.

This week, Dublin audiences in Santry and Tallaght will get to see it for the first time, with Nicholas adding: “I’m so thankful to IMC for putting my film into 11 of their cinemas around the county.

“I think it’s fantastic they’re helping to educate and raise awareness of autism in all these regions.”

This is Nicholas screens in IMC Santry on Tuesday, Feb 26 at 4.45pm and 8.45pm, and at IMC Tallaght on Thursday, February 28 at 6.45pm and 8.45pm.

Nicholas RyanPurcell (above), director of the new documentary, This Is Nicholas — Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (left)

21 February 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

STYLE: SPRING FOR SOME FRESH NEW STYLES: There’s a grand stretch in the

DUBLIN

PRISON BREAK P20

TRAVEL: Most of us wouldn’t normally look to go to prison – but

PAGE 14



THE LEGO MOVIE 2 P19

evenings these days – and with many of us looking to freshen up some tired outfits after another long winter, you won’t need to stretch your budget too much for some great new style. We’ve rounded up some things to help put you in the mood for warmer weather, with some great prices that’ll put a smile on your face, too!

MAGAZINE these former prisons, now converted into luxury hotels, are welcoming guests for some criminally good pampering ...

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

PUBLIC THANKED FOR GROWING SUPPORT CANCER researchers Dr Emma Allott and Dr Aideen Ryan are pictured with budding researchers – siblings Oisín and Emma Foley, from Booterstown, to celebrate the Irish Cancer Society’s announcement that, thanks to the public’s generosity, the charity is on track to invest €30 million in cancer research in the

decade up to 2020.

But to continue funding vital research, the Irish Cancer Society needs this Daffodil Day, Friday March 22, to be the biggest one yet.

Members of the public are urged to get involved by volunteering as fundraisers and donating what they can on the day. Picture: Andres Poveda

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21 February 2019

HOME & STYLE

FRESH IDEAS FOR YOUR HOME AND WARDROBE ice Catr ics et Cosm d Fine An Prime alent Multit ray Sp Fixing 5 €4.9

Catrice Cosmeti cs Light Corr ecting Serum Pr imer €7.95

STYLE SOS WITH

Avene Hydrance Intens Serum €2 e 6

River Island Yellow Dress €75

SPRING beauty bits  Jessica Maile, Style Editor SPRING IS just around the corner and it’s time to fight the winter blues and plan to freshen up the ol’ wardrobe and make-up drawer!

From fresh new scents that evoke faraway holiday destinations, warm eyeshadow palettes to compliment future sun-kissed skin and bright, colour ful spring dresses, there are plenty of ways to start planning for warmer weather now!

End of an era

Penneys The PS SS Destination 19 fragrance collection €4.50 ea ch

Catrice Cosmeti cs Superbia Vol. I Copper Ey Warm eshado Edition €10 w .15

Tributes flood in for Karl Lagerfeld THE FASHION WORLD was in mourning earlier this

props - like the time that Chanel shipped an ice-

week, as it was announced that design power-

berg from Scandinavia across the continent for a

house Karl Lagerfeld passed away aged 85.

2010 show.

German native Lagerfeld was the creative director of iconic French fashion house Chanel for a genre-defining 36 years, reinventing the company through the eyes of a pop culture savant.

He became known as the mastermind behind

Lagerfeld was also creative director of Fendi for a time, as well as his own eponymous fashion label.

The fashion icon had been unwell for some time, most notably missing from Chanel’s couture show in January. He’s recognised as one of the most

Chanel’s elaborate Grand Palais fashion shows

irreplaceable people in fashion, with speculation

each season, most notably for the extravagant

already rife as to who will succeed the legend.

Martha What comes around goes around!

 MARTHA GILHEANEY NEW SEASON trends will soon be hitting the shops. But when you are not so new yourself, it can seem like you have seen it all before.

We’ve all heard the infamous ‘They’ say - ‘Don’t throw anything out, everything comes back.’

But what would Marie Kondo say? Even if you haven’t seen the popular Netflix show you probably know - ‘Does this spark joy?’

If you’d been holding shoulder pads, cycling shorts or a scrunchie a mere handful of years ago you would’ve responded with an ‘Eugh, yuck, no.’

Maybe you still would, they are divisive items, but the shops are full of them, so somebody’s buying.

While we like to imagine we’re not such slaves to fashion, turns out, most of the time, we are.

As the trends fade so do our affection for them and we’re only too happy to bag them up and send them on their second hand way.

Fashion forecasters say that trends resurface approximately twenty years after they originally hit. Looking back twenty years to 1999, the year of The Matrix and what do you see? Very little through those micro shades you’re sporting once more!

Just the other day, while sifting through a rail of flares, a woman in a jaded tone said.

‘You flares shopping too?’

‘I can’t believe it, but yes I am.’

I was happy, she looked downcast. I imagine her regretfully thinking, ’If only I hadn’t thrown out that great pair in the seventies.’

But don’t you get down too, it’s not all recycled matter. Even it the trends are old, the way we wear them doesn’t have to be as there’s so much more creativity and flexibility in the way we blend them.

One fine example is how runners, the most casual and comfortable of footwear, have finally become acceptable in all situations, with all outfits. And I for one appreciate the mere minutes it has shaven off my city centre commute not having to navigate slippery city centre cobbles in heels!

So this is what it boils down to, if you love it, keep it. If you want to keep it fresh, then mix old with new, vintage with high street, sporty with classic, pink with red, polka dots with stripes (you get the idea) and you’ll be newer than any of the new (actually old) trends going!

21 February 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

FOOD&DRINK

MORSELS OF NEWS IN THE CAPITAL

NIBBLESOFNEWS Mary’s Meals extends programme to help children in Zimbabwe DU B L I N b a s e d c h a r i t y Mary’s Meals Ireland have announced that the charity is now feeding 1.4 million children every school day.

Mary’s Meals began feeding just 200 children in Malawi in 2002.

The charity is now bringing life-changing school meals to 1,425,013 hungry children in 18 countries and has begun feeding in Zimbabwe for the very first time.

The charity has praised the “incredible generosity” of supporters from Ireland and around the world.

The charity’s founder, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, said: “I am so grateful to everyone who makes this wonderful work possible through generous gifts of money, skills, time and prayer.

“Your kindness is helping children in some of the world’s poorest communities to gain a precious education, which opens the door to the possibility of a brighter future.”

To find out more or to donate, visit www.marysmeals.ie

Delectable Desserts

Catherine Fulvio’s Rhubarb, Orange and Ginger Cheesecake Serves 12

This sweet treat is quick and easy to whip using seasonal rhubarb. Be sure to add your own special touch by decorating with some mint leaves or colourful flowers!

INGREDIENTS

For the rhubarb 150g stewed rhubarb, trimmed and sliced into 5cm lengths, 80g Siúcra Caster Sugar ½ tsp ground ginger For the base 20 digestive biscuits, crushed finely ½ orange, zest only, 120g melted butter

Mary’s Meals now feeding 1.4 million children

CRAFTBEERCORNER

Blackwell Irish Stout Ballykilcavan Brewery in Stradbally, Co Laois  PALE MAILE, Beer Aficionado THIS BEER sums up everything that is great about Irish craft beer. Locally made beer from a locally grown crop.

This beer is actually named after their own Blackwell barley field from the ancient Ballykilcavan farm. Stouts have a powerful body and aftertaste and you can taste the hints of coffee and chocolate. Stouts have a unique taste and there is so much more to offer than just a traditional pint of the black stuff. The alcohol volume is 4.4%, so it strong enough to taste the strength but comfortable enough to try one more.

For the filling 200ml cream 1½ leaves gelatine 400g soft smooth cream cheese 70g Siúcra Icing Sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 3 tbsp finely chopped crystallised ginger ½ orange, zest only For the orange topping 150ml orange juice 80g Siúcra Caster Sugar 1½ gelatine leaves

Orange segments, candied rind, poached rhubarb to decorate. Mint leaves, to decorate (optional)

METHOD

To cook the rhubarb: 1. Dice up the rhubarb into roughly 1-2cm pieces, mix rhubarb, sugar and ginger together and put into a small pot and cook until soft.

2. Taste mix at this point and add more sugar if necessary, rhubarb can be extremely tart depending on the time of year so good to check as you go along and adjust to your own taste buds.

3. Once cooked, leave to cool completely.

To make the base: 1. Line the base of a 23cm spring form baking tin with parchment paper.

2. Brush the sides generously with melted butter. 3. Place the crushed biscuits and orange zest into a bowl.

4. Pour enough melted butter to coat the biscuits and spoon this mixture into the base

of the spring form tin, flatten with the back of a spoon. 5. Leave in the fridge to set for ½ an hour.

To make the cheesecake filling: 1. Warm the cream in a saucepan over a medium heat.

2. Place the gelatine leaves into 100ml cold water to soak until softened.

3. Squeeze the excess water from the soaked gelatine leaves and place into the warm cream and stir until dissolved.

4. Leave to cool. 5. Whisk the cream cheese, Siúcra Icing Sugar, vanilla extract, crystallised ginger and orange zest together.

6. When the cream is cold, whisk it into the cream cheese mixture.

7. Gently fold in the cold stewed rhubarb into the cream cheese mix and spoon this over the biscuit base. 8. Leave in the fridge for at least 6 hours to set.

To make the orange topping: 1. Place the orange juice and Siúcra Caster Sugar into a saucepan and heat until just hot and the sugar dissolved.

2. Place the gelatine leaves into 100ml cold water to soak until softened.

3. Squeeze the excess water from the soaked gelatine leaves and place into the hot orange juice and stir quickly until the gelatine is dissolved. 4. Cool this down by placing the saucepan on some ice or in very cold water and letting the liquid thicken slightly before pouring over the top of the cheesecake mix. 5. Leave to set in the fridge for at least 4 hours.

To serve: 1. Run a warm thin palette knife carefully around the tin, unlock the tin, peel the wrap off and slide on a cake stand.

2. Decorate with orange pieces and mint leaves if you are using them. You can also cut the smaller stalks of rhubarb into a nice shape and gentle poach them in orange juice for extra decoration.

An atmospheric pub

with a legendary name LOCATED on Cathedral Street, just off Dublin’s main thoroughfare, Brannigan’s blends a modern, spacious feel with a cosy, traditional atmosphere. An ideal place to watch, or avoid, a match, there is a good mix of regulars here. It is also part of the Traditional Irish Music pub crawl, with music seven nights a week in the summer and Thursday to Saturday during the winter.

The bar’s name has a relatively unusual backstory, so called after James Christopher Brannigan better known as ‘Lugs’ Brannigan, a legendary member of the Gardai. The street where it is located also has a unique history. Over 300 years ago, the street was home to Ireland’s first elephant. The animal, showcased to the public on Parliament Street, perished when the viewing booth in which he was shown caught fire.

The pub remains family run, which is obvious from the welcoming nature of the staff.

While there are a wide range of beers and spirits on offer, Brannigan’s has not lost sight of the importance of its porter. Full of body and cream, with temperature and flavour right where they should be, there is definitely a taste of more off the pints here.” @guinnessadvisor

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21 February 2019

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

SOME OF THE RANDOM AND

‘Fresh Prince’ star loses copyright claim over Carlton dance THE actor behind the legendary Carlton Dance from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air has been told that he can’t copyright the slick moves.

Actor Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Carlton Banks, was in the process of trying to sue two computer game makers over the dance routine from the 90’s TV show but has been told by the US Copyright Office that the dance routine cannot be copyrighted.

They said that the moves – a swing-

ing of the arms and hips – were simply a dance routine, rather than choreography that can be copyrighted.

The dance was made popular in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, which starred Will Smith.

Ribeiro was suing the makers of the basketball game NBA 2K16, and cult war game Fortnite, which allow players to do a ‘victory dance’, similar to the legendary Carlton moves.

C O N TA C T S Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@dublingazette.com

Newly discovered Ceratogyrus Attonitifer spider

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

01 - 6010240 sales@dublingazette.com

FIND US ON

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

Astonishment in Angola A NEW species of tarantula has been found with a peculiar horn on its back.

The spider, discovered in Angola, belongs to a group known as horned baboon spiders but in other known

species in the group the horn is ‘short and hard’ and in the new species the structure is ‘elongated and soft’.

Dr John Midgley from the KwaZulu-Natal Museum in South Africa made the discovery.

skye

DUBLIN Gazette Newspapers has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for lost and abandoned dogs. Skye is a wonderful, funloving four-year old Staffordshire terrier cross.

She is full of life and loves to play games – her favourite being Fetch. Skye loves other dogs and is happiest when she has a doggy pal by her side. She likes to keep busy, whether it is lapping up attention, going on a walk or putting her clever mind to use with dog treat puzzles.

Skye would love a quiet home with a patient family; a dog in the home would also be great. She needs an understanding family who will help her gain more confidence around people, but with some time and lots of love, she will make a fantastic addition to a very lucky family.

If you have room in your heart and home for Skye then please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website www.dogstrust.ie. You can also find them on Facebook www. facebook.com/dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE. (Remember: Always have your dog on a lead when in public.)

DOG OF THE WEEK

21 February 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

D QUIRKY THINGS THAT CAUGHT OUR EYE THIS WEEK...

St Patrick’s Festival and Tesco Ireland announce Cultural Partnership ST Patrick’s Festival has announced a new two-year cultural partnership with Tesco, called ‘Tesco finest - A Celebration of Irish Culture’.

This inclusive cultural programme will celebrate Ireland’s heritage, traditions and music, alongside the very best of Irish food, and runs throughout the five-day celebration of Ireland’s national holiday, from March 14 to 18.

The programme partnership will fea-

ture a diverse range of events that will take place at the three-day Festival Village in Merrion Square, running from March 16 to March 18.

Susan Kirby, St. Patrick’s Festival CEO, said: “We are delighted to announce this exciting partnership with the team at Tesco Ireland, and we look forward to working on an inclusive, celebratory and diverse cultural programme for 2019 and into the future.”

Celebrating the new partnership, Clair

O’Donnell, head of brand activations, Tesco Ireland said: “We’re very honoured to be such a major partner to the worldrenowned St Patrick’s Festival.

“This is something our colleagues are very excited about. As a team we can’t wait to bring our culture of little helps to life across the Festival, supporting a whole host of cultural events and activities for colleagues, customers and families to enjoy.”

IRISH hitmakers Picture This recently launched their brand-new album “MDRN LV” with a special performance on top of The Empire State Building in New York City.

The launch included a one hour special in association with The Eoghan McDermott Show on RTE 2FM, plus an acoustic performance from the 86th Floor Observatory level where they performed their hit “Take My Hand” to global media and fans.

“MDRN LV”, the new album, was released last Friday, February 15. The new album includes the current single “One Drink” plus two previously released tracks “Everything Or Nothing” and “If You Wanna Be Loved”.

In the nearly three years since Picture This formed, they’ve impressively sold over 300K tickets, concluding 2018 with the announcement of a five-night residency in Dublin’s 3Arena for this March. All five nights have subsequently sold out.

Picture This are Ryan Hennessey, Jimmy Rainsford, Owen Cardiff and Cliff Deane.

BITS & BOBS TOP TWEETS

My son saw a cemetery and said ‘that’s where they plant ghosts’ @meaghano

Me: single. also me: regularly covered in a light dusting of sour cream and chives flavouring @rose_ matafeo

It speaks to Sophie EllisBextor’s character that her primary concern after discovering a murder on the dancefloor is that the mood is not also killed. @byrceroney

picture perfect album launch

Dublin will never be a civilised city until our footpaths have a fast lane and a saunter/ tourist lane @Gilleeece

I made my own coffee on the way to work today so the €1.40 I saved can only mean I’ve my mortgage deposit in the bag @tochmarc_ eimear

A busker on Grafton Street just described his style as Snoop Dogg meets Michael Flatley. @greeneggs

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21 February 2019

LADY ANTEBELLUM

CAROLINE JONES CHRIS STAPLETON

GOINGOUTOUT

Country-girl power Amid a battle for representation in country music, some of America’s biggest female country stars drop in on Dublin

PICK WEEK OF THE

FEBRUARY 24 (SUNDAY)

Massive Attack @ @ 3Arena, €52+ Bristol legends bring the late 90s and early 00s highlights, and plenty of new material to the 3Arena for a tripped-out night of fuzzy dance.

FEBRUARY 21 (THURSDAY)

Chvrches @ Olympia Theatre, €30 Damian Clark @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €10

FEBRUARY 22 (FRIDAY)

Bill Ryder-Jones @ Whelan’s, €17 Exiles @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €10 Chvrches @ Olympia Theatre, €30 Rory and the Island @ The Workman’s Club, €12

FEBRUARY 23 (SATURDAY)

Kojaque @ Whelan’s, €21 Cory Wong (Vulfpeck) @ The Sugar Club, sold out Somebody’s Child @ Whelan’s (upstairs), €10 Palace @ The Workman’s Club, €15 Why-Axis @ The Grand Social, €10

FEBRUARY 24 (SUNDAY)

Alasdair Roberts + Landless @ Whelan’s, €16 Cory Wong (Vulfpeck) @ The Sugar Club, €20 Eleanor Tiernan @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €12

FEBRUARY 25 (MONDAY)

Fredo @ Olympia Theatre, sold out

FEBRUARY 26 (TUESDAY)

Catfish And The Bottlemen @ Olympia Theatre, sold out Laura Gibson @ Whelan’s, €15

FEBRUARY 27 (WEDNESDAY)

Ger Staunton @ Whelan’s, €10

IRELAND’S love of country music only occasionally seems to raise its head above the parapet.

It comes in moments like the 400,000 sales country-rock singer Garth Brooks had pulled off back in 2014, before his five night stand at Croke Park fell victim to licensing issues, or in sporadic appearances from visiting stars on the Late Late Show.

There’s little in the way of radioplay, even for the likes of Brooks, and Ireland’s own countryleaning scene would still, broadly, be better categorised as a more native brand of folk.

Nevertheless, ‘Country to Country’ has become a regular on the gig circuit in the last few years, showing emphatically that there are tickets to be sold, as it packs out Ireland’s biggest indoor venue, the 3Arena, for three consecutive nights.

This year’s event has a distinctly feminine flavour, not least through the star-factor and hugeselling headliners Lady Antebellum, fronted by the distinctive Hillary

 JAMES HENDICOTT

Scott.

The band are on the back of an extended break, one that led plenty to believe they’d split permanently, but returned just over a year ago. They’ve sold an incredible 18 million albums, and clocked up more than two billion streams.

“I definitely think the span of country music in general has grown a lot,” the band said around the release of their most recent album Heart Break, their fifth US number one in six releases.

“For one thing they seem a lot younger, which is neat. A lot of young fans are coming to our shows.

We have all kinds of fans.

“If you love music, come and check it out! That’s always been our motto.

We know we’re not so much a traditional country band. But that was never our goal. We just try to be true to whatever songs are coming out.”

Another star set to turn out at the festival is Camaron Ochs (CAM), a Californian exception to the general southernstate dominance of the genre.

CAM wrote tracks for Miley Cyrus and funded her own debut through a Kickstarter project before really breaking through.

She also sits a little outside of country convention in her music, and is particularly outspoken about male dominance in the genre.

“I came into country music and as I started moving up in my career, I started looking around and there were no women and there were no people of colour,” she said.

“I also know that a lot of rooms made me feel a little awkward. Then I hit a wall for myself where I couldn’t progress.”

Her stance came to the forefront when Keith Hill, a country radio consultant, advised his clients to play less female-fronted country, as he claimed the tracks damaged ratings.

“I was complicit in this whole thing, too,” CAM recalls.

“I was a part of this system and I’ve let it go this far, and now all of us are waking up and saying, ‘Hey, nobody’s got to get burned, all we’ve got to do is wake up and get better together.’”

CAM will have plenty

of allies at the 3Arena, with seemingly overnight Arkansas success story Ashley McBryde, Caroline Jones, and Carly Pearce, who’s toured since the age of 11, also taking to the stage over the course of the weekend.

The Country to Country Festival takes place at the 3Arena on Friday 8, Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 of March. It features every artist mentioned in this article, as well as Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton, Hunter Hayes and more. Single day tickets start at €55

CAMARON OCHS

21 February 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

WHAT’S BIG IN MUSIC, CINEMA, TV AND BOOKS

ENTERTAINMENT

CINEMA | THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART

QUIKFLIX FLIX

Not awesome, but it’s still pretty great

WITH what looks set to be a messy, unfocused Oscars ceremony looming on the horizon, it’s looking like they’ll be anything but awesome this year.

However, if I said “Everything is awesome...” you’d probably know straight away what I was referencing, such was the popularity of a certain song (and film) that was even catchier than last year’s Baby Shark (“Dede-de-de-de-de-de-dedehhh, Baby Shark...”).

That’s right, The Lego Movie, with its inevitable sequel, The Lego Movie 2 (Cert G, 107 mins) hoping to build - geddit? - on the success of the smashhit film from a few years back.

We ’ r e b a c k w i t h upbeat Emmet (Chris Pratt), WildStyle/Lucy (Elizabeth Banks), Batman (Will Arnett) and the gang, with The Kid from the first film having grown up a bit.

His Lego city/world of Brickburg has consequently taken on a much grittier, more apocalyptic look and tone - not that you’d know it from chirpy, cheerful Emmet.

However, things soon take a turn for the worse

 SHANE DILLON

with monstrous alien invaders from the Systar System (amusingly clunky Duplo brick creations made by the kid’s little sister) not only constantly hassling Apocalypseburg-

of an impending Armageddon threatens the end of brick-based life as we know it.

Somehow, he has to toughen himself up a bit to go through (or up) ‘the Stairgate’ to lead a rescue mission in the world beyond, get his gal and his pal back, and avert Armageddon - without falling under the spell of some catchy music...

and The Lego Movie 2 comes reasonably close.

After all, it’s stuffed to the gills full of knowing nods and references to all kinds of people and things, has a dizzying line-up of stars providing solid voiceover work for their cameo characters, has admittedly catchy music and, above all, plenty of excellent Legoinspired vistas.

As you’d expect, the film is stuffed full of movie and pop culture references

nee-Brickburg’s inhabitants, but soon seeing Batman, Lucy and others kidnapped.

Batman has been chosen as the unwilling groom-to-be in an upcoming wedding instigated by the merciless queen of the Systar System (Tiffany Haddish), and even more pressingly, Emmet’s fears

You know what you’re getting with this one, with the sequel to the barnstorming The Lego Movie providing much of the same solid entertainment as that striking film did.

To be blunt, it’s just not as good as the first film but then, that would be quite a task to achieve,

As some icing on the cake, a key new character - Rex Dangervest (also voiced by Pratt) - is like a wonderful tribute to classic Kurt Russell characters amalgamated together.

Put all of that together, and while The Lego Movie 2 isn’t quite awesome, it’s still pretty great.

Verdict: 8/10

StillShowing... StillShowing... StillShowing... StillShowing...

INSTANT FAMILY

Forgettable fare from Wahlberg

ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL

Fight the impulse to leave THE original popular cult manga is decent, but the big-budget film it’s based on, Alita: Battle Angel (Cert 12A, 122mins) is just an ugly, unfocused mess.

A cyborg who’s almost more human than humans is forced to embrace her potential for ultra violence to help save those she loves in a shabby city. The end result is an unfocused mess with distracting CG everywhere.

HERE comes yet another Mark Wahlberg family-man film, with Instant Family (Cert 12A, 118mins) proving instantly forgettable. A couple decide that they’d like to give parenting a go, and look into foster care adoption – but instead of one kid, they end up with three. Hey, it’s an ... instant family! Hilarity doens’t quite follow as they all learn what family is, and how to live and love together.

Streaming the latest news

Youtube star Shane Dawson in his latest viral video on Conspiracy Theories

Is YouTube redefining the documentary?

RACHEL D’ARCY WHEN SOMEONE thinks of binge watching, or unique documentaries, their minds nearly automatically drift to Netflix.

However, video sharing platform YouTube is solidifying it’s status as a real contender in the content business.

Creators are finding innovative ways to deliver what their audiences want to see, using the platform to generate videos of such a high quality, they actually wouldn’t be out of place on Netflix itself.

One such creator is Shane Dawson, billed widely as being one of the most innovative YouTubers, in addition to being one of the first creators on the platform.

He’s been using the platform to deliver in-depth documentaries on controversial YouTubers like Jake Paul (ask the kids!), but most recently has further

delved into the world of conspiracy theories in videos almost two hours long.

Theories explored include the world of ‘deep fakes’ and whether or not your phone is listening to you, triggering a massive response online Dawson’s videos usually rack up millions of views in a matter of hours - at time of press, both videos stood at a combined 50 million views in less than two weeks of being live.

Another creator in the beauty field of the site, Thomas Halbert, is also attempting to branch out with a television style series, ‘Battle of the Brands’.

The format is different to the typical reviews and previews of the beauty genre, whilst still maintaining a comedic and educational aspect.

Halbert’s editing style is akin to entertainment channel E!’s style, while

maintaining that traditional ‘YouTube edge’. The series has generated a huge buzz in the beauty community, racking up over 300,000 views.

It’s rare that YouTube is considered a serious form of entertainment, with few critics paying much heed to the growing platform.

One thing is certain though - this pop culture phenomenon is delivering stellar content on a near weekly basis - and that’s not something to scoff at.

Youtuber Thomas Halbert

X-Factor WILL return this year but will it be in a brand new format?

HAPPY DEATH DAY 2U

Not so much of a happy return HERE’S another sequel this week that doesn’t quite match its superb predecessor. Happy Death Day 2U (Cert 15A, 100 mins) once again sees a young woman constantly reliving the same day over and over again, while a new murderer is on the loose. Think: Groundhog Day crossed with Halloween, and you’re on the right path. It’s fine, but the first film was much fresher.

X-Factor’s Simon Cowell

DESPITE rumours that the X-Factor may face the chop, it’s been revealed that the show will be back on screens in 2019.

As confirmed to Digital Spy by a source, the singing show will return to ITV despite a less than stellar viewership in 2018.

Auditions for this year’s

show have already begun, including a stint in Stephen’s Green to find some Irish talent.

Speculation is circulating, however, that this year’s format may feature celebrities in an effort to boost ratings, with the regular version returning to screens in 2020.

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21 February 2019

TRAVEL

Book a bargain holiday away to a European city with GoHop.ie FANCY a quick getaway to one of Europe’s top cities?

GoHop.ie has some great value city breaks in March. Whether it’s shopping, sightseeing, or a short romantic trip with your other half, a city break is the ideal tonic to get away from it all and recharge your batteries.

You’ll be spoilt for choice with the wide selection of competitively priced flights and accommodation to suit all budgets.

So go on, you deserve it, book that European city break now with GoHop.ie .

And, why not give the gift of travel to someone special with a GoHop.ie holiday voucher?

Whether it’s a special birthday, anniversary, wedding gift or simply because you feel they deserve a break, a travel voucher really is an ideal present.

Check out the GoHop.ie holiday voucher page at https://www.gohop.ie/travel-voucher/holidays.

A selection of the great value spring city breaks on GoHop.ie include: Amsterdam, March 20, two nights at the 3-star Hotel De Looier, room only from €185pp.

Budapest, March 23, two nights at the 5-star Hilton Budapest City, B&B from €250pp.

Munich, March 06, two nights at the 4-star Azimut Hotel, room only from €140pp.

Rome, 10 March 10, two nights at the 3-star Hotel Tre Stelle, B&B from €195pp.

Barcelona, March 30, two nights at the 4-star Hotel Sansi Diputacio, room only from €190pp.

All the above prices are subject to availability and include return flights from Dublin, all taxes and two nights’ hotel accommodation as specified. Baggage and transfers not included.

GoHop.ie is now considered one of the most popular holiday websites in Ireland. Irish-owned and managed, the brand continues to broaden its appeal to holiday consumers, offering great value holidays to suit every budget at some of the best prices on the market, operating flights from Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Knock airports.

The company boasts more than 45,000 followers on Facebook and enjoys a Feefo rating of 4.75.

Consumers can also sign up to the GoHop weekly newsletter for unbeatable worldwide holiday deals and exciting product updates.

For further information, see GoHop.ie, or call 01 241 2389; on Facebook see GoHop.ie; on Twitter follow @GoHop_ie; or on Instagram follow #GoHop.ie.

Langholmen Hotell, Stockholm, Sweden

Stylish slammers: A jail break with a difference Malmaison, Oxford

Unusual hotels won’t be such a hard cell ...

SYLVIA POWNALL

Travel Editor HAVE you ever wondered what it would feel like spending a night in prison? Well, wonder no more.

Our seemingly evergrowing obsession with prison documentaries, true crime and gore has led to a trend in converting former lock-ups into places of luxury.

Spending the night in a former slammer might sound like a daunting prospect but it makes for

an unforgettable experience, especially when the building has been given a makeover marrying luxury with original features such as window bars, cells and security doors.

You can take the quick route and check-in to your very own sumptuous cell at a revamped former jail – transformed into a haven of tranquility while still paying homage to its heritage.

The accommodations experts at Hotels.com have compiled a list of stylish

slammers, most definitely more in tune with indulgence than incarceration.

Malmaison Oxford, Oxford, UK The building we today know as Malmaison Oxford has an eventful history stretching back more than 900 years.

Adjacent to Oxford Castle, it was originally built in 1071 as a Norman fortress.

Over the years, civil unrest, change of political interests and negligence

led to the castle being extended during the Victorian era, and it served as HM Prison Oxford 18881996, after which it was turned into a hotel.

The hotel offers a range of 95 rooms and suites, including the cell double, cell superior double and rooms located in the adjacent House of Correction building.

Malmaison prides itself on its unique concept and high standards, with each room boasting power showers, mood lighting,

24-hour room service and exclusive toiletries.

Inmates won’t have to worry about sub-standard food here: the stylish Brasseries serves generous portions of fresh, local and classic food.

Rates start from £149 (€169) per room per night.

Hotel Katajanokka, Helsinki, Finland Located in the heart of the Finnish capital, the building we today know as Hotel Katajanokka opened as the Helsinki County

21 February 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

Hotel Katajanokka, Heilsinki, Finland

Unlike its original inhabitants, you can check out of The Liberty, Boston any time you please ...

Prison and investigative penitentiary in 1837 and remained open until 2002.

At that point, the prison was relocated to the outskirts of the city. The building underwent several years of restoration and the luxurious hotel opened its doors in 2007.

Sets of two or three cells were combined to create spacious and comfortable four-star hotel rooms, ranging from queen rooms to junior suites, accessible by the original prison corridor.

Its restaurant, Jailbird, also has a prison theme, complete with exposed brick walls, barred windows and medieval-style chairs. Here guests can sample Scandinavian specialities, including the acclaimed President Ryti’s beef.

Rooms at Hotel Katajanokka start from €115 per room per night.

The Liberty, Boston, USA The spectacular building we know today as The

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The post lasts three weeks and pays

Liberty was built in 1851 and served as the notorious Charles Street Jail until 1990.

Probably the most famous inmate that served time here is Malcolm X. The prison was known for its octagonal, 27 metre-tall rotunda, which helped segregate prisoners by sex and category of offences and remains at the heart of The Liberty Hotel’s design.

While the former prison cells were just 80sq

€6,850 for the lucky explorer who will get to try out “extraordinary shore experiences” in spectacular locations including CocoCay, a private island in the Caribbean.

Social media smarts are a must for the successful entrant, who will share their footage and photos on Instagram, Insta Stories and IGTV. And as if all that wasn’t enough, you’ll get €57 a day for expenses.

Candidates are being invited to apply by sharing their best travel experience on Instagram, tagging @RoyalCaribbeanUK and #ShoreExplorer.

Entries close on March 1 and the winner will be chosen by a panel of

ft, today’s 298 rooms and suites range from 400 to 800sq ft.

Guests can expect advanced technology and contemporary style, including mahogany woods and touches of stainless steel.

Those wishing to see the original prison should head to CLINK restaurant, where guests can sit in parts of the original cells while enjoying modern American cuisine.

Rates start from €170 per room per night.

judges. Terms and conditions state you must be over 21, live in the UK or Ireland, hold a valid passport and be able to drop everything to travel between May and August for up to four consecutive weeks.

Edinburgh set to introduce a £2 tourist tax EDINBURGH is a step closer to becoming the first city in the UK to introduce a tourist tax after the move was widely

Langholmen Hotell, Stockholm, Sweden The centrally located Langholmen island has a rich and captivating history, dating back more than1,000 years. Its history as a correction facility dates back to 1724 when its first female inmates arrived.

The prison was expanded over the years and was eventually closed in 1975. Today, guests staying at the Langholmen Hotell have access to the prison museum, giving them insight into the living conditions of former prisoners.

The original windows remain, although the cells have been updated with contemporary d e s i g n s o l u t i o n s to include flatscreen televisions and other such

approved by councillors.

Plans for the tax, or Transient Visitor Levy (TVL), include a £2 per night room charge (with an exemption for campsites) and a cap of seven consecutive nights.

Local politicians, who backed the plans by 43 votes to 15, reckon this will generate an estimated £14.6 million every year.

The local authority will now put its recommendations to Scottish parliament. If passed, the move would see the city follow in the footsteps of Paris, Venice and Barcelona, while Bath and Oxford councils have also called for similar powers.

amenities.

Guests can choose between single cells, double cells, family cells and even romantic cells, offering sparkling wine, c h o c o l a t e, d re s s i n g gowns and slippers.

Rooms start from €99 per room per night.

FOR bookings on any of the above visit www.hotels. com. And, if you’ve caught the bug, you might want to book a stay at Clink78 in London, the Four Seasons Sultanahmed in Istanbul, Turkey or blow the budget on Q Station in Sydney, Australia ...

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21 February 2019

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21 February 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

WHAT’S NEW IN THE WORLD OF TRANSPORT

MOTORS

AUDI Ireland 191 upgrade deal detailed

AUDI Ireland has

announced details of bespoke complimentary upgrade packages on its Audi A4 and Q2 models as part of its 191 sales event.

This exclusive offer is available to all customers until February 28, while stocks last.

The 191 sales event is currently taking place across all Audi-authorised dealers nationwide.

The Audi A4 Style Pack 191 complimentary style pack includes a metallic paint finish, ambient lighting pack, heated front sports seats, comfort armrest and front parking sensors.

The style pack also comes complete with 18” alloy wheels on SE models and 19” alloys on the S Line, offering a customer saving of more than €4,000 for the SE and €4,500 for S Line model.

The Audi Q2 Convenience Pack offers an enhanced driving experience. The complimentary upgrade bolsters the compact SUV with a panoramic sunroof, LED interior lighting, front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, providing a saving of more than €2,600.

The 191 range includes the launch of five new models: the sporty yet compact Audi A1; an SUV with a difference, the Audi Q3; Audi’s first fully electric model, the Audi e-tron; the limitededition Audi Q5, complete with2.0TDI 163 HP engine; and the stylish Audi A6.

As part of the Audi 191 sales event, customers can avail of low APR rates, starting from as low as 2.9% on the Audi Q5 and Audi A6.

For further information see www.audi.ie, or your local Audi dealer.

Its decent fuel consumption and nifty power will appeal, as will its surprising amount of space (for everyone and everything it can carry), coupled with great features

KIA Ceed SW impresses with space and comfort DECLAN GLYNN

THE all-new KIA Ceed SW (Sportswagon) shares everything, except the rear, with the new Ceed hatchback, while an extended rear overhang provides the new SW with an additional 97-litres of space over the previous generation model.

The boot lip is also substantially lower, with the lower lift-over height making it easier to load heavier items into the boot.

Compared with its predecessor, it is 95mm longer at 4600mm, 20mm wider at 1800mm and 20mm lower at 1465mm.

As with its hatchback sibling, at the front of the new SW there is the familiar ‘tiger nose’ grille and castellated upper windscreen, while the sweptback headlight design and lowered, widened, front air intake is reminiscent of KIA’s stylish and sporty Stinger GT. The eye-catching rear LED daytime running lights give the new Ceed SW greater visibility and recognition on the road.

The striking design is

a signature feature of the new Kia Ceed family, while ‘Ice Cube’ LED daytime running lights and High Beam Assist (HBA) also come as standard.

The sporty low profile is extended by the chromeframed windows and sleek roof rails.

The new KIA Ceed SW offers more room than ever before. C-segment estate customers’ expectations go beyond cargo capacity, so KIA’s designers have ensured versatility and usability are key strengths for the new Ceed SW, making it one of the most practical cars in its class.

With the split-folding rear seats dropped, the boot floor is completely flat. Every Ceed SW features an underfloor box to secure or hide smaller items, as well as a tonneau cover and a bag hook

to prevent groceries and other items rolling around the load bay.

Cargo capacity is an impressive 625-litres with the rear seat backs in place, and a huge 1,694-litres with the rear seats folded.

The new Ceed SW is only available in one trim – K3.

T h i s ge n e ro u s l yequipped model comes complete with a vast range of features, such as (to name but a few) LED daytime-running-lights (ice-cube effect), tinted windows, electrically folding and heated exterior mirrors, cloth and artificial leather seats, USB charger, Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, 7” LCD infotainment screen, rear camera and much, much more.

Engine options in the new Ceed SW consist of a

FACT BOX

1) All-new model 2) Increased dimensions and space 3) 7-Year/150,000km warranty 4) Petrol or diesel engines 5) Priced from €25,295

Tall drivers will welcome the overall design, providing a comfortable drive

3-cylinder, 1.0-litre T-GDi petrol engine producing 120bhp, and a 4-cylinder 1.6-litre CRDi diesel engine with 115bhp.

The annual road tax is just €200 and €190 respectively, thanks to impressively low Co2 emissions.

Both engines are available with a standard 6-speed manual gearbox, with no automatic gearbox currently available. A 7-speed automatic gearbox is, however, available in the SW’s hatchback sibling.

On test was a new Ceed SW K3 in 1.0-litre T-GDi guise.

T h i s f ro n t-w h e e l drive car is capable of

a 0-100km sprint in a respectable 10.9-seconds, and can reach a top speed of 192km/h.

Front suspension is by MacPherson struts and an anti-roll bar, while a multilink arrangement with trailing arm and anti-roll bar are employed at the rear.

On the road the new Ceed SW is composed, nimble, and drives with poise and precision. The cloth and leather-effect seats in my test car were very supportive, and there is ample adjustment available on the driver’s seat to ensure that even tall drivers can get comfortable behind the wheel.

Thankfully, rear seat comfort hasn’t been forgotten – space in the rear seats is very nearly as generous as in the front.

As a result, there is enough room for a six-foot tall passenger to sit behind an equally tall driver, and the soft central seat and almost flat floor means there is space for three adults to sit side-by-side.

The 1.0-litre T-GDi K3 model is competitively priced at just €25,295 (exworks), with the 1.6-litre CRDi model costing an additional €2,655.

As is the case across the entire KIA passenger car range, a 7-Year/150,000km warranty is standard.

24 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 21 February 2019

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26 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 21 February 2019

21 February 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 27

ATHLETICS P28

THE BEST IN DUBLIN

SPORT

LEAGUE’S BIG RETURN FOOTBALL: FINGALLIANS enjoyed a

winning return to AFL1 as they swept to victory over Templeogue Synge Street in Dolphin Park in a feisty affair with Eoghan O’Gara sent off early in the piece.

St Sylvester’s and Castleknock, meanwhile, both won big on their opening day of the AFL2 campaign as they look to bounce straight back up to the top tier.



GAZETTE

RUGBY P29

PAGE 30-31

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS INFORM YOU OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORES OF YOUR FAVOURITE TEAMS CHALLENGE | DUBLINER HITS GRUELLING TARGET FOR EB

Doyle hits ‘Dreadmill’ for Debra  JAMES HENDICOTT

sport@dublingazette.com

BALBRIGGAN runner Liam Doyle ran 50 miles on a treadmill in 7 hour 45 minutes late last week, as he continued a quest to raise money for Debra Ireland by covering vast distances on the machine.

Doyle’s fifth treadmill attempt saw him cross the 40 mile mark for the fourth time in the challenges, which have taken place regularly since February 2017, and top his previous fundraising mark. He has raised €950 to date from his most recent run.

“The Dreadmill, aka Treadmill is that piece of Gym equipment most people shy away from,” Doyle jokes.

“Not me, I see it as an opportunity to raise funds for Charity whilst getting a little work-out done.”

“Working with Applegreen for more years than I can remember, we have always supported charities through our Charitable Fund. A charity that

inspired me to plug in the treadmill and run for hours on end without actually moving too far was DEBRA Ireland.

“DEBRA Ireland was set up to assist and provide vital care for the 300 known cases of Epidermolysis Bullosa, EB for short or Butterfly Skin.

This is a debilitating skin condition that there is no known cure for and life expectancy is 25 - 30 years, depending on the severity.

“It comes with constant pain with regimental wound dressing of up to 3 hours every second day. It leaves those affected with a very different life to any other normal child.”

“My own case of Psoriasis, whilst I have good and bad days, is nothing compared to their daily routine and this inspired me to lace up the runners and plug in the treadmill.”

“I place the treadmill on the forecourt where I work and off I go. It is not only a physical challenge but more of a mental challenge to stay running on the spot for so long with people asking

Liam Doyle on the treadmill in the middle of his challenge

me where are the others who are going to run as well.

“The look of disbelief on their face when I tell them it’s just me on a solo challenge is priceless, they probably rightly think I am nuts.”

“My own running background is being a member of Balbriggan Roadrunners who I joined up shortly after

I started running/jogging back in 2014,” Doyle explains. “I’ve lost five stone, run four Dublin marathons and numerous East of Ireland marathons, and two many other races to list since.”

You can sponsor Doyle’s efforts by visiting his fundraising page at give. everydayhero.com/ie/liam-s-treadmill-challenge-1.

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

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

28 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 21 February 2019

CLUB NOTES

ROUND

1

SOCCER: PORTERSTOWN CLUB START 2019 LEAGUE ON FORM

FINGALLIANS

AFL Football: Well done to our Senior Div 1 Men on a great opening win away to Templeogue Synge St in Dolphin Park. Great start from the lads back in Division 1 roll on Sunday, March 3, they play St Maurs at home .

The U14 Boys were treated to a taste of Senior Football when Senior Footballer Donie Keane took a Training session with them as they are heading in to Feile soon he was also on hand to pass on some tips to the lads. He finished up the session by presenting the lads with their medals from last year’s league.

This year’s Easter Camp has been confirmed for Tuesday, April 23 to Friday, April 26 9am til 1pm.

Please note this is a slight change to previous years. Applications forms will be available shortly from the bar. Summer and Kellogg’s Cup Camp dates will be confirmed in the next few weeks.

Dublin U-16 Camogie : Well done to Niamh Crowley and the Dublin U16 Camogie Team on a great win over Waterford.

Minor Dublin Ladies: Well done to Emma Mc Cormack who started in the No 10 Shirt for the Ladies in their game with Meath Minors in St Magareths.

Clubhouse opening hours for the forthcoming week: Mon, Tue and Wed 6 to 11pm,Thursday, 6 to 11.30pm,Fri,6 to 12am,Sat Academy 9am to 1pm and re opens at 5pm to 12.30am and Sun 1pm to 11pm.

As part of our preparations for St. Patrick’s Day we will hold a Banner/flag making workshop at the Academy on Saturday 23rd February at 10am. Special thanks to Colourtrend for providing materials.

NAOMH PEREGRINE THE FIRST St Peregrines Lotto Jackpot of 2019 has been won at last!! Huge Congratulations to longtime supporter and seller of our weekly lotto tickets Marcella O’Connor who nabbed our 10K Jackpot on Sunday night.

Numbers drawn: 1, 10, 12 & 21. Marcella was also one of the lucky 10 winners of €40 drawn out at random in the same night! Enjoy every cent Marcella, we couldn’t be a happier for you.

Although the 10K is gone we have been topping up the reserve jackpot every week for the next BIG WIN at St. Peregrines! Next Sundays Jackpot will be €6200.

Get your €2 ticket from the Clubhouse Bar or from any of our sellers throughout the Club.

New Clubhouse Shop Opening Hours: Thursdays 6.30pm – 7.30pm & Saturdays 10.30am – 12pm.

Get yourself and the family kitted out in the latest CNP attire at Joyces lowest prices! This weekend we have a Jersey of your choice to give away in the bar.

Receive your ticket from the bar during Saturdays 7pm Dublin v Mayo game, Sundays 2.05pm Man Utd v Liverpool or the 3pm Rugby Italy v Ireland game!! All matches will be shown LIVE in the Clubhouse with drinks promotions on selected drinks. If you haven’t been around the Clubhouse lately call in for your Sunday Dinner prepared fresh on the premises by Chef Noel McCarthy and checkout the beautiful artwork on the walls painted by Ciara and Aoife Deegan. Thank you girls for brightening up some of our walls.

Open Day for all CNP members in Ger Conroy Fitness Mulhuddart , Saturday March 2nd Checkout or Facebook Page for more details. Quiz Night March 8th in the Clubhouse @ 8pm hosted by our Ladies Footballer & Camogie Teams.

Tables of 4 @ €40, please support. Our Membership link is live on www.cnp. ie. We urge all members to renew to avoid missing any training sessions and upcoming matches.

Castleknock Celtic’s Luke Danaher lines up a shot against Knocklyon United

Kaiser’s masterful header gets Knock up and running LFL UNDER-19/20 Castleknock Celtic 3 Knocklyon United 1  sport@dublingazette.com

CASTLEKNOCK Celtic kicked off the ir LSL Under-19/20 campaign in brilliant fashion as they got the better of Knocklyon United B in Porterstown Park.

The game was played in glorious sunshine and the pitch was in good condition for football.

Castleknock were in buoyant mood and confident, given they had won the DDSL Youths-3 league in 2018 as well as the league and Cup double the previous season.

In addition, they are also hoping to qualify for the quarter final of the Charlie O’Leary Cup next Sunday when they take on Esker Celtic and will advance if they avoid defeat.

The early stages of the Knocklyon match were very competitive but the deadlock was finally broken when Adam Kaiser jumped high to head in a goal from a Ben Traynor corner, putting Celtic 1-0 up.

Within minutes, the Castleknock captain Rhys Hogan made it 2-0 with a fine shot from inside the box that gave Vitaly Makarevitch no

chance in the visitors’ goal.

Knocklyon were still competing strongly and continued to press forward to reduce the deficit.

United striker Ciaran O’Neill was very unlucky when his shot struck the underside of the crossbar before being scrambled away by the Celtic defence.

Castleknock responded to this let-off with a third goal when Killian Ronan dribbled through the Knocklyon defence before hammering home his first goal of the campaign.

Just before half-time, Knocklyon pulled one

goal back when their nu m b e r f ive, Ja m e s Dunne, tapped in a goal at the far post following a terrific corner kick.

The first half ended with Celtic leading 3-1 at the break.

Both sides knew as they came out for the second half that the next goal scored would be crucial.

However, despite endto-end play throughout the second period, and a commanding performance by Aaron Cunningham in the midfield with his combative tackling and incisive passing, neither side could capitalise on their opportunities.

It meant Castleknock landed a fine start to their year, hopefully laying the base for more success.

Elsewhere, Castleknock Celtic’s Football Academy for Children has restarted for four to seven year olds, and takes place Saturday mornings at 10am in Porterstown Park.

New m e m b e rs a re e s p e c i a l l y we l c o m e when they can learn all the basics of the beautiful game and prepare themselves for league football in a fun-filled environment that is fundamentally child-centred. More information at www. castleknockceltic.com

Fagan and Giddey’s Leinster gold

Luttrellstown CC’s Scott Fagan. Picture: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

SCOTT Fagan of Luttrellstown CC and Efron Giddeyfrom Le Cheile Tyrellstown were among the winners at the Irish Life Health Leinster Schools Cross Country at Santry Demesne this week.

Fagan led home the field in the Intermediate Boys 4,500m while Giddey held off the challenge of St Kieran’s Shay McEvoy and Naas CBS’s Shane Coffey.

At minor girls level, Castleknock CC’sAoife Browne and Gara Williams finished second and third respectively, coming in behind St

Vincent’s Dundalk’s Erin Leavy. With Madeleine Buckley coming home in seventh, place Castleknock were clear winners of the team prize for their superb set of results. Their total of 12 points was the best of any of the team competitions.

Another local team gold came in the junior girls race with Sophie Quinn third place leading Mount Sackville to a gold with 24th and 32nd place finishes also registered. It earned them 59 points, a single point clear of St Peter’s Dunboyne.

21 February 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 29

RUGBY: ASHBROOK CLUB OVERCOME TOUGH GRADING GAMES TO SET UP SEMI FINAL

Relentless Coolmine on rise to top league in perfect fashion SCHOOL/YOUTH U-17 LEAGUE  sport@dublingazette.com

COOLMINE’S Under-17s swept to first spot in the Leinster School/ Youth league table with a strong 26-10 win over NC Wasps, making it four wins from four and setting them up for a semi-final tie.

Indeed, the last three months have seen the group produce an excellent rise to form. The side had a tough start to the year, finishing their grading games with five losses, coming up short against opposition who were organised and prepared earlier.

Joe Walsh took on the side at that stage and they started to assemble in earnest with a full-day visit to Rugby Academy Ireland in Naas, taking in three fitness sessions and team-bonding work.

They went on to beat Ashbourne 22-20 in December in a friendly, the first victory for the club since January earlier in the year, an uplifting experience for the side.

They followed up with another friendly win against NC Wasps,

17-5, to build the momentum going into the league which began on January 6.

A strong start put Coolmine 12-0 up before Naas could get into the game. Some superb variations in attack, accurate set piece work, and a strong defensive effort gave them a first league win, finishing 34-15.

A walkover against Suttonians added to their record. There was a setback in the School/Youth Cup at Wicklow, bowing out despite a very strong first half performance to be in the game at 17-12.

It meant focus shifted back to the league, beating Greystones in early February. They started strong, asserting themselves up front, and moving the ball well across the park.

At half time, they held a 36-0 lead away from home. A good second half effort, despite a few defensive errors, finished the game with a final score of 55-12.

It set up a final group game against NC Wasps at home in Ashbrook with motivation and preparation at an all-time high.

They eventually won 26-10, com-

pleting their perfect group stages, fronting up all over the park with their sports analysis returning great stats on their performance – a breakdown accuracy of 94%, and a passing accuracy of 86%.

It led to tries from Philip Thornton, Oisin Tierney, Liam Martin and Aleks Makarevich as well as three from four conversions from Donal Gilmore.

The win vs Wasps meant a first place finish unbeaten, and a guaranteed home semi-final against the second placed team in the other pool.

“We have seen a massive transition over the last few months from the hunted, to the hunters, and we are hungrier than ever to show that we’re here to win, and we’re here to win silverware,” said coach Walsh of their performances to date.

“Former Head Coach, Former Georgian International, Nik Abdaladze has been a massive support for me during my time so far and the skills he provided the boys with up to this point has made my job so much easier.”

Suttonians on the attack.

Picture: Bernie O’Farrell

Sutton test Blackrock’s mettle ALL-IRELAND CUP

Blackrock College 19 Suttonians 3  sport@dublingazette.com

S U T TO N I A N S g ave All-Ireland League side Blackrock a scare in the women’s All-Ireland Cup semi-final last Friday before their experience came to bare in a 19-3 result.

The Leinster league side led for most of the first half as they bossed

possession in the opening 40 minutes and led through the boot of Nicole Carroll.

Rock edged ahead with tries either side of halftime and moved clear in the second half as Suttonians’ ball carriers started to tire.

Niamh Griffin, Meadbh Scally and Roisin Crowe all touched down for Philip Doyle’s charges. Credit must go to the beaten side, however, for their

strong finish at a venue they will hope to return to in the near future.

Speaking afterwards, Carroll said: “Playing in Division One, we get challenged but not to that same level. We probably should have gone in at half-time a couple of tries up if we had played it right but it is a learning curve. We do have league semi-finals and finals to look forward to and we will look forward to that.”

Suttonians’ head of rugby John McCourt added: “For our girls, coming out today against the side third in the AIL was always going to be winwin. We would either win the game, or win by learning from the game itself.

“Our one aim this season was to get to the AllIreland League and we have a few tough games to do that but we will learn from this what it is like at that next level.”

Coolmine’s Under-17s have enjoyed a stunning league run of form

30 DUBLIN GAZETTE  FINGAL 21 February 2019

CLUB NOTES

ROUND

2

NAOMH MEARNOG A VERY busy weekend of games started on Friday night when our AFL7 team travelled to play Crokes. Despite a good performance, the lads had to eventually give way in a high scoring encounter.

Sunday morning saw our senior footballers face Castleknock away in their first league game. This was always going to be a difficult assignment and so it proved with the home side winning with something to spare.

Our minor hurlers had a very impressive win over Round Towers Clondalkin.

Our recently formed AFL11N team travelled to St .Maurs on Sunday afternoon. They scored 5-12 and came away with handsome victory. We should not be surprised by this though because when you look at the squad virtually all of them were top senior footballers in their time. They may no longer have the blinding speed or the rippling torsos of their youth but they still know how to play football. On Saturday morning, our under 8 boys split up and headed for Kilbarrack and Lusk conquering both venues. The under 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 boys were also victorious. The under 15 boys were in a comfortable position at half time but were pipped in the end. Our girls were in action also. The under 13 footballers and the under 16 camogie girls had very useful friendlies against Clontarf and Fingallians respectively.

SKERRIES HARPS HARD luck to our AFL1 and AFL4 teams who were defeated in their opening league matches on Sun 18th. Juvenile Boys Football has now recommenced for all teams from U8-U16 , well done to all our teams who took part in Go Games activity and competed in their respective leagues.

Hard luck to Alix Buckley and the Dublin Senior Camogie Team who were defeated by Limerick in the league.

Reminder, Skerries Harps Annual Membership fees are now due and are available for renewal online at www.skerriesharps.ie/ club-membership. All Players (Adult & Juvenile) must have membership and injury fund fees paid up to date before commencement

of the 2019 season, which for some teams has already occurred. Contact Club Registrar Peter Farmer @ SkerriesHarps.registrar@ gmail.com with any queries.

Upcoming Events /Diary Dates: Friday the 22nd of February: Junior disco 8pm -11pm in aid of our Feile Fundraiser 2019. Contact team mentors for details; • Saturday the 2nd of March: Annual Cheltenham Preview Night in the Clubhouse.

8PM TILL LATE! Great line up of experts on our panel, contact Fergal 086 8984657 for more info.

• Friday the 8th of March: Annual Skerries Harps Fashion Show 8pm. Tickets SOLD OUT.

ST BRIGID’S WELL done to our AFL10, Minor A and B Hurlers, U16 (A and B), U15, U14 and U13 Football teams all of whom had good league wins at the weekend.

St Brigid’s Club Nursery will continues this Saturday morning and every Saturday morning from 9.30am to 11.00. All 4-7 year old boys and girls are welcome to come down and join in the fun.

2019 Memberships are now due and can be paid online via our Club Website before March 31.

A huge thank you to everyone who supports St Brigid’s Club Lotto and thanks to our hard-working Lotto Committee. Our next Lotto draw is in The Roselawn Inn when the Jackpot will be €10,400 this Thursday, February 21.

Foundation Coaching Course for mentors of underage teams begins this Friday, February 22 from 7pm to 10pm on both nights. Please contact @BarryMullane1 or barry.mullane.gpo.dublin@gaa.ie to book your place.

Handball Foundation Coaching Course in Russell Park - Monday 25th February (7pm-9.30pm) and Monday 4th March (7pm-9.30pm). Book your place by emailing; endatimoney@gmail.com Best wishes to our adult hurling teams and minor football teams who begin their league campaigns this Sunday. Keep up to date on all fixtures and results on our Twitter page. All our men’s and ladies adult teams are back training and new or returning players are always welcome. Just contact; pro.stbrigids. dublin@gaa.ie for info.

Thank you to everyone who supported the GAA Club Draw and to Jerry Nolan and Paddy Davey and all those who assisted in organising support.

Details of our 2019 Racenight to follow this week!

FOOTBALL: MALAHIDE CLUB OFF MARK IN AFL2

Fresh faced Syl’s go goal crazy to see off Kilmacud AFL DIVISION TWO St Sylvester’s 4-6 Kilmacud Crokes 1-13  sport@dublingazette.com

ST SYLVESTER’S began life under new manager Paul Clarke and selectors Keith Galvin and Seamas Hynes in four-star fashion as they saw off Kilmacud Crokes in AFL2 at Broomfield on Sunday.

The new management team handing debuts to Sean Daly and Dan Deneher while minor player Josh Bannon was also part of the panel as they gave youth their head.

Returning to senior action were Mark Finnerty, Mark Hazley and Pearse Gibney, giving the squad a fresh outlook for the campaign.

Playing with the wind in the first half, the Malahide side had some wayward shooting and failed to capitalise on some good possession and support play. Mark Finnerty’s goal showed some good anticipation to finish a hopeful ball in his direction to the net.

Otherwise, Syl’s failed

Ross Hazley in possession last Sunday in Broomfield. Picture: St Sylvester’s

to fully fire in the first half and would have been glad for near parity at half time.

Some of the substitutions in the second-half proved important with Dave Sexton and Eoghan Hamill prominent. Daniel Brennan’s work-rate off the ball and willingness to attack the defence while in possession offered Croke some different problems to the first half and testament

FIVE-STAR Knock sweep past Mearnog SEAMUS O’Carroll fired a hat

trick of goals as Castleknock got their AFL2 campaign off to a brilliant start with a 5-12 to 2-6 victory over Naomh Mearnog.

Ciaran Kilkenny and Ger McDermott also weighed in with the other goals. Tommy Corcoran impressed when deployed in the half-backs as did Ciaran Murphy in his first year out of minors. Rory Corcoran is pictured in possession.

Picture: Martin Doherty

to this was three more second half goals.

Finnerty once again finished his chance well and both Alex Wright’s goals showed excellent composure, vision and finishing power.

With the home-team four points up with less than five minutes to go, Crokes were offered a lifeline with a penalty that they dispatched to leave one between the teams.

However, the hosts

showed confidence and industry to finish strong and secure their first two points of the AFL 2 campaign.

With the likes of Fionn Carney, Conor Meaney, Jack and Glenn Hazley yet to return from injury and a focus on integrating youth players into their wider panel, the management team are hopeful to add to a solid pre-season block, laying the base for a promotion push.

21 February 2019 FINGAL  DUBLIN GAZETTE 31

FOOTBALL: SWORDS CLUB PUT IN COMPOSED WIN ON AFL1 OPENING DAY

FOOTBALL

Connolly key to Skerries downfall

Fingallians’ David Fagan attempts to stall Templeogue’s Luke O’Brien. Picture: Jim Power

Fins off to a flyer on return to top table AFL DIVISION ONE

Templeogue Synge Street Fingallians  JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

0-8 1-11

A COMPOSED and consistent Fingallians got the better of fellow top-tier newcomers Templeogue Synge Street in a slightly manic contest at Dolphin’s Park on the opening day of AFL1 season on Sunday.

Templeogue had announced grand plans to rejuvenate their Dolphin’s Park ground during the week, involving the selling of 15% of the venue to developers, and the reinvestment of the money received in improved facilities across the remaining 85%, a move that was the talk of the crowd.

When the game got underway, though, Fins had the better of the early minutes, carefully controlling possession around midfield. Oisin Lynch put them in front before Eoghan O’Gara leveled up on the break from Synge Street’s first attack.

Soon Synger were in front with both teams looking settled by their returning Dublin men – Paul Flynn in particular playing as a calming influence in the Fingallians midfield – in a fast-paced encounter.

Templeogue struggled at times to break out from the back, but their patience was rewarded with space at the other end, where Killian and Eoghan O’Gara looking consistently dangerous.

The latter’s morning ended quickly, though, when he was sent off for a shove only 15 minutes in with Synge Street leading 0-3 to 0-2 at the time.

The verdict was perhaps a little harsh, though it had little immediate effect with the hosts quickly building a three point lead.

There was frustration amongst the Templeogue staff, though, that Fins were being gifted cheap points from defensive turnovers. Four of Fingallians six points before halftime – enough to lead 0-6 to 0-5 – had come from similar scenarios.

Fingallians started to expand their lead early in the second half with Lynch in particular a constant threat, feeding on the through balls of Flynn and Derek Rodgers. The Swords side led by three when Synge Street had a solid goal chance, saved from a tight angle by goalkeeper Ian O’Reilly.

Synger did take advantage of a period of pressure to close the gap to a single point, with Flynn having moved up top for Fingallians, the reduced impact of the Swords’ side’s midfield immediately

apparent as they were briefly overrun.

Flynn had his own impact at the other end, of course, grabbing some smooth points from distance.

A skirmish saw two players booked, and straight off the back of it Dillon Staunton broke for Fingallians to grab a crucial goal on a solo break and put the Swords side well in charge with 15 remaining.

The game became bitty in the closing stages though Killian O’Gara’s class

Fingallians’ Oisin Lynch and Templeogue’s Sean Brew. Picture: Jim Power

for Templeogue was apparent and the 14-men finished strongly without ever really threatening to overturn the lead of a Fingallians side that saw a late red themselves.

With both sides newly back in AFL1, there is a sense that points from games with some of their collective Dublin contingent are likely to be crucial to the season’s ultimate outcome: for composed Fingallians, this is an important two points.

ST VINCENT’S produced a strong second-half display on Sunday to make a winning start to the defence of their AFL1 title.

On level terms with Skerries Harps at the midway point of their contest in Pairc Naomh Uinsionn, the Marino men turned on the style after the resumption to record a 2-15 to 0-14 triumph.

In a forward line that also included former county stars Tomas Quinn (Dublin) and Enda Varley (Mayo), Diarmuid Connolly proved to be a focal point for the hosts.

The five-time Celtic Cross winner kicked three points during the opening period as Vins looked to issue an early statement of intent for 2019. Nevertheless, Skerries were also keen to make an impression on their return to the top-flight.

Stephen Smith and Harry Dawson registered two points apiece in the early exchanges, before their northside rivals settled into a more familiar rhythm.

Varley rattled the net at the end of an incisive attack, only for Harps to develop further momentum at the opposite end.

This ensured that parity was restored in time for the interval (1-6 to 0-9) and the visitors briefly edged in front when the action resumed. Yet, following excellent approach work by Gavin Burke, Quinn added a second Vins goal on 36 minutes.

They found themselves in the driving seat as a result and with Connolly in fine form, they pushed on to eventually claim the spoils.