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THE LATEST NEWS & SPORT FROM THE FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL AREA
DublinGazette DECEMBER 12-18, 2019
IN THE VULTURES’ SIGHTS... rt of EXCLUSIVE: In the penultimate pa what our innovative series, we examine 2-13 happens as ‘Vulture Funds’ circle P1
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Gidey produces sensational run in Portugal to win European cross country medal in his debut for Ireland. SEE P30
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THE LATEST NEWS & SPORT FROM THE FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL AREA
€400k for Skerries to help boost tourism RACHEL D’ARCY
SKERRIES is set for a cash injection of €400,000 to help it to develop as a top destination for tourists. The seaside town is one of four in Dublin which has been earmarked for funding by Failte Ireland as part of its nationwide €15 million Destination Towns scheme. The money will be allocated through Fingal County Council, which played a key role in putting Skerries forward for selection. A cultural walking trail through the town is top of the agenda, which will showcase well-known
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heritage spots in the town and along its coastline. Deputy Darragh O’Brien (FF) said: “Increased visitor numbers will have a positive impact on local business and trade, so this is welcome news for everyone. “The funding will see special attention paid to the telling of the Martello Towers story and their significance to the coastline.” The first round of the funding is expected to be allocated in early 2020. In addition to the heritage trail, it will be used to enhance public spaces, streetscapes and markets. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
SHARING THE SEASON’S FUN: Nina, Jessie, Jen and Conor McIntyre were all smiles as they took in the sights of the colourful Blanchardstown Christmas Lights being switched on in Blanchardstown village recently. Picture: Simon Peare
GARDAI say t h ey h ave uncovered a sophisticated organised crime operation involving the forgery and sale of travel documents used by non-nationals to travel to Ireland. O f f i c e rs f ro m t h e National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) arrested a man and a woman, aged
45 and 22, in north county Dublin on Tuesday and seized a large amount of false travel d o c u m e n t s, phones, financial statements and cash. In a joint operation involving Spanish police, a third man, aged 47, was arrested last Thursday in connection with the SEE PAGE 4 scheme.
LOTTO A LUCKY family have won €1 million in an Ireland Only Euromillions raffle, thanks to a ticket bought at the Corporate Business Park in Blanchardstown. The family mum was delighted about the €5,000 she thought she’d won – but her daughter noticed they’d really hit the jackpot. SEE PAGE 5
4 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 12 December 2019
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CRIME: SOPHISTICATED OPERATION UNCOVERED
Three questioned as Gardai target forgers
Glory for FCC at local government awards
SYLVIA POWNALL
spownall@dublingazette.com
GARDAI say they have uncovered a sophisticated organised crime operation involving the forgery and sale of travel documents used by nonnationals to travel to Ireland. O f f i c e rs f ro m t h e National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) arrested a man and a woman, aged 45 and 22, in north county Dublin on Tuesday and seized a large amount of false travel documents, phones, financial statements and cash. In a joint operation involving Spanish police, a third man, aged 47, was arrested last Thursday
FASTNews
Operation Mombasa has seen Gardai team up with their foreign counterparts to tackle organised international crime targeting Ireland
in connection with the scheme and all three were detained for questioning at Blanchardstown Garda
Station. Gardai suspect they are members of a Georgian organised crime group that has been forging EU documents in Ireland and selling them to non-EU citizens seeking to gain entry to the Ireland and the UK. The Irish documents are distributed to a network across Europe using courier and postal services. It is not known if the documents were sold to people smugglers or individual migrants. A suspected member of the gang was arrested last year, sparking an investigation into the activities of two families from Georgia living in Dublin. It is the first time Gardai have confirmed details of the probe involving police forces from several countries focusing on criminal activities in Ireland, which officers have dubbed ‘Operation Mombasa’. A Garda spokesman said: “This criminal organisation, in the production and distribution of false documents, assisted non-European nationals [to] circumvent
immigration laws for the purpose of entering Ireland and the UK illegally. “Investigations have established that a large number of non-Europeans have attempted to travel into this jurisdiction utilising their false documents.” He added that a team of detectives had secured evidence from banks, money transfer services and parcel delivery services to establish the gang’s ‘modus operandi’. Breakthrough T h e b re a kt h ro u g h comes after An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he believed migrants travelling to Ireland from Georgia and Albania using false documents were behind the 60% increase in the numbers seeking asylum here. Tuesday’s arrests were the second major search operation to take place under Operation Mombasa. On October 30, Gardai carried out 13 searches of premises in a co-ordinated operation with police forces in several other EU states. A large amount of evidence was seized.
FINGAL County Council was named Local Authority of the Year at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards. The council had been nominated in 11 different categories and picked up two awards as Our Balbriggan was named Best Practice in Citizen Engagement, and the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival was named Festival of the Year. In accepting the award, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, said: “We all work together to make Fingal the best place to live, work, visit and do business in and it is extremely humbling to be recognised as the best council in Ireland, especially in the year that we celebrate our 25th anniversary.” Pictured are the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, and FCC’s chief executive, AnnMarie Farrelly, receiving the Local Authority of the Year award, that was presented by Siobhan Kinsella and Ian Talbot, both of Chambers Ireland, and Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government John Paul Phelan.
Suspended Funding set sentence for for works at taxi attacker 10 schools A MAN who racially abused and attacked a taxi driver has received a 20-month fully suspended sentence. Father-of-two Clive Mason (43), of The Close, Robswall, Malahide, presented himself to Gardai after footage of the assault began to circulate on social media and news websites. Mason pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm at Malahide Road, Donnycarney, on April 21. Footage taken from the taxi’s dash cam was played before the court. During the course of the taxi ride Mason yelled at the driver, asked him what his favourite position was, called him a n****r and punched him in the face. Mason has three previous convictions, including convictions for speeding. Judge Martin Nolan said while there being a video is modern, “attacking and being racist is as old as the hills”.
TEN north Fingal schools will undergo major improvement works next summer through government funding provided under the 2020 Summer Works Scheme. Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) said the works were a “vital investment” for the future education of primary and secondary students. Schools to receive funding include SN Na H-Aille, Naul (external environment); Scoil Naomh Mearnog, Portmarnock (life safety systems); St Patrick’s BNS, Donabate (life safety systems); St Margaret’s NS (external environment); SN Cholmcille, Swords (life safety systems); Mary Queen of Ireland, Toberburr (life safety systems). Also benefiting from the fund are Colaiste Choilm, Swords (life safety systems); Fingal Community College, Swords (life safety systems); Skerries Community College (life safety systems); and Donabate Community College (life safety systems).
12 December 2019 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 5
CONGRATS: EAGLE-EYED DAUGHTER’S TICKET CHECK TURNS ‘€5,000 WIN’ INTO ONE MILLION
Lucky family syndicate ‘take a nap’ after a €1m Lotto win SYLVIA POWNALL
“
I thought: ‘Lovely – I’m going to get a new kitchen out of this’. Then my daughter said: ‘Mam, I think you’ve won a million quid’.
A LUCKY family have told how they plan to catch up on some sleep after collecting their €1 million Euromillions prize from Lottery HQ. The Fingal syndicate became instant millionaires when they won the first ‘Ireland Only Raffle’ which was part of last Tuesday’s EuroMillions prize draw. They bought the ir life-changing winning ticket, with the code IHKM23791, in Texaco/ Centra store at the Corporate Business Park in Blanchardstown. Collecting the cheque, the delighted syndicate mum said: “It was about 10pm and I was checking the numbers from the EuroMillions draw online and saw that I had none
of them. “Then, as I always do to be doubly sure, I scanned the ticket using the National Lottery app, and it said I was a winner and I should contact the Lottery. “I went back online to check again and saw that I was a raffle winner. “I thought it was €5,000, where 10 Irish players win €5,000 raffle prize for
Anna Ivanova, Khama Chilala, luta Ansverga, Nicola Harmon and Clare McHugh – Texaco/Centra staff at the Corporate Business Park in Blanchardstown – celebrate having sold the winning ticket. Picture:Justin Farrelly/Mac Innes Photography
every EuroMillions draw, and I was jumping around the house. “I called my daughter who was only after walking up the stairs to bed
and she checked it. “I thought: ‘Lovely – I’m going to get a new kitchen out of this’. Then she said: ‘Mam, I think you’ve won a million quid’.
Christmas FM gig is a delight for Niamh
RADIO presenter Niamh Ni Chroinin (inset) is helping to spread some festive cheer over the airwaves this Christmas. The Portmarnock native is one of the many volunteers devoting time at the seasonal station Christmas FM, which began broadcasting on November 28 and continues right through the holiday season. Niamh works with Conradh na Gaeilge as manager of Raidio Ri-Ra and she also presents shows on RTE Raidio na Gaeltachta and on Spin 103.8 and Today FM. She revealed: “I’ve loved Christmas FM since it first launched so I’m very excited to be part of the team. There’s really no other station like it. Great music, great listeners, great team and great fun!” Niamh lists her favourite new
Christmas song as Bastille’s Can’t Fight This Feeling, while her all-time number-one is Chris De Burgh’s, A Spaceman Came Travelling.
Her top festive film is Home Alone, and she counts busking on Grafton Street on Christmas Eve as the best seasonal Dublin tradition. And her favourite Christmas food? “Turkey sandwiches, of course. And the endless chocolate lying around the house.” This year, Christmas FM is raising awareness and funds for Barretstown, with a target of €250,000 that will facilitate more than 850 days of life-changing programmes at the camp for seriously ill children. Since it first started broadcasting 12 years ago, Christmas FM has raised almost €2 million for a range of charities. Find out all the ways to listen over at https://christmasfm. com/listenin/.
“I didn’t sleep a wink that night – it’s just amazing to think we won the prize. “We’re going straight home to get some sleep
first, and then maybe we will celebrate and make a few plans on what we can do with our win.” In a second Ireland Only Raffle on Friday,
FASTNews
each of the 10 raffle winners in the Irish draw not only won the usual €5,000, but were also placed in an additional draw for €1 million.
€400k funding boost for Skerries tourism welcomed by Farrell CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) said the funding would help drive tourism locally as well as promoting the Fingal coastline to visitors. He said: “Failte Ireland research consistently shows that attractive towns and cities are key motivators for overseas holidaymakers coming FCC chief executive AnnMarie Farrelly to Ireland. congratulates Cllr O’Gorman “With this in mind, the new scheme will provide funding to Fingal County Council to enhance public spaces such as squares, streetscapes and markets in a way that will engage tourists. “This could include spaces for food and GREEN Party Cllr Roderic O’Gorman has been elected as chairperson of the Fingal Joint Polic- craft markets, areas for town centre events and public art displays, as well as orientation and ing Committee at its first meeting last week. signage to help visitors explore the town’s local Cllr O’Gorman represents the Castleknock heritage.” ward of Fingal County Council, is the Green It’s the second boost for Skerries in the space Party’s spokesperson on Justice, and is a candidate for Dublin West in the forthcoming general of two months after it was one of 11 towns chosen to be awarded autism-friendly status election. The committee comprises councillors, TDs, in October. As part of an initiative by national autism gardai and statutory bodies including the North charity AsIAm and SuperValu, a number of supDublin Drugs Task Force and Safer Blanchardports, including infrastructure, will be delivered stown along with community representatives to make Skerries more inclusive. from the Public Participation Network.
O’Gorman to head policing committee
6 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 12 December 2019
GALLERIES OF THE WEEK
Izy, Emily, Poppy, Orlaith and Fionn
Arthur and Alie Sheriden
Kayleigh and Nathan O’Reilly
Tessy, Laura, Gabrielle, Tessy, Mia and Casey. Pictures: Alison O’Hanlon
Bringing festive cheer to Fingal S
WORDS Castle Christmas Market returned last week. There were traders with an emphasis on local produce and crafts as well as lots of family fun including Santa Claus, kids Christmas cartoon cinema club and musical/magic shows.
Evangeline McNama and Gerry Loughran
Katie and Aoife Casserly with Caoimhe, Saorise and Lynn Burke
Fingal Mayor Cllr Eoghan O’Brien with Santa
Evan Hannrahan and Sophia Ballenger
12 December 2019 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 7
COURTS: DRIVER HAD NO RECOLLECTION OF HITTING POPULAR YOUNG MAN
FASTNews
Prosper Fingal signs contract for key works
PROSPER Fingal has signed the contract for building works at its development at The Obelisk on Strand Street in Skerries. The €1.3 million town centre project will provide a state-of-the-art day service for adults with intellectual disabilities serving the Skerries area. Not for profit group Prosper Fingal offers a range of services and supports to adults with intellectual disabilities, on behalf of the HSE. Howard Building Contractors Ltd are expected to begin works on site early in the New Year, with the project expected to be finished before the end of 2020.
Have a cuppa to support Old Borough NS THE PTA of the Old Borough National School in Swords has organised a coffee morning on Friday, December 13 as a fundraiser for a variety of projects in the school. Monies raised will support projects including music lessons, sports activities and remedial works in the school yard. All are welcome to come along and show their support.
Firefighter who had 16 drinks jailed over a fatal hit and run SYLVIA POWNALL
A FIREFIGHTER who had up to 16 drinks before he knocked down a young man and left him to die on the side of the road has been jailed for five and a half years. Callum Grimes (28), from Rush, was found unconscious with serious head injuries on the side of the road on December 27, 2016 and died in hospital seven months later. On Monday, Derek Keane (40), of The Cottage, Loughshinny, was sentenced over his death after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death and failing to offer assistance. At an earlier hearing last week, Callum’s father, Mark, wept as he told the court in a victim impact
statement how their family would never be the same after the loss of their “blue-eyed boy”. He told the court his wife Catherine was diagnosed with cancer while Callum was in a coma in Beaumont Hospital, and she started her treatment four days after he was buried. In a statement, the couple described popular musician Callum as “a shy boy who loved life”, adding: “We struggle in the name of all that’s decent to understand how you killed our son and left him on the side of the road.” His heartbroken dad revealed: “His mother and I watched as a strong, happy boy faded to a skeletal figure in front of our eyes.” Dublin Circuit Criminal
Court heard Keane had drunk between 12 and 15 pints of Guinness and a gin and tonic before taking his van home from the pub on the night. Callum had been walking home in the early hours after a night out in a pub with friends but there was evidence he was alert to traffic and not impaired by alcohol. Keane had no memory of the collision, or of driving home, but went to Gardai after he woke up, saw the damage to his van and heard there had been an incident on the road. Sentencing him, Judge Martin Nolan said the amount father-of-three Keane drank had rendered him “insensible” and incapable of having control of his vehicle. The court heard that a
The late Callum Grimes
bread delivery man found Callum lying on the roadside at 8.10am and he was still breathing, though his breath was laboured.
He said the 28-year-old was lying on his back with his runners placed neatly on the ground beside him. Callum’s parents said if
emergency services had been called in the immediate aftermath of the incident, their son would still be alive today.
Cllr O’Leary urges people to get flu jab FINE Gael Cllr Tom O’Leary is encouraging those at risk to get the flu vaccination this Winter. The jab is free for Medical Card holders, people on long-term illness benefit, pensioners and those with diabetes. Cllr O’Leary said: “It’s not too late to get the flu jab, at your GP, pharmacist or in some cases in work, where large companies bring the service into the place of work.” Up to 500 people in Ireland die from flu each Winter, most of them elderly. Those at risk need to get the vaccine every season as the virus mutates year on year.
The community-minded Flemington and Whitestown winners are pictured together, with the photograph also including the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien; Fingal County Council’s (FCC) chief executive, AnnMarie Farrelly, and FCC Community Development staff
Community groups lauded for efforts TWO Fingal groups were recognised for their community work at the annual Pride of Place Awards in Kilkenny last week. Flemington in Balbriggan was awarded Best Urban Ne ighb ourhood, a nd the residents of the Whitestown estate, Dublin 15 were runners up in the Best Housing Estate
category. The neighbourhood of Flemington is one of the fastest-growing new communities in Ireland and the new community centre is the neighbourhood hub where new clubs and groups have been established. The judges were highly impressed with the rich variety of active clubs and saw
for themselves the truly pioneering efforts to reach out to everyone in the community. Whitestown group has recently embarked on an ambitious community arboretum project to remember deceased members of the local community within the estate, and was recognised for its hard work and dedication to the local area.
Margaret Geraghty, Fingal County Council’s director of housing and community, praised the achievement of both voluntary organisations and said the awards were “a testament” to the work of the Fingal Community Development team. Pride of Place was initiated 18 years ago though a co-oper-
ation Ireland programme to acknowledge the invaluable work undertaken by volunteers and those involved in local community development. It has grown into the largest competition recognising community development achievements on the island of Ireland, attracting more than 900 entries this year.
8 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 12 December 2019
FASTNews Santa-stic local response to Malahide Lions’ events MALAHIDE Lions Club is extending a big ‘thank you’ to all who supported its twoday church gate collection to fund the annual seniors’ Christmas party. The party took place on Saturday, November 30 in the Grand Hotel and was an entertaining fun evening enjoyed by all. On Sunday, November 24, Malahide Lions were invited by Malahide Chamber to take part in the Santa parade. The Lions were supported by Swords Lions and Mala-
hide Classic Cars. The atmosphere was electric and Santa didn’t disappoint. The Christmas Food Appeal was held on December 5, 6 and 7, and the club members are indebted to the good people of Malahide, as they are able to help their needy neighbours. The first event in February is the Grand Tour Quiz 2020. To learn more about the Lions, see www.malahidelions.com, or see their social media accounts on Facebook or Twitter.
CULTURE: GREAT EVENTS AHEAD AT HIT ARTS HUB
€100k fund boost set for Fingal sport FINGAL Sports Partnership is to get funding of €100,000 as part of a nationwide investment package of €4.2 million in Dormant Accounts Funding. The investment will be administered by Sport Ireland and will aim to engage with communities across the country, focusing on people with disabilities, people who are educationally disadvantaged and from disadvantaged communities. The FSP allocation includes further funding for the community sports and physical activity hubs in Tyrrelstown/Mullhuddart and Balbriggan as well as the youth leadership programme.
Fun for everyone at Draiocht next year DRAIOCHT in Blanchardstown will fling open its doors in the New Year with a staggering 100-plus events to choose from in Spring 2020. The line-up includes comedy, music, theatre and movies with a full programme for families and young children, starting with Robin Hood by Coolmine Panto Group. Panto season starts on January 4 with 17 funfilled shows as Sir Robin of Locksley and his mother, Lady Rose Bud, draw swords and arrows with the money-grabbing Sheriff of Nothingdoing, Sir Guy Sterling. Fun and laughter are guaranteed with Robin’s Merry Men, Friar Tuck and his Snoring Monks and the Singing Nuns of Mirth. There will also be a ‘relaxed performance’ on Wednesday, January 8 at 7pm, minus any sudden noises or bangs, with restricted capacity, the ability to move around, softer and brighter lighting and music at a suitable level.
This colourful character is just one of the panto stars ready to delight audiences at Draiocht
February sees the return of Jon Kenny and Mary McEvoy in John B Keane’s The Matchmaker, while Seamus O’Rourke brings his nostalgic production, Padraig Pott’s Guide to Walking, to the main auditorium on March 6. Deirdre Kinahan’s play, Halcyon Days, which centres on the relationship between patient and carer in a nursing home, will also come to Draiocht in March.
The theatre will host Foster & Allen and The Celtic Tenors for the first time, as well as a return of the brilliant production The Bee Gees Story – Nights on Broadway on, Friday January 24 and Saturday, January 25. Stand-up comedy comes courtesy of Neil Delamere’s latest show, End of Watch, on Valentine’s Day, with Baz Ashmawy bringing his tour of Family Matters and
The Laughter Lounge Live Tour in April. From January, you’ll be able to pick up a free children’s gallery guide to explore Draiocht’s exhibitions and public spaces. The guide was designed by a local TU Dublin Blanchardstown student, and comes complete with paper, clipboards, colouring pencils and a cushion. Saturday, January 11 is the first of two free family art days at the centre, with the second on January 25. Saturday, February 15 sees a sensory-friendly family screening of the classic Disney Pixar animation, Monsters Inc, where the volume and lights will be lowered. There is also plenty on the visual arts horizon with Dublin 15 artist Ann Ensor bringing an immersive installation exploring the aesthetic properties of kelp seaweed. The project space runs until Saturday, February 29, and you can see a full list of details in Draiocht’s season brochure or online at www.draiocht.ie.
Science is child’s play for talented trio AN INNOVATIVE project by a group of Balbriggan students has won a top award at SciFest 2019. The Fifth Year students from Loreto Secondary School took home the Berlin Long Night of Science Award for their research into biodegradable clothing. Eva Connolly, Ella
Shanahan and Willemijn Bosschaert investigated how to effectively make environmentally-friendly fabric by dissolving a blend of sodium alginate and polylactic acid and electrospinning the solution into a fibre. The students then tested tensile strength, water absorption and perme-
ability with air and water and thermal stability on the tissue to assess its suitability for clothing. More than 10,000 students nationwide took part in the competition and the trio were among 77 students who went on to exhibit 41 projects at the national final. Picture: Keith Arkins
12 December 2019 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 9
FSAI ORDER IN WESTMANSTOWN
Cafe closed after dead mice found in kitchen traps SYLVIA POWNALL
An Earley Christmas prize for artist THREE Fingal students are among 11 winners of the Dublin Bus annual art competition who will have their artworks featured on a doubledecker bus wrap. Fourth year student Rebecca Earley (pictured) from fourth class at
Holy Family Senior National School in Swords was chosen by judges along with Aoife McCrave from Scoil Mhuire SNS in Blakestown and Una Ibourk, also from Holy Family SNS in Swords. The annual art competition
has been running since 2002 and promotes the concept of respecting public transport. A new calendar is produced annually and is available from the Dublin Bus HQ in O’Connell Street. Picture: Maxwell Photography
A CAFE in Westmanstown was shut down after inspectors found dead mice in traps in both the ground floor and first floor kitchens. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) served a closure order on Westmanstown Sports Centre on November 26, which was lifted on November 28. The order was served on the executive committee of the Garda Recreation Club after an inspection found the premises failed to meet pest control standards. In its report, the FSAI inspector noted: “Dead mouse in trap in ground floor kitchen. Dead mouse
in mouse trap in first floor kitchen. Mouse droppings evident in first floor kitchen and bar area. “Adequate procedures are not in place to control pests. The food premises is not in a clean condition.” Inspectors recommended a number of measures, including protecting food against contamination at every stage of preparation and production. Their ruling also recommended the “food premises to be kept clean” and changes to the layout to facilitate good food hygiene practices. A follow-up visit from the FSAI two days after the premises was closed showed standards were
being met and the cafe/ restaurant re-opened. The FSAI served a record 21 closure orders and two prohibition orders nationwide during November, eight of them in Dublin. FSAI chief executive Pamela Byrne condemned the high number of food businesses issued with enforcement orders in the space of a single month. She said: “A total of 23 enforcement orders over a one-month period is totally unacceptable. “The presence of rodents and other pests presents a grave and immediate danger to consumers’ health and food businesses must put in place more robust pest control systems.”
10 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 12 December 2019
GALLERIES OF THE WEEK
Rebecca Kelly, Kerry Redmond, Niamh Maher, Amy Flannagan, Aoibhinn Burke, Jessica Carol and Aisling Farrell. Pictures: Alison O’Hanlon
Claire Scully and Laura Kelly
Shauna, Aisling, Matthew and Ciara Farrell
Sean Shanley, George Burke, Anthony Doyle and Fiona Power
Neio Gilbride, Daniel Stephens and Billy Healy
Erin Go Bragh GAA end of season ball Danny and Rosie Doohan
Fred Arnao and Erica Najera
T
HE Erin Go Bragh End of Season Ball and Club Awards Night took place last week in Castleknock Hotel. Guests enjoyed a welcome drink on arrival before a delicious 3-course meal. Live entertainment was provided by Marvin and the Grooves followed by a live dj. There was also a raffle on the night with great prizes.
12 December 2019 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 11
GALLERIES OF THE WEEK
Judy McEntee, director of nursing (right) with nurses celebrating 40 years of nursing, having commenced their studies in 1979
Senator James Reilly, Tanaiste Simon Coveney, Fingal Dublin Chamber president Jock Jordan and Anthony Cooney, chief executive, Fingal Dublin Chamber. Pictures: Alison O’Hanlon
Ewelina Tabaszewska, Wendy Mc Guinness, Lauren Doyle, Aisling Smyth, Colin White , Jade Gannon, Roisin Mallee, Aoife Kearns, Lucy Towers and Karen Bugler
Looking to the future for Fingal’s businesses T
ANAISTE Simon Coveney was the special guest of honour at a recent Dublin Fingal Chamber gathering at the Radisson Blue Hotel Dublin Airport, where leaders and representatives from a wide range of Fingal businesses had
Lucy Towers and Colin White with Fr Dan Joe
gathered for the business briefing. The business networking event was a chance to discuss a wide range of business issues, with guests particularly keen to hear Deputy Coveney’s thoughts on future business relationships with Britain in light
of current uncertainties, with agriculture, aviation and freight sectors facing unique challenges. The event was welcomed as a great way to help address such concerns, as well as for networking with peers.
The Student Nurse Of the Year award was presented to Wendy McGuinness by Judy McEntee, director of nursing.
Mark Courtney and Deirdre Kane
Helen McNamara and Terry McCoy
Roisin Mallee with her parents, Celia and Ray
Nurses graduate over at Connolly T
HERE were great smiles all round at Connolly Hospital recently as nurses graduated in style, having worked and studied long and hard for the big day. The dedicated nurses were congratulated on their outstanding dedication and selfless dedication to helping others, with Judy McEntee, director of nursing, paying tribute to the next generation of nurses doing their best to care for patients.
Jacqueline and Morgan McStay
Lisa Slevin and Brendan Monaghan
12 DUBLIN GAZETTE 12 December 2019
DUBLIN GAZETTE EXCLUSIVE EXPOSE ON VULTURE FUNDS: PART 6 OF 7
All you ever need to know for Part 2 of 3 such articles drafted for us by a panel of legal and debt advocacy experts
More about the hearing in court
START by accepting that the Judge is not on the side of the Plaintiff’s barrister. That’s not how the system works. If you’ve applied to the Legal Aid Centre for legal aid (you didn’t? why not?) ask the Court to postpone the Hearing until you receive a reply. You might think you’ve got a good point about non-compliance with some Court rule, but you probably haven’t. Because if you’re there, you’ve got all the other side’s documents, the case can go on straightaway (unless the Mediation Act hasn’t been complied with). If you’ve only just received new documents from them, ask for an Adjournment to prepare a reply. If you’re offered a three-month Adjournment to consult a Personal Insolvency Practitioner (PIP) (the
Court is supposed to offer this) take it, and consult a PIP. Then file an Affidavit setting out what he/she told you. Exhibit correspondence. Did the Plaintiff’s barrister read out your Affidavits? All of them? That’s his or her job (He’s not giving evidence!). But what if the Judge says “I’ve read your Affidavits,” and you doubt it? Be polite; ask whether the Judge has any questions you can help with. Don’t feel you have to make a speech without notes. Write it out beforehand if you want to. If the Judge interrupts you, say (politely) that you haven’t finished. Lost the case? Appeal? (Why not?) Ask for a “Stay” pending Appeal. Don’t miss the deadline (10 days, starting there and then).
Make an offer; Make two! EXAMPLE: you can’t go far wrong if you follow the Insolvency model. But call this one: THE PSA: PERSONAL SOLVENCY ARRANGEMENT Over the next six years, you can pay the Vulture Fund interest and principal at the rate a retail bank would fix for a 25-year mortgage
securing a loan amount in the sum paid to the original Lender to buy your loan. (Ask the Judge to ask the Vulture Fund how much they paid, that’s the Vulture Fund’s “investment”). And after six years? Renegotiate. Nothings off the table. More sample “Offers” next week!
Fight or Deal? IT’S not an “either, or”: you can do both. Good lawyers always come prepared for both. And remember: you can win! The best deals are struck after a fair fight. If you propose a deal it will be “without prejudice” to your fight arguments. WRITE or SPEAK? Slightly more complicated. Don’t go to Court without an Affidavit (or Affidavits). Just the bare facts, no law. You get your chance to debate the law on your feet in Court. So the answer to the question “write or speak?” is you must do both. Do your best. (TIP: List your fight points under the heading “Defence” and your deal proposals under the head-
ing “Proportionality”).
DEFENCES OF THE LEGAL VARIETY
The Courts are tired of hearing arguments about technical or paperwork issues. But they still may be valid points. You do not lose the new “Boxer’s Proportionality” option by arguing these legal defences, such as in regards to the Plaintiff’s Title, the Jurisdiction of the Court, the Compliance with CCMA/MARP (including progressing a Mortgage-to-Rent solution) and, of course, whether any of the Terms of the Original Loan Facility were “unfair” - spell it out: The FACTS go in the Affidavit(s).
Where equities are equal, the law prevails DON’T forget this legal principle. Were You or Are You a “strategic defaulter?” The law presumes that you are. You have to explain if that is not the case. Is the Vulture Fund evicting you to get a windfall (probably untaxable)? Legal possibly, but certainly not ethical! Prove that you’re not a strategic defaulter (FACTS: why you stopped paying; LAW: social force majeure) and equities are not equal. You’ve a headstart when it comes to “proportionality.”
made to you at the time. They remain enforceable (even if not in writing). The Vulture Fund cannot ignore them. But be honest with the Court - don’t make it up. If you genuinely think the Fund’s behaviour is not as you expected the previous Lender to act, say so. (The facts go in the Affidavit(s)) Harassed? Treated like a nobody? Problems talking to the “credit servicers”? Tell your story! (The facts go in the Affidavit(s)) MORE UNETHICAL BEHAVIOUR The Court will want answers from them. Already restructured with the previous Lender? Send emails and “exhibit” hard copies. Warehousing capitalised arrears “subject to Their behaviour is no longer “irrelevant” when it review“ or some such arrangement? comes to Proportionality. Good for you. You can enjoy the benefits of all of (The facts go in the Affidavit(s)) the assurances, undertakings and representations
JUDGE MARY LAFFOY has said that a Possession Order should only be made “where the Application was made bone fide with a view to realising a Plaintiff’s security.” - (EBS v Gillepsie 2012) Ask the Judge to ask the Vulture Fund how many unexecuted Possession Orders (or empty houses) they have on their files. These were Orders given on the strength of the Plaintiff’s undertaking to sell the houses. But they haven’t. Aren’t these Orders now void? Was the Court deceived?
12 December 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13
dealing with vulture funds
Boxer Moran’s proportionality test A NEW box to be ticked! From this year, judges have to factor “proportionality” into repossession decisions. This is because Independent T.D. Boxer Moran finally convinced the Government to pass his Bill amending the 2009 Act to make this major change in the law. Problem is: there’s no user’s manual for the judges. Working out what’s proportionate and what’s disproportionate is going to be a work in progress for some time to come, and your ideas are as valid as the next person’s. When you set out to achieve some aim, “X”, and you find that unavoidably you cannot avoid collateral damage to “Y”, you should minimise that side effect by measured and “proportionate” action. “X” and “Y” cannot co-exist. “Y” must give way, but only to the extent necessary to give effect to “X”. If the law requires a “proportionate” outcome, that’s not an open discretion, it’s actually calculable.
achieve “X” but be less damaging to “Y”. This balancing exercise is well known in Constitutional Law, for example in the area of compulsory purchase which eats into “Y”, the right to private property, in the interests of “X”, the Common Good. Or it may be that in Boxer’s Bill the “X” is the (ECHR Article 8) Human Rights of the Person and his dependants (which, of course, they already have since 2003). Or perhaps “X” includes BOTH the societal objective of keeping people in their homes, AND their individual Article 8 Human Right for the dignity of the individual. And what is the Vulture Fund’s “Y”? Its demand is simple: it is to recover its money. But the Fund has no entitlement to a (probably untaxed) windfall. And it must behave with due regard to Corporate Social Responsibility. In a proportionate outcome, the Vulture Fund can have no expectation of a green light for eviction and supernormal Here’s the thing: Boxer’s Bill doesn’t profits. actually say what “X” and “Y” are ! The But, that said, here is the most courts have to work that out by statutory important argument about interference interpretation techniques. with the rights of secured lenders and Perhaps “X” is the borrower staying the economic role played by rigorous in his home. The borrower will make an enforceability of mortgage contracts offer - his plan for “X” - having regard to underpinning the solvency of the bankall his circumstances. ing system. The court has to consider whether The argument is that once the bank this offer cuts into the Vulture Fund’s has sold the loans to the vulture fund rights, “Y”, to a disproportionate extent there is no such need to underpin the and whether a different solution might solvency of the Vulture Funds!
UNFAIR CONTRACT TERMS?
No point in questioning the fairness of terms in your facility/mortgage deed Ts and Cs without being specific. Which terms? Why unfair? But on the other hand, if you are now in a restructured facility, that’s a new contract. Were the new terms fair? Did you promise more than you could afford? Were you at that point a “vulnerable” consumer? Rebut the presumption against “non-est factum” (no informed intention to contract) by citing EU Law (the “Unfair Commercial Practices Directive” Article 5 or the proposed “Common European Sales Law” Article 51). And did the Mortgagee comply with Directive 2014/17/EU “Consumer Mortgage Credit Agreements” (now in force in Ireland under S.I. 142 of 2016) at the time of the Loan Restructure Agreement?
THE LAW MAY BE ON YOUR SIDE!
You have forfeited your home by not paying the mortgage, but you are not alone in this predicament. All societies which use credit markets to sustain standards of living also have safety nets to allow for a fresh start after credit default. It’s a re-set button: the original lender sees its investment written down; the borrower must either lose his altogether or start afresh on a “can pay, will pay” basis. Until Boxer’s Bill was enacted in August, we had no re-set button set out in the Law. Now the button (marked “Proportionality”) must be used by any Court dealing with Repossession cases. But the Court hasn’t been instructed as to what factors it must consider: it’s a discretion. Your case will be one of thousands. Over time a picture will emerge. When a Court has an “unfettered” discretion, it doesn’t mean it controls the dialogue. It’s open to you to put forward your ideas and proposals. You must give the Court the facts it should consider, in your view. You can’t be denied that. But please be realistic.
THE EXTENDED REDEMPTION OPTION (“ERO”) THINK ten years. Affordable monthly payments are not credited to your mortgage loan account, but instead held in escrow, and at the end of that period the total paid is returned to you as your deposit when you go to get a mortgage from a bank to buy back (“redeem”) the house at it’s market value. The deposit lump sum “rests in your account” briefly, and is then paid again to the vulture fund as part of a “full and final” redemption. (You can assign your right to redeem at this point.) Residual arrears (if any) on the mortgage account are written off. The ten year deposit period will be cut short if you default at any point, and your savings will be forfeit.
14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 12 December 2019
DUBLIN BUSINESS WOMEN Our new, monthly insight into Dublin’s most successful women
DBW DUBLIN BUSINESS
WOMEN
Nutrition and sport go hand in hand with Kate’s focus High-performance consultancy feeds the body and mind with a focused and practical approach to each individual KATE MCDAID is what can truly be called ‘a true sports person’. She is a health and performance nutritionist who runs a high-performance nutrition consultancy called NutriKate which is based in Deansgrange, which she founded in 2017. She works closely with individuals, highperforming teams and corporations to help them achieve their health and performance goals. Kate is also the performance nutritionist for the Dublin Senior Ladies, and the Longford Senior Men’s football team, and has been for the past two seasons. She works with people on a one-to-one basis to improve their health, performance and/or body
composition (such as weight loss or muscle gain), as well as delivering nutrition seminars, workshops and drop-in clinics for corporate entities.
Kate also plays basketball for Trinity Meteors at the National League level, and has played and captained the Irish basketball team. To demonstrate her allround skills as a sports person, she recently took up Gaelic football with Kilmacud Crokes, with whom she plays over the
DBW DUBLIN BUSINESS
WOMEN
summer months. She completed an MSc in Sport and Exercise Nutrition at Loughborough University after she studied Food Science for four years at UCD. As well as working tirelessly with the Longford men’s footballers and the Dublin ladies team, and keeping the flag of her professional nutrition consultancy, NutriKate, flying high, Kate spends the vast majority of her time getting her athletes, and other clients, ready for battle. Her philosophy is simple, yet effective: correct nutrition practices should be individual, easy, attainable and affordable. She strives to cut through the nonsense and deliver advice and content that holds truth, practicality and relevance.
Health and performance nutritionist, and the founder of NutriKate, Kate McDaid
“
We believe that the correct nutrition practices should be easy, attainable and affordable, and that’s exactly what I’ve created with the services we provide at NutriKate Having captained and competed at international and province level in basketball, the importance of nutrition has long been apparent to the health and performance nutritionist. The values that sport
embedded in Kate’s life – such as goal-setting, empowerment, ambition, determination and hard work – perfectly complement the values and targets that can be achieved through a ppropriate nutrition and well-being
practices. Similar to how no two sporting careers are the same, nutrition and the mantra that underpins NutriKate ensures that advice provided to Kate’s clients are bespoke and specific to each individu-
al and their needs. These values are something Kate looks to incorporate into the work she currently does as Head of Performance Nutrition with both of the sports teams that she’s involved with.
ARE YOU A SUCCESSFUL DUBLIN BUSINESS WOMAN? EACH month, DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS are focusing on the promotion of Dublin Business Women. We will be highlighting the vast talent that is Dublin Business Women. We will be talking to YOU about YOUR journey, where you are
in your business and about your plans. We’ll focus on what have been your obstacles, how you overcame them, and why you went into business and where you see yourself going. Employees who are working for companies will also be promoted.
We want to hear YOUR story. If you or any advertiser would like to be involved with this new DBW concept, and to be part of a sponsorship option, please contact Liz Ferris at her email below.
Commercial Director: Liz Ferris • lferris@dublingazette.com • 01 601 0240
12 December 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15
16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 12 December 2019
DUBLIN
STYLE P19
MAGAZINE MUSIC P21
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE STEVE MCQUEEN TO LOVE FORD’S MUSTANG BULLITT P20
LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF THE NEWS AND EVENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND COUNTY
‘Frozen 2’ was a cool hit with fans
Picture: Fintan Clarke
THERE were great smiles all round at the Savoy Cinema in the city centre recently when St Michael’s House held its annual Christmas matinee. There was great excitement over this year’s film – Frozen 2 – which was a huge hit with the excited audience.
As one of Ireland’s largest providers of community based services for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, St Michael’s House staff were joined by a team of volunteers from Fujitsu, with more than 500 children and adults enjoying the private screening.
Pictured are (back) Tony O’Malley, chief executive, Fujitsu; Frozen 2 characters Elsa and Olaf; (front) St Michael’s House service users from Dublin, Tonto Tumenbayar (10), Katie Flynn (11) and Dionne McGarry (11); bookended by Aoife Moore and Deborah Wiseman.
12 December 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17
18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 12 December 2019
DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS I N F O R M AT I O N
COOL AND QUIRKY THINGS
BITS & BOBS
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
GUINNESS have teamed up with An Post to help spread some Christmas cheer, with an initiative not only encouraging people to reach out to their loved ones, but to help support ALONE’s work with older citizens. Special Guinness postcard beermats (available with the purchase of a Guinness) invite patrons to send a postcard from more than 100 pubs across the country, including Toners and Bonobo in Dublin, with Guinness making a donation to help support ALONE with each postcard sent.
C O N TA C T S Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@dublingazette.com Commercial Director: Liz Ferris lferris@dublingazette.com Group Editor: Patrick Finnegan pfinnegan@dublingazette.com Deputy Group Editor & Travel Editor: Shane Dillon sdillon@dublingazette.com Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile jmaile@dublingazette.com Picture Editor: Alison O’Hanlon picturedesk@dublingazette.com Online & Style Editor: Rachel D’Arcy rdarcy@dublingazette.com Advertising Sales:
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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.
Police arrest a drunk who’d skipped work to rob own workplace POLICE in Georgia say a man who called out of his shift a local restaurant because he was “intoxicated,” showed up a couple of hours later and demanded money while holding a co-worker at gun-point. The Gainesville Times reports Kentarias Gowans (20) is charged with offenses including aggravated assault. Police investigator Todd Templeton says Gowans called the restaurant on Thanksgiving, saying he would not be able to make it to work – but later that night, he held the establishment up at gunpoint. Police say responding officers arrived to see employees running from the business, which had customers at the time. Police say an apparently still intoxicated Gowans briefly raised the gun at officers before dropping it. He was arrested after a brief struggle during which a stun gun was used.
Not the best present for a baby: a rifle
Yoda-n’t want to tweet mean things about him
A CANADIAN man was recently put in ‘Twitter jail’ for wishing that current pop culture sensation, Baby Yoda, would die a painful death. Will Sloan, a podcaster from Canada, jokingly tweeted : “I actually hope [Baby Yoda, above] dies painfully.” Within 20 minutes, the podcaster said Twitter notified him that he violated their rules against abuse and harassment. Sloan told CTVNews.ca that his temporary account lock-down – where he couldn’t post or favourite tweets for a week – was like being in ‘Twitter jail’. He also told CTVNews that he doesn’t plan to wish pain on Baby Yoda again. but that he’ll take other fictional characters “[on] a case-by-case basis”.
TOYS, walkers, clothes, semi-automatic rifles – wait, what? That’s exactly what the father-to-be thought when he opened a gift at a baby shower in Florida last week. Veronica Alvarez-Rodriguez and her husband were on their way to a shower last week when they popped into a Florida Goodwill shop. Alvarez-Rodriguez found an unopened and seemingly brand-new bouncer for $9.99. ’’ It was like the perfect gift for the baby shower,” she said. However, when the father-to-be opened the gift, he found a loaded semi-automatic rifle. Shocked, the couple rang Crestview Police Department, and although the man was initially allowed to keep the weapon, the department asked him to hand it in the next day. It is still not clear how the gun got into the box, and Goodwill would not comment on the matter.
DOG OF THE WEEK DUBLIN Gazette Newspapers has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for lost and abandoned dogs. This week’s dog of the week is Maura, a gentle four-year-old female Jack Russel Terrier that is looking for a patient, caring family that will give her time and space to settle into her new home. As Maura is very timid, she is looking for a fam-
ily to befriend her in our Rehoming Centre before she makes the big move to her new home. Her ideal home would be quiet, with a family who have time to help her grow in confidence. At the moment she is finding life much easier to cope with when she has a doggie pal, but once she gets to know you, she wants all your attention. If you have room in
your heart and home for Maura 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.)
maura
12 December 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19
FRESH IDEAS FOR YOUR HOME AND WARDROBE
GLITZ AND GLAM
HOME & STYLE
New Benetton concession opens in Arnotts this month UNITED COLORS OF BENETTON have opened a brand new in-store concession at Arnotts, one of the newest additions to the ever expanding womenswear department, just in time for Christmas. The new concession showcases United Colors of Benetton’s latest collection, which draws on the brand’s ultra-bright colour palette and features well-known cartoon characters including Snoopy and Mickey Mouse. Catherine McDonagh, District Manager Ireland at Benetton Group, said: “Arnotts is Dublin’s most famous, historic and well-regarded department store – and we’re delighted to launch this concession and continue to build our presence
across the country. Customers can look forward to the full United Colors of Benetton fashion experience in one of the best shopping destinations in Dublin city centre.” Audrey Owens, Business Development Director at Arnotts said: “The womenswear offering at Arnotts aims to meet the demands of the modern Irish woman of every age and we will continue to do this with the newest addition of United Colors of Benetton. “The eco-friendly ethos of the brand is an element we very much welcome, with their journey towards 100% sustainability by 2025 being something we will support.”
Master your look with this new palette
Molly-Mae jumpsuit, €85, Pretty Little Thing; Velvet Bardot Dress €77.50, Simply Be; Molly-Mae Emerald Green wide leg trouser. €35, Emerald Green Satin Corset Blazer, €58, Pretty Little Thing; Velvet Maxi Dress €85, Simply Be
Rachel D’Arcy, Style Editor THERE’S TONS of new styles and pieces on the market in the run up to Christmas. With all kinds of events on the cards for people over the next fortnight, it’s clear that there will be three massive contenders this party season sequins and glitter make an appearance in a big way, both for December 25 and New Years Eve, as
well as velvet having a heavy appearance in styles across the high street. Satin is also a huge player in the style stakes this festive season, proving a comfortable and wearable fabric that also appears luxurious, too. We’ve taken some of our top picks from Simply Be and PrettyLittleThing, all of which are available now on SimplyBe.ie and PrettyLittleThing.ie – the perfect excuse for some online shopping!
beauty review
’Tis the season for pine Jessica Maile
features plant extracts including rose-
I LOVE this time of year! The Christmas
mary, black tea and sea salt with a scent
decorations, hot chocolate and the
that can’t help but make you happy. I
search for the best gifts for loved ones.
highly recommend!
But it’s also a time to treat yourself, too!
Stone Pine Sea Salt Cleansing Gel
So in the spirit of the season, I decided
200ml is available from Dr Hauschka
that treat would be Dr Hauschka’s Stone
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This soothing clear gel is ideal for my extremely early cleansing routine. It is
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stockist, log onto www.drh.ie
FOLLOWING ON from original BPerfect Cosmetics x LMD Master Palette back in 2017, the company have just launched the LMD Remastered palette in time for Christmas. The original collaboration with expert make-up artist Louise McDonnell was one of BPerfect’s most popular collections to date, so hopes are high for the new palette. The LMD Remastered Palette is versatile,
featuring 15 face and eye powders perfect for sculpting, highlighting and blush. It features colours from the original palette that are more pigmented than before, and four fabulous new shades to match. Louise McDonnell said: “I designed this palette to be a go-to daily make-up essential, that would have a place in everyone’s cosmetics bag. The beauty of the shades I have selected, is that they are so versatile, meaning they can be used
A spellbinding new collection from Pandora PANDORA HAVE launched their new collaboration, inspired by the iconic Harry Potter films. The capsule collection is comprised of 12 hand-finished products, all inspired by Harry and his wizarding adventures at Hogwards. Harry and his two best friends, Ron and
Hermione, are brought to life as sterling silver charms, while other recognisable symbols from both the books and movies appear throughout the collection, including the famous Golden snitch. The collection is available online at Pandora.net, or in Pandora stores across Dublin.
20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 12 December 2019
MOTORS
WHAT’S NEW IN THE WORLD OF TRANSPORT
Straight to the top with a
Bullitt
Once upon a time, box-shaped cars ruled the roost in motoring – how things have changed
The how and why we’ve drifted away from box shapes to ‘curvier’ vehicles DECLAN GLYNN
if you can afford it, Ford’s new limited edition Mustang Bullitt is set to be just as much of a classic in years to come as the film it pays homage to – what a beauty!
DECLAN GLYNN
THE multi award-winning 1968 cops and robbers film, Bullitt, is noted for its car chase scene through the streets of San Francisco, and is regarded as one of the most influential car chases in movie history. Now, more than half a century later, Ford are paying homage to the iconic film, with a limitededition Mustang Bullitt, which is guaranteed to be a future classic. Finished in stunning Dark Highland Green metallic paint, this is a proper old-skool muscle car in every way. The magnificent 5.0litre V8 petrol engine in the Mustang Bullitt has been allowed to breathe much
more freely thanks to a huge new air filter, bigger throttle bodies, and an allnew exhaust. T h i s re s u l t s i n a 14bhp hike in power (to 453bhp/460PS), plus a thumping 529Nm of torque. But, the Bullitt’s V8 engine feels and sounds very different to anything we have experienced from Ford in the past, and is a genuine masterpiece of mechanical engineering. Taking just 4.6 seconds to sprint from 0-100km/h, the naturally-aspirated engine in the Mustang Bullitt is capable of reaching a limited top speed of 263km/h (where permitted). A standard six-speed manual gearbox (complete
with a white cue ball gear knob) features a new auto-blip on downshifts, thereby eliminating the need to master the art of ‘heel and toe’ footwork, because the electronics take care of that instead. My Fo rd Mu s ta n g Bullitt test car attracted a huge amount of admiring glances no matter where I drove, while the terrific sound coming from the car’s engine and exhaust really set pulses racing. The front grille of the Bullitt is devoid of any badging, leading to a level of intrigue, as fellow motorists wonder what brand of performance car is behind them, as they look in their car’s rear-view mirror. On the road, the Bullitt
feels unsurprisingly solid, while the slick manual gearbox is extremely well suited to the Bullitt’s magnificent engine. However, the best aspect about the Bullitt on the move is what it sounds like, especially when you reach the final 2,000rpm of the rev range. The engine feels a lot sharper than the regular V8 – producing a monster
soundtrack to go with it. Large Brembo brake calipers ensure that the Bullitt stops as effectively as it goes, while the car’s chassis feels well damped, and controlled, on every road surface. While the Ford Mustang is priced from €49,896 (ex-works), the limitededition Mustang Bullitt is priced from €73,092 (ex-works).
Renault presents a ‘Popemobile’ to Francis CAR manufacturer Groupe Renault has given as a gift a Dacia Duster 4x4 to his Holiness, Pope Francis, specially designed for the mobility needs of the Pope. The vehicle was delivered by Christophe Dridi, managing director of Groupe Renault Romania, and chief executive of Automobile Dacia SA; and by Xavier Martinet, general manager of Groupe Renault Italy, during a visit to the Pope’s residence in The Vatican.
The ‘Popemobile’ has a white outer livery with beige interiors. The model, based on Dacia Duster, is 4.34 metres long and 1.80 metres wide. The vehicle integrates specific solutions and accessories specially designed to make it suitable for the uses for which it will be intended by the Vatican: large sunroof, removable glass superstructure, and a ground clearance that’s 30mm lower than normal.
IT IS a very true saying that “time brings changes”, and nowhere is it more noticable than in the automotive industry. You only need to look at cars from 20 or so years ago to see how far car design has come. I am a regular attendee at classic car shows in Dublin, and I love drooling over some magnificent cars from the 1960s, 70s and 80s. There was a time when boxy designs were all the fashion, but the problem was that this was taken to extremes by a variety of car manufacturers, with the result that a lot of cars started to look fairly similar. Ta ke t h e c l a s s i c Austin 1100 body shell, for example; the very same body was available b a d g e d a s a n MG , Wolseley, Riley, Morris, Vanden Plas, Innocenti and Austin. That is seven incarnations of the one body style! The only differences between all these models was engine and trim options – otherwise, the running gear was pretty much unaltered. T h a n k f u l l y, t h i s extreme type of bodysharing does not go on in these modern times. However, some people will say that they feel that modern cars are beginning to look alike, but the reason for this is simple; modern car
designs are heavily influenced by curves instead of squares, which results in ‘fluidic’ design, giving the impression that a car is actually moving – even when it is stationary. The role of a modernday car designer is becoming ever more demanding due to the fact that there are so many things that have to be taken into account before the designer puts pencil to paper. There is a huge desire from car manufacturers to make their products more economical than their rivals, and the designers are required to make the exterior shape of the new car ‘slippery’ so that there is less resistance to drag which, in turn, improves fuel economy and makes the car more resistant to wind noise when travelling at speed. It is also important to incorporate required levels of safety equipment into these designs without compromising style. In these modern times, many customers will base their buying decision on how a car looks, so this is crucial from a designer’s point of view. With such a change in car design over the past couple of decades, it will be interesting to see where car design leads us over the next few decades. One thing is for sure – be prepared for change ...
12 December 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21
WHAT’S BIG IN MUSIC, CINEMA, TV AND ONLINE
ENTERTAINMENT
The Brother’s Movement A CULT INDIE CLASSIC RETURN
AFTER an almost decadelong break, once buzz-laden Tallaght indie rock act The Brother’s Movement are returning for a one-off show this Christmas – or at least, that’s the official line. There are already hints, you see, of a broader return. Nothing’s set in stone, but there are enough little jokey lines throughout our quick chat with frontman Daniel Paxton that suggest that rehearsals have proven a whole lot of fun, and just lead to something more than a one-night nostalgia trip. “We always said we’d
JAMES HENDICOTT
come back and do some shows if we were still on talking terms, and we felt that we didn’t sound dated,” said Paxton, who has since played a key part in the output of popular rockers Sweet Jane, and later Buffalo Sunn. “We’re doing it to mark the ten-year occasion, really. “We’re in a few different bands now between
GOINGOUTOUT
us. We worked hard on that Brother’s Movement album, and spent a lot of cash on recording it in Philadelphia. “We were very proud of it. There’s no pressure, which is the beauty of this show. “At the time, we always had that aim of getting something more from it, making a career. Now it’s just for the pure enjoyment of playing the songs.” The rehearsals weren’t always easy, but things are coming together. “At first, the rehearsals weren’t good, to be honest
with you,” Paxton says. “But after about three or four shows, things started coming together. “We actually sound a hell of a lot better than I remember, because we used to be in this pokey little room. “Having a really good PA and actually being able to hear each other play definitely helps. Plus, we’re a little bit older and wiser, and don’t need to have the amps turned up to 11 all the time to make the point we’re trying to make. “There is one song we’ve been leaving until last.
DECEMBER 12 (THURSDAY)
The Coronas @ The Olympia Theatre, SOLD OUT Junior Brother @ Whelan’s, €15 Greywind @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €15
DECEMBER 13 (FRIDAY)
Villagers @ Vicar Street, SOLD OUT Ham Sandwich @ Whelan’s, €25 The Wha @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €10 The Coronas @ The Olympia Theatre, SOLD OUT
It’s ten minutes long and instrumental, and it takes a bit of working out, it has so many twists and turns. “A few of them took a little while, but once we figured them out, they came good. “We enjoyed the process of looking at how we did it back then, and it came back to us.” In their earlier incarnation, The Brother’s Movement were signed to Rocket Girl records in the UK, and widely expected to go on and make an impact more substantial than they actually did, having
Fangclub @ The Workman’s Club, €17
DECEMBER 14 (SATURDAY)
Ham Sandwich @ Whelan’s, €25 Blue Hawaii @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €10 The Coronas @ The Olympia Theatre, SOLD OUT Villagers @ Vicar Street, SOLD OUT The Scratch @ The Button Factory, SOLD OUT Milk @ The Workman’s Club, €14
evolved from a band called Mainline and garnered substantial hype. They played support to the likes of The Jesus and Mary Chain, Doves, Sonic Youth, The Chemical Brothers and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. The band lasted only three years before going their separate ways. “We all started to not get on at a certain point,” Paxton says of their demise. “The pressures of holding down full-time work and doing the band were hard. “Two of us wanted to get
on with our lives, so it got pretty stressful. We were doing tours with people not talking. “We were always fine on stage, but as soon as the amps were turned off, it wasn’t so good. “Recording the album and doing a couple of tours afterwards took its toll on us a little bit. “I ended up leaving first, and the lads did another tour without me. “I think, after that, they just had enough. It was all the stuff you read about, really. It’s water under the bridge now.”
DECEMBER 15 (SUNDAY)
Soda Blonde @ Whelan’s, €17 Bjorn Again @ The Olympia Theatre, €38
Christy Moore @ Vicar Street, €43+ Mark Lanegan Band @ The Button Factory, SOLD OUT
DECEMBER 16 (MONDAY)
DECEMBER 18 (WEDNESDAY)
Sam Fender @ The Olympia Theatre, SOLD OUT Soda Blonde @ Whelan’s, €17 Christy Moore @ Vicar Street, €43+
DECEMBER 17 (TUESDAY)
Hudson Taylor @ Whelan’s, €29
Hudson Taylor @ Whelan’s, €29 The Vibes @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €7 Inhaler @ The Button Factory, SOLD OUT David O’Doherty @ The Sugar Club, SOLD OUT
22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 12 December 2019
DUBLIN SENIORS
This week, we look at the importance of eating well, medical cards for seniors and the Cold Weather Initiative
Understanding the importance of eating well EATING well is important for all of us. It helps us to stay as healthy as we can be. But many of us find it hard to eat well every day. Only one-third of people in Ireland eat the recommended amount of vegetables, salads and fruit each day. Many people eat less healthy foods such as chocolate, cakes and crisps on a daily basis. In Ireland, 62% of the adult population is overweight or obese. 1 in 4 children aged 7 is either overweight or obese. Benefits of eating healthily When you eat well, you reduce your chance of developing certain diseases. If you have children, you’re also more likely to pass on good eating habits to them. Good eating habits can lead to: • a healthy body weight • a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer • a healthy cholesterol level • an improved sense of wellbeing Diet, nutrition and your body Foods are made up of nutrients. Protein, fat and vitamins are types of nutrients. Your body needs the right mix of nutrients to be healthy and well. Different foods contain different nutrients. Choosing a mixture of foods every day will help you get to get all the nutrients you need to grow and be healthy. This is what it means to eat a balanced diet. Foods that contain the same types of nutrients are grouped together as: • vegetables, salads and fruit • wholemeal cereals and bread, potatoes, pasta and rice • reduced-fat or low-fat milk, yoghurt and cheese • lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts • fats, spreads and oils Food also gives you the fuel (calories) you need for your body to work. If you take in more calories than you use, you’ll put on weight and become overweight. If you don’t take in enough calories, you’ll be underweight. Either is bad for your health. Making small changes to your diet can make big differences to your health now and in the future.
Lord Mayor of Dublin, Paul Mc Auliffe, launched Dublin City Council and ALONEs cold weather campaign outside Bewleys Café on Grafton Street, alongside ALONE service users Paul Hynes and Don Johnson. Picture: Jason Clarke Alone
Lord Mayor launches Cold Weather Initiative LORD Mayor of Dublin, Paul McAuliffe, launched Dublin City Council and ALONE’s cold weather campaign outside Bewley’s Cafe on Grafton Street last week. Cllr McAuliffe said: “The colder winter months can be a difficult time for many people who are vulnerable and may be feeling isolated. “We are appealing to all Dubliners, and indeed people across the country to be mindful of older people in our communities who may live alone or be at risk of struggling with loneli-
ness, health difficulties or fuel poverty. “This campaign represents the community and the whole city working together to make a difference in the lives of older people, many of whom face worries about warmth, shelter and essentials, such as food and medication at this time of year. “I am confident that Dubliners will respond with our usual sense of kindness, compassion and goodness.” Sean Moynihan, CEO of ALONE commented: “Colder temperatures can have a seri-
ous impact on the health and safety of older people, and Ireland has among the highest levels of excess winter mortality in Europe. “We regularly work with older people who don’t have central heating, live in challenging housing conditions, and even people who have used their free travel and stayed on buses and trains during the day to keep warm. “It’s really important that we reach out to people who may be finding things difficult due to ill health, financial worries, or
housing difficulties. “We hope that by spreading this message and by reaching out, more people will stay safe and well this winter.” Mr Moynihan continued: “According to reports by TILDA, around 1 in 10 older people have problems heating their home, and nearly half have experienced problems with damp, mould or mildew. “We encourage anyone who may be concerned about their own wellbeing or someone else’s to reach out for assistance from ALONE if needed.
MEDICAL CARD FOR SENIORS If you are 70 or over, you qualify for a medical card, if your gross income is: • not more than €500 a week if you are single • not more than €900 a week for a couple If you are 70 or over, you qualify for a GP visit card, if your gross income is: • over €500 but not greater than €700 if you are single • over €900 but not greater than €1,400 a
week if you are part of a couple You can’t include expenses such as rent, medicines and healthcare costs in your application. Apply online For couples: If one of you is aged 70 or older, you will both qualify for a medical card, if your combined gross income is €900 or less a week. If one of you is aged 70 or older, you will
both qualify for a GP visit card, if your combined gross income is over €900, but not greater than €1,400 a week. Medical conditions and costs If you have any long-term medical conditions, you must include a medical report from your doctor or consultant. If you have high medical costs and you do not qualify for an over 70s card, you can apply for a general medical card or GP visit card.
12 December 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23
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SAILING P28
THE BEST IN DUBLIN
SPORT
EURO BRONZE: ATHLETICS: EFREM Gidey played a
starring role as the Irish cross country teams went medal crazy with two individual and two team awards from the European Championships in Bela Vista Park in Lisbon last Sunday. The Tyrrelstown man got the haul underway with a fine individual bronze in the men’s Under-20 6,225m race.
GAZETTE
SOCCER P28
PAGE 29
LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS INFORM YOU OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORES OF YOUR FAVOURITE TEAMS SWIMMNG | RYAN, HYLAND, COYNE AND MAYNE ON FORM
Dublin stars shine at Euro short course sport@dublingazette.com
NAC Swim Club’s Shane Ryan claimed Ireland’s second medal at the LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships in Glasgow in the 50m backstroke. Ryan, World Bronze medallist in the event in 2018, produced an outstanding performance to again finish in third place in 23.12, faster than his heat (23.16) and semi-final (23.21) swims earlier in the day. The 25-year-old joins a growing list of Irish medallists from this Championships including Mona McSharry – from earlier in this gala – Grainne Murphy, Andrew Bree and Barry Murphy. A delighted Ryan commented: “I’m really happy that I’m bringing home something to Ireland. It’s been a tough day of racing but I’m happy to come away with the bronze and to end the meet with a strong finish as part of the Ireland Relay’. Among other highlights, he also
reached the 100m backstroke final with a new Irish Senior Record of 50.42 to finish in 6th place overall. The swim was the 25-year-old’s first senior international final in an Olympic distance, and this bodes well for an Olympic year almost upon us. Ryan had progressed to the Final with an Irish record in the heats of 50.45 and a time of 50.48 in the semi-final. Tallaght’s Brendan Hyland started off a busy week with a 52.00 swim in the 100m butterfly heats before he joined the Irish record train with a big swim in the 400m Individual Medley. Hyland knocked over four seconds off Andrew Bree’s 2001 record of 4:16.26, clocking 4:12.13. The butterfly specialist went on to secure a place in his first ever senior international final in the 200m event. There, he clocked 1:55.06 in the final to finish in eighth place. The Tallaght man also recorded a 200m individual medley lifetime best of 1.58.12.
Tallaght Swim Club’s Brendan Hyland. Picture: David Kiberd Photography
Fellow Tallaght swimmer Niamh Coyne’s highlight was a semi-final appearance in the 100m breaststroke. She backed up a 1.06.12 in the heats with a 1.06.16 to end up in 14th place overall. She also swam a personal best in the 50m breastroke and competed well in the 200m.
Templeogue 14-year-old Molly Mayne was making her adult level debut and she put in a string of good performances that bode well for the future. She swam 2.29.46 in the 200m breaststroke, 1.09.36 in the 100m and 31.93 in the 50m while also competing in the 200m individual medley with a 2.19.46 time in the heats.
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 12 December 2019
CLUB NOTES
ROUND
1
SOCCER: ATHLETIC MOVE FIVE POINTS CLEAR AT THE TOP Rush Athletic’s LSL Sunday Major side
FINGALLIANS FOOTBALL Vacancies: The club is currently recruiting a manager for our senior ladies & men’s teams. Application details are available on social media with further information available via email chairperson.fingallians.dublin@gaa.ie Christmas Party: The annual mentors night will be held in the club on Saturday 21st December from 8pm. GAA Draw: Tickets are € 10 each and are available from team managers & the club bar. All funds will stay in the club. For any additional information please contact the draw co-ordinator derrydmurphy@gmail.com Valentines Ball: The club is hosting a Ball on 14th February 2020 in the Carlton Hotel. Tickets are €65 per person and will be available very soon. Funds raised will go towards regeneration of the area beside the ball wall. Scór na nÓg: Congratulations to our Coiste Cultúir who successfully hosted the Dublin County Final of Scór na nÓg in Lawless Park. Thanks to our Fear an Tí Liam Ó Culbáird and Chairperson Colin Foley who presented the prizes. Added bonus that Fingallians won the traditional music group (Daire, Muireann, Jenny, Niamh and Hughie), Solo singing (Mia Ní Chléirigh) and Recitation (Méadhbh Ní Mhóráin). We also won the coveted ‘Club na mBliana’ award. Maith sibh go léir. Dublin Minor Ladies: Congratulations to Hannah Howard was named as vice captain on the minor team for 2020. Academy Party: Santa Claus visited the club on Saturday morning. Some 300 children passed through the grotto and each received a present and a chance to have a word in his ear. Thanks to Donna, Yvonne, Dave, the elves, Feidhlim, Pádraic and also the big man himself.
SKERRIES HARPS ZINGO RESULT Sun 8th Dec Zingo result 7-6-4-1-5-3-2 No winners of Jackpot or Dividend. Next draw Sunday 15th Dec Jackpot will be a nice even €8000, Dividend €250. In house draw every week in the build up to Christmas for hampers/vouchers! Congrats to yesterdays in house draw winner Eddie Fynes! Envelopes still €2 or 3 for a fiver. Thanks to all who support the Zingo every week. Play online www. skerriesharps.ie/zingo. Christmas Draw takes place 22 December in the Clubhouse at 8pm- tickets available from Joanne, Fergal or any committee member - cash prizes and hampers up for grabs for only €5 ! This year we are hosting a family friendly evening , so come down to the club with the kids, wear your Christmas Jumper, enjoy the festivities and get Christmas week off to a
great start! Christmas Tree tags are now available from our 2020 Feile teams - on sale at Skerries Hardware, Mow plus/Chris Tree @ the Monument and Skerries Christmas Trees opposite Gerrys. For only €5 our team of volunteers will collect and dispose of your tree on Jan 5th! Skerries Harps Annual Christmas Charity Golf outing will take place in Skerries G.C. on Fri 27th Dec. Time sheet is from 9-30am to 11-30am. Golf will be followed by meal and prize presentation in Harps Clubhouse at 8pm that evening. All proceeds from this event will go to the local branch of St Vincent De Paul. To book your tee time contact Paul Murray on 0851740474. Annual St Stephens Day Charity Matches will take place as always in the morning of 26th Dec at the club! More details to follow!
Rush’s Kelly hails biggest result in club’s history
LSL SUNDAY MAJOR
Rush Athletic Sheriff YC DAVE DONNELLY sport@dublingazette.com
3 2
RUSH Athletic chairman Adrian Kelly declared their Major Sunday win over Sheriff YC as “probably the biggest result in the club’s history” as they extended their lead at the top of the table. The Fingal club suffered a 4-0 reverse when the sides met in Clontarf in September in what remains Declan Whyte’s side’s sole league defeat of the season. There was no shortage of goals nor drama when the sides met again at St Catherine’s Park with all
five coming in the second half. A Barry McAllister penalty and one each for Cian Savage and Liam Mulcahy saw the home side to victory, though Shay Rooney and an injury-time strike from Stephen Maher set up a nervy finish. Fears the game would be called off were eased as the rain that battered Dublin city centre eased off in the north of the county, though it was a soft, heavy pitch that greeted the players. A tight first half, with few chances, gave little indication of what was to follow but the game burst to life ten minutes after the break when Rush were awarded a penalty and
McAllister made no mistake. Sheriff were stunned into action and bombarded the Rush goal, and got the equaliser they merited within five minutes as Rooney got on the end of a free kick to poke home. The game turned on a key 30-second spell as keeper Stephen ‘Kiwi’ Kirwan made a big save and Rush broke, McAllister setting up Savage to shoot first-time with his weaker left foot into the top corner. Mulcahy looked to have made the points safe late on but Sheriff continued to press and, while Maher did manage to pull one back in a penalty-box scramble, Rush held out for victory. “It was a massive result.
It was probably the biggest result in the club’s history,” Kelly tells the Dublin Gazette. “To [beat] a team like Sheriff who have been in six of the last FAI Junior Cup finals, it’s massive for the club. In fairness to Sheriff, they were very gracious in defeat and very complimentary to us. That result, and Usher losing, really keeps us in the mix. “We’re top of the league but we’ve played more games than a lot of teams. But we’ve points on the board.” Rush have now played both Sheriff and Drogheda Town twice, though have yet to play Usher, but their immediate attention is on Sunday’s FAI Junior Cup
fifth-round tie with Limerick’s Rathkeale. A cup run would be a bonus (a spot in the last four would book them a first-ever FAI Senior Cup spot) but the aim is promotion to intermediate, whether or not it comes with a fifth successive title. “We always felt we were good enough. We’re after winning four [leagues] in a row because we wanted to make the jump up to Sunday football. “The players themselves wanted to test themselves and they’ve been magnificent. The aim of the club is to get promotion, but we said that last year and ended up winning the league.”
Sailing duo impress in NZ
Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove in action in New Zealand. Picture: Sailing Energy
ROBERT Dickson (Howth YC) and Sean Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) ended their 49er world championship campaign in New Zealand in a hugely impressive 22nd place in the gold fleet in an event that doubled as an Olympic qualifier. It was their best ever performance at senior level with highlights of the week for the world Under-23 bronze medallist being their opening race win in the qualification and a day of three top ten results in the gold fleet. “We’re delighted because we put in a lot of
hard work at the Irish Sailing Performance HQ in Dun Laoghaire before coming out here,” said Waddilove. “This is a huge confidence boost, there’s no reason we can’t be back in the Gold fleet again.” In terms of their Olympic hopes, Spain, Austria, The Netherlands and Poland took the four country qualification places available in New Zealand. One remaining European country place will be decided in Genoa in April with Ireland, Belgium and Italy likely to be leading contenders.
12 December 2019 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 29
CROSS COUNTRY: CLONLIFFE HARRIER WINS EUROPEAN BRONZE MEDAL IN LISBON
Tyrrelstown’s Gidey stars in stunning Irish performances EURO CROSS COUNTRY sport@dublingazette.com
EFREM Gidey played a starring role as the Irish cross country teams went medal crazy with two individual and two team awards from the European Championships in Bela Vista Park in Lisbon last Sunday. The Clonliffe Harriers man got the haul underway with a fine individual bronze in the men’s Under-20 6,225m race that was won for the fourth time by Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen. Gidey was passed for silver by Turkey’s Ayetullah Aslanhan on the last lap but, nonetheless, was ecstatic with how his first run in an Irish singlet panned out.
“Wow, I’m happy, so happy. I don’t believe it,” Gidey said after his race. “The first half of that race for me was so fast, I was so tired, but the second half I felt strong, for the last lap. “I was thinking of top 10. Third, that’s amazing, the European championships are so big. And to wear the Irish vest, makes me so happy, and so proud for Ireland. And so happy for my coach Joe Cooper.” Born in Eritrea, he arrived in Ireland two years ago via a number of refugee camps, but eventually settled in Le Cheile Secondary School in Tyrrelstown and found a home at Clonliffe. In addition to Cooper, club President Paddy
Marley, club coaches and other athletes from the club were on hand to welcome home their hero at Dublin Airport. The club also welcomed home Cathal Doyle, who competed in the Under23 race. G i d ey ’s r u n c a m e incredibly close to helping win a team medal but, unfortunately, the team ended fourth on countback. Stephanie Cotter (West Muskerry) also took bronze in the Under23 women’s race, while two team silver medals were won by the U23 women and the senior women. Dublin City Harriers’ Fian Sweeney played her part in the women’s team silver, fourth home
Efrem Gidey at Dublin Airport on Monday. Picture: Piaras O’Midheach/ Sportsfile
for the Irish team in 38th overall. Her club mate, Jodie McCann was Ireland’s best finished – in 46th – in the women’s Under-20
The Verona side that won through to the last 16 of the FAI Intermediate Cup
Ten-man Verona beat Leeds FAI INTERMEDIATE CUP
sport@dublingazette.com
VERONA advanced to the last 16 of the FAI Intermediate Cup after a thrilling game in Coolmine, winning 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 epic in normal time against Cork side Leeds AFC. The Blanch side fell behind in the first half against the run of play and also went a man down for a bad tackle on
the heavy pitch. Despite those two big setbacks, Verona came out f lying and played some quality possession football in the second half. They got their reward on 53 minutes when Adrian Mihutescu rose highest to head home into the top corner. Their tails were up and got their second ten minutes later when Gavin Kennedy played a glori-
ous pass for Mihutescu to run on to and slot into the bottom corner, bringing his tally to ten for the season and a 2-1 lead. Leeds started to get back into the game as Verona’s ten men tired, grabbing their equaliser with 18 minutes of normal time to go. Both teams tried everything to win it in normal time, but extra time was on the cards as was
the darkness. In the additional phase, Leeds quickly took the lead but deep into the second half, Adis Velic produced a brilliant volley with his left foot. The sideline erupted in celebration as the 3-3 goal meant penalties where Verona showed perfect poise to score all four of theirs while Leeds’ first two efforts were repelled for 4-2.
race with DSDAC’s Eimear Maher in 85th. In the men’s Under2 3 te a m , Ra h e ny Shamrock’s Brian Fay impressed in a 22nd place finish with Doyle in 71st. The mixed relay team were seventh with Dublin City Harriers’ Nadia Power, Donore Harriers’
John Travers and Clonliffe’s Eoin Pierce in the line-up. Speaking at the homecoming in Dublin Airport on Monday, Athletics Ireland President, Georgina Drumm said: “ We are so proud of the performances of all of our athletes at this years European
Cross Country Championships in Lisbon. “We must congratulate to all of our medal winners, but we must also thank the coaches, managers and support staff who helped to make these championships so successful for Irish athletics”.
30 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 12 December 2019
CLUB NOTES
ROUND
2
ST BRIGID’S MANY thanks to all who attended our Annual Club AGM for 2019 on Sunday evening. A special thanks to the outgoing 2019 Executive for all their hard work and best wishes to the new Executive for 2020 especially those taking on new roles. Our Club Dinner Dance takes place in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Blanchardstown on 14th February, 2020 and tickets are now on sale from Yvonne McCormack (0868548282), Paula Jackson (0872858574) and Elaine Curtin (0872025129). It promises to be a great club night! Our new St Brigids Clothing range and Online Shop is now LIVE on our website! Check it out by visiting our club website! Our Annual ‘Married vs Singles’ St Stephen’s Day Football Match will take place this St Stephen’s Day at 12noon in Russell Park! Contact Bren Farrell (0877547962) to confirm your place! There was no winner of our Club Lotto Jackpot last week. Our next Jackpot rises to €7,800 and will take place this Thursday (Dec 12th) in The Greyhound. Get your tickets from our usual sellers, in the club bar on play online via our club website! Our Club Nursery, in association with Sherry Fitzgerald is now on its Christmas Break and will return on January 11th. All boys and girls aged between 4 and 7 are welcome, especially new families! Just arrive down and speak to any of our friendly coaches or email us at; Pro.stbrigids. dublin@gaa.ie for more information. Many thanks to Tyrone Senior Football Manager Micky Harte for taking a training session with our Under 10 Boys Footballers (pictured below) this weekend! It was a great experience for the lads! Tickets for the GAA’s National Club Draw are now on sale for €10! Some brilliant prizes on offer including a brand new Renault Clio! Speak to Jerry Nolan on 0872272518 or Paddy on 0868229312 for tickets and further info! With Christmas on the way and many teams now taking a well-earned break, training under lights should be discontinued, unless by specific arrangement with Mary O’Connor. Juvenile Handball Training, which is open to current and new juvenile players, continues every Wednesday evening at 7pm in Russell Park! We’ll have our Handball Coaches on hand to support all new players and introduce them to the game! Everyone is welcome! Contact Enda on 086 8288308. St Brigids Christmas Tree Sale continues this Wednesday (Dec 11) from 5pm to 8.30pm and this Saturday (Dec 14) from 9am to 2pm with stands, wreaths and lights also on sale! Check out all the details on our website and social media pages! Keep up with all our news on our website www. stbrigidsgaa.com, our free to download Club App and our Facebook and Twitter pages.
HURLING: PORTMARNOCK CLUB TOO STRONG FOR CRAOBH
Naomh Mearnog take big step to C double UNDER-21 C FINAL Naomh Mearnog 3-14 Craobh Chiarain 1-16 CÓILÍN DUFFY sport@dublingazette.com
NAO M H M E A R N Ó G Under 21s are aiming for a C championship double in a week, as the Portmarnock club are aiming to back-up their hurling success last weekend, with a football triumph this Sunday. The hurlers bounced back from last year’s twopoint final loss to Craobh Chiaráin, to claim Under21 C hurling championship honours, thanks to a 3-14 to 1-16 win over their Donnycarney counterparts at Broomfield, Malahide on Saturday. Naomh Mearnóg’s footballers, with many of the same players on board helped book their place in the decider, by dethroning last year’s winners Erin’s Isle by three-points in Tuesday’s group final at Alfie Byrne Road. A strong second quarter was key to victory for the Portmarnock club’s hurlers, after Craobh Chiarain made a positive start. Craobh led by 0-4 to 0-1 after six minutes, and although Naomh Mearnóg equalised thanks to a goal
The Naomh Mearnog Under-21 hurlers
a minute later, they fell in arrears soon after, conceding the next two points. But Naomh Mearnóg upped their game and scored 1-8 unanswered to move into a nine-point lead after 29 minutes. This provided a solid basis for victory, although Craobh Chiaráin understandably mounted a strong defence of their title on the restart, before a Chris O’Sullivan goal in the 50th minute sent
BASKETBALL Tridents adult teams run up big victories TRIDENTS landed a close-run 32-25 win over
Naas Serpents in the Dublin Ladies Basketball Board’s Division Two at St Mary’s. The result lifts them up to 12 points in the table with two wins from their eight games to date in their pre-Christmans schedule. It added a good week for the Dublin 15 club with their Division 4 team also winning, running up a 34-30 win over Killester, leaving them in third place in the league with five wins from their seven games played so far this season. Picture: martin doherty
Naomh Mearnóg on their way to victory, despite conceding a goal late on. Centre forward Cian Derwin was solid for Craobh Chiaráin in the opening moments, but a Ross Hayden goal, after good work by Mark Phelan settled Naomh Mearnóg. By the end of the contest, all three players on the Naomh Mearnóg fullforward line would find the back of the Craobh Chiaráin net, with Phelan
finding the net on the way to a 2-9 to 0-7 interval lead. Craobh dominated the third quarter, and outscored their opponents by 0-8 to 0-1 during this spell, with Mearnóg freetaker Shane Kavanagh delivering his sides only scores. Chris Sullivan grabbed Naomh Mearnóg’s third goal, and although Keith Cooling found the net, it was too late for Craobh
Chiaráin. After the game Naomh Mearnóg captain Mark Phelan received the Cup from Dublin GAA Chairman Sean Shanley. Phelan and some of his Naomh Mearnóg colleagues are aiming to be back on the receiving end of silverware, where they face Templeogue Synge St. in the Under 21 C Football Championship final next Sunday at 11am in O’Toole Park.