Fingal

Gazette FINGAL

June 15 -21, 2017

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Unknown man found in Swords car park dies Gardai appeal for help to identify male found with serious injuries

 SYLVIA POWNALL

GARDAI last night renewed their appeal for information following the death of a man found with serious injuries in an underground car park in Swords.

The unidentified male was pronounced dead at Beaumont Hospital on Tuesday night, having been discovered unconscious at Carnegie Court Apartments at 5.50am.

Investigating officers are

appealing to anyone who was in the vicinity of the North Street apartments complex between 10am on Monday and 6am on Tuesday to come forward.

A Garda spokesman said: “Gardai in Swords are seek-

ing witnesses to an incident that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

“An injured man was discovered in the underground car park in a serious condition.

Continued on Page 2

2 FINGAL GAZETTE 15 June 2017

BALBRIGGAN | ‘OVERTIME PROVES EXTRA MANPOWER IS NEEDED’

More Garda resources needed to tackle crime FROM PAGE ONE

Gardai appeal for witnesses after man dies “There was no form of identification on this man and he remains unidentified.

“It is not known at this stage how he sustained the injury.”

The dead man is described as a white male, in his late 30s or early 40s, with brown hair and of medium build.

He was wearing a white Slazenger t-shirt, navy tracksuit bottoms, and black Sketcher runners, size 8.

Anyone with information can contact Swords Garda Station at 01 666 4700, or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111.

 SYLVIA POWNALL MORE garda resources are needed in Balbriggan to tackle anti-social behaviour, petty crime and burglary, the Fingal Joint Policing Committee has been told.

Balbriggan Gardai warned that “significant” overtime funding must continue if officers are to continue their battle against burglars.

Encouragingly, a report shows a 14 per cent drop in the number of burglaries reported in the north Dublin seaside town in the first four months of 2017 compared to the same period last year.

In a statement Balbriggan gardai state: “The very considerable reductions in property crime are the outcome

of unprecedented overtime allocation.

“Securing further reductions or maintaining current levels of offending is dependent on the continuation of the current level of overtime expenditure.”

Deputy Brendan Ryan said the level of overtime proves the need for more manpower. The Labour TD added: “These reductions are very welcome. However these figures prove that Fingal needs more gardai.

Dangerous “As Templemore training college continues to deliver graduate gardai into the field, Fingal needs its share.”

Meanwhile Alliance Cllr Tony Murphy warned that

failure for services to keep pace with a rapidly growing population could lead to a “dangerous” situation.

Balbriggan now has 21,173 residents according to the latest census – almost 24,000 when combined with neighbouring Balrothery.

Cllr Murphy said he had seen a rise in the number of complaints about anti-social behaviour, and warned there were “gangs of young lads travelling across estates, causing nuisance and intimidation and threatening people”.

He said that in one instance a gang of young thugs had kicked a man’s front door in, refused to leave his home, and then laughed in his face when he said he would call gardai.

It’s Mayor Puttler!

FASTNews

Fingal County Manager Paul Reid

SMEs, start-ups urged to apply for LEO grants FINGAL Local Enterprise Office (LEO) is inviting applications from small businesses for grants under a national €1.5million Innovation Investment Fund.

The fund is open to “innovative” businesses with up to 10 staff that have previously availed of LEO Fingal services, and grants up to €25k will be offered.

The closing date for online applications is 31 July and applicants can apply online at www.liif.ie.

Fingal chief Paul Reid said: “Fingal is a good place to do business in and small business is the life-blood of our local economy so Fingal County Council, through our Local Enterprise Office, is working to ensure that those running or starting up small enterprises are given the support structure that they need to grow and develop”.

Council officials sit down with Ridgewood residents RIDGEWOOD Residents Association last week met with council officials to raise a number of issues including parking, traffic management, school places and the provision of a children’s playground.

A deputation was told there are no plans to increase residential parking, though there are plans to add more parking spaces allocated for the playing pitches.

The local authority agreed to erect an additional speed limit sign at the entrance to the estate, and paint the speed limit onto the road at the same location.

A pedestrian crossing is planned for Ridgewood Green beyond the roundabout, and officials revealed work will commence shortly on a playground at Rathingle, and a playground in the Cedars is to be repaired.

Get a movie on and snap up tickets to film festival

Fingal Mayor Darragh Butler tests the immaculate putting green at The Island as Club President David Evans and Captain Fergus Duddy look disapprovingly at his stance

SOME of golf’s most exciting young talent will descend on The Island Golf Club in Donabate on June 26 in their bid to qualify for the British Open.

The club is one of just 14 worldwide hosting qualifying competitions that will eventually provide 44 of the players who will tee up alongside the top players in the world at the 2017 Open.

This is the fifth successive year that The Island has hosted regional qualifying and is testament to the quality of the links and high regard in which the course is held internationally.

The Island, which is one of the oldest golf courses in Ireland, regularly features among the top 10 courses in the country and is currently number 51 in Golf World Magazine’s UK and Ireland rankings.

FINGAL’S annual Film & Arts Festival takes place from August 11 to 13 at Swords Castle with early bird tickets now on sale.

Tickets are limited so early booking is advised – for the full schedule of events go to www.fingalfilmfest.com and to purchase tickets visit fingalfilmfest.eventbrite.ie.

The event has a full bar licence and food vendors will also be on site and early bird ticket day passes are currently available at €20.

Weekend passes cost €50 while a family pass for the weekend costs €100 for two adults and two children.

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

15 June 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 3

FURY | MUSICGOERS SLAM ‘ABSOLUTE CARNAGE’ AS BELONGINGS FOUND SCATTERED OUTSIDE

Outpouring of anger as bags dumped in rain at 3Arena gig  EMMA NOLAN THERE was “absolute carnage” at the 3Arena last week as concertgoers’ bags were found dumped outside in the rain after the Eddie Vedder show.

Heightened security measures at the venue saw new rules introduced where bags “bigger than an A4 page” are not allowed.

The 3Arena issued a notice ahead of the shows outlining the new rules, but many ticketholders were not aware due to the short notice given, and were told to leave their bags at security and collect them after the gig.

However, when the show ended, the bags were not where they had been left and instead the concertgoers found their bags unattended outside in the rain (left).

Gig goers at the 3 Arena look for their bags A source who was present on as heavy rain buckets down the night told The Gazette that the

bags were scattered outside under the pouring rain, saying: “It was absolute carnage.”

They added: “Peoples’ belongings strewn all over the ground in the rain; no way to determine who owned what – it was a free-for-all.”

Another person told The Gazette that she was “shocked” to find her bag left unattended outside the building.

She said: “I totally see the point [of the security measures] but I wasn’t told my bag was just going to be left outside when I left it with security.

It was a bit disrespectful.

“I was peeved at the time, but looking back, we were warned. I wasn’t

Still requirements”.

They added: “Security told they [the bags] were going to be Video weren’t looking after the bags either – litthrown out of the building though.”

The 3Arena had issued a statement erally anyone could have walked up and ahead of the gigs outlining its updated had a lucky dip.”

In response to the issues raised, a security restrictions and protocols.

It stated: “Backpacks, larger purses or spokesperson for 3Arena told The bags are not allowed; only purses or Gazette that restrictions on items were clutches measuring 4.5in/11.4cm clearly identified on its website and via x 6.5in/16.51cm or smaller will be social media posts.

The security ban on certain items is allowed.”

However, the annoyed echoed across the city, with organisers source told The Gazette that MCD warning that backpacks large while warnings were bags, and bags larger than an A4 page, issued ahead of the along with plenty of other items, won’t show, there were no be allowed at the Robbie Williams (left) warnings “about how gig at the Aviva Stadium this weekend.

Across town, similar restrictions will bags will be dumped outside in the pour- also affect what people can bring into the ing rain if you don’t The 1975 gig this weekend in Malahide. adhere to the security It also emerged this week that gardai will have a team of plain-clothes “terror Robbie Williams plays spotters” mingling amongst the crowd

the Aviva this weekend in Croke Park at next month’s U2 show.

4 FINGAL GAZETTE 15 June 2017

Global warming blamed for rise in deadly moray eel sightings

SIGHTINGS of the deadly moray eel off the coast this year have been described as “alarming” by marine experts.

In the latest instance the eel was discovered alive and marine biologist Kevin Flannery says the frequency with which they are turning up in Irish waters is likely due to global warming.

He also warned that the eel, which can grow to 13 feet in length, is aggressive and has been known to kill, was bad news for native marine species.

He said: “Without doubt this is major evidence that our seas are warming up due to global warming. The numbers showing up here have steadily been increasing since the 1990s.

“This is possibly the third or fourth sighting this year.

The first moray eel was caught by a trawler off the coast of Kilmore Quay in Wexford and there have been a few more since.”

Mr Flannery believes the moray eel, normally found in Mediterranean waters, is moving northwards due to increased water temperatures.

He added: “People fear them because they have been known to kill with their bites.

“Some people believe they have a toxin in their bite but it’s usually that people get bites that are so extreme they go septic and that’s what kills.”

The eels usually lurk in crevices in rocks and feed on octopus, squid and crustaceans that pass by.

MARINE LIFE | CONSERVATIONALIST’S NEW WORKSHOP IS SHORE TO BE A SUCCESS

Olive vows not to rest till the coast is clear  SYLVIA POWNALL MARINE conservationist Olive Gilsenan has launched a new coastal workshop in the hope of educating and encouraging all beach users to care for their environment.

Olive, a keen Clean Coast volunteer who lives in Donabate, set up ‘Secrets of the Seashore’ to share her expertise and enthusiasm for marine life with others.

Now she is planning a series of activities with an underlying environmental message to encourage visitors to explore the coast in a fun, safe and eco-friendly way.

She said: “While learning to sculpt their own sandcastles people will also learn how sand is made, how it protects our coastlines and what marine life shelters under it as the tides come and go.

“On our tour visitors will learn all about what lives in the sea from what washes ashore. For example, a mermaid’s purse is a casting that surrounds the fertilized eggs of some sharks and skates. Finding these washed ashore can be very exciting.”

Setting up Secrets of the Seashore is a long-held ambition for Olive who spent her childhood roaming the beaches of the Donabate and Portrane peninsula.

In an interview with Coast Monkey she said: “It was as idyllic as it sounds. From

exploring the caves along the cliff walk to collecting shells, swimming in the rain, rock pooling, making sandcastles and rock climbing. I guess I was preparing from then.”

Olive, who says she “will not rest” until the prestigious blue flag flies again at Donabate beach, said it was on a hot summer’s day in 2016 that she was finally spurred into action when she witnessed the shoreline strewn with litter.

She recalls: “As far as my eyes could see there was nothing but litter absolutely everywhere – plastic drinks bottles, drinks cans, glass beer bottles, bins overflowing and piles upon piles of litter left all around the bins.

“I was horrified, I really felt like I walked into some unknown world and as I looked around I saw adults walking away from their own rubbish and leaving it on the sand for others to clean up.

“I realised the tide was on the way in and the litter was about to enter the sea – and my mind turned to the innocent marine life that was now going to suffer.”

Olive believes it is “crucial” to be aware of marine life from a young age and that education is the key when it comes to encouraging environmental awareness.

For further details visit the Facebook page – Secrets of the Seashore.

FASTNews Teen charged over Swords street attack granted bail A YOUTH was last week granted bail after he was charged at Dublin Children’s Court over a street attack in Swords.

Judge John O’Connor heard that it was alleged that the injured party was walking along Swords Main Street on April 18 last year when he passed a group of youths.

Garda Michael McCabe told the court that it would be alleged that the man’s head was hit from behind with what was believed to have been a mobile phone.

He turned around and he was “rushed by a group of males” and was struck in the face by one of them.

The youth, then aged 16, is accused of assault causing harm and replied “no” when he was charged.

There was no objection to bail and he was released to appear again in four weeks when he will be expected to enter a plea.

15 June 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 5

6 FINGAL GAZETTE 15 June 2017

Out and About

Glittering gala event honours Ross’s wish

Checking the tickets for the big raffle

M

ORE than a hundred people attended the glittering Ross Nugent Foundation’s annual gala dinner recently, which took place in the newly-opened Old Street restaurant in Malahide.

Held to mark Ross’s seventh anniversary since he lost his five-month battle with a rare form of bone cancer called Ewings Sarcoma, the fundraising evening was once again a celebration of his life, and a way to continue Ross’s wish to support St Clare’s Oncology Ward in Beaumont Hospital.

TV presenter Marty Whelan hosted a raffle with more than €5,000 worth of prizes to win.

Peter Shevlin and Rebecca MacQuarrie

Marty Whelan and Don and Sandra Nugent presenting Katie from Old Street Restaurant with her prize of a five day cruise from Verona

Entertainment by the fabulous Smooth

Sandra and Don Nugent

Conor Redmond and Alison Vard Miller

15 June 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 7

Out and About

Sarah Foy, Simon Honan and Lily Booker-Miller

Adriana and Mark Fitzpatrick, proprietors of Old Ross’s friends

Sandra Nugent and Patricia Honan

Sally Butler and Joanne Coughlan

Kate Ryan with Marty and Maria Whelan

Street Restaurant

8 FINGAL GAZETTE 15 June 2017

By Grove, ladies from Malahide impressed at a top tennis final

FASTNews

Man arrested over drug haul

THERE was a great result for Malahide’s Grove Lawn Tennis Club recently as it claimed the 2017 Fingal Ladies Tennis League title after a dramatic win over Balrothery Balbriggan in a grand final hosted by Swords Tennis Club.

The Fingal Ladies Tennis League has been strongly supported by the council through its sports office, with eight clubs participating in this year’s competition. Their success at the grand final marked the first ever league title for Grove.

Fingal County Council/Tennis Ireland regional development officer Tara Congdon (centre) stands with the winners, Grove LTC (left), and runners-up Balrothery Balbriggan.

POLICING | COP SHOP ‘DUE FOR CONSIDERATION’ BUT LOCALS WANT IT BACK NOW

‘It doesn’t take a report to tell the people of Rush their garda station should be reopened’  SYLVIA POWNALL

They’re a Tidy bunch

SWORDS Castle was the setting as Mayor of Fingal Cllr Darragh Butler and County Manager Paul Reid held a reception to thank the hero volunteers who made Swords the Tidiest Town in Ireland.

Cllrs Joe Newman and Adrian Henchy were also on hand to join in the celebrations. Full gallery next week. Picture: ALISON O’HANLON

THERE have been calls for Rush Garda Station to reopen immediately after it was shortlisted for consideration in a report presented to the Government.

An interim report of An Garda Siochana presented to the Cabinet on Tuesday listed Rush as being “actively considered” for the pilot scheme to reopen six stations.

However the matter is not due for consideration until the end of June – and locals say they have been deprived of a police station for long enough already.

Sinn Fein TD Louise O’Reilly, who presented a petition bearing hundreds of signa-

tures to the Minister for Justice earlier this year, said the station must immediately reopen “report or no report”.

She added: “It doesn’t take a report on the future of garda stations to tell the people of Rush that their garda station should be reopened.

“The decision to close it in the first place by the previous Fine Gael and Labour Government was a colossal failure and move of the greatest short sightedness.

“The closure of Rush Garda Station has left a void in the policing of North Fingal. Rush, due to its geographical location, is distinctly disadvantaged in regards to responses to calls.

“Given the local anger and the demand from residents

and shop owners to have Rush Garda station reopened…I am glad that it is looking like people power has paid off.”

The station, which is currently leased to the local musical and dramatic society, is one of several which will be considered for reopening by Cabinet at the end of June along with Stepaside in south Dublin.

Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell said it was “likely” to be reopened and would be first priority for north Dublin, adding: “Residents in Rush have been understandably concerned.

“I sincerely hope that the reopening of Rush Garda station will be recommended by the end of this month to serve the needs of local residents.”

GARDAI and customs officers seized cannabis herb worth an estimated €600,000 in north Dublin on Monday.

Members of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau stopped and search a vehicle near Man O’War, a garda spokesman said.

Cannabis herb with an estimated street value of €600,000, pending analysis, was found concealed in it.

A 34-year-old man was arrested and questioned under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 at Balbriggan Garda Station.

College opening set back to 2018 THE opening of Swords Community College has been postponed until September 2018, it has emerged.

Dublin Dun Laoghaire Educational Training Board has indicated that the delay is due to the fact that many parents have already chosen and accepted places elsewhere.

Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) described the decision as disappointing but understandable.

He added: “I understand that a large number of applications have already been received for students to begin their secondary education in Swords Community College in September 2018.”

15 June 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 9

FASTNews

Picture: Siobhan O’Donnell (daa) Setting off on the seven-lap memorial cycle

Airport cyclists pay tribute to fallen Rescue 116 heroes THE heroes of Rescue 116 were in the hearts and minds of lots of people at Dublin Airport last Sunday, where a special memorial cycle was staged all around the transport hub’s perimeter.

Airport police and fire service staff were joined by members of An Garda Siochana and the Irish Aviation Authority for the 116km cycle, comprising seven laps of the perimeter. They were also joined by some family members of the crew.

Speaking to DublinAirport.com, event organiser Bryan Russell said: “Like everyone, we were absolutely devastated by this tragic event. Those who work in emergency services share a special connection so when a terrible accident like this occurs it resonates deep within our community.

“We wanted to have a memorial event and it felt right that we should do it on the 11th day of the sixth month by cycling seven laps,which adds up to a total of 116km.”

Although not staged as a fundraiser, many people made donations for the event. Thanks to their support, the cycle raised more than €2,000 which is being donated to the Rescue 116 fund.

PLEA FOR PREMISES | RENT HIKE THREATENS GROUP’S FUTURE

Swords Karate Club could face the chop  SYLVIA POWNALL SWORDS Karate Club could be facing homelessness after a hike on the rent at its premises in Seatown Industrial Estate.

T he club, founded in 1986, is now facing homelessness and has set up an online petition to put pressure on Fingal County Council to find it a new home.

The page was launched last Friday and

by Tuesday evening had already attracted almost 500 supporters backing the 120-member club.

SKC was involved with Brackenstown Community Sports and Development Association but moves for a permanent, purpose-built home fell through when the recession hit.

It has been operating

Members of the club go through their paces in an image used to help with their petition for a new premises

from the Seatown premises since 2011 until the business park went into receivership and a new lease was required.

The club is now calling on Fingal County Council to give them the

same help in finding a home in the community as they have given other local clubs.

T he club states: “The council recently a c q u i r e d a n d r e f u rbished Sluagh Hall in

Swords for use for the people of Swords. Currently two clubs, Swords Boxing Club and Fingallians GAA. have exclusive use of this public resource.

“We are asking that

Fingal County Council treat Swords Karate Club with the same parity of esteem as they have given to Swords Boxing Club and Fingallians GAA. “We are asking that Swords Karate Club be allowed to share the facilities in Sluagh Hall with Swords Boxing Club and Fingallians GAA OR that they are given accommodation in the community suitable to their needs.”

It’s understood the local authority offered the club the use of a premises on North Street which was deemed unsuitable because of its size and lack of toilet facilities.

To support the karate club’s campaign, see w w w.gopetition.com/ petitions/save-swordskarate-club.html

Scouts were a dib-dib hand at earning their chief awards A GROUP of nine Cubs in Swords are celebrating after being presented with their chief scout awards recently.

The awards were earned over nine months, with the Scouts undertaking a number of challenges including advancements in personal, physical, environmental and scouting skills.

They also did community work, which involved collecting clothes for Dublin’s homeless and cooking dishes for distribution by the ‘Lending Hand’ group of volunteers at College Green over a number of weeks.

They were presented with their awards by Stephen Halpin, provincial commissioner and Swords Scouts senior leader Pauline O’Brien, in the presence of their families and other scouters.

Rush marks 700 years of the Kenure estate RUSH Library is celebrating seven years of being open to the public with an exhibition to mark 700 years of the Kenure Estate.

The house, originally built in 1703, was demolished by Dublin County Council in 1978 for safety reasons after falling into disrepair.

The only remains are the grand portico which adorned what was one of Ireland’s ‘great houses’ – though Fingal County Council has ambitious plans for the heri-

tage site.

Opening the exhibition, Fingal Mayor Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) thanked Niall Gosson (also above) for putting his Kenure House collection – which he has been adding to since his first year of secondary school – on display.

He added: “Niall deserves a lot of credit for his efforts to bring to life again the lost history of Kenure House and park which is a story that dates back to the Dukes of Ormonde and the Palmers and their

connection to England’s King Charles I and King Charles II. “The exhibition also marks the launch of the progress being made by Niall and Angela Byrnes with the Kenure House Demesne master plan. The first heritage board meeting is scheduled within the next few weeks, so I wish everybody involved the very best with that.”

Rush Library is one of ten operated by Fingal County Council and between them they host more than 3,000 events per year.

10 GAZETTE 15 June 2017

Out and About

Lauren Keegan, Aisha O’Keeffe and Shauna Johnston from Holy Child Community School, Sallynoggin. Picture: Rose Comiskey

Lauren Coyle, Aoife Byrne and Ciara Coates from Portmanock Community School. Picture: ALISON O’HANLON

Prebi Olobio, Yolly Okpe, Alice Minar and Niamh Farrelly from St Joseph’s College

Leaving Cert exams get underway across Dublin

T

Lucan. Picture: STEPHEN FLEMING

HE Gazette caught up with students from around the county as they headed to their school to sit the Leaving Cert exams. There were plenty of nerves on display as they joined the 120,000 students in total who will be sitting the exams across the country. English was up first and there were plenty of teachers on hand to offer last minute advice, like try to stay calm and not to get too stressed. The results of the Leaving Cert will be published on Wednesday, August 16, while the Junior Cert results will be out in September. Best of luck to one and all!

Jasmine Sheridan and Naomi Mooney from Holy Child Community School,

Roisin Dowd, Aoibhe Dillon, Lauren Tarpey, Abbie Mooney and Sarah Brennan from Portmanock Community

Sallynoggin. Picture: Rose Comiskey

School. Picture: ALISON O’HANLON

15 June 2017 GAZETTE 11

Karim Ghanem, Kasim Ali and Santiago Pompa from Ballinteer Community School.

Picture: Rose Comiskey

Holly Maglangit, Estephany Barba Matta and Sadaf Amir Kamvar from Ballinteer Community School.

Picture: Rose Comiskey

Eilidh Dunlop, Hannah O’Keeffe and Aisling Dolan from Colaiste Bride in Clondalkin. Picture: Aishling Conway

HERE WE GO: Blakestown Community School students on their way into the exam

GAZETTE

12 GAZETTE 15 June 2017

DUBLINBUSINESS

Telecoms firm rings up 15 jobs in €1.75m deal TELECOMS company Pure Telecom has signed a €1.75m deal with sales agency DSM Ltd, creating 15 jobs.

The deal will enable P ure to continue its opush to roll-out services across the country, with a particular focus on rural Ireland.

The Irish-owned company has been providing fixed line, broadband and cloud telecoms services since 2002 to Irish businesses and consumers.

All of the DSM positions will be field sales roles, with successful can-

didates having customerfacing experience and a track record in achieving ambitious sales targets, in addition to receiving ongoing training the company.

Anticipation With nationwide fibre roll-outs continue, and in anticipation of a decision on the National Broadband Plan, Pure Telecom is focusing on an increased presence of sales agents in key locations across the country t o h e l p it achieve an

Interviews make everyone nervous – but there are several questions you should be easily able to answer

Five top tips to help ace that interview

THE interview is the most common tool used to assess people for roles. Let’s look at five questions you may be asked and tips on responding to each ...

Pictured announcing Pure Telecom’s €1.75 million deal with DSM Ltd are Alan McGonnell and Paul Connell, Pure Telecom, and James Edinborough, DSM Ltd

aggressive growth plan.

Celebrating the deal, Paul Connell, Pure Tele-

Call for companies to seek best-managed recognition

ANYA Cummins, partner Deloitte; Nigel Owens, keynote speaker and Michael Torpey, chief executive, corporate and treasury, Bank of Ireland bounced a ball and some ideas around at the launch of Deloitte’s 10th Best Managed Companies Awards.

The trio are urging companies to enter this year’s programme, in association with new programme

sponsor Bank of Ireland, to showcase the success of indigenous companies and acknowledge the contribution that they make to the economy.

For further information, awards criteria and full details of how to enter the awards, see the site at www.deloittebestmanaged.ie, with a closing date for entries set for August 6. Picture: Jason Clarke

com chief executive, said: “This deal is part of our nationwide push to bring broadband to a lot more people and households in rural Ireland.

“We work very closely with some of Ireland’s major wholesale providers and want to ensure that we are there as soon as the broadband is – part of that means having an increased presence of sales representatives.

“We are very confident that this deal with DSM will play a significant role in helping us to grow our business and footprint outside of the major cities.”

Echoing his words, James Edinborough, DSM Ltd chief executive, added: “Pure Telecom is the kind of company that sales representatives want to work with because of its dedication to customer service and competitive pricing.

“Broadband across Ireland still has a long way to go, but we look forward to helping Pure Telecom roll out the muchneeded service across the country.

“Our relationship spans many years and we are delighted to have signed another deal with

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

‘A few years ago most people thought that the smartphone would see the demise of the landline ... but instead we are seeing huge demand for it’ --------------------------

Paul Connell, Pure Telecom

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

them. We look forward to providing Pure Telecom with sales support to help it continue on its impressive growth path.”

Connell said: ““What we have found interesting is that as more people become connected to broadband, the fixed line is making a comeback.

“A few years ago most people thought that the smartphone would see the demise of the landline, and we prepared ourselves for that, but instead we are seeing huge demand for it.

“The National Broadband Plan will only serve to increase that demand.”

What can you tell us about your career to date?

Many interviews start with this request. You should keep your answer brief and to the point.

Cover your education quickly, your general career and finish with your most recent history.

Keep it relatively simple and you’ll be off to a good start.

What aspects of your previous job did you like or dislike?

Concentrate on the ‘like’ part of your previous role. When addressing the ‘dislike’ part, it may be better to change the emphasis to what you would have changed rather than being negative.

Why should we employ you?

Outline your personal qualities as they relate to the role you are applying for and how they will benefit the company.

Yo u s h o u l d h ave established what the key aspects of the role are prior to the interview and Remember these tips, and it’ll make a huge difference in interviews. If you want to talk to someone about career opportunities, contact RecruitmentPlus at 01 2788 610, or also see www.recruitmentplus.ie.

build your answer around those key competencies.

What is a difficult situation that you handled well?

Highlight a difficult work situation and give the context, the actions you took and the result.

Don’t share confidential information; don’t dismiss the efforts of others and avoid positioning yourself as a victim or a knight in shining armour.

This question offers you the opportunity to show your reasoning skills and your ability to manage stress.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

The natural inclination for the interviewee is to focus on the strengths while the natural tendency for the interviewer is to listen more closely to the weaknesses.

As a general rule of thumb, it makes good sense to cover strengths that are essential to the role and to raise a weakness that is non-essential.

15 June 2017 GAZETTE 13

TRAVEL P21 MOTORS P22

DUBLINLIFE Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week

MAYBE IT’S MAISIE WHO COULD BE A DREAM PET OUR Dog of the Week looking for their #SpecialSomeone* is Maisie, a beautiful and very intelligent threeyear-old Collie cross.

She is an active dog and loves her daily walks and activities.

Maisie is really good at doggie brain games such as scent games, agility and obedience training, and her favourite game is Fetch.

Maisie is a typical collie and is full of beans, so she would suit an active household where she will have lots of company.

She really has huge potential and will make the perfect agility or flyball partner and a very loyal companion.

If you can be Maisie’s #SpecialSomeone*, 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, at www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline, or on Twitter @ DogsTrust_IE.

The Coronas out to take their chances



GAZETTE

CINEMA P24

JAMES Hendicott talks to The Coronas frontman Danny O’Reilly about the making of Trust The Wire, the acclaimed new album that has seen the popular indie four piece evolve from ‘Ireland’s ultimate student band”.

Danny explains how moving from the hustle and bustle of London to the remote, unspoiled beauty of West Kerry subconsciously helped to inspire a more chilled, mature and electronic style and a record that shows they’re not afraid to take risks.

See Pages 16-17

GAZETTE

14 GAZETTE 15 June 2017

DUBLINLIFE

DIARY

Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton chats with Aoibheann Clancy as fellow pupils from St Vincent de Paul Infant School, Griffith Avenue (Henry Cronin, Michael O’Neill and Emma Lidierth), demonstrate the old maxim about ‘Hear no evil ...’, now updated for media, advertising and fake news. Picture: Andres Poveda

NEW INITIATIVE: HELPING OUR CHILDREN TO MAKE SENSE OF THE MEDIA WORLD AROUND THEM

‘Fake news’ course for kids A NEW, free educational resource to help teach primary schoolchildren about the media, advertising and fake news has been launched.

The “MediaWise” initiative from Safefood is an eight-week programme suitable for primary school children of all ages. It has been designed to help children makes sense of the media world around them. Education Minister Richard Bruton attended the launch.

Fiona Gilligan, director, marketing and communications, safefood said: “We know from research that children are bombarded with hundreds of media messages every day, whether that’s advertising, commercial sponsorships, online gaming or social media.

Our own research has revealed that children as young as three see upwards of 1,000 TV ads for unhealthy foods over the course of a year.

“Safefood’s rem it includes the promotion of health amongst children, and with their exposure to so many messages, MediaWise is about helping them evaluate, interpret and critique these to make healthy choices.”

ACCESSIBLE BUS FOR WHEELCHAIR USER’S B OY Z O N E ’ S K e i t h Duffy launched a new accessible bus for wheelchair user’s to support the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) in Clontarf on June 7.

Duffy, along with IWA members and their families, local community sup-

porters, businesses, and Clontarf Castle assisted IWA to raise the necessary funds to purchase the bus. The launch was met by celebration afterwards which took place at IWA’s National Headquarters, in Clontarf.

customers to understand their entitlements and meet their tax and duty obligations.”

Revenue has warned users of its PAYE Anytime service that the function will no longer be available as of June 19.

MAJOR REDESIGN FOR REVENUE’S SITE

PETER PAN COMES TO POWERSCOURT

REVENUE has updated its website which is the first major redesign since 2008. Information through the website is now widely accessible through various different devices such as Android.

New features also include feedback facility which allows users to share their views and suggestions with Revenue at the click of a button.

According to their press release: “Our aim is to make it easier for

FOR one day only, on June 25, Neverland will be brought back to life with a production of Peter Pan in Powerscourt Gardens. This open air event begins at 1:30pm in Enniskerry, County Wicklow.

In association with Chapter House Theatre Company, award winning writer Laura Turner creates her own adaptation of JM Barrie’s original story.

Tickets can be booked

for €16 for children.

Adult prices are €19 and a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) are €56.

SPORTS DAY FUN FOR A WORTHY CAUSE LAW firm, Eversheds Sutherland is hosting its 7th annual Sports Day corporate fundraising event in Herbert Park from 4pm onwards on Thursday, June 15.

Eversheds Sutherland’s aim is to join the business community together and encourage donations to the children’s charity, Barretstown.

By attending you can enjoy a fun filled day of sports, along with a barbecue later on, for a good cause.

Refresh your memory and embrace nostalgia with activities including the three legged race, the

egg and spoon race and the climbing wall, among numerous others.

Irish Olympic runner, David Matthews, has even arranged a special fitness challenge for those more adventurous hopefuls.

Barretstown’s ethos is

to aid children and their families whom have been affected by serious illness, with a specific focus on cancer.

You can take part in this event by contacting Mark Hughes at sportsday@barretstown.org or by calling 045-864115.

Former Boyzone singer Keith Duffy helps to launch a new accessible bus for wheelchair users

15 June 2017 GAZETTE 15

GAZETTE

FEATURE

BODY LANGUAGE: LEADING EXPERT TRACEY COX REVEALS WHAT’S BEHIND YOUR SQUEEZE

What your squeeze says about you?

AS part of the launch of the HTC U11, with a revolutionary new squeeze interaction, HTC has partnered with one of the world’s leading body language experts, Tracey Cox, to analyse our everyday “squeeze”; what it says about our personality and what that squeeze communicates to others.

The U11 brings a new age of phone interaction, where a simple squeeze allows the user to take photos, launch their favourite apps, text on the go and more.

Tracey said: “Nothing is more powerful and significant than a squeeze or touch. Even the smallest squeeze resonates so be aware of every touch and the implications it has – each has the power to make us feel loved and wanted or rejected.

“Don’t underestimate the

power of the daily squeeze – it’s needed now, more than ever. The more you touch and squeeze others and are touched and squeezed yourself, the happier and healthier we’ll all be.”

Tracey has identified eight types of everyday squeezes, the messages they communicate and the implications every squeeze has.

hold their torso away and there’s no direct eye contact.

Romantic Squeeze: This is when the upper torsos are press together. Effectively your holding the other person against your heart and saying ‘I love you’ using your entire body.

The Power Squeeze - Powerful people will shake with their palm turned down. A strong handshake from both individuals with palms parallel transmits respect and rapport.

Flirtatious Squeeze: If someone wants to let you know that they are interested in more than friendship, they will give you an extra squeeze at the end of a hug, and when pulling back make direct eye contact.

The Fake Squeeze - This squeeze is the equivalent of the air kiss: the person imitates a hug without giving one. They’ll lean forward with their shoulders but

The Sexy Squeeze - Hip hugs are naughtier and lustier than waist embraces. If the person tries to pull their torso away, they’re trying to keep the relationship platonic.

Insecure Squeeze: If we are unsure of someone’s feelings for us, we revert to the kind of hug we’d seek from our parents - we nestle our face into someone’s neck, implying a desire for security.

The Best Friend Squeeze: Most public squeezes involve embracing the shoulders, not the waist. The waist hug is often nicknamed ‘the friendly hug’.

The Dominant Squeeze: High squeezes show dominance: the person who hugs highest is nearly always the dominant one.

The HTC U11 can be purchased now, sim free on www.htc. com/ie from €749 and in a range of five colours.

15 June 2017 GAZETTE 17

DUBLINLIFE

 JAMES HENDICOTT LONG SEEN as Ireland’s ultimate student band, The Coronas’ evolution has been an odd one.

Rarely given the media credit that their sizeable sell-out shows might suggest they warrant, the lively four-piece are firmly established on our shores, having played the country’s largest indoor gig venue (the 3Arena) and headlined numerous festivals.

For much of the last few years, however, their Irish successes have been conducted from abroad, with The Coronas living together on London as they tried to break into a larger market, with mixed success.

Having now returned home – a move that, bizarrely, precedes their largest ever London show latest this year, in the Kentish Town Forum – life is moving on fast.

New album ‘Trust The Wire’ – a reference to taking chances – represents probably the band’s most substantive change in style since they started out 14 years ago, taking in a broad range of genres and instrumentation. It’ll be released on a newly-established band-run label, too.

“We didn’t sit down and decide to do things differently,” frontman Danny O’Reilly told The Gazette.

“It just evolved. We wrote the album in Dingle, instead of London like the last album, and I think there was a subconscious impact of that in the sound.

“It’s very electronic, chilled and mature, written from a place of calm. I think you can sense the change lyrically, too.”

“It’ll be our first record on the new label, and we’re excited about that,” he adds.

“It makes sense for us financially now that we’re in a place where we can promote ourselves, and really take control of what we’re doing. We’ve actually done more promotion on this album than other ones, even though we didn’t have that major label backing, so it seems to be going well.”

Label “I don’t want to say anything that sounds like I’m putting down [previous label] Universal, as they were really good to us, but this is the right move, and it’s a really exciting time. With a bit of luck, the label might outlive the band.”

The band, clearly, are growing up fast.

O’Reilly is the son of Mary Black, so he’s always been around the music scene, and recalls attending shows before his age hit double figures, and seems to live for the music.

With marriage and life commitments coming into play for other members of the band, however sharing a house all together in London wasn’t proving practical anymore.

If anything, the time apart – and separate experiences – has made The Coronas’ writing process more imaginative when they’ve come back together.

A TRIP THROUGH THE WIRE

The Coronas are back from London with a new sound, a new album, and a Dingle take on life

MUSIC

N O S ’ T A H W

E D I U G S T N EVE

with JAMES HENDICOTT

Jeff Goldblum Day

Lighthouse Cinema celebrates the American actor in the first of what it plans to be an annual day in his honour. The first offering - on June 16 - will feature The Lost World, Independence Day and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, scheduled to allow viewing of all three back to back.

Radiohead

Long since sold out, the trendy Oxford indie-stars hit up the 3Arena for a sure-to-impress show with its textured variety and nuance hits. Expect a few big tracks, an exploration of the RADIOHEAD, 3 ARENA dingy corners of the back catalogue and lots of beautifully dark rumblings to bed it all down. June 20

Redhead Fest

A whole weekend celebrating what it is to be ginger. South Park might have joked that the carrot-topped have no soul, but we beg to differ: Bar Rua’s celebration of all things ‘strawberry blonde’ on the 17th and 18th of June is in honour of MS Ireland, and features music and themed fun.

Renegrade

Like an open mic, but for circus performers, Renegade returns to the Dublin Circus Project on June 17 for a weird and wacky BYOB event designed to offer a showcase for any member of the audience choosing to step on stage. They’ll be rewards for participation in a lively show.

The Great Gatsby Rave

Morning Gloryville bring their weekday morning party concept to Cafe En Seine for a 6.30am ‘rave’ based on the classic novel.

That means being suited and booted for a Wednesday morning of high-class shape throwing on June 21.

Ham Sandwich at Leopardstown

The Bulmers Live at Leopardstown events continue with one of Ireland’s finest live acts. Ham Sandwich will join the horses at the racetrack for the great-value music and racing event on June 22.

Wandering Rocks: Journey Inside Ulysses

Joyce’s classic story gets a revamp for the annual Bloomsday celebrations courtesy of Happenings, who have set up a citywide exploration involving performance and interactive maps.

“We work best just locked away for a month,” O’Reilly explains of the trip to Dingle to write this record, after deciding they needed some “time off, including from the high rent,” and time to spend on their own lives. Dingle, and the album recording, was the perfect reunion.

“They’ve got the whole musical history down there, with [RTE televised festival] OtherVoices, as well as all kinds of artists, films, food, and it’s that extra hour away from Killarney, which makes it that much more out of the way. We’ve all been down to Dingle since we were

on kids’ holidays, so it feels very normal to be there, but it’s a special place.”

Initial reactions to the album have been strong, though O’Reilly admits that he’s developed a high tolerance of negative reviews and critical commentary, preferring to let fans judge.

Critical “We were never really critical darlings, and often written off as ‘just’ a student band,” O’Reilly argues.

“I’ve got pretty thick skin about it now, to the point

where, as is often the case in music, I’d worry that a good review might mean it won’t sell. But then again, this has been getting quite good reviews. We’ve played a few tracks live over the last few months, and they’ve been going down well, and the single seems popular with fans. That’s more important, really.”

The fans are certainly still buying from the band, anyhow, with The Coronas set to play their biggest headline show to date this summer, at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in front of an audience of 15,000.

“We’re sort of at different stages as a band in differ-

ent places,” O’Reilly says of the huge range of audience sizes they perform before regularly. “We play big venues in Ireland. We’d play Ulster Hall in Belfast and we’re a bit bigger in London than in the rest of the UK. It’s totally different depending on where you go.”

“We’d be looking at Coldplay and trying to take aspects of their show that we like, trying to put on a really big stage show for something like Kilmainham.

We’ve always invested in production; in our performance. Obviously you can’t do that in the same way when you’re playing in front of an audience of a few

hundred, and that would totally change your setlist, too. But for something like Kilmainham, it’s really important for us to make an effort with what we do on stage; for it to be about more than the music.”

As for their latest incarnation as a band – the more mature, evolved version of The Coronas?

“We chose the title ‘Trust The Wire’ because it represents us as a band on this album. We’re refocusing, realigning our own ambition and trying not to doubt ourselves,” O’Reilly concludes. “We’re really taking the plunge.”

GAZETTE

GAZETTE

16 GAZETTE 15 June 2017

Summer Solstice

Celebrate the first day of summer with a Merrion Square picnic event to feature music and yoga, a slackline, and a lot of extras yet to be announced. With a little luck, the weather will match the mood...

New album of the week

Royal Blood - How Did We Get So Dark? Fresh from supporting Guns N’ Roses at Slane, the brazen two-piece return with a short, pulsating second album that’s sure to see the Brighton pair shaking a few floorboards once again.

DUBLINLIFE Ravenscliff waterproof shell €160 Regatta Great Outdoors, hunter green

Rolex C Weir osmogra p & So ns €P h Dayton a OA

GAZETTE

18 GAZETTE 15 June 2017

Arnotts

Happy

ay Gif ther’s D a F s k c So

5

t Set €2

Aldi Fathers Day Glasses €4.99 per set Aldi Moccasin Slippers €7.99

PAYOT H o m m e Soin Re En e r g iz veil in g Care €36

DELAROM Homme Eau Sport €34

ALEX AND ANI create bangle in aid of Pieta House

ALEX AND ANI Charity

by Design butterfly bangle will retail at €36

MEANINGFUL jewellery brand, ALEX AND ANI have created a Charity By Design bangle in aid of Pieta House.

The bangle, which has a butterfly charm, carries the meaning of renewal, strength and rebirth.

Ten percent of every bangle sold goes directly to Pieta House – which offers free-of-charge therapy to those suffering from suicidal ideation, those who have been bereaved by suicide and people who are engaging in self-harm - with a minimum donation of €5,000 promised.

The Charity By Design Collection focuses on

organisations whose mission aligns with the three main causes that ALEX AND ANI strive to support; community development and relief, health and wellness and environmental and animal care.

“The butterfly represents change, beauty, and diversity and it’s a great symbol of hope and strength and of a future for clients of Pieta House and for all of us,” said Pieta House CEO Brian Higgins.

The ALEX AND ANI Charity by Design butterfly bangle will retail at €36 from all ALEX AND ANI stockists and from www.Arnotts.ie and via the Detail of butterfly charm Pieta House website www.pieta.ie

15 June 2017 GAZETTE 19

GAZETTE

STYLE

Aldi ELECTRIC SHAVER €19.99

AppliancesDelivered.ie Krups Nespresso Pixie Coffee Machine €149.95

Blue Solid Oxford Button-down Tailored Fit Shirt, €89, Magee 1866, www.magee1866.com

KING Treat your dad like a

Genius, Powerscourt Centre, Saddler Belt €59.95

 EMMA NOLAN, Style Editor

River Island Brown LatticeDetail Holdall €60

Arnotts Kiehls Nourishing Beard Grooming Oil €30

Sony XB10 EXTRA BASS Portable Wireless Speaker €70

WITH Father’s Day coming up next week, The Gazette has put together some great gift ideas for the dads in your life.

Put a smile on his face with some thoughtful presents for all budgets and tastes, whether he’s into gadgets, clothes, grooming or something a little more quirky.

GAZETTE

20 GAZETTE 15 June 2017

DUBLINLIFE

FEATURE

THEATRE : TELLING A TALE IN HOPE PEOPLE WILL BETTER UNDERSTAND REALITIES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Hard-hitting play exposes some awful, hidden abuse

 SYLVIA POWNALL

DUBLINER Fran Winston is daring to tread where few have gone before – delving into the world of domestic violence in a hard-hitting play inspired by her own experiences.

Fran’s experimental work – Arnica Was my Eyecream – will be staged at the International Bar on June 20, 21, 22 and 23 (see the Facebook page of the same title for details).

It tells the story of Nancy, a woman who finds herself masking black eyes with make-up when her new boyfriend, Marcus, turns out to be anything but Prince Charming.

Fran, originally from Ballymun but living in Rathgar, told The Gazette: “The play shows how sur prisingly ordinary the abusers are and how easy it is to fall victim.

“I decided to have Marcus appear to the audience as a virtual character, a looming shadow on the wall, because once you put a face on something it is nowhere near as terrifying as what you imagine in your head.”

Fran herself suffered domestic violence at the hands of a former partner who now lives abroad.

She recalls how despite describing herself as a “strong, intelligent woman” it took a drastic series of events for her to realise how she was being manipulated and abused.

She said: “Ironically I met him while I was rehearsing lines for MacBeth in the International Bar. I bumped into him again a few years later and he was very charm-

ing ...

“We had only been going out four weeks when he came home after having a row with someone at work and started throwing me around. The next day he was incredibly apologetic and I genuinely did think it was a one-off.

“But it got steadily worse.

There were nights when he’d pull me around by the hair and nearly pull it out of my head. He broke my eye socket one night.

“The night I graduated with my MA, gardai had to call an ambulance because he battered me so badly the whole right side of my face was swollen.

“Once they get to the point where they’ve hit you in the face and you’ve gone out in public and tried to cover it up, they think they won’t get caught and it gets more frequent.”

Fran, who plays the role of Nancy, hopes the production helps highlight the issue in the hope that others recognise the signs and victims feel better able to report it.

She also wants legislation to change to offer more protection from abusers.

She said: “[Gardai] have to take it seriously. One in five women will be victims of domestic abuse, yet nobody wants to talk about it.

“On average, a woman will be assaulted 35 times by her partner or ex before reporting it.

“This is Nancy’s story, but it is many people’s story, and it is happening to someone you know right now. She tells her tale in the hope that people will better understand the realities of domestic violence.”

Fran Winston has drawn on her own experience of being assaulted by a partner to create a play exploring the realities of hidden domestic abuse

15 June 2017 GAZETTE 21

EXPERIENCE the American dream this year for less – GoHop. ie is offering exclusive deals on USA United Airways flights booked

by June 19.

Try your luck in Las Vegas from only €580, or shop ‘til you drop at Bloomingdale’s on a weekend away in NYC from only €396.

Soak up the Californian sunshine with a visit to the home of the stars, Los Angeles, from only €388 or treat your kids to a fun-filled family getaway in the home of Disney, with flights to Orlando from only €468.

If those USA deals don’t whet your appetite, then why not head up north and explore the beautiful sights of Canada?

Explore the dynamic metropolis of Toronto from only €448 or choose a stunning city that blends cultures and landscapes with a visit to Vancouver from €326.

Make sure you book

by June 19 to avail of these amazing United Airways rates, exclusive to GoHop.ie.

Prices are subject to dates and availability.

All prices are flight only and based on return economy fares.

For more information or to book, see www.

GoHop.ie or call the experts at 01 241 2389.

Early Bird Package holiday newbies Ryanair are offering seven nights staying at the Atlantic Choice Studio 17 hotel in Portimao on the Algarve in Portugal for an amazing €188 PPS. The price is based on dates in October and includes flights, transfers, luggage and accommodation on a self-catering basis.

Spain’s hidden gems

GAZETTE

Hop to it and catch some great deals to the US, Canada

TRAVEL

HIDDEN GEM: Just an hour’s drive north from Barcelona, Besalu is a wonderful medieval town in Cataluna and is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Spain.

 SYLVIA POWNALL Travel Editor

The old prison right at the entrance to Pedraza

Arcos de la Frontera is one of Andalucia’s most dramatically positioned white villages

THE holiday map of the world is changing and fears of terror strikes mean old favourites like Egypt,Tunisia and Turkey are not looking quite as appealing.

Spain continues to top the list for Irish holidaymakers – but have you ever considered foregoing the fish bowls and foam parties of the livelier resorts in favour of some exploring off the beaten track instead?

Flights in and out of pretty much any Spanish airport have never been so affordable, and price comparison sites like Booking.com and Trivago can throw up hotel and guest house accommodation at a fraction of what you think they might cost.

Here are some of our favourite hidden gems.

Besalu Besalu might just be the most interesting Spanish village you’ve never heard of.

The moment you pass over the trademark 12th century bridge you know you’ve entered a magical medieval world.

It’s a picture postcard adventure at every turn from the narrow alleyways of the Jewish district adorned with Romanesque engravings to the seductive tapas bars boasting some of the best regional cuisine in Cataluna.

For a town with a population of just 2,500 it has plenty to offer – including the quirky Museum of Miniatures and the ruins of the 13th century Jewish baths. It’s a one-hour drive north from Barcelona, and well worth the visit.

Galicia Home to three islands off northwest Spain which were voted No 3 in Lonely Planet’s top 10 best up-andcoming destinations to visit in 2017.

And with their white sands, turquoise waters, rich marine life and laid-back pace it’s easy to see why.

The Romans referred to them as the “islands of the Gods” but more recently they’ve become known as the Galician Caribbean or Seychelles.

Rodas has been named as one of the 10 best beaches in the world and a strict limit of 2,200 tourists a day keeps the crowds away.

The islands are a ferry ride from the nearest airport in Vigo.

However the only accommodation is camping, so if you prefer things a little less rustic head for the rural hotel of Quinta de San Amaro just two miles inland in the O Salnes area of western Galicia. Here you can enjoy the gastronomic delights, unspoilt beaches and water sports with rooms from just €80 a night.

Arcos de la Frontera This is undisputedly the reigning king of Andalucia’s famous White Villages, though it has stiff competition from Frigiliana whose cluster of white washed homes and picturesque courtyards give it a good run for its money.

Arcos de la Frontera is a charming cliff-top hamlet only an hour’s drive from Cadiz.

Widely considered one of Spain’s most beautiful villages, its charm lies in its narrow streets and immaculate white walls decorated with flowering vines and colourful tilework.

One of this village’s main draws its location with the beach, the spectacular Donana National Park, the Grazalema Mountains, and the splendours of Seville all little more than an hour’s drive away.

Pedraza Drive 90 minutes north of Madrid and you will find one of the jewels of central Spain.

While the regional capital, Segovia, has attracted international travellers for years, Pedraza is a favourite among locals due to its imposing 2castle, impressive views, and an atmosphere steeped in 16th century history.

Photo ops abound and there is plenty of striking architecture to see, but Pedraza is most famous for its hearty cuisine based on local specialties like lamb and suckling pig roasted in wood-fire ovens.

Best of the rest: The sleepy village of Banyalbufar is nestled in the Tramontana Mountains of western Mallorca surrounded by countryside which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The tiny white village of Casares lies just 45 minutes west of the bustling tourist hub of Marbella, offering stunning views of the Straits of Gibraltar from its 12th century castle.

The fishing village of Cudillero boasts splendid views of mountain and sea, and a lively marina area.

The famous village of Ronda, best known for its bull fights and unrivalled scenery, recalls a regal era and is regarded as one of Spain’s most beautiful destinations.

GAZETTE

22 GAZETTE 15 June 2017

DUBLINLIFE

FASTNews

Dacia’s 5th birthday celebrations will take place at Dublin dealerships until this weekend, where there will be a test drive competition to win a new Sandero Stepway SE Summit Edition 1.5 dCi90 to the value of €17,290

Success Story – Duster wipes the floor with SUV competitors WITH over 14,000 cars registered since its launch in July 2012, Dacia has proved itself a massive success story in the Irish motor industry.

The Renault owned brand is now outperforming some well-established names that have been around for over 40 years.

Dacia has sold more than 8,000 versions of the Duster, with its chunky SUV style appealing to Irish motorists at its affordable price of €16,690. The first Dacia to arrive on Irish soil was Duster, followed by Sandero, then Sandero Stepway and finally the Logan MCV. The full range now includes new versions of all models as well as Stepway versions of Sandero and a newly launched Logan MCV Stepway.

To celebrate five years in Ireland, Dacia will offer zero deposit and 4.9% APR PCP finance across the range for all orders taken and registered by July 31.

Fiat dropping prices for 500X across the range FIAT is now offering a 172 registration guaranteed scrappage bonus of €3,000 for Pop Star and Cross versions of the Fiat 500X, plus price reductions of up to 12% across the range. The 500X comes in four trim levels and off-road versions are also available.

The Pop Star trim replaces Pop and prices start from €19,995, reduced from €22,250. It features 16” alloy wheels, 5” touchscreen radio with Bluetooth, Uconnect live services, body-coloured wing mirrors, leather steering wheel, rear parking sensors, electric windows, electric handbrake, cruise control with speed limiter, air-conditioning, fog lights with cornering function, space saver spare wheel and six speakers.

Fiat has dropped prices for the 500X range by 12% to stimulate demand for the Italian brand compact SUV

BMW bounces back with latest 5 series

BMW’s latest 5 Series models bounce back on the market with new levels of performance, economy and enhanced driver features. The 5 Series has always been a great driver’s car and the new generation brings that to a new level, as MICHAEL MORONEY found out when he pushed the BMW 520d M Sport saloon metal to the floor.

BMW’s new 520d M Sport saloon bounces back in the market with improved styling and a host of driver features designed to make the car an even better driving experience. The styling changes for the new BMW 5 Series are subtle, you’ll still not mistake the car for being a 5 Series, it’s just that the design is sharper and more modern, giving kind of faster look to it.

Almost every aspect of the new BMW 5 Series has been re-engineered for a level of performance that still keeps a focus on economy. The new car is lighter while being more powerful than before and marginally more spacious.

BMW rate the car in terms of power to weight and given that they have shaved over 100kg from the car’s weight and added more power, the figure of 11kg per kW of engine power, is impressive.

When you drive the seventh generation 520d M Sport saloon, the styling and optional features ensure that the driving experience is a good one.

The new 520d M Sport saloon is very much a driver’s car. The engine performance is such that irrespective of which of the performance settings chosen, Sport Comfort, EcoPro or Comfort, you’ll still enjoy the driving experience.

The four-cylinder twinturbo diesel engine powering the BMW 520d M Sport has an output of 190hp at 4,000rpm and that’s a match for the

The new BMW 520d M Sport saloon is impressive in performance and economy for such a large car. The entry prices start from €56,980 and the extra option list is extensive and sometime expensive adding over €16,000 to the cost of the test car driven.

BMW 520d M Sport Saloon

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine 2.0 litre Engine power 190hp 0 – 100km/hr 7.5 seconds Economy 21km/litre

(4.7/100km or 60mpg) Fuel Tank Capacity 66 litres CO2 emissions 114g/km Road Tax Band A4 €200 Main Service 20,000km/12 months Euro NCAP Rating 5 star (2017) Warranty 3 years (100,000km) Entry Price €56,980 competition in terms of the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E220d. And the torque performance is a match too with all three coming in at a maximum torque figure of 400Nm. For the BMW 520d M Sport that converts to impressive range with the full 66 litre capacity fuel tank. While I recorded an economy figure of close to

40% off the rated figure of 23km/litre (4.3/100km or 65mpg), I was still getting over 950km on the tank.

That’s impressive economy for a big car and a car that can perform on the road, if and when needed.

The automatic gearbox is smooth running through an eight-speed Steptronic system. This helps to achieve the good fuel economy figures and

with the EcoPro setting you can maximise your economy targets.

BMW has put a lot of effort into reducing the overall weight of the new 5 Series as well as the drag co-efficient. They claim that the lower weight is achieved by using more aluminium including the boot lid, which alone shaved 4.2kg from the car’s weight.

This new car comes with a SIM card built in as standard for the ConnectedDrive Services.

The system brings new levels of connectivity and access to the portfolio of BMW services without being dependent on the customer’s own smartphone.

These services include the Concierge Service, Online Entertainment, and the RTTI (Real Time Traffic Information) that allows BMW 5 Series drivers to avoid traffic

jams. There’s also the Intelligent Emergency Call system.

There is a host of automatic safety features in the new BMW 520d M Sport saloon, including traffic sign recognition and the lane departure system that comes close to giving autonomous driving. The lane departure system took a little getting used to, and it’s a sign of what’s coming in future generations.

The new BMW 520d M Sport is a solidly impressive driver’s car that’s competitive at €56,980 with the A6 and E220d.

All three come with significant extras available in their options listing making it so easy to push up the price of your final choice of car.

This is a great driver’s car that should be costeffective to own due to its impressive economy and low CO2 rating.

15 June 2017 GAZETTE 23

SUPER STONIC

KIA has provided some teaser images of the new Kia Stonic compact crossover that will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The new car will go on sale in Ireland at the end of October.

The Stonic is comes with European design flair, inspired by the form and function of larger Kia SUV’s. The name ‘Stonic’ combines ‘Speedy’ and ‘Tonic’, which refers to the first and last note in the musical scale.

Kia claims that the Stonic suggests will offers something new and fresh in the compact SUV segment.

Kia claims that the Stonic will be the most customisable Kia ever – inside and out. The new car has unique tail lamp graphics to amplify Stonic’s young and futuristic appearance. It combines compact dimensions with a low centre of gravity.

The European-designed cabin echoes the appearance of the exterior, with straight lines, smooth surfaces and geometric design forms. The Stonic’s comes with claims of smart packaging to maximise space for all occupants.

GAZETTE

MOTORING

New Irish national sales manager for Citroen & DS IM European Motors Ltd, importers of the Citroen and DS brands in Ireland, has appointed Kevin Hilliard as national sales manager. With over 30 years’ experience in the motor industry in the UK and Ireland, Kevin has worked with several leading marques, including Ford, Honda, BMW and Mazda.

Kevin’s most recent role was national sales and after sales manager for Mazda Ireland. Previous to this, Kevin was director of operations for a large privately-owned group in the UK with 40 dealerships, responsible for Honda and BMW dealerships.

Kevin was also dealer principal for Inchcape BMW, running the flagship dealership of the division, in Kent.

On his relocation to Ireland in 2009, Kevin held the roles of BMW dealer principal and head of group and after sales with the Keary Motor Group, Cork. Kevin is married with three children.

In his spare time, he enjoys football Kevin Hilliard and Formula One.

GAZETTE

24 FINGAL GAZETTE 15 June 2017

DUBLINLIFE

CINEMA

WONDER WOMAN: IT’S FLAWED AND TOO LONG – BUT A GOOD INTRODUCTION FILM

ReelReviews

It’s almost a wonder that it’s a fun DC film

FINALLY, at long last, the DC “Expanded Universe” gives us a superhero worth rooting for – a worthy response to the boys club dominating top billing in Marvel’s pen, and a breath of fresh air after all the other brooding, dreary offerings in DC’s canon.

Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman (Cert 12A, 141 mins) is a hero we’re happy to follow into battle: powerful without inhabiting Superman’s tiresome god-mode; deep enough to provoke genuine empathy without all the sulkiness of Ben Affleck’s Batman.

Wonder Woman is a wonderfully well-rounded character, kicking ass while maintaining an optimism that always has us cheering from her corner, eager for the next battle.

Unfortunately, Wonder Woman, realised by filmmaker Patty Jenkins (director of 2003’s award-winning Monster), isn’t quite a strong enough vehicle to carry its titular heroine, suffer-

 MARTIN MACNAMARA

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

‘We’re very fortunate that ... Wonder Woman is as good as it is’

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

ing from a bloated running time and some poor supporting characterisation.

There’s a huge amount of promise here, but despite its stellar central turn, Wonder Woman fails to bring the fight on all fronts.

T h e f i l m ’s l a b o r i ous first act takes place entirely on the island paradise of Themiskira, where the Amazons – a race of warrior women created by the Gods of Olympus – live in peace.

Diana, princess of the Amazons, learns the way

of the warrior from her aunt, General Antiope (Robin Wright) , ever ready for the return of Ares, God of War. When American spy Steve Trevor ’s plane crash lands off the island’s coast, he is saved from drowning

by Diana, setting off a chain of events that will find her leaving home to fight alongside a rag-tag group of mercenaries in the First World War. It’s here that Wonder Woman really finds its feet. The second act plays out much like Marvel’s Captain America: The First Avenger, with its alternative history narrative of superheroes vs war-mongering Germans (the WWI setting is a nice change, leaving plenty of room of dynamic alternate history-building).

Wonder Women really evokes a space somewhere between the fishout-of-water fantasy of Thor and the man-outof-time adventure of Captain America.

The resultant humour in Wonder Woman is

THE MUMMY

So pharaoh, so bad FOR those of you looking to see what’s already being widely described as Tom Cruise’s worst film, here’s The Mummy (Cert 15A, 110 mins). The harshly received creature reboot hasn’t done Tom any favours, with its tired plot, unlikely setpieces and Russell Crowe’s scenerychewing hamminess about as welcome as sand in your sandwich. Mummy, let’s hope Universal finds a better franchise to reboot.

GUARDIANS 2

A colourful sequel indeed YES, Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 2 (Cert 12A, 136 mins) is still playing at the cinema, bringing some technicolour cheer to the masses. Sure, it’s a bit of a derivative sequel, but it’s presented with such fan-pleasing confidence – and has Kurt Russell’s cheerfully hammy turn providing some fun laughs – that it’s hard not to like the Guardian’s latest adventure, with a small dash of soul searching too.

Israeli actress Gal Gadot brings the requisite beauty to the role of a princess, Diana (AKA Wonder Woman), as well as fleshing out Diana’s intelligence and humanity

arguably better than both, and the star gets to deliver all the film’s best lines.

Chris Pine does a great job as the film’s love interest, again turning things on their head as the dude in distress, rather than the damsel.

In fact, it’s Pine that shows the most skin in Wonder Woman – which leads us to another of the film’s finer points.

The camera never sexually aestheticises Diana; it never ogles her or lingers in the places a jaded,

more cynical moviegoer would expect it to.

This is a movie that needed to be made and we’re very fortunate that, given the state of DC’s cinematic output thus far, Wonder Woman is as good as it is.

However, following that wonderful middle act, Wonder Woman just isn’t good enough.

It drags on way too long, introduces characters that do little to further the plot or provide dramatic depth, and gets bogged down with an

over-abundance of slowmotion – without which Wonder Woman’s run time would have been a lot more bearable (Zach Snyder’s stylistic legacy is very much felt here).

Regardless, Wonder Woman inspires hope for future DC instalments – for an inevitable sequel, in particular.

DC may be beginning to hit its stride and it’s Wonder Woman leading the pack, rather than the Man of Steel ... an exciting prospect indeed!

Verdict: 6/10

BAYWATCH

Gives a sinking feeling NOW dropping out of cinemas quicker than an anchor chucked overboard, Baywatch (Cert 15A, 116 mins) looks set to hold onto its early title as one of the worst films of the year.

The foul-mouthed remake of the fondly-remembered (by some) silly old TV show hasn’t gone down well at all, with The Rock and Zac Efron pretty mismatched as a pair of would-be crimefighting lifeguards.

15 June 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 25

26 FINGAL GAZETTE 15 June 2017

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28 FINGAL GAZETTE 15 June 2017

SPORT

FastSport IRISH DUO SIGN TERMS WITH BELGIAN CLUBS: JEREMY Duncan and Lee Cole will both play their hockey in Belgium next season, switching to Herakles and Royal Oree, respectively, for the 2017/18 season.

Duncan moves from UCD following four seasons at Belfield having previously played with Railway Union.

He has linked up with the Lier-based club from the outskirts of Antwerp, signing terms with a club on the rise following their second place finish in the Audi Hockey League.

Cole, meanwhile, switches to Brusselsbased Oree from Monkstown where he has played his entire career to date.

Both players have been major parts of the Irish team since the turn of the year, lining out in the gold medal run at Hockey World League Round 2 in Stormont and in the series victory over Pakistan last week in Lisnagarvey. Next on the agenda is the Hamburg Masters in a fortnight’s time.

PENTATHLON: DUNDRUM STAR ADDING TO IRISH GROWTH IN FIVE-PRONG SPORT

Coleman Lenehan gunning for Dublin Laser-Run battle

 sport@dublingazette.com

DUNDRUM’s Kate Coleman Lenehan is hoping to raise her profile as one of Ireland’s rising pentathlon stars when Dublin hosts a major international event – the Laser-Run World Championships – in the unique city-centre location of Smithfield next year.

Laser-Run, a combination of running 800m loops and target-shooting with laser pistols, is usually the fifth element of modern pentathlon but is also a standalone sport.

The championships will take place in September 2018 and will attract 450 athletes from over 20 countries to Dublin and will also include a new competition for Irish schools.

And Coleman Lenehan was on hand to launch the event, saying: “I’m delighted to see this event come to Ireland.

We never had the opportunity to try out a dynamic sport like the laser-run when I was in school so I think it’s fantastic that children across Ireland can now have a go and even compete in a nationwide competition. The track will be

Kate Coleman Lenehan at the Laser-Run world championship announcement. Picture: Morgan Treacy./Inpho

open to the public on the eve of the 2018 World Championships so it’s an ideal opportunity for anyone to try it out!”

She recently qualified for the World Cup finals, joining the likes of Donnybrookbased Arthur LaniganO’Keeffe and former King’s

Hospital student Natalya Coyle in the upper realms of the sport.

Coyle hailed her protege, Coleman Lenehan, for her efforts: “It’s her first time to qualify for that and it’s really great to see that there’s more people coming through. She’ll

be competing in the individual event and is part of our high-performance squad who all train together.”

Coyle and LaniganO’Keeffe recently won gold on the World Cup mixed doubles circuit but their hopes of this variation of the sport

were dashed last week with news that the International Olympic Committee would not be adding it to the schedule of events for Tokyo 2020.

Individually, Coyle – who also swims with the NAC club – was ninth on her Olympic debut in London 2012 and has just been upgraded to sixth in Rio 2016 after the fourth-placed Chinese finisher was disqualified for doping.

Lanigan-O’Keeffe won the European title in 2015 and finished eighth in Rio yet they are even better as a pair.

The won relay gold at pentathlon’s World Cup Finals in America last year and travel to Lithuania on June 22-25 to defend that title after topping the relay podium again at the latest World Cup, in Poland.

“We are really well suited to relay because it is half the distance that we usually do individually and we’re both naturally ‘power athletes’ who are best suited to shorter, sprint distances,” Coyle explained.

Pentathlon Ireland is offering free training programmes for Irish schools. For more details see: www.pentathlon. ie.

Leinster Lightning blitz Knights with batting display  BERNARD DUFF sport@dublingazette.com

Leinster Lightning captain John Anderson saw his side home against the Northern Knights.

FOR Leinster Lighting, it was back to T20 cricket action on Friday evening in Merrion Cricket Club with the second round of games in the Hanley Interpro T20 Trophy.

Leinster had completed out a drawn first class fixture just 48 hours earlier in Belfast against the Northern Knights and it was the same opposition who did battle on Friday.

The Knights chose to bat and were given a head start by Leinster opening bowler Eddie Richardson

who gifted five separate wides in the first over leaving Knights, 13/0. The rest of the powerplay was a struggle as the Lightning claimed a wicket in each of the next three overs.

The Knights reached 48/3 at the end of the powerplay but next ball Shane Getkate (on four) drove the ball high into the hands of fellow Malahide product Peter Chase at mid-off off Bobby Gamble’s pace bowling. Gamble ended with figures of 3 for 25.

The Knights fought back through a hard hitting 40-run partnership by Knights’ cap-

tain James Shannon and Greg Thompson before recent Ireland debutant Simi Singh spun out Shannon on 51.

With four sixes in his 51, the Knights skipper had done his work. At 88/5 Nik Smith came to bat. A partnership was 57 runs resulted before Singh claimed his second wicket.

The tail didn’t wag for the Knights though and through unhittable spin from Singh, the Knights scored just 16 runs off their last three overs. Singh finished with match best figures of 3 for 19.

The Leinster reply, chasing 158 was swift and at times brutal.

Andrew Balbirnie opened the innings and powered to 71 not out off just 44 deliveries. Short cameos by Railway Union’s Kevin O’Brien and all-rounder Simi Singh kept Leinster ticking along.

Balbirnie was joined by Leinster captain John Anderson in the 10th over. Anderson, with a more crafty style of batting than Balbirnie, placed the ball impeccably.

He finished on 41 not out as Leinster reached 158 with a massive six at the start of the 18th over with seven wickets to spare.

15 June 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 29

GAZETTE

FASTSport

McIlroy offers unique Irish Open experience THE Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation is teaming up with VOX Golf and Rory McIlroy to offer golfers a unique experience ahead of the prestigious Rolex Series event, which takes place from July 6-9.

Golf Sixes with Rory is a six-hole competition throughout the island of Ireland, with the qualifying events running until Wednesday, June 28.

The lucky winners of a six-hole competition will walk six holes inside the ropes with Rory McIlroy during this year’s tournament.

To compete, golfers need to download the VoxGolf app, select their course and enter the “Golf Sixes with Rory” competition by playing any run of six holes – it must be the first six, middle six or final six holes of any course of your choice.

After you have played your six holes, simply submit your score and view a live leaderboard.

The best six scores from each course will qualify into a draw to win a special six-hole walk inside the ropes with Rory during the opening two rounds of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

Entry is completely free and golfers can enter as many times as they wish, with their best score counting. Entry is open to all GUI registered club members and MyGolf Group society players.

All golfers who enter the six-hole competition will receive the opportunity to purchase a discounted Dubai Duty Free Irish Open ticket and, in addition to that, will have the chance to win Nike apparel, Taylor Made equipment and tickets to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open this year forms part of the Rolex Series events, a premium category of eight European Tour events, with a record prize fund of $7 million.

As well as McIlroy, numerous golfing superstars have been already announced for the historic championship, including World Number Nine Jon Rahm and World Number 11 Justin Rose, with more to be announced in the coming weeks.

More details can be found at http://www. dubaidutyfreeirishopen.com/competition.

Joeys and Bray plot new pathway to elite football |Nestled in the foothills of the Dublin mountains, the SJB academy is looking to streamline the development of top young players at their new, high quality Carrickmines home  STEPHEN FINDLATER sport@dublingazette.com

BLINK and you will miss it. Tucked away on the Glenamuck Road, St Joseph’s Boys and Bray Wanderers’ ambitious incubator for youth talent got the grand opening last week with John Delaney and FAI high performance director Ruud Dokter negotiating the narrow, tree-lined country lane midway up the Dublin mountains.

It opens out to reveal the new training base, the SJB academy. For Joeys Director of Club Operations Will Clarke, the reclusive nature of the venue is a key benefit that lends itself to high performance.

Previously a training ground for Bective Rangers rugby club, the venue now comprises a fully floodlit grass pitch, a goalkeeper training area, two

fully floodlit small sided training pitches, dressing rooms, a medical room, a gym area, a performance analysis suite and meeting rooms.

It has been designed with an express purpose to streamline the pathway from schoolboy football at St Joseph’s Boys through to senior, professional football with Bray, working in line with the recently introduced League of Ireland Under-17 and 19 divisions with Under-15 and 13 leagues in the pipeline.

“It’s the nearest thing he has come to an English training ground in Ireland,” Clarke told GazetteSport. “It’s so isolated and you can do everything you want here. You have your goalkeeper’s areas, your striker’s areas, strength and conditioning, gym and video analysis all in one place.”

Speaking at the launch, St Joseph’s Niall O’Driscoll added: “We’d like to think this is the first dedicated academy for elite football in Ireland.

“We have a facility and an academy with the exclusive purpose of developing youth players in line with UEFA and the FAI directives.

“It is about the best of the best and developing kids into adults. If football is that medium through which they contribute to society, then so be it. If they want to be footballers, fantastic. Developing them as people is core to it.”

The facility will be used by the SJB Academy teams who will take part in the new League of Ireland underage divisions while Bray’s senior teams have been in situ since early 2017.

“The relationship with

Dennis O’Callaghan, Niall O’Driscoll, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, John Delaney, Ruud Dokter and Paul Osam at the SJB Academy launch. Picture: Karen Morgan

Bray and Joes is one which goes back a long way,” Clarke said of the link-up.

“We’ve had upwards of 70 players who have come through Joes and played professionally for Bray.

There’s a natural fit for the two clubs.

“Elite football in the country has undergone fundamental change and that effects the mindset in the club. We still have our schoolboy side of the club but there is now an elite pathway all the way through to Bray. For those who maybe aren’t yet on the elite pathway, they can continue with the grassroots of the club and enjoy the game. We’d like to think we will cater for all kids.

“It’s great that the academy guys are at the same venue as the senior side and, over a period of time, there will be a full integration of the four teams in the structure.

“We’d like to think the programme is of a standard that will allow us to achieve our objectives and be the number one academy in the country.”

It is part of a push in Irish football to raise the standard of facilities in Ireland, promoting the idea that players can reach the elite level without necessarily having to move to England in their midteens.

Shamrock Rovers have recently developed the Roadstone grounds while other schoolboy clubs are linking up with League of Ireland outfits to get their

ducks in a row for the increased League of Ireland campaigns.

“That’s what competition does,” Clarke adds. “I am sure Rovers will want to have the best academy.

We certainly want that too.

“We feel the facilities here are second to none.

Roadstone is a fantastic facility and it’s great to see clubs taking development so seriously. To be fair to the FAI, that’s what these new structures have done.”

St Kevin’s boys, meanwhile, have found their bid to link up with a League of Ireland club stymied to date which has left them worried that they will not be able to compete in the new structures.

It is a problem Clarke is thankful he does not have to deal with.

“We are lucky to have that ongoing link with Bray. It’s more of a natural hinterland; we’ve always had players from Bray and north Wicklow and vice versa. It’s just a good fit. We’re delighted to be involved with one of the best senior clubs in the country and they are delighted to be in with one of the best schoolboy clubs.

“You want everything to be as seamless as possible and that the guys don’t just play for a team but for a club.

“There will be movement between age groups, especially if we see moving someone up to aid their development. That really is the benefit of being here.”

GAZETTE

30 FINGAL GAZETTE 15 June 2017

SPORT

FASTSport

HIGH SPIRITS: NORTH COUNTY TEAM’S CAMARADERIE REWARDED

Barrable powers up for Joule Donegal rally SWORDS man Robert Barrable heads to Donegal this weekend with an extra boost for the the Joule Donegal International Rally (1618 June), in his New Generation i20 R5.

Letterkenny-based Divers Hyundai will support Barrable as he contests the only threeday event in the 2017 Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Championship.

He will make his first four-wheel drive appearance at Donegal in. The 29-year old Dublin driver has only contested Donegal twice before – making his debut there in 2009 in a Ford Fiesta ST and returning the following year in a Citroen C2 R2.

That will mean the Swords men will need a very good recce and perfect pace notes from co-driver Damien Connolly on some unfamiliar roads whilst some of the stages – including the famous Atlantic Drive test – will be attempted this year for the very first time.

In just his third rally in the Hyundai i20 R5, Barrable is up for the new challenge of Donegal and is keen to strengthen his position in the Irish Tarmac Championship.

At the mid-way point, he is fourth in the points standings, just one point behind Joseph McGonigle (ŠKODA Fabia R5) and 17 points behind leader Sam Moffett (Ford Fiesta) with three rounds remaining.

“Being the only three-day event in the Irish Tarmac Championship makes Donegal a very big event in more ways than one,” Barrable said of the challenge. “You need to have a bit more of a sensible approach to give yourself the best chance of reaching the finish, but like all rallies in Ireland, you don’t want to waste too much time at the start feeling your way in, so you also need to be fairly quick out of the box.

“We’ll test the Hyundai before the event to continue to fine-tune the set-up for the Irish roads. After West Cork and Killarney, I feel we’re making good progress with the i20 R5.

“The more we drive it the better the car is, and we hope that our hard work will pay off over the famous Donegal stages like Knockalla, Fanad Head and Atlantic Drive. The aim in Donegal is to be competitive, and if we can do that throughout the event, then there is every chance of a very good result.”

Participants at the Go for Life Games last Saturday in DCU

Fingal win Go for Life award sport@dublingazette.com

A TEAM representing Fingal has won a Spirit of the Games Award at the Go for Life Games held in the DCU last Saturday.

The team was one of 24 from around the country participating in a day of fun sporting activities.

Now in its sixth year, the Go for Life Games is one of the biggest social sports events for older people in Ireland and this year’s event brought together 300 older players from all over Ireland to compete, to stay healthy and to have fun.

The Spirit of the Games awards go to teams or

individuals who encourage a spirit of fair play and camaraderie during the final. The Fingal team’s supportiveness of other teams and their infectious good humour helped to make the day what it was.

John Bennett from the Fingal team and Baldoyle Men’s Shed was delighted that the team brought home a Spirit of the Games award for sportsmanship and being supportive to other competitors but noted: “We didn’t do anything different today, this is how we play.

“Congratulations to everyone involved in today’s event, it was first

SOCCER SISTERS Rush enjoy special day out at Aviva Stadium RUSH Athletic were among eight clubs who got to experience the magic of the Aviva Stadium this week as they took part in the Aviva Soccer Sisters Festival of Football.

The clubs got the chance to take part in the festival after they hosted Aviva Soccer Sisters camps at Easter this year and were rewarded with the chance to take part in the Festival and walk out on the hallowed turf of the Aviva Stadium. They were joined by Republic of Ireland internationals Rianna Jarrett and Aine O’Gorman. Picture: Cody Glenn/Sportsfile

class. We thoroughly enjoyed it. We like to win, but the camaraderie is really the spirit of the games.”

Billy Walsh, also representing Fingal, talked about what the event means for their community: “It’s very important to organise events like this, it gets people involved and in that respect it is very positive for communities.”

Go for Life is the national physical activity programme for older people, run by Age & Opportunity and funded

by Sport Ireland. The Go for Life programme and the Games event demonstrates that sports are for

everyone, not matter what age you are.

With 24 teams from 21 counties competing Fingal faced some stiff competition on the day.

What began as a oneday event in 2012 is now a year-round phenomenon, with older groups training, practicing, competing and coming through heats in their counties in order to compete in the finals in DCU. The event is growing every year and it is hoped that by 2018 there will be teams competing from every county in Ireland.

The games themselves are devised specifically for Go for Life. ‘Lobbers’

is a target game adapted from petanque and boules; Scidils is a twosided adaptation of ten pin bowling but using two skittles; Flisk is adapted from boccia and horseshoe pitching.

These games, with clear rules and scoring systems, can be played and practiced by everyone, no matter what level of sporting ability. They are great for developing balance, flexibility and concentration.

The social aspect of the Games also brings people together for fun social events with a healthy amount of competition to keep things interesting.

15 June 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 31

GAZETTE

SKILLS STAR

Skerries’ Wilde goes West in Feile challenge

CLUB NOTICEBOARD FINGALLIANS

EOINN Wilde, from Skerries Harps, is pictured with Donegal’s Rory Kavanagh and Monaghan’s Eimear McAnespie after participating in the boys hurling competition at the John West Skills Day in the National Sports Campus last Saturday.

The Skills Day is an opportunity for Ireland’s rising GAA stars to show their skills ahead of the John West Feile na nÓg and na nGael competitions. Picture: Cody Glenn/Sportsfile

RACE Day: Numbers with Bellewstown

Summer football camp: Monday, July 3

are now being finalised this week. Please

to Friday, July 7; hurling Camp: Monday,

let teresacollins9@gmail.com know if

July 10 to Friday, July 14.

places for Saturday, July 8.

For those who can’t join us, you can

Change of Date: Paul Flynn Football School of Excellence, will now take place

lope and leave it at the bar. Prizes include

from Tuesday, August 8 to Friday, August

CityJet flights and signed Dublin jerseys.

11.

away at 6.30pm on Saturday.

Hurlers: June 21, inter championship

Social football: Our squad had a great win over Oliver Plunkett’s on Friday

AHL4 v Lucan away at 6.30pm.

night. Training every Friday night on the

compete in the All-Ireland series.

Adult hurling: Our Division 4 team beat St Vincent’s on Saturday evening to pre-

Skerries Harps Clanna Gael Fontenoy  sport@dublingazette.com

2-13 1-14

SKERRIES Harps returned to winning ways on Sunday last with a hard fought two-point win against Clanna Gael in AHL Division 5 last Sunday On an extremely windy morning, they were able to hit eleven wides and still come out on top.

Skerries started very well and playing into the road end led by four points to one by the tenth minute, all of the

attack.

Aidan Kehoe hit three lovely scores from play at the end of flowing moves. In the 20th minute, a long ball caused havoc in the visitors defence and Ian Furlong picked up the loose ball to drive to the net. The Harps were good value for their five-point interval lead – 1-7 to 0-5.

The third quarter was more profitable for the Ringsend side. Early points were swapped but the loss of full back Kian Coleman to injury caused a reshuffle in the Harps ranks and resulted in some loose play

leading to Clanna Gael adding a goal and two points.

Kehoe put over two superb long range frees to keep the Harps just in the lead.

With 10 minutes left, the Har ps for wards, who worked hard all day, pressurised the Clanna Gael defenders in possession and dangerous corner forward Shane Rice finished a ground shot to the net.

Substitute Shane Davis contributed two points and, despite conceding three late points, the Harps held out for a deserved victory.

all-weather from 8-9pm.

Credit Union Cups: June 16 – girls’ competition from 10am to 2.15pm, Balheary and June 19 – boys competition from 9.30am to 2.30pm, Balheary.

serve top spot and our Division 9 team

Fins Sport Shop: The shop closes on

beat local rivals O’Dwyers to move up to

Saturday, June 24 for the summer. Lim-

second place.

ited stock will be available from the club

Bootcamp with Noel: Every Tuesday

scores coming from play.

I n a f r e e - f l ow i n g game, the first free was awarded in the 14th minute when Clans’ freetaker JP Dwan brought the margin back to the minimum.

The second quarter per formance by the Harps was, in reality, the winning of the game for them. Corner backs Dan Graham and Robbie O’Connor, who both played superbly for the whole hour, were dominating in defence and together with Eoghan McGinley at centreback were spraying some great balls into the home

Kelloggs Cul Camp: Monday, August 14 to Friday, August 18.

v Peregrines away at 7.30pm; June 24,

luck to the squad this weekend as they

Rice cooks up crucial late goal for Skerries

to follow).

put your name and number on an enve-

U-14 boys national hurling Feile: Good

Skerries Harps junior hurlers recorded their second win of their AHL5 campaign to date.

July 25 to Friday, July 28 (further details

enter our draw; €10 per ticket – simply

The AFL3 footballers play St Marks

HURLING: HARPS MOVE UP AHL5 TABLE WITH TIDY WIN

AHL DIVISION 5

Hurling school of excellence: Tuesday,

you wish to book a table or individual

bar over the summer months.

morning from 9.30 to 10.30am; there will

No Smoking Reminder: It is prohibited

be a bootcamp for any members inter-

and unacceptable for anyone to smoke in

ested in improving their fitness levels.

the club grounds.

All fitness levels are welcome. Classes

The areas include side lines, car park,

are €5 per session and all you have to

Balheary, Kettles lane and Holywell.

do is turn up five minutes beforehand

There is a designated area attached to

on the day. The bootcamp will be on the

the members lounge and hall. Please

all-weather pitch in Fingallians and will

remind all visiting patrons We Are A Non

go ahead rain/hail/shine.

Smoking Club.

ST FINIAN’S THE AHL4 hurling team came up just

Ice Cream Funday in aid of Down Syn-

short in the championship v St Brigid’s

drome Ireland, so please support this

with Barry Kavanagh leading by example

worthy cause.

in a spirited second half comeback. Hard

This year’s theme is a Giant Picnic

luck also to the AHL9 team who were

Funday so if all families could bring a

beaten away by Commercials.

blanket and have a picnic with their kids

There will be a clothing recycling col-

(weather permitting). There will also

lection on Saturday, June 17 to raise

be activities dispersed throughout the

funds for our club. Please donate all your

juvenile pitch.

clean unwanted clothes (in any condition

St Finian’s GAA Club extends sincere

as old and torn clothes will be shredded

sympathies to the Fitzsimons family on

for industry), bed linen, towels, cur-

their recent bereavements.

tains, shoes, handbags and soft toys. No Household Bric a Brac.

A word of thanks to qualified First Aid instructor and DCU nursing lecturer

Please drop off bags to the clubhouse

Evelyn Kelleher for conducting a First

on Monday, June 12 to Thursday, June 15

Aid course in the clubhouse on Sat-

from 7.30-9pm, and also Saturday morn-

urday afternoon in what is a valuable

ing. Clothes will be collected at 12pm so

and essential skill team coaches should

please have your bags in on time. Thank

acquire.

you for your support.

The Brickx Club is running a summer

A final reminder that comedian Rory

camp in the clubhouse from Monday,

O’Connor, the man behind ‘Rory’s Sto-

July 31 to Friday, August 4 which includes

ries’ is coming to the Peacocks on Sat-

themed Lego play, arts and crafts, out-

urday, June 17. Tickets are €20 and are

door activities, games and a lot of fun.

available from team mentors, the club

Contact Rachel on 086 846 9815 for fur-

office and are now available to pur-

ther details.

chase on club website www.stfinians.

The Kelloggs Cul camp will take place

com under the Rory’s Stories Side menu.

from Monday, July 3 to Friday, July 7. The

A reminder also that the Family Fun-

second summer camp will take place on

day will take place on Saturday from

Tuesday, August 15 to Friday, August 18

3pm until 6pm.

and the third camp will take place Tues-

This year, the club will be hosting an

day, August 22 to Friday, August 25.

GAZETTESPORT

ALL OF YOUR FINGAL SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 28-31

POWERING UP: Barrable gets extra boost ahead of Donegal’s Joule rally as he looks to move up ranks P30

JUNE 15 - 21, 2017

SJB ACADEMY’S BIG LAUNCH: Joeys and Bray come together with superb new facility P29

The Rivervalley Rangers side that took on Sheriff YC in the Nivea Cup final last Sunday at the AUL

Sheriff shoot down Rangers Swords club go close to becoming first AUL side to beat FAI Junior Cup champions in the Nivea Cup final, an end of an era for management team  sport@dublingazette.com

RIVERVALLEY Rangers came as close as anyone in the AUL this season to ousting Sheriff YC but eventually saw their Nivea Cup bid come undone on penalties.

They took the lead early on as Gavin Whelan tucked away a second minute penalty after Paul Currivan was fouled to put the Swords side in front.

Sheriff controlled most of the first half possession while Rivervalley held much of the threat on the counter-attack. John Lester, though, levelled the tie for Sheriff from another penalty to make it 1-1 and that was the way it stayed all the way through to full-time and 20

minutes of extra time.

At half-time, Rivervalley changed things up and a formation tweak put them on the front foot when legs got tired.

Indeed, they missed some glorious chances through Karl Young, Brendan Turley and Ruari Deasey that could have won it, putting it up to the best intermediate side in the country who were looking to add to their FAI Junior Cup and Liddy Cup successes.

That trio were excellent during the game as were Ian Doran and Philly McCabe as they sought a famous victory. The shoot-out, however, proved Rangers’ undoing as Lee Murphy made two key saves from four spot kicks to keep the Swords’ men at bay.

The goalkeeper had also been pivotal in the semi-final against Hardwicke in a shoot-out the previous Tuesday to reach this stage. For Rivervalley, they had been waiting the guts of three weeks for the match, something that left them motivated to make their mark in the final but they fell 4-2 on penalties to miss out on being the first AUL side to beat Sheriff in any competition.

They had a second chance to record that feat within two days in their last AUL Premier A match of the campaign but the energy was run out of their legs and Sheriff prevailed 4-0 in Swords.

The result meant Sheriff completed their fourth title of the season while Rivervalley

needed a win to avoid possible relegation.

They ended eighth in the nine-team division and have been informed they could go down in the league reshuffle, though quite what that means in light of several defections from the AUL to the Leinster Senior League remains to be seen.

For the management team of Stephen Doran, Mark O’Brien and Ciaran Hughes, it was the end of an era as they stepped down from leading the side. They took the club from AUL Senior Sunday to Premier A, winning two league titles and a Mullion Cup en route as well as going on three memorable FAI Junior Cup runs, something the club will remember for a long time.