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Dubs fully armed for Red Hand showdown
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RANDOM CHECKS PLANNED TO TACKLE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
Armed gardai called in to help fight illegal dumping SYLVIA POWNALL
ARMED gardai have been drafted in to help tackle the growing scourge of illegal dumping across Fingal. Following the first in a series of random checkpoints, staged last week at Baldoyle, the council has confirmed that a range of policing resources will be deployed across the county as the war against ‘sinister’ dumping steps up Full Story on Page 4 a gear.
2 FINGAL GAZETTE 24 August 2017
WORKS | THREE-MONTH PLAN FOR RUSH, SKERRIES REVISED
Irish Water scale back key link road’s closure SYLVIA POWNALL
The stretch of affected road
PLANS to close a key road linking Rush and Skerries for three months have been scaled back after a barrage of complaints from locals. News that Irish Water proposed to close a busy section of the R138 prompted a swift response from public representatives and led to a series of protest meetings being called. Residents in Rush, Skerries and Lusk were outraged that Fingal County Council revealed details of the works at the last minute – giving them just three days to submit objections. But on Monday following a briefing, Irish Water confirmed that although the closure would go ahead it
would be done on a phased basis and local access would be maintained at all times. Deputy Darragh O’Brien (FF), who had lobbied on behalf of residents, revealed: “Bottom line is they intend to proceed; however, the whole 800m stretch will not be closed at the same time.” The works will be carried out in seven phases over the coming months and a shuttle bus will run every half hour linking Rush, Lusk and Skerries. Earlier this month, an application by Jons Civil Engineering Company Ltd was lodged with the council on behalf of Irish Water outlining plans to upgrade a foul sewer network in the area. The works form part of
a €9.7 million wastewater treatment upgrade to prevent the discharge of untreated sewage into the sea at the South Beach. If the proposed closure from September 4 to November 24 had gone ahead, it would have forced traffic to make a half-hour diversion via the R127 Lusk road. Locals had warned of havoc for parents trying to access St Catherine’s School, St Brendan’s NS in Loughshinny, Loreto College and Skerries Community College. Whilst welcoming the concession, Deputy Darragh O’Brien said it was “absolutely outrageous” that the council had failed to adequately notify locals.
He added: “We’ve known for some time that the work absolutely needs to be done, but I don’t understand why this wasn’t done during the months when schools were off.” A spokeswoman for Irish Water said the works were vital to allow for a new pumping station and it held a public information in January to update residents on the project. Fingal County Council said it had advertised the proposed closure “in accordance with the legislation and regulations governing such public consultation”. Irish Water will hold a public information evening at Rush Community Centre from 4p-8pm on August 31 to discuss the road closure.
FASTNews
Public appeal for info after brutal murder of Michal GARDAI investigating the murder of Michal Kurek have renewed their appeal for information regarding the Polish man’s gruesome death. The 34-year-old’s body was found with 40 stab wounds in a laneway at Grange, Ballyboughal, on August 4. However, at the time of his murder it is believed he was heavily abusing alcohol and living rough. Superintendent Noel Carolan said: “The area where Michal’s body was discovered is otherwise a generally very quiet, peaceful rural community. “Michal was homeless during recent months and is known to have spent time in the Blanchardstown/Ongar area and in Dublin city centre.” Gardai are liaising with the dead man’s family in Poland and have urged anyone with information to come forward.
Liquidator called in as The North County Leader folds THE company behind Swords-based newspaper The North County Leader is calling in the liquidator. According to a recently published notice, Else Newspapers Ltd will hold a creditors’ meeting at the end of August to appoint Cormac Mohan of Fitzwilliam Corporate Insolvency to wind up the firm. The North County Leader is a free newspaper distributed in Balbriggan, Malahide, Skerries, Donabate, Portmarnock and Swords. The weekly freesheet – which was last published on August 1 – has been around for more than 20 years. It also runs a leaflet distribution service in conjunction with its newspaper deliveries to homes and businesses in north Dublin.
Bounce on over to a family fun run with a difference
Glory for local lads at Ukraine contest
FOUR students from Portmarnock Community School (PCS) did their area and Ireland proud when they claimed the Gold award at the SAGE World Cup 2017 in the Ukraine recently. Ravikanth Gollapalli, Luke Peyton, Ahmed Jouda and Colin Mc Andrew travelled to Odessa for the interscholastic tournament, which saw young social innovators from 25 countries taking part. The PCS students were named as the global winners in the Social Enterprise Business category, thanks to their superb humanitarian street mapping project which has been developing over a number of years.
MALAHIDE Castle will host the final in a series of fun runs this Saturday, August 26 from 10am to 4pm. The Super Milk Wild Air Run – featuring 10 giant inflatable obstacles including a 60m slide as part of a 5k course – will take place in the grounds of the castle and is open to anyone aged seven to 70 who fancies having a go. Event manager Ronan O’Kelly said: “This event truly shows how fun it can be to get outdoors with friends or family of all ages. The course can be walked or ran, it isn’t a timed event and the focus truly is on fun and getting active.” Tickets are on sale now atwww.wildairrun.com. 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
24 August 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 3
HISTORY MMA KING IN THE
WITH only a few days until MMA king Conor McGregor takes on the undefeated Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas, Boylesports has created a fantastic poster to promote the Notorious knocking-out ‘Money Mayweather’, and put it above the iconic Karma Stone pub. The banner appeared on the corner of Kevin and Wexford Sts last weekend, with the caption: “They say he has no chance, but we like his odds.” Mayweather is the overwhelming favourite, but the Dubliner is believed to pose a substantial threat as punters rally behind Conor to wipe Floyd’s unbeaten record.
Meanwhile Huddersfield based tailor, Owen Scott Bespoke, have the market sewn up after they annouced they will be stocking UFC Champion Conor McGregor’s controversial suit with the phrase “F*** You” woven into the pinstripe. The Irish fighter wore the suit – which is made from cloth designed and manufactured in Huddersfield - when he confronted opponent Floyd Mayweather at the press conference before their much-anticipated fight (left).
WHERE TO SEE THE FIGHT
Vue cinema at the Liffey Valley will show the bout between The Notorious and ‘Mayweather on two of their screens. Tickets €20 for Adults and €17.50. Doors open from 11:45pm. Bluebell United are hosting a party for the fight. €50 admission entitles you to an open bar from 11pm onwards. Also Crumlin Boxing Club, where a young Conor stepped into a boxing club for the first time aged 12, is set to screen the mega-fight.
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COUNCIL | RANDOM CHECKS, EXTRA RESOURCES AGREED TO HELP TACKLE BLIGHT CENSUS
Armed gardai called in to fight illegal dumping SYLVIA POWNALL
A SERIES of armed garda checkpoints will take place across Fingal in coming weeks to target illegal dumping. The Armed Response Unit, Traffic Corps and Divisional Crime Task Force were drafted in to man the first of these random checkpoints in Baldoyle last week. They assisted Fingal County Council’s envi-
ronment enforcement unit in a clampdown on f ly-tipping which has escalated over the summer months. A council spokesperson confirmed: “The checkpoints will continue with the aim of identifying unauthorised and bogus refuse collectors.” Fianna Fail TD Darragh O’Brien commended the action and rejected any suggestion that it was a waste of public
resources. He told The Gazette: “The waste industry is very lucrative and there are organised criminal gangs involved. This is not about people throwing bags of rubbish in the ditch – it’s far more serious and sinister than that.” Last week’s operation resulted in several seizures and the council is now seeking the owners of the rubbish in order to
Picture: Fingal County Council
prosecute them. It warned that members of the public availing of “illegal services” to dispose of rubbish would be liable for prosecution and could face fines and possible imprisonment. A council spokesperson said: “Illegal dumping across Fingal is a serious issue and we are adopting a hard-line attitude in relation to prosecuting unauthorised collectors, as well as
those who are employing them to dump their rubbish. “The checkpoints in Baldoyle were extremely successful and we are grateful to An Garda Siochana for their support in mounting this operation. “We would appeal to the public to report any incidents of f lytipping to the gardai or to ourselves on our hotline number, which is
1800 20 10 93.” Fianna Fail Cllr Darragh Butler said: “I would like to welcome this initiative and would love to see it extended all across Fingal. “This is a huge problem ever y where and it’s great to see it being tackled. Particularly our rural areas and lanes are being blighted by illegal dumping. Strong action like this needs to be taken.”
If you dig archaeology, head over to Swords Castle to help WANNA-BE Indiana Joneses are taking part in a real live archaeological dig in Swords Castle. The project runs until September 6, with a series of arts and crafts workshops taking place each Tuesday. Christine Baker, Fingal’s Community Archaeologist, said: “We are trying to answer questions about Swords Castle, its past and the community in Fingal. How old is the castle? What was it used for? To do this, we need lots of people to come and help us dig!” If you wish to dig you need to be over 18, but visitors of all ages are welcome to come and watch, wash pottery or bag artefacts (from 10am to 4pm daily, except Mondays). Training, tea, and tee-shirts are supplied.
Odds may be stacked against finding love in Malahide SYLVIA POWNALL MALAHIDE should be your last port of call if you’re looking for love, closely followed by Portmarnock, according to the latest census results. The coastal towns have the lowest proportion of single people of any town of similar size in Ireland, number crunchers have found. In the categor y of towns with a population of 10,000 people or more, Malahide proved to be the most married and the least single town in the country. With just 32.7% of its people single, it was closely followed by Greystones in Co Wicklow which had a 33.3% – or one in three – proportion of single people.
Portmarnock Neighbouring Portmarnock meanwhile recorded the lowest proportion of single people in the country among smalland medium-sized towns, along with Rosslare in Co Wexford and Bearna in Co Galway. At the other end of the scale in the category of towns with a population of 1,500 to 10,000 people, Mountrath, Fethard and Lifford were the top three towns with the highest percentage of single people (46 – 48%). Student towns The league for populations of 10,000 people or more with high rates of single people was topped by student towns Maynooth and Sligo, which both recorded single rates in excess of 50%. In all the large towns, men were more likely to be single than women. In Balbriggan, the proportion of single men (40.7%) and women (40.4%) was broadly similar.
24 August 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 5
FASTNews
New creative writing course at Ardgillan Castle starting up
A CREATIVE writing course begins at Ardgillan Castle on Monday, September 11, from 10.30am to 12.30pm. The beginners’ course explores a range of topics, from character and plot development to voice and style. Through writing exercises and examples from literature, participants will develop an awareness of various literary tools and techniques. Courses for improvers are also running on Thursdays and Fridays, starting on September 14. To book, contact Ross at 085 1395 320, or email ros1@hotmail.com. For further info, see www.balbriggan.info/creativewriting classes. The fee is €120 for 10 weeks.
Council planners take a dim view of 154-acre solar energy project
A €7 MILLION solar energy project planned by Gaelectric on a 154-acre site near Swords has been rejected. Fingal County Council said that due to its scale, mitigation measures required and lack of a national framework, the project would set an unwanted precedent and would contravene a zoning objective to preserve the rural landscape. The renewable energy firm told the council that the project – called Mainscourt – would have generated up to 10MW of electricity, sufficient to power about 5,300 homes a year.
DONABATE | PRIEST TO WALK THE CAMINO IN HONOUR OF HEROES
Fr Pat’s prepared to walk 116km for Ciaran SYLVIA POWNALL A DONABATE priest will raise funds for the RNLI in memory of missing coastguard Ciaran Smith and the crew of Rescue 116 while walking the Camino next month. Fr Pat Reilly will tick the trek along the route to Santiago off his bucket list while raising funds for a cause close to his heart at the same time. The curate has always wanted to join the Spanish pilgrimage and was inspired to do it in memory of Ciaran and his crew mates, as he knows the Smith family. He told The Gazette: “Ciaran’s father, Michael,
is the caretaker of the local school and I did the memorial service up in Oldtown a couple of months ago, so I thought why not do it for the RNLI to raise money and show support for the family? “It adds a totally different focus and emphasis to the Camino walk for me. I’m thrilled and humbled and frightened of the whole thing, all at the same time.” Brennan’s Life Pharmacy are backing Fr Pat and will match their customers’ donations up to €1,000 to boost the total fund by €2,000. Anyone who makes a donation at the pharmacy will also be entered into a
Fair play, Fr Pat ... Getting ready to walk the Camino, in honour of missing Rescue 116 hero Ciaran Smith
draw with a chance to win a beautiful hand-made quilt by local craftsperson Jackie Preston. Donations can be made in store or on justgiving. ie, by searching for “Pat’s Camino de Santiago” page. Jane Brennan said: “We’re very proud of Fr
Pat and wish him the best of luck on his journey. And we’re happy to do anything we can to help raise funds for the RNLI.” Fr Pat will depart for Spain on September 2 and walk a symbolic 116km over six days with winchman Ciaran and his col-
league Paul Ormsby to the forefront of his mind. Pilot Capt Dara Fitzpatrick and co-pilot Mark Duffy were taken from the water after their helicopter crashed off the Mayo coast on March 14, but the bodies of Ciaran and Paul were never recovered. Fr Pat said: “Whatever pain I will experience on my journey is nothing compared to what those families have gone through and will continue to go through. This is just about supporting them and helping them to cope.” To donate, call into Brennan’s pharmacy, or visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/inmemory-rescue116
6 FINGAL GAZETTE 24 August 2017
Out and About
Festival fever hits as harbour parties Kacper Kozzolp, Luke Brown, Sean Brown an Reece Hunter
David McCarthy and his son James. Pictures: ALISON O’HANLON
T
he much-anticipated Rush Harbour Festival return again this Summer to the joy of local people. There was a host of spectacular events for everyone to enjoy including craft fairs, an airshow, food fair, workshops, musical entertainment, bouncy castles, carousels, bumper cars and much more.
Emma and Ben Keedy
Kate, Kayleigh and Kate
Aiva Kavanagh-Harris
Matthew Kelly
Bronagh Kelly and Max Quinn
24 August 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 7
Out and About
Holly and Kate
Balcarrick’s bathing ban lifted by FCC A BATHING ban at Balcarrick Beach in Donabate was lifted on Monday after the popular strand remained off limits for the weekend. Fingal County Council issued the temporary notice after the results of a routine sample showed a deterioration in the water quality. However, results of a later sample showed that the water – which the council believes was con-taminated by animal and bird droppings – was back within safe levels. It follows a similar “Do Not Swim” notice which was issued for the Velvet Strand in Portmarnock last week. The ban was slapped on the Blue Flag beach
Darren Boyd, Ashton Dillon and Matthew Boyd
as a result of sewage from the nearby treatment plant being washed to sea, thanks to heavy rainfall. The ban was lifted two days later after sample results showed that the water quality was of an “excellent” standard. Earlier this month, a ban was also in place at Howth beach when water quality deteriorated, again as a result of suspected contamination caused by excessive seagull droppings. In late July, Dublin City Council also blamed seagull droppings for the closure of Sandymount strand – the third ban at the popular beach this summer.
WIN
Ethan Lakoma
Emer and Eoin Isherwood
Alannah and Saoirse Kehoe
A TOP-OF-THE-RANGE
LAPTOP ORFORPC YOUR
Roisin, Matthew and Mary Henry
Nicky Byrne, Elma Cole and Eveline O’Connor
More than a Lidl bit of fun P OPSTAR turned presenter Nicky Byrne was on hand to cut the ribbon and open a new Lidl Ireland store in Portmarnock. Store manager Maurice Gallagher said: “We have a fantastic state of the art new store packed full of fantastic value and quality products at market leading prices.”
Irene and Tony Larkin with their grandchildren Eve and Grace. Pictures: ALISON O’HANLON
SCHOOL
WE’VE teamed up with REHAB RECYCLE to offer you the chance to WIN a Reconditioned Core I5 Desktop computer OR Laptop for the school of your choosing – the school can decide whether a PC or laptop suits their requirements best. To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize for YOUR school just visit the #RehabRecycleComp post on our Facebook page (Facebook.com/DublinGazetteNewspapers) and tell us which school you think deserves this prize. You can also email us the name of the school you vote for to competitions@dublingazette.com. The school with the most votes wins! Closing date for entries is 31st August 2017. Rehab Recycle is one of the largest employers of people with disabilities in Ireland and works to promote an equal and integrated workforce through social enterprise. Rehab Recycle actively repurpose electronic IT equipment, such as laptops and desktops which are received through the corporate donations scheme PromiseIT to Rehab Recycle, who supply schools and community groups with high-quality laptops and desktops.
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SKERRIES | PLEA FOR DONATIONS TO GET SURGERY IN AMERICA
Family needs €25,000 to help fix girl’s spine SYLVIA POWNALL
Brave little Emma ...
A DEVASTATED Skerries mum who only found out her daughter suffers from scoliosis when she suffered a fall while rollerblading has issued a plea for help. Jackie Trumper has launched an online appeal through GoFundMe to help raise the €25,000 the family needs so 10-yearold daughter Emma can travel to the US for vital surgery to straighten her spine. The money would cover flights, accommodation and living expenses for up to six weeks to avail of a vertebral body tethering (VBT) procedure at Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. According to the crowdfunding page, Emma is unable to avail of a spinal fusion here in Ireland because medics say she is too young and is still growing. VBT is unlike fusion treatment as it allows for
The 10-year-old’s family is trying to raise €25,000 to give her life-changing surgery in the US
continued growth and mobility of the entire spine as well as additional straightening of the spine as she finishes growing but is not available here. Jackie says the procedure has “fewer complications, quicker recovery and better success rate”, but it
isn’t available in Ireland or the UK so the trip to the USA “has been the light at the end of the tunnel”. She said: “I’ve thought long and hard about what I’m about to do, and to be honest I just feel right now I don’t have a choice. “Until April, my daugh-
ter Emma was a happy, normal 10 year old. She loves YouTube and Minecraft, and isn’t your typical ‘girly girl’. “In April, she had a fall from her skates and complained of a sore lower back. It was while having her back x-rayed the doc-
tor noticed she had a curve on her spine. “They decided to do more tests and it was then that my whole world began to fall apart. Doctors called me in and sat me down and told me Emma had a condition known as scoliosis. “What that means is her spine is curved. It varies from one person to the next but the news that Emma’s was at 52 degrees left us knowing that she was at the severe end of the scale. A thoracic curve like this also effects positioning of organs and bones. “As we sat and listened to the doctors explain the probabilities and the interventions offered, we felt nothing – their words were lost in a haze of confusion and fear. We were numb.” So far, €2,500 of the €25,000 target has been raised. To donate, see https://www.gofundme. com/emmas-vbt-surgerywish.
FASTNews SF Call for action to help tackle rising school costs SINN FEIN councillor Malachy Quinn has called for action to tackle the rising back to school costs. He said it was disturbing to read that a credit union survey found almost one in three households were getting into debt to fund books, uniforms and other essentials. He said: “As a parent of three children, with two attending national school, I am only too aware of the financial pressures of a return to school. “Parents are facing into some of the most expensive months of the year with back to school costs coming up fast. “The average back to school cost for a single primary school child is €1,048, and €1,401 for a child in secondary school.” Cllr Quinn called for a 30% rise in the books grant and a €50 increase to the food and clothing allowance.
New book, Pawns, helps to tell of war in Balbriggan A NEW CHILDREN’S book set in Balbriggan around the time of the War of Independence was launched at the local library yesterday. Brian Gallagher’s latest book, Pawns, centres on the Sack of Balbriggan at the time – a single event which changed the landscape of Clonard Street forever. The book was launched by Fingal Mayor Cllr Mary McCamley and the author presented certificates and medals to children who took part in the Summer Stars reading project. Fingal County Arts Office awarded Brian with €2,000 in order to develop his book. The funding was provided under the 2016 Artists’ Support Scheme.
Mary McLoughlin scoops Donabate Portrane Citizen of the Year award COMMUNITY stalwart Mary McLoughlin was named the Donabate Portrane Citizen of the Year at the peninsula’s annual summer festival earlier this month. Mary has been working since the age of 18 as a volunteer supporting senior citizens and goes above and beyond the call of duty to help elderly parishioners – personally driving them to and from the parish hall to attend events. At her own expense and in her own time, Mary travels to each of the holiday destinations chosen by the group, using public transport and staying overnight to make sure everything is just right. Flowers, crystal and a cheque for €500 for her favourite charity was Mary’s prize for winning the SuperValu-sponsored award and, of course, she chose to donate that money to the Senior Citizens group. She takes over the title from 81-year-old Mary Lynders from Portrane who won the inaugural award last year and was on hand at the Waterside Hotel to pass on her good wishes.
Cllr Adrian Henchy (FF), former Dublin GAA star Ciaran Whelan and Cllr Darragh Butler (FF)
Sporting her Donabate Portrane Citizen of the Year 2017 sash, winner Mary McLoughlin (Donabate/Portrane Senior Citizens Group) is congratulated by Mayor Cllr Henchy thanks Mary Lynders, the outgoing 2016
Cllr Mary McCamley (Lab), host Anton Savage, last year’s winner Mary Lynders,
Donabate Portrane Citizen of the Year
Robert Shields (SuperValu) and Deputy Mayor Cllr Adrian Henchy
24 August 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 9
GAZETTE
10 GAZETTE 24 August 2017
DUBLINBUSINESS
Dublin districts competing for BOI award, funding
SEVERAL Dublin areas are in the running to win the title of Bank of Ireland’s National Enterprising Town Winner 2017, with total funding of €110,000 to be distributed in a number of categories. The Liberties, Ballymun, the docklands, Dun Laoghaire, Sandyford, Blackrock, Rush, Malahide, Tallaght and Rathcoole are competing in various categories, including regional runner-up, regional winner, city award, merit awards, national category winners and the overall national winner, which will win €23,000, a trophy and the top title. Colin Kingston, Dublin provincial director, BOI said: “We recognise that SMEs, start-ups and community organisations are a significant driver of the overall prosperity of the city or county. Local business owners and community groups want to see their town doing well, and there is nothing like a bit of healthy competition to motivate people to put their best foot forward. “We want to recognise and reward those places where small businesses and community groups are working together with their local council and State agencies to promote enterprise in their area.” Some of the key criteria for consideration include partnerships and engaging with the diaspora, local enterprise initiatives and business groups, strategic planning to support enterprise development, the visual attractiveness of the town to help support economic growth, and any business awards or recognition that the town or area has achieved. The overall €110,000 funding includes €15,000 for the overall national winner,€5,000 for a city award, 12 regional runner-up awards of €2,000 and three €5,000 awards for national category winners. Judging panels are visiting each of the shortlisted 78 entries from now until mid-October, with the winners to be announced in November.
TECH | DUBLINERS’ UNIVERSITY SEARCH ENGINE FIRM EXPANDING INTO OZ
Walkinstown lads’ online startup goes walkabout MARK O’BRIEN
UniBrowse co-founders Niall
A TEAM of Irish 25-yearolds are expanding their tech start-up to international markets to help young people worldwide choose the right third-level course. UniBrowse was cofounded by Walkinstown natives Alan O’Beirne and Niall Cronin, along with college friends Kenneth Casey and Walter Holohan, as an online search engine that makes it easier for school students to find college courses. It launched in Ireland in December 2016. Now, the company is expanding to Australia, with plans to launch in the UK and USA in the coming months. Announcing the international expansion yesterday, O’Beirne said: “Australia is seeing an increase in college drop-out rates, which is resulting in thirdlevel completion rates being at an all-time low. “From our research, the
Cronin and Alan O’Beirne
reason for students dropping out of college in Australia is the same as the reason here in Ireland: schoolleavers just aren’t getting the right information when it comes to choosing their college course and they end up in courses that really don’t suit them. “UniBrowse was born out of our own personal experiences,” O’Beirne continued. “Myself and my three cofounders all struggled with the decision-making pro-
cess around college courses when we were doing our Leaving Cert several years ago. More recently, I saw how my younger sister struggled to find useful information when she was finishing school last year. College “When you’re finishing school, you feel like you’re being asked to make decisions that will impact on the rest of our life. This is daunting enough without the added complication of
trying to sift through hundreds of college courses, some with little to no information available. “At UniBrowse, we make the college decisionmaking process much easier, so students feel really informed in advance about what’s involved in the course they’re interested in, and whether it will suit them. “We provide a complete bank of undergraduate college courses, and students can search keywords for
the course for them. Once they’ve found a course they like the look of, they can click it to find even further information, such as the modules completed throughout the degree and whether an Erasmus overseas placement is an option as part of the course.” In addition to international expansion, UniBrowse will launch the second phase of its site here in Ireland next month. “We’re keeping the exact details under wraps for now, but Phase Two will be targeted at parents,” O’Beirn added. “The process of finding the right college course isn’t just a stressful time for students, but for their parents too.” UniBrowse aims to scale up and fast, according to O’Beirne. “After we launch in Australia, the UK and US are next on our list. Our vision is to reduce college dropout rates globally,” he said. n Further information is available at unibrowse.ie
Businesses urged to take a bite at a top Pakman waste award TIME is running out for businesses and organisations looking to highlight their environmentally-friendly waste management policies in this year’s annual Pakman awards, with the closing date of Thursday, August 31 rapidly approaching. The awards celebrate excellence in waste management and recycling, with this year’s awards seeing a brand-new category, Innovation in Waste Management, with the winner of this inaugural award to be chosen by a panel led by businesswoman and Dragon’s Den’s Chanelle McCoy. She said: “I’ll be looking to
award those who have demonstrated going the extra mile when it comes to protecting the environment through positive waste management and recycling practices. “I encourage everyone to get involved and to give their business or organisation the chance to be recognised for truly making a difference to recycling in Ireland.”
‘Awareness’ Repak chief executive Seamus Clancy said: “The growth and increased success of these awards year on year is a testament to how far we’ve come as a nation in our
strong recycling practices and our aim is to continue to spread awareness and secure positive results in this sector. Categories range across a number of recycling and waste management sectors, including We’ll Take It Back Retailer Champion, Community Recycling Project of the Year, Waste Recycling Facility of the Year, Innovation in Waste Management, and Environmental Education and Awareness Initiative. To enter, see www.pakman.ie, with the deadline for nominations set at midnight on August 31.
24 August 2017 GAZETTE 11
TALLAGHT P14
ASDFSDAF P27P18 STILLORGAN
LEARNINGCURVE Whether you’re a first-time student or want to boost your existing qualifications, there’s a lot to learn about college life – luckily, The Gazette has everything you need to know
GAZETTE
BLACKROCK P12
Same old joy, tears as the Leaving Cert results rolled out using new grading
MOVING ON
It’s great to be starting college life – but first, best of luck to find a place ... RENT RACE P20
TAKE a moment to think of the mammies and daddies (and other guardians) of Ireland, who were no doubt nervous wrecks as they waited for 2017’s 58,000 Leaving Certs to get their results last week. Although for most, The Leaving is a once-off affair, a number of repeat students had a unique perspective on this year’s exams – 2017 saw an inaugural 14 score band grading system put in place, compared to the standard eight of previous years. As you’d expect from using a larger range of grades, there was an immediate impact across the Leaving, with a sharp drop in failure rates in some subjects, such as Higher Maths. A small number of critics raised perenially popular claims of the State’s exams “dumbing down” – claims that the Department of Education rejected as optics, with the department, and a number of education specialists, discussing how the new grading system eases the pressure on students while simultaneously taking into better account how grades are reported to them under the new grading. However, as with any new system, subtle shifts came into play with the marks. For example, the unlamented E grade is no longer an automatic fail, but still scoops up points for the student’s CAO total – a move to be welcomed, but countering that gain the new range of grades was thought to have prompted some students into trying a higher level in the hopes of scoring better, potentially resulting in a weaker outcome than if they had stayed at a lower level. Subsequent years will show how the new system is playing out for everyone, but regardless of their results on the day, well done to all the ex-Leaving Certs (and to any who may repeat) on completing their exams!
GAZETTE
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LEARNINGCURVE
Open day to showcase a brilliant Blackrock hub AS THE principal of Blackrock Further Education Institute (BFEI), located in Blackrock village, Deirdre Hanamy is passionate about the benefits of taking a further education course. She points to the benefits of such courses, such as flexible entry requirements, qualifications to go directly into employment, or qualifications that provides alternative pathways to degree courses. Deirdre says: “If you did not get the CAO points to go directly to third level, then you should consider coming to our next
Come along to Blackrock Further Education Institute’s upcoming open day next week
open day on Wednesday, August 30, to find out about our courses such as Applied Psychology, PreUniversity Law, Business Studies or Computer Science courses, which offer alternative pathways to degree courses. “Students who just fin-
ished their courses last May are now taking up the places in Computer Science in UCD, Law in DIT, and Psychology in the IADT, Dun Laoghaire. “Finally, students who choose to study at BFEI will also benefit from
small teaching groups and continuous assessment, as this is an integral element of most of our courses and excellent career guidance advice.” BFEI offers a wide variety of courses at Level 5 and 6 in a great range of diverse areas, from Business and Accounting to Design, Health and IT skills, as well as many other sectors and skillsets. Some courses such as Accounting Technician, Office IT Skills, Interior Design, Applied Psychology, Health and Wellbeing Therapies are timetabled for mornings only to cater for students who
have other commitments. There is also an option to enrol on the new Accounting Technician Apprenticeship course and earn as you learn. Of the open day on Wednesday, August 30 from noon to 6pm, Deirdre says: “I recommend coming along to find out more about the college and courses, meet our staff, and see our facilities including computer laboratories, design studios, and beauty salons and an ICT learning centre.” Further details on the institute and all its many courses are available online at www.bfei.ie.
Half of parents haven’t saved for third-level costs HALF of Irish parents have no financial plans in place to help put their children through thirdlevel education. That’s according to a new report by Aviva, with its Cost of Education research showing that 49% of parents are unprepared for the cost of further education. The Aviva research found that on average, parents expect to pay out €5,122 a year to send a child to a thirdlevel college or university, while if the student has to study away from home, the expected cost is almost double, at €10,125.
The research found that a quarter (27%) are saving for their children’s primary and secondary education, but the next step remains a financially daunting challenge for many. The research for the report, carried out by RED C for Aviva, found support for the idea of a student loan system with repayment to be contingent on the income earned by graduates. Three out of four parents thought such a system was at least worth exploring as a funding option, although just one in four students thought it was a great idea.
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ANNIVERSARY: INSTITUTE GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH WITH EVEN MORE CHOICES
ITT’s reason to help celebrate 25 years of top academic excellence IT TALLAGHT is celebrating its 25th year this upcoming academic year, and there are various activities and events planned throughout the year as part of the celebrations. Since we opened our doors in 1992, multitudes of students have chosen IT Tallaght as their college of choice, and have subsequently gone on to have wonderful careers and enriched lives. It has been a pleasure to have all the students here throughout the years, and we eagerly await the arrival of this year’s new first years in September. Our first open evening of the year takes place on Monday, September 4 from 5:30-7:30pm. This event is aimed at those who are interested in enrolling in fulland part-time courses in IT Tallaght. Staff members will be available to answer any and all queries on course information, fees, grants, careers and so on. Along with our vast range of courses in engineering, science, computing, humanities and business, we have exiting new programmes in biomedical design, digital
marketing, international business, media and digital arts, computing/IT, social care and culinary nutrition. We also have various free springboard courses in computing/IT/technology aimed at those who wish to up-skill in order to commence or enhance their careers. Bus services
Our two private bus routes (Kildare town to IT Tallaght serving Newbridge, Naas and Rathcoole, and Maynooth to IT Tallaght serving Celbridge, Leixlip, Lucan, Griffeen, Ballyowen, and Ronanstown/Fonthill) allow students in our region ease of access to and from the college. These bus services reflect the growing popularity of the institute in the south-west Dublin areas and Kildare. Please keep in contact with our website (www.it-tallaght.ie) throughout the year for more information on our 25th anniversary events. For our other useful links, see www.it-tallaght.ie/busand-rail-routes, www.it-tallaght.ie/fulltimecourses, and www.it-tallaght.ie/parttimecourses.
The atrium at the college, where students and visitors often get a glimpse of ITT’s diverse academic and social life. Picture: Nenad Malik
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NETWORKING: INNOVATION TO THE FORE IN ITB’S LEARN+WORK PROGRAMME
A new initiative to grow ICT skills FOR many students, the CAO offers herald the start of an exciting new phase in their educational journey. But what do you do, if you don’t get the offer you wanted or have changed your mind about pursuing a traditional degree course? The Institute of Technology Blanchardstown’s (ITB) Department of Informatics has opened its doors to recruit a new wave of students looking to access career opportunities in the ICT sector.
The Learn+Work Programme in Networking Technologies is a full-time course combining blocks of academic study with blocks of paid industry work placement. This work experience gives learners the opportunity to apply their learning, be coached by industry experts and develop the work-ready skills to gain employment upon graduation. Following completion, students are awarded a Higher Certificate in Sci-
ence in Computing and Networking Technologies. The networking technologies course was designed in partnership with Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet to provide students with in-company placement, which accounts for approximately 50% of the course, accompanied by academic studies which provide the up-to-date technical and communication skills that are in high demand within the ICT sector. This includes modules
“The businesses we partner with tell us that they see the course as a low-risk recruitment opportunity; using the placement period as a method of assessing prospective employees for future vacancies. “Of course, this goes both ways, with students developing a very real impression of the IT industry, as well as a ‘taster’ of potential employers and workplaces.” Mark Keyes, work placement coordinator, ITB on computer systems, server administration and networks as well as the knowledge required to achieve highly-valued industry-certified awards such as CompTIA, Linux, Cisco, Microsoft and VMware, which are also facilitated through ITB. Students like Emmet Quinn (23) from Raheny receive exposure to experienced and creative mindsets, whilst making valuable connections with innovative compa-
nies such as Fleet Connect, based in Blanchardstown Corporate Park, who provide wi-fi and technology solutions for public transport. Emmet says the paid work experience was a real clincher in applying for the course, helping him to keep his independence and focus on his studies, which other courses might not have provided. “The lack of fees allows me much more time to
focus on my studies and puts me at a great advantage in terms of having the time to work on assignments and certifications. “The cer tifications themselves are also massively beneficial to my professional development, and for future job applications.” Patrick Cotter, chief executive of Fleet Connect, where Emmet is currently undertaking his work experience, says: “A new recruit needs to possess excellent communication skills, be adept at solving problems, take ownership of their job and be able to react to situations swiftly and confidently. “This is why we joined ITB’s Learn+Work programme. We believe it’s a
win-win situation because students get the opportunity to grow, learn and build a portfolio, while we get to avail of the best staff in the business.” The programme prepares candidates for careers in networking, data centre and Cloudbased disciplines, with roles including desktop service and support, network operation centre engineer, information security engineer, systems administrator, Cisco network engineer, helpdesk engineer, field service engineer and pre-sales engineer. Interested applicants can apply directly to www.itb.ie/learnandwork by August 27 for an aptitude test and interview, or call ITB at 01 885 1530.
Help is at hand for the best ‘Repeat’ HERE at O’Connell Secondary School, we truly believe that once inspired and motivated effectively, all students have the ability to achieve their own personal goals. Located in the heart of the city near Croke Park and in close proximity to Connolly, Clontarf and Drumcondra train, Luas and DART stations, our school at North Richmond Street offers a repeat year that’s a standalone programme run in a separate section of the school, and one which operates on a different timetable to the rest of the school. A full and wide range of subjects and levels are available from very experienced teachers who have helped pupils to dramatically improve their grades and CAO points. Detailed notes in all the subject areas are provided by the teachers. In addition, we provide constant supervision throughout the year, along with caring support structures with a dedicated year head and a safe
and secure environment for teaching and learning to take place. Most of those students who have taken part in the programme have gone on to further their studies at third-level institutions in Dublin and elsewhere. Compulsory supervised day and evening study takes place in a controlled and silent environment. Seminars on study and exam skills take place at the beginning of the school year and students are encouraged to avail of the services of the school’s career guidance department.
Comprehensive career guidance is indeed a core part of the programme and the individual career needs of each student are carefully explored and discussed on a number of occasions during the year. Monthly progress reports are compiled and sent out to parents throughout the year. Facilities at the school have been upgraded in recent years and students can now avail of our spacious and bright classrooms that are all equipped with digital projectors. Our three science laboratories have just been completely renovated, and are equipped to the highest standards in the country. Canteen facilities, serving hot and cold food, are available before lessons begin in the morning and at lunchtime. At all times we endeavour to maintain constant contact with parents/guardians and discuss any concerns that may arise. For further information, see www. oconnellschool.ie, or email principal@oconnellschool.ie.
LEARNINGCURVE
Some top tips for everyone applying to get a new job
Now that your results are back, just don’t panic! WE’VE all heard the old chestnut about “So-andso left school without their Leaving Cert, and just look how successful he/she has been”. Well, there’s more than a grain of truth in that, with teachers and college lecturers all over the country sharing the same message to any students who’re disappointed by their exam results: “Don’t panic!” Now, more than ever before, there are many pathways to education and training for students of any age and with any
interest with choices galore to help move forward with your studies and find the training or course that’s right for you. A positive outlook is key if you didn’t get the results you’d hoped for, with plenty of options to avail of. If you’re a school leaver, one obvious course of action is to repeat the Leaving Cert. While it may seem a bit daunting to go back, schools and teachers will be only too happy to try to help any returning students, with several specialist institutions also
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You may be disappointed with your results, but don’t be too disheartened, as you’ll still have many options
offering a range of services for ‘repeats’. The CAO could yet come to the rescue with a subsequent offer, but if not, there are other options to consider, such as a College of Further Education (CoFE). Of course, further education isn’t the only route
to take – apprenticeships are another excellent step to consider undertaking, offering their own challenges and rewards. These are just some of the many options to consider, so don’t despair at your results, as you have many more choices than you may realise ...
WHETHER you’re looking to go straight into the workplace after finishing school, or if you’re looking to take the next step on your career, it’s vital that you prepare for the task ahead. Although finding that dream (or ‘just’ your next) job could seem like a daunting task, recruitment experts offer a number of simple, clear objectives to help get that job you’re looking for. After all, that’s the ultimate aim of that great education you’ve been slaving away for! Keep these next few points in mind, and you’ll be on your way ... 1. Pretty much ever ything and everyone is online now, so tailor your profile to meet current online standards and expectations. These days, many employers and potential recruiters will look to check a candidate’s online profile, especially
if you’ve listed it for them. 2. If presenting a professional profile, such as on LinkedIn, ensure that it’s up to date and is also as accurate as possible. 3. Don’t be afraid to turn to your existing contacts, and maintain an amicable, courteous relationship with them. Ex-colleagues, lecturers, and even your favourite teachers could all help you on the way, or down the road, and the vast majority will be delighted to help. 4. Last but not least, make your application relevant to the role itself and the company. Your one-size-fitsall CV and cover letter could be great ... if you just want a ‘McJob’. However, virtually every employer or recruiter looks for, and expects, tangible proof that you want that specific job in that company, so be clear without going overboard.
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Enjoy the benefits of 30+ years of Stillorgan CoFE STILLORGAN College of Further Education has been a specialist centre for Further Education/Post Leaving Cert courses since 1986. During this time it has developed an enviable reputation for its delivery of Further Education programmes. The college offers a range of practical courses that develop the necessary skills for the workplace or to progress to further study in the Institutes of Technology or Universities. The college is innovative in providing courses that meet the current needs of industry. One of the new courses is a Level 5 course in Illustration & Design. This exciting course introduces students to the wideranging discipline of Illustration and helps them gain an improved understanding of the possibilities of image-making. A second new course for 2017/2018 is a Level 6 course in Photography. This course builds on the long-established and successful Level 5 course in Photography.
Another recent addition to the list of courses is a Level 5 course in Animation. This introductory course prepares students with little or no experience for a third level course in animation production. With a dual focus on drawing and computer skills, the course covers all the fundamental areas required for a successful portfolio submission. One of the longest established courses in the college is the Art Foundation course. This course provides tuition in areas such as Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics and Combined Materials. Graduates of this course leave with a very extensive portfolio that can be used to progress to Degree courses in colleges such as the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) and IADT Dun Laoghaire. The college also offers Level 5 and Level 6 course in Multimedia and Web Development. A unique strength of the Multimedia courses taught in the college is the emphasis they place on incorporating Digital
Video into multimedia content. This is a skill that is rarely taught on other similar courses and offers graduates of this course a particular advantage when it comes to the jobs market. Also on offer is a Travel and Tourism course with Airline Studies. This course prepares students for work in all areas of the travel industry. Courses in Media Production, Journalism and Level 5 and 6 courses in Computer Skills for Business round off the extensive offering of courses in the college. The staff of the college have extensive industry experience in their respective fields and are dedicated to ensuring that, whether aiming to move to Higher Education or entering the employment market, students leave the college with every skill necessary for the future. If you would like more information about the courses available in the college, more details are available from the college website: www.stillorgancollege.ie.
A Level 5 course in Animation awaits at Stillorgan College of Further Education – just one of the diverse range of options available at the long-established specialist centre for further education/post-Leaving Certificate courses
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Top tips to help students entering the rent race WITH less availability and rental property prices in Ireland increasing, students are facing huge challenges in the race for rental accommodation. OFTEC, the organisation that represents the domestic heating and cooking industry in Ireland, is concerned that many students will take the cheapest accommodation available without properly inspecting the property. With this in mind, they have issued top tips to help students ensure their accommodation is safe before they sign the dotted line. 1. Check the electrics and appliances– With rented residential accommodation it is the Landlord’s responsibility to ensure that the electrical installation and appliances provided by the landlord are safe when the tenancy begins and are in proper working order
throughout the tenancy. 2. Look for damp – If your house smells musty or you see evidence of mould, find out how the landlord is planning to fix the problem in the long term as mould has several health risks. 3. Raise the alarm – It is the landlord’s duty to provide fire and carbon monoxide alarms, as well as fire extinguishers, but the tenants should always test alarms on a regular basis. 4. Furniture and fittings – Ask the landlord for a list of everything that is included and make note of any damage that is there before you move it. 5. Heating requirements - Does your house have oil or gas fired central heating? At the minute, households on heating oil have the cheapest fuel bills of all the main heating systems. The Health & Safety
Authority recommends that all boilers should be serviced annually and tenants looking at an oil-fired property should ask for evidence of recent servicing. If you have concerns, ask for a CD/12 Landlord Oil Installation Check which is carried out by an OFTEC registered technician and will give you peace of mind. If the property has a gas boiler it must be checked by a 6. Note fire escapes – This is important particularly for apartment blocks but make sure they are secure from the outside to prevent unwanted visitors. 7. Secure your home – burglars target student areas because of lax security. Ask your landlord to fit key operating locks on the windows and five lever deadlocks on external doors.
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Quality Education with no Barriers through The Open College IRELAND’S largest dedicated provider of QQI/FETAC Awards, The Open College offers more than 90 QQI Levels 5 and 6 component cer tificates and major award programmes in a variety of subjects, delivered over a flexible mix of distance learning, e-learning and part-time attendance learning. Those looking to take their next steps in the world of Healthcare, Business and Finance, Management, Digital Media, Childcare, Law, Journalism, Special Needs, Montessori, Psychology and many more besides will be delighted by the choice on offer. The QQI awards you can achieve through The Open College are fully recognised by employers both nationally and internationally, and year-round
enrolment provides more flexibility and choice to prospective students than you will find at any other private college. Keenly aware of the challenge of balancing further education and wider life, The Open College ensures that your next step can be expertly tailored around your life – rather than the other way around. For more information on courses and programme advice you can contact The Open College at The Learning Centre, Leopardstown Business Centre, Ballyogan Road, Dublin 18; telephone 01 206 1828, or 01 206 1829. Advice lines are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm; you can also fax 01 206 1750, or email info@theopencollege.com.
DUBLINLIFE Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week
FUN-LOVING ROCCO WILL BE A GREAT COMPANION OUR Dog of the Week looking for their #SpecialSomeone* is Rocco, a one-year-old Staffy Cross. He is a fun-loving and affectionate dog, who loves his daily walks and really enjoys swimming! Rocco will need basic training, but he’s a quick learner, gets on well with other dogs and loves meeting new people. Rocco likes to be busy and would make a great hiking or jogging companion. He’s also into health food - his favourite training treats are broccoli, carrots and apples. This big softie is looking for an active family who will give him the fuss, cuddles and attention he deserves. If you can be NAME’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.
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50 things to do at Electric Picnic
Ireland’s biggest festival is just around the corner
... get charged for our quick tick list of the weekend’s essentials, from a few musical tips, to all that other stuff Picture: Paulo Gonçalves
See pages 22 & 23
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JAMES HENDICOTT LET’S start by saying It’s not all about the lineup. The big announcements are just the backdrop to what really makes up Electric Picnic: an atmospheric weekend that’s always guaranteed to be one of the best parties on offer any given year. 2017 will be no different: here, we explore a few of those things you just have to do in a stroll around Stradbally’s temporary heart in early September....
E D I U G S T N E EV with JAMES HENDICOTT
Stiff Little Fingers
Old school punks drop in on the Academy to loudly blast through a few hits, with support from Ruts DC. Not one for the faint hearted: expect a lot of angry, punchy, politically-tinged noise. August 25.
McGregor v Mayweather
The circus is over, and the Notorious is all set to swing at his aging but lethal opponent as he tries his hand at a totally different sport. Could the cocky Crumlin man upset the odds and put Money on the canvas? Find a screen. August 26.
Pictures: Allen Kiely, Christian Tierney, Ruth Medjber
CONOR MCGREGOR
Flying South
Another thoughtful Filmbase event focuses on the spoken word and mental health, with the collective looking to open doors and change views on different types of mental wellbeing issues as they bare their hearts. August 25, €5.
The Ukulele Hooley
Dun Laoghaire’s most unlikely music festival returns for another year, as the harbour town celebrates all that’s great about the ukulele. They’ll be open mics, workshops and jamming on August 27.
Niall Horan
That Irish one from One Direction will be greeted with breathtaking enthusiasm, no doubt, by his legion of largely young fans as he returns home to play The Olympia. He’s got his own material now, but we’re expecting a few nods to that band he used to be in along the way. August 29.
Monsters Wanted
Get scary with a workshop aiming to teach people about the art of being monstrous, but also offering jobs for those who fit the bill: a live horror experience taking place in October. So like a very weird, very fun mass job interview, basically. The RDS. August 26.
The Uncool Flea Market
A misnomer, we reckon. Phibsborough spills onto the banks of the Royal Canal for home made food, second hand trinkets and a little bit of live local music. The evening offering takes place on August 26.
New album of the week
Queens of the Stone Age - Villains. Powerful rockers return with another boisterous, riff-heavy effort complete with contributions from Mark Ronson as producer, and, bizarrely, a comic polygraph test making up one track. Guaranteed to be beautifully messy.
Grab a hot tub The perfect Body and Soul Sunday morning hangover cure. Yeah, we hope they have good water filters, too. Dance at the Salty Dog at 3am Because (a) they let you bring cans and (b) it’s a pirate ship in a forest, and that can’t be wrong. Get yourself some political hip-hop Bernie bros Run The Jewels are just wonderful. And then there’s A Tribe Called Quest to get your teeth into. Hit the Body and Soul fire late at night Flames flicker, the bars are closing and you’re listening to four stages at once, but it’s still the best banter on site. Join the Duran Duran sing-along Her name is Rio, and she’s probably settled down and had a few kids by now... Have an S Club Party 5ive are playing, too. Cos there ain’t no party like a 90s nostalgia party. Go mad for Madness Because midafternoon bouncing ska pop could hardly be more fun. Explore the Other Voices stage Sure to have a couple of top-class special guests over the course of the weekend, Other Voices’ trip out of Dingle is invariably excellent. Ride the bumper cars at 2am We vocally condemn drink driving. We very much condone drunk bumper-car driving. Check in on Olaf’s interviews Hot Press’ rogue interviewer is sure to drag someone from the main stage and interrogate them on something they’d planned to keep quiet. Get a five minute massage They’ll only cost you a charity donation, and after a day standing in front of a stage... Check out eco credentials at Global Green Or just learn to carve something out of driftwood, or weave a plant basket. Perfect for the inevitable lineup lull. Have your Father Ted moment Sure, we know the Divine Comedy are lovely in every way, but we still badly want THAT melody, please, Mr Hannon. Check out some local stars We’d suggest Bitch Falcon, complete with their new line up, Elaine Mai, Saint Sister and Soule as a starting point.
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THE ULTIMATE ELECTRIC PICNIC ‘CHECKLIST’ Ireland’s biggest festival is just around the corner... here’s our quick tick list of the weekend’s essentials, from a few musical tips, to all that other stuff
Wear a daft outfit Not a onesie, we all got over that in 2012. We’re thinking more a rhino borrowed from a Dublin marathon runner, or a Disney character. Hell, you pick! Smuggle in a few shots Is it allowed? No. Have half the audience got a hip flask in at some point? Hell yes. (Sorry, EP!). Catch the maddest live act at the festival We’re calling it: it’ll be the incredible glam-pop rising stars HMLTD. Don’t miss it. Find yourself in a 4am gazebo gathering Because they’re mighty, plus anyone who takes up all that space in the campsite has to share, right? Grab a lineup shirt Especially if it’s your first Picnic: it’ll be essential wear when you’re heading for your tenth in a few years. Explore The Pretenders’ latest Because Chrissie Hynde and co don’t do much wrong. Swim in the lake Yes, you can,
and yes, it is allowed. In fact it’s encouraged. Just go for the hangover cure, not the 3am skinny dip, right? Right. Watch something random for a few hours Sure, we all have our highlighters on the lineup at some point. Set yourself free and see where the festival takes you. Don’t fixate on backstage Trust us, it’s not all that exciting. In fact, the VIP area is positively lame. Though the drink queues are shorter, so if you’ve got the pass, abuse away. Eat Pie Minister The biggest option, where they drench your pie with the minty peas and the heap of random toppings lobbed on the top. Drool. Drink before lunch Because where else do you get the chance? Heckle a comedian Just a little. At the right moment. Or at least hit up the comedy tent: the perfect half hour aside from music, music, music. Bounce along to Ireland’s hip-
hop wave Jafaris is the best live act to come out of Ireland in years, and Katie Laffan is top notch, too. Check out The Hazel Wood The chillout forested corner is returning for its second year, and it went down an absolute storm in 2016. Go futuristic at Anachronica Future rave. If you’ve been to Glastonbury, it’s a lot like Arcadia on a far, far smaller scale. Which, let’s be honest, is still pretty cool. Lose your friends On purpose, at least once. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and so do random encounters with festival goers. Hit up the kids area You don’t need a child to play a few games of connect four or chuckle at a clown. Just let the kids go first! Ogle Foil, Arms and Hog See the breakthrough comedians run through their skits on Irish life on the comedy stage. Soak up The Rubberbandits A bag for me, a bag for you... vaguely
political, vaguely hip-hop, entirely funny live. Dig in. Embrace the rain However bad it gets, it’s not as bad as Massive Attack’s headline set a few years back. Trust us, it just isn’t. Learn some cooking skills Not what you came for? Who cares, learning how to cook the perfect curry is what Sunday mornings were made for: embrace the Theatre of Food Speak some Irish The Mindfield is going gaeltacht, why not stretch that linguistic muscle? Check out Loah The astonishing ‘Artsoul’ artist from Maynooth is going to be a superstar. She’s on the Other Voices stage. Talk mental health Pieta House are another showing up at Mindfield, and a weekend away seems the perfect chance to spend an hour taking a step back. Get involved in THAT Elbow song Sure, we all remember last
time, and yes, it is the perfect festival tune. But leave after the third chorus, they’ll do about 15 of them. Get soothed by Michael Kiwanuka Like Florence Welch’s proverbial ‘kiss with a fist’, Kiwanuka will sooth your soul while hammering you with his politics. Awesome. Track down the jelly shots Someone’s making a fortune on these little babies. Do we care? Not after a couple of pints, we don’t. Book Monday off work Stop lying to yourself, you’re not going to make it. No, not even if you go home after the headliner. Detox And breath.
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Time to enjoy clean Toyota Ireland launches new road safety app Tesla electric power In the Fast Lane TOYOTA Ireland has launched it’s free ‘Face
It Down’ app for iPhone and Android which is
designed to save lives on Irish Roads. The app is launched in partnership with the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and Topaz. It will reward all
drivers for putting their phone face down when driving, allowing them to redeem the points for a complimentary hot drink at Topaz Re Store outlets
Irish drivers are in for a treat if they can stretch to owning a new Tesla electric car as MICHAEL MORONEY found during a chance meet with an Irish Tesla owner in recent weeks.
nationwide. International research has shown that making a call while driving will make a driver four times more likely to crash while texting makes crashing a staggering twenty-three times more likely. As Ireland’s biggest car brand, Toyota Ireland felt a responsibility to solve this social issue by creating safer roads for everyone. Use of mobile phones while driving is a big problem on Irish roads. Too many people still drive while on their phone to take a call, text, snap a selfie, update their social media channels or check an email. Even glancing at a phone when it lights up is a distraction. Toyota Ireland has developed the app with the aim of changing driver behaviour and improving road safety for everyone. Users can download the Face It Down app from the Google Play Store or Apple Store for free.
Opel and Vauxhall join PSA in historic move THE sale of Opel with its brands Opel and Vauxhall by General Motors to the French PSA Group was finalised at the start of August. “It is a historic day,” said Opel Automobile GmbH CEO Michael Lohscheller. “We are proud to join PSA and are now opening a new chapter in our history after 88 years with General Motors. We will continue our path of making technology ‘made in Germany’ available to everyone. The combination of our strengths will enable us to turn Opel and Vauxhall into a profitable and selffunded business. We have set ourselves the clear target of returning to profitability by 2020.” PSA Chairman of the board Carlos Tavares said: “We will assist Opel and Vauxhall’s return to profitability and aim to set new industry benchmarks together. We will unleash the power of these iconic brands and the huge potential of its existing talents. Opel will remain German, Vauxhall will remain British. They are the perfect fit to our existing portfolio of French brands Peugeot, Citroen and DS Automobiles.” The market share of the enlarged Groupe PSA is now around 17% in Europe, making it the continent’s second largest carmaker with first or second place in main markets. A s already assured when the contract was signed in March, all employee codetermination rights will remain unchanged.
I CAME on a superb driving opportunity by sheer chance over the August Bank Holiday weekend, which put me behind the wheel of one of the most exciting cars to come on the Irish market. Tesla is seeking to break the mould when it comes to car ownership, ever since the US company began production in 2008. The Model S is just one of a range of new generation electric cars that Tesla claims are both stylish, high performance, yet highly practical. The Tesla aim is to produce true zero emissions cars and the Model S that I drove lived up to that dream along with a hugely impressive driving performance. I accidentally met up with an Irish Tesla owner who generously brought me for a test drive. Then, with ultimate trust and confidence in me, or a sense of insanity, he let me loose behind the Tesla S. And yes, it was truly a superb but too-short lived motoring experience. The Tesla Model S electric motor power is enormous, delivering the equivalent of 600bhp, and virtually in an instant. The test car was a Dual Motor Model S denoted by the badge on the rear which read P85D, D meaning dual and P the symbol for the more powerful rear motor. This all wheel drive power package gives supercar acceleration performance with outstanding smoothness and zero
The Tesla Model S tested was the P85D version, which means that it has an 85kW motor, dual drive to the front and rear with a high performance rear motor that gives super fast acceleration
power is quiet yet enormous to propel the car at a pace that would be the envy of many of the turboElectric Motor powered super cars. This car was bought 120hp direct from Tesla in the UK 4.4 seconds while now the company 490km range/ has set up an Irish operafull charge tion at 92 Bracken Road, 0g/km Sandyford, Dublin 18. The A0 €120 Irish price list and options are available on the com5 star (2017) pany’s website. 4 years/ 80,000km This now two-year old €82,500 car is still performing to its mounted in front, to all ability and up to recently four wheels. Tesla claims was getting its annual serthat this sacrifices efficien- vice in the UK. cy in favour of all-weather Tesla fit brushless electric motors to their cars so traction. Using electric motors there are no wearing parts the Model S motor is in the motors. The suspenlighter, smaller and more sion is the only possible efficient than its rear wheel wear area. Wear to the disc brakes drive counterpart, and also combines improved is minimal. This is because range with much faster there is a form of graduated electric motor braking acceleration. The only sound is road that minimises the effort noise, the noise of the tyres on the discs. Tesla claims that softand some wind noise. The
Tesla Model S Electric
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine Engine power 0 – 100km/hr Economy CO2 emissions Road Tax Band Euro NCAP Rating Warranty Entry Price acceleration drag. With two motors, one in the front and one in the rear, Model S claims to digitally and independently controls torque to the front and rear wheels. The result is impressive traction control coupled with great road holding in all conditions. Conventional all-wheel drive cars use complex mechanical linkages to distribute power from a single engine, usually
ware downloads minimise service time and are fed into the car while its charging at home or at a Tesla super charger. This Tesla owner is very confident that in 10 years time the car will have all of the latest product downloads and given that its power is a non-wearing electric motor, it will still be as good as new. This Tesla is a revolution in car ownership, running cost performance and ownership management. The car is not cheap to buy at €82,500 entry price, while cheaper models are on the way. Tesla claims that the car is a part of evolving technology and will be forever young because of upgrades, while you don’t need to be scared of the huge technology screen; if you can use an iPad or iPhone, that part won’t be a put off, but the price might.
24 August 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 25
GAZETTE
MOTORING
Nissan launches upgraded Qashqai
Poor tyre inflation now costs you more
NISSAN has upgraded its most popular car of recent times, the Qashqai with significant changes in four areas: exterior design, interior quality, driving performance and some new Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies. The new Qashqai comes in four grades: XE, SV, SV Premium and SVE, with a starting price of €26,070. The most obvious but somewhat subtle exterior changes to the Qashqai see a new contemporary design featuring the iconic ‘V-motion’ grille along with new front bumper and front fog lamps. The Qashqai also features ‘boomerang’ Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) and the LED light motif which has been extended across the whole lamp at the rear. On the inside the changes include a new D-shaped steering wheel. The seats have been redesigned with claims of a more durable upholstered finish or a choice of quality soft nappa leather, with 3D quilting. Out on the road, Nissan claims that this new Qashqai delivers improved driving performance due to calmer vehicle body motion and better levels of impact shock. The new Active Return Control claims to allow the steering wheel returns to centre more naturally, bring-
risen over an 18-month period, in line with the cost
THE cost of driving on under-inflated tyres has
of fuel, according to tyre manufacturer Michelin. Michelin claims that tyre pressures have a direct impact on a vehicle’s fuel economy, with underinflation increasing both fuel usage and carbon emissions, whilst also posing serious safety risks to motorists and other road users. Data collected by Michelin over the last 10 years shows that, on average, at least 60% of motorists in the UK drive on under-inflated tyres, and half of those are at dangerously under-inflated levels (more than 8psi). Tests carried out have shown that a tyre which is 20% under-inflated will typically return 20% less Nissan has launched a new Qashqai with some neat design changes and improved safety
mileage before needing to be replaced. This equates
features with a modest price increase
to loss of 8,000km (5,000 miles) on a tyre which offers a potential mileage of 40,000km.
ing claims of improved precision during driving. Nissan also claims significant improvements to noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) performance on the new Qashqai. This Qashqai will be offered with new Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies such as intelligent emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intelligent park assist, while new rear cross traffic alert and still assist systems have been added while others have been upgraded
with new safety features. This new Qashqai will be available with ProPILOT, Nissan’s autonomous drive technology in 2018. James McCarthy, CEO, Nissan Ireland, said: “With over 50,000 units sold in the last 10 years, the Qashqai has certainly proved its popularity with the Irish public. Now, with these premium enhancements to its design, quality, technology and driving dynamics, we are confident it’s success will grow further.”
As well as increasing fuel bills, Michelin says under-inflation makes a vehicle’s steering less precise, increases stopping distances and leads to a higher risk of aquaplaning. It also reduces a tyre’s endurance capabilities, making it more prone to damage and possible rapid deflation. Michelin advises motorists to check tyre pressures, including the spare, at least every month and before any long journeys.
26 FINGAL GAZETTE
24 August 2017
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28 FINGAL GAZETTE 24 August 2017
SPORT
FastSport
Yappy birthday Shelbourne
GOLD-EN DAN: DUBLINER Dan Golden won gold at the 17th FINA World Masters Swimming Championships in Budapest when he came home first in the 50m butterfly event in the 65-70 age category. “Masters” is the term given to competitive swimming for anyone over 25 years old and Golden also set a new FINA World Masters Swimming Championship record when he finished in a time of 30.09 seconds to take his much deserved victory. He is a member of the NAC Masters Swimming Club, which has become one of Ireland’s most successful masters swimming clubs since been founded in 1988, and he also competed at the tournament in the 100m butterfly and both the 50m and 100m freestyle -finishing an impressive fifth in both of the latter two. The FINA World Championships take place every two years, with this year’s event running over a twoweek period in Budapest.
SHELBOURNE Park are celebrating 90 years in business - that’s 630 years if you’re a dog. The home of Irish greyhound racing is situated in the docklands of Ringsend and first opened its doors as a dog track in 1927. The historic stadium was also the home of Shelbourne FC from 1913 to 1949, and even hosted a race between a greyhound and former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond in a Mazda MX5 - and yes the greygound won.
Celebrities and fans alike come together to celebrate 90 years of racing at Shelbourne Park
Dubliners denied three in a row by the Germans JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com
Female MVP of the final Grainne McCarthy of Ireland Picture: Paddy Cummins
THE fourth outing of the Dublin Golden Cup in ultimate frisbee took place earlier this month in Westmanstown, with the German national team winning the tournament, defeating Dublin side Trilogy in the final. The tournament was conceived of by a group of Dublinbased frisbee friends as a way to bring an array of multinational opposition to the city, and is played across two days - pool matches on Saturday, and final
ranking contests on Sunday. Organiser Mark Earley told the Gazette of the finalists “Both teams stood out all weekend long but the Germans played a much stronger final game and won well in the end. The Irish team had won the tournament for the last two years running so were pretty disappointed. Each year the cream of UK Ultimate come over and this year a Scottish team Black Eagles looked exceptional and were unlucky not to make it to the final.” The tournament featured 30 teams and more than 200 play-
ers, and for Earley the organisational aspects were his proudest moments. “To be honest seeing Saturday morning go well was a great feeling,” he explained. “We put on breakfast for them, we organised lunch at the fields and brought merchandise to sell too. We needed lots of things to come through for us, including the weather, and it did, so just seeing it all in full swing was great. We’ve an annual ceili on the Saturday night where we teach the visiting teams a few Irish dances which was both hilarious and fun. And then on
Sunday, seeing everyone watching the final was nice too.” Ultimate frisbee - a fast paced game with similarities to American football in the scoring, but a much more open and fluid gameplay - first came to Ireland in 1995, over thirty years after establishing in the US. Earley who regularly travels to participate himself - says the country “punches well above its weight” with about 500-600 active players. The sport is typically mixed and open to all, and Earley encourages anyone interested to get involved.
24 August 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 29
GAZETTE
FASTSport
Young basketballers end European’s with big win IRELAND Under-16 men’s basketball team have written their own piece of history at the FIBA European Championships by storming home to an 83-78 point win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 11-12th place classification game. Four Dubliners were involved in the squad with Malahide’s Cian Daly, Templeogue’s Matthew Harper, Sanmi Fajana from the Ongar Chaser’s, and Liffey Celtic’s Tiernan Howe all taking part. In what has already been a superb summer for Irish international basketball, the under-16 men continued the trend by securing a massive 11th place finish. Ireland not only finished their Europeans campaign in style, but did so over a team who – just five days previously – beat them in the group stages 71-97. An even first quarter saw the teams trading baskets, with Fajana, David Lehane and Howe the stand out shooters - helping to send Ireland into a 21-18 point lead at the end of the first. A superb second quarter from Daly, which saw him get in some vital assists and steals, served to enhance an already strong defensive display from the boys in green. Fajana continued to clock the scores for the Irish, and they held a five-point lead at the break, 40-35. The third quarter is where things got a little shaky for Ireland as Bosnia & Herzegovina hustled to close the gap and managed to take their first lead in the game. Ireland regrouped quickly though, with Paul Kelly leading the charge with a perfectly placed pace to Oisin Rice who hit the long three, and Ireland were back in control by the buzzer. It certainly wasn’t over though, and the final quarter was a battle of will and determination. Strong defence kept Ireland on top, and Nathan Moore showed his cool head from the free throw line to send Ireland home to a memorable and historic victory, 83-78. “It was what we thought it would be, last game, last day, let’s find out what we have left in the tank,” said Head Coach Pat Price after the game. “We reminded the team in the third quarter, that we needed to want this more than Bosnia. A lot of the team made a couple of great plays and did a lot of defensive stops at critical times, so I’m very proud of them and proud that they could rally after such a tough game last night. They said they wanted to end this thing in the right way and they really did that.”
Canadian dream still flying high for teen star Dublin ice hockey ace looking to pick up sponsors in bid to keep alive his ambitious hopes of playing professionally by spending the next 12 months in the GreatWhite North sport@dublingazette.com
BLANCHARDSTOWN teenager Mark Murphy is all set to take a brave gamble, in a bid to make an impact on the ice hockey world. It’s an unlikely move for a Dublin native: our city doesn’t have a permanent ice skating rink, and Murphy’s side the Flying Ducks only play on ice around ten times a year as they have to travel to Belfast to do so. The plans, however, are not as pie-in-the-sky as they may sound. Murphy has already spent six weeks in Canada, where he played for a side in French-speaking Mon-
treal. Living with a host family and picking up the language as he went along, the 16-year-old turned out for Somang Hockey Club. He trained daily, and his improvement during those six weeks was so substantial that the club sought him out earlier this year to try and persuade him to return. Murphy decided to do so, for an entire year. Murphy’s start in the game was somewhat coincidental. “There used to be a Castleknock ice hockey rink, six years ago, and my sister was figure skating in the morning. They happened to be training, and my mum suggested I join in. I never
Mark Murphy posing in his Flying Ducks gear
looked back,” he recalls. “You learn how to skate, which was kind of natural to me as I used to rollerblade, and then it came fairly naturally. I just love it. They kept the Castleknock rink open through the hottest summer we’ve had in years, in a warehouse in 2010 but the planning permission wasn’t renewed, and they’ve built houses there. It was difficult to even get ice time.” “There are teams around the country, but we usually play them on roller hockey rinks. It’s not the same sport, really. We play with a puck with balls on it so it has less friction. I don’t really like
it in the same way.” “There’s just about an Irish national team, as well as age groups,” he continues. “For the Canadians, playing us is a bit like playing children. There’s just no comparison. My aim is probably to coach in the long term.” There’s an air of modesty in this ambition, however: Murphy’s Canadian side Somang have players from within the team who will shortly take up professional contracts. Murphy’s team, the Flying Ducks, have done a lot to progress the Irish situation for their players, however. Their connection with Canadian teams, for example - they visited for St Patrick’s Day last year - has enabled them to acquire shared equipment, which they then rent to players on an annual basis. That means the bar to entry - the cost of essential equipment - is only a fraction of what it would otherwise be. The sport is huge over there. “There’s a stadium every 15 minute drive, and each would have two ice rinks at it,” Murphy said of his six-week Canadian experience. “It was like playing a different sport. They’re all really good players, who know how to position themselves. As soon as I came back, I went straight into our senior team, I felt like a totally different player.” “The physical side was tough, but I loved it. You have to get used to be pushed around. You’re
allowed to hit with the shoulder, within certain rules, like how far you are from the boards. I can watch a bit of it here, but I have to do it at mad o’clock in the morning.” The stumbling block for Murphy and his family is an obvious one: with a year in Canada costing tens of thousands of dollars. “We’re hoping we can find some sponsorship,” Murphy’s mum Debbie Hendy Murphy explains. “It’s such a good opportunity that we have to make sure Mark takes it. The difference with sponsorship might be whether Mark is in school, which is an extra cost. There’s no funding there at the moment for the sport at all in Ireland. We’d certainly be interested in making an arrangement with any company interested in supporting Mark.” As for ice hockey in Ireland? “It’s a great business opportunity,” Murphy explains. “If someone came in with some money and set up a rink, it would never look back. The demand is clearly there, and I don’t think it would take too long to hook up with the elite league in England.” Should that happen, it will be too late for earlyadopters like Murphy. Instead, he’ll be leaving behind the conventional school route - at least temporarily - in September, with big ambitions: to try and make things stick in Montreal.
GAZETTE
30 FINGAL GAZETTE 24 August 2017
SPORT
FASTSport
SOCCER: MALAHIDE IMPRESS DURING OPENING GAME OF THE SEASON
Pat’s a step too far for ambitious Fingal side PORTMARNOCK have lit up the north of Dublin with their performances over the last few years but victory over a resurgent St Patrick’s Athletic at Paddy’s Hill in the FAI Cup proved a step too far. Despite exiting the competition at the first-round stage, Willie O’Leary’s side can be proud of how they performed against their top-flight opponents. The non-league side put in a battling performance during the first half but St Pat’s almost took the lead after just 60 seconds when the lively Ian Bermingham found Billy Dennehy unmarked in the box. The winger wasted the chance, however, by sending his strike straight at Brian Kane in the Portmarnock goal. The home side had a chance of their own after 10 minutes but Noel McGinty’s attempted lob dropped into the arms of Barry Murphy. Pat’s were dominating the first half and their pressure eventually told on the stroke of half-time when Christy Fagan got on the end of an excellent cross into the box by Conan Byrne to head home. The opening period of the second half was an uneventful affair, and Portmarnock decided to step up their efforts in search of an equaliser on the hour mark. Ross Moran found himself in a good position and got a great ball into the box that Gareth Whelan just failed to get on the end of. That chance helped to inspire Portmarnock and they forged another chance shortly afterwards when Sam O’Connor found David Sheppard in the box. However, with Sheppard looing good for a goal, Pats’ new signing Jordi Balk got back to clear for his side. The Swedish defender has proved a welcome addition so far for the Inchicore side. As Portmarnock pushed forward more and more, they were inevitably leaving space at the back – which ultimately led to the visitor’s second. Pat’s hit them on the break through the impressive Byrne, who fizzed an excellent cross into the box that was diverted into his own net by Whelan to make it 2-0.
David Craven in action for Malahide United. Picture/JuniorSoccerPortal
United run champs close sport@dublingazette.com
M A L A H I DE Un i t e d equipped themselves well as they kicked off their new season in the Leinster Senior League on Friday with the hardest fixture of all - an away game at champions St Mochta’s. Having finished midtable in the third tier of Irish football last time around, United looked only slightly behind the running in Clonsilla, with Mochta’s requiring a series of brilliant goals to resist the onslaught from David Craven and the boys from the castle. Saints’ title win last
time around could hardly have been more dramatic, as three sides went into the final day with a shot at the title. However, Mochtas’ away day hammering of Wayside Celtic was enough to overcome a goal difference deficit despite traditional big boys Bluebell United edging past closest rivals Crumlin United. This year looks set to be still more competitive, with Bluebell strengthened by former Ireland international Keith Fahey [still only 34] moving over to their playing roster, Crumlin adding to their attacking options and even traditional strug-
UNIVERSITY GAMES Soccer star one of eight to reach Taiwan SWORDS man Alan O’Sullivan has been named as one of eight Dublin City University students selected to compete at the 29th World University Games in Taiwan. The Malahide United soccer star, a sports science and health major, and the other students will represent DCU and Ireland as they compete with other student athletes from around the world. In total, 10,000 athletes will come together in Taipei to compete in over 300 medal events across 21 sports.
glers Greystones United adding a host of former League of Ireland stars. If Mochta’s were intimidated, though, they didn’t show it. In fact, their two early goals were both worthy of a division higher than Ireland’s third tier. First, Dean Kelly slammed a 25-yard free kick into the corner of the Malahide net on five minutes, before the champions doubled their tally with a breathtaking 35-yard volley from David Somers eight minutes later. Mochta’s were proving ruthless but Malahide had found a brief period of dominance between
the two goals to pull one back through David Craven, who finished firmly into the corner to bring the north Dubs back into the contest at 2-1. That brought on a period of sustained Malahide pressure, with Adam Kmet in the Mochta’s goal twice forced into sharp saves as Craven attempted to get onto the end of direct balls swung into the penalty box. That continued into the second half and Malahide arguably should have been level, as former Shamrock Rovers man Gavin Kearney was forced into a late block inside the six-yard
area, and two Malahide chances on the hour were nudged wide of the target when perhaps it was easier to score. From there, though, Malahide faded and the champions took control. Alan McGreal chipped in with another fantastic volleyed finish, and while Craven was to respond in kind almost immediately to make it 3-2 on 80 minutes, the equaliser never quite looked on the cards. It was McGreal - a key man last time around for Mochta’s - who finally put the game beyond doubt with a 90th minute steer from close range to give the champions a 4-2 win.
24 August 2017 FINGAL GAZETTE 31
GAZETTE
TENNIS BRONZE Portmarnock club are leading way for Leinster
CLUB NOTICEBOARD FINGALLIANS
PLSC Portmarnock Tennis Club are celebrating after achieving the Tennis Ireland bronze clubmark award. Thanks to consistent attention to detail and dedication to high standards, the club has become the first within Leinster to achieve this impressive status. It is awarded at three levels and the programme aims to identify, develop, accredit and recognise high quality tennis clubs.
CUL Camp 2017: We had a club record 364
August, Fingallians GAA will host a group
kids taking part and we are waiting to
of 80 Italian & German teenagers as part
see if it is the biggest in the country. A
of an Intercultural trip. They will visit
big thank you to Nicola Fitzgerald, Wayne
the club between 7 and 9.30pm and will
Hutchinson and their very large team of
be introduced to gaelic football and
coaches.
Hurling by our Under-16 lady football-
Tickets: Dublin v Tyrone - The game
ers and camógs, followed by a taste of
is fully sold out and clubs have NOT got
traditional Irish music and dance in the
their full allocations. Our tickets will be
club bar by our Scór teams. Fáilte roimh
distributed to members on Thursday
chách.
evening from 8pm in the club bar.
CAMOGIE: CATS END FINAL DREAM FOR THE DUBS
Intermediate Hurling Championship:
Ladies All-Ireland Semi Final: Dublin
Our hurlers drew their final group game
v Kerry – This Saturday 26th August in
with Naomh Mearnog on Wednesday
Semple Stadium @ 6.30pm. The game
evening. We missed out on a quarter
will be shown in the club for those not
final place on scoring difference. We will
attending & live on TG4. The very best of
now enter a relegation championship
luck to the club quartet of Denise, Fiona,
play off. All-Ireland Hurling Final – Water-
Sinead & Emer. Under-16 Dublin Panel: Congratula-
ford v Galway: Qualifying members can
tions to Darragh Power who has been
register their name at the club bar – no
selected on the panel for the Arra Bawn
upfront payment is required.
Tournament this weekend in Tipperary. Intercultural Visit: Saturday 26th
Lotto: Numbers 2, 15, 17, 20 & 33. We had one winner Sinead Warren.
ST FINIAN’S CONGRATULATIONS to the AHL4 team
11.30am respectively after the Summer
who had a super win away over Lucan
break. New members are always wel-
Sarsfields in the Quarter Final of the
come. We are always looking for parents
Junior A Championship on Saturday
to become involved in coaching also. Well done to our Under-12 boys team
evening.
Two Dublin players comfort each other after loss to Kilkenny. Picture: Bryan Keane/INPHO
Kilkenny prove too strong for Jackeens ALL-IRELAND SEMI FINAL Dublin 0-09 Kilkenny 2-11 sport@dublingazette.com
DUBLIN’S 31 year wait to reach another All-Ireland senior camogie final continues after they lost 0-9 to 2-11 to Kilkenny at the Gaelic Grounds. The final margin is harsh on Dublin, who were appearing in their first semi-final in 27 years, but they showed enough to confirm that they will be a force to be reckoned with in the coming seasons. Kilkenny got off to the perfect start when they
broke out of defence and worked the sliotar to Miriam Walsh, who was hauled down by Áine Woods for a penalty. Denise Gaule stepped up to the plate and planted a shot to the right corner of the net with only two minutes elapsed. The threatening Siobhán Kehoe then got Dublin off the mark. That was the start of a run of four points for the Metropolitans out of the next five scored. A strong run by Anna Farrell created a goal chance for Walsh but she was dispossessed by Eve O’Brien, who was
magnificent throughout for the Sky Blues, as was Miriam Twomey. Ann Dalton was particularly influential as Kilkenny began to get their running game in motion, and the Stripeywomen scored the last three points of the half to lead by 1-5 to 0-4 at half time. Dublin were playing into the wind in the second half but they halved the deficit inside six minutes with a point from Kehoe. K i l ke n ny a r e a n extremely experienced outfit however and while being put to the pin of
their collars by Dublin’s ferocious workrate, they had enough experience and scoring threat to put some breathing space between the teams with five of the next six points. It was still a three-point game entering the final quarter when Maher replied to a Danielle Morrissey brace but points from Julieann Malone, Anna Farrell, Michelle Quilty and a wonderful effort by Meighan Farrell saw them pull clear. Maher shot two more points to bring her tally to six but Clifford had the last say with her rocket of a finish.
The AFL 8 team are away to St Sylvest-
who played in the Dungannon Under12
ers on Sunday 27th August at 10:30am.
and 1/2 tournament. A fantastic day had
The AFL 4 team are away to neighbours
by all and a very big thank you to Dun-
St Margarets on Saturday August 26th
gannon Thomas Clarkes for their invita-
at 6:30pm.
tion and excellent hospitality.
St Finians GAA club is holding a raffle
There are Boxercise classes taking
for two Stand tickets for the All-Ireland
place in the clubhouse activity room
hurling final on Sunday 3rd September
every Monday evening. For further
and for two Stand tickets for the All-
details, please contact Karen at 087 776
Ireland football final on Sunday 17th Sep-
5165.
tember. The draw for the Hurling Final
Club Lotto - The club lotto jackpot on
tickets will take place on 31st August and
the 18th August was €2500 and the num-
for the football tickets will take place on
bers drawn were 5, 6, 20, 22. There was
16th September. Tickets are €5 each and
no winner. Lucky Dip Winners of €40 were
are available from the clubhouse office,
Caoimhe Dillons, Nicky Dylan Callum,
mentors or any committee member.
Darren Carroll, Dave Flood. Next week’s
A word of thanks to all of the coaches
jackpot is €2600.
and helpers who contributed to the
The club bingo takes place this and
smooth running of the 2nd Summer
every Friday upstairs in Peacocks at
camp last week led by outgoing GPO
8.30pm. The jackpot is €500! The Club Shop is open on Saturday
James Devlin. The nursery and academy sponsored
mornings only from 11am to 1pm during
by Sky Handling Partner will resume
August. Check out the latest price list on
on Saturday 9th September at 10am &
the club website.
GOT A STORY? WE WANT TO KNOW!
Call our SPORT TEAM on 60 10 240 and SELECT OPTION 3
or email sport@dublingazette.com
GAZETTESPORT
ALL OF YOUR FINGAL SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 28-31
UNITED IMPRESS: Malahide push champions St Mochtas all the way as LSL gets back underway P30
AUGUST 24 -30, 2017
GREAT WHITE NORTH: Young Dubliner dreams of hitting big time in Canada P29
Connolly ready to go Diarmuid Connolly, centre, celebrating Dublin’s Sam Maguire win in 2016 alongside Cormac Costelloe, left, and Paul Flynn
Forward will be hoping to make an instant return to Jim Gavin’s Dublin side on Sunday but competition for places is now more fierce than ever DAVE DONNELLY
sport@dublingazette.com
ST VINCENT’S clubman Diarmuid Connolly will make his long-awaited return to the Dublin panel ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland Football Championship semi-final with Tyrone. 30-year-old Connolly served a 12-week ban for a push on an official during June’s Leinster quarter-final against Carlow – a decision fiercely contested by Dublin manager Jim Gavin who was then criticised for his reaction to the incident. And Gavin remained coy about Connolly’s chances of regaining his place in the side following the scintillating form of his heir apparent
Con O’Callaghan. “We just have to wait and see as we get closer to the game. [Diarmuid] is doing his own thing. He is on his own programme.” There’s good news too for Gavin in the return of several key players from injury – although he again warned no player can take his place on such a competitive a panel for granted. Michael Darragh MacAuley and Fingallians’ Paul Flynn made their returns to the team in the quarter-final win over Monaghan but, likewise, neither is guaranteed a starting shirt. “We have a full squad to pick from. Cormac Costello is back now as well, he’s worked really diligently at his return to play,” said Gavin. “We don’t hand out jerseys. [MacAuley and
Flynn] earned the right to return to the field of play based on what we saw in front of our eyes in training. So they’ve been training really well over the last number of weeks. “They got those jerseys on merit. [The] biggest strength of this team is their sense of collective and they understand that they’re the sum of their parts and Paul and Michael Darragh came in and did their bit for the team. “It’s been a long road for both of them, as it has been for a number of players.” Tyrone gave the Boys in Blue one of their toughest games of the year back in February when it took a stirring comeback to salvage a draw and keep the record-breaking unbeaten run on track.
And Gavin anticipates another close battle between two complete footballing sides. “Defensive has always been their cornerstone. They have always been an exceptionally good counter-attacking team, but they have really added to it since that league game. “If you look at their championship games it has been so, so impressive from them. Players coming off the bench has really added to it as well. “They are just a modern football team and they have been very impressive. “We know how good they are defensively and they have a great defensive system. They have been putting up big scores and they’re a freescoring team now.