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YOUR COMMUNITY • YOUR PAPER

INSIDE: Michael D Higgins talks to the Gazette P6

August 18, 2011

COMMUNITY WEB: New website focused on local issues See Page 3

Descent delay: Disappointment as race put back Cycling: Local club claim gold at national championships Page 32

THE thrilling annual Liffey Descent canoe festival has been pushed back to October 8 after the ESB and the organisers announced that a lack of sufficient water meant that the 17-mile race down the river would not be able to take place until the later date. The flood for the event is usually provided by the ESB through the release of water from its upstream reservoirs, but a 35-year low has precipitated the delay.

Full Story on Page 30

Hurling: Lucan play themselves into contention for league title Page 31

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ................8-10 MUSIC ...........................14 MOTORS ........................18 BUSINESS .....................21 GOING OUT .................. 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26

Council go-ahead for nursing home The controversial plan includes a four-star hotel

Q PAUL HOSFORD

NEWCASTLE is set to get a new nursing home and fourstar hotel development following a controversial vote taken at South Dublin County Council.

The roll-call vote was passed 15-7, following the motion that

amended the County Development Plan to “provide for the development of a retirement village at Ballynakelly”.

However, council management were opposed to the variation, as was Labour politician Eamon Tuffy, who said he believed that some of the lands already zoned for housing in

the area would provide more “suitable locations”.

The council suggested that the “proposal could more appropriately be addressed in conjunction with the review of the Newcastle Local Area Plan”, which SDCC said was overdue.

Full Story on Page 2

2 LUCAN GAZETTE 18 August 2011

HEALTH: TRAINING LOCAL DEFIBRILLATOR USERS

COUNCIL Newcastle development is passed at meeting

Free courses to help save Lucan lives Q MICHAEL HANNAN

WITH an estimated 5,000 people dying annually of Sudden Cardiac Death Syndrome in Ireland, a Lucan man is hoping to help combat this by offering free courses in external defibrillator use.

Jonah Roche has been a qualified emergency medical technician for more than two years, and has provided medical training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for 10.

The only assistance available to those suffering from cardiac arrest in the Lucan area is a designated ambulance on Belgard Road.

Roche is launching a new initiative, where volunteers can partake of free courses in cardiac first responder and automated external defibrillation use (AED).

His company’s website – ww.skillshop.ie – has been running for two years and is dedicated to offering courses in first aid to businesses, community groups and sports clubs.

The courses are approved by the Irish Heart Foundation, and

are designed to ensure a rapid response to cardiac arrest victims in Lucan village.

“We are going to set up a system where if, for example, somebody has a cardiac arrest in Lucan village, there’ll be a group text sent to anybody who has been trained up in using a defibrillator.

“They can then respond within the necessary eight minutes,” says Roche.

The response time of eight minutes is particularly crucial. Cardiac arrests can rapidly lead to irreversible brain damage and death but, after even just three to five minutes, irreversible brain/tissue damage can occur, making every minute count.

The company plans to run six courses initially in defibrillator usage and CPR this summer.

“We’ll be providing at least three defibrillators, which will be stored at strategic and accessible parts of Lucan, such as at shopping centres.

These will be accessible by trained people when required,” he adds.

For further information, see www.skillshop.ie, or contact Jonah Roche at 01 621 6363.

Labour councillor Eamon Tuffy joined council management in objecting to the proposed scheme, feeling that the Newcastle Local Area Plan could more appropriately address the proposed scheme

Nursing home approved Q PAUL HOSFORD

lucan@gazettegroup.com

NEWCASTLE is set to get a new nursing home and four-star hotel development, following a controversial vote taken at South Dublin County Council (SDCC).

The roll-call vote was passed 15-7, following the motion that amended the County Development Plan to “provide for the development of a retirement village at Ballynakelly, Newcastle, County Dublin”.

Council management were opposed to the variation, as was Labour councillor Eamon Tuffy,

who said he believed that some of the lands already zoned for housing in the area would provide “suitable locations for a retirement village”.

In a report issued at the meeting, the council suggested that the “proposal could more appropriately be addressed in conjunction with the review of the Newcastle Local Area Plan”, which the council said was overdue and is committed to commence in autumn.

“Should the variation proceed, the legislation requires screening for strategic environmental assessment and appro-

priate assessment, and the prescribed public consultation with the appropriate timelines,” said the council report.

The retirement village will facilitate the provision of a range of purpose-built accommodation for older people, and will include a mix of independent and care-supported facilities in a secure and managed environment.

The development will comprise individual retirement homes that provide for assisted living designed to HIQA 2008 standard, a nursing home (for less mobile residents of the retirement village),

a new medical/health centre, and a community centre.

The proposing councillors, Fine Gael’s Therese Ridge and Tony Delaney, Fianna Fail’s Trevor Gilligan and Labour councillor Breda Bonner, included a provision that the development of the nursing home element and communal centre for the retirement village, would only be undertaken in tandem with the retirement homes.

Cllr Tuffy, who voted against the plan, said that local reaction would be sought.

“I look forward to getting and considering the

response of local residents in Newcastle to the proposal adopted by councillors at the meeting.

“In my view, the proposers of the motion should have accepted the manager’s suggestion that the proposal could be more appropriately addressed in conjunction with the review of the Newcastle Local Area Plan, which the council is committed to commence in September.

“Although I disagree with the decision, I acknowledge the good faith of the councillors who voted for the proposal,” said Cllr Tuffy.

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18 August 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 3

COUNCIL Website aims to engage on local issues

Pilot community project is being trialled in SDCC area A NEW pilot scheme, entitled FixYourStreet, is to be rolled out by South Dublin County Council (SDCC).

The announcement

by Environment Minister Phil Hogan was welcomed by the Mayor of SDCC, Labour councillor Caitriona Jones.

FixYourStreet.ie will be a publicly-accessible website with associated mobile technologies on which non-emergency issues can be reported, such as street lighting, drainage, graffiti, illegal dumping, road and footpath maintenance.

The pilot will run for a period of three months in SDCC, whereby technologies developed by the council will be tested in a live working local government environment.

Mayor Jones said: “I am extremely pleased and proud to acknowledge the council’s continued work towards the delivery of a quality customer service.

“SDCC already provides a range of online customer-care facilities, and offers a social media presence and locationbased services to a quarter of a million people, 90,000 households and more than 6,000 businesses through their website, www.sdcc.ie.

“As part of the pilot phase, SDCC, with the support of the Local Government Management

Whether living in the picturesque old village, or in the newer estates, Lucan residents will be able to join other South Dublin County Council residents in availing of a new pilot scheme, FixYourStreet.ie, which, it is hoped, will help residents to engage more on reporting local issues

Agency, will be working with a number of other local authorities on this initiative,”she said.

The move was also warmly welcomed by Fine Gael councillor Emer Higgins.

“I am delighted that Minister Hogan has selected South Dublin County Council to pilot this progressive initiative.

“FixYourstreet will give more people power to citizens throughout the county and will help deliver a more effective council service.

“Minister Hogan

announced this progressive measure, and is running a pilot of this programme over the next three months in SDCC, with a view to rolling it out nationally.

“I would urge residents to use this site as much as possible over the next three months so that the council and the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government will be able to evaluate the effectiveness and benefits of this new system, and make any necessary improvements before it is rolled

out nationally,” she said.

It is envisaged that the reporting of issues to FixYourStreet.ie will be accepted via the website - www.FixYourStreet.ie – through email, on Twitter and, coming soon, via mobile phone apps for the most popular mobile platforms, with a commitment that local officials will respond within two working days.

It is also envisaged that residents will be able to monitor the response and interact with their issue once it has been reported through the system.

Preparing for Lucan Festival THE launch for this year’s Lucan Festival 2011 is set to get under way next week. It’s the third year the popular festival will take place, and organisers are promising it will be bigger and better than ever when it runs from September 19 to 25.

Highlights of this year’s programme will include local singer, Lorcan James.

Tom Dowling, secretary of the Lucan Festival Committee, said: “With only five weeks left to the festival, we have been very busy confirming events, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our small voluntary committee,

who work all year round to make this year’s festival happen.

“Despite the difficult times we all find ourselves in, I am very pleased with both the financial support and positive feedback from local businesses towards this year’s festival.

“We also received fantastic news this week from CBRE, who have agreed to allow us use of the vacant Gunne offices in the village for the arts exhibition and festival HQ during September.

“We would like to thank Courtney’s pub for providing the venue for the launch,” said Dowling.

Joe Byrne, chairman, Lucan Fes-

tival Committee, urges locals to get involved. “While we may have most of the programme finalised, there is still lots to do. We would encourage anyone who has a few hours to spare and who would like to help out either in the run-up to or during the festival to get in contact.”

You can become a fan on Facebook; see http://lucalfestival.wordpress.com; check https://twitter. com/LucanFest; email lucanfestival@gmail.com, or telephone 086 250 5665 or 087 624 3562.

The festival launch takes place on Wednesday, August 24, at 7:30pm, upstairs in Courtney’s pub.

CHARITY

Likeable way to help kids LIFFEY Valley Opel has teamed up with The Make-A-Wish Foundation to raise funds and awareness of the children’s charity.

The Foundation has a list of children waiting to have their wishes granted, and lending your support could not be easier, says Liffey Valley Opel, who have come up with a simple idea – by clicking “Like” on their Facebook page, they will donate €1 per hit to the charity.

Liffey Valley Opel, a part of the Windsor Motor Group, have supported Make-A-Wish since 2008 by donating an Opel Zafira for the use of the charity to help achieve its many activities.

The car has been used by the staff of the Foundation to assist in attending fundraising activities, and the granting of wishes for the children, whilst also promoting the charity throughout the country.

4 LUCAN GAZETTE 18 August 2011

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POLITICS We’ll holiday in Ireland, say well-known figures

Dublin Mid-west TD and Minister Frances Fitzgerald and Dublin West TD Leo Varadkar, both say that they’re looking forward to holidaying in Ireland during their summer recess from the Dail

Staycationers’ plans Q HIROMI MOONEY,

LAURA WEBB and PAUL HOSFORD

WITH everyone tightening their belts and count-

ing the pennies, most TDs are planning “staycations” this summer.

This week, The Gazette chats to them about their favourite holiday spots,

and how they plan to relax over the summer break.

The Minister for Children, and Dublin Mid West FG TD, Frances Fit-

zgerald, is a huge fan of west Cork, and says she plans to visit friends in Schull and spend time in Connemara this August.

“This summer, I will be spending time in Connemara, which is one of my favourite places in Ireland.

“I plan to revisit west Cork, as I have had some fantastic family holidays in Schull over the years.

Some friends of mine have also recommended Clare Island, so I might go to explore there, too.”

One of the two women in the Cabinet with a senior portfolio, the Minister also plans to catch up on some books.

“I have been inundated with recommendations from friends. I’m looking forward to reading Room,

by Emma Donoghue, and also A Visit From the Goon Squad, by Jennifer Egan.”

But the mother of three says it will be a shorter break than usual.

“My summer break won’t be long, as I have

a lot of work to do in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, so most of my time during the Dail recess will be spent working in our new office in Mespil Road.”

Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar, who is a FG TD for Dublin West, will also join the staycation clan with a holiday in Ireland this summer. However, he also hopes to spend some time in either New York or Spain.

“I’m taking at least one holiday in Ireland this year, and would encourage everyone to do the same. There are some great deals to be had in Ireland, even at this late stage.

“All the signs suggest the tourism industry is picking up this year, which is great news for our economy,” he says.

“I also hope the jobs initiative, which focused heavily on the tourism sector, will help to kickstart economic recovery and create jobs.

“For myself, I intend to take a few days in Kerry.

I’ll be staying near Killarney, where the Tourism and Sport sections of my Department are located, but I intend to get plenty of time off to explore the county.

“I’m also planning to take a week in Spain, or possibly North America.”

In Dun Laoghaire, An Tanaiste, Labour’s Eamon Gilmore, plans to holiday in Ireland, while Dublin South Fine Gael TD Olivia Mitchell, who recently became a grandmother again, said she plans to spend as much time as she can with her grandchildren.

Fellow Dublin South TD, Labour’s Alex White says that he would travel to Portugal with his family, and spend the rest of his time in Ireland.

“During August, I’ll be spending time in Wexford, Kerry and in Co Sligo.

“I plan to bring my bike and to enjoy long summer evenings cycling the country roads of rural

Ireland,” he says.

“I tend to go different places every year, though Co Sligo is a favourite.

“This has been a busy year, with the General Election, a new Government, etc.

“We’ve also had two State exams in our house, so everyone is looking forward to a relaxing break,” he says.

Meanwhile, Independent TD Shane Ross plans to holiday with his family by travelling by boat from Rosslare to Fishguard in Wales, and then drive south and then take the ferry to France.

He goes to France almost every year, and says that he also hopes to travel to the west of Ireland this year.

“I plan to take some time off in Mayo, hopefully fishing on Lough Mask, where I went in former years. There is a wonderful guest house in Ballinrobe run by John and Mary Sheridan, which I hope to revisit in early September,” he says.

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18 August 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 5

6 LUCAN GAZETTE 18 August 2011

CHILDREN: PROTECTION

Minister launches guide DUBLIN Mid West FG TD, and Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald, has warned that “those who stand by, will stand trial” as she launched a new national guidance document, Children First 2011 – National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children.

Children First is a national guidance document that promotes the protection of children from abuse and neglect.

The guidance sets out specific protocols for HSE social workers, Gardai and other front-line staff in dealing with suspected abuse and neglect.

Referring to the publication of the Cloyne Report, and other reports already published, Minister Fitzgerald said their publication “cumulatively shine a light on horrific episodes from our past; and, indeed, from our very recent past”.

POLITICS Michael D Higgins talks to The Gazette

‘We all need to work for a creative Republic’ Q PAUL HOSFORD

lucan@gazettegroup.com

“I CAN win this race.”

That Michael D Higgins is confident is no surprise. The Labour Presidential candidate, who was in the Red Cow Hotel recently to meet with locals as he gears up for the October 27 election, has been a member

of the Dail since 1981.

He started his political career as a county councillor, later becoming a TD and Senator, along the way holding the office of Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, and rising to prominence as one of the country’s best-known politicians.

And, of course, the Galway TD is well-known for

his love of poetry, having published three collections of poems, writing for magazines and newspapers across the country.

Almost invariably called Michael D across the country, he has also served as a director of his home-town League of Ireland team, Galway Utd, and says he “is in touch with a big enough cross-section of Ireland to represent them”.

“As a candidate for the Office of President, I want to offer a vision of a radically inclusive citizenship in a creative society, worthy of a real Republic – one which will make us proud to be Irish in the world.

“We need to promote a positive and inclusive idea of what it means to be a citizen in Dublin, and in Ireland.

“Citizenship must be based on equality, respect and participation, offering a basic level of rights below which nobody is allowed to fall,” says Michael D. “The President can choose where their focus is, and what issues they give prominence to. But I feel all candidates need to be honest about what the President can and can’t do,” he says.

Michael D says that, for him, education is a huge issue facing the country, with access being a key point for the Galway politician.

“As somebody who, myself, faced a struggle to access education, I have always passionately believed in its importance and everywhere I go in

“The creative society is not just about arts or culture, but about creativity in design, technology, dance and sport – it has always been those who dared to dream for their communities, who have made great things possible” – Michael D

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

‘We must move past the narrow, individualist version of Ireland, which caused so much damage in recent years’ --------------------------

Dublin, and in Ireland, I meet people of every background who are interested in ideas – citizens who have something to say, and a contribution to make.”

M i c h a e l D, o n c e immortalised in a song

by Tuam’s finest, The Saw Doctors, says that his experience as Minister for the Arts, as well as his own experiences as an artist, inform his passion for what he calls “the creative society”.

“As Ireland’s first Minister for the Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, from 1993 to 1997, I saw the transformative potential of creativity, and sup-

ported it through practical measures such as the reinvigoration of the film industry and the establishment of local arts and cultural venues in towns and suburbs across Ireland.

“I saw the potential in creativity then, and I see it even more clearly today – not just the economic and employment opportunities that the creative industries can open up, but also in the power of creative communities – ones where everyone has the opportunity to imagine, and to contribute.

“The creative society is not just about arts or culture, but about creativity in design, technology, dance and sport; creativity in how we relate to each other, and to our environment – it is about pushing the boundaries of possibility in a human way.

“It has always been those who dared to dream for their communities, who have made great things possible.

“Now is a time for all of us to reassert that sense of possibility, and to

work together to create a genuine Republic, based on the dignity, ideas and abilities of all our people in their different ways.”

Michael D says the upcoming election is a big question for Ireland to answer, showing where we, as a nation, see ourselves.

“We must now move past the narrow, individualist version of Ireland, which caused so much damage in recent years, and instead build on our strengths, and on the best instincts of hearts and head – working together for a sustainable future, which is both visionary and practical.

“We have to ask ourselves what kind of citizenship we want? It’s not just about getting back to where we were.

“When times were good, and when the country was awash with money, we didn’t do enough to tackle inequality and poverty.

“I hope to offer a Presidency which will enhance our citizenship at home, and strengthen our reputation abroad,” he says.

18 August 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 7

HEALTH Overstretched services – Cllr William Lavelle, FG

Local households are left facing ‘major safety risk’ Q PAUL HOSFORD

lucan@gazettegroup.com

OVERSTRETCHED fire and ambulance services pose a “major safety risk” to Lucan/ Clondalkin households, a local Fine Gael councillor claimed this week.

C l l r W i l l i a m L ave l l e expressed concerns at what he claimed were serious risks posed to households in the Lucan and Clondalkin coun-

cil areas by the “overstretched and under-resourced” fire service in West Dublin.

Along with party colleagues from South Dublin County Council, this week Cllr Lavelle met with staff representatives of Dublin Fire Brigade who shared their concerns.

After the meeting, Cllr Lavelle pointed out that, despite a combined population of more than 90,000 residents, the communities of Lucan and

Clondalkin were still without a base for emergency vehicle call-outs.

He said: “We have to rely primarily on overstretched fire and ambulance services operating out of Tallaght station.

“From Tallaght station alone, there were 469 fire tender callouts to Lucan and Clondalkin in the first six months of 2011, while there were 2,040 ambulance call-outs.

“This does not tell the full

story, as Lucan and Clondalkin also have to frequently rely on services coming from both Dolphin’s Barn and Blanchardstown stations. Tallaght is now one of the busiest fire stations in Europe.”

He said that the current situation breaks international best practice. “International best practice demands a maximum eight-minute response time.

This cannot be guaranteed.

“The overstretching and

under-resourcing of fire and ambulance services in West Dublin is wholly unacceptable, and represents a major safety risk to residents – in particular, in Lucan and Clondalkin.

“I will be pushing for the delivery of a new fire station in Adamstown, as proposed under the Adamstown SDZ Master Plan.”

However, hopes of any new stations took a hit last week, as the Irish Fire and Emergency

Service Association (IFESA) warned that budget cuts will put existing services in danger and called for the nationalisation of the service.

IFESA chairman, John Kidd, said: “With local authorities’ budgets being slashed, they are rapidly running out of money around the country. IFESA supports the call from certain county and city managers for the nationalisation of the Irish fire service.”

Bakers’ treat: A Belfast holiday

Team to inspect Balgaddy issues Q PAUL HOSFORD lucan@gazettegroup.com

LUCAN couple Caroline

and Brendan Baker found themselves winging it to Belfast recently after winning a luxury weekend break at the Malmaison Hotel, courtesy of Moy Park poultry producers.

The chicken experts provided the prize as part of the festivities at this year’s highly-successful Taste of Dublin event, held earlier this year, with the Bakers delighted with their prize.

SDCC: EXTENT OF OWED MONIES REVEALED AT COUNCIL MEETING

Council is still owed almost €100m in commercial rates Q PAUL HOSFORD

lucan@gazettegroup.com

SOUTH Dublin County Council (SDCC) has collected more than €50 million in corporate rates this year, but almost double that amount remains outstanding.

The figures, released at this week’s council meeting, show that the council had collected €53,581,082 up until the end of July.

Labour councillor Eamon Tuffy presented a question at the meeting to “ask the manager for an updated report on

the amount received by the council in payment of commercial rates in the six-month period up to the end of June, and how this amount compares with the projected income?”

In response, SDCC said that it hoped to collect €125 million this year.

“The adopted Budget 2011 was based on a projected income of €124,998,000 from commercial rates. This compares with billed income of €125,353,186 for 2011.

“It should be noted that commercial rates are billed at the start of each

year, but are collected in two equal moieties.

“The second moiety became due on July 1, and reminders have been issued to advise ratepayers about any balance due on their account.

“In addition, 1,984 ratepayers opted to pay their rates by monthly direct debit, so these accounts will continue to clear a current rates balance of approx €16.8 million between July and December.

“Work has commenced to initiate early legal proceedings against those who have not paid or

entered into an agreement to pay,” said the council, which also revealed that it still had €99,132,729 to collect for the rest of 2011, and was owed more than €27 million in arrears from last year.

Cllr Tuffy said the figures showed that the council was still extremely dependent on the rates collection.

“The maximum anticipated amount expected from the commercial rate represents, at about €125 million, more than 50% of the council’s estimated income from all sources in 2011.

“The council is very dependent on collecting its rates income – to pay the wages of its staff, and for the provision of services, such as the upkeep of parks, litter management, maintenance of roads and footpaths etc.

“I interpret it that, at June 30, the council has received about 35% of outstanding rate payments, but note that the reply suggests that if every ratepayer paid on time, it would have received about half of its anticipated income at this time,” he said.

“I have no doubt that

the fact rates income is coming in at a slower rate than budgeted reflects to some extents the financial difficulties businesses are experiencing at this time, and that is one of the reasons I am very supportive of the council’s initiative and action plan for improving business competitiveness in the county.

“The manager reports on the actions in the action plan at every County Development Board meeting, which I chair, and also keeps all councillors updated,” said Cllr Tuffy.

A “DEDICATED team”, under the direction of the county architect in South Dublin County Council, Eddie Conroy, has begun “systematically inspecting and evaluating the condition of all housing stock” which has been the subject of complaints in Balgaddy in Lucan.

That’s according to Conroy, who made the comments after Sinn Fein’s Eoin O’Brion called on the local authority to act urgently after an independent report found “roofing leaks, unacceptable gaps in party walls” and other problems in houses at Balgaddy.

Conroy said issues raised in the report were being dealt with. “In line with a good deal of new housing, the issue of condensation and mould growth arises as a result of increased insulation, linked to decreased ventilation levels required by ongoing revisions to the Building Regulations.

“In the past year, a considerable amount of work has been carried out in the area in question by council staff and contractors working on their behalf.

“A dedicated team, comprising a range of trades under the direction of the county architect, is now systematically inspecting and evaluating the condition of all housing stock which has been subject of complaints,” he said.

8 LUCAN GAZETTE 18 August 2011

BACK TO SCHOOL As students prepare for their next school

Lucan Community College’s Transition Year students certainly looked great for all their roles in their musical, Hairspray. Pictures: Peter Doyle

Hair to entertain all the audience ...

RANSITION Year students at Lucan Community College delighted audiences when they staged Hairspray, the perennially popular musical that’s big on music, big on comedy, big on entertainment and, err, big on hair.

Set in Baltimore, Maryland in 1962, the memorable musical featured eve-

T

rything from burning desires to get on the top tv show of the day to the fight for racial equality – all presented in style by the TY students.

Months of rehearsals saw the cast of more than 70 TY students perform with aplomb, with all making a terrific contribution to the success of the production. Of course, though all on

stage – and behind the scenes – were stars in their own right, special praise went to a number of students, including Evin Mooney as Edna Turnblad; Neil Kavanagh (Wilbur); Kate Whyte (Velma); Cianna Ryan-Lynch (Amber); Kevin Okoro (Seaweed); Emmet Murphy (Corny Collins) and many more.

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18 August 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 9

year, we look back at some local schools’ memorable events

Hannah and Clare McCarty with cousin, Eva McCarthy

Felicity Lynch enjoyed cutting a red ribbon to officially unveil the mural. Pictures: Peter Doyle

Students’ wall mural makes quite a splash ECOND-Year art students at St Joseph’s College unveiled a new ceramic mural at the school, entitled Journey. Local ceramic artist, Niamh Synnott, worked with the 69 art students on completing and designing the mural, which maximised a wide range of the students’ skills and ideas. The mural depicts a school of fish all travelling in one direction, but with each representing a personal

S

journey, with each fish designed by a student using their own unique symbol.

The creative project was funded by Creative Engagement, which is funded through the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism.

There was also sponsorship from local businesses, with the mural certainly making a splash.

Tessy Behiguese and artist Niamh Synnott

10 LUCAN GAZETTE 18 August 2011

BACK TO SCHOOL Another look at a memorable local event

Ella Hughes, Emily Brauer, Anna Potterton and Kimberly Chaila

Berry glad to dress up in purple ... It’s James Pasley, David Wood, Adelina Sorokina and Hollie Erskine

Ruth Watson, Katie Dillon, Abbie Copeland, Eve Digbey, Pia McGillivray, Leah

Miss Alison Hales and

Merriman, Carla Baron, Rosa Byrne and Sophie Irwin

Mrs Miriam Burrows

Thinking pin- err, purple, for fun ...

HERE was great excitement at St Andrew’s National School when an annual fundraising day with a difference was held in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland.

Staff and students held a colourful fancy dress day, with the theme of the colour purple.

Although some dared to brave the school gates in rogue pinks, blues and greens, everyone had a great time in their unusual clothes, which certainly created a very memorable, and useful, day at the school.

T

It was fitting that purple was so predominant on the day, as it is the favourite colour of St Andrew’s principal, Inez Cooper, who retired this summer after 45 years’ service to education, having guided the lives of many thousands of pupils, not least in her many years of faithful duty at St Andrew’s.

Her staff, and pupils certainly hoped that she would be tickled pin– err, purple by the day’s fun, which was dedicated to the popular principal in her honour.

Mrs Inez Cooper, principal of St Andrew’s National School, retired this summer after many years of faithful service

The staff and pupils at St Andrew’s NS created a sea of purple during their annual fundraising day held in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland. Pictures: Peter Doyle

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18 August 2011 GAZETTE 11

12 GAZETTE 18 August 2011

PEOPLE Singer a Byrne natural to star in the hit musical

A delighted Mary’s up to her eyes in Grease Q LAURA WEBB

MARY Byrne captured our imagination with her amazing singing voice when she starred on the multi-award-winning show, The X-Factor.

Now, she is taking centre stage with a different role, as Teen Angel in Grease – The Musical, at the Grand Canal Theatre, a role she hopes she can make her own.

The Dublin motherof-one has seen her life turned upside down – for all the right reasons – after appearing on the hugely popular TV show last year.

Since becoming a household name, Mary has gone on to achieve the kind of accomplishments that most singers and artists can only dream of.

Speaking to the

Gazette before the show started on August 9, Mary said she was excited about her new venture.

“I am excited and quite nervous as well. It is really the first time to do anything like this in my life, but I am absolutely looking forward to it, bigtime!” she said.

Mary plays Teen Angel, a role that was played by a man in the original film, but, despite this, she

Despite her lack of experience, Mary byrne told The Gazette she was “delighted” with her role in the hit show

is determined to make it her own.

“There was only one other woman who played Teen Angel; a South African woman.

“I went over to see the show in Bedford, Leeds, and when I watched the show, I just thought: ‘God, I am not going to be able to do this’.

“Then, you realise the person that goes into the show puts a bit of themselves into it, so I am

going to have to put a bit of me into it,” she said.

Being a huge fan of the film, Grease, Mary says it’s like a dream come true to be part of the show.

“I remember when it first came out; I dragged my nieces to see it so many times!

“I also bought the vinyl album, and the video when it came out first, and then I got the DVD, so I have always been a big fan. It is a dream

come true. I am really so honoured to be asked to do this.

“The show is just great.

It has everything and more that the film has; it works so well on stage.

People will just have so much fun – it’s great.”

If someone had told Mary five years ago that she would perform in front of millions on TV, sing for Queen Elizabeth II, and support a Neil Diamond concert in Ire-

land’s biggest stadium – the Aviva – Mary said she would have laughed at them, and asked: “What planet are you on?”

“I would have never dreamt anything like this would have happened.

This is the stuff that fairytales are made of.

“You are expecting somewhere, along the line, that the Fairy Godmother will come along and say: ‘Okay, wake up now’.

“I am so grateful for the way my life has changed since I went on The X-Factor,” she said.

Acting as a future career for Mary is something she might look at. “I said to someone the other day: ‘I would love to do a play or musical’.

“I have never had any experience in it. I have no training, but people put challenges up to me, and it is only in the last five years that I am really accepting the challenge and, when you accept the challenge, whether you can do it right or not, it makes you feel alive.

“Life is all about trying stuff. We can sit back and be bored out of our heads, or we can get up there, face the challenges and enjoy them – that is what I love doing,” she said.

Grease the Musical runs until August 27 at the Grand Canal Theatre.

For further information, see www.grandcanaltheatre.ie. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.

18 August 2011 GAZETTE 13

14 GAZETTE 18 August 2011

GazetteMUSIC MUSIC NEW RELEASE: JAY-Z AND KANYE WEST COME

Rap regency roll

Q ROB HEIGH

Diamonds up: Kanye West and Jay-Z

COLLABOR ATIONS are the current cornerstone of most modern music, whether it be a “featuring” credit or a guest appearance from either a legend or someone completely unknown who the lead artist wants to propel into the spotlight.

Seldom is it the case that legends of a genre come together to create an entire project — although this is the month that Superheavy, which features the stellar talents of Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, Dave Stewart and son of Bob, Damian Marley, release the first music from their association — but

that is exactly what rap superstars Jay-Z and Kanye West have done on their new release.

Finally, eight months after HAM, the first fruit of the collaboration that would come to be known as The Throne, comes the gold-plated, beat-encrusted Watch The Throne.

With Jay and Kanye insisting that this would be “no ring-in”, where most collaborations see artists recording in opposite sides of a country, or even the planet, and their product being married together in a studio in another time zone, both these colossus of the rap game were in the same studio at the same time — something

that makes it a stronger, more coherent, album from start to finish.

And, to start at the beginning of the beginning, when Kanye dropped the tempo on the Jackson 5’s I Want You Back to create the beat under Izzo (HOVA), a track that began to push Jay-Z into legend status, a marriage of minds was born.

Kanye provided production duties to some of the best tracks on The Blueprint, the album that defined, and still defines, Jay-Z’s career, and Hov returning the compliment later on that record, that “Kanyeeze you did it again, you a genius!”.

In return, Jay provided ve r s e s a n d s u p p o r t throughout West’s still immense debut album, The College Dropout, these two giants of music coming together to create something more monolithic than their individual careers have delivered to date was inevitable.

Both Jay and Kanye are undoubtedly at the pinnacle of their careers; it would be debatable whether they were both at the top of their games. Jay’s Blueprint 3 featured some tracks that define him as a recording artist in the wider cultural horizon (Empire State of Mind, Run This Town) it was a sprawling and,

18 August 2011 GAZETTE 15

TELL US YOUR NEWS YOUR LOCAL PAPER, YOUR LOCAL NEWS!

TOGETHER TO PRODUCE OFFICIAL COLLABORATION ALBUM

out regal new release

at times, overinflated record.

Meanwhile, Kanye comes into this project on the back of one of the best records of the last decade, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, that saw his imagination as an artist and his production skills rise above any negative criticism thrown at him over recent years (“Even if it goes through Taylor Swift, tell her this”) Watch The Throne, therefore, is an act of alchemy, the melting of minds and styles and skills to create something more, but the same things said about the previous recordings by the pair ring true once again, still present

in the mix.

It is an epically wellproduced record, taking some inspired samples (Otis Redding, Nina Simone, and the inevitable James Brown) and beats to create another widescreen collage.

It’s a record so knowing as to allow Kanye to drop in a Will Ferrell quote (“It doesn’t actually mean anything, it’s provocative”) to lighten the tone with a selfdeprecating moment, something Mr West would not previously be noted for.

But under the surface is the feeling that Kanye is the one pushing the envelope, while Jay only sporadically provides the quality of

rhymes and verses that his long-time fans know he is capable of.

But when the fates conspire and the light hits the throne right, there are some magnificent moments here, and you remember why every release by the two kings remain an occasion deserving of a public holiday.

There are more ideas than only one record can contain, and that’s maybe why it feels as though there are better things to come. And the ongoing sense that when Jay-Z and Kanye We s t wo r k t o g e t h er, something really inspired and historic will appear. Long may they reign.

The opulent cover of Watch the Throne, by Italian designer Riccardo Tisci

Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 or email news@gazettegroup.com

16 GAZETTE 18 August 2011

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

SNAPSHOT The stories of the day

Disappointed with attitude of some dog owners DEAR EDITOR,

I HAVE had two experiences recently, which made my regular Sunday walk particularly unpleasant, a walk on which one, or both, of my granddaughters frequently accompany me.

The first experience took place a few weeks ago when I chose to walk to the East Pier in Dun Laoghaire to enjoy the views of the north city and coastline. On approaching the pier, a sign, which is clearly displayed and mounted on the wall, informs people walking their dogs that they must keep their animals on a lead at all times. They are also advised to clean up after their pets or risk a fine, and possible prosecution, if they fail to do so.

Despite this, dog owners repeatedly and blatantly ignore this law and, as a result, the pier has become an unpleasant place to walk. I believe this selfish disregard of the law by many dog owners, not all – I hasten to add – should be addressed by the authorities. In all the times I have walked on either of the piers, which is usually once a week, I have never once seen a warden or port official patrol the area.

The second experience I refer to is when I went walking recently through Killiney Hill Park, where the same problem exists. An even

higher number of dog owners let their pets loose here, where fouling on the paths and grass areas is very much in evidence, despite the fact that children run, play and roll in the grass. Again, despite visiting the park frequently, I have never seen a park warden on patrol.

The recent protests by Dogs Unleashed Group in Dun Laoghaire show how many dog owners think their animals should be treated like humans. Expecting them to be allowed run free in public seems to be acceptable to them, despite the fact it is against the law, outside the safe confines of the owner’s property. Most people like animals, to some degree, but a great many are nervous of dogs and should not be made to feel frightened or uncomfortable by such animals running loose in our parklands, beaches, open spaces or any public place.

I do agree that many more of the larger parks should follow the excellent example of Marley Park and Shanganagh Park and introduce dog pens. I have a lovely Labrador and use the dog pen in Marley Park and find it very successful. Also, the park is very well maintained, with regular patrols and enjoys a strict adherence to park laws, making it a pleasure to visit.

Name and Address with the Editor

GazetteContacts Block 3A, Mill Bank Business Park, Lucan Tel: 01 6010240 Fax: 01 6010251 Managing Director: Liam Holland email: lholland@gazettegroup.com

General Manager: Michael McGovern email: mmcgovern@gazettegroup.com

Editor: Cormac Curtis email: ccurtis@gazettegroup.com

Production Editor: Jessica Maile email: jmaile@gazettegroup.com

News Editor: Dawn Love email: dlove@gazettegroup.com

Sports Editor: Rob Heigh email: sport@gazettegroup.com

Financial Controller: Carly Lynch email: clynch@gazettegroup.com

Advertising Production: Anita Ward email: ads@gazettegroup.com

Advertising Sales: 01 6010240 email: sales@gazettegroup.com Gazette Group Newspapers Ltd. Terms and Conditions for acceptance of advertisements Reserve the right to omit or suspend or alter any advertisement(s) in any of its publications. We also decline any responsibility in the event of one or more of a series of advertisements being omitted for any reason whatever, nor do we accept liability for any loss or damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertisement. If your advertisement appears incorrectly, contact the Advertising Department immediately, as responsibility cannot be accepted for more than one week’s incorrect insertion. Responsibility cannot be accepted if the complaint is made more than two weeks after insertion. If one places an advertisement for more than one week and then cancels it after the first week, no refund or credit will be given for weeks cancelled. The advertiser undertakes to indemnify the Proprietors against any liability for any civil action arising out of the publication of the advertisement or any other matter printed or published in the Blanchardstown Gazette, Castleknock Gazette, Clondalkin Gazette, Dundrum Gazette, Dun Laoghaire Gazette, Lucan Gazette, Malahide Gazette and Swords Gazette. The placing of an order or contract will be deemed an acceptance of these conditions.

Time for a spot of tea at Browns Bar and Cafe Models Teo Sutra and Angelica Salomao were pictured indulging in Afternoon Tea with a stylish twist as Carton House, one of Ireland’s most luxurious hotels, officially opened the doors of the most fashionable café in the heart of Dublin – Browns Bar & Cafe by Carton House, which is housed within the iconic department store

A fabulous new cafe for Brown Thomas BROWNS Bar & Cafe by Carton House will be housed on the lower ground level of the Brown Thomas flagship store on Grafton Street.

Cathal Kavanagh, executive chef and creative mind in the kitchen at Carton House, has chosen a selection of some of the most popular and mouth-watering dishes from Carton House for the new menu, along with a wide range of coffees created by the Carton House barista.

The cafe will also sell products from the gourmet Carton House food range such as dressings, sauces and seasonal offerings, including Christmas and Valentine’s Day products.

The indulgent rest stop will offer visitors a selection of gourmet sandwiches, including Smoked Salmon Croque Monsieur, Rare Roast Irish Beef, Pear and Blue Cheese; a selection of salads, including Carton Caesar Salad and Seasonal Mixed Salad; Anti Pasti and Afternoon Tea by Carton House, including mini scones, finger sandwiches, fruit cake and pastries with clotted cream, a hot beverage of your choice and a glass of chilled champagne for €14.90 per person

DIARY It’sTreasure Island, but not as you know it FOR five fun-filled days from August 22 to August 26, Ballet Ireland’s Annual Summer School will be running workshops on art, mime and dance. This will lead to the main event on Friday, August 26, with their take on Robert Louis Stephenson’s classic, aptly renamed Treasure Island, The Ballet! The performance takes place at the Pavilion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire at 4 pm.

The ballet will be a culmination of the efforts put in by two separate workshops, one for Dance and Art and the other for Arts and Craft, which will be running from Monday to Thursday of that week.

Ballet Ireland’s Annual Summer School is now into its 11th year and is open to all ages and competency levels. The company mounts two major new productions a year.

For more information on the workshop and performance, con-

tact the box office on 01-2312929 or visit www.paviliontheatre.ie.

Let’s hear it for our Rose DUBLIN is rooting for its very own Rose to do well in this year’s Rose of Tralee festival this weekend.

Clondalkin native, Siobheal Nic Eochaidh, was picked from hundreds to represent Dublin in the world-famous festival that is watched by nearly every household in Ireland every year, whether they like to admit it or not.

Her self-taught dance moves, and her bubbly personality bowled over the judges at the Dublin Regional finals recently and it is hoped that she can win over the festival judges again this weekend.

The festival begins this Friday, where Siobheal will take centre stage with 31 other international Roses from around the world in front of an audience of thousands.

Siobheal will be joined by Darragh McGrath, who was deemed the 2011 Dublin Escort of Year.

Tune into RTE 1 on Monday, August 22 and Tuesday, August 23 for a live broadcast from the Festival Dome at 8pm and support our own Dublin Rose – Come on Siobheal!

18 August 2011 GAZETTE 17

GazettePETS PETS

Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA

THE FACTS: A POOR DIET AND LITTLE EXERCISE CAN PUT YOUR PET’S HEALTH AT RISK

Pets can pile on the pounds, but what may be the cause? You! OULD it surprise you to know that approximately 53% of cats, and 55% of dogs, are overweight?

Well, they are, according to the findings at the fourth annual Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) which, in my opinion, clearly suggests we’re placing our pets at a serious risk of dying early.

So, I hear you ask: “What constitutes an overweight animal?”

Overweight animals, or pet obesity, sees an excess of body fat that’s enough to impair the health, welfare and lifestyle of the animal.

To put it simply – and setting all lame excuses aside – your pet is taking in more calories than he requires, and any excess weight in an otherwise healthy animal is very likely to be due to overeating.

When experts speak about humans being obese, they usually define it as being 20-25% above ideal body weight.

However, in animals, the degree of obesity that impairs health, welfare and quality of life has not been fully defined, and will vary from one individual animal to another, but it’s more likely to be similar to that seen in people.

Still, it must be stressed that obesity is a serious health issue in pets for several reasons:

W

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

‘Your pet is taking in more calories than he requires, and excess weight in an otherwise healthy animal is very likely to be due to overeating’ --------------------------

• It causes suffering, and can be disabling for the animal.

• It can affect an animal for a long period of its life.

• It’s preventable.

What are the causes of obesity?

The main reason is the type of food being fed to the animal. This is something that’s controlled by you – the owner. If your dog eats too much and doesn’t exercise enough, he can become obese.

Let me explain a typical scenario. A lovely pet parent visits the clinic, and the dog is clearly overweight, so I very politely and respectfully suggest that, err, perhaps Fido could do with losing a few pounds. Here are just some of the replies...

“Ah, but you don’t understand – he barks all night if I don’t give him his choccie biccies.”

No, he barks all night because he’s copped on

that the more noise he makes, the more he gets attention.

You give in, and reward him with a biscuit. You’re training a beggar!

“But he never eats a thing, and I worry about him, so I give him some of my own dinner.”

He does eat; he’s just a grazer who goes back and forth to his food to nibble during the day. That’s normal.

However, when the humans eat, they feed him from the table, which fills him up, leaving no room for his dog food.

This means his total calorie intake is excessive, and now he’s a roly-poly!

What are some of the health risks of obesity?

• Diabetes mellitus, or sugar diabetes.

• Complaints in joints and bones.

• Heart disease.

• Problems with breathing.

• Heat intolerance.

• Surgical risk.

• Risk giving birth.

• Constipation.

• Cancer.

The link between obesity and certain forms of cancer is unknown.

There have been studies suggesting that obese dogs tend to have an increased risk of developing certain types of cancers.

A recent study has found that dogs who are obese at one-year-old are at a greater risk of developing mammary tumours.

How do you tell if your animal is obese?

Here are just a few telltale signs: • Excessive panting, particularly in hot weather.

• Lagging behind during walks.

• Sluggish behaviour.

• Reluctance to exercise, resulting in fewer calories being used up, thus being stored as fat.

• No visible waist. When viewed from above, your pet should have slight curves; as in a gentle dip after the ribs, turning to a gradual slope to the hips.

If he hasn’t these curves, perhaps he’s overweight.

Steps in avoiding obesity:

• Only offer food recommended by your vet.

• Offer no snacks/ scraps.

• Measure food intake carefully.

• Increase exercise; this is easier for dogs than cats. Put your cat’s food upstairs, thus encouraging her to walk up to get it; play with her more, and rotate her toys.

• Ensure everyone who plays a part in your pet’s life understands how important his health is.

Remember, these are only guidelines, and there are some diseases that can cause obesity in your pet – so, if in doubt, check with your vet.

For more information log onto www.dspca.ie or email me at miriam.kerins@dspca.ie

Miriam warns that, in many cases, Fido’s obesity can be blamed on one thing – the owner, who may be failing their pet’s care in a number of areas, from diet to exercise

18 GAZETTE 18 August 2011

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS RoadSigns Road Signs DEALERS CLAIM CHAIRMAN’S AWARDS: DUB-

LIN Ford Dealers, Ashley Ford, North Circular Road and Finglas Ford have both claimed prestigious Ford of Europe Chairman’s Awards.

Ashley picked up the award for its outstanding customer service last year whilst Finglas Ford collected their award for parts sales and aftersales performance.

The Ford of Europe Chairman’s Award programme is based on direct feedback from customers who have purchased a vehicle from the dealership and is in recognition of a dealer’s performance in meeting those customers’ expectations.

Extensive research has been carried out

by Ford in assessing these expectations and providing guidelines to dealers to satisfy them.

Seat’s new Alhambra MPV is a big family car with a similar design and almost identical fittings to the Volkswagen Sharan. The entry price for the seven-seat version is more competitive at €38,130 before delivery charges

New Seat Alhambra arrives Seat has upgraded its range with the new Alhambra model, which MICHAEL MORONEY took for a drive EAT is back in strength with new model designs that aim to boost the company’s image.

Seat is part of the Volkswagen group so naturally we can expect lots of Volkswagen bits and performance from the new Seat range.

And that’s just what I found with the new Seat Alhambra that I’ve been driving. This is designed as a family MPV with seven seats and lots of comfort.

The car has all of the VW bits under the skin in terms of things mechanical, while the Seat badge means that the price is more competitive.

Look closely and you’ll find that the body styling is also similar, more so than with the previous Alhambra models.

Seat provided me with the 2.0-litre, turbo-diesel, entry-level Reference

S

SPECS: SEAT ALHAMBRA Top speed: 194 km/hr 0 – 100km/hr: 10.9 secs Economy: 17.8 km/litre (5.6 l/100km) CO2 emissions: 146g/ km Road Tax Band: C (€302) Euro NCAP Rating: 5-Star (2010) Warranty: 2 years Entry Price: €38,130

version for my test drive.

While it sports the Seat badge front and rear, in every other sense it’s almost the identical in terms of dimensions to the related Volkswagen Sharan.

The test car came with seven-seat capacity. The third row of rear seats on the test car folded easily out of use to give a big boot, five-seat car if needed. Seat also offers a

slightly cheaper five-seat version.

For the test car, the rear row of two seats was easy to use. I found that the seats folded into action in seconds and with ease. This rear space is adequate for children, not adults, while there is great room in the middle row for your bigger passengers.

When the third row of seats is tucked away, the boot is very sizeable. You can pack loads in there, and the floor is level with the boot rim.

The new Alhambra is powered by a 2.0-litre Volkswagen turbo-diesel engine. This engine has some eco features to allow it to compete in fuel economy with the Volkswagen Sharan, which has similar Blue Motion technology.

These features include stop-start systems, gear selection indicator and

low-rolling resistance tyres.

In power terms, this 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine produces 140bhp and 320Nm of torque.

That’s a perfect match for the performance of the Volkswagen Sharan. It’s also a match for Ford’s Galaxy when fitted with a similar size engine.

The Sharan is marginally more economical than the Seat; you’ll get an extra kilometre for your litre of diesel, while the Galaxy is, economy, similar to the Alhambra.

All three use six-speed gearboxes which, on the Alhambra, was very smooth to use.

I found the Alhambra an easy car to drive as I quickly got used to the electronic handbrake and stop-start system.

That economy performance was almost matched with my driving style, so I

came close to the official figure of 17.8 km/litre (5.6 l/100km).

I covered over 900km on the test drive and there was enough fuel to bring that nearer to 1,000km before a re-fill of the 70-litre fuel tank.

The safety fittings are a match for the competition with seven airbags, iso-fix seating in the rear and a recent Euro NCAP crash test rating of five-stars.

The car comes with a Volkswagen-type car computer system that’s easy to use and understand. The radio is also clearer than that fitted to other Seat models, which is a welcome change.

Because of the brand relationships you just have to compare the Alhambra to the Volkswagen Sharan because it simply offers more value.

Volkswagen re-sale prices are still holding up

higher than those of Seat and that alone may be a factor that’s putting some buyers off the Seat brand.

The features and the equipment levels on the new Alhambra model will change that a little.

At €38,130 before delivery charges, the entry price for the Alhambra is nearly €4,000 cheaper than the Volkswagen Sharan and almost €4,500 cheaper than the equivalent Ford Galaxy, with equal driving performance and some additional features.

On the figures, the Seat deal may well be more competitive than either Volkswagen’s or Ford’s where you pay that bit more for the brand image.

That means that you’ve a little more room for a lower valuation when the trade-in day looms in the future. In the meantime you’ll be impressed with what’s on offer from Seat.

Toyota develops its own crash avoidance technology CRASH avoidance technology is nothing new. Car manufacturers, such as Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, have already implemented collision-avoidance systems on select vehicles, such as the system used on the new Volvo XC60.

Toyota is the latest company to

announce a new offering along these lines. Unlike the others, Toyota is developing technology that will both slow the car and steer it away from an impact with another vehicle or pedestrian.

Toyota’s system claims to use both cameras and sensitive “millimetre-wave”

radar to detect objects in the vehicle’s path. It then calculates the amount of both braking and steering necessary to avoid a collision. If steering away from a pending crash is an option, the system takes control of the vehicle’s steering and executes an avoidance manoeuvre.

Toyota has defined an idealised goal of zero injuries and zero fatalities. Other safety systems under development at Toyota include a pop-up hood, and shaded high-beams, which reduce glare from high-beam lights for oncoming traffic.

18 August 2011 GAZETTE 19

20 GAZETTE 18 August 2011

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS RoadSigns Road Signs New Honda CR-V – a first look HONDA has the first photographs of the new CR-V Concept, providing the first official glimpse of styling direction. The new, fourth-generation CR-V is set to go on sale in the United States by the end of 2011, and in Europe in autumn 2012.

The new CR-V Concept embraces a new styling direction. Compared to the previous generation, the concept-model Honda claims that the new model takes on a more aggressive stance, with deeper sculpting of the body lines and a bolder front fascia. The lower front bumper wraps smartly upward to convey SUV capability. The overall, lower front-bumper design now integrates more smoothly into the fascia for improved aerodynamics. The CR-V’s vertical tail lights remain for the next model with a more threedimensional style that wraps further into the design of the vehicle. Honda claims that the new CR-V will be equipped with more efficient engines compared to the current model. The new CR-V is expected to deliver a significant improvement in fuel economy.

The CR-V is one of the top-selling SUVs, sold in more than 160 countries throughout Europe, Asia, North America, South America and Africa.

The new Honda CR-V Concept will be on first public display in California next month and will be on sale in Ireland during 2012

OPEL IS NOT FOR SALE, SAYS GM CHIEF: GENERAL MOTORS CEO, Daniel Akerson, has weighed in strongly to say that Opel, its European business, is not for sale.

Speculation about Opel’s future was mooted back in June

by German media as they repor ted that Opel could be sold and that possible buyers included Chinese automakers or Volkswagen.

In 2009, GM dropped plans to sell Opel to the Canadian Magna Interna-

tional after months of negotiations. GM stopped the sale of its Opel brand in 2009, and it has been rumoured that some GM management had concerns Russian car companies would gain access to Opel’s technology and patents.

Since then GM has launched a restructuring Opel, which lost $1.6 billion last year and brought it back on track.

GM Europe posted a profit in the first quarter and the company claims that Opel had gained market share this year.

The new-look 2012 Toyota Hilux will go on sale in Ireland towards the end of the year

Hilux builds strength with new design OYOTA’S “indestructible” Hilux has been given a new look and some additional hi-tech features for 2012.

The pick-up has been given a re-style from the A-pillar forwards, with a new bonnet, radiator grille, headlamps and bumper, plus new wheel designs and new side bars and steps for the top-of-the-range Hilux models.

The interior has been given a new look, too, with new upper dash-

T

board design and horizontal instrument cluster that emphasise the breadth and roominess of the cabin.

The revised lay-out incorporates the new Toyota Touch multimedia unit with a full colour 6.1-inch touchscreen.

The Touch package, fitted as standard to the high-end models, also includes Bluetooth and a USB port for connecting digital music players.

The quality feel of the cabin has been improved with new, uniform dark

finishes and new chrome surround for the instrument binnacle on the Invincible.

The 2012 Hilux carries forward its current engines, the 142bhp 2.5-D-4D and 169bhp 3.0-D-4D units, but these now comply with the Euro 5 light commercial vehicle emissions standards ahead of their introduction at the beginning of next year, thanks to the adoption of a diesel particulate filter (DPF).

With these engine changes the CO2 emis-

sions for the 2.5 D-4D (Double Cab) have been cut by more than 10% to 194g/km, becoming best in class, and combined fuel consumption has also improved by more than 10% to 13.7km/litre (38.7mpg).

The emissions figure for the 3.0-litre D-4D Double Cab automatic has fallen to 227g/km and the manual to 203g/ km. Combined fuel consumption figures are improved from 31.7 to 32.8mpg and 34.0 to 36.7mpg respectively.

The standard fivespeed manual transmission and the optional five-speed automatic for the 3.0-litre D-4D engine, exclusive to the Invincible, are also retained.

From launch, Hilux will be available with a comprehensive choice of accessory packs to tailor the vehicle to suit the needs of both business users and those owners who need to use Hilux for more everyday driving duties, or want to give their vehicle an extra dash of style.

Fords moves to digital as CD sales drop CASSETTE tapes that once revolutionised in-car audio entertainment were driven out of the dashboard by the compact disc revolution. Now in-car CD players are poised to follow a similar path as Ford and other car companies respond to customer demand for all-digital systems with increased connectivity.

With the new Ford Focus, Ford has scrapped once-popular multi-disc CD changers, while a USB connection and Bluetooth are standard equipment in the UK – both of which cater to the increasing popularity of iPods

and other digital music players.

Music industry studies show that sales of CD albums have fallen by more than 35% between 2006 and 2010, while the number of digital album sales increased more than seven-fold.

As music-lovers relocate their CD catalogues to digital storage and move to digital download purchasing of music, Ford plans a targeted move towards “all-digital” in-car entertainment.

Across Europe, Ford currently offers USB and Bluetooth audio connectivity, as well as auxiliary inputs for MP3 devices, to sup-

plement the existing CD player.

But as CD usage becomes less prevalent, these digital devices will become the norm.

“Ford will obviously continue to offer CD players while there is demand,” said Ralf Brosig, multimedia manager, Ford of Europe. “However, over time we expect customer preferences will lead us quickly into an all-digital approach to in-car audio entertainment.”

Ford will take a big step forward with the arrival of the advanced SYNC with MyFord Touch system in Europe, arriving

first in the Ford Focus.

The system will cater directly to the demands of Ford’s tech-savvy customers, offering a sophisticated multimedia infotainment hub providing connectivity options, including multiple USB inputs, SD card ports, RCA inputs and Bluetooth connectivity.

The system also will act as a password-protected wireless hotspot for up to five devices, providing connectivity through USB or mobile phone broadband modems. Ford expects two million SYNC equipped vehicles to be on the road by 2015.

18 August 2011 GAZETTE 21

GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS Harvey Norman takes in almost €4.5bn

HARVEY Norman has revealed that worldwide sales from its Australian, New Zealand, Slovenian, Irish and Northern Irish businesses totalled a whopping €4.45 billion for the 12 months to June 30, 2011.

The company said that, when compared to sales for the same period in 2009, this was an increase of 1.7 per cent.

The Republic of Ireland operation managed to stabilise sales with only a slight decrease of 0.2 per cent for the same period, while sales in Northern Ireland increased by

3.2 per cent.

Both Irish divisions grew sales for the second half against last year, with the Republic of Ireland operation growing sales in quarter three by 1.9 per cent and quarter four by 4.6 per cent.

“It was really a year of two halves for us, with sales flat before Christmas, and then some encouraging growth in the six months to June,” said Blaine Callard, chief executive of the Irish operation.

“Consumer sentiment continues to be very weak, and

shows no signs of recovering soon.

“Big ticket retail sales in furniture and electronics have been hit the hardest, so it’s about getting a bigger slice of a smaller pie.

“We will continue to improve our operation, investing in our people, our service and our stores.

“The strategy for us is to focus on growing marketshare. Revenue growth in the second half is very positive for us against such a difficult economic backdrop,” he added.

ANSWERS TO YOUR PERSONAL FINANCE QUESTIONS QUALIFYING FOR MORTAGE TAX RELIEF Q – How do I qualify for mortgage interest relief and how are the rates of payment calculated ? Jean - Greystones On the mend: Harvey Norman has stabilised its Irish interests

A – When you receive your final mortgage documents, your monthly repayment will be the first item to catch your eye.

Generally Tax Relief at Source (TRS) is

REVAMP: TOP STORE RINGS THE CHANGES

deducted automatically from this payment and your direct debit to your current account is the NET mortgage repayment after tax relief.

If you bought your property after 1st

New look for Argos to mark 15 years MIMI MURRAY

ARGOS has launched 21 revamped stores throughout Ireland this month as part of a €4 million refurbishment and development project.

The new layout and format was unveiled on August 6 in 21 stores across the country.

Celebrating 15 years in Ireland and securing more than 1,300 jobs, the refurbishment of the stores comes at an exciting time for Argos as they enjoy the 15-year milestone, while continuously updating their services, stores and catalogue to ensure customers have a satisfying shopping experience.

Speaking about the launch, Alison Evans, Argos Regional General Manager for Ireland, said: “This extensive refurbishment shows that Argos is

committed to developing and improving its stores in Ireland.

“We are dedicated to continuing our investment in Ireland, and increasing the number of stores across the country, in order to give our customers more choice, value and convenience when shopping.”

The refurbished stores include a new format with updated jewellery and watch galleries, allowing customers to try on items before purchasing.

New dedicated technology display areas showcasing cameras, video cameras, plasma TVs, mobile phones and satellite navigation systems will also give customers a chance to view and handle technology products before purchasing.

Each store has benefit-

January 2004 and up to 31st December 2011, you are entitled to TRS on mortgage interest paid up to €10,000 per annum for single people, and €20,000 for married couples.

By 1st January 2013, all mortgage relief will be withdrawn. Currently there are three rates up to 2017 applicable; first two years – 25% tax relief, second three years – 22.5%, and Last two years – 20% To give you an example, a mortgage of €200,000 at an interest rate of 3.85% will create a € 7,700 per annum interest bill.

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

‘If you bought your property after 1st January 2004 and up to 31st December 2011, you are entitled to TRS on mortgage interest paid up to €10,000 per annum for single people, and €20,000 for married couples. By 1st January, 2013, all mortgage relief will be withdraw’

---------------------------------------------------For the first two years, whether single or married, because it is under both threshModels Pippa O’Connor and Rosanna Davison unveil the newly-designed Argos

olds, the relief at 25% will amount to €1,925

store in St Stephen’s Green as part of the company’s €4 million revamp

per annum or €160.42 monthly.

In the third to fifth years, because the tax

ed from new lighting and eye-catching displays, giving them a more contemporary look.

New state-of-the-art touchscreen browsers have been installed in each store, enabling customers to browse and search easily for items to buy.

All of the stores have new quick pay kiosks, where customers have the option to pay for their items electronically rath-

er than queuing up for a cashier.

“Our new-look stores have a fresher, more contemporary feel, which we hope our customers will enjoy, and the new facilities such as the computer systems and payment kiosks, will make their shopping experience much easier and more convenient,” Evans said.

To celebrate Argos being in Ireland for 15

years, every month from August 2011 through to January 2012, Argos is giving Irish consumers the opportunity to win €1,500 of Argos vouchers to spend on whatever they want.

The competition went live at midnight on July 30 and to enter all you have to do is go online at www.argos.ie/15years .

For more information on Argos, please visit www.argos.ie

relief has dropped to 22.5%, the monthly relief will be €144.37 – €16.05 less than the first two years.

Be very careful also about claiming TRS if you in fact have rented out your property – this is a no-no and you must advise Revenue using a TRS 4 form.

Contact them at 1890 46 36 26 or trsadmin@ revenue.ie for all enquiries.

Contact John with your money questions at jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing director of Money Doctor

22 GAZETTE 18 August 2011

GazetteTTRAVEL FastTravel

Limerick’s hidden treasures and lovely people make it a cool trip MIMI MURRAY

60th anniversary of The Quiet Man honoured at Ashford Castle IN 1951, John Ford’s greatest movie; The Quiet Man starring John Wayne and Irish-born actress Maureen O’Hara, was made in the beautiful landscape of the west of Ireland. John Ford’s award-winning comedy has been both reviled and celebrated for its larger-than-life portrayal of Ireland. The Quiet Man outdoor scenes were shot in various locations in counties Galway and Mayo - mainly around the scenic Maam Valley on the shores of Lough Corrib, Ashford Castle and the nearby village of Cong.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the making of the movie, the five-star Ashford Castle Hotel is offering two unique and luxurious Quiet Man packages, which will be available until September 30, 2011.

Package one consists of two nights accommodation in a Corrib View room; full Irish breakfast for two people each morning; fivecourse dinner for two people in the George V on one evening; one-hour tour by Gerry Collins visiting five local sites that were featured in the film in the village of Cong; entry into the Quiet Man Museum in the village of Cong. It also includes dressing up in the costumes in the Museum and allowing pictures to be taken.

This package costs €415 per person.

Package two consists of two nights accommodation in a Corrib View room; full Irish breakfast for two people each morning; fivecourse dinner for two people in the George V on one evening; half-day tour visiting most of the locations used in the film capturing the splendour of Connemara, Galway and Mayo.

This costs €500 per person. For reservations contact 094 954 6003/ www.ashford.ie

LIMERICK, bless it, gets a bad rap. However, when asked to sample the county recently I jumped at the chance, having never been and being easily accessible from Dublin, we headed off on a Friday evening.

We were eager to sample both a country and city location and decided to stay in the Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge which is just past the quaint village of Adare.

The place is a charming old country house painted in deep, rich colours and is kitted out with comfy antique furniture.

The staff couldn’t be friendlier and on arrival the owner, Dan, gave us a warm welcome.

We ate in the charming dining room that evening, which was quite busy.

Our French waiter was attentive and we thoroughly enjoyed the fresh country kitchen cuisine, much of it coming from the garden that morning.

The next day, after a comfortable night’s sleep, I was treated to a Thai massage.

Having been to Thailand recently I know only too well the merits of this type of massage if done right, and this one didn’t disappoint.

I was left feeling relaxed and rejuvenated as we set off for Limerick city.

No. 1 Per y Square was launched two and a half years ago and is in a quiet area of Limerick beside the People’s Park.

A stylish old Georgian building, it houses a restaurant, an underground spa, a bar and is all very compact.

After a quick drink we headed out towards O’Connell St and our destination that night, the Corn Store.

This was a real find, with some delicious seafood on the menu.

After dinner we were happy to discover there was a live jazz band set up to play for the rest of the evening.

We fell in with a fun crowd who took us on a tour of some of Limerick’s choice venues, including The Sin Bin, where we danced the night away to some suspect 90’s music.

T he following day the underground spa allowed us to rejuvenate and our weary bones and feet that had taken a battering the night before got some much needed pampering.

Next it was off to picturesque Adare, which really is worth a look.

It has some stunning boutiques offering topend designer labels.

Many are perfect for bridal and mother-of the-bride outfits.

We spied a wedding about to take place at the stunning local church and waited around to see the bride step from her vintage car and wave at the gathering crowds.

After gorging on all things bridal we headed back to the city for dinner.

The restaurant staff were very well versed in Brasserie One and

Onglet steak were interesting, as was the pork belly.

There was one fish dish but more could be added and, having dined on hake the night before, I didn’t want to go for the same again.

The Milk Market is worth a look on Saturday and Sunday mornings and all the locals gather to catch up over coffee and peruse the many stalls on offer.

So, back to that bad rap: Limerick is a cool city with plenty of interesting people and is definitely worth a look.

Above: A bedroom in No. 1

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

‘No. 1 Pery Square was launched two and a half years ago and is in a quiet area of Limerick beside the People’s Park. A stylish old Georgian building, it houses a restaurant, an underground spa, a bar and is all very compact ’ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------One thing I will say our friendly waiter recabout Limerick – eve- ommended a bottle of ryone is exceptionally Slovenian wine, which friendly and helpful, was perfect on a sunny and, at one point when summer’s day.

The menu was slightwe appeared a little lost, a very nice young ly wintry for the time of lady offered us direc- year but was tasty nonetions without us having theless.

Beef cheek and to ask.

Above and below; images from Echo Lodge

18 August 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 23

Edited by Mimi Murray

BeachTravel Beaches by day and nightlife provide fun and sun in equal measure IT HAS great beaches by day and great action by night. Tenerife’s Playa de las Americas is rightly famed as an all-round attraction for holidaymakers seeking sun and fun in equal measure. For those itching to get away this month, Direct Holidays has online offers from just €469.

All-inclusive packages, with meals, drinks and entertainment, included in the price, are flavour of the season this year, and the 3-star Playa Olid in Costa Adeje, with its multiple swimming pools and bars, is a real bargain at just €569 per person for seven nights departing Dublin on August 20.

Playa Fanabe, close to the exclusive Playa del Duque, offers a relaxing stay but with a great choice of restaurants and nightclubs. Alongside its great location, the 4-star Sunwing Resort Fanabe features exciting shows several nights a week. Departing August 20, Direct Holidays are offering seven nights at the resort for just €469 per person on a selfcatering basis. All prices are based on two sharing.

Pery square, Below, right: The hotel’s underground spa

The perfect sun getaway awaits in Tenerife

Packages or flight-only holiday deals this month along Bulgaria’s stunning coastline BULGARIA’S Sunny Beach resort on the stunning Black Sea is famous for its beautiful beaches, sunny climate and safe, warm sea.

Concorde Travel are currently offering package holidays or flight only deals at great prices.

Concorde Travel Self Catering Packages at the 3-star Golden Dreams Apartments start from €385 based on six sharing a two-bedroom apartment; €399 based on four sharing a one-bedroom apartment and €494 based on two sharing a studio apartment.

Hotel prices start from €564 in the 3-star Grand Hotel Sunny Beach on a B and B basis. Packages include return flights, transfers, seven nights accommodation, rep services and all taxes and charges. Flights operate every Monday from Dublin and Cork. Visit www.concordetravel.ie for more details.

Cyprus calling for sun and relaxation ESCAPE to the stunning birthplace of Aphrodite, the ancient goddess of love this August.

Concorde Travel has the ultimate romantic escape to Paphos in Cyprus.

The beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site combines historical sites with the warmth of the Mediterranean Sea where relaxing and sunbathing will be an unforgettable experience.

Stay at the 4-star Hotel Avanti on a B and B basis from only €699pp, which has been reduced from €974pp.

Package includes direct flights from Dublin to Larnaca, return transfers to the Hotel, rep assistance and seven nights accommodation on a BB basis, based on two sharing. Visit www.concordetravel.ie for more details.

24 LUCAN GAZETTE 18 August 2011

GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT 1

GoingOUT GoingOUT PAVILION THEATRE 01 231 2929 Treasure Island BALLET Ireland’s annual summer school sets sail for the Pavilion Theatre with a twist on the classic tale of Treasure Island, which will be presented by the participants of the summer school.

Four highly-skilled dancers from Ballet Ireland’s core company will lead the participants, preparing and training everyone for the grand finale. Running from Monday, August 22 to Friday, August 26, the week-long course costs €90. For full details, see www.paviliontheatre.ie

THE HELIX 01 700 7000 Panto Camp A WEEK-long course for children aged from 6 to 13 will give children a wonderful experience to remember, as they all have the chance to work with the production team to participate in the Christmas panto production of Aladdin, which will run during the Christmas period.

With a choice of two week-long panto camps to take part in, there’s something for all children to enjoy.

Running from 10 am to 2.30pm daily, the course costs €120. For full details, see www.thehelix.ie.

Summer Films AS PART of its summer season of family films, The Helix has a number of favourites for all to enjoy. Running at 2pm, and priced €6, €4 conc, or €20 season ticket (phone booking only), James and the Giant Peach plays on Saturday, August 20; Matilda on Wednesday, August 24; Fantastic Mr Fox on Saturday, August 27; and Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory on September 3.

All hail Caesar (a motion-captured Andy Serkis), a chimpanzee given a giant intelligence boost by well-meaning scientists looking for a cure for Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, Caesar’s new-found self-awareness will lead him to spark a rebellion against humans ...

Some japes with apes As suitably bananas as anything Hollywood usually reheats, this franchise reboot looks to ape the success of its forebears Q KATE CROWLEY

WITH serendiptous timing – or perhaps with one film seeking to ape the likely success of another – there are not one, but two films starring our simian sidekicks on release this week.

One is a fascinating glimpse at the efforts to humanise a monkey, in a documentary about a halfforgotten project, while the other is a glimpse at how the worm could turn and enslave us all.

By “worm” I mean “monkey”, of course, as Rise of the Planet of the Worms sounds rather less menacing than Rise of the Planet of the Apes – which comprises most of this week’s review.

First, as an entree, it’s worth mentioning Project Nim; a new documentary about Nim Chimpsky – a chimpanzee raised from birth with humans, and which was studied extensively (in controversial

FILM OF THE WEEK: Rise of the Planet of the Apes +++ (12A) 106 mins Director: Rupert Wyatt Starring: James Franco, Andy Serkis, Tom Felton, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Brian Cox, one smart monkey

OUR VERDICT: THOSE looking for one smart monkey would do well to catch up with a fascinating documentary, Project Nim. However, the big release offers an interesting version of how the well-known film franchise’s back-story could have started out, telling of how the first apes came to rise up against Man. So, your box office choice is: a cute chimp in a red jumper, or angry apes out to seize the planet. Over to you ...

circumstances) to see if he could learn language skills, thus shedding light on how humans develop language and rationalisation abilities.

The late Nim, who died in 2000, would possibly conclude that humans are all bananas, on the basis of this fascinating film, which is more a study of human ambition and vanities than about whether well-meaning projects with chimpanzees are doomed.

Then again, I imagine that “bananas” was rarely far from Nim’s mind, much as “bananas”

comes to the forefront when faced with Rise of the Planet of the Apes – yet another Hollywood re-imagining and reboot of an old franchise.

Will Rodman (James Franco) is a well-meaning research scientist working away in San Francisco on developing a cure for Alzheimer’s, with the lab performing tests on lots and lots of monkeys, or one species or another.

A n e xc i t i n g n e w “cure” – which I’ll call the McGuffin – is given to an ordinary chimpanzee, called Caesar (Andy Serkis), whose mental

powers begin to rapidly accelerate and develop.

Caesar’s growing intelligence is a marvel – and a menace, as the McGuffin has given him The Smarts to realise that – wait a minute – all the humans want to do is monkey around with him and his kind, with a nice little trip to the Dissection and Autopsy labs awaiting him, down the road.

Caesar’s new-found self-awareness, and his realisation that he, and the other test subjects, serve only to serve the humans’ experimentation needs, lead him to rebel against his role.

Will believes that the McGuffin is of enormous importance, and that it’s the breakthrough that the lab have been looking for – but he’s deeply troubled by the ethical questions and consequences of their playing God in this way.

However, all hail Caesar – as the chimpanzee follows the well-worn

phrase of monkey see, monkey do.

He decides to put the boot on the other paw, spreads the McGuffin to many of his peers, and, suddenly, instead of there being just one smart ape, there’s an army of fast and angry apes going bananas in San Franciso.

Banana skins or not, it’s possible that humanity faces a slippery slope, with an ape army on the loose. But what can a bunch of not-so-dumb apes really do? (Hint: what’s the name of the film, folks?)

Held back as a summer blockbuster, it’s likely to do swingingly well at the box office, despite being a little more thoughtful than Transformers, et al.

Not quite as ridiculously entertaining as Troy McClure’s showboating role in the musical, Stop the Planet of the Apes, I Want to Get Off!, it’s the best film about monkeys around, bar one.

18 August 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 25

The physical disc’s long, slow death impeded the brand’s march to dominance?

To some degree, people were put off investing in Blu Ray because they were only just getting ove r t h e switch from VHS to DVD; the prospect of another expensive upgrade was more than a little unpalatable.

However, the real reason for the slow growth of the Blu Ray has been the hesitance of the early adopters – those who buy

of elements; hard drives have got bigger and cheaper, internet connections have got faster, and the computer has become a part of the sitting room,

instead of the bedroom.

Just as the iPod made CDs less necessary, the vast improvement in computer technology is making the DVD (or Blu Ray, as the case may be) redundant.

Companies such as Apple have seen the way the wind is blowing. A few years ago, they released the MacBook Air; a super-slim, super-light laptop with no disc drive.

L a s t we e k , t h e y released a new version of their Mac Mini desktop, one that dropped the disc drive, too.

They also made the latest version of their operating system (reviewed

below) download-only, meaning you could not buy a disc version of it, even if you wanted to.

The attraction for companies such as Apple to do this is obvious. They now have tighter control on software, so it is harder to pirate, and they do not have to waste money printing and distributing discs to send out to shops around the world.

For the user, it also makes sense – it is quicker, less messy and often cheaper than physical discs.

However, there are downsides, and we are likely to hear plenty about how having a digital film is not the same as a physical one.

That said, this is the way the trend is going, and it is only a matter of time before people will

have to go out of their way to find a computer with a disc drive.

Mac IS X Lion

THE latest release of Apple’s OS X – the operating system used on Mac computers – show a company clearly trying to blend its desktops and laptops with the iPad. Following the big cat theme of previous OS X releases, this latest version is called Lion, and is arguably the most blatant upgrade from the company in a long time.

Many new features are now in place, including Mission Control and LaunchPad, which make it easier to see what is running and open to applications respectively.

The latter is effectively

the same as the iPad and iPhone home screen, and there is no doubt that Apple has applied a lot of its learning from those devices here.

If you are not used to gestures, this can take a bit of getting used to, but in many ways it can be handy.

Overall, the same can be said for Lion – it has plenty to like, but a lot of things that existing and even new Mac users may feel uneasy about.

Expect some of these creases to be ironed out when the first tweak is released in the weeks ahead.

Mac OS X Lion is available on the Mac App Store, for €24.

Visit teic.ie for the latest tech news, reviews and views.

gazette

group All of your latest local news, sport, features and pictures are now just a click away

.com

ONLY a few years ago, a fierce battle raged between two new video formats, both of which were vying to replace the DVD. Both offered better quality video and audio, more flexibility and plenty more space; eventually, Blu Ray won out.

However, since it became the de facto next generation of video formats in early 2008, the format has struggled to really gain a foothold in the market.

This is despite the cost of Blu Ray players and discs plummeting in the past few years, and despite the migration of viewers to high-definition TV sets that suit the format perfectly.

So, what barrier has

into technology before it goes mainstream.

For them, technology has moved passed the disc format, and there is no reason for them to invest in equipment that they no longer need. They have gone the digital download route instead.

What made this possible was a perfect storm

www.

ADAM MAGUIRE

GAZETTE

26 LUCAN GAZETTE 18 August 2011

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18 August 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 27

28 LUCAN GAZETTE 18 August 2011

GazetteSport Sport

Young stars of the future in the sunshine

The Under-9s pose for a group photo. Pictures: Mick Byrne

Summerfest Round Towersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; festival of hurling comes to an end HE finals of Round Towersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; annual Summerfest 2011 was the cause for some celebration recently. The tournament was the biggest juvenile GAA tournament in the county over the summer, and catered for Under-8 to Under-11 age groups.

Almost 1,000 children from Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow took to the hurling fields in Corkagh Park to participate in the event, with over 20 clubs competing in the competition.

There were huge crowds in attendance for the four weeks and the club wishes to thank all those involved in the organisation of the event.

T

The team talks tactics

No quarter asked for between local rivals Round Towers and Lucan Sarsfields

Aaron, Adam, Liam, Dylan, Luke and Lauren for Round Towers

Adam Byrne waits for his chance

18 August 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 29

in association with

TRIATHLON: CHARITY RACE SEES LOCAL WINNER

2011 DUBLIN SPORTS AWARDS JULY WINNERS IN ASSOCIATION WITH

STARof theMONTH SHEENA MCELROY GRANGE golf club’s Sheena McElroy secured her third Irish senior title at Adare Manor when she defeated Pauline Walsh in the final of the national event, another accolade in what has already been a successful year, continuing to underline her dominance of this event in recent years by closing out the match on the 13th green. This win came on the back of her international success earlier in the year.

TEAMof theMONTH INSAKA FC THE fledgling club’s maiden double arrived in style when they claimed the Ronnie Bradshaw Cup and U-18 NDSL Premier titles this season, vindication of the management’s faith in their abilities and commitment to soccer, moulding Blanchardstown-based players from Angola, Congo, South Africa, Nigeria, Poland, Romania and Serbia into a cohesive unit.

AUTUMN has more than arrived, well ahead of schedule, and the sporting success of our teams and individuals continues to impress.

Sheena McElroy continued the form that saw her lead the Irish Seniors Team at the European Senior Team Championships in Berlin last August and winning the Portuguese Senior Ladies’ Golf Competition at Vilamoura in the Algarve in January, with her success in the Irish senior competition.

Insaka FC are attracting to soccer children from all sorts of different backgrounds, building a capacity for integration. Their coach said: “We

can encourage them to go on and join clubs in their locality, like Hartstown or Corduff. They develop their skills through us and then go off to play for the local clubs.”

Let us know!

Let us know about your achievements in sport, so that the Gazette can tell the rest of Dublin — and give you, or your team, a chance of being one of our monthly stars.

Contact us on 01 601 0240 or sport@gazettegroup.com to tell us all about your successes, and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/ gazettesport.

Local triathlete Irene Walsh on her way to victory in the Focus Ireland triathlon in Dun Laoghaire

Home win for Walsh in triathlon event sport@gazettegroup.com

THE Borough of Dun Laoghaire Kingstown was once again host to this year’s Focus Ireland sprint Triathlon last week.

Local lady Irene Walsh stormed home to take the women’s title for the third time in four years, just missing out on the tri hattrick last year by coming in second place.

Having undertaken her first Ironman in 1989 in a time just over 14 hours, she is one of Ireland’s longest-competing female athletes, well known and respected by her peers.

Her winning time of

1:14:25 secured her top spot on the podium, along with the male top performers from Pulse Tri, who put on an impressive show.

King for the day was John Connolly with a winning time of 1:06:39. The shorter tri distance male and female event was won by Brian McCann, in 1:16:05, and Alexandra Birney in 1:15:21 respectively.

The early start for volunteers, marshals and the 200 competitors was taken in good spirits. According to Joyce Loughnan of Focus Ireland, “91 cent in every €1 goes towards providing core services

for the homeless charity.

The triathlon event alone has raised over €490,000 since 2005, with a target of €100,000 for 2011.”

The multi-sport event of swimming, cycling and running attracts many new competitors, as well as experienced athletes and weekend warriors, training up for more challenging events later on in the season.

After a quick bike check by local husband and wife team, Eddie and Monica Roe, of Mike’s Bikes, the first wave set off at 8.15am.

The swim conditions for the 350m or 750m distances in the East Pier

were close to ideal with, a bit of a pull needed on the way out, and somewhat easier on the turnaround.

The closed road and no drafting on the bikes made it safe and achievable for all levels, while the two loop run of the pier made perfect viewing for the many spectators who had gathered to join in the atmosphere and cheer home the entrants.

The cost of hosting the event is made possible by donations from the main sponsor, KBC Bank, promotion through Q102 and the participants, who raise sponsorship and train to compete in the event.

Big winner: Win tickets to see UCD in friendlies Hession reward for performance

Villarreal finished UCD AFC have announced recently that fourth in last seasons La they will host two friend- Liga and so are qualifiers ly matches at the Belfield for next season’s ChamATHLETE Hessionpions of Athenry League. As well Bowl againstPaul Scotland’s presented as this,with they have a wide St Athletic JohnstoneClub FC onisJuly cheque after the best performrange of talented foot10,aand Spain’s Villarreal of16. the weekend at the at their disposal ballers CFance on July Woodie’s DIY AAI Senior with Track Barcelona target St Johnstone finished and Field at MorManchester eighth in theChampionships SLP last and former ton Stadium, season, and have aSantry. long United player, Giuseppe tradition in Scottish Rossi, on the top of the Picture credit: Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE list. football.

Former players GazetteSpor t and include Sir Alex Ferguson UCD are giving lucky and Ally McCoist.

readers the chance to win pairs of tickets to these matches.

Simply answer the following question: Where was Villarreal striker Guiseppe Rossi born?

Send your answer, together with your name, address and mobile phone number, to sport@ gazettegroup.com, with “UCD Friendlies” in the subject line of the mail.

UCD’s Robbie Benson

30 LUCAN GAZETTE 18 August 2011

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

CANOEING: LACK OF WATER LEADS TO POSTPONEMENT OF RACE

Lucan United’s new kit and recruitment drive SINEAD Dunphy of Leisureplex is pictured presenting a set of tracksuits to Lucan United U-11 team which they will wear in the forthcoming 2011/12 season.

The club is looking forward to the new season which kicks off in September for all the youngsters and there are still a couple of teams with spaces in their teams.

The U-15 Major (1997), U-14 Premier boys (1998), U-15 girls (born in 1997-99) and U-12 Major boys (2000) are looking for players for the upcoming season.

For more information on each age group, contact lucanunited@gmail.com Fees are €185 per year while there are special rates for family and the academy membership.

The Liffey Descent will take place a month later than expected when the paddlers hit the water in October

Descent hits a delay sport@gazettegroup.com

LACK of water has led to the postponement of the annual 17-mile Liffey Descent race, which was due to take place in September.

T h e e ve n t , w h i c h begins in Straffan, Co K ildare and finishes up in Islandbridge, has been running since 1960 and attracts over a 1,000 canoeists and kayakers every year.

The sport’s governing body, the Irish Canoe Union, has issued a statement explaining that water levels are at a 35-year low. The flood for the event is usually provided by the ESB

through the release of water from its upstream reservoirs.

According to their website, canoe.ie: “The ESB has, however recently, advised the Irish Canoe Union that reservoir levels are currently at a 35-year low and that, having regard to long-range weather forecasts and its own water demand forecasts, it will not be in a position to release water to facilitate this year’s event in September.

“It has indicated that it will be in a better placed in October to facilitate a release sufficient for the ICU to run

Number one super fan: St Pat’s man named Dublin’s top supporter ST PAT’S Palmerstown and

Dublin supporter, Andy Slater, recieves his award as the Vodafone Dublin Finest Supporter from Dublin senior hurler, Ryan O’Dwyer, at the Conrad Hotel last week.

Picture credit: David Maher / SPORTSFILE

a satisfactory event.”

Organisers said this had left them with a “difficult decision” - to run the event on September 10 as originally planned but without a flood, or to postpone it until early October when there will be “a greater possibility of the traditional Liffey Descent flood”.

“Having considered the matter in great detail and having taken into consideration as many factors as possible, including, but not limited to matters such as potential clashes with other events, mean temperatures in early October and the likely impact of future Liffey

Descents in the event of running a ‘dry’ race, the event organising committee has arrived at the conclusion that, on balance, the most appropriate course of action is to postpone this year’s Liffey Descent until Saturday, October 8.”

The Irish Canoe Union said it regretted having to postpone the event, but felt it was justified. They also a c k n ow l e d g e d t h e y were “conscious that this may not be popular in all quarters”.

“It would, however, remind canoeists that the release of water is a matter completely outside the control of

the Irish Canoe Union and is one solely for the ESB. “It is considered that the running of the race in the absence of the excitement generated by a flood would detract from its value as the premier Irish canoeing event.”

Meanwhile, members of Salmon Leap Canoe Club will travel to Hungary this weekend for the annual ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships. The championships, which take place i n S z e g e d b e t we e n August 19 and 21, are expected to attract over 1,300 competitors from 94 nations worldwide.

18 August 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 31

in association with

HURLING: SARS INFLICT LEADERS’ FIRST DEFEAT

Lucan win puts the title up for grabs AHL DIVISION 5 Lucan Sarsfields Castleknock

2-9 1-7

sport@gazettegroup.com

LUCAN Sarsfields set up a tasty final series of games in AHL5 when they inflicted the first defeat of the campaign on Castleknock at the 12th Lock, leaving three sides in contention for the title.

Indeed, for ’Knock, their seemingly impregnable position af ter nine successive wins now has the first whiff of vulnerability as they face third-placed Scoil Ui Chonnaill in the final round of games with this defeat opening the door.

On a grey evening in Lucan, they were out-battled by a side in

do-or-die mode, Aidan Glover striking a series of second-half frees that ultimately carried the decision.

Both sides had their opportunities in a keenly contested game, a double figure count of wides for each team, but it was the hosts who eventually took the game by the scruff of the neck.

Brian Fagan’s 18thminute goal had given them the early impetus after Dermot Donnellan’s effort was brilliantly saved by Brian Lawlor. Castleknock were unable to clear their lines under duress and Fagan profited from the hassling to mop up the second phase.

After a pair of Ronan Callaghan frees, Castle-

CLUB NOTICEBOARD LUCAN SARSFIELDS GOOD luck to senior footballers

Date for social diary: Saturday,

in two league matches this week

September 3, eve of All-Ireland ses-

against Ballyboden and Ballymun

sion in the clubhouse with Peter

Kickhams. Good luck also to the inter

Mangan.

footballers who also have impor-

Fun day appeal for books, jewellery,

tant matches against St Finian’s and

handbags, DVDs, etc. All items can be

Naomh Olaf. Details of times in bar.

left in bar.

Well done to Alison Twomey and

Lucan Sarsfields plan to celebrate

Niamh Berry on helping Dublin cam-

their 125 with an end-of-year gala

ogie minors reach Leinster final with

ball. Date is November 12 and location

win over Offaly.

is Westmanstown complex. Deposits

Good win for Senior B camogie who are now in the championship semi.

for tickets now being taken at bar and the cost is €50 per ticket.

Well done to Lucan players Chris

Check website for lotto numbers.

Crummy, Emmet O Conghaile, Mat-

Liam Mulhall’s team will be in charge

thew McCaffrey and Seanie McClen-

next weekend.

lland who performed so well in Dublin’s minor win over Waterford.

Superb performances by Johnny McCaffrey and Peter Kelly in senior match.

Do not forget you can always enter our Lotto online by clicking on www. lucansarsfields.ie.

Thanks to Newcastle Golf Centre who are this week’s sponsor.

Lucan Sarsfields’ Jerome Twomey in action at 12th Lock against Castleknock last week

knock retook the lead with three points on the bounce – Conor Corcoran, Ciaran O’Brien and Dougie Cormican on the mark – to nudge back into a 0-5 to 1-1 lead by the 25-minute mark.

T hey were caught once as a long ball was swatted in at the right post by the lively Donnellan.

But Castleknock responded instantly with a major of their own, a predator’s effort as a point effort clattered the post and Gerry Mulryan was on hand to first-time to the net.

Defensively, Lucan had been forced to withstand plenty of pressure, Jerome Twomey using his power to clear

the lines on numerous occasions and it helped his side hold the lead into the break at 2-3 to 1-5 despite being subject to plenty of pressure.

It was a lead they were to develop to four points as Colm Cuggy came off the bench to score inside three minutes while Glover’s third and fourth free also hit the mark.

Defensively, Lucan continued to be superb despite the darkness cl o s i n g i n , c o n c e d ing just two scores in the second half, Mark Geaney ending an 18minute scoreless run for the visitors.

But they were still in touching distance going into the final ten minutes as Brian Lawlor got down well to save Cugg y’s goal-bound shot.

A Callaghan point left two in it before Glover made it more comfortable with a pair of frees.

Mulr yan might have ensured a nervy finish but his daisy-cutter was dealt with and Lucan moved closer to promotion.

That will be achieved with victor y over Naomh Mearnog while any Castleknock slip-up would open the door to the overall title, too.

ST PATRICK’S, PALMERSTOWN Senior footballers are away on Sun-

All at St Pat’s wish dual player

day to St Maur’s at 10.30am while

Ciaran Finnegan bon voyage as he

Juniors at home this Saturday to

departs this week to work in Aus-

Ranelagh Gaels at 6pm.

tralia

Our table quiz takes place this Fri-

We wish Jack McGauley a speedy

day in the Palmerstown House com-

recovery following his nasty acci-

mencing at 8.30pm. A table of four

dent in a hurling tournament over

only costs €20.

the weekend.

Football camp continues this week

Well done to our Dubs’ minor hurl-

until Friday. To join in the fun, just

ers for a fine performance when

turn up at the clubhouse at 9.45am.

beating Waterford and reaching

Club’s 50th anniversary golf clas-

the All-Ireland final where they

sic takes place in Lucan Golf Club on

will meet Galway, and to our senior

Friday, September 9. Format is a

hurlers who put up a fine perform-

three-ball scramble and costs €180

ance in defeat against Tipperary.

(10am to 1pm) and €240 (2 to 4pm).

Good luck to the Under-21s next

You can also sponsor a tee box or green for €50. To book a spot call Paddy on 087 617 1435, Jimmy on 087 779 1352 or Pat on 087 238 3294.

Saturday when they play Antrim in the semi-final.

To view our website simply logon to www.stpatricksgaa.ie

WESTMANSTOWN GAELS/GARDA In t e r m e d i a t e s h ave t wo ve r y

on Wednesday, Thursday and Fri-

impor tant lea gue f ix tures this

day in Westmanstown from 7 to

week away to St Pat’s Donabate and

8.30pm and Saturday in Westman-

a home fixture on Sunday, August

stown from 10.30am to 12pm. There

21 against Ballymun Kickhams at

is a €5 charge per training session.

10.30am.

The sessions are for the follow-

Junior 1s also return to action on Sunday at midday in a league match against Clontarf.

ing groups: U-12s, U-14s (boys and girls) and U-16 girls.

Everyone at the club wishes Kil-

The Ladies do not have a match

lian Slater (U-8s) a speedy recov-

this week, but training continues

ery from his recent unfortunate

on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fri-

accident.

days at 7pm.

Mick Ahern, Gaels’ GPO, is running a series of football master classes

The next Gaels’ committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 22 at 8pm.

Follow GazetteSport on Facebook and Twitter and at www.gazettegroup.com

ALL OF YOUR LUCAN CASTLEKNOCK COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31 SPORTS SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 28-31

MAY 26,18, 2011 AUGUST 2011

NEW GANG TITLE CONTENDERS: IN ’TOWN:Lucan’s Westmanstown juniors

AWARDSSTARS: SUPER July’s May award winners revealed nominees revealed inside P29 inside P29

close host Leinster in on AHL5 schools’ promotion rugbyafter blitzbigP28 win P31

GazetteSPORT

The Lucan Road cycling senior team that conquered at last week’s sprint national championships at Sundrive Park

Lucan CRC add gold to champions’ haul Local cycling club hit winning formula at elite and youth track championships as they register national firsts lucansport@gazettegroup.com

LUCAN Cycling Road Club (LCRC) produced a string of outstanding performances as they claimed gold medals at both the elite and youth track team championships in the past fortnight.

Indeed, they showed their dominance at elite level with gold and bronze for their respective A and B outfits at the Sundrive Velodrome last Saturday in a ground-breaking performance for the club.

Lucan, who had previously won the event in 2008, and took silver in 2010, had set a target of winning the event this year, entering two very strong teams.

The LCRC A Team of Brendan Whelan and Liam Collins have competed together both nationally and internationally on the track for the past few years, winning veteran titles and elite medals, but elite gold had eluded them as a team until now.

They had to make one change from last year’s silver medal winning team, and they added British-based track sprinter and former double National Track champion, Kieran Leahy, as the final piece to their medal seeking combination.

They ran up a lightning 49.78-second performance, a mark which saw them finish as the only group to break the 50-second mark in the competition, with Bray Wheelers trailing them by 0.3 of a second.

B team success The LCRC B team of Fergus Whelan, John Priest and John McCormack were always going to go close, and they showed just how strong they were, with Lucan placing two teams on the final podium, a first for an Irish club in a national championship.

The result came a week after the youth lineup continued the development, which saw them claim six national track medals in 2010, and eight in 2009.

Adam Stenson became the new Under-14 250m time-trial champion, taking gold in his first event, and thereby taking the pressure off him before his main events, the sprints.

Conor Hehir earned his first national medals for the club in the Under-12 category in only his second season with LCRC, and he is now the 100m time trial national champion.

Ryan Whelan continued his impressive run in national championships with his performance.

A first-year Under-12 rider, he has already won three national medals in 2009, and three in 2010.

He took silver behind his team-mate Conor Hehir in the 100m time trial, and followed this up by qualifying for the gold/silver ride-off in the sprint competition.

The star rider of 2009, Kayleigh Gibbons, got herself back to top form with a silver medal in the Under-16 500m time trial, and followed up by qualifying for the gold/silver ride-off in the sprints competition.