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Theft is tops in local crime reports Q PAUL HOSFORD

THEFT is the leading crime reported to Lucan Garda Station, with 358 instances for the first half of 2011.

In the latest crime figures provided by the Central Statistics Office, 358 theft and related offences were reported at the Lucan Garda Station for the first six months of 2011.

For the year 2010, the same offences had 555 reports.

There has been a significant

reduction in reports of dangerous or negligent acts, with figures showing 148 cases in 2008, compared to just 78 in 2010. By comparison, this year’s figures, as of the end of June, stood at 33.

The number of robbery, extor tion and hijacking offences is showing a startling closeness to the 18 cases reported in 2010, with 16 already reported in the first six months of this year.

Full Story on Page 6

A note-worthy move: Singer’s support for Somalian famine LUCAN-born singer, Noriana Kennedy, showed some of the community spirit that Lucan is famous for by donating copies of her recently launched CD, Ebb N Flow, to the local Justice and Peace Group. Noriana’s donation

wasn’t only made to give the group great music to listen to – it was a generous move to help the group raise funds for victims of the famine in Somalia, thanks to an upcoming fundraiser.

Full Story on Page 3

2 LUCAN GAZETTE 25 August 2011

CARE: LUCAN BRANCH RAISING FUNDS FOR HOSPICE FOUNDATION

For the kids: Keating in Madrid for Youth Day LOCAL FINE Gael TD Derek Keating last week travelled to

Madrid to attend the special international event, World Youth Day. The worldwide Catholic event takes place every three years in a different country. The 2011 celebrations took place from August 16 – 21 in Madrid, Spain, where over one million young people gathered from around the world.

“This was a most exciting and successful international

young people’s event, during which I met many young people, from both at home and from abroad,” Deputy Keating told the Gazette.

“For the last 30 years, I have taken a special interest in youth and children’s issues and I am always anxious to avail of every opportunity to support our young people in their journey through life, including areas such as education, sport and recreational, the arts, social activities and other interests,” he said.

Credit Union charity week Q STAFF REPORTER lucan@gazettegroup.com

LUCAN Credit Union is one of over 70 credit unions supporting the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) in the development of a dedicated hospice home-care service for children by hosting a Charity Week which started this week.

The proceeds collected

by Lucan Credit Union will help fund work to support families with children who have lifelimiting conditions. The hospice home-care service for children will allow seriously ill children to be cared for and to die at home rather than in a busy hospital.

On a national level, an estimated 1,400 children are living with life-limiting conditions in Ireland and there are about 350 child deaths every year – the majority in the first year of life.

The project is an initiative of le chéile General Insurances and AXA Insurance Ltd. The event will take place in Lucan Credit Union for one week from August 22, 2011.

During the Charity Week, staff at Lucan Credit Union have been

having a bit of fun by painting a sunflower on their faces, with the sunflower being the emblem of the IHF. The manager, Mario Smith, will be overseeing the funds collected at the counter during the weeklong event.

The initiative is also being supported by the local AXA branch in Lucan.

Dayna Caceres, operations manager from le chéile commented: “We are delighted with the positive response from so many credit unions. We have no doubt that the campaign will be a success and we hope that it will generate a significant amount to support this worthy cause.”

Michael O’Reilly, chairman of the Irish Hospice Foundation, stated: “We appreciate this support for one of our most important programmes.

“We hope that members of Lucan Credit Union and the entire community get behind this worthwhile initiative. Supporting some of the most vulnerable members of their community is very much in tune with the ethos of the credit union movement,” he said.

25 August 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 3

FAMINE Local musician is playing her part

SCHOOL: DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICIALLY OPENS NEW EXTENSION

Educate Together at two-stream capacity

Noriana Kennedy, who is helping Lucan’s Justice and Peace Group by donating copies of her new CD, Ebb N Flow

Hitting all the right notes for charity...

Q NATALIE BURKE lucan@gazettegroup.com

LUCAN-BORN singer, Noriana Kennedy, has shown her support for the famine victims in Africa through the local Justice and Peace Group in Lucan.

Noriana, who originally hails from Esker Lawns, has donated copies of her recently launched CD, Ebb N Flow, to the group, to help support the Beads, Bags and Bling Sale, a fundraising drive for victims of the famine in East Africa.

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“It was very good of Noriana to donate copies of her music to the drive,” said Dympna Fennel, PRO for the Justice and Peace Group in St. Mary’s Parish. “Her mother used to be a member of the group and their support has really boosted the fundraiser.”

The Parish group, who meet on a regular basis and work for various organisations at home and abroad, will be hosting the sale at St. Mary’s Parish Centre in Lucan, on Sunday, August 28, following each of the Sunday morning Masses.

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Noriana has donated copies of her CD, Ebb N Flow, to help support the Beads, Bags and Bling Sale

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“Although we have raised money for other charities previously, this is the first time we have raised money for Somalia and we are doing so through Trocaire”, Dympna explained, refer-

ring to the Irish charity which works towards freeing communities and families around the world from the oppression of poverty.

Set up in 2000, the Lucan group has grown ever since and they try and involve themselves in the community as much as possible. The group are appealing to the general public for donations of any makes of beads, bags and bling that could benefit the fundraiser, and anyone wishing to lend a helping hand can contact PRO officer Dympna on 01 6282243.

Q NATALIE BURKE

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news@gazettegroup.com

‘Our pupils will enjoy new playing spaces and a new garden.’

THE NEW extension at Lucan East Educate Together National School was officially launched by the Department of Education on Friday, August 19, bringing the school up to full, two-stream capacity.

After first opening its doors in 2008, Principal Eddie Fox helped the school establish itself as a popular local school with a healthy demand for places, resulting in the current enrolment of 228 pupils.

“I am thrilled for our whole school community,” said Principal Fox. “The new building has been fitted out to the highest standard and, as well as its excellent accommodation, our pupils will enjoy new playing spaces and a new

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garden when they return in September.”

According to Educate Together chief executive Paul Rowe, the need for the new extension at Lucan East illustrates the significant population growth in Lucan in the last decade, with the number of children in the area of school-going age a reflection of the population trend across the whole primary education system.

“Lucan East is the first of three new school buildings I will be accepting from the Department of Education over the com-

ing weeks,” he said.

“Educate Together has grown considerably in the last 10 years, and I am very proud of everyone in our network – staff, teachers and parents alike – all of whom contribute to the establishment of our schools. When you receive the keys to as fine an educational facility as [the Lucan East ETNS], it vindicates all that effort.”

Educate Together is the patron body for Ireland’s multidenominational schools and has a network of 60 schools nationwide, 19 of which have opened in the last five years.

New Educate Together school buildings have been completed in Swords, Donabate and Tyrrelstown in addition to Lucan, with two new schools in Powerstown and Blanchardstown West due to open in September.

4 LUCAN GAZETTE 25 August 2011

ARTS: SHOWCASING ALL KINDS OF CREATIVITY

Council introduces Celebration Q STAFF REPORTER news@gazettegroup.com

SOUTH Dublin County Council is extremely pleased to introduce Celebration, an event which involves social inclusion through the performing arts.

This event will take p l a c e o n M o n d a y, November 21, in the Civic Centre, Tallaght at 8pm.

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Celebration is a spectacular event that will showcase all talent and creativity in South Dublin County

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Celebration is a spectacular event that will showcase all talent and creativity in South Dublin county.

Groups or single acts are all welcome to enter and participants must be from age 10 upwards.

All are welcome to participate; be it singing, dancing, comedy, sketch-

es or any other talent. It is free to enter and gives everyone an opportunity to join in.

A prize will be awarded for the best performance on the night. The final date for applications is Friday, September 30.

The entries may be short-listed and each performance should last no longer than five minutes.

South Dublin County Council say they are “proud of this dynamic event as it is the first time to reach out to such a broad range of people and communities through the one event”.

“It is the Grand Finale of Social Inclusion Week 2011, which is about creating a society where everyone experiences full and equal participation in all aspects of life.”

For further information, and nomination forms, please visit the website: http://socialinclusion. southdublin.ie or contact Maria Finn, Social Inclusion Officer, Community Services Department, South Dublin County Council, Tallaght, You can call 01-4149270 or email mfinn@sdublincoco.ie

FUNDRAISING Buy a little kite to make a big difference

Support the No Limits Kite Appeal Q NATALIE BURKE

FIVE-YEAR-OLD James Casserly, from Lucan, is one of many children with a physical disability supported by Irish charity, Enable Ireland.

James, who has cerebral palsy, attends the Enable Ireland Tallaght service and is helping the charity promote the launch of their second annual No Limits Kite Appeal this September.

Campaign The campaign, which is designed to “lift spirits”, will take place from Monday, August 19, to Saturday, September 24.

During the campaign, the charity will be asking the public to Buy a Little Kite – Make a Big Difference, supporting its services by buying a kite pin (€2), or a kite trolley disc (€2).

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The idea of the campaign is it will provide a platform for children and adults with disabilities using Enable Ireland services to talk about how they live with no limits --------------------------

The idea of the campaign is to provide a platform for children and adults with disabilities using Enable Ireland services to talk about how they live their lives with “no limits”, whilst raising muchneeded funds to support the charity’s important

Five-year-old James from Lucan is pictured in his hot wheels flying Kites to launch Enable Ireland’s search for volunteers for the Enable Ireland No Limits Kite Appeal

work.

James, and the charity, are seeking volunteers to help support the campaign, and to donate some time to help Enable Ireland.

Dorothy Barry, retail and fundraising director for Enable Ireland, said: “The Kite Appeal

is a really fun campaign and we want the public to get on board and live life with no limits, too.

“There are lots of ways you can help – make a donation online at www. nolimits.ie, and read our inspirational No Limits’ Champions stories; buy a kite pin where you see

them on sale throughout September, or even run your own No Limits event,” she said.

If you are interested in supporting the No Limits kite appeal, email campaigns@enableireland.ie; call 1850 204 304, or visit www.enableireland.ie.

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25 August 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 5

COUNCIL Calls for greater urgency

FUNDS: CLLR LAVELLE WELCOMES DONATION

Cash boost for festival

South Dublin County Council has been quizzed over its Five-Year Playground Construction Programme

SDCC playground plan is moving ‘at snail’s pace’ Q PAUL HOSFORD

lucan@gazettegroup.com

THE Five-Year Playground Programme in South Dublin is being implemented at a “snail’s pace” Labour Councillor Eamon Tuffy said this week.

Councillor Tuffy said a review on the provision of playgrounds by South Dublin County Council also required “greater urgency”.

Speaking at a recent council meeting, CouncillorTuffy sought a progress report on the implementation of SDCC’s present playground programme.

He said he wanted to see the council’s Play Policy and the Five-Year Playground Programme be given more priority and brought to a conclusion so that it could

be brought before local councillors this autumn.

However, responding to Councillor Tuffy, SDCC said any increase in the speed of delivery was not feasible.

“It is not feasible for the review of the Play Policy and the Five-Year Playground Construction Programme to be brought to a conclusion in time to have a report brought before the September council meeting as suggested, but this motion, if carried, will be brought directly to the attention of the review group. It must also be reiterated that any future projects are subject to the identification of finance to carry out the works proposed,” said the Council.

But, speaking to the Gazette, Councillor Tuffy said: “The review

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‘It is not feasible for the review to be brought to a conclusion in time for the September meeting’ --------------------------

needs greater urgency and should consider plans for more smaller playgrounds throughout county, and a more flexible approach than the present Playground Programme, which includes only large playgrounds.

“I believe the present programme, which is being implemented at a snail’s pace, is too inflexible, and I think we should look at putting smaller playgrounds into

estate open spaces, small parks, and also looking to co-operation with school and church authorities to provide play facilities on their grounds.

“My motion was not reached at the meeting, so, rather than have it formally passed without discussion, I decided to leave it on the agenda for September so that all councillors can contribute to a debate on our approach to provision of play and outdoor exercise facilities.

“But the fact is that there is no playground in Palmerstown, only one in Lucan, and whole areas of Lucan up around Ballyowen, Liffey Valley Park, Mount Andrew, where there is a large population of young children.

“Children grow up very quickly, and we have a

Celebrating National Heritage Week at the 12th Lock in Lucan Q STAFF REPORTER

LUCAN locals are invited to take part in the Wealth of Heritage at 12th Lock event this weekend, to celebrate National Heritage Week in Lucan.

The event, which was organised by local residents John and Bev Power, will take place on Saturday, August 27, from 1 – 3 p.m. at

the 12th Lock Heritage and recreation area on the Grand Canal in Lucan.

Boat The organisers have confirmed they will definitely have a boat on board for this year’s event, which will treat the children to a trip down the historic canal on the day.

The day will feature the diverse and fascinating wealth of heritage in the area, including the remarkable Thomas Omer Lock House, the old Grange Mills, the existing 18th-century canal lock and bridge and the ruins of Grange Castle.

Parking for visitors attending on the day will be facilitated by Grange Business Campus.

responsibility to provide safe outdoor play facilities, where they can have fun and get healthy exercise,” said Cllr Tuffy.

Q STAFF REPORTER

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news@gazettegroup.com

‘I am happy to report that South Dublin County Council will provide €2,500 for the Lucan Festival’

LOCAL Fine Gael Councillor, William Lavelle, has welcomed the good news that €2,500 in funding will be provided

by South Dublin County Council for the 2011 Lucan Festival, which will be taking place next month.

The announcement comes following efforts made by the local councillor and will go a long way to supporting the festival, which is taking place from September 19 – 25.

“I am happy to report that South Dublin County Council will provide €2,500 in funding for the 2011 Lucan Festival next moth.

“This comes on foot of my effort to secure council funding for the festival following contact form

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the organisers regarding financial concerns,” Cllr Lavelle told the Gazette.

“The council will also provide other valuable support to the festival in the form of personnel and logistical support.

Commend “I wish to commend the hard-working and dedicated volunteers of the Lucan Festival committee who do so much to make this wonderful community festival a reality,” he said.

6 LUCAN GAZETTE 25 August 2011

CRIME: 358 INSTANCES REPORTED IN LUCAN IN JUST SIX MONTHS

Thefts soar in first half of 2011 Q PAUL HOSFORD lucan@gazettegroup.com

N E W f i g u r e s h ave revealed that the number of thefts in the Lucan area has soared, with 358 instances reported for the first half of 2011 alone.

That’s compared to 555 for the whole of 2010.

The figures have been released by the Central Statistics Office and, while crime figures for 2011 in the area look similar to last year, some have shown indications of an alarming rise.

In the latest crime figures provided by the Office, 358 theft and related offences were reported at the Lucan Garda Station for the first six months of 2011.

For the year of 2010, the same offences had 555 reports.

Burglary and related offences numbered 85 by the end of June of this year.

Increase

In 2010, there were 142 burglary and related offences, which itself was an increase of nine compared with the 2009 figure of 133.

Damage to property and to the environment has seen 122 cases reported in Lucan for the first half of the year.

In 2010, there were 283 such cases, with 2011 on course to record a decline in these cases thus far.

Figures for controlled drug offences show 62 incidents for the first half of this year.

In 2010, there were 99 incidents reported in that year, with 2011 indicating

a rise in this figures.

Public Order and other Social Code Offences for the first half of this year see 98 offences reported at this Garda station. For the 12 months of 2010, there were 199 such offences.

Decline

Last year there was a small decline in reports of attempts/threats of murder, assaults, harassments and related offences with 60 cases, compared to 61 in 2009.

For the first half of this year, the number of such cases are 28, indicating that this year will be similar again.

There has been a significant reduction in reports of dangerous or negligent acts with figures showing 148 cases in 2008, compared to just 78 in 2010.

This year’s figures, as of the end of June this year, stood at 33.

The number of robbery, extortion and hijacking offences is showing a startling closeness to the 18 cases reported in 2010, with 16 already reported in the first six months of this year.

Fraud

Fraud, deception and related offences for the first six months of this year stood at 15, under half of the 42 cases recorded for 12 months of 2010.

Weapons and explosive offences are currently at seven.

Over the past three years there has been a fluctuation in such offences with 11 reported in 2010, compared to 14 in 2009.

A taste of success: Minister congratulates students on their Leaving Cert results THE MINISTER for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald, has congratulated students on their Leaving Cert results and paid tribute to local schools, teachers and families on all the effort that goes into preparing students for the exams.

“I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to all our local students on their Leaving Cert results. From the feedback I have received, it seems there has been some very good results in our community this year but I would encourage all students, regardless of their results, to look at their options. There is something out there for everybody and there are many ways of achieving your

goals and getting to where you want to,” said Minister Fitzgerald.

“As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I know the stress that students face coming up to exams. I still remember the nerve-wracking feeling of collecting my Leaving Cert results and I am sure students and their parents are relieved that the results are now out,” said the Minister.

Minister Fitzgerald wished the students the best of luck and encouraged those with concerns to talk to their schools or call the dedicated helpline at 1800 265 165.

EXAMINATIONS: CLASS OF 2011 DELIGHTED WITH OUTCOME

Hard work and dedication is praised by Principals Q HIROMI MOONEY

lucan@gazettegroup.com

THERE were tears of joy as the class of 2011 opened their Leaving Certificate results envelopes across Lucan and Clondalkin last Wednesday.

In Lucan, 130 students sat the Leaving Certificate Examinations at St Joseph’s College in June, and a number of them celebrated achieving over 500 points.

“Absolutely delighted.

They’re really excellent.

We’re very pleased with our Maths results,” said

the school’s principal, Siobhan Corry.

Meanwhile, 40 students sat the Leaving Certificate Examinations in Colaiste Cois Life in Lucan, and 10 of them reached over 500 points.

Their principal, Tomas O Donnagain, said that the average points achieved was 405.

“They’re a very good group, and we’re very happy for them,” he said.

Lucan Community College also celebrated high results, with students Rachael O’Neill and David O’Sullivan achieving 590 points

each from 5 A1s and 1 A2. Their principal, Diane Birnie, said that she is delighted with the standard of results achieved this year.

“It is a measure of the hard work and determination of the students, the preparation and encouragement of their teachers and the support of their parents,” she said.

“We are delighted that so many students in our school community can achieve so highly in the Leaving Cert exam. They can be proud of the work they put into preparing for their examinations

and can now build on these results as they prepare for their future studies and careers. A small number of students were unhappy with their results but they know that there are other paths that can lead them to their desired destination and that the support of guidance staff is on offer to them.”

Almost 100 students sat the Leaving Certificate Examinations in Moyle Park College in Clondalkin. The school’s principal, Aiden Clarke, said that the average points are higher than that of last year.

“The sun was shining up here this morning and it really kind of matched their moods,” he said.

“They’re extremely happy with how they’ve done and so are the teachers.”

There were also celebrations in Deansrath Community College in Clondalkin. Their principal, Maria Shannon, said that she thinks that the results are very good.

“I think that they reflect the hard work put in by students,” she said.

“Our maths and our science seems to be very good, and, overall, we’re very pleased with them.”

25 August 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 7

8 LUCAN GAZETTE 25 August 2011

EVENT The Rose of Tralee Festival 2011 finalists helped

Finalists fall in to help out HE Rose of Tralee International Festival 2011 finalists helped celebrate the launch of the new Carlton Hotel in Blanchardstown recently.

Formerly The Plaza Hotel, Tyrrelstown, the Carlton Hotel Blanchardstown was launched in the company of the 32 Roses.

The Carlton Hotel Group is one of the main sponsors of the Rose of Tralee, and every year the Roses begin their Official Rose Tour at the Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport. They began their tour last Sunday, but this year the location of the ball was changed to the new Carlton Hotel Blanchardstown to coincide with its launch.

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Peter Cooke, Carlton Hotel Blanchardstown, Sean O’Brien, Leinster Rugby player, Clare Kambamettu, Rose of Tralee 2010, Devin Hotel Group

Tipperary Rose and Declan Meagher, general manager, Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport

The Boston and New England Rose, Philadelphia Rose, Big Apple Rose and Queensland Rose

Anthony O’Gara, managing director of The Rose of Tralee Festival, Jean O’Connoll, director of Sales and Marketing for The Carlton Hotel Group, Declan Meagher, general manager, The Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport, Daithi O’Se, Clare Kambamuettu Rose of Tralee 2010, Michael Kearney, CEO of The Carlton Hotel Group, Declan Curtis, general manager of the Carlton Hotel The Toronto Rose and Audrey McDonald, from Aerlingus

Blanchardstown and John Varley, director of The Carlton Hotel Group

25 August 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 9

celebrate the launch of the new Carlton Hotel

The Wexford, Laois, Roscommon and Texas Roses

Rose of Tralee 2010 Clare Kambamettu with Darren Toner, Leinster Rugby player, Michael Kearney, CEO Carlton

Kearney, sales and marketing executive, Carlton

Germany Rose and Sunderland Rose with Declan Curtis, general

Hotel Group

manager, of The Carlton Blanchardstown

10 LUCAN GAZETTE 25 August 2011

SPORT Awards presented to some of club’s best players

Dermot O’Leary

Richard O’Donovan and his mother, Betty

Celebrations at Lucan Golf Club

UCAN Golf Club members recently joined in celebrations to mark some of the club’s achievements, which saw prizes awarded on both the male and female Captain’s Day. The celebrations also included the

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notable achievements of one of the junior members, as Richard O’Donovan joined a very illustrious group by winning the East of Ireland amateur championship at Baltray Golf Course.

Richard’s success at the champi-

Sponsor Martin Walshe and Ivan Chadwick

onship, coupled with the high levels of golfing skill demonstrated by the members, are par for the course at the gold club, whose members continue to impress in contests, and on the home course.

Niamh Williams, with Lady Olive Linnane

Lady Captain Una Murphy, Richard O’Donovan and Captain Sean Quigley

Captain, Una Murphy

Lady Captain’s winner, Yvonne O’Reilly

25 August 2011 GAZETTE 11

12 GAZETTE 25 August 2011

GazettePETS PETS

Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA

THE FACTS: EXOTIC PETS RETAIN NATURAL PREDATORY AND DEFENSIVE INSTINCTS

it’s difficult to provide for the physical, psychological and behavioural requirements

Owning an exotic pet XOTIC animals are unsuitable companion pets.

Honestly, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve said this to people.

And why are they unsuitable? I hear you ask.

Because, once in a captive environment, it’s difficult to provide for the physical, psychological and behavioural requirements of these unique animals and, in my opinion, this makes for an irresponsible, dangerous situation – even if exotic pet owners believe otherwise.

I mean, regardless of your belief on this issue, you don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to realise that owning an exotic animal can prove dangerous for you and for the animal because you can never predict their behaviour…EVER!

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Also, with the vast variety of companion animals available to potential pet parents, and who are at this moment sitting in rescue shelters waiting for good homes, you know, gorgeous f luffy cats, majestic, loyal dogs, cute, cuddly bunnies, et al, I have to ask myself why so many people still insist on seeking out these wonderful, yet highly unsuitable, creatures as pets.

You see, domestic animals are bred by humans over thousands of generations. They are dependant, predictable and controllable.

Howe ve r, d e s p i t e several generations of captive breeding, wild, exotic animals continue to retain their natural predatory and defensive instincts. Prey species become anxious during captivity, making them dangerous and unsuitable to living in an envi-

ronment with other animals and humans.

So, let’s ask ourselves the question: What is an exotic animal and how is it different from keeping a companion animal?

An exotic animal is a wild animal taken out of its natural habitat and bred in captivity. It may be sold as a companion animal, but it can never truly be a companion to a human being.

The Dublin SPCA understands the needs of companion animals and the veterinary care and specific requirements important to their wellbeing.

Suffering

Exotics often suffer immensely because most people don’t have the resources or knowledge to properly meet their requirements.

The exotic pet trade is big business and many

teens buy them as socalled status symbol pets or as novelties.

However, owners must remember exotic animals cannot perform tricks, they ignore their owners and are difficult to care for.

When selecting an exotic, people don’t consider how large they will grow and how long they will live. For example, animals such as macaws and box turtles can even outlive their human owners.

Also, when the novelty of owning an exotic diminishes, the reality of the high-care cost, lack of interaction, increase in responsibility, not to mention size, soon sets in. This leads to the animals being abandoned or surrendered to a welfare shelter such as the Dublin SPCA. If you insist on owning an exotic animal, despite

what I’ve advised, then have a look at my checklist below: • Will the animal create unpleasant smells?

• How long will this animal live?

• How large/long will this animal grow?

• What is the specific diet of this animal?

• How much enjoyment/pleasure will I get from owning this animal?

• What are the environmental requirements of this animal?

• Will this animal be a danger to me and others?

• What are the legal requirements of owning this animal?

• How can I provide specific veterinary care for this animal?

chlamydia, giardia, hepatitis A, rabies, ringworm, tuberculosis and scabies from owning certain exotic animals? And no, I’m not auditioning for Mastermind. I’m trying to inform all you wannabe exotic pet owners that keeping an exotic is bad for your health, not to mention your social life.

Some of the above

are very serious and some may even prove fatal, but one thing’s for sure – they’re all bound to diminish your list of Facebook friends faster than you can say Albino Burmese Python.

For more info log onto www.dspca.ie, consult your vet or email me at miriam.kerins@dspca. ie

And Another Thing…

Did you know you can get such diseases as salmonella, herpes B,

Unfortunately, some exotic pets can also carry exotic diseases, requiring extra attention from owners

25 August 2011 GAZETTE 13

GazetteGAMING GAMING

Digging into a world of wonder For example, by attacking a tree with your bare hands, you can break off raw wood.

This wood can then be split to create sticks, or combined to create, say, a rudimentary wooden axe (to chop down trees faster), or a basic pickaxe.

With a pickaxe, the player can then mine some stone from the ground/hills, creating a stronger pickaxe, or mining blocks of stone.

By following this basic pattern of splitting some materials, or combining others, and by experimenting with combinations of raw materials, the player can rapidly create a wide range of tools and objects.

So, whether the player simply wants to build a tiny cottage, or a vast city – and teams of people

This randomly-generated Minecraft world is just waiting for the player to make their mark, whether by planting more trees, digging for treasure, building a canal or even an entire city – whatever the player wants

all over the world have created some truly vast cities and exotic worlds – Minecraft has more than enough scope to do so.

And, considering that the coders say that it’s clever enough for a single Minecraft world to be many times the size of the

surface of the earth, the players need never see, or do, the same thing twice, per “level” or world.

Started as a single programmer’s experimental dabbling with worldbuilding, Minecraft has, in a couple of short years, spiralled into a small

team of coders, programming and modifying this world-building program – it’s debatable if it can even be called a game – that has seen tens of millions of users pay for their own pre-release copy.

With games regularly lambasted as being too

violent, or mindless, repetitive and numbing, it’s a pleasure to highlight one of several titles that celebrates creativity, and one that is as unique as each individual user.

For further details, or to sign up, see www. minecraft.net.

gazette

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

.com

WITH a whole world of gaming to dig into, where to begin with a regular column? Well, by looking at a world that’s all about digging. Literally.

Minecraft has taken the widely-used gaming terms “open world” and “sandbox” to create a single genre of its very own on PC (with an IOS version also in the works).

Some clever coding randomly, yet procedurally, generates worlds that are made by uniformlysized squares, each of which has a different texture – such as for grass, earth, sand, etc – along with different physical and, in some cases, physics-related properties.

By wandering around the world like a modernday Robinson Crusoe,

Minecraft continues to create the world you’re wandering in.

Rivers, lakes, forests, seas, lava flows and more form as the player moves, complete with vegetation and wildlife, while day and night cycle through, and the weather changes, depending on whether you’re in a desert, forest or snow area.

And yet, the expansive surface of the world is only part of the Minecraft experience, as the world also generates vast cave and tunnel systems underneath, where coal, iron, gold and diamonds wait to be mined, and then used.

“Minecraft” relates to the way that the world works – by mining (or processing) away, the world is permanently reshaped by your actions.

www.

SHANE DILLON

14 GAZETTE 25 August 2011

GazetteTTRAVEL FastTravel Cruising the Arabian Gulf with special travel packages from Thomas Cook Cruises CRUISING the Arabian Gulf is sure to conjure up exotic images in the minds of even the most seasoned of travellers, but a special package from Thomas Cook Cruises this December makes it a very accessible option for the everyday holidaymaker.

On board the distincAl Jahili Fort at sunset tively grand Brilliance of the Seas, the voyage takes in the famous names of this most alluring part of the world, starting in Dubai, moving on to Fujairah followed by two days in Muscat in the Sultan of Oman. Then it’s on to Abu Dhabi and back to Dubai. With endless sunshine and endless pre-Christmas shopping, a visit to the Emirates at this time of year makes for a complete getaway.

The 10-day trip from Thomas Cook Cruises includes flights from Dublin and an overnight stay in 4-star Hilton Hotel in Dubai, as well as port taxes and gratuities on board. For the December 5 departure, prices start from just €1,059 per person.

All Thomas Cook Cruise bookings are fully bonded so money is secured.

To book or to order a brochure call the Thomas Cook Cruise team in Dublin on 0818 200 101, or visit your local travel agent.

Discovering the cultural hotspots of Scotland MIMI MURRAY

STEEPED in history, Scotland is the perfect place for a whistle-stop tour of its many museums, cultural sites and iconic buildings.

We decided to pack our three-day trip with as much culture as possible and made our way from Edinburgh, to Stirling and back to Glasgow, devouring as much as we could.

There are a surprising number of brand new cultural hotspots that have opened or will open in Scotland in the next couple of months and visitors with an interest in arts and culture will be spoilt for choice this year.

We started out in Edinburgh, during the Fringe Festival, so the city was absolutely buzzing with creativity and excitement.

We were treated to a sneak preview of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, which will re-open on November 30, St Andrew’s Day, after a closure of two years. It is being massively upgraded and redevel-

oped in a project that aims to restore and reveal much more of the building than ever before.

The gallery will be able to show many more works of art, introducing a new, regularly changing display programme. The many iconic figures on show include Mary, Queen of Scots, William Wallace and Sean Connery.

Later that day, we stopped into the National Museum, which has undergone a multimillion pound refurbishment.

This is an awesome building, which is a perennial site to visit for locals and will be jaw-dropping for visitors.

This massively popular museum has reopened after a £46 million refurbishment with a new layout. This will enable much greater access to the collections, an improved visitor experience, as well as a greater appreciation of the iconic Victorian building.

An exciting display for kids are the flying animals and mammals. Other

An exciting display of flying animals and mammals in the National Museum of Scotland. Picture: Rob McDougall

highlights include Egyptian mummies, precious rocks and stones, as well as a mishmash of truly interesting artefacts that, in some way, connect to Scotland and its rich history.

The following day we made our way to Stirling.

It has just been given city status and the old town, which is on a steep drive to the castle, is extremely pretty.

The castle is very striking and majestic and locals say that if you held on to Stirling, you held on to Scotland. From the castle walls, you can see the iconic bridge where William Wallace launched his famous battle against the English and, even though the Scottish were outnumbered, they routed the English.

Mary, Queen of Scots, was born in the palace, which has been brought back to its former glory and re-enactments take place in the castle throughout the day. Our friendly guide told us that, in the morning, the staff regularly find an indentation on the bed in which Mary’s mother, Mary of Guise, would sleep. Every castle needs a ghost and this one sounds benevolent!

The £12 million project has returned the six ground-floor apartments in the castle’s Renaissance palace to how they may have looked in the mid16th century. The work has already uncovered fascinating historical finds and insights into this peri-

The spectacular Riverside

od of history, including the remains of what may have been a 15th-century knight killed in battle and buried beneath the floor of a previously unknown royal chapel.

Next it was on to Glasgow and the spectacular Riverside Museum, which was designed by star architect, Zaha Hadid.

This was her first major public commission in the UK and the characteristically bold, flowing shapes of the building are already winning fans. It houses the Transport Museum, which really is one of the most interesting and wellthought-out exhibitions I have ever been to.

Some nice places to eat in Edinburgh include Lancers Brasserie in the more upmarket area of Stockbridge. Di Maggio’s is great for families in both Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Stravaigans in Glasgow’s West End is great for brunch and the Ubiqitous Chip is definitely worth a look. We flew to Scotland with Aer Lingus, which operates several flights to and from Edinburgh and Glasgow each day.

For more information, go to www.visitscotland. com/surprise.

25 August 2011 GAZETTE 15

Edited by Mimi Murray

WeddingTravel Helping remove the hassle of planning a wedding abroad

National Museum of Scotland. Picture: National Museums Scotland

Museum, designed by architect, Zaha Hadi. Picture: Rob McDougall

National Portrait Gallery. Picture: National Museums Scotland

WHETHER you wish to marry in the beautiful Old Town of Dubrovnik, or at one of Cyprus’s romantic beachfront locations, Concorde Travel can offer assistance with arrangements and remove the hassle from the most important day in a couple’s lives.

The new Concorde Wedding brochure includes the ever popular destinations of Cyprus, Croatia, Montenegro and Malta and the new exciting wedding option of the Algarve in Portugal. Understanding that every wedding is unique and that organising a wedding abroad can be time consuming and demanding, Concorde Travel aim to offer a personalised service that is focused on making your day unforgettable and stress free.

The typical starting price for a wedding package abroad is €4,000 and includes wedding fees, travel and hotel for bride and groom, catering for 30 guests, photography, music, flowers, bridal hair and make-up. Visit www. concordetravel.ie to inquire or book your wedding with Concorde Travel today.

16 SWORDS GAZETTE 25 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 is being presented by the participants of the summer school.

Four highly-skilled dancers from Ballet Ireland’s core company are leading the participants, preparing and training everyone for the grand finale. Running this week, and concluding on Friday, August 26, the final show promises to be a wonderful treat for all ballet and dance fans. For full details, see www.paviliontheatre.ie

THE HELIX 01 700 7000 Summer Films AS PART of its summer season of family films, The Helix still has a number of favourites for all to enjoy. Running at 2pm, and priced €6, €4 conc, or €20 season ticket (phone booking only), Fantastic Mr Fox plays on Saturday, August 27; and Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory on September 3, with both films promising to bring a great conclusion to the enjoyable season.

THE MILL 01 296 9340 Mountains to the Sea DLR Book Festival 2011 ALREADY proving to be one to watch out for, The Mill is gearing itself up for the upcoming Mountains to the Sea DLR Book Festival 2011, which will take place at the popular Dundrum venue on Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8, and will see authors such as Roddy Doyle taking part. For full details of the festival’s events, see www.milltheatre.ie.

Jim Sturgess and Anne Hathaway cross paths, again and again and again in One Day, just one of a number of new films on current release

A mixed bag of films

Still in the lull of late summer, there’s a variety of passable films out there, yet nothing especially eye-catching, says Kate KATE CROWLEY

IT OCCURS to me that, now that the school holidays are finally ending, and with colleges also soon to resume, we grown-ups will finally have a bit more peace and quiet at cinemas, once the bloomin’ kids are packed off to one educational institution or another.

So, as much as I’ll miss darling Crowleyetta once her studies resume, I’d like to flag up a whole range of films that a postsummer audience may wish to avail of – or to avoid, in some cases.

And, if any of your childer are still enjoying time off – or, indeed, if you’re one of our lovely young readers with an interest in cinema – there are a couple of films here which they may be interested in ...

Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (PG, 89mins, ) is one that only the least demanding of chil-

FILMS OF THE WEEK: Various to (PG to 16) Directors: Various Starring: Spying children, an inventive Death, a Lovely Girl, one vengeful barbarian and lots of tuneful young people

OUR VERDICT: WHILE Cowboys and Aliens has been chasing, roping and then beaming up plenty of audiences at the Box Office recently, several other films have also charged onto the screen, with Kate warning that some are particularly avoidable, while the rest are merely passable. Still, she says: “It’s the summer season, so what else can we expect at the cinema?” Quite.

dren could warm to, as the long-running series gets reheated for, what, its 5th film? The 17th?

Cinemagoers can surely spy better family- and child-friendly films than this tired addition, which is full of clumsy editing, shoddy effects, noise and confusion. Spy Kids – it’s time to retire.

Moving on from children to teens and young adults, and Final Destination 5 (16, 92mins, ) is another franchise sequel.

Once again, some lucky youngsters somehow miss an accident

that was supposed to kill them – only to then find that Death has inventive ways of finishing them off, one by one, in unlikely scenarios.

Admittedly, this sounds like a carbon copy of the four prequels, but – sssh – that doesn’t seem to bother fans, directors, or the studios that keep bankrolling the sequels.

So, for those looking to see annoying characters struck by debris from an airplane, this is the film for you.

One day, we’ll be free of such cozily formulaic films – and, speaking of

cozily formulaic, here’s One Day (12A, 107mins, ), the latest Anne Hathaway rom-com vehicle attempting to persuade audiences to hand her the Lovely Girl crown.

Time and again, regular gal Hathaway crosses paths with posho Jim Sturgess on the same day, year in, year out, until they gradually come to realise that perhaps sweet, sweet love is why they keep meeting. Awww.

I expect this film to do marvellously, though I suspect that it’s a film that Mr Crowley, and his ilk, would have to be forced at gunpoint to attend.

He’d probably say much the same in reverse about Conan The Barbarian (15A, 112mins, ), which is continuing Hollywoods’ interest in rebooting old franchises or individual films.

Best summarised as “Single barbarian, seeks vengeance”, Conan wan-

ders through typically brutal fantasy lands, battling henchmen, monsters, a sorceress and Ron Perlman.

I can’t dislike anything with Ron Perlman as much as I should, so I’ll let this Barbarian pass.

Finally, Glee: The 3D Concert Movie (PG, 84mins, ) is one of those films that is practically review-proof, and review-redundant, as, much like a banana, everyone knows what Glee is, and what to expect.

As such, the hit TV show takes a turn on the big screen, with its stars delivering a concert experience that fans will doubtless love and enjoy, but not quite certain cinema reviewers.

And there you have it – a mixed bag of not especially tempting offerings, but not to worry, as once the school holidays are behind us, we can always bank on more interesting films being released.

25 August252011 August SWORDS 2011 GAZETTE 17

COLLEGEOPTIONS OPTIONS

Exploring THIRD-LEVEL education

| HIGHER EDUCATION |

New life begins for students Q DAWN LOVE

IT’S been a tough year for thousands of second level students in the Greater Dublin area.

Firstly, there was the build-up to the Leaving Cert, then the stress that comes from actually sitting it and then the weeks that follow, waiting anxiously for results.

T his week, in our s e ve n - p a g e C o l l e g e Options guide, we feature some of Dublin’s top colleges, including Maynooth University, Senior College in Dun Laoghaire, IT Blanch and St Laurence’s College.

Gazette reporter Hiromi Mooney recalls

LOCAL

MATTERS SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS Access to higher education means a level playing field for students as they consider their options

her daunting first days at university, and some of our best-known TDs talk about their college years.

While many students will have obtained the

results they wanted, some will have missed out on their chosen courses and degrees.

This week, we speak to the President of USI, Gary Redmond, about

his top tips and advice if you didn’t get the points and the course you had hoped for.

He also gives some sterling advice on how to get through the first

few weeks of student life.

And, whatever course you decide on over the coming weeks, we wish all our students the very best of luck.

ADVERTISE WITH THE GAZETTE CALL 60 10 240

18 GAZETTE 25 August 2011

COLLEGEOPTIONS OPTIONS AIB launch a new student website AIB have announced they are launching a dedicated student website, www. stuff4students.ie, which will be offering exclusive discounts and offers for students, not only in first year but in all years in college.

The site will also contain information on managing finances for students.

One of the key components of AIB’s 2011 Student communication campaign is the ongoing dialogue with students through www.stuff4students.ie.

Some of the key features of the site will be the budgeting tool, weekly/ monthly competitions, relevant articles with advice and blogs on surviving your college years.

Exploring third-level education

| WHAT NEXT? |

Dun Laoghaire centre is the place for answers

Solid choices: Good advice from DIT SIOBHAN O’Donnell, a furniture design graduate at DIT, is just one

of the many graduates from the college pushing the envelope of their careers after attending the institution.

Students have never had such a range of CAO options to choose from, or so much advice from every quarter, and Head of Admissions in DIT, Frank Costello, said: “Before accepting an offer, be sure that you know what’s involved in the programme and that you are enthusiastic about undertaking it – after that, start looking forward to your college career!”

STUDENTS who have recently received their L e av i n g C e r t i f i c a t e results and are asking, “What’s next?”, can find answers galore in a new publication from Dun Laoghaire Youth Information Centre called What’s Next?

It provides information about the types of grants available, a list of colleges and courses, and where to repeat your Leaving Certificate.

The guide also contains information for former students who want to get a job instead of going to college, or who want to take a gap year, which can provide a breathing space or time

out from the pressures of studying.

The free publication explores all these options, and is available from the Youth Centre on Library

They have also produced information leaflets on student finance, accommodation and evening classes, as well as student guides to the

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

‘The Centre is holding an exhibition on What’s Next? throughout the months of August and September’ --------------------------------------------------------

Road, beside Playcentre, in Dun Laoghaire .

Dun Laoghaire Youth Information Centre is also holding an exhibition on What’s Next? throughout the months of August and September in the Youth Information Centre.

Dun Laoghaire area.

For more information, contact the centre at info@youthquest.ie, or call them on 280 9363.

The centre is open every weekday, and the staff will be happy to help with any query you may have.

WE HAVE 146,000* READERS EACH WEEK *based on standard industry measurements

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OUR READERS CALL 60 10 240

25 August 2011 GAZETTE 19

Essential reading for Leaving Cert students

Homeopathy workshop

| VIEW FROM THE USI PRESIDENT |

Next steps for college success Q GARY REDMOND

ALTHOUGH it has only been a matter of weeks, secondary school, and the stressful ordeal of the Leaving Certificate, must seem like a very distant memory.

The unbearable anticipation and long wait for the results has finally ended. In recent days, you’ve probably either been online or opened that all-important CAO letter. This represents a new chapter in your life.

So, what should your next step be?

If you’ve secured your place in college, the next

thing you must do is check if you qualify for a maintenance grant. All the information you need, including the application form, can be found on www.studentfinance.ie.

On this website, you will also find other helpful information on scholarships, bursaries and other financial assistance that may be available.

If you qualify for a grant, either download the form or complete it online, enlisting the help of your parents if necessary. Get your application in as soon as possible, so that you will receive your grant payment in good

time. The earlier you return the form, the more likely you are to receive your first grant payment close to the start of the college term.

Last year, due to a number of factors, many students didn’t receive their first grant payment until after Christmas and, in some cases, as late as March or even April.

If, on the other hand, you didn’t get what you expected either in your Leaving Cert results or in the CAO – don’t panic.

If you didn’t get your top choice on the CAO consider accepting a lower choice if it was

Gary Redmond is the president of the Union of Students Ireland

offered as you may still get offered a higher choice in the following rounds.

On the other hand, there are many PLC courses that will allow you entry into to college next year, and repeating the Leaving Cert is always another option.

The good news is that there are many differ-

ent options out there, so take the next few days to relax, think things over and seek advice from your career guidance teacher.

The key to college life is that you will reap what you sow, so get involved as much as possible: take up a new sport, join some college societies and try something that you’ve

never done before. Your student years will probably be the best years of your life - expect action, fun, but also stress!

And, through it all, bear in mind that you can drop into your students’ union at anytime and they’ll be happy to help keep the experience as memorable as possible.

Best of luck!

THE Irish School of Homeopathy will be running a Get Started in Homeopathy workshop at Milltown College in Ranelagh on September 4.

T h e wo r k s h o p i s designed for those who would like to use homeopathy at home for themselves and their families.

During the workshop, participants will be taught how to prescribe for common acute complaints (sudden and short-term conditions) such as coughs, colds, flu, and first-aid remedies. Also covered are children’s remedies for teething, stomach bugs and exam nerves.

For further information, contact Angie Murphy, Irish School of Homeopathy, on 01-8682581, or email info@ish.ie

20 GAZETTE 25 August 2011

COLLEGEOPTIONS OPTIONS Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge offered THE popular Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge programme at NUI Maynooth resumes this autumn.

Students of the course can expect to vastly improve their level of Irish through discussion and debate in classes, attendance at lectures on various aspects of Irish language and culture and a weekend in the Kerry Gaeltacht.

This course is suitable for people who already have reasonable competence in the language.

For those who may not be ready for this year’s enrolment, the Language Centre’s Teastas Eorpach na

Gaeilge (TEG) learning system will bring prospective Dioplóma students up to the required standard.

Assessment

TEG is a system of Irish language learning and assessment at five levels, from beginners to advanced.

This year, TEG Level B2 was given official recognition by the Department of Education and Skills as meeting the Irish language requirement for the colleges of primary education.

For further information, see www.nuim. ie/language or www. teg.ie.

Exploring third-level education

| ASHFIELD COLLEGE OPENS ITS DOORS |

Students welcomed THIS September, Ashfield College will open its doors to a new cohor t of fif th year, sixth year and repeat Leaving Certificate students from Lucan.

Not only will there be a new intake of students, there are other new faces at the college - and some less new than others.

With maximum class sizes of 25 students, Ashfield College, Templeogue, is building on its longstanding reputation for offering students the very best tuition in a friendly, and student-focused environment, with the return of the school’s founder, Joe Griffin, a familiar name throughout the local community.

Ashfield College has a fine track record of academic success

Griffin has 40 years experience as an educationalist and has been a mentor to thousands of students in their studies. From the beginning, Joe Griffin has put a focus on small class-sizes and individual student attention from top-class

teachers. Griffin says he is delighted to return for the 2011/2012 academic year.

“A s h f i e l d C o l l e g e has traditionally been a popular choice for Leaving Certificate students from Lucan,” said Griffin. “Since the school’s

foundation over 30 years ago I have had the privilege of seeing so many students from all over Ireland reach their potential under the guidance of some of the finest teachers in the country.

“It is an honour to witness a new beginning

for such a wonderful resource. I believe that now, more than ever, Ashfield College is the logical choice for ambitious Leaving Certificate students.”

Students will also be able to avail of comprehensive study notes covering the entire syllabus, which are provided on the first day of term, as well as video classes and class notes available online through Ashfield Online, the school’s e-learning portal.

Philip Burke, the new chief executive, who was a student of the school from 1990-1991, says that the community atmosphere he experienced during his Leaving Certificate year is integral to the school’s teaching ethos and success.

“When I prepared for my Leaving Certificate in Ashfield College in the early 1990s every teacher knew every student by name, and everyone was on first-name terms,” explains Burke. “The key to the school’s success is in its philosophy of individual attention. Every student is an individual, with their own specific requirements.

Potential

“Every teacher is a gifted communicator who is expert at helping students maximise their potential for exam success. It really is a community and that makes all the difference at such an important and often stressful time in young people’s lives.”

Founded in 1977, the school is situated on acres of landscaped gardens in a peaceful south Dublin location, away from the distractions of the city centre but easily accessible by public transport. It has been fully refurbished with state-of-the-art facilities, including specialised teaching rooms for all 21 subjects offered.

25 August 2011 GAZETTE 21

Essential reading for Leaving Cert students

Respond to UCD’s housing studies course Q news@gazettegroup.com

THE Respond! Housing Association, in partnership with University College Dublin (UCD). is set to offer mature students the opportunuty to study for a Bachelor of Social Studies in Housing & Community Studies (BSS), a parttime four-year degree.

The course is designed

for adult learners, who wish to return to education while maintaining a positive work life balance.

The Respond! offering is the only degree of its kind in Ireland.

T he BSS employs a multi-disciplinar y approach in its analysis of housing, community development, social policy and aspects of

management.

The degree is accredited by University College Dublin (UCD) and students gain professional membership of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), with access to work placements throughout the degree.

Lectures are delivered two days each month in Dublin at the Respond!

campus in Drumcondra, or the UCD campus in Belfield.

Tutorials are held in various venues in order to accommodate students.

Further information about the course can be obtained by visiting w w w.respond.ie, by contacting 0818 357901 or emailing bsscourse@ respond.ie.

A wide range of information technology courses are on offer at Dorset College

| CAREER OPPORTUNITIES |

Consider a future at Dorset College IN THESE challenging times, students need to consider things beyond the score of their immediate preferences when considering what courses to do in college.

Dorset College is striking out to meet the needs of students and future employers in its offerings, and the courses reflect the current requirements of the workplace and provide excellent prospects and career development opportunities.

In the information technology space, Dorset College is offering courses to enhance career opportunities, and meet the needs of the shortage of

personnel in the expanding Information Technology sector, from Beginner to Advanced level.

Options

With the likes of courses in Computer S y s t e m s E n g i n e e ring, Cloud Technology Professional, Oracle Java Programmer, Oracle Database Associate Administration, or taking the CompTIA A, +CISCO CCNA or Microsoft Server Administrator courses, there is a wide range of options for students.

Students also need to consider and ensure that they get the right quali-

fications to commence their career paths with security, financial rewards and mobility.

The full-time HETAC Higher Certificate in Business Level 6 will provide students with a strong foundation in a range of specialised business areas such as Business Management and Organisation, Information Technology, Finance and Law. The FETAC Nursing Studies, FETAC Social Studies and the Multimedia Production Courses provide an opportunity to acquire new skills, competencies and knowledge leading to a career path in

that field.

As an alternative to repeating the Leaving Certificate, these courses provide direct entry to third level Certificate and Degree programmes in the Institutes of Technology and Universities in Ireland.

The college’s suite of full-time programmes also includes the ACCA Diploma in Accounting & Business, ACCA Qualification, and Computer System Engineer (CompTIA A+ & CISCO–CCNA).

For further details, contact Dorset College at 01 830 9677 or log on to www.dorset-college.ie

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

22 GAZETTE 25 August 2011

COLLEGEOPTIONS OPTIONS

Minister for Children Where did you go to school?

I went to the Dominican Convent, Sion Hill in Blackrock Where did you go to college?

I did a Degree in Social Sciences, in UCD. A few years after that I did a Masters in the London School of Economics in Social Work and Social Administration.

Your first job after college?

After UCD, I worked in a small children’s hospital called St Ultan’s which has since closed. While there I worked with disadvantaged families whose children were being treated in the hospital. After that, I went on to do my Masters and to get Certified as a Social Worker.

Joan Burton TD Minister for Social Protection

Where did you go to college?

I went to UCD on a scholarship What did you study?

Bachelor of Commerce and then Chartered Accountancy.

What was your first job after leaving college?

Trainee Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse What advice would you give students heading to college for the first time this year?

Enjoy every moment and work hard!

Developing the skills for life LAST month saw the third set of Leaving Certificate students attend The Homework Club, and the club’s founder, Dr Naoise O’Reilly, is starting to see a pattern developing in the approach needed, to not only survive the trials of the exams, but succeed in your dreams.

“We feel everyone is not only good at something, but can use this experience to do anything,” said Naoise. “We try to develop the skills for life.”

The Homework Club, based in Main Street, Blanchardstown, takes a

more holistic approach to study.

“Before starting with each student, together we assess their strengths, aptitudes and potential to guide the students towards an achievable goal, one they desire and enjoy.

“We don’t believe in cram-learning and unnecessary stress,” says Naoise.

“The best analogy I can give you is making an omelette. If you wanted to make an omelette you wouldn’t worry about what goes in to it, you just simply open the fridge and see what’s to hand.

We never worry about learning off cookbooks.

For everyday meals we simply know from experience what works and may just check a few details like the temperature and cooking time.

“Study is exactly the same, regardless of the subject. If you understand it, and can relate to the material in a way, there is no need to learn off endless information.

You simply need to develop your own skills to remember the important details, like the cooking time! The rest will come naturally.

“Similarly, in this cur-

The Homework Club aim to deliver skills for all students’ working lives

rent climate it’s possible that you will get slightly challenging exam papers in June. This has happened for a number of years now, and seems to coincide with the increased pressure in the education system. We try to develop coping strategies in our students so they can survive in these situations. To go back to

our omelette analogy, you should find yourself in a position in the exams to simply open the fridge in your mind and pull out whatever ingredients you need.

“Being able to stay calm and focused, work your way out of the situation and relate what you do know to the questions you are being asked.

These are not only skills for the Leaving Certificate but for life after.

“We have seen almost all of our students thrive in the last three years with this very simple outlook.”

For more details on The Homework Club, contact Naoise at 085 1129660, or visit their website at www.homeworkclub.ie

gazette

photos

.com

Frances Fitzgerald TD

| THE HOMEWORK CLUB |

www.

Q&A

Exploring THIRD-LEVEL education

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25 August 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 23

Essential reading for Leaving Cert students

| COLLEGE LIFE |

Facing your first year Gazette Reporter, Hiromi Mooney, recalls her first few days at University RIGHT, now that you’ve got your Leaving Cert and have gone through the CAO process, it’s now time to face your first year in college. Yes, it’s a big step – new surroundings, new people, and sometimes a new home.

I began my life in college two years ago. Of course, there are both advantages and disadvantages to whether you commute or live on campus. I chose to stay at home and commute by two buses – two hours each way. It was tiring and took a lot out of my day, but it was cheap and the journey was made shorter when I had an iPod – when the battery hadn’t died.

I went to college on my first day on my own and I knew nobody. A few people in my class knew each other or were from the same area, so they established their cliques very quickly, and I was completely out of my comfort zone.

It was very nervewracking. But the more I got talking to people, I realised that a lot of them were just like me – scared, feeling lost and wanting to make friends. And we did.

I then discovered that college life makes you completely responsible for everything you do.

You now have no teacher chasing you for your homework, or have your parents nagging you to study for your tests.

On your own

You are now in charge of making it to those 9am lectures, meeting deadlines, making your own notes and study plan, and, if you’re living alone for the first time, you have to start cooking your own dinners and doing your own washing.

But this gives you great independence and freedom. Plus, there’s a great social life in college.

When you hear college

Gazette reporter, Hiromi Mooney

people say “join clubs and societies,” take their advice on board. They can help you make new friends outside of your classes in college, take up a new hobby and learn some new skills – whether it’s dancing, juggling,

radio or surfing. Get involved and try something new.

Now I’m starting my final year in college and, looking back, I have achieved so much in the past two years. I have made a new circle of

friends, I’ve been able to balance the time between projects, social life, work and all that.

So, what’s my advice?

Embrace college life with open arms, enjoy every moment and make the most of it. Good luck!

24 LUCAN GAZETTE 25 August 2011

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS RoadSigns Road Signs TOYOTA TOPS US BRAND SATISFACTION INDEX: GENERAL Motors’ Cadillac brand and Toyota’s Lexus range topped the recent American Customer Satisfaction Index’s annual ranking of car companies. Toyota was the only nonpremium brand in the top five, tying with Cadillac and Lexus with 87 points on a scale of 100, followed

by Lincoln and Mercedes-Benz with 86.

BMW was in 11th place receiving 83 points, dropping three points to its lowest mark since an 80-point ranking in 1997. Volkswagen’s ranking showed the largest percentage increase, while the Ford brand also rose.

Among the seven Asian brands in the index, all but Mazda recorded an increase.

Honda, Hyundai, Kia and Nissan all recorded increased rankings.

Toyota’s new Verso S is a practical and easy-to-drive mini MPV. The car has a petrol engine-only option that’s a big sluggish on the road, but the entry price is competitive at €16,995 for the basic version that has all of the safety features.

The practical Verso S If you are thinking of downsizing your motoring then the new Toyota Verso S may well be a car worth giving more attention to, as MICHAEL MORONEY reports following his recent test drive OYO TA’ S n e w Verso S was a car that I quickly got comfortable with.

I mean that, once behind the wheel, it was easy to drive and all of the controls were logically and conveniently placed. That gave me an instant good feeling about the car.

I found that I got used to this car easily and it was comfortable to drive.

The high seating position gives great visibility for everybody on board.

This new Verso neatly fills a gap in the Toyota range left after the small Yaris Verso of the past.

The new car is slightly bigger, more modern looking and uses a newer petrol engine.

T

SPECS: TOYOTA VERSO S 1.33 Top speed: 170 km/hr 0 – 100km/hr: 13.3 sec Economy: 18.1 km/litre (5.5l/100km) CO2 emissions: 127g/km Road Tax Band: B (€156) Euro NCAP Rating: 5 Star (2011) Warranty: 3 years or 100,000km Entry Price: €16,995

Toyota offers only one engine option for the new Verso S. This is petrolfuelled, which is a bit surprising as over 70% of all new cars sold are now diesel-powered. Toyota has some good diesel engines in its line-up, but not for the Verso S. The engine is a

1.33-litre, four-cylinder unit – it’s reasonably smooth and quiet in operation. It is rated at 99bhp and, like many petrol engines, needs to rev to 4,000 rpm to get the maximum torque.

When that is linked with a six-speed gearbox the car should be lively and thrifty. My test drive found the car not as lively as I had expected. The engine needed to go to 3,000rpm, even in sixth gear, to reach 120km/hr on the motorway, and that meant that it was not as thrifty as I had expected.

Relative to the competition, the acceleration performance at 13.3 seconds for a 0 to 100km/

hr race is reasonable. I found it somewhat sluggish from behind the wheel.

My test run of about 580km used a full 42-litre tank of fuel. That meant that I achieved about 20% less than the rated economy level of 18km/ litre (51mpg). That bit disappointed me because, if I had achieved the rated performance, the car could have driven on for over 200km more!

Some of that difference may be due to my driving style and the varied road conditions. Despite all of those variables, I was less impressed with its economy figures.

The CO2 rating at 127g/km puts the car

into Band B for road tax purposes and that means an annual road tax rate of just €156. Again, that’s as good as it gets for a small petrol-engine car.

Relative to the competition, which includes the Honda Jazz, Hyundai ix20, Opel Meriva and Nissan Note, the Verso S was the class leader in economy terms.

Everything else about the car impressed me. The second-level specification Luna version, which I drove, included the new Toyota, 6.1 inch, full colour, touch screen system called Toyota Touch. This provides drives with a comprehensive multimedia interface. It incorporates an AM/FM radio,

a CD/MP3 player, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, a USB port for the connection of portable music players, a trip information screen and a rear view camera.

The Verso S has a comprehensive safety package on board. The car has seven airbags, driver and front passenger airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, front side airbags and full-length side curtain shield airbags.

The Verso S comes with a three-year warranty and a service interval of 20,000km or 12 months. Those features will ensure low running costs, as servicing this petrol car should not cost more than €150.

Volkswagen is the new partner to Irish Rugby Team VO L K S WAG E N I r e l a n d h a s announced that it will be the official motor partner of the Irish Rugby football Union (IRFU) until 2016. This partnership complements Volkswagen’s existing relationship with Leinster

Rugby. The partnership also includes supporting the IRFU tag rugby programme, alongside Volkswagen’s Leinster rugby summer camps.

As rugby reaches fever pitch in September, Volkswagen will host a series

of Breakfast Roadshows prior to the games within various Volkswagen retailers across the country. These events will give Volkswagen customers the chance to watch the games with selected rugby heroes. The Breakfast

Roadshow will also include a competition, where Volkswagen customers will be in with the chance to bring five friends to an upcoming match involving one of Volkswagen’s brand ambassadors.

25 August 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 25

GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS

Interview: Stephen Morrissey of Bathrooms Complete

Making bathroom dreams a reality STEPHEN Morrissey runs Bathrooms Complete, located in Blackrock village. It is a successful, familyowned business that has established a reputation for quality and excellence over the last 30 years.

Stephen saw that home improvement jobs can be a daunting prospect for most people, particularly when there are numerous trades involved.

That is where his experience enables him to find the right design and solution for bathroom designs.

A bathroom renovation by Stephen and his team always starts with the removal of the old bathroom and the preparation of the room with the highest standard of workmanship, seeing the job right through to the end with the minimum of disruption.

The average bathroom is fully renovated within five days, and, once it is complete, the client can relax with the peace of mind that Stephen’s commitment to quality materials and workmanship carries a Bathrooms Complete five-year guarantee.

Stephen’s showroom is open to customers, and he offers the latest designs in high-quality sanitary ware, shower enclosures, bathroom furniture, accessories, tiles and wood floors from leading European brands such as Grohe, Roca, Heritage, Jacuzzi, Merlyn, Dansani, Sonia and Boen wood floors.

Stephen’s technical consultants will call to a client’s home to carry out a free survey and help design a dream bathroom.

For full details, visit their web site at www.bathroomscomplete.ie or call them on 01-2832244.

Q: What was your first job?

A: Picking strawberries Q: And your first pay cheque?

A: 5p a punnet Q: Have you ever done a job you loathed?

A: Yes, picking strawberries Q: When did you start your present job?

A: 20 years ago Q: What is the best thing about your job?

A: Receiving compliments about our workmanship and finished product

Q: Have you achieved anything that you once thought you could not pull off?

A: Yes, getting my wife to marry me Q: What part of your working day do you ‘delegate’?

A: As much as possible Q: What’s currently on your desk that shouldn’t be?

A: Stuff that I forgot to delegate

KEEPING DOWN THE TAX BILL ON A RENTED PROPERTY Q – I bought a house a few years back but moved away with work. I’m now renting out the house. I was told that I can deduct a certain percentage of the contents insurance value as an expense, thereby saving on my tax bill. Is this true? Stephen - Killester A - Yes, you can offset the purchase of your contents for your rented property as an allowable expense.

This does, however, also open a can of worms because, once you rent your residential property, you MUST make returns to the revenue each year by October 31 whether you are making profits or not.

There are a number of requirements, most of which can be offset against your Rental Income Tax Liability (RITL) including: • Registering your property with the Private Tenancies Registration Board (PRTB - costs €90 for the tenancy and must be registered within 31 days or the fee doubles to €180.

Multiple tenancies in one property costs €375) • Non Principal Private Residence Tax (NPPR - you pay €200 annually for every residential property that is NOT your home)

Stephen Morrissey, of family-owned Bathrooms Complete

Q&A Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be?

A: I wanted to be a binman when I was 4

ANSWERS TO YOUR PERSONAL FINANCE QUESTIONS

Q: Is there anything about yourself that you would like to set the record straight on?

A: No. It’s all true Q: What sport do you follow?

A: Golf

Q: What was your last tweet/facebook status?

A: Don’t have time for either Q: Describe your dream meal?

A: I’m very fond of a good Irish steak

Q: What sport can you play?

A: Golf

Q: Who would you rather have dinner with – Enda Kenny or Dame Edna?

A: I’d prefer to eat alone

Q: What habits would you like to change?

A: Missing three-foot putts

Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously?

A: What money?

Q: At the moment, what are you looking forward to?

A: The weekend and spending time with

Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own?

A: I have a few

my family

Q: What is your guilty music, TV or movie pleasure?

A: The music of REM Q: Who best represents modern Ireland – David Norris or Jedward?

A: David Norris Q: What music do you have on your iPod/iPad? A: Rolling Stones, REM, True Gritt Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook?

A: No one

Q: What was your worst holiday experience?

A: Christmas day in Lanzarote with my family in the hospital with a tummy bug

Q: Describe your dream holiday?

A: Driving a camper van across Australia

• Mortgage interest - you can claim 75% of the interest against your RITL • Maintenance - any expenses incurred in the upkeep of your property, eg changing the boiler, new taps, broken glass etc • Service charges - this generally incorporates buildings insurance for apartments and landscaping, et al • Buildings insurance - if it is not an apartment and stand-alone house insurance • Furnishings - you can offset the cost of your furniture, fixtures and fittings by 12.5% (or 1/8th) each year for eight years (keep the receipts) • Management charges - you may employ someone to look after your property. They may charge between 9% and 12% of the annual rent each year – this can be offset against your RITL.

with my family

Q: What would be your dream job?

A: Professional golfer Q: What do you plan to do when you retire?

A: That’s so far in the future I haven’t even thought about it

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

GAZETTE

26 LUCAN GAZETTE 25 August 2011

LUCANclassifieds

To advertise, call us now on 01 60 10 240 Email us at sales@gazettegroup.com

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CLASSES

BUILDING BRICK, BLOCK AND STONEWORK 20 years experience ,living locally. Garden walls, sheds, brick piers, patio and paving. Decorative internal brick work, Plastering Insurance quotes. Call Dave anytime 0872917647

PET SERVICES PET MINDERS Safe, Cosy, Pet Boarding.

5 minutes from Castleknock, Blanchardstown, Lucan.

Call now for early booking.

Call 086 8126387/01 8223690. Reasonable rates.

DOG TRAINING AND KENNELING Residential training in obedience and behavior problems for all breeds ie pulling on lead, housetraining, aggression, recall, chewing, jumping up etc., also personal protection training. Over 20 years experience having trained in the UK, USA & Germany. Qualified master dog trainer, veterinarian & dog shelter recommended.

Highly trained security dogs for sale. References available,watch our dogs in action and read our many references at www.topdogtraining.com or phone 087 0514467

SEWING CLASSES/ CURTAIN MAKING Beginners and Improvers 6 week Sewing Classes on Dress Making and Curtain and Roman Blind Making Starting Mid-September.

Half Day workshops also resuming in October. Book your course on www. sewgreat.ie, or call 01 822 7650. Curtain and Roman Blind making service at competitive prices. We reline and re-pleat all curtains; full selection of poles and rails available.

COMPUTER REPAIR CENTRAL Fast Computer Repairs.

Laptop Screen Repairs.

Hardware Upgrades, Data Recovery. Get any PC problem fixed fast!!

Phone: 01 4407573 / 086 2657160. www. computerrepaircentral.com COMPUTERS SALES, REPAIRS AND NETWORKING Network Installation & Maintenance. Specialise in Computer/Network Security. Virus/Spyware Removal. PC Tuneup.

Broadband Installation. Call Kieran 087 6698385.

COMPUTERS REPAIRS AND SALEST Virus removal, broadband + wireless setup. PC running slow, annoying pop-ups.

Call Damien: 086 1714713, for a quote. NO CALLOUT CHARGE.

DVD SERVICES DVD TRANSFERS Cinefilms,Photos and Slides transferred to DVD with Music and Titles added.

Camcorder and Videotapes

edited and transferred to DVD. Phone 01-2807838 Mobile 087-9132265

CARPENTRY CARPENTRY SERVICES Local Carpenter Available 25 years experience Family run business All Domestic Work done to highest Standard Doors,Floors,Renovation Work etc. No Job Too Small If You Want a Professional Job Done, contact Barry on 087 6165209.

DRIVEWAYS CONCRETING OF DRIVES and paths, Kerbing. We can lift and relay your own flags.

Widening of drives, Block Paving, Pressure washing of drives, All types of garden work undertaken, Rubbish shifting. Ring Michael on 089 4461224.

HANDYMAN HANDYMAN Roof and Gutter Repairs gutters Cleaned Attic Insulation.

Curtain Poles, Flat Pack Furniture Assembled Carpentry, Tiling, Painting and Decorating.

Free Estimates Phone John : 0879982782 MAINTENANCE From a leaking tap to a dream bathroom, We carry out all aspects of household maintenance inside and out, no jobs too small. Fully insured and registered with 35 years experience.

For more information, call Joe: 086 8256004.

PAINTERS POLISH PROFESSIONAL PAINTING AND DECORATING Best quality.

Free Quotations. No job too small. Very reasonable

prices. References available on WWW.MARKCOMPANY. IE find us on FACEBOOK Please phone Mark on 0879442445

RECRUITMENT SALES ADVISERS required to sign up Electricity and Gas customers to discounted rates. No exp necessary, full training provided. OTE €500/Week. john@billsave.ie or call 016619505 ANN SUMMERS RECRUITMENT EVENING Want to earn €4,300 in the next 3 months? Join me at the Ann Summers recruitment evening on August 31st at 7pm in the Ardmore Hotel Finglas.

Interested in booking a party? Contact Sandra on 083 4093964 & receive your free party bookers goody bag.

TILING A1 TILES AND BATHROOMS Complete Bathroom Refits from Design to Installation All Tiling work carried out: Walls, Floors, Kitchens, Halls, Bathrooms etc., supply & Fit Family Run Business over 30 years experience. All Work Guaranteed. Phone 086 8256003.

25 August 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 27

GazetteSPORT

LONDON IN FOCUS: Exclusive interview with David Gillick on his 2012 hopes: Page 29

GAA: ETIHAD EXPAND BEST CLUB CONTEST TO AUSTRALIA FOR MATCH OF A LIFETIME

Fancy a trip Down Under to represent GAA? sport@gazettegroup.com

ETIHAD Airways, the UAE’s national airline and sponsor of the GAA Hu r l i n g A l l - I r e l a n d Senior Championship, is looking to send one club to Australia to play the challenge match of a lifetime.

Etihad is asking clubs around the countr y to tell them what their greatest achievement is.

Achievement comes

in many forms, not just silverware. Etihad wants to reward one special club for their greatest achievement; whether that is being the focal point of their community, or managing to keep the club going against the odds or even growing their club in recent times.

The winning club will get its first team flown all the way to Australia, where they will train with GAA legend

Nicky English ahead of the challenge game of a lifetime.

On October 28, the Best Club Down Under will play an Australian select team as the curtain raiser for the International Rules match between Ireland and Australia in the Etihad Stadium, Melbourne.

Lucan Sarsfields were the Best Club Under The Sun in Dubai in 2009, after netting the prized honour in that

Lucan Sarsfields were voted best club under the sun in 2009, and are seen here in Dubai

year’s equivalent competition.

Oz adventure Justin Warby, Etihad Airways Country Manager Ireland, said: “The GAA and hurling has spread far and wide across the globe and

is particularly strong in Australia. We, as an airline, are about connecting people around the world and the Best Club Down Under competition marries both these elements perfectly. We hope to see clubs from every corner

of the country entering The Best Club Down Under.”

As part of Etihad’s sponsorship of the GAA All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2011, every club in the country is invited to nominate itself to become

The Best Club Down Under and the public will then be asked to vote for the club they feel deserves to win.

To enter this year’s competition just log onto www.etihadgaa.ie and fill out the form to nominate your club.

28 LUCAN GAZETTE 25 August 2011

GazetteSport Sport

Stephen O’Shaugnessy at Westmanstown

Training camp

Paul Clarke passes on his wisdom to the young Gaels who attended his masterclass

Masters on the march

ESTMANSTOWN Gaels recently organised a series of masterclass sessions for their young players to benefit from the wisdom of some of the greats of the Dublin GAA scene.

The sessions were held over the course of last week and featured ex-Dublin footballers, Paddy Christie and Stephen O’Shaugnessy, trainer of the Dublin senior ladies, Barry Hogan, and former Meath coach, Paul Clarke.

The sessions were a great success and the players learned a great deal about the finer points of the game, and the club wish to thank all of the coaches for giving up their time to help develop the Gaels.

W

Each training course was an intensive work-out

The young players were put through their paces

The Gaels were attentive students

Westmanstown Gaels

Players learned a lot from the masters

25 August 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 29

in association with

Running for the dream again

David Gillick took the tough decision to bow out of athletics to regroup for the 2012 Olympics , and ROB HEIGH found he is ready for the challenge

TAKING a step back from an intensive training programme and admitting defeat is a galling thing for any competitor in any sport, but no more so than for an athlete of the calibre of David Gillick.

The Dundrum man has been the flag-bearer for Irish 400m running in recent years, twice winning the European indoor title and appearing in prestige events worldwide in recent years as he prepared to take on the ultimate challenge of the Olympic Games in London in 2012.

With that goal in mind, David decided to leave his base in Loughborough in England last winter to work with ath-

letics legend and coach to many of the leading lights in sprint, Lance Brauman, in Florida.

Brauman was the man who helped Tyson Gay rise to the upper eschelons of 100 and 200m running.

But a combination of circumstances have conspired to lead David to make the decision to bow out of competition for the season, and miss out on a place at the World Championships in South Korea, one that he explains he did not take lightly when he spoke excusively to Gazette Sport last month.

“I made the decision with medical advice, and with a view on London coming around. I felt that if I was to continue

David Gillick at Lucan Harriers recently

doing what I was doing, and hope that something would turn around, or skip the Worlds and race toward the end of the season, I was jeopardis-

and the times were not good again, and I knew there was something wrong.

“In my mind, I was thinking, “I’m not right,

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

‘Qualification is well within my capabilities. I am getting into the training that I know is going to take me to London next year.’

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

ing my health for next season. If I was in a hole now, I didn’t want to dig myself in any deeper. By making this decision, it gives me more time to get myself right, mentally and physically.”

David went on to explain the circumstances behind his diminished form this season.

“I tore my calf at the end of February, which put me out for about eight weeks. By the time I got back into full training on the track, it was the start of April. When I came back, I didn’t have much time, I only really had six weeks to regain my full fitness. I attacked it and did everything I could, but I had more niggles. But I raced anyway, and my times were going backwards.

“I knew in myself that I wasn’t right - I would be waking up in the morning and I would have pains in my legs. So I then raced in early July,

this isn’t good”, and mentally, you begin to panic. Especially with the Worlds coming up.

Two years ago I was sixth, and anything less than that would have been a failure.”

The experience of training with Brauman was one that was filled with positives, but there were also downsides to being so far from home and in a new training environment.

“I wouldn’t change what I did in the last year, I learned an awful lot from Lance, and I will bring that into my training going forward. Being in a group with Tyson Gay and Steve Mullins, world-class athletes, you pick up a lot. It’s positive as well to see the mental aproach from these athletes just how professional they are in how they approach things. It gives you a lot of hunger.

“I relocated to just outside Orlando back in

October 2010, to a new group and a new coach, and I was injured for that length of time. It was very depressing, not being able to do what I normally would be doing, and being away from home and the support network, the infrastructure of family and friends, and my own medical team I had built up, made it increasingly difficult.

“In America, I missed my friends, my family, and I missed Dublin.

“So I made a decision that I won’t be going back to America. I’ve decided I’m going to split my time between here and Loughborough. Coming into Olympic year, I want to be somewhere where I know it works.

I’ve a good relationship with the group, the coach in Loughborough, and that’s where I want to be.”

With less than 12 months before the start of London 2012, what are David’s thoughts on the year ahead?

“I’m taking a confident view on it. I know I’ve run within the A standard for the last four years.

Ideally, I would like to have done it this year, the year before the Games, like I did for Beijing. But I feel that the time is well within my capabilities, so it’s a case of getting into the training that I know that is going to take me there.”

FastSport

Power plays fundraiser for Temple Street kids DARTS legend, Phil “The Power” Taylor was in Donabate recently to take part in an exhibition tournament at the Waterside House Hotel.

Having recently won his fourth European title, Taylor pitted himself against 15 darts fans who had raised funds for Temple Street Children’s University Hospital for the opportunity to step up to the oche with him.

By his side, was another darts legend, Denis ‘The Menace’ Priestley.

Over 200 darts fans descended on The Waterside House Hotel to watch these champions in action, and a great fun evening was had by all.

30 LUCAN GAZETTE 25 August 2011

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

ATHLETICS: SUCCESS HOME AND AWAY FOR LUCAN CLUB

Local paddlers shine at World Championships LOCAL canoeists Jenny Egan and Neil Fleming were among the top performers at a very tough world championship event in Szeged, Hungary, last week.

Athletes from 94 nations sought Olympic qualification for London 2012, and the standard was exceptionally high. In spite of that, Egan became the first Irish woman to reach the women’s 500m K1 B final, while Fleming came fifth in the men’s equivalent race in a time of 1:40.602.

The team will have another chance at Olympic qualification next year at the European Championships in Poznan, Poland, in May 2012.

Lucan duo claim honours in Kilmessan EUGENE Murtagh and Fergus Whelan kept up Lucan Cycling Club’s great run of results in the weekend of racing in Kilmessan.

Murtagh made the winning break, and had to work hard to stay away from a fast-chasing bunch to take fourth prize in the Beechmont Cup last Saturday, with his team-mate Fergus Whelan finishing near the front of the bunch sprint to take the third A3 Prize.

Fergus followed up Saturday’s result, taking the First A3 prize in the Collins Christie Memorial on Sunday, a race won overall by his brother in 2010.

After his National Medal winning per-

formance the previous weekend, Fergus was riding his fifth race in only six days.

Adamstown win in Corkagh ADAMSTOWN Cricket Club secured a narrow vctory last weekend when a wide and a run from the last ball of the innings saw them take the spoils against the Microsoft Social side at Corkagh Park.

Some big hitting

by Microsoft had threatened to set a very imposing total, but solid fielding all day, and fine bowling from Adamstown, restricted the visitors to 136 all out.

Chasing 137 in reply to win, captain Gurdeep Toor scored a run off the final ball of the day to secure a dramatic, four-wicket victory for the hosts.

The successful underage competitors from Lucan Harriers after their All-Ireland Community Games success

Harriers hit heights sport@gazettegroup.com

LUCAN Harriers’ juvenile athletes travelled to Athlone last weekend with some confidence to compete in this year’s All-Ireland Community Games, following their recent results in the National Track and Field competitions.

Their confidence would prove to be wellfounded, as the club recorded some fantastic results.

In the U-16 girls’ javelin competition, Tara Andrews finished third overall in a high-quality event. Tara produced a number of fantastic throws on the day and

this result comes as no surprise to anybody in the club, as Tara has been consistently impressing in her category for the last two seasons.

In the U-15 mixed relay, the team of Tara Andrews, Kathlyn Weafer, Sarah Reihill, Adam Doran and Jack Carey combined considerable individual talents to produce a fantastic mixed relay team for the weekend.

No strangers to individual medal success at both Dublin and national level, all these athletes excelled to impressively come through the heats and the semi-final to take their place in the final.

In the final, the team took some notable scalps and finished third overall.

Perhaps the performance of the weekend came from one of the club’s newest and youngest members, Sophie Reihill.

Competing in the U-8 60-metre sprint competition, Sophie produced a magnificent run in the heats to qualify for the semi-final.

In that, Sophie had her second outstanding run of the weekend to finish fifth.

Her encouraging day left many in the club in no doubt that they will see Sophie on the podi-

um in these events at a later date.

The club also had success in the National Lotter y/Frank Duff y 10-mile road race, which took place in the Phoenix Park last Saturday.

Eileen O’Brien led the ladies home, producing yet another magnificent winning run. Eileen made little of the couple of undulations on the course to produce an outstanding time of 1 hour 21 minutes 22 seconds, which once more placed her first in her category.

In close proximity to Eileen at the finish was Bernie Stapleton. Bernie demonstrated her great

versatility as an athlete in completing the 10mile course in a fantastic time of 1 hour 21 minutes 51 seconds.

Just two weeks after her mighty display of distance running in the Clew Bay half-marathon, Deirdre Counihan was back impressing over the longer distances again. Deirdre continued her remarkable run of impressive displays in completing the 10-mile distance in an incredibly quick time of 1 hour 25 minutes 09 seconds.

Tommy Buggle led the Lucan men home in the second race of the series, building up to this year’s Dublin Marathon.

Hermitage heroes: Local club comes second in Senior Cup HERMITAGE Golf Club were still smiling after losing out to Portmarnock in the Leinster Senior Cup final at

the K Club last week for 2011, having defeated Castle and Dun Laoghaire to reach the play-off against the north county team. Picture: Pat Cashman

25 August 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 31

in association with

AFL 1: SARSFIELDS PLAY OUT OF LEAGUE DANGER

Lucan fight for their Division 1 lives AFL DIVISION 1 Ballyboden St Enda’s Lucan Sarsfields

1-9 0-15

sport@gazettegroup.com

LUCAN Sarsfields and Ballyboden St Enda’s showed the different attitudes that league position can bring to your game when they met in AFL Division 1 last week.

With Ballyboden in mid-table with two matches to play before the end of their campaign going into last week’s game at Pairc Ui Murchu, they had little to play for, but with Lucan Sarsfields in a lowly league position and being in the dread position of fighting for their league lives, there was a lot of hunger on show.

As a result, Lucan put on a sterling performance to pull themselves out of the Division 1 mire and into a position that gives them every chance of retaining their place in the top tier come next season, while Ballyboden will be disappointed with a performance that belied their depleted line-up, but not their league position.

Lucan dominated the early stages, going five points up early on, and, with their determination to the fore, they were able to maintain that dominant position throughout, their superior fitness and desire for the two points the difference between the sides.

Lucan were also thin

CLUB NOTICEBOARD LUCAN SARSFIELDS As part of its 125th anniversary cel-

prize competition in late September.

ebrations, Lucan Sarsfields GAA Club

Call Michael on 087 2331983 or Dave

is hosting Comortas Na Sairsealagh

on 087 2522656 to get on timesheet.

on Saturday, August 27.

Visitors welcome.

Comortas Na Sairsealagh is a spe-

Condolences to the McGann family

cial tournament event where Sars-

on the death of Jenny’s mother, who

fields clubs from all over the country

passed away in New Zealand earlier

will compete in Gaelic football, hurl-

this week. Condolences to the Claffey

ing, camogie and ladies’ football.

Family on the death of Marie’s father.

Great win for senior B camogie in championship semi-final.

Great week on pitch for adult football teams with wins for senior, intermediate and junior teams. Good draw also for junior hurlers with Whitehall Colmcilles.

Ar Dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.

Lotto: Numbers drawn were 4, 7, 14 and 16.

There was no winner. Next week’s jackpot is €6,500.

Seamus Clandillon’s team will be in charge next weekend.

Golf Society plays Kilcock on Sat-

Do not forget you can always enter

urday, August 27: tee-off times from

our Lotto online by clicking on www.

11.30am to 1pm. Second last outing

lucansarsfields.ie.

of 2011, last opportunity to join the society and be eligible for captain’s

Thanks to Carey’s Newsagents who are this week’s sponsor.

Lucan Sarsfields showed their determination to stay in the top tier at Pairc Ui Murchu last week

on the ground for players, with a number of players still on summer holidays and working abroad, but the younger players promoted through the ranks from the junior level showed their keen intent to keep the seniors in Division 1.

With retirements last season, as well as the absences of eight players in the summer break, Lucan are reliant on younger players as they go into the closing stages of what has been a difficult season for their senior footballers in the league.

Tommy Brennan and Brendan Gallagher kicked five points each, with David Quinn kicking two points, and Stephen O’Shaughnessy kicking a further three to construct their winning total.

Ballyboden, meanwhile, by their ow n admission, were not themselves, and the summer break was pointed at as a possible cause for a lacklustre performance against low-lying opposition.

Lucan’s Mark Twomey played with an injury but dominated the midfield, winning a lot of aerial ball against Declan O’Mahony, with O’Shaughnessy orches-

trating play from the middle of the park, feeding ball and protecting the defence, as Lucan were dominant.

Shaun Newcombe, playing wing forward this summer, had a good game, but Brennan and Gallagher were on fire in the front line for Lucan, always keeping them ahead in spite of the efforts of the Boden men to reel them in and fire themselves at the other end.

There was a glimmer of hope in the second half when the referee awarded a penalty against Lucan, which Kerin duly dispatched, but Lucan were quick to answer with a fastmoving play up field to put another point over the bar and daylight between themselves and the home team.

T h e r e s u l t c l aw s Lucan out of the basement place in the league, with Kilmacud Crokes and Trinity Gaels now below them with three games remaining - with the remaining games against the two bottomplaced teams, and Ballymun.

Ballyboden, meanwhile, will look to their last game against Thomas Davis and their championship run still to come.

ST PATRICK’S, PALMERSTOWN Senior footballers had a good mid-

clubhouse on Thursday from 7.30 to

week league win over Erin’s Isle but

8.45pm.

lost by the narrowest of margins away to St Maur’s.

Well done to the Dublin Under21 hurlers on their big win over

Our thanks to the camogie sec-

Antrim and now face Galway in the

tion on their well-run quiz on Friday

All-Ireland final on September 10 in

night and our sincere thanks to all

Thurles.

who supported the event.

The last of our successful sum-

To view our website, simply log on to www.stpatricksgaa.ie

mer camps finished on Friday last

Lotto: Numbers drawn were 7, 9,

with nearly 100 young boys and girls

12 and 19. There was no winner of

in attendance. Our thanks to GPO

the €3,200 jackpot. Match any three

David, and his coaching staff, and

numbers were Noel Ryan and Bernie

to co-ordinator Maree O’Toole for a

Menton and each receive €100. Next

job well done.

week’s jackpot is €3,400.

Tickets for next Sunday’s football semi-final can be collected at the

Draw held each Sunday night at 10pm in the Palmerstown House.

WESTMANSTOWN GAELS/GARDA THERE were mixed fortunes for our

championship-winning team is set

intermediates this week, losing nar-

for Westmanstown at 8pm on Friday,

rowly away to St Pat’s Donabate, but

September 16. Details from Brian

winning at home to Ballymun Kick-

Keville or Eugene O’Sullivan.

hams in league fixtures.

Training continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7pm.

Westmanstown Gaels GPO Michael Ahern would like to thank everyone who participated in the recent Mas-

The junior 1 fixture against Clontarf

terclass sessions, including Paul

is rescheduled for next Thursday

Clarke of Match-Fit Ireland, Stephen

evening at Westmanstown at 7pm.

O’Shaughnessy, Barry Cahill and

The ladies’ training is on Mondays and Fridays at 7pm.

Paddy Christie.

This week, Michael is running the

The arrangements for the New

back-2-business team management

York trip are nearly complete and

sessions. All team coaches and men-

full details will be circulated shortly.

tors are invited to attend. Ogra Gaels

Please forward all outstanding mon-

(U-5s and upwards) returns on Sat-

ies to Alan Lynch or Eugene O’Sullivan

urday, September 3.

before August 31.

Reunion of 1986 intermediate

For the latest information, visit http://www.westmanstowngaels.ie.

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

MAY 26, 2011 AUGUST 25, 2011

NEW GANG EPIC WIN: Lucan IN ’TOWN: Sarsfields Westmanstown storm St

LONDONSTARS: SUPER CALLING May awardinterview Exclusive nominees revealed with Davidinside GillickP29 P29

Enda’s host Leinster to moveschools’ out of ALF1 rugby basement blitz P28P31

PAUL HOSFORD lucansport@gazettegroup.com

LIAM Rushe was at the heart of things as Dublin U-21 hurlers made it a second All-Ireland final this year, matching the achievement of their minor counterparts.

The Pat’s Palmerstown man was the captain as Dublin sailed into the decider.

Dublin outclassed, outhurled and outplayed Antrim to record a 3-23 to 0-6 win.

Dublin got off to the best possible start when Cuala’s Mark Schutte blasted home a brilliant goal after just a minute.

Dublin, building from deep through Ballyboden St Enda’s Dean Curran and Martin Quilty, were sharper and more inventive than a Saffron side that had to work extremely hard for even a tiny share of possession.

Kevin O’Loughlin was another local causing worry for the Antrim

defence, his accuracy from frees proving devastating.

The Kilmacud Crokes’ man knocked a couple between the posts, and also scored with a stunning sideline cut.

Daire Plunkett and Mark Schutte were also on target as the Dubs moved into a 1-6 to 0-2 lead by the 23rd minute.

Rushe was a settling and inspirational influence at the heart of a Dublin defence that had to deal with a couple of nervous moments, but corner backs Bill O’Carroll and Jack Doughan, both of Kilmacud Crokes, competently dealt with anything that came their way.

It was obvious that Rushe’s contention that Antrim be written off “at Dublin’s peril” was heeded as Dublin punched through the gears to see off the Saffrons, although the young star had warned that Antrim would “give us a game”, which proved not to be the case.

Schutte and his Cuala clubmate Conor Gough added points, and Ballyboden’s Niall McMorrow sent a screamer crashing against the crossbar, with Antrim skipper Conor McCann only able to respond through dead balls.

Dublin led by 1-9 to 0-4 at the break, and made a flying start to the second half when another of the Crokes’ contingent, Sean McGrath, finished from close range after Eamon Dillon’s shot had been saved by Eoin Gillan.

Niall McMorrow landed three long-range efforts, and there were points also from Dean Curran, Schutte, McGrath and Dillon.

Rushe’s Palmerstown teammate Damien Gallagher was the sub goalkeeper on the day, remaining on the bench.

Dublin’s reward will be a meeting with Galway, who overcame Limerick in their semi-final, when the sides meet in the All-Ireland final in Thurles on Saturday, September 10.

Liam Rushe in Dubs’ action earlier this year

GazetteSPORT

Rushe on for All-Ireland glory