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October 27, 2011

SPOOKTASTIC FUN: Your guide to Dublin’s creepiest ‘haunts’ See P6

Paul, Kevin, Sam: Visitors delight Adamstown CC THESE Adamstown Community

Football: St Pat’s plan to cap promotion with championship Page 32

College pupils could just about fit inside the Sam Maguire, but, despite their stature, they had giant smiles when they saw the fabled cup at the school recently.

Dublin senior football members Paul Casey and Kevin Nolan brought the cup to the school, where Kevin is a teacher. Awarded Man of the Match for his role in the recent All-Ireland championship, Kevin – and Paul – were heroes of the hour for bringing Sam to the school.

Full Gallery on Page 8

Sports Awards: October nominees are announced Page 29

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ......................8 MOTORS ........................18 BUSINESS .................... 21 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26

Floods lead to local traffic standstill Response by council staff is commended

Q PAUL HOSFORD

PARTS of Lucan were brought to a standstill this week after 80ml of rain fell in Dublin on Monday afternoon, leaving roads at St Edmundsbury and the Strawberry Beds impassable.

The severe flash-flooding

meant that traffic was backed up for hours on the approach into the village. Cars were left abandoned on the Strawberry Beds, with Rugged Lane, Somerton Lane and Tinkers Hill all closed until Tuesday.

Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel recorded 10% of its average yearly rainfall in just

six hours, between 1pm and 7pm on Monday.

Fine Gael councillor William Lavelle paid tribute to local authority staff, saying he wanted to commend “the efforts of council outdoors staff in responding to flooding in the Lucan electoral area”.

Full Story on Page 3

2 LUCAN GAZETTE 27 October 2011

HEALTH: WARNINGS OF BONFIRE HAZARDS

CHARITY Dealership presents €5,000 to help sick kids

‘Don’t burn waste this Halloween’ “It is important that people in South Dublin County know the dangers of burning materials such as tyres.

“Burning these and other waste materials causes the release of dioxins. This creates a real hazard for people’s health.

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‘Halloween is a fun time of year for everyone but should not be used as an excuse to burn waste’ --------------------------

Gerard O’Leary, EPA

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“In addition, it’s illegal, and can result in prosecution by your local authority.

“People need to remember that burning household waste in your back garden, fireplace or a waste burner can lead to a fine of up to €3,000,” he said.

Backyard burning, and unauthorised bonfires, can be reported to the local authority or to the national lo-call “Dump the Dumpers” phone line at 1850 365 121.

Chris Hanlon, Doug Lyon, Andrew Patterson, Nora Grace, Paul Tier and Gareth McSweeney with Niamh Farrell and Iwa Mikeleunaite

Opel help drive forward dreams S TAFF at Liffey Valley Opel were delighted to present a cheque for €5,000 to the Make A Wish Foundation recently, with the car dealership’s funds set to go a long way to help make dreams come true for children with a life-threatening illness, and their families.

The funds were raised in an innovative fashion, with the dealership committing to presenting €1 for every

‘Like’ it received for the cause on its Cause Campaign section on its Facebook page. In addition, Liffey Valley Opel also presented two iPad 2s to two of the campaign’s supporters, with Gillian Brown and Peter McGrath selected for the great prize. The dealership said that it was delighted to help support the worthy cause, as well as thanking the community for its support.

Gillian Brown, Paul Tier, Peter McGrath and Sharon Dagg. Pictures: Paddy Barrett

Wilbur, the Make A Wish mascot teddy bear, was happy to collect the cheque

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WITH just days to go before the Halloween celebrations get under way, local residents and businesses in South Dublin county have been urged not to use bonfires to dispose of household or hazardous waste.

With many people now collecting materials for use in bonfires, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that only someone with a waste collection permit is allowed to stockpile waste.

The agency said that breaches of waste regulations can lead to fines of up to €3,000.

Gerard O’Leary of the EPA said: “Halloween is a fun time of year for everyone but should not be used as an excuse to burn waste.

“The EPA wants everyone to enjoy a safe and happy Halloween, so it is unfortunate when some people use this festive time to dispose of waste illegally.

“We want to remind people that Halloween should not be used as an excuse to burn waste.

Burning waste in this way contributes to over half of all dioxin emissions in the country.

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27 October 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 3

WEATHER Heavy rain brings parts of Lucan to a standstill

Flooding backs traffic up for hours Q PAUL HOSFORD lucan@gazettegroup.com

PARTS of Lucan were brought to a standstill this week after 80ml of rain fell in Dublin on Monday afternoon leaving roads at St Edmundsbury and the Strawberry Beds impassable.

The severe flash flooding meant that traffic was backed up for hours on the approach into the village.

Cars were left abandoned on the Strawberry Beds, with Rugged Lane, Somerton Lane and Tinkers Hill all closed until Tuesday.

Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel recorded 10% of its average yearly rainfall in just six hours, between 1pm and 7pm on Monday, a massive one-day downpour.

In Lucan, commuters going into town were reported to have taken over two hours to make

the city centre journey.

That was due to the closure of Wolfe Tone Quay, when the Liffey burst its banks. The knock-on effect to that was the closure of the N4 inbound, causing long delays for morning commuters.

Meanwhile, within Lucan itself, the Lock Road in Lucan Village was badly affected, with water making its way into the doorway of Courtney’s pub.

Elsewhere, there was flooding on Esker Lane, as well as in Woodville and at St Edmundsbury.

Ballyowen was also hit with pooling water, while drains in Lucan Village overflowed due to surface capacity in the drains.

Local Fine Gael Councillor William Lavelle said that the town had coped well given that the last level of rainfall comparable to this weeks was a decade ago, when Lucan was badly hit.

Parts of Lucan were brought to a standstill this week after 80ml of rain fell in Dublin on Monday afternoon. Pictures: Shane Dillon

“I was out on Monday night and met with council workers who were working their hardest to drain water after what was incredibly severe rainfall.

“The biggest issue that we had was whether the Griffeen River would burst its banks, as happened in 2001.

“As far as we can see

this week, it is ok, but the council did tell me that they would keep an eye on the backlog of water from higher up in the Dublin Mountains.

“As for the issue of water coming out of drains in Lucan Village, I will be raising that issue at this week’s Area Committee Meeting,” said Cllr

Lavelle.

South Dublin Council recently released a guide to coping with bad weather, saying that keeping drains on private property clear was crucial, but was the responsibility of the land owner.

“The Council clears up leaves from the footpaths and roads, public

parks and playgrounds, grass verges and councilowned car parks across South Dublin County.

Crews use vacuum collection machines, where leaf fall is known to be heaviest. Unfortunately, the council can’t remove fallen leaves from private property, whether it’s an office or a factory

or someone’s garden. We have to stick to this rule, even when the leaves falling on to the property drop from trees on a public footpath. So please don’t sweep leaves from your property out into the street – put them in your brown wheelie bin or composter instead,” says the council.

Sanovitae’s Super Slimmers OUR two Super Slimmers, Dave and Sean, have been sweating away in the Sanovitae Health Club in the Clarion Hotel Liffey Valley. They have been training hard for the last 2 weeks!

Probably the most important goal of Dave and Sean’s training program is to increase their basal metabolic rate (BMR). BMR is a measure of how fast or efficiently you utilize energy.

If you have an efficient metabolism then you will ‘burn’ or use up energy more readily. This in turn will help you to lose weight and particularly body fat.

We want to encourage the body to use more energy in the day so that your overall energy expenditure increases and so too does the weight loss.

The most effective way of increasing your metabolism is by increasing your lean muscle mass. I like to compare lean muscle to a car engine. The bigger the car engine the more fuel it requires to run.

The same is with your body. The more lean mass or muscle you have the more energy that is required to maintain your body’s everyday function.

At Performance Health Ire-

land we develop client’s lean muscle mass and in doing so increase their metabolism. This reduces body fat and helps to give a toned and athletic look to the body.

Sean and Dave are both conducting strength programs to increase their muscle mass and boost their metabolism. We have developed a high intensity program which involves big muscle groups.

To boost your metabolism you MUST work the biggest muscles in the body and they are in the legs and butt. Quadriceps, gluteals and hamstrings need to be worked hard and the best way to do that is with squats, considered by some as the king of all exercises.

There are of course other options as well, such as deadlifts, split squats and lunges. In Sean and Dave’s programs we have them performing squats as well as lunges to really work their legs hard. For the upper body we have them doing presses, chins and pulldowns.

We have chosen multiple muscle exercises, or compound exercises, as weight loss and toning is our goal. The more muscles in-

volved in a movement the greater the energy requirement. The other advantages of strength training are increased flexibility and range of motion, stronger joints, improved posture, toned figure, fat reduction and reduced stress.

Dave and Sean do their strength training 3 days a week. In between this they do some cardiovascular training. To get the most from their cardio training we have the lads doing interval training at a high intensity.

We do this for two reasons. Firstly, the energy expenditure is huge! They will burn more calories and lose more fat! Secondly, we maintain lean muscle tissue and keep the BMR high.

Keith takes Dave through some boxing sessions as well which is a fantastic full body conditioning program. We don’t do long slow cardio training as it can result in a reduction of muscle mass and an increase in cortisol, our bodies natural stress hormone!

So far Dave and Sean have coped well with their training programs. Both admit that although they have been training in the gym for a long time neither of them has trained at such

intensity. Training in the gym whether it is strength training or cardio training should be done at a high intensity.

Too often we see people training who are able to chat to their friends or talk on their mobile phone! This is not training, it is socializing!

Matt and Keith push Sean and Dave so that by the end of their hour session they know they have worked hard and achieved positive body composition changes.

The Sanovitae Health Club in the Clarion Hotel in Liffey Valley has great equipment for both strength and cardiovascular training. A combination of both will ensure you get the desired results from your training in the gym. Sanovitae also has some great high intensity classes such as BODYPUMP™ and bodyblast which will help you to tone up and shift those extra pounds.

Keith and Matt develop all their programs on an individual basis with your goal in mind. Our goal is to ensure you achieve yours!

You can follow Dave and Sean’s progress on both the Sanovitae and PHI Facebook pages just like Performance Health Ireland.

Contact Performance Health Ireland if you would like a FREE consultation and thorough assessment.

Email matt@phireland.com or call Matt 087 2037393 or Keith 087 9327668 for more information.

4 LUCAN GAZETTE 27 October 2011

LECTURE A look into the landmark, and owners, over time

The embassy is steeped in history, both in the The history of Lucan House, now the home to the Italian Ambassador, will be the subject of an upcoming lecture

expansive grounds and within the embassy itself

The history behind iconic Lucan House Q NATALIE BURKE

RESTING majestically on the banks of the River Liffey, Lucan House is one of the village’s most iconic landmarks.

Now the home to the Italian Ambassador, the history of Lucan House will be the subject of an upcoming lecture at the Castletown Winter Lecture Series this November.

The talk, which is due to take place on Wednesday, November 2, at 8 pm, will mark the second in the series taking place at the newly restored Stable Wing at Castletown in Celbridge.

The Lucan House: A Palladian Villa lecture will be hosted by historian Suzanne Pegley, who will trace the history of the stunning property and will look at the architectural influence, the interior decoration, the art that hung in its rooms and the fate of the individuals who were its

Proudly wearing some traditional attire during an Italian Day event at the embassy

owners from the earliest times.

“For a lot of people in the area, Lucan House is just there, and it’s always been there.

“A lot of people won’t know a lot about the history behind it and it could be really interesting for anyone who has an interest in Lucan Demesne and the resi-

dence,” says Suzanne, who is currently undertaking her PhD in Geography at NUI Maynooth.

“We see a field and we see a tree, but we don’t have a great understanding of how much thought went into planting them and I think it’s good to understand the environment and understand the history of the house, in order to really appreciate it,” she said.

Suzanne hails originally from Canada but has lived in Ireland for over 30 years, moving to the local area in 1987.

In the last 10 years, she has co-authored two local histories, Aspects of Leixlip in 2001 and Aspects of Lucan in 2008.

She is also the author of The Land Commission and the making of Rath Cairn: The first Gaeltacht colony, part of the Maynooth Studies in Local History Studies.

Like Lucan Village

itself, Lucan Demesne has undergone changes over the centuries, with the most significant development being the replacement of the old Norman Castle in the 18th Century with the new Palladian-style house.

“It was then very much a statement of sophistication and luxury and, in the lecture, I will be speaking about the very influential style at the time,” says Suzanne.

“I will also be discussing the sale of the house and how the land came into the ownership of the different families over the years.”

The illustrated talk will include pictures acquired

by Suzanne over the years, and will discuss the legacy created by the demesne which has come to benefit the public in the present day.

“We’re all beneficiaries of the parkland. If it hadn’t been for the Vesey family, who planted the

demesne and created the river walks, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy them today,” said Suzanne.

“Having lived in the area for nearly 25 years, I have a huge interest in the landscape and the area that surrounds me.

Natural progression “After working on the Aspects of Leixlip, looking at Black Avenue and the Leixlip area of St Catherine’s, it was a natural progression that my interest would lead me to Lucan and the history of the demesne,” she said.

The Winter Lecture Series is being held in Castletown in association with the Centre for the Study of Historic Irish Houses & Estates (CSHIHE) and the Office of Public Works (OPW).

Admission is €5 and seating will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call the CSHIHE on 01 7086706.

27 October 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 5

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SCARY STUFF A Gazette guide to Halloween fun around Dublin

GHOULISHFUN Join in Airfield’s annual Halloween celebration IN Dundrum there will be a Halloween Family Fun Day on Saturday, October, between 12-4pm at Airfield. Join in Airfield’s annual Halloween celebration for all the family, an unmissable day of fun and seasonal activities to celebrate the festival of ghosts and ghoulies. There’s lots to enjoy, including a special Halloween trail, the chance to make a miniature ghost and a live ceili.

For the past two years, Airfield has asked people to come along and help build scarecrows at Hallowe’en. Now Airfield wants you to take their place!

They would like you to come along dressed as a scarecrow, with families of scarecrows particularly welcome. You can come along as any type – the more weird and wonderful the better! There will be spot prizes for the most imaginative costume in different age categories.

Price included in entry fee to the walk.

Season ticket holders come free.

It’s set to be a spooktacular time in The Haunted Forest this Halloween at Marlay Park ON Sunday, October 30, Marlay Park will be a FREE fright-fest of spooky thrills and chills for Samhain hosted by DLR Events. Families flock to Marlay Park in their Halloween costumes every year for a spooky walk through the haunted forest with ghosts and ghouls and frightful sights! The forest at Marlay Park comes alive in the night for one evening only with freaky fog, ghastly spiders and skeletons, creepy eyeballs and pumpkins, the spine chilling boat house preachers and menacing witches and demons.

Festoon lighting, sound effects and smoke make the adventure all the more exciting but this year, there will be no fireworks so the haunted forest can stay open until 9pm.

But the haunted woods are not for the faint-hearted and, in 2011, are longer and bigger with spooky characters, scary noises and eerie fog! The Haunted Woods will be open between 4pm and 9pm. Entry is FREE. The walk is approx 1.5km long and is on a path suitable for buggies/wheelchairs.

Halloween costumes are recommended, but this is an outdoor event so warm clothing is recommended.

A Spooky Walk at Corkagh Park in Clondalkin MEANWHILE, there will be another Spooky Walk at Corkagh Park, in Clondalkin, on Saturday, October 29, between 5 and 7pm. Beware of scary creatures in the woods. Prize for the best-dressed family.

For more information please contact Sports and Recreation Office, Community Services Department, South Dublin County Council 01 4149000

A Guided Trip to The Hellfire Club GUIDED Trip to The Hellfire Club Monday, October 31.

Bus Leaves from the Square Luas Stop at 5pm SHARP. Age 12+ Advance Booking Essential and is €3 per person.

Contact Alison 0868516669 / Paula 0868292443

Two walks at Halloween Horrors Walk in Turvey Park THE scream-tastic Halloween Horrors Walk in Turvey Park, in Donabate is back and scarier than ever! The spooky event takes place on Saturday, October 29 , and this year there are two walks to cater for the ever-increasing numbers for this hugely popular event.

Lurking around on the night are zombies, witches, demons, and other creepy creatures. Visitors brave enough to experience the blood-curdling walk will learn the sorrowful tale of the “Lady in White” and try catch a glimpse of her ghost which haunts the park – but we must beware her evil father, the zombie Baron, who hunts for new victims.

The OWLS Horrors Walk is suitable for young children accompanied by parents/guardians. It is a fun family occasion that finishes off around a bonfire with campfire songs and toasted marshmallows. This cost is €4 per person and fancy dress is welcomed. The first walk starts at 5.45pm, and is intended for families with younger children, and the second at 6.30pm.

Booking is essential. Contact Andrew on 087 32 999 36, or email us at info@owls.ie. Please book early or be disappointed.

Local legend believes the Devil’s Mill, known at Shackleton’s Mill today, is where Luttrell wagered the devil that he couldn’t build the mill in a day

A look at the area’s most haunted sites Q LAURA WEBB

AS the nights get longer ghosts and ghouls from around the world get ready for another frightful night this Halloween, so the Gazette has gathered together some local scary stories to get readers ready for October 31.

The holiday that celebrates the dead has a number of different traditions associated with it, including trick or treating, bonfires and costume parties, but one thing that everyone loves about it is ghostly stories of haunted houses or places near and far. Here are some frightfully good stories from places more close to home across Dublin.

In Dublin West, the Strawberry Beds has many a story of ghosts but there is only one true villain and that is Henry Luttrell. He is said to have sold his soul to the devil, and was a member of Dublin’s most known paranormal club – The Hellfire Club.

Luttrell was a supporter of King James I of England. Once hailed a hero after fighting in the Battle of the Boyne, his life soon spiralled downwards following a wave of deceit and treachery. After his death, there were many street ballads about his string of mistresses and

build the mill in a day. To his anger, the devil placed the last stone on one of the tallest mills in Liffey Valley.

Years later, the Devil collected his debt at The Hellfire’s Club, but Luttrell – devious in his ways – tricked the Devil by pretending his shadow, cast

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‘Wearing a white, flowing dress, legend has it that she would leave the painting to wander the castle on quiet nights’ ---------------------------------------------------------

his out-of-wedlock offspring.

Doubts over his allegiance to Ireland were confirmed after he was court marshalled for treachery after given vital information about a ford on the Shannon during the Siege of Limerick.

But, connections with Patrick Sarsfield saved him.

Local legend believes the Devil’s Mill, known at Shackleton’s Mill today, is where Luttrell wagered the devil that he couldn’t

from candlelight, was the real Henry Luttrell. As the Devil grasped the shadow, Luttrell escaped. In 1717, he was shot dead. Noone was ever convicted, as there were too many people with a motive to assassinate him.

Nearer to the coast, Malahide Castle has its fair share of mysterious sightings. One such story is of the White Lady. For years, the portrait of a beautiful, unidentified lady hung in the Great Hall of the Castle. The

artist is also unknown.

Wearing a white, flowing dress, legend has it that she would leave the painting to wander the castle on quiet nights. She has been spotted by a number of people over the years and is now known as the White Lady.

Meanwhile, Cabinteely House in South Dublin was built in 1769, by Robert Nugent, Earl Clare.

The 18th-century house has been associated with some strange happenings.

It has been said that staff in the house have, over the years, encountered some ghostly experiences, with footsteps coming up a long corridor toward a room where staff were working. The footsteps stop outside the door, and when the door was opened, no one was to be seen.

No one is sure who it might be, but it’s thought it may be the gardener [of Robert Nugent], Postule who was arrested in 1798 and tortured and hanged.

27 October 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 7

COUNCIL SDCC’s diverse range of events to highlight and promote inclusiveness

Social Inclusion Awareness Week’s activities MAYOR Caitriona Jones will join Joan Burton, the Minister for Social Protection, when they officially launch South Dublin County Council’s Social Inclusion Awareness Week this November.

The event will take place on Monday, November 7 at 12pm in County Hall, Tallaght.

The aim of this week is to highlight work carried out

by South Dublin County Council, and other agencies, to reduce social exclusion and poverty, and to promote an understanding of social inclusion and diversity in the county.

Social Inclusion is the process which ensures that those at risk of poverty and social exclusion gain the opportunities and resources necessary

to participate fully in economic, social and cultural life, and to enjoy a standard of living and well-being that is considered normal in the society in which they live.

South Dublin County Council is aiming to play a key role in the direct delivery of social inclusion actions, programmes and supports to its communities.

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‘The aim of this week is ... to promote an understanding of social inclusion and diversity in the county’ ------------------------------------------------------------------

During the week, there will be a varied programme of events, including a celebration of Social Inclusion in the Civic Theatre; a tea dance for

older people in the Red Cow Inn, Clondalkin; art workshops in County Library, Tallaght; the screening of The Sewing Room in Coun-

PEOPLE: TOP AWARD FOR LUCAN PHOTOGRAHER

A PICTURE TELLS A STORY! GOT A GREAT PICTURE, SEND IT TO US!

Hidden Hearing honours Johnny Q NATALIE BURKE

A LUCAN man has received a Workplace Award at the first-ever Hidden Hearing Heroes Awards, which were recently hosted by broadcaster, Gay Byrne.

Winner Johnny Corcoran has photographed numerous weddings, as well as portrait projects in Ireland and abroad.

He has also used his photography skills to set up a deaf photography class, free of charge, encouraging and teaching future deaf photographers the art and skill of being a great photographer.

His success in his career, and his willingness to share his talent and knowledge with other people who suffer with hearing difficulties, all contributed to winning him the Hidden Hearing Heroes Workplace Award.

The Hidden Hearing Heroes Awards is a joint initiative between Hidden Hearing and the Irish Deaf Society, which

highlights the achievements of those who are deaf or hard of hearing and who have made a significant contribution to society, their community, workplace, family or through sporting excellence.

Speaking at the awards, Gay Byrne said: “The award winners are an example of real heroes – those who don’t allow things to hold them back in life – who persevere and show great determination, and who achieve great things.

“It’s a really positive step that the achievements of the deaf and hard of hearing across Ireland are being recognised through these awards, and I’d like to congratulate Hidden Hearing and the Irish Deaf Society on such a worthwhile initiative,” he said.

Congratulating the winners, Stephen Leddy, managing director, Hidden Hearing, said the Hidden Hearing Heroes Awards is the first initiative in Ireland to focus

ty Library; cookery classes – such as how to cook on a budget; an Indian dancing workshop, the launch of the South Dublin Migrant Integration Forum; social media and volunteering workshops and much more.

A detailed schedule for the week has been developed, and will be available on the council’s website.

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

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‘Lucan man, Johnny Corcoran, received a Workplace Award at the first-ever Hidden Hearing Heroes Awards, which were recently hosted by broadcaster, Gay Byrne. He was presented with the award in recognition of his career as a photographer, and his willingness to share his talent and knowledge with other people who suffer with hearing difficulties.’

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on the achievements of those who are deaf or hard of hearing and their contribution to Irish society.

“The standard of nominee was truly exceptional, and the judges had some very difficult decisions.

“All of the nominees demonstrated that being deaf or hard of hearing is not a barrier to achieving great things,” he said.

8 LUCAN GAZETTE 27 October 2011

EVENT GAA stars bring famous trophy to Adamstown CC

Seyona Pinto and Shariefa Hussain

A visit from Sam HE staff and students at Adamstown Community College had plenty of reasons to be proud of Dublin’s recent winning of the All-Ireland Football Championship as teacher Kevin Nolan was part of that winning team.

He also won Man-of-the-Match. And as a special treat, Kevin, along with his teammate Paul Casey, paid the school a visit with the famous Sam Maguire trophy in hand. The hall was packed with students and staff, some wearing their Dublin jerseys, who wanted to congratulate the pair on their great victory over Kerry in the final of the All-Ireland and bringing the Sam Maguire trophy back to the capital

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Paul Casey and Kevin Nolan with Sean, James, Anna, Tadgh and Foley

Paul with Hannah Mitchell

The Sam Maguire trophy attracted great interest from students

Paul Casey and Kevin Nolan with Sean and James Foley

27 October 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 9

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TAKE TWO Another look at Breast Cancer Awareness events

Jenny Malons

Pauline McCarthy

Wearing pink to support women ITH so many women from across west Dublin keen to show their support for breast cancer sufferers at a number of recent events, which were held as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, The Gazette is happy to show some more of those ladies spotted at Kenny’s Bar, in Lucan village, while, nearby, similarly supportive women were showing equal support by attending an event at Round Towers’ GAA Club.

Joining in the fun of the occasion, which saw women of all ages dressed in pink, was local Fine Gael Minister, Frances Fitzgerald. Minister Fitzgerald called in to both locations to help show her support for breast cancer awareness, and to praise locals, constituents, neighbours and friends for showing such community spirit. Looking pretty in pink, the ladies enjoyed meeting lifestyle experts, nutritionists and life coaches, as well as saying how pleased they were to suport such a worthy cause.

Ann Bergin, Jackie Gannell and Michelle Barry, massage therapists

Bernie O’Connor

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Minister Frances Fitzgerald (right) with Ann Bergin and Pat Lacey

Maria Finlay, Valerie O’Brien

Mary O’Neill

27 October 2011 GAZETTE 11

12 GAZETTE 27 October 2011

GazetteNUTRITION NUTRITION A healthy Halloween LEILA JOHARI

TRICK or treat, what to eat? There is something scarier than witches and ghouls this Halloween. It is the amount of sweets and chocolate that we eat.

It’s not only children who aren’t afraid to overindulge in candies and chocolate, ninety percent of parents admit to occasionally dipping into their kiddies’ stash. Maybe this fact should scare us more than the ghosts.

Do not fear. There are ways to banish those sugar demons and have

a healthy Halloween.

Pumpkin, nuts and kale are all traditional Halloween foods that are nutritious and provide a healthy alternative at this time of feasting.

Pumpkin contains no saturated fats or cholesterol; but is a rich source of dietary fibre, monounsaturated fatty acids and anti-oxidant vitamins such as vitamins A, C and E. Vitamin A is a powerful natural anti-oxidant and is required by the body for maintaining the integrity of the skin and mucus membranes. It is also an essential vitamin

for vision not to mention an excellent source of poly-phenolic flavonoid compounds like alpha and beta carotenes. The B-complex group of vitamin-folates, niacin, pyridoxine, thiamine and pantothenic acid are also in this Halloween staple.

Pumpkin is a rich source of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium and phosphorous.

Pumpkin seeds are a healthy snack rich in zinc, which nourishes the brain. They also contain magnesium, which helps muscle, nerve, heart and bone function and help

As well as making a great Halloween decoration, pumpkin is a very healthy food

the body generate protein and absorb energy from food.

Peanuts are rich in energy and contain many health-benefiting nutrients, minerals, anti-oxidants and vitamins that are essential to optimum health. They are especially rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids that help to lower LDL or bad choles-

terol and increase HDL or good cholesterol.

These nuts are a good source of dietary proteins with amino acids that are vital for growth and repair of body cells. They contain high quantities of minerals, such as copper, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium.

Just a handful of peanuts a day provides the recommended levels of phenolic anti-oxidants, minerals, vitamins and protein. A word of warning though – honeyroasted and sugar-coated should be avoided, choose whole and raw instead.

Finally, Kale is a dark

green leafy vegetable that is a traditional part of the Irish Halloween feast. It is used in a potato dish known as colcannon. Kale is an excellent source of vitamins A, C and K and a good source of calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and vitamin C while being low in sodium. If you really can’t fly away on your broomstick and crave something sweet, the traditional Irish Halloween fruit cake, known as Bairin Breac, is a nutritious and delicious alternative. For a healthy, happy Halloween why not try this spicy pumpkin dip? Served with warm pitta.

Spicy Pumpkin Dip 1½ cups canned pumpkin puree 1½ cups canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed 3 tablespoons tahini, sesame paste 1 clove garlic 1 teaspoon cayenne 1 teaspoon cumin 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons lemon juice Salt and pepper In a food processor, blend pumpkin and chickpeas until fairly smooth.

Add remaining ingredients and process until smooth, season to taste.

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GazettePETS PETS Dealing with those pesky parasites Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA

THE FACTS: WORMS ARE ONE OF THE MOST COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS FOR DOGS

S an animal welfare education officer, I’m asked a variety of questions regarding all sorts of health queries concerning dogs, but the most popular one seems to be: “Do I need to de-worm my puppy/dog and how do I do it?”

So, with that in mind, I thought I’d focus this week’s column on worms - one of the most common health problems affecting dogs and why it’s important to try to eliminate the risk of your pet being infected by them.

Before we start, please bear in mind that parasites or worms are very common in pets; especially those who live closely with other animals or who roam freely, ie. hunting dogs, as this makes them more susceptible.

Remember many internal parasites have intermediate hosts; animals or insects that ingest or harbour the early stages of development and then pass the parasite onto your own family pet.

For example, tapeworms are carried by fleas and heartworms are carried by mosquitoes.

So, below, are your FAQs and my attempts to answer them. I hope they prove helpful.

A

It’s very important to try to eliminate the risk of your pet dog becoming infected with worms

Is it important to de-worm?

Absolutely.

What about puppies?

No matter how healthy mom is, her puppies are highly likely

to have worms.

This is normal and treatment – under veterinary advice – should be carried out from as early as two to three weeks, depending on the health status of the animal and the product being used.

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

‘The most important thing to remember is to do the followup treatments’ --------------------------

Always, always, check with your vet and follow his/her advice and instructions to the letter.

When the puppy has reached three months, he should be wormed every four weeks until he reaches six months and then he can be treated as an adult.

Again, it depends on the product and health status of the animal and I recommend you seek the advice of your vet and don’t purchase so-called over-the-counter medications as they are never strong enough to eliminate all parasites.

How often do I deworm an adult dog?

Again this depends on the risk factor and status of the dog.

If, for example, you have a nice little house dog who hardly ever goes outside to play or dig and is only ever walked on a lead and never mixes with other dogs; then the risk is low and my advice would be to de-worm this animal

every three months, but, again, check with your vet.

If, however, you’ve right little rascals like mine who are forever foraging, digging, running through the woods and getting up to all sorts of activities, then prevention is better than cure and, depending on the time of year and their activities, I usually de-worm my babies once a month but never allow it go any longer than three months.

You see, every dog is different, but the most impor tant thing to remember is to do the follow-up treatments because the first dose kills the worms that are living, the second kills the ones that have developed since the previous treatment.

How do I know if my dog has worms?

Well, in order to be certain of an infestation and type, a fecal examination needs to be performed. If you feel unable to do this yourself, then visit your vet with a fresh sample of your dog’s poo. However, here are some guidelines.

• Bloated stomach – often visible in puppies that’ve been infected from their mother.

• Weakness, increased appetite, constant hunger, weight loss – all signs the parasites are stealing your pet’s vital nutrition.

• Diarrhoea – containing blood • Worms visible in vomit • Worms visible in dog’s poo • Worms visible in dog’s

fur or around his ear area – tapeworms can appear as moving segments which can dry out and resemble grains of rice.

What types of worms are likely to affect my dog?

Round Worms: The most common type of parasite. They can be life-threatening but are usually not considered as dangerous as hook worms, which can cause bloody diarrhoea and dehydration.

Very common in warm, moist weather.

Both round and hook are transmitted through poo, so it’s important to keep kennels and gardens clean.

Tape Worms: Can be transmitted through the infestation of a flea. Effective treatment is available from your vet.

Heartworms: Carried by mosquitoes. These are an insidious insult to the circulatory system, heart, lungs and kidneys of the poor infected animal.

If your dog has an active case of heartworm, I recommend an immediate visit to your vet for treatment and he/she will most likely prescribe annual blood tests.

Remember, my advice is only a guideline and is not a substitute for professional veterinary care. If you have a concern about an animal in your care, contact your vet.

For more information, log on to our website at www.dspca.ie or email me at Miriam.kerins@ dspca.ie

27 October 2011 GAZETTE 15

GazetteMUSIC MUSIC REVIEW: NO REINVENTION BUT NO PROBLEM

Coldplay shine in the light of reflection Q ROB HEIGH

THERE are some bands that everyone loves. There are some bands everyone hates. And then there’s Coldplay.

Having divided music fans since 2000, Chris Martin’s band of brothers tend to fall into the Marmite hinterland for bands.

But anyone paying attention at this year’s Glastonbury festival on the Friday and Saturday would have seen something quite remarkable and that should give an indication of how far Coldplay have come, 50 million record sales not-

withstanding.

On the Friday, the palapable sense of expectation around U2s’ set, delayed a year after Bono’s back problems forced them to pull out, fizzled out pretty quickly when the first half-hour of their set turned into a blatant advert for the 20th anniversary of Achtung Baby (coming to a record shop near you in all formats, music lovers!) As Bono ad-libbed lyrics straight from his teleprompter, the deflation felt immense. A career-defining moment to bookend the period from their appearance at Live Aid went AWOL. Saturday saw the other

“biggest act in the world” take to the stage and, frankly, Coldplay smashed it. Ninety glorious minutes saw a confident band play their biggest hit second in the setlist, and included an unfamiliar selection of songs from an album that would not see the racks until four months later among their singalong classics. U2 should consider their time with the torch over.

And at last, those four months have rolled around, and Xylo Myloto arrives with as much fanfare as vitriol poured upon it’s graffiti-adorned sleeve.

Five albums in and they

are still doing what they do better than almost anyone else, reaching the parts few other acts can in this day and age.

The first six complete songs (the record features interludes and motifs that introduce and preface tracks) are those that anyone who saw Coldplay over the summer at one of the many festivals that they appeared at across the world will recognise.

The euphoric Hurts Like Heaven and Every Teardrop, the songs that opened and closed those performances are pop classics, while Charlie Brown and Major Minus are stand-outs in their

Coldplay have produced another collection of engaging pop classics

own right, alongside the new single, Paradise. As for the newer songs, the one that will get the most attention will undoubtedly be the collaboration with Rihanna, which is a huge grower.

To the haters, get over yourselves. No one else does Big Music this well.

Yes, there’s not much substance in the lyrics; yes, it’s unashamedly poppy; yes, it is populist and connects with huge numbers of people. So what? People enjoy what they do and while the record is a step forward, it’s not a massive one - but when it’s not broke, why fix it?

If I had one criticism, it’s the fact that the huge sound the band create live, and especially the piledriver drumming of Will Champion, is a little diminished in the mix.

They are a revelation in a live setting, and here’s hoping they make a return to the O2 soon.

16 GAZETTE 27 October 2011

GazetteBEAUTY BEAUTY A special edition of the popular YSL Touche Eclat IT’S THE multitalented highlighter that hides a multitude of sins and, for this season only, the legendary Touche Eclat is to don a velvet strip in a special edition that celebrates the history and beauty of the YSL tuxedo look.

With its unique formula, Touche Eclat sculpts the features and banishes shadows in a stroke.

With just a few sweeps of the brush, the face lights up with radiance.

Launched in 1992, Touche Eclat has never fallen from its pedestal, with one sold worldwide 20 seconds.

And if you fancy discovering new ways to apply this magical pen, why not check out the Touche Eclat website, www.touche-eclat.com/en Available at YSL counters nationwide whilst stocks last. Recommended Retail Price: €35.

Give dry, irritated skin the heave-ho and go organic I’VE always been conscious of ingredients in cosmetics and skincare ranges, probably ever since I read beauty journalist Josephine Fairley’s book, Organic Beauty.

Since I’ve become a mum, I’ve become even more conscious of what I put on my skin and my family’s.

Now, one of my favourite ranges, Burt’s Bees has launched a new Sensitive Skin Care Line.

It’s an ideal range for people who tend to react to various ingredients or products, or whose skin feels tight and sensitive or, indeed, can be dry and irritated.

Burt’s Bees has launched a new Sensitive Skin Care Line

Packed full of gentle, skin-friendly and distinctly formulated with cotton extract, rice extract and aloe, the new range includes a Soap Free Facial Cleanser (€12.95) that has been clinically

proven to moisturise sensitive skin, while gently cleansing away dirt, oil and make-up without drying or causing redness or irritation.

Meanwhile, the Daily Moisturiser (€17.95) has

also been designed to leave your complexion nourished and protected.

Other products include a lightweight Eye Cream (€17.95) and Night Cream (€17.95).

All products from the sensitive range are soapfree and fragrance-free.

Burt’s Bees new Sensitive Skin Care Line is available from pharmacies and health stores nationwide.

27 October 2011 GAZETTE 17

Edited by Dawn Love

Let your complexion glow this winter with Karora THE days of slathering yourself in primitive fake tanning creams are long gone and, thankfully, many of the products now on the market leave you with a healthy, glowing complexion rather than the tangerine shade of old.

Natural

One of the latest creams to come on the market is Irish brand Karora’s organic Gradual Bronzing Moisturiser with Barrier Cream.

Combining leading-edge skincare with advanced tanning ingredients, this delicious new cream will leave you with a natural golden radiance, while protecting your face

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against the cold and windy Irish winter.

Formulated for all skin types, Karora’s Gradual Bronzing Moisturiser has an array of special ingredients, including jojoba oil to guard and protect the skin against environmental stress and it is rich in natural nutrients.

Meanwhile, Karora’s signature ingredient, argan oil, has a naturally high concentration of Vitamin E and essential fatty acids, which alleviate dry skin and rough patches.

Argan is rapidly absorbed by the skin and provides a high-level of balanced moisturisation to help keep your skin

protected, energised and glowing. With advanced organic tanning ingredients, it develops over one to two applications per week.

Verdict

My verdict? Well, as a mum of a 17-monthold toddler who had a bad dose of teething last week, I looked like I had a month’s sleep after just one application. Definitely one for the Christmas stocking this year!

Karora is available at Unicare, McCabes, Sam McCauleys and Independent Pharmacies nationwide, or you can shop online at karoracosmetics.com

One of the latest creams to come on the market is Irish brand Karora’s organic Gradual Bronzing Moisturiser with Barrier Cream

18 GAZETTE 27 October 2011

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS RoadSigns Road Signs IN RECESSION, SUPER RICH BUY A ROLLS: SUPER rich people across the world are investing in Rolls-Royce cars as a means of beating a possible global recession caused by currency fluctuations.

The BMW-owned luxury British car brand has reported full order books. The company is operating three production shifts to meet demand, according to the company CEO Torsten MuellerOetvoes, in an interview with Automotive News Europe.

“The Rolls-Royce brand holds its value.

We represent a valuable long-term asset, particularly in times of uncertain investment opportunities,” Mueller-Oetvoes said.

Peugeot’s 508 brings MICHAEL MORONEY

gives his view on the new, spacious Peugeot 508 SW EUGEOT’S new 508 is a spacious and solid looking car. The car has been designed as a purpose-built estate, and that gives it a presence and standing on the road that’s volumes ahead of the previous 407 model.

The comfort levels are good and there’s plenty of space on board, from the large boot to the rear seats. The car has a solid, functional feel to it that was made special by the

P The new estate version of the Peugeot 508 called the SW has great looks, good economy and reasonable pulling towing power, with an entry price of €30,600

extra features included in the test car.

The inside is made feel more airy with the panoramic sunroof that runs the length of the car, well almost. This is a standard feature as the car is available with the Active specification as the entry level.

This has an electrically operated curtain on the inside if the high light gets too much for you.

That’s not likely to happen between now and

27 October 2011 GAZETTE 19

style in SW format next May, so I opted to keep it open for much of the test drive.

Sometimes it’s the little things that attract me to a car. The bits that you take for granted include good comfort, economy and road-holding where you never feel nervous and they are a feature of this Peugeot 508 SW. Then there are the extras and, for me, a coffee cup holder is a must, as I do a lot of driving each week. And there are two on the dash of the Peugeot 508, which fold out of the way when not in use. And they are mounted high enough that you are not bending down to find that cup.

Peugeot offers two engine choices for the car. I had the bigger 2.0litre turbo-diesel version

SPECS: PEUGEOT 508 SW 2.0 TDI

Top speed: 210 km/hr 0 – 100km/hr: 10.1 sec Economy: 20 km/litre (5.0 l/100km) CO2 emissions: 125g/km Road Tax Band: B (€156) Euro NCAP Rating: 5 Stars (2011) Warranty: 2 years Entry Price: €30,600

on the road for a recent test drive.

There is a difference in power and pace from the bigger engine version, which adds about a little less than €2,000 extra to the price. Opting for the bigger engine gives significantly more power and torque without much loss in fuel economy.

Both cars are within

Band B for annual road tax purposes, so equally competitive to run. That’s why the 2.0-litre version had to be my choice.

This is a big car, weighing in at 1.6 tonnes before the load, so the extra engine power allows it to accelerate from 0 to 100km/hr in just 10.3 seconds. That’s over 10% faster than the small 1.6litre engine version.

It’s also heavier than the 2.0-litre Ford Mondeo estate and the Toyota Avensis estate and it’s faster and more economical than both. The economy figure for this big car is 20 km/litre (5.0 l/100km).

The Peugeot 508 SW has a 72-litre capacity fuel tank and should give well over 1,200km on a full tank. That’s what we have now come to expect as

fuel economy barriers are shattered with each new model in a range.

I didn’t get the rated economy figures – I came in somewhere closer to 15% more, but the car still had the capacity to cover 1,200km before a re-fill.

Volkswagen’s Passat presents a different challenge and it’s the one that Peugeot was aiming at. With its BlueMotion technology the Passat 2.0 TDi is heavier, more economical and faster than the equivalent engine Peugeot 508 estate.

There will be a difference in price, even if the entry-level Passat looks attractive. The Peugeot deal is better with the entry-level 508 packed with features for an entry price of €30,600, before delivery charges.

The kit on the car is impressive. It includes rear parking aid, automatic wipers and headlamps and new-style electric child locks. The Bluetooth connection was easy and very effective.

The car comes with decent size, 17-inch alloy wheels and there’s even a full-size spare, which in the case of the 508 seems to have no detrimental impact on the car’s weight and CO2 rating. The hillassist system is easy to use and effective, without being too obvious or a challenge.

The car has achieved a five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating this year and that’s due to the driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags fitted. It also comes with stability control, traction control,

emergency brake assist and an electronic brake force distribution system for good road handling in difficult situations.

In the estate form, this car is particularly impressive and different. My personal preference is that the rear-end design of the estate is better matched to the front end, giving an overall better looking car than in saloon format.

The Peugeot 508 is not on the road long enough to judge its reliability performance. The 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine has lots of road experience to be as reliable as it is economical.

The 508 SW is a solid and good-looking car, where the small things are as important as the impressive overall package.

20 GAZETTE 27 October 2011

GazettePROPERTY PROPERTY ATHBOY: FOUR-BEDROOM ACCOMMODATION IN MEATH FOR €180,000

Good-priced living at Castlelawns

Number 36, Wilson Road, Mount Merrion is on the market for €540,000

MOUNT MERRION: FOURBEDROOM BUNGALOW

A Merrion mansion in Wilson Road HASSETT & Fitzsimons are bringing number 36, Wilson Road, Mount Merrion, Dublin 4, a spacious four-bedroom bungalow, to the market for the asking price of €540,000.

Set in a sought-after residential area close to Belfield University, the property comprises three reception rooms, sitting and living rooms, kitchen, four bedrooms and a garage.

The accommodation comprises a porch with coloured leaded lights, which leads to an inner and outer hell with modern white wood panelling.

The sitting room features a white marble gas fireplace, and has sliding doors which lead to an open-plan dining room and kitchen.

The kitchen is well-appointed and contains an electric oven and gas hob, an extractor fan, dishwasher and fridge. The utility room contains a washing machine, dryer and freezer.

The living room contains double doors to raised decking in the rear garden.

The buildings contain built-in units, and two are contained in the attic conversion in the property which is accessed by a staircase.

Number 36, Wilson Road has a mature landscaped front garden with parking for up to five cars. The property also has a garage, and has a side entrance to the rear garden.

The rear garden features a garden shed, a raised decking area, a sizable area of rear decking and an equally large lawned area.

Viewing is strictly by appointment with Hassett & Fitzsimons. For more information, see www.hassettandfitzsimons.ie or e-mail info@hassettandfitzsimons.ie.

CARTY Estate Agents in Trip are bringing 4B Castlelawns in Athboy, County Meath, a modern red-brick-fronted detached dormer bungalow with detached garage to the market for the attractive price of €180,000.

Situated in a small residential development, which is within walking distance of the town of Athboy, number 4B, Castlelawns, was constructed to a very high standard and has been maintained in e xc e l l e n t c o n d i t i o n throughout and would make an ideal family home.

The accommodation comprises entrance

hall, a lounge with open-plan dining area, a kitchen with dining area, four bedrooms, of which the master is en suite, and two bathrooms, situated on each level of the property.

T he proper ty also benefits from a detached garage with utility area.

Particular features of 4B Castlelawns include PVC double-glazed windows, oil-fired radiator central heating, as well as not being overlooked to the rear. The property is approached by a tarmac driveway with lawns to the front and rear.

There is also a patio area to the rear. The property also features a large, detached garage

Number 4B, Castlelawns, is on the market for €180,000

plumbed for washing machine.

Athboy has an excellent range of amenities and services. For the commuter there is easy access to the new M3 motorway and a regu-

lar daily bus service to Dublin City Centre.

Number 4B, Castlelawns, would provide a perfect family home which is ready for immediate occupation and viewing is strictly

by appointment only.

To arrange a viewing, contact Carty Estate Agents on 046-9486860, or email cartyproperty@eircom.net.

For more information, see www.carty.ie

MALAHIDE: FOUR BEDROOM SEMI-DETATCHED HOME FOR €495,000

Home on the range high on Texas Lane PROPERTY Team Noel Kelly Auctioneers are bringing number 2, Texas Lane, Chalfont in Malahide, a four-bedroom semi-detached family home offering bright generously proportioned and a flexible layout, to the market for €495,000.

The property, which extends to c 1,650 sq ft, has been extended throughout and is situated in a much soughtafter location.

The accommodation comprises an entrance hall, a guest WC with ceramic tiled floor, mirror, understairs storage, accessories, WC and WHB. The property features a garden conversion wth timber f looring.

There are two reception rooms which are conjoined by double doors, and the larger

is an extended dining room or tv room, featuring sliding doors to rear garden, and recessed lights.

There is an extended kitchen and breakfast area, which contain fitted wall and floor units, and all electrical appliances are included. The utility room also has all electrical appliances included.

The landing at the top of the stairwell allows access to the attic and has a hot press.

The four bedrooms in the proper ty are upstairs, all of which feature timber floors, and the main bedrooms have built-in wardrobes.

The master bathroom has a ceramic tiled floor, tiled walls, w.c, w.h.b, Triton T90i shower, accessories.

The front of the prop-

erty has a cobblelock drive for three cars, and a side entrance to the rear garden.

The garden features a deck area, a timber garden shed, and is fully walled.

The property is within walking distance of all amenities, including Malahide village and DART station, and is located byside Malahide estuary.

Viewing is by appointment, which can be arranged with Property Team Noel Kelly Auctioneers’ representative, Darren Kelly on 01 8462752.

Number 2, Texas lane, Chalfont, Malahide is on the market for €495,000

27 October 2011 GAZETTE 21

GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS

Supported by AIB

Interview: Sonja Ewen, Organiser of Marlay Craft Fair

Crafting very high standards for fair THIS year, the Marlay Craft Fair is celebrating its 10th birthday. Originally the brainchild of Valerie McGurdy, one of the Marlay Craft Courtyard’s chief go-doers, organiser Sonja Ewen tells the Gazette a little about the history of the event.

“To start out with, it was a very small affair, where the Craft Courtyard studios invited their regular customers to view their works before Christmas. They would have served up mulled wine and mince pies to add to the festive cheer. This kind of snowballed when it was decided to bring in a range of other craftspeople that were not based in the courtyard.

“When I moved to the Courtyard as a full-time jeweller in about 2003, I was keen to help out with the fair, actually I think it was a given, I just had to help out. It was all hands on deck,” she says.

“Times have changed; there are fewer of us still surviving on craft alone; Marlay Ceramics and I have both had to find other sources of income with this new economic climate in Ireland.

“But, true to my heart is to keep Marlay Craft Fair running as a makers’ craft fair.

“What is fantastic about the fair is that it now has a reputation of being a ‘high-standard craft-makers’ fair.

Every year we take on a new charity, we ask for a small entrance fee of €2.50 and this enables us to support the charity.”

For more information, contact Sonja on 087 675 33 58 or visit the website www.MarlayCraftFair.com Marlay Craft Fair November 25-27, 2011.

ily, so I think I always had an idea to work as a crafts person of some sort.

Q: What was your first job?

A: My first job as a student was

ounce during the last weeks. I was told over four years ago to buy the yellow metal then – what is your view in 2011 ? Pauline - Templeogue A - James Goldsmith once quipped “When you see a bandwagon, it’s too late” – but the statistics about gold are both startling and alarming. In 1980, gold reached an all-time high price of $850 per troy ounce (slightly lighter than our own avoirdupois ounce) BUT it took 27 years to return to this high of € 850 only four years ago in 2007.

Add inflation to the 1980 price, and you are looking at a more realistic value of over $2,500. At the current price - an increase of over 107% in those four years since 2007 - 2 lbs of gold will cost you just short of €40,000 ... a lot of money for a small amount of metal.

JP Morgan and Merrill Lynch, however, came out in recent weeks to predict gold WILL reach the $2,500 price before the year end. But more important than price is tradability. The reason why gold prices are surging ahead is the market volatility.

Only when governments, banking, stockmarkets and property regain confidence will we see a normalisation in gold prices.

Originally, all Bank of England notes for instance were backed by gold bullion in their mint – Sonja Ewen, Organiser of Marlay Craft Fair

other things put paid to that.

Marlay Craft Fair at about the same time.

Jedward?

A: Oh jeepers, poor David

Q: What is the best thing about your job?

A: What’s good about organis-

hasn’t had the best time of it recently with the presidential saga, and thinking back to Jedward and the last Eurovision just makes me laugh – have you ever seen such unreleased energy just busting to get out…

ing the Marlay Craft Fair is being able to keep it as a proper craft fair.

Q: What part of your working day do you ‘delegate’?

A: I need to be able to delegate

Q: And your first pay cheque?

A: I can’t remember, but I

in the running of the fair. This year, Des Keaney is my righthand man and there are things that he can do much better than I can, and vice versa. so I don’t have any issues just handing stuff over to him

Q: Have you ever done a job you loathed?

A: Yes, I worked as a secretary for a while and hated it.

Q: When did you start your present job?

A: I moved into the Marlay Craft Courtyard in approximately 2003, and was roped into assisting Valerie McGurdy to organise the running of

“I

promise to pay the bearer the sum of…” Quantative easing i.e. printing your own money, among

in McCullough’s Department Store of Dun Laoghaire, the old-fashioned style shop.

saved like mad to buy a canoe.

There used to be a little sports shop in Blackrock called Venture Sports, I think it was.

I managed to scrape enough money for that boat. I loved it.

ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD…. OR IS IT ?

Q – Gold prices reached over $1,760 per troy

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

A: I come from a creative fam-

THE ANSWERS TO ALL OF YOUR PERSONAL FINANCE QUESTIONS

Q: What sport can you play?

A: I’m a sea kayaker, so playing in the waves is my game.

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

A: I love all sorts of music, so play lots of varied sorts. We don’t have a TV, but love to watch the odd replay on the computer.

Q: Who best represents modern Ireland – David Norris or

Q: What music/pictures/movies do you have on your iPod/ iPad? A: iPod/iPad “món” if I were so lucky, haven’t made it to that plateau yet, I’m working on it though!!

Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook?

A: I like to keep tabs on the Whale and Dolphin society.

They get continuous listings of sightings of whales and dolphins around the coast of Ireland – fascinating stuff.

Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously?

A: I do have a secret shoe fettish. I could always buy shoes, needed or not, in fact, suitable or not, it never really matters.

Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own?

A: Ha! That’s not fair! Maybe I

Peter Schiff is a major precious metals analyst in New York (regularly on CNBC TV) and has predicted the price will go to $5,000 per troy ounce.

should have read all the questions first!!

Not sure that I agree with him, but I do think that

Q: What would be your dream job?

A: Well the dream job would

have about 10% exposure to this commodity. The

have to be the one that would have lots of time off and that would pay well enough, so that when it was time off, you’d have enough money to be able to go and do something.

(exchange traded funds – the cheapest way on

Q: Describe your dream holiday?

A: I like the idea of pootling

cate programme ? With this latter option, your

around in a camper van with no fixed agenda and no time restraints and there would have to be nice places to go and eat out and good scenery. I’ll send you a postcard when I find out where it is.

government (the only government to give such a

if you have a fairly sizeable portfolio, you should decision though to make is what form you buy the precious metal – mine shares, Gold funds the stock market) krugerrand – the world’s first one ounce gold bullion coin, brought to market in 1967 and costing up to $ 2,000 each currently – and similar style coins like gold sovereigns etc, or through the innovative Perth Mint Gold Certifigold bullion is stored in the Perth Mint in Australia, guaranteed by the AAA-rated Western Australian guarantee) and you receive a certificate that you can redeem at any time rather than hold the bullion, saving security problems.

Email me for details of this or any gold issues you may have.

Q: What do you plan to do when you retire?

A: Well, maybe that’ll be when

jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at

I’ll go off pootling in that camper van.

Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing

Contact John with your money questions at www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the director of Money Doctor

22 GAZETTE 27 October 2011

GazetteTTRAVEL FastTravel The Cliffs of Moher in County Clare

Take in the wonder of the Cliffs of Moher and explore the West ONE of our very own tourist hot spots is on the shortlist as one of the new Seven Wonders of Nature competition.

The Cliffs of Moher are in the final 28, which is hardly surprising given the magnificence of this landscape in County Clare. The Cliffs are 320 million years old and are Ireland’s most visited natural attraction, with almost 100 million visitors every year. The reasons for the popularity are manifold, some visitors flock to see a Special Protected Area for seabirds, as the Cliffs are home to over 30,000 nesting pairs each year, including puffins, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, and kittiwakes and makes for a bird watcher’s paradise. However, for most, it is the striking scenery where nature, history and geology merge.

To vote for the Cliffs inclusion, log onto www. new7wonders.com or Text MOHER 53131 (€0.30C) to vote for their inclusion in the New 7 Wonders of Nature. For more information on inspirational places to visit and great value holidays check out www.discoverireland.ie

D4 Berkeley offers a variety of special offers for theatre, sport and concert goers

QUICK GETAWAY: A STYLISH NIGHT AT D4 BERKELEY

Enjoying the city you’re living in LAURA WEBB

IT HAD been a few months since my partner and I had taken a city break to let loose and leave the responsibilities of parenthood behind with the grandparents. When thinking about where to go, we decided we wanted to do something different and enjoy a city we both love – Dublin.

Even though we live in the suburbs and going out usually only means a taxi into town, it can often be an expensive round trip, so we thought we would stay in a city hotel, as there are some amazing deals around at the moment.

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

‘Although we weren’t far from home it was still a great mini-break and it actually made us appreciate what Dublin has on offer’ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had tickets to Mamma Mia at the Grand Canal Theatre and we thought we could stay at the D4 Berkeley.

Stylish

Our room was both spacious and stylish, and with a couple of hours to spare before dinner time, we headed out to see what the hotel’s location had to offer. Just a five minute walk from the RDS and located just minutes from the Aviva

stadium, the hotel is ideal for anyone going to watch a match, concert, exhibition or show.

We walked back just in time for dinner and were greeted by the lovely restaurant manager, Oscar, and the waiting staff in Berkeley Brasserie were just as friendly. The live piano added to the relaxed atmosphere of the contemporary restaurant.

For starters, I ordered crispy calamari with a

tomato and chilli sauce.

Johnny went for soupof-the-day and for his main, Irish grilled fillet steak, served with home cut chips, onion rings and peppercorn sauce.

I chose the chicken supreme with wilted spinach, sundried tomato and orzo pasta. Describing his meal Johnny said it ticked all the boxes for flavour, portion size and affordability, as did mine.

We headed off to the Grand Canal Theatre

to see the show and enjoy the many smashhit songs from Abba.

Even though he’s not a fan, Johnny reluctantly agreed he enjoyed it.

The next morning. we headed to the Berkeley Brasserie, which was also delicious.

Although we weren’t far from home, it was still a great a mini-break and it actually made us appreciate what Dublin has on offer.

D4 Berkeley offers a variety of special deals for theatre, sport and concert goers, which are available to see online at www.d4berkeley.ie or by phoning the reservation team at 01- 4373444.

27 October 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 23

Edited by Mimi Murray

HALLOWEEN: HAUNTED CASTLES AND STREETS

Travel B ri e fs Go ghost hunting in

haunting Scotland FANS of ghouls and ghosts should make their way to Scotland this Halloween. With haunted castles, churches and streets, there are few countries with a more fascinating or spookier history than Scotland.

Fans of the Da Vinci Code will be captivated

by Rosslyn Chapel, the church built for the Sinclair Family in the 15th century. Ghostly flames apparently flicker in the burial vault when one of the Sinclairs is about to die and an apparition of the apprentice who carved the famous Apprentice Pillar and was murdered by his teachers, can sometimes be seen or heard.

With a long and bloody history, Edinburgh Castle is said to be home to many spirits, including that of a headless drummer boy. Rumour has it, that the appearance of

Rosslyn Chapel

the ghostly drummer boy is a warning that the castle is about to be besieged and was first seen in 1650, before Oliver Cromwell and his English army attacked.

Believed to be the most haunted place in Edinburgh, The Royal Mile as it is known, is the street leading from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of

Holyroodhouse. Taking a stroll down this street you may be in for a few surprises as No.1 Mary Kings’s Close, which was bricked up during an outbreak of the plague, is said to be haunted by the spirit of a young girl.

Cruden Bay, located on the Aberdeenshire coast, may seem like a pleasant looking fishing village,

but you may be surprised to know that, in the 19th century, it was the holiday haunt of Bram Stoker.

The ruins of Slains Castle, which drape down from the headland inspired Stoker’s vision of Count Dracula’s Castle.

The Kilmarnock Arms Inn, where Stoker stayed in 1895, is still there for those brave enough to pay a visit.

On the west coast of Scotland, close to the town of Oban, lies Dunstaffnage Castle. The castle is said to be haunted by a lady dressed in green, who walks the ramparts when events are about to unfold for the castle owners. When she is smiling it said that good fortune awaits but if she is weeping, trouble lies ahead.

The castle is open daily, but visiting hours are restricted in the winter.

For more details www. visitscotland/surprise

Travelling Far and Away FOR anyone considering a long-haul trip, Thomas Cook Ireland’s newly launched Far and Away brochure is a must.

The range covers traditional package holidays, escorted tours to exotic destinations and far-flung cruises.

Customers can also tailor their holidays to suit their preferences and schedules.

Though January may be months away, Irish Ferries has already welcomed in the New Year with the announcement that their reservations system has been opened for 2012 bookings on their services to France.

To get bookings off to a quick start and encourage those anxious to secure preferred sailing dates and choice of cabin accommodation, the company is offering a three-tiered incentives package, beginning with an early booking discount of 10% off all fares booked before December 15.

The second offer is the chance to secure one’s booking on payment of a low €100 non-refundable deposit with the balance payable six weeks before departure – one that contrasts with others who seek payment in full or a more significant deposit at time of booking.

Finally, repeated again, next year is the offer of a free trip to Britain for a car plus two passengers for all motorist return bookings to France during June, July and August.

For bookings and information, visit www.irishferries.ie or call 0818 300 400.

Scandinavian Airlines offering bargain fares to Bangkok and all this exotic city has to offer SCANDINAVIAN Airlines have some bargain fares to Bangkok at the moment.

Bangkok is fantastic for shopping, nightlife, restaurants and culture and is a great place to stop off before heading to the luxury of the tourist resorts.

SAS can offer quick connections through Copenhagen airport where you only need 45 minutes to connect. For Irish travellers travelling to Bangkok, it is normally only a 15-metre walk from gate to gate to change plane in Copenhagen Airport. Fly from Dublin to Bangkok from as little as €799 return, including all taxes and charges.

Book before November 1, 2011 to secure this special fare. Go to www. flysas.ie for more details.

Concorde Travel is offering great deals to the Portuguese capital of Lisbon for a great city break

Feature

Cuba, Mexico, Dominican Republic, India (Goa), Gambia, Jamaica and Florida all feature strongly in the new Far and Away brochure.

As Thomas Cook can avail of its own accommodation and charters from the UK to these destinations, customers can find more competitive

Irish Ferries is welcoming the New Year with great offers, so book your 2012 reservation early

A Mexican beach and (inset) Old Havana in Cuba

and comprehensive pricing. Eleven nights in the four-star Laico Atlantic in Banjul Beach in Gambia next March is available

all-inclusive from just €849, while 14 nights over Christmas and New Year in Goa in the threestar Colonia Santa Maria

at Baga Beach, also all inclusive, is on offer for €1,789, departing December 20. (Prices are from UK airports).

ARGUABLY one of the nicest European capitals, Lisbon is a city that captures the imagination of the visitor with its magnificent architecture, reminiscent of a glorious maritime past as well as the majestic Tagus River and the dominant Castelo de San Jorge. Exploring the city on foot is a delight – there is something around every corner that will surprise you. Lisbon is a lively city boasting bars, clubs and cafes, where you can simply relax and enjoy a powerful Portuguese-style coffee or party all night long in some of the trendiest clubs.

Concorde Travel is offering great deals to the Portuguese capital this winter from only €349. Stay three nights on a B&B basis at the three-star Hotel Evidência Tejo, from €349, four-star Tivoli Jardim, from €419, and five-star Tivoli Lisboa, from €499.

Visit www.concordetravel.ie to book your city break to Lisbon today.

24 LUCAN GAZETTE 27 October 2011

GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT 1GoingOUT PAVILION 01 231 2929 Snow Play

CHILDREN aged from three to seven will be delighted with this show, which tells of how snow-hating Mr Green returns from his Christmas holidays only to find that Mr White has moved in, and covered everything with snow! Children will help to make a giant snowman, have a snowball fight and more in this highly-interactive production. Snow Play takes place on at 2pm and 4pm on Saturday, October 29, and at 2pm on Sunday, October 30, with tickets priced at €8 for children, and €10 for adults.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 One Act Festival

THEATRE lovers are in for a treat, thanks to the Mill Theatre’s quick-moving festival that will present eight plays across two nights. Actors, directors and drama enthusiasts from all across the country will be found at the theatre, as an eclectic range of productions whirl through their paces. Following the plays’ productions, adjudicator Tom Byrne will provide an engaging analysis. For full details of the plays, which take place from 7pm on Friday, October 27 and Saturday, October 28, see www.milltheatre.ie.

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 My Way

GARVAN Gallagher’s commendable exhibition examines the “invisible” status of older citizens, with a diverse range of work examing the status and self-image of our elders.

Whether personal texts, short films, or even fashion shoots replacing younger models with more mature citizens, My Way is an excellent, diverse project underlining how valuable our “invisible” citizens are. My Way runs at Driaocht’s ground floor gallery until Saturday, November 5.

Mitch Emhoff (Matt Damon) can’t quite take in the news from a doctor that his healthy wife, Beth (Gwynneth Paltrow) has suddenly died from a mysterious new virus, with a mass outbreak killing thousands of people around the world in this week’s film, Contagion

Germinating ideas What if ... a new, deadly virus sprang up all around the world? The prognosis is poor in this interesting new film Q KATE CROWLEY

NOW is the winter of our discontent most keenly felt ... largely through red noses, hoarse throats and a thousand rasping coughs, it would seem, as the emaciated Flu crow has slowly but surely flapped its way back to Ireland’s shores for its annual winter sojourn.

Thanks to this unwanted visitor, all around the Crowley household, a hundred flu sufferers seem to be blearily making their way through the streets, while Mr Crowley has a touch of Man Flu, which, he tells me, is “a thousand times worse than ordinary flu” (yet which doesn’t seem to stop him from eating chocolate biscuits and watching football).

However, as unpleasant as the flu is for those battling it – such as yours truly, still croaking her way through a lingering two-week chest infection

FILM OF THE WEEK: Contagion +++ (12A) 106 mins Director: Steven Soderbergh Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Laurence Fishburne

OUR VERDICT: LOTS of stars with lots of storylines, yet one overall plot ... While the world seems to have mostly forgotten the perils and fears over Swine Flu and Bird Flu, here comes a film to play on the fears of those recent pandemics. Slow-moving, and perhaps constrained by being a film about, well, deadly germs, it’s still an interesting tale that director Soderbergh helms well enough ...

– for most, it’s not the end of the world.

No, the end of the world is, instead, the underlying theme of this week’s film, which takes the flu theme and runs with it to a much more frightening, logical outcome.

In Contagion, several plotlines converge as a business exec (Paltrow) returns from a business trip to Hong Kong with a bad dose of jet lag.

That’s “jet lag” as in “she’ll be dead within two days of a mysterious new virus, folks” jet lag, of the kind that most travellers would rather avoid.

Exit Paltrow, leaving bemused hubby (Damon) to soldier on, despite the fact that their family isn’t quite through the worst of the horror just yet ...

Of course, his wife’s death is just one of many deaths, as it’s obvious that a deadly pandemic is spreading across the world at frightning speed, with equally frightening mortality rates.

Although, as with any virus and contagion, there are plenty of people who are immune – such as Damon’s character – most people aren’t, and, without an antidote, it looks

like goodnight, Seattle, for most of humanity.

For those readers shouting at my review: “Science will save us!”, that sounds like an appropriate time to send in the clow- err, scientists, in the forms of Winslet and Fishburne.

That almost sounds like a double act, but there’s nothing amusing about their characters as, working in different ways, they’re on a race against time to trace the virus back to Patient X – the first recorded victim – and then, with a bit of luck, figure out where the infection came from, and thus possibly come up with an antidote.

However, all of this takes time, and, as every passing day exponentially increases the pandemic’s infection – and consequent sudden mortality – rates around the world, there’s a desperate race against time to get ahead of the virus’ deadly infec-

tion, and stop the global contagion.

Unfortunately, quite apart from the dangers of the virus itself, the characters are also faced with problems posed by people, whether that’s nefarious journalists (Law) or the bureaucracies of various political and medical systems.

With social order rapidly collapsing all over the world, and with governments resorting to desperate measures to quarantine people, the race is on to find a cure ...

As usual, director Soderbergh has created an unconventional tale, with lots of Hollywood stars and stalwarts fighting for screen time in an occasionally busy story.

Not a film for the germwary, it’s a thoughtful tale that shows that, maybe, just maybe, there are worse things than the flu to worry about. Now, Man Flu, that’s a thousand times worse, I hear ...

27 October 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 25

GazetteGAMING GAMING More Final Fantasy XIII-2 facts emerge SHANE DILLON

THE hit Playstation (and, more latterly, also available on the XBox 360) Final Fantasy franchise is set for another stab at the previous cross-platform title in the series, Final Fantasy XIII. In a similar manner to the last major title I reviewed, last week (Dead Rising 2: Off The Record), Final Fantasy XIII-2 is a largely similar, but rejigged, version of its predecessor title, FFXIII. However, much as twins may appear to be quite similar at first sight – and I say that as a twin, myself – there are several notable differences between the two, making XIII-2 similar, but yet quite different to, its predessor, XIII. The Final Fantasy series of games have had a long and illustrious past on a number of platforms, yet, arguably, found their greatest success on Sony’s PlayStation 2 – at least here in the West – while the franchise has remained a key part of Sony’s PlayStation brand.

Here, “Final” is something of a misnomer, as the series has been spun out through many titles that far exceed the numerical titles in the series, with characters from the franchise popping up in everything from farming games to dance titles, beat-em-ups to platformers, and more.

However, at heart, the Final Fantasy series remains a fundamentally structured role-playing game, typically created with strong undercurrents of Japanese culture, gaming memes, and ideas that seem unique to the series, with regular recurring themes of personal

Bytesandpieces It’s a case of so four-za, so good IN ONE of the most predictable gaming events of the year, Forza Motorsport 4 – or Forza 4, for short – recently roared straight to the top of the charts, with racing and motoring fans driving the XBox 360-exclusive title straight to the top.

For those who like exquisitely-modelled cars, stunning landscapes, top-notch graphics, a Top Gear association (with Clarkson on voiceover duties) and an awfully big game to play around with – and that’s an awful lot of gamers – it’s hard to see any other racers appearing in the rear mirror in the near future, with Forza 4 set to hold pole position in the racing genre for quite some time.

Forza 4 certainly sets a noticeably-high benchmark in graphics on current platforms

A typically exotic and stylish branding design for Final Fantasy XIII-2, with strong artwork helping shape the series

strife, responsibility, duty and honour appealing to a global audience.

With its superb designs, always evolving gameplay and game mechanics, striking music and a generally strong direction, it’s been no surprise that, today, the “Final” franchise is a key PlayStation brand, with Microsof t also coming on board for the release of previous title in the series, Final Fantasy XIII. Curiously, despite

being a game that was specifically developed for, and aimed at engaging Western audiences, rather than, debatably, a core Japanese and cult American fanbase, FFXIII was largely greeted with a lukewarm critical reception, and not especially notable sales figures.

Still, early next year, a “remodelled” version of FFXIII – neatly called FFXIII-2 – will be released, set in the same world as its pred-

ecessor, and with many of the same characters, yet with a new storyline, new characters, and new gameplay mechanics – all with the hope for the developer, Squaresoft, to create greater respect for (and higher sales figures) for an experimental title that was, perhaps, a little overlooked once released.

Collectors’s edition packs will include all of the usual items, ranging from CDs of the game music, to t-shirts, art

books, special cases and more, creating releases to take up plenty of space on gamers’ shelves – and leave plenty of corresponding space in their wallets, too.

It’s an interesting development, seeing game companies take a “Take Two” attitude towards titles that didn’t quite hit expectations on release, but which were perfectly decent. If this sequel, of sorts, does well, perhaps it won’t be the final case of such rejigged releases.

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

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26 LUCAN GAZETTE 27 October 2011

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We, MyHomeFitness.ie, intend to apply for permission for retention for development at Red Cow House, Naas Road, Dublin 22.

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A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning Authority on payment of a fee of 20 Euros within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Planning Authority of the application. Signed Sean White c/o MyHomeFitness.ie, Red Cow House, Naas Road, Dublin 22 01-4111000 13911

Emmet McQuillan is applying for permission to reduce the width of bathroom window from 1.2 m wide down to 0.7m wide on first floor to front of two storey terrace dwelling to assist with internal bathroom modifications at no.18 Sarsfield Park, Lucan, Co. Dublin.

This application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of South Dublin County Council during its public opening hours of 9am - 4pm, MonFri, and a submission or observation may be made to South Dublin County Council in writing and on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt

by South Dublin County Council of the application.

I Susan Carroll intend to apply for Planning Permission at 61 Dodsborough Cottages, Lucan, Co Dublin The development will consist of the demolition of single storey extension to rear and its replacement with a two storey extension consisting of the following - a two storey element consisting of a hall, toilet and kitchen on ground floor level, bedroom on first floor, single storey element consisting of a living room.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at the offices of South Dublin County Council, County Hall, Town Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24 during its public opening hours of Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 4.00pm.

A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to South Dublin County Council on payment of a fee of €20 within 5 weeks of receipt of the application by South Dublin County Council.

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R1

GazetteSPORT

OCTOBER STARS:

Nominations for Dublin Sports Stars are announced Page 29

TENNIS: SWORDS STAR HITTING THE HEIGHTS ON THE ITF FUTURES TOUR IN EUROPE

Cluskey makes fifth final out of six competitions sport@gazettegroup.com

JAMES Cluskey continued his superb recent run of form last week on the ITF Futures tour as he reached the final of the doubles at the Le RocheSur-Yon F19 event in France.

It was his fifth final in his last six outings since mid-September – the other seeing him make the semi-final – marking one of the his best runs on the circuit.

On Sunday, playing with South African Jean Anderson, he was denied the title in a super-set by home-town pair Jeremy Blandin and Gleb Sakharov.

It was a tight game, losing the first set on a tiebreak before bouncing back to claim the second 6-3. But the super-set was lost ten points to seven, leaving the Swords’ man to have to be content with a third runners-up medal in October.

In the other competition played this month, though, Cluskey and Andersen claimed the F16 Futures title in Forbach, beating Germany’s Sebastian Fitz and Russia’s Vitaliy Kachanovskiy.

Again, the final was decided on a super-set as the Irishman was part of a superb comeback having fallen a set down, 7-5.

He and Andersen snagged the second in comprehensive fashion with a 6-1 success before

Tennis ace James Cluskey maintained his fine run of form, reaching another final last week in France

closing out the deciding game 10-3.

It continues a brilliant run of form on the hard court and carpets of France, taking in an F18 Futures final in St Dizier, Mulhouse and Nevers as

well as that semi-final in Brusoporto, Italy.

It is a superb return to form following a summer in which Cluskey was part of the Irish Davis Cup side, and also reached the final of the Irish Open.

In the wake of that competition, the Swords LTC man has been quiet in August and September, but this sustained period abroad has been a very fruitful one.

Elsewhere, former St

Andrew’s student Amy Bowtell earned a place in the women’s singles main draw at the AEGON GB Pro Series Glasgow after defeating number three seeded Michaela Honcova (SVK) in Scotland.

28 LUCAN GAZETTE 27 October 2011

GazetteSport Sport

Football All-Stars Bernard Brogan, Paul Flynn, Michael Darragh MacAuley, Kevin Nolan, Stephen Cluxton and Alan Brogan, front right, with Hurlers of the Year, Gary Maguire and Liam Rushe

Kilmacud’s Michael Darragh MacAuley

Paul Flynn and Bernard Brogan on the red carpet

All-Stars 2011 Super Stars saluted at gala night HE immense achievements of the Dublin senior football and hurling teams in 2011 was recognised at the National Convention Centre when a total of eight players collected their GAA GPA All-Star awards last weekend.

Footballers Bernard Brogan, Paul Flynn, Michael Darragh MacAuley, Kevin Nolan, Stephen Cluxton and Alan Brogan, and hurlers Liam Rushe and Gary Maguire received their plaudits in front of a packed audience, with Alan Brogan being named Player of the Year.

Fingallians’ Paul Flynn makes his way to the National Convention Centre stage to collect his All-Star football award. Pictures: SPORTSFILE

T

Bernard Brogan Snr, Lydia Brogan, Footballer of the Year Alan Dublin hurlers Liam Rushe and Gary Maguire

Brogan, Bernard Brogan and Marie Brogan

27 October 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 29

in association with

2011 DUBLIN SPORTS AWARDS - OCTOBER NOMINEES

FastSport

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

+ STARof the MONTH

Masters meet at NAC a massive swim success JAKE CARROLL

PAUL RYAN

ALAN BROGAN

A YOUNG man who has graduated through the ranks of local soccer to attain the heights of a place in the League of Ireland firmament, Carroll was instrumental in helping St Parts to the Leinster Senior Cup title.

BALLYBODEN St Enda’s Paul Ryan has been at the forefront of his club’s drive for five, thumping 2-6 against Lucan Sarsfields in the Dublin SHC semi-final including 1-4 of his side’s opening 1-5.

THE “other” Brogan brother’s immense contribution to Dublin’s AllIreland campaign in this and every other championship run he has been a part of was rewarded with a hugely deserved Player of the Year award.

+ TEAMof the

THE first Celtic Open Masters Short Course swim meet was held at the National Aquatic Centre, Blanchardstown last week.

The meet, jointly organised by Aer Lingus Masters and NAC Masters swimming clubs, attracted 285 entries from the length and breadth of Ireland, ranging in ages from 20 to 80.

The competitors represented no fewer than 43 Masters clubs, including six overseas clubs from Britain and Spain, all competing in a packed gala programme.

It is envisaged that the Celtic Open Masters could go on to become a regular event, adding to the existing Masters Swim Meet calendar in Ireland.

Fingal futsal competition a local success

MONTH

SOUTH DUBLIN SWANS

LUCAN GOLF

EGAN AND FLEMING

THE South Dublin Swans, featuring a number of the players who annexed the International Cup title in Melbourne earlier in the year won the Irish Aussie Rules Premiership title this month, defeating Leeside Lions in Laois

LUCAN Golf CLub’s ladies players claimed the Miele All-Ireland Fourball title this month in a nail-biting finale to the national competition at Kilkenny GC, defeating Faithlegg on the fifth play-off hole.

SALMON Leap Canoe CLub members Peter Egan and Neil Fleming took the Liffey Descent title to add to their huge achievements in claiming the Irish and British canoeing championships in 2011.

WELCOME to the 2011 Dublin Sports Awards, as we mark our local sportsmen and women’s October sporting achievements across the capital and, indeed, across the nation.

We’re delighted to once again be able to celebrate the finest achievements in Dub-

lin sport, with some huge efforts at local levels coming to our attention in a variety of well-known, and some, less prominent, sports.

Ever y form of sporting achievement, at any level and in any sport, is valuable and gives an indication of the diversity of sporting commit-

ment there is around our fair city at all times of the year.

Let us know!

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

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

You can also check out the latest stories from GazetteSport at our new website, www.gazettegroup.com

ST FINIAN’S Community College, Swords, played host to the FAI co-ordinated AllIreland Secondary School Futsal competition for first year boys.

The tournament was a great success with three schools from Swords — St Finian’s, Fingal Community College and Colaiste Choilm — and Donabate Community College competing for the title and the opportunity to represent their area at the Dublin finals.

The title went to Donabate Community College with a 3-1 win over

Fingal Community College in a competitive final.

Next up is the girls’ competition in St. Finian’s on October 26, with teams representing Balbriggan, Donabate, Rush and Swords all taking part.

The winners of these North Dublin Sections will progress to the Dublin Finals, which take place in Corduff, Blanchardstown, on November 16.

For further information on the FAI/Fingal Secondary Schools Futsal Competition contact Paul Keogh, Football in the Community Development Officer at 086-0444435 or email paul.keogh@ fai.ie

30 LUCAN GAZETTE 27 October 2011

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

BASKETBALL: LOCAL SIDES RETURN TO LEAGUE COMPETITION

Lucan Racing snooker classic back this week DEFENDING champion Fergal O’Brien will start this year’s Lucan Racing Snooker Classic tournament against new professional David Hogan this Saturday in Celbridge snooker club.

Former winners Ken Doherty, Joe Swail and David Morris will be joined by Patrick Wallace, Rodney Goggins and Joe Delaney.

O’Brien said: “Thanks to Lucan Racing and Celbridge snooker club again for providing the players with this great opportunity, which they appreciate and enjoy. Hopefully, I can continue my good record in the event but it will be tough with such a good field of players “ For more information on the classic, contact Celbridge Snooker Club on 01 627 2224.

Summerfest set for next weekend THE 2011 Tesco mobile SARI Summerfest, the largest intercultural soccer tournament in Ireland, is set to take part this year at the Garda and Camogie Sports Grounds, in Phoenix Park on September 10 and 11 from 11am to 5pm each day.

The Summerfest will also coinciude with the CONCERN kitefest, where kite flyers from around the world will display their kites and give kite workshops for children.

The two-day festival also includes a wide array of entertainment for all the family.

For more information, see www. facebook.com/sarireland.

Castleknock Celtic seeking ladies talent CASTLEKNOCK Celtic FC’s ladies and girls section are recruiting new talent to the cllub for the soccer season starting later this month.

If you were born in 1996 or earlier, visit the club’s website at www.castleknockceltic.com, and pass on your name and contact details in the How To Join section provided on the site.

The club are also looking to recruit girls born in 2001/2002 to play soccer in the DubliGirls Soccer League.

Dublin Lions were back in Division 1, Division 3 and Ladies level in recent weeks as the season gears up again for 2011/12

Lions back in action sport@gazettegroup.com

DUBLIN Lions Basketball Club were back in business at all levels recently as three of their sides registered impressive performances in their respective leagues.

Their newly-minted Division 1 side that has been impressive in preseason took to the court in their 2011-12 league opener against Killester in what looked sure to be an eventful and entertaining encounter between two league contenders.

New to Division One, but not without genuine claims for a top-two

spot, Lions took the initiative in the first quarter, seemingly superior in all positions. Playing fluent, patient offence at one end, and hard ruthless defence at the other, Lions went into the huddle at the break seven points up.

Killester hauled Lions back and smothered them defensively in the second and third quarters – Lions managing just 6 and 3 points in each quarter respectively. Coach Pat Morahan could not seem to find an offensive threat, or five players who could penetrate the Killester defence.

Mano Haastrup had a strong impact on the game and was the most effective player at both ends for the home side while Ian Wilson notched up an impressive 16 points. It would not be enough though, and Lions fell to a 46-37 defeat.

T h e y c a n t a ke a number of positives from their first run-out, and believe that, with all guns firing, the sky is the limit for the newlypromoted side.

The Lions also missed out on victory by a matter of inches in their Division 3 game against Inchicore at the Oblates

Hall.

A six-point deficit at the first break would be an accurate reflection of both Lions performance and a prediction for the remainder of the game.

Time and again turnovers hurt the travelling side. Poor decision-making and lapses in concentration marred some clever and inspired play but teams will require more consistency than Lions showed if they are to compete with the better sides in Division 3 this season, and the final score read 74-66 against the Lions.

The lady Lions, however, were able to

put league points on the board when they defeated Greenbacks by 39-15.

Lions started off well and kept Greenbacks from scoring, working together to repel their offence. In spite of their opponents’ new structure and with the introduction of veteran coach, Mick Louth, Lions were their equal in all but the second quarter of their contest.

The ladies upped their game in the third and fourth quarters, shutting Greenbacks out in the third and cruising to a comfortable win in the fourth.

Lucan progress to the SFC semi-finals sport@gazettegroup.com

LUCAN Sarsfields made it into the semi-finals of the Dublin senior football championship with an impressive 1-12 to 0-10 victory over Thomas Davis when Stephen Garbutt scored the vital goal.

He had only been introduced a couple of moments earlier to the fray from the sub’s bench in O’Toole Park but he needed little time to warm up as Stephen O’Shaughnessy and Dermot Gallagher linked up nicely to play him in and he

found the net for the only goal of the game.

It moved his side four points clear and then David Quinn added a pair of points to make the game comfortable for the first time after a titanic tussle.

Davis had led by a point at half-time as Paul Hudson’s pair swapped the lead their way just before the short whistle, 0-5 to 0-4 in front.

It sets up a semi-final date with the All-Star packed St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh on Saturday as part of a double-header in Parnell

Park (3pm), that will also see St Brigid’s of Russell Park take on Ballymun Kickhams at 4.30pm.

Plunkett’s success Plunkett’s were grateful to second-half goals from Jason Sherlock and David Matthews as they overturned a first-half deficit at half-time as the 2008 All-Ireland club champions Vincent’s went in at the break at Parnell Park leading 1-5 to 0-6.

Ruairi Trainor’s goal provided that gap but Matthews

crashed home to the net two minutes after the break to nab the lead. Diarmuid Connolly’s 45 levelled matters in an isolated score, the only point for over ten minutes.

But Sherlock provided the impetus for the win when he latched onto Bernard Brogan’s pass to finish off deftly.

Brogan weighed in with a half-dozen points, too, while Philly Brogan was drawn into a couple of great saves late on to deny Connolly and Kevin Golden and hold on for a 2-9 to 1-9 win.

27 October 2011 LUCAN GAZETTE 31

in association with

HURLING: BALLYBODEN TO FACE O’TOOLE’S IN FINAL

CLUB NOTICEBOARD LUCAN SARSFIELDS A WEEKEND to remember. History in

gala ball. Contact Paul Stapleton or

the making for club as the juvenile

Martina McGilloway to be included

camogie section won all four Divi-

on a reserve list.

sion 1 county championship titles from U-13 to U-16.

The Lucan Sarsfields GAA Club 25 Card Drive takes place every Fri-

Great quarter-final win by senior

day in the clubhouse bar at 9pm.

footballers in championship, and

Set dancing is on every Wednesday

they now play Oliver Plunkett’s ER

from 8.30 to 10pm.

in semi-final. Time and date will be on website. All support welcome.

Great win also for Inter footballers over Vincent’s to ensure AFL3 football next season.

Johnny McCaffrey has organised two coaching courses for mentors in November. If you are interested, contact Johnny.

Saturday, November 5: Music by Mulligan. Thursday, November 17: AGM. All tables have been sold for the

Fr John to say Mass in the club on Wednesday, November 2 at 8pm for our deceased members.

Lotto: Numbers drawn were 4, 8, 13 and 20. There was no winner.

Next week’s jackpot is €5,000.

Josephine Donohue’s team will be in charge next weekend.

Do not forget you can alwa ys enter our lotto online by clicking on www.lucansarsfields.ie.

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

ST PAT’S, PALMERSTOWN Ballyboden outpaced and outplayed Lucan Sarsfields in their senior hurling championship semi-final

St Enda’s reach final with ruthless display DUBLIN SHC SEMI-FINAL Ballyboden St Enda’s 6-10 Lucan Sarsfields 1-8 Q STEPHEN FINDLATER sport@gazettegroup.com

B A L LY B O D E N S t Enda’s semi-final hoodoo over Lucan Sarsfields continued last Wednesday night in Parnell Park as the Firhouse Road club eased into the final with a comprehensive showing.

Indeed, had Emmett Carroll or Paul Ryan shown even more ruthlessness in the first half, the scoreline could have been even more chastening than the 2-7 to 0-2 half-time tally.

Lucan just never got any momentum together, falling to Boden for the fourth time in five seasons while it is now also four semi-final defeats in five.

Indeed, it was a miserable night for the 12th Lock side, compounded

by Padraig O’Driscoll’s stretchering off with barely a quarter gone due to a dislocated knee-cap.

By then – despite the absence of talismen Stephen Hiney and Conal Keaney – Boden had already exerted their influence with Mal Travers and Stephen Nolan bossing the half-back line while Ryan was getting busy on his own personal account – he ended with 2-6.

It took him scarcely 20 seconds to get that going as Conor McCormack dropped one in from the throw-in and Ryan nipped in around the square to clip home a soft goal.

Their speed of control, and the availability of runners at close range, made it easy for them to shift play quickly and Lucan were penned in their own 40 for much of the first phases.

Carroll was blocked out at the near post by a scampering Cronan Dooley at the last while David O’Connor was denied by a fine Darragh Cunningham save from two giltedged goal chances.

It was not the most

accurate of nights for Boden but they still managed to tack on more scores from Ryan with just Kevin O’Reilly’s free in response.

David Curtin, though, picked out McCormack for what felt like the game-breaker just before half-time and the lead was extended further when Ryan completed the third goal from Dean Curran’s pass.

Lucan rallied with a couple more O’Reilly scores and further efforts from Robert Lambert and Trevor Lee, and they had the boon of minor skipper

Chris Crummy’s major ten minutes from the end.

It reduced the margin to seven points briefly but Boden awoke from their low-key spell to crack home three more goals in the closing stages as McCormack nabbed his second as O’Connor and the influential Tim Sweeney also weighed in.

O’Tooles are the final opponents, seeking their first title since 2002, while Boden go in search of a first five in-a-row from any club in this competition in over 80 years, dating back to Garda who completed their run in 1929.

CONGRATULATIONS from all at St

Peregrine’s ground.

Pat’s to Liam Rushe who last Friday

Our sincere thanks to Moriarty’s

received a hurling All-Star award

Supervalu, Palmerstown, and to the

and was crowned young hurler

juvenile mentors and players who

of the year, an honour he richly

helped with our fundraising bag-

deserves.

pack last weekend.

Juvenile hurling: U-8s, 9s and 10s

There are only four weeks to our

played Beann Eadair, O’Dwyer’s and

Jubilee Gala Ball, which takes place

Parnells, while U-11s beat Wild Geese

in the Red Cow Moran’s Hotel. If

and U-12s lost to Castleknock. In

you haven’t secured your tickets

football, U-13s lost to Kevin’s/Kil-

yet please ring or text 086 7255 586

lian’s, and U-16s had a a good win

and leave your order. Tickets only

over Raheny.

€45 with champagne reception at

Senior hurlers are in Parnell Park this Saturday at 2pm to play Naomh

7.30pm and four-course meal served at 8pm.

Fionnbarra in the B championship

The annual Mass of Remembrance

final, and we hope you will find the

takes place on November 12 at the

time to be there and cheer on the

clubhouse at 8pm.

lads. U-16s hurlers also play a cham-

Best wishes from all at St Pat’s to

pionship final this Saturday when

junior footballer Shane Carroll who

they take on Raheny at 10.30am in St

recently married Caitriona Geary.

WESTMANSTOWN GAELS/GARDA THE junior 1s lost awa y in their

Thank you to everyone that sup-

league fixture to Cuala last Sunday

ported the sponsored solo last Sat-

morning. Their next match is away

urday. Well done to all of the teams

to Fingallians at Lawless Park next

that participated.

Sunday, October 30, at 11am.

The mid-term blitz is taking place

Congratulations to four West-

during the school break. Details on

manstown Gaels girls on making the

www.westmanstowngaels.ie, or

Dublin U-17 development squad.

contact club GPO Micheal Ahern

The Big Fight Night is in Croke Park on Friday, November 25, when the

at 087-7758346 if you require more information.

Garda GAA Club take on the Garda

Re: the ongoing membership drive,

Rugby Club in the boxing ring. The

thank you to everyone that has dis-

Battle of the Thin Blue Line is a fun-

tributed leaflets in local estates.

draiser for both clubs, as well as

If you can distribute help leaflets

raising money for the Tania McCabe

outside your local school or estate,

Foundation.

please contact Eddie Mar tin at

Tickets cost €20 and can be pur-

0871214658.

chased from any member of the

Well done to the U-14 and U-16 girls

Garda GAA or Rugby clubs, or from

who have qualified for their cham-

Eddie Fallon on 0863726754.

pionship finals.

ALL SPORTS COVERAGE FROM27-31 PAGE 27-31 ALLOF OFYOUR YOURCASTLEKNOCK LUCAN SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE

NEW GANG SHUT DOWN: INReigning ’TOWN:champs Westmanstown put Lucan to host theLeinster sword toschools’ end SHCrugby title dreams blitz P28P31

MAY 26, OCTOBER 27,2011 2011

OCTOBER SUPER STARS: HEROES Sports May award Awards nominees nominations revealed announced inside P29

St Pat’s Palmerstown are lining up the Dublin senior B hurling championship title which they won back in 2008 with victory over Faughs

have been major contenders no matter what the format.

“We were confident in our group because we beat a very fancied Naomh Mearnog by eight points. Once we got on the board there, we thought we’d pick up another three out of four wins. It didn’t really matter to us whether it was knock-

out or group stage. We look at championship as championship and take whatever is put in front of us.”

They go into the final with a side with an average age of just 23 but many have been here before three seasons ago, Dan Byrne starring as a 17-year-old at centreback.

gazette

group

.com

ST PAT’S Palmerstown manager Pat Mullins is lining up a triumphant return to the Senior A hurling championship as B championship winners when his charges take on Naomh Fionnbarra at Parnell Park on Sunday (2pm).

Promotion was achieved with a fine victory over a fancied Crumlin in the semi-final but Mullins is keen that his side goes up with silverware for the season.

“We’re not in this final just to turn up; we’re in to win it and that was the goal at the start of the year. To come up as winners,” he told GazetteSport.

“The draw for the semi-final against Crumlin was probably the one everyone wanted to avoid. Erin’s Isle was also a tough one in the quarter-final, which we learned a lot from, made a lot of mistakes that we rectified. We’re hoping to push on again.”

A return of some of his biggest stars has been a big factor, most notably Liam Rushe who was named the club’s first All-Star last Friday and also received the

U-21 emerging player of the year award.

“It’s a huge boost to the team and the club that he achieved this. All credit to himself, he put in the hard work to get there.

“We didn’t have him for the league campaign because of his county duties but he has played a huge part in the championship. He has slotted into centre back and nearly been man of the match in the two games so far, controlling the games from there.”

Also back in the fold after injury are Shane Stapleton and Aidan Glennon.

“Shane is only back in time for the championship [after a cruciate injury].

The last day he scored seven points, four from play, and is back to his best. He’s still with the Dublin senior physical trainer as they try and get him right for next year.

“He has been a key factor in getting us to the final, as has Aidan. He’s found form again, scoring 1-5 from play the last day, so it’s great to have him back fully fit.”

The condensed nature of the tournament might have worked in their favour but Mullins believes that his side would

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