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January nu ua y 26, 2012

INSIDE: LCC students welcome Holocaust COMPASS: Your unmissable 8-page survivor for talk P2 guide to travel in 2012 See pages 17-24

On adoptions: Clarification on Ireland’s stance Soccer: Lucan United face biggest test in FAI Cup Page 32

THE Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald (pictured with chairman of the Adoption Board, Geoffrey Shannon, and Mr Ha Hung Cuong, Minister for Justice, Socialist Republic of Vietnam) writes in The Gazette about the best procedures for adoptive couples and persons to undertake, as Ireland renews its inter-country adoption procedures with Vietnam. Minister Fitzgerald discusses the proper channels to undertake, and clarifies Ireland’s position on such adoptions.

See Opinion on Page 10

Camogie: St Joseph’s claim Dublin senior title Page 31

ALSOINSIDE: MOTORS ........................14 BUSINESS .................... 16 TRAVEL..........................17 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 25 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26 SPORT ...........................27

Ten-minute grace for Lucan parking Complaints lead to enforcement change in village

Q PAUL HOSFORD

MOTORISTS are to be given a ten-minute grace period to purchase parking tickets in Lucan village following complaints about parking enforcement in the village.

The move has been welcomed by Fine Gael council-

lor William Lavelle, who put forward a motion at a council meeting last week calling for the introduction of the grace period to enable motorists to purchase and display a parking ticket before fines are issued.

“As local councillor for Lucan, I have been a con-

sistent champion of efforts to improve the business and social life of Lucan village.

“Two years ago, I was to the fore in opposing an increase in parking charges and the introduction of Saturday payparking in Lucan village,” said Cllr Lavelle.

Full Story on Page 4

2 LUCAN GAZETTE 26 January 2012

CHARITY

FLOODING: ASSESSING THE RISKS TO EASTERN REGION, AND GREATER DUBLIN

Eyebrow beauty to help ICS THE BODY Shop outlets all over the county will hold a Threading Day on Tuesday, January 31 in aid of the Irish Cancer Society (ICS).

The shops, including the unit in Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, will be doing their bit to raise funds for the vital work ICS does. You can get your eye brows perfected and feel good at the same time by making an instore donation.

Eyebrow threading Eyebrow threading is done using a thin, twisted cotton thread rolled over brows, plucking the hair at the follicle level.

Unlike tweezing, where single hairs are pulled out one at a time, threading can remove an entire row of hair, resulting in a straighter line.

No booking is necessary, and contributions are made at customers’ discretion.

Public meeting on flood study Q DAWN LOVE news@gazettegroup.com

The Boy from Belsen: Concentration camp survivor gives talk to students LUCAN Community College Fifth Year students Niall Walsh and

Ben Moore joined their peers in welcoming Tomi Reichental to the school recently, where Mr Reichental gave a frank and insightful presentation to the Transition Year, Fifth Year and Leaving Cert students about his life in a German concentration camp.

Mr Reichental was sent by the Nazis to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1944, when he was nine years old. Although he survived, along with his mother, brother, aunt and cousin, 35 members of his family perished. Living in Ireland since 1959, Mr Reichental wrote a book about his experiences, entitled, I Was A Boy in Belsen.

Although it was a difficult tale to take in, the students listened carefully to Mr Reichental’s first-hand insight into his life at the notorious camp, and life in Germany at the time, as well as asking many questions about his ordeal, and his subsequent life in Ireland.

A MAJOR public meeting aimed at highlighting a new study that deals with the assessment and sustainable management of flood risks to the Eastern Region, which includes the Greater Dublin Area, will take place this week.

The Eastern Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study, was commissioned in June 2011, and deals with the assessment and sustainable management of flood risk in the Eastern district. The study is part of a CFRAM programme being undertaken by the OPW in line with current national flood policy and the EU Directive on the Assessment and Management of Flood Risk.

With a land area of

approximately 6,300 km2, the Eastern district accounts for one tenth of the land area of Ireland.

It is home to rich agricultural land, extensive coastline, the city of Dublin and the towns which form the Greater Dublin Area and commuter belt.

Around 1.6 million people, 40% of Ireland’s population, live in the Eastern district with the majority living in the Greater Dublin Area. The district incorporates all or part of 12 local authority areas, including Dun LaoghaireRathdown, Fingal, and South Dublin. The Eastern CFRAM Study will examine all options to reduce flood risk.

There will be full consultation with individuals and organisations with an interest in flooding and related issues. Pending the completion of the

study, the OPW said it will continue to work with the local authorities to identify and implement interim small-scale flood mitigation works in areas at risk from flooding.

The public open evening is open to anybody who would like to learn more, or share their views and experiences, in relation to flooding, flood risk and environmental considerations.

Members of the Eastern CFRAM study team will be available to answer questions at the meeting, which takes place on Thursday, January 26 at 7pm in the Red Cow Moran Hotel on the Naas Road. For further information, contact Katie Murphy, Eastern CFRAM Study Communications Coordinator; 01 4882940; info@eastcframstudy.ie; www.eastcframstudy.ie

26 January 2012 LUCAN GAZETTE 3

SPORT Shock at sudden loss of talented young footballer FUNDRAISER: IN AID OF SPECIALIST SURGERY

Table quiz to help little boy

Tributes were paid to the late Round Towers player, Ciaran Carr (centre), who collapsed at an indoor training session at Moyle Park College

Community in mourning over Ciaran Carr’s death Q PAUL HOSFORD lucan@gazettegroup.com

TRIBUTES have been paid to talented footballer, Ciaran Carr, the Clondalkin Round Towers player who tragically died last week.

Ciaran (20), a member of the club for 16 years, was taking part in an indoor training session in Moyle Park College when he collapsed.

Team-mates, along with specialist paramedics, fought to revive him, but were unsuccessful.

The talented young man turned out for the club in both hurling and football, and was studying sports management at Inchicore College. His father, Philip, is a wellknown GAA referee.

Local Labour TD, Robert Dowds, said that the community had felt a deep loss.

“Obviously, the whole community is devastated. Our hearts go out to his parents, Gemma and Philip, and we can only hope that their deep involvement with the Round Towers’ GAA club can sustain them a small bit.”

A club statement paid tribute to the player, saying he had made an “outstanding contribution” to Round Towers in his time.

“Ciaran made an outstanding contribution to Round Tower GAA Club during his life, and gave great commitment as a footballer and hurler.

“Above all, Ciaran was our friend, and his untimely passing has brought great sorrow and grief amongst the Round Tower GAA Club community, and the wider Clondalkin community.

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‘Ciaran represented his family and his club with distinction’

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Christy Cooney, GAA president

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“Ciaran represented Dublin footballers from Under-12 level, and played with the county through the ranks, and was part of the Under-21 training panel last year.

“To his parents, Philip and Gemma, club supporters and friends, and his extended family and many friends, we extend our deepest sympathy and condolences.

“As a mark of respect for Ciaran, all club activities are postponed until further notice. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.”

On the Round Tow-

ers’ website, a section for condolences has attracted condolences from friends, family and clubs across the country, with GAA president Christy Cooney leading the messages.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Carr family and the Round Tower GAA club at this unimaginably difficult time,” said Cooney.

“Ciaran achieved a lot in his short life, and cherished his involvement with the GAA through his local club and, of course, his county. He represented his family and his club with distinction.

“I extend my sympathies and those of the association to Ciaran’s parents,” said An Uachtarain CLG. Speaking to Gazette Sport, team-mate Alan Milton said that the club had lost a prominent member.

“Not only was Ciaran a talented footballer and hurler and a player that we had very high hopes for, he was an esteemed member of the club. He was Round Towers to the core.

“He was immersed in the activities of the club, and he was a part of the success across the club, committed to all levels, and he was a part of everything that Round Towers did,” said Milton.

THE family of a local boy, James Casserly, is to hold a table quiz to help pay for much-needed surgery for the brave six-year-old.

James, who lives in Hillcrest, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was two.

According to his parents: “James is a very active little boy. He loves swimming, and partakes in the Football Association of Ireland’s Football for All programme.

“He loves sports and, last year, met the Leinster Rugby Squad, as well as Irish manager, Giovanni Trappatoni, and captain Robbie Keane.”

In April, he will be going to Bristol for an operation, selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR),

which involves cutting some of the microscopic sensory nerve fibres that come from the muscles and enter the spinal cord.

It is, at present, the only procedure that can help improve movement in cerebral palsy sufferers.

The HSE have partfunded the operation, but there are still thousands of euro to be raised for James’ post-operative care.

His aunt, Jennifer Casserly, has arranged a benefit night table quiz in Lucan Sarsfields’ GAA on Friday, February 3 at 8pm.

For further information on James, and his progress, see www.forjames.com.

4 LUCAN GAZETTE 26 January 2012

FastNews

COUNCIL Decision is a ‘victory for common sense’

Free child protection training course A FREE, introductory two-session Child Protection Awareness Training course, suitable for new volunteers in youth groups or clubs running activities for young people, will get underway on Monday, January 30 at 7.30 at the Griffeen Youth Centre.

For further information, and to book your place, please contact Mary or Joan at Lucan Youth Service on 01 6217640 or email to lucanyouthservice@gmail.com

No Easter events planned in local parks SOUTH Dublin County Council has said that there are no plans to run any events in local parks over the Easter period.

The local authority was responding to Fine Gael Councillor Emer Higgins who had asked SDCC to outline details of any plans to

celebrate Easter in the county, including any public events in any parks.

Responding to Cllr Higgins, SDCC said: “The council’s parks will be open for public use over the Easter Holiday period on the same basis as in previous years.

“There are no proposals to run any specific events in public parks to celebrate Easter,” the council said.

Signs advising of the changes in parking enforcement will be installed soon

Ten minute grace period for parking Q PAUL HOSFORD

lucan@gazettegroup.com

LOCAL motorists are to be given a ten minute grace period to purchase parking tickets in Lucan Village following complaints about parking enforcement in the village.

The move has been welcomed by Fine Gael Cllr William Lavelle, who put forward a motion at the council meeting last week calling for the introduction of the grace period to enable motorists to purchase and display a parking ticket before fines are issued.

Responding to Cllr

Cllr William Lavelle

Lavelle’s motion, South Dublin County Council said there had been complaints regarding parking enforcement in the village and that signs advising of the changes would be installed soon.

“Two cases have been directly reported regarding an unhelpful warden in Lucan; this has been taken up with the parking enforcement contractor and appropriate action has been taken. “ S e ve r a l w a r d e n s patrol parking in South Dublin and no other wardens have been reported.

Complaints of this nature are taken seriously, as it is the council who is being represented and, in any case, the operation of controlled parking requires the ongoing and general support of residents and traders,” said the council.

“Information signs

which state, bi-lingually, ‘Drivers, please purchase and display a parking ticket within 10 minutes of arrival’ and ‘Failure to display a parking ticket may result in a fine’ will be installed as this is applied generally to allow those persons who might arrive at a pay station without the correct or any change to obtain some and pay for their parking,” the council said.

Cllr Lavelle said that the decision was a victory for common sense.

“As local councillor for Lucan, I have been a consistent champion of efforts to improve the

business and social life of Lucan Village. Two years ago, I was to the fore in opposing an increase in parking charges and the introduction of Saturday pay-parking in Lucan village “In recent times, both local traders and residents have complainted to me regarding overzealous enforcement by parking wardens, which was acting as a disincentive to people to visit our village. I believe the introduction a ten minute grace period represents a common sense approach to making Lucan a better place to live, to visit and do business,” he said.

Griffeen Valley Park up for LAMA award Q PAUL HOSFORD

GRIFFEEN Valley Park is amongst a number of local facilities to be nominated for this year’s Local Area Managers Association Awards (LAMA).

First held in 2006, the LAMA Awards were created to recognise local projects of excellence in the areas of infrastructure, community development, recreation and national impact initiatives.

The process commences with nominations being made

by city and county councillors across the country followed by a formal detailed applications process and then a process of short-listing worthy projects.

The Awards are growing in popularity with over 20% more entries for 2012 and certain categories proving extremely popular, in particular tourism, with almost 30 entries and community development with approximately 20 entries.

The 2012 LAMA Awards have expanded to include six new categories, which acknowl-

edge the important role that business, communications and tourism play on both a local and national level. These new categories build on the LAMA Awards’ goal to acknowledge outstanding projects across Ireland.

The 2012 categories include, National Projects and Community Projects, including categories from Best Tourist Attraction and the National Impact Award.

In South Dublin, the Camac Valley camp site and Corkagh

Park have been nominated for Best Tourist Attraction, while the new Grand Canal Bridge was nominated for Best Civil Engineering Project and Griffeen Valley Park has been nominated for Best Public Park.

South Dublin County Council itself is nominated for three awards, coming in the Best Green Authority, Most Innovative Authority and Best Public Campaign by a Government Body categories, the latter being for the hugely successful Fix Your Street campaign.

26 January 2012 LUCAN GAZETTE 5

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CAFE

Lucan Youth Services seeking members IF you are over 18 years of age and are interested in getting involved in your community in a practical and helpful way, Lucan Youth Service is looking for you. The adult volunteer team of Mega Bites Youth Cafe is currently looking to recruit like minded, creative and enthusiastic individuals.

Full training and induction provided.

For more information, contact Mary or Joan at Lucan Youth Service on 01 6217640, email lucanyouthservice@gmail.com or on Facebook www. facebook.com/megabites. cafe

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SDCC Council secures funding for projects

Parks are to get exercise equipment F U N D I N G f o r 11 projects, which will see the installation of exercise equipment in parks, has been secured by South Dublin County Council.

The development has been welcomed by Fine Gael Cllr Emer Higgins who said: “In response to my motion earlier last year asking the council to investigate the practicalities of offering exercise equipment in parks, management have now secured funding for eleven projects throughout the county, including at Griffeen Valley Park, Waterstown Park, Hermitage Park, Corkagh Park and Rathcoole Park, and I am pleased to confirm that these trails are due to be installed by April.

“I am delighted that all eleven applications for funding for these

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‘Investments in health and wellbeing must still be made, despite the current economic conditions’

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trails in our county were approved.

“The council have since gone to tender, and the company who are contracted to oversee the installation of these exercise trails are due to complete the project by March.

“I am delighted that this facility will be offered in our parks, I think they will be an attraction that will draw more park users through our park gates and a welcome addition to many people’s exercise routines.

“We have fantastic amenities in our public parks and anything that encourages more people

into our green spaces is a positive.

“I look forward to seeing this project delivered for residents throughout our area and to being one of the first to try it out,” she added.

Exercise trails are a series of gym-like equipment installed around a track, or route, and can be used in all weathers by adults of all fitness levels.

Funding has been made available by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for equipment to be installed at eleven locations throughout the county.

“Investments in health and wellbeing must still be made, despite the cur-

Fine Gael Cllr Emer Higgins

rent economic conditions,” said Cllr Higgins.

“Exercise trails offer not just fitness opportunities but can also incorporate equipment that focus on wrists and other joint areas often prone to arthritis.

“They can be specifically developed to contain anti-graffiti property, laid out in a route format to discourage any potential anti-social behaviour they may otherwise invite and are heavy duty to ensure they weather

our climate well and do not rust or break easily either by accident or as a result of vandalism. They work well in other parts of the country and will be a positive investment for our area,” said Cllr Higgins.

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26 January 2012 LUCAN GAZETTE 7

8 LUCAN GAZETTE 26 January 2012

PEOPLE Clondalkin man on his busy role at ‘the royals’ hotel’

Never boring at The Goring for Kinsella Q PAUL HOSFORD

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lucan@gazettegroup.com

‘I’ve been here 17 years, and I have a very good team around me.

‘We get a lot of famous people coming in, a lot of them because of the royal wedding.

‘We have a massive amount of regulars, with the Irish Embassy around the corner as well.’

IT’S a long way from Clondalkin to one of the world’s most famous and prestigious hotels but, for Brian Kinsella, a native of Clondalkin, it is a path that has seen him rub shoulders with royals, sports stars and celebrities.

As bar manager in the five-star Goring Hotel, aka the hotel where the Duchess of Cambridge spent the night before her wedding to Prince William, Kinsella is used to mixing with the great and the good.

But how did the road from Clondalkin lead to London’s SW1 district?

Talking to The Gazette

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Brian Kinsella, bar manager, The Goring Hotel

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from London, Kinsella says: “I moved to London in 1988, and I started working in the hotel industry here.

“I worked in T he Dorchester and The Kings Court Hotel, before joining the Goring family 17 years ago.

“It’s a fourth-generation of the family that are running the hotel, which is nice,” he says.

Because of the nature of the job, Kinsella is obviously unable to divulge any details of the stay of the Middleton family, but the connection with

the royal family does not end there for the Goring Hotel.

Opened in 1910, the hotel is just around the corner from Buckingham Palace, and the term “palatial” doesn’t do the early days of the hotel justice.

It was the first hotel in the world with en-suite bathrooms and central heating in every room.

“In fact,” says Kinsella, “many guests at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation chose to stay in the Goring Hotel, as there was a bathroom in every room, whereas in Buckingham Palace, they would have to share bathrooms.

“The affiliation [between the hotel and the royal family] started around that period and, since then, the royal family have frequented the hotel, and then you know what happened in May.”

Experience While not being able to talk specifics about the royal wedding, the Clondalkin native says that even being around the event was an experience not to be forgotten.

“It was a wonderful occasion for all involved.

The whole thing created such a buzz around London, especially because of where we are. It was a great mood around, it was a great thing to be involved in.

“It was probably the best three working days I’ve ever done,” says Kinsella.

In 2010, the hotel won the Cathey Award for Best Independent Hotel, and was named Virtuoso Travel Group’s Hotel of the Year.

Awards such as these

Clondalkin native, Brian Kinsella, talks to The Gazette about his bar manager at the prestigious Goring Hotel, close to Buckingham Palace, and where the Duchess of Cambridge spent the night before her wedding to Prince William

are felt at ground level, with Kinsella saying that being involved in the evolution of the company makes it feel more special.

“I’ve been here 17 years; my assistant managers have been here seven and six years, and I have a very good team around me.

“The hotel was a fourstar when I got here, and is a five-star hotel, now,” he says.

“We get a lot of famous people coming in, a lot of them because of the royal

wedding.

“We have a massive amount of regulars, with the Irish Embassy around the corner as well.”

As an Irishman living in the shadow of Buckingham Palace, seeing the Queen in his backyard, Kinsella says that the visit only improved his already excellent relationship with England. “[Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Ireland] should have been done years ago. On a personal basis, I think the relationship

[between Ireland and Britain] is pretty strong.

“There is a mutual respect between the countries, and there’s very few negatives I hear from British people about Ireland.

“We get a huge amount of Irish coming to this hotel and I was surprised by the interest [at home] in the royal wedding.

“But, when they find out that the bar manager is from Clondalkin, they’re a bit surprised!” says Kinsella.

26 January 2012 LUCAN GAZETTE 9

10 LUCAN GAZETTE 26 January 2012

www.gazette group.com

OPINION Danger in not using proper channels

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

Minister Fitzgerald with Geoffrey Shannon and Mr Ha Hung Cuong, Minister for Justice, Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Bringing clarity on adoptions MINISTER FRANCES FITZGERALD on the best course for couples to take AS Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am charged with working with the Adoption Authority of Ireland to develop inter-country adoptions. I have been working very hard on this priority in an effort to bring clarity for those wishing to adopt.

Seven hundred Vietnamese children have been adopted into Irish homes, but, in 2009 relationships between Ireland and Vietnam broke down.

Two hundred Irish applications were being processed when adoptions were suspended and 19 couples, who were about to complete the adoption process, were directly caught up in the suspension and have been left in limbo.

When I became Minister, I decided that I wanted to stop this drift and I have been working very hard to create political and diplomatic links between Vietnam and Ireland. My efforts culminated in an official visit

this month to Vietnam to progress inter-country adoption relationships between our two countries.

The Hague Convention will come into force in Vietnam on February 1 – this is very significant for us. The Convention sets standards, in terms of adoption, and it is vital that we are satisfied that any adoptions into Ireland comply with these standards and with our own Adoption Act. Between now and February 1, the Adoption Authority of Ireland will complete accreditation of one or more adoption agencies to work on the ground in Vietnam to assist couples during the adoption process.

There are 88 million people in Vietnam and 200,000 children are reliant on the Vietnamese State for care. While I was there, I visited an orphanage in Hanoi and among the children I met was a four-week old baby girl who has been abandoned. I would hope that

the progress Vietnam is making in terms of ratifying Hague, means that there will be fewer and fewer delays in placing children like her with loving families.

Of course, Vietnam isn’t the only country that we are forging links with. The State of Florida, Ethiopia, Mexico and Russia are all looking for families to adopt children. Some issues have arisen with adoptions from Florida and, at my request, the chairman of the Adoption Authority travelled to Washington in November to progress adoptions between Ireland and Florida.

Just before Christmas I gave approval to begin examining the feasibility of a bilateral agreement with Ethiopia and I look forward to being able to progress this. The Adoption Authority of Ireland travelled to Russia in December to discuss the potential for creating legal agreements to adopt from Russia.

The most important

piece of advice I would give any couple wishing to adopt is that the best safeguard is to go through the Adoption Authority of Ireland and always follow their advice.

Mexico hit the headlines recently for all the wrong reasons and it goes to show the dangers of not using the proper channels to adopt. You must always follow the advice of our Adoption Authority and send your adoption pack to the central authority in your country of preference.

I know a lot of Irish adoptees are anxiously awaiting news on tracing rights. My Department is currently drafting a new bill on this and I am in ongoing discussions with the Adoption Rights Alliance in relation to this.

I look forward to progressing legislation on tracing rights and to continuing to further inter country relationships in order to provide Irish homes to children who need them.

26 January 2012 GAZETTE 11

SOCIETY Annual contest calls for entrants

In search of leading social entrepreneurs Q LAURA WEBB news@gazettegroup.com

DUBLIN-based social entrepreneurs are being urged to apply for a 2012 awards programme that will see three such entrepreneurs get support funding, amounting to €600,000.

Social Entrepreneurs Ireland launched the 2012 awards programme this week, and is calling for applications from individuals in Dublin developing new, big ideas that will address the social and environmental challenges facing Ireland.

A total of €600,000 in funding and support will be presented to three award winners at the awards in October. On top of this, the awards will also support a further five individuals with €35,000, under the Social Entre-

James Whelton, from CoderDojo, was helped by Ben Mac Ionmhain and Laurita Maher Bordalo to launch the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland 2012 Awards Programme

preneurs Ireland Elevator Programme.

The call for applications is the start of an extensive eight-month consultation and engagement process that will lead to the award winners being announced in autumn.

Social entrepreneurs have until Thursday, February 16 to submit their application.

The selection process includes a “boot camp” in

March, where shortlisted candidates will be invited to pitch their projects, leading to interviews from which eight finalists will be chosen.

The finalists will then take part in a three-month finalists’ programme, where they will receive some funding and support, prior to final selection of the 2012 award winners in October.

Since 2005, Social

Entrepreneurs Ireland has helped support 150 social entrepreneurs, directly investing more than €4 million to individuals.

These, in turn, have directly impacted more than 170,000 people, and created more than 800 employment opportunities.

Sean Coughlan, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland chief executive, said: “The main criteria is a passion for making a difference, thinking big and using business skills for social change.

“We believe that, together, we can change Ireland, and the impact of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland over the past seven years has proved that.”

For further details on the programme, or to apply, see: www.socialentrepreneurs.ie.

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GazetteMOTORS MOTORS RoadSigns Road Signs

On the run with Continental CONTINENTAL Tyres, the European market leader in the car tyre segment, has used its tyre manufacturing expertise to help global running leaders, adidas, develop a new model of running shoes.

The manufacturer was approached by the leading sports brand’s innovation team to apply their resources and expertise to develop an outsole with a strong grip ideal for trail and outdoor sports shoes.

The trail shoes, called adidas Supernova Riot 3, feature Continental’s TM Traction Compound Technology – which allows sure grip on all surfaces and conditions. The latest running shoe model that is now available in both men and women’s styles, is the brand new adiSTAR Ride 3, the perfect trainer for urban environment. Further products - for outdoor and street running are in development.

The Supernova Riot and the adiSTAR Ride 3 are now available from the online adidas shop at www.adidas. ie.

Badged as an Acura in the US, Honda’s new NSX uses lightweight materials and a mid-mounted V-6 engine

Honda’s New NSX Concept is unveiled AMERICAN Honda has unveiled the new NSX Concept, highlighting the design and technology direction for the nextgeneration supercar.

Badged as an Acura in the US, the new NSX, which is expected to go on sale in the next three years, will be developed

by Honda R&D Americas and manufactured in Ohio, but is developed for true sports driving enthusiasts throughout the world.

The dynamicallystyled NSX Concept gives an indication of the next great performance vehicle from Honda. Making use of lightweight materials and a mid-mounted V-6 engine, the NSX

Concept employs several new technologies, including an innovative new Sport Hybrid SHAWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) hybrid system.

Values

Speaking at the Detroit Motor Show, Takanobu Ito, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co, Ltd, who led the development of Honda’s first NSX supercar, explained the values of the new NSX. “Like the first NSX, we will again express highperformance through engineering efficiency.

In this new era, even as we focus on the fun to drive spirit of the NSX,

I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities.”

While most supercars opt for brute force delivered from a large engine, the NSX Concept champions the true racing philosophy of an extremely favourable power-to-weight ratio.

Utilising a unique 2 Electric Motor Drive Unit with a bilateral torque adjustable control system, the new hybrid allwheel-drive system can instantly generate negative or positive torque to the front wheels during cornering, which Honda anticipates will deliver handling performance unmatched by previous

AWD systems.

In addition to the handling benefits of the Sport Hybrid SHAWD system, a powerful next-generation VTEC V-6 engine with directinjection, works in concert with a dual-clutch transmission with builtin electric motor, to create supercar acceleration while offering outstanding efficiency.

This Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system will make the NSX the ultimate expression of “the synergy between man and machine,” added Ito. “The NSX will make the driver one with the car to enhance dynamic driving abilities without getting in the way.”

Designing vehicles for visually impaired FORD is using Cambridge University’s Vision and Hearing Impairment Simulator to help design its vehicles to meet the needs of people with age-related vision problems Ford has joined forces with Cambridge University to gain a better understanding of visual impairment issues that come with an aging society and to use digital tools to better design vehicles for those with vision problems

With age, the ability to see fine details deteriorates, as does the ability to see in the dark. This means many drivers can struggle to read the instrument cluster while driving, unless they have bifocal or varifocal glasses.

To respond to this growing problem, Ford has joined forces with a team of experts from the University of Cambridge’s Engineering Design Centre. The team has developed a Vision Impairment

Simulator to enable designers and engineers to gain a better understanding of the effects of a wide variety of visual impairments.

“It allows you to simulate visual impairments on any image. You load in an image, select a visual impairment and it lets you see the image as someone with that impairment would see it,” said Sam Waller, an inclusive design research associate at Cambridge, who developed the software.

26 January 2012 GAZETTE 15

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GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS Graduates complete basic IT skills course MINISTER Pat Rabbitte, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, awarded certificates to the first group of successful BenefIT candidates last Friday, January 20.

The candidates had completed ICS Skills’ Get Ireland Online programme, under the BenefIT 3 scheme, which is grant-aided by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

As part of this, ICS Skills will ensure almost 5,000 people are provided with basic IT skills in 38 locations around Ireland.

Minister Rabbitte said:

Supported by AIB

Ger’s golden giveaway: A lucky winner

“I want to ensure that no one is left behind – that every citizen has the opportunity to embrace our increasingly digital world.”

Participants on the Get Ireland Online course are taught how to make use of the web, send email, use internet telephone services such as Skype, and do shopping and banking online during three twohour classes.

The training is especially suitable for senior citizens, unemployed people, disadvantaged groups and anyone lacking in basic ICT skills.

For further information on the programme, see www.getirelandonline.ie.

IT DIDN’T take Bulmers’ Doing Our Bit winner Ger Norris long to de-cider who to give away his winnings to, when he won €2,500 for a charity of his choice in Bulmers’ promotional campaign.

Ger nominated the St Vincent de Paul Society to be awarded €2,500, in addition to winning €2,500 for himself, after he found a “golden apple” in a promotional pack of Bulmers’ cans and longnecks.

As a total of 17 apple varieties go into making Bulmers’ Origincal Cider, the company has hidden 17 golden apples in these packs, with individuals, and community projects of their choice, set to benefit from the sweet initiative.

BANKING: ANNUAL AIB CONTEST

Picking photo award winner will be a snap JUDGING of the 2012 AIB Photojournalism Awards is under way, with almost 2,000 images submitted from 120 photographers from right around Ireland.

This is AIB’s tenth year sponsoring the competition, which recognises excellence in the field of photojournalism, and is open to all members of the Press Photographers’ Association of Ireland (PPAI).

This year’s expert panel of judges is chaired by former picture editor, Dermot O’Shea, and includes two multi-award winning photographers – Peter MacDiarmid, senior news photographer, Getty Images, and Eddie Mulholland, photographer, The Telegraph Group.

The nine award categories have been refreshed and, this year, prizes will be awarded in news, daily

life and people, sports action, sports non-action, portrait, nature and the environment, politics, arts and entertainment and reportage, as well as the overall title of 2012 AIB Photojournalist of the Year Award.

Brenda Moriarty, head of brand and corporate marketing, AIB, said: “AIB is delighted to sponsor the AIB Photojournalism Awards, and accompanying exhibition, for the tenth year.

“The competition creates a tremendous platform for the work of the PPAI to be seen by communities right around Ireland.

“We look forward to the exhibition of winning and highly-commended images, which will go on tour following the awards, visiting our branches and other selected venues.

“I would like to wish all

PPAI members the very best of luck in this year’s competition,” she said.

Michael Chester, president, PPAI, said: “The AIB Photojournalism Awards recognises excellence in our field, and showcases the work of Irish photojournalists.

“The PPAI is delighted to be in partnership with AIB, as its branch network allows the work of our members to be seen by wide-ranging communities in Ireland,” he said.

The winners of the 2012 AIB Photojournalism Awards will be announced at a ceremony in The Burlington Hotel on Friday, February 17.

The winning images will form the 2012 AIB Photojournalism Exhibition, which will tour selected AIB branches and other venues around the country throughout the year.

LONDON LUXURY P22

FAMILY FUN IN THE SUN P18

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VALENTINE’S BREAKS P24

WHERE in the WORLD THE WRITE GUIDE TO STOCKHOLM: THE Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is currently making a huge impact on movie fans all over the world and, now, it is making an even bigger impact in Stockholm.

The movie, based on the trilogy of books by Stieg Larsson, was shot in Stockholm, and many fans have started visiting the city to walk in the footsteps of the characters.

If you wish to explore the story settings on your own, and not by guided tour, pick up a Millenium Map at the City Museum, which lists all relevant addresses.

Stockholm City Museum’s popular and award-winning Stieg Larsson Millennium Tour has proved very popular with fans. The walking tour is full of factual information and intriguing stories that tie the real Stockholm with its fictional counterpart.

If you are an avid fan of the thriller series, then you may also like to take a private tour, which can be booked by emailing: bokning. stadsmuseum@stockholm.se.

SAS flies direct from Dublin to Stockholm, four times a week, from €85 one-way, including all taxes and charges.

Toronto has vibrant indigenous music scene, beautiful scenery, world-class museums, restaurants and architecture and a lot of sports

LONGITUDE 79° 24’ W | LATITUDE 43° 40’ N

Anything and everything you could want in Toronto Q PAUL HOSFORD

LOVE Toronto. It’s not a catchy phrase on (many) t-shirts, but it’s true. I have experienced a lot in my several visits – music festivals, scary amounts of snow, late-night, on-street discussions on the causes of homelessness with a Hasidic Jew in full Shabbath attire, and even being challenged to a fight by a lady drug-dealer (not me, technically, but a friend.)

With the full disclosure out of the

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way, you might ask what is the reason for this love?

There is everything that anyone could want in a major city – several music festivals all year round as well as a vibrant, indigenous music scene, beautiful scenery, an international film festival for star-spotters, world-class museums, restaurants and architecture, a well-laid out, easily walk able city with good public transport and a lot of sports.

To each of those ends, Toronto suits

me down to the ground.

In a hockey-mad town, in a hockeyobsessed country, Maple Leafs tickets are the Golden Fleece. Every one of their 41 home games sells out the 19,000-plus seats available and tickets are generally only available from scalpers who man the sidewalks outside Union Station, the central transport hub, which is cleverly located almost on top of the team’s Air Canada Centre.

Away from toothless men hitting

each other, the music and arts scene in Toronto is as vibrant as ever. The stunning Roy Thomson Hall is as good a venue for concerts and operas as there is, while the more contemporary venues, like El Mocambo, Lee’s Palace, The Opera House and the world-famous Horseshoe Tavern (which was the first stop on the Rolling Stones’ 1997 world tour) are alive nightly with the sounds of local and international music.

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LONGITUDE 37° 51’ N | LATITUDE 27° 15’ E

Kusadasi bound LAURA WEBB

MAKING my way to the airport on a rainy, dreary Sunday evening in Dublin, made the thoughts of staying in a sunny country for a week even more exciting.

The chartered Sky Airlines plane wasn’t as spacious as I had hoped, but the friendly staff and the free use of a pillow and blanket made the late night flight that little bit easier to handle.

Arriving in Bodrum Airport in Turkey in the middle of the night and having to get a two-hour bus journey to the resort didn’t go down well with my five-year-old son, but, thankfully, the handy portable DVD player was on hand with Toy Story 3 to keep him occupied, and I would suggest something like this in order to keep little ones occupied.

We stayed at the threestar Melissa Apartments, and, after a well-deserved nap, we were greeted by the Wings Abroad holiday rep, Sharon Byrne, who was a bundle of knowledge – telling us all we needed to know about our stay in Kusadasi.

Visitors to Kusadasi will have no excuse for just lounging around the pool, because there

is something different to do every day, from boat trips across the Aedeon Ocean, Turkish Baths, seeing one of the Seven Wonders of the World, or just enjoying the coastal view at the seafront.

My son, Dylan, and I treated ourselves to a trip to a Dolphin Show at Adaland Park, one of two water parks in Kusadasi.

Another day we went to Aquafantasy, which was recommended by Sharon for being the best for young kids. She wasn’t wrong. This water park had so many different activities for kids – if they aren’t big enough for the slides, they still had lots of pools and smaller slides to enjoy.

We walked around the town a lot and used the local bus service, which runs every five minutes, and runs on an honesty policy. You don’t have to pay straight away, and if you have an infant sitting on your lap, they usually go free.

The Melissa Apartment has everything you need for a sun holiday.

Entertainment is provided every night, and at the kiddie discos the younger ones are really taken care of. The room is basic and the complex is small, but the staff make everyone

Having some fun in the pool at Aquafantasy water park

feel welcome.

There are a few hidden costs that I was unaware of. When arriving at Bodrum airport you must pay €15 per person for a visa

The rooms at the Melissa Aparments in Kusadasi are small, but the facilities and friendly staff more than make up for it

to enter the country.

Another strange hidden cost was when we arrived at the Dolphin Show at Adaland Park, I was told that if I wanted to use my own camera to take pictures, I had to pay a further 10 Turkish Lira, crazy when you consider you will be the one paying for the print-outs.

As for the Airport’s crazy food prices – when we were waiting for our plane to Dublin at Bodrum, my thirsty five-yearold asked for a drink. Two cans of sprite cost me 23 Turkish Lira – the equivalent of €10; needless to say I made sure we drank every last drop.

Other than those couple of surprises, Kusadasi is quite cheap and a shop-

per’s dream for all those ‘genuine fake’ clothes, bags, shoes etc.

For a gateway in the Sun, Kusadasi ticks nearly every box.

The 3-star Melissa Apartments, on a selfcatering basis, costs from €369. This family-run complex, with its daytime activities and an Irish Style Pub, is suitable for both families and couples. Its central location and easy access to Ladies Beach, makes it an ideal base for those who want to be within walking distance of all of the amenities that Kusadasi has to offer.

Price includes seven nights accommodation, return flights and transfers.

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for family fun...

Fun at Aquafantasy, left, and, above, the three-star Melissa appartments

Sunset Beach Club – ideal for sun breaks THE Irish-owned Sunset Beach Club is located on the seafront of Benalmadena Costa on the Costa del Sol, and is easily accessible, being only 20 minutes from Malaga airport.

Ideal for a sunshine break, their one-bedroom apartments are perfect for couples or families of up to four, and offer the best of both worlds, combining apartmentstyle rooms with fourstar hotel services and facilities.

March, April and May are great months to enjoy the sunshine without the burn, and all the pleasures of the Costa del Sol and surrounding areas, without the crowds.

The on-site Golf and

Leisure Desk is also there to help you get the most out of your stay.

So, whether you are looking for somewhere to spend a few days lazing by the pool with a good book, play golf, or relax with family and friends, or perhaps an extended visit to explore the amazing sights of Andalucia, Sunset Beach Club provides the perfect base for your holiday.

During the Easter school holidays, separate activities are organised every day for five to 12-year-olds, teenagers and adults, making sure the whole family is entertained.

For more information, visit www.sunsetbeachclub.com.

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Exotic honeymoon options LAURA WEBB

AS EACH new generation ties the knot and enters the honeymoon market, they bring their own tastes and desires to travel.

Destinations, resorts, and activities that thrilled previous newly-wed couples may now be less appealing, or not as attainable due to political and economic reasons.

New trends and exotic destinations always emerge, offering Irish couples fresh opportunities

for fun and relaxation.

Honey mooning in European Union countries means shorter flight times, old world cultures, the euro and romantic cities such as Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Prague, Istanbul or Copenhagen, to name but a few.

Sunny Mediterranean beaches, great food and wine and an endless choice of hotels will suit any budget.

For many couples, Africa represents a dream honeymoon and a rea-

sonable exchange rate has made many previously expensive destinations, such as Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana, much more accessible.

Other hot destinations include Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Borneo, Brazil and Jordan. All offer unique and unforgettable honeymoons, and have never been more inspiring. So, before planning a honeymoon, talk to GoHop.ie and check out the latest ways to celebrate one.

More deals from GoHop …

Also in relation to Toronto and Malta, here are some special offers: CANADA: In every Canadian city, visitors are only steps from good food, great views, and a breath of nature’s fresh air. GoHop.ie are offering holidays to Toronto, flights and five nights, three-star hotel from €519.

For more North American offers, visit http://ibe.gohop.ie/offer/group-24 MALTA: Few European countries have such concentrated history, architecture and, yes, beaches in so tiny an area. GoHop.ie are offering holidays to Malta, flights and seven nights three-star hotels from €159.

For more Malta offers : http://ibe.gohop.ie/offer/group-9

The CN Tower (left) and Casa Loma, Canada’s famous castle, is complete with 98 rooms, secret passages, stately towers and estate gardens . It was the former estate of Sir Henry Pellatt, a prominent Toronto financier.

LONGITUDE 79° 24’ W | LATITUDE 43° 40’ N

Anything and everything you could want in Toronto Continued from Page 17

For those looking to shop, the Eaton Centre marks the city’s centre point and comprises 330 stores, 160,000 square metres, two food courts and five floors. The centre is currently undergoing a $120 million revitalisation project that will see it upgraded and expanded by the end of 2012.

It contains the world’s largest Sears store, which is a haven for downtown shoppers, as well as the Canadian flagship store of H&M. To put in perspective the sheer size of the centre, each of its northernmost and southernmost points has a different subway station serving it (Dundas and Queen, respectively).

For those looking to hit the tourist trail, the CN Tower, once the largest

free-standing structure in the world, is worth every cent of the $30 admission, though, for the best value, I would highly recommend the CityPass ($66 available online at www. citypass.com or from any of the attractions).

The Pass will give you access to the CN Tower, the massive, impressive and, quite frankly excellent, Toronto Zoo, the Ontario Science Centre with it’s interactive learning exhibits, Casa Loma and the Royal Ontario Museum.

The final two are simply unmissable. Casa Loma is a 1911“medieval” castle built on a hill above Toronto’s northside, in an area now known as The Annex.

Up to $3.5million was spent from 1911-14 in turning the site into a home fit for a king and queen, but it soon fell into

disrepair and was seized by the City of Toronto in 1937.

Its magnificence, its opulence and its sheer scale are breathtaking and, if you get a sunny day, the setting is spectacular, with gardens and views aplenty.

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is a world-class museum with over six million items ranging from dinosaur fossils, mummies, world art and Canadian history in 40 galleries inside its

striking, but controversial, crystal entrance.

The redesigned entrance is a jarring addition to the Toronto skyline and is still much-talked about, even four years after the Daniel Libeskind design first opened.

All in all, the city is a diverse, thriving metropolis, with enough quiet spots, like the Toronto Islands, Trinity Bellwoods Park, High Park and nearby attractions, like Niagara Falls, to make it the complete city holiday.

There is definitely something for everyone in the city limits of Toronto

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Great deals at Holiday World Show LONGITUDE 51° 30’ N | LATITUDE 0° 10’ W WHETHER your dream holiday is the delights of Turkey, an African safari, the excitement of South America, the luxury of Dubai, the fun of the Mediterranean or the warm welcome of a home holiday, The Holiday World Show Dublin 2012 at the RDS Simmonscourt from Friday, January 27 to Sunday,

January 29 is the place to be.

The Holiday World Show will provide expert advice to those seeking a well-earned escape from reality, with “affordability” being the key word, and many great offers are available to purchase on the spot.

New this year is the Over-55s Holiday Show,

joining The Holiday World Show and The Caravan and Motorhome Show, offering three shows in one.

The format of the show gives visitors the opportunity to explore the globe under one roof – Africa and the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, the Caribbean, Europe and the Mediterranean, The

Americas, Home Holidays, Cruise Lines and Ferries, alongside Adventure Travel.

Visitors will have the opportunity to talk faceto-face with many leading travel organisations, and can take advantage of some exclusive “showonly” offers. For further information, see www. holidayworldshow.com.

A luvverly excursion to London Q SHANE DILLON

LONDON retains a charm and character that make it a delightful destination for all visitors, allyear-round.

Joining some colleagues, I recently set off for a couple of days there, keen to see some new sights in a city that I know very well.

Taking my seat for a British Midland International (BMI) flight to Heathrow, there followed the smoothest flight of my life – honest – as well as the softest landing, and all on my very first BMI flight, marking a great, relaxed start to my trip.

BMI fly from Dublin to London Heathrow oneway, including all taxes and charges, from €28, which also includes a 20kg baggage allowance.

For further information, see www.flybmi.com.

Upon arrival, my colleagues and I were soon whisked away into the centre of London, courtesy of the swift Heathrow Express (Heathrow to Paddington in 15 minutes;

prices from £18, one-way; www.heathrowexpress. com), leaving us close to our luxurious hotel, The Cavendish London (81, Jermyn Street, St James’s, London SW1Y 6JF; www. thecavendishlondon. com; telephone 0044 20 7930 2111).

The Cavendish London’s superb location (just the shortest of hops from busy Piccadilly Circus) proved an excellent location to explore the city centre on foot, and it was great to be surrounded by historic Jermyn Street’s charming shopping arcades.

After checking in and unpacking in our welcoming executive rooms, my companions and I set off for Madame Tussauds (Marylebone Road, London NW1 5LR; prices from £15; www.madametussauds.com).

You’ll forgive me for waxing lyrical, but the hit tourist attraction left us delighted, fascinated, amused and entertained.

Later that evening, we made our way to The Riding House Cafe (43 – 51

Great Titchfield Street, London W1W 7PQ; www.ridinghouse.co.uk) for a light evening meal – my generous portion of crumbling fish proved a great choice for my authentic fish and chips experience in London.

The night’s musical, Rock of Ages (Shaftesbury Theatre, 210 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8DP; prices from £20; see www.rockofagesmusical. co.uk) left a self-avowed musical-hating colleague singing a different tune the next morning, saying that Rock of Ages was “bloody brilliant” . Quite!

Finally, it was time to finish the day with cocktails, courtesy of the famous Mahiki Bar (1, Dover Street, Mayfair, London W1S 4LD; www.mahiki.com).

Next morning, we strolled to nearby cheesemongers, Paxton and Whitfield (93, Jermyn Street, London SW1Y 6JE; www.paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk), originally established in 1742.

The store serves everyone, from Japanese

Helen Mirren was happy to see Shane at Madame Tussauds, left; Irish cheeses are also on sale at historic Paxton and Whitfield cheesemongers

26 January 2012 LUCAN GAZETTE 23

A view of one of the luxuriously-appointed executive rooms at The Cavendish London

The Cavendish London is located Even January’s gloomy weather couldn’t dampen the stunning views

conveniently close to Jermyn Street’s

of London and her landmarks from the EDF Energy London Eye

neatly-presented arcades

tourists to celebrities (or celebri-cheese?), as well as many leading London hotels, exporting to clients and, of course, serving Buckingham Palace.

Next up, the Thames RIB Experience made quite a splash (Embank-

ment Pier, Victoria Embankment, Greater London, WC2N 6NU; prices from £32; www. thamesribexperience. com), where a brightyellow, inflatable speedboat boat soon took us on an exhilarating, white-

knuckle dash downstream.

Ditching our sea legs, we rejoined the landlubbers at Knightsbridge, joining diners at Harvey Nichols’ Fifth Floor Cafe (109 – 125 Knightsbridge; London SW1X 7RJ;

w w w.har vey nichols. com/fifth-floor-london), where afternoon tea awaited in the form of Picnic Chic tea and sandwiches (£18 per person).

Later that evening, we set off to Vinopolis (1, Bank End, London SE1

9BU; www.vinopolis. co.uk), a complex of venues dedicated to alcohol.

There, Brew Wharf (Brew Wharf Yard, Stoney Street, London SE1 9AD; www.brewwharf. com), our chosen restaurant, served up a delicious evening meal, leaving us ready for the “afters” – a beginner’s introduction to whiskey, courtesy of Tom Forrest, wine and spirit education manager.

Tom’s detailed whiskey-

tasting (www.vinopolis. co.uk/monthlyevents/ whisky_masterclass.php) presentation left us feeling like experts in The Whisky Exchange next door, where a vast selection of whiskies awaited.

Next morning, we walked over to the EDF Energy London Eye (County Hall, London SE1 7PB; prices from £17.01; www.londoneye. com), where the city, and her landmarks, were a

fine sight to behold, even on a January morning.

All that was left was a return to Heathrow, another painless BMI self-check-in, and a short while later, we were once again on board a surprisingly smooth flight, which concluded in Dublin with another soft landing.

Londoners may be annoyed with my mangled accent, but all in all, it turned out to be a luvverly trip to London ...

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Family fun with American Holidays THINKING of Florida for your family holiday this year? American Holidays has the best offers whether this is your first time to experience Orlando or you are a repeat guest. With the best hotels, resorts and apartments on offer, great holiday prices, and a huge number of attractions to choose from, Florida is a must for families, so be sure to check out the new Florida brochure or view online This year, Orlando is all about value and American Holidays have some of the best prices going.

Offers start from €595pp for 14 nights, three-star accommodation and flights ex Dublin, for family of four sharing. And when you book by January 31, you can book your Florida holiday for as little as €100pp deposit.

However, Florida is not all about family holidays – there are superb beach destinations such as Naples, St Pete’s / Clearwater and more.

There are two new Fly drives for those who are looking to hit the open road and experience what the USA has to offer such as: New England Explorer – starting and ending in Boston taking in the MidCoast of Maine, White and Green Mountains, as well as Connecticut River Valley, from €509pp (flights extra). Or maybe the Golden California Self-drive, beginning in San Francisco and taking in the famous landmarks of Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Malibu, Los Angeles and Las Vegas from €599pp (flights extra).

To look at any of the new 2012 brochures, drop into your local travel agent for your copy, or request directly with American Holidays on 01 6733875.

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LONGITUDE 53° 00’ N | LATITUDE 80° 00’ W

Make this Valentine’s day a little bit special IT’S just around the corner, and it’s the best excuse of the year to get away for a special weekend... it’s Valentine’s Day! So, we have chosen some of the most unique and beautiful locations around the country, all of which are offering something a little different to steal away with your other half for a romantic weekend.

PICK N’ MIX AT THE THE 5-STAR G HOTEL

OVERLOOKING Lough Atalia on Galway Bay, a city break at the five-star g Hotel is the ideal getaway for Valentine’s weekend surrounded by absolute opulence and comfort.

Spend two nights with full Irish breakfast each morning, savour a special five-course Valentine’sthemed meal served in the intimate setting of Matz at the g restaurant, and all

from €245pps.

The g even has a pink room - one of the hotel’s signature lounges which is perfect to relax and enjoy one of the hotel’s special love potions cocktails.

To ensure your weekend of love is a bespoke occasion, pick and mix from a selection of treats to create that loving feeling, including ESPA bath oil selection €12; Strawberries dipped in chocolate, €16; Handmade chocolates: €16.00; Rose petal turndown with tea lights,€25; Buck’s Fizz cocktail breakfast, €28; Champagne, from €80 per bottle For further details visit www.theghotel.ie or call (091) 865200.

SPEND VALENTINES WITH ‘THE ONE’ AT NO. 1 PERY SQUARE, HOTEL AND SPA LIMERICK

CHECK into your opulent guest room where a bottle

of pink bubbly and homemade chocolates awaits you and your loved one on arrival.

Indulge in a sumptuous dinner on one night in the intimate surroundings of Brasserie One, overlooking the streetscapes of the Georgian Quarter of the city.

Cherish pure relaxation in the thermal suite followed by a taster treatment in The Spa @ No.1– Ireland’s largest organic urban retreat nestled underneath the .boutique hotel.

There is even a Private Spa Suite designed with total privacy and wellness for couples to enjoy together. As a special Valentine’s treat, couples can enjoy late check-out until 2pm, with the package priced from €169pps.

For further details visit www.oneperysquare.com or call (061) 402 402.

OUTDOOR FUN AND FINE CUISINE AT ASHFORD CASTLE

The comfortable and and friendly surroundings of Ballymaloe House

ENJOY a luxurious Valentine’s weekend in Ashford Castle Hotel where an array of outdoor activities can be enjoyed, and delicious cuisine prepared by award-winning chef, Stefan Matz, is on the menu.

One- and two-night packages are available.

For €247.50 per person,

Ashford Castle, top, Castle Leslie, above, and No 1 Pery Square, right right, are just ery Square three of the special places to spend Valentines

you can enjoy one night’s accommodation, full Irish breakfast, dinner in the renowned Geoorge V dining room, a dozen red roses and a bottle of chilled Gremillet Canteneur Champagne.

This is valid on February 14, 15 and 16.

Two nights’ package costs €395 per person, including all the extra treats and dinner on one night.

For more details call 094 954 6003 or go to www.ashford.ie.

A SPECIAL GETAWAY AT THE MAGICAL CASTLE LESLIE

ENJOY two nights accommodation in the stunning Castle Leslie estate with a romantic candlelit Valentine’s dinner on one evening of your choice in Snaffles restaurant along with a glass of bubbly.

Chocolates and a single red rose will await you in your bedroom and a delicious full Irish breakfast is served each morning.

Located in the castle, their heritage bedrooms

are steeped in history and are full of character and each boudoir has been restored with relaxation and privacy in mind.

Uniquely decorated and retaining their original features, the bedrooms and bathrooms are scattered with antiques, heirlooms and curios that have been lovingly collected throughout the centuries.

From €270 per person sharing, contact Castle Leslie on 047 88100.

SAY ‘I DO’ TO VALENTINE’S WEEKEND IN WESTPORT

BOASTING luxurious guestrooms with kingsize beds and jacuzzi bath as standard, intimate dining options in Restaurant Merlot and a range of glorious treatments in Spa Sula, the Westport Plaza, Co. Mayo, it’s the perfect retreat for couples.

Especially for Valentines weekend, the 4-Star Resort is offering a twonight break with breakfast each morning and an

evening meal on a night of your choice all from €149pps.

For further information, or bookings visit www. westportplazahotel.ie / +353 (0)98 51166.

BALLYMALOE HOUSE – THE PERFECT GETAWAY FOR VALENTINE’S

YOU can enjoy the comfortable and friendly surroundings of Ballymaloe House, take a stroll on the grounds, wander along their walking paths, passing the spring flowers in the woods or relax by an open fire.

The rate includes two nights’ bed and breakfast with a special dinner on Valentine’s night.

Included is a complimentary bottle of rose on arrival in your room and dinner is followed by music in the drawing room with Rory Allen and Friends.

From €230 per adult per for two nights includes bed and breakfast and two evening meals.

For more information call 021 4652531.

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GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT 1GoingOUT PAVILION 01 231 2929

Goldilocks and the Three Bears CONTINUING its commitment to a wide range of communityand family-friendly entertainment, the Pavilion presents a delightful presentation of the classic children’s tale, Goldilocks and the Three Bears. However, this tale is told from the bears’ point of view, as they try to deal with teenage tearaway, Goldilocks, and the worsening honey shortage ... Running from Thursday, January 26 to Saturday, January 28, at 7.30pm, with tickets priced €16/€12.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 Ger Carey Live THE Mill Theatre is continuing its diverse range of shows, with the upcoming return of Ger Carey Live one to look out for. Ger’s show for teenagers, Stand-Up For Teenagers, is set to deliver a fascinating – and hilarious – insight into the difficulties and delights of being a teenager in Ireland today.

Although some years past his own teenage years, Ger’s shows promise to be hilariously insightful. Look out for his show on February 8, with tickets priced €10/€7.50.

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 The Three Tenors

Matt King (George Clooney) has, in many ways, a dream life in Hawaii. However, with the pressures of looking after an important land deal for his extended family, and looking after his two children while his wife is in hospital, waves of problems begin to crash in around him ...

Should make waves This Hawaiian-set tale sees plenty of twists and turns as a family man faces all sorts of unwelcome pressures ...

Q KATE CROWLEY

PERHAPS Ye Olde Mayan that I wrote about a few weeks ago was right, given the claims that 2012 would mark the end of the world.

After all, it’s with more than a faint shudder that I note Clive Owen is back on our screens, followed closely by Nicolas Cage on the distant horizon.

Alas! Alarum! Seeing one of these guys charging into view is enough to spook even a stunning film reviewer such as, ahem, you know who, but two? It’s an omen!

Time to start building an emergency shelter out of discarded DVD cases, I think! That, or ignore the grim reality of a world that keeps giving Messrs Owen and Cage films to star in, and turn instead to a kind of paradise on Earth – Hawaii.

I’m probably now getting drowned out by enthusiastic cries of “The

FILM OF THE WEEK: The Descendants ++++ (15A) 111 mins Director: Alexander Payne Starring: George Clooney, Matthew Lillard, Patricia Hastie, Beau Bridges, Nick Krause, nobody nicknamed “Dog”

OUR VERDICT: A LIGHT-hearted film with moments of darkness, The Descendants is a reliable Clooney vehicle, seeing him deliver the complexities of character that he’s capable of away from his usual crowd pleasers.

Part drama, part shootin’-the-breeze fluffiness, there’s enough change in tone and direction to appeal to most audiences, and add a breezy start to the year’s films.

Bounty Hunnnnterrrr” by enthusiastic followers of certain aspects of modern Hawaiian (pop) culture, but, dear readers, this week I’d like to take you both to Hawaii with me to share a little of Gorgeous George Clooney’s life.

Or, rather, to call in on the life of Matt King (Clooney); a middle-aged Hawaiian running one of those megabucks set-ups that lots of people are relying on, thanks to his family’s wealth and landowning good fortune.

All Matt has to do is sign over the land he’s ultimately responsible for (as

one of The Descendants of the original landowners – geddit?), and lots of people will be rrrrrrich.

Of course, this doesn’t sound like that involving a plot ... so, moving things right along, his wife (Hastie) has one of those A Terrible Accident plotdevices that tend to crop up in films like this, leaving Matt in charge of their daughters while she’s in a coma ...

Under pressure to close the land deal, and dealing with a teenager daughter and her younger sister, Matt’s in a muddle in the middle of all this pressure,

with his cousin (Bridges) piling on ever more demands to sign ...

Sheesh. This sounds like a perfect time for Matt to discover – SpoilerAlert!

– that his wife was also having an affair, which, perhaps, he’d not exactly prevented, thanks to his detached ways.

Okay, you can all start reading again. (Yes, the both of yus.)

Matt’s life is a mess, with what seems in many ways to be an idyllic setting only serving to shine the Hawaiian sun on the problems he faces.

His family and legal pressures and duties are all indirectly linked to the state of his marriage, creating a clumsy relationship with his daughters, and meaning that this particular descendant is simply King of a whole lot of pressures. (Geddit? See what I did there?)

There must be some way that everything is connected, that Matt can

turn everything around to reach the happy Hawaii ending that everyone’s looking for. But what ...?

Hmmm ... it’s an interesting film, if not quite truly great, but then, just as it’s pretty difficult to find O**n and C**e starring in great films, it’s hard to find Clooney starring in a terrible one, and The Descendants is a bright enough way to get 2012 going.

It’s mostly interesting for the shades of grey in the characters – or, at least, as much grey as the Hawaiian sun permits – as we see nice people doing questionable things, and others who’re halfway jerks also being nice enough, instead of the usual clear heroes/villains that most films have.

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a bunker to build from DVD cases, hopefully before O**n and C**e clip-clop into view with their latest offerings. Adieu ...

MUSIC fans will love The Three Tenors’ body of work when they take to the stage at Draiocht, ready to delight with a wide-ranging selection of songs. The trio – Declan Kelly, David Martin and Morgan Crowley – will cover everything from classic singers such as Sinatra and Elvis through to Simon and Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen and Joseph Locke.

Catch The Three Tenors on Friday, January 27 at 8pm, with tickets priced €27.50/€25 conc.

GAZETTE

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26 January 2012 LUCAN GAZETTE 27

GazetteSPORT

HIGH STANDARD:

London beckons for Ava Hutchinson after epic Houston run Page 28

SOCCER: FAI LAUNCH ALL-IRELAND PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ COMPETITION FOR 2012

Five-a-side cup set to bring schools together sport@gazettegroup.com

ASPIRING Dublin schools’ soccer teams are being invited to take part in this year’s FAI Schools’ five-a-side competition.

FA I S c h o o l s a r e expecting over 15,400 children from ever y county in Ireland to compete in the event of 2012.

The games kick off in March and April, with Provincial Finals in May

and the National Finals concluding on June 7.

The winners from each county will go forward to their Provincial Finals and they then will battle it out at the National Finals.

The competition has been running since the mid 1990’s, the event is more popular than ever with nearly 1,000 schools currently involved.

There are five divisions to suit all school sizes, and a number of

teams can represent one school depending on the size of their student body.

While FAI Schools encourage boys and girls to play on the same team, there is also a separate competition for girls’ schools. Last year, St Oliver Plunkett NS, Malahide, won the B Girls’ Schools category.

S e a n C a r r, FA I Schools chairman said: “The competition is growing at an incredible

The FAI Five-A-Side competition will see some 15,400 children across the country taking part

rate with the standard of football improving each year. We must pay tribute to the local teachers and competition organisers in ensuring the success of the competition each year.”

The growth of football across the country can be attributed to the FAI’s Regional Development Officers, who have been vital in increasing the number of schools playing the sport, and to

the dedication of local organisers who volunteer to run competitions.

To enter your school in the competition, contact the competition organiser in your locality. Details of the coun-

ty and regional finals currently taking place around the country can be viewed by clicking on www.faischools.ie or www.faischoolsdublin. com for further information.

28 LUCAN GAZETTE 26 January 2012

in association with

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

Joy on the road as Ava makes grade After disappointment in Dublin, Dundrum athlete AVA HUTCHINSON is revelling in the glow of qualification for the London Olympics 2012

Clondalkin gymnasts take silver at Nationals THE WINTER Championships ATT National gymnastics finals were held in Carlow recently, and Clondalkin Gymnastics Clubfielded a team of 16 gymnasts at the prestigious All-Ireland event.

These same gymnasts had, a month earlier, competed in the South Dublin regional competition in order to qualify for National Finals.

There were 160 competitors from all over Ireland, who had each had to qualify through their own regions, gathered in Carlow for an intense day of competition.

The standard at all levels of the competition was very high throughout the day and the results at the top were all very close, with only a fraction of a point separating the medal winners.

With Clondalkin’s head coach, Emer Kavanagh, giving last-minute instructions during the warm-ups, the teams were eager to get onto the competition floor.

First up for Clondalkin, and proving to be the most successful team for the club on the day was the Grade 2 Team consisting of Sophie Toomey, Fiona Tapley and Zoe Taylor, who were performing in a women’s trio, followed by Toomey and Taylor taking to the floor again to perform as a women’s pair.

The combined scores of these two routines earned them the silver medal.

Next up was the Grade 3 team of mixed pair, Barry Gouldsbury and Beatrice Fagan, and women’s pair, Yvonne Kavanagh and Emma O’Brien. Both pairs produced clean routines and were unlucky not to bring home a medal, ending up in fourth place in their division.

The Grade 1 team of women’s pair, Aine Sheehan and Katie White, with women’s trio comprising Grace Carey, Grace Kavanagh and Brianna Sheehan, along with the Prep B team of men’s pair, Sasha Jackson and Jason Doyle, and women’s pair, Vicky Gallagher and Laura Brophy, all placed fifth in their respective groups on what was a very successful day all round for the club.

MARATHON runners rarely describe what they do as fun. Tales abound of hitting the wall and hours toiled overcoming inner demons on the road.

Ava Hutchinson, though, cannot think of anything more enjoyable.

Her first effort at the distance ended in disappointment in Dublin last October. Running well on course for an Olympic qualifying time, cramps set in after eight miles, and became severe enough by the half-way point to leave her stretching against road-side kerbs.

The DSDAC runner ended five minutes outside the Olympic A standard. The result proved to spur her on and, last week, she made the qualifying time in Houston in brilliant fashion.

“I finished Dublin in two minds – I was devastated with the result but I did think about having

broken 2:42 with all those problems. I’m was adamant that if I could keep the body in control, then I could qualify,” she told GazetteSport.

Bouncing back, she approached last week’s Houston marathon with the same plan formulated by legendary coach, Ray

going to do it, you have to embrace being tired, the long miles, the bad weather.

“If you go into it with that attitude, you do get a lot of enjoyment out of it. It is hard, there’s no doubt. The training can be tedious with the repetition but there’s so much

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

‘The rewards of running a marathon are even better than on the track. It’s a different feeling to anything I’ve done before’

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

Treacy, her mentor and the head coach at Providence College in the US. He was the man to impress on Hutchinson the value of fun to cope with the most rigorous physical challenge in athletics during her formative training sessions.

“That was the first thing Ray said to me. If you’re

Ava Hutchinson in action for DSDAC

enjoyment to be had.

“I’ve always wanted to go up to marathon level, but didn’t know when the right time was. Obviously, this season is a great opportunity.

“The rewards are even better than on the track, and the feeling I had after the weekend was just so good. It’s a huge sense of achievement for anyone to finish a marathon. It’s a different feeling to anything I’ve experienced before.”

The 28-year-old’s step up to the iconic distance was always in her longterm plans, but was accelerated by Marathon Mission’s support. The Mission was formed in 2009 to raise Ireland’s performance in the 26-mile event and has since provided Hutchinson with the funding to travel to Providence for five weeks away from her Loughborough base in England.

Similarly, nutritionists, blood-testers and other

supports offered her the chance to commit quickly to the new regime, and it has borne instant fruit.

Learning the ropes came naturally after an international background in middle-distance and cross-country running.

Ava won her first halfmarathon in Waterford last September.

Dublin followed a month later, a painful experience that provided the vital lessons for her stunning fourth-place finish in Houston, running 2.35.33 in a remarkably consistent performance, passing halfway just past the one hour and 17 minute mark.

“I really enjoyed it. The actual atmosphere was absolutely brilliant. It was so much, the crowds were huge – I’d suggest if anyone was doing an American marathon, it is the one to do!

“We had a strict plan.

The first couple of miles were quite slow as I hadn’t much time to warm up.

“But then I got into a really nice rhythm, got a really good group of about six. For about 18 miles, I felt really good and thought, I shouldn’t have a problem here.

“From 20 on, I had a few issues with cramps in my calves but pretty much felt good the whole way.

It was a big relief coming down the home straight when I saw the clock.”

The success of Marathon Mission, however, means that while Hutchinson has gone well under the Olympic standard,

there is a possibility she could miss out on the Games.

Indeed, it may even be a full set of clubmates could steal her dream. Fellow DSDAC runner Linda Byrne won the national title in Dublin – albeit a minute slower – which could place her higher in the pecking order.

Gladys Ganiel finished eighth in Houston but intends another qualifying run in Rotterdam, while the experienced Maria McCambridge will have a go in Seville. It is a far cry from 2008 when just one B standard runner ran in Beijing.

It is a remarkable turnaround but one which lost out in the publicity stakes as Martin Fagan’s admission of taking EPO took the athletics limelight.

Hutchinson says it does not unduly affect her glee at running inside the qualification time, but hopes it will not cast a black cloud overwhat has been serious success for the women’s long-distance runners.

“There are so many aspects of it that are so sad. It’s sad for Irish athletics and sad for the athletic world as a whole.

There are two sides to it. It’s great that the drug testers are doing the job and the sport has been kept clean.

“I’ve met Martin but I wouldn’t know him well so I don’t know about his personal situation but you have to take each individual case as it is and it’s nothing else to do with any other Irish athlete.”

26 January 2012 LUCAN GAZETTE 29

30 LUCAN GAZETTE 26 January 2012

GazetteSport Sport SOCCER: LOCAL STAR PICKED FOR FAI SELECT FRIENDLY SQUAD

Schools welcome Oz test Q sport@gazettegroup.com

COLAISTE Padraig’s Sean Russell has been n a m e d i n t h e FA I Schools’ U-18 provisional squad when they host Australia in an International Friendly on Friday, January 27 at the Oscar Traynor Centre (2pm).

The match will be a precursor to Ireland’s Centenary Shield campaign, which commences on March 16, with a home game against Northern Ireland in Limerick before playing Scotland and Wales and completing the competition live on Sky Sports against England on April 26.

Manager Ollie Horgan is looking forward to the challenge: “This

Local players were among those selected to face Australia this week

game will prove to be highly competitive and a valuable exercise for the team’s preparation in the Centenary Shield.”

The Irish management have yet to finalise the panel of 18 players to represent the Republic in the Centenary Shield series and will be using this friendly as part of the selection process.

Russell is among a trio of UCD’s U-19, while there is also a trio of St Pat’s players with Adam O’Connor, Conor Pepper and Eoin Hyland joining forces with Leinster colleagues Pierce Sweeney (Colaiste Raithin, Bray), Paul Moffat (Clonkeen College) and Gareth Brady (Pobailscoil Neasain) as they look to book

their place in the Centenary Shield panel.

Ireland has a wealth of experience, with Ryan Matthews (Clonkeen College, Blackrock) and Colm Horgan (Coláiste Einde, Salthill) who were capped for FAI Schools last season, making a welcome return.

The Australian Schools’ team embark

on their European tour with a comprehensive list of fixtures to fulfil.

The team have already played Wales (January 20) and Northern Ireland (January 25) while they have forthcoming fixtures against Republic of Ireland (January 28) and England (January 29) as well as numerous club games.

26 January 2012 LUCAN GAZETTE 31

in association with

CAMOGIE: COLLEGE GIRLS TAKE DUBLIN TITLE

CLUB NOTICEBOARD LUCAN SARSFIELDS MEMBERSHIP is now due and can be

every Saturday at 1.30pm on our

paid online at www.lucansarsfields.

all-weather pitch at the 12th Lock.

ie, or by submitting the form to your mentor or the clubhouse bar.

Congratulations to Kate Whyte on

Gaelic4Mothers and Others train-

ogie Goalkeeper of the Year award

ing is on the all-weather pitch at

at our presentation night last Fri-

8.30pm on Wednesday nights.

This award is kindly sponsored by ilivephotos.

Opening times for our club shop are Tuesday and Thursday from

table quiz at 8.30pm, with the ques-

7.30 to 8.30pm and on Saturdays

tions coming from Dara Keher and

from 10.30 to 11.30am.

Casserly, grandson of Tom who runs our club shop on Friday, February 3 in the clubhouse.

Visit www.forjames.com for more information.

Our nurseries for boys and girls born in 2005, 2006 and 2007 are

St Joseph’s College Maryfield

2-11 1-6

Q sport@gazettegroup.com

ST JOSEPH’S College broke new ground this week when they claimed their first Dublin senior camogie title with an impressive victory over established force, Maryfield, on Tuesday afternoon.

In doing so, the school continued their remarkable progression through the ranks of county camogie, having previously claimed Senior B and the Senior A shield in the past three years.

But this was the prestige title, and brings with it a first-ever shot at All-Ireland glor y, as they will now have a quarter-final date to contend in the coming weeks.

Ali Twomey – a Dubs’ Star in the last month for her performances in the club championships

in 2011 – and Ciara Sheehy powered the side into an early lead, and they never looked back.

Twomey ran up a personal tally of 1-7, while Laura Morrissey’s goal proved a clincher of sorts when her major quelled any thoughts of a Maryfield fight back coming close to knocking Joseph’s off the path to the trophy.

Speaking about the success, the school’s David Kirwan said it was a continuation of the coaching work done in the school and with the local clubs, with the majority of the panel coming from Lucan Sarsfields, while a couple play their camogie with St Pat’s, Palmerstown.

“It was a great performance; we took the lead early and held it for the rest of the game,” Kirwan told GazetteSport.

“They’ve been pro-

gressing every year. It’s huge because we’d never been this successful. We won the Senior A shield last year and then the Senior B championship three years ago.

“So, they’ve been moving up the ranks.

We won all of our group games and were top of the championship to qualify for our first county, Senior A final. “ We ’ v e q u a l i f i e d for the All-Ireland quarter-final as well, which we’ve never done before. “ T h e p l ay e r s a r e t r a i n i n g aw ay w i t h their clubs and Lucan are very strong at the moment, winning all the championships from U-13 to U-18 in the year just gone.

“The growth of camogie in the school is parallel to that of the club; huge progress over the last four years or so, coinciding with the couple of All-Irelands the U-14s won.”

Twomey and Sheehy combined for their side’s first six points of the game before superb defending kept the side very much on top.

It gave the Maryfield forwards no space at all while some brilliant catches and clearances from the likes Rachel Kenny, Ailise Dowling and Orla Moloney kept the game moving forward.

In midfield, Ellen Downes and Eimear Mo l o n e y we r e o u tstanding all game to power the side to glory against a seriously fancied Maryfield, as Kirwan explained.

“They won the last two years in Dublin and won the All-Ireland C championship so they’re very strong.

“They beat us handy enough last year, so it was great to come back and get one over on them. Today, it was very convincing how we did it.”

087 218 6502.

incharge of this Wednesday night’s

There will be a quiz in aid of James

DUBLIN SENIOR SCHOOLS

If you are interested in taking part, contact Aisling Maloney on

Our boys football section will be

Greg O’Neill.

Local heroines made as Joseph’s triumph

captain, Johnny McCaffrey.

winning the Lucan Sarsfields’ cam-

day.

St Joseph’s senior camogie team deservedly claimed the senior schools title against Maryfield last week

This is your child’s chance to be coached by Dublin senior hurling

This week’s Lotto numbers drawn were 8, 10, 19 and 27.

There was no winner of the jackpot.

Next week’s jackpot will be €11,500, and Seamus Clandillon’s team will be in charge next Sunday when our sponsor will be Lucan Village Pharmacy.

ST PAT’S, PALMERSTOWN OUR sincere thanks to our adult

cost €30 for adults for stand and hill,

sponsor the Fitzgerald Group and

and €10 forfor juveniles stand only,

Palmerstown House manager Dam-

text your order to 086 725 5586.

ien Kelly for the excellent apprecia-

Members please note, the AGM

tion night for our club volunteers on

takes place on Wednesday, Febru-

Friday night last.

ary 29 in the clubhouse at 8pm.

Congratulations to our senior camogie player, Niamh Farren, and

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

her husband, Noel, on thebirth of

Lotto: Numbers drawn were 3, 17,

their first child, a girl, to be called

25 and 30. There was no winner of

Robyn.

the €7,600 jackpot.

Members: Don’t forget to order

Match any three numbers winners

your tickets for the Dubs’ football-

were Padraigh O’Brien and Miss

ers and hurlersSpring Series which

Stynes, and each receive €100.

will take place on February 4, March 11 and 24 in Croke Park.

To secure your tickets, which will

Next week’s jackpot will be €7,800.

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

GARDA/WESTMANSTOWN TRAINING continues for Interme-

Westmanstown Gaels are pleased

diate and Junior mens teams at

to announce the appointment of

7:30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays

Declan Jennings as the new club

at Westmanstown.

GPO. “Declan eat s , sleeps and

First pre-season game for Inter-

drinks GAA and we are really excit-

mediates is next Sunday morning,

ed about his involvement with the

January 29, at 11am when we wel-

club,” sa ys PRO Stephen Byrne.

come St Finians to Westmanstown.

“The club is growing rapidly and

The ladies pre-season training

Declan’s appointment is hugely

continues on Mondays at Parkwest

important in establishing the Gaels

and Wednesdays at Hills Industrial

as a significant GAA force in West

Estate in Lucan, both sessions at

Dublin.”

8pm, and in Westmanstown on Saturday morning at 9am.

He pla yed senior football for Breaffy GAA in Co Mayo and repre-

Annual club membership for all

sented his County at all levels on a

members is now due and should be

number of occasions. He finished

paid forthwith to club treasurer

the 2011 season with another sen-

Alan Lynch.

ior football medal in his pocket. It

New players both Garda and non-

is clear that he will be missed down

Garda are welcome to join all men’s

in Mayo but their loss is definitely

and ladies teams.

Westmanstown Gaels gain.

ALL OF YOUR LUCAN SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31

IRELAND’S CALL: Colaiste Padraig’s Russell gets Ireland Schools’ call-up P30

JANUARY 26, 2012

BREAKTHROUGH Hutchinson rejoices in Olympic standard P28

History beckons once more for Lucan United lucansport@gazettegroup.com

LUCAN United will hold few fears going into the biggest game in their club history on Friday evening as they bid to go one step further in the FAI Intermediate Cup. The Airlie Heights’ club make the short trip up the Strawberry Beds to face LSL Sunday Senior Phoenix in the fourth round of the competition at 7.45pm in Scribblestown, a side currently three divisions above them.

But Lucan have shown little regard for underdog status, overcoming higher division opposition in each of their three rounds to date and club secretary John Doyle says that will continue into Friday’s tie.

“We don’t know how it’s going to go and they’re expected to win comfortably, but if they don’t play to their best, they won’t win. They won’t just turn up and win, but I’m sure they know that. They’ll have

seen the scalps we have taken, so you never know.

The lads are confident, and that’s the main thing, and they won’t be there just to show up.”

The evening tip-off is expected to see Lucan’s schoolboy element come out in force to support with no clashes with their games and Doyle adds that this will heighten the sense of occasion.

In going this far in the competition, United have the added bonus of receiving a place in the first round of the FAI Senior Cup into the bargain, another first for the club.

“It’s a big occasion. We’ve already qualified for the Senior Cup, which is a massive bonus for beating Cobh Wanderers in the last round.

“Phoenix isn’t the worst draw for us either but we weren’t going to get anyone handy at this stage. It was always going to be tough.

“The all-weather pitch would probably be our biggest concern and is their advantage as they play on it

GazetteSPORT

Lucan United are lining up yet another major upset to go with prior victories over TEK United, above, and against Glebe North and Cobh Wanderers

week-in, week-out. But we’ve a lot of young players in the squad who should be able to get around the pitch easily enough.”

It will be the first time the two clubs have met in a competitive tie with Lucan only moving up to inter level in the past few years.

Phoenix are one of the established names but will have to be wary of the know-how Mark Rutherford brings, a cup specialist with bags of experience.

“We’ve been slagging Mark Rutherford about it.

He won the Senior Cup four times – probably more than any other player, if memory serves. We’ve been saying we bet he never saw himself back in the competition. It doesn’t matter who he plays for, whether it’s Shelbourne or Lucan. He gives the same attitude every game. Some games, he comes off the pitch the most excited player after everything he has done in the game. When we won in Cork, he was delighted no more or less than anyone else. It’s great to see.”