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March 15, 2012

YOUR COMMUNITY • YOUR PAPER

INSIDE: IT Tallaght students create a Wonderland P3

EDUCATION: Discussing recent decisions on DEIS Schools Page 6

Bank on this: Mayor Jones is right on Time Basketball: Dublin Lions claim junior cup title at Oblates Pages 28 and 32

MAYOR of South Dublin County Council, Caitriona Jones, was on hand in Adamstown Community College to launch an exciting initiative called Time Banking, a means of exchange where time is the currency.

The initiative will be introduced in five local schools and students can exchange time spent in bettering their schools or communities in extra-cirricular activities, such as Tallaght Stadium tickets and movie clubs.

Full Gallery on Pages 8-9

Cycling: Local star set for move to French club Page 30

ALSOINSIDE: BEAUTY .........................16 BUSINESS .....................19 MOTORS ....................... 20 TRAVEL......................... 22 GOING OUT .................. 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26

Nine schools all set for building works Esker Educate Together is late addition to list

I PAUL HOSFORD

LUCAN schools received good news this week, with the announcement that nine of them will be included in the Government School’s Building Programme.

A total of eight schools were originally slated forworks - four

for new schools, four for extensions - but word came in late on Tuesday that Esker Educate Together would be included in the works.

The news was warmly welcomed by local TDs. “This Educate Together School in Lucan, which opened its doors in 2007, has

waited five years for this exciting news,” said Fine Gael’s Deputy Derek Keating.

“I was surprised when I did not see that this project on the list and am relieved that it will be on the amended list,” Labour’s Deputy Joanna Tuffy said.

Full Story on Page 4

2 LUCAN GAZETTE 15 March 2012

HOUSING: NEARLY 30% RISE IN NOTICES TO QUIT LAST YEAR

26 more evictions by council in 2011 I PAUL HOSFORD

SOUTH Dublin County Council served 114 notices to quit last year, an increase of 26, or 29%.

Fine Gael councillor William Lavelle asked for the numbers, as well as “the levels of arrears in these instances, the numbers of these notices to quit that have led to summons; the number of evictions that resulted; and for those households evicted, what tracking is done and is it known if any of those households became homeless?”

In their response, the council said that they did not track those evicted after notice has been served.

“Any person evicted from their home by the council due to the nonpayment of their rent, is made aware of the service operated by the Homeless Services Unit and is advised to make contact with the unit. The council does not track those individuals who have been evicted. They are ineligible for consideration for council housing in South Dublin for two years and for rent supplement for six months.

“This effectively means that they must avail of hostel accommodation for at least six months unless they can source alternative accommodation through their own efforts or through family or friend,” said the council.

Just Tree-mendous: Local company, FEL, donates trees to LauraLynn House EAMON FLANAGAN, the executive chairman

of Lucan business Forest Enterprises Ltd, was joined by Graham Donne, facilities manager, Laura Lynn House, and Daragh Little, managing director, FEL, to donate a selection of oak and birch trees to plant in the gardens of the LauraLynn House,

Ireland’s first children’s hospice for lifethreatening and limiting conditions.

FEL hope the trees will be enjoyed by the children, parents and staff members of the Laura-Lynn House for many years to come.

The donation was made as part of National Tree Week.

DEVELOPMENT: FEES AMOUNT IS REVEALED

Council owed over €30 million in levies I PAUL HOSFORD

SOUTH Dublin County Council is owed nearly €30 million in unpaid development levies, new figures have shown.

At this week’s council meeting, Fine Gael councillor Emer Higgins asked council management to “provide a detailed report on any arrears owing to the council from unpaid development levies”.

In their response, the council said that they had recently reclassified how the levies were separated.

According to the Council response: “This categorisation has been possible due to re-orientation of work practices, etc, within the Planning Dept to

enable redeployment to the area of arrears analysis and collection, in particular the assignment of a dedicated inspectorate as required.”

The council response showed that a massive 172 residential cases had not paid levies.

Added to that, a further 78 commercial developments, as well as two mixed developments, have monies outstanding.

The split of the fees, however, is remarkably even.

In total, the 172 residential cases owe the authority a total of €14,855,831.66, while the mixed and commercial cases owe €14,172,001.96, combining for a massive

€29,027,833.62.

The council does not, however, expect to recoup all of that figure, applying a bad debt provision of 58%, or €16,949,486.11, though the council says that those are merely “book figures”.

“It should be noted that monetary amounts quoted above are book balances, and that the bad debt provision of almost €17million can relate to matters including developers carrying out works in lieu of financial contributions; credits due for social/affordable housing; development not being completed; development not commencing”. said the report, which outlined actions that would be car-

ried out for each level of categorisation.

“There is currently a balance of just over €29m (comparable figure end Aug 2010 was €36.7m) in respect of outstanding development contributions relating to approximately 250 separate developments. However these developments range in scale from housing estates and large commercial units to an increasing number of domestic extensions, with over 40 of the above cases being of that scale.

“In all cases the council has cognizance of the expiration of the statutory period for the taking of enforcement action,” said the council.

15 March 2012 LUCAN GAZETTE 3

EVENT

Tea-ing off for charity in IT Tallaght

A Wonderland of an event for Alzheimers THE Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland will this year again host their annual Tea Day, which is taking place in early May. Members of the public are being encouraged to register to take part in the day, just like a group of ITT students have done.

They have organised an event to take place on Wednesday, March 28, between 11am and 2pm on the ITT Dublin campus.

The group of third year students, Rachel McCloskey, Des Dowling, Ian Hollinshead, Katie Jones, Sinead Keenan. Michaela Grabovski, Jonathan Beatty, Sinead Carroll and Aoife McCrum, are

doing the event as part of an Event Management module, in their Advertising and Marketing Communications course.

They will host an Alice in Wonderland-themed tea party on the college campus, where they’ll be selling tea, coffee, cakes etc to raise funds.

They also plan to create an outside picnic area and a long table inside a gazebo to mimic the film so people can sit and chat during their lunch break.

There will be live graffiti spraying taking place on campus too to create a 16ft long four-foot high fake wall themed to the film.

Two local males will

be spraying and donating some of their own work to be auctioned off on the day.

The college’s dance and DJ society will also be performing on the day.

Peter Mark, The Square, Penny’s, Dundrum, Milano Restaurant, Dundrum, The Bad Ass Restaurant, Temple Bar, Urban Outfitters, Temple Bar, and The O u t d o o r A d ve n t u r e Store in Bray have all donated vouchers and goods to raffle off on the day.

The Easy Learning Centre, Liffey Valley, Woodies DIY, Tallaght and Coffee Perfection of Dunboyne, Co Meath

The IT Tallaght students who are organising this year’s Tea Day in aid of the Irish Alzheimers Society. The students aim to raise vital funds for the cause

have also sponsored the materials on the day to make the running of the event possible.

“For every €25 raised we c a n p r ov i d e a n

extra hour of care in your area; €25 is a very achievable amount to raise, and if we can provide a few extra hours of care for people that

need it, our day will have been a success.” said Aoife McCrum.

For more information see www.alzheimers.ie or www.teaday.ie.

COUNCIL Excercise parks plan progress SOUTH Dublin County Council has said that it will not require public consultation for 11 parks that have been earmarked for exercise equipment.

At this week’s council meeting, Fine Gael councillor Emer Higgins asked for a “report on public consultation efforts in relation to the installation of exercise equipment in the eleven parks where funding has been provided for this project?”

In their response, the council said that it did not require public consultation, but had engaged with groups on three of the sites.

“The scale of works involved of these projects are at a level that will not initiate formal or statutory processes. However, the Environment Department will be happy to provide information on and discuss the projects with any local interested groups.”

4 LUCAN GAZETTE 15 March 2012

COUNCIL 97 houses secured by schemes T WO n e w h o u s i n g schemes carried out by South Dublin County Council have allocated nearly 100 homes, the council has said.

Mayor Caitriona Jones asked for a general overview of both the Applicant Sourced Housing (ASH) scheme and the Choice Based Letting (CBL) Scheme.

In their response, the council said that the CBL, introduced in October 2011, had been extremely successful.

“Since its introduction, 71 units of accommodation were advertised, of these 39 have been allocated and the remaining 32 have been offered and accepted and will be allocated as soon as pre-let repairs are complete,” said the council response.

“A S H w a s c o m menced in late 2010 and led to…26 properties being secured.”

SCHOOLS Four new buildings, four extensions

Eight schools earmarked for major work I PAUL HOSFORD

THERE was further good news for Lucan schools this week, with the announcement that there would be a number of school building projects undertaken as part of the Government’s new school-building programme.

Under the scheme, four schools-Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada, St Andrew’s NS, Clonburris Post-Primary and a new school in Lucan South, will all get new school buildings.

Four further schoolsSt Mary’s NS, St Joseph’s College, Lucan Community College and Griffeen Valley Educate Together

NS, will receive extensions to their existing buildings.

The estimated completion dates range from this year for St Mary’s and Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada, as far as 2014 or 2015 for four others.

The news has been roundly supported, with Fine Gael TDs Minister Frances Fitzgerald and Derek Keating both pleased that the work would go some way to solving the ongoing shortage of schools places in the area.

“This time last year, I said that Lucan was facing a school places crisis.

On doorsteps throughout the area, I committed to

prioritising the children and parents of Lucan.

“Today, my Cabinet colleague, Minister Quinn, has done just that. I’m proud to be a Minister for this constituency at a time when Government delivers for our area. Lucan has waited far too long to be given adequate school resources and that was a failure of the previous government who neglected this area during boom times,” said Minister Fitzgerald.

The nearby village of Rathcoole was also prioritised in the building programme. It’s Holy Family NS and Holy Family Community second-level school will both receive

Local TD Frances Fitzgerald, pictured here with Lucan CC’s extension plans

new schools in the next four years.

“Earlier this week, at the 25-year celebrations at Lucan Community College, I was honoured to unveil the new plans for the extension which have now officially been given the go-ahead for completion in two to three years time.

“Just over a year ago I

brought Enda Kenny out to Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada to show him first-hand one of the fastest growing Gaelscoileanna in the country, and how badly in need of a new premises they were. St. Andrew’s N.S. has been on a promise of a new building for as long as I can remember and at last these schools have confirmation that

their new buildings will be delivered within the next two years. The staff and parents of children in these local schools have worked so hard to progress the case for their school and I have advocated for them at Cabinet level. I am delighted to be Minister in a Government that finally recognises the needs of Lucan and delivers for children, staff and teachers in our area,” said Fitzgerald.

Deputy Keating said that the Minister was to be complimented on the plan.

“Lucan is one of the fastest growing areas in the State and, with over 79,000 new students coming on board in the next couple of years and 3,000 new teaching posts, the Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn, has to be complimented and admired for his planning and taking direct control of our education building programme and planning our education needs for the next ten years.”

The local schools were among the 275 schools nationwide to receive good news as part of a €1.5 billion five-year School Building Programme, with local councillor William Lavelle particularly pleased with the announcement that St Andrew’s NS, would be completed in 2013.

“It is 11 months since the school was granted outline planning permission so I hope that everyone involved can pull together to meet the finish date,” said Lavelle.

15 March 2012 LUCAN GAZETTE 5

DANCE A Hooley in the Mill on Paddy’s

CRIME: OPERATION CREEPER TO BE PUT IN PLACE TO TACKLE BURGLARY ISSUE

More Garda cars on streets A LOCAL TD has welcomed a move that will result in more unmarked Garda cars to patrol Lucan.

Operation Creeper, which sees unmarked Garda cars tasked with patrolling areas that are at high-risk of burglary, is a joint-Garda initiative between a number of Garda units.

Fine Gael TD, Derek Keating, said that a recent spate of burglaries meant that the operation’s expansion to Lucan was extremely welcome.

“With the rise of crime in Lucan over the last couple of weeks, with significant numbers of houses being burgled in [Lucan], I welcome what is called Operation Creeper by the Garda Air Support Unit who are working hand in hand with the local Gardai,” the local TD

said.

“I am appealing to residents, traders and those professionals who work in the Lucan area to contact the Gardai if you see or suspect that a crime is being committed.

“During the good times and now the not-so-good times, crime has increased and decreased periodically and, in partnership with community leaders, the gardai and neighbours, we can all play our part if we suspect that a house is being burgled, a car is being tampered with or, more importantly, if an individual is being attacked or abused by those small number of people who opportunistically seek to break the law in our community,” Deputy Keating said.

He paid tribute to the gardai in Lucan and called on locals to be vigi-

lant ahead of the upcoming long weekends.

“I would like to compliment the gardai for their brave and dedicated commitment in dealing with the increased burglaries and crime in recent weeks in Lucan. Crime prevention and crime response is not a funding issue in our neighbourhood.

“What it requires is all of us to be vigilant and concerned about those who are more vulnerable and at risk. We should all take personal steps to lessen the opportunity for robbery and damage to our property by ensuring that, particularly at night.

“The gardai in Lucan are always on hand to advise, assist and protect our community.”

The Garda Press Office could not confirm or deny the operation, citing “operational reasons”.

Dragons’ Roar: Local girls prove to be Agri Aware in Schools’ Challenge PICTURED in Athlone recently were Aoife Clancy, Laura Flynn and Dabira Adegbuyi, from St. Joseph’s College, Lucan.

The girls were representing their school at the National Heat of Agri Aware’s Green Dragon Secondary Schools Innovation Challenge.

Here they are pictured with judges Thomas Ryan, of the Irish Farmers Association and Bernard Donohue, of Agri Aware.

In July, the four category winners will have the opportunity to showcase their idea at the 2012 City of Science exhibition, in association with Teagasc.

ON St.Patrick’s night the Celbridge Mill Centre are hosting a Hooley in the Parlour.

There will be a ceili, waltzes, a singalong, light refreshments, with the event kicking off at 8pm.

The centre will also hold an Easter spring small business, craft, health, and holistic Fair, which will take place on Sunday, April 1.

On the day, there will be a centre open day, featuring a free magic show and bouncing castle.

Stands for businesses and exhibitors are only €20, so book yours now to avoid disappointment.

If you wish to attend either event, you can contact the centre on 01 6288556/01 6276259, see www.celbridgemillcommunitycentre.ie, or email celbridgemillcommunitycentre@eircom.net

6 LUCAN GAZETTE 15 March 2012

OPINION No Deis schools to lose a teacher in September

Welcome for breakthrough on disadvantaged school posts THE recent announcement

by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn that no Deis 1 or Deis 2 school will lose a teacher next September is very good news indeed.

As a teacher, I have first-hand experience

of the great work taking place every day in schools in disadvantaged areas.

The latest Government announcement means that these schools will retain 235 posts which were under threat because of the

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country’s deep financial crisis.

Even at a time when cutbacks are inevitable, it is vital that we continue to invest in education.

In the last week, we have had news from the IDA of huge new investments by multinational companies in new facilities in Ireland.

A low corporation tax rate, and a well-educated work force, are key elements of the decisions by the multinationals companies that invest in Ireland.

Pay Pal, for example, which is adding 1,000 jobs to its Irish operation, needs people with a high level of language and IT skills.

For individuals, education provides a passage out of poverty and we can take pride in the

fact that, over the last eight years, our retention rate to Leaving Certificate has risen from 82% to 88%, now one of the highest rates in the world.

This is a small, but important, victory for schools in our most disadvantaged areas and I congratulate the Labour backbenchers who went to Minister Ruairi Quinn and spelt out to him, in the clearest terms, the potential d a m a g e t h a t wo u l d result from these particular cuts.

In welcoming this particular victory, however, I don’t pretend that the education sector is escaping completely from the cuts.

The Capitation Grant for primar y schools is being cut by 3.5%.

This is the grant that pays for heating, lighting and photocopying, so schools will again be put to the pin of their collars.

But I am most concerned about the upcoming cuts to the guidance service at second-level.

If these cuts kick in from September 2012 onwards, it may mean that guidance councillors will have to spend a good deal of their time teaching exam subjects.

From my own experience in schools the work that the guidance people do in preparing teenagers for their college and career choices is really important.

Moreover, they are trained to provide a listening ear for students going through a difficult

Cllr Michael O’Donovan

patch. This is a cut I intend to work to reverse.

Michael O’Donovan Labour Party councillor

Education - the greatest MY good friend Joe Duffy - yes Live line Joe! reminds me regularly that the greatest gift, after life itself, that my late mother Rebecca gave me was “Education”.

But being married to a teacher for over 30 years, I have learned from Anne, my wife, how our education system has let some people down. Overcrowding, difficult family circumstances, poverty issues and children slipping through the system because of class sizes are all too familiar.

A recent national study of children, entitled Growing Up In Ireland, is the most significant of its kind ever to take place in this country, and it gave us insight into understanding all aspects of children and their development, including education.

The study was commissioned by the previous Government and is being carried out by a consortium of researchers led by the Economic and Social Research Institute and Trinity College, Dublin.

One of the findings of the report outlines that our children are our most important asset, and they must be valued and cherished appropriately.

This Government has placed children’s issues at the heart of policy-making by establishing a dedicated Minister for Children, my colleague Frances Fitzgerald TD. Another aspect of the Growing Up In Ireland study highlighted the impact of parenting on children’s outcomes in educa-

Fine Gael Dublin Mid West Deputy, Derek Keating

tion and it is here that the DEIS Schools play their part.

But the problem with the former Government’s answer was they threw money at everything without assessment or planning.

DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) supports various reports for both primary and post-primary schools, which include reduced pupil/teacher ratio in areas of disadvantage, the allocation of Administrative Principals, access to School Meals Programme, access to numerical and literacy programmes, a Home School Liaison service, enhanced library support reading programmes and Language

Support Service.

In DEIS, the reading recovery, which is a school-based intervention programme designed to reduce literacy problems within our education system and is an early intervention programme giving children, who have particular difficulties in reading and writing over one year in primary school, a period of intensive and individual teaching.

I have been very concerned recently following the news that Archbishop Ryan’s National Schools, both senior and junior, may suffer a loss of up to 16 teachers. I met with the teachers in the schools and the Principals and I have spoken directly to the Minister and his Department because of the lack of a DEIS status for Lucan schools.

This Government is committed to education and to children and this is clearly demonstrated by the fact that the Minister this week has announced new schools for Lucan, new extensions to schools in Lucan and I am confident that he will reverse the decision to reduce the teaching staff at the Archbishop Ryan’s Junior and Senior Schools.

I support the DEIS School Policy providing it is focused and flexible.

Derek Keating Fine Gael Dublin Mid West Deputy

15 March 2012 LUCAN GAZETTE 7

8 LUCAN GAZETTE 15 March 2012

WE HAVE 135,000* COUNCIL READERS EACH WEEK Public

SCHOOL Launching an innovative

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NEARLY one fifth of all reports made on South Dublin County Council’s Fix Your Street website are related to public lighting.

Fine Gael councillor William Lavelle asked that “the manager report on the overall number and percentage of ‘fixyourstreet.ie’ reports relating to public lighting which have been submitted in the past six months”, to which the council said 17.8% of reports were lighting-related.

“A total of 432 reports in relation to public lighting were received from August 1, 2011 to February 29, 2012. This represents 17.8% of the overall number of reports for all categories (2,415) received during that period “The average time to repair faulty / inactive lighting is two weeks. It is dependent on the type of fault involved and the volume of repairs.”

SDCC Mayor Caitriona Jones was joined by lots of eager ‘time bank’ supporters from a number of schools when she launched the new initiative at Adamstown Community College. Pictures: Rob O’Connor

You can bank on their idea N EXCITING initiative, called Time Banking – a means of exchange where time is the currency – is being introduced in local schools and, last week, Mayor Catriona Jones launched the Lucan Adamstown Time Bank.

Five Educate Together schools in the area have united to form the Lucan Adamstown Time Bank, and this development is seen as the first step in establishing a community-wide time bank.

Members of the time bank can earn credits by volunteering, sharing their skills and giving their time. For every hour members “deposit” in a time bank, they gain a time credit, which they can spend at a time bank event.

Everyone’s time is equal, so one hour of my time is equal to one hour of your time.

Time banks are systems of exchange and can be used in many ways.

On the day of the launch, pupils, teachers and parents got an opportunity to register through an online system and become members of the time bank.

The five schools have each

A

listed activities where participants can gain credits and spend credits, both for the students, teachers and parents.

Activities to gain credits include litter control in school grounds and surrounds, running the Park Safe Programme, the Maths for Fun initiative, language classes and Spring Clean Day. Students can then spend credits in a movie club, driver theory classes, on the use of school laptops, printers and photocopiers, pet farm tours and Tallaght Stadium tickets.

Activities

Mayor Jones said: “This time bank will make a big difference to life here in Lucan and Adamstown, getting people involved in activities, and gaining and spending credits.

“And I can see the seed that is germinating here today growing, developing strong roots and branching into all areas of our community.”

She praised all of those involved, saying: “I am very happy that South Dublin County Council was involved in this project, along with the support of Dublin Regional

Authority.

“This is a most innovative project, and I congratulate the Educate Together schools – the principals, teachers, parents and, of course, the pupils.

“I am convinced that they are at the start of a wonderful adventure and that they are setting an example for Irish society today.”

Mayor Jones then presented a giant time credit to representatives of the schools.

Parents, teachers and pupils got an opportunity to register for the Lucan Adamstown time bank online at the event.

Tom Moriarity, principal of Adamstown Castle Educate Together school – one of the founding members of the time bank – said: “This is a wonderful, innovative way of sharing skills and resources.

There are gains for everyone.

“We look forward to the time bank spreading into the community. Already, we can see the benefits of sharing.”

The five schools involved are Adamstown Castle Educate Together National School (ETNS), Esker ETNS, Griffeen Valley ETNS, Lucan East ETNS and Lucan ETNS.

15 March 2012 LUCAN GAZETTE 9

‘time bank’ to create a fun new community-based initiative

In addition to speeches detailing the purpose of the initiative, there were a number of fun activities and an upbeat mood at the school on the day, kicking the campiagn off to a great start

10 LUCAN GAZETTE 15 March 2012

EVENT Colm Cooper officially opens Confey College bank

The Gooch goes back to school ONFEY Collge was delighted to welcome footballing hero Colm Cooper recently to officially open the school bank, For Your Interest.

Colm is a footballing hero both in his native Kerry and around the country. He was received by the six student who run the school bank, where they talked with him and outlined their business plan. Also present were Ms Dwyer (school bank coordinaror), Nicola McKenna and Marlene from AIB Leixlip. Colm then addressed a number of students in the assembly room where he spoke about the importance of saving and how it can help plan for future events such as school trips and college.

Colm then took the U-16 football team for a training session with in the GAA grounds where he introduced the lads to new drills and skills.

C

Seven-time All Star Cooper amongst the students of Confey College

Transition-year student, Paddy Hayes, was presented with a token from Colm. The school bank ran a competition for students to suggest a name for the school bank, and Paddy won this with the name, For Your Interest.

Ms Dwyer of Confey College with “The Gooch�

Students and teachers alike celebrate the bank opening with the Kerry legend.

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Showing a Lidl love: Pamper mum with wine and chocs this Mother’s Day MOTHER’S DAY is a time for pampering, so whilst you are in the

kitchen whipping up her favourite pancake brunch, let her sit back with her favourite tipple. Lidl has lots of great wines, bubble and liqueurs at incredible value. Opt for the smooth and luxurious Deluxe Irish Cream Liqueur as an extra special treat or, as Mother’s Day is a celebration, pop some pink bubbles such as the popular Freixenet Cava Brut Rosé. For something sweet, you can’t go far wrong than Lidl’s JD Gross Pralines Selection box.

For further information about Lidl and its products, or to locate your nearest store, please log on to www.lidl.ie or visit www.face book.com/lidlireland.

CHARITY: RAISING VITAL FUNDS

Taking part in the Cycle4life THE inaugural D.I.D Electrical Cycle4Life will take place on Saturday May 19, in Dunboyne, Co Meath.

Cycle4Life is a charity that has been set up

by D.I.D Electrical to help raise vital funds for Temple Street Children’s Hospital.

The event will take place over three routes to suit all fitness levels and for all grades of cyclists, from the complete novice all the way up.

Those interested in participating, donating or volunteering to help in the D.I.D Electrical Cycle4Life can log

onto www.cycle4life.ie.

There are training tips and advice available to improve your technique and assist you in reaching your overall goal, whether it’s to cycle 15km or 147km.

Temple Street Children’s hospital continues to rely on external support to assist it in the purchase of vital equipment.

With the money raised by the D.I.D Electrical Cycle4life, Temple Street aims to secure essential equipment that will provide the best possible environment for its young patients and purchase new specialist equipment

and technologies to assist in ongoing vital research.

By participating in the D.I.D Electrical Cycle4Life, those taking part are not only joining a fantastic event, but are also helping to make a real difference to the lives of the most precious patients at their time in need.

Register online now at www.cycle4life.ie or follow on Facebook for updates on upcoming events, useful tips and organised training sessions. There will also have an evening event in the Crowne Plaza that night and tickets are €100.

15 March 2012 GAZETTE 13

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GazettePETS PETS

Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA

THE FACTS: A GROOMING RITUAL MAY REDUCE COSTLY VETERINARY VISITS

Pampering good for pet health HERE are so many wonderful reasons to get a dog. Regular readers of this column will know I’m a gal who’s nuts about her mutts. Those readers will understand my annoyance when, through my job, I often have to deal with pet parents who have gone out and bought a dog in order to “enhance” their own lives. However, they’ve never taken the time or had the desire to enhance their pet’s lives by giving them a regular bath or treating them to a trip to the groomers.

When speaking to these self professed “dog lovers,” I have to ask: Do you enjoy the invigorating feeling of being clean and fresh?

T

Do you visit the hair/ beauty salon?

You do?

Great. Well your pets are no different.

Ok, every pet has his/ her own personality; some love to be brushed and fluffed, some don’t and I will hold my hand up and say one of my dogs, (great aunt Sophie, the 17-year-old, does not like being brushed anymore but she’s an old lady and this is her right; she doesn’t have the patience for it). Let’s just say our Diva Dog is a bit of a challenge these days; however, as her mom I know that regular grooming encompasses many aspects of companion pet care and even though Sophie is no longer as energetic as

When grooming your pet check for areas of bumps, tenderness, scabs or hair loss

she used to be, she is still in need of having a nice warm, gentle bath, getting her nails clipped, her ears cleaned, her anal glands squeezed, etc., And I do believe this regular ritual brings me and my dear old friend closer together…and can reduce costly veterinary visits.

Also, when I’m groom-

ing/petting my dogs, especially Sophie, I check for areas of bumps, tenderness, scabs, hair loss etc., because I do not wish them to run the risk of the following problems: Ear Mites: A parasite that lives out its life cycle inside your pet’s ear canal; causing severe irritation and itchiness. I use a

soft facial tissue around my finger or a cotton bud dipped in cool olive oil and very gently wipe around the inside of my dogs’ ears making sure not to insert too deeply. If the dog has an open wound or the ear is inflamed, it’s straight off to the vet.

Fly strike: Also known as Myasis – a maggot infestation. This is more common in warmer months where flies lay eggs that go on to develop into larvae that eat dead and rotting tissue on your pet. For example, vomit, skin infection, mated hair, diarrhoea, etc., This condition can be fatal if left untreated. Bathe and groom your pet regularly, treat your pet for diarrhoea immediately, and if

your pet becomes ill, keep them indoors away from flies. Always seek veterinary attention.

Anal Sac Impaction: Dogs and cats have anal sacs that can become impacted if not emptied properly. Ideally, anal sacs should empty with your dog’s normal bowel movements. You won’t even notice this, however, if your pet begins to drag his/her behind along the ground, take him/her to your vet. There could be other reasons for this dragging, such as a bothersome growth, matted hair, an irritation or diarrhoea. Only your vet can diagnose.

Minty Fresh Breath: When I’m rubbing my dogs’ faces I always take a

look inside their mouths to check for plaque build-up. If you do this and notice plaque, or bad breath, take your pet to see the vet for a dental check up. When there, ask your vet if he/she can demonstrate the correct technique best suited to your pet and follow the guidelines.

Please do seek your vet’s advice regarding any concerns about your pet and, if you don’t feel like grooming your new best friend yourself, there are plenty of professionals who’d be delighted to provide that service for him/her.

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

15 March 2012 GAZETTE 15

16 GAZETTE 15 March 2012

GazetteBEAUTY BEAUTY Spoil your mammy at LA Academy LA CREATIVE Academy is offering complimentary eyebrow treatment with every makeover at the academy for all of March.

When you book a make-up application for you and your mother on a Saturday, you receive a complimentary LA Thread Bar treatment for that perfect brow.

Make-up is then applied, as well as a threading treatment and a complimentary hair “touch-up” by one of their top artists LA Creative Academy is located at Chatham Street, just off Grafton St. For further information, call 01 675 1999.

Make your mum into an even bigger star with an A-list beauty treatment I LAURA WEBB

OTHER’S day is approaching, and all we want to do for our mums is to make them feel like the only woman in the world – so why not think about giving mum a makeover, and then treat her to a luscious meal to show off the finished results?

To help out with this, Gazette Beauty takes a look at Hollywood’s newest mum, Natalie Portman, to show readers just how easy it is to achieve this glam, yet subtle look.

At this year’s Oscars, Natalie dazzled the red carpet with her polished

M

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‘At this year’s Oscars, Natalie dazzled the red carpet with her polished and subtle make-up.

‘Most mums out there – if mine is anything to go by – prefer less is more, and Natalie has this look down to a tee.’

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and subtle make-up.

Most mums out there – if mine is anything to go by – prefer “less is more”, and Natalie has this look down to a tee.

Soft, tumbling curls help to finish this look, and are a great way of making mums feel like a star.

To help achieve this

look, Maybelline New York cosmetics has everything a daughter (or son) needs to help make mum feel a million dollars.

First, use Maybelline’s Dream Satin Liquid foundation (€11.99), which gives skins a dewy glow. This can be applied using either a brush,

sponge or finger tips.

To ensure that skin stays looking fresh and radiant, initially apply only a small amount as an all-over base, and then tap on excess product where more coverage is needed.

Natalie’s brown eyes are brought to life with a mix of soft, glimmering metallic hues; start by blending the two deepest shades of Maybelline’s Eye Studio Coral Drama Quad (€9.99) along your top lid and up into the socket line for definition.

Add a little under your bottom lashes to make them look thicker and fuller, giving a classic smokey-eye effect.

Using a smaller brush, apply the lightest shade of shimmering gold to the inner corners of eyes to reflect light and then softly blend it out, creating a seamless finish where the light gold meets the darker shades.

To add depth and make lashes appear instantly thicker, apply a small amount of Maybelline’s Gel eyeliner in Black (€11.99) along the top lash line.

Once you have the basic line in place, clean off the brush with a tissue and blend the line so it appears smoother.

Finish off with the Colossal Cat Eyes mascara (€11.99) on both top and bottom lashes

for fuller, thicker, fannedout lashes.

Keep mum’s lips natural, like Natalie, so not to divert from her eye make-up. Try Colour Sensational Lip Gloss in Exquisite Pink (€9.29) to give your lips a similarly beautiful and healthylooking sheen.

O n c e m a ke - u p i s complete, get the curling tongs out, or hair straightening ones, to make loose curls. Dress mum in her favourite cocktail dress and she will be ready to turn heads at your restaurant of choice.

Remember, Mother’s Day is this Sunday, March 18. Happy Mother’s Day!

15 March 2012 GAZETTE 17

Edited by Laura Webb

FastBeauty Cholesterol: Did you check your level recently?

Looking Beeautiful: Gifts from Burt’s

APPROXIMATELY 10,000 Irish people die each year from cardiovascular disease (CVD).

High cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for CVD, including heart attack and stroke. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is vital for the body to function as normal. The problem arises when cholesterol sticks to the blood vessels and blocks blood supply to the major organs.

Improving your diet, reducing alcohol consumption, quitting smoking and increasing physical exercise can help reduce cholesterol. Contact your GP or local pharmacy to get your cholesterol checked, and help to have a healthy Mother’s Day this year

BURT’S Bees has put together two great gifts to keep mums refreshed from head-to-toe this Mother’s Day. Say a big thank-you to mums this year with products that will keep mum feeling revitalised and refreshed at home.

The specially-packaged products come in two gift sets. Burt Bee’s Tips to Toes Kits (top, right) is perfect for hardworking hands and feet, with a collection of rich creams and softening butters to keep hands and feet naturally soft and beautiful, with a RRP of €15.95.

Alternatively, Burt’s Bees Head to Toe (above, right) naturally cleanses and nourishes every part of the body. Inside, mothers will find a generous assortment of Burt’s most popular natural

With thanks to the staff at Lucan Village Natalie Portman wowed at this year’s Oscars with her subtle “less-is-more” make-up – a natural look that would be perfect for your mum this Mother’s Day

Pharmacy

skin care products, from their beeswax lip balm to coconut foot cream and everything in between, with a RRP of €16.95.

Burt’s Bees Mother’s Day kits are available from Nourish and selected independent health stores and pharmacies nationwide.

18 GAZETTE 15 March 2012

GazetteMUSIC MUSIC FastTunes with Radio Nova’s Dee Woods IF YOU look up the phrase, “Still Got It”, no doubt you will find a picture of The Rolling Stones nearby.

The band’s music and its members have not only stood the test of time, but they still rock out better than thousands of acts a quarter of their age.

Next month, The Stones celebrate half a century together and, if they needed any proof of their everlasting popularity, then Facebook is it.

Last week a picture of a chuffed Keith Richards holding a piece of paper saying “9,000,000 Stones’ fans” was posted on www.facebook. com/therollingstones (actually it was missing the apostrophe but I guess you don’t have to worry about that when nine million people love you.)

The timeless calibre of songs, like Gimme Shelter and Waiting on a Friend, is some comfort to the unsettling thought that a bunch of lads my dad’s age have more facebook followers than Radio Nova has listeners. If a post goes up on The Rolling Stones’ Facebook page it can get over 50,000 ‘likes’. See what I mean?

Still got it! And that’s only the fans that are on Facebook!

And now this flurry of online adorers begs the question, when will The Stones announce a 50th anniversary tour? And, more importantly how much the tickets will be? (They’d probably have to tour for another 50 years just to satisfy their nine million fans on Facebook). Hey, lads: If the music dates back half a century then the ticket prices should too! A couple of quid should do it.

But a warning to Jagger, Richards and co: psychologists have found the more friends you have on Facebook, the more likely you are to suffer from stress and anxiety. And you guys don’t need any more wrinkles...

Keith Richards and the big news...

Coming home: Kiwanuka’s debut hitting home now SOUL sensation, Michael Kiwanuka, has released his much-anticipated debut album, Home Again.

The North London singer-songwriter, whose magnificent show at the Sugar Club last month sent our reviewer in paroxyms of delight, seals the deal with the ten tracks on offer, a collection of songs that propel you back to the golden age of soul, thanks to brilliant playing and a stellar retro production job

by Paul Butler from The Bees.

REVIEW: HAS BRUCE MADE HIS BEST RECORD OF THE CENTURY?

Springsteen breaks it down to build again I ROB HEIGH

VERY few acts get as far as ten albums, let alone 17. And you would have to imagine that, over the course of 17 records, there would an early learning phase where they learned their craft, followed by a mature middle phase where they played at the top of their game, and it would be topped off by an end-game that saw them going through the motions while the records spun in decreasingly satisfying circles.

You would think that, but then, you wouldn’t be thinking of Bruce Springsteen.

The patron saint of New Jersey has returned this year with his 17th album, and it proves to be, possibly, the most complete summation of everything that makes Bruce Bruce in a single record this century.

I’ve always thought that Springsteen’s albums since Tunnel Of Love in 1987 were almost there, but not quite — there was a feeling that they missed an unidentifiable something that entirely unified all of the songs under one flag, in

Bruce Springsteen has delivered what might be his first completely realised record this century

spite of there being some undeniably great songwriting and playing on those records. Wrecking Ball, however, feels like the first time in a very long time that the muse and the cause have come together to create something special.

Opening with the apparently patriotic We Take Care Of Our Own, Wrecking Ball keeps its intentions just under the surface, until it’s time to let them spill over. Our Own is an angry volley that hides it’s ire and bile just as Born In The

USA did — the message is that wherever the flag is flown, the care and support for every class is most certainly lacking, despite what politicians and business might have to say.

That frustration directs the characters in many of the songs collected on Wrecking Ball — the petty criminal on Easy Money is all romance until he pulls his gun as he rails against “the fat cats who think it’s funny” who brought him low.

The anger turns to spiritual uplift, and the

theme turns at the midpoint on the title track, austensibly about the end of an era as the Giants stadium in New Jersey is demolished, but, equally, a metaphor for hope and resistance in a time of depression and financial hardship — “Come on and take your best shot, let me see what you got.”

T he music brings together the best bombast of previous E Street Band outings while taking in inf luences from the country-folk inflected Seeger Sessions

album, as well as bringing in Irish trad stylings, New Orleans brass, civil war style marches, and even drum-loops and a rap on Rocky Ground.

I would suggest you seek out the E Street Band performances on Jimmy Fallon’s show in the US last week. There’s something elemental and uplifting seeing the band perform together, even without the talismanic presence of Clarence Clemons, the saxophone legend who passed away last year. The last gang in town are back to rock.

15 March 2011 GAZETTE 19

GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS

Supported by AIB

Interview: Catriona Byrne, The Foot Clinic at Doc Morris, Superquinn SC, Blanch

Happy feet lead to happy customers CATRIONA Byrne has been working in the health service for the past 12 years and she has noticed an increased number of patients, of all ages, presenting with medical complaints which impacts on the condition of their feet. “These medical conditions vary from diabetes, obesity, joint replacement and back problems. In most cases, these patients have been encouraged to exercise more regularly in order to reduce weight and, in turn, help with their medical condition. However, if a patient is also having discomfort in their feet, the exercise plan soon goes out the window!” said Catriona.

In 2010, she completed training in Foot Health Management and Biomechanics, as she felt there was a gap in the health service providing both a chiropody and biomechanical service to patients. The biomechanics of the service includes assessing the patient’s gait / walk and includes recommending an exercise programme and / or orthotics as necessary.

“The patients may present with complaints such as fallen arches, knee or back pain, hammer toes, bunion problems or indeed heel spurs, tendonitis or generalised foot pain. So, while I provide a full chiropody service to patients, my service focuses not only on treatment, but also on preventative measures also.

“I find the business extremely rewarding as clients always comment on how good they are feeling after their appointment!” she said.

RETIREMENT SAVINGS Q – My PRSA has only € 23,000 in it and I am due to retire next May. I have been told I will receive very little by way of a monthly pension and, coupled with the State pension, I am scared that I just simply won’t be able to afford to retire.

Finding a job at 66 is not easy, but I may have to.

How can I maximise my PRSA fund? Joan – Blanchardstown A – While I am a great advocate of starting a pension as early as you can, I am also an advocate for getting to grips with how the pension system works as early as one can, too. Like a bricklayer laying brick upon brick, but without having to see the bigger picture, most pension investors are happy to make minimum contributions not knowing what the consequences will be. The end game is just so important, as you are now unfortunately experiencing. With only a fund of € 23,000, you can take € 5,750 as a tax free lump sum, and invest € 17,250 into an annuity – essentially a fixed interest rate deposit account guaranteed for life.

You take this interest then as your income for life but when you die, the insurance company keeps the fund.

You are therefore buying a guaranteed income for life – the ideal, of course, is to live as long as possible and outlive the annuity ! Taking a rate of c. 4.5%, this equates to €64.68 per month and, even with the annual State pension, a total of c.€13,000 per annum, you can afford to earn at least another € 5,000 per annum free from income tax.

The lesson is a hard one. There are thresholds on

Catriona Byrne, of The Foot Clinic at Doc Morris, Superquinn SC, Blanchardstown

the amount of contributions that can be made to a pension fund based on age, e.g. aged between 40 and

Q&A

50, you can contribute up to 25% of your net relevant

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

A: It varied every year.

you could not pull off?

A: I like to set myself achiev-

Q: What was your first job?

A: McDonald’s Q: And your first pay cheque?

A: I can’t remember.

Q: Have you ever done a job you loathed?

A: Not really – have done a variety of jobs but my pet hate is filing.

Q: When did you start your present job?

A: 2010.

Q: What is the best thing about your job?

A: As I am a Foot Care Practitioner, I deal with all aspects of foot pain, generally all patients present with varying foot pain, they all leave feeling much better – there is immense satisfaction in that.

Q: : Have you achieved anything that you once thought

able goals.

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

A: My summer holidays.

Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own?

A: Maybe eight or 10

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

A: Again, filing!

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

A: Enjoy a good film.

Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously?

A: Holidays, if possible.

Q: What’s currently on your desk that shouldn’t be?

A: It’s still the filing, unfortu-

Q: What music/pictures/movies do you have on your iPod/ iPad? A: I don’t have iPod or iPad

Q: Describe your dream holiday?

A: A nice beach, good book,

nately.

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

A: Not really – I like to think

Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook?

A: Not a follower of Twitter or

of myself as pretty straight forward.

Q: What was your last tweet/ status update?

A: I don’t Tweet or Facebook.

Q: What sport do you follow?

A: Not a follower of any spe-

Facebook.

cific sport.

I like to chat with friends faceto-face.

Q: What sport can you play?

A: Badminton – not a great

Q: Describe your dream meal?

A: Any meal that I don’t cook.

player but really enjoy playing.

Q: What habits would you like to lose?

A: I can’t think of any offhand.

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

A: Preferably Dame Edna – I like a laugh!

good food and excellent company - works perfectly!

Q: What would be your dream job?

A: I like a challenge. Maybe run the county for a while, as I’d like to make some major changes, like restore a bit of equity and accountability to the system and give the county a major kick-start regarding job creation.

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

A: No plans to retire yet. However, if I won the lotto, maybe I could be persuaded.

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS

ADVERTISE WITH THE GAZET TE CALL 60 10 240

earnings in an occupational pension scheme apart from the employer’s contribution. Investing 5% while the employer invests 5% into the fund is substantially short of the recommended and allowable amount that can be invested into such a fund. Remember the three reasons for having a pension 1. Monthly contributions attract tax relief up to certain limits at your marginal rate. The top rate is earmarked to decrease to the 20% rate over the next three years, so make hay while the sun shines.

2. All growth in the fund is tax free. Remember even if you are on the lower rate of tax, it means because you receive 20% tax back, the fund has to drop by over 20% in one year for you to lose money in your investment.

3. On retirement, 25% of the fund up to a maximum of €200,000 can be taken as a tax-free lump sum.

Very best of luck Joan in your retirement.

Contact John with your money questions at

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

LOCAL

MATTERS

20 GAZETTE 15 March 2012

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS Ford gives the new Kuga a right kicking The new Opel Ampera

Ampera and Volt Share the Honours in Geneva THE Opel Ampera and the Chevrolet Volt were unveiled as the “shock” winners of the 2012 Car of the Year award at the Geneva Motor Show last week.

The news comes as Opel Ireland prepares for delivery of the highly anticipated vehicles, where orders across Europe are currently exceeding expectations, with 7,000 orders placed.

The Opel Ampera / Chevrolet Volt came in as convincing winners with 330 points against the VW Up (281) and Ford Focus (256).

The Opel/Vauxhall CEO, Karl-Friedrich Stracke, and Chevrolet’s president and managing director for Europe, Susan Docherty, were both handed the Car of the Year 2012 award by the President of the COTY judging panel, Hakan Matson.

The Ampera and the Volt emerged as the joint overall winner in a field of seven COTY finalists. The selection criteria applied by the judges were based on attributes such as design, comfort, performance and especially innovative technologies as well as efficiency.

Honour “It is a proud moment for us and an honour to receive this award from Europe’s leading jury of automotive journalists,” said Susan Docherty, president and managing director, Chevrolet Europe.

“Our car demonstrates that electric driving can be fun and reliable without ever compromising the owner’s lifestyle.

“We are extremely pleased that our revolutionary electric vehicle has emerged as the winner in such a tough field of competitors.

“And we are very proud of this accolade,” says Karl-Friedrich Stracke.

“This encourages us further to continue our leadership role in the area of e-mobility.”

The Ampera and the Volt are the first electric vehicles in the market that can go anywhere anytime. A 16 kWh lithium ion battery powers the 111kW/150 hp electric motor.

Depending on the style of driving and road conditions, distance of between 40 and 80 kilometres can be covered in the purely batteryoperated mode, completely free of emissions.

LAST week, the Ford motor company managed to give one of its own models a right kicking!

As part of the company’s 2012 Geneva Motor Show presentation, they revealed the first ever kick-activated automatic boot on their all-new Kuga.

Owners of the car will now be able to open and close the tailgate simply by waving a foot beneath the rear bumper, an especially useful feature for those carrying the weekly shop or other gear to load into the car.

Ford perfected the system with the help of volunteer “kickers”, and, after six months of testing produced the optimum settings.

“This is a perfect example of how we’re evolving existing technology to further improve our customers’ experience with Ford vehicles,” said Dominik Nical, security electronics expert, Ford

of Europe. “The result is a practical and unique solution to a common problem – opening the tailgate when your arms are full. It’s a solution that will really work for customers in their everyday lives.”

The development team spent six months working with Ford’s Human Machine Interface laboratory, using volunteers to test prototype systems fitted to a previous generation Kuga.

Rigorous real-life testing perfected the required kick and ensured there was no interference with other systems.

The hands-free tailgate builds on Ford’s Intelligent Access push-button start. It allows customers, who have their key on their person, to unlock and start their vehicles without having to take it out of their pocket or purse.

Two sensors in the rear bumper detect a

Owners can open the boot by waving a foot

person’s shin and kicking motion. The system safeguards against accidental opening by being programmed to open with leg motions – not when an animal runs under the car or when the vehicle hits a bump on the road.

The system made its debut on Kuga’s sister model, the Ford Escape, in North America, late last year. Ford engi-

neers re-calibrated the system for Europe to ensure it would still work if a tow bar had been fitted - as this is an option frequentlyy chosen by European n Kuga customers.

The automatic hands-free tailgate iss launched as an option n with Keyless Entry on n the all-new Kuga later er this year.

New Fiesta ST gets show debut FORD also used last week’s Geneva Motor Show to unveil the new, production-ready Fiesta ST in advance of the performance hatchback’s launch in Europe in 2013.

Customers have clamoured for a new Fiesta ST since the last model disappeared from European showrooms in 2008.

The all-new model is set to take the car’s performance to a new level, and the numbers tell the story: 180PS 1.6-litre EcoBoost, 240Nm of torque, 0-100km/h in under seven seconds, and top speed of more than 220km/h.

At the same time, the EcoBoost technology delivers a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions compared with the previous

Customers have clamoured for a new Fiesta ST

Fiesta ST. Developed by Ford’s Team RS, the new model delivers significant rideand-handling improvements through the introduction of a specially tuned chassis that sits 15mm lower than the standard Fiesta; Ford’s

enhanced Torque Vectoring Control system, and three Electronic Stability Control modes.

The technologies were put to the test over 5,000 kilometres of driving on Germany’s Nurburgring Nordschleife.

“We believe Ford cus-

tomers will be blown away by the new Fiesta ST, and not only by the exhilarating performance but by the styling and specification, too. This dynamic new hot-hatch is undoubtedly our best Fiesta ST to date,” said Jost Capito, Ford’s director of Global

Performance Vehicles.

T he high-contrast interior features unprecedented levels of equipment and specification to suit the sporting driver, with standard Recaro sports seats appearing in a Fiesta ST for the first time.

It also will be equipped with MyKey, which allows owners to limit performance and ensure activation of safety features for when less-experienced drivers use the vehicle; and SYNC, Ford’s voiceactivated in-car connectivity system.

A new bold and dynamic exterior design drives home the high performance message and features the latest Ford design signatures.

15 March 2012 GAZETTE 21

Edited by Cormac Curtis

RoadSigns Road Signs THE NEW A-CLASS IS UNVEILED AT MOTOR SHOW:

The new Skoda Citigo is set to compete with both VW and SEAT, as they take their first steps in to the small car market in 2012

TRIPLETS: SKODA REVEAL THEIR CONTENDER FOR THE SUBCOMPACT SHOWDOWN

Go, Citigo, go!

HE motoring world is about to launch into a phase of sibling rivalry, as Skoda, VW and SEAT each release their first small cars.

Named the Citigo, the up! and the Mii respectively, these little motors have been affectionately christened “the triplets” by many in the motoring fraternity.

T he international launch of the Skoda Citigo took place in Lisbon this month, and the Gazette was lucky enough to be invited along.

I have to be honest, I am not a petrol-headed, rev-counting purist type of motoring correspondent. There’s no doubt I like a little fire in a car’s belly, but it is the practi-

T

SPECS: SKODA CITIGO (75bhp) Top speed: 171 kph 0 – 100km/hr: 13.2 sec Economy: 4.7 l/100km CO2 emissions: 108g/km Road Tax Band: A (€160) Entry Price: €10,000 est

cal nature of most motors that sticks with me, long after the novelty of a finely tuned sports coupe has worn off.

It’s for this reason that car launches make me nervous.

These events always seem to involve twisty, narrow, mountainous roadways, in countries that are not exactly renowned for their mannerly drivers.

And so it came to

pass, that the launch of the Skoda Citigo, a car that is aimed directly at urban and suburban drivers, involved the type of driving I like to avoid through a narrow, bendy, mountainous route, that eventually brought my driving companion and I to a very picturesque coastal area close to Lisbon, much to our relief.

The danger here was that my first experience in the Citigo was going to be a nervous one and leave me with a bad impression.

Thankfully, this was not to be.

For starters, this small car has more interior room than you would ever expect, certainly more than enough for two substantial men to

travel side-by-side in the front seats more than comfortably.

Next is the finish. The tactile points of this car feel very solid, almost as though they have have been swiped from their saloon stablemates.

Nothing gives you the impression that you are in a small car where economy was the driving force behind the design.

Enthusiasm And, speaking of design, the overall look and available options in the Citigo scream fun and enthusiasm.

My particular favourite was a glossy, white finish with black racing stripes down the middle, finished off with black alloys – a very tasty look

indeed.

In practical terms, the five-door option makes all the sense in the world, it’s a €500 option, but makes the car far more usable without sacrificing any of its visual appeal.

The drive itself was another surprise.

Admittedly, carrying three adults, you need to get the revs up a bit more than usual to get it going up near-vertical mountainous roads, but the point is that this car does get going.

Keeping in mind that it has a modest one-litre engine producing 60 or 75bhp, depending what model you go for, it moves surprisingly well.

There was certainly no problem keeping up on the motorways, and

it was as nimble as anything as we took a few wrong turns navigating the small, cobbled city streets around Lisbon.

It’s refreshing to see car manufacturers putting such serious thought and consideration into their entry-level models.

From the incredibly attractive fuel economy and running costs, to the interior finish and design, cars of this size really are competing for our attention.

Skoda’s fan base in Ireland is certainly increasing, and it will no doubt find the VW Up! very tough competition, but the Citigo put a smile on my face, and having to pick between these two would certainly have me scratching my head.

AMONG the many new cars debuting at the Geneva Motor Show last week, was the new MercedesBenz A-Class.

The German marquee believes that the new model boasts the kind of appeal that will bring them into a new, more youthful market segment when it arrives here next year.

The taller, more upright, design of the present model has been replaced by a lower-slung body that sits 18cm closer to the ground.

Built on the B-Class platform, the new A-Class will come in a range of petrol and turbo-diesel engines, and the one likely to grab the limelight in Ireland is a 1.8-litre diesel, seen as the greenest of them all with CO2 emissions of just 99g/km.

All engines offer an idle-stop system as standard and can be mated to a six-speed manual, or sevenspeed dual-clutch automatic, transmission.

One feature certain to appeal is a facility that allows what might be termed “the i-class generation”, to connect up and use the full functionality of their iPhone Siri voiceactivated units or play their iPad music and apps through the car’s infotainment system.

Electronic elements extend to safety with a collision warning system and adaptive brake assist amongst its standard features.

The new MercedesBenz A-Class

22 GAZETTE 15 March 2012

GazetteTTRAVEL Fast Travel Croatia’s many charms to woo you this Easter IF YOU are thinking of taking a trip this Easter, Croatia could be just the place, with its glistening coastline and a preserved, historic beauty.

Concorde Travel has just launched new special offers to Croatia during the Easter holiday period, with many offers to suit all budgets.

For example, departing on April 1, spend seven nights at the three-star Antuninska Apartments in Dubrovnik Old Town, on a self-catering basis, from €549pp.

Alternatively, depart on April 6 and stay at the two-starplus Hotel Adriatic in Dubrovnik, on a B&B basis, from €530pp; the four-star Grand Park & Villas Hotel in Dubrovnik, on a B&B basis, from €610pp or the beautiful fivestar Rixos Libertas Hotel in Dubrovnik, on a B&B basis, from €800pp.

To book your Croatia break, or for further information, see www.concordetravel.ie or phone 01 775 9300.

Whether taking a trip to luxurious Druids Glen Resort (main), or making Mumm the word for champagne in the Westin (above), spoil your mum this Mother’s Day

Make the most of a special day for mum IF YOU have found yourself caught short for a special Mother’s Day gift this year, there’s always the option to whisk her away for a break – without the kids.

To give you a little inspiration, and to keep you out of the dog-house this weekend, here is a selection of destinations around the country that would be perfect for a break for mum this March 18 ...

The five-star g Hotel, Galway The five-star g Hotel, Galway is offering the perfect indulgence for you and your mum to relax and reconnect.

Discover ESPA at the g’s Pamper Perfection for Two experience and combine your spa experience with luxurious overnight accommodation and full

Irish breakfast.

Your spa journey will start in ESPA at the g’s glorious thermal suite, offering a range of heat and cooling experiences which cleanse the body and soothe aching muscles.

Enjoy a 55-minute spa treatment, selecting from an ESPA-intensive facial, full body massage or body wrap, and experience rituals that will take your mind to a calmer place and nurture your body.

Conclude your spa journey in the rooftop relaxation area overlooking the zen garden with a handmade chocolate and a refreshing smoothie.

It costs from €155 per person sharing, bookable from Sunday to Thursday.

For further details, see www.theghotel.ie or call 091 865 200

Druids Glen Resort, County Wicklow The Mother’s Day package includes gorgeous five-star overnight accommodation in the resort that is nestled between the Irish Sea and Wicklow mountains.

During the day, enjoy a blissful facial in the resort’s popular spa, where you will also receive a special Payot spa gift.

Later on, you can toast your girlie evening with a glass of Prosecco, before a delicious dinner in the Druids Brasserie.

Then, retire for the night and watch a “movie for mum” together in the comfort of your cosy room.

Waking up to a satisfying full Irish breakfast, your mum will feel well and truly spoiled.

The Druids Glen

Mother’s Day package is available Mother’s Day weekend from €170 per person, subject to availability. For further information, call 01 287 0848, or see www.druidsglenresort.com.

The Westin Hotel, Dublin This Mother’s Day, show your mum just how much you love her and appreciate all that she does by marking the date with a special Mumm Champagne Afternoon Tea at the luxurious Atrium Lounge in The Westin Dublin hotel.

The Atrium Lounge is offering a special treat for mums on Mother’s Day. Take time out to catch up together with an afternoon tea, including home-made scones with jam and clotted cream, and a selection of pastries

and other sweet treats, and receive a complimentary glass of chilled Mumm champagne for mum – all for just €24.

For further information and bookings, contact The Atrium Lounge directly on 01 645 1324 and quote “Special Mother’s Day package”.

The Imperial Hotel, Cork Enjoying some self indulgence is a luxury most busy mums rarely get the chance to experience.

Rectify that this Mother’s Day by treating her to an extra-special Indulge Me spa package at the blissful Escape Salon and Spa in the Imperial Hotel, Cork city.

The sensuous package does exactly what it says on the tin and includes an Aveda comforting tea on

arrival, time in the Vitality Suite’s hydrotherapy pool, Brine Grotto and Aroma Grotto, a pure focus facial tailored to suit her skin type, an anti-ageing eye treatment, nurturing hand and arm massage, and soothing scalp massage As an extra-special gift, your mum will also receive an Aveda gift of two travel-sized products so that she can feel fabulous wherever she is.

The Indulge Me spa package costs €149, and you can indulge her even further by turning her visit into an overnight stay with room rates in the charming, four-star city centre hotel from just €89, so she can also pay Patrick Street a visit and shop until she drops.

For further information, see www.flynnho tels.com or call 021 427 4040.

15 March 2012 LUCAN GAZETTE 23

Edited by Mimi Murray

FastTravel

Head East or West for some terrific holidays LOOKING for something a little different to the usual sun, sea and sand? Joe Walsh Tours specialist tours are designed to cater for clients who want something unique that they will remember for a lifetime, such as to Taiwan and South Korea.

Spend 15 unforgettable days travelling through areas such as Taipei, Sun Moon Lake, Taichung, Seoul, Daegu, Gyeongju and Busan, visiting such sights as the Paoan Temple, the Shilin Night Market, Taroko National Park, and The

Tunnel of the Nine Turns, all located in Taiwan.

In South Korea, you will visit several memorable sights, including Chogyesa Temple, Cheomseongdae Observatory, Beomosa Temple and Yongdusan Park.

Price includes return flights from Dublin with China Airlines, 14 nights’ B&B, accommodation, 12 evening meals, eight lunches, a luxury airconditioned coach for the duration of the tour, the services of Joe Walsh Tours’ local guides for the duration of the tour, entrances as stated on

the itinerary and an internal flight from Hualien to Taipei.

Depart on July 16 and spend seven nights in Taiwan and seven nights in South Korea, at a cost of €2,929 per person, excluding tax of €295pp.

Alternatively, head Stateside in September to join an American Civil War Battlefield programme.

Highlights include the Capitol Building, Ford’s Theatre, the Lincoln, Jefferson, Vietnam and WWII memorials, US Nav y Museum, New Market Battlefield and

Cruise control to France with Irish Ferries

For those looking for a break from the norm, why not take in the modern sights of Taipei (main), or the Antietam National Battlefield in America (inset)?

Museum, National US Museum Corps Museum, and Antietam National Battlefield, to name just a few.

The price includes direct return flights from Dublin to Washington, 10 nights’ hotel accommodation on a B&B basis in the Hotel Monaco, Alexandria and the Best

Western Historic, Frederick, one welcome dinner, a luxury air-conditioned coach throughout the duration of the trip, entry fees to all historic sites and museums as per itinerary, and the assistance of Captain Donal Buckley, on behalf of Joe Walsh Tours.

This package costs

€1,749pp, plus tax of €265pp.

Tours are subject to minimum of 20 passengers to operate for the Taiwan and South Korea tour, and 40 passengers to operate for the USA tour.

For further information on these tours, or to book, see www.joewalshtours. ie or call 01 241 0800.

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TAKING a trip to France by boat need not be a dull experience, thanks to Irish Ferries.

The Oscar Wilde offers a wide range of onboard facilities, including three restaurants, two lounge bars, two cinemas, mall-style shopping, a cafe, gaming area, hair and beauty salon, Wi-Fi internet access, and much more, operating between Rosslare to Cherbourg and Roscoff.

For further information and reservations, see www. irishferries.com, or call 0818 300 400.

24 LUCAN GAZETTE 15 March 2012

GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT

GoingOUT THE PAVILION THEATRE 01 231 2929 Showstopper!

THEY’RE making it up as they go along! Luckily, that’s entirely the point, as Showstopper! The Improvised Musical sees an entirely new musical created from scractch in every performance, with the audience helping to create a show on the spot with their suggestions and direction, leading to a unique show to remember. This award-winning production, which has played sell-out shows in London’s West End, is set to delight and entertain at The Pavilion on St Patrick’s Day, at 8pm, with tickets costing €18/16.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 Jack Wise Magic & Comedy

MEANWHILE, also being held on St Patrick’s Day, famillies looking for fun in Dundrum will find plenty at the Jack Wise Magic & Comedy show, presented as part of the Paddy Laughs Festival. As the title suggests, Jack will blend magic and laughter to great effect, in a show described as David Blaine mixed with Tommy Cooper, creating great tricks and lots of fun for all the family in the Irish magician’s memorable festival show. Catch the magical performance, at 3pm, with tickets priced at €8/€5.

CIVIC THEATRE 01 885 2622 Carthaginans

CONTINUING with The Civic Theatre’s run of strong, memorable drama, Frank McGuinness’ striking play, Carthaginans, runs until St Patrick’s Day, March 17.

Influenced by Bloody Sunday, and delving into certain facets of The Troubles, this production, set in a graveyard, both helps to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Bloody Sunday and provides some thought-provoking entertainment for theatre fans. Catch the show nightly at 8pm, with tickets costing €20/16.

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 Coolmine Goes to the Movies

DRAIOCHT is getting ready for the upcoming Coolmine Goes to the Movies show, which is set to feature a wonderful night’s entertainment, influenced by all manner of movie magic. The accomplished Coolmine players will take the audience through a delightful tour of Hollywood hits, with everything from Disney to Bond to much, much more to savour in their presentation. Coolmine Goes to the Movies – and so will you – on Friday, March 30 and Saturday, March 31 at 8pm, with tickets priced €16/€14.

With two giant, multi-limbed, bloodthirsty and blind white apes charging in on him, John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) should make like a banana, and split – however, it’s all just one more dramatic event for the Earthman to get through on his bizarre adventures on Mars

Monkeying around This popcorn sci-fi epic feels like too many films you’ve already seen, with nice design but overly familiar setting I KATE CROWLEY

WHILE the entire world and his wife waits for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter to chop and stake its way to our screens – I know, I know, I was born to review something so gloriously titled – there’s an awful lot of underwhelming films to get through first, which even an undead-slaying, stovepipe-hat wearing president couldn’t make any better. (Sorry, Abe.) Speaking of underwhelming, here’s John Carter! He’s a bit of a Tarzan character, one might say, seen as something of a wild character amongst the locals – appropriately enough, as he’s a much-lesser-known work by Tarzan’s creator, Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Through some not particularly well-executed scene setting, it’s not long before we’re in the late 1800s or so, saddled up with Civil War veteran

FILM OF THE WEEK: John Carter ## (12A) 130 mins Director: Andrew Stanton Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe, Mark Strong, Bryan Cranston, lots and lots of CG sights

OUR VERDICT: THERE’S too much here that you’ve already seen in a variety of other films. Deadwood, Gladiator, Avatar, Dune – take your pick, and you’ll see all these, and more, in this mash-up of movies. It’s not truly terrible, and would while away a couple of hours ... just don’t expect anything particularly special, or even memorable, and it could be just the ticket for a while...

Carter (Kitsch), who, it turns out, isn’t quite the grizzled, unfeeling and authority-hating maverick that he appears to be.

Anyway, after some slightly dull scene-setting (oh, if only he’d rucked up in Deadwood), it’s not long before Carter finds himself accidentally transported to another planet – as you do – and discovers that it – Mars – is full of life. (I guess good ol’ Edgar didn’t sit too near the front during his 19th-century schoolin’.)

Carter’s just a puny earthling – a grizzled, unfeeling and authority-

hating maverick at odds with the towering, multiarmed locals, who may all appear to be bloodthirsty savages at first sight, but, in fact, have a complex society that a puny but plucky Earthling could help sort out and ...

Hmmm. This doesn’t feel a million miles away from a certain other sci-fi film from a few years ago, but let’s jump back the 36 million or so miles to Mars to continue.

Blessed with superior strength and abilities, due to the planet’s different gravity, it’s not long before Carter’s leppin’ about the

place, helping the locals with their somewhat pressing issue of civil war.

Oh, and their imminent destruction by a superior race. Who will then tackle primitive Earth.

You may think that all of this would be a lot for a grizzled maverick-soldierturned-gold-prospectorturned-intergalactic-leader to sort out, but Carter’s a have-a-go kind of guy, and isn’t about to let mistrustful aliens, bloodthirsty politicians, dragonflyish warships and bloody big beasties get in his way of saving the day, the girl, the planet, our planet, and everything – and then go back to a mundane life on Earth – oh no!

And that’s yer lot.

Of course, there’s a wee bit more to it than just that, with lots and lots of CG-enhanced scenes and characters.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to say that there’s anything new in this film, over which the ghost of Avatar hovers. Oh, and the ghost of Star Wars. And Dune.

And several other films.

Kitsch (left) does his best, but the role doesn’t exactly demand much, bar standing around looking buff, angry, alarmed, or – nope, that’s pretty much it, and the other humans don’t exactly have a lot to work with, either.

To b e f a i r, they’re working with material that’s already weak – there’s a reason why so much Tarzan exists, but Carter’s a virtual unknown, making this a poor, Kitsch film.

15 March 2012 LUCAN GAZETTE 25

GazetteGAMING GAMING Bytesandpieces Scaling creative download heights

In Mass Effect 3, Shepard must lead his team to fight back against the Reaper menace to the Galaxy – but Earth comes under attack ...

Making a stand against the Reapers’ menace SHANE DILLON

THE wait is over – the Reapers have finally arrived at Earth, where it seems that it’s very much a case of Game Over for our species.

Or, rather, game on, as Mass Effect 3’s longawaited arrival has been keenly met by gamers, keen to continue the notable franchise with the

final part in the trilogy.

I reported last week on the title’s problems with being stocked at Game, but, this week, we’ll leave any such negativity behind to focus on the game itself.

And what a game.

Although it’s (just about) accessible to complete newcomers to the series, this is a title that very much builds up on all of

the expansive back story already established in the prequels, as well as the established characters, to deliver a title that’s very much more of the same, but ramped up to a much higher standard, and, of course, with an explosive finale.

To recap, the Mass Effect series, and universe, follows humanity’s role in the future as its expansion

Anotherweebyte...

An extra effect from Kinect’s hardware XBOX 360 gamers can avail of their Kinect hardware to get an extra boost to their gameplay, in another sign of how determined Microsoft is to make the most of their hardware to enhance a number of key titles.

So, this means that Kinect users can make the most of a number of Kinect features – principally by making use of audio commands to manage their squad on a number of fronts as they battle the Reapers and their minions.

Seeing as squads play a significant

role in a number of titles, and given the natural immersion that such a feature could add to a game, it seems like a natural addition to the title – one that may not be for every gamer (given the paper-thin walls in my new-build apartment, my flatmate and neighbours would be unlikely to appreciate my intergalactic battling by blathering to myself), but one that will feel like a natural fit for many gamers, keen to get any help they can to help tackle the Reapers’ plans.

into the galaxy puts it in conflict with older, more established civilisations, none of whom are too impressed by our upstart race.

Luckily enough, some plucky humans are just what the galaxy needs, given that an ancient race of sentient machines have reawoken, and are hell-bent on eliminating – or reaping – all sentient life across the galaxy, whose lifeforms would do very nicely to power their alarm clocks, showers and spaceships, thank you.

In Mass Effect 3, the game can either start with a new character, as defined by the player, or, by examining the gamer’s previous saves, can load up their character from the previous game and, based on their playing and choices so far, shape the story from that point on, creating what feels like a unique experience.

Here, the action continues with Shepard and

co trying to unite all the species for a desperate stand against the Reapers (Earth doesn’t fare too well, early on), with a pretty explosive mix of intense action, giving the gamers an awful lot of bang for their buck.

Again, there’ll be lots of player choice along the way, with actions and conversations taken along the journey determining how things play out – and who lives, and who dies.

Of course, there’s an awful lot more than this simple summary to the game – despite the streamlined experience, there’s substantial depth to the title – but, for those looking for an all-out action title, with quieter moments of debate and real choice to make, it’s hard not to be impressed by this stand-out title.

So, for a sweeping scifi opera, with some great action, Mass Effect 3 is a superb conclusion to a strong series.

CONTINUING the XBox 360’s coverage this week – and why not, given such strong content – another “House Party” downloadable title has popped into view, priced 1,200 Microsoft Points.

Running with what I’m terming the popular Apres-Armageddon genre (as seen in several instances, such as cinema’s The Road, television’s The Walking Dead, and any number of recent gaming titles, such as Enslaved), I Am Alive is a notably polished download-only title, featuring a desperate character’s attempts to survive in a post-apocalyptic urban setting.

Despite its lengthy-development period, which led many to doubt it would ever actually emerge from Development Hell, it’s finally been released, and has turned out to be a decent survival-horror title, where, perhaps a little controversially, the player is battling fellow survivors’ lawlessness as much as the ruined city’s dangerous environment.

It’s a good way to round off the 360’s House Party season, which featured some great titles and, as another enjoyable downloadable title, I Am Alive shows that there’s certainly plenty of life in this interesting gaming avenue for the 360.

GAZETTE

26 LUCAN GAZETTE 15 March 2012

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PLANNING NOTICE SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL Telefonica Ireland Ltd are applying for Permission for Retention of the existing 10m high free standing unipole carrying antennas in an enclosed shroud together with ground based equipment cabin at Sureweld International Ltd, Fonthill, Lucan, Co Dublin. The application site lies within the curtilage of a Protected Structure (RPS 036) a former tram shed and power station as listed in the South Dublin County Council Development Plan 20102016. This application may be inspected or purchased, at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

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15 March 2012 LUCAN GAZETTE 27

GazetteSPORT

DRIVING HOME Touring car starAaron Smith on coming back to Ireland: Page 29

ROWING: AMBITIOUS DRIVE FOR DUN LAOGHAIRE CLUB IN EPIC CELTIC CHALLENGE RACE

St Michael’s to row their boat all way to Wales sport@gazettegroup.com

Over the coming May bank holiday weekend, 12 men and women from St Michael’s Rowing Club in Dun Laoghaire will take part in a biennial rowing race across the Irish Sea known as the Celtic Challenge.

The race sets off from Arklow, Co Wicklow, with the finishing line in Aberystwyth, Wales.

At 150km, this relay race is billed as the long-

est rowing race in the world, and draws together 27 teams from Wales, Ireland and beyond.

The team is taking on this challenge to raise funds for a clubhouse in Dun Laoghaire, for the first time in the club’s 90 year history.

Not many races start and finish in different countries, a source of pride to the Welsh and Irish oarsmen and women involved. So, too, is the sport of coastal rowing

itself, which differs from the Olympic or Oxford v Cambridge code of rowing in a number of key ways. Seats are fixed, not sliding, and boats are of a more substantial construction to tackle the swell on open seas, which can reach several metres.

St Michael’s take things a step further by using quar ter-ton wooden clinker-built east coast skiffs rather than the modern fibreglass models, used by all other competi-

The east-coast skiff that St Michael’s will be piloting in the Celtic Challenge race in May

tors in 2010. Their solid wood oars are three times heavier than carbon fibre equivalents, requiring strength and a particular technique. In common with other clubs of Dublin and Wicklow, these boats originate from the Hobblers of old; crews of local men who would engage in unlicensed pilotage of

merchant shipping.

Each competing team in the Celtic Challenge consists of three rotating crews of four rowers and is accompanied by a support boat for navigation and for accommodating the resting crews.

Changeover strategy is down to each team, but most opt for a one-hour-

on, two-hours-off format.

Depending on weather conditions, the race may start in Arklow on the afternoon of the Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Crews row through the night, arriving in Aberystwyth the following morning or afternoon.

The squad is actively seeking sponsorship for

the challenge, in a drive to raise funds for a new clubhouse in Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Currently, the club lacks space to store their three wooden boats, space for indoor training and changing facilities. It is hoped that the money raised can be put towards achieving this long-standing goal.

28 LUCAN GAZETTE 15 March 2012

GazetteSport Sport

Julie Dunne, Kellie McKeon, Trish Mayon, Sheila Kenny and Mary Kelly

Trish Mayon

Lions’ number 9, Mary Kelly

Basketball Lions roar to the Dublin junior title D

UBLIN Lions comprehensively defeated The Green in the Dublin Junior Cup final last Sunday in the Oblates, with an emphatic final score of 78-31.

The Lions’ opponents on the day had defeated Lions’ second team in the semifinal the previous weekend, and deprived the club of a Lions v Lions final.

But in spite of that disappointment, from the first points dropped by Caro Lloyd, Lions were in command, and they dominated every quarter, scoring coming from all of the players, and ending with an 18-point fourth quarter.

Lions have two games left this season in the league, and are currently top of the table. Next in their sights is the double to add to this well-deserved victory in the junior cup final.

Action from the match between Dublin Lions and the Green

Little Lions in the crowd supporting with pride

The fans celebrate the final buzzer

15 March 2012 LUCAN GAZETTE 29

in association with

Smith happy to be driving home

FastSport

Motor racing ace, Aaron Smith, is a rising star of the touring car scene, and is relishing the prospect Roche returns to help to of racing in the Bavaria City event this June RATHFARNHAM man, Aaron Smith, has come a long way since his days of karting when he was 14.

The driver was last year crowned Motorsport Ireland’s Young Racing Driver of the Year in 2011.

His journey to the upper eschelons of the sport have taken him to Britain and Italy to compete in drivers’ championships in those countries, to great success.

Last year, Aaron competed in the UK’s AirAsia Renault Clio Cup and he also made his debut in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, and, in 2012, Smith is all set to make his mark in the British Touring Car Championship with the Motorbase Performance team.

Aaron will join some of the biggest names in world motorsport at the Bavaria City Racing Dub-

lin when it arrives in the city centre in June this year, and he was looking forward to the experience when he spoke to GazetteSport last week.

“I don’t know the last

tigious and well-known tracks in Europe, and, when driving in the Italian Clio Cup, was able to drive on the hallowed concrete of Monza and Immola, where he regis-

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‘It’s nice to be able to come home and drive in front of an Irish crowd. I think it will open people’s eyes as to how motor sport is thought of here’

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time a touring car driver got the chance to drive in Ireland. I’ve always raced across the sea, and it’s really nice to be able to come home and drive in front of a home crowd.

The event will be a huge success, but I’m delighted more to be coming home to drive before Irish fans of the sport.”

Aaron has cut his teeth at some of the most pres-

tered a number of stage wins.

Returning to Britain for the Clio Cup, he spent 2011 racking up some impressive drives, leading to him claiming the Graduate Cup, for young drivers under the age of 25, and finishing second overall in the championship.

All of that success was part of the masterplan,

Aaron SMith is relishing prospect of returning to Ireland this summer

explained Smith.

“My aim from when I started driving was to take part in the British touring car championship. That was the pinnacle of motor sport to me in Europe. Coming back from Italy, I knew I would be able to do well in the Clio Cup, and I knew that would open the doors to the touring car teams. Everything has come together for this year.”

With his Motor Race Performance team behind him, Smith is looking to shape up for 2012 and the test of the touring cars.

“There are ten races, and it is one of the biggest championships in Europe. It’s really massive - there are about 12 million TV viewers across the continent.

“The MRP team just missed out on winning the overall championship last year, so they have great experience that I can draw on. As well as that, Matt Jackson is my teammate this year, and driving alongside him has been hugely instructional and informative for me. I’m learning so much watching him on the track, and it brings you on in leaps and bounds without realising it.

“It’s just the imparting of experience, really.

I’m on the way over to Britain, to Snetterton in Norfolk, to do some testing there with the team.

We will both be driving our cars, and overlaying the data [from Matt and Aaron’s cars] to see where we can both improve our driving.

“The back-up team is very important - driving is only 10% of the job, and the rest is down to the backroom team.”

The season begins on April 1 at Brand’s Hatch, and Smith is hoping to capitalise on all he has learned in the preceding years.

“It’s a big learning curve, and I’m hoping to hit the ground running, and maybe get a top ten finish this year. I never like setting goals, but I’d like to think I can get some good results.”

As much as he appreciated the challenge of touring cars, however, coming home is something that Smith is more than happy to do.

“I’ve never driven competitively in Ireland.

It’s a shame as I would love to race at home, but the opportunity has never arisen. It’s always been the only choice to fly away from home.

“I’d love to think the Bavaria event can open people’s eyes as to how motor sport is thought of in Ireland. I think you’ll see a massive increase in the number of people who will want to go to the driving school in Mondello after the day, and that is what the scene needs over here.”

launch Irish Cycling Show

DUNDRUM cycling legend, Stephen Roche, will return to his old racing grounds when he will be the guest of honour at the Irish Cycling Show at the RDS on May 19 and 20.

The legendary Dublin cyclist is celebrating the 25th anniversary of his extraordinary 1987 racing season when he won the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France and the World Road Race Championships.

Roche will open the show on Saturday and will be in attendance during the weekend on the dedicated stand, which will feature various memorabilia from his fabled career.

Among the exhibits on the Stephen Roche stand will be the Battaglin bike with which he won the 1987 World Road Race championships in Villach, Austria, as well as various items of clothing and trophies from a career that spanned 13 years at the very top level of cycling.

Roche, whose 1987 “triple crown” of major wins places him in an exclusive company of two with Belgian Eddy Merckx, is looking forward to an opportunity to remember his famous year with fans in Ireland.

“I’m really excited to be appearing at the Irish Cycling Show,” says Roche, who now lives in Anitbes, France. “It’s high time there was an exhibition of this kind in Ireland and it’ll be great to be able to remember 1987 in the company of friends.”

Roche is still connected to the cycling world through Stephen Roche Cycling Holidays and Training Camps in Mallorca, his cycling vacations firm, which will be featured on his stand.

The Irish Cycling Show will feature exhibitors from every facet of cycling and related industry, including cycle retailers and distributors and there will also be emphasis on general feature attractions to entertain the whole family.

Plans in the pipeline include a test track around the venue, demonstrations, shows and seminars throughout the weekend. Further details on the show’s attractions will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information, log on to www. irishcyclingshow.com

30 LUCAN GAZETTE 15 March 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

CYCLING: LOCAL RIDER PREPARES FOR MOVE TO VELO CLUB

Gorman and Russell shine for Ireland in cup PEAMOUNT United graduates Aine O’Gorman and Julie-Ann Russell were on target when the Ireland senior women’s international side signed off their Algarve Cup campaign with a 2-1 victory over Hungary.

At the end of a week that saw Ireland fail to get the results they wanted from their three group games, it was a particuarly positive week for Peamount, who saw striker Sara Lawlor make her debut and the club made a huge impact on the Irish line-up for each game.

In the final game, club captain Louise Quinn, who scored in the defeat to Portugal, started alongside former clubmates O’Gorman and Russell, and the two Doncaster Rovers Belles stars did the business for Sue Ronan’s side.

The club would like to congratulate all their WNL stars played in Portugal over the last 10 days: Louise Quinn, Dora Gorman, Sara Lawlor, Stephanie Roche, Grace Murray, Aine O’Gorman and Julie-Ann Russell.

Darragh Zaidan on a recent visit to a local school to promote the sport and the Lucan Cycling Club

Darragh’s French connection sport@gazettegroup.com

LUCAN cycling club’s Darragh Zaidan f lies out to France this week to join up with Velo Club des Cantons de Morteau-Montbenoit (VCCMM) as he seeks to progress in his aspirations of making it into the professional ranks of European cycling.

Speaking just prior to his departure, he said that he is excited as the days count down to his big move.

“I am counting down the days until I fly out to start my new adventure on the continent. I am excited, to say the least.

I am quietly confident that I can do the job once I get settled and adapt to the changes,” he said.

Zaidan is hoping to shake off a bout of swollen glands in his throat, aiming to hit the ground running on his arrival in France, and he has been buoyed by the support he has received of late.

“I held my fundraiser in DIT Cathal Brugha Street to raise funds for my season in France.

“I would like to thank everyone who made the time to attend, and also those who contributed but couldn’t make it.”

He travels to France after an intensive three we e ke n d s o f t r a i n ing and competition, finishing a respectable four th-place in the season opener, the Ned Flanagan Memorial, which was a handicapped 75km race held for the first time in Monasterevin.

He was par t of a h a r d wo r k i n g g r o u p that closed the gap to the bunch with 25km to the finish, making a couple of attacks, but did not manage to get away until the drag with 10km to go.

They then opened a significant lead on the

bunch but two racers got away, leaving Zaidan to contest the sprint, finishing second in a three-man chase for the line.

The Traders’ Cup in Dundalk was next up.

This again was handicapped, but on a longer 104km course.

The time gaps b e t we e n t h e t h r e e groups on the road were too big and it turned out to be good training, taking on the form in what felt like a 104km team time trial Then came the Cycleways Cup, hosted by the Navan/Avonmore RC. It was a 130km

race, starting fast down the Slane Road, with the attacks for the lead coming from the very start.

Zaidan was well placed for the final sprint, but got boxed in toward the end as a miscalculation in the race route led to a messy finish, with many riders caught out in the final kilometre.

In order to avoid disaster, Zaidan was forced to sit up and stay clear of other riders caught out, which sapped his pace and led to him finishing out of the main places in the Meathbased race.

Harriers duo are urban heroes sport@gazettegroup.com

LUCAN Harriers’ Freda Comiskey and Una Cassoni put in strong showings to complete the multi-terrain last week in the Urban Trails 8km in Marlay Park, with the former once again managing a podium position, coming home in 3rd position in a great time of 36 minutes.

Cassoni also ran strongly finishing in 45 minutes running consistently at nine minute per mile pace, ideal preparation for her upcoming half-marathon.

The mini-marathon took place at Bohermeen over a twolap course which a group of girls have all trained very hard for over this distance since last October which is evident from the number of PB and the good times.

Though Ursula Murphy did not have a personal best, she was third in her age category. She started ahead in the race with Donna Mulligan, Sinead Murphy, Ursula Murphy and Sarah Hughes running together for the first five miles, completing it in

less than 44 minutes.

The pace slowed a bit over the next 2.5 miles which had a slight incline. All those long runs on Saturday morning paid off as Mulligan and Sinead Murphy passed Cassoni over the next few miles and passed the 10-mile mark under 90 minutes into the race.

The last three miles were tough as they raced up the final inclines with hailstones and strong winds in there faces, finishing in 1.58.30 and 2.00.17 respectively. Hughes was trailing slightly at 10 miles

but managed to pick up the pace over the last few miles and ran her last mile quicker than her first, finishing in 2:01.30.

Cassoini battled on and finished just behind Sarah in 2.02.39. Considering the number of races over the last few weeks, she finished brilliantly. Ursula Murphy, as usual, had a strong steady pace over the 13 miles but was suffering from a stitch over the last three miles, which slowed her down a bit, but still managed to finish in 2.02:51.

15 March 2012 LUCAN GAZETTE 31

in association with

FOOTBALL: LATE LYONS SCORES LEADS TO DRAW

CLUB NOTICEBOARD LUCAN SARSFIELDS Lotto: Numbers available on website. There was no winner. Next

Hard luck to senior footballers beaten by Ballymun on Saturday. .

week’s jackpot will be €1,500. Colette

Our first golf society outing of this

Condon’s team will be in charge next

year is to Killeen on April 21. Contact

Sunday when our sponsor will be

Michael O’Grady for more details.

Molloy’s Stores, Ballydowd .

Set dancing classes are every

Results of last weekends games

Wednesday from 8.30 to 10pm in the

are now on our website, www.lucan-

function room of the clubhouse. No

sarsfields.ie.

experience required.

Well done to our minor hurlers

Our nurseries for boys and girls

who beat Na Fianna by a point at the

born in 2005, 2006 and 2007 are

weekend and our Division 5 camogie

every Saturday at 1.30pm on our all-

team who beat Vincent’s.

weather pitch at the 12th Lock. This

Well done to Orla Beagan on win-

is your child’s chance to be coached

ning the U-16 ladies football Player

by Dublin senior hurling captain,

of the Year, and to Clodagh Flanagan

Johnny McCaffrey.

who received the most improved player award.

Congratulations to St Marys BNS on winning the Conor Griffin Cup.

Opening times for our club shop are Tuesda y and Thursda y 7.30 to 8.30pm and Saturdays 10.30 to 11.30am.

ST PAT’S PALMERSTOWN Round Towers left it late but earned themselves a point when they drew with Kilmacud Crokes last weekend

Towers rally to tie for first AFL point AFL DIVISION 2 Round Towers Kilmacud Crokes

0-13 1-10

I sport@gazettegroup.com

A LATE show from the Lyons’ brothers saw Towers earn their first point of the league season against Stillorgan side, Kilmacud Crokes.

A late rally was needed by the home side to earn the draw but it was the least Towers deserved against a strong Kilmacud side featuring a halfback line of Dubs’ stars Kevin Nolan, Paul Griffin and Cian O’Sullivan, as well as Darren Magee and Mark Vaughan.

Indeed, if they had taken one of a handful of goal chances they would have been coming away with the victory.

Towers trailed by two with just three minutes remaining and it was Tom Lyons who fed brother, Barrie, out in space on the right and he converted the chance from a tight angle to

leave the home side trailing by just a point, 1-10 to 0-12. And Tom then stood up in injury time to convert a 30-metre free that levelled the tie and see both sides leave with a point.

It was no more than Towers deserved. With the home side having missed chances, it was the visitors who took control in the final quarter and looked to have done enough to take home all the points.

With just ten minutes remaining they equalised to leave the score 1-8 to 11 points and a few minutes later they were two up, kicking two points from tight angles, before the late surge by Towers levelled the match.

Towers started the match with real conviction and were three points up after 15 minutes, but Crokes gradually came into the game and they kicked their first score after

18 minutes and, within five minutes, they were level.

Manus Smith almost netted for Towers but his low shot hit the post and bounced back into the keeper’s arms.

A C a t h a l C a r t hy point, after good work from half-back Brian Costello set him up, saw Towers move once again into the lead but Crokes were four ahead within four minutes, scoring 1-2 without reply.

Jason Joyce got free on the inside forward line and tapped over a point. Ian Ward then found himself in space and kicked a great score from 25 metres out, and a Carthy free just before half-time saw the home side trail by a point at the break.

Seconds into the second half Towers hit the post before Jason Joyce equalised four minutes in. Brian Costello and Derek Murray worked the ball out of the

defence and Costello kicked a score from the left to give Towers the lead.

Murray was hugely influential and kicked an excellent score to put Towers two ahead and Joyce kicked another to leave Towers a goal in front.

A Liam Connolly goal opportunity was sidefooted wide and this could have given Towers the cushion to allow them win the game.

Former Dublin star Vaughan was given a red card with just 15 minutes remaining, but Crokes showed excellent character and scored four points without reply to lead by two going into the final minutes.

A crucial one-on-one Keith Graham save meant Towers were still in it and they showed tremendous character and resilience to see the Lyons brothers earn the least Towers deserved from this game, a point.

THE senior footballers got off the

paying us a visit in the clubhouse in

mark with a fine league win over

the afternoon, then on to Johnstons’

Trinity Gaels, while the juniors, with

Paints new outlet in the shopping

their new mentor Paul Heffernan,

centre for the oficial opening, and

had a narrow away win against Bal-

then back for an evening visit again

lyboden St Enda’s.

to the clubhouse.

Senior camogie ladies registered their second league win at home to Ballinteer St John’s.

To view our website, simply log on to www.stpatricksgaa.ie Lotto: Numbers drawn were 7, 8, 13

Juvenile hurling: The Under-8s, 9s

and 26. There was no winner of the

and 10s played St Kevin’s, St Jude’s

€9,000 jackpot. There was no match

and Round Towers (Lusk), while the

any three numbers winners. Four

Under-11s lost to Erin Go Bragh.

Lucky Dips winners were M Barton,

Juvenile football: The Under-14s, 15s and 16s lost to Parnell’s, St Peregrine’s and Ballyfermot DLS. It was juvenile presentation day on Thursday last with Sam Maguire

Kevin Quinn, Megan and Pat McDermott, and each receive €50.

Next week’s jackpot is €9,200.

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

GARDA/WESTMANSTOWN GOOD week all round with success

to the season against Faughs and

on the field for our mens’ and ladies’

Thomas Davis respectively.

teams. Our Intermediates main-

In football, the U-12 girls lost to a

tained their good start to the sea-

very strong Kilmacud team, while

son with a hard-fought 0-9 to 0-8

the U-5 girls beat Skerries Harps

win over a very good St Vincent’s side

comfortably.

in Div 4 league at Westmanstown on Saturday, while our junior 1s found

Visit http://www.westmanstowngaels.ie for the latest information.

their shooting boots with a 2-15 to

If you would like to join Westman-

1-7 success over Kilmacud Crokes in

stown Gaels, annual subscription

their Div 6 clash on Sunday morning.

is €60 per child and €30 per sibling

No games next weekend because of

thereafter. Contact us on any Satur-

St Patrick’s Day festivities but train-

day morning from 10am at the West-

ing as usual at Westmanstown on

manstown Sports Centre.

Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm.

All those participating in the Lucan

The ladies had a good win in a

St Patrick’s Day parade should meet

friendly away to Kilcock on Saturday

in the Green in Hillcrest Park (oppo-

and training as usual on Monday and

site Tesco’s Lucan) at 2.30pm. Please

Wednesday. However, no training

wear official club gear/tracksuit.

Saturday because of St Patrick’s Day

Any other questions, contact your

celebrations.

team mentor.

The second hurling weekend saw

Finally, Happy St Patrick’s Day to all

the U-8s (narrow defeat) and U-9s

fans and friends of Westmanstown

(great win) continue their good start

Gaels both home and abroad!

ALL OF YOUR LUCAN SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31

ZAIDAN’S BIG PLAN: Local cyclist on making move to the big time in Europe P30

MARCH 15, 2012

DRIVING FOR IRELAND: Touring Car star on his return to Dublin P29

I lucansport@gazettegroup.com

DUBLIN Lions kept alive their hopes of winning a local double after their ladies’ side took the Junior Cup last week in the Oblate Hall with victory over The Green.

Just six days prior to the final, The Green had beaten Lions’ second team in the semi-final of the competition and deprived the Lucan club of a Lions vs Lions’ dream final.

Revenge was on their minds and the West Dublin outfit started off strongly, with Caro Lloyd scoring two quick baskets followed by a three-pointer from Mary Kelly.

Lloyd then hit three more baskets, followed by three-pointers from Kelly and Trish Mayon.

In reply, Sarah McIntyre hit two threes for The Green, who finished the quarter strongly. In the second quarter Mayon hit three free-throws, followed by baskets from Kelly and Lloyd.

The Green got in a few scores during this quarter, with another three from McIntyre. On the buzzer, a cleverly

worked basket from Sheila Kenny lifted Lions going into the break. At half time, the score was 34-18 in Lions’ favour, a result of the focus that training three times a week for the month leading up to the final had produced.

This started to show in the second half, as they began to pull away from the opposition, with clinical basketball and more determination. Eimear O’Connor, for The Green, scored seven points in the third quarter, while Lions replied with scores from Mayon, Lloyd and Kelly, with Julie Dunne and Lauren Egan also getting on the scoresheet.

At this stage, The Green were starting to hang their heads, and the fitter, more determined Lions’ team put them to the sword. At the end of the third quarter, the score was 56-29, allowing the Lucan side the chance to give their bench players some court time.

In the fourth quarter, The Green were dead on their feet and could only manage two points from the free throw line via Ali Murray.

The Green were struggling to get the ball out of their own half, and Mary

The Dublin Lions’ team celebrate their success at the Oblates

Kelly managed to steal the ball twice in a row and scored baskets.

Lions, on the other hand, were cruising and poured in another 18 points, with Julianna Quaney, Kellie McKeown, Treasa Howell and Catriona McGowan all getting on the scoresheet.

Kelly edged the Player of the Match nominations just ahead of Carol Lloyd for her tireless work in offence and defence.

Lions now have two games left this season in the league and are currently top of the table, with the double in plain sight.

GazetteSPORT

Lions roar to Dublin junior title