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Esker fighting hard at home and abroad Page 32

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Centre fails to get the nod  Ian Begley

South Dublin County Council has refused planning permission for the proposed €5m primary care centre at Ballyowen Castle.

Concerns at the scale of the build and the impact it may have on amenities were raised along with fears of increased traffic congestion around Lucan.

The council found that “the layout, height, bulk and scale of the proposed development would have

significant negative impact to the residential amenities of properties in the vicinity; and would not, therefore, be acceptable”.

Cllr William Lavelle (FG) who repeatedly objected to this application said he was now calling on the HSE to invest in upgrading the health centre at Dispensary Lane in Lucan village and to continue to develop HSE services at Rosse Court.

Full Story on Page 2

Snap happy: GAA legend signs off on school banking project st joseph’s College School

Bank in association with Bank of Ireland was officially opened recently by Kilkenny hurling legend Henry Shefflin.

Students and staff were full of excitement at his arrival at the school.

It was a great opportunity to

get a photo with the star as well as an autograph on hurleys, jerseys and books. Lucan Sarsfields camogie players Jessie McClelland and Emma O’Flynn sure made the best of the opportunity as they posed with Henry for a memorable snap.

Picture: Cathy Weatherston

2 LUCAN Gazette 12 November 2015

council Planning permission refused

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 The proposed primary care centre was expected to provide the people of Lucan with a multi-million euro facility

Ballyowen care centre is stopped in its tracks

Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Second Floor, Heritage House, Dundrum Office Park, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240. Email: sales@dublingazette.com news@dublingazette.com web: www.dublingazette.com twitter: @DublinGazette Visit us on Facebook at DublinGazetteNewspapers

SOUTH Dublin County Council has refused planning permission for the proposed €5m primary care centre at Ballyowen Castle.

Many residents and local officials previously raised concerns over the proposed health centre in Lucan and lodged objections with the local authority over its development.

Concerns at the scale of its build and the impact it may have on amenities were raised along with fears of increased traffic congestion around Lucan.

Proposals for the €5m 2,900 sq m, four-storey centre were lodged in January by Ballyowen Castle Primary Care Centre Ltd. When built, the care centre was expected to provide the people

 ian begley ibegley@gazettegroup.com

of Lucan with a multimillion euro facility that would include a full range of medical services: GP, nursing, dental, social work, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, counselling, occupational therapy, dietician and psychology.

In the past three years contracts for the primary care centre were signed and pre-planning consultation meetings have taken place with South Dublin County Council.

In a submission earlier this year, the HSE said

the proposed site was an appropriate location and that it had reached an agreement with the developer to lease facilities on their completion.

The site was scheduled to be located at the corner of Ballyowen Lane Castle Road and with the centre set to be at an existing retail car park, residents’ feared parking spaces for customer’s would be restricted.

The council found that “the layout, height, bulk and scale of the proposed development would have significant negative impact to the residential amenities of properties in the vicinity; and would not, therefore, be acceptable.

“While the development of a primary health care centre at this location may be acceptable in principle there are sev-

eral issues which require clarity by way of further information in order to allow a full assessment of the proposed development.”

Regarding the parking issue, the council said: “While it is noted that there are car parking standards in the current development plan for clinic rooms, retail space and office space there is no car parking standard for a health centre.

“It is considered that the proposed development would have inadequate car parking provision which would result in significant on-street parking which would cause traffic congestion and obstruction of road users of roads within the area.”

Lucan’s Cllr William Lavelle (FG), who repeatedly objected to

this application, told The Gazette that he was calling on the HSE to invest in upgrading the health centre at Dispensary Lane in Lucan village and to continue to develop HSE services at Rosse Court.

He added: “The reasons for refusal are not surprising; and were all addressed in my objection.”

Cllr Paul Gogarty (Ind) also expressed his relief at the council’s decision. He said: “It is a welcome decision on the overdevelopment of the existing site. Glad my views and those of others taken on board.”

The council planners’ report regarding its reasons for opposing the Ballyowen Primary Care Centre’s application is available at www.sdublincoco.ie.

12 November 2015 LUCAN Gazette 3

tallaght

website: fixyourstreet.ie forum works for disgruntled citizens

Volunteer Corps open day

Council fields 3,037 complaints  ian begley

SOUTH Dublin County Council has responded to 3,020 complaints this year on non-emergency issues such as graffiti and illegal dumping. The complaints were submitted by residents living in the area on its affiliated website FixyourStreet.ie.

This allows residents report non-emergency issues such as graffiti, road defects, street lighting, water leaks/drainage issues, and litter or illegal dumping to the council.

Up to October 28, the council received a total of 3,037 reports and responded to 3,020. It puts the average time to respond to these reports at “1.07 working days”.

Issues with street lighting received the most complaints (956) so far this year with problems regarding litter and illegal dumping receiving 773.

Up to 574 complaints were reported on road or path defects and 457 complaints regarding tree and grass maintenance.

A total of 177 complaints were reported on graffiti and 100 in relation to leaks and drainage.

These figures were published by the council in response to a question tabled by Cllr Paul Foley (FF) at the November County Council meeting.

He asked if statistics could be provided to show usage of the system and the level of responses given to users of this web-

site.

In the chief executive’s reply it stated: “Given the nature of what is being responded to, many reports will require a standard initial response informing the user of the service, what will happen to their report – it may be that an inspection is required and that the matter has been referred to the litter warden, services engineer, or other appropriate person for further investigation.

“However this response is not automated or issued by a computer.

“Staff will have issued this response as identified in the response itself (customer care agent environment, etc). “

Having grape fun: Enjoying the best of tipples at Kenny’s Wine Fair wine lovers Sarah Walsh, Rachel Bassett and Pauline Lawlor were in heaven when they attended the recent Wine Fair at Kenny’s pub in Lucan. With over 50 of the best wines available in Ireland open for tasting and discounts available, it was a great chance to try and buy wines for the winter season. All proceeds will go to a very deserving charity, Aspen Counselling.

People from south County Dublin are being encouraged to attend an open evening about the South Dublin County Volunteer Corps.

Taking place at Tallaght Stadium on November 19 at 7pm, the Volunteer Corps is a fun, engaging programme where you get to help out in your local community, do good, have fun and meet new people.

Volunteers are contacted from time to time about events in South Dublin County such as festivals, concerts, sporting events etc.

You decide how much (or how little) time you can give and which events suit your availability or appeal to you.

For more information about the programme visit www.volunteercorps.ie.

4 LUCAN Gazette 12 November 2015

palmerstown Funds included in next year’s budget for new facility

Thirty-year wait for library ends

 Ian Begley

After a campaign that has bridged over 30 years, Palmerstown is set to get its library in 2016.

In 1988, the Palmerstown Shopping Centre opened with a state-ofthe-art space reserved for the library, but to many people’s dissatisfaction there was never a commitment to actually provide the library.

The developer, Luke Moriarty, held the space for over two years, but

eventually had to let it go as there was commitment from the council in terms of funding. However, the campaign by Palmerstown Community Council continued.

Funds have now been included in next year’s south Dublin Budget for the state-of-the-art digital library and it is intended to have it up and running in the second half of 2016.

Welcoming the news, Palmerstown and longtime library campaigner

Cllr Guss O’Connell (Ind) said: “We have seen many changes in the literary, educational and communications world since Palmerstown was first promised a permanent librar y service. The occasion in 1979 was the rezoning of land from amenity to residential and retail by means of the notorious Section 4 process. As a community dividend or sweetener, a library space was to be incorporated in the proposed

FastNews

Free recycling event in Lucan and Clondalkin

Palmerstown is set to get its library in 2016

shopping centre.

“Imagine our shock and frustration when we were told by the then assistant county manager of Dublin County Council [in 1988], that the commitment was to

provide the space for a library but there had not been a commitment to provide a library.

“Despite many ups and downs, persistence and hard work have now paid off. What the community of Palmerstown will get now is the most

modern facility of its type and the first digital library in the county.

“Not for the first time, Palmerstown has led the way and by not giving up has secured this important and creative community facility,” said Cllr O’Connell.

Plenty to choose from at tech festival  Ian Begley

Th e S o u t h D u b l i n Libraries Science and Tech Festival is now under way in libraries across Dublin Mid-West during November.

Science Festival events are happening until Friday, November 20, as part of the national celebration of Science Week 2015.

Events and highlights in Dublin Mid-West include: Learnit Lego workshops (Lucan Library); Junior Einsteins Science Club and Professor Messalot’s hands-on science workshops; NanoWOW and the science of the very small (Lucan Library,

Thursday, November 12); Elementary Engineerings – looking at kinetic energy by building rollercoasters and other activities (Clondalkin Library).

Science experiments with the re-discovery centre will also take place in Lucan Library during November.

Tech Fest is also happening for the first time at county library Tallaght from November 16 to 21.

The tech club will start on Monday nights from November 16 with more events planned for 2016.

To register your interest phone 01 462 0073, email talib@sdublincoco.ie.

WEEE Ireland, the Irish compliance scheme for electrical and battery recycling, is holding a free recycling event in Lucan and Clondalkin on Saturday, November 14, in association with Tesco and the council.

The collection event in Lucan will take place at Tesco car park from 10am – 4pm and the collection in Clondakin will occur at the Mill Shopping Centre at the same time. This free WEEE Ireland event allows people to get rid of any household electrical equipment and batteries in a safe and environmentallyfriendly manner.

More information can be seen at www. recyclefree.ie.

Marking 50 years of succcess St Mary’s Boys National School, Lucan, is marking its 50th anniversary with an open day of celebrations in the school.

The school opened its doors for the first time in 1965 and has grown and flourished in the intervening years.

This month, on Saturday, November 28, it will celebrate 50 years of academic, cultural and sporting success.

The grounds and building will be open to all on the day, including local politicians, past and present pupils, parents and staff.

There will be events held throughout the day from 12 to 4pm and all are welcome to attend at any point.

12 November 2015 LUCAN Gazette 5

spending Housing a priority as allocation rises to €2.3m

Council adds €6m to annual budget  Ian Begley

South Dublin County Council has adopted an annual budget of €225m for 2016 – an increase of €6m on last year’s budget.

At the November 5 annual budget meeting, chief executive Daniel McLoughlin informed the elected members that this year’s budget has a strong focus on housing supply, enhanced service delivery, tourism and heritage, economic and community development.

The homeless budget has been increased by 50% to €2.3m, which is a threefold increase on the 2014 provision of

€794,000. Members have also agreed to set aside €600,000 as a capital provision towards further homeless supported accommodation for single men and the provision of a women’s refuge.

In 2016, the recruitment of up to 50 frontline council staff is expected to increase service delivery capability. This has been resourced with additional funding in areas such as housing maintenance €300,000; footpath maintenance - €100,000; litter management - €200,000; and tree management – €200,000.

The budget outlines that 2016 will see the continuation of the village

enhancement programme with works planned in Rathcoole, Newcastle, Saggart, Lucan and Rathfarnham. A further €1.2m has been added to this programme as part of this budget.

The budget also outlined that the construction of the Clondalkin Round Tower Visitor Centre will open very early in 2017. A provision of €50,000 has been made for the advance marketing of this facility.

An excess of €2m has been made available for community oriented programmes and projects.

Community grants have been increased by

€50,000 to €250,000; the community initiative fund has been increased by €80,000 to €250,000; the provisions for festivals and Tidy Town’s groups have both been increased to €100,000 from €60,000 in 2015.

Commenting on this year’s annual budget, Mayor Sarah Holland (SF) said: “The Progressive Alliance worked very well with the management team to deliver this fair, prudent and socially responsible budget.”

Cllr William Lavelle (FG) said the budget was very responsible and responded to a lot of the issues that community expressed over the past

South Dublin County Council has adopted an annual budget of €225m for 2016

year.

He added that he was satisfied that funding for CCTV at Esker Cemetery carpark was included in the budget – an issue that he’s been pushing for several months.

The People Before Profit Alliance, however, voted against the annual budget for 2016, mainly

for its inclusion of the local property tax.

In a group statement, the three PBP councillors, Gino Kenny, Nicky Coules and Ruth Nolan wrote: “The increase in the Rental Accommodation Scheme budget of €2m shows the lack of will by central government to seriously tackle

the lack of social housing in the county.

“The main reason for opposing this budget and previous budgets has been the inclusion of the local property tax.

“The property tax is a regressive tax on the family home and is an austerity tax on working people.”

6 LUCAN Gazette 12 November 2015

courts Dangerous driving leaves man with broken hip

Four-year ban for suicidal motorist A Westmeath man whose dangerous driving left another driver with a permanent limp told gardai he was on his way to kill himself, a court has heard.

Brian Gavin (28) was driving from Mullingar to Lucan, County Dublin, at speeds of up to 160 km/h, flashing cars in the fast lane before overtaking them on the grassy verge.

He continued to drive at full speed after clipping the wing mirror of one car while overtaking it in this way on the N4 around Leixlip, County Kildare.

A b o u t 2 0 k m f u rther along the road, at

6.15pm of January 17 of this year, his VW Caddy van drove into the back of a Skoda car.

The driver, Gerard Nolan, remembered nothing between driving his car and waking up in hospital.

Mr Nolan’s hip was broken. His leg was broken in three places and he had permanent fixtures surgically put in place to fix this.

His front teeth were broken and he received 23 stitches to his face resulting in permanent visible scarring.

Minutes after this collision Gavin drove into the back of another car, forcing it off the road,

before he stopped the van.

When gardai arrived he told them: “I wasn’t trying to hurt anyone.

I was just trying to kill myself.”

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Gavin has bipolar disorder and had stopped taking his medication.

He later told gardai that he had suicidal feelings when he set out from his family home.

He said he had not intended to act on these feelings but wanted to get to Rosslare and take a ferry to England.

Gavin of Rochfortbridge, County Westmeath pleaded guilty to

dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Mr Nolan at the N4, Lucan on January 17 last and to failing to stop at an accident. He also admitted a second offence of dangerous driving.

The court heard he complied with a roadside breath test and was found to be clear of any alcohol or other intoxicants.

Judge Sarah Berkeley adjourned the case until next May in order to monitor Gavin’s compliance with his medication regime.

She said it was a very difficult case and noted his family were in court and would keep an eye

Court hears Brian Gavin of Mullingar had bipolar disorder and had stopped taking his medications

on it.

He said he drove at speed, at up to 160 km/h, along the N4 and M4 roads. He said he was very sorry for any injury he caused.

In a victim impact

report Mr Nolan said that after the crash he required care at his home and his siblings had to bath him, causing him to feel a loss of independence.

The total financial

loss to him was €15,990, which includes €3,000 on dental reconstructive surgery.

Judge Berkeley imposed the mandatory driving ban of four years on Gavin.

don’sdublin A child prodigy who grew up to be even more prodigious THE word genius is defined as “a person who displays exceptional intellectual ability, creativity or originality associated with the achievement of new advances in a domain of knowledge” – a definition that most definitely applies to William Rowan Hamilton.

The fourth of nine children, Hamilton was born on August 4, 1805 to Archibald Hamilton, a solicitor, and his wife Sarah and lived at 38 Dominick Street, Dublin. When he was three he was sent to live with his uncle, James Hamilton, a teacher and linguist who ran a school in Trim, County Meath.

He showed exceptional talent for languages from an early age. By age 13 he had acquired the same number of languages, including ancient Latin and Greek, most modern European languages and Persian, Arabic and Sanskrit. Late in life he often relaxed by reading books in Persian or Arabic!

When he was eight he lost a mental arithmetic contest with American prodigy Zerah Colburn who was touring Europe and astounding audiences with his ability. After his loss Hamilton devoted his time to mathematics and less to language study. The year before he entered university he spotted an error in Laplace’s Mechanique Celeste, and this brought him to the attention of John Brinkley, the Royal Astronomer of Ireland. He said of Hamilton: “This young man, I do not say will be, but is, the first mathematician of his age.”

He entered Trinity College at 18 and studied mathematics and classics gaining an unprecedented “optime” in both. Soon afterwards, in 1827, he was appointed, while still an undergraduate, Professor of Astronomy at Trinity College.

He lived at Dunsink Observatory. On October 16, 1843 while walking along the Royal Canal with his wife Helen, the existence of quaternions took shape in his mind. He etched the equation on Broome Bridge and the famous event is celebrated each year with a walk from the observatory to the site.

Don Cameron

www.donsdublin.wordpress.com

William Rowan Hamilton: a polyglot at age 13 in later years Hamilton relaxed by reading books in Persian or Arabic

12 November 2015 LUCAN Gazette 7

8 LUCAN Gazette 12 November 2015

gazetteGALLERY

Sisters Rebecca and Catriona Atkinson

Niamh Ni Dhuill, Diana Ni Rossa, Siobhan Ni Riain and Emma Nic Uitin. Pictures: Jolanta Rossiter

Stylish girls go all out to help tackle poverty

A

FABULOUS girly night out with a difference took place in Colaiste Cois Life recently. A style night, designed to answer all those perennial questions – what to wear, how to wear it and why.

The event proved a glamorous

affair full of advice and tips on getting your wardrobe right as well as how to shop more effectively. There was a reception on arrival, as well as lots of fun spot prizes, raffle prizes and lots more fun surprises.

Several local boutiques took part

on the night, including: April Rose and Ross Morgan both from Clane; Madhatters from Dunshaughlin; Bella Mia, Celbridge; Stylemama, Rathfarnham; Zip Yard, Maynooth and many others. All proceeds are going to the charity Serve.

Aine Fitzgerald striking an elegant note

Emma Nic Uitin, principal Tomas O’Donnagain Gemma Ni Laoi and Sean O Sandear

Gayle Lambrin and Ursula Larkin

and Niamh Ni Dhuill

Patricia Wiseman and Gillian Ryan

12 November 2015 LUCAN Gazette 9

10 LUCAN Gazette 12 November 2015

health 3,000 children are on waiting lists to access services

Report reveals disturbing facts about suicide  keith bellew

The report states that those reliant on the public health system may have to wait for medical treatment, while those with private health insurance can receive a much faster service through the private system.

A recently published report by the Children’s Rights Alliance found that Ireland had the high-

est rate of female youth suicides and the second highest rate of male youth suicides in the EU between 2009 and 2011.

The report also found that one-third of young LGBT people (under the age of 25) have “seriously thought about ending their lives”; at least 18% have attempted suicide; and 27% of those interviewed had self harmed.

Research also found high levels of homophobic bullying with 34% of those interviewed being subjected to homophobic comments by their teachers.

The report also found that as of May this year, more than 3,000 children were on waiting lists to access mental health services throughout the country. Of these, more than 1,700 were on waiting lists for more than three months and 383 had been on waiting lists for more than a year. This amounts to a referral increase of 49% between June 2014 and May 2015.

The report urges the State to take steps to end the practice of placing children in adult mental health facilities.

It has emerged that 33% of children admitted to mental health facilities in 2014 were “inappropriately admitted to adult in-patient units”.

In addition, teenage suicide, particularly among males is a concern outlined in the report.

It also discovered an apparent link between the high suicide rate of young males and underage substance abuse.

Meanwhile, it warned that healthcare in Ire-

land is undermined by “an entrenched two-tier system” with “indications of a poorer health status among children from less well-off areas”.

The report stated: “Those on low incomes who are reliant on the public health system may have to wait for extended periods for tests and procedures, while those who can afford to purchase private health insurance, can receive a much faster service through the private system.”

Marguerite Kiely, clinical manager for child and adolescent services at Pieta House, says the report’s findings are reflected by the experience of Pieta House staff.

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

‘LGBT young people are more at risk of self-harm and suicide’

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

“LGBT young people are more at risk of selfharm and suicide. We’ve seen an increase in girls, in particular, presenting with sexual identity issues.

We would urge families, friends and peers to be particularly mindful that words can hurt and that negative or offhand comments can have a significant impact on a young LGBT person’s life.”

The former spokesperson for LGBT Noise, Max Krzyzanowski, who stepped down from his position following the marriage referendum but remains an advocate of LGBT rights, says the “euphoria” of the Yes vote

may have caused people to forget that discrimination is still an issue.

Regarding the finding that 34% of students had been subjected to homophobic comments from their teachers, he says: “The majority clearly feels that LGBT people are equal and should be treated equally, but there is the case that 738, 000 people voted No. “Many of them will have voted no because they don’t see LGBT people equally. In that three quarters of a million people are teachers, coaches, bosses, parents and when they give free reign to their homophobia it can be incredibly damaging to the people in their care and when they are young, impressionable people it can be even more damaging.”

He says these statistics are timely because the fact that discrimination still exists could be lost in the celebratory mood of the recent marriage referendum milestone.

“LGBT people are suffering and they will continue to suffer for some time.

“What I would say about the referendum is that it does somewhat change the dynamic for conversation because people who have a dislike or disapproval of LGBT people were always able to speak and operate under the assumption that they were in the majority, and they can no longer do that.”

He says discrimination against LGBT people would take some time to unravel, but should gradually improve. For more information about help services for mental health visit: www.pieta.ie

12 November 2015 LUCAN GAZETTE 11

SHOPPING 11,500 dangerous items had to be destroyed

Top 10 tips to help Santa choose safe toys for kids SINCE 2013, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has been responsible for the destruction of about 11,500 unsafe toys.

To help you choose age-appropriate, safe and fun toys when shopping this Christmas, check out the commission’s top 10 toy safety tips: 1 Only buy toys with a CE mark All toys for sale in Ireland must have the CE mark, demonstrating the toy complies with European safety standards.

If you don’t find it, don’t buy it.

2 Look out for warnings

Check the age suitability label on the toy, such as “not suitable” for children under three years. This is a warning, not a guide.

3 Never throw out instructions Always make sure you read instructions carefully as they warn of any possible dangers when using the toy, especially one with electrical parts.

4 Buy from reputable businesses Only buy from reputable traders so you can return the toy if there is a problem.

Beware of unsafe toys being sold on market stalls, especially before

Christmas.

5 Examine toys before you buy Take time to check if there are any removable or detachable small parts.

Check that the toy has no sharp edges, parts that stick out, fastenings, long cords or cables.

Avoid rough edges, dangerous or foldaway parts or small holes that could trap little fingers.

Some toys that omit loud noises may cause hearing damage to a child.

Listen to the toy before you buy it to make sure it’s not too loud for a child.

6 Remove and discard all packaging If the toy is packaged in anything that may cause harm, get rid of that packaging.

7 Buying toys with magnets If you are buying a toy with a magnet make sure that they are kept away from very small children.

Magnets can fall out of toys and may look like sweets to a child.

Toys with magnets should have a warning displayed at the point of sale, on the packaging or attached to the toy itself.

8 Buying toys with batteries

Only buy from reputable traders so toy can be returned if there is a problem and (Inset) the logo to look out for.

Always make sure the child cannot open the part of the toy where the batteries are stored.

Avoid mixing old and new batteries or different strength batteries as this can make the old or weaker batteries very hot.

9 Buying riding/play equipment When buying a bike, skateboard or other rid-

ing equipment make sure to purchase a helmet and the required accessories to go with it.

If it’s an activity toy for the garden like a swing, trampoline or climbing frame, make sure they are situated away from hazards like overhead power lines or obstacles like trees and hedges.

10 If a toy is faulty return it If you have bought a product that is faulty, you have rights to protect you.  To learn more about your consumer rights visit the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s consumer website, www. consumerhelp.ie

12 lucan Gazette 12 November 2015

12 November 2015 Gazette 13

asdfsdaf P27 the big interview P16

christmas presents P15

dublinlife Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week



Gazette

diary P14

Pets can you give amber a new, loving home?

Cormac Breslin, aka CC Brez, playing support for Cry Monster Cry at the Button Factory recently. Picture: Dara Munnis

a day in the life: ‘After breakfast I go straight into my writing’

Easy on Sunday morning  ian begley

FORMER guitarist of Republic of Loose, Cormac Breslin aka CC Brez is going solo and is as busy as ever writing music and playing gigs around the country.

This week the Gazette caught up with CC Brez to catch a glimpse of a typical day in his life.

“I get up roughly between 10am and 11am. I wouldn’t call myself an early riser, but because I perform Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights there isn’t a real need for me to be up before 10am on those days.

“When you’re working late nights you really build up an appetite and

feel like getting something semi-decent into you so my breakfast would usually consist of fruit, porridge, coffee and maybe a few eggs.

“My average working day would be between 10 to 12 hours.

“My band rehearsals generally last around four or five hours, but when I’m out doing a gig I would leave my house around 5pm and not get back until around 5am the following day.

“With most gigs we have to do sound checks and would need to be at the particular venue three or four hours before the doors open.

“As soon as I finish my breakfast I get straight into my writing, which I do every single day.

“It’s a routine that I’ve got myself into for about 10 years and if I ever miss a day and don’t do it then it would really bug me.

“During the mid-week I would be in my home studio writing music for myself or somebody else.

“If I was rehearsing with my band I’d do it in town.

“But if I’m writing or recording by myself I prefer to do it at home where it’s nice and quiet.”

Brez, who recently released his new single/music video, When It Feels Good, added that on Sundays he prefers to take time off from his busy music life and just relax.

“Sunday is my day off. I actually

prefer doing nothing, it’s the one day I have to myself and I like to just chill out or go for a pint with my friends.

“Most musicians I know tend to work harder than they should because since they’re self-employed they feel the added pressure on whether they’re doing enough.

“When you only have yourself to motivate yourself I tend to get into a circle of working too hard.

“Whenever I’m out gigging I wouldn’t get to bed until about 5am, but during the mid-week I would hit the hay a lot earlier.”

Follow CC Brez on Facebook – www. facebook.com/ccbrez – for all his latest music and performance dates.

The Dublin Gazette Newspaper Group has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for lost and abandoned dogs.

Our Dog of the Week this week is Amber, a stunning six-year-old, female pitbull cross who was returned after five years due to a change in her family’s circumstances. She is a really sweet, peoplefocused lady and would be suited to a home with slightly older children where she will have company. She is quite the foodie so will respond well to training, if treats are involved!

If you think you could offer Amber a home, please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000.

They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website www. dogstrust.ie. You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE. Don’t forget that you can also support Dogs Trust by checking out their online shop www.dogstrustshop. ie

14 Gazette 12 November 2015

Gazette

dublinlife Night out to help people get home THE ninth Peter McVerr y Tr ust Gala Ball will be held on Saturday November 14 in Clontarf Castle with all proceeds raised going directly to Peter McVerry Trust services.

The charity, which works to provide housing for homeless people, deal with drugs misuse and fight social disadvantage, needs to raise funds to continue its work.

T he event will be

hosted by RTE’s Miriam O’Callaghan and will feature auctions and raffles.

Pat Doyle, chief executive of the trust, said: “Ever y year we have enjoyed a fabulous night’s food and entertainment, and raised vitally important funds for our work through ticket sales, auctions and raffles.

“This event comes at very difficult time in the fight against home-

lessness and we hope as many people as possible will join us to raise funds to tackle the current emergency.”

For more information or to buy tickets, which cost €150 call 01 8230776.

Gaiety programme for young actors THE Gaiety School of Acting is hosting a daylong Young Gaiety masterclass for students, existing and new, to

get an authentic insight into full-time training and what working as an actor entails.

The course on November 15, runs from 10am to 5pm and is designed for young people aged 13 to 19 years. It will i n cl u d e s e s s i o n s i n career skills in addition to workshops similiar to classes taught on the two-year full-time acting programme.

This day would be particularly helpful for any transition year or Leaving Cert students fast approaching decision time.

Colin Farrell, Poldark’s Aidan Turner, Penny Dreadful’s Sarah Greene, Deirdre O’Kane and PJ Gallagher are among those who learned at least some of their trade at the theatre.

The masterclass costs €60 and takes place in the Gaiety School of Acting in Temple Bar. To book go to www.gaietyschool.com or call 01-6799277.

Celebrate books with dublin town THE Dublin Book Festival takes place in and around the Smock Alley Theatre in Temple Bar from November 12 to 15.

Other venues include the Gutter Bookshop, the Irish Writers Centre, Fighting Words, the Irish Georgian Society, the National Library of Ireland and Dublin City Public Libraries.

The festival has a very varied programme and most events are free, so it promises to be fun and

diary

Gaiety Theatre acting students in class with director Patrick Sutton

affordable for everyone.

It is one of Dublin’s largest book festivals and celebrates Irish published authors and Irish publishing, across the whole range of genres, from comedy and literary fiction, business, politics and children’s, to poetry and Irish language events.

For more information on the festival see www. dublintown.ie

play tells story of Wilde’s lovers A NEW play exploring the story of Oscar Wilde’s lovers opens on November 16 at the Sean O’Casey Theatre.

Using historical testimony, Wretched Little Brat written by Brian Merriman reveals the characters behind a story that scandalised a sexually hypocritical Victorian nation and went on to adversely influence law, morality and the fight for LGBT equality to this day.

This frank exploration challenges the “gay stereotypes” embedded in Wilde’s public scandals as having serious consequences for the generations of LGBT people who pursued equality in the decades that fol-

lowed.

Starring Sean Doyle as Bosie, the play episodically explores key elements in a society struggling to contain a view of its own invented morality.

Wretched Little Brat runs at the Sean O’Casey Theatre, St Mary’s Road, East Wall, at 7.30pm from November 16-21.

Tickets cost €13, €15 and €18 and are available at www.gaytheatre.ie

12 November 2015 Gazette 15

seasonal search: get the gift selection spot-on

Solving the dilemma of Christmas presents!

David Fitzsimons is chief executive of Retail Excellence Ireland, the country’s largest retail industry body, representing over 1,100 progressive retailers operating over 13,000 stores in Ireland.

He introduces Gazette readers to the recently launched FromMe2You gift card.

N ov e m be r a n d December alone can account for up to 50% of a retailer’s annual business, with the seasonal search for the per fect gif ts, a new look for the home, new clothes for the family, and all the goodies that go into making a great Christmas.

January too is crazy busy in the retail sector, partly due to the major sales attracting bargain hunters, but largely on account of the number of returns.

T hose unwanted Christmas gifts are as regular as turkey dinners, and more common than you think.

T he clothes that didn’t fit, or just didn’t suit, the toys there were two of (silly Santa!), the smoothie maker we already had four of, and the cosmetics and accessories deemed simply lame by our unimpressed teenagers!

Certainly Retail E xc e l l e n c e I r e l a n d members don’t mind exchanges and returns, and will gladly facilitate them by providing gift receipts, and swapping sizes.

But wouldn’t it be great to get the gift selection spot-on this year, to give choice and flexibility, to offer something that suits everyone, even if it is your Kris Kindle pickout from the accounts department, who you barely know!

Here’s some good advice, FromMe2You! FromMe2You is the new multi-store Irish gift card, launched this week by Retail Excellence Ireland.

From toys to gourmet goodies, furniture to fashion, and beauty to electronics, FromMe2You is welcome in Ireland’s favourite stores, right across the country, so there is lit-

erally something for everyone, and for all occasions.

And, you avoid that brief look of disappointment that flashes over the face when Dad opens his third pair of slippers, and your 12-year-old niece tells you that One Direction is “so last decade”!

Available through Topaz forecourt stores countrywide, and online at www.FromMe2You. ie, FromMe2You gift cards can be bought in any denomination from €15 up, solving the complete gifting dilemma in one go, with no hassle or brain-wrecking decisions involved at all.

Choose choice!

T he FromMe2You card is welcomed by thousands of retailers, large and small, including fast food restaurants, coffee shops, and grocery stores, as well as prestige brands like Brown Thomas, Louis Copeland and Harvey Nichols.

Retailers that gene r a l l y d o n ’t a c c e p t multi-store cards also welcome the new Irish gift solution, including

A treat for Vivaldi fans  aisling kennedy

IF you fancy a night of culture this week then check out the Four Seasons

by Candlelight at the National Concert Hall.

The Four Seasons has become one of the most celebrated pieces of classical music ever written and remains hugely popular today.

The show will present a beautiful programme of 18th century classics performed in a candle-lit style setting with the Mozart Festival Orchestra, the

members of which will be dressed in full orchestral costume of the period.

Some of the music on the night will include Mozart, Clarke, Pachelbel, Bach, Handel and, of course ,Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.

The concert will take place at the National Concert Hall this Sunday ,November 15, at 3.15pm.

Tickets range in price from €25 to €46 and there are concessions available for the performance.

For more information or to book tickets log onto www.nch.ie

Homestore & More, Tiger Stores, Supermacs, Avoca, and CompuB. It’s easy to give the gift of choice this Christmas, and, with no expiry date, the FromMe2You gift card value can be used at any time, giving total flexibility and choice.

It may be the thought that counts, but think about this – everyone is happy, the Christmas gift list get ticked-off in super fast time, and there is all the more shopping time to go in search of the perfect gift, for that most special person in your life – yourself!

H a p py C h r i s t m a s everyone!

David Fitzsimons: promoting the FromMe2You new multi-store Irish gift card

Gazette

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16 Gazette 12 November 2015

dublinlife

the big interview

new lease of life: celebrity maitre d’ on life after organ transplant

Two heart attacks later, Healy takes more care  Ian Begley ibegley@dublingazette.com

After undergoing a life-saving heart transplant in 2012, celebrity maitre d’ John Healy says he has found a new lease of life and is now taking much-needed care of his physical health and wellbeing.

During this week’s Big Interview, Healy talked about the pressures he was under during the spending-crazed years of the Celtic Tiger and how being over-worked ultimately led to his decline in health.

“During 2001 to 2008 I was running the restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel. The pinnacle of society was coming through the front doors. You had leaders of industries, bankers, chief executives and celebrities who were all spending an awful lot of money there.

“The reputation of the food and service was on my shoulders and I also had to act as the face of the restaurant. When someone is dropping €500 to €1,000 they expect a certain amount of qual-

ity being delivered so I had to greet everyone and make sure they had a nice evening. The amount of business and money that restaurant was bringing in during those years was insane and relentless. “ My l i f e s t y l e w a s completely unbalanced and at the time I didn’t realise that I was doing a lot of damage to myself. My diet was shocking and my relaxation techniques were non-existent. I also smoked way too much and drank an excessive amount of coffee.

“I had no outlet for stress and I’m sure that the combination between pushing myself too hard and my unhealthy lifestyle led to my two heart attacks in 2007 and 2009.”

H ealy added that looking back now he feels very lucky to have experienced his illness because it gave him the opportunity to reassess his life.

Settling in nicely as general manager of the plush Dublin restaurant Suesey Street and also starting again as maitre d’ in TV3’s The Restau-

rant, Healy says that since his transplant he has felt like a new man.

“During the run-up to my transplant I went through an awful lot of mental and spiritual conditioning and reevaluated everything. I took responsibility for my illness and did everything I could to make myself better.

“I now feel like a new man. My colleagues tell me that even though I’m 50 I certainly don’t look it or even act like my age. My transplant enlightened me completely as a person and has given me a new lease of life.

“Now when I’m working I know not to put too much pressure on myself or drive myself into the ground. I was very hard on myself and very driven before my heart attacks and now even though I’m still passionate about what I do I’m a lot easier on myself.

“The new restaurant is fantastic. It’s a lot more relaxed here and the vibe is certainly more informal than the previous restaurants I’ve worked in.”

John Healy of Suesey Street: “I had no outlet for stress and I’m sure that the combination between pushing myself too hard and my unhealthy lifestyle led to my two heart attacks in 2007 and 2009.” Picture: Brian Mcevoy

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‘I had no outlet for stress and I’m sure that the combination between pushing myself too hard and my unhealthy lifestyle led to my two heart attacks in 2007 and 2009’

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To relax, Healy says that yoga now plays a big part in his life to help him to unwind from his day-to -day life.

“I’ve just come back from a yoga retreat on the Cliffs of Moher with my friends, which I found to be a very physical and spiritual

experience. I find yoga to be really therapeutic and it allows me to switch off and be at one with myself.

“I haven’t changed my diet since my operation, but do everything in moderation. If I want to have a biscuit I will have one and not the entire packet and if I want a cup of cof-

fee I will have one and not nine of them.

“I take my medication each day now and am very much aware of my body and mind. I believe that when you become aware of your life you live it better.”

Talking about the new season of The Restaurant, filmed in Marco Pierre White Courtyard Bar & Grill in Donnybrook, Healy says he is very excited about when it airs in January.

“We filmed in August and there were about nine cameras that ran non-stop throughout the whole evening with

all of the footage edited down for each show.

“It was quite fun because it really captures how a restaurant runs and the cameras don’t miss a thing.

“After several glass of wine people forget they’re being filmed and start talking about literally anything and everything.

“Everything you see is very real and not staged whatsoever.”

To find out more about Suesey Street or to book a reservation visit www.sueseystreet. ie or call 01-6694600.

12 November 2015 Gazette 17

asdfsdaf P27 travel P24

cinema P22

OUT&ABOUT Never be out of the loop on what’s happening in Dublin! Let Out&About be your guide to all that is stylish, cultural and essential across the city and beyond this week



Gazette

food P18

the Gaiety Theatre: Little Red Riding Hood, it’s a panto not to be missed

Red alert – big, bad wolf is in town  Aisling Kennedy

Lit tle Red Riding Hood is the Christmas pantomime at the Olympia Theatre this year and with the big bad wolf, a kick-boxing granny and of course Little Red Riding Hood, it’s a panto not to be missed.

Joe Conlon, who plays The Notorious Granny McGregor, spoke to The Gazette and told us to expect fun, laughter, and some kickboxing scenes in this year’s panto.

“I’ve been playing the dame in the Olympia for the past six years now and it’s a nice feeling

to be back here again.

The Christmas panto is a lovely family tradition and we find that families are coming back year-inyear out with their grandparents, grandchildren, parents and kids. They come in their droves and it’s great.”

Conlon explained that in his role as The Notorious Granny McGregor he takes inspiration from Ireland’s famous kickboxer Conor McGregor and tackles the big bad wolf in an attempt to protect his granddaughter when she finds herself lost in the forest.

“I meet her in the

woods and we end up taking different paths. Along the way we meet various characters who are all very magical. They’re all from bedtime and Disney time stories and it’s then that we bump into the wolf. I bump into the wolf first and we have a bit of shindig and my boxing prowess, being part of the McGregor family, comes in very handy.

“I think that’s what is great about this year’s panto. Our director, Darren Crosby, has tried to make it different to last year’s panto which was Peter Pan. He has brought the panto forward into

Little Red Riding Hood aka Hayley-Jo Murphy and The Big Bad Wolf aka Nicholas Grennell

the present time. All of the costumes are made here in the Gaiety too by Pauline McCaul and she has designed and made all of these beautiful ani-

mal costumes. They’re phenomenal and have amazing colours which the kids will love.”

Conlon is very aware that the panto means a

lot to his audience and he says that he particularly loves to see the smiles on the children’s faces in the audience when he’s on stage.

“That’s the thing with kids, you have to keep the pace going so that they remain focused on it the whole time. Kids do have less attention span than adults so I love to see them really engrossed in the show. That’s the most rewarding part.”

Conlon paid tribute to the whole cast including the wardrobe department, hair and make-up, the crew and the actors and actresses.

“ T h e r e ’s b e t we e n 50-60 people involved so it’s a huge production and everyone is great and really gets involved.

Hayley Jo Murphy is the young actress who plays Little Red Riding Hood and both her and Shane M c D a i d w h o p l ay s Woodie the Woodsman have a lovely connection with the audience. The audience will love the show this year.”

Little Red R iding Hood will run from November 29 to January 10, 2016 and tickets are available to buy on www. gaietytheatre.ie or www. ticketmaster.ie

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18 Gazette 12 November 2015

OUT&ABOUT

FOOD&DRINK

RECIPECORNER

Enjoy Butler’s Pantry Christmas pudding or (below) Scrumdiddly Ice Cream this festive shopping season

Pop into the pantry for scrummy nibbles LOOKING for a cool break during your Christmas shopping this year? Scrumdiddly’s Ice Cream opened a seasonal Christmas pop-up store when the Christmas windows were revealed on Henry Street on November 2, and will stay open until Christmas Eve. Home of the Scrummy Tub, Scrumdiddly’s has been in business since 2012. It has one simple aim and that is to make going for an ice cream an experience to be savoured and remembered.

With queues outside the Donabate and Dun Laoghaire shops it seems people think it is achieving its aim. There are 2,400 possible combinations of Scrummy Tubs, as well as unique specials with secret homemade melted sauces, like the Scrummy Mess, the Scrumnana Boat or Scrumnoffee.

The Butler’s Pantry is also getting ready for its pop up debut on Henry Street, this time at Arnotts.

It will open on November 19 on the first floor of the iconic department store and will stock a large range of range of seasonal Christmas goodies, including its Christmas puddings, mince pies, chutney and a two-tiered Christmas cake.

The Christmas pop-up shop will give Arnotts shoppers the opportunity to buy for their own Christmas pantry as well as providing a stylish range of hampers, available to collect in-store or delivery nationwide. There is a large selection of Christmas hampers to suit most budgets, starting at €50 and going right up to €250; all are beautifully presented in an antique willow wicker basket.

Jacquie Marsh, managing-director of The Butler’s Pantry, is delighted with the opportunity to share the experience with a new range of customers as well as those who visit the stores around Dublin. “ There are no shor tcuts when it comes to making food that tastes as good as ours. We make all our food by hand, in small batches at our kitchens in Bray, just the way you would at home”.

DYLAN HOTEL (Eastmoreland Place, Dublin 4) Dylan’s Christmas Naughty or Nice afternoon teas can be enjoyed from November 28 until January 6 from 12 noon until 5pm every day €40

Take5  pearl phelan

The Merrion Hotel (Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2) Art Tea is served from 3pm to 6pm Monday to Thursday, and is served at 2pm and 4.30pm Friday to Sunday. Tea for two is €78

Some say tea tastes best served in a dainty teacup, enjoyed in salubrious surroundings. Others say that a little bit of what you fancy will do you no harm. The Gazette has gathered up our top five takes on afternoon tea in the capital so that you can decide for yourself. Additional bubbles are optional!

Whether you are the arty type, prone to indulging in naughty festive treats, or a blokey-bloke, we’ve got you covered. Note that afternoon tea sittings tend to book up quickly so it’s best to reserve your place in advance.

The Westbury (Grafton Street, Dublin 2) The Westbury’s Festive Afternoon Tea is €45 per person, and €55 per person with a glass of champagne from November 10 until the January 4.

The Morrison (Ormond Quay Lower, Dublin 1) The Gentlemen’s Tea is served with a pint of Wicklow Wolf beer €25

The Shelbourne (27 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2) The Shelbourne new Afternoon Tea with Tea Butler service costs €39.95 per person without bubbly or €53.95 with a glass of champagne, with a children’s afternoon tea available for €19.95, and is accompanied by a live classical pianist Wednesday through to Sunday.

12 November 2015 Gazette 19

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20 Gazette 12 November 2015

OUT&ABOUT

Beauty news

 aisling Kennedy

What?

Personalised facial Where?

Ever Young Beauty Salon, 64a George’s St Upper, Dun Laoghaire How much? €135 for 1 hour 40 minutes About the salon Owner Iris Tighe opened Ever Young Beauty Salon six months ago in Dun Laoghaire, having worked in the beauty industry for more than 18 years. She was the first beautician in Ireland to be qualified to perform semipermanent make-up procedures, including stroke-by-stroke eyebrow embroidery, eyeliner and lip liner.

Contact See www.everyoung.ie, or phone 01 230 2745.

YSL Pinceau Lumiere divine €65

Clarins Pretty day 5-Colour Eyeshadow Palette 01 €38

Result I thoroughly enjoyed my facial with Iris. I must admit, I was apprehensive when I first saw the Bio Therapeutic machine, but it does not hurt at all and it is extremely beneficial for your skin. This facial really was one of the best facials I have ever had, in terms of how it left my skin.

It has been over a week now since the facial, and my skin is still very clear and with a noticeable amount of reduced pores and skin blemishes. My make-up now glides on a lot easier, and some fine lines have reduced slightly around my eyes.

Highly recommended by The Gazette.

Mac Colour-drenched pigment No Taboos £18 (c. €25)

Xmas Vernis 8.50 1 ome Lanc Midnight € Rouge

What’s involved?

As my facial was tailored to my particular skin type, Iris made sure to tailor the treatment for combination skin.

She started by using what she called the Bio Therapeutic machine, which uses a micro current to stimulate the skin. This machine helped to deep cleanse my skin by closing and re-opening the pores on my face; it is also great for smoothing out wrinkles, scars and blemishes. It also helped to tighten the muscles on my face and firm up my skin a lot more, and it helps to promote lymphatic drainage.

This part of the treatment took between 40 to 50 minutes.

After she had finished, Iris then placed an elastane soft mask on my face for about 15 minutes. This was to help renew the cells in my skin. Lastly, she gave my face and head a massage, and advised me on the skin care I should use on a more regular basis.

Giorgio Armani Maestro powder brush €55

Staying ever young in Dun Laoghaire Salon

12 November 2015 GAZETTE 21

Giorgio Armani Ecstasy Laquer 601 €31.50

Urban D shadow ecay Vice eye 20 pale tte €46 .09

Urban Decay Naked Illuminated bronzer €24.50

Autumn COLOURS  MIMI MURRAY

I tend to wear “more of a face” come autumn/winter.

Summer sun-kissed skin looks great with just a slick of mascara and a touch of lippy, but come winter, pale face/blotchy skin is not a great look, so layering it on thick, or thicker, tends to be my mantra in November and December.

This leads us in to Christmas and “party face”, when a dramatic eye or a redder-than-red lip is what’s required.

So, when it comes to wearing make-up in winter,

the rule of thumb is: go slightly heavier.

However, whatever you do, avoid drag queen territory.

Remember that scene in Friends when Ross applies Rachel’s make-up, and when she finally looks in the mirror she says: “I’ll just sit next to the transvestite in purchasing”?

That’s what not to do!

It’s okay to go for a smoky eye or a dramatic lip, but never the two combined.

Mac Magic of the Night Evening Rendevouz lipstick £17 (c. €24)

Clarins Essentials Eyeshadow Palette €43

GAZETTE

STYLE

It’s all about fashion, music and beauty at Night at The Pavilions FOR one night only in Swords, Night at The Pavilions will be held on November 12 from 6pm to 10pm. This will be an evening of fashion, beauty, food and music and, best of all, there will be lots of discounts on offer for this one night only.

The majority of the centre’s stores are taking part in this event, so if you looking for a perfect outfit or Christmas gift, it’s a good time to go. Fashion shows will be held on the hour, while Night At Pavilions will showcase some of the top brands including River Island, H&M, Zara, Mango and Next.

The very glamorous Glenda Gilson (inset) will be there to open the shows. Xpose magazine scouts will be roaming the shopping centre on the look-out for the best-dressed lady, and there will be a €100 Swords Pavilions gift card up for grabs.

Music will be provided by Carl Mulvey while the centre will also have music from the Dublin Choral Foundation. The foundation was set up almost two decades ago to promote the development of choirs of excellence, and to provide a musical education for children previously only available in the cathedral choral tradition.

They will be preforming some favourite Christmas carols on the night, making this not to be missed.

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22 Gazette 12 November 2015

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

ReelReviews

spectre

Hits a few Bond marks DOUBLE-oh seven returns for his latest adventure in Spectre (Cert 12A, 148 mins). Daniel Craig takes his fourth outing as the iconic gentleman spy with an edge, which sees Bond caught up in (yet another) globe-trotting conspiracy. The latest hightech, big-budget Bond tale isn’t short on spectacle, but its reliance on viewer familiarity with the recent films falls flat in places.

Near-destitute but wily Miss Shepherd (Maggie Smith) and playwright Alan Bennett (Alex Jennings) become unlikely frenemies for many years at his house’s driveway

brooklyn

Tale resonates well AT LAST – an Oirish film that isn’t inherently hokey and awful. Brooklyn (Cert 12A, 112 mins) sees Saoirse Ronan caught between two worlds as a young Irish emigrant in the 1950s.

Sibling assistance sees her start over in the eponymous New York neighbourhood, and romance blossoms.

However, complications ensue, with new life choices pulling her heart home ...

It’s a strong, engaging film.

burnt

Stinks more than a bit THIS half-baked drama sees hunk du jour Bradley Cooper providing hot stuff in the kitchen. However, Burnt (Cert 15A, 101 mins) isn’t a very tempting offering, with Cooper’s character serving up one cliche after another.

Wealthy bad boy chef trying to turn his life around and be the best with his mustsucceed new restaurant, learning life lessons along the way? Check and pass.

The lady in the van: ‘true-ish’ clash of characters drives a great film

Entertaining eccentricity BASED on “mostly true” events, The Lady in The Van (Cert 12A, 104 mins) is the latest movie from the pen of accomplished playwright and English national treasure Alan Bennett.

Starring the inimitable Maggie Smith as Miss Shepherd – the lady in question – the film covers a period of Bennett’s life in the late 1970s when he moved to London.

Filmed on location at the house where Bennett resided, the plot is immediately and effortlessly engrossing: Bennett allows an elderly, itinerant woman who lives in the back of her van (inset, right) to park her clappedout vehicle in his driveway as an act of charity in order for her to secure some welfare benefits.

He expects the stay to last for a couple of weeks, but to the chagrin of Ben-

 Dave phillips

nett and his neighbours, she ends up staying for more than 15 years.

Opening with Bennett (Alex Jennings) giving a florid description of Miss Shepherd’s particular odour (amongst other things: a blend of wet wool, raw onions, and lavender talc), we are initially compelled to watch out of a sheer, grotesque fascination.

The laboured relationship between the pair is captivating – with the curmudgeonly Miss Shepherd knowing full well how to milk every drop of human kindness from the too-timid Bennett,

who for his part can never quite muster the courage to ask her to leave.

It quickly becomes clear that deeper motives and desires are being fulfilled beneath the surface. With Bennett, we see a struggle in finding his place in the world, understanding his sexuality and managing his creative success.

Bennett is a paradox – perennially apologetic, he soft-foots through life despite a deep inner desire to stomp, and he finds himself caring for a stranger, while unable to care for his declining mother.

There is a touch of magic realism in the telling of The Lady in the Van, with Jennings often appearing on screen twice in the same shot.

There’s Bennett the writer, perched omnisciently in a chair by the window, shaking his head

and gently goading the Bennett who is at an utter loss with how to get Miss Shepherd out of the habit of using the downstairs toilet.

The back and forth between these two personas is littered with Bennett’s characteristically wry and acerbic insights into human nature.

W hile Jennings – whose fame as an actor on stage far surpasses his work in cinema – is perfectly cast in this role and does an immense job, it is hard not to focus on the remarkable performance

of Smith. No stranger to the role, she has played Miss Shepherd in both a radio dramatisation and a stage production of The Lady in the Van. On screen, she is simply irrepressible. Underpinning the delightful obstinacy that makes Miss Shepherd such a captivating character is a potent sense of tragic fragility, and Smith is able to skilfully simultaneously embody both qualities.

This teeters high in a career filled with amazing performances.

Even allowing for an

ending that felt far toosyrupy for such an emotionally resonant second act, The Lady in the Van is a remarkable piece of film.

It is a treat that unfolds tentatively, deepening as it goes; a heartfelt and whimsical journey back into a parochial past where the concept of community possessed a very different sense of meaning.

Bolstered by the inherent comedy of the oddcouple situation that Bennett found himself in, there is room to explore the extraordinarily real relationship between two people from different generations, who are both split between their idealised and actual selves, and who both exist uncomfortably on the peripheries of society.

Verdict: 8/10

12 November 2015 Gazette 23

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OUT&ABOUT

fast

TRAVEL NEWS

Get your New Year off to a warm sunny start  Ian Begley

It’s hard to think that Christmas is now less than eight weeks away and we’ll soon be ringing in another New Year.

So why not start 2016 with a treat and get your New Year off to a warm sunny start by taking advantage of some of the January winter sun deals available with lowcostholidays?

One of the destinations on offer is a seven-night stay in Lanzarote on January 16 at the 3-star Blue Sea Los Fiscos from €279 per person.

Alternatively, travel to Tenerife on January 18 for seven nights at the 4-Star Inter Palace from €299 per person or the Gran Canaria on January 16 for seven nights at the 4-Star Blue Bay Beach Club from €329 per person.

And for those really looking to spoil themselves this January, you can book yourself a sun holiday in Fuerteventura on January 16 for seven nights at the 5-Star Geronios Suite & Spa from €399 per person.

Those opting for the beautiful Mediterranean island of Malta will be happy to know that from €359 per person you can stay at the 5-Star Radisson Blu St Julian’s Hotel on January 16 for seven nights.

Lowcostholidays Irish managing director Clem Walshe said: “January tends to be the most popular month as it’s great value and many holiday consumers like the idea of having a break in what most agree is the longest month of the year.

“Forecasters are predicting one of the coldest Irish winters in many years so it’s not surprising we’re seeing a spike in demand for New Year breaks to the sun.

“The Canaries tend to be the most popular destination for guaranteed sunshine with a healthy amount of discerning customers opting for the beautiful Mediterranean island of Malta.”

For more information on these destinations, visit www.lowcostholidays.ie

TRAVEL

radisson blu, Athlone : ‘we had a nightcap to settle our nerves as a fog crept in on halloween night’

Autumn retreat puts on spooky show for guests  pearl phelan

IT could have been a summer’s day as we sat looking out on the Shannon and enjoying lunch at the Quayside Bar and Lounge at the Radisson Blu Athlone, but it was Halloween. It was a fine day for a barbecue on the riverside terrace. The relaxing start belied the excitement we were in for as the day unfolded.

It is a handy journey from Dublin to Athlone by car, out the Galway road, or you can relax on the train, like we did.

From the comfortable and central base, we explored the castle and town. The mighty Shannon divides the town in two, overlooked by the sturdy 13th century castle, which has seen many hard-fought battles to take control of the town.

The visitor centre at Athlone Castle has stateof-the-art interactive experiences, which tell of the gruesome 1691 siege of Athlone. Video, sculpture and artefacts give an impression of how tough those times were.

Macabre tales of bloodbath and massacre felt appropriate for the day that was in it. There are lots of opportunities for visitors to play dressup (not just at Halloween!), and get to grips with some weaponry of the era. Tickets cost €4 for children, €8 for adults and €20 for a family pass.

Having worked up an appetite at the castle, the delicious dinner at

The Radisson Blu across the River Shannon on a summer-like Halloween day

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‘It is a handy journey from Dublin to Athlone by car, out the Galway road, or you can relax on the train’ --------------------------------------------------------

Elements Bistro did not disappoint. The contemporary space with bamboo screens and an interesting octagonal island hearth was an oasis of calm before our spooky

evening entertainment.

The hotel played host to mentalist and hypnotist Keith Barry. The Waterford-born showman played to a packed crowd, delighting us with

his mind-control tricks and hypnotising willing participants. I was blown away by the vigour with which audience members played their parts while under Barry’s spell.

A woman, who was portraying an aggravated cleaner, was an absolute scream and nearly stole the show. I dare not reveal too much, suffice to say

the title Out of Control is not an exaggeration. After a nightcap to settle the nerves, we retired to our spacious accommodation overlooking the river as a heavy fog crept in.

For more information about upcoming shows and deals at the Radisson Blu Athlone visit www.radissonblu.com/ athlone

12 November 2015 Gazette 25

26 LUCAN GAZETTE 12 November 2015

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We John & Fiona McHugh intend to apply for Planning Permission for development at 179 Laraghcon, Lucan, Co.Dublin. The proposed development will consist of the construction of new first floor extension including extension of roof over existing ground floor side accommodation, consisting of extension of existing bedrooms with en-suite and new store area to roof space. Also construction of new single storey extension to the rear consisting of kitchen, dining, living and gym area, construction of new single storey storage shed to side of existing dwelling and all associated internal and site alterations.The Planning 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 may be made to the Planning 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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12 November 2015 lucan gazette 27

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28 gazette 12 November 2015

SPORT Garth and Joyce win top gongs

FastSport

cricket: annual awards celebrate the best of a memorable year

Genesis hosts tricks and sticks: GEN-

ESIS Hockey Club in Stillorgan is participating in the Irish Hockey Association’s Tricks4Sticks programme that aims at encouraging hockey clubs to link up with non-hockey playing schools to introduce the sport and increase the number of participants.

The Tricks4Sticks programme for local schools is supported by the Irish Sports Council’s Women in Sport, HSE and Healthy Ireland.

The current programme with pupils from St Raphaela’s Secondary School runs up tothe end of the year. Genesis is keen to establish links with secondary schools in the Stillorgan area and is now looking for schools that are interested in introductory hockey sessions. The programme is free for participating school and includes coaching sessions by qualified coaches. For more information, contact Sorcha Cunningham 083-1857701

 sport@dublingazette.com

ED JOYCE, formerly of Merrion CC, and Pembroke’s Kim Garth have been rewarded for impressive international seasons by being named winners of the top priz-

es in the 2015 Hanley Energy Cricket Ireland Awards.

Joyce, who was a previous winner in 2013, fought off tough competition from Sandymount native Andrew Balbirnie and North County’s John

Ed Joyce won the Irish men’s player of the year

Mooney to win the international men’s Player of the Year award.

During the year, he became Ireland’s highest individual run scorer with a superb 231 in the InterContinental Cup win over UAE. He also scored a century in Ireland’s World Cup win over Zimbabwe - one of three victories for the Irish during the competition.

Te e n a g e r G a r t h scooped the women’s Player of the Year award, beating off the challenge of Lucy O’Reilly and Cecelia Joyce.

The Pembroke allrounder played a pivotal role in Ireland’s three match international series against world champions Australia,

Kim Garth

and was also to the fore with a number of strong performances in the ECB County Championship and T20 campaigns.

Another star from that international series against Australia was YMCA teenager Gaby Lewis who is this year’s Sunday Independent Aengus Fanning Emerging Player of the Year.

The 14-year-old has impressed in her first full season with the Irish Women’s side, and is certain to play a major role in Irish cricket in the coming years.

Jack Tector is the 2015 Shapoorji Pallonji Cricket Ireland Academy Player of the Year.

The YMCA batsman had a breakthrough season scoring heavily in domes-

tic cricket which saw him gain elevation to interprovincial cricket with Leinster Lightning. He also led Ireland Under19s with great distinction as they narrowly missed out on World Cup qualification.

Leinster Lightning skipper Mooney was instrumental in leading his side to a clean sweep of trophies at interprovincial level scoring centuries in both the T20 and Championship formats. He is the winner of the Hanley Energy InterProvincial Player of the Year.

M o o n e y ’s f o r m e r North County colleague Eddie Richardson was to the fore with both bat and ball as he enjoyed a quite superb domestic

season. Richardson was the leading wicket taker in Leinster claiming 50 wickets, as well as scoring 434 runs. For these displays, he is a deserved winner of the O’Neills Club Player of the Year award.

Former Ireland opening batsman Alf Masood will become the 12th inductee to the Cricket Ireland Hall of Fame, which is voted for by the Cricket Writers of Ireland.

Masood joins fellow Irish cricketing legends Simon Corlett, Mike Halliday, Stephen Warke, Ivan Anderson, Gerry Duffy, Ginger O’Brien, Ossie Colhoun, Roy Torrens, Dougie Goodwin, Jack Short and Alec O’Riordan.

Trio from Crumlin club win big at world karate event  sport@dublingazette.com

Daniel Donohue Jr, Dane Walton and Jake Jackson

THREE members of the Irish Wado Ryu Federation have just returned from the WKC Karate and kickboxing world championships that were held in Albufeira, Portugal, producing a series of fine results.

Daniel Donohue Jr, Dane Walton and Jake Jackson have been training with each other for the last 18 years under the watch full eye of Sen-

sei Dan Donohue Sr. After three gruelling days of competition, the long-awaited world titles started to flow in. First to land a medal was Crumlin’s Walton, winning the Under-85kg light contact fighting title.

Next, the club members took part in the three-man traditional team kata, taking gold once again. They were also successful in winning the open team kata gold once again as part

of an overall team effort that landed seven world titles for Ireland.

The team has been chasing the WKC world title for the last seven years, winning silver and bronze in previous attempts but their perseverance paid off.

Indeed, for the Wado Ryu team, this was their fifth world championship bid. The club itself is a non-profit club based in St Bernadette’s parish centre in Crumlin.

The athletes are self funded –with support from Murray’s Pub in Inchicore – and the three were training seven days a week after and before work coming up to the championships.

Anyone who would like to join them in training can do so on Tuesdays from 8pm to 9.30pm and Friday from 7.30 to 9.30pm. For further information, go to www.irishwadoryufederation.jimdo.com.

12 November 2015 gazette 29

Gazette

Cluskey calls time on tennis career

Swords man tells JAMES HENDICOTT about why he has stepped off the globe-trotting grind that is the international circuit after 15 doubles titles and nine Davis Cup call-ups JAMES CLUSKEY has retired from professional tennis with immediate effect. The Swords man represented Ireland in the Davis Cup and peaked at an impressive 145 in the world as a doubles player.

He’s been playing professionally since he graduated in 2009.

There’s a sense of “it’s time” to how Cluskey describes the retirement.

At just 28 years of age, the player’s physically capable of continuing, but tells GazetteSport that it’s “not been the best year, results wise” and that the day in and day out of training is becoming increasingly

Swords man James Cluskey has retired after a fine career on the pro tennis circuit

trying.

“I’m struggling to covers costs,” Cluskey told us. “I’m still really enjoying the games, but I have to be honest with myself, I’m just not as motivated as I was. I’ve been travelling full time since 2010, and while it was a tough decision, it’s time to move on to something else.”

The Irish tennis scene has come a long way since Cluskey started out.

He recalls playing Parks Tennis games in Swords as a youngster, where Peter Clarke, who peaked outside the world top 200, was looked up to as being “from a different planet” He still lauds Park Tennis as his career’s starting point.

Cluskey broke into the Irish side for the Davis Cup match for a game against Slovenia at just 19, an experience that he still points to as a career highlight, alongside his main draw ATP contests.

He was only the third

Irishman to play an ATP main tour event, and particularly recalls playing alongside the likes of David Ferrer.

“I was able to play Davis Cup for the last nine years, play for the LSU Tigers for four years, reach a career high ranking of 145, win 15 doubles titles including two challengers, play main draw in a few ATP 250 events and make many friends from all over the world along the way.

“Not bad for a Parks Tennis boy from Swords.

I never thought I was the most gifted tennis player but I love the sport and always gave my best,” Cluskey wrote on his Facebook wall.

Talking to him in person, the retirement seems more of a slow grinding down - wanting to spend some time at home, wondering what’s going to come next and being keen to push on to it, being sick of relying on others

to continue playing and motivation issues.

He describes the travel experience - which for all but the top players can be a solitary one - as being “great when you’re in places like Las Vegas, but really quite difficult after a while in places like China and Azerbaijan, trying to get yourself ready to play professional sport”.

He gratefully thanks sponsors who include a public crowd-funding campaign last year, Tennis Ireland and Sport Council Ireland, all of whom were “great,” but asking for money started to become a drain, something pushing Cluskey out of the sport.

His final game was a quarter final loss against Rafael Nadal’s Wimbledon conqueror Dustin Brown and Carsten Ball in Sweden, a game in which Cluskey admits the better team won, but also a fittingly high-level finish.

expertView Flair and physicality used to optimum effect by NZ For the duration of the Rugby World Cup, ex-Edinburgh and Marlboro player and IRANZ Level 5 rugby coach Dennis Bowes has shared his thoughts on the festival.

FOR over a month, fans and beyond were glued to the World Cup, and what an amazing time it has been for world rugby.

With no end of drama, skills and emotion, some dodgy decisions and strange calls on and off the pitch, it’s been a great advert for the sport.

It’s shown the challenges to reach the top of the game are huge and also who the brave ones are that will change to get there.

The two best teams played out a fantastic final in London. Finals are often nervous affairs and often this overshadows the quality of rugby due to the pressure.

Even with the world watching, we got the best final from two teams who played the game with skill, flair and no little physicality.

This was the New Zealand of old, performing under pressure after a wobble as their big game players grabbed the game and drove it home.

With many players on the New Zealand team bowing out of international rugby is this the last we see of McCaw, Carter (pictured) and crew?

For Australia, can they continue to build on this now and maybe come RWC Japan in four years’ time be the team to overthrow New Zealand?

Maybe Japan can one better and make the last eight on home soil? What next for the northern hemisphere? Can we catch up? Can we change what do we do? And who will be brave enough to change?

We will have new laws, new body shapes come the next world cup. Will we have a new number one? Will north catch south in the style of game?

Four years will go quickly and let’s hope we have started to review our game and will we be brave and honest about how we need to change?

Can our culture allow us to change our mindset?

For now, let’s agree if we can that we want all of our rugby played like the finals, with skill and fun the top of the list.

Gazette

30 lucan gazette 12 November 2015

SPORT

FastSport

soccer: leah doyle and aisling spillane line out for blues

St Francis trio feature in Irish Under-16 side THE Republic of Ireland Under-16 squad took part in the Victory Shield competition in Wales last week with three local names included.

St Francis trio Cian Hughes (pictured), James Jennings and Thomas Caffrey all enjoyed plenty of game time during the three game tournament which was Paul Osam’s first as Under-16s head coach. The competition switched format this year, being held over the course of five days rather than a number of months.

The competition was usually for just the United Kingdom home nations but with England withdrawing this year, the Republic of Ireland took their place to face Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Osam’s side began the competition with a scoreless draw against their Northern rivals in Newport last Thursday.

Hughes, Jennings and Caffrey all started the game and it was Jennings who came closest to scoring when his deflected effort struck the woodwork 10 minutes into the second half.

Ireland’s next game up was against the hosts Wales with the young Boys in Green succumbing to a 2-1 defeat.

Hughes and Caffrey again both started the game with Jennings emerging from the bench.

Ireland started well and had the game’s first chance but Wales soon settled into the tie.

Eight minutes into the second half the hosts went ahead through a scrappy goal that Brandon Oddy poked in.

The lead was doubled on 51 minutes when Rabbi Matonda beat two Irish defenders and rifled an effort into the top corner.

Aaron Connolly pulled one back late on when he rounded a keeper and finished well but they couldn’t find a second to level the game.

Their final fixture was against Scotland and Osam’s side ended their week in Wales with a 1-1 draw. Caffrey started the game while Jennings and Hughes came off the bench. Ireland led through a first half goal from Aaron Bolger but then conceded a penalty just three minutes into the second half which Elliott Watt converted.

The Leinster Under-15 girls celebrate their success

Lucan duo aid Leinster win sport@dublingazette.com

TWO Lucan schoolgirls played their part as Leinster retained their crown for the fourth consecutive year in a row in the FAI Schools Girls’ Under-15 Interprovincial Tournament.

Leah Doyle of Colaiste Chiarain and Aisling Spillane from the King’s Hospital were part of Paul Howard’s squad for the competition that took place over the course of last weekend.

The Leinster side, flush with girls from Dublin schools, won their opening two games before losing to Munster in their

final fixture, but had done enough to retain their title.

They opened the competition with a seven-goal thriller against Ulster.

Masterson fired her province ahead after just three minutes with a brilliant solo effort. The girls from up north responded well though and found themselves 3-1 up by the 20th minute. Amy Boyle, Kerry Brown and Megan Havlin got the goals which rocked Leinster until the half-time break.

Howard’s side came out after the interval in inspired form however.

Doireann Fahey pulled one back early on to make it 3-2 before Mas-

cross country Harriers young stars compete in Tymon Park LucaN Harriers young stars shone at the uneven ages cross-country championships in Tymon Park.

At Under-9 level, Saoirse Fitzgerald finished third, closely followed by Isobel Cuffe, Alison Bracken and Eva Collis.

In the boys, Killian O’Connor led the Lucan challenge aided by David Coakley, Davis Quinn and Cormac O’Dwyer. In the Under-11 girls, Eve Marie Noctor just missed out on a medal in a field of over 100 athletes.

terson levelled the game from the penalty spot.

The next goal was going to be crucial and with all the momentum behind them, it was Leinster who got it and what a goal it was. Following some nice build-up play, Isibeal Carolan received the ball and from distance, fired an absolute rocket into the top corner which proved to be the winner.

Leinster’s second game and second win of the weekend game against Connacht. Fiona Ryan put Howard’s side ahead from close range early on before Carolan got her second goal of the weekend midway through the

first half via a stunning volley with her left foot.

Connacht pulled one back with a well taken goal from Savannah Cassidy but didn’t have enough to find another and Leinster grabbed their victory.

Going into the final set of fixtures, both Leinster and Ulster were in with a shout of winning the competition. Were Ulster to beat Connacht and Leinster were to lose to Munster, the Northern Province would take the title.

Munster were the only side yet to win a game and looked determined to put that right in their final fixture. Aine Donegan fired

them ahead but Alannah McEvoy equalised for Leinster early in the second half. With only minutes remaining, Sophie Liston popped up with a deserved winner for Munster, it didn’t dampen the Leinster spirits too much however as Connacht had beaten Ulster which meant Howard’s side were champions once again.

Doyle and Spillane will now wait to find out if their performances merit inclusion in the provisional squad for the International Select who will face England in Manchester in March before the Bob Docherty tournament in Wales in April.

12 November 2015 LUCAN gazette 31

Gazette

football: 14th successive win proves the sweetest

Club Noticeboard lucan sarsfields MANY thanks to all the teams who

The annual weekly lotto spon-

sent in match reports this weekend.

sorship is now due for renewal. We

Full details can be found on our web-

are appealing to businesses in and

site, www.lucansarsfields.ie, with

around Lucan to sign up to this popu-

over 1,500 players in action in the last

lar advertising scheme.

week across all four codes from age 7 to 40+!

Mass for our deceased members

weeks - €200. We are also appealing

will be held at the club on Thursday,

to club members who have their own

November 19 at 8pm. All are welcome.

businesses to consider taking up the

St Vincent de Paul annual table quiz

Business details are printed on the

of four is €40; please support a very

weekly lotto tickets for the number

worthy cause, donations and spot

of weeks you sign up for. It is an ideal

prizes gratefully accepted.

way of gaining broad sponsorship in

26 in the function room; all members

Lucan’s epic battle seals U-13 double

u-13 div 1 cup final Lucan Sarsfields St Brigid’s  sport@dublingazette.com

2-9 2-7

THEY say everything comes to those who wait and it was certainly a long wait for Lucan Sarsfields Under-13 ladies footballers to complete their league and cup double.

Twice, their tie with St Brigid’s was postponed before it was finally played last Sunday at the 12th Lock amid monsoon conditions.

It was the third meeting of the sides but, with the conditions as they were, it was never likely to be pretty football with powerful wind adding to the driving rain.

Nonetheless, Lucan hit the front early on with Alannah Cassells scoring a cracking goal and Aoife Coffey tagging on a point.

Brigid’s, though, were battling well and after a couple of wides, they hit the mark with two points, limiting the half time gap to 1-3 to 0-2.

And Brigid’s started the second half the

brighter, scoring a goal and a couple of points.

Lucan stuck to their task, though, with the midfield partnership of Aoife Whelan and Caitlin Maguire along with Coffey equal to whatever was thrown at them.

Further points from Coffey and Cassells settled the side but Brigid’s kept coming and snagged another goal that put them four ahead with just 10 minutes to go.

It made for an epic finale as Lucan dug deep.

Wing forwards Cassells and Roisin Egan started to win some good clean ball and work it up the field and the scores eventually came.

Abby Shiels turned up again to get a goal and this was quickly added to, with an equalising point from Maguire, much to the delight of the home crowd.

While some may have accepted a draw, the Lucan girls were not finished yet. While Shiels has scored some spectacular goals this year, it was to be her point with time nearly up that was to be

the sweetest of them all.

From a near impossible angle out on the sideline, she sailed the ball over the bar. Coffey coolly slotted over a close in free to put two points between the teams.

Brigid’s now needed a goal, and to their credit, they drove towards the Lucan goal on numerous times in search of one.

However, hard work and solid defending saw Lucan withstand whatever was thrown at them in the endgame.

Six minutes into injury time, and after what seemed like a lifetime,

the referee finally blew the whistle and the home crowd went wild.

It provided an epic end to a run of 14 competitive games and 14 wins, a memorable way to land the league and cup double.

Lucan Sarsfields: Ellie Larkin, Rebecca Flanagan, Aiso Aikhionbare, Bella Fay, Faye Murphy, Aisling Kavanagh, Ali Dunne, Aoife Whelan, Caitlin Maguire, Roisin Egan, Aoife Coffey, Alannah Cassells, Charmaine Gahan, Abby Shiels, Cora O’Toole, Leah Keating, Aisling Kenna, Lily O’Reilly.

sponsorship.

is on Wednesday, November 18. A table

Our AGM will be held on November The Lucan Sarsfields Under-13 footballers who completed the perfect season last Sunday

The rates are: one week - €50; two weeks - €90; four weeks - €150 and six

are invited to attend.

the greater Lucan area while helping the club to run its 70 teams or more.

We are very grateful to our loyal

Well done to the U-13 girls football

sponsors who have been so support-

team who won their Division 1 cham-

ive of this advertising scheme since it

pionship final at the weekend. Our

began in 2001. Please contact Mary at

U-14B footballers also rounded off a

087 7469143 for further details.

great year winning their league with an unbeaten run.

The senior footballers continued

Set dancing continues every Wednesday at 8.30pm in Lucan Sarsfields GAA club, all welcome.

their drive for promotion with their

The Lucan Sarsfields GAA club 25

final league game this Sunday in Port-

card drive continues in the clubhouse

manock at 11am.

bar every Friday at 9pm sharp.

The club’s social calender will have

The club shop is open on Thursdays

a new addition in 2016. On Sunday,

from 7.30pm to 8.30pm and Saturdays

January 17, we will host Lucan Sars-

from 10.30am to 1.30pm.

fields’ Leopardstown Leaps at the racecourse.

Lucan District Credit Union GAA academy at Lucan Sarsfields: 9.30am

A four-course dinner followed by

for camogie and girls football, 10am

a superb day of national hunt racing

for boys football and hurling, for boys

will set the scene for a great day’s

and girls born in 2009, 20010 and 2011

fun. For further details, contact Eoin

– 12th Lock, Lucan. Contact Johnny at

on 086 2734114.

085 1294102.

ST pat’s palmerstown THE lotto numbers for this week were

ing a Strictly Reunion in the Courtyard

6, 18, 19 and 22. There was no winner so

Hotel, Leixlip; all are welcome, finger

next week’s jackpot will be €5,800.

food and another chance to watch the

The draw takes place in the Palm-

DVD.

erstown House every Sunday night at

Saturday, November 21 at 8pm in

10pm and tickets cost €2. Thank you to

the clubhouse we will be holding our

all our sellers and to all that support

yearly mass, all are welcome to attend

our lotto every week.

and tea served afterwards.

Our senior hurling/camogie ses-

Great turnout on Saturday for U-8s

sions will continue in Glenaulin on

at a super venue in Donnybrook and we

Fridays at 6pm; it’s open to U-14 up to

even dodged the rain, well done guys.

minor to improve their hurling/cam-

Supermen of the future.

ogie skills with senior hurlers taking the sessions.

Our U-9 team earned a tight, hardfought and hard-earned win in their

Juvenile camogie/hurling skills ses-

football match against Robert Emmets

sions will also continue in Glenaulin on

of Perrystown. In a tight, end-to-end

Friday at 6pm; open to all U-8 up to

contest, both teams took turns in

U-12 players, great chance to improve

dominating, in between squalls of

their hurling/camogie skills and all are

monsoon showers on a muddy sur-

welcome.

face.

U-9 camogie and girls football train-

Hard work despite difficult condi-

ing is on every Saturday morning 10am;

tions and showing the commitment to

all born in 2007 and 2008 welcome; just

stick at a dirty job until the end earned

drop down and ask for Conor or Emer.

the Pat’s players a deserved victory in

Saturday, November 14 we are hold-

challenging circumstances.

GazetteSPORT all of your lucan sports coverage from page 28-31

november 12-18, 2015

perfect season: Lucan Sarsfields produce a fitting end to a memorable 2015 to win double P31

cluskey leaves the court: Globe-trotting tennis star retires after fine career P29

Esker club fighting hard on all fronts  nathan kelly

sport@dublingazette.com

WHILE the struggle for a permanent home in their own backyard goes on, Esker Boxing Club’s young fighters are continuously making their mark across the globe.

Last week, Esker’s Killian Geraghty narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at the EUBC European Schoolboys Boxing Championships in Russia. Next week, Esker duo Amy Harrington and Rebecca Toohey will travel to the Golden Girl competition in Sweden as part of the Dublin team from November 20-22.

At the end of October, Nathan

Reilly, Evan Fitzgerald, Sean Balfe and Wayne Joyce travelled to America for two nights of boxing in Chicago. On October 22, the Irish selection defeated North Chicago 6-4, while two days later they lost to a South Chicago squad by the same score.

Ed Griffin, coach and coordinator at Esker Boxing Club, spoke to GazetteSport about the club spreading their reach around the world before raising the point about their long-running fight for a place they can call home.

“I think first of all, myself and everyone at Esker ABC would like to say well done to Killian on his displays in Russia last week,” he

said.

“He was beaten by a strong English opponent in the quarter-final and was unlucky to miss out on medal but everyone at the club is very proud of him. It was a big thing to get where he got. He’s only been with us for around 18 months and has won the Dublin Leagues, had a huge amount of fights and had success in the All-Ireland Cadets.

“Also, the trip to Chicago was a worthy exercise as our fighters got great experience, made good connections and performed really well.

We were probably robbed a bit on the second night but what can you do,” added Griffin.

Griffin reiterated the potential

the young club have shown this year but insisted their plight for a place they can call home needs to be sorted to allow them to develop.

“This year alone we’ve had our fighters compete in Russia, America, Sweden, Holland, England, Wales and Scotland,” he said.

“That shows that everything is working inside the ring in terms of coaching and commitment, we’re just desperate to get a permanent home sorted at this stage so we can push on. We have to leave where we currently are soon and return to one of the local school’s which isn’t ideal. Fingers crossed we can work with the council and get something sorted in the near future.”

Members of Esker boxing club on their recent trip to Chicago