Lucan GAZET TE FREE
Ben Affleck tells a stranger than fiction story of the CIA with Argo
CINEMA: PAGE 20 November 15, 2012 Find us on
Month XX, 2012 LUCAN • PALMERSTOWN • CELBRIDGE • LEIXLIP • ADAMSTOWN • DODSBORO • LIFFEY VALLEY • BALLYOWEN
INSIDE: Take part in our reader survey and win a weekend in Birr and Des Bishop tickets P25
BUDGET SLASHED: Local Government Fund for council cut by €475k Page 4
A purrfect pair: Dressing up for fun at Kenny’s Football:
Sarsfields U-16s annex division two competition Page 31
ZARA McIntyre and Annika Devitt
dressed to impress when they joined in the fun at Kenny’s pub recently, which saw all manner of fancy dress characters gather at the popular village centre pub to fundraise for Temple Street Children’s Hospital. The colourfully-dressed characters raised more than €1,500 on the night, with all happy to help support the life-saving and life-changing work of the hospital.
See Gallery on Page 6
Soccer:
Peamount land top win in DDSL U-13 leagues Page 30
ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES......................6 DUBLIN LIFE...................11 OUT&ABOUT ..................17 CLASSIFIEDS ................26 SPORT ...........................27
Liffey Valley SC plan could create 700 jobs €25m planning application for centre’s expansion has been submitted
PAUL HOSFORD
NEARLY 700 jobs could be created if a new expansion of Liffey Valley Shopping Centre is given the go-ahead. The €25 million plan-
ning application has been submitted by the centre’s owners, Aviva Investors and Grosvenor and, if approved, work would take 27 months to complete. The project is expected to create 280 construction
employment opportunities during the development phase, and up to 390 permanent, part-time and full-time jobs upon completion of the project, bringing the total number employed within the cen-
tre to more than 2,500. Shelagh Larard, the associate director of Aviva Investors, said that the plan would be a boost to the local community. Full Story on Page 2
2 LUCAN Gazette 15 November 2012
dublin GAZETTe newspapers i n f o r m at i o n
retail €25m plan submitted for centre
Block 3A, Mill Bank Business Park, Lucan Tel: 01 - 6010240 Dublin Gazette Newspapers publish eight weekly quality free titles, covering the greater Dublin area from Swords to Dun Laoghaire
c o n ta c t s Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@gazettegroup.com Acting News Editor: Rob Heigh rheigh@gazettegroup.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile jmaile@gazettegroup.com Picture Editor: Paul Hosford picturedesk@gazettegroup.com Acting Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sport@gazettegroup.com Advertising Production: Anita Ward ads@gazettegroup.com Financial Controller: Carly Lynch clynch@gazettegroup.com Advertising Sales: 01 - 6010240
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www.gazettegroup.com Gazette Group Newspapers Ltd. Terms and Conditions for acceptance of advertisements Reserve the right to omit or suspend or alter any advertisement(s) in any of its publications. We also decline any responsibility in the event of one or more of a series of advertisements being omitted for any reason whatever, nor do we accept liability for any loss or damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertisement. If your advertisement appears incorrectly, contact the Advertising Department immediately, as responsibility cannot be accepted for more than one week’s incorrect insertion. Responsibility cannot be accepted if the complaint is made more than two weeks after insertion. If one places an advertisement for more than one week and then cancels it after the first week, no refund or credit will be given for weeks cancelled. The advertiser undertakes to indemnify the Proprietors against any liability for any civil action arising out of the publication of the advertisement or any other matter printed or published in the Blanchardstown Gazette, Castleknock Gazette, Clondalkin Gazette, Dundrum Gazette, Dun Laoghaire Gazette, Lucan Gazette, Malahide Gazette and Swords Gazette. The placing of an order or contract will be deemed an acceptance of these conditions.
Architect’s mock-up for part of the proposed €25m expansion and redevelopment of Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, which its owners suggest could create 280 construction jobs and up to 390 permanent, part-time and full-time jobs upon completion of the project
Liffey Valley expansion may add 700 more jobs ALMOST 700 jobs could be created if a new expansion of Liffey Valley Shopping Centre is given the green light. A €25 million planning application has been submitted by the centre’s owners, Aviva Investors and Grosvenor and, if approved, work would take 27 months in total to complete. T h e d e ve l o p m e n t proposal aims to add 10,585.25sq m of new space to the shopping
Paul Hosford
phosford@gazettegroup.com
centre, and will bring more retail units and an anticipated 670 jobs to the area. Proposals include a three-level retail unit of 6,577sq m, incorporating the internal reconfigura-
tion of Vue Cinema, along with an external extension of 827sq m. There will also be six restaurants constructed, spanning three floors with external seating, and the creation of a communal public space of more than 3,000sq m. The planned communal space will include a number of design features and a layout to accommodate regular managed events, which the owners hope will become a meet-
ing place and focal point for the centre. The project is expected to create 280 construction employment opportunities during the development phase, and up to 390 permanent, part-time and full-time jobs upon completion of the project, bringing the total number employed within the centre to more than 2,500. Shelagh Larard, associate director of Aviva Investors, said that the plan would be a boost to the local community. “We have worked closely with all stakeholders in planning this next phase of Liffey Valley. It was important that the proposal we developed would add local regeneration activity, and I am confident that this will be a huge boost to the local area. “The proposed development will increase footfall and choice within the
shopping centre, thereby adding to the vitality and viability of Liffey Valley,” she said. “With Liffey Valley moving into its 15th year of trading, the centre has established itself as a major shopping destination, and it is important that we continue to invest in and strengthen its offering in order to best serve our customers and our community. “The submission will deliver a proposal of architectural quality to further enhance the appearance and profile of Liffey Valley,” said Larard. T he proposal has come as the centre has announced the current buildings are 100% occupied, with the recent openings of Bank and Yankee Candle, coupled with next week’s opening of a Nando’s chicken restaurant outlet.
15 November 2012 LUCAN Gazette 3
double win Council’s library service and letting scheme ‘outstanding’
SDCC gets top honours at Chambers awards paul hosford
THERE was a brace of honours for South Dublin County Council at last week’s Chambers Ireland Annual Excellence in Local Government awards. SDCC won top honours in two categories at the awards, in the categories of Best Library Service and Outstand-
ing Customer Service. The library service award was given in recognition of the council’s Ready2Read project, which was developed and delivered by South Dublin Libraries. The project involves hands-on training for parents in helping their children develop pre-literacy skills which prepare them for formal learning in school
and which also underpin their journey to becoming independent readers. The customer service award was given to the Choice Based Letting Scheme, which SDCC pioneered last year. The Choice Based Letting Scheme is an online allocation approach, first introduced anywhere in the country by the council, which empow-
Conor Leonard, collections and projects manager of WEEE Ireland, Jim Copeland, chief executive and director, HAI, and RTE’s Dermot Bannon
events: weee ireland partnerships
Recycle power tools for free
paul hosford
WEEE Ireland are set to offer electronics recycling in two Lucan locations from this week. Locals can recycle for free with both Chadwicks and Goodwins in Lucan. Residents can also recycle all electrical waste and batteries at the free recycling collection event due to take place at Tesco car park in Lucan, on November 17 from 10am to 4pm. As part of WEEE’s association with the Hardware Association of Ireland (HAI), DIY enthusiasts are being encouraged to recycle
their electrical power tools for free. RTE star Dermot Bannon was on hand to officially announce both WEEE Ireland’s renewed sponsorship of the popular RTE series, Room To Improve, and their partnership with the HAI. Conor Leonard, collections and projects manager of WEEE Ireland, said: “WEEE Ireland are delighted to announce both of these partnerships. The hardware store in any town is a pivotal part of any community. We want everyone to get in to their local store and remember, please bring back your batteries, light-
bulbs, and like-for-like electrical goods to be recycled for free.” Jim Copeland, chief executive and director of HAI, added: “We have more than 600 members nationwide who are on hand to offer the public expert advice for any renovation plans you may have. Whether you need a new power drill or an electrical shower, all hardware stores can help and can recycle your old appliances for free, right in store.” For more information on what qualifies as WEEE and where you can recycle for free, log on to www.recycleforfree.ie
ers the housing applicant to make decisions over where they live and their preference of tenure. Effective
Consequently, the scheme has led to more sustainable communities particularly in low-demand areas and also the more effective use of social housing properties. Since the
introduction of the scheme in November 2011, 7,890 applicants have expressed interest in the 106 properties (council, voluntary and leased) advertised on the council’s website under this scheme. In accepting the awards, the Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Cllr Cathal King (SF), said: “I am delighted that South Dublin County
Council’s ongoing efforts to improve the quality of life for our residents and communities have been recognised with these prestigious awards.” County manager Philomena Poole added: “I would like to acknowledge all those involved in these initiatives for their innovation and commitment to customer service excellence.”
4 LUCAN GAZETTE 15 November 2012
FUNDING Household charge income cited for clawback
Council budget cut by €475k PAUL HOSFORD phosford@gazettegroup.com
GOT A STORY? Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 or email news@gazettegroup.com
SOUTH Dublin County Council (SDCC) have had nearly €500,000 cut from their budget so far this year. The cut in the Local Government Fund allocation to the council is linked to the percentage of households that have paid the household charge, the council said, as the figures were revealed at this week’s council meeting. Responding to a pair of questions from Labour councillor Eamon Tuffy, SDCC revealed that the percentage payment of the charge was now up to
63%, but that the council had been subject to “an adjustment of €475,210 to the Local Government Fund allocation for 2012”. That figure represents almost a 3% cut in SDCC’s overall allocation, and a 0.2% cut to their overall budget for the year. The answer also revealed that the council must get household payment compliance above 65% this week, or face a further cut. The council said: “A further adjustment ... will be made to the South Dublin Local Government Fund allocation in November if household
charge compliance does not match or exceed 65% for the county by midNovember.” However, the council said that vacillation between the budget and actual income and expenditure were to be expected, and that the deficit could be made up in areas where the council was over budget. “The budget is monitored on an ongoing basis, and it is normal to encounter some fluctuation to the adopted budget and income requirements. “The income from the non principal private residence charge has exceed-
South Dublin County Council faces the possibility of further budget cuts
ed budget and is available to fund this income deficit for 2012.” The council said that some 22,500 homeowners were sent letters last
month to “advise them of potential unpaid liability to the charge and the penalties which accrue for late payment [of the household charge]”.
FASTNews
Lucan canoeist to be honoured LUCAN canoeist Peter Egan will be honoured at the 19th annual Coiste Siamsa Sportstar Awards at Westmanstown Sports and Conference Centre on Friday, November 16. The awards are presented to Garda members who have excelled in their chosen sporting areas, locally, nationally and internationally. This year’s selection committee was chaired by RTE Sport’s Michael Lyster. Egan is a garda stationed at Tallaght Garda Station and was the national canoeing champion at the K2 Marathon this year.
Christmas cards CHRISTMAS cards in aid of Pieta House are now on sale. A pack, costing €4.99, contains nine assorted cards and envelopes The packs are available from Pieta House, St Mary’s Parish Centre. and various outlets around Lucan. For further information, contact Marie Peelo at 01 628 2111.
15 November 2012 LUCAN Gazette 5
6 LUCAN Gazette 15 November 2012
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Brian Light
Aidan Flaherty and Pauline Light
Jade Finn with Boba Fett, Darth Vader and some Stormtroopers. Pictures: Cathy Weatherston
A fancy gathering
P
ATRONS of Kenny’s pub in Lucan village centre dressed to impress for some fancy dress fun recently, with their imaginative outfits helping to fundraise for Temple Street Children’s Hospital.
The ghosts, witches, pirates, ghouls – and even a squadron of Stormtroopers – raised more than €1,500, with everyone happy to help support the life-saving and life-changing work of the hospital.
Sinead McAndrew and Natty Dolzhenkova
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8 LUCAN Gazette 15 November 2012
15 November 2012 LUCAN Gazette 9
crime: €2k drug debt led to actions
FastNews
Recycle old toys for a Seminar on social worthy cause at Argos media at Lucan Library ARGOS in Liffey Valley are offering local people the chance to recycle their old toys for a worthy cause. The Argos Toy Exchange, which recycles and redistributes old or unwanted toys in aid of Enable Ireland, has been operating in the store since October. The charity can then re-sell or recycle the toys, with all money raised being used to fund their work with people with disabilities. The initiative runs until Tuesday, November 27.
The Courts of Criminal Justice
Six years for man holding €3m of heroin A DUBLIN drug addict has been jailed for six years for possession of almost €3 million worth of heroin hidden inside three fire extinguishers. The 38-year-old fatherof-two claimed he was asked to hold the drugs, after amassing drug debts of around €2,000. Patrick Maguire, of Mount Andrew Court, Lucan, pleaded guilty to having heroin worth almost €3m on May 27, 2012. In Dublin Circuit Court, Garda Ciaran O’Neill told Noel Devitt BL, prosecuting, that a warrant to search Maguire’s house was granted due to information from an anonymous source. When gardai arrived at the property, they asked Maguire if they would find anything illegal inside. Gda O’Neill said he noticed six fire extinguishers in one of the rooms and tested one of them in the back garden
of the house. He became suspicious when no foam emerged, despite the gauge showing the canister was full. When questioned about the contents of the fire extinguishers, M a g u i r e e ve n t u a l l y admitted that they were full of heroin. The court heard that 19.71 kilos of the drug was recovered from the canisters, with a street value of roughly €2,956,000. Maguire has no previous convictions and has been addicted to heroin since his teens. Maguire refused to reveal the names of the people who owned the drugs, as he feared for his safety and said his life would be at risk. Ms Biggs said her client was “overwhelmed” when told the total value of the drugs and said everything had “snowballed” when he got involved with holding the drugs. She described Maguire as “very co-operative”
with the Garda investigation and noted his early guilty plea. Gda O’Neill agreed that he was not on the Garda radar up until this incident, and said he would be “very surprised” if he re-offended when released from prison. Judge Martin Nolan said it was clear that Maguire was “at the lower rung of the ladder” and was only holding the heroin in order to pay off a drugs debt. He took into account his personal circumstances, but described him as a mature adult and said he must have known that he was holding “a huge amount of heroin”. Judge Nolan said: “It seemed he had a chronic drug problem which led him astray,” but described it as “inconceivable” that he didn’t know what he was holding. Judge Nolan sentenced Maguire to six years in prison backdated to his date of arrest.
THIS Friday, November 16, Lucan Library will host Phil Stubbs of PR Social Media Services who will be presenting a seminar on Social Media for Business.In his presentation, Phil will be aiming to help businesses understand what social media is and work on their strategies in the area. Registration for the event takes place at 10am, which is expected to finish by 12.30pm. To register for this event, log on to www.south dublinlibraries.ie
10 lucan Gazette 15 November 2012
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Alicia and Celine McGivern
Ball raises €15,000
T
HE Peter McVerry Trust’s Annual Gala Ball recently took place in Clontarf Castle, and raised more than €15,000 for the charity. The Peter McVerry Trust provides a wide range of services to homeless individuals. The money raised will go directly towards providing
housing and support services to help young homeless people. The charity expects to work with 1,500 individuals in 2012. More than 300 guests turned out for the annual ball, which is now in its sixth year, and there was a lot of glamor-
ous fashion on the night. The charity ball was hosted by RTE presenter Miriam O’Callaghan and comedian Barry Murphy was the auctioneer. For more information about The Peter McVerry Trust, log on to their website www. pmvtrust.ie.
RTE presenter Miriam O’Callaghan, Fr Peter McVerry and comedian Barry Murphy recently hosted the Peter McVerry Trust’s Annual Gala Ball in Clontarf Castle
Patrick and Janice Peake
15 November 2012 Gazette 11
Schools P14
asdfsdaf Business P27 P16
dublinlife
Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week, as well as the latest from our schools
Gazette
diary P12
charity: lUCY KENNEDY lends a helping hand
Calendar to raise funds for Friends of the Coombe CELEBRITY mum of two, Lucy Kennedy, recently launched a heart-warming 2013 calendar on behalf of Friends of the Coombe, the charitable organisation which raises funds to assist in the development of the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital. The calendar features 19 children born at the hospital who spent a sig-
nificant period of time being cared for in the Coombe’s neo-natal unit, which looks after more than 1,000 babies each year. Each month of the year shows a before and after image of the children illustrating their size when they were born and a current image of them, exploring their dreams of what they want to be when they grow up. Speaking at the launch,
Kennedy said she was delighted to launch the initiative. “I am always struck by how small and fragile new-born babies are but seeing how tiny some of the children in this calendar were at birth was a real eye opener. It is truly wonderful to see them now – thriving and running around. I am delighted to be able to support this initiative
to help raise money to allow children who are born prematurely or ill to blossom and be allowed to dream of the future.” The calendar, which features photographs taken by award-winning Giggles and Smiles Photography in Malahide can be purchased from both www.friendsofthecoombe.ie, and www. gigglesandsmiles.com for €10 including postage.
Lucy Kennedy with Tanya Crosbie from the Giggles and Smiles Studio and twins Alexandra and Taylor Hanley (4) from Celbridge, Co. Kildare.
Gazette
12 Gazette 15 November 2012
dublinlife
diary
Sew much help to mark 1913 Lockout A NEW tapestry commission, commemorating the 1913 Lockout, was launched by President Michael D Higgins in Liberty Hall on November 6.
The tapestry is a largescale collaborative visual arts project to commemorate the Dublin Lockout, and painters Cathy Henderson and Robert Ballagh were commissioned by
SIPTU, and the National College of Art and Design, to create a visual narrative of more than 30 panels. The panels will be laid out in storyboard-style, and will be multimedia
textile pieces measuring two feet by two-and-ahalf feet. The panels are being made by a wide range of volunteers, bodies, schools and societies across the
city and country.
share the joy of diwali DIWALI, the Indian Festival of Lights, is being celebrated at CityWest Convention Centre this month. The multicultural event, which has been organised by Unitas ISAC – a voluntary organisation set up and run by the Indian community in Ireland – will feature live music, performances celebrating Indian cinema, authentic Indian cuisine, and plenty of stalls and children’s entertainment, before a closing fireworks display. Standing for the reaffirmation of hope, a celebration of the joys of life, and a renewed commitment
President Michael D Higgins is caught in the spotlight, as he helps to launch a specially commissioned tapestry series to commemorate the 1913 Lockout
to friendship and goodwill, the Irish Diwali celebrations will be held on Saturday, November 17 from 12pm. Tickets cost
€13 for adults, with free entry for under-12s. For further information on all the activities, see www.festivaloflights.ie.
15 November 2012 Gazette 13
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dublinlife
trip: bellringing at christ church
An appealing visit Kathryn Mullen Castleknock Community College
ON THE cold morning of October 25, some 20 students – including myself – from Castleknock Community College made a trip to Christ Church Cathedral. Although the day required a much earlier start than usual, the excitement outweighed our tiredness. After arriving at the cathedral on time, we were met by our tour guide, Lesley. She shared with us a lot of knowledge about the history and architectural structure of Christ Church. She showed us around the cathedral, and she also brought us down to the tombs, which hold a collection of costumes used in the popular television series, The Tudors. O u r t e a c h e r, M r Stanley, then met us back at the entrance and we were introduced to a man, also named Lesley, who is the head bell ringer at the cathedral. He brought us all the way up to the top bell tower, which was a very interesting experience. We climbed the 86
Former Rose of Tralee winner, and noted Irish traditional musician, Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain, puts her musical skills to good use to help Castleknock Community College students ring the bells at Christ Church Cathedral, as Colum McGovern, Conrad JonesBrangan, Georgina Duffy, Una King, Cian Hegarty, Liam O’Driscoll and Kathryn Mullen look on
steps – to be precise – and we banged a few heads along the way, but we eventually got to the top. He then explained to us the method of scientific change ringing. All of this information was very new to us, and it made us realise how exact the science of bell ringing really is. Lesley then allowed us to ring the bells by ourselves. All of the stu-
dents suddenly became children again. The prospect of ringing an enormous bell appealed to everyone, and it was a race to the ropes. Everyone got a turn but, regardless of Lesley’s attempts, we could not ring in time with one another. It was a fantastic day out, and we highly recommend it for any and every school.
schoolLife Get involved with our new schools pages As part of the recent relaunch of the Dublin Gazette Newspapers, we are reaching out to all the schools in our catchment areas to become a closer part of our community than ever before. Schools are the beating hearts of communities, one of the last places around which a community can gather. We are calling on budding writers and photographers from all of our
schools to help fill the pages and, in order to encourage the next generation of journalists and snappers to get involved, we are partnering with Harvey Norman to present the Dublin Gazette Newspapers Cub Reporter and Cub Photographer of the Year awards. For further details, contact me at rheigh@gazettegroup.com, or telephone 01 601 0240.
15 November 2012 Gazette 15
Gazette
schools dail na nog: more than 2,150 pupils take part in survey
Body image matters emma storey, rosa barrell and fiona stinson Mount Sackville
A SURVEY was undertaken recently by Dail na nOg and aided by researchers from the School of Applied Social Studies in UCC on the subject of body image. T h e r e s u l t s we r e based on the answers of 2,156 young people, aged between 10 to 21. Mo r e t h a n t h r e e quarters of the participants said body image was important to them. The main findings were that those under 12 were most content
with their body image, and 15-year-olds were the least. It also showed that girls’ view their body image by comparison with others, whereas it’s bullying that most influences boys.
Activities More than half said their body image interferes with them taking part in certain activities, such as swimming. There was a higher percentage of girls than boys that exercised for their appearance rather than enjoyment. It’s clear that teenagers today have a poor body image. Drastic
action needs to be taken to alter the statistics of the survey’s results. A recommendation is to introduce a body image module into SPHE class in schools – this would promote self-esteem and a positive body image. Having noticed that bullying influences the way boys see themselves, it seems that it would be beneficial if schools were stricter on their anti-bullying policies.
Suggestion Another suggestion is to have a body image week, once a year, where everybody wears a stick-
er, on which they write a few positive things about themselves. This way, people will think about their body
image and pick out the good aspects. It should also raise confidence among the youth of today.
A survey on body image was undertaken by Dail na nOg and aided by researchers from the School of Applied Social Studies in UCC
GAZETTE
16 GAZETTE 15 November 2012
DUBLINLIFE
Q&A
JAMES KENNEDY, SAPORI ITALIANI
Bringing authentic Italian fare to Ireland GROWTH in the economy is slow to take off, but one local entrepreneur’s business is booming. Sapori Italiani, a new Dundrum company, imports high-end, authentic, fresh Italian foods to the Irish market. James Kennedy started the company 18 months ago after returning from a trip to Italy. Having spotted a niche in the market for high-quality Italian fare, Kennedy started import-
ing and selling at markets stalls around Dublin city. The company’s fare comes from the Liguria region of northern Italy, where pesto originated. The range is the only authentic non-pasteurised pesto imported to Ireland, and is certified by the Italian food board to call the long-shelf life products “fresh”. For further information, see www. saporiitaliani.ie.
How long have you been in business?
customers informed of our products and where they are available from. We regularly post recipes to show customers how versatile our products are.
My current business has been running since the beginning of 2011.
What makes your business successful?
Simple: good products.
What do you offer your clients that differs from your competitors?
We import the only fresh authentic Italian pesto range available in Ireland; all our competitors’ products are pasteurised, but pasteurisation kills the authentic taste of pesto.
How has the recession impacted your business?
Not a great deal, to be honest; it’s my belief that a good product at a good price will always sell.
How has the recession impacted your business?
The recession has made us very careful of what products we import, and in what quantities. Our product range has been reduced and our stock level also.
What law or regulation would you change overnight to help your business?
Nothing that I can think of.
How do you use social media (Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, etc) to help your business?
We use Facebook to keep our
What is your ambition for the business?
My aim is to offer a range of highquality Italian food products, and maybe, one day, start selling Irish foods into Italy.
What is the best piece of business advice you ever received?
“It’s not the price you sell your products for that’s important – it’s the price you buy them for.”
What is your favourite thing about doing business in your local area?
Getting to see my products on my local shop’s shelf every time I do my shopping.
What living person do you most admire?
Valentino Rossi – a motorcycling legend!
What is your favourite Dublin restaurant?
JD’s steakhouse, Terenure.
Who would your three dream dinner guests be, and why?
Valentino Rossi, just because he’s my idol; John Bishop, as he would provide the laughs and Jennifer Maguire, funny and good-looking.
BUSINESS
Supported by AIB
Investment made simple THE idea of not spending some of your money now, so that you can use it later, is called “saving”. Okay, okay, I know you know, but it had to be said. But, to what end? So that you have cash on hand for emergencies, major purchases and irregular expenses. You will also need savings if you want to buy property. How big should your savings pot be? I would say enough to support yourself and your dependants for between three and six months (with such net annual income kept in a rainy day fund, or RDF). Where should you keep your savings? Where you can get your hands on them quickly – an accessible, ondemand deposit account. Remember, with savings up to €100,000 per person, you are covered by the Deposit Protection Scheme via the Government (via the taxpayer – you and me). The two best demand accounts currently are KBC Bank (at 3.25%), and AIB Direct (at 3.1%, with two withdrawals per annum allowed). Investments differ from savings in that they represent money you either don’t need in a hurry or, if you are a risk-taker, you don’t mind losing. All investment involves risk, because either you are giving your money to someone else to make money for you, and there is always the chance they will turn out to be crooks or idiots (or both), or you are buying something that may be worth less when you come to sell it. However, there are lots of investments that aren’t really risky. Normally, the more money you stand to make from the money you invest, the higher the risk.
As a general rule, if you do invest outside of deposit accounts, you should at least be aiming for double the return of the best deposit account (12-month fixed rate – Ulster Bank 3.75%) to justify this decision. You will often hear people describe investment as being a case of “risk versus reward”. What they mean by this is how much risk they want to take for what sort of reward. The key things to remember about investment are that you should diversify. In other words, don’t keep all your eggs in one basket, but make sure you are spreading the risk by investing in different areas. Over the long-term, the highest returns have come from the stock market. The majority of your money, say 90% for most people, should be in relatively low-risk investments, such as the stock market, property, pensions and bonds (a posh word for Government and public company IOUs). Start saving if you haven’t already and, once your RDF coffers are full, you can then plan an investment strategy to suit your needs. Contact John with your money questions at jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing director of Money Doctor
UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT: MALTHOUSE CENTRE PRAISED
Shared designer space inspired and inspiring THE best of Irish design is set to flow at the old whiskey distillery building on Dublin’s North Circular Road, after a shared space for Irish designers was created recently. T he brainchild of Arthur Duff and Greg Tisdal, the Malthouse Design Centre is creating a name for creative thinking, attracting designers of all disciplines including architects alongside interior, furniture, lighting, industrial and product designers, as well as textile, graphic and brand designers. One of these, Bennis Design, has been nominated for an IDI award for excellence in design for the Enterprise Ireland Annual Report &
Accounts 2011. Bennis Design & Brand Partners were founded in 2002 by Caroline Murphy and Alan Bennis. Together, this husband and wife team help to bring brands to life, across a full range of digital and print media. Over the past 10 years, Bennis Design has helped companies such as Enterprise Ireland, An Post, SEI, Visual Artists Ireland, BreastCheck, Cervical Check, The National Library of Ireland and Elan. Murphy said: “The Malthouse Design Centre has a unique environment where the lines between design disciplines are allowed to be blurred. “We each inspire and
Alan Bennis and Caroline Murphy, of Bennis Design
support each other, which is a huge positive as business people in today’s market.” As a way of promoting the importance and value of design for Design Week, the Malthouse Design Centre invited well-known Irish design professionals to choose gems of beautifully-designed objects that hold a personal meaning for
them, familiar as well as unexpected objects, and concepts that have revolutionised the life of designers or their way of thinking. The Living with Design exhibition is running until December 21 at the Malthouse Design Centre. For further information, contact Alan Bennis of Bennis Design at 086 835 5494.
15 November 2012 Gazette 17
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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
US election night: a tense climax to the presidential campaign in D2
Pets
Dublin’s own Democratic convention PAUL HOSFORD
“What’s at stake? The entire future of the United States.” Dennis Desmond, the chairman of the Irish Democrats Abroad is unequivocal. It is just after midnight in The Arlington Hotel on Dublin’s Bachelors Walk and a group of about 70 Barack Obamasupporting Americans and Irish have dedicated themselves to staying up until the early hours of Wednesday morning to see the results from the anticipated American election roll in. As the conversation carries on, burgers and hot dogs are served and a big screen displays CNN. The air of tension is palpable. Though most polling has Obama ahead, the race has been closer than anticipated, and that has set some supporters of the 44th president on edge. “I don’t want to say it out loud, but if Romney can take Ohio, we could
be in trouble,” says one woman at the bar. It is the first time I’ve heard a mention of a possible defeat, but the theme of the night is recurrent — Ohio, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, Wisconsin, Colorado, Virginia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina — swing states. The two words that dominated the final week of the campaign coverage have become so used that they have almost lost meaning, but all eyes here are firmly on those states holding the balance of power. To understand why states like Ohio matter so much, you have to take for granted that certain states vote certain ways. In fact, before polling opened fully across the States last Tuesday, 41 states, plus Washington DC, were already coloured red or blue, depending on their allegiance to the Republican or Democratic parties. With just nine states
that are likely to change from one election to the next, those states are bound to take a disproportionate amount of the media’s, and candidates, attention. So, as Connecticut, Vermont, Delaware, DC and Maryland go in the president’s favour, there is little more than polite applause and barely an eyebrow is raised as the Republican challenger Mitt Romney takes Montana, Georgia, Louisiana and Alabama. When New York goes to Obama, as it always was going to, the place erupts. There is a healthy New York contingent here. “I think it’s about going forward with the president, rather than a candidate who wants to limit women’s rights, limit social welfare and squeeze those who have the least,” says Desmond. For him, the choice tonight is clearer than it has ever been. With the 2010 victo-
Gazette
MUSIC P19
can you give Molly a home?
Irish Democrats Abroad chairman Dennis Desmond is all smiles after the result
ries of the far-right Tea Party, Dennis bristles at the notion they are in any way similar. “There was a perception that we weren’t so far apart some time ago. But, now, you have a Republican Party that is so far radicalised to the right, without any idea of compromise.” Picking up on Denni’s Boston accent, I ask how Romney’s links to Massachusetts, where he was governor, colour his view of the president’s opponent. “Back when he was elected, we knew he was full of it. We knew he was just using Massachusetts to get to the presidency.” Overall, most here are happy with the first four years under Obama. “I’m happy, particu-
larly given the cards he was dealt. He stopped the haemorrhaging of 800,000 jobs every month and passed the Affordable Care Act, extending health coverage to 45 million Americans. “He has got us going in the right direction. It’s hard to undo eight years of George W Bush in four years.” That is the ongoing theme here; satisfaction rather than outright joy at the job done by the president. But, Dennis is far more bullish about the incumbent’s chances; he wants to win and win big. With tiredness setting in, people begin to step outside into the frigid Dublin air just in order to wake up, to stave off the fatigue. The first swing state
goes to Romney, North Carolina goes red and, for a brief minute, there is a chance he may win. My initial thought is of what the atmosphere in this room would become in that event. That thought is quickly erased as Pennsylvania is comfortably won by Obama, with Wisconsin and Iowa following swiftly. The closing of west coast polls gives Obama California, Oregon and Washington. The announcement that Ohio is won causes the Arlington bar to erupt. At 4.28am Irish time, this is a room full of joy. Dennis Desmond embraces all around him and tells me he’s glad it’s all over:“It has been such a hard few months, but it’s over now. We won.”
DUBLIN Gazette Newspapers has teamed up with Dogs Trust, Ireland’s largest dog welfare charity, to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs. Molly is a one-year old Labrador crossbreed. This stunning young lady is extremely affectionate and adores company. She would love to go to a forever home that has big kids and possibly another dog as Molly finds being alone quite worrying so would cherish a canine pal to hang out and play with. Long walks on the beach and splashing around in the water makes Molly a very happy dog indeed. This lady is a true gem and a real favourite in Dogs Trust. If you think you can give Molly a loving home for his twilight years, contact Dogs Trust at 01 879 1000. Further information about their work can be found on their website at www. dogstrust.ie. All dogs that are adopted from Dogs Trust are vet-checked, vaccinated, neutered and micro-chipped before being re-homed.
GAZETTE
18 GAZETTE 15 November 2012
OUT&ABOUT
STYLE
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STYLE focus Take a peek at the new Kardashian Kollection as it comes to Ireland LAURA WEBB
THE wait is finally over, Kardashian fanatics are jumping out of their stilettos with joy and making their way to Dorothy Perkins stores across Dublin to get their fashionable hands on items from the long awaited Kardashian Kollection. Kim, Kourtney and Khloe have brought their own style into their collection for Dorothy Perkins. Leather, leopard print, studs, oversized shirts, boho frills and figure hugging dresses are just some of the styles that can be seen throughout the collection. The three girls, each so different in style and shape, are making it easy for
women of all shapes and sizes to find something that best suits their body within the collection. The sisters are fast becoming style icons and their own collection started out in Sears in the US. Now they have landed in Ireland and are bringing some LA glamour and style to the streets of Dublin. The Kardashians shot to fame starring in reality TV show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which followed them and the rest of their unconventional family. Speaking to Gazette Style this week, Dorothy Perkins store manager at Liffey Valley, Emer Macken said there is a great buzz about the place. “People were calling weeks in advance to the collection coming in, asking questions about when it’s going to be in, have we seen it ourselves, what’s it going to be
like? There is just a great buzz. “The collection is going to be available here in Liffey Valley, Blanchardstown and Jervis Street in Dublin and we also have it in Killarney, Limerick and Galway. Working in Dorothy Perkins the staff got a sneak preview of the fashion which Emer says just looks “fab”. “It is very leopard print, black, purple – that’s a big colour. The bags are all very studded, it’s just gorgeous. It’s very them. You can pick out outfits and say that is what Kourtney would wear or Kim. There is even a Kourtney jean, a Khloe jean and a Kim jean and you just know by the look and the cut of the jean who it belongs to,” she told Gazette Style.
15 November 2012 Gazette 19
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exclusively with Dorothy Perkins Asked what makes the girls so likeable, Emer said: “I think it is that they are so real. They are so normal. I watch their show, Keeping up with the Kardashians, and they are just so very true to themselves, they are very - this is who I am, I have a big bum, I have the boobs and this is the figure that is going to inspire curvier women to wear the dresses they have always wanted to wear. Why shouldn’t they? just because they have big hips – just embrace the body that you are in. I do think the cut of the dresses is fabulous, they are all just gorgeous. “Everyone here just wants to get their hands on everything, but we [staff] are under strict instructions not to purchase on the
first day. It is just great that we have it, it is going to be a really good boost for Dorothy Perkins and for retail,” Emer said. An online preview of the collection was available to view on the Sunday before the official launch day Thursday, November 8, with 14 of the 100 item collection for sale it sold out completely within two hours. This week, Gazette Style has chosen some of the collection which we think is going to be a hit with shoppers and fly off the shelves to replace items in the wardrobe. The Kardashian Kollection is now available at participating Dorothy Perkins stores or online at www.dorothyperkins.co.uk.
Gazette
20 gazette 15 November 2012
OUT&ABOUT
CINEMA
theatre
THE pavilioN THEATRE 01 231 2929 Murdered to Death
THIS hilarious spoof of the best of the whodunnits, complete with a well-meaning amateur sleuth in twinset and pearls, is set in a country manor house in the 1930s. The butler, an English Colonel, a shady French art dealer and his moll, and a bumbling police inspector are among the characters whose side-splitting antics follow the mysterious death of the house’s owner. It soon becomes clear that the murderer hasn’t finished yet, but will the murderer be unmasked before everyone else has met their doom, or will the audience die laughing first? November 14-17, tickets are priced at €18/€15.
Draiocht 01 885 2622 Paddy Cole
PADDY Cole is legendary in Irish show business, ever since he first came to prominence in the 1960s with the Capitol Showband. He still attracts many of the people who danced in those days to his shows today. Paddy and his All Stars are renowned for giving audiences a good time - whether it’s jazz, rock ‘n roll, sixties or swing – the result is always the same – a thrilled and ecstatic reaction. November 20 at 8pm, tickets are priced at €22/€18.
Ben Affleck tries out as Jesse’s replacement. Walt is unimpressed
cinema: Ben affleck tells a weirder than fiction story of the cia
Get up and Argo paul hosford
phosford@gazettegroup.com
REMEMBER Paycheck? How about Bounce? Surviving Christmas? Gigli? That many absolute turkeys would be enough to bury most careers, never mind them being coupled with being half of the most maligned showbiz couples ever. How is it, then, that Ben Affleck is flying high as both an actor and a director, has received a slew of awards and nominations and is now generally loved? T h e a n s we r, o f course, is simple; he is, and always has been, a supremely gifted man. Affleck won an Oscar for the Good Will Hunt-
ing screenplay at the age of 25 and for his first major feature took on the adaptation of a Denis Lehane novel. So, as well as being gifted, he is not short in the confidence stakes. Which is why Argo makes perfect sense in a lot of ways. The story of a CIA plot to rescue six hostages from revolutionera Iran, Argo mixes 1970s spy thriller with a bumbling farce comedy. Based on a true story, the film takes us inside the CIA plot to remove the hostages from the grip of Ayatollah-friendly students. To do so, it is decided to make a film. Not a real film, but a fake, Canadian sci-fi blockbuster. If the storyline seems too far-fetched, it is important to note that this all happened and the US government declassified the files in
Film of the Week: Argo h h h h (12A) 120mins Director: Ben Affleck Starring: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Alan Arkin, Kyle Chandler, Chris Messina, Tate Donovan
OUR VERDICT: OK, so Ben Affleck had that run of truly awful, awful films. Addressing that is important because, for the last six years Affleck has stood head and shoulders above most of peers as an actor, a writer and a director. Argo, the third entry to his directorial canon, is a fine film which finds the one time Bennifer cohort establishing his style and signature as a film maker.
1997. The film plays out very like the spy thrillers of the 1970s, arguably the heyday of American film making. T he paranoia and clandestine dealings, not to mention the hair, give the film the perfect grounding and Affleck has clearly been watching his Parallax View and All The President’s Men. Whereas his previous directorial efforts, Gone Baby Gone and The Town, were set in Affleck’s Boston back yard (or, rather, yahd),
nailing a period drama with a comedic second act and a tricky, messy climax is a completely different challenge. Again, we come back to the Bostonian confidence coursing through Affleck’s veins. The film is led by Affleck’s steady hand and an understated lead performance. A ff leck’s company man Tony Mendez is the antithesis of the Pearl Harbor Ben. He is all crumpled shirts, bad facial hair and slumped shoulders, a downtrodden
everyman thrust into an insane situation. The star turns come from Alan Arkin as fading producer Lester Siegel, recr uited by the CIA via renowned make-up genius John Chambers, with John Goodman playing the Oscar winner, to provide a fake space opera that would provide the cover story for the agency’s Tehran-based exfiltration operation. The Hollywood corner of the film, playing off the CIA side, means that the film becomes a balancing act of farce and drama, of comedy and suspense, For Aff leck, whose previous efforts were hardly known for their light-hearted notes, the achievement of turning in a genuinely funny film cannot be understated. In the end, Argo is one of the year’s finest films and marks Affleck at the top of his game.
15 November 2012 gazette 21
Gazette
GAMING halo 4: the best yet in the popular series
Shoots for the very top shane dillon
Apart from cutscenes, Halo 4 is, as ever, played from a first-person perspective (above) – all the better to face the challenging enemies in its expertly realised worlds and scenarios, which are presented with very pretty and engaging graphics – and gameplay throughout
THERE’S not much that can tear me away from shivering my timbers in the naval missions of Assassin’s Creed 3 at the moment, but Halo 4 has seen me swap Revolutionary America for (well, an almost) revolutionary shooter. A while back, I shamelessly namedropped here my preview experience of playing Halo 4 in Madrid – oh look, I’ve done it again – and, now, the XBox 360-exclusive title has finally hit the shelves. And it’s been worth the wait, indeed. Developed by 343 Industries, it’s both a familiar, yet fresh, instalment in the popular franchise which, in my eyes, had become somewhat over-familiar. Indeed, although Halo
shane dillon sdillon@gazettegroup.com
2 and 3 had some great features, they never had the same impact as the original title did. Luckily, Halo 4 builds upon the strengths of all of the best parts throughout the series, to date, but makes 4 very much its own game, with a sense of confidence driving the game ever forward. For those who haven’t already snapped up the just-released title, or for those looking to buy a great Christmas gift, or for those new to the Halo universe, what’s it all about? Well, I could sit here
filling the rest of the page with the plot alone, which is (sorry, Halo scribes), as ever, Sci-Fi tosh of the nth degree, although expertly presented. Playing as the eponymous Master Chief, and largely accompanied by a helpful AI companion, you wander through a variety of superbly-created worlds and settings, stepping out (again) as the last, best hope for humanity (again), as an old, alien nemesis race goes to war (again), with, this time around, an ancient alien race also added to the mix (agai– err, actually, this is kind of a new element for the series). In short, the singleplayer game sees a lot of terrific, and frequently challenging, setpieces and
challenges throughout, with a notably high level of visual polish. Most importantly, the same cunning, antagonistic – and occasionally amusing – AI for which the series is famous is very much in place, presenting an occasionally formidable, and always entertaining challenge. However, it’s the multiplayer side of Halo that many gamers will be gunning for and, again, Halo excels here. With a wealth of game options that go beyond the usual multiplayer features, there’s a lot of highly-competitive fun in the war games on offer. Interestingly, there’s a pretty detailed and diverse way in which to level up your Spartan-IV
BYTES&PIECES needs more vita-lity
Handheld’s performance still disappoints CASTING an eye over the latest quarterly sales figures for Sony’s Vita handheld, it’s hard not to wonder what Sony will do to give its sales a boost. I’ve mentioned before that the Vita – in Dublin, at least, not to mention several other capital cities I’ve been in this year – seems rarer than hen’s teeth on the ground; a little like Bigfoot, I know that it’s out there, somewhere, but it’s proving frustratingly elusive to spot as I roam around ... While the PlayStation 3 continues to do well enough with its strong gamer base, as well as offering its own platform-specific
triple-A titles (whether already available or upcoming in 2013), the Vita is a very different beast. Despite having some excellent titles – some of which are variants of popular Sony/PlayStation franchises, others of which are quirky new franchises – the Vita
continues to struggle at retail. (To be fair, I note Nintendo also dropped projected sales for its underperforming 3DS.) A diverse choice of gaming platforms is always to be welcomed, so I hope that Sony has better luck in 2013 with its handy handheld.
supersoldier to create a unique online soldier, with upgrades and loadouts that are anything but spartan on offer.
In short, while Halo purists may disagree, this feels like the quintessential Halo – the game it was always meant to be.
With an awful lot here to praise, Halo 4 definitely deserves taking a shot at on the XBox 360 this Christmas season.
Gazette
22 Gazette 15 November 2012
OUT&ABOUT
FASTtunes with Radio Nova’s Dee Woods
Walls of wonder with Waters set to return to Dublin for Aviva show Concerts come and go but every so often a gig comes along that has the potential to actually change you. Pink Floyd founder Roger Waters brought The Wall tour here last year, and to say it wowed crowds at The O2 would be an injustice. I had the pleasure of playing chauffeur to my other half for the journey home as the radio station is right beside The O2. As envious as I was, I was glad I was there to pick him up though, because his reaction to what he had witnessed has always stayed with me. Still in awe, he could barely string the words together as he tried to recount what he’d just seen on stage. I remember shaking my head and cursing mid-week concerts, thinking that kind of show was a once-in-a-lifetime event. Happily, I was wrong. Roger Waters and his band return to Dublin next year for an even bigger, more dramatic performance of The Wall. Run Like Hell for tickets.
MUSIC
Harmony and hope on devastating debut ROB HEIGH rheigh@gazettegroup.com
THIS week was all set to be about the virtues of pop music and its lineage from the 50s to now, leading into a review of a new release from a returning hero of the form. That was until I heard The Staves’ debut album. History be damned, it’s time to embrace the future. I wrote at the start of the year that The Staves were one of the acts to watch throughout 2012, and as we hit the home stretch of this annus mirabilis, they see fit to make everything just a little bit better and drop this astonishing record. North Londoners Emily, Jessica and Camilla have a strong pedigree as far as their influences are concerned – among them Fleet Foxes, Simon and Garfunkel and Buffalo Springfield – but their unique harmonies and melding of bright English folk and sublime West Coast pop was something to mark them out as ones to watch. Seemingly endless touring, on their own as well as in the company of fellow newcomer Michael Kiwanuka and esteemed luminary Bon Iver - who invited the girls to join him on stage this week at one of the gigs of the year at the O2 - has spread the good word. Justice will be served, however, when people get to hear this record in full.
The Staves - Emily, Jessica and Camilla Stavely-Taylor
Dead and Born and Grown gathers together everything that made them an act who would stop you in your tracks to listen and adds another layer to their appeal. The shuffling drums bass, as well as the mandolin and banjo fills, give depth to the sound behind the stunning vocal harmonies that the Staveley-Taylors were first acclaimed for. There is a great variety within the tracks here, but all of them have in common the fact that these are some quite beautiful and goosebump-inducing songs.
Opening with the understated Wisely And Slow, and winding a gentle path to Mexico, the song that put them on my radar last year, this is top notch music by a trio who clearly adore and understand the form. Coming in the wake of the recent folk resurgence, there is certainly a market there for The Staves’ deeply effecting stylings, but they plough a different furrow, less the bounce-along-aMumford, and more in the direction of stopwhat-you’re-doing-rightnow-and-listen acts like
Gillian Welch and Laura Marling. In the wake of the growing recognition of their talents, the support slots and the television and radio appearance is paying off, with the girls set to return to Dublin on November 25 and their addition to the bill in Dingle for Other Voices. It’s only right that they should go from being one of the bright hopes of 2012 to the brightest light at the end of the year as the dark nights draw in. The Staves deserve your attention, their talent demands it.
15 November 2012 LUCAN gazette 23
Gazette
MOTORS road
NOISE
FordOptions new finance programme
The Renault Fluence, described as the best car built to suit the Irish driver
renault: raft of on-board innovations highly appealing
New Fluence steers its way to top of wish list n Cormac Curtis
At its launch in April 2010, the Renault Fluence was described as the best car built to suit the Irish driver. Over two years later Fluence has become a best seller in its category, and there are over 6,000 Renault Fluences on Irish roads today. The new look Fluence features Renault’s new styling identity, similar to that of the recently launched fourth generation Clio. Its front end has the vertically-set logo at the centre of a broad black strip picked out by chrome beading which provides the car with a dynamic stance. The LED daytime running lights and chrome/ gloss black inserts also contribute to the new-
comer’s modern appeal. The design of the new Fluence interior is also more modern, including digital instrumentation for all versions. The boot is still one of the biggest in its class easily fitting two sets of golf clubs. The cabin is as roomy as ever, and has been enhanced by the use of new upholsteries for segment-topping comfort. A choice of petrol or diesel engines, with automatic transmission, is available. All diesel engines, either manual or automatic have CO2 emissions below 120g, so belong to the lowest tax band as per today. The new Renault Fluence has a raft of on-board, connected technologies and innovations including numerous driver-aid technologies – Bluetooth
compatible radio, six airbags and hands-free card with remote central locking standard all across the range, LED lights, rear parking sensors, cruise control, dual zone climate control and a brand new multimedia system available depending on trim level. From the basic equipment level up, all versions are “connected” thanks to the availability of new Bluetooth radios equipped with USB and jack sockets. At the higher-end of the range, New Renault Fluence features a major innovation in the form of the Renault R-Link multimedia system which will provide connected services and is ideally suited to motoring use thanks to its touchscreen display and voice commands. Renault R-Link incor-
porates the navigation system and telephony function and can be connected to portable music players. The new Fluence comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty. Renault Finance will offer finance packages on the new Fluence from €199 per month with Renault ReFlex, a personal contract plan which provides Irish consumers with reassurance and flexibility when financing a new Renault. Julien Lelorrain, marketing director, Renault Ireland: “The fuel efficient diesel engine with lowest tax at €160, fiveyear unlimited mileage warranty and the ReFlex finance solution from €199 per month make New Fluence a very attractive 2013 purchase.”
For customers looking to buy a new car for 2013, Ford Ireland has announced a range of offers on key models that includes an extended five-year warranty. Under the banner of Ford’s Big Four, customers are invited to visit their local Ford dealer to avail of the offers over four weekends leading up to December 2. The offers on Ford’s top-selling models, Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo, are as follows: Free road tax on the newly redesigned Fiesta. Free 16” alloys, front fogs, premium mats and upgraded console on Ireland’s top selling car, the Ford Focus. Single price bodystyle on Mondeo: wagon, hatchback or saloon just one price starting at €26,995. And each model comes with an extended five years full warranty. As part of the promotion, Ford is also introducing FordOptions, a new finance package that helps customers purchase their car with the security of a guaranteed minimum future value.
24 LUCAN gazette 15 November 2012
Gazette
Travel
Gazette
&ABOUT OUT fast TRAVEL
See the Big Apple in style from this hotel
THE Big Apple is still definitely one of the most popular destinations for anyone planning a trip to the United States, whether it is for shopping, sightseeing, or just a chance to see the city itself. Ideally located for anyone keen to explore the streets of SoHo, Greenwich and downtown Manhattan, nyma – the New York Manhattan Hotel – could be the place to be in 2013. With its close proximity to the city’s famous Madison Square Garden, a trip to NYC could coincide with the reopening of the Statue of Liberty’s Crown to the public, following renovations. Rooms at nyma start from $114.99 per night (€44 per person) in February. As part of the Apple Core Hotel group, nyma boasts free wi-fi, complimentary continental breakfast, and free US calls. See www.thenewyorkmanhattanhotel.co.uk, or call 0044 808 178 6363.
Capital treasure Clontarf Castle Hotel benefits from being so close to everything, yet offers a comfortable break from city life
dublin: Big fires, warm welcome and an alluring presence
King of the castles natalie burke
The nyma hotel is an ideal base to explore NYC
Get in shape with a boot camp retreat WITH the festive party season on the horizon, the beautiful Lisloughrey Lodge in County Mayo is running a pre-Christmas boot camp with TV fitness expert Karl Henry, to include luxurious accommodation, energetic fitness classes and specially-designed menus to promote health and well-being inside and out. The boot camp will take place from Friday, November 23, until Monday, November 26, and includes three nights’ accommodation with breakfast, lunch and dinner, and two and a half days of boot camp, as well as a welcome dinner on the evening of arrival. With menus carefully planned by Henry, alongside head chef Jonathan Keane, who was recently nominated for Best Chef in Connacht, the latest package is ideal for an end-of-year break for those hoping to get in shape for Christmas. The pre-Christmas package is available for €395pps. Places are limited so, to book your place, call 094 954 5400, or see www. lisloughreylodge.com.
THERE’S been a recent upsurge of the popular “weekend away”, but that doesn’t necessarily involve taking a short flight, as people, instead, reap the benefits of holidaying in our own fair isle. But, before you start preparing your playlist for the inevitable crosscountry road-trip, perhaps taking a glance at what sits on your own doorstep could be the break that surprises you the most. Clontar f Castle is already a popular choice for tourists making Dublin a must-see destination. It has character, a certain historic allure, and wideopen fires as well as real Irish charm. The fact that it’s just two miles from the city centre is really the icing on the cake, with the castle located in a calm spot, and within walking distance of historic sites.
For the rest of us, living blissfully oblivious to the world surrounding us, this traditional castle could be the perfect passage to times gone by. Beneath the 12th century turreted roof, and beyond the stained-glass windows, lies a castle still clinging to its traditional past. The castle’s self-description illustrates it is “no longer the past, not quite the future”, and, despite a recent redesign, boasts more old than new in its blend of modern meets yesteryear. For one evening, I travelled back in time when Clontarf Castle hosted a modern-day “grand feast”. A banquet table stretched the length of the hotel’s main restaurant, the Fahrenheit Grill, where flags draped the walls and high-backed chairs sat around the table’s distinct centrepiece: a roasted pig. The dining room was
packed with character, where the order of the day was much more than the lively conversation and atmospheric surroundings, but focused on the culinary talents of the Fahrenheit Grill chef. The appetisers boasted crisp pancetta ham, terrine of duck, and herbcured salmon, while the chef ensured there was something to tempt everyone’s taste with an impressive selection of main courses; a citruscrusted roast Atlantic cod; a char-grilled rack of Wicklow lamb; a serrano-wrapped Irish pork fillet, and a roast orange tea supreme of Irish chicken. Following a tasting of the chef’s choice dessert plate, the guests of honour were summoned for after-dinner drinks at the hotel’s Indigo bar, where an open-fire welcomed us to relax and chat following the meal. While the hotel still
Clontarf Castle Hotel has the wow factor, successfully marrying modern touches with its rich heritage
holds firm its own traditions, its warm welcome, attentive service and innovative menus are a gentle reminder that the four-star hotel has no
hesitation when it comes to keeping up with the times. For further information on the hotel, see www. clontarfcastle.ie.
15 November 2012 LUCAN gazette 25
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W I N : 2 Nights B &B for 2 Adults & 2 T ickets to see D es B ishop Live at the County Arms Hotel & L eisure Club Simply fill in our questonaiire & post back to the address above & you will be entred into a draw the win this fantastic price. Birr is your entertainment hub this November with great gigs from international stars. The 4* County Arms Hotel plays host to folk legends The High Kings on November 22nd and on November 30th, it’s the turn of Ireland’s favourite comic, Des Bishop. For further information on the County Arms Hotel visit www.countyarmshotel.com
26 Lucan gazette 15 November 2012
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15 November 2012 LUCAN Gazette 27
gaelic games P31
asdfsdafP29 P27 motorsport
dublinsport Let the Gazette keep you up to date with all the best local sporting action from around the city as we cover all the stories that matter to you and your community
Gazette
boxing P28
FastSport Taggers open to new members:
Members from local sports around the Lucan area and members of the Liffey Sound team pose for a photo at their Talking Sport launch night
community radio: quality programming delivers listeners, says mark sheridan
Liffey Sound launch sports schedule for local listeners LIFFEY Sound 96.4FM launched their sports schedule last week at their base in Ballyowen with a well-received meet and greet session with many local clubs on hand. It served make those clubs aware of the community station that now provides six hours of sports broadcasting each week, feeding into the weekly Talking Sport that runs from 4-6pm every Saturday. For the show’s Mark Sheridan, it offered a great opportunity to bring together the clubs around west Dublin a
chance, he told GazetteSport. “The population around Lucan is such, now, that there are so many sports organisations. For example, there was someone from the Westmansown bowling club which I didn’t know existed until this week. It’s fantastic. “We love our sport in Liffey Sound. We cover all sorts of things because of the amount of sporting organisations in Lucan and the amount of people who love sport.” Like many of the other panellists and presenters on the show, Sheridan
brings with him a wealth of sporting background. Previously, he lined out for Beech Park for a number of years while he has returned to the GAA with Lucan Sarsfields’ O-35s team, competed in a couple of marathons and also taken on a white collar boxing challenge. “I love getting behind that mic [to talk about sport] and expressing my view and having people responding and texting in. It’s a great avenue and once it gets into your blood, it sticks with you.” Talking Sport has recently linked up with Boyle Sports to provide expert
betting advice while also offering charity bets for the show each week to add to their portfolio, a significant step for Sheridan and his team. He has been with the station, which was founded in 2006, for three years and is proud of what has developed on a fully voluntary basis across the board. “We have the second biggest listenership and the biggest English-speaking station in Dublin. “Maybe it’s our diaspora or the demographics in the area but I like to think it’s down to the quality of the programming.”
WESTMANSTOWN Taggers Special Olympics tag rugby team are welcoming new members to get involved with the club. They meet up every Sunday at 11.30am until 1pm in the Westmanstown sports centre with training taking place indoors for the winter. Leinster scrum-half Isaac Boss is among the regular coaches along with Jorge Zulkouski who can be contacted on 087 284 2584 for more information. The sport is open for those aged seven and upwards. Currently, the side is building toward a showcase during the half-time show of Leinster’s Heineken Cup tie against Clermont Auvergne in the Aviva Stadium in December.
c o n ta c t s Acting Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@gazettegroup.com
For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@gazettegroup.com Phone: 01 651 6205
Gazette
28 LUCAN gazette 15 November 2012
SPORT
FastSport LUCAN leisure centre gets top award: FINNSTOWN Country House Hotel Leisure Club, Lucan was recently rewarded the 2012 White Flag Excellence Award at the prestigious White Flag Gala Awards Dinner held in the Heritage Golf and Spa Resort, Killenard, Co Laois achieving the bronze standard. The White Flag award is an indication of excellence in the operation of leisure clubs; the award was presented by Barry Walsh president of ILAM at a special awards ceremony. ILAM is the professional body representing the Irish leisure industry. Ninety-one facilities entered this gruelling auditing process this year but only 86 received the White Flag Excellence 2012 award. This mark of excellence ensures that the facility management have been independently assessed in the three key areas of safety, hygiene and customer service.
boxing: dundrum writer says taylor to retain amateur status
Myler launches new book sport@gazettegroup.com
THOMAS Myler says he would be “astonished” if Katie Taylor were ever to turn professional due to the currently limited options for professional female boxers. Speaking to GazetteSport about his new book, Ringside with the Celtic Warriors, the Dundrum resident said that with the current supports in place for Ireland’s golden girl, the background is there for her to stay in amateur boxing and take a shot at defending her Olympic title. “Katie gets €40,000 a year and then endorses a lot of products – cars, sportswear and lucozade and other things like this,” he said.
“I’d be astonished if she turns pro. Women’s [professional] boxing is not very prominent in the world and there aren’t that many opportunities in the pros. As a man, yes, but there would be very limited opportunities for her to make progress, unfortunately.” Indeed, the ability for amateur boxers to financially support themselves is a theme that spreads to the men’s game, too, with the development of the World Series of Boxing. The competition allows boxers to retain amateur status but compete for financial incentives while not wearing headguards as required in the past. “There was talk of Katie Taylor turning pro and then there was John Joe
Nevin, bouncing one way and another and joining up with Amir Khan. “With the world series, they can have the best of both worlds and this could affect the pro game because people can get confused. “Is he an amateur or professional? I don’t like the trend really. I’m a bit of a traditionalist and prefer amateurs as amateurs and pros as pros. “These guys are going to be semi-pro in the Olympics which is basically meant to be an amateur set-up.” Nonetheless, these boxers are well up there in the pantheon of greats that Myler chronicles in his latest book, one which traverses 200 years. It goes right back to the 1800s
Katie Taylor with Amy Farrell, age 13, from Swords, Dublin last Saturday
and Dublin boxer Dan Donnelly whose arm is still preserved in Kildare. He started writing formally for the Evening Herald way back in 1967and has not stopped since. From that vantage point, he got to witness many Irish greats who became the focus of this book from Jack Doyle through to Steve Collins and Barry McGuigan and subsequently Bernard Dunne. Being so close to the action, Myler admits this book was his “favourite”
of the four he has written to date. “I’ve written a few books on boxing, one on Sugar Ray Robinson, one on the great boxing upsets and another on the scandals, boxing’s hall of shame on general themes. But this is the first I’ve done on Irish boxing which would be my favourite because all the guys would be ones I knew and saw.” When pushed for a favourite of all-time, he said he was fascinated by Jack Doyle, the Cork heavyweight of the 1930s.
But Steve Collins stood out as probably the island’s best ever. “Collins was a good, gritty tough guy who could give it and take it. He was one of the best. It’s a pretty difficult thing to answer because the old-timers of the 1930s and 1940s were of a different era. “There are more facilities for boxers to train, they have nutritionists and everything else so it’s different scene. But Collins might have been the best.”
DLR side make Waves with historic first win sport@gazettegroup.com
The DLR Waves had a memorable weekend in the Women’s National League
HISTORY was made at Jackson Park as a rapidly improving DLR Waves claimed their first ever triumph in the Bus Eireann Women’s National League. Inspired by Carla Moran DLR Waves, who had suffered five losses so far in the season, were eager to deliver a polished performance. That is exactly what they did against a Cork Women’s outfit, who actually took the lead in the 36th minute courtesy of a
Claire Shine goal. Sylvia Gee equalised with her third in six matches and then Moran took centre stage after the restart as DLR Waves dominated. In the 55th minute Moran edged DLR Waves in front and then she netted the insurance goal with eight minutes remaining. Peamount United, meanwhile, maintained their blistering form with an emphatic 9-2 success over Shamrock Rovers at Greenogue. The free scoring table top-
pers summoned a remarkable attacking display in the second period to blitz Rovers. Stephanie Roche grabbed a brace in the first half as Peamount left at the interval protecting a two goal cushion. That was halved within 90 seconds of the restart when the excellent Rachel Jenkins gave Rovers some hope, but Peamount were quickly back in the ascendancy. Sara Lawlor amazingly scored a hat-trick inside six glorious minutes as Peamount
contributed to a splendid encounter. Julie Anne Russell, sister of St Patrick’s Athletic star John, got in on the act with a 63rd minute goal and Lawlor took her afternoon’s tally to four on 74. A minute later Russell was on target again and five minutes from time Jennifer Ferrari decorated the win with a neat goal. Jenkins poked a late consolation for Rovers, who were soundly beaten by the current standard bearers, Peamount.
15 November 2012 LUCAN gazette 29
Gazette
Butler hoping to set English scene alight Churchtown biker Dave Butler hopes to keep the good times rolling by stepping up to the British Thundersport championship after a stellar performance in Ireland AFTER a life already devoted to motorsports, Churchtown man Dave Butler is hoping to make the biggest step of his career in 2013 by pursuing a move to compete in the British Thundersport series, a competition scaling 10 rounds of some of the best circuits in the world. It comes following a stellar 2012 in which he won no less than four separate Irish championship titles as well as a second and two third place finishes. In total, he recorded 19 wins from 43 races, setting a number of lap records on courses throughout Ireland
stephen findlater sport@gazettegroup.com
along the way. Despite making his debut on the Irish motorcycling scene in 2003, the past year has been the first in which wo r k c o m m i t m e n t s have allowed him to fully focus on the sport with immaculate results both on the track and on the road. Riding a 650cc Stocktwin, he claimed the Irish/Ulster and Southern Ireland title with a
massive 15 wins while adding third in the Irish Supertwin championship. Switching to the road for the first time last July, he secured victory at the first time of asking before making a maiden voyage to England to Mallory Park in late October. Competing in the m i n i t w i n cl a s s , h e claimed three of the four races he entered – all televised on Motors TV – something that has whetted his appetite to try and raise his level further and contest a full season across the water. Speaking to GazetteSport, he said pursuing
this elevated challenge is something that has been in the genes since his earliest memories. “I’ve been around the sport all my life. My uncle still races and this year he sponsored me the bike. “I’ve been mechanic
raced cars when I was a baby but I’ve kind of surpassed what they have done. “Next year, I’m going to try and race in England and am trying to raise the money to do that. “It will cost a for-
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‘This year has been a dream, bascially achieving everything I can on a bike in Ireland. I’d like to continue that in England’ - Dave Butler
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for him, following him all over the country, getting to know the ins and outs. My father
Champion rider Dave Butler celebrates success on the road during the summer Picture: Ryan Fegan
tune to do that as it’s something of a full-time hobby. Basically, I probably need to raise about €10,000.” But he says that pushing these new horizons could lead to even further honours: “This year was a dream. “It was always my dream to win an Irish championship but basically I’ve achieved everything I can on my current bike over here. “I’d like to continue it on in England where many have gone on to be future world champions. “The two who finished ahead of me in the supertwin championship [in Ireland] will go on to be British champions at some stage and they will probably race in the world championship in the future.”
FastSport
Celtic Clovers launch the new ice hockey season THE Celtic Clovers will be hosting a launch event for their ice hockey club in Castleknock On Ice on Thursday, November 22 with festivities getting under way at 7pm. At the event, the club will showcase their junior section, the Dublin Ducks, as well as their senior team who will display their skills and drills. Around the rink, a raffle will be run while there will also be chuck-a-puck games, making for a great family evening out. All are welcome to come along on the evening. For more information, contact club PRO Jamie Hickey on jamiehickey@gmail.com
Blues and Nix lead LSL bid BLUEBELL United and Phoenix will be hoping to hold up the local LSL Sunday Senior involvement in the FAI intermediate cup but they face tricky ties in round three of the competition, due to be played on December 2. Harry Kenny’s Nix will be pleased, though, to have avoided the trip to Swilly Rovers, the draw handing them home advantage at Scribblestown for the game. Bluebell, however, make the long trip south to Douglas Hall in round three. The early phases of the competition had obliterated clubs from the top level of intermediate football
in Leinster but there still remains plenty of local interest. Glenville, currently topping Sunday 1A, bring Leeside up to Palmerstown as they bid to recreate the buzz that brought them all the way to a senior cup date with Bohemians a couple of years ago. TEK United have a big ask ahead of them if they are to surprise Tolka Rovers as do Pegasus St James’s Athletic. The recently amalgamated third tier side have lost just once this term but a trip to College Corinthians in Cork looks a daunting one. The finalists for the last two years, Cherry Orchard and Avondale United, have been drawn against each other in the tie of the round.
Gazette
30 LUCAN gazette 15 November 2012
SPORT
FastSport
soccer: peamount pick up strong win over ashtown club
Phoenix wings clipped by Peas ddsl u-13B
Rushe helps announce DIT’s new sponsorship ST PAT’S Palmerstown man Liam Rushe, pictured with Darran O’Sullivan, was on hand to launch the new sponsorship deal between First Ireland Insurance and Dublin Institute of Technology for the College’s GAA club. DIT compete in the Inter County O’Byrne Cup and Walsh Cup competitions before entering the main third level competitions; the Sigerson, Fitzgibbon, Lynch and Purcell Cups.
Phoenix Peamount United sport@gazettegroup.com
2 3
STRIKER Kian Harding struck a clinical secondhalf winner to give the U13b boys a 3-2 success at Phoenix on Saturday at Martin Savage Park. Harding’s third goal of the season secured the three points for Peamount after the home side threatened to mount a superb second-half comeback. Phoenix had no
choice but to go for it after the break following an impressive opening 45 minutes from the home side that saw Sean O’Brien give them a twogoal lead. The winger opened the scoring on five minutes when he latched onto a superb through ball from Luke Duddy and made no mistake with his finish beyond the advanced keeper. Midway through the half he capped a dominant display from his side
when he lobbed home from the edge of the box as Phoenix desperately tried to clear a corner. Striker Jack Maguire was unlucky to see his superb run and finish ruled out for offside before Josh Walker went inches from a third on the stroke of half-time. Walker again went close after the break before goalkeeper Gavin Walsh was forced to make a superb save to deny Phoenix. The home side did
Peamount United’s DDSL U-13 squad
pull one back, however, within minutes but Harding regained Peamount’s two-goal advantage with a superb first-time finish into the corner after
Maguire’s superb run from deep. The visitors were forced to hang on in the closing minutes as Phoenix again reduced the deficit.
15 November 2012 LUCAN gazette 31
Gazette
Glennon named in football Stars’ list Club Noticeboard sport@gazettegroup.com
A I DA N G l e n n o n ’ s performances throughout the Dublin senior football championship earned him an inclusion in the shortlist for the Dublin Bus Blue Stars following a fine year. The livewire attacker from St Pat’s, Palmerstown was named in the
shortlist for the halfforward line. He topscored for the club in each round of the competition in 2012, amassing 2-20 in five championship games. This included a gamebreaking half dozen points against a fancied St Mary’s side in round three, earning a place in the last 16.
There, he kicked 1-5 and 1-4 against Templeogue Synge Street, the first tally helping send the tie to a replay against fancied division one opposition. The nomination places him among the best in the county with nine other players vying for the three spots in the prestigious list that hon-
ours the championship’s best players. It follows hot on the heels of goalkeeper Damien Gallagher ’s inclusion in the shortlist for the hurling equivalent. The finalised teams for the respective hurling and football final 15 will be named in the coming fortnight.
football: sarsfields annex division two title
LUCAN SARSFIELDS CONGRATULATIONS to Owen Comer-
day, December 3. The first night will
ford and James Mulhern who share
be theory which will be indoors. The
the Lucan Sarsfields Last Man Stand-
second night will be football practical
ing prize of €1,000. Prize-giving details
outdoors and the third night will be
to follow as will a new Last Man Stand-
hurling practical outdoors. The cost
ing competition, details to follow.
is €10. To register, just text Johnny on
Thank you to all those who supported
085 1294102.
our competition. Well done to both our
There will be a trad session in the
U-16 boys’ football teams on winning
club bar with Lucan Comhaltas on
their leagues over the last week.
Saturday, November 17 from 9.30pm.
Our U-15 camogie team continued
All Welcome. There will be a Ceili Mor in
the club’s winning streak by winning
the club with seanog ceili band on Fri-
the A championship on Sunday.
day, November 23 from 9pm. Admis-
Our senior hurlers will be back in
sion €10.
AHL1 next year after winning division
Club Shop opening times: Tuesday
2. Well done to our seven senior hurl-
(7.30-8.30pm) and Saturday morning
ers who have been nominated for this
(10.30am-11.30am) opening only until
years hurling Dub star awards: Peter
Christmas. Occasional opening dur-
Kelly, Cronan Dooley, Matt McCaffrey,
ing nurseries on Saturdays when staff
Dermot Clarke, Mick May, Chris Crum-
are available. No Thursday openings
mey and Kevin O’Reilly.
until further notice. Socks, shorts
Our games promotion officer Johnny McCaffrey will be running a founda-
etc available from the bar during club hours.
tion award course for mentors in the
Our nurseries now take place every
club on the Monday, November 26,
Saturday on our all-weather pitch at
Wednesday, November 28 and Mon-
our clubhouse grounds.
ST PAT’S, PALMERSTOWN THE senior hurling team are currently
one and thanks to Fergus and Sandra
looking for a new manager, could all
for hosting and the parents for helping
interested parties please contact
out on the day.
Ronan on 086 2834399. Well done to St Pat’s U-11 camogie Lucan Sarsfields’ U-16s beat St Maur’s 5-4 to 2-6 to win division two last weekend
Mission accomplished for Lucan Under-16s peter carroll sport@gazettegroup.com
A BIG second half display confirmed Lucan Sarfields U-16 footballers as division two champions last weekend as goals from Jack Carey, Cian Nolan and Paul Crummey sent them into the minor ranks on a high They won 5-4 to 2-6 over St Maur’s who had held the Indian sign over them earlier in the season. “This was our objective at the beginning of the season,” said manager Eiven Shanahan. “We started the league cam-
paign very well by winning five games on the trot, a run that was brought to an end by Maur’s who we lost to twice. “It was a great showing of tenacity from the lads to see off a team who had given them so much trouble, especially at half time at 1-2 to 0-4. They had to grab the win playing into some bad conditions. “That’s been the story of their season. They’ve shown strength, courage and determination throughout. I remember our first league game on a rotten day out in Swords against Fingallians. “It was a really horrible
day out there and we were four points down going into injury time. The lads played like men possessed and managed to take the win by a point, and that’s the type of mentality that brought them to league glory in the end,” said Shanahan. As far as the future is concerned, Shanahan believes his side can go on to make a big splash in the minor ranks of the 12th Lock club, despite it not being guaranteed that he will be at the helm of their journey. “We operated off a tight squad for the year, we used a lot of the U-15’s and
they had a big part to play in our season, with Gerry O’Neill and Dave Herlihy always making their men available. “I think we have three lads that can go on to intercounty football in the future, obviously with Eoin O’Conghaile, who can play at that level in both hurling and football and Jack Carey, Darren Gavin and Darragh Shanahan who were spectacular this year. “I would hope that the majority of our lads will go into the first minor team, and have a big impact at the club for as long they are playing,” he finished.
team at the blitz Sunday at St Brigid’s
Thanks to all who turned out for the club Mass and the dedication of the clubhouse.
winning all their games and holding
Christmas raffle tickets will be dis-
onto their unbeaten record after win-
tributed this week, all members are
ning the league earlier this year.
asked to make a huge effort to sell
Great goals from Ellen, Shannon,
their quota.
Nicole, Jenny, Jade and Aoife. Molly
Lotto: first draw winning numbers
scored a superb point from a 45.
were 9, 19, 27 and 7; there was no win-
Defence were superb as was midfield
ner. Second draw winning numbers
play from Sky. Well done to everyone.
were 7, 16, 29 and 1; no winner. Any
The St Pat’s U-12 camogie team
three numbers - €200 each: Conor
hosted a blitz on Saturday and had
Kehoe, Nora O’Brien, Charles Ryan,
a great start with a win over Lucan
Finbar O’Mahony; €30 each: Tom Som-
Sarsfields.
mers jnr, Sandra Hanlon, PJ Madden.
Well done to all the girls with just
The next draw is on Sunday, Novem-
narrowly missing out on winning the
ber 18: first draw jackpot of €10,000;
next games. Superb play from every-
second draw jackpot of €4,000.
WESTMANSTOWN/GARDA COMMISERATIONS to the U-12 and the
ers. There is still an opportunity to be
U-14 boys. Both sides were involved in
an event sponsor and to advertise
divisional Finals this weekend but lost
your business on the event night on
to Kilmacud and Cu Chualainn respec-
Saturday, December 8.
tively. Well done to the teams, mentors
On the event night, you can network
and parents for your great efforts in
with close to 100 local businesses.
2012. Bring on 2013.
Have you got the hottest party ticket
Join us for our annual fund-raising
for this Christmas? Entry tickets for
project Who Wants To Be a Thou-
the event cost €10. Food and full bar
sandaire? oMany thanks to the event
available. For more information, visit
sponsors; 24 DOC, Copper Face Jacks,
www.westmanstowngaels.ie, call 086
Dermot Coyne Solicitors, DID Electri-
6082708 or contact stephen@west-
cal, McGowans of Phibsboro and Spic-
manstowngaels.ie.
GazetteSPORT all of your LUCAN sports coverage from page 27-31
november 15, 2012
super sars: Lucan U-16 sides claims division two league title with superb win over St Maur’s P30
Butler’s flying 2012 form: Dubliner looking to challenge best in England next year P29
Lucan duo answer Ireland’s call peter carroll
sport@gazettegroup.com
LUCAN United chairman John Doyle has praised Conor Masterson and Brandon Payne as “fantastic ambassadors” for the club, ahead of their international adventure which will see them line out for the Republic of Ireland U-15s in Qatar between December 15 and 20. Masterson and Payne have been heavily touted as prospects for the future and have been courted by Premier League sides on the back of their fantastic appearances for their club and for representative panels such as the Hibernia Cup
Irish select panel, which took place in Sallynoggin in August. “It’s great to see such talent at a local club and I think the lads can go on to inspire a lot more kids to get into football in the local area. “They are fantastic ambassadors for the club, and we want to give every player at the club the best base to reach similar levels to the lads, and Sean Whelan, who is also on standby for the team. “Here at the club, we believe a player’s attitude is critical to their development, and having coached Conor since he was six years old, and Brandon since he’s 12, we believe they can continue to accomplish fantastic things.
“It’s a great time for the club, we’re very proud of the lads because of the great effort and attitude that they have for the game which is clear in the way they carry themselves on and off the field,” said Doyle. Doyle went on to describe the type of qualities the two men have which have led them to the international call ups. “The attitude the two men have is the most important thing. They are exemplary and have never been sent off. They rarely even get booked despite being big targets for tackles a lot of times they play. “Conor is a very special player, he can do some things with a foot-
ball that you wouldn’t believe, his technical skill is on another level and he is always very composed on the ball which has led him to be played at centre half for Ireland, even though he plays up front for Lucan. “Brandon is a warrior on the field. He has a fantastic engine and his tenacity and determination make him a great man to have in the midfield – imagine a 14-year-old Roy Keane. “The two lads, along with a few others at the club, have the ingredients to go right to the top and provided they don’t pick up injuries, we believe they definitely can,” he finished.
Brandon Payne, left, and Conor Masterson, right, with club coach Ciaran Masterson