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Enjoy a luxurious escape from the city at a Kilkenny estate hotel break

travel p18 July 25, 2013

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Month XX, 2012 Lucan • Palmerstown • Celbridge • Leixlip • Adamstown • Dodsboro • Liffey Valley • ballyowen

INSIDE: Locals happy to give the thumbs-up to the recent spell of hot, sunny weather Pages 8-9

Hurling:

Sarsfields lose ground in playoff chase Page 31

Cycling:

Adamstown riders bring home medals Page 30

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES....................... 8 DUBLIN LIFE....................11 OUT&ABOUT...................17 CLASSIFIEDS.................25 SPORT............................27

Business: South Dublin initiative gives participants something to SMILE at P4

‘Remove rotting meat by St Ed’s’  paul hosford

A LOCAL resident has called on a number of local agencies to clean up the derelict house at St Edmundsbury after he discovered boxes of rotting meat at the site.

Donagh O’Connell, who lives near the hospital, was walking his dog last weekend when he made the discovery. He said: “It honestly smelt so bad that I thought there was a dead

body there. Something really has to be done, because it is disgusting.”

A South Dublin County Council spokesperson said that the incident will be investigated, but said that cleaning it up would not be possible as the grounds are privately held.

“It will be investigated on public health and litter grounds. However, the council does not clean private grounds.”

Full Story on Page 6

Rising stars: Locals outshine old pros during Moonfleet filming PROFESSIONAL actors Ray Winstone and Anthony Ofoegbu were happy to stand back and let local child actors take the limelight during a break in filming of a new television series recently.

David Griffin, Alannah McCa-

rthy and Mollyanna Ennis – all students from Westside Stage School – showed the old pros how to pose for a pic during a break on the new Sky 1 drama, Moonfleet, which they are all currently filming in Dublin and Wicklow.

2 LUCAN Gazette 25 July 2013

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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.

Gilligan blasts cuts to disabled grants A LOCAL councillor has hit out at what he calls a “mean-spirited and shortsighted” cut to grants for disabled people in South Dublin.

People with disabilities in the south and west of the city have seen cuts of more than €1.8 million in grants to help them live independently, according to South Dublin County councillor Trevor Gilligan (FF).

Cllr Gilligan is angry that funding provided for housing adaptation grants through South Dublin County Council has been slashed by 60% over the past two years – down from more than €3

 PAUL HOSFORD phosford@gazettegroup.com

million in 2011 to just over €1.2 million this year.

He said: “The South Dublin area has seen one of the biggest cuts in this grant in the country.

For years now, the housing adaptation grant has allowed local authorities to help people with disabilities make necessary changes to their homes so that they can live there independently, rather

Cllr Trevor Gilligan (FF) criticised 60% cuts in funding provided for housing adaptation grants through South Dublin County Council

than be forced to stay in long-term care.”

According to the Department of Environment, which administers the grant, the payment “is available where changes need to be made to a home to make it suitable for a person with a physical, sensory or intellectual disability or mental health difficulty to live in.

“The grant can help you to make changes and adaptations to your home.”

However, Cllr Gilligan was upset that Junior Minister Jan O’Sullivan had diverted funding into capital projects, rather than put the money

towards upgrading existing homes.

He said: “The Housing Minister Jan O’Sullivan has decided to direct €10 million in capital funding for new houses for people with disabilities, while slashing funding that helps thousands of people to adapt their homes so they can continue to live there safely and easily.

“As a result, there is a backlog of applications from people with disabilities in Dublin and across the country who don’t need a new house, but just need help to insert access ramps or stair-lifts or specialised showers or bathrooms.

“Maintaining this grant, which has helped transform the day-to-day lives of older and disabled people in Dublin in the past, is a much more costeffective way of facilitating independent living,” said Cllr Gilligan.

He went on to say that the grants represented an economic opportunity in local areas and that their being cut would cost local workers money.

Cllr Gilligan added that those who couldn’t live independently would increase the strain on the health system.

“The government’s approach towards supports for people with disabilities has been mean-

spirited, short-sighted and completely nonsensical.

By slashing supports to allow people to live independently, they are pushing more people onto an already overburdened hospital system.”

However, a spokesperson for Junior Minister O’Sullivan said she is closely monitoring her budget allocation and has diverted funding as late as last week to increase the resources available to South County Dublin for private housing grants.

“This Government is trying to rebuild the economy left in ruins by the last administration, and that has resulted in significant cuts to the housing capital budget.

“The Minister is working on a plan that will see the €36 million invested nationwide in the scheme put to the best use.

“The Minister is also committed to providing resources for the housing needs of people with a disability, and is surprised that the councillor sought to play one funding allocation against another – particularly when the extra allocation for people with a disability will address the needs of families whose current housing is wholly inadequate, given the special needs they or a child may have,” said the spokesperson.

25 July 2013 LUCAN Gazette 3

council Tech pinpoints works

Free app to find art SOUTH Dublin County Council has released a new free app that highlights the collection of public art in the county.

The Art Trax app can be downloaded from Apple’s app store, and from Google’s Play store. The app maps the locations where permanent artworks can

be seen, and the locations where temporary works were presented. You can find information about artists, view artworks, and access film works.

It also provides a complete overview of the public art landscape that has emerged in the county since the first public

art commissions in the 1980s.

A council spokesperson said the app “highlights South Dublin County Council’s continued commitment towards the delivery of high-quality customer service to our citizens through the innovative use of technology.”

courts: sentencing adjourned

Car too small for thief’s haul A BURGLAR who happened to break into a garage that was full of expensive scuba diving equipment didn’t have a getaway car that was big enough to transport the haul, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

Eivydas Kurila (25), of Allendale Glade, Clonsilla, and an unidentified accomplice parked a saloon car next to Thomas Brett’s home in Lucan before going into the garage and finding 86 items of scuba diving equipment, worth almost €16,000.

Mr Brett was away on holidays at the time, but the burglars made so much noise hauling out the bulky equipment that neighbours woke up, saw them and alerted the gardai.

Both men fled when officers arrived at the scene and, while his accomplice escaped, Kurila was caught hiding in Mr Brett’s back garden.

Kurila pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary on August 09, 2012. He has one previous conviction, for possession of stolen articles.

Judge Martin Nolan said he didn’t believe the case warranted an immediate custodial sentence, and adjourned sentencing to October.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

He ordered a probation service report for that date to see if Kurila was suitable for community service.

Garda Mark Clifford told Cathleen Noctor BL, prosecuting, that when gardai arrived the car was stuffed with equipment and there were more items on the footpath.

He agreed that the items were very bulky, and included snorkels, wet suits, dry suits, tanks and other similar equipment, with a total value of €15,900.

He agreed with Judge Nolan that Kurila’s getaway car was not big enough to take the entire haul.

Kurila was arrested after gardai heard rustling in bushes in Mr Brett’s back garden. He was intoxicated and considered unfit for interview.

He was later interviewed four times, during which he claimed

the garage door was unlocked. He insisted that he had carried out the burglary on his own because he needed the money.

Kurila later admitted that a second man had been involved, but refused to name him. He admitted that a rucksack found at the scene was his. The bag contained pliers, a torch and bolt cutters.

Kurila was also wearing a hat and gloves, but he told gardai this was because he was cold.

Gda Clifford agreed with Eoin Hardiman BL, defending, that the burglary did not appear to be pre-planned. Mr Hardiman told Judge Nolan that his client, a father of a two-year-old boy, is originally from Lithuania, and is studying English.

He asked Judge Nolan to accept that while Kurila was caught red-handed, he was fully co-operative with gardai.

4 LUCAN Gazette 25 July 2013

waste Return of Bin it Your Way initiative initiative: businesses exchange

Second campaign looks to stamp out gum litter SOUTH Dublin County Council is stepping up its campaign against gum litter and asking people to “Bin it Your Way”.

This is the second year of the three-year campaign, and the council is once again participating in the high-profile national Gum Litter Taskforce awareness campaign.

The campaign uses fun and energetic ways to promote the responsible disposal of gum litter.

A survey conducted at

the end of the first year of the campaign showed a 28% reduction in gum litter nationally, and a significant improvement in attitudes towards gum litter, with 92% of people surveyed viewing irresponsibly-disposedof gum as litter.

Message The Mayor of South Dublin County, Dermot Looney (Lab), said: “The campaign delivers a serious message in a lively and creative way about keeping our streets and

footpaths clean of gum litter, so I’m delighted to lend my support to this innovative and catchy campaign.

“The posters and TV ads have attracted loads of attention and we are already seeing a visible improvement on our streets, which we are striving to maintain.

“It’s in all our interests to ‘Bin it Your Way’.”

Paul Kelly, chairman of the taskforce, outlined new elements in the campaign.

He said: “This year, we

resources at a follow-up event

have TV advertising and on-pack messaging, in addition to the schools education programme, p o i n t- o f - s a l e m a t e rial around the country, and sponsorship of three awards in the Tidy Towns competition.

Additional “It is also a mark of how successful and well received the campaign was last year that we have an additional seven local authorities participating in this year’s campaign.”

Some of the participants at the second SMILE event for South Dublin businesses

SMILE to help firms network SOUTH Dublin County Council last week held their second SMILE event.

A resource exchange, SMILE stands for Saving Money through Industry Links and Exchanges, and is a network of businesses that reuse each other’s surplus products, by-products and reusable items, in order to save money and help the environment by diverting waste from landfill.

At the event, the Mayor of South Dublin County, Dermot Looney (Lab), said: “This event provided a great opportunity for local businesses to follow up on business contacts they made at the first event and to follow up on exchanges that can save their business money.

“This is a fantastic networking opportunity.

Attendees had the opportunity to exchange ideas, and to introduce themselves, their business and speak about what they have received through the SMILE network, or what they still require.”

Loman O’Byrne, chief executive officer of the South Dublin Enterprise Board, added: “It is important that we build on the momentum from the first South Dublin SMILE event.

“The successes already achieved from that event show that following up in this way is very worthwhile, and it demonstrates what local businesses can do when they work together.”

Presentations The event included presentations from the SMILE team regarding successful exchanges arising from the event and opportunities for the future.

South Dublin sustainability executive Andrea Carroll said: “South Dublin Chamber is delighted to support this follow-up event for those businesses involved in SMILE in South Dublin. The project goes a long way towards ensuring the sustainability of business in the county, as well as in the country.”

In addition, South Dublin Chamber provided information on sustainable business in the county.

Adam Shanley, project co-ordinator of SMILE, said: “The follow-up event is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to reconnect with the contacts that they made at the main event in April, and to re-establish the conversations about potential synergies that can be made.

“We also showcased some of the exchanges that have been successful, and encourage attendees to network at these events to create further opportunities.”

The event is part of the implementation of South Dublin County Council’s Waste Management Strategy, and is organised by the Environmental Services Department and jointly funded by South Dublin County Council’s environmental services department, and South Dublin County Enterprise Board.

25 July 2013 LUCAN Gazette 5

6 LUCAN Gazette 25 July 2013

politics Ed O’Brien ‘honoured’ to be selected for the Lucan Electoral Area

FF elects solicitor as local representative FIANNA Fail has announced the appointment of local solicitor Ed O’Brien as a local area representative in the Lucan Electoral Area.

The appointment comes as part of the party’s ongoing renewal strategy. As local representative, O’Brien will be the most likely candidate

for the party in the local elections next year.

O’Brien is a 36-year-old solicitor and lifelong resident of Lucan.

He previously represented the party in the local elections in 2004, where he claimed 480 first-preferences as he and his two Fianna Fail

running mates all failed to be elected.

Next year, O’Brien will look to become Lucan’s first Fianna Fail councillor since 1999.

He has continued to work within the community since then, as well as establishing a successful solicitor’s practice

in Lucan village.

O’Brien was educated in Lucan before graduating from UCD with a degree in business and legal studies in 2000.

He has been actively involved with the party since his teens, and was instrumental in establishing the first

branch of Ogra Fianna Fail in Dublin Mid West.

O’Brien has worked with various community groups in the Lucan area his entire adult life, and said that the position of local rep is an honour.

“I am honoured and excited to again represent Fianna Fail

in my home town of Lucan. I very much look forward to the challenge of addressing the various issues which the people of Lucan are met with every day.

“These issues affect me also, and I look forward to addressing them together,” he said.

health: dumped meats spark concerns

Chickens left to rot by St Ed’s house

 paul hosford

A LOCAL resident has called on a number of local agencies to clean up the derelict house at St Edmundsbury after he discovered boxes of rotting meat at the site.

Donagh O’Connell, who lives near the hospital, was walking his dog with his daughter last weekend when he made the discovery.

“While walking beside Hermitage Golf Club, I got this terrible stench of rotting flesh. It smelt so bad that I thought there was a dead body there.

“On further investigation, I discovered boxes and boxes of chicken, which had been dumped in the bushes beside the derelict house in the Edmundsbury Hospital grounds.

“There are a couple of wheat fields there, and it looked like someone had driven straight through and dumped boxes and boxes of chicken.”

O’Connell made contact with local politicians, businesses and public bodies, but, as of earlier this week, there was no sign of the boxes being removed. I contacted the gardai, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and South Dublin County Council and informed

them about my find.

“The gardai said that they would send a car around; the EPA said that it wasn’t their concern, and the council said that a litter warden would be sent up.”

O’Connell says that the boxes are marked with halal labels, and that the area is now infested with rats and flies.

“I walked by that way again this morning, and the stench is worse and the place is crawling with rats and flies. Something really has to be done, because it is disgusting – it’s a disgrace that someone would dump it there.”

A council spokesperson said that the incident will be investigated, but said that cleaning it up would not be possible, as the grounds are privately held.

“It will be investigated on public health and litter grounds because it sounds like a public health issue.

However, the council does not clean private grounds.

“If it is investigated and a culprit is found, they could face up to a €4,000 fine.”

Local gardai could not confirm to The Gazette that the incident is being investigated, while calls to NAMA spokespeople went unanswered.

25 July 2013 LUCAN Gazette 7

8 LUCAN GAZETTE 25 July 2013

GAZETTEGALLERIES LUCAN: SUNNY DISPOSITIONS ABOUND

Beaming faces in the sunshine

Stephen and Daniel were happy to see the great weather, while Veronica, Rhiannon, Cassandra, Emily, Sadhbh, Some of the local lads who had fun cooling down at the deep water by the weir

some of the many locals The Gazette met enjoying the recent spell of glorious (and distinctly un-Irish) weather

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25 July 2013 LUCAN Gazette 9

Have you seen yourself in the Gazette? Buy photos online from only â‚Ź6.99 at www.gazettephotos.com

Meet Maisie

Damilola, Kenny and Michael (above) had a ball having fun in their estate – just across Lucan village and surrounding areas. Pictures: Cathy Weatherston

Beverly, Nadine, Anais, Leah and Faye

10 LUCAN Gazette 25 July 2013

25 July 2013 Gazette 11

set up camp P15

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

asdfsdaf business P27 P16

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diaryf P12

creativity: the art of the young having fun

Keep the kids busy with Art Cart Workshops at the Phoenix Park All summer long a host of fun, free workshops for children, called Children’s Art Cart Workshops have been running at the Phoenix Park and will continue right up until December.

The workshops offer a good mix of different themes to suit children’s individual tastes and interests. The last workshop this month will be held on July 28 and will focus on Medieval life in Ireland, with a visit to Ashtown Castle.

The August 4 workshop, Creepy Crawlies in the Park, should appeal to all would-be entomologists. Then, on August 11, children can get creative by making impressive masks of their favourite animals.

The Phoenix Park’s Trees and their importance to wildlife will feature on August 18; while the August 25 workshop is mysteriously termed – Make a Surprise.

Throughout Septem-

ber, the programme alters slightly with seasonal adjustments such as a workshop called Autumn in the walled garden and one on recycling skills which teaches children how to make a wallet out of empty cartons.

All workshops run from 10.30am until 12.30pm and parents must go along to supervise their children during the workshops in the Visitor Centre.

These weekly Sunday sessions promise to be not

only educational and outdoorsy but also fun for all the family. The sessions are suitable for children from the age of six and over. There is no fee for the workshops but arriving early is recommended to avoid disappointment as there is a limit of 20 per workshop.

If you would like more information, you can call the Visitor Centre on (01) 6770095 or e-mail: phoenixparkvisitorcentre@ opw.ie

Children’s Art Cart Workshops are running at the Phoenix Park and will continue right up until December

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dublinlife

The Street Performances World Championship 2013 were held in Merrion Square and Barry’s Tea were there to keep everyone hydrated

Party time as street performers compete Dubliners attending the recent Street Performances World Championship 2013 held in Merrion Square last weekend, were kept well hydrated thanks to Barry’s Tea and their tea van.

At what is one of Ireland’s largest free family festivals, the popular tea brand were out in force in order to keep the thrill seekers and tea fans quenched at the sundrenched Laya Healthcare Street Performances World Championship 2013.

The festival saw the world championship street performance take place in Dublin from July 12 until July 14. The tea van offered free cups of tea to thirsty punters in their tea party-esque environment.

The world championships brought some of the world’s best street

performers to Merrion Square to compete for the world champion title.

take part 25 minutes of silence for children To signify the 25 years that Childline has been listening to Ireland’s most vulnerable children, the charity is asking the country’s most recognised and celebrated local people, clubs and groups to become County Childline Champions and take part in a 25-minute sponsored silence.

The sponsored silence will see people make the effort to partake in 25 minutes of a total communication blackout, meaning no speaking, no emailing, no Facebook, no texting and no Twitter. The 25 minutes silence is aimed at encouraging people to consider the 5 million children in Ireland who

have called the Childline service since it began in 1988.

Childline’s Community Fundraisers are searching the county for Dublin’s loudest chatterbox, biggest Facebook addict, or fastest texter to become Dublin’s Childline Champion.

If you would like to help vulnerable children in your community by holding a sponsored silence or another fundraising event, contact Dublin’s Community Fundraiser, Rita on 085 8042730.

Charity cycle in aid of pieta house launched A charity cycle in aid of the suicide and self-harm prevention centre, Pieta House, was launched last week by Dublin footballers, Ger Brennan and Jack McCaffrey.

The annual Tomás

Mu l l i g a n M e m o r i a l Cycle in aid of Pieta House, now in its sixth year, will take place over the weekend of August 10 and 11.

The event is held each year in memory of Dublin footballer Tomas Mulligan, who lost his life to suicide in 2007.

This year’s cycle will go from Dublin to Kilkenny city and the aim of the event is to raise awareness of the work carried out by Pieta House and to celebrate the lives of those lost to suicide.

Last year over 70 cyclists took part in the cycle and raised €63,000 for Pieta House.

The cycle will take off from Tomas’s local GAA club, the Good Counsel GAA club in Drimnagh on Saturday, August 10.

If you are interested in getting involved in the cycle, you can register at tmcycle.pieta.ie.

25 July 2013 Gazette 13

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14 Gazette 25 July 2013

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Protect your ears this concert season With big outdoor gigs coming thick and fast, a leading Irish audiologist has warned music fans to tune in to the dangers of loud music this summer or risk damaging their hearing permanently.

Noel Cullen, audiologist with Hidden Hearing, says that extended periods of exposure to high decibel noise or music can lead to permanent and irreversible hearing loss.

According to Cullen,

the music levels at festivals can reach an ear-shattering 130dB, far in excess of the recommended safe threshold level of 85dB, and repeated listening at this volume can cause premature hearing loss.

Cullen warned concert goers to be wary of the loud noises at these gigs.

“Thousands of young people are taking risks with their hearing through excessive exposure to music at dangerous decibels. The risk is related

to how loud the music is, how close you are to it and how long you’re exposed to it.”

A recent study carried out by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) found that four out of five people who attend music festivals have experienced signs of hearing damage such as ringing in the ears or dullness of hearing after listening to loud music.

“Noise is the leading cause of hearing loss

Search is on for top blogs  natalie burke

The Royal National Institute for Deaf People found that four out of five people who attend music festivals have experienced signs of hearing damage

and in recent years we’ve noticed a significant increase in the number of people, sometimes as young as 30, suffering from hearing loss at a level which you might expect a person aged over 70 to have. If you love

music and want to continue enjoying it for years to come, take a few simple precautions to make the experience safe while not impacting on the enjoyment.” added Cullen.

“Don’t stand too close to the speakers and give

your ears a break from the noise every so often.

Those attending gigs should also bring a set of ear plugs with them which will help protect their ears without affecting the quality of the music,” he said.

Bloggers in Dublin with the digital gift of the gab are being encouraged to nominate their blog for a national award as part of the 2013 Blog Awards.

Blog Awards Ireland 2013 celebrates the best in Irish blogging recognising internet content in 32 different categories.

Nominations for the awards opened on June 14, and there has already been 2,000 nominations, with the most popular categories so far Best Newcomer, Personal Blog, Fashion and Beauty, Best Lifestyle Blog and Best Blog of the Diaspora sponsored by TG4.

Living abroad

With 2013 being the year of The Gathering, Irish bloggers living abroad are also invited to enter the awards. The Best Blog of the Diaspora is open to all bloggers with Irish roots with blogs of any theme. Bloggers can enter from wherever they are in the world and are invited to attend the awards ceremony in the Osprey Hotel, Naas, Ireland on October 12.

The closing date for entries is July 31, so bloggers are encouraged to nominate their blog at www.blogawardsireland. com/nominations-open.

All categories are free to enter and bloggers are welcome to nominate their own blogs.

Anyone interested in applying to be a judge can visit www.blogawardsireland.com/apply-to-be-ajudge.

For more details, log onto www.blogawardsireland.com

25 July 2013 Gazette 15

Vivienne Connolly and her kids, Ben and Katie, getting ready for a summer of camping

Set up camp in the great outdoors  natalie burke

With the unprecedented spell of good weather that has graced Irish shores in recent weeks, it seems that the whole country is going back to the great outdoors to enjoy the sunshine and experience Ireland at its best.

According to the Irish Caravan and Camping Council (ICC), camping sites across Ireland have seen a boost in visitors and according to its chairman, Con Quill, the good weather has reminded people of the fun they can have while camping in Ireland.

“This good weather has come along at the right time and we’ve seen a big surge of people on the campsites,” he said.

“We’ve seen an increase in visitors to our website of over 400%. It’s amazing. Everyone right now wants to holiday at home – even if it’s just for a quick getaway at the weekend.”

Con gives some of the credit for the bumper season to various social media channels. “More than half of our 85 camp

site members throughout the country offer free Wi-Fi as part of the many on-site facilities, so guests enjoying the parks are checking in on Facebook, sharing their camping photos on Instagram or tweeting around the BBQ. All their friends and followers are seeing first-hand the fun they are having and it’s encouraging a new generation of people to come and experience camping and caravanning for the first time.”

Cost is a big plus as well. An average pitch for a night costs just €30 for a family of four, including electricity and most member parks provide showers free of charge.

“Obviously the Irish climate can change, we’re not the Mediterranean. So, generally people bring their rainwear with them and you can still enjoy the outdoors, it doesn’t have to be scorching hot to enjoy the Irish countryside,” he said.

For more information on last minute offers and the ICC App, see www. camping-ireland.ie.

Gazette

features

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business training: confidence

Q&A

Oliver ginty, ewt water specialists

Offering the best in customer service Oliver Ginty is originally from Bonniconlon in Mayo and is the second youngest from a family of 12.

Oliver moved to Dublin 12 years ago when setting up EWT with his partner David Forde. He now lives

with his wife Helen and two young children in Drogheda, traveling to EWT’s offices in Blanchardstown Corporate Park 2 every morning.

He is an avid soccer and Gaelic football supporter and is currently a selector with his local GAA team.

How long have you been in business?

quarters in Blanchardstown, employing 100 staff.

What makes your business successful?

What is your favourite thing about doing business in your local area?

Eleven years this April.

Our staff and our constant obsession to improve customers’ experience in dealing with us.

What do you offer your clients that differs from your competitors?

We contact our customers once a month by text message and email to make sure they are happy with their water treatment product and that it’s doing the job they bought it for.

We have also spent the last two years developing our Gold Series water softening systems specifically for the Irish and UK market that are now 20% more efficient than any other water softener in their range.

How has the recession impacted your business?

Our products save our customers money on bottled water and replacing appliances due to limescale buildup so the recession worked in our favour.

Thankfully since the recession started we have grown the business by 20% per year and have employed 17 new staff across our bases in Blanchardstown, London, Poland and Lithuania. As a result of this, we are now buying our systems in huge bulk and passing these savings onto our customers.

What is your ambition for the business?

To be the largest water treatment company in Europe with our head-

Saving customers money and hassle cleaning limescale or having to buy bottled water and customers been so happy with your company that they leave testimonies on our website or recommend us to family and friends.

What is the best piece of business advice you ever received?

Success leaves clues. Test and measure every single bit of marketing you do. Find out what works and drop the rest. This is an ongoing process and won’t happen overnight.

How do you use social media (Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, etc) to help your business ?

We offer free equipment on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Our LinkedIn page still needs a bit of work.

Bringing role play into the workplace A multi-talented woman from Terenure has corralled all of her skills and experience together to come up with a highly innovative and unique new business called Role Players for Training.

Rita Smyth and her team bring drama role play into the workplace by providing workshops centred around the specific needs of each customer’s industry.

Drama techniques in the workplace are in common use in Britain, where Rita, a trained actor, first discovered the idea. Rita already had a strong background in business, having worked with Bank of Ireland Group in Dublin’s IFSC before training as an actress 15 years ago.

“As well as working in business, I also worked in the role play field as a freelancer for seven years in England. Because of my training in HR and the fact that all of my staff also have business and acting backgrounds; we are perfectly placed to help companies because we understand that world.

“We help employees

and staff to hone their improvisation skills in the work environment and this means that we give them an opportunity to practise their new skills.

So if someone is involved in an improvisation dealing with a troublesome customer or a staff member who isn’t pulling their weight; they don’t have to act because that’s what we’re for.

“We are trained actors who will react to the staff participants and be consistent with the realities of their workplace throughout the improvisations.

Staff members, therefore, have an opportunity to practise these necessary skills and that provides them with confidence in such future real scenarios,” said Rita.

Rita’s former clients include: The School of Pharmacy at The Royal College of Surgeons, KBC Bank Ireland, UCD Smurfit School, Dublin City Council, Deloitte Ireland and more.

For more information on Role Players for Training, you can contact Rita at 087 678 3017 or by emailing her at rita@roleplayersfortraining.ie

Who would your three dream dinner guests be and why?

Muhammad Ali – A true super star that had a never say die attitude.

Nelson Mandela – Managed to unite a country that was at war for decades.

Roy Keane – Like him or hate him, he was the best Irish footballer I have ever seen.

What living person do you most admire?

Muhammad Ali.

Rita Smyth of Role Players for Training

25 July 2013 Gazette 17

gaming P19

asdfsdaf music P27 P21

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



Gazette

travel P18

Pets can you give Alan a home?

Ballyfermot native Declan O’Rourke is coming back to the Pavilion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire in a rescheduled show

interview: O’rourke on gigs, paul weller and breaking into the us

Declan takes over the Pavilion  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

Celebrated singer/songwriter and Ballyfermot native Declan O’Rourke is coming back to the Pavilion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire in a rescheduled show that was cancelled in March due to a chest infection.

Declan explained that he was looking forward to the upcoming gig, especially after his disappointment at having to cancel the show in March.

“That was the first time I ever cancelled a gig. I played Pavilion twice before and they were great nights, so I’m really looking forward to this next one. The last two I did there were just

great fun. I enjoyed myself, but I also felt a real connection with the audience, it hit all the bases.

“This gig will be a combination of older songs and I love to throw in some new ones to see the reactions. I just go with it, whatever happens, happens.”

Declan’s musical career had a very spiritual beginning when he was 13 and living in Australia with his family, and he was given a guitar by a local priest.

“That’s a true story. I call it divine intervention and I still have it and learned how to play on it. I came from a very musical family, but they were all singers and there were no instruments involved.”

Declan’s song, Galileo (Someone Like You) famously came to the attention of Paul Weller, who described it as the song he would most like to have written and probably one of the best ever written in the last 30 years, but Declan is undaunted by such praise.

“Quite the opposite, in fact. When someone like Paul Weller says that, it really reaffirms what you’re doing. I think I must be doing something right.

I met him and he’s a pure gentleman, despite his reputation. He was so nice, it was disarming.

“After he praised Galileo, I went into a bar in Dublin, and all these mods were coming up to me telling me they loved

the song, too, but I knew it was only because he had liked it.”

Declan now has plans to break into the US market with his music.

“I’m about to release my new record, Mag Pai, in America. I’ve never released anything there before and it will come out in late September or early October.

I went over to the America and did a couple of shows in New York with a string quartet which went down really well. We even got a great New York Times review.”

Declan O’Rourke appears at Pavilion Theatre on July 27 and tickets, costing €22.50, are available from the box office at 01 231 2929.

The Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs. Our Dog of the Week is Alan and he is a deliciously handsome twoyear-old Staffie cross. The carers here are so mad about him that they let him hang out in the office every morning. He loves people and typical of his breed, he’s happiest when being snuggled and adored.

He is super smart and already knows lots of tricks like sit, down and roll over.

He’d love a home to call his own, where people can spoil him with their affection and keep his super active brain busy. Be sure to get plenty of toys ready, when he’s not snuggled into your lap he loves nothing more than to throw his toys around and could play all day long!

If you think that might be able to offer Alan a forever home, please contact Dogs Trust on 01-879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website www. dogstrust.ie. You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/ dogstrustireland or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE.

Gazette

18 Gazette 25 July 2013

OUT&ABOUT

fast

TRAVEL An Offaly attractive deal at Kinnitty  natalie burke

ONE of Ireland’s leading wedding venues, Kinnitty Castle Hotel, is celebrating the launch of its new Winter Wonderland Package, available from November until next March.

Nestled at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains in Offaly, the award-winning venue is offering winter wedding packages from just €65 per person.

Kinnitty Castle can cater for up to 200 guests in the Great Hall, or, for a more intimate setting, the castle has a number of versatile reception rooms.

The hotel is also fully licensed to host civil ceremonies, and the hotel chef can design a tailor-made menu.

In addition to its diverse wedding features, the hotel offers guests everything from tennis to archery and organised horse treks and lessons.

For further information, or to make an appointment, contact the hotel’s wedding team by emailing weddings@kinnittycastlehotel.com, or call 057 91 37318.

TRAVEL

kilkenny: fascinating falconry show left laura saying: ‘owl’ll be back’

A five-star estate hotel with a wealth of activities  laura webb

WAKING up on a beautiful Saturday morning with the sun shining down was a great way to begin a recent trip to Lyrath Estate Hotel and Spa in Kilkenny.

Kilkenny city is known for its great sights, and, of course, nights outs, with hens and stags enjoying the last hurrah.

However, what many may not know is that it is also home to a beautiful five-star hotel and spa in the beautiful grounds of Lyrath Estate.

The hour and a half drive from Dublin was less than expected, which lightened the mood on the way down.

Quick as a flash, we had arrived at our destination and were ready to find out what was in store for us at this magnificent estate.

After checking in to the beautiful rooms, it was time to get some afternoon tea. This could be done inside or outside, depending on weather, of course, and preference.

We sat inside and enjoyed some tasty sandwiches, desserts and scones – each more deli-

cious than the last. Then it was time to head outside and soak up some sun.

Conscious about making it a family-friendly hotel, the team at Lyrath had set up some large outdoor games such as snakes and ladders, and connect-four. There was also an ice-cream stand, which was going down a treat with guests, young and old.

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

‘What was wonderful about this hotel was that the staff were all so friendly, and instantly set a relaxed atmosphere’

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

I had heard of the great spa and leisure facilities at the estate, and so testing them out was on top of my list – but I was willing to wait until Sunday morning for that little pleasure.

That day, we were in for a treat, as the staff had organised a falconry dis-

play, which featured five different birds – two falcons and three owls.

I was lucky enough to hold Twinky Toes – an owl I could only describe as looking like the infamous white owl that appears at the beginning of RTE’s The Late Late Show.

The information session was very interesting and the guide was very informative. After this, it was time for some fun treasure hunting around the estate.

There were three teams; two with five members and one with four. What was great about this treasure hunt was that it was all about the grounds and had us running from one place to another looking for visual answers to questions, while other questions were brain teasers that required us to sit down and take it all in.

While, unfortunately, our team didn’t win (we finished in second place), really – without sounding too cheesy – the fun element was the taking part.

There are some great options for dining at this hotel, allowing those who choose to stay more

Whether looking for an intimate getaway for two, or an extremely family-friendly break for the weekend, luxurious Lyrath Estate Hotel and Spa in Kilkenny has something for everyone, making it a must-stay destination close enough to Dublin

than one night to enjoy a selection of restaurants, including La Perla and Yindees, an oriental restaurant.

There is also the X-bar for late night entertainment. The food from La Perla was delicious, and each plate had just enough flavour and quantity to make you enjoy every bit.

The leisure facilities ticked all the boxes; the relaxation area, the hydro infinity pool, the steam room, and, of course, the spa treatments.

What was wonderful about this hotel was that the staff were all so friendly, and instantly set a relaxed atmosphere.

Over the summer months, this estate is constantly entertaining its guests, with so much to do, ranging from outdoor activities such as boating, mountain biking and picnics games to indoor facilities such as the games room, a snooker room and a 20-seat private cinema – making sure the family is occupied, no matter what the weather.

The hotel constantly has special offers on its website. One such offer is a three-day treat at the Lyrath Estate Hotel for three nights B&B for two adults and two children.

E v e r y d a y, f r o m 10.30pm until 12.30pm,

children can enjoy face painting, arts and crafts, crazy golf, nature walks, outdoor board games, mini-olympics or music and dancing as part of the kids club.

This three-night family package at Lyrath Estate includes B&B for all the family and dinner on two evenings for both adults in either La Perla or Yindee’s restaurants at Lyrath, costing from just €255 per adult sharing.

This hotel is definitely worthy of its five-star status, and is a must-see for anyone thinking of taking a break in Kilkenny.

For further information, see www.lyrath.com, or call 056 776 0088.

25 July 2013 Gazette 19

Gazette

GAMING

Interest in Grand Theft Auto V continues to motor right along, with developer Rockstar continuing to release tantalising screenshots ahead of its upcoming September release. Analysts have already flagged GTAV’s release as one of the biggest games launches ever – apparently, they’re predicting winter will be cold, too ...

roundup: hits, moves and misses in gaming

Big names, little heroes LOTS of things have been going on in the gaming world of late and so, although I’m pressed for space this week, here’s a quick round-up of some recent, interesting developments.

The biggest gaming news since the recent E3 shows and console reviews had to be the first reasonably detailed gameplay footage released by Rockstar of Grand Theft Auto V, which provided a fair glimpse of the game’s mechanics at work.

Oh, and the footage looked terrific, too, with superb graphics (courtesy of its PlayStation 3 build) that underlined the fact that GTAV will be pretty much the only show in town for the third quarter of the year, following its September 17 release.

Moving on, and that’s

 shane dillon sdillon@gazettegroup.com

exactly what Don Mattrick did, as he has jumped ship from Microsoft to Zynga.

No stranger to this page – or, indeed, a sea of internet, magazine and newspaper pages following the bungled recent launch of the upcoming Xbox One console – Microsoft’s former Xbox boss jumped overboard with, among other things, a one-time signing bonus of $5 million.

(That sharp, sudden whistling noise you can hear your Gazette making is coming from me.)

BYTES&PIECES india kills off the telegraph

So, arrivederci, Don – for now, although I suspect we’ll meet again – as we move on to a game featured here before. For those of you sick to the back teeth of zombies – this year’s vampires, in the probably-overexposed stakes – here’s some news on the WiiU’s innovative ZombiU. The game swiftly died a death at retail, and Ubisoft have just said it was “not even close” to being a profitable title.

So, no sequel, despite its cool innovations in the zombie genre.

The reason I mention it is that the WiiU is already looking pale and unsteady on its feet, as the lifeblood i t d e s p e rately needs – fresh,

I LIKED this quirky story recently – India has called (or dictated?) STOP on its final telegraph, making it the last major place on the planet to use the now-obsolete technology.

This now leaves only a few hold-out corners of the globe for Springfield’s billionaire bully (and tight-fisted telegraphist) Montgomery C Burns to send his curt yet carefully-worded missives to.

India’s calling it a day on telegraphs cements its position as the final port

juicy new games, and ports of important franchises – keep getting snatched away, leaving it looking like an increasinly undernourished console.

That’s not a very comforting thought, either for WiiU or general Nintendo fans.

Luckily, on a brighter note, Nintendo’s WiiU fans have Pikmin 3 (see left) to look forward to this Friday, July 26, as the long-awaited sequel brings more adventures with the little creatures to gorgeouslooking life.

Nintendo have big hopes for their tiny heroes, and, hopefully, that’ll be the hit it deserves to be. And that’s my pik(min) for this week ...

of call for a number of clapped-out technologies, having also called time on the world’s very last typewriter factory, in Mumbai, just a couple of years ago, and – STOP Montgomery C Burns: An excellent telegraphist

Gazette

20 Gazette 25 July 2013

OUT&ABOUT

Theatre THE pavilioN THEATRE 01 231 2929 Shush

BREDA is newly separated, facing retirement and feeling a bit invisible, she doesn’t want a birthday party! But her friends are determined to cheer her up and they descend on her to celebrate. After some homemade birthday cake and a few too many Bacardis – it turns out Breda’s not the only one with problems. Be the first to see Shush, a heart-warming new play from a writer that celebrates the spirit of Irish women. July 30 to August 3 at 8pm, tickets €21/18.

Draiocht 01 885 2622 Battle of the Bands

Continuing on from their successful first year, Miniature Jack will host the second heat for their annual local Battle of the Bands. There will be a performance by Miniature Jack on the night as they get ready to release their debut EP in October. September 7 at 7pm tickets €6.

Mill THEATRE Dundrum 01 296 9340 Til Death We Part

Before jetting off to NYC, Amy De Bhrun premieres her latest one-woman show at The Maureen O’Hara studio.

Her gift for finding comedy in tragedy, diverse characters and the art of storytelling have made her a firm favourite with audiences worldwide. Till Death We Part – is a glimpse into the lives of those who are faced with their own mortality. September 5-7, tickets €15.

CINEMA

review: Pacific Rim

Come and sea what Del Toro has THE first time I saw the trailer for Pacific Rim, I thought of it as just another city-flattening, CGI overdose that I would inevitably watch, but not par ticularly remember by the time my Dr Pepper had been polished off and the popcorn swept up.

Then, I caught a glimpse of who was at the helm. Surely the director of Pan’s Labyrinth wasn’t being given nearly $200 million to make a movie about giant robots?

But, this is the new Hollywood, where the director of a memoryloss thriller gets handed the keys to the Batmobile and turns it into an international juggernaut.

The days of Emmerich, Bay and McG ruling the action roost unmolested are long, long gone.

The days of cerebral directors bringing brains to big budgets are here.

To underscore that point; look at that cast!

Cult T V favourites abound and not a Diesel, a Johnson or a Statham among them.

C h a r l i e Hu n n a m !

Idris Elba! Charlie Day! Fanboy deity Ron Pearlman!

So goes the theory,

 Paul hosford phosford@gazettegroup.com

There are humans in Pacific Rim (below) but who cares? There’s massive robots!

anyway.

In reality, Pacific Rim is best when its focus is on the giant robots beating the tar out of giant aliens.

How all of this comes about is incidental.

Basically, a massive portal opened up a few years back in the, you’ve guessed it, Pacific Rim. That brought about an inf lux of assorted alien life forms that destroyed cities and basically made life thoroughly unpleasant for island nations and coastal cities (unlucky, Ireland).

Millions perish but the human race gained the upper hand by creating massive humanoid robots that are controlled by a cerebral link to two pilots.

It’s two pilots because the strain is massive and it gives a reason for Hunnam’s Raleigh Becket (excellent action hero names are a theme here) to be washed up, reluctant and haunted.

The Holy Trinity of an

Film of the Week: Pacific Rim hhh (12) 132 mins Directors: Guillermo Del Toro Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Robert Kazinsky, Max Martini, Ron Perlman

OUR VERDICT:

BIG, with a capital BIG. Brash and unashamedly so, Del Toro builds on the action foundations he built in the Hellboy movies and brings his own sense of just a little bit weirdness to the summer’s loudest blockbuster. Unfortunately, it runs out of logic and reason early on and gets a bit tiresome later on.

action hero’s backstory, essentially.

The massive robots are being overrun, however, and the worlds government put the robots on ice, instead aiming to build a wall around the cities in order to keep the aliens out - aliens being known for their inability to scale walls.

Un f o r t u n a t e l y f o r those pen-pushers in Washington, Idris Elba’s Stacker Pentecost (see?

Great name) is a loose cannon and plans to end this thing, once and for all.

W hat follows is a bunch of scenes of cities getting smooshed and flattened as the bat-

tle rages.

If you thought Man of Steel had a gratuitous level of city-based collateral damage, avoid this one.

There are constant references to the need for the pilots of the Jaeger robots to be compatible with the technology that runs the mechs.

What this means is never fully articulated, but it seems to mean just being a bad ass who likes killing aliens.

It is, however, the best advice you will get when watching the movie; get into the mindset of robots v aliens and enjoy the show.

25 July 2013 Gazette 21

Gazette

MUSIC FASTtunes with Radio Nova’s Dee Woods

Pet Shop Boys - Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe - have returned with their first non-Parlophone release reinvigorated and ready to dance

REVIEW: a tremendous return to form and the dancefloor

Boys keep raving While young whippersnappers like Disclosure make their debut, Settle, a brilliant statement of the current state of dance, it’s remarkable that two 50-year-old heroes of the genre have made an equally brilliant statement of intent as Pet Shop Boys have created with their new release, Electric.

It is a marked departure from the classicism and melancholy tone of their last release for Parlophone, last year’s Elysium. Where that album w a s d ow n b e a t a n d thoughtful, Electric is a work of glorious, carefree hedonism.

Neil Tennant’s first words are an instruction that must be followed for this record: “Turn it up.”

 ROB heigh rheigh@gazettegroup.com

From the underwater opening of Axis to the hands-in-the-air nostalgic euphoria of Vocal, the Boys have not sounded this propulsive and strictly dancefloor for several years, and this is by some distance their best record for at least a decade.

When it was announced that Stuart Price — the producer responsible for bringing Madonna into the 21st century on her releases from Music to Confessions On The Dance-

floor and for the essential remix of Kylie’s Get Outta My Way — was going to be at the controls, Electric had all the makings of a return to full-on club form.

What’s most impressive is just how much a return it is. It goes beyond all expectations and is the equal of past releases, with the possible exception of the timeless Behaviour.

PSB were responsible for two of the best dance records of the last quarter of a century — Disco and Introspective — both of which featured remixes and under-the-radar tracks which in their own right became classics.

Axis rolls like a bullet train of electric energy, Shouting In The Evening

has a drop to die for, and there are call-backs to past glories on Thursday (the plinky synth line from West End Girls makes an appearance) and the male voice choirs on Love Is A Bourgeois Construct recall Go West.

PSB also make room for another of their precient and perfect cover versions, this time making Bruce Springsteen’s The Last To Die into a high-energy banger.

What makes Electric so encapturing is that it sounds so utterly modern, while at the same time taking all of the great things that made PSB so influential — great melodies, genius chord changes and tongues firmly placed in cheek.

W h o e l s e wo u l d

be able to include a track called Love Is A Bougeious Concept, or drop the brilliant lyric, “I like the singer, he’s lonely and strange” in Vocal, the all-out house homage that closes the record?

They have said that this is a “Chris” album, as opposed to a “Neil” album. To me, it seems like the best of both worlds. The wit and wordsmithery of Tennant and the dance ethic of Lowe were always perfectly balanced, and Electric is their respective strengths writ large, so large.

Dance has no age limits, and PSB remain at the vanguard of creativity in the genre. Keep raving, Boys.

How many musicians can say they made their Glastonbury debut in the same year they turned 70? Not many, I’m guessing, but one of rock’s icons can add that to his long list of achievements.

Mick Jagger turns 70 on Friday, July 26, and, after 50 years of making almost 30 studio albums with The Rolling Stones and numerous awards under his tightly fastened belt, you’d forgive him for putting the feet up.

Alas, despite being well past retirement age of us mere mortals, the Stones’ front man is keen to keep on rolling. His next project is producing a biopic about another legend: James Brown.

Jagger is described by the late soul singer’s daughter as “one of his favourite people”.

Actually, when you think about it, the two singers have quite a bit in common: Brown was nicknamed “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business” - while, at 70, the Stones have completed the 50 Years And Counting Tour including their debut at the Pyramid Stage in Glastonbury.

The as yet untitled James Brown movie is its very early stages, but Mick Jagger says he’s honoured to be involved, adding Brown was “a mesmerizing performer with a fascinating life”.

He’d know!

Talent On Display

Get your song on at Wright’s Open Mic Calling all aspiring groups, singers, musicians and singer-songwriters. Gilbert & Wright in Clontarf are holding an Open Mic competition which begins this weekend, on Sunday, July 28.

The competition will run for seven weeks, and is open to solo acts and bands, those who write their own material and perform cover versions.

There is a strong interest in the competition so far, which has a top prize of €2,000 as well as the opportunity to record at Cellar Club Studios.

To enter, email marketing@wbg.ie with your name, phone number and details of your act or Xxx yyllFor xxyyl zxyxzz zz x xxylyx. xxyyl group. more information, logXxx on yyll to facebook. com/gilbertandwrightclontarf

22 GAZETTE 25 July 2013

GAZETTE

&ABOUT OUT road

MOTORS

NOISE

Sun shines down on Dun Laoghaire regatta IT was sunshine and glamour at the Dun Laoghaire regatta last week. Celebrity chef and Volvo brand ambassador Clodagh McKenna was delighted to receive the keys to her newVolvo XC60. This is Volvo’s fourth year as title sponsor of the event which is now Ireland’s largest sailing regatta. One of the highlights of the event is Ladies Day which was held recently and Clodagh McKenna was invited to be a guest judge on the day. “I was very excited to be judging Ladies Day at the Volvo Regatta this year. I love fashion and it’s always so exciting to see all of the style at an event like this one. The sun was splitting the rocks in Dun Laoghaire and it was a gorgeous day.”

Diarmuid Gavin and Aidan Cooney

MITSUBISHI HAS BECOME THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND DUBLIN’S Q102: MITSUBISHI Motors has teamed up with Dublin’s Q102 to become the driving force behind the station’s famous Blue Crew promotional team.

Diarmuid Gavin, Mitsubishi brand ambassador was on hand to celebrate the new partnership. As part of the link-up, the Q102 Blue Crew team took delivery of three new Mitsubishi ASX’s which will be out and about across the city and county seven days a week spreading a little fun, adventure and good will.

Speaking about the link-up with Q102, Gavin Flood of Mitsubishi Motors Ireland said: “We’re really looking forward to having the Q102 Blue Crew driving the new ASX. With the team constantly on the go around the city with colleagues, equipment and promotional material in tow, they have the perfect vehicle in the new ASX Crossover.

It’s stylish, spacious, well equipped and comes with Mitsubishi’s unique eight-year warranty as standard. “ Scott Williams, chief executive of Q102 added: “We’re so pleased to be working with Mitsubishi Motors. This new association with the prestigious Mitsubishi brand is the latest example of great brand synergies. I would like to welcome Mitsubishi Motors to Dublin’s Q102 – it’s going to be a lot of fun!”

With a starting price of €37,990 the Kia Sorento is seriously good value

SORENTO: THIS 7-SEATER IS BIG, POWERFUL AND ECONOMICAL

Kia continues to offer great value for money  CORMAC CURTIS

FOR some time now, Kia motors have been making themselves more and more attractive as an option to Irish motorists.

I’m not just talking about attractive as in looks, but at the most basic level, cost of ownership, it is very hard to beat a brand that enjoys the reputation for reliability that Kia does.

Their 7-year warranty is still one of the most comprehensive in this market. But putting that to one side for a moment, lets get back to the looks for a bit.

A few of the Kia cars that I have test driven may not have actually stopped traffic, but definitely started a few conversations at the traffic lights.

They weren’t about what tax band the car fell into, or how many litres

of fuel it used for every 100km driven – they were, inevitably, about the looks. Because, Kia make extraordinarily goodlooking cars – end of!

But the real challenge to any manufacturer is translating an attractive design scheme across a whole range of vehicles.

This is an area where few have succeeded.

Let’s think about a few brands that have turned out some class cars, only to fall flat with their SUV or other large vehicle siblings: BMW? The X5 is still a brick. MercedesBenz? They have only just made their ML class a truly desirable car, before now it was a turkey. Porsche? Well, the Cayenne may be the biggest selling model in the company’s history, but let’s face it – we’d all prefer to be in the 911.

From the hot little

Picanto, to the almost traffic-stopping Optima, and I dare not forget to mention the all-new, stunning Pro_Cee’d – here we have a range of motors that share, capture and exude the design statement the company has developed, and in every case it shines.

But enter the Sorento, and we see where awardwinning designers really come into their own.

We’re talking about a physically huge car, but somehow manages to pass itself off as far more svelte and agile motor.

The front end is an exercise in how to capture a design strategy in as few elements as possible.

Company logo? Check.

Unmistakable grille?

Check. Upswept signature headlights and lowslung fog lights? Check and check.

Only one or two cars a

year genuinely take me by surprise – and this year, the Sorento is the first.

As I mentioned, it manages to disguise its ‘hugeness’ through simple and understated design.

Inside the space is just cavernous.

Driver and passenger would be hard pressed to bump elbows, and I constantly had to tell my kids to speak up they seemed so far away in the back seats.

The console has everything you need. Clear displays, quality materials, serious build quality – and savagely good air conditioning!

The car is powered by an improved and economical 2.2 197ps diesel engine. Both trim levels available in Ireland will be fitted with all-wheel drive as standard. The Sorento is a 7 seater with the EX model priced at €37,990

and the Platinum model at € 41,790 .

The EX entry level model features AWD as standard and also comes with a generous level of comfort and safety equipment. Standard on the EX are 17” alloys, roof rack, the all-important parking sensors, climate control front, manual heating/air con in the rear and Bluetooth.

The major spec differences on the Platinum spec are a panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery with heated front seats, driver’s seat with six-way power adjustment, rain sensor, rear privacy glass, reversing camera and High Intensity Discharge Lamps.

There is so much car here, it’s difficult to see where it is lacking… and at a starting price of €37,990 it is seriously good value.

25 July 2013 LUCAN gazette 23

Gazette

24 LUCAN gazette 25 July 2013

OUT&ABOUT Hugo Boss Cotton Tangerine Print Dress - Original RRP: approx. €265.

Platform Price: €125

STYLE Kate Spade Red Floral Print Sequin Dress - Original RRP: approx. €325. Platform price: €135

Hubei turquoise pebble necklace: €120

Lavastone gemstone necklace with hammered silver beads Price: €165

Diane Von Furstenburg neon and black ruffle dress Original RRP: approx. €325. Platform Price: €135

Swallows Bib Necklace Price: €175

Elie Tahari purple dress Original RRP: approx. €325.

Platform Price: €125

Mix it up at

PLATFORM

 Laura Webb

Tucked away close to Rathgar village is Platform, Dublin.

This boutique, owned by jewellery designer Aisling Wallace, sells a select collection of gorgeous, preloved and new designer clothes alongside her own bespoke limited edition jewellery range.

Items on sale are chosen by the owner and she aims to create ‘a harmonious mix of stylish clothes and jewellery’.

Some of the gorgeous pieces available are from designers such as DVF, Stella McCartney, Prada, Marlene Birger, John Rocha and many others at affordable prices. This week Gazette Style showcases just some of these stylish clothes and unique jewellery.

Platform is located at 55b Rathgar Avenue, Rathgar, Dublin 6.

Swallows Brooch €120

25 July 2013 LUCAN GAZETTE 25

LUCANCLASSIFIEDS BUILDERS BRICK,BLOCK AND STONEWORK 20 years experience, living locally.

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SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

I Mark Walton intend to apply for permission for development to construct a two storey extension to the side of my property at 5 Griffeen Glen Road, Lucan, County Dublin.

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

18826

26 LUCAN gazette 25 July 2013

DUBLIN GAZETTERECRUITMENT If you know of companies where you would like to work, your first step should be to check out the company website to find available openings and apply online. Going directly to the source will get your application in the system fast and you may be able to sign up to be notified of new job openings as soon as they are posted.

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25 July 2013 LUCAN Gazette 27

motor racing P29

asdfsdaf gaelic games P27 P31

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

sailing P28

FastSport Take your place at jackies’ summer camps:

The Transplant Team Ireland gathered at ALSAA recently, where they were addressed by Republic of Ireland soccer star Niall Quinn

transplant games: south africa the destination for national team

Dublin athletes join together in Ireland’s team for Durban Transplant Team Ireland manager Colin White, who hails from Balbriggan, is bringing together an array of national transplant talent to take part in the 19th World Transplant Games in Durban, South Africa in August.

Among the team travelling to South Africa are a range of Dublin athletes, including team captain Harry Ward, Dara McLaughlin from Lucan, Deirdre Faul from Dalkey, Angela Sherlock from Walkinstown, John Moran from Glasnevin, James Reynolds

from Tallaght, Peter Heffernan from Skerries and Brian Carney from Killester.

Over 1,000 athletes from 50 countries will participate in the World Games next month, which will see participants take part in 50 events including track and field, road races, cycling, swimming, golf, tennis, tabletennis, badminton, squash, lawn bowls, volleyball, petanque and tenpin bowling.

Republic of Ireland soccer legend Niall Quinn was on hand to help to

inspire the team last month at a training meeting at ALSAA He said: “It is a great honour to meet such inspirational athletes who have faced huge health battles and now thanks to the gift of organ donation they can share with me their passion for life and its celebration through sport.”

National team manager and World Transplant Games Federation councillor, Colin White said: “The athletes participation in the games offered a great opportunity to showcase the

success of organ donation and transplantation. Their achievements offer inspiration to others experiencing organ failure and an impetus to the general public to embrace organ donation”.

For more information on the 19th World Transplant Games and Transplant Team Ireland, visit the team blog at www.transplantteamireland. ie, and follow the team on Twitter at www.twitter.com/teamireland1 and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ transplantteamireland.

The Dublin Ladies Gaelic Football Association is hosting two summer camps and are inviting prospective future Jackies stars to take part in coaching that will be run by some of the Dublin ladies team.

Week one of the camp will be held in St Margaret’s GAA Club in north County Dublin from July 29 to August 2, while week two will be held in St Peregrine’s GAA club in Dublin 15 from August 12 to 16.

The camp is for girls aged nine to 13 years and costs €55.

They run each day from 10am to 3pm.

For registration information contact camps@dublinladiesgaelic.ie or log on www.dublinladiesgaelic.ie to download the application form.

c o n ta c t s Sports Editor: Rob Heigh rheigh@gazettegroup.com

For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@gazettegroup.com Phone: 01 651 6205

Gazette

28 LUCAN Gazette 25 July 2013

SPORT

FastSport Ireland claim fifth in tournament: CLONDALKIN’S Correy Davidson, along with Sallynoggin duo Carl and Darren Forsyth, were all part of the Irish men’s football squad that secured their highest ever World University Games finish as they beat fancied Ukraine 3-1 in the 5th/6th place play-off in Kazan, Russia.

Manager Danny Crowley said at the end of the game “Ireland have finished a record fifth in the tournament following games against Russia, China, Mexico, France, Malaysia and Ukraine.

“The quarter-final defeat to France on penalties will be of particular disappointment to this magnificent group of players as they dominated that game from start to finish.

“I am so proud of this bunch of players and the staff. We have worked very hard to get this far and hopefully we can get more people interested in this magnificent competition.”

sailing: local clubs take top honours as almost 400 boats compete

Prizes stay in Dublin as 2013 regatta a big success  sport@gazettegroup.com

Home-grown success was being toasted in Dun Laoghaire last week at the end of Ireland’s biggest sailing event of the year, the

Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta on Dublin Bay. In spite of the presence of over 120 visiting boats, key trophies remained in the waterfront clubs after the prizegiving at the Royal

Irish Yacht Club brought the curtain down on the 2013 event.

The Royal St George YC had success in seven classes, while Royal Irish sailors won six, including IRC classes 1

The regatta brought a huge array of competitors to Dublin Bay

The overall Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta winner on the water Checkmate XV (IRC II) skippered by Nigel Biggs

and 3, and the National YC won four one-design divisions. Meanwhile, Howth picked up two wins in IRC non-spinnaker divisions.

Trophies were awarded in each of the 25 competing classes plus several premier awards were presented.

The top overall prize, the Volvo Trophy, went to the Class II IRC winner Checkmate XV, a 1985 vintage half-tonner that has been extensively refitted.

The Nigel Biggsskippered entry from the Royal St George Yacht Club, sailed by a group of friends, won all five races in its 26-boat fleet.

In what has been a

successful season so far, Biggs now adds the Volvo crown to the national title which he claimed last month in County Kerry.

The biennial regatta is being hailed a success both afloat and ashore.

A combined fleet of 393 boats raced over eight courses in a range of light to medium conditions since racing began last Thursday.

In the J109 class, John Maybury’s Joker II from the Royal Irish Yacht Club won the morning’s final race to overhaul Pat Kelly’s Storm and win Volvo honours and the Irish title too by a single point.

Another Royal Irish boat, Bon Exemple,

the Xp33 skippered

by Colin Byrne, was the winner of IRC one and also received the top IRC boat prize in the regatta. Second in IRC one was Scotland’s Now Or Never 3 with Byrne’s club mate Paul O’Higgin’s Rockabill V third.

Jean Mitton’s Levana from the Royal St. George has been awarded best one design performance of the competition following her win in the 17¬boat Beneteau 31.7 fleet, a results that bodes well for next month’s national championships on the same race track.

The next Dun Laoghaire regatta will be held mid-July 2015.

GAA stars and legends help launch Mater fundraiser  sport@gazettegroup.com

Pictured lining out to support the Mater Foundation’s Croghan Challenge were Jason Sherlock, Mickey Harte, Ryan O’Dwyer, John Doyle and Mickey Newman, with Kayleigh Biggs of the Mater Foundation team. PIcture: Conor McCabe

Stalwarts of the GAA including president Liam O’Neill, Tyrone manager Mickey Harte and Dublin stars Jason Sherlock and Ryan O’Dwyer were on hand last week to help to launch the Mater Foundation’s Croghan Challenge.

The challenge, which takes place on Saturday, August 31 at Croghan Hill, Rhode in Co Offaly, comprises either a 5km

or 10km assault course challenge that can be run, walked or jogged.

All money raised will go towards the new Cancer Day Ward (St Vincent’s Day Care Ward) for vitally needed equipment that will enhance patient comfort and care.

The challenge is being organised by Tom Fox who is a patient of Professor John McCaffrey of the Mater Hospital.

Speaking at the launch, Tom said: “I am so grate-

ful to the amazing staff, doctors and nurses at the Mater Hospital for the incredible care that I was given. I want to encourage everyone to take part in this exciting challenge.”

Dr Tomas Lyons, Medical Oncology Registrar said: “The Croghan Hill Challenge Cancer Event will make a lasting difference to the care and comfort of patients who are fighting cancer and will be attending the new

Oncology/Haematology Day Ward in the Mater Hospital.

“On behalf of Professor McCaffrey and the entire Oncology team I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Tom Fox and his team for organising this event.”

A minimum sponsorship of €100 per person is required.

For more information and to register online, log on to www.materfoundation.ie.

25 July 2013 LUCAN Gazette 29

Gazette

Driving for the top places in rallying

FastSport

Swords motor racing star Robert Barrable has quickly risen to the upper echelons of rally driving in a short few years, something he attributes to his car and backroom team There are few sports m o r e e xc i t i n g t h a n rally driving. The thrill, and the implied dangers, make it one of the world’s most popular motor sports events.

The pinnacle of the sport is the FA-organised World Rally Championship (WRC), and the WRC 1 event sees the likes of World Champion Sebastian Loeb and current championship leader Sebastien Ogier flying around the most challenging routes in the world in pursuit of the drivers and constructors championship.

One driver making his way to the upper echelons of the sport

 ROB heigh

rheigh@gazettegroup.com

is Swords’ Robert Barrable. The young driver began making a splash on the national stage in the kart scene from the early 2000s, and his drives meant that making the move to rallying was a natural progression.

“In 2008, I won the Leinster trophy. I only started rallying in 2009. I had one of my best years in 2010, when I won the

Irish and British frontwheel drive cup. After that, in 2011, I upgraded to a Super 2000 [rally] car, and took part in some Intercontinental Rally Challenge events in 2011 and 2012.”

Robert has just returned from Goodwood in England, where he launched his new team, under main sponsor, Tunnocks, and new car, a Ford Fiesta R5.

The car is only part of the equation, however, as Robert explains: “In percentage terms, 50% would be the driver and co-driver, 25% would be the car, and 25% would be the backroom team around you. To be hon-

Robert Barrable, and inset, his Ford Fiesta R5 in action at Goodwood

est, it’s the driver and co-driver that makes things happen, but you need the support around you. A lot goes on in the co-driver’s head, as he is calling out where you want the car to go.”

Robert’s co-driver is Stuart Loudon, with whom he has established

in Finland at the start of August. Barrable is looking forward to that challenge, although it brings its inherent dangers.

“It’s really fast over there, the fastest rally in the world. This will be my first time driving there, so it’s going to be an experience-gaining

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

‘If someone had told me in 2009 I would be driving in the WRC, I wouldn’t have believed them’

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

a successful relationship so far, cemented with a hugely impressive second place in the WRC 2 category in April in the first race of the 2013 second-level championship in Portugal.

“I started co-driving with Stuart just over a year ago. This is our first full year together, though we did five or six rallies last year, and it has been very successful so far.

I’ve only had one other co driver, and it’s great working with Stuart.”

It takes a large team to put the cars on the road, something Robert attributes his achievement in Portugal to: “It was my first WRC event, and I wanted to give a good account of myself and all the guys in the team.”

The duo are gearing up for their next challenge, the next round of the WRC 2 category races, which takes place

exercise. In Finland, if you make a mistake, it’s not normally a puncture, it’s a much more serious thing, with the nature of the speed and the gradients of the roads.”

A f ter Finland, the remaining rounds take p l a c e i n G e r m a ny, France, Spain and culminate in Wales for Rally BG, the last round of the WRC 2 championship.

Robert is delighted to have arrived at the point he is at in his career at the moment.

“I’m very happy with the way things have progressed. To be here now in such a short period of time – if someone had told me in 2009 that I would be driving six rounds of the WRC, I wouldn’t have believed them.

“But to be here, it hasn’t really str uck home yet. To get here as fast as we have, I’m delighted.”

Roche rides to podium position on Le Tour NICOLAS Roche ended up on the podium in Paris last Sunday as he helped the Saxo Tinkoff team to the team title at the centenary edition of the Tour de France after a gruelling three weeks.

While in previous Tours, the Dundrum native had been given scope to push for a high ranking in the general classification, this time around Roche spent much of his time working for team leader Alberto Contador and his number two Roman Kreuziger In the early phases, Roche occupied a top ten berth due to a 14th place finish on the opening stage in Corsica and his team’s excellent showing in the team time trial on stage four. He held that position for four days but the overall was plan was always to provide as much protection as possible for Contador.

To this end, Roche played a big role in helping close a gap on stage ten from Saint Gildas des Bois to Saint Malo while stage 13 was also a big moment.

With crosswinds wreaking havoc with the peloton, Saxo-Tinkoff made a key break that saw Contador able to take a minute off eventual winner Chris Froome.

After that, he was given licence to try and get involved in breaks, notably on the 16th stage, but none stuck and so it meant he finished 40th overall.

But he said afterwards that progressing Contador and the team’s final standing became more and more critical as the race progressed.

“While my Saxo-Tinkoff team came into this Tour with the aim of winning the race overall, we ended up winning the team classification instead,” he said. “It was an amazing experience to be up there [on the podium] with all my team mates and a nice reward for all our hard work.

“I realise now how important a strong team is if you want to break into the top five in the Tour. You also need to believe in your leader.

That was our strength.”

Gazette

30 LUCAN Gazette 25 July 2013

SPORT

FastSport large harriers shine at park run event: Lucan Harriers’ successful season continued last week when John Canny was first accross the line at the Griffeen Valley Parkrun event.

Canny established an early lead in the race, and starting the second lap was 50 metres ahead of the competition. He came home in 17.32 for the 5k, in spite of the hot conditions.

Next home for Lucan in the Park Run was Ciara Naughton, who was the third lady overall in a time of 22.24.

Ciara was then followed by Winifred Ryan in 28.52.

cycling: selection of medals at meet in sundrive for local riders

Adamstown racers take national titles  sport@gazettegroup.com

Rya n W h e l a n a n d Autumn Collins, representing the Adamstown/ Bicycle Design Centre Team, brought home an array of medals and performed impressively at the Youth National Track Championships at Sundrive Velodrome last weekend.

Whelan secured two gold medals in the three Under-14 events he competed in, and scored a silver in the scratch race. Collins, the daughter of multiple national track

medallist Liam Collins, took a hard-earned silver medal in the Under16 girls’ time trial, and just lost out on a bronze medal in the sprint competition.

Whelan had won all three national titles in 2012, but had made the step up to Under-14 ranks this season.

As a first year at this level, Whelan had the intention of defending his coveted National Sprint title, but ended the day on the podium for all three National Track titles.

At only 13 years of

age, this was his fifth national championships. His experience showed early on, setting the fastest qualifying time for the sprint and in turn ensuring an easier route to the final.

Ryan then lined up for the 250m standing start time trial, and he rose to the challenge going over a second faster than the previous time to win his first gold of the day.

Ryan then qualified comfor tably for the sprint final, where he came up against Ben Docherty of Bray

Adamstown’s Ryan Whelan claims gold in the sprint championship event

Wheelers who had battled through the other side of the draw.

Whelan’s experience showed in the final, as he proved too fast for Docherty to take his second gold medal.

Whelan was marked

ve r y cl o s e l y i n t h e scratch race, which came down to a bunch sprint.

With Whelan controlling the race on the last lap, he lost out in the dash for the line, to take his third medal of

the day as he claimed second place.

Collins qualified through to the bronze medal ride off in the sprint competition, and only narrowly lost out over two hotly contested events.

25 July 2013 LUCAN Gazette 31

Gazette

leading the way Dublin star helps out at Lucan blitz

Club Noticeboard lucan sarsfields Huge thanks to Liffey Valley Opel

Kilmacud Crokes’ Michael

Darragh MacAuley was on hand to give some instruction to the Lucan Sarsfields club members who attended the Opel Kit for Clubs Blitz Day in the 12th Lock last weekend.

The inter footballers are away to

Under-9 blitz on Saturday morning.

Round Tower’s on Wednesday and

Great fun was had by all in the fab-

home to Scoil Ui Chonaill on Satur-

ulous weather and we received some

Picture: Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE

day.

much-needed equipment courtesy

There will be a table quiz organ-

of Opel. Thanks also to Ciaran Kil-

ised by the senior hurling section on

kenny, Michael Dara McAuley and

Friday, July 26 at 9pm in the bar. €40

Jackie Tyrell for taking the Under-9

per table of four, with spot prizes

coaching sessions at the blitz.

galore. All support greatly appreci-

Well done to all who participated

hurling: sarsfields now in fourth in league

Saturday.

for organising the Opel Skill Stars

in our second summer camp.

ated.

Mega Hurling Rebounders are now

You can still register online for our

selling fast from the club shop and

summer camps run by the captain

from behind the bar at a reduced

of the Leinster hurling champions,

price of €30.

Johnny McCaffrey, at www.lucan-

Pictures from our recent golf

sarsfields.ie. Camps run from 10am

classic are now on our website and

to 2.30pm. Football (Club Camp) Mon-

can be viewed through the golf soci-

day, August 12 to Friday, August 16;

ety link.

Hurling/Camogie (Club Camp) Mon-

Our annual barndance with a pig

day, August 19 to Friday, August 23.

on a spit will take place on Saturday,

For more information, contact Lisa

July 27, from 10pm with music from

Tuite 086 377 4887 or Cathrine Hayes

Jumpin’ Johnny Peters. Tickets are

087 640 9701.

€5 each.

Our nurseries for boys and girls

Lotto: Numbers drawn were 22, 23,

have now finished for the summer

26 and 27. There was no winner. Next

break.

week’s jackpot will be €4,500. Mary

The senior footballers play Tho-

Flannery’s team will be in charge

mas Davis in Kiltipper this Wednes-

next Sunday night, when our spon-

day and O’Toole’s in the 12th Lock on

sor will be Newcastle Golf Centre.

st pat’s palmerstown Our senior hurlers maintained their

erstown House, SuperValu, Peadar

Lucan lose ground in promotion chase

unbeaten run with a great away win

Kelly’s, The Silver Granite, Chapelizod

against Clanna Gael.

Post Office and Mullingar House in

ahl division 1

Lucan Sarfields fought for the points but their wide count factored against them in the final reckoning

Lucan Sarsfields 1-13 O’Toole’s 0-18  stephen findlater sport@gazettegroup.com

LUCAN Sarsfields lost ground in their chase for a play-off place in AHL1 and were left to rue a tally of 19 wides last Saturday evening at the 12th Lock, allowing rivals O’Toole’s to move three points clear of them.

Indeed, five consecutive misses amid a 16-minute scoreless spell in the second half saw their narrow interval lead wiped out as Liam Ryan showed his power and Conor Carton

tacked on the points for O’Toole’s.

For Kevin O’Reilly, his mixed afternoon had initially given Lucan the ascendancy with a sharp first-half goal, clipping 1-6 before the break.

But, with the wind at his side’s back in the second period, he could not find his range, while Conor McStay and Jodie Bastow put in sterling shifts in defence.

The visitors had shown their intent early on with Ger O’Meara’s monster score from over 70m out showing the strength of the breeze.

It helped build an

early wedge, 0-4 to 0-1 to O’Toole’s, and were it not for a couple of good blocks on Carton and Ryan, it could have been worse.

O’Reilly, though, kept Lucan in the game with four points before nabbing the game’s only goal in the 20th minute.

John Byrne’s diagonal ball to the right corner looked to be well under control, but O’Reilly cleverly flipped the ball behind his marker, opening the space and he collected it unmarked before thrashing to the net.

It put Lucan in front for the first time and Gary

Coleman’s point helped keep it that way into halftime.

The sides went point for point in the early stages of the second half, but O’Toole’s made the crucial incursion between the 46th and 56th minutes as they scored three points without reply as Lucan toiled.

Mick May’s low-fizzing effort did get his side within a point but two more late points from the visitors sealed the deal.

The move into second while Lucan remain fourth in the table, now four points adrift of leaders Ballyboden St Enda’s.

Our junior hurlers had a great win away to Erin Go Bragh to go top of the league.

Our minor footballers had a great midweek win to stay top of the league. €10,000 is still waiting for a home.

addition to our regular sellers.

Lotto: First draw: Numbers drawn were 2, 7, 9 and 22.

Second draw: Numbers drawn were 2, 11, 16 and 30.

Any three numbers winners were Sheila Browne, Ann Canning, Martizl.

Don’t forget your lotto entries this

The next draw is on July 28, and the

week. €2 gets you into two draws.

jackpots are first draw €10,000, sec-

Tickets available all week in Palm-

ond draw €5,400.

westmanstown/garda Well done to our intermediates on

The ladies have home league fix-

a very impressive win over Round

ture on Wednesday against Clan

Tower in the Joy Cup final last

Mhuire with 7.30pm.

Wednesday night on a score of 1-14 to 0-8.

It is back to league action this week

Thank you to everyone that supported our annual clothing collection.

with two very important fixtures.

Club GPO Declan Jennings is run-

Our first game is a difficult away

ning sessions for Under-8s and high-

fixture to Raheny on Wednesday in

er over the summer break. Details

St Anne’s Park with a 7.30pm throw-

from individual team mentors or

in. We then welcome St Margaret’s

from Declan at 085 800 6101.

to Westmanstown on Saturday for

The Gaels nursery for children

our second league outing of the week

aged five to seven years is taking a

with a 6.30pm start.

break until the end of August.

The juniors have an away league

Thank you to Geraldine Culloty and

fixture on Sunday morning, throw-

her team of helpers for their work to

in at 11am.

date.

32 LUCAN Gazette 25 July 2013