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‘Abysmal’ local garda numbers blasted by FF Calls for increase amidst claims of a crime wave in Dublin Mid-West

 MARK O’BRIEN THERE have been calls for the Minister for Justice to increase garda numbers in the Dublin Mid-West region amid claims of a low-level crime epidemic in the area.

Garda numbers in the region currently stand at 269 – down from 287 in 2012.

This is despite the fact that almost 1,000 recruits have graduated since the Garda Training Centre in Templemore reopened in 2014.

Deputy John Curran (FF) – a member of the Joint Policing Committee – said that he will be calling on Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan to increase garda resources in the area.

He said: “No additional gardai have been allocated to

Dublin Mid- West since training resumed in 2014.

“This is abysmal, considering the fact that just under 1,000 new gardai have graduated from Templemore in that same period.

Continued on Page 4

2 LUCAN GAZETTE 20 July 2017

COMMUNITY | COUNCIL SEEKS LOCAL INPUT ON FACILITY’S DESIGN

Public invited to have a say over Lucan pool  MARK O’BRIEN PUBLIC consultation on the planned Lucan swimming pool is now open, allowing the public to have their say on the design of the long awaited pool.

News emerged last week that the design of the pool had been approved, allowing the project to move on to Part 8 of the planning process.

The latest development has been welcomed by local representatives. Cllr William Lavelle (FG) said: “The commencement of this planning process marks a major milestone in our community’s united campaign for a pool for Lucan.

As the long-awaited Lucan pool inches closer, the public can let the council know what they want it to have

“Congratulations to all who have played their part in this campaign, including the resident-led #Pool4Lucan campaign and all my fellow local councillors.

“Together we have ensured that South Dub-

lin County Council will contribute over €9 million to this project.”

The announcement was also welcomed by Cllr Paul Gogarty (Ind) and Cllr Liona O’Toole (Ind), who both urged as many people as possible to give their

feedback on the design.

The development will consist of a new singlestorey public swimming pool building, including a gymnasium and fitness suites, changing facilities and cafeteria and associated accommodation, comprising 3,308sq m of internal accommodation.

Landscaping and public realm improvements will be made to the surrounding area and a new car park will allow for 108 car parking spaces and 88 bicycle parking spaces.

Responding to the news, Helen Farrell, of the #Pool4Lucan campaign said: “It’s extremely exciting to see the plan but I think there’s a lost

opportunity if South Dublin County Council don’t build a viewing area in the pool.

“They will lose the ability to host travelling competitions and they’ve been shown to be worth half a million euro to the local economy in Tallaght every time a competition comes to the area,” she said.

The plans can be viewed at http://consult.sdublincoco.ie and at Lucan Library. Members of the public can make submissions on the plans until 5pm on September 11.

Following feedback from the public consultation, councillors will vote to approve, amend or reject the proposals.

FASTNews

Praise, thanks for Lucan Tidy Towns group’s efforts LUCAN Tidy Towns have been busy brightening up estate entrances in anticipation of the arrival of the Tidy Towns adjudicator.

Beautiful, well-kept flower beds can be seen at estates such as Arthur Griffith Park (above), Hillcrest and Sarsfield Park. Lucan Youthreach also came up with a novel way of brightening up a tree stump outside the Adult Education Centre on Esker Hill, decorating it with flowers.

Thanking everybody for their hard work in the Lucan Newsletter, Lucan Tidy Towns said: “Well done to all of those involved. You are brightening up all our spirits and also enhancing our lovely Lucan.

Take a bow everybody.”

You’ll make tracks to see festival’s model railway THE Lucan Festival have announced that there will be a model railway on display at this year’s festival.

The railway will be on display on Saturday and Sunday of the festival in the back lounge of Kenny’s pub.

This year’s festival takes place from September 7 to 10. Organisesr have already confirmed that there will be a display by the daredevil stunt team The Black Knights, as well as a spectacular fireworks display by the weir.

The festival will also offer international food stalls, two stages featuring local acts, and the chance to take a tour of the grounds of Lucan House.

Council looking into more facilities for area’s teens

Heckler serves up a great fundraiser WIMBLEDON’S most famous heckler (and crowd pleaser, and viral internet sensation) of recent times, Chris Quinn – AKA president of Greystones Lawn Tennis Club – is making the most of his moment in the global spotlight late last week to auction Kim Clijsters’s skirt he slipped into.

Millions of people watched Chris wiggle his way into the skirt as the players, spectators and all at Wimbledon laughed along, before taking a serve.

Now, he’s auctioning off the infamous skirt to help his local charity, The Gavin Glynn Foundation, which supports sick children travelling abroad for treatment. Chris is calling on Dubs everywhere to make a bid, and to help sick children, via thegavinglynnfoundation.ie/auction.

SOUTH Dublin County Council (SDCC) has confirmed it has commenced a study into the possibility of providing more facilities for teenagers.

Cllr William Lavelle (FG) raised a motion at the recent full council meeting requesting an update on the progress of the study.

In response to the motion, SDCC said: “Provision has been made to initiate a countywide consultation process on teen spaces and facilities in 2017.

“This involves a study regarding the facilities for teenagers in parks and open spaces in South Dublin County; including provision of youth cafes where appropriate within parks and open space locations.

The study will report to councillors as it progresses.”

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

20 July 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 3

HAPPY DAYS

BULMERS LIVE AT LEOPARDSTOWN | WIN WIN WIN BRING THREE PALS TO SEE HAPPY MONDAYS ON US

Shaun and Bez will reel back the years at

Leopardstown next month

HAPPY MONDAYS’ seminal ‘Pills ’n’ Thrills and Bellyaches’ was produced by Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne and went platinum in the UK, selling over 350,000 copies.

To WIN, just answer this easy question:

Name the Happy Mondays’ lead singer?

Email your answer along with your contact details to competitions@dublingazette.com, or see our #GazetteGiveaway post on The Gazette’s Facebook page Best of luck!

WE’VE got three sets of four tickets – including a special top prize “Summer Bundle” for four – to see the legendary Happy Mondays, the headline act at this summer’s Bulmers Live at Leopardstown.

You and three pals could be heading to the famous south Dublin track on August 17 for an evening of racing, food, drink, and of course, free entry to see one of the 1990s’ most influential bands.

Not only that, you and your party will each receive a €5 Tote Betting Voucher from the good folk at Leopardstown!

If you don’t win the Summer Bundle top prize, don’t worry – we have two further sets of four tickets so you and three pals can head along to see lead singer Shaun Ryder and co reel back the years – and enjoy an evening’s racing at one of Ireland’s best racetracks.

Previous visitors to Bulmers Live at Leopardstown in 2013, Happy Mondays frontman Shaun says: “I am really looking forward to our shows leading up to Christmas. We’re performing better than ever and I love getting together with the band, blasting out all our great tunes we’ve made together over the decades. It’s gonna be great.”

Each of the four Summer Bundle tickets include:  Admission  Race Programme  Bottle of Bulmers or soft drink  Summer feast meal option  Live concert and racing For more concert info visit www.leopardstown.com

4 LUCAN GAZETTE 20 July 2017

ROW | DISAPPOINTED OWNER VOWS TO FIND A NEW LOCATION

Funfair fights back as council pulls plug  MARK O’BRIEN THE operator of the Griffeen Valley Park funfair has slammed the decision to deny permission for the event to proceed next year – and vowed to return to a different location in Lucan.

South Dublin County Council said that they had taken the decision following reports of anti-social behaviour at the funfair over the past two years.

However, Stephen Cassely of Cassely’s Xtreme Funfair, told The Gazette that he was extremely disappointed by the decision.

He told The Gazette that anti-social behaviour from one small group had “closed down the fairground in Lucan after 16 years, and the council don’t wish to deal with it, nor do the gardai, so their solution is to do away with the fairground entertainment”.

The council said that the decision to deny permission for the funfair to proceed next year was

taken following a debriefing with local gardai and Xtreme Funfair.

Cassely said it was a disappointing decision in view of the revenue he would have paid to the council over the past 16 years.

He said: “I’ve put in, I would say, a quarter of a million euro into that park in revenue and rent and that’s how I’m treated. I’m just thrown out because they don’t want to deal with an issue.”

He vowed to secure a site on private land and return to Lucan next year, saying: “I will get another spot in Lucan, and will not be answerable to the council.”

In response to his comments, a South Dublin County Council spokesperson said: “SDCC confirms a review of the holding of a funfair at Griffeen Valley Park following the most recent event, which was blighted by anti-social behaviour.

“A full debriefing took place with the key stakeholders at which the extent of the problems that occurred for two consecutive years were considered.

“The council has formed the opinion that the location is now proving unsuitable, due to its proximity to residential areas, and access and egress has also impacted.”

Gogarty pours scorn on Cllr’s alcohol work

 MARK O’BRIEN

THE Mayor of South Dublin, Paul Gogarty, has called for a national conversation about alcohol.

In a statement, Cllr Gogarty (Ind) said that he was disappointed to learn that a new public health bill that would regulate alcohol advertising and sponsorship and put minimum prices for alcohol had been delayed until the autumn.

He said: “The wellfunded drinks lobby is pulling out all the scare tactics and it is joined in this by a number of media companies who are concerned about the loss of revenue from alcohol adver tising, which admittedly could exceed €20 million, even if much of it could be replaced.”

Cllr Gogarty also criticised fellow Lucan councillor William Lavelle

(FG), who recently took up a role as a senior executive with IBEC. As part of his new role, Cllr Lavelle has been quoted as a spokesperson for the Irish Whiskey Association.

Cllr Gogarty said: “I cannot understand how, when like other councillors he [Cllr Lavelle] talks about safety in our parks ... and when he pushes for sports pavilions, he can at the same time seek to dilute legislation that aims to tackle misuse of alcohol, which is proven to exacerbate anti-social behaviour and inhibit sporting performance and participation.”

In response to Cllr Gogarty’s comments, Cllr Lavelle said: “Most councillors have other jobs in addition to being a councillor; I am no different.

“As was the case with previous employment, I will be keeping both roles entirely separate.”

Force defends its strength in Dublin Mid-West region Continued from Page 1

“There is no doubt that areas in Dublin Mid-West such as Lucan, Ronanstown and Clondalkin have suffered as a result of the Government’s refusal to allocate significant resources to the county.

“The strength of the force locally currently stands at 269 [gardai] – a marked drop from the 287 officers stationed in the area in 2012.

“We need to see more gardai on the streets and in our towns and villages. Visibility plays a huge part in deterring crime and easing the fears of local people.”

Cllr Liona O’Toole (Ind) – also a member of the Joint Policing Committee – has started a petition calling for additional resources for the region.

She told The Gazette that people want to see numbers restored to their previous level.

“We’re really looking to bring the

numbers back to where they were before and also take in to account the fact that the population has since grown in the area.”

Cllr O’Toole added that statistics that show new gardai have been assigned to an area can be misleading.

She said: “Statistics can be very helpful to a certain extent, but sometimes you have to drill behind those statistics. You might be told there’s five new guards being put in to a particular station, but you’re not told, at the same time, that there are people retiring or leaving for various reasons.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said: “The Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021, comprising 15,000 garda members, 2,000 reserve members and 4,000 civilians.

“In 2017, funding has been pro-

vided for the recruitment of 800 recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide-ranging reform plan in train within An Garda Siochana. Funding has also been provided for the recruitment of 300 reserves.”

The spokesperson said that significant resources have been made available to gardai under the Government’s Capital Plan 2016 - 2021, with €205m in additional funding for information and communications technologies, and €46m for new vehicles that should allow for increased garda visibility.

The spokesperson added that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, almost 1,200 new recruits have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide, 103 of whom were assigned to the Dublin Metropolitan Region West Division, including 15 from the last attestation on July 6.

20 July 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 5

6 LUCAN GAZETTE 20 July 2017

Out and About

Budding gardeners get lots of top tips Joan O’Reilly from Glasnevin was the lucky winner of ₏500 worth of vouchers presented to her by Diarmuid. Pictures: Paul Sherwood

T

HE Retail Park Liffey Valley hosted a Gorgeous Gardens Masterclass with award-winning garden designer Diarmuid Gavin last week. With lots of enthusiastic gardeners in the audience it was a very interactive masterclass where Diarmuid answered numerous questions from guests who were looking for some much needed advice on their own gardens. Diarmuid spoke about different trends of garden designs around the country, which gave inspiration to many on the day.

Dairmuid answered numerous questions from guests

20 July 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 7

8 LUCAN GAZETTE 20 July 2017

APPEAL | LUCAN WOMAN CALLS ON LOCALS TO SUPPORT CHARITY’S EAST AFRICA AID

Dig deep at collections for Trocaire to help 25 million struggling people Lucan woman Niamh McCarthy

 MARK O’BRIEN A LOCAL woman who recently returned from Kenya has urged people to support church collections which will take place in Lucan and throughout the country this weekend.

Trocaire, the overseas development charity, says that 25 million people in east Africa are facing starvation in the coming months and millions could die unless

they receive immediate assistance.

Lucan woman Niamh McCarthy recently visited the worst affected areas of northern Kenya and has urged people to get behind the appeal.

She said: “With the failure of successive rains and a prolonged drought having taken hold of the region, just surviving has now become the main challenge facing the people of east Africa.

“Millions of people in the region are facing starvation. The crops have failed, and animals are dying because of a lack of grazing and water.”

The United Nations has described the situation in the droughtravaged parts of Africa as the greatest humanitarian crisis since the Second World War and Niamh said that the work on the ground is vital in supporting the people affected.

“Trocaire is working on the ground and providing vital aid to hundreds of thousands of people. We are targeting

particularly vulnerable groups including the elderly, people with disabilities and those living with HIV. “Our health centres in Somalia are treating 19,000 people each month for malnutrition and associated illnesses.

“We are also supporting health clinics in places like Turkana in northern Kenya, where 12% of children under the age of five are severely malnourished, and at immediate risk of death.

“The clinics weigh and examine the children and the mothers of those who are identified as high-risk are given a high-protein,

high-vitamin supplement to feed them.

“What we are providing at the moment is quite literally life-support for people.”

She added: “In the coming months in Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Ethiopia, Trocaire is hoping to reach hundreds of thousands more people with emergency food, water and drought tolerant seeds but this can’t be done without the generosity of people in Lucan and across the country.

“I would urge parishioners to please give what they can to the church collection,” said Niamh.

FASTNews

Have your say on the future of Weston facility PUBLIC consultation is now open on the future development and operation of Weston Aerodrome.

The consultation is in reference to changing European safety requirements, economic development opportunities for the county, and the impact on neighbouring residential communities.

Public consultation is currently taking place until Thursday, August 24. Information can be viewed at Lucan Library, Clondalkin Library, The John Jennings Library (Stewarts Care), Palmerstown Library Digital Hub, the Civic Offices, Clondalkin and County Hall, Tallaght, during normal opening hours.

Beech Grove paths to be fixed SOUTH Dublin County Council has confirmed that it will soon begin work on repairing footpaths in Beech Grove.

Cllr Ed O’Brien (FF) said that he requested the repair work after being contacting by a number of residents who were concerned about the poor state that paths in the area were in.

He said: “Following contact from a number of residents in Beech Grove, I am glad to confirm that SDCC has agreed to my request to have further repairs carried out in the estate.”

Pfizer planning to extend its hub

Trocaire’s work in Somalia and elsewhere last month sums up many of the challenges it needs help with to continue tackling across east Africa. Pictures: Amunga Eshuchi

PFIZER Ireland Pharmaceuticals is seeking planning permission for a lab and single-storey warehouse extension along with a 220-space car park at its site in Grange Castle Business Park. A decision is due from South Dublin County Council by August 10.

20 July 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 9

10 GAZETTE 20 July 2017

Out and About 98FM presenter Dara Quilty pictured taking the first slide as Mary MacSweeney, Deputy Head of Economic Development, DCC, looks on.

Pictures: Andres Poveda

Just put your feet up and relax they said ... It will be fun they said ... And it was!

Kassi Cheirogeorgou pictured at the 98FM Big Slide Festival

Idie O’Faolain is having some serious fun

20 July 2017 GAZETTE 11

Next! Ciara Dixon from Dublin and Alice Tector from Greystones

SPLISH

SPLaSH INTO SUMMER T he 98FM Big Slide Festival made a big splash in Dublin over the weekend.

The one-of-kind, inflatable, 260ft slide was a huge draw for revellers of all ages and this year’s festival included more sliding, music, entertainment and food than ever before.

98FM presenter Dara Quilty and Mary MacSweeney, Deputy Head of Economic Development, DCC (top left) were the first brave souls to take on the slide. Kids of all ages quickly followed and got completely drenched in the process.

For those who prefer dry land, there was a free fun zone at the festival open to the public all weekend.

The free family event was brought to Dublin by 98FM together with Dublin City Council.

Lorna Duffy shows no fear as she makes her way down the monster slide Paul Bonass is armed but not very dangerous ...

GAZETTE

12 GAZETTE 20 July 2017

DUBLINBUSINESS

Guinness has a €16M expansion plan in store THE multi-award winning Guinness Storehouse announced details of a €16 million expansion plan which will see the iconic Gravity Bar double in size.

With its spectacular panoramic views over the city, Dublin’s highest bar has proven to be a highlight for the 16.5 million people who have visited since it opened in 2000.

Subject to planning permission, it is hoped that construction will commence in 2018 and will welcome visitors by 2019.

Speaking at the announcement, Paul Carty, managing director, Guinness Storehouse said: “The Guinness Storehouse has become part of Dublin. It is the number one visitor attraction, and is a must-see and must-do experience;

celebrated by the staff, by tourism in Ireland and by the people of Ireland.

“We are now excited to reveal the next chapter of the Guinness Storehouse, the expansion of the Gravity Bar.” The innovative plans announced involve the creation of a new 360 degree space, which will directly link to the original Gravity Bar forming a unique, spectacular, panoramic space, which can hold up to 500 people at any one time, doubling the current capacity.

The good news for visitors is that the Guinness Storehouse and existing Gravity Bar will remain open as normal during the construction period.

In addition to the expanded Gravity Bar, the Guinness Storehouse Hub, a new facilities build-

Tech firm to create 300 jobs GREAT news as it has been announced that customer services support tech company Zendesk is to hire 300 new members of staff as it moves to huge new offices at 55 Charlemont Place.

The company, which currently employs about 200 people in Ireland, also confirmed it has agreed a lease to expand into 55 Charlemont Place next year, taking over 58,000 sq ft of grade A office space in Dublin for its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters, which is currently located nearby at One Grand Parade.

Roles available will be across engineering, DevOps, infrastructure, product management, Android/iOS development roles, sales, customer advocacy, finance and legal.

However you make your presentation, remember to have prepared, be organised, and have a clear goal

Stay focused, and your presentation could clinch the job

The iconic Gravity Bar will double in size

ing, directly adjacent to the Guinness Storehouse building is also included in the plans.

This three storey building will provide additional space for the Guinness

Archives one of the world’s most remarkable archives, chronicling the history of Guinness over a long 257 years, along with retail storage and employee hub.

Since first opening its doors to the public in 2000, the Guinness Storehouse has made a significant contribution to Ireland’s tourism sector and economy.

The Digital Hub welcomes ten new companies to its enterprise cluster THE Digital Hub has welcomed ten new creative and tech businesses to its enterprise cluster in 2017.

These latest scaling businesses comprise a mix of international and indigenous based companies.

Included among the new companies are businesses providing services covering animation, film and production, business training, public relations, interactive entertainment and film industry events.

Commenting, Fiach Mac Conghail, chief executive officer at The Digital Hub said: “2017 has been a busy year for The Digital Hub so far, and we are delighted to welcome ten new companies to our campus. Our enterprise community continues to grow and we are particularly thrilled to have a wider mix of creative companies established at the hub that can

support and complement each other. The introduction of ten new companies now brings the current number of companies located at The Digital Hub to ninety-five and employing over 700 people.”

Some of the new companies announcing their move to The Digital Hub include: Gingerbread Animation, a brand new independent and creator-driven animation house specializing in high quality trad-digital 2D animation content for kids.

Planet Korda Pictures, a small but dedicated Irish film and television production company.

The company was established in 2005, focusing primarily on feature-length, creative documentary films with an international appeal.

Kubicle, founded in 2014 with the goal of improving Excel train-

ing in the workplace. Kubicle initially focused its efforts on contextualized, high quality content delivered through an easy-to-use platform.

Wachsman PR, is an international PR agency founded in December 2015 and headquartered in NewYork. Wachsman PR specializes in financial technology with over 40 clients around the globe.

Giraffe Games, is an interactive entertainment company based in Dublin primarily known for establishing very successful sports games for mobile, phones and tablets.

Audi Dublin International Film Festival, is Ireland’s premier film event taking place in February each year. The company has built a formidable reputation for delivering to audiences the very best in Irish and international film talent.

PRESENTATIONS generally come in the second or third round of interviews, depending on the type of job you may be going for.

They are a good way to ascertain whether you are suitable for the role or not.

The good news: if you are asked to make a presentation, you are being seriously considered for the role.

You get a chance to show that you have the energy, knowledge and skills required to do the job.

Make sure to invest some time in preparing your presentation and you will improve your chances of landing your dream job.

Here are some tips that will help you deliver a job-winning opportunity ....

• Identify questions that will be asked about your presentation and have answers ready for them.

• Ensure your presentation is easy for the audience to follow. A good format is to introduce your topic, develop We are available at RecruitmentPlus to discuss your presentation and how you can use the opportunity to make a first-class impression. For further i n fo r m a t i o n , c o n t a c t RecruitmentPlus at 01 2788 610, or also see www.recruitmentplus.ie.

your ideas and end with a summary and conclusions.

• If you are using an application like PowerPoint, don’t get caught up in the elaborate features.

Focus on the content.

• If you are using PowerPoint, you should also bring hard copies of the presentation in case there’s a problem with the projector or some other hitch.

• Resist the temptation to cover everything.

You may be best served by focusing on a few significant facts than many trivial ones. This is a judgement call, but know your audience. While it is important to show that you have broad knowledge in the particular area, stay focused.

• Using process maps can help people visualise your suggestions and may make it easier for them to follow and understand your suggestions. Provide solutions.

• The audience (probably) knows more than you do about the subject matter, so be careful not to lecture.

• Prepare well and enjoy the opportunity!

20 July 2017 GAZETTE 13

TRAVEL P20

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

ROXY’S READY TO GIVE YOU SLOBBERY KISSES AND TONNES OF LOVE OUR Dog of the Week looking for their #SpecialSomeone* is Roxy, a stunning, two year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier crossbreed.

Like most Staffies, Roxy just loves people and being around them! She is a very bouncy lady so would be best suited to a home with children aged 16 years of age or older.

Roxy loves treats and is very clever so training classes would be a great way for her to get to know her new family.

If you are an active family with the time and commitment to invest in Roxy, you will be repaid in slobbery kisses and tonnes of love!

If you can be Roxy’s #SpecialSomeone*, then 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, atfacebook. com/dogstrust irelandonline, or on Twitter @ DogsTrust_IE.

CINEMA P24

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GAZETTE

DIARY P15

CONSERVATION CAMPAIGN CPR saves fish, according to Inland Fisheries Ireland at the launch of a new campaign to highlight angling and the importance of conservation. The hashtag #CPRsavesfish has been placed on a couple of high profile bridges in Dublin to engage Dubliners around the pursuit of conservation focused angling.

“CPR” stands for “Catch, Photo, Release” and refers to a method of angling where a fish is caught and subsequently returned unharmed back into the water. This angling technique is proven to contribute to the maintenance of healthy fish stocks and ensures future generations can continue to enjoy the recreational and economic benefits of the fisheries resource.

Pictured at the launch are Katie McGregor and Matthew Roe with Suzanne Campion, Head of Business Development at Inland Fisheries Ireland.

14 GAZETTE 20 July 2017

GAZETTE

DIARY DUBLINLIFE FEATURE The Spitting Image of success THE STRYPES: NEW ALBUM STRIPS AWAY PAROCHIAL LIFE WITH PUNCHY, POWERFUL TRACKS

 NICK FITZGERALD CAVAN band The Strypes proved they’re ready to tear ‘strypes’ off the competition with their new album Spitting Image, which launched recently at Thomas House in the Liberties.

It’s now been almost two years since Ross Farrelly (lead vocals/harmonica), Josh McClorey (lead guitar/vocals), Pete O’Hanlon (bass guitar/ harmonica) and Evan Walsh (drums) created Little Victories back in 2015.

Producer Ethan Johns has perfectly captured the band’s rawness, honing their talents and showcasing it to the full in Spitting Image, surely the

band’s greatest feat, to date Their highly-anticipated third studio album hooks listeners from the beginning, thanks to its short snappy songs with dark, melancholic and atmospheric narratives The 13-track album opens with Behind Closed Doors, where a riveting drum beat and guitar rift meets the airwaves. The catchy tune emphasises Ross’s powerful and clear vocals that sound well beyond his years.

(I Need A Break From) Holidays speeds up almost instantly and is reminiscent of a classic rock song. It’s punchy with short and repetitive lyrics that hook you in – the tracks are just two highlights of Spitting

Image’s great combination of short, snappy songs with a darker side.

Evan told The Gazette: “It’s a funny thing – the level of notoriety we’ve achieved luckily isn’t enough that people recognise us, or know who we are, but at the same time they do.

“It’s interesting. It’s been great, rising up the ladder of gigs, playing bigger gigs as you go along and crowds getting more into the band and knowing the songs – that’s all fantastic.

“Our home lives haven’t changed at all. We all still live in

Cavan. We all want to get back as much as we can. Basically, whenever we’re not travelling or touring, that’s where we are.”

On the background to Spitting Image, Pete piped up: “It’s very parochial – the thematic content of the lyrics. It’s very much ... because we’ve spent so much time at home, it’s rooted in a home-life sort of thing.

“It’s very simple stuff; it’s stuff that’s partial [to us], but also [stuff] everyone’s gone through in their life – it’s not anything that’s particularly personal to us.

“We like the idea of songs having a story: a beginning, middle and end, like act one, act two, act three, much like bands like Squeeze that

would have a narrative in a story, quite like a third-person observer. There’s a lot of that in it as well.”

On Spitting Image’s sheer energy, Josh said: “I suppose another massive difference this time around was Ethan Johns, who produced the record, being involved. He just brought a very new attitude to recording for all of us.

“He was the first person to really capture the sound of the band live, and that energy, just the way he was able to filter through all of the songs and get the best out of all the songs.

“It was a very different experience than the first two records, and it has definitely benefited this record.”

20 July 2017 GAZETTE 15

WHAT ARE YOUR MOST MEMORABLE GAA MOMENTS? EirGrid, the state-owned company that manages and operates Ireland’s national grid launched the “EirGrid Moments in Time” campaign as part of its timing partnership with the GAA. The campaign will culminate with a club in each province winning a digital clock and scoreboard.

To launch the initiative EirGrid has conducted research amongst 300 GAA supporters to establish some of their best and most memorable GAA moments.

92% of GAA fans said that their first time in Croke Park stood out as a childhood memory, with 57% stating it was their father who brought them.

Dads remain top of the pops when it comes to attending GAA matches as a quarter (25%) of people surveyed said their favourite person to go to a match with was their Dad.

GAA fans who want to take part in the EirGrid Moments in Time competition can enter by posting a picture highlighting a special GAA moment from the championship on their Twitter or Instagram using #EirGridGAA & tagging the specific provincial board. We want to see them all.

For further information please see: www.EirGridgroup.com.

TACKLING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WITH CHARITY FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT IRELAND’S top musicians and footballers are joining forces to raise funds for young people’s mental health.

The Coronas and Picture This will compete in a star-studded football tournament that includes a team of Irish celebrities, a team of former League of Ireland players, Ireland’s Homeless Street League team and a team of Boh legends.

Former Celtic star Paul Byrne along with Richie and Dessie Baker will be showing they still have it when they take on TV presenter Brian Ormond and FM104’s Keith Ward with more names to be announced.

The eight-team tournament takes place at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght on Sunday, August 27 with kick-off at 10am.

Tickets are just €5 with all money raised going to JIGSAW. Tickets can be bought online at www.facebook. com/charity.vinny or on the door.”

SURVIVORS GUIDE COMEDY SHOW FOR VISITORS TO DUBLIN IRELAND A Survivor’s Guide, the fantastic comedy sketch show for visitors to Dublin returns to the International Bar until August 31, Tues to Fri at 1pm.

This 5-star Trip Advisorrated comedy show is bril-

liant lunchtime entertainment.

Their sketches are fast physical and weird.

There’s audience interaction, music and some crazy props. The show is constantly changing and evolving so even if you’ve been once, come back a second time to see what’s new.

Booking at www.irelandasurvivorsguide.com.

ela AveiroOjeda and more.

The event is be free and accessible for all, including trans, neurodivergent, and disabled people.

Organisers, the Trans Live Art Salon are a collective whose aim is to carve a

space for trans and gender nonconforming people to feel safe, work together as a community, and learn from each other.

Tickets for the event are free, find out more at fringefest.com.

TRANS LIVE ART SALON IS CREATING AN INFLATABLE OASIS IN DUBLIN A FULLYAutomated Luxury Gender Oasis is coming to Dublin as part of this year’s Fringe Festival.

The Trans Live Art Salon is curating an inclusive art space in the Temple Bar Gallery and Studios with performances, exhibitions, and queer skill-sharing workshops from September 15 to 19.

What is the Fully Automated Luxury Gender Oasis you ask? Well it’s a “magical, inflatable oasis”

MAGIGAAL moments Tyrone footballer Sean Cavanagh with his daughters Eva, left, age 6, and Clara, age 4, pictured at the launch the ‘EirGrid Moments in Time’ campaign.

with a curated programme of workshops, games, art, talks, and performance by queer, trans and gender non-conforming artists.

Artists include Elll, Squinky, Aitch Giles, Tammy Duplantis, Gabri-

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The Fully Automated Luxury Gender Oasis will feature a curated programme of workshops, games, art, and talks

20 July 2017 GAZETTE 17

DUBLINLIFE

MUSIC

N O S ’ T A H W

 JAMES HENDICOTT

E D I U G S T N E EV with JAMES HENDICOTT

Dublin Maker Festival 2017

A festival aimed at anyone who’s into making things, be it in the form of coding, DIY or arts and crafts. The Merrion Square event will explore a wide range of different creative topics on July 22, with a day long exploration for ‘makers.

The Irish Music Record Fair

Bulk up your record collection with some rare gems, as Filmbase hosts its regular record fair, with a focus on hard-to-find Irish records. The Temple Bar venue opens its doors on July 22.

Bray Air Display

BRAY AIR DISPLAY

Get ready for two days of packed beaches, fairground rides and busy skies as Bray’s big annual event returns for 2017, with parachuting, a Spitfire performance, the Black Knights and the Jordanian air force all in attendance. Arrive early on either July 22, 23- queues can be huge.

Brian Wilson - Pet Sounds

The Beach Boys frontman drops in on Dublin to perform the surf-loving summer act’s best loved album, Pet Sounds. Marking the 50th anniversary of the 1967 release, Wilson’s shows this tour will be the album’s last ‘in full’ outing. July 25.

Vodafone Comedy Festival

The annual comedy meetup returns to Iveagh Gardens over the course of four days, featuring Tommy Tiernan, PJ Gallagher, Al Porter, Joanne McNally, Jason Byrne and Foil, Arms and Hog. July 27, 30.

Dinner with Darwin

Organised by the Stop Climate Chaos campaign and Happenings, Chris Darwin (great grandson of Charles) will be in attendance at a climate event featuring a climate change panel alongside yoga and a screening of Wall-E. The Happy Pear provide the food. July 22.

Grease on the Beach

See the classic summer love story on a huge screen on Bray sea front. The late night movies will be a regular feature throughout the summer, with a free event taking place at the harbour wall every fortnight. This one screens on July 27.

U2 in Croke Park

Ireland’s biggest venue hosts Ireland’s biggest band. Bono and co have long since sold out their return to GAA HQ, with the Joshua Tree anniversary tour featuring support from Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, and (doubtlessly) a long stream of hits. July 22.

New album of the week

Grizzly Bear - Painted Ruins. Gorgeous under-the-radar New York indie band return with their first record in five years, ahead of the opening of their first tour in just as long this October... in Dublin.

A band worth taking the time to explore.

Tony Wright and Dean Stevens AKA The Tragedy of Dr Hannigan

BELFAST musician Tony Wright is a real enigma of the Irish music scene.

Once at the absolute heart of breathtaking instrumental act And So I Watch You From Afar – a swirling tornado of rock so successful they toured arenas alongside Dave Grohl’s Foo Fighters – he quit, picked up his acoustic guitar instead, and currently lives the life of a troubadour, hopping homelessly between friend’s couches, and strumming for a living.

Not that he has any regrets at all: what Tony’s become sits better with him. It’s closer to who he is now, and allows him to step away from the commercial side of music and explore at his own place.

“For all the And So I Watch You From Afar albums, we really had a deadline from the labels to produce the record,” he recalls.

“It was very much a product; a commercial process. That didn’t sit well with me. Now I’m making music when I want to make music. It feels so much more natural.”

What Wright sounds like now is hard to define. He hops between gloriously emotional guitar-pop songs - performed under the moniker VerseChorusVerse (a nod to Nirvana, though largely a sarcastic one) - and fiery collaborations where he seems to absorb a part of the soul of his musical partners.

He spits out delicate and heartwrenching interpretations that wildly differ in style depending on who he’s working with.

Naturally, doing this homeless – and with mental health difficulties he pointedly speaks about publicly in an attempt to end stigma – is not the easiest.

“I’m lucky enough to have a lot of friends who’ll put me up, so I’m not literally on the street,” he says of his situation.

“It’s partly circumstance and partly Tory government that have me here.

But mentally I’m doing well now.

Some days it’s like walking a tightrope, and you have to keep your eyes on the horizon to be sure you don’t fall off, but I’m doing okay, I’m allowing myself space.

“There’s too much bullshit in life and music, and people don’t like to talk about the real stuff,” he adds.

“I’ve been doing this since I was 15, essentially as a professional. That’s how old I was the first time a label approached a band I was in, and you do start to see it. What I do now is a better path for me.

“One of the biggest pop stars in the world is small, ginger and carries just an acoustic guitar,” he adds jokingly.

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16 GAZETTE 20 July 2017

The Wright stuff Tony Wright with collaborator and fellow Belfast musician Dean Stevens

JAMES HENDICOTT TALKS TO BELFAST MUSICIAN TONY WRIGHT - A TRUE ENIGMA OF THE IRISH MUSIC SCENE “Admittedly, that’s probably where my similarities to Ed Sheeran end.”

Wright’s latest project is entitled The Tragedy of Dr Hannigan, a collaboration with another Belfast native called Dean Stevens, with the first single Hey Little Worried One emerging last week.

It’s a charming, scatty folk ditty, a style that’s become something of a theme for latter-day Wright material.

Wright describes the collaboration as “from a place of deep connection”.

He’s known Stevens for over a decade, and describes him as “not prepared to let ‘the scene’ dictate what he is or what he does. He’s really true to himself, and doesn’t fit neatly into any musical niche. It’s great, a lot of my music is about being able to express yourself in any way at all.

“I’m not really singing as me,” Wright explains, defining the style as “twistedly optimistic pop”.

“I go into character. The character is the man who stands behind you

when you look in the mirror, staring over your shoulder and forcing you to doubt yourself. He’s the man who stops you making an important phone call because you don’t know what to say.

“I guess it’s me purging myself, looking at my doubts and saying the stuff I wouldn’t say in everyday conversation.”

There’s another VerseChorusVerse album on the way, too, Wright’s third, and as expected it’s profoundly inventive.

“It’s the best thing I’ve done,” Wright explains, before stopping to apologise for blowing his own trumpet.

“I’m just really happy with it, but I’m also writing a book about my travels across America as a book to release with it. Ideally, I’ll put them out together. It’s kind of memoir ish, but about a very specific time.

“A lot of what I do is very much about my life. I guess I’m a kind of nomad character in my own head,”

Wright explains. “A lot of my songs are stories.”

The book – about a journey involving a record label and a storied journey between several big American cities – is a story for another day, and given his track record, one we’ve little doubt that Wright will produce.

Wright’s music, though, is for right now: he’s a man who gave up a lot to follow his heart, scraping by, but more himself in the process. His heart is in his melody.

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DUBLINLIFE

GLOW UP GET a glowing complexion this summer with the help of good moisturisers, SPFs and of course bronzers and highlighters.

Ditch the foundation and avoid your make-up melting off by making the most of this season’s beauty trends.

Think soft dewy highlighters and gentle bronze tones ...

H& stri M Can slee pe bow dy ve t op € 30

NYX High-def Blush €8

New Look Denim 0 embroidered dress €4

Summer

Catrice Duo highlighter €5.50

fashions fit for a fair city  EMMA NOLAN Style Editor

NYX West Coast lipstick €8

Catrice Golden lip boster €4.50

Zara Sm ock dress €30

NYX Butter gloss lipstick €6.50

Payout Anti-aging face cream SPF30 €20

OKAY – so we’ve reached late July, but we still have more than a month of summer left, and that’s not including a possible Indian summer (please, please, please).

Dublin has that weather where most days at this time of year, it isn’t cold, but it’s certainly not hot.

This can often be a struggle when figuring out what to wear when you get up in the morning.

Whether it’s for the office or a day

off, it seems like that the sdsfdgdhsdgs sensible jumper we brought with us at 8am is just weighing us down at 5pm.

Then there’s the mental anguish of either feeling too naked in your shorts because it was sunny when you left the house, and vice versa, feeling like an idiot in your long-sleeve top when the sun starts to split the trees.

And, of course, there’s the inevitable warm-when-you-left-the-house--butabsolutely-freezing-when-the-sungoes-in situation! Here a few Dublin staples that can be thrown on without too much worry about the weather ...

Zara C jumps ulotte uit €5 0

20 July 2017 GAZETTE 19

Little w Irelan oods d Stripe r shirt € uffle 25

py Strap €40 M & p H dot to a lk o p

ck Miss Selfridge Bla 5 €4 floral lace jumpsuit

New Look Flora l tea dress €40

Zara dress Dark flor al €40

Zara Dusty rose culottes €50

Littlewoods Ireland PETITE rs tapered trouse €28

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DUBLINLIFE

FOOD

Prudence proves he’s the big cheese of edible art ATTENTION cheese lovers - International food sculpture artist Prudence Staite has created the iconic Greek ‘Discobolus’ statue from 100 kilos of Kilmeaden Cheddar Cheese.

When it comes to our favourite Irish dish, bacon, cabbage and mash is the clear winner (31%), followed closely by the full Irish (30%) according to a new survey from Kilmeaden Cheese.

Cheese, meanwhile, is our number one key ingredient for any winning dish (75%), followed by butter (22%).

The survey was conducted by Kilmeaden to unveil the ‘fillet’ of Irish talent across sport, radio, television and, of course, the Irish culinary scene.

To tie in with the brands promise of “We take away the rest and give you the best”, Kilmeaden Cheese commissioned international food sculpture artist Prudence Staite to create a stunning life size replica of the historical Greek mythical Discobolus statue.

Using 100 Kilos of Kilmeaden Cheese, Prudence took great time and care to produce the iconic masterpiece, echoing the time and quality that goes into each and every block of Kilmeaden!

Prudence, who has created all types of edible art, says: “I was very excited when I was asked by

Kilmeaden Cheese to work with them to create a special sculpture. The cheese was great to work with. It tasted amazing too so it was really hard not to nibble as I worked!”

Introducing the ‘croffle’

LISTEN up pastry lovers! An authentic French bakery pop up is currently open on Camden Street serving the highly anticipated “Croffle”.

The Croffle, which has been hailed as the hero product of the cafe menu, is a marriage of the classic rich, buttery French croissant, with the unique texture of a modern waffle.

Created in collaboration with renowned pastry chef Louise Lennox, the most hotly anticipated variation is the Avocado and sun blushed tomato Croffle, with a feta drizzle, gremolata crumb and chopped toasted hazelnuts.

La Petite Boulangerie, located at No 9, Camden Street is open until July 22 so get there quick for a taste of the Croffle. Picture: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

To infinity pool, and beyond ...

SPAS HAVE EVOLVED – AND A RANGE OF SPECIAL OFFERS CAN WHISK YOU AWAY ON A DREAM WELLNESS JOURNEY  SYLVIA POWNALL Travel Editor

IN TODAY’S ever-evolving wellness scene, it’s simply not enough to be mainstream; spas must constantly be one step ahead to cater for discerning millennials who demand treatments that give them an experience like no other.

Try Moxibustion Chinese Therapy in Italy: Lefay Spa Indulge in the Eastmeets-West wellness philosophy of this luxury spa retreat overlooking Lake Garda, where you can encounter Moxibustion – a Chinese therapeutic technique meaning ‘burning herb’.

This therapy involves the burning of mugwort – a small, spongey medicinal herb – on various acupuncture points and energy pathways around the body.

This treatment strengthens the blood, stimulates energy levels and boosts the results of other therapies. Once you’ve had your pyroma-

Call off the search, as Health and Fitness Travel – the leading experts in tailor-made wellness holidays worldwide – has trawled the globe to discover the most unusual spa therapies on offer.

From colour vibration therapy in Malaysia to pepper lipolysis in Greece, these unconventional therapies will raise the eyebrows of even the quirkiest spa aficionado ...

nia fix, unwind in Lefay’s salt water lake.

Five nights from €2,495 per person.

Try Red & Black Pepper Lipolysis in Greece: Porto Elounda Detox Offering stunning views across Mirabello Bay in the north-eastern corner of Crete, Porto Elounda is home to the awardwinning Six Senses Spa, where you can experience a detoxifying treatment like no other.

Using the medicinal properties of red and black pepper to stimulate the breakdown of fatty tissue, this dinner table staple delivers a deeply moisturising and refresh-

ing treatment.

A combination of warm and cool techniques is used to tone the skin, followed by a firming massage to increase blood and lymph circulation, which stimulates detoxification, to further enhance the treatment’s slimming properties.

Finish off with a spirulina wrap and a dip in the thalassotherapy pool to feel thoroughly cleansed, toned and well-seasoned.

Seven nights f rom €1,740 per person.

Try Himalayan Heart Stone Massage in Vietnam: Fusion Maia Discover a tropical spa paradise on Vietnam’s east coast, where you’ll

20 July 2017 GAZETTE 21

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TRAVEL

Splashing in luxury by the shores of Lake Garda Main: The infinity pool

Relaxing with a classic treatment

at the Porto Elounda; above: part of the calming pool at the Fusion Maia

Soothing away stress with a herbal back treatment

experience a true sense of tranquillity with Fusion Maia and its range of healing therapies.

For a massage with a heartfelt difference, try the Himalayan Heart Stone Massage – a gentle, alkalising therapy using warm heart-shaped salt stones and pomelo oil to promote inner peace.

The warmth from the stones will ease tense muscles and soothe aches and pains, while the stones’ positive ions are believed to rid your body of harmful vibrations and clear the air around you.

Combine spa treatments with yoga and

meditation for a complete mind, body and soul experience at this tropical hideaway.

Seven nights f rom €2,595 per person.

Try Green Coffee Sculpting in Oman: Zighy Bay Sense of De-stress Discover a whole new world on the Arabian Peninsula of Oman, in a secluded bay surrounded by mountains where the world-class Six Senses Spa awaits with a plethora of top-notch spa offerings.

Wake up and smell the green coffee with an ener-

The Hot stone treatment room at The Banjaran

gising body treatment focusing on the thighs, waist, tummy and derriere, aimed at breaking down fat cells, stimulating circulation and boosting metabolism.

The treatment begins with dry skin brushing, before being massaged with the thermogenic, salon-strength chilli and coffee oil for a caffeine hit to rival your morning java.

Put your new-found energy to use as you take part in a variety of outdoor activities available nearby, including mountain biking, diving and paragliding.

Seven nights at Zighy Bay from €2,975 per person.

Try Colour Therapy in Malaysia: The Banjaran Rejuvenation Set amongst tropical jungle and limestone hills, the Banjaran is an acclaimed 5-star hideaway, famed for its extensive wellness offerings.

Here you can experience Chromotherapy – a

technique using colours to adjust body vibrations to frequencies that encourage greater health and harmony.

By cultivating the frequencies of individual colours to balance and re-shape the energy in our bodies, a greater level of physical and spiritual healing can be achieved.

A blue light can promote relaxation and calm whilst aiding the recurrence of headaches and nervous tension, whilst pink eliminates impurities in the blood.

Once you’ve discovered your favourite colour, head for the green, with luscious jungle, Japanese gardens and a world-class golf course all nearby.

Seven nights f rom €4,500 per person.

Try Chavutti Thirumal Massage in St Lucia: BodyHoliday De-Stress Find your bliss at this leading St Lucian wellness retreat designed to maximise well-being and improve health.

Whilst having someone walk all over you may not seem like therapy, this ancient Indian massage technique releases muscular tension, stretches the body and improves circulation and energy flow, and is perfect for those who enjoy deep tissue massage.

Also known as Indian rope massage, the therapist holds onto a rope above their head for balance and to adjust pressure, while using their feet to deliver a stronger, deeper massage.

Take a step in the right direction to finding calm, with a range of holistic therapies and activities, including Reiki, craniosacral therapy and sunset meditation.

Seven nights f rom €3,775 per person.

Try Anja Light Therapy in Thailand: Phuket Cleanse For a life-changing wellness holiday, look no further than Phuket Cleanse on the tropical island of Phuket, where

Arabian wellness awaits under the sun at Oman

you’ll find a range of therapies to detox the body and relax the mind.

Anja Light Therapy uses dynamic neural stimulating brainwave technology to induce deep meditative states; a state usually only obtained by meditative experts such as Buddhist monks and shamans.

As you explore the depths of your perception, develop clarity and direction, reduce stress and anxiety, and cultivate

a more profound connection with a broader reality.

You might even be lucky enough to experience out-of-body and astral projections.

Once you’ve come back to earth, hit the ground running with a series of fitness activities, including kickboxing, beach boot camps and TRX training.

Seven nights at Phuket Cleanse from €2,540 per person.

For advice, guidance and booking, call 0203 397 8891 or see www.healthandfitnesstravel.com.

All packages are tailored to the individual and prices quoted include flights departing from Dublin, transfers, accommodation and spa treatments.

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DUBLINLIFE

In the Fast Lane Motorists driven by brand loyalty, insurance costs & 5 year upgrades ONE in two people in Ireland change their car every five years according to a new report from car-buying website Carzone.

The bi-annual index which examines trends in the Irish motoring market, has highlighted the continued rise in used car sales as people upgrade their car more regularly.

When changing their car, 47% tend to stick with the same marque, so brand loyalty remains high among

New Golf delivers on enviable petrol power Petrol power is making a return as MICHAEL MORONEY discovers with the new Golf, which delivers on a promise of new levels of economy along with a very smooth driving experience

Irish drivers.

The survey found that insurance was named as the main financial concern for motorists once again, with 88% saying they noticed a rise in their insurance premium in the last year.

Fuel was the second biggest concern, followed by road tax.

On average half (51%) spend between €120 and €150 running their car each month while 13% say it can cost anywhere from €151 to €200 per month.

The report finds that city dwellers are more likely to drive a petrol car than their rural counterparts.

Just half (51%) of those based in an urban area have a diesel car, compared to 81% of those who live rurally.

Women are also more likely to drive a petrol car than men (48% vs. 17%).

The general findings are as follows: · 1 in 2 people change their car every five years and 47% tend stick to the same brand · Rising insurance premiums are a key concern for Irish motorists · 69% say car technology plays an important role in their purchasing decision · Two thirds (65%) believe that in-car technology has made them a better driver · 70% say technology makes driving more enjoyable · 85% of Irish car retailers are investing in technology in their dealerships · VW Golf remains Carzone’s the most searched car · It takes a dealership on average one week to sell a car, from initial enquiry to closing the sale (43%).

Tyres main reason for NCT fails ALLIANZ insurance company has reported that it provided breakdown assistance to 7,042 cars in 2016 97% of which needed to complete an NCT. More than one in ten (832) broken down cars receiving assistance from Allianz last year had expired NCT certificates and 5% (325) had no certificate at all.

They also found that 14% of broken down cars assisted by Allianz in 2016 were Fords, 10% were Toyotas and 10% were Volkswagens. This is explained by the higher numbers of these brand cars on the roads.

These car brands all held a strong NCT testing and pass rate in 2016 according to NCT annual results.

Toyotas were the most tested cars with 228,651 vehicles and a 53% pass rate, Volkswagens were next in line with 182,727 vehicles and a 47% pass rate and finally, Ford was the third most tested brand with 169,493 cars tested and a 46% pass rate.

The Allianz report found that 51.6% of vehicles failed the NCT in 2016 with car tyres being the primary cause of failure.

PETROL power is creeping its way back to driver consciousness once again and with good reason as petrol engines have become more efficient and cleaner.

Diesel power made such a bounce into the market more than 10 years ago, that for many of us, we now consider diesel power to be something we take for granted.

That was not the case 25 years ago and we now seem set to revert to a more even petrol/diesel market balance.

Volkswagen has been in the eye of the diesel issue storm and that’s probably why their new ranges of petrol engines are attracting attention.

For many car buyers, Golf and diesel power were synonymous – now that could be about to change.

Volkswagen has developed some very impressive petrol engines under the TFSi range that strongly evoke a fuelchoice re-think.

A f ter some days behind the wheel of the new Golf, this time powered by a 999cc, threecylinder petrol engine, I’ve quickly become a petrol convert.

It’s impressive in its own right and the new turbo-petrol engine is the icing on the cake in terms of performance and smooth driving.

It’s so easy to forget that the car is powered by a three-cylinder engine, because its 115bhp power output is smooth and effortless.

delivery also started to grow on me. The car’s sixspeed manual gearbox SPECIFICATIONS was easy and effortless Engine 1.0 litre and for many car buyers that’s their clear desire.

Engine power 110hp The six-speed gear0 – 100km/hr 9.9 seconds box option allows the Economy 21m/litre car to cruise at 120km/

(4.8/100km or 59mpg) hr on the motorway at Fuel Tank Capacity 50 litres 2500rpm on the engine.

CO2 emissions 112g/km That level of performance always assures Road Tax Band A3 €190 economy and at times I Main Service 15,000km/12 months was achieving an econoEuro NCAP Rating 5 star (2012) my figure of 5.1l/100km Warranty 3 years /100,000km (20km/litre), which is Entry Price €23,670 traditionally what we consider to be diesel-engine T his is a car that some lengthy runs mixed economy territory.

Other than the impresbecomes a challenge for with city driving and the diesel options, initial- found that the 50 litre sive petrol engine perly for reasons economy, capacity tank gave me a formance, the new Golf and when you drive it range of almost 850km. design is mildly changed you’ll find other reasons That’s impressive and from the past with new to remember the value of not far off the rated econ- bumpers, radiator grille, omy figure of 21m/litre full-LED tail lights and petrol power.

The new level of econ- (4.8/100km or 59mpg). hidden exhaust pipes. omy is the key to the That becomes the early There are new glass growing acceptance and reason why I got to like headlight covers that success of petrol power. the new Golf power. The extend further up the I took the Golf over smoothness of the power wing of the car to give a

Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TFSi

sportier look.

The big changes, however, are to the inside with improved controls and more use of electronics to give an impressive set of dials and easier overall control of much of the car’s non-driving creature comforts.

This car is probably the most impressive Golf that I’ve driven for some years.

I had almost forgotten how much a smooth and quieter petrol engine can enhance the overall driving experience of what is a very good mid-range new Volkswagen Golf.

Entry prices start at €23,670 for the five-door 110bhp version, while a lower priced 85bhp version is also available at €22,670.

This is a Volkswagen Golf that you need to drive to re-live a petrol experience that will convert you.

20 July 2017 GAZETTE 23

Don’t skip the basic safety checks before Eur summer road trip AS summer holiday season gets into full swing, it seems that many Irish motorists are “failing to prepare”.

According to a survey by Enterprise Rent-ACar, a large proportion of Irish holidaymakers who are planning to drive their own car abroad this summer will not undertake even the most basic safety checks before setting off.

Equally, of those Irish people who plan to rent or drive another car abroad this summer, many will hop in and drive away from the airport not even knowing where all the controls are.

For Irish motorists who will be driving on holiday this year, the average distance they will cover is 612km. Of those holidaymakers, 65% will be renting a vehicle abroad while 21% are planning to drive their own car.

When asked about their experience of operating a vehicle they have never used before, a full 42% admitted they have driven away without knowing how to operate at least one of the controls on the car.

More than one-third (39%) do not check how to operate the lights, the petrol indicator (38%) or the rear-view mirror (34%).

GAZETTE

MOTORING

Skoda unveils keen pricing for Citigo SKODA’S upgraded Citigo small car has been launched in Ireland with claims of comprehensive upgrades to the exterior design along with a number of interior revisions.

This is Skoda’s entry model car and comes with a starting price from €10,995 for the threedoor version.

Exterior changes for the new range include the distinctive Skoda power dome.

The Citigo also features a fresh front radiator grille design as well as reveamped front and rear bumper designs to create a young look.

Despite its small appearance, Skoda boasts that the new Citigo has grown marginally in length.

The extra space is noticeable in the 251 litres of boot capacity, which increases to 951 litres when the rear seats are folded down.

Two modern, three-cylinder petrol engines are available. The front-transverse-mounted engines with a 1.0 litre capacity drive the front wheels.

The entry-level engine is the 1.0 MPI with 60bhp and 95 Nm of torque at 3,000 rpm.

From a standing start, it accelerates the Skoda Citigo to 100 km/h in 14.4 seconds and consumes 4.4 litres per 100km (23km/litre) on average. The second 1.0 MPI petrol engine produces 75bhp and offers a maximum torque

The Citigo is claimed to be packed full of practical features, with entry prices from €10,995.

of 95 Nm at 3,000 rpm. It accelerates to 100 km/h in 13.5 seconds and consumes 4.4 litres per 100km (23km/litre) on average.

The Citigo is available in Active and Ambition trim levels.

There is also a special edition available from launch, the Skoda Citigo Monte Carlo.

The Citigo new-generation Blues radio on Active models offer many connectivity options such as an aux-in socket, CD player and MP3

E-class revamp is top off the range

THE arrival of the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet in September sees Mercedes-Benz carry out the complete renewal of their entire E-Class model range – all within the space of a year.

The fifth and youngest member of the E-Class family brings opentop motoring and latest tech to the mid-range executive market.

This new E-Class Cabriolet has a striking front section with a lowpositioned diamond patterned radiator grille with centrally located star. Compared to its predecessor, it has grown in length, width and wheelbase, and has a height of 1428 mm.

The car comes with LED high performance headlamps, a drawn-out bonnet with power domes and fully retractable side windows. This new model gets a lower suspension set 15 mm beneath that of the saloon, while 18-inch alloy wheels are standard.

Its multilayered, fully automatic, fabric soft-top comes in colours dark brown, dark blue, dark red, and black with acoustic that claim to reduce wind and driving noise.

The soft-top can be fully opened and closed in 20 seconds when travelling at a speed of up to 50 km/h.

Boot capacity of 385 litres reduces to 310 litres when the roof is open.

Onboard tech features include the latest multimedia, touchpad, finger swipe and voice control items, along with comfort-adding draught-stop and neck-level heating systems similar to those fitted in other Mercedes-Benz open-top models.

The E-Class Cabrio will be available with a choice of petrol and diesel engines.

compatibility. From Ambition, the Swing radio includes a colour screen and a USB slot while the Move & Fun mobile phone mount and app offers information and entertainment assistance for the driver and passengers.

The app runs on the iOS and Android smart phone operating systems and provides navigation, driving data displays, hands-free phone calls and economical driving information as well as playing music and the radio.

Fiat launches new special edition Fiat 500 Mirror BESIDES marking the sixtieth anniversary of the Fiat 500, this year also sees the arrival of the special edition Fiat 500 Mirror.

This car comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ensuring that its driver–and passengers – are always connected and provided with quality content.

The introduction of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto means that users can access the main applications of their smart phones directly on the 7-inch screen of the UconnectTM system. Apple CarPlay enables iPhone users to access Apple Maps, Apple Music, messages, phone and more with Siri or the UconnectTM touch screen, while Android Auto integration also allows drivers to manage the compatible content and features on their device directly from the integrated touch screen or by using the system’s vocal commands.

The Mirror is available in a choice of five exterior colours, including Electronica Blue.

Standard equipment is extended to include speed limiter, integrated controls on the leather steering wheel and UconnectTM 7-inch HD LIVE touch screen with Bluetooth, USB-AUX IN ports and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Mirror is available as both a hatchback and a convertible, with the 1.2-litre 69hp petrol engine. The 1.2litre petrol emits just 110g/km CO2 or when combined with the Dualogic gearbox, the CO2 drops to 105g/km.

GAZETTE

24 LUCAN GAZETTE 20 July 2017

DUBLINLIFE

CINEMA

WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES: TERRIFIC TRILOGY ENDS SPECTACULARLY

ReelReviews

Furry good series gets epic ending

WAR for the Planet of the Apes (Cert 12A, 140 mins) closes off what has been perhaps the most consistent franchise in recent memory, following the surprise success of 2011’s Rise, and the dystopian adventure of its 2014 sequel.

Dawn may have come and gone, but War, again directed by Matt Reeves, finds the series at its darkest point.

A brief introductory summary skips lengthy exposition and drops us straight into the action; for the uninitiated, apes around the world have started to evolve intellectually and stand erect – some turned against humans while others simply want to live separately in peace.

The greatest threat to man, however, is the apeborne virus that has wiped out the vast majority of

 MARTIN MACNAMARA

humankind in the span of 15 years.

Following the events of Dawn, what’s left of the US military has been sent in to neutralise the ape threat.

Lead chimp Caesar’s (Andy Serkis) army are showing rapidly increased signs of intelligence but just want the war with the humans to end.

When “The Colonel” (Woody Harrelson) leads the human army into the apes’ outpost, resulting in tragedy, Caesar sets out on a quest for revenge.

War comes in at a neat two-hours and 40 minutes, packing every second of

its run time with expertly scripted moral storytelling.

This is a tale of revenge that takes on board influences from classic WWII escape movies like The Great Escape and Bridge on the River Kwai, while surpassing most contemporary war narratives with its delicate handling of themes such as man’s inhumanity to man and the ultimate futility of conflict.

With yet another incredible motion-capture performance from Serkis, War often feels like a religious parable (a “holy war”, according to The Colonel) and while it often feels melancholy, occasionally downright grim, it never grates or burdens us with melodrama.

Indeed, for all the actor has done for the medium, it’s a travesty that Serkis hasn’t yet received any

SPIDERMAN

Meet a Homecoming king SPIDEY gets a fun reboot with Homecoming (Cert 12A, 133mins), which ditches all the legacy lore which everyone already knows and just pretty much dumps Peter Parker into the action as he learns how to be a superhero, meets some legends, and otherwise does his thing without all the gloom that’s weighed down too many superhero films lately.

OKJA

Hammily enjoyable fare

Cometh the hour, cometh the ape ... Caesar (a career-best turn by Andy Serkis) takes the reins in the conclusion of the Apes trilogy. Once again, he’s the reluctant but noble leader drifting inexorably towards destroying the human race.

proper awards season recognition – even a nod is in order at this stage.

Most admirably, for all the masterful effects work in War, the film gives far more time to narrative, drama, tension and emotion than it does to big action set-pieces or messy displays of CGI a-la this month’s Transformers: The Last Night.

The creature work is deceptively real here, never more so than in the face of the aging orang-utan,

Maurice (Karin Konoval), who is quite often indistinguishable from any real life counterpart.

Harrelson’s villain is the perfect foil to Caesar’s cool-headed leader: a menacing, unhinged maniac on his own quest for revenge, waging a war in which few lives are considered sacred.

Any questioning of his command is quickly, summarily cut down. However, as with any believable villain, the reasons for

his maniacal actions are somewhat understandable. War does a great job of instilling empathy on all sides.

War rounds out the prequel trilogy in style. It may drag at times around the middle act, but all ends are tied up nicely, leading toward the unfortunately dystopian world that fans of the original know is coming.

There’s some oddly misjudged comic relief from Steve Zahn, at odds with

THERE’S been a lot of praise for Netflix’s terrific Okja (Cert 15A, 120mins), with its simultaneous cinema and, well, Netflix release sparking some extra interest. Despite its flaws (a truly terrible Jake Gyllenhaal), an otherwise great cast, peerless effects and engaging tale – plucky Korean kid goes to rescue her genetically-modified porcine pal before it becomes lunch – make it a true highlight of the year.

the darker tone of the film, but this epic, sweeping adventure is an extremely satisfying end to a series that has delivered consistently with each instalment – a rarity in this age of sequels and reboots.

Verdict: 8/10

20 July 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 25

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SPORT

Proud sponsors of the DLGFA adult championships

LADIES FOOTBALL: NEW IRELAND ASSURANCE DLGFA CHAMPIONSHIPS

MONTHLYStars Top class Have your say in July’s top Dublin club player!

THE New Ireland Assurance Player of the Month award returns for a second year, honouring the best performers from across the adult Dublin ladies football championships as the business end of the competitions comes into view.

In 2016, Ballyboden St Enda’s Emily Flanagan, Naomh Barrog’s Laura McGinley and O’Dwyer’s Shannon Richardson were among the winners for their exploits in club colours.

It’s shaping up to be another cracking summer of action with the group stages coming to a head this week in many instances.

GazetteSport will be following the action every step of the way as the race to become the 2017 Dublin champions builds month on month.

As with last year, we are seeking your help to nominate the stars from around the club game and encompasses senior, inter and all junior grades, those that make a huge impact Send in your nominations to sport@dublingazette.com by Monday, July 31, including the player’s name, club and a couple of lines about why you feel they should be up for the honour.

For July’s award winner, the nomination period will refer to the group stages to date of the New Ireland Assurance competitions.

We will announce the winner in our edition that comes out on August 3, 2017.

Dublin SFC coming to the boil  JAMES HENDICOTT

sport@dublingazette.com

THE 2017 New Ireland Assurance Dublin Ladies Gaelic football championship is reaching the sharp end with the main players coming to the fore across a busy week of action.

Senior Group A is proving hyper-competitive, meanwhile, with a strong Kilmacud Crokes team holding a slim advantage after their first three games to assure their passage into the playoff places as they added a comfortable win over Na Fianna; their third of the group.

Fingallians are their closest challengers in terms of points – the Swords’ side have stepped up hugely this year, and lost by only a single point when they visited Stillorgan in Group A’s second

round back in May. Having then drawn with Na Fianna, the new challengers have smashed no less than ten goals in their last two fixtures.

They hit four against bottom side Clanna Gael Fontenoy in a 13 point win, before smashing local rivals and their main threat for a knockout place, St Sylvester’s, hitting six goals in a 6-15 to 4-7 win last week that seems to paint them as the side with the momentum.

But they will need Kilmacud Crokes to do them a favour if they’re to qualify, though, as the top club face St Sylvester’s in the last round of group matches, with Sylvester’s needing a win to progress.

Should Crokes grab the win they need to copper-fasten top spot, a

Foxrock Cabinteely moved a step closer to retaining their title. Picture: GAAPics.com

free-flowing Fingallians side will travel to holders Foxrock Cabinteely come semi-final time, with a tasty contest between Ballyboden St Enda’s and local rivals Kilmacud Crokes the likely outcome on the other side of the draw.

Progression Fox Cab and Ballyboden both advanced to the knock-out stages of the competition, doing so with a game to spare each courtesy of the outcome of Monday’s sched-

ule of fixtures.

A struggling Parnells side were forced to concede their game against Ballyboden St Enda’s on Monday night, a default that effectively condemns St Brigid’s, and puts Ballyboden level at the top of their Senior Group B table with an unstoppable-looking Foxrock Cabinteely.

Ballyboden will argue they would very likely have won anyway, however.

Parnells are looking firm favourites to fin-

ish last, having previously been hit for 9-17 by Thomas Davis, who in turn were comfortably beaten by a scoreline of 2-12 to 0-2 by holders Foxrock Cabinteely on Monday night.

Having lost to both Ballyboden and Foxrock Cabinteely in critical games earlier in the season St Brigid’s – who missed out by the mere width of a dying-seconds shot onto the crossbar to the Foxes in last year’s Dublin final – are on the outside this time around.

20 July 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 29

GAZETTE

FASTSport

Coolock’s Boylan stars in Ireland box lacrosse team  BERNARD DUFF

COOLOCK’S Ciaran Boylan played a starring role in the Ireland lacrosse team that competed in Finland last week at the European Box Lacrosse Championships.

He learned the game with UCD lacrosse club and now plays for Dublin and was competing in his second tournament where Ireland finished a creditable sixth out of 14 nations in the city of Turku.

“Facilities in Finland are great. The competition has a great vibe. Ice hockey nations like Finland and Czech Republic are very strong at Box Lacrosse,” Boylan said of the experience. “For me, I feel like a more experience player since my first tournament in Syracuse in 2015 and as I get more floor time I can connect the dots now.”

Boylan contributed with 7 goals over the weeklong tournament including two hat tricks.

Bridging the gap between two continents is the challenge of Ireland Lacrosse. With a ruling that no more that 49% of players may be heritage players, it means that Irish based players and predominantly North American players make up a diverse national side.

A series of planned trials and team sessions was the prelude to the Ireland team competing in Finland last week. Box Lacrosse an indoor variant of field lacrosse played on ice hockey arena, albeit sans ice over 60 minutes.

In the group games Ireland beat Serbia 11-5 with Luke Coppinger scoring four. They thrashed Turkey 29-2 with Boylan being Man of the Match.

Ireland lost 7-18 to eventual champions Israel in the last group game, an opponent who have an extensive heritage setup.

Germany beat Ireland in the quarters and Ireland eventually met old rivals England in the 5th/6th Placement match losing a creditable 17-12.

Ireland coach Jeff Dowling said: “For the 2019 World Cup, I want at least one of our coaching team to get over to Ireland every summer and work with the Irish players. We do need to a better turnout to the trials!”

He praised Boylan, saying “he has stepped up this year in offence”.

McElligott transformed and up for everything Former St Patrick’s Athletic and Ballymun United man talks about how he got his life back on track following the loss of his leg and how he is looking forward to every new challenge  JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

STARRING in RTE TV show Operation Transformation, Christy McElligott’s life has been thoroughly transformed.

McElligott played soccer for St Patrick’s Athletic and the Ireland junior side, and was turning out for Ballymun United when he was involved in a horrific car accident on his way to a match in 2001.

McElligott’s vehicle was struck by a truck on a narrow country road in Wexford, and the footballer lost his right leg almost immediately, and

was forced to crawl from his vehicle as it caught fire at the scene.

Unsur prisingly, he gained weight in the aftermath. By the time McElligott appeared on Operation Transformation as a team leader in 2017, he felt extremely unhealthy.

He lost four stone within the eight week show, citing the RTE cameras as a major motivating factor in forcing him through the process.

“The experience was life changing,” McElligott recalls. “If I’m honest I loved having people do so much for me after the accident. You’re saying to yourself ‘this is brilliant’,

but you don’t think of the consequences. Operation Transformation gave me all the tools I needed to move forward. It was a battle afterwards to keep going, but you have to do it for yourself.”

A year later, McElligott is very much back into sport, having recently made his debut for the Ireland amputee soccer team, whom he’ll also be representing in the first ever amputee European Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, later this year. Ahead of that, he’s focused on cycling.

“The Sport Ireland Tour Of Meath reached out to me and asked me if I’d like

Christy McElligott with Mr Tayto and his new hand-cycle at the launch of the Sport Ireland Tour of Meath. Register at meathsports.ie/cycle-tour for full information.

to take part,” McElligott explains. “They’ve been really great, setting me up with a bike and talking to me about the event.

“I’ll be riding a hand cycle, which is different.

It’s a lot of strain on my chest and arms, but I’m getting better at it. I’m up to 20km in training.

“I’ll be doing the 11km family race on the Saturday, which can be signed up for on the morning of the event, and I’m thinking I the organisers are keen for me to go for the 50km on the Sunday, too.

“It’s further than I’ve ever gone by a long way, but I think it’s worth a try. It’s tough, because when most people cycle they’re using their two biggest muscles.

Obviously I’m not.

“I used to be the person who would say no to things like this. I’m really open to suggestion on them now. I’d like to do an event for charity, for example, because I’ve received so much help.

Maybe next time around I’ll do that.”

As well as the 11km and 50km, the Tour Of Meath will also offer races at 100km and 160kms, aimed at exploring what McElligott describes as “really beautiful countryside” around the Royal county. The races take place on July 29th and 30th, with the bigger distances on the 30th.

Cyclists age six and up are welcome, providing they don’t need stabilisers, with age limits varying depending on

the distance of the event entered. Cheaper sign up is available in advance via the website.

McElligott’s progress in the soccer is equally impressive. “I played a tournament at UL, where we played against Everton, Manchester City and Partick Thistle,” he recalls of his return to the competitive amputee soccer game about eight weeks ago, having previously managed an Irish side at the World Cup. “I scored two goals against Manchester City, which I was very pleased with. There’s a great community about amputee soccer events, and it’s really great to be back involved as a player.

“Through all this experience, the one thing that never changed after my accident was my love of football, and that’s a common theme amongst the players. It’s a friendly, supportive community off the pitch, but once you get into the game people take it just as seriously as any other game.”

As for the future? “I’m really open to suggestion on what I do next,” McElligott concludes. “I’m not going to disregard anything now, like I did before. It doesn’t mean I’ll do everything that’s put in front of me, of course.

“There’s only one of me. But I won’t be disregarding any idea at all before it’s even come into my head.” Life, clearly, has changed very much for the better.

GAZETTE

30 LUCAN GAZETTE 20 July 2017

SPORT

FASTSport

SOCCER: CRUMLIN LEGEND MAKES THE SWITCH TO AIRLIE HEIGHTS

Ryan Doyle Taipei-bound with Irish universities LUCAN native Eleanor Ryan Doyle has been selected in the 20-strong Colleges and Universities side to take part in the University Games in Taipei next month.

The Peamount United striker has been in fine form in the Women’s National League this season, scoring three times since making the move back to Greenogue from UCD Waves.

She is among three representatives from Blanch IT with two players in the men’s squad that will travel at the same time in the form of Firhouse Clover goalkeeper Ian Molloy and Drogheda United midfielder Jamie Hollywood.

Lucan native Ryan Doyle spearheaded Blanch’s attack as they were crowned WSCAI Division Two champions following a 4-2 victory over Cork IT in Kilkenny in March.

The 19-year-old scored hat-tricks in each of her side’s three games, including one in the final as the game ended 3-3 after extra time, as the northside college were crowned champions.

Senior international team manager Colin Bell will lead Ireland into the tournament, where they will face Mexico and Canada in the group stages.

“We’ve had several training sessions with the players and the standard has been really high, so there have been a few players unfortunate to miss out on the final squad,” Bell said.

“I’m really looking forward to working with these players throughout the tournament where we not only want to be successful but also help to develop these players for potential international squads in the future.”

Former Leeds United and Longford Town goalkeeper Ian Molloy was part of the Firhouse squad that avoided relegation in LSL Senior Sunday this year.

He helped the Tallaght club reach the quarterfinals of the Leinster Senior Cup, where they’ll meet St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park later this month.

Hollywood is a former Bohemians under-19 who joined up with Pete Mahon’s Drogs at the beginning of the current season, debuting as a sub against Finn Harps in early July.

Both squads travel to the island off China on August 11 and spend a week in training before kicking off their respective campaigns on Friday, August 18. The women’s side open against Mexico before facing Canada.

James Lee, second from right, lifts the FAI intermediate cup trophy with Crumlin in 2015. Picture: David Maher/Sportsfile

Lee links up with Lucan United  DAVE DONNELLY sport@dublingazette.com

LUCAN United have pulled off the transfer coup of the Leinster Senior League off-season with the capture of the decorated midfielder James Lee from Crumlin United.

The 32-year-old will bring a weight of experience to John Doyle’s side, having been part of a Crumlin team that won five Sunday Senior titles and four FAI Intermediate Cups in his ten years there.

He links up with his former Dublin Bus teammates Alan McGovern, who coaches at Lucan,

and Sean Nolan, after Doyle sold him on his plan to take the club up from Senior 1A. “We’ve played one friendly at the weekend – we beat the Guards 7-0 – and it looks promising.

There’s still work to do on it. John wouldn’t be shy in saying that,” Lee told GazetteSport.

“A few good players there have already impressed me quite a lot, but he has a bit of recruitment to do. As I said to him, if I make the move I at least want to challenge for promotion.”

He won’t be the only leader in the dressing room as ex-Shelbourne man Mark Rutherford

LEINSTER LEADERS Hermitage duo shine in provincial title victory HERMITAGE Golf Club members Ciara Casey (with the Ladies Interprovincial Trophy) and Kate Lanigan (Girls Interprovincial Trophy) celebrate following a brilliant weekend after they helped the province to a double victory in the 2017 ILGU Interprovincial Matches at Shannon Golf Club last week.

The senior women won the title for the first time since 2014 with a 6.5 to 1.5 win over Connacht. In the girls foursomes, Leinster closed out the tournament with 6.5 to 0.5 win over the western province. Picture: Pat Cashman

still patrols the left wing at the ripe age of 45 – “my god, what a man,” says Lee. There’ll be no link-up with former Crumlin midfield partner Martin Cramer, who decided to call it a day at the end of the last season, but not before encouraging his friend to sign up.

Apart from a short spell with hometown club Collinstown last season, Lee has spent the whole of the last decade with Martin Loughran’s Crumlin.

And he leaves with the blessing of Loughran, who recognised the player he brought in from Esker Celtic in 2007 was ready to move on to a new chal-

lenge.

“Martin almost felt disgusted that I was taking that decision last year. He told me, ‘you’re making the wrong move – you’ll be back’. And, ultimately, he was right.

“When I made the move last year, I felt, ‘did I make the right decision here?’ My mind was more clouded last year. It’s clear in my mind that it’s the right time.”

Lee’s most enjoyable time at Crumlin was the 2010 season, when one of the best sides Sunday Senior has seen won the league and three cups – not bad considering he almost didn’t sign up.

“The standout season

was the 2010 one where we cleaned up. We got to four finals and won the league – we lost one of the finals.

“Probably the best squad ever seen in the Leinster Senior League, I’ve heard from a lot of people before my time.

“It was June 2007 I joined Crumlin, after agreeing a handshake to join Bluebell. I wasn’t feeling it at Bluebell and once I went up and did one training session with Crumlin, I signed straight away.

“That said, the Bluebell manager at the time, Liam Reilly, wasn’t too impressed when he got the phone call!”

20 July 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 31

GAZETTE

TRIATHLON BENEFITS Cullen helps launch GLS’s new four-year link-up ALL-IRELAND football winning captain Bryan Cullen was on hand to launch parcel service

provider GLS’s four-year sponsorship deal with Triathlon Ireland at Luttrellstown Golf Club this week.

Cullen intends to compete in the Dublin City Triathlon in the Phoenix Park at the end of August and said of the sport: “The diversity of swimming, cycling, and running makes triathlon the ultimate personal challenge, and offers a tremendous health, fitness and social aspect too.”

Picture: Barry Cronin

CLUB NOTICEBOARD LUCAN SARSFIELDS HIGHLIGHT of the week must be the jun-

is sponsored by Newcastle Golf Centre.

ior footballers semi-final win in their

Tickets can be purchased online, at the

championship. It finished Lucan 1-19 to

club, in Carey’s Newsagents or in Vesey

St Margarets 1-7. There were also wins

Arms or Kenny’s Bar.

for the senior footballers against St Syl-

The club bar will be closed on Monday,

vester’s, bringing them to nine points in

Tuesday and Friday nights until the end

Division 1. Safe yet?

of August.

The intermediate footballers were

Other days remain unaffected. If any-

also in winning ways, taking the points

one requires the bar or function room

from St Brigid’s on Saturday evening.

for any event, just contact bar staff on

Summer camps are in full swing and

Thursday night.

the favourable weather has made them

Lucan Sarsfields Golf Society’s next

even more enjoyable. Thanks to David

outing will take place at Tulfarris Golf

Moran and all his team for making it

Club on Saturday, July 22 from 9.30am

enjoyable for all involved.

to 10.50am. New members are always

The postponed car draw will take

very welcome.

place on the night of August 26 when

The annual family fun day, originally

Aslan play at Lucan Sarsfields. Tick-

scheduled for Saturday, July 1 has now

ets for Aslan are available online from

been moved to later in the summer.

ticketmaster.ie while tickets for the car draw are available at the club.

Senior Hurlers are at home on Saturday evening next to Naomh Olaf.

Last week, there was no winner of the €7,000 lotto and the numbers were 5, 16, 22 and 23. This week’s €7,400 draw will be managed by Team Frank Flemming and

Bingo continues on Wednesdays at 8pm in the club bar.

The club shop is closed for its summer break. Items can still be purchased online or in O’Neill’s shop on the Long Mile Road.

Lucan District Credit Union Academy are also on their summer break.

ST PAT’S, PALMERSTOWN

FOOTBALL: SARS HAVE 10 POINTS TO SPARE IN SEMI-FINAL

A GREAT week for camogie in the club

The minor hurlers had a strong per-

through all age groups. St Pat’s U-13

formance and super win against St Vin-

camogie player Rachel Walsh played

cent’s on Sunday morning at home. Well

all five games for Dublin camogie U-14s

done to the players.

when they won the C Division shield,

Our Cul Camp took place last week

Lucan sweep into Junior C decider

beating Tipp 4-3 to 0-4. Great achieve-

from Monday to Friday with great num-

ment Rachel.

bers taking part and enjoying a great

St Margaret’s Lucan Sarsfields  sport@dublingazette.com

Their next group matches are at 7.30pm

Our next club function is the golf

Thursday in Crumlin. All support wel-

classic on September 1 at the Hermit-

come.

age golf club with entertainment for all

JCFC SEMI-FINAL

1-9 1-19

LUCAN Sarsfields eased into the final of the Dublin Junior C Football Championship with a comfortable 1-19 to 1-9 win away to St Margaret’s last week.

John Doyle was the sta r man as he l ed the scoring with eight points, five from open play, while Cian Tornsey registered 1-2 as the west Dublin side booked a final clash with St Brigid’s.

Sars were out of reach

by the time of the half time whistle as they built up a commanding 1-14 to 0-4 lead by the half-hour mark to take a 13-point lead going into the dressing rooms.

They managed only five more points in the second period as they took their foot off the pedal but nevertheless emerged resounding tenpoint winners in a game they never looked likely to lose.

Lucan raced into a five-point lead within the first ten minutes as Doyle notched three points, one from a free, along with two more from Alan

Parson and Mark Moran without reply from the home side.

Margaret’s did belatedly get off the mark with a pair of quickfire scores before Doyle added his fourth point and another from Niall McKiernan restored the five-point cushion.

Sarsfields began to pull away then as Cian To r s n e y b a g g e d t h e game’s opening goal in the 15th minute as he sidestepped the keeper and slotted in after a strong run and pass from McKiernan.

Torsney added two more before the break

and Doyle his sixth, and Maggies doubled their tally as Sars all but wrapped up the tie at the break.

Margarets came out fighting in the second half and registered two early points but their challenge soon fell by the wayside and Doyle brought his tally to eight points with two more converted frees.

Sarsfields will meet St Brigid’s in the final on August 28 after Dermot Reidy punched into the net with the last touch of the game to seal a win for the Ashtown club over Garristown.

Congratulations to Sadhbh Duffy who was part of the Dublin minor B camogie

week. A big thank you to all the coaches and organisers for all their hard work.

team who beat Meath in the champion-

Thanks to everyone who came along

ship with a score of 4-8 to 1-10 of which

to celebrate the successes of our senior

Sadhbh scored a fab three goals. Well

camogie team at their awards presen-

done Sadhbh, brilliant performance.

tation on Saturday in the Palmerstown

Our senior team had a great start

House.

to their adult 7s on Thursday winning

This was followed by a chance to relive

against Whitehall and Crumlin and com-

our OsKaRs fundraiser as we broadcast

ing away with a draw against Cuala.

all seven movies on their screens.

Senior footballers had two matches

afterwards at the Hermitage clubhouse.

this week with a brilliant win against

Those interested in putting in teams and

Erin’s Isle. In their match against Round

sponsorship can email the club secre-

Towers, after a strong first half from St

tary for information.

Pat’s, Round Towers took the lead in the second half to go on and win the match.

Our lotto numbers for July 16 were: 3,



15, 17 and 26. There was no winner.

GOT A STORY? WE WANT TO KNOW!

Call our SPORT TEAM on 60 10 240 and SELECT OPTION 3

or email sport@dublingazette.com

32 LUCAN GAZETTE 20 July 2017