Lucan

Gazette LUCAN

July 6 - 12, 2017

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Gorgeous Greece has it all – food, culture, history and sizzling sun!

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CINEMA: Netflix’s Okja Is a must-see movie masterpiece Page 24

GOING OUT IN STYLE BRIDE:

LUCAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE GRADUATION

IN THE NAME OF LOVE Council moves to tackle growing rat problem SEE PAGE 7

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Coghlan signed up

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Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

 MARK O’BRIEN THE Council says it will be taking steps to council last Tuesday week. combat a rodent problem in the Old Forge Cllr O’Toole said she had been contacted and Grange Manor area of Lucan. by a number of concerned residents who Cllr Liona O’Toole raised the issue at had spotted rodents in their gardens.

Continues on Page 8 the Lucan Area Committee Meeting of the

2 LUCAN GAZETTE 6 July 2017

POLITICS | PAUL GOGARTY ON HIS PLANS NOW THAT HE’S MAYOR

‘My focus will be on a more inclusive county’  MARK O’BRIEN

South Dublin’s new Mayor, Paul Gogarty

THE new Mayor of South Dublin has said that he hopes to promote a positive message of “A Healthy County – A Sustainable County – A Listening County” during his time in office.

Cllr Paul Gogarty (Ind) was elected Mayor at the annual meeting of South Dublin County Council held on Friday, June 30 in County Hall, Tallaght.

Cllr Gogarty was proposed for the top role by councillors Liona O’Toole (Ind) and Danny O’Brien (SF) Following a roll call vote, Cllr Gogarty was then elected to the office

of Mayor.

In nominating Cllr Gogarty, Cllr O’Toole said: “Paul has been a vigorous campaigner over the years and helped to stop housing being built along the sensitive Liffey Valley amenity lands when he famously organised a community-led plebiscite on the issue across the Lucan community.

“Paul has also been an outspoken critic of political cronyism and corruption.

“He was the only politician, long before it became popular to do so, to seek an investigation

by An Garda Siochana into Senator Ivor Callely’s phone expense claims, which ultimately led to a prison sentence.”

In his acceptance speech, Cllr Gogarty outlined what he hopes to achieve in his year in office.

He said: “I want to highlight the work of the many volunteers in our communities who work tirelessly to improve the lives of our citizens.

“I want to bring the work of these selfless volunteers to the fore so that others may be inspired by their good works and follow suit.

“I want to showcase the many services already available in our county to help people develop their minds or improve their fitness.

“I want to promote the benefits of healthy eating and exercise on physical and mental well-being and look at ways of helping people to develop healthy habits that will help their reach their personal and professional goals.”

Cllr Gogarty told The Gazette he hoped to particularly focus on the health and mental wellbeing of young people.

He said: “We have terrible problems with mental

health amongst our young people. What I want to promote are things like exercise, a healthy mind and good diet. These are all things that contribute to healthy habits.”

He added that he felt sport played a crucial part in both physical and mental well-being and he hoped to find ways to keep young people involved in sport.

“There’s a huge dropout rate amongst girls, in particular in the teenage years, so anything that can be done to keep people in sport is huge.”

He added that he wanted to enable people to submit ideas that would make South Dublin a --------------------------

FASTNews

Group presents €2,200 to help youth mental health MARTIN Donohoe, on behalf of Crosscare, was delighted to collect a cheque for more than €2,200 to help with its youth mental health services for the public. The funds were raised by the Catholic Youth Organisation of the African Chaplaincy, with a number of its members gathered to present Martin with a cheque for €2296.20.

The group made presentations in selected local churches in Lucan, Clondalkin, Tallaght, Balbriggan, Blanchardstown, Phibsboro and Swords, targeting more than 500 congregants.

The funds were raised to support youth mental health services, with the group also producing a leaflet to support families that may be struggling with youth mental health issues.

It is also planning a bonding day trip to help build strong friendships to aid mental health.

All welcome at the Donal Donnelly tribute night

‘It’s fair to say ... it’s not every South Dublin Mayor that would get as much coverage as I did’

FRIENDS of Jazz Freaks musician Donal Donnelly have announced a tribute night for the Leixlip man, to be held in the Riverforest Hotel, Leixlip, this Saturday, July 8.

There will be no admittance charge, but guests and locals will have the option of buying raffle tickets for €5, with plenty of fabulous prizes on offer.

Those who can’t make it can still purchase tickets by contacting Eddie Finn at 085 137 9922, or Peter Bermingham at 087 926 1965. Tickets are also available in Kenny’s Pub, Lucan, and the Salmon Leap Inn, Leixlip, where Donal and The Jazz Freaks performed some of their most memorable gigs.

better place to live, and he wanted to continue to push to make South Dublin a more sustainable and environmentally-conscious county.

Cllr Gogarty’s election drew considerable media attention due to an infamous exchange with Emmet Stagg in the Dail when he was a TD, but he said that he also hopes to turn this incident into a positive while serving as the new mayor.

He said: “It’s fair to say in terms of national media, it’s not every South Dublin Mayor that would get as much coverage as I did.

“More people would know that I’m mayor [now], so it does give me the opportunity to use my profile in a positive way.”

Des Kelly Interiors winner collects her €500 voucher

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WE WERE floored by the terrific reader response to our €500 Des Kelly Interiors voucher competition.

The voucher winner Phil Torsney, is pictured collecting her prize from Des Kelly’s Long Mile Road store manager, Jonathan Donovan.

Congratulations on winning, Phil – and keep entering our great giveaways, folks!

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

6 July 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 3

PEOPLE: TOWN PAYS TRIBUTE TO WELL-KNOWN COMMUNITY FIGURE ON HER RETIREMENT

Lovely lollipop lady legend Josie gets a sweet send-off  MARK O’BRIEN THE retirement of a lollipop lady described as “a true Lucan legend” captured the hearts of the nation last week.

Josie Brennan had been the lollipop lady for St Mary’s BNS for the past 17 years before retiring last week.

An emotional video posted on the St Mary’s BNS Facebook page shows an emotional Josie being applauded by parents, students and teachers on her last day in the job.

The video has since been viewed over more than 37,000 times.

Josie was a popular figure who was said to know every one of the school’s 500 pupils by name.

In a statement on their Facebook page, St Mary’s BNS said: “The

most loved lollipop lady in Ireland retires today.

“Josie would like to thank all the boys, parents and staff for all the kind wishes and the love shown to her. She kept our boys safe for the last 17 years. Best wishes on your retirement, Josie.”

Locals were quick to add their tributes to the popular woman on social media.

“Josie we will all miss you so much, a true Lucan legend. Happy retirement,” wrote one user.

The universal love for Josie was echoed by other users, with one writing: “Happy retirement Josie.

You will be missed.

“Come hail rain and sunshine you got so many kids and parents across the road safely with always a welcome. Thank you. You have left very big shoes to be filled.”

Another added: “The kindest lady. And you knew every child’s name. Always a smile and a chat for us and our boys.”

Everyone at The Gazette would like to wish Josie all the very best on her retirement.

An emotional Josie Brennan is applauded and gets a very well deserved hug as she retires. Stills: St Mary’s BNS Facebook

4 LUCAN GAZETTE 6 July 2017

COMMUNITY | NEW INITIATIVE TO LET LGBT PEOPLE KNOW THEY ARE WELCOME

Esker boxing club weighs in behind inclusiveness  MARK O’BRIEN ESKER Amateur Boxing Club have begun the launch of an initiative that would allow clubs and organisations to visibly demonstrate that they are welcoming to young LGBT people.

The club – which is run

by Ed Griffin, Mick Kelly, Paschal Joyce and Eileen Toohey – are working on a logo that they have dubbed “OutStraight”

that clubs can add to their own literature to show that they are welcoming to all.

Ed told The Gazette that the club hoped it would act as reassurance to young LGBT people that they would be warmly welcomed at the boxing club.

He said: “There’s nothing like it in the country.

We just thought it would be a good thing to say we’re open to everybody.”

The club are currently in discussions with LGBT groups for young people and hope that they will back the idea.

Ed said that he hoped that once the boxing club used the logo, other clubs would follow suit.

“We’d hope that you would see rugby, soccer and GAA clubs [using it].”

Ed added that he thought LGBT sports clubs had done excep-

tional work in allowing young LGBT people to participate in sport, but he hoped that the OutStraight logo would send the message that all sports clubs were open to people, regardless of their sexual orientation.

“If some young kid is finding it hard to get into a club or are intimidated about coming into a club, it might be something above the door that they can look at and say, ‘At least when I go in there, they’ve thought about this issue and I know the door is open’,” he said.

As far as Esker Boxing Club is concerned, sporting prowess is all that they

Esker Amateur Boxing Club: ‘We’re open to everybody’

are concerned about.

“If they’re good at sport or they’re good at boxing, that’s all we care about,” Ed added.

The club hope to roll out the logo later this week, and hope to share

it with any club across the country that would be interested in using it.

Ed said that he hoped it would send out the message that: “This is our club and it’s open to everybody.”

Sweet sounds at The Sugar Club courtesy of gospel choir

THERE were some heavenly sounds with a twist at the Sugar Club recently courtesy of The Maynooth Gospel Choir. The talented members turned to Beatles songs for an unusual set list, with their gospel skills giving a whole new sound to the Fab Four’s catalogue. Ruth O’Connor, John Moore and Emer Phelan joined their choirmates to deliver an evening that left listeners on cloud nine. Founded in 2007, the choir has performed alongside a diverse range of stars, including Jack L, Brian Kennedy, Niamh Kavanagh, the Harlem Gospel Choir and many more. Picture: Aisling Conway

FASTNews

Appeal for help after burglary GARDAI are seeking the public’s help in relation to a burglary at a shop in Lucan Retail Park in the early hours of Thursday, June 29.

At approximately 1:50am, a car with ladders on the roof and a black van entered the car park. A number of suspects then proceeded to take approximately 50 TVs and a safe containing a small amount of cash from the premises.

Gardai are appealing for any witnesses who may have been in the Lucan Retail Park area between the hours of 1:30-3:30am to contact Lucan Garda Station at 01 666 7300, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any garda station.

School sings out about its year LUCAN-based Lisa Price Singing and Music School have staged their end of year concert at the Moat Theatre in Naas.

Their show was called, Broadway to Billboard, billed as a trip down memory lane with the school’s students.

The well received show featured a programme of chart hits through the ages, alongside Broadway musical classics.

Adding to the school’s upbeat vibe, students completed Royal Irish Academy of Music exams this year with what the school called “fabulous results”.

They also tasted success once again this year in national competitions, with winners and runners-up in talent search competitions.

Lisa was also selected for the Teacher Mentoring Scheme this year with Royal Irish Academy of Music.

6 July 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 5

6 LUCAN GAZETTE 6 July 2017

Out and About

Class O’Driscoll 2017 Eiscir Riada students join together to celebrate the raising of their Active flag

Flag raised high to the sky at the Eiscir Riada school in Lucan

S

TUDENTS took part in a morning Active flag raising ceremony at Eiscir Riada in Lucan. As part of the celebrations, some members of the camogie team were awarded with medals for their attendance at the camogie championship. Caoimhe Ni Cheallaigh and Erin Heidhin (below right) were given the chance to raise the flag for their school. Principal Damhnait Ui Ruairl (below, left) and teacher Treasa Ni Mhadagain gave a speech to the pupils to explain why it was such a special day for the school. At the end of the ceremony, all the students took part in singing an Irish song to mark the occasion.

Congratulating overall Student of the College 2017, Cara Smith, Martina Feeney and Ciara Kavanagh

Time for students to say their goodbyes L

Principal Damhnait Ui Ruairl gives a

UCAN Community College sixth years graduated at a special evening and awards ceremony at the school. All of the teachers and tutors were immensely proud of the students who graduated that night and have now completed their Leaving Certificate and hopefully will reap their rewards for the tremendous hard work and enthusiasm over the past six years.

speech

Raising the flag: Erin Heidhin and Caoimhe NiĚ Cheallaigh

A pupil gives the great ceremony a thumbs-up. Pictures: Joao Perussi

Dean Gahan-Connolly

Young pupils get into the spirit of the day

The group of sixth year Student of the Year finalists 2017

6 July 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 7

8 LUCAN GAZETTE 6 July 2017

RODENTS | RESIDENTS URGED TO REMOVE ITEMS WHICH MAY PROVIDE FOOD SOURCE

Fears that development works will displace rats  FROM PAGE 1 “There’s an increase of rodents in the area,” she said.

“A lot of people have seen them in their gardens.”

Residents were concerned that development work at the nursing home on Hayden’s Lane would lead to the

displacement of more rodents.

“We put the motion in discussing the rodent issue to make sure that we have a proper plan in place to reduce any possibility of rodents when there are already reports of people witnessing them in their back gardens,” said Cllr O’Toole.

In response to the

motion, South Dublin County Council said: “The rodent issue in the area will be highlighted to the developer of the nursing home with a view to them establishing a pest control plan on site for the duration of the construction works.

“To reduce the existing problem of rats

in the area we would encourage all households to remove any items which may provide both harbourage and food sources. “ T h i s c a n i n cl u d e accumulations of domestic waste in gardens and also compost heaps and vegetation.

“If accumulations of domestic waste are

present in neighbouring properties gardens please contact the Environmental Health Department and we can investigate these complaints.

“The Environmental Health Department can be contacted on 01 468 6375.

“If waste is present on the street or other public areas South Dublin County Council should b e c o n t a c t e d o n 01 4149000.

“The HSE offer a free pest control service which is available to householders to bait

their private residential properties.

“This service can be availed of by calling 1850 211 774 or alternatively 076 6955057.”

C l l r O ’ To o l e we l comed the proactive response of the council and reminded residents that pest control services were available to all residents.

“A lot of people don’t know that you are entitled to get the assistance through the Environmental Department regardless of whether it’s private or local authority housing,” she said.

Hands up if you like fun runs

A 5k inflatable obstacle course comes to St Catherine’s Park for the first time on July 8.

The Super Milk Wild Air Run can be undertaken by all fitness levels and the focus is on fun, not endurance.

It can be undertaken by the fitness fanatic right through to the armchair athlete and everyone in between.

The 10 obstacles combine agility, creativity and a vast amount of fun. The event is for both adults and children, from seven years and up.

Tickets for the Run are on sale now at www. wildairrun.com.

Full priced tickets are €32.50 for adults and €18.50 for children.

For more information and to buy tickets visit www.wildairrun.com.

Oasis star set for Halloween festival

SOME might say that Lucan will be the place to be this Halloween with the announcement that Liam Gallagher is coming to town.

Gallagher will headline the Sunday of Samhain Festival, which takes place at Weston Airport on October 28 and 29.

He will be supported by The Strypes and TOUTS while Annie Mac will headline the first day of the festival.

Gallagher is known all around the world due to being the former frontman of Oasis.

The band were known as much for the feuding between Liam and his brother Noel.

They finally split in 2009 and while their iconic back catalogue is sure to live forever in the hearts of music fans, the chances of a reunion between the brothers looks slimmer than ever after Liam recently criticised Noel for being half the world away instead of joining him at the One Love Manchester concert.

Liam has shown that despite the split, he that he was determined not to slide away from the public consciousness.

After Oasis split, he fronted the band Beady Eye until their split in 2014.

He recently released his first solo single ‘Wall of Glass’ and this will be followed by his debut solo album ‘As You Were’ on October 6.

And as it’s Halloween, fancy dress is encouraged at the festival.

Tickets priced €59.50 inclusive of booking fee go on sale at 9am on July 7 from www.ticketmaster.ie

6 July 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 9

10 GAZETTE 6 July 2017

Out and About

Marguerite Savage with her daughters Chloe and Amy Savage

Angi Crispe with Nigel Duffy and Julie Farrar. Pictures: Robbie Reynolds

Food blogger and author Indy Power

Sharing the laughs – Jenny

Jeeny Maltese and Tom Coleman

Sarah Clarke and Siobhan Tiernan

Fans Will’s F

UNNYMAN Will Ferrell’s latest comedy, The House, drew plenty of fans to its premier at Cineworld recently, where they lapped up the laughs as lady luck did any-

John Healy, chef Mark McCarthy and food stylist Jette Virdi

The recipe for a great summer

F

OOD blogger and author Indy Power had plenty of culinary tips to help inspire people in their kitchens at the Musgrave MarketPlace “Summer Food Stories” event in Ballymun. Expert food stylist Jette Virdi shared top tricks for food styling and the benefits it brings to businesses while Irish Chef Mark McCarthy gave guests a taste of notable food trends.

Raymond Keogh and Simon Mur

rphy

6 July 2017 GAZETTE 11

Deborah Leonard and Marie Joseph

Dixon, Romy Carroll and Paula Grehan at the film’s preview screening. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

go Ferrell for latest comedy

thing but smile on the comic in his new film.

Also starring Amy Poehler, The House tells of a couple who lose their daughter’s college fund, so they come up with the idea of starting an illegal

casino in their basement. Their gamble doesn’t quite go to plan, however, with

Holly White and Leanne Woodfull

Catherine Cummins and Rory Dignam. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

things things soon spinning out of control even faster than a roulette wheel ...

An aromatic way to mark a launch

Louise McDermott, Karla Stein and Nas Ghaedi

Louise Ahern and Kelly Power

F Eva Griffin and Zoe Yohn

RAGRANCE lovers were out in force at The Morrison Hotel recently for the launch of Aura Mugler. Described as a woody, aromatic fragrance for women, the fragrance features rhubarb leaf, tiger liana, orange blossom, bour-

Marrita Coyne and PJ Gibbons

bon vanilla and wolfwood notes, with greenery at the launch emphasising the fresh, natural tones of the new scent. As Mugler rarely launches a new scent, the launch was well attended by followers of fashion and fragrances alike.

GAZETTE

12 GAZETTE 6 July 2017

DUBLINBUSINESS

ESB supports charities with €322,226 aid

ESB has donated €43,000 to three worthy organisations, Blossom Ireland, The Salvation Army and The Iveagh Trust, marking the Energy for Generations Fund spring funding round. The Fund has awarded more than €11 million and supported over 700 Irish charities since 2005.

So far in 2017, the ESB Energy for Generations Fund has awarded €322,226 to 38 charities working in the areas of

suicide, homelessness and educational access and support.

ESB’s Energy for Generations Fund is open to organisations within the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. For more information visit www.esb.ie Pictured are Stephen Potter, Salvation Army; Auveen Bell, Blossom Ireland; Pat Fenlon, finance director ESB and Paul Harrisson,The Iveagh Trust. Photo Chris Bellew /Fennell Photography

How can you prevent social media from damaging your career prospects

Social media mistakes that damage careers PROMO PADS | SOFTWARE AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING POSITIONS

Digital menu builder to create jobs at new office PROMO Pads, a company that produces digital menus for businesses, has announced its plans to hire 60 Leinster-based employees over the next three years.

Promo Pads are actively recruiting to fill a number of software development vacancies in their offices in Newbridge.

These will be focused on technology development, primarily software and electronic engineering with additional roles in sales, marketing and customer support.

Diarmaid Murphy, CEO of Promo Pads commented: “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Promo Pads’ launch than with a

commitment to growth. I look forward to welcoming new team members and I am so excited for the successes that are yet to come!”

He added: “We believe that our staff do their best work when they have a healthy work/life balance. By locating in Kildare we save employees living outside Dublin up to 4 hours commuting and we are only 30 minutes or less for employees travelling from the Dublin area on public transport or against the majority of traffic.

“K ildare offers us access to the highest calibre people living in every direction.”

We’re a nation of forgetful homemakers, study shows AROUND 24% of Dubliners have admitted to forgetting to turn off the immersion regularly.

The study of 1,010 Irish adults examines the attitude towards, and use of, smart home technology.

The results show we’re a nation of forgetful homemakers. Almost a third (31%) of respondents admit to accidentally leaving the lights on when leaving home, while almost half (48%) boil the kettle two or three times, after getting distracted after the first boil.

The study shows we’re a tech-savvy nation -- with 78% of Irish people understanding the term ‘Smart Home’.

However, while younger generations are usually credited with being the most technologically-advanced, 45 to 55-year-olds (83%) are more comfortable with the smart home concept than their 18 to 24-year-old counterparts (67%).

Overall, two thirds of those surveyed believe that a smart home is a more efficient home, while 58% believe smart technology would make the home a better place to live.

The Hive brand, like Bord Gais Energy, is part of global energy and services company Centrica, and offers products and services that make connecting homes easy.

For instance, Hive Active Heating allows heating and hot water to be managed from any location using a smartphone, tablet or laptop.

Hive Active Lights can be controlled from an app, and the Hive Active Plug gives peace of mind that devices have been switched off.

Currently available to purchase in Ireland through Bord Gais Energy, Hive products and subscriptionbased smart home service plans will soon be available direct through hivehome.com.

For product and pricing information, visit hivehome.com.

Over 90% of adults in Ireland have at least one social media account. However many people are not aware of how their social media personality can affect their careers.

Even if your account is set to the highest privacy settings, there is still the chance of a friend of a friend seeing your posts or even someone in your network taking a screen shot of something you thought was private.

How can you prevent social media from damaging your career prospects? Here is a list of 5 mistakes to avoid.

Complaining about your company and/or boss. Everyone has bad days and sometimes it helps to vent about what’s bothering you.

Having said that, avoid hitting that “post” button and go for a coffee with a trusted friend instead.

Using text-speak.

It may be quicker to type out “Had gr8 time 2nite”. However, considering that 66% of employers look unfavourably on poor spelling and grammar, it’s probably best to spell everything out.

Posting photos with alcohol. Yes, even if you’re nearly 30 and it’s a photo of you sophisticatedly drinking a 2004 California Cabernet, Are sucDo you youdressed haveforyour cess? If you’re interested social media personalin temping or want to ity uptotosomeone scratch?about talk For more information, conyour career, contact tact R e cRecruitmentPlus ruitmentPlus at 01 2788 610, or also see www.recruitmentplus.ie. www.recruitmentplus.ie.

this is one to avoid.

Such photos can be taken out of context.

Forgetting about “zombie content”. You might be social media savvy now, but what about 10 years ago when all this technology was new?

Check search engines using a phrase like “your name facebook” or “your name myspace” and see what forgotten content is out there.

5. Posting at the wrong time. Are you guilty of blogging or facebooking during work hours?

Because most online content is time stamped, it won’t take long for your boss or a co-worker to figure out you’re wasting company time.

6 July 2017 GAZETTE 13

TRAVEL P21

CINEMA P24

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

BRAN IS A CLEVER COLLIE READY TO STAY FAITHFULLY AT YOUR SIDE OUR Dog of the Week looking for their #SpecialSomeone* is Bran, a 9-year-old Collie.

He is a real foodie who adores his grub, so getting to know him shouldn’t take long if you have a tasty treat to hand! Although Bran does seek affection and attention, he prefers a hands-off approach and is happiest just snuggling at your side rather than being petted and fussed.

Bran is looking for an adult-only home, preferably one that is familiar with Collies and their kooky ways.

He is adorably handsome and a firm favourite with the staff in Dogs Trust, so if you’re looking for an older dog to stick to your side like glue, Bran could be the one for you.

If you can be Bran’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, at www.facebook.com/dogstrustirelandonline, or on Twitter @DogsTrust_IE.



GAZETTE

FOOD P20

REVIEW: 90s POP-ROCK LEGENDS DON’T DISAPPOINT AT KILMAINHAM

Green party  JAMES HENDICOTT

Billie Joe knows how to play the Dublin crowd.

Pictures: Instagram/ BillieJoeArmstrong

THIRTY ONE years into a career that’s taken Green Day from gritty pop-punk scenesters to a far more accessible brand of poprock, California’s finest still play Kilmainham with the energy of an act auditioning for their first big break.

An indication of the sands of change came earlier in the day, however, as frontman Billie Joe Armstrong spent the morning searching for

the quayside venue where the three-piece first played Dublin way back in 1991, only to find it’s now a Starbucks (inset).

While time has certainly changed Green Day, too, all evidence is it hasn’t dulled them one iota.

Armstrong’s brutally energetic, interactive fronting of the band is the kind of cheese-fest that can fall the wrong side of cringe – particularly his habit of espousing his band’s ethos on stage as a list of mundane inclusivity catchphrases – yet he’s utterly absorbing.

Continued on Page 17

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14 GAZETTE 6 July 2017

DUBLINLIFE

CALLING ALL ASPIRING SONGWRITERS! BIC have launched an exciting campaign, Write and Shine, to find a young unknown songwriter aged 15-24 from across the UK and Ireland and give them a foot in the door in the music industry.

The winner will get their song professionally produced and recorded in a studio, performed in front of thousands on the main stage of The Big Feastival alongside the likes of Olly Murs and Louisa Johnson, to name just two artists as well as being released on a major YouTube channel.

All entries need to be emailed to writeandshine@lucre.co.uk by July 16 and include the entrants name, age, telephone number and original lyrics typed into the body of an email.

DESPERADOS TO REMIX ALL THE RULES PLANNING on heading to Longitude this month? Make sure you check out the Desperados Inner Tequila Studio. This custom designed industrial space at the festival will see music, art, fashion and Desperados collide!

A host of local club night heroes have been hand-

DIARY picked to take to the decks across the weekend, including Cait Fahey from DIP (Friday), Tara Stewart from 2FM (Saturday) and Louis Scully from Telephones (Sunday). Festival-goers control the DJ set list through an industrial pulley note system above the dance floor.

Visit Desperados InnerTequila Studios at Longitude, July 14-16.

es and venues within the RDS, this unique indoor festival offers a tonne of music, art installations and performances across six stages.

The iconic TLC will play their first ever Irish show at this year’s Metropolis Festival. Pioneering DJ, producer and legend of underground dance music, Richie Hawtin is also headlining alongside one of electronic music’s all time greatest acts, Leftfield.

Tickets on sale from Ticketmaster.

TLC TO HEADLINE RDS FESTIVAL METROPOLIS is back in the RDS again this October with an amazing line up!

Set in the industrial array of warehous-

CALLING ALL JUNIOR DETECTIVES GPO Witness History has misplaced some key objects of historic significance. It’s with the greatest urgency that these must be located and we need your expertise.

The search begins on July 9 and will take place weekly on Sundays throughout July and August. If you are up to the task, register your participation by contacting events@gpowitnesshistory.ie.

This fun activity is available for children aged 5 to 12, children must be accompanied by their willing parents or guardian.

Available every Sunday in July and August at 10:30am and 3:00pm. The rates for this activity are as follows: €12 per adult; €6 per child; €26 for a family of four. Spaces are limited and subject to availability.

SAY CHEESE FOR THE SMILE OF THE YEAR

Junior Detective Rian O’Donnell on the hunt for objects of historic significance. Picture: Paul Sherwood

THIS month, Clearbraces.ie launch the 2017 Smile Awards. The annual Smile Awards celebrates the Top Ten Invisalign transformations

by Clearbraces.ie dentists in Dublin.

For the first time, Clearbraces.ie is leaving the voting in the hands of the public, to choose the most deserving winner of the coveted ‘Smile of the Year’ award. People can vote for the 10 winning smiles across the Clearbraces.ie social channels – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, by liking their favourite transformation. All voters will be in with a chance of winning a one €1,000 voucher.

For further details visit www.clearbraces.ie/ smile-awards/

Write and shine HUGE ADULT BALL POOL COMES TO TOWN

THIS summer, innocent drinks invites the adults of Ireland to dive back in time, right smack back into a giant adult ball pool, as they present The innocent Green.

The innocent Green will take place in Merrion Square from Friday, July 28 to Sunday July 30 and is set to feature, among other nostalgia filled fun, a giant ball pool, reserved for “big kids” only.

The innocent Green is a free event open to members of the public over the age of 16. People interested in joining in on the fruit-filled shenanigans, can apply for tickets via Eventbrite here: www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-innocent-green-tickets-35730559064?aff=eac2 Control the DJ set list at Desperados Inner Tequila Studios at Longitude

A giant adult ball pool is coming to Merrion Square this summer

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DUBLINLIFE

MUSIC

N O S ’ T A H W

 JAMES HENDICOTT

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

Laya City Spectacular

Merrion Square’s annual street performance festival lights up the weekend with jugglers, actors, sword swallowers, fire breathers and plenty of activities for the family to dive into.

There’s also a pet element this year. July 7-9, and free in.

Super Milk Wild Air Run

Lots of obstacles and an entertaining twist on the standard 5km distance will challenge runners at Lucan’s St Catherine’s Park. The main event is a 60m long waterslide, but the Wild Air Run promises obstacles galore and is open to ages 7+ on July 8.

Small Press Day

The wonderful Fumbally Stables - tucked in a laneway near St Patrick’s Cathedral - hosts some lesser known publishers for an event designed to promote comics and lesser-known magazines. One for the print connoisseurs, on July 8.

Disney Store Spider-Man Event

Dublin’s branch of the Disney franchise has long been a popular Grafton Street stop off with those of a certain age. Twenty minute events aimed at those over the age of three will highlight the comic book hero on July 8, between 10 and 12.

15th International Tango Festival in Ireland

The dancers amongst us can soak up a series of workshops and dances as the 15th edition of a popular date on the calendar returns to the city. Events take place from July 7-9.

Sea Breeze steam train trips

Take a rare steam train ride to Arklow from Dublin abroad the Sea Breeze, which will travel down one of Ireland’s most scenic lines from Connolly. Well worth the €30 per adult ticket price. July 9.

New album of the week

Haim - Something To Tell You. Having released one of the hit albums of the summer back in 2013, the Haim sisters return in the hope of making the same splash second time around.

Expect gigs to follow.

And sliding into the following week...

Get your swimsuit ready because Dublin’s 98FM is bringing back the 260ft waterslide slide with Dublin City Council and Visit Dublin!

On Saturday July 15 and Sunday July 16, the two lane inflatable slide will run down Winetavern Street, giving sliders the chance to travel through Christchurch like never before!

Wannabe sliders should tune into 98FM and following a cue to listen, be ready for action to go online and register for their wristbands. Find out more on 98fm.com or on facebook. com/98fm!

Gazette readers will get the chance to win FREE wristbands details will be in next week’s paper and on DublinGazette.com!

Musicians at a recent Sofar Sounds gig in Dublin. Pictures: Andrei Vlad Vasilescu

FREE. SIMPLE. SOCIAL. The concept of Sofar Sounds is one that very much returns music to its roots, kissing goodbye to gig promotion, ticket sales, headline tours and conventional stages.

The idea is simple: find an empty space, borrow it for the night, bring in musicians and invite strangers to enjoy them. The whole shebang is done on a donation basis, and there are other twists: the acts playing big or small - have no particular priority of billing (there’s certainly no headliner), and nobody bar the organisers knows who they are until they turn up and start playing.

From a punter’s perspective, the gigs are essentially a ‘pot luck’ night out, but one that’s become increasingly known for its high-quality curation when it comes to performers. The venues can be pretty special, too - anything from someone’s front room to a cafe, a church or a historical site. Every gig is recorded for posterity and released online a few weeks after the show takes place, meaning Sofar also has a stunning selection of atypical music videos to their name.

The concept encompasses over 300 cities worldwide, and is a growing tour de force in Dublin. Clare O’Hanlon got involved in the local version of Sofar Sounds after stumbling across a call out for musicloving people in the city a couple of years ago, and has been at the heart of the action ever since. The project has been active here for four years - it only founded globally in 2009 – and has grown in O’Hanlon’s time to bigger venues, better equipment and a monthly scramble for tickets.

“It’s got a loyal, respectful following now, but it’s also become really popular,” O’Hanlon tells the Gazette. “It can get a little difficult to keep the balance with tickets. We try to keep a balance of new people and regulars, and make sure everyone gets their chance, but it can be difficult.” Not that popularity is a bad problem to have, of course.

“In terms of venues, we work with what presents itself, and we’re often approached to offer spaces,” O’Hanlon says.

“We have to make sure people understand the concept: this is not private entertainment for the person who’s venue we’re using, for example, so they can’t takeover the tickets. It’s a public thing, and not every venue is suitable to host, but we get some great spaces.”

“Once we have a venue, we work with finding acts who want to play.

They have to keep quiet until the night, though we do make the occasional exception, for example where we’ve had acts base a tour around Sofar nights in the past. Robert J Hunter, who’s based in London, is a recent example. We’d let them to announce their appearance. The bands get a video or two out of it, but it’s really about playing music because you want to play

Sofar so good

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Siomha Brock performs at a recent Sofar Sounds gig in Dublin. Picture: Chris Basford

Green Day’s Mike Dirnt, Billie Joe Armstrong and Tres Cool. Picture: GreenDay.com

Continued from Page 13 The balance here is strong, too.

After opening with three new-ish songs, there’s a comforting depth of the back catalogue to be trawling for the older fans. The likes of ‘Longview’, ‘She’, ‘When I Come Around’ and ludicrously glorious cross-dressing anthem ‘King For A Day’ are delivered at near album quality, and with just enough snarl around the edges.

The continued presence of lots of essential albums ‘Nimrod’ and ‘Dookie’ served up together with the best of ‘American Idiot’ and even a dabble in the uninspiring ‘Warning’ on the setlist is the act of a band aiming to please.

The highlights are acoustic closer ‘Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)’, huge fireballs across the back of the stage during peaky choruses, a lengthy pre-gig audience sing-

along to Queen (plus a pink rabbit ‘giving birth’ to giveaway soft toys), and an entire track played on guitar by a young audience member who was then handed the instrument to take home. For all the oohs, ahs and hand waving, it’s utterly engaging.

Harsher critics will say modern Green Day is pop-punk by numbers, and there’s an element of truth there: Armstrong, Dirnt and Cool are very much fire-shooting, stadium-loving rays of sunshine these days, doing little more controversial than singing about masturbation and venting against Trump. That the show lacks edge, truthfully, only matters if you’re holding Green Day true to their 90s roots.

What they do offer is one of the music scene’s better doses of nostalgic familiarity, packaged in one of the liveliest, most memorable stage shows going; more ‘Having A Blast’ than ‘Burnout’.

JAMES HENDICOTT EXPLORES THE GROWING UNDERGROUND MOVEMENT OF SECRET INTIMATE GIGS WITH NO HEADLINE ACTS music.”

“The audience get tickets for free, though we do take optional donations on the night. That’s mainly just to keep things going. It’s allowed us to buy better camera equipment recently, which you can see if you watch the videos from the nights in order. Everything gets reinvested into it.

Sofar’s a big, registered business in some places. We’re all volunteers in Dublin. It’s a massive time commitment but really great to do.”

Internationally, Sofar gigs have featured huge names. Bastille played early in his

career, while Hozier, Karen O (of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs), James Bay, Emeli Sande and Wolf Alice have all made appearances.

Dublin shows - which have taken place in locations such as the Tara Building, All Out Designs and The Darkroom - have featured local stars including Ham Sandwich, Rosa Nutty, Sorcha Richardson, BARQ and Farah Elle.

Having met some of the other groups carrying out Sofar gigs globally through her work, O’Hanlon tells us she’s been told “Ireland is very relaxed” compared to some locations. “We’ve heard about

MCing between bands, other stuff that’s a bit more energised,” she explains. “Dublin is just a few cans and the bands. It’s very calm, I thinkwe kind of like it that way, you have to respect the venues.”

While the regular gigs will continue as normal, Sofar also have a big charity gig on the horizon, with September’s events aiming to raise over a million Euros. The international collective come together to promote Amnesty International on the 20th, under the title ‘A Global Day Of Secret Gigs’.

“Because Sofar’s so international, I’ve

started to feel a more personal connection with some of the things going on in the world, like the Manchester attack recently, and the refugee crisis,” O’Hanlon tells us.

“You start to know people in these places.

One of our videographers is in Reykjavik, and another Sofar person is back and forwards from Japan. It’s great to be doing something to help. For September, there are some really, really big artists involved, especially in some of the UKvenues.”

“The Amnesty Project just feels right,” she concludes. “We put on gigs in homes.

Some people don’t have them. This should

help that.” This is just the latest project, though. More generally, Sofar have their own significance: slowly taking back the idea of gigs, simply for their own sake.

 Tickets to Sofar’s Dublin gigs cannot be bought. They’re made available monthly via their mailing list, with entry to a ticket ballot typically closed around a day after each show is announced. Visit sofarsounds.com for information.

The next show will be in the Leeson Street area on July 20th.

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DUBLINLIFE

Guinot’s Crème Fluide Hydrazone delivers

Skin creams that ensure only the sun is left shining

 EMMA NOLAN

ONE of the most annoying things about wearing make up and looking after your skin in summer is the relentless shiny face.

A temperature increase of just 1°C can see an increase in sebum production by 10%.

T he latest Guinot product – Crème Fluide Hydrazone (€62.50) – is a light serum that contains mattifying powders to reduce shine. Available in pharmacies nationwide, it applies like a cream and absorbs well without leaving a greasy residue.

Another product which has been a lifesaver for me this summer is Vichy’s Idéal Soleil Anti-Blemishes SPF 30 (€19.99).

This facial sun cream (left) promises “mattifying corrective care” and it delivers.

I have long done damage to my (naturally oily) skin in summer by using regular sun creams which are full of oil, but this is specifically created for oily skin and contains salicylic acid to help unclog pores whilst providing protecting from the sun. Ideal.

Back to the future River Island revisit the 80s for inspiration

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 EMMA NOLAN STYLE EDITOR RIVER Island’s autumn winter collection is an indulgent foray into the best of the 80s.

Unapologetic and verging on tacky in the best possible way, this collection just goes for it in every way possible. Colour, shape, texture, pattern – it breaks all the rules but it works so well.

Name Title €XX; Name Title €XX; Name Title €XX

This maximalist feast for the eyes is bringing back print clashing in a big way and looks are not limited to one statement piece either. Rather ruffles, bows and baroque take over to serve 80s eleganza extravaganza.

And yes… shoulder pads are back…

This collection will be hitting stores in September.

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STYLE

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DUBLINLIFE

FOOD&DRINK

The Picky Eater WOW! IT’S not very often you get truly excited about a new restaurant venue but the team who brought you The Dean, Per uke and Periwig, Sophies and Bison Bar have done it again with Robertas , Dublin’s coolest new eatery.

Standing outside the unassuming entrance of Robertas at 1 East Essex St, Temple Bar, I was unsure of what to expect, but to say I was wowed would be an understatement!

The breathtaking glass atrium at the heart of Robertas welcomes you with its beautifully designed bar and terrace.

With an exquisite glass ceiling bathing the place in natural light it will have you more than ready to pull up a stool to enjoy a glass of wine or one of the many exotic, thirstquenching cocktails on

Robertas

Contemporary Italian

1 East Essex St, Temple Bar offer like the Pear Sidecar.

The decor in this 220 seater restaurant is amazing … The New York style plush leather booths, bulbed lined windows and striking attention to detail offers of a feel of luxury and sophistication in a relaxed environment.

Whether you’re overlooking the cobbled streets and incredible architecture of Temple Bar or gazing out over the Liffey and Grattan Bridge, you cannot deny Robertas is a special place.

Head chef Troy Watson, originally from Melbourne and previously at Fade St Social, and Rustic Stone has developed

a contemporary Italian based menu with a solid touch of Irish influence and plenty of focus on locally sourced ingredients.

From seriously delicious starters including wood-fired duck hearts for the more adventurous and Stracciatella - an Italian soft cheese with lemon confit and slow braised fennel served with sourdough still warm from the oven.

A perfect selection of mains is available to satisfy any palette, of which I find it hard to go past the delicious Iberico Secreto Pork done on the Robata grill and served with fen-

nel two ways; just thinking about it makes my mouth water.

Also on offer is the ever popular Linguini with clams, Organic Chicken marinated with chermoula and fresh wood fired pizzas.

Desserts are equally as tempting with the Lemon Brule at the top of my list.

From 11pm Thursday to Saturdays as the plates are cleared away, Robertas transforms itself into a late night hot spot where the DJ will be turning up the tunes and you can be ready to dance the night away under the stars.

So sink yourself into a comfy couch to catch up with friends for drinks, a weekend brunch or a fabulous dinner and enjoy the excellent hospitality that is Robertas.

I know I can’t wait to get back!

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GAZETTE

TRAVEL Smuggler’s Cove

Discover glorious Greece Second-to-none sandy beaches, bougainvillea-splashed villages, round-the-clock nightlife – Greece offers holidaymakers almost endless options, writes Sylvia Pownall CRETE Crete isn’t just Greece’s largest island – it’s also one of the biggest islands in the Mediterranean.

What to expect: Beaches, beaches, beaches – the bigger the better, it seems. Plus, historywise, it’s got great credentials, with a timeline that stretches back more than 4,000 years.

Where to go: The north coast. As well as the long beaches, you’ve got cosmopolitan towns in Lassithi, the historic region of Heraklion, family-friendly Rethymnon, and the waterfront tavernas of Chania.

What to do: Root around Chania Town’s Venetian-Turkish streets. Visit the Palace of

Lindos Beach in Rhodes

Knossos. Hike the dramatic Samaria Gorge.

Then spread out on the 12-kilometre-long beach at Rethymnon.

Anything else? Crete claims to have the longest summer in the Mediterranean – it’s usually beach weather from April to October.

They’re all about family-run tavernas and laid-back beaches. For first-rate nightlife, put Kavos at the top of your to-stay list.

What to do: Relax on one of Sidari’s 3 beaches. Raid the jewellery shops and seafood restaurants in Corfu Town. Shoot down the slides at Aqualand waterpark.

Anything else? It’s well worth straying from civilisation – olive groves and wild flowers blanket Corfu’s green countryside.

KOS A good-sized island that brushes the Turkish border.

What to expect: Every type of beach you can imagine. Long swathes of sand and cosy coves necklace a hilly interior peppered with villages and castles.

Where to go: Kos has 2 very different sides.

Traditionalists favour Kefalos, with its cottages, ruins and windmills. On the other hand, party animals aim for the lively double act of Kardamena and Kos Town.

What to do: Soak in the hot springs of Thermes. Get a bird’s-eye view from Mount Dikeos. Step back in time at the ruins of Asklepieion. Snack on calamari in Kos Town.

Anything else? Greeks, Romans, Ottomans

Zante This middle-sized Ionian Island also goes by the name of Zakynthos.

What to expect: A mix of peaceful fishing villages and party towns, plus some of the best beaches in the Med. Where to go: All over, although most resorts are in Zante’s eastern half. Head over to the coast, and you’ll come across turtlefriendly coves and caves. Inland, there are miles of flower-freckled countryside.

What to do: Stroll along the harbour in Zante Town. Sip a cocktail on private Cameo Island. Hit the bars and clubs in Tsilivi.

Watch the sun set from a clifftop in Smuggler’s Cove.

Anything else? Zante is the most important nesting site in the Mediterranean for loggerhead turtles.

Rhodes King-sized Rhodes tops the charts as the most-visited Greek Island.

What to expect: The stuff of legends – be it the ancient ruins, extra-long beaches, or the famous east coast nightlife. There are quieter

Corfu Town

spots, too, including both fishing and mountain villages.

Where to go: To find the best beaches, head east – the long coastline is an uninterrupted ribbon of sand. In the west, meanwhile, you’ll unearth hamlets piled high with villas, windmills and monasteries.

What to do: Discover the Old Town of Rhodes. Dive into the waterparks in Faliraki.

Snorkel at Lindos Beach. Dine in sight of the acropolis in Lindos’ town square.

Anything else? Consider yourself a night owl? Then Faliraki is your place. Its popularity with the 18 to 30s crowd has created a roaring club scene that rivals Ibiza’s top spots.

GREECE DEALS FROM THOMSON

• 26-Aug-17, Dublin to Kos, Hotel Plantanista, Psaldi, 4T, HB, 7 nights from €419pp.

• 30-Aug-17, Dublin to Rhodes, Pefki Islands Resort, Pefkos, 3T, SC, 7 nights from €469pp • 29-Aug-17, Dublin to Zakynthos, Ionian Blue Studios, Kalamaki, 3T, SC, 7 nights from €479pp

Corfu Nicknamed the Emerald Isle, Corfu is Greece’s second-largest Ionian Island.

What to expect: A bit of everything, from low-key towns to lively beach resorts.

Where to go: For a bit of peace and quiet, head north to Gouvia and San Stefanos.

and Italians have all called Kos home at one time or another.

Chania Town in Crete

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FASTNews

Drivers lose 14 days a year commuting to city centre A NEW survey reveals that the proposed new traffic flow on Dublin’s north and south quays will add an additional 10 days to existing annual commute time.

The survey was carried out by mobility solutions specialist, easytrip, and it has revealed that Irish motorists are losing 14 days on average per year commuting into the city centre.

Respondents to the survey also believe that the proposed changes to the traffic flow on the

Toyota makes style statement with C-HR Toyota’s new C-HR is a compact SUV with style and features that give it a stand-out look that gets noticed as MICHAEL MORONEY found when he took it across a lengthy test route that brought him to West Cork and back.

north and south quays (even with the revised proposal to allow for one lane of general traffic from Bachelor’s Walk to Eden Quay and on towards Dublin Port) would see this figure increase by an additional 10 days annually equating to a total of 24 days a year in the car.

Of those surveyed 81% commuted to Dublin city centre by car with 73% stating that the proposed Dublin quays traffic flow system will affect them and also highlighted their concern for cyclists on the same route.

More than 50% also highlighting that the changes would deter them from driving into the city.

Traffic threat to retailers RETAILERS will be alarmed to find that 62% of those surveyed said that the proposed changes to the traffic on the quays would affect their decision to shop in Dublin city.

Worryingly 95% of respondents said they would not buy a high priced item if they did not have their vehicle with them to take it home.

Motorists also highlighted that they spend extra on food (49%) and refreshments (90%) whilst shopping in the city.

A new survey shows that the proposed new traffic flow on Dublin’s north and south quays to add an additional 10 days to existing annual commute time.

THE design of Toyota’s new C-HR is a break from Toyota tradition in the shape of a four door hatchback while it sits high enough to give the feeling of being in a compact SUV. And the car gets noticed. Ever y where that I drove at least one person that I met knew that it was the new Toyota C-HR, so the marketing team at Toyota have got the message across.

Out on the road, where I drove more than 1,200km while venturing to West Cork during my test drive week, I found the car to be smooth and easy to drive.

The interior is modern and clear to use and I was comfortable quickly after the Bluetooth phone set-up and ready to go.

The large 8in Toyota Touch is the most obvious interior feature that just jumps out at you.

Set-up here was easy and intuitive and I found it easy to get to grips with the features that it offered.

For me that meant a set-up without having to resort to the owner’s manual, which means it’s a system clear to follow.

Toyota offers two petrol based engine options for the new C-HR, either the choice of a 1.8 hybrid or a 1.2 litre turbo-petrol engine.

My car was the latter

Toyota’s new C-HR comes with a striking new design look

Toyota C-HR 1.2 turbo petrol

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine 1.2 litre Engine power 116hp 0 – 100km/hr 8.9 seconds Economy 16.7km/litre

(6.0l/100km or 47mpg) Fuel Tank Capacity 50 litres CO2 emissions 135g/km Road Tax Band B2 €280 Main Service 20,000km/12 months Euro NCAP Rating 5 star (2017) Warranty 3 years (100,000km) Entry Price €26,895 and it delivered smooth power to the six-speed manual gearbox.

While I drove the petrol version the obvious first comparison has to be its hybrid counterpart because that’s the choice that most C-HR buyers will have to make.

On paper at least, the hybrid version has to come out on top, with diesel engine type effi-

ciency and a cleaner burn of the fuel for a lower CO2 rating and more importantly a lower running cost.

T h e f i g u r e s s h ow that the hybrid version, which costs about €3,000 more has almost double the official economy performance giving you 28.6km/litre (80mpg) versus 17km/ litre (47mpg) in the 1.2

litre turbo-petrol version that I drove. That makes the hybrid choice in the new C-HR to obvious one.

That choice was confirmed from personal test drive where I found that the performance s e t t i n g s h ave a b i g impact on the economy level of the car.

On day one I drive in the normal driving mode before I discovered the Eco option.

And that Eco driving option made a significant difference to the otherwise thirsty C-HR adding a further 10% to the economy level.

The overall economy level that I achieved was poorer than I had expected from the modern 1.2 litre turbopetrol engine but to be fair it was only marginally off the rated figure of 16.7km/litre (6.0l/100km or 47mpg).

That limits the range that I expect from a modern car and the 50-litre capacity fuel tank meant more stops than I would have liked.

T his aspect of the C-HR made me look at other petrol engine compact SUV’s and the choice of the Nissan Juke with its 1.2 litre turbo-petrol engine came to mind as well as the Honda HR-V with a slightly bigger engine and the new Opel Mokka X. I found that the petr o l p owe r e d To y o t a C-HR option to be the least economical of the bunch and also the most expensive starting at €26,895.

It’s also the longest and has the longest wheelbase so that’s why it was comfortable and stable on the wide range of motorway, city and rural roads that I drove across.

6 July 2017 GAZETTE 23

Improvements at every turn

THE new Opel Insignia has arrived at Dublin Opel dealerships in the last few weeks with a new styling and design that refreshes the model in a very significant way. Opel claims that the new Insignia weighs up to 175kg less than its predecessor and is more aerodynamic to ensure improved fuel economy across the range.

The wheelbase of the new Insignia has been extended by 92mm, its overhangs have been reduced and its tracks widened by 11mm.

The car has a lower sweeping roofline, coupled with a prominent grille with slim-line

headlamps and a new rear end high-tech look.

On the inside there is a lower driving position with wrap around cockpit. The dash area includes a frameless touch screen and Opel OnStar personal assistance system at the touch of a button.

The centre stack area has been designed with three functional zones of controls (from top to bottom: infotainment / climate / assistance systems) to facilitate quick and easy operations. The Insignia is available with a wide range of latest-generation turbocharged engines and transmissions,

which have been designed to provide real-life fuel efficiency and low fuel costs. For petrol, the new 1.5 litre Turbo 140bhp unit replaces the outgoing 1.4-litre Turbo unit, while the diesel choice includes Opel’s 1.6 in both 110 and 136bhp outputs as well as the higher output 2.0-litre 170bhp diesel. Both the 1.6 136bhp and 2.0-litre 170bhp units are available in both manual and automatic transmission.

The top of the range 2.0-litre Turbo petrol 260bhp unit comes with the new eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system with torque vectoring.

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MOTORING

Do a history check before importing a used car VEHICLE History experts Cartell.ie have reported that the Association of British Insurers in the UK are no longer using Category C and Category D vehicle write-off classification in their new Voluntary Code of Practice for the industry.

The new UK system will focus on first establishing the level of damage to a vehicle from a technical perspective, before making any commercial decision relating to the Pre-Accident Cartell claims that this has huge consequences for an Irish buyer as the level of damage sustained will now be more evident.

Ireland has not yet regulated for written-off vehicles. In July 2016 it was reported in the media that Minister for Transport Shane Ross brought legislation to cabinet which would compel insurers to notify his Department of Category A and Category B write-offs.

John Byrne of Cartell.ie says: “It’s welcoming to see how seriously the Association of British Insurers are taking the issue of write-offs which are deemed repairable and can return to the roads in the UK. In May 2016, in the wake of an RTE Prime Time investigates programme, Cartell.ie released figures which showed that 10.75% of all UK imports into Ireland in a 6-month period in 2015 had been written-off in the UK prior to import and taxation of the vehicle in Ireland.

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DUBLINLIFE

CINEMA ReelReviews

DESPICABLE ME 3

Merry minion mayhem

A Netflix masterpiece

THERE’RE plenty of Gru-some scenes in Despicable Me 3 (Cert G, 90mins) when the eponymous baddiewho’s-not-so-bad and his yellow pals get mixed up with his long lost twin brother. Cue mishaps, minions, and an amusing threequel in the popular franchise. There’s nothing very fresh or innovative here, but the Despicable crew do what they do well in this enjoyable film.

It’s hard to say who the real star of the film is – superpig Okja, a marvel of seamless computer animation, or Seo-Hyeon Ahn, who gives a terrific, spirited performance

OKJA: SUPERPIG FILM IS BETTER THAN A LOT OF BIG-SCREEN BLOCKBUSTERS LIKE director Bong Joonho’s 2006 film, The Host, Okja (Cert 15A, 120 mins) is a creature feature that crafts its outlandish, fairy tale-like narrative around the theme of family – natural families and surrogate families; unbreakable familial bonds and crippling family rivalries.

It’s these relationships that underline each of Okja’s expertly crafted characters and lead us to fall head-over-heels in love with this wonderfully bizarre film.

Every character in this charming epic, great and small, has a degree of depth often amiss in the average monster movie.

Regardless of their malign intentions or self-

 MARTIN MACNAMARA

less deeds, each is given a reason for doing the things they do.

Joon-ho presents us with a lesson in empathy – a film that affects, thrills, delights and disturbs in equal measure, all through the medium of fantasy.

It’s a film that, perhaps, could never have been made, were it not for Netflix, and it’s this very fact that saw Okja kick up an extraordinary amount of fuss at this year’s Cannes

Film Festival, where Joonho’s film made its way into the official selection for the prestigious Palme D’or.

Many, including jury president Pedro Almodovar, took exception to the lauding of a film that will likely be watched on more phone screens than on cinema screens.

Indeed, if there is an overriding negative emotion that Okja instils, it’s a sense of disappointment – disappointment that most of us will never get to see a film so expertly crafted for the big screen in its natural habitat.

However, it makes you feel that’s the way the industry is shifting, and if Netflix continues to

empower directors to produce work such as this, we have much to anticipate.

Okja is the story of a “superpig” called Okja raised over 10 perfect years by the young Mija (SeoHyeon Ahn) in the mountains of South Korea.

Mija’s world comes crashing down when the Mirando Corporation, responsible for the birth of the superpigs, come back to claim Okja and take her to New York.

There, the company’s PR-obsessed CEO (Tilda Swinton) plans to reveal Okja to the world – naturally, there are more sinister intentions afoot. The determined Mija sets out across continents to rescue her best friend.

The outlined plot might seem like a children’s film – but make no mistake, if the first uttered expletives don’t tip you off, Okja handles some pretty heavy subject matter.

Joon-ho tackles animal rights, environmentalism, capitalism and corruption with expertise, but is never laborious or heavyhanded in his message.

Newcomer Seo-Hyeon Ahn balances the majority of the film’s drama and humour with remarkable ease, inspiring with determination and affection and providing some of Okja’s biggest belly laughs.

Paul Dano does a wonderful job as the emotionally conflicted leader of an

animal rights group, and it’s great to see The Walking Dead’s Steven Yeun make a respectable leap to features.

Regrettably, the film’s biggest star, Jake Gyllenhaal, decides to channel Johnny Depp at his most annoyingly goofy – one of very few faults to be found in Okja.

As the eclectic cast suggests, Okja is transnational filmmaking at its most inspiringly pure, much like Joon-ho’s enjoyable, Snowpiercer (2013).

Okja is a wonderfully different film; Netflix’s first masterpiece and comforting sign of what the future may have in hold for subscribers.

Verdict: 10/10

BABY DRIVER

Fast-paced thrills galore ANSEL Elgort stars as the eponymous Baby Driver (Cert 15A, 113 mins)– a getaway driver caught in an increasingly murky job as he falls for a girl while hanging out with a big job loomiing.

With plenty of decent driving, the film is also pretty entertaining to watch thanks to some great visuals and its excellent soundtrack, making it one of most fun and fast-paced films of the summer.

6 July 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 25

GAZETTE

FEATURE INTERVIEW: EITHNE SHORTHALL ON FLIGHT OF FANCY

Author feels on cloud nine thanks to great buzz about her book  EMMA NOLAN

MATCHMAKING your friends can be a tricky territory – but matchmaking strangers is a whole other ballgame. This is exactly what Sunday Times journalist Eithne Shorthall has explored in her first book, Love in Row 27.

As chief arts writer for The Sunday Times, the Drumcondra native is more familiar with being on the other side of the coin when it comes to reviews.

However, “so far it’s all gone very well and I’m very pleased with how it’s going,” she told The Gazette.

Love in Row 27 tells the story of an Aer Lingus check-in attendant Cora, who, having just suffered a devastating break

up, distracts herself by matchmaking flight passengers.

Eithne said: “The original idea for the book was from me getting on an airplane. Whenever I get a flight, I always look around and think, who would I want to sit beside? Usually, I’m looking for an attractive man!

“But then I thought, what if you ended up beside a very attractive person and what if someone put you there on purpose? So I immediately thought of matchmaking and I love doing it in real life, and now I can do it in fiction as well.

“When I’m doing it with friends I know them but when Cora is matchmaking she doesn’t know them, so it’s different.”

The entertaining

r o m a n c e n ove l h a s enjoyed a fantastic reception since its release.

“We haven’t had a bad review so far, I shouldn’t say that out loud though because one will just arrive tomorrow!”

Eithne said she was struck by ner ves for a while before it was released.

“When you’re writing, you don’t know if it’s any good or not and just before it went out, I had real, serious anxiety when I thought I had written the worst thing ever and was about to ruin my life – that everyone would read it and laugh at me.

“So, when it first went out and they sent it to authors to see if they liked it and give us a quote for the cover, I was surprised when they came back

positively,” she laughed.

One of the good reviews came from romance novelist veteran Marian Keyes. “I was delighted. I never met her but I think she’s great. She must get sent so many books a week, but thankfully she took mine out of the pile and she read it and contacted me to say how much she liked it.

“She gave us a quote for the cover, which was really the best thing in the world.”

This was the same week that the TV rights of the book were sold and Eithne says that it “paled in comparison” to getting the good review from Marian. “It was such a vote of confidence. It means a lot.”

To write the book,

First-time author Eithne Shortall and the cover of her book, Love in Row 27

Eithne said she was lucky that she was able to take leave from her job for three months to go to London and focus solely on her writing.

And, even though she writes for a living, she said she couldn’t have written the book whilst doing the day job.

“They’re totally different styles and approaches. In one, you’re completely making stuff up, and in the other, you really shouldn’t be making anything up!”

Now working on her

second book but working at the same time, the experience of already writing one book has prepared her for the task, but doing both is definitely tough.

As a first-time author, Eithne said her advice to aspiring authors is to “just do it”.

“That’s the most facetious advice, but people make loads of excuses to not write. Before I

started I always said that I had no time to write, but then I just found a way.

“Just do it. Just write.

Get up earlier than everyone else in your house and even if you write 300 words a day, you would have a book written within a year.”

OH, LEMUR ... ZOO WELCOMES THE BIRTH OF TWO VERY SPECIAL PUPS IN CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES

THE NEWEST arrivals to Dublin Zoo are two adorable red ruffed lemur pups!

Proud parents Pierre and Fifi welcomed the brother and sister pups to Dublin Zoo’s lemur family recently. The latest arrivals join the troop of seven red ruffed lemurs already at Dublin Zoo. The birth of the pups is extremely important for the team at Dublin Zoo and the international breeding programme. The species is listed as being critically endangered after a significant

decline in population mainly due to habitat loss and hunting.

In the wild, the distribution of red ruffed lemurs is restricted to rainforest in north-east Madagascar.

Dublin Zoo is supporting research which aims to reintroduce red ruffed lemurs into various parts of Madagascar.

Commenting on the latest additions, team leader Ciaran McMahon said: “Red ruffed lemurs are one of the most endangered of all lemurs. The birth of two

youngsters at Dublin Zoo is hugely significant.

“We are delighted to report that our new arrivals are healthy and have adapted seamlessly to their surroundings. This weekend is the perfect opportunity for families and friends to learn more about these critically endangered species”.

The island of Madagascar has only 10% of its natural vegetation remaining, making lemurs the most threatened group of mammals on Earth.

26 LUCAN GAZETTE 6 July 2017

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28 LUCAN GAZETTE 6 July 2017

SPORT

FastSport TIERNAN AND HUIJSDENS THE VICE CAPTAINS: COURTYARD Liffey Celtics star, Sorcha Tiernan and Rachel Huijsdens of DCU Mercy, were unveiled as vice captains of the Irish for the FIBA Under-18 women’s European Championship Division B. The news came with 30 days to go until the Irish Under-18 women’s team welcome 22 other countries to the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght and the National Indoor Arena in Abbottstown.

Coach Tommy O’Mahony named Ireland and Portlaoise Panthers star, Claire Melia, as captain of the squad with Tiernan and Huijsdens supporting her.

“I’m delighted to announce Claire as captain of the team this summer. The squad has a lot of leaders, as we saw in their games over the weekend.

“Claire is very experienced, competing in her third European Championship this year, and has also been picked for the Irish Senior Women’s team this past summer.”

SAILING: GOODBODY URGES PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO GIVE THE SPORT A TRY

Dun Laoghaire Regatta set for record entry numbers

 NICK FITZGERALD sport@dublingazette.com

“THIS is the largest Regatta in Ireland and on the Western sea board of the British Isles,” Tim Goodbody, Chairman of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2017, tells GazetteSport, confirming it is all hands-on deck for this biennial event.

The event is now in its seventh edition and will feature its largest entry to date with 461 boats entered with over 2,500 competitors, competing over four days, beginning on Thursday, July 6 and running through to Sunday.

Within the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2017 are 35 different classes of yacht or dingy. They represent 75 different yacht or sailing clubs.

Competitors come from the four provinces of Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, Wales, the West Coast of England, South Coast of England and one even hailing from the Netherlands.

Some of the country’s topclass sailors will be participating in this year’s regatta, including Olympic silver med-

Over 460 boats will converge on Dun Laoghaire for the biennial regatta

allist Annalise Murphy.

For Goodbody, it represents a special year and one which will be celebrated in style.

“This year is the bicentenary of the commencement of the construction of Dun Laoghaire Harbour which became a port of refuge and to celebrate that we are hold-

ing our inaugural classic yacht regatta.

“We have an excess of 100 classic yachts. Of course, there’s a lot of discussion of what a classic yacht is but we’re looking at yachts that were designed over 75 years ago and were built of timber.”

He anticipates the event to

act as a showcase for the sport and urges people of all ages to have a go at sailing, stating that The National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire – his home club – is all inclusive.

“We need more people to go sailing. There are more yachts, they need crews, they need active people of both

sexes. We have guys and girls aboard this boat.

“In fact, our age span is for myself down to my grandson who is 13 and my granddaughter who is 11 who comes out. Another set of grandchildren come out when they’re over from England. They are five or seven.

“All ages can participate and if someone is interested they should go to one of the clubs.

“They do look a bit foreboding when you walk outside and you see this very old, historic building but knock on the door and ask about sailing or even go to the INNS, the Irish National Sailing School which is located on the West Pier.

“They run tremendous programmes and from that one gains an experience of sailing and you can then go to one of the clubs and become a regular crew member. It’s great fun, it’s safe, not discriminatory, all people are welcome.” ** For more information see www.dlregatta.org or find Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta on Facebook and Twitter.

Olympic riders light up the Sundrive velodrome  sport@dublingazette.com

The riders at Sundrive last weekend. Picture: David McVeigh

SUNDRIVE velodrome welcomed the stars last weekend with Olympic medalists Elinor Barker and Niklas Larsen among the competitors for the Dublin Track Cycling International 2017.

They both produced leading performances but there was plenty of home success with Irish riders landing six medals across the Scratch and Keirin events; both Felix English and Robyn Stewart came home with silver, second only to Rio

Olympians.

In the men’s Scratch race, English raced a tactical race, moving away with a group of seven riders.

A crash in the closing laps of the race led to the race being neutralised briefly – once the gun sounded again the group raced hard with Larsen taking the win ahead of Ireland’s English.

English was happy with the race, adding: “there’s a lot of depth in the field – pretty much everyone that you expect to see in the World Cup you are racing

with. It’s good in a way because you have to race them at some point – but it also makes it difficult because you want to get the points for the winter season.”

Later on Sunday, Stewart came in just behind Dutch Olympian Laurine Van Riessen in the women’s Keirin.

The relative newcomer to track racing has stormed onto the Irish scene, setting a new national record in recent weeks for the Sprint.

Determined to get the better of Van Riessen in the future, the Belfast rider was relatively

happy with her performance - “It was a good race – I think I left it a bit late to make my jump.

“I think it if went a wee bit earlier there might be a bit there – but she’s fast. I know Laurine well, so it’s always fun to get to race against each other, one day I will beat her.”

Silver also went to Fintan Ryan in the Under-23 Scratch race, when the TrackProject. ie rider lapped the field with Ethan Hayter. Bronze went to Ireland’s Sundrive Track Team rider Hugo Brennan.

6 July 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 29

GAZETTE

FASTSport

Loughran set for major hockey event debut  STEPHEN FINDLATER

HERMES-Monkstown’s Sinead Loughran is set for her world ranking tournament debut as she earned a place in Graham Shaw’s final plans for the Irish women’s hockey team’s tilt at 2018 World Cup qualification via the World League Semi-Final which takes starts in Johannesburg this week.

The 26-year-old former Mount Anville student is something of a late bloomer, making her first inroads into the national panel in 2016 with last minute call-up for the Hawkes Bay Cup in New Zealand.

It followed four years in the US, reaching the final four of the NCAA championship with UNC Tar Heels, including three defeats in the final.

Shaw says her “physical ability” gives the Irish side a huge asset: “She really asks questions of opponents by her physical effort around the pitch, both from a defensive point of view and also on the counter-attack.

“She had the highest of the fitness scores and her style suits the international game perfectly.

She presses aggressively and you wouldn’t want to mark her man-on-man because of the ground she covers.”

The coach adds that Loughran’s spell before Christmas in Munich playing in the Bundesliga gave her an extra impetus.

“Moving across for Germany for that three months really taught her about her game and maybe a little about herself as a person. She came home, trained really well with the group and fully deserved her spot.

“For players like Sinead, when they come in [to the Irish panel] a bit older – not at 18 or 19 – it can take a bit of time to adjust and see where your style fits in.

“It’s taken her a little bit of time; she got a taste of it [in 2016]. I think she now knows where her strengths lie within the international game and she’s trying to apply them.”

The tournament begins on Saturday with Ireland facing Japan before meeting Germany, Poland and Olympic champions England in the group stage. A top four finish there will see them reach the quarter-finals where World Cup tickets will be decided.

Transplant Games gold rush for legendary Faul Record-breaking Dalkey woman lands quartet of medals across swimming and squash,leading a brilliant Irish team performance in Malaga, Spain at the biennial World Games  STEPHEN FINDLATER sport@dublingazette.com

DA L K E Y ’ S D e i r d r e Faul – a liver transplant recipient – led the Irish team home last Sunday from Malaga following an exceptional week at the 21st World Transplant Games.

The team won 32 medals in total while at the same time demonstrating their zest for life, team spirit, sportsmanship and infectious goodwill while honouring their organ donors.

T h e I r i s h t e a m ’s impressive medals haul includes 14 gold, seven silver and 11 bronze from various sporting events.

For Faul, she managed to break two world records in the swimming pool on her way to winning four gold medals, including her sixth world title in squash.

The main objective for Team Ireland members, who range in age from

30 to 79, when taking part in the Games is to embrace life and promote organ donation. The team includes 4 liver transplant recipients and 23 kidney transplant recipients.

The 21st World Transplant Games involved 1,000 competitors from 51 countries and every athlete who competed will have received a kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas or bone marrow transplant.

Faul, 49, nailed down her fourth gold medal in the 400m freestyle swimming event with a record breaking time, beating swimmers from Argentina and Israel who came in second and third.

Her time of six minutes 27.89 seconds surpassed the previous world record of 6.32 achieved by British athlete J Coleman in Bangkok in 2007.

A day earlier, the mother to two sons, broke a world record in the 200m freestyle with a time of

3.01.93 and beating the previous world record of 3.05.08 set by Australian Lisa Cuthbertson at the 2009 Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

Just a few hours later, the unstoppable Faul went on to win the 100m breaststroke swim in her age category (40-49 years).

She had also retained her world champion squash title in her age category, her sixth consecutive World Games gold.

After her races, she said: “I didn’t realise I was swimming so fast. Two world records and four gold medals this week, I’m ecstatic! I smashed all of my personal bests too.

I’m thrilled with my performance.

“Thanks to Otter Swimming Club and Dublin Swimming Clun for their support, coaches Matthew MCusker and Brian Conroy and friend Claire O’Dwyer. A special thanks also to my dad and

my sons for their loving support and especially to the family of my donor for making all this possible.”

Shortly after Deirdre’s first race, kidney transplant recipient Peter Heffernan from Skerries, Dublin secured a bronze medal for Transplant Team Ireland in the backstroke event.

Reflecting on his success, he said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the race. It’s so fantastic to be able to take part and the ability to participate and do something that I love is all thanks to my donor. The competition is tough this year so I’m thrilled. A big crowd came down to support us from Transplant Team Ireland. They are a brilliant support.”

Another Dubliner, Mick Dwyer from Cabinteely, a kidney transplant recipient won two medals, the

first a gold in the golf pairs, followed by success in the ball-throw for those aged 60-69 years-old.

“It’s great to see people of my age category and older taking part and doing so well. A huge thank you to my donor and their family.

“Everyone competing here has trained extremely hard.

“No medal is easily won. I’m delighted to be here. I’m thoroughly enjoying the week. It’s excellent to see familiar faces from other countries. I hope to be at the games for many years to come.”

It capped a brilliant week for Team Ireland members, who range in age from 30 to 79, at the Games with the aim of the competition to embrace life and promote organ donation.

Record-breaker Deirdre Faul with runners up Rosaura Michael Dwyer and Garry Campbell after winning Gold in the Golf Pairs

Escudero from Argentina and Hagit Forsher from Israel

GAZETTE

30 LUCAN GAZETTE 6 July 2017

SPORT

FASTSport

SOCCER: INTERMEDIATE PREPARATIONS IN FULL FLOW FOR NEW SEASON

West Dublin clubs get additional needs boost WESTMANSTOWN and Barnhall’s additional needs’ rugby team took part in De La Salle College Churchtown’s recent celebrations of 60 years of rugby, as the College recently hosted an Additional Needs Rugby Blitz at their grounds in Churchtown. This inaugural event was primarily driven by students from the college’s Transition Year Programme, as part of their community and sports science coaching modules with Seapoint and De La Salle Palmerston also taking part.

Lucan United’s young stars are continuing to stay busy throughout the summer

United’s hectic summer sport@dublingazette.com

LUCAN United have an extensive preseason plan on the horizon as they are set to host a pair of top level tournaments in the lead-up to the return of the Leinster Senior League.

The club returns to preseason training on Thursday, July 11 at 7.30pm with the club welcoming new players to try out for their intermediate team.

The following weekend, Lucan will take part in a west Dublin showdown at Celbridge Football Park for the Frank Keane Cup, taking on Garda at

11am on July 16 with near neighbours Glenville facing Kilnamanagh in the other tie. Those ties feed into the third-place playoff and final which will be held at the same venue a week later on July 23.

Lucan will then host a similar format of event with the Ritchie Delaney Tournament running from August 3 to 6.

The opening tie of that event sees Crumlin take on Verona before Lucan host UCD at 7.30pm on August 4.

The playoffs will take place on Sunday, August 6 with the third place playoff at 11am and the final

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS Harriers U-13s sprint to All-Ireland relay title LUCAN Harriers Under-13 girls 4x100m relay

team became All-Ireland champions last Sunday at the National championships in Athlone.

The team consisted of Hannah Moriarty, Eve Noctor, Christvie Luganga, Chelsea Olumba and Emma Reihill.

They won their heat comfortably in a time of 54.82, recording the fastest time overall from the three heats. Later in the final, the girls stormed home to victory in a superb time of 53.90.

at 1pm. Preseason rounds out with a tie against Confey on August 15 before their LSL Sunday Senior 1A campaign gets under way.

Indeed, across the board it is a busy time for the club despite being the midst of the summer season. The club will run its annual family day on July 29 which will include a tournament for five-yearolds up 15-years-old with registration from 11am to 12pm.

All welcome to take part with a presentation of tournament medals at 5pm. The usual food and drink, DJ, bouncy castles

and face painters will be present.

Summer camps are ongoing with the next one starting on July 17 while another will run from August 14 to 18.

Lucan Academy is on every Saturday in Airlie Heights at 11am all year round. The academy is run by UEFA A/B accredited coaches and give children from four to 12 the best possible start in football.

New members are welcome; just show up and register in the club shop and the child can start the same day. The first week is free to ensure the child

enjoys the experience.

On the pitch, Lucan’s girls played big roles in the Metro Girls League’s recent successes at the Gaynor Cup competitions in Limerick.

At Under-12 level, Amy Green scored the winning penalty in the semi-final and the equaliser in the final which the MGL duly went on to win on penalties.

Five of the club’s Under16 Premier side then went on to help their MGL side to victory at their age group.

For more information on the club, contact lucanunitedfc@gmail.com.

6 July 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 31

GAZETTE

FIVE-STAR VICTORY

St Pat’s sweep aside Clanna Gael in league

CLUB NOTICEBOARD LUCAN SARSFIELDS

ST PAT’S Palmerstown’s Under-14 foot-

ballers produced a rip-roaring display on Monday evening in Glenaulin Park to beat Clanna Gael Fontenoy 5-12 to 3-3.

The win was their third win of their Division 5 campaign and lifts them off the bottom of the table after nine rounds of matches. The side now go on their summer break with the league recommencing on September 2.

FOOTBALL: SARS LAND THREE POINTS FROM TWO GAMES

A BIG thank you to those who returned

against Carlow in the next round of the

car draw tickets in advance of the

All-Ireland qualifiers.

draw that was planned for Saturday

Ladies football enjoyed a cup win, 3-16

night last. Unfortunately, we have had

to 1-3, away to Round Tower, Clondalkin

to postpone the draw until later in the

last week, Next up is a championship

summer so you still have a chance to sell

encounter on July 12 at 7.30pm at home

those remaining tickets.

to Westmanstown Gaels.

Last week, there was no winner of the

Congratulations to Dublin U-16 camo-

€6,200 lotto and the numbers were 13, 17,

gie (As win over Galway, Bs win over

19 and 25. This week’s €6,600 draw will be

Cork) and to all the Lucan representa-

managed by Team Gerry McAndrew and

tives on and off the pitch. Hard luck to

is sponsored by John Ryan Accountant.

Dublin minor hurlers, another team

Tickets can be purchased online, at the

with plenty of Lucan representation on

club, in Carey’s Newsagents or in Vesey

the pitch and on the line.

Arms or Kenny’s Bar. Senior football had a draw in their latest league encounter with Castleknock on Saturday evening. Lucan’s Philip Greene stepped up to convert a last

The annual family fun day, originally scheduled for Saturday, July 1, has now been moved to later in the summer.

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

minute 45, leaving it Lucan 0-14 points

Club shop is closed for its summer

to Castleknock’s 1-11. Senior football’s

break. Items can still be purchased

next league game is on July 12 at 7.30pm

online or in O’Neil shop on the Long Mile

at home to Clontarf.

Road.

Best of luck to Brendan Gallagher, lining out for Leitrim on Saturday next

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

ST PAT’S, PALMERSTOWN

Lucan Sarsfields’ Paul Casey played a key role in their fine performances

Lucan reignite AFL1 hopes with big win AFL DIVISION 1 Lucan Sarsfields Skerries Harps  sport@dublingazette.com

2-11 0-4

LUCAN Sarsfields’ senior footballers produced a superb pair of performances to give their AFL Division 1 campaign a big boost as they thumped Skerries Harps before grabbing a last ditch draw against Castleknock three days later.

It abruptly ended a run of five losses on the spin and put some daylight between them and relegation candidates Clontarf and Cuala.

Against Skerries at 12th Lock, Dublin Under-21 star Darren Gavin put in a crucial performance in midfield.

Former county skipper Bryan Cullen did close to an early goal for the Fingal side when he shot just wide but Lucan were in control from the moment Emmett O’Conghaile got the first goals.

It powered Lucan to a 1-6 to 0-1 half-time advantage and while the likes of Paul Cashman, Sean Rocks and Steven Smith registered points for Skerries over the course of the hour.

Lucan kept tipping

away with points to move further and further out of range with Paul Casey putting in an impressive performance.

It could have been worse for Skerries had Shane Davis not saved a penalty but it still ended up as a fairly one-sided 2-11 to 0-4 final scoreline.

Three days later on Saturday evening, Castleknock and Lucan Sarsfields were also inseparable at Somerton Park, thanks to a last-minute Lucan 45 from Philip Greene.

Lucan had led the tie by three points at half-

time, 0-9 to 0-6, only for Knock to come right back into the frame with a goal soon after the break putting them in front for a time.

From there, it was nip and tuck with the hosts edging in front going into injury time only for Greene’s intervention to make it 0-14 to 1-11.

Sarsfields now sit in 14th place in the division with eight matches played but they can make their situation that much stronger next Wednesday when they meet basement side Clontarf – without a point to their name – in their next tie.

SUPER win for the senior footballers

club camp takes place from July 17-21;

at home against St Mary’s on Satur-

€55 runs from 9.30am to 1.30pm daily.

day. Final score of 5-11 to 2-13. A well-

Enquiries to 086 222 4672

deserved second win this week for the

For tickets to the Leinster football

seniors who played St Anne’s on June 28.

final on Sunday, July 16 in Croke Park.

Fantastic day on Saturday at the St

Please text your order to Pauline on 087

Pat’s fun day. Great turnout on the day.

949 8143 or email Pauline_leonard@msn.

Thank you to all who helped set up and

com before Friday, July 7 at 5pm.

organise all the events. Well done to all

A special showing of our OsKars mov-

our winners and thanks to all who came

ies takes on July 15 at 9pm in Palmers-

and joined in the fun.

town House.

Thanks to Paul Gogarty on his first

Our lotto for July 2 numbers were as

official engagement as Mayor; he came

follows: 3, 6, 20 and 30. There was no win-

down to support our Funday event.

ner this week. The jackpot is €2,000 for

Our Friday hurling skills takes a break now for the summer.

Cul Camp takes place from July 10-14; €60 runs from 9.30-2pm daily. The

July 9.

Tickets available at Supervalu, Manor Hair Studios and Palmerstown House and Post Office Chapelizod.

GARDA/WESTMANSTOWN EXCELLENT week for our adult teams

with the onset of the holiday season

with five games played resulting in four

but all the hard work paying off with the

wins and a draw.

selection of Dara McNicholl on the Dub-

Intermediates had two Division 3

lin U-14s v Louth and Aaron Rice on the

league fixtures, beating Ballymun Kick-

Dublin U-15s v Kildare. Well done to the

hams at home and drawing away at St

two boys and all who have helped them

Sylvester’s. The next fixture is at home

reach this standard.

to Naomh Barrog on July 12.

Heather Smith is keeping the ladies

The juniors had two wins out of two,

side prominent, lining out for Dublin

beating Kilmacud Crokes at home and

minors in a challenge against Meath as

St Peregrine’s away. The next fixture is

they continue preparations for their

away to Geraldine Morans on July 11.

All-Ireland semi-final against Galway on

Ladies won their championship tie away to O’Toole’s.

July 15.

Well done also to Myah Murray, Cianna

Great week for Peter McNamara who

Hickey and Ellie Haran who represented

made his debut for the Dubs U-17s in

the club at Dublin U-15 development

the Leinster championship tie against

squad training last Friday.

Meath in Pairc Tailteann; all at the club very proud of you Peter.

Things quiet on the juvenile front

The club race night fundraiser takes place this Friday, July 7 at Westmanstown Sports Centre.

GAZETTESPORT

ALL OF YOUR LUCAN SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 28-31

SARS ON THE RISE: Lucan senior footballers’ three points out of four in AFL1 boosts bid to avoid drop P31

JULY 6 - 12, 2017

FAUL’S GOLD RUSH IN MALAGA: Transplant Games prove huge success for Dublin athletes P29

Coghlan the man to make Peas blossom  KARL GRAHAM

sport@dublingazette.com

PEAMOUNT United have put in place a new management team for their LSL Senior 1B side, as they look to find the right fit that will see them regain the same success they achieved in the past, and put them in the same standing as their schoolboy and women’s teams.

Three seasons ago, Peamount were competing in the LSL Senior Sunday Division 1 but come the Autumn, they will be lining out against Senior 1B sides having suffered their second relegation during those three years.

Allan Coghlan, who recently

guided Knocklyon United to intermediate level, is the man the Greenogue outfit have now turned to, with former player Ciaran Creagh and last year’s Under-8 manager Austin Cooney joining his management team.

“At this stage, Alan has a proven track history in being successful,” Peamount Director of Football Jason Carey told GazetteSport.

“The club are looking to move the senior section on and he seemed the right fit.

“Obviously, he will bring his own management style to the club.

I think that was the biggest thing that came across.”

In appointing Creagh and Coon-

ey alongside Coghlan, the club are ensuring they keep involved the people who know the club.

“We wanted to retain some continuity within the club. Ciaran is a fantastic young coach and Austin knows the league inside out so their experience and knowledge of players are going to be an invaluable help to Allan,” said Carey.

With Coghlan still needing time to assess his new team, new players and targets for the forthcoming season are still to be determined.

“Allan will have to assess what types of players are there and what type of player he is going to need, and adapt his style from there.

“We are going to let him settle

into the club first and see how preseason goes then go from there. I suppose from the club’s point of view, there is no point setting him goals before he has had a chance to assess who he has and who he needs to bring in.

“We will re-evaluate things as we go on but he has free reign to come in and do what he has to do to make the club successful at senior level again.”

“The majority of the squad are going to stay and then through the youth section we are going to gain a lot of young payers. That is the purpose of having an Under-19s and Under-18s; that there is a pathway there for them to develop.”

New Peamount United manager Allan Coghlan