Gazette LUCAN
March 9 - 15, 2017
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A ticket to trouble: How reselling and touts are pushing up prices P16
BABY BLOOM The Ga-Ga-Gazette’s super-cute Bonnie Baby contest is in full swing - send in your pix to WIN WIN WIN one of 3 great prizes!
Turn to Page 3 for more cuteness
SPORT Coghlan’s support call P32
Lucan’s Girl Guides lead the way on Women’s Day MARK O’BRIEN
Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you Jenna Goodwin
THE GIRL Guides of Lucan are celebrating International Women’s Week in the best way possible – by succeeding on two fronts and doing West Dublin proud. Local Girl Guide leader Jenna Goodwin (26) this week heads to
New York City to take part in a prestigious United Nations event. Jenna was chosen to be part of an 11-strong delegation from the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts who will speak at the UN Commission on the Status of Women. While in New York, they will
also take part in an event promoting body confidence in young women. Jenna this week told The Gazette: “We want to highlight that investing in girls is a primary means of increasing economic outcomes in later life.” But the good news doesn’t end
there – a patrol of six young ladies from Lucan Girl Guides came out on top at a recent Irish Girl Guides (IGG) regional competition on team-building, and will now go on to represent the IGG’s Eastern Region in a national competion to be held in Killarney in May. Full Story, See Page 4
2 LUCAN GAZETTE 9 March 2017
Only two social housing units built since 2015 MARK O’BRIEN
CLLR Paul Gogarty (Ind) has called on the local authority to explore the possibility of shared ownership of homes after it emerged that just two social housing units had been built in Lucan since 2015. Cllr Gogarty brought a motion before the recent Lucan Area Committee meeting asking for a progress report on stepdown housing in the Lucan and Palmerstown area. In response, South Dublin County Council said that just two units had been built in Lucan under the Government’s Social Housing Strategy, which aims to build 35,000 houses by 2020. The report shows that there is a lot of building work going on in local areas but Cllr Gogarty told The Gazette that a lack of land is an issue in Lucan. He said: “The reality is there is no land so all the council can do is buy houses in the area.” Because of this, he advocates the idea of shared ownership, which allows people to part-own and-part rent a home. A person buys a share of the property and the council buys the other share.
The occupier then pays an affordable rent to the relevant housing association or council. Cllr Gogarty said: “It gives people on lower incomes an opportunity to get on the property ladder.” He recently attended a special meeting with Mayor Guss O’Connell about the issue of housing and said that following that meeting he was reasonably happy with the work being done on the issue of housing but felt that the mix of housing could be better. In a lengthy statement on Facebook following the meeting, he said: “On balance, it is fair to say there is now some considerable work under way, even if delivery to date has been much, much slower than desired. “The council compares favourably in this regard to other local authorities, for what’s it’s worth. “From a national perspective, I believe we could think bigger, that there are better solutions out there in terms of building sustainable communities and a workable mix of private, social, step-down and affordable/shared ownership, with facilities and infrastructure tied in alongside.”
Leg it over to the VHI mini-marathon
ENTRY is now open for the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon which will take place on Monday, June 5 in Dublin city centre with TV personality Amanda Byram, who is helping as a member of the support team, calling on women of all ages to take part. Celebrating 35 years, this year’s event will see more than 35,000 women walk, jog or run while raising money for a charity of their choice. To mark the special milestone, the organisers also unveiled a new route for 2017 that will see the course completely reversed with this year’s event starting at Fitzwilliam Square and finishing on Baggot Street. To enter, women can register online at www.VhiWomensMiniMarathon.ie, or by post.
COUNCIL | COMMUNITY CAN DIRECT SOME FUNDING
Residents urged to have their say on budget spend thanks to a pilot scheme MARK O’BRIEN
A “€300K – Have Your Say!” participatory budget scheme has been launched by the Mayor of South Dublin County Council Guss O’Connell. The pilot scheme allows the local community to directly decide how to spend a portion of a public budget in their area. South Dublin County Council has allocated an additional €300,000 for the pilot initiative in the Adamstown, Lucan and Palmerstown areas. Residents, through a combination of locally facilitated workshops and online consultation, are invited to submit their ideas on how to spend the budget to help improve
their area. Meetings will be held during March to facilitate the generation of ideas. The first meeting took place on Tuesday at St. John the Evangelist School in Adamstown. Further meetings will be held on Monday, March 13 in the Lucan Leisure Centre at 7pm, and in Palmerstown Community School on Wednesday, March 15 at 6.30pm. Speaking at the launch, Mayor O’Connell urged as many residents as possible to get involved in the project. He said: “Participatory budgeting is about enabling people to have a greater voice on local priorities. “We want to give local people the opportunity
to vote on investment in their area, to shape the services they use and address the issues that are important to them in their community. “I would like to encourage all citizens living in the area to get involved by submitting their ideas or voting for the projects that they feel would have the greatest impact in their locality.” T h e c h i e f e xe c u tive of South Dublin County Council Daniel McLoughlin added: “We are anxious to explore this process which has been used elsewhere across the world in the interests of local democracy. “While each area implements the concept differently, the funda-
mental rationale and basic process is the same: community members come together to brainstorm ideas, proposals are shortlisted, residents vote for their priorities and the local authority implements the projects chosen by the community.” Following the public meeting process, proposals will be assessed and costed and the final selections will be put forward for a public vote. A number of voting stations will set up locally for people to vote in paper format and there will also be the option of casting votes online. Further information on the Participatory Budget scheme can be found at www.sdcc.ie/haveyoursay.
9 March 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 3
Fionn Rua in action
It really is Le Crunch time for cover acts FIVE Dublin acts are through to the semi-finals of the popular Le Crunch Apple of My Eye Song Contest, which sees the healthy apple brand team up with Joe.ie to uncover the nation’s best cover act. Ranelagh’s Mark Campbell joins Ryan Cahill from Palmerstown, Balinteer trio Scoops, Fionn Rua, and Blackrock duo Stephen & Mimi Lane. They along with five other semifinalists from around the country now face a public vote to make the final five. The final takes place at Whelans on March 23rd with the winner taking home €1,500. Voting ends tomorrow, so get to ouitolecrunchmusic.com and back one of the Dubs!
Toooooo cute!
Aishling Monaghan sent in this snap of gorgeous 14-month-old Katie Smith
SPRING is in the air, and the Gazette’s Bonnie Baby competition is in full swing. We’ve had a wonderful response from mums, dads, proud grandparents and family friends, who’ve shared some of the cutest photos we’ve ever seen. The competition will run for the entire month of March, so keep sending in those wonderful snaps of your little ones – we’ll feature as many as we can in the paper each week until April 6th. We have some great prizes to give away – including two hampers worth €90 each from our friends at NUK Ireland – and one lucky winner will win a free family or newborn photoshoot worth €180 from Gazette photojournalist and expert baby photographer Ali, of Alison O’Hanlon Photography. So keep sending in those snaps to competitions@dublingazette.com or via our Facebook page – and don’t forget to include your details and your baby/ toddler’s name and age!
Goo-goo Gazette readers show off their pride & joys
9-month-old Parker Daly
Isla at just 5 weeks
This little cutie was sent
Fabio Soares sent in this
in by Ciara O’Sullivan
gorgeous photo
Ben is just 6 months old
Finn Horgan
4 LUCAN GAZETTE 9 March 2017
GUIDES | LUCAN LEADER OFF TO NEW YORK FOR PRESTIGIOUS UN EVENT
Proudly supporting young women MARK O’BRIEN A LUCAN Girl Guide leader is heading to New York this week to take part in a prestigious United Nation (UN) event. Jenna Goodwin (26) was chosen to be part of an 11-strong delegation from the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) who will speak at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Jenna has been a member of the Guides since she was five and she says that being a member has allowed her to avail some exciting opportunities in the past – including volunteering for five months at the WAGGGS World Centre in Sangam, India. Speaking about her upcoming trip, she told The Gazette: “I’ve had
some really cool opportunities with Girl Guides and this is one of them.” Jenna and the rest of the delegation will be representing 10 million girls from 146 countries who are members of the Girl Guides worldwide. During the commission’s annual two-week session, representatives of UN Member States, civil society organisations and UN entities gather at the
UN HQ in New York. Member States agree on further actions to accelerate progress and promote women’s enjoyment of their rights in political, economic and social fields. The theme of this year’s event is, Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work, and the delegation are hoping to impress upon decision-makers the importance of education in empowering girls and young women. Jenna said: “We want to highlight that investing in girls is a primary means of increasing economic outcomes in later life. “That can be everything, especially non-formal education which is what guiding is all about. “Through education, it will increase women’s equal participation in the
workforce in the years to come and equip girls with essential skills for entering the workforce and staying in the workforce.” The delegation will
speak at the UN Youth Forum over the weekend where they will also be highlighting the Stop the Violence: Speak out for Girls’ Rights campaign
which was started by WAGGGS in 2011. Later in the week, they will take part in an event promoting body confidence in young women.
Guides’ glee at contest win
LUCAN Girl Guides were celebrating after attending the recent Irish Girl Guides Regional Competition in Newbridge, County Kildare. The group presented a project on The Netherlands which included information on living in the country, as well as information and a play about Anne Frank which they performed at the event.
The patrol were selected as the winning senior team and will represent Irish Girl Guides Eastern Region at the final, which will be held in Killarney in May. This project presented an opportunity for the team to demonstrate their team working and cooperation skills in order to fully prepare for the event. The patrol consists of six girls ranging in age from 10 to 14 years.
FASTNews
Date centre set to create jobs in West Dublin ANOTHER 50 jobs have been created in West Dublin after Interxion unveiled its third data centre in the area. The company is located in Grange Castle Business Park and is a leading provider of carrier and cloudneutral colocation data centre services. As well as Dublin, the company have opened data centres in Amsterdam and Copenhagen. Tanaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald said that the new jobs were: “A vote of confidence in the talent and skills available in the local areas of Lucan and Clondalkin.”
Water supply switch leaves locals with a bad taste MANY Lucan residents are having issues with the taste of their water after supply was switched from the Roundwood/Vartry plant to the Leixlip plant. The switch was made due to pressure issues, but residents have been complaining that their water tastes differently. Irish Water chlorine levels in the water had to be increased due to high ammonia levels in the River Liffey, which supplies the raw water from the Leixlip plant. Cllr Paul Gogarty (Ind) said that he has tabled a motion for the next Lucan Area Committee meeting of South Dublin County Council asking Irish Water for a timescale as to when supply will be moved back to the Roundwood/Vartry plant.
9 March 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 5
6 LUCAN GAZETTE 9 March 2017
Out and About
The cream of the crop at baking Lewis White and Sophia Whitty
Catherine Leyden with Calum O’Shuilleabhain; below: third place junior winner Lewis White Pictures: Alison o’Hanlon
Sharon Ui Shuilleabhain and Janice Brennan
T
O CELEBRATE Clondalkin Fairtrade’s third birthday as the 51st Fairtrade town in Ireland, an annual bake-off was held in Aras Chronain recently, attracting people from all across West Dublin to the tasty event. Catherine Leyden, well-known to TV3 viewers, was on hand to judge the event and commented on the really high standard of delicious cakes this year.
Haris Lopez receiving a Fairtrade Farmer award from Jack Brennan
Carmal Mulvey and Pamela Owens
9 March 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 7
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GRIFFEEN VALLEY PARK | ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR CONTINUES TO FRUSTRATE
Car break-ins lead to call for CCTV to be installed MARK O’BRIEN SOUTH Dublin County Council are to explore the possibility of activating CCTV cameras in Griffeen Valley Park after a number of cars were broken into recently. Cllr Liona O’Toole brought a motion before the recent Lucan Area Committee meeting requesting that CCTV be installed in the car park of Lucan Harriers and
Weston Hockey clubhouse. Cllr O’Toole told The Gazette that seven new lighting columns had been installed last November following previous incidents of anti-social behaviour. “That worked for a while, it was great having the lighting and from a health and safety point of view people were able to move in and out in their cars safely,” she said.
“Unfortunately about two or three weeks ago I got an email from the club to say a couple of cars had been broken into.” The email read: “We had three car break ins at our clubhouse car park again this evening on Newcastle Road. “Disappointing for this to happen after lights were installed. It’s clear we need more security and help from the council on ways to increase secu-
rity around the clubhouse, track and Weston hockey pitch. “We’ve had numerous problems with anti-social behaviour.” In response to Cllr O’Toole’s motion, the council said it was disappointing that the issue of break-ins had re-emerged after the lighting had been installed. The council agreed to trim back the hedges at the car park to improve visibility from the road. They also advised: “Clubs that are using the car park could also take a practical approach and
stagger use to ensure that there is a presence in the car park at all times. “This would be particularly relevant where they are aware of the general times that incidents occur.” The council noted that there were already three CCTV cameras on the clubhouse building but were unsure who they belong to. It has since been established that one of the cameras belongs to the council and the other two were most likely installed when the clubhouse was built but
were never activated. The council said that was willing to meet with the clubs to explore the options available regarding activating these cameras. Cllr O’Toole said she was happy with this outcome and that the cameras could act as a deterrent. She said: “They’re not going to be manned 24 hours a day but it will help as an evidence base, understanding when it happens, how often it happens and you might be able to pick up individuals as well.”
Lucan artist lands first gallery exhibition A PHOTOGR APHER from Lucan is about to launch her first gallery exhibition, just five years after she took up the hobby. Elaine Butler, who now lives in Chapelizod, will exhibit her work in the Solas Gallery in Ballinamore, Leitrim, alongside work by Polish painter Anna Hryniewicz. The exhibition will launch on Friday at 7.30pm. Elaine said she started off in photography by joining Palmerstown Camera Club five years ago with her mother, sister and sister-in-law. She said: “I started off as a complete novice and didn’t know which end of a camera was which. But it’s really sparked something off.” Since then, Elaine has won numerous awards and been widely published in journals and magazines. She held her first solo exhibition in the Front Lounge in the city centre
The Copper Coast in Waterford
last year which was very well received. She also sells prints of her work through her website elainebutlerphotography.com. Her first gallery exhibition will feature landscapes and seascapes that were taken all around Ireland and Elaine says that she particularly likes working at sunrise and sunset. She said: “Quite often you’ll find that the most beautiful time of the day is either sunrise or sunset. It brings everything to life.”
When asked if she has any particular favourite shots, she mentioned a shot of the Copper Coast in Waterford and also a shot of a rower on the Liffey in Chapelizod but is proud of all of her work Elaine, who works in homeless services, says that she would love to exhibit in Dublin one day but right now she is very happy with the work she is doing and is looking forward to the Solas Gallery exhibition. The exhibition will run until April 1.
FASTNews
Community grants available APPLICATIONS are now open for South Dublin County Council’s community grants programme. The programme is aimed at providing financial assistance to community and voluntary groups who are responding to locally identified needs within their communities. The closing date for applications is Friday, March 31. Any organisation wishing to avail of the scheme must have the completed application form returned by 4pm on this date. Further details on the scheme, please contact Community Services on 01 4148270 or email communitygrants@ sdublincoco.ie.
Free financial, legal advice TANAISTE Frances Fitzgerald launched information for those in mortgage arrears earlier this week. To date 4,800 vouchers have been provided under Abhaile to provide free financial or legal advice and assistance on home mortgage arrears. The campaign wants to ensure that everyone across Ireland who need assistance and may be at risk of losing their home is aware that free advice and support is available through the Money Advice and Budgeting Service. Minister Fitzgerald said: “Under the new Abhaile service, homeowners can now access free advice and help from a specialist debt adviser, a personal insolvency practitioner, or a solicitor, aimed at identifying the best long-term solution for them and getting it into place.” Contact the MABS helpline at 0761 072000.
9 March 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 9
10 GAZETTE 9 March 2017
Out and About
Marian Power and Krisztina Bolla
Patrick Delaney and Mary Delaney
Ryan Tubridy launches first children’s book Patrick Kelly, Ryan Tubridy and PJ Lynch. Pictures: Brian McEvoy
Eoin Colfer and Jackie Colfer
Joe Duffy and Rachel Tubridy
Orla McDermott
Lee Motherway
R
TE broadcaster Ryan Tubridy was joined by his mother Catherine, sister Rachel and brother Garrett at the launch of his new book, Patrick and the President at Dubray Books in Grafton Street last week. The book tells the story of John F Kennedy’s return to his ancestral home in Ireland through the eyes of a young boy. Kennedy described his four-day visit to Ireland in 1963 as the best four days of his life, while it was also a trip never forgotten by a generation of Irish people.
Janet Hickey and Judith Tubridy
Barbara Hughes and PJ Lynch
Georga Longhurst and Deirdre Scully
9 March 2017 GAZETTE 11
Out and About
John Hoyne , Eamon McCormack and John Gleeson
Michael Carr, Powers ambassador and Donall O’Keeffe, chief executive of the Licensed Vintners Association. Pictures: Brian McEvoy
Karen Moran and Laura Moriarty
Willie Ahern, Joe O’Rorke and Gerry Cooley
A powerful launch for limited edition whiskey T
HE Brian Boru pub in Glasnevin was in high spirits last week as a special limited edition Powers 1817 was launched to mark 200 years of the Licensed Vintners Association. The function was attended by many of Dublin’s leading vintners. The venue was a fitting one, as this was the last pub to serve whiskey from the wood – until 1973.
Louise Ryan and Tom Doorley
James Rafferty and Jamie Sweeney
GAZETTE
12 GAZETTE 9 March 2017
DUBLINBUSINESS
€5k prize to drive Give Peas a Chance contest
Paul Coffey, vice president Allergan; An Taoiseach
EMMA NOLAN
Enda Kenny; Brent Saunders, chairman, president and chief executive officer, Allergan; Francis Bates, vice president, Global Solid Oral Dose Manufacturing, Allergan and Pat O’Donnell, senior vice president global manufacturing, Allergan
Allergan marks its 40th with a €42m investment ALLERGAN marked 40 successful years of business in Ireland by confirming an investment of €42m in its Irish operations in 2017. The company, which employs approximately 1,700 people in Ireland, also announced details of a new €50,000 Innovation Award Programme with colleges around the country. Allergan also announced that it will become the official sponsor of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation as part of a threeyear sponsorship.
Prestigious programme for female-led start-ups THE DCU Ryan Academy for Entrepreneurs is calling on female-led start-ups to apply for its prestigious Female High Fliers Accelerator Programme 2017. Since its launch in 2014, over 40 female entrepreneurs have participated in the programme and have continued to achieve impressive results. Some 35 businesses have received investments totalling €7 million, Businesses have continued to expand, creating 115 jobs and 19 businesses are now exporting their products and/or services. Supported by Enterprise Ireland, the 13-week accelerator programme aims to address challenges facing female entrepreneurs across all industries and support Ireland’s top early stage start-ups in fast tracking their business to achieve scale. Ten selected participants will gain access to a peer start-up founder network and to the DCU Ryan Academy network of experienced entrepreneurs and investors. They will take part in weekly tailored workshops delivered by a team that understands the particular needs and challenges facing their individual business. They will also be challenged on their business plans and be given an opportunity to pitch to potential investors. The application process is open to female founders or co-founders of Irish or international innovative start-ups less than five years old. All companies must be female-led and participants will be selected based on their growth and export potential as well as business idea and team strength. The closing date for applications is Tuesday, March 21. For further information visit http://www.ryanacademy.ie/
CULLY Allen of the Cully & Sully food business returned to his old school this week to share his success story behind one of Ireland’s biggest food businesses and launched an inaugural competition entitled Give Peas a Chance. This initiative aims to foster a spirit of food entrepreneurship in Irish secondary schools and discover Ireland’s next young food entrepreneurs. Secondar y schools across the country are now invited to take part in the competition, which combines food growing and entrepreneurship to engage and inspire students to grow their own peas and to devise a soup recipe using what they have grown to come up with a product, which Cully & Sully will produce. Through this initiative growing kits will be delivered to 7,500 students across the country. The kits include everything
the students need to grow peas including seeds, pots, soil and plenty of growing tips from Grow It Yourself (GIY). Students are asked to pair up in order to undertake the challenge. According to Michael Kelly, founder of GIY: “This initiative enables students to learn first hand about food enterprise right from the seed onwards. We know that to make good food you need great ingredients and you can’t get better than growing your own. “We feel that this initiative will help to accelerate even more brilliant food starts ups in our local food system in the future.” Cullen said: “We are really hoping to inspire a new generation of food entrepreneurs. Learning at our mother’s kitchen tables gave us our passion for good food and we’re grateful for that every day. “We hope to see that passion grow in these junior entrepreneurs. Pea soup may seem simple but with the creativity and ingenuity that we
Pictured at the launch of the Give Peas a Chance competition is Michael Kelly with Cully Allen, of Cully & Sully, and students Aimee Browne, Molly O’Shea, Sarah McDaid and Sacha O’Neill. Picture: Patrick Browne
know Ireland’s young people have we can’t wait to see what they come up with.” During Give Peas A Chance, students will be allocated a series of challenges and in the final phase they will be asked to file the details of their own “ReciPEA For Success” using their homegrown peas as inspirations for a brand-new soup recipe.
A number of these student ReciPEAs will then make the shortlist and the students will be invited to a Dragon’s Denstyle pitch scenario at the home of GIY, GROWHQ in Waterford, on May 25 where a winning team of two will be selected and crowned the Give Peas A Chance champions. The winning students will be awarded a prize pot of €5,000 which
includes a €3,000 food garden for their school, two iPads for the winning team of two students and the brand-new winning soup recipe will be produced by Cully & Sully and served at the GIY Cafe GROW HQ. Schools and teachers planning to participate in this nationwide competition can sign up to take part at http://www.cullyandsully.com/ourgarden.
Local Enterprise Week a must for SMEs LOCAL Enterprise Week 2017 is currently running, until March 11, with a week to inspire and motivate thousands of entrepreneurs and small business owners in Dublin city. A host of mainly free events are available to help get business up and running. The week-long programme of mentoring, advice and networking highlights the services and supports available to SMEs and start-ups in Dublin through their Local Enterprise Office in Dublin’s Civic Offices, as well as providing a selection of events and workshops, tailored to inspire and inform. The week enjoyed a fantastic start on Sunday, March 5 with the national final of Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competition in Google Headquarters. Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Dublin City
client Samuel Dennigan won the Best Start Up Business award after brilliantly pitching to the judges and audience about the benefits and uniqueness of his Strong Roots food business. Some of the main events of the week included Digital Day, which was celebrated yesterday, March 8, and helped demonstrate to businesses how to maximise their business online. International Women’s Day was also celebrated yesterday through the Women in Business Network. More than 200 female entrepreneurs and businesswomen attended an event to encourage them to develop their business and ideas further. Today, Thursday March 9, the LEO Dublin city and the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) will be supporting the e-Commerce Association of Ireland (eCAI) by hosting a
full day e-commerce seminar. A creative industries half day event will take place tomorrow, Friday March 10, in the Chocolate Factory – a co-working space for entrepreneurs. The week’s activities culminate with a Start Your Own Business Boot Camp this Saturday, in the Guinness Open Gate Brewery, including expert mentoring sessions and guest speakers. Full details of all events, venues and booking links are available on the LEO Dublin City site: https://www.localenterprise.ie/DublinCity/Training-Events/LocalEnterprise-Week-2017/Local-EnterpriseWeek-2017.html Nationally, 14,500 small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs are expected to have attended more than 380 events during Local Enterprise Week.
Let The Gazette take you on a tour of what’s on across the county this week
How concert ticket reselling is really costing you money
SQUASH IS A SHY DOG, BUT HAS A LOT OF LOVE TO SHARE WITH YOU
P16
OUR Dog of the Week looking for their #SpecialSomeone is Squash, a three-yearold female Lurcher. She is a beautiful, gentle soul but is currently lacking in self confidence, so Squash would love a family who will take their time getting to know her and allow her to come out of her shell at her own pace.
Reassure Squash would hugely benefit from having the company of a confident, friendly dog to help her settle into her new home and reassure her that she is finally home and can relax. Her ideal home will have a garden, as she likes to potter about and have a good sniff at life! If you can be Squash’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/ ogstrustirelandonline, or on Twitter @DogsTrust_ IE.
DIARY P14 STYLE P18 MOTORING P19
GAZETTE
DUBLINLIFE
9 March 2017 GAZETTE 13
James Hendicott investigates the slowly rising impact for fans and asks if enough is done to tackle the issue
GAZETTE
14 GAZETTE 9 March 2017
DUBLINLIFE
A tree-rific way to help promote our great natural resources Applegreen chief executive Bob Etchingham with biologist Eanna Ni Lamhna and Kevin Hutchinson, president of the Tree Council of Ireland, along with their little helper, Lily, who dug deep to plant the first of over 100 crab apple trees that Applegreen will donate to their stores nationwide as part of Annual Tree Week. Picture: Maxwells
A NUMBER of tree-mendous events are taking place this week as part of National Tree Week - an annual event organised by the Tree Council of Ireland, supported by Coillte to raise awareness of and promote the planting and care of trees around Ireland. Applegreen are sponsoring the events taking place over the week and encouraging individuals, families, schools and local communities to get up, get out and explore the trees, parks and forests in their local areas. According to most recent research carried out by the Heritage Council, 40% of children in Ireland between the ages of 7 – 11 have never climbed a tree and 10% have never visited a forest or a wooded area. Stand-out events
include an Augustine Henry Forestry Lecture in the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin today [March 9], A poem as lovely as a tree school poetry competition at Pearse Museum, St Enda’s Park on Saturday March 11 and a guided nature walk through Massy’s Wood in Kilakee on Sunday, March 12. Speaking at the launch event in Lusk, Applegreen CEO Bob Etchingham said: “Applegreen is delighted to be sponsoring National Tree Week for the first time in 2017. “At Applegreen we are committed to playing our part in achieving a more sustainable future for Ireland. We want to encourage all of our customers and the public to show their love for trees, either by planting them, learning about them or simply
getting outside and enjoying them. “We hope that people will get involved in all of the events that are taking place in their local area during Applegreen National Tree Week 2017”.
ABSEIL OFF CROKER TO HELP THE ISPCC ATTENTION daredevils. Ever wanted to abseil off the roof of Croke Park? Well, now’s your chance. Last August, the ISPCC ran a hugely successful abseil in Croke Park where participants had the opportunity to abseil off the roof of the stadium. The feedback from those who took part was extremely positive so the charity has decided to run the event again this April. Home to the headquarters of the GAA, Croke
Park is the third-largest stadium in Europe. The iconic grounds present a unique venue for the ISPCC Abseil, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday, April 29 and 30. Participants are asked to pay a deposit of €50 and fundraise a minimum of €200. Places are limited so to ensure your place register at ispcc.ie.
VOLUNTEER TO HELP SPINA BIFIDA GROUP SPINA Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland (SBHI) is currently offering volunteering opportunities to people who wish to help improve the quality of life for people with a disability. Each summer, SBHI runs its SHINE (Spina Bifida, Hydrocephalus, Ireland, Nurturing, Empowerment) pro -
gramme which encourages participants to develop their independence and social skills in a fun and safe environment. SHINE also offers valuable respite for the participants, their parents, and/or carers. SHINE takes place over five separate weeks in different venues and each week is tailored to meet the needs of specific age groups. In the region of 100 participants attend SHINE every year, along with a dedicated team of volunteers and staff. SBHI is currently recruiting volunteer liaison officers and care and activity volunteers. Members of the public, men and women, aged over 18 years, have the opportunity of being involved in SHINE as care and activity volun-
teers. Anyone interested in volunteering can apply online at www.sbhi.ie/ shine_volunteer_recruitment or phone Louise or Helen on 01 457 23 29. All short-listed applicants must attend an interview, scheduled for March and April each year; must sign the terms and conditions agreement at time of interview; undergo a Garda background check, and participate in training.
EXCITING, CREATIVE DESIGNER-MAKERS DUBLIN has the chance this month to see the work of “Future Makers”. Shape the Future is an exhibition running in NCAD this month that provides a chance to see new work by twenty of Ireland’s most exciting and creative designermakers, who have been
awarded Design & Craft Council of Ireland’s Future Makers prizes and development funding over the past seven years. The designers being showcased work across fashion, jewellery, accessories, textiles, furniture, product design, glass, ceramics and leather. Speaking ahead of the launch, the curator of the exhibition, Angela O’Kelly, NCAD head of design for body and environment, said: “Irish design and craft is having a moment. “Irish designer-makers are growing with confidence, adapting traditional techniques and combining them with new materials and processes to create unique works.” For more information, including opening hours, visit www.ncad.ie.
9 March 2017 GAZETTE 15
Make the move to an active lifestyle
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GAZETTE
FEATURE
AN INTERNATIONAL Parkour star took her skills to the streets of Dublin last week. Katie McDonnell, a 26-year-old celebrity stunt double from Windsor and the UK’s leading female Parkour athlete was in town to launch Lucozade Sport’s “Made to Move Sessions”. “Made to Move Sessions” are a series of highprofile events sponsored by Lucozade Sport, which will take place over the next 12 months aiming to champion active lifestyles. To help launch the campaign and demonstrate how our bodies are made to move, Katie performed a series of jaw dropping parkour stunts against some of Dublin’s most iconic landmarks. Her stunning freestyle run through Dublin was captured in a video trailer to launch Lucozade Sport’s Made to Move Sessions. To watch Katie’s moves and find out how to get involved in Lucozade Sport’s Made To Move Sessions, go to Lucozade Sport Ireland’s YouTube channel here or Facebook Page LucozadeSportIRL #madetomove Speaking at the launch, Katie said: “This is my first trip here and I’ve absolutely loved freerunning through the capital. I’ve been blown away by the friendly reaction I’ve received, and the landscape has been really varied and cool to perform against. “I’m so proud to get behind Lucozade Sport’s Made To Move campaign and help encourage people to move more and get more active.”
9 March 2017 GAZETTE 17
DUBLINLIFE TICKET SALES FOR POPULAR ARTISTS SUCH AS J.COLE AND ED SHEERAN SHOW THE SCALE OF THE TOUT AND RESELLER PROBLEM THEIR TICKETS SOLD OU T VERY QUICKLY – ONLY FOR TICKETS WITH INFLATED PRICES TO SWIFTLY POP UP ON RESELLER WEBSITES HOW CAN WE STOP THIS?
FEATURES
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO STOP THE TOUTS FROM CASHING IN ON YOUR LOVE FOR MUSIC?
T BANDS EVEN THE BIGGESLIKE U2, IN THE WORLD, THE ARE VICTIMS OF G EVER INCREASIN IMPACT OF TOUTS
JAMES HENDICOTT INVESTIGATES THE GROWING PROBLEM OF TICKET RESELLING, WHICH IS STRIKING AN EVER SOURER NOTE
ISSUES surrounding ticket sales are growing again in Dublin, as the highlyprofitable secondary ticket market ramps up for the summer peak. Ticket touting remains legal in Ireland, though Deputy Noel Rock (FG) recently put forward a motion looking to criminalise the resale of tickets at above their official price. Since his tabling of the bill earlier this year, Deputy Rock has received protesting submissions from the likes of the IDA – Ireland’s foreign direct investment body. The IDA highlight the value of the companies leading the market – some of whom have Irish headquarters – to our economy. For punters, though, this is a growing problem.
Firms such as Viagogo and Seatwave (the latter a Ticketmaster-owned company whose resale options appear on the Ticketmaster website, highlighted once the original offering is sold out) are highlyprofitable agencies. This is particularly clear to see with big-name gigs. A ticket for U2 in Croke Park this summer, for example, starts at €240 on Seatwave at the time of writing (face value €44), and goes up as high as €1,000 (face value €200). Ed Sheeran – who has personally spoken out against above face-value reselling this month on his Twitter account – has seen tickets for his 3Arena date listed at over €600 each (face value €77), while a ticket to Ireland’s potential Six Nations decider against England will set you back almost €1,200
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‘The Glastonbury festival has demonstrated it is possible to thwart touting – in their case, tickets feature a picture of the buyer, are non-transferable, and must be accompanied by photo ID to allow entrance’
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after booking fees (face value €60). In the case of J.Cole, whose 3Arena date sold out shortly after going on sale in late February, tickets were allegedly on Seatwave ahead of the show’s swift sell-out. With such a quick turnaround allowed, and highly inflated prices, it’s hard to believe these tickets were not bought with profit in mind. In some cases, the reselling company stands
to make more in resale fees than the total original ticket price. There are, of course, tickets for lesser events available for more reasonable rates – in some cases, close to or even below face value – but such sales also feature far higher associated charges than the first buy. These rates are industry standard, and similar with rival companies such as Viagogo and Stubhub. There have also been
reports of the sites occasionally being less than reliable. Dubliner Colin Lee, for example, told The Gazette of his experience buying a ticket to Elbow at the Olympia theatre last month, only to be denied entry on arrival as the ticket had already been used. This issue is not unique to Ireland. MP Nigel Adams commented in the British parliament last week: “Tickets to the hit musical Hamilton are touted for upwards of £5,000, when companies like Viagogo know only too well that tickets re-sold are invalid for entry [this is frequently the case in Ireland, too]. “It’s unfair and not indicative of a market that works for everyone. What will the govern-
ment do to ensure genuine fans are not fleeced by touts and rogues?” Stephen Byrne, editorin-chief of Irish music website Goldenplec, concurred, arguing: “Vendors need to do more to protect music fans and their customers”. He added: “I’ve no doubt that artists will be looking at the growing resale market with tickets sometimes selling at eight to ten times face value, and that the base ticket price will increase. “Many people will be priced out of the market altogether. I find it
FANS ARE INCREASINGLY SOLD OUT, WASTING THEIR TIME QUEUEING – ONLY FOR TOUTS, BOTS AND RESELLERS TO TAKE WHAT THEY CAN GRAB TO TURN A QUICK BUCK
hard to believe that vendors cannot track which tickets are being resold at extortionate prices, and cannot do more to stop people who buy simply to make a profit by reselling.” When some of the companies involved in both first and subsequent sales are under the same ownership – as with Seatwave and Ticketmaster – it’s equally hard to see why the original vendors would be particularly motivated to prevent such profiteering. Should Deputy Rock’s proposal fail, the road ahead could be still bleaker. As Bos-
ton-based music fan Anthony Grice explains, for example, the scenario in the more developed American market is still worse: “Essentially all sporting events and many gigs/shows are blighted by this now.” He explained further: “People with money to burn will buy extortionately priced sports season tickets, then put all the games they can’t go to online at two or three times face value. “Real fans struggle to get tickets, and only fans who can afford to drop a ton on a
GAZETTE
GAZETTE
16 GAZETTE 9 March 2017
ticket can go. “Gigs are almost as bad. Bots [automated computer programmes] buy the tickets up, and they sell out in seconds. Then they’re all on secondary sources for two or three times the face value.” There are alternatives in Ireland, though they depend on ‘genuine reason’ sellers opting to decline the high-value resale option. Popular site Toutless. ie uses a forum format to resell tickets strict-
ly at face value. Adverts. ie also has a policy prohibiting sale at above face value. Meanwhile, events such as the UK festival Glastonbury have demonstrated it is possible to thwart touting – in their case, tickets feature a picture of the buyer, are non-transferable, and must be accompanied by photo ID to allow entrance. So long as for-profit reselling remains legal, however, it will
be the preserve of the occasional insistent artist to go above and beyond to protect their fans. Elsewhere, there will be speculative ‘buy to sell’ buyers looking to cash in, and event-goers willing to pay. A large market exists where often only profiteers and those who own the platform stand to win. Those absorbing the costs of r unning an event see no benefit, and with profit-driven buying, those desperate to attend ultimately lose out.
GAZETTE
18 GAZETTE 9 March 2017
DUBLINLIFE
EMMA NOLAN Style Editor
d an Isl 5 er €3 Riv ey top Gr
STATEMENT sleeves are one of the most prominent trends of 2017 thus far – and the bigger the better! This trend is simultaneously super fun and utterly chic – from bell-shaped, to ruffle, bishop and cold shoulder, the arms are stealing the spotlight. Some attention-grabbing favou-
rites are available all across the high street right now, with seemingly endless variations. A great accent to any outfit, a statement sleeve elevates every outfit, instantly creating a silhouette to die for. Check out Zara, Topshop and Asos for their great takes on the statement sleeve.
STYLE Zara Denim crop top €30
SLEEVE NOTES Zara Plush sweatshirt €40
HEY KIDS, THIS ONE’S FOR YOU EMMA NOLAN
CALLING all fashionable Dublin kids! Arnotts is hosting its Children’s Fashion Weekend in April which will see the children’s department transformed into a festival of fun! The highlight of the April 1-2 weekend are the “kids-only” fashion shows, which will be hosted
by Reuben the Entertainer. Four high-energy fashion shows will take place on Saturday, April 1, where young fashionistas will take to the catwalk to showcase top brands from the Arnotts childrenswear department. Brands on the catwalk will include Boss, Ralph Lauren, Guess, Lego, Losan, Lelli Kelly, KG, Rachel Riley, Billie Blush
and Billy Bandit, to name just a few. In between fashion shows, the Vicky Barry Dance Troupe will be doing a number of performances, while a robot dancer will be busy entertaining guests and a magician will be in store to perform magical illusions. A kids disco will also take place from 4 to 6pm on Saturday.
Topshop Gingham flute top €60
ASOS Boohoo ruffle blouse €26.67
Penneys Jacket €23
Zara Denim dress €40
9 March 2017 GAZETTE 19
P21
P22
M50MOTORING
GAZETTE
P20
in association with
Michael Moroney drives you through the latest news in the motoring world including the latest models and technology and going electric
NEW AUDI Q5 GETS FIVE-STAR SAFETY RATING THE new Audi Q5 SUV has been awarded five stars in the Euro NCAP crash testing programme, which is the organisation’s highest rating for safety. The top score confirms that Audi’s best-selling SUV model is also among the safest automobiles in its class. The Audi Q5 showed off its strengths in every aspect of the assessment programme. The new Q5 scored points for occupant protection, child safety and pedestrian protection. Also contributing to the SUV’s five-star rating were the driver assistance systems, which comes as standard and includes: pre sense city - an emergency braking system that reacts to vehicles up ahead of the car and to pedestrians. Entry prices for the new Audi Q5 start from €48,350.
Hyundai’s new Ioniq Electric cars are in the spotlight in terms of cleaner and lower cost motoring, especially for city drivers. Hyundai has joined the market in 2017 with the new Ioniq, which offers the full electric car option as well as hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions. Michael Moroney reports from his impressive test drive on a longer than usual commute.
THE electric car race has got more exciting start in 2017 as Hyundai joined the market with a car that gives electric and two hybrid driving options in one modern style. The new Hyundai Ioniq is the latest electric car contender joining the market after the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe models have made the initial start. The Hyundai package is impressive and there are hints that the Iconiq will soon catch up on the competition. For Dublin drivers this new car is available in three power ver-
sions, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all electric. Hyundai offered me the opportunity to take the all-electric version and puts its impressive range claims to the test. Electric cars such as the ioniq are designed as city and short run commuter cars. Ireland’s modest geographic size as a country means that for many drivers a daily commute can be in excess of 100km each way to and from work. That then becomes the real test for a fully electric car. Continued on next page
GAZETTE
20 GAZETTE 9 March 2017
M50MOTORING Hyundai sparks electric power with new Ioniq
in association with
FASTNews
The Seat Alhambra
Alhambra offers in the spotlight for March SEAT in Ireland has announced details of new offers across its seven-seater Alhambra range. The offers mean that until March 31, motorists can avail of incentives from Seat’s 23-dealer network on both the Alhambra S and SE models. The Seat Alhambra makes technology on-the-go a seamless experience thanks to its Full Link Technology offering which comes free of charge until the end of March. A connec-
tivity feature that brings all your smartphone needs safely to the road, parents can take pleasure in components such as the media centre’s Read to Me feature which transmits text messages, as well as easy access to Spotify, podcasts and satellite navigation. The Seat Alhambra model qualifies for the 3.9% current finance offers on the SEAT Alhambra SE and 4.9% on the SEAT Alhambra S. The deals include deals include a three-year service plan for €299 meaning a saving of €400. The Seat Alhambra has received the maximum five-star recognition in the Euro NCAP safety rating.
Continued from Page 19
I put that challenge to the test with the electric Ioniq and drove to Portlaoise from Leixlip two days in a row to test its range. This was followed by a further long run to the Leitrim border for an overnight at Rooskey on the banks of the river Shannon. The car’s 28kWh lithium-ion battery was going to be put to the test. Was I a true optimist or just plain foolish to attempt that level of driving? After a week with the Ioniq, I had driven 972km, probably not the ideal driver profile expected for electric car drivers. For me it showed just how realistic electric cars can now be as the range from a full overnight charge has grown to more than 200km. I found that with good planning coupled with a more sensible driving style, the range anxiety that I had expected soon evaporated. Keeping to a regular 100km/hr on the motorways and anticipating likely driving issues and how others will drive, meant that I was achieving the full range of 200km on each full charge of the car. That meant a drive to Portlaoise and back was possible with only a small re-charge. On one occasion I returned via Tul-
lamore where during a meeting the car was well charged for home using one of the higher speed public charging points in the town’s Tanyard Lane. While charging is not always convenient in terms of rural towns, with a bit of planning it is possible. This is helped by a very useful ecar connect app from ESB Ireland, which lets you know where the charging points are located across the country and also if they are free. The Hyundai claim of 250km from a full charge was never going to be realistic, however 200km was and that suited me well. Most of my charging was overnight at home on either a standard 13amp fused three-pin socket or the purpose kit that I’ve had fitted at home some time ago. Either way, a full charge can take somewhere close to 12 hours and that means a full overnight, once you clock in home. If you drive a longer distance such as to Leitrim, then be prepared for an overnight stay if you cannot get access to one of the faster public charging points. For longer runs, plan to have a one hour coffee break at a service stop where there is a free charging point, for an additional boost to ease your range anxiety. Over-
Hyundai Ioniq Electric SPECIFICATIONS
Engine Engine power 0 – 100km/hr Economy Fuel Tank Capacity CO2 emissions Road Tax Band Main Service Euro NCAP Rating Warranty Battery Warranty Entry Price all, I’m well convinced that you can make the electric option work. You will be impressed with the driving performance of the Ioniq as it is impressive to accelerate using high torque electric motors. The car is very silent apart from the road noise generated by the special low rolling resistance tyres. In so many ways, the Ioniq is just another car but with clear air electric power. It has good comfort and all of the kit that you find in a good qual-
Electric Motor 120hp 9.9 seconds 200km/full charge NA 0g/km A0 €120 NA 5 star 5 years unlimited 8 years/200,000km €28,495 ity standard hatchback car, including air conditioning, sat-nav and good radio with Bluetooth connection that powers Apple CarPlay and other Android systems. You’ll be impressed as I was with the heating system, as the car heated up quickly without the need for an engine warm up as in many traditional engine cars. And the heating system as not as much a drain on battery power as I expected; I was watchful and careful to manage it well. You can
use the information systems on the large central screen to monitor electric power consumption, so the choice is yours and the consequences are obvious. The car is spacious while the boot is claimed to be larger than some of the hybrid competition, its higher base made it feel a little tight with a full load. You need to keep space for the two charging cables included and it can be a small effort to keep them tidy. It was difficult to accurately measure the running costs while the ESB ecars Cost Calculator claims a weekly cost for a 500knm commute, to be €6.34. This compares with almost €40 for a diesel car equivalent. I’ll check my electric bills at the end of the month to see any differences but without a special meter the average driver will have to trust the ESB figures for starters. The Ioniq has impressed with a Euro NCAP fivestar safety award so it ticks all of the safety boxes for family motoring. The Ioniq is the new electric car on the block and is more expensive at €28,495 than either the Nissan Leaf or Renault Zoe. Despite this, the Ioniq has out sold the Leaf so far this year, with 128 cars registered to the end of February.
The new Hyundai Ioniq is an impressive electric hatchback family size car that’s good to drive and low cost to own. The entry price for the Ioniq with a 200km range is €28,945.
Want to reach an audience in excess of 300,000 people in Dublin each week? To advertise in our new Motoring section, contact sales@dublingazette.com
or call
01 601 0240
9 March 2017 GAZETTE 21
MOTORING
in association with
Barry Dunne takes helm at Windsor Long Mile Nissan Commercial Centre BARRY Dunne, a 30-year veteran of
4X4 market. Garreth Thomson, a South
the motor trade with comprehensive
African native, brings almost 20 years
experience in the Light Commercial
of Heavy Good Vehicle (HGV) experience
Vehicle (LCVs) and Passenger Car (PC)
between South Africa and Ireland.
trade, has been appointed sales man-
Finally, the team is also complement-
ager for the newly-opened Windsor
ed by Alan Hughes, service depart-
Long Mile Nissan Commercial Centre.
ment; Ann Kelly, aftersales advisor, and
A native of Dublin, Barry came to
Kim Mayer, administrator, with further
Windsor Long Mile Nissan in January
positions to be created over the com-
and was previously commercial and
ing months.
fleet sales manager with Renault Belgard in Tallaght for almost five years. He has held previous positions
The new dealership has 40,000sq ft of outside forecourt, a spacious 11,000sq ft indoor warehouse-stlye showroom,
including general sales manager, sales
a 5,000sq ft workshop and a 2,500sq ft
manager and leasing manager for a
road front showroom.
number of well-known brands in the motor industry. Barry brings with him a wealth of LCV and PC experience, helping customers find the right vehicle for their individual and business needs and budgets in both the LCV and car market. Also based in Windsor Long Mile Nissan is Aidan Reinhardt, a Dublin native. He brings to the team 17 years of motor trade experience in LCVs, PCs and the
The sales team in Windsor Long Mile Nissan: Aidan Reinhardt, Barry Dunne and Garreth Thompson
GAZETTE
22 GAZETTE 9 March 2017
M50MOTORING
in association with
Peugeot joins the SUV market with new 3008
PEUGEOT’S new generation 3008 SUV has hit Irish shores and will be in dealerships across Dublin City from this week. The impressive new SUV features the latest generation Peugeot iCockpit with digital instrumentation as standard across the range. The range pries starts from €25,995 plus delivery related charges for the entry level model, the Access 1.2 130bhp PureTech petrol version. The new 3008 comes with a choice of five trim levels, to include Access, Active, Allure, GT Line and GT versions, a wide range of both petrol and diesel engines is available. The 1.2-litre PureTech 130bhp turbo petrol engine, with CO2 emissions from just 117g/km, was voted International Engine of the Year in its
FASTNews
Nissan has a new exchange offer for the electric Leaf model whereby by you get a six months trial period – if you’re not happy you can exchange the car for a new petrol- or diesel-powered Pulsar model
Nissan unveils an electric Leaf offer NISSAN has a new offer for the Leaf electric car for 2017, which now includes two years’ free insurance, two years’ free servicing and two years’ free road tax. Nissan claims to be so confident that Leaf drivers will love their cars that they offer replace the car with an petrol or diesel model if the electric option doesn’t The new Peugeot 3008 is a next-generation SUV that comes with a luxurious design and improved performance, coupled with a host of new technology features, with starting prices from €25,995 plus delivery charges
work out for first time electric car drivers. Nissan claims that if you change your mind they will swap it for a 172 a choice between a 1.2-litre petrol
category for the secondyear running, earlier in 2016. This engine is available with a six-speed manual gearbox or with Peugeot’s latest generation EAT6 six-speed automatic transmission. The
1.6 THP petrol 165bhp EAT6 six-speed automatic has emissions from 129g/CO2. Four BlueHDi diesel engines are available, trim dependent, with CO2 emissions from 103g/
km, and power ranging between 100, 120, 150 and 180bhp. The 2.0-litre BlueHDi 150bhp version is matched to a six-speed manual gearbox, whilst the 1.6 BlueHDi 120bhp version is available with a
choice of a six-speed manual or a six-speed EAT6 automatic gearbox. The range-topping GT version comes equipped as standard with a refined 2.0-litre BlueHDi diesel 180bhp six-speed automatic.
Providing the best service for your vehicle ATLAS AUTOSERVICE provides for all your car needs in a fast, friendly, efficient and cost-effective way. With 10 locations around Dublin, you are never too far from one of their garages. For more than 43 years, Atlas Autoservice has been servicing cars, replacing tyres and keeping motorists safe on Irish roads.
Good tyres
Atlas Autoservice has been servicing cars for 43 years and has 10 locations
Regular servicing
The regular checking and servicing of your car is important for several reasons. It will result in better fuel economy, help to reduce overall repair costs and lower the risk of breakdowns. The Atlas philosophy is to make getting your car serviced as simple and convenient as possible. They pride themselves on only using original equipment, manufacturer-standard quality parts, meaning your car is getting the
same treatment with Atlas as it would at the dealership where you bought it. Atlas’s online booking system means you can book your car for a service on your chosen date by simply visiting their website. All of their managers are experienced and knowledgeable in all areas of car servicing. If you book online, you will receive a 5% discount, meaning you can get a quality full car service from as little as €95.
Motorists should never underestimate the importance of good tyres – they are the only contact between you and the road. Keeping your tyres in top-notch condition means your car has the best chance of stopping should you suddenly need to. If you aren’t sure if your tyres are okay, call into your nearest Atlas Autoservice and a member of their team will be happy to take a look at your tyres for you. Tyres at Atlas are very competitively priced and they can offer you new value tyres from as little as €49. The Atlas Autoservice customer promise is to make things as simple and convenient for you as possible, and to provide their customers with the best service at the best price. To find out more, visit their website (www.atlasautoservice.ie) or drop in and speak to one of their helpful staff members.
Pulsar XE or a 1.5-litre diesel Pulsar XE for free. The vehicle exchanges must to happen within six months from the date of registration, so that seems like a fair trial period. Nissan wants all potential Leaf buyers to test drive the car for free for minimum of 24 hours and maximum of 72 hours must be taken before purchasing. The entry price for the electric Leaf XE is €21,490 after Government grants, etc and this is a competitive offering for a car that claims a range of 199km. The higher specification Leaf SV brings that range of 250km and costs €23,990. Both models also have a Nissan €4,000 scrappage deal offer for trade-ins.
Renault Belgard’s Winning Number! RENAULT Belgard, who
• 0% APR HP Finance
previously brought you a
€1,000 Deposit Contribu-
‘5,4,3,2,1’ offer, certainly
tion (through RCI)
love their numbers! For
• Two years’ road tax
the month of March,
• Three years’ servicing
they’re at it again – they
So if you feel this could
have pulled an amazing
be your lucky number,
‘Exclusive to Renault
text ‘Belgard’ to 50123,
Belgard’ offer out of the
to let them know you’re
hat, for all purchasers of
interested.
a new Kadjar!
They’ll give you a shout
• A five-year warranty
back, to answer all your
plus Roadside Assis-
questions and arrange a
tance
test drive.
9 March 2017 GAZETTE 23
GAZETTE
24 LUCAN GAZETTE 9 March 2017
DUBLINLIFE
FEATURE FESTIVAL: DIVERSE PROGRAMME OF EVENTS AND ARTISTS BOUND FOR SMOCK ALLEY VENUE IN APRIL
Journey into the evolving sounds of a contemporary music universe EMMA NOLAN
Artists featuring at Music Current 2017 include (from top) soprano Elizabeth Hilliard, KLANK, composer Christopher Fox and Michael Quinn
A CONTEMPOR ARY music festival is taking to Smock Alley Theatre this April. Music Current 2017 is a showcase for the best in new Irish and international contemporary electronic music. This year’s festival runs for three days at The Boys School, Smock Alley Theatre, from April 27 to 29. Considered as the “Fringe” of Irish new music festivals, Music Current is now in its second year and gives a platform for the newest contemporary electronic music, hosting four concerts over three days. This year’s line-up features Irish soprano Elizabeth Hilliard, guest composer Christopher Fox, German ensemble KLANK, a major new immersive installation by Dublin Sound Lab composers, plus a special concert of new international works developed during the festival by participating composers – one of whom will receive this Year’s Imro/Music Current Commission award of €2,500. The festival opens with Vox Electronica (at 8pm on Thursday, April 27), a
programme of new works for soprano and electronics performed by Elizabeth Hilliard. Hilliard is a pioneer of Irish contemporary music and is renowned for her exceptional musicianship, effortless creativity and emotional intensity. In this concert, she will present the Irish premiere of Kaija Saariaho’s seminal masterpiece, Lonh – a beguiling work for solo soprano and electronics.
KLANK (8pm on Friday, April 28) Bremen-based quartet KLANK bring their mad, lucid logic to Dublin for the first time in a programme of works developed by the group. KLANK create their own sonic universe from a dizzying interaction of musical techniques and cultural approaches, where improvisation collides with the musical potential of everyday objects to create uniquely
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‘Considered as the “Fringe” of Irish new music festivals, Music Current is now in its second year and gives a platform for the newest contemporary electronic music, hosting four concerts over three days’ ---------------------------------------------------------
The concert also includes recent works by festival composer Christopher Fox: Sea to the West (for soprano and electronics), which was recently recorded by Hilliard for the Metier CD label, and Fox’s encyclopedic Catalogue Irraissonne (for solo soprano), a captivating meditation on language and the fragility of communication. In KLANK plays
inventive klang-aktionen (sound performances). The festival concludes with Perisonic (8pm on Saturday, April 29), a large-scale immersive, panoramic “painting” of Dublin, using eight loudspeakers and four large video screens. In this major collaboration, composers Scott McLaughlin, Grainne Mulvey, Jane Deasy, Fergal Dowling, creative pro-
ducer Sabina Bonnici and video artist Mihai Cucu extend Barker’s vision of a 360-degree experience by reimagining a cityscape reconstructed in pure sound. Immersed in surroundsound and accompanied by video, the audience is invited to explore four singular perspectives of Dublin. Music Current 2017 also features an opportunity for the public to engage with composers through a public panel discussion at the Contemporary Music Centre Library, No 19 Fishamble Street (at 6pm on Friday, April 28). Entitled, Are You Talking to Me?, the discussion considers the relationship between listeners, performers and composers from the audience’s perspective. The panel will include members of KLANK, composer Christopher Fox and other guests. Moderated by Evonne Ferguson, director of the Contemporary Music Centre, audience members and concert-goers are encouraged to participate. For further information, see musiccurrent.ie.
9 March 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 25
GAZETTE
GAMING
Horizon Zero Dawn offers a vast world to explore, from dusty mesas to dense jungles, and from the mountain tops to mysterious underground ruins, it all looks pretty incredible. Screengrabs: Shane Dillon
HORIZON ZERO DAWN: A SUPERB ADDITION TO THE OPEN WORLD GENRE
Scales new heights of PS4 gaming greatness SHANE DILLON
Combat, scavenging and crafting resources form a big part of the game – preparation and purpose are key
BELIEVE it or not, but this is the third time this page has been put together – the first two versions were overcooked reviews, but a game like the PS4 exclusive Horizon Zero Dawn (Cert 16) perhaps can just let its visuals do the work, rather than words. And what visuals! At last, we have a game worthy of a similar level of
acclaim as Uncharted 4 – yes, it really is that good, and even better in some ways, in some places. The game’s main loading screen largely sums up the game’s core idea: “Earth, the far future. Nature has reclaimed the ruins of our forgotten civilisation, but humanity lives on in primitive tribes. “In this new wilderness, they fight for survival against the machines,
fearsome mechanical creatures of unknown origin.” That sums up the core idea at the heart of this game, as Aloy, a young huntress who was raised as an outcast from the Nora tribe, seeks to rejoin it and discover why she was cast out as a baby. It isn’t long before Aloy is sent on a world-trotting quest by Nora’s matriarch, with Aloy free to roam the
A game of something influence, perhaps SOME people have already commented that Aloy, Horizon Zero Dawn’s impressive protaganist, is in essence Ygritte, the popular and tough Wildling character from Game of Thrones – both are practical, resourceful women; hunter-gatherers trying to survive in a harsh world. And they’re both redheads, which helps! However, Aloy is an interesting character in her own right, presented with more emotion and subtlety than usual for the genre,
helping to both make her a likeable lead and marking a very welcome step away from the usual dull-as-dishwater gung-ho leads that typically front such triple-A releases. Despite the Ygritte/Aloy comparison on the surface, Aloy’s character is an impressively nuanced addition to the list of gaming heroines we’ve been treated to in recent years, thanks to the work by actor Ashly Burch, and a sympathetic script. Ashly’s great work here, with a decent script
for the most part, stands out, but Horizon’s characters are also better than usual. Without wanting to overthink matters, it’s commendable that the developer, Guerilla Games, created a multiethnic cast, further steering Horizon away from the bog-standard look and tone of most open world games. While this was Guerilla’s first attempt at an open world game, the final result – which has largely wowed critics and reviewers – means it surely won’t be the last.
truly vast, beautiful and dangerous open world, which is littered with rusting relics and tumbled overgrown ruins from long ago, before Man’s mysterious fall. Aloy’s trying to disover why the robots (which evoke several animals and dinosaurs) the humans and tribes hunt for resources are being corrupted, and are becoming deadlier by the day.
Is Aloy’s fate tied to the world’s, and where will her journey take her? There’s a lot more to the game than this simplistic summary, with Horizon taking an awful lot of element familiar from other big games, but mixing everything together to create a unique title. However, the end result is an early contender for game of the year, and is definitely a must-buy.
26 LUCAN GAZETTE 9 March 2017
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GAZETTE
28 LUCAN GAZETTE 9 March 2017
SPORT
FastSport COLE AND CARR IN IRISH SQUAD: FORMER St Andrew’s College students Lee Cole and Jamie Carr have both been named in the Irish men’s senior hockey team for the World League Round 2 in Belfast this weekend, a key component in the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign. For both players, it will be their first world ranking level tournament. Carr has been in outstanding form in goals for Three Rock Rovers, aiding the Rathfarnham club’s rise to second place in the EY Hockey League. Cole, meanwhile, has over 20 international caps to his name and is likely to be primarily a left-sided defender for the tournament. They join a panel with a number of other Dubliners including Templeogue’s Shane O’Donoghue and the vastly experienced Ronan Gormley. The tournament in Stormont starts on Saturday with a group game against Ukraine before they play Italy and Austria in their other games, setting up playoff games against either Wales, Scotland, France or Poland.
KARATE: ST BENILDUS STUDENT SHOWS HIS TALENT WITH BULGARIAN PERFORMANCE
Talented Renehan targets 2018 Youth Olympics place
JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com
A KARATE STAR in the making, 15-year-old Dundrum fighter James Renehan has just returned from the European Karate Federation championships – effectively a European championship for Shotokan Karate – in Sofia, Bulgaria. A member of seventh dan Sensei Brendan Perry’s Kaizen Dojo gym in Terenure, Renehan’s budding career has taken off over the last couple of years, after he travelled to Japan to fight as a 13-year-old, bringing home a silver medal. He now trains six days a week, exploring the fringes of MMA and a range of strength and conditioning options to perfect his karate-discipline fighting. While Ireland generally punching above their weight in karate, local fighters typically travel to international tournaments as underdogs. R e n e h a n s u f f e r e d t wo defeats in his fights in Bulgaria, yet rose to the ranking of 11th in the world in his -57kg category, putting himself in serious contention for the
James Renehan in training
junior Olympics in Argentina in 2018. A place in the tournament is now his key goal. “James fought a talented Russian in the first round, and lost, but the Russian – who comes from a huge squad, one of a few who have state backing and serious programs – went on to reach the final, which got James back in on the repechage,” Renehan’s
father James Renehan Snr told GazetteSport of the Sofia contest. “In the repechage, he narrowly lost to a Serbian who also went on to go far in the tournament. “It’s challenging to get to these tournaments, though, and this is a step in the right direction for him. He’ll probably need to rank fifth or sixth
to go to Argentina, and there are plenty of opportunities to do that in the coming months. The next big one is in Scotland in April.” Renehan is a third-year student at St Benildus College in Dundrum and has found both the school’s supportive attitude – which included his missing mocks recently to travel to Bulgaria and rep-
resent Ireland – and Sensei Perry’s role critical in his progress. “He likes the tradition and the discipline of the sport,” Renehan Snr explains. “He’s dabbled in MMA as a training exercise but seeing people over from Japan and connecting with the history of karate is a big part of it for him. “The discipline comes out in things like the weight limitations, too. “He had to watch his weight over Christmas and has to think about whether he’d like to bulk up to a higher weight or stay where he is. “It’s two hours of training almost every day, so there’s a lot involved.” “At the moment, it’s funded by the bank of dad, but sponsorship is something that would be very helpful. It’s not common in minority sports so it would be more a bonus than an expectation,” Renehan Senior explains. “Many of the juniors who go to Argentina in 2018 will be the same people who fight in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. That’s the ultimate dream.”
Bermingham leading netball’s rise to new Galaxy BERNARD DUFF sport@dublingazette.com
Kate Bermingahm in action for Ireland
CLONTARF native Kate Bermingham (25) doesn’t quite remember when she fell in love with netball but says it is a sport that is getting noticed more and more. Working professionally as a nutritionist in UCD, she says: “Most of my colleagues there know I play netball but many still don’t know what netball is”. Off court, at least, she is gentle and modest character who hasn’t kept count of her number of inter-
national appearances, having made her debut six years ago. She is a defender but not naturally she says: “I was an attacker at school when I started” but has since then discovered her true calling: “I play regularly in all of the three defensive positions in netball”. Last week, she was playing for Dublin Galaxy in Our Lady of Mercy College, Beaumont. Galaxy were playing in two of the three matches being played in Winter League Division 1 that evening. This is the top level in the Republic of Ireland and the
season which started in October and will be decided in early April after the play off season. It’s a sport she learnt at Rathdown School in Glenageary, starting age 12; a comparatively old age for an international netball player. Her near six-foot frame “does help and I have a great reach too” as evident in two smothering performances last week when Galaxy beat Leinster NC 43-18 and St Anne’s Phoenix 42-17 to remain top by an incredible 39 points, with five points for a win. After Rathdown, Bermingham
had five seasons representing UCD when she was capped, followed by a single season at the traditional leaders of the Irish game, St Anne’s Netball Club from Milltown. She switched soon after to Dublin Galaxy who are currently in their first season but already dominating the sport in Ireland. As the large stadia of the semipro British Netball Superleague are gaining familiarity to Irish sports fans via Sky Sports she is certain netball in Ireland is gaining a knock-on effect with a noticeable growth in interest and awareness.
9 March 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 29
GAZETTE
FASTSport
Galty rise from ashes to continue rich history Brendan Dempsey says Drimnagh club has risen from “The Dump” to an exciting new future with access to an astroturf pitch with plans for a couple of schoolboy teams JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com
Sundrive’s Byrne enjoys Los Angeles challenge SUNDRIVE cycling club’s Eamonn Byrne was the pilot to stoker Martin Gordon in the Irish tandem team that finished sixth in the men’s Sprint at the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Los Angeles. In the qualifying rounds, the new pairing clocked a time of 11.116 over 200m, placing them up against the Malaysian duo of Rizan and Rasol in the quarter finals. In the match sprint, the Malaysian tandem proved too strong for the Irish and progressed into the semi-finals. In the fifth-sixth final, Ireland faced the Spanish bike of Avila Rondriguez and Font Bertoli but were outpowered in the closing laps to finish sixth overall in their debut race. In the 200m qualifiers the Irish bike placed sixth fastest and, in the next round rode tactically against the more experienced Malaysian team, coming close to the Rio Paralympians in their second sprint. Speaking after the competition Byrne said: “We did what we could against a much faster duo and raced as well as we could. We dropped down to a slightly smaller gear for the second heat for better acceleration and the last 200m ended up as a 10.9, so it was a quick race.” In the race for fifth/sixth place against the Spaniards, the Irish tandem took control of the race early on, with Spain eventually taking fifth just ahead of the Irish bike, Byrne described the race saying: “The Spaniards were riding a massive gear and wanted the front, we got them on the hip then and flicked them up a couple of times, but once they got the gear moving they did a three lap effort to the line. We sat on and drove on the final lap, and were coming through, but it wasn’t enough.” Cycling Ireland Performance Coach Neill Delahaye was impressed with how Gordon and Byrne have conducted themselves saying: “The lads have had a baptism of fire amongst bikes that have been around a while, with considerable experience. They have given a good account of themselves.”
FOR SEVERAL years, shortly after the turn of the century, long-standing Drimnagh soccer club Galty Celtic were no more. Come 2017, the longstanding efforts of Brendan Dempsey and a group of former Galty players has the team very much back on the map. Having been founded in 1951 by a group of working class men in the suburb, dedicating time around demanding jobs, Galty became fairly successful in what was then a far more city-wide Athletic Union League, winning a number of trophies in their first 15 years. Running three separate teams in the AUL at one stage, Galty were the club of Brendan Dempsey, a brother of Arsenal man Tony Dempsey,
Galty Celtic in Tolka Park
who also came through the club, throughout his entire playing career in the 1960s and 70s. They lost strength and numbers over the following years, as local competition grew. It was Dempsey who was eventually to revive the club af ter what seemed like a dying ember went through an extended period held together by the time, investment and management of Shamie Gannon. Gannon sadly passed away late last month. “I don’t know how Shamie did it for so long,” Dempsey recalled of the period. “He was sick, and it wasn’t ideal for him to be stood outside in the rain night after night, but he did it because he cared. “Youngsters were getting less interested in playing, though, and eventually the club just disbanded. I know that
was very hard for him, he’d been involved in the club for 40 years.” Dempsey had spent time around the turn of the century managing a number of other amateur clubs around the Drimnagh area. But, having been at Galty for so long, took the club’s shutdow n between 2002 and 2005, hard enough to abandon his other roles in order to bring Galty back. “Two years had passed after the shutdown when I decided to do something about it,” Dempsey - who took over management duties and remains in place today - explains. “I reached out to a few former players to form a committee and they were all into the idea. The AUL was full up at the time, and with much of it based in North Dublin now, we also through the travel across the city for most games might put
players off. “There was no space in the Leinster Senior League, either, so we talked to the junior division. They put us in at Sunday Major level. We absolutely cleaned up, winning something like seven leagues and a couple of cups since we reformed. Eventually we made our way to the
training every time now, and interest is growing in the area, people are starting to pay attention.” After a tough road, things are looking as good as they have in decades for Galty Celtic. Brickfield, a long-promised local all-weather pitch, finally opened last week. “It’ll change the way
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‘This club was built on the backs of men living in tworoom tenement houses’ - Galty’s Brendan Dempsey
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Leinster Senior League. “Managing clubs can be a thankless task, and a lot of these clubs, ourselves included, exist week to week, relying on local sponsorship to get by,” Dempsey explains. “But we’re still here, and things are getting better. I get 18 or 19 down at
we play football and how often we can play with the weather,” Dempsey said. “You can’t imagine how bad it used to be; people used to call it ‘The Dump’, and they meant it. It was just a layer of topsoil, and some of the stuff that came through when it rained was nasty.” There are improvements in the pipeline when it comes to adding further teams, too. “We’re looking to add two schoolboy teams this year,” Dempsey explains, “and a longer term aim is to win another league, and to make an impact on the cup competitions. “This club was built on the backs of men living in two-room tenement houses and working hard, physical jobs,” he concludes. “It’s great that it’s still here.”
GAZETTE
30 LUCAN GAZETTE 9 March 2017
SPORT
FASTSport
SOCCER: DAVE CONNELL’S SIDE SHOW UP WELL IN CZECH BATTLES
Lucan quartet save best for last in Masters finals LUCAN Harriers emulated their brilliant performances at the Leinster Masters Championships as they moved on to Athlone to take part in the National Masters Championships. It was a great day, resulting in excellent runs, personal bests and medals. First on the track was Edith Coakley who repeated her Leinster performance, bringing home the silver medal in the 60m hurdles. She finished fourth in the 60m flat and sixth in the 200m. Carol Kearney won silver in the 60m and 400m and bronze in the 200m. Clare Johnston ran two personal bests in her first national championships with great runs in the 60m and 200m. In the men’s event, Hugh Walsh reached the finals of both the 60m and the 200m. Eoin Fitzgerald and Derek Lynch had strong runs in their 1,500m races with the former finishing fifth with a personal best and the latter were seventh in their respective finals. Niamh Fitzgerald took home the gold medal in the W40 1,500m. The final race on the track belonged to the Lucan Ladies with the quartet of Niamh Fitzgerald, Edith Coakley, Carol Kearney and Clare Johnston, pictured above, bringing home the gold in style in the 4x200m relay.
Liffey Celtics win big in Waterford COUTYARD Liffey Celtics continued their recent winning streak in women’s basketball Super League with a big win on the road on Saturday evening as they overcame Maxol WIT Wildcats down in Waterford, 51-64. The win sees them all but home and hosed in second place in the league barring some late season shenanigans
as they face into their final game of the regular season on Sunday against bottom-placed Meteors at 2.45pm in Leixlip. Jazmen Boone top scored with 19 points with excellent support from Emma O’Connor with 15 points and 11 points from Aine O’Connor and Sorcha Tiernan. They are six points off leaders Ambassador Hotel Glanmire with and six points ahead of DCU Mercy who have two games left in their season.
Peamount United’s Niamh Farrelly and Naoisha McAloon continue to make waves in the irish squad
Six Peas in the Irish pod sport@dublingazette.com
NO LESS than six Peamount United players were involved as the Ireland Under-19s women’s team came away from Spain with one win and one loss from two friendly games with the Czech Republic. Niamh Farrelly, Naoisha McAloon, Chloe Moloney, Lucy McCartan, Heather Payne and Eleanor Ryan-Doyle all got game time, while the latter managed to get on the score sheet in one of the games. The two matches were part of a training camp in preparation for their
UEFA European Championship elite round, which takes place in April. Ireland narrowly lost the second of the two games on Friday after falling behind in the first half. Shelbourne Ladies midfielder Alex Kavanagh equalised in the 59th minute before Ireland took the lead through striker RyanDoyle 16 minutes later. However, the Czechs hit back with two goals to gain revenge for the 3-0 humbling they suffered two days prior. Dave Connell’s side took a first half lead in that game through defender Niamh Prior and had the game all wrapped up
SOCCER SISTERS West Dublin venues to host FAI Easter camp PEAMOUNT United and Esker Celtic have both been confirmed as venues to host Easter FAI Soccer Sister camps. The camps are open to girls between the ages of seven and 12 of all abilities and will run for two days during the school holidays. Each participant will receive a full Aviva Soccer Sister kit, including a limited edition Soccer Sister Jersey, a “Play Like a Soccer Sister” wristband” and a football. For more information, go to www.soccersisters.ie.
shortly into the second half. Substitute Tiegan Ruddy doubled her country’s lead after 53 minutes when she got on the end of Jamie Finn’s inviting cross to the front post and flicked the ball into the top corner. Just minutes later Ruddy was involved again but this time she turned provider. It was her free kick that Cork City’s Saoirse Noonan got on the end of to steer home. Speaking after that game, Connell was clearly delighted to secure such a commanding win over a very strong team. “We’re delighted with the win. Czech Republic
came through their qualifying round top of the group and are a very good side,” Connell said. “We performed very well. This group of girls is battle-hardened, and over the 90 minutes I thought we were well in control. To score three goals was particularly pleasing and we’ll look to build on this performance. “We are under no illusions though. The Czech Republic bring a different game to what we face in qualifying. They are very physical and technically sound.” Ireland topped their European qualif ying group after wins over FYR
Macedonia, Wales and Italy. They scored 14 goals in the process while only conceding three, so should enter the elite stage with confidence of being able to find the net against any opponent and keep things tight at the back. They will hold home advantage in April as they go up against Finland, Scotland and Ukraine. The six group winners from that stage will then join the runner-up with the best record against the teams first and third in their pool, and hosts Nor thern Ireland in the final tournament in August.
9 March 2017 LUCAN GAZETTE 31
GAZETTE
FUN AND GAMES
CLUB NOTICEBOARD
St Pat’s welcoming new boys and girls for 2017
LUCAN SARSFIELDS
ST PAT’S Palmerstown are looking for
used to be known as, before Lucan Sars-
“THE Pitch Across The Road” is what it
children born in 2008 and 2009 to join up with their football, hurling and camogie teams for 2017. If your child is interested in learning the skills of Gaelic games, you can contact Keith on 087 614 3852, Edno on 087 929 4171 or Kieran on 086 142 7857. For more information, go to www.stpatricksgaa.ie.
fields relinquished control when occupying AGP1, 2 and 3 in the early 1990s. Currently occupied by Esker Celtic, the pitch behind the hockey pitch is to become AGP0. In turn, Esker Celtic are
Sunday: De Domhnaigh - Comhalteas Ceolteoiri, 4-6pm in the bar. Monday: De Luain - Cupla Focal Club, 8-10pm Tuesday: De Máirt - Trath Na gCeist sa club, bi ann!
to occupy Willsbrook Park. South Dublin
Wednesday: De Ceadaoin - set danc-
Co Council have facilitated the change
ing and bingo (b’fheidir go mbeigh se as
which allows us to consolidate pitches
galilee?)
in an area where additional parking,
FOOTBALL: WESTMANSTOWN CLUB’S POSITIVE SHOWINGS
Beginning March 12.
changing and toilet facilities are planned (near AGP1). More detail on this later.
Thursday: Deardaoin - club night, music in the bar. Friday: De hAoine - music in the bar
Congratulations to Ciaran Dowling on
from 5.30pm. Children’s entertainment
winning a freshers’ All-Ireland with DCU.
from 5.30-7.30pm. Bus from St Mary’s
Another weather interrupted week-
National School after the parade.
end for games with hurling Leinster
Saturday: De Sathairn – Aisghabhail!
League called off. Inter football was an
Academy and weekend matches resume.
exception, losing out to St Jude’s by two
The Feile teams are actively fundrais-
points. Some juvenile fixtures did go
ing; events include a third and fourth
ahead with all-weather wins for the U-12
class disco on Friday night next, and a
and U-13 footballers.
social night on Saturday night, complete
The senior hurlers host Castleknock at 10.30am on Sunday next in their league opener. April 1 is the date for a club dinner dance. Tickets are limited and are available at the club. St Patrick’s Week is fast approaching and this includes Seachtain Na Gaeilge.
with Elvis himself, food and lots more; tickets €15 on the door. The 25 card drive continues this Friday, although they may take a break the following Friday for St Patrick’s Day. Set Dancing is also on Wednesday at 8.30pm in the function room while the bar hosts bingo.
ST PAT’S, PALMERSTOWN Garda/Westmanstown are looking to rise from the inter ranks in 2017.
Garda have Wright stuff in AFL3 opener AFL DIVISION 3
Garda/Westmanstown 0-11 St Peregrine’s 1-6 sport@dublingazette.com
G A R DA / We s t m a n s t ow n ’s i n t e r m e d i a t e footballers beat the weather to get their AFL Division 3 campaign up and running with a narrow win over St Peregrine’s. They made light work of the heavy underfoot conditions at Westmanstown in the opening league fixture of 2017 when they came from behind to beat a very good Blakestown Road side.
Peregrine’s led by 1-2 to 0-0 after 10 minutes and were ahead at half time by 1-4 to 0-4 but Garda turning in a very strong second half performance won by 0-11 to 1-6. Substitute Gavin Wright came on to kick a brilliant point at the end to ensure victory. Wright joined the club as a juvenile at the foundation of Westmanstown Gaels and is one of the first to make his break-through at this level along with Aaron Garrigan and Conor Stinson. It builds on some
strong per formances from the club in recent time on the football front. The minors held out for a great win in The Naul a week earlier with a battling second half display, shutting the gate on local side St Peter’s side. Garda, having won the toss elected to play with the gale force wind in the first half, and it seemed the right decision when they led at half time by 1-7 to 0-3. Turning to face the elements in the second period, they were going to be under pressure but rose to the occasion in
style showing great levels of determination and fitness. They did concede 2-3 but managed to break out and score four valuable points which was the deciding factor in the end in a 1-11 to 2-6. The senior side’s outing was one of a few matches to be played locally on what was the first day of adult league games last Sunday. Lucan Sarsfields’ date with Cuala in AFL1 was called off as was the AFL2 tie between St Pat’s Palmerstown and Templeogue Synge Street.
QUIET week for most teams with weath-
All members are asked to ensure their
er leaving pitches closed and unplayable.
memberships are up to date. To facili-
The U-14s are holding a fundraising table
tate members, Pauline Leonard will be
quiz this Friday in Palmerstown House at
holding a registration night on March 16
9.30pm. Teams of four are €40. Your sup-
at 8pm in the clubhouse.
port is welcomed.
Our lotto numbers for this week were
Gaelic4girls starts March 30 from
4, 13, 16 and 27. Thanks to our ticket sell-
7-8pm at St Patricks GAA club Palmers-
ers and buyers alike. Your support is
town. All girls aged 8-12 welcome.
greatly appreciated. Tickets are avail-
The cost is only €10 for eight weeks. Fun, friends and football for girls, come
able from Palmerstown House, Moriarty’s SuperValu and Manor Hair Studios.
down and give it a try. Contact pro-
The lotto draw is held every Sunday
gramme co-ordinator Gillian on 087
at 10pm in Palmerstown House. Next
2269059.
week’s March 12 jackpot is at €4,000.
GARDA/WESTMANSTOWN WEATHER was the big influence last
from the U-12 boys who won their
weekend with many adult and juvenile
grading match against Scoil Ui Chonaill
fixtures being cancelled due to poor
at Beech Park; final score 1-7 to 1-5.
pitch conditions.
Some membership fees are still
The junior league fixture against
outstanding and registrar Leo Devlin
Ballyboden St Enda’s was postponed
is available on Wednesdays and Satur-
but is rescheduled for this Thursday
days to facilitate any who have not yet
night at Sancta Maria; throw in at
paid. Remember, after March 31 – no
8pm.
pay, no play.
The juniors have a cup outing on
The club will be participating in the
Sunday morning away to Na Fianna at
St Patrick’s Day parade again this
Collinstown Lane, starting at 12pm.
year and the theme is “The Global GAA
Ladies training continues this week on Monday at 7.30pm and on Saturday morning at 9.30am. Very little juvenile activity due to unsuitable pitch conditions apart
Community”. This is a fun day out for all club members and for further details, contact Paul Smith or your coach or team mentor.
GAZETTESPORT
ALL OF YOUR LUCAN SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 28-31
PEAS IN A POD: Six local stars continue to make mark with Republic of Ireland underage soccer teams P30
MARCH 9-15, 2017
DEMPSEY’S GALTY DEN: Drimnagh club legend looks back on a life at Brickfield P29
Coghlan’s call for girls to try more sports KARL GRAHAM
sport@dublingazette.com
IRELAND’S Grand Slam winning captain Fiona Coghlan believes more work needs to be done with girls at a young age to encourage them to stay involved with sport. Coghlan, a PE teacher at Lucan Community College, led Ireland to a Six Nations Grand Slam victory in 2013 but retired from rugby after defeat to England in the semi-final of the 2014 rugby World Cup. The 36-year-old was speaking at the third annual ‘Support Her Sport’ conference at Croke Park
in recognition of International Women’s Day last Tuesday where it was revealed that 74% of 17 to 24-year-olds have little or no interest in sport. And Coghlan believes that parents need to do more to encourage their daughters into sport. “I am a secondary school teacher but you look at primary schools and see kids coming out of them lacking fundamental movement skills, and their confidence is low,” she said. “They don’t have faith in their ability and what they are good at so it is difficult, when they are 12 or 13, trying to convince them that they actually do have poten-
tial in some sort of activity. “I know myself, we try to offer as broad a program as possible but then you are limited with facilities like swimming and cycling in schools so there are gaps there, but that is where parents come in. “At parent teacher meetings, they say ‘oh she’s just not that into sport’. Well, what have you tried and what have you brought them out to? I just think parents are quick enough to get their boys involved with sport at a young age but not so quick with their girls.” Another point of contention has been the lack of female coaches in rugby but Coghlan has, in
the past, spoken out against the idea of introducing quotas as a way of solving the issue. “I’ve had coaches who have never played elite rugby but they were very good coaches. I think it is women second guessing themselves sometimes, where they won’t put themselves forward for the roles. “T here are more women involved at mini level than ever before but it is too slow to wait for them to come through, there has to be some sort of pathway put in place. “As elite athletes, you just want the best coach whether it is male or female,” Coghlan concluded.
Fiona Coghlan was speaking at the Support Her Sport conference on Tuesday