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Lucan schools get tech grants dairne black
SEVERAL secondary schools in Lucan are to receive funding from a nationwide grant fund of €7m for a design and communications graphics programme. The announcement that three schools in the Lucan area will benefit from the funding was revealed recently in an announcement by Minister for Education and Skills Jan O’Sullivan. The schools to get grants for
computers and other technological resources are Colaiste Padraig CBS, Lucan Community School and Kings Hospital, Palmerstown. Minister O’Sullivan said her Department recognised the design and communication graphics were growing sectors. Cllr Ed O’Brien (FF) said “the grant complements the works the schools are doing” and was a just reward for the teachers. Full Story on Page 2
Write here, write now: Young authors celebrated at awards Pictured at the Write Here, Write Now awards ceremony at the Mansion House, Dublin, are Scott Byrne, Moyle Park College, Lucan, with the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Christy Burke (Ind). The awards recognise the work
of young writers from across Ireland who took part in the prestigious writing competition run by Hot Press and Dublin City Libraries’ One City, One Book Festival. Picture: Kathrin Baumbach
2 LUCAN Gazette 14 May 2015
education Schools to share €7m pot for tech programme
Designs on grants for graphic skills dairne black
Lucan schools are set to benefit from a nationwide fund of €7m to support a new design and communications graphics programme. Local post-primary schools heard they would benefit following a recent announcement from Education and Skills Minister Jan O’Sullivan. The Minister said she
would be making available €7m in grants for schools to help implement the design and communication graphics curriculum. All three local postprimary schools – Colaiste Padraig CBS Lucan, Lucan Community School and Kings Hospital, Palmerstown – will benefit from the new grants. The initiative, introduced in 2007, is one of
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the main Leaving Certificate subjects where information technology is a central requirement in assessment methodology. Last year, over 5,400 students sat the subject for the Leaving Certificate, and it is studied in 450 schools. Announcing the grants, Minister O’Sullivan said: “My Department recognises the importance of design and communications graphics as it directly contributes to the key skills required in Ireland’s knowledgebased economy. “It incorporates principles of science,
materials, manufacture, design, technology and information technology. “[The area] is growing in schools here. In 2012, 5,319 candidates sat the exam, with the predicted 2015 figure standing at 5,705. The allocated funding has been increased accordingly and will ensure that this important subject continues to go from strength to strength. Letters will issue to schools detailing the amount of money they’re being allocated. “ S o l i d wo r k s i s a worldwide industr y leader in parametric CA D s o f t w a r e a n d
Education Minister Jan O’Sull ivan’s announcement will beneift three local postprimary s– Colaiste Padraig CBS, Lucan Community School and Kings Hospital, Palmerstown – will benefit from the new grants
today’s announcement will ensure Irish students will remain at the cutting edge of design technology.” Fujitsu Ireland, with its partners Smart Schools and Total Import Solutions, is supplying the desktop computers. Notebook computers
are being supplied by PC Peripherals. The Minister said: “[Design and communication graphics] is growing in schools here. In 2012, 5,319 candidates sat the exam, with the predicted 2015 figure standing at 5,705. Cllr Ed O’Brien (FF) told The Gazette: “I
always welcome investment in local schools, I went to Colaiste Padraig myself. The grant complements the works the schools are doing. This kind of a grant is a just reward for the teachers and the board of management of the schools.”
14 May 2015 LUCAN Gazette 3
cancer: team nostra dedicating effort to memory of CEO’s father
gardai raid
Firearms found in Lucan
Staff run to raise funds for charity DAirne Black
EMPLOYEES from local company Nostra, located in Millbank Business Park, will travel to London this week to take part in a 24-hour relay race from London to Cardiff on Saturday. The team of 12 are running to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society in memory of the late Tom O’Loughlin, who died in recent months. Tom was the father of Nostra’s chief executive, Kevin O’Loughlin. The group have raised a little over €2,000 but aim to raise a lot more before their challenge on Saturday. They will be competing on foot, and running the
260km from London to Cardiff on Saturday. During the relay race team members will each take on a different leg of the challenge. Team members when not running, will travel alongside their team member in a car or on a bicycle. The race continues through the night so there will be little sleep for any of the participants. When they initially were planning to take part in the race, Tom O’Loughlin had been battling cancer for more than a year. After his death, Team Nostra thought it would be a great idea to try to raise as much money as possible for the Irish Cancer Society in honour of
his memory. Speaking to the Gazette on the achievements of the company, local Cllr. Ed O’Brien (FF) said: “It never ceases to amaze me the depths people go to in tragedies. “I have always said about Lucan that there is a terrific spirit of volunteerism, which we saw last week at the funeral of Aidan Lynam [who died in a road accident while he was taking part in a fundraiser for Down Syndrome Ireland]. “While the money raised is terrific, it’s secondary. It’s the time and effort that people go to and give up for the cause, and they [Nostra employees] deserve huge applause.”
DAirne Black
Happy to be blue: Local rugby fan meets a pair of top Leinster players LUCAN lad Eoin Coffey was delighted to meet Leinster players Kane
Douglas and Sean Cronin at the RDS recently, where they were taking in the Guinness PRO12 Leinster Rugby v Benetton Treviso match. He helped lead out the team at the RDS last Saturday for the last Leinster home game of the season, in which they ran up a 10-0 win over the Italian club with Jamie Heaslip scoring the only try of the game. Picture: Matt Browne/Sportsfile
Gardai have carried out a raid in Lucan recently, as part of their ongoing fight against drugs and their illegal sale and supply in Dublin’s north inner city. Following the raid, members of the Garda from the DMR North Central Divisional Drug Unit based at Store Street seized a firearm, firearm components, ammunition and suspected stolen jewellery. Gardai arrested a 35-year-old man who was questioned and detained in Store Street Garda Station under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939 as amended. The seizure was made following the planned search of a premises in Lucan.
4 LUCAN Gazette 14 May 2015
housing Council orders pump but contradicts woman’s claim
‘Sewage leaking into apartment’ dairne black
OUTRAGE has been expressed this week following the recurrence of serious problems in Balgaddy. Cllr Ruth Nolan (PBP) received a text message from a resident complaining of sewage and urine seeping through her ceiling in an apartment in Tor An Ri. She heard there was sewage coming through the kitchen and bedroom ceiling. The councillor spoke to a maintenance person from South Dublin County Council, who
was aware of the issue. Cllr Nolan was later told it was not sewage as originally thought, but water. However, the resident remains adamant that it was sewage, but because Cllr Nolan had not seen the apartment herself she was unable to confirm to the Gazette whether or not the matter was sewage. The council has since ordered a pump via a contractor and the water has been turned off in the apartment above. Cllr Nolan said there had been similar issues around the area, and
that the Balgaddy Working Together Group were working on these. “It’s high time the council faced up to their responsibilities as far as the issues with these problem houses. “I don’t think it’s acceptable that maintenance couldn’t give a timeframe because it was a private contract that was responsible for the repair. This is another example of privatisation being used in the public service.” Speaking to the Gazette, Lorraine Hennessy, a representative from the Balgaddy Working Together Group, said the apartment
had traces of sewage matter seeping from a hairline crack. “The council were contacted last week and a plumber came out but wouldn’t go near it because it was coming from a sewage pipe. Five or six people came out from the council with buckets, the bedroom and the carpet were sodden because of the constant seepage from the waste pipe. “They told her that the plumber couldn’t fix it and they needed an outside contractor, and they should have called Environmental Health but they didn’t.” Hennessy said the woman and her two young children had been exposed to raw sewage for more than a week,
Deputy Joanna Tuffy (Lab) has visited the apartment. Picture: Aisling Conway
and she was told last week that a contractor would contact her sometime next week. Hennessy said an injustice had been done to the woman, telling the Gazette that “because of the failings of maintenance to tell the EHO (Environmental Health Office) they have prevented her from accessing services which were put in place for incidents like
The tide is high for Lucan band Lucan’s own The Riptide Movement are among the big-hitting music lineups announced for the 2015 Leixlip Festival, this June Bank Holiday weekend in Leixlip, May 28 to June 1. Now in its 10th year, the Court Yard’s Leixlip Festival Line Up is one of those best kept secrets on the Irish summer festival scene, regularly turning out top Irish acts, with five nights of music and entertainment. Speaking of their success regarding their number one album Getting Through vocalist and guitarist Mal Tuohy said: “It’s been an absolutely brilliant few months for us. Four lads from Lucan, a sleepy village in the suburbs of Dublin, have gone from jamming in a dark and
damp basement to the top of the Irish album char ts with Getting Through. “We were actually strolling up Dublin’s Grafton Street when the word came through that the album was Number One. The irony of it was that we were stood right by our old busking spot, which is how we’d kept the wolf from the door in our early years. “So we grabbed a few bottles of champagne and made our way to the top floor of St Stephen’s Green car park, where we shot our very first video.” Weekend tickets for the Leixlip Festival go on sale for €30 with individual day tickets from €5 to €15. Book online at www. courtyard.ie/Leixlip-festival, or directly from the Court Yard Hotel.
this. They are all sleeping in one room, and when she asked the council to remove the carpets, they told her to do it herself.” Hennessy has seen firsthand how the woman is living as has local Deputy Joanna Tuffy (Lab), who visited the woman’s apartment. She has also, unsuccessfully, called on the Health Services Executive to have a public health nurse visit the
family and said she had been referred to housing maintenance. A Dublin South County Council spokesperson declined to comment on the case. “We do not comment on individual cases. “We do, however, investigate each and every maintenance request we receive and remedy any issues that are not the tenants responsibility.”
14 May 2015 LUCAN Gazette 5
funding Charity Sophia to use money raised at Cork Street facility concert School band gets jazzed up
Workers help homeless people dairne black news@dublingazette.com
A TOTAL of €7,000 has been raised by employees at the Liffey Valley offices of a major biopharmaceutical company to help the homeless charity, Sophia. The charity has facilities in Dublin city centre, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, South Dublin and Fingal. The money raised by the AbbVie workers will help fund ongoing work at new facilities at Cork Street in the city centre. That project complements existing Sophia housing in Donabate, Tallaght and Churchtown. AbbVie’s partnership with Sophia started in 2014. The charity has a holistic approach to housing and aspires to
positively change the lives of its residents by nurturing and supporting those who receive muchneeded accommodation. This appealed to the biopharmaceutical company, which felt the approach mirrored its own commitment to making a remarkable impact on people’s lives through innovation, education and supporting patients. The €7,279 donated was raised through a series of employee-led initiatives, including a charity soccer match, direct donations from employees and a Marks & Spencer supermarket bag pack, where AbBVie workers helped shoppers pack their bags at M&S. Most AbbVie employee participated in the bag pack at the Liffey Valley
Shopping Centre, across the road from the Dublin offices. AbbVie’s general manager in Ireland Todd Manning said he was greatly impressed by his colleagues’ sense of community spirit. “Sophia and AbbVie are committed to changing people’s lives for the better and our partnership means we can have a truly remarkable impact on the communities in which we work and live. I’m proud of the commitment and spirit shown by my colleagues in giving up their time to help those who may find themselves in less fortunate situations.” Paul Ahearne, head of fundraising at Sophia Housing, said: “We are delighted to partner with AbbVie at Liffey Valley, whose staff understand
Sarah Reddington, AbbVie; Paul Ahearne, Sophia; Justin Ryan, AbbVie; Declan Dunne, Sophia; and Andrew Browne, AbbVie. Picture: Philip Leonard
and fully embrace what Sophia’s mission is. They very generously raised a substantial sum of money and have also supported Sophia on critical seasonal campaigns such as our Christmas gift appeal.
This ensured that the 170 children living at Sophiaprovided accommodation received gifts on Christmas morning. This year we commence work on our latest project at Sean McDermott Street,
in Dublin’s north inner city. Funding such as that received from AbbVie will ensure we can reach out to more people living on the margins of society. We thank everyone at AbbVie in Liffey Valley.”
Over 100 people from the local community joined students from The King’s Hospital to witness the school’s jazz band in a concert performed at the Patterson Sports Hall. Performing together with The Garda Band, the event was held to celebrate music, garner support for the school’s jazz band, and to widen and promote an appreciation of music amongst students and children from Dublin Mid-West. Helen Roycroft, head of music and director of the Chapel Choir at the school, congratulated the students who took part, saying: “Every student, member of the music department and, of course, The Garda Band worked so hard to prepare for the concert.”
6 LUCAN Gazette 14 May 2015
courts Victim recognised fake gun and fought back
Man threatened to rob and rape escort A FATHER-of-three has been given a suspended sentence for attempting to rob and threatening to rape an escort at gunpoint because he needed money for Christmas. Liam McGran (49) later told gardai he decided to rob the woman as he had been with her before and he knew she was small. He demanded money and threatened to rape the woman in her home as he pointed an imitation pistol at her. However the victim, who had a firearms licence and was knowledgeable about guns, recognised it as a fake and fought McGran off before he fled the apartment.
Judge Mary Ellen Ring said the offence no doubt had a serious effect on the woman but noted it was McGran’s first offence. A presumptive mandatory minimum sentence of five years exists for possession of a firearm but Judge Ring said she could deviate from this because of McGran’s co-operation and early guilty plea. She imposed a three-year sentence, suspended in full for three years. McGran of Earlsfort Terrace, Lucan, Dublin had pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempted robbery and having an imitation firearm at Harcourt Green, Charlemont Street, Dub-
lin on October 7, 2013. Detective Garda Philip Byrne told prosecuting counsel Garrett McCormack BL that he received a call to go to the woman’s apartment on the night. The woman told him she worked as an escort and that McGran had made an appointment with her. She buzzed him in and let him in the door. McGran then took out what looked like a black handgun while demanding money and threatening to rape the woman. During the subsequent struggle the gun fell to the ground and broke apart. The woman sustained scratches and bruises while fighting off McGran.
He also pulled out some of her hair before fleeing. T h e wo m a n g ave gardai the phone number McGran had used to book the appointment and officers traced it to a property in Lucan where they arrested him. He made full admissions in interview and said he was desperate for money for Christmas. Det Gda Byrne said McGran targeted the woman because he knew she was small and that he could handle her. “Not as small as he thought,”Judge Ring commented. She noted that the woman had since taken a self-defence course but
Garda said accused had targeted his victim because he knew the woman was small and that he could handle her
“one might comment that she was doing well enough without it”. Defence counsel Luigi Rea BL said McGran was deeply ashamed that the woman thought he might rape her. He said his client had
no drink or drugs problem and no previous convictions. He worked as a porter and as a security guard before setting up his own leafleting business. He said he had no money to offer the victim as compensation
because business had been poor. Counsel said McGran, who is married with three children and one grandchild, tried to call the woman later to apologise but realised this was a foolish thing to do.
14 May 2015 LUCAN Gazette 7
petition Store refuses to accept letter with 11,000 signatures
Dunnes snubs petition move dairne black news@dublingazette.com
A GROUP of local people were recently taken aback when they tried to leave a petition into Dunnes Stores, Manor Mills Shopping Centre, in Maynooth. On Thursday, May 7 Cllr Brendan Young (Ind) said he and about 20 local supporters of the Dunnes Stores strikers went to present their petition to the manager of the local Manor Mills outlet. They had, he said, helped to collect more than 11,000 signatures across Ireland, calling for Dunnes management to talk to the Mandate union and agree to give workers definite weekly hours and decent pay.
Cllr Young explained: “We went into the shop and asked the manager to take the petition and pass on a letter to Margaret Heffernan – Dunnes’ wealthy owner. “He refused to say he’d do it, saying he’d call gardai if we didn’t leave.”
Manager T he manager then walked away from them, said the Independent politician, and went to ask the security supervisor to call the gardai. Colin Coulter, one of the local organisers, said that rather than just take the letter, the manager had “wasted Garda time” with an unnecessary phone call. Coulter went on to congratulate the
Dunnes Stores workers for their stance, adding: “The next time we come back we’ll be calling for people to boycott Dunnes until management treat workers with respect. “T hey must give workers definite hours so they know their weekly wage, pay a decent rate – and stop treating workers with contempt.” When contacted and asked about the incident, Dunnes Stores declined to comment. The Dunnes business employs 10,000 people, over 75% of them women. The company is estimated to clear profits of €500m annually. Privately ow ned, Dunnes has been a staple in Ireland for over
The petition called for Dunnes management to talk to the Mandate union and agree to give workers definite weekly hours and decent pay.
70 years. It has 155 outlets throughout Ireland, the UK and Spain. Providing fashion, food and homewares in
the one location, they have collaborated with Irish designers such as Paul Costelloe, Carolyn Donnelly and Padraig Harrington.
They also have their own in-house labels. The company’s head office is located on South Great George’s Street, Dublin.
tidy towns
A spring clean for Lucan Lucan Tidy Towns did not let the rain deter them during their big clean-up in the village recently during the 17th anniversary of the National Spring Clean. On the last Saturday of April, the group assembled in Lucan village to begin their biggest cleanup of the year. In just under two hours they managed to collect 11 bin bags of litter along with a good soaking. Kevin O’Loughlin, chair of Lucan Tidy Towns, said: “Last Saturday morning, the weather turned really nasty. Undeterred, everyone set out radiating out along the main roads and collected all the litter they could find. “
8 LUCAN Gazette 14 May 2015
14 May 2015 LUCAN Gazette 9
gazetteGALLERY
The Ladies Committee: Mairead Hill, Deirdre Picard, Ciara Greenwood, Jackie Lacey, Imelda Reilly, Sharon Cole and Laura Burke at the annual St Vincent’s Castleknock College Mother’s Lunch. The event was a great success and gave current and past committee members the opportunity to get together in the surroundings of Carton House. Proceeds from the event go towards the St Vincent’s Castleknock College Development Programme in Ambo, Ethiopia. Pictures: Jolanta Rossiter
Mum’s the word at Castleknock College
Emma Bramaghan and Aoife Dimond
10 gazette 14 May 2015
gazetteGALLERY
Avril Donnelly and Martina Hilliard
Niamh Daly, Ciara McGuone and Ciara McCormack. Pictures: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
Peninsula services: soiree at East point covers all bases
Business and cocktails at state-of-the-art HQ
P
eninsula Business Services held a business soiree in its brand new Ireland HQ situated in Block W, East Point Business Park, Dublin 3 recently. The evening also marked 18 years helping Irish employers protect their business and the creation of a number of
jobs which will be announced in the coming weeks. The evening began with a cocktail reception followed by award-winning cuisine, music from Gypsy Reel Rabble and entertainment from illusionist Colm Dawson. Alan Price, managing director of Peninsula Ireland, said:
“In line with our growth strategy, Peninsula continues to thrive and expand in Ireland and Northern Ireland. We are very excited about future developments and would like to thank all our clients and partners for joining us at our soiree and making the evening so enjoyable�
Joseph Rzepkowska and Magdalena Rzepkowski
Alan Price, managing director of Peninsula Ireland; Peter Done, managing director of Peninsula Business Services, and Geoff Ford, Lyndsey Smyth, Lynn Carson and Lynsey Carson
group sales director
Anthony Bagshaw, Natalie Day and Peter Done
14 May 2015 Gazette 11
feature P14
business P16
asdfsdaf P27
dublinlife Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week
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escape P13
what’son showcasing a thousand years of irish love
UK singer Marcus Collins: “After a long day I like to unwind at home with my partner. I’m watching Revenge at the moment, Game of Thrones and RuPauls Drag Race.”
a day in the life: singer limbers up for his role in big stage show
West is best for Marcus ian begley
Best known for his appearance in the X-Factor finale in 2011, UK pop singer Marcus Collins is working around the clock in preparation for his role in the stage show West End Men. This week The Gazette caught up with the 26-year-old singer to find what a day in his life is like. “I normally wake up at about 10.30am but I’m not a morning person by any means. It seems that the more interesting my breakfasts are the better the day is. When I’m in training and really want to be healthy I’d have something like granola with fruit or salmon on brown bread. Often though, when I’m feeling fat I’d just
opt for the full English breakfast. “I’m not training as much as I should be, but every day I do miniworkouts that take about 30 minutes to complete – 20 minutes jogging and 10 minutes working on my abs.” Collins, who lives between London and Liverpool, adds that he owns several properties and spends a lot of his time dealing with his tenants and taking care of other business obligations. “I don’t work normal office hours, but there’s never a time when my phone isn’t off from business. “I’m always travelling between London and Liverpool, but whenever I get the chance I love to spend time with my friends and family. “I’m forever cooking for my partner,
who is a professional dancer, and we always try our best to eat together. I also love cooking for other people and prepare all sorts of food for my guests at home regularly.” Collins said that a lot of preparation has gone into West End Men and is finding the rehearsal process intense but very exciting. “The West End Men is a collection of music from the best hits that have come out of the West End. We mix all those songs in with some contemporary numbers and rework them using our own unique vocal abilities. The dynamics are great and there is something for everyone. “After a long day I like to unwind at home with my partner. I’m watch-
ing Revenge at the moment, Game of Thrones and RuPaul’s Drag Race, which I’m obsessed with. “I’m also reading The Catcher in the Rye which is part of my New Year’s resolution to read more and get through the top 100 books ever written. “I’m a big night owl and don’t get to bed until after midnight, which has been a habit of mine for years.” Marcus Collins is in the one-night show The West End Men, coming to the Bord Gais Energy Theatre on June 7. It is a celebration of the leading men of musical theatre as well as some of the most iconic songs in musical theatre history.
ONE thousand years of Irish love will be showcased in a unique production from May 11 to 16 at the New Theatre in Temple Bar. Teanga an Ghra – 1,000 Years of Irish Love is the latest offering from Guthanna Binne Siorai, the theatre company that won acclaim in recent years for its bilingual shows featuring the work of Nobel Laureates Seamus Heaney, WB Yeats and Samuel Beckett. Directed by Tristan Rosenstock, the new show combines Irish poetry, sean-nos singing and instrumental performances, and features some of the best-known exponents of traditional Irish culture. Cathal Quinn, artistic director of Guthanna Binne Siorai, said: “For this show, we have dipped into the treasure trove of Irish declarations of love down through the centuries. This production dramatically brings to life the raw emotions at the core of these works. It places ancient songs in a modern context.” For further information, see www. thenewtheatre.com, or email: everlastingvoicesperformance@gmail. com.
Gazette
12 Gazette 14 May 2015
dublinlife
diary
letter to the editor
Vote Yes to extend real equality to all families
THE Irish people who are voting No in the marriage equality referendum need to consider the global impact of this, and the vivid impression of Ireland that this will give all around the world. It will tell married gay people from other parts of Europe and America, for example, that Ireland does not recognise their status equally. This is the first time in history where Ireland has the opportunity to spread light around the world by showing their support for Irish lesbian and gay citizens. The No side claims to be supportive of Irish lesbian and gay people, but outlines that it is for the children they are promoting a No vote. Firstly, although it is completely unrelated to the question being posed to the Irish electorate, based on clinical experience across a range of medical disciplines and a review of the academic literature, there is clear evidence that children raised by same-sex couples are at no disadvantage when compared to children raised by heterosexual couples. The four largest Irish children’s’ charities (Barnardos, the Irish
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Foroige and the Children’s Rights Alliance), the Irish College of General Practitioners, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and the Irish Law Society all advocate a Yes vote. Secondly, many children are currently being raised by lesbian and gay couples in Ireland. A No vote is a discrimination to these families, telling them that their family is not equal under the eyes of the law. As an Irish person presently living in England – if a No result in the referendum occurs, this will not just be an insult to the lesbian and gay citizens of Ireland, but an undoubtedly complete and utter embarrassment for Ireland – and for everyone Irish abroad. As one of my British colleagues recently asked me: “Is gay marriage not legal in Ireland yet?” I 100% will be ashamed to be Irish if a No result occurs. Telling a small portion of Irish citizens: “You are equal but we will actually just give you separate laws” is not equality. By voting No, it is telling all the Irish lesbian and gay people to get back in the closet and if they want the opportunity to get mar-
ried, they will have to emigrate to a country that will accept them for who they are, and thus give them equal rights. Alternatively, they will have to pretend to be heterosexual when they know deep down this is a lie, and this will cause pain and regret in their later years. This referendum result will affect real people, and real peoples’ lives. This is a once-in-a-generation chance for Ireland to show that it values inclusiveness and diversity. Listen to the experts – the Irish children’s charities and the doctors, nurses and lawyers. Listen to the minority of Ireland who have laid their personal lives bare on radio, TV and social media over the past few weeks in an attempt to get Ireland to identify with what it is like to be gay in Ireland, and to not have equal rights. Show some human compassion and understanding for diversity and inclusiveness. Vote Yes on May 22.
Aidan O’Callaghan, B Pharm O’Callaghan studied at Trinity College Dublin and is a hospital pharmacist working in the UK. He will be coming home to vote on May 22.
Every year, colourful characters help add to the upbeat mood at the annual Citywest Fun Walk in aid of Barretstown’s work with seriously ill children
Step up to help Barretstown The annual Citywest Fun Walk in aid of Barretstown takes place on Friday, May 15 at 1pm at Spar, Citywest. The route is about 5km long and should take no longer that 40 minutes to complete. The route will begin and finish at Spar in Citywest. This year, Barretstown hopes to have over 600 people, working in the Citywest area and beyond, walking, running or jogging the route to raise vital funds for the charity and camp for children with serious illness. Dee Ahearn, chief executive of Barretstown, said: “We’re hoping to make this year the biggest fun walk to date and I encourage all staff working in the Citywest area and beyond to join us on May 15.” Registration costs only €15 and all proceeds go directly to Barretstown. To register or for more information, see www.citywestfunwalk. org or contact Caroline Dunne at Caroline. Dunne@Barretstown.org or on 045 864 115.
new group calls for a no vote
THE StandUp4Marriage group launched its no campaign at the Alexander Hotel, Fenian Street on Thursday, May 7. The event was attended by Senator Jim Walsh (Ind), who spoke in support of the campaign. He said he was worried that a Yes vote would result in marriage not being taken seriously enough, and that young people might not recognise the importance of it. According to StandUp4Marriage chairman Barry Jones, the campaign centres on what marriage is, what marriage is not, and the consequences expected from each. It argues that marriage itself is immutable and cannot be changed. He said: “Same-sex marriage can never be marriage; civil partnerships provide a reasonable solution that best serves the common good, and the Constitution should be left alone and kept free of pretence.”
He said the theme of the campaign is that it’s okay to vote No, and people should not feel guilty about doing so.
all is fair and square at fun family event A FAMILY fair hosted by CreActive Breakfast and Aris Fairs for children and their parents is taking place in Market Square, Dublin 8, later this month. Admission is €3 and for each workshop the fee is from €3 to €7. The fair starts at 11am and goes on until the afternoon. Activities lined up include workshops in family dance, fashion and recycling. There will also be a catwalk dance show featuring the work done in the workshops. A host of stalls will be set up with maternity, baby and children’s goods on sale. The CreActive Breakfast Family Fair will be held on Sunday, May 24, at The Dublin Food Cooperative, 12 Newmarket, Dublin 8.
14 May 2015 Gazette 13
FEATURE escape the mayhem: Darragh O’ToolE
Between a Red Rock and a hard place in hit show
DAirne Black
CURRENTLY starring in TV3’s hottest property, Red Rock, rising star Darragh O’Toole is busy portraying Conor Tyrell, a young man hooked on heroin. Having broken his leg while on the lethal substance, Conor is still trying to get his fix, unbeknownst to his mother and Garda sergeant Angela, and local taxi driver Tommy. This week, The Gazette spoke to Darragh about how he escapes the mayhem of playing such a heavy-going role and juggling a filming schedule. Originally from Tullamore in Offaly, Darragh moved up to Dublin when Red Rock started, but goes home most weekends to catch up with family and friends. Unlike his Red Rock alter ego, O’Toole is a fit-
ness fan, regularly working out at his local gym here in Dublin. O’Toole revealed he’d happily like to play a friendly game of soccer against members from the Carrigstown-based soap, Fair City. If acting hadn’t worked out, it seems O’Toole could have given Rory McIlroy some competition, speaking about his keen interest in golf. He said: “I was junior captain in Tullamore in 2010 and play a five off handicap.” Still getting used to life in the capital, he enjoys taking a wander around the city and seeing what’s on. With a wide circle of friends both in Dublin and at a home, he enjoys heading out and about. An avid Manchester United supporter, O’Toole tries to catch the games when he can, as well as fitting in a bit of FIFA to really chill out.
Despite being busy with Red Rock, he has also found time for some other projects, and it is clear that acting is something that he enjoys, and doesn’t consider work. “I’m doing a short film with Sean Doyle and Amelia Stewart; it’s written by Emmet Kirwan and directed by Nicky Gogan at Still Films. “Then I’m going to be in a feature film directed by Ger Walsh. It’s his second feature film, called South, and it’ll be shot in Dublin, Cork and Sligo.” With previous roles including Moone Boy, Toy Soldiers and a Sinead O’Connor video, and a busy summer ahead, O’Toole will no doubt be hitting the golf course or perhaps the soccer pitch to truly escape the mayhem. Red Rock airs every Wednesday and Thursday at 8.30pm on TV3.
Red Rock actor Darragh O’Toole divides his time between Dublin and Tullamore
www.dublingazette.com All of your latest local news, sport, features and pictures are now just a click away
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14 Gazette 14 May 2015
dublinlife
features
Scotland says thank you for help in Buckley inquiry ian begley
The senior investigating officer in charge of the investigation into Karen Buckley’s murder has written an open letter thanking the Irish people for their help during the investigation. Over the past couple of weeks, Police Scotland have stated that they received a high number of letters and emails from members of the public in both countries, expressing their appreciation for
the work carried out in the Karen Buckley investigation. Detective Superintendent Jim Kerr of Police Scotland thanked people for their support as he and his team investigate the murder of the 24-year-old Cork woman, who was buried recently. T he letter reads: “Throughout our investigation into the death of Karen Buckley in Glasgow in April 2015 we received and continue
to receive messages of appreciation from people in Ireland. “I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank everyone for taking the time to contact us and for their thanks and continued support. “It is very much appreciated by myself and the dedicated team of officers who are involved in the investigation.” A 21-year-old man has since been charged with Ms Buckley’s murder.
Helping to launch the upcoming ninth annual Bloom festival. Picture: Robbie Reynolds Photography
Ninth year: gardening and food again to the fore
Blooming great idea certainly catches on Bairbre Ni Bhraonain
LAST week Bord Bia launched its ninth Bloom festival – the gardening and food family event – due to take place in the Phoenix Park from May 28 to June 1. This year’s special themes see a mixture of Peter Pan, stiletto heels, WB Yeats and home brewing all coming together to inspire this year’s Bloom show gardens. Bloom 2015 will once again be a five-day event packed full of gardening inspiration, gastronomic delights and family entertainment. Now in its ninth year, the Bord Bia festival in the Phoenix Park attracts great crowds each year, with more than 106,000 people attending last year. Bord Bia Bloom show manager Gary Graham
told The Gazette: “We’re flying with the preparations. As long as the rain holds off, we’ll be fine. The big gardens have started and then the 13 medium gardens will be started next. “It’s really busy here on site with all the contractors working. It’s great to see it all coming together; after a whole year of organising and working, the fruits of that labour are happening. “There will be a presidential opening as President Higgins is our patron. I’d encourage everyone to come along, no matter what the weather, as we’ve around five acres under cover, with the biggest marquee in Ireland where there are lots of restaurants,” he said. This year, the 25 Bloom show garden designers have teamed up with organisations such as Pieta House, The Ronald
McDonald House, Goal, The Atlantic Youth Trust, ITB Blanchardstown and Fingal County Council to create gardens with powerful messages on social and cultural issues. Also included this year is a garden entitled, Yeats’s Secret Garden in Sligo. This unique garden is part of the 2015 celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of WB Yeats, and is based on his wellknown poem, The Lake Isle of Innisfree. A new feature at this year’s festival will be Bloom in Transition (BIT), through which transition year students get to showcase their creativity with projects and installations around themes such as agriculture, food science, horticulture, environment and more. The festival also offers something cerebral with a marquee entitled, The
Banter at Bloom. Here, discussions and talks will be held on issues such as food and sustainability. For visitors who prefer to sample the fruits of the land, the Quality Kitchen stage offers a number of cooker y demonstrations throughout each day with Ireland’s top chefs, including Neven Maguire, Catherine Fulvio, Rory O’Connell, The Lazy Chef Simon Lamont, David and Stephen Flynn (The Happy Pear) and Fiona Uyema, to name but a few. There will also be daily competitions in the Quality Kitchen, with visitors encouraged to drop by from 10.30am every day for the first demonstration, and to be in with a chance to win some tasty prizes. For further information on the Bord Bia Bloom Show, see www. bloominthepark.com.
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dublinlife
Workshop at DCU on family business DUBLIN City University’s Centre for Family Business is inviting family business members to attend its Dublin workshop on May 19 at the William Fry offices from 8am to 11am. These interactive workshops, entitled “Professionalisation of the Family Business – What it is and why it matters?”, will be facilitated by leading family business academic and founding director of the Australian Centre for Family Business, Professor Ken Moores. A veteran family business chairman and nonexecutive director of a fourth-generation family business, Professor
Moores will speak about structuring the family business and the importance of professionalisation. Local Dublin businessman, Ray Reihill of the Tedcastles Group, will also give a talk on his experience of professionalising and succession. All workshops will encourage attendees’ involvement and groups will work together to find solutions for common business challenges. For further information, or to register for the event, see www.dcu.ie/ centre-for-family-business/news-and-events/ events/family_business_ roadshow.shtml.
business business
R&D: hot water a key factor to ‘Exyrgen Drive’
Dublin firm awarded €2.48m to develop new engine type DUBLIN SME Exergyn Ltd has been awarded €2.48m by Horizon 2020 – the EU’s research and innovation funding programme – to help develop an engine that runs on hot water. The funding will go towards further developing its technology (called Exyrgen Drive) and bringing it to full commercial production. The company will also be using the grant to conduct industrial trials, to become manufacturingready, and to prepare the company and the market for full commercialisation
of the Exergyn Drive in 2017. Alan Healy, Exergyn chief executive, said: “Exergyn is delighted and honoured to have been selected for the SME Instrument [funding]. “This funding is crucial to our ability to move our technology forward and commercialise it, so the whole world can begin to make use of the vast amounts of low-grade waste heat produced each year. “I would recommend other SMEs – if they have confirmed that their business/project is the kind that fits the Horizon 2020 mould – to apply. “Ireland has an active start-up/early-stage company community and the EU funding is well known to people in this community. “We have developed an engine that runs on hot water. It will enable, for the first time, electricity to be generated from waste hot water, less than 100C, in a commercially viable manner, ie inexpensively. “If fully deployed worldwide, our first product could reduce world carbon emissions by about 2%. Industrial customers form our target market,” he said. He went on to say that the use of hot water for energy could increase industrial efficiency as hot water is a waste product in many industries, citing industrial power plants which are currently dumping huge volumes of hot water as a necessary by-product of their process. Healy said: “They are therefore making no use of the waste heat, and in many cases, expending power to cool the hot
Alan Healy, Exergyn chief executive: “We have developed an engine that runs on hot water. It will enable electricity to be generated from waste hot water.”
water before dumping it.” EU Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Carlos Moe-
das said Horizon 2020 was helping many highpotential SMEs to develop their ground-breaking innovative ideas for prod-
ucts, services or processes and to grow and expand their activities into other countries, in Europe and beyond.
14 May 2015 Gazette 17
food P23
asdfsdaf P27 cinema P24
OUT&ABOUT Never be out of the loop on what’s happening in Dublin! Let Out&About be your guide to all that is stylish, cultural and essential across the city and beyond this week
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travel P20
Pets Playful collie cross needs a loving home
Music fans are sure to come running to Temple Bar for the upcoming Down With Jazz festival, where the Dublin City Jazz Orchestra (above) are just one of many great acts
back to the 1930s: the down with Jazz festival in the heart of temple bar
Pssst … Time for an illicit hooley keith bellew
An illicit hooley will take place in the heart of Temple Bar on May 30 – 31, with a line-up of shameless jazzy grooves and lascivious foreign rhythms, defying the morals of 1930s Ireland. The Down With Jazz festival is an annual city-centre celebration of musical rebellion, with jazz, experimental and world music acts over two nights in Meeting House Square. The festival is a tongue-in-cheek nod to 1930s Ireland when jazz and “foreign” music were seen by many as a force of corruption, and a repressive “anti-jazz” campaign pushed to ban jazz from the dance halls and airwaves of Ireland.
Speaking to The Gazette, festival director Kenneth Killeen said Down With Jazz is really a testament to how far Ireland has come musically, socially and culturally. He said they were trying to showcase the music of the day and juxtapose it against a backdrop of the moralistic standards of 1930s Ireland, which were insular to the point of xenophobic. “There was very much a fear, particularly from nationalists at the time, that this foreign music was corrupting the morals of young Irish men and women. We’re presenting music that’s happening today against that backdrop,” he said. The festival will see 10 home-grown jazz and world music bands perform-
ing over two days with five shows per night. Killeen said that the line-up is broadly reflective of what’s happening in the scene in Ireland today and is a domestic showcase of some really high quality music. “We have Louis Stewart playing with a really good quintet. Louis would be one of the first exports from the country in terms of jazz music. Then we have Isotope, which is a band that has been running in various different guises since the late 70s, they’re representing the old school approach to the idiom. We will close on Sunday night with the Dublin City Jazz Orchestra which is a big band. It is a very contemporary twist on the big band sound,” he said.
He said that there are lots of other different things mixed in with the standard jazz including various dynamic fusions. “You have a band like Tongue Bundle who are a Frank Zappa meets Miles Davis type of band. Then we have Mixtapes From the Underground who are going to headline on Saturday night. That’s a project led by the drummer Dennis Cassidy who has studied jazz for a number of years, but he has a real hip-hop / funk background,” he said. There is something for everybody at the festival, says Killeen, with a mix of the progressive music of today and the more traditional style. For more information on Down With Jazz, see www.downwithjazz.ie.
The Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs. Our Dog of the Week this week is Dani, a oneyear-old Collie cross. Dani is only a young girl but she is very worried by handling. Due to this, she would need an experienced dog-owning home who understand she will need time to settle in and help teach her that the world is not so scary. Dani is super clever and will enjoy training games with her new family. An adult only home is needed for this girl. If you think you could give this playful lady a loving home, please contact Dogs Trust on 01-879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website www.dogstrust.ie. You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook. com/dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE.
Hat €3 3
on shor
island
Lidl
Swim suit
€7.9
9
House
of Fra ser Po mp
River
ts €28
OUT&ABOUT
45
op € led t s s a nd T
sla
Hipanema
Necklace €17
rI Rive
Warehouse Fringed gypsy dress €46
GAZETTE
18 GAZETTE 14 May 2015
Karen Millen Perforated pochette €50
Warehou se Feather prin bikini top € 21; bottom t €18
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GAZETTE
STYLE The Body Shop Big & Curvy Waterproof Mascara €17
al Penneys Flor
triangle bikini
set €7
BRUSHING UP ON YOUR
MASCARA
Panache Navy and white bikini top €47; bottom €25
NOTHING changes your look more dramatically than a sweep of mascara. Even if you don’t wear another thing on your face, your eyes look brighter and pop more with a lick of mascara! Here, we pick six of our favourites.
Benefit Roller lash €26
t €70 Hipanema Bracele Elizabeth Arden Colour lash enhancing mascara €26
Oasis Fluoro st ripe top €20; bottom bikini €17
Belle d
e Miel
Belle de
Teint €4 3
Max Factor Masterpieve Glamour Extensions €13.99
Mac InExtreme Dimension €24.50
House of Fra bikini top € ser Floral 32; bottom €20
Chanel Sublime de Chanel €31.50
GAZETTE
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OUT&ABOUT
Portable and delicious nutritious nuts and fruit
Tips to help make your long-haul comfortable SUZANNE SHEEHY
I OFTEN hear the expression, “It’s a small world!” – but not when you have a long-haul flight, spending up to 12 hours or more in the air. Getting to your dream destination isn’t always fun. Following on from my trip to New Zealand, I have refined my survival techniques – so here they are. My essential onboard toiletry kit would be a toothbrush, baby wipes, moisturiser and hand sanitiser, deodorant (travel size) and spare clothing. Freshen up every few hours; you’ll be amazed how you’ll feel after.
Carry-on food Airplane food has little nutritional value, so in my carry-on bag I had some dried fruit and nuts as they are both portable and delicious. To keep hydrated during the flight, I always travel with a refillable water bottle, and drink herbal tea such as camomile. I bought Melissa Dream tea, which helps to calm your mind and body. Lastly, choosing a seat is a matter of personal choice. For greater comfort, I booked my seat at the time of booking my tickets. I chose a window seat with the wall to rest my weary head on. Happy travels!
Already world-famous for spectacular scenery, New Zealand is now also celebrated as the playground of Hobbits, given the country’s vital role in the Lord of the Rings films. However, away from its stunning landscape, its cities – such as Auckland, right – offer modern, cosmopolitan hubs.
NEW ZEALAND: STUNNING SCENERY RIDES ALONG ON A CYCLING JOURNEY
On the road to adventure SUZANNE SHEEHY
ITWAS the biggest adventure of my life – just over a fortnight in New Zealand, where the people dubbed the Kiwis are friendly and down-to-earth. It was the perfect place for a solo traveller – there’s nothing like the freedom of exploring a new place on your own terms. Going alone meant I had to make more effort to meet new people and trust my instincts. My itinerary was flexible – last-minute changes were possible. And I can only say if there’s ever a country you want to see but have no one to go with, just go solo. You’ll learn so much about yourself and others and return with
fond memories and new friendships. So, however you travel, you can choose to see New Zealand’s North or South Islands. Most travellers flock to the latter, famous for its glaciers and spectacular Southern Alps. But don’t underestimate the North Island – it too is magnificent. I chose a unique way to experience this stunning terrain – by bike. A favourite quote from author Ernest Hemingway sums up my trip: “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. “Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such
accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” I was one of 80 competitors who flew into New Zealand to join 220 Kiwi riders at the starting line on April 11 for
Island to Wellington. The event was about celebrating the country’s great rides, encouraging cyclists to give it a go, and promoting NewZealand’s biking opportunities. Competitive but social, the tour was spread
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‘I flew into New Zealand to join 220 Kiwi riders at the starting line for the Tour Of New Zealand cycle’
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the North Island stage of the Tour Of New Zealand cycle. I was offered two direction options – from the top of the North Island to Wellington, or from the bottom of the South
over seven days, covering 700kms of gruelling climbs and fascinating road trails. The first three days we spent travelling through Northland, famous for its native forests, as we
stopped at Tane Mahuta – a giant 2,300-year-old kauri tree, probably the largest tree I’ll ever lay eyes on. The route, through the centre of the North Island, comprised one amazing day after another including a stop at the iconic Chateau Hotel with Mt Ruapheu towering behind it. Some rides started flat and neutral but later turned into rollercoasters. Every day was different and while I struggled on some, finding it hard to latch onto passing peletons, I had a great big grin on my face crossing the finish line each day. The views en route were awesome. The faster team members were always there to cheer me and fellow riders in on the final laps.
The camaraderie among cyclists made it easier each morning to leap bike-wards and feel fully charged up. As days passed, my strength rose. But undoubtedly the trip’s highlight was the people I shared it with, from the bike mechanic to the crew and riders. One day, I cycled more than four hours with a 72-year-old. He refused to allow his age to stop him from being physically active and achieving his goals. The Tour Of New Zealand shows that by bringing together people around a shared interest, age and background dissolve into a very enjoyable event with great spirit. Tour Of New Zealand also had a charitable focus, with many riders
14 May 2015 GAZETTE 21
GAZETTE
TRAVEL
Geronimooo ... Suzanne Sheehy takes a leap of faith with a bungee jump 134m above the Nevis River Whether cycling or otherwise journeying across New Zealand, the Suzanne Sheehy (centre) with fellow cyclists along the route
scenery can often feel like Ireland
Once-in-a-lifetime experiences await NEW Zealand is a fantastic place to visit, whether with a group or on your own. Getting around, you can fly by Jetstar (a lowcost airline) between Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown and Wellington. I flew from Wellington to Queenstown (price NZ$199/€131). It is here where adventure awaits you. My chosen adrenalinerush activity was the Nevis Bungee Jump, from 134m above the Nevis River. Costing €181, it was a once-in-alifetime experience.
Chateau Tongariro in Tongariro National Park
Head up, up and away by gondola to the top of the peak overlooking Queenstown, and a great look at the rolling landscape around the historic town
TheEssentials Suzanne Sheehy (centre) with fellow cyclists, including Tour Of New Zealand director Peter Yarrell (far right)
working to raise a total of $250,000 for chosen charities, including The Heart Foundation, St John, Tear Fund, Akina Trust (bikes in schools), and Unicorn Foundation (a trust set up by John Keys cardiologist Malcolm Legget for cancer research). This third tour was made possible by the commitment, organisation and dedication of
event director Peter Yarrell and secretary Coral MacDonald and his teams of volunteers.
Plans for 2017 Plans for 2017 are aready under way – mark April 22-29, 2017 in your diary for this truly amazing event. For further information on this exciting event, see www.tourofnewzealand.co.nz.
Believe me, New Zealand is not that far away. Some careful planning, a few sacrifices and a lot of saving can make the trip possible. You don’t have to wait till you’ve retired! But take it from me, don’t forget the padded shorts – I could not have made it without their unstinting support! And remember, wherever you go, go with all your heart.
Traveling to New Zealand Flights to New Zealand from Ireland depart from major cities. The duration of the flight to New Zealand is about 25, hours and common stopovers include Dubai, Kuala Lampur, Melbourne, Sydney or San Francisco. I booked flights with Trailfinders, and found it helpful in planning a flight itinerary. My return flight cost about €1,000, but this varies according to season and demand. For further information, see www. trailfinders.ie. Food and drink You will not lack places to eat. I spent a few days in Auckland at the end of my trip and was surprised at the variety of food and drink options, from authentic Thai to Japanese cuisine. Take in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour, where restaurants and trendy bars dot the waterfront. Accommodation New Zealand has good accommodation which can suit most pockets. Visit TripAdvisor for up-to-date news and reviews by fellow travellers. Also see www.newzealand. com, which is useful for accommodation and things to do.
Next up was the white water rafting (above) on the Grade 3-5 Shotover River. Undertaken with a very organised crew, the views were spectacular (and not forgetting the bus trip along a cliff edge to get there – yikes!) This cost NZ$209 (€138), but if you book several activities agents occasionally give you extra value on your booking. For a rest day, I took a trip out to Milford Sounds, in the Fiordland National Park, widely acknowledged as one of the world’s most scenic areas.
Although there was heavy rain and poor visibility, (above) it was definitely worth the trip. The rain meant spectacular waterfalls along most of the route; a highlight was seeing the fur seals. My Real Journeys tour included stops to take pictures. I chose the coach/cruise/fly package; however, due to bad weather, I returned by coach, and a full refund was given for the fly section of this package. I would suggest visiting Milford Sound, come rain or shine. Queenstown is also well known for its tracks and trails which suit all fitness abilities and time frames. I recommend taking the gondola to the peak summit above the city (NZ$32), or hiking up, which took me 45 minutes, to take in breathtaking views. Accommodation is plentiful, ranging from backpackers’ hostels to apartments, B&Bs and hotels. I used TripAdvisor as my source of reviews and referrals. Make Queenstown an essential part of your New Zealand itinerary; although costly, it will not disappoint.
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OUT&ABOUT
Theatre Love/Hate’s Peter Coonan, who stars in Before Monsters Were Made at the Project
Seeing how monsters can rise in idle rumours Bairbre Ni Bhraonain
IF YOU missed the first few performances of Before Monsters Were Made, a play by Ross Dungan and featuring Love/ Hate’s Peter Coonan, you are still in with a chance to see it as it continues its run at Project Arts Centre until May 16. So far, the new thriller has been going down a storm with audiences. It tells the tale of David, a man struggling to hold his marriage together in a small town that has been rocked by the untimely death of a local girl.
Rumours As details are uncovered, rumours and talk take hold of the town, and it starts to force David to revisit old memories. The play is set in 1960s rural Ireland, and focuses on how suspicion and old stories can spread like a virus, causing untold damage. Tickets for Before Monsters Were Made can be booked at Project Arts Centre by contacting www.projectartscentre.ie, or by calling 01 8816 913.
ARTS
interview: dermot bolger at his best
Nothing like getting tangled up in novels Bairbre Ni Bhraonain
When The Gazette spoke to writer Dermot Bolger last week, he was getting ready to go back to his old school in Finglas to talk to students about his teen novel, New Town Soul, currently on this year’s Leaving Certificate. Bolger is famous for his mercurial talent in many literary genres from teen literature to poetry, drama and novels. He told The Gazette of the challenges involved in some of these genres. “They all have different challenges but firstly, I’m just a storyteller and love to tell stories. It’s a huge privilege when people hear your stories. You write in the medium which presents itself to you…The most challenging [literary genre] is actually the novel. When you start a novel, you’ve no idea if you will finish it and you’re trying to create a narrative, as I tried to do with Tanglewood and know it’s going to be two, three or four years before it’s finished.”
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‘I’m just a storyteller and love to tell stories. It’s a huge privilege when people hear your stories. You write in the medium which presents itself to you …’
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Dermot Bolger, writer --------------------------
Bolger met a ver y tricky problem with his latest novel Tanglewood as he began writing it 10 years ago during the height of the Celtic Tiger but by the time he was finishing it, the property bubble had burst. “One of the huge problems for me was that the world in which it was written, disappeared overnight. For years I couldn’t finish the book because I said people wouldn’t build
that house now because property has collapsed. “It was like writing a novel in the summer of 1913, which was an absolutely gorgeous summer and people were going about their lives with no cognisance of the fact that the whole world around them was going to be totally changed by the war in a year’s time.” To navigate around this problem, Bolger decided to finish the book as intended by leaving it set in 2007. He said: “The book is really about marriage and relationships and I don’t need to go into the whole collapse of the economy. The reader, once they see that date, will know what the character doesn’t know, the reader will know what’s going to happen. So I don’t need to tell that story; that’s implicit.” Bolger said the Celtic Tiger and its fall-out damaged several generations including the present crop of young emigres “who grew up thinking that they were the culmination of 700
Writer Dermot Bolger whose works span literary genres from teen literature to poetry, drama and novels
years of history and were the chosen generation who would simply walk into jobs in their own country. Now I’ve nephews and nieces who’ve emigrated and I don’t know where my own sons will wind up.” Old school
Bolger frequently goes back to his old school Beneavin De La Salle College, and last week was due to speak to Leaving Certificate exam students about New Town Soul. “It’s important to go out to schools because when I was in school I didn’t think I could possibly make a living by doing this. “I became the world’s worst library assistant and worked in factories. I had no notion I could make a living from my dreams. “So, I think it’s impor-
Tanglewood explores the lives of a cohort of suburban Dubliners
tant to go into schools, prisons and various places and say you need to cherish your dream and see where it brings you.”
Dermot Bolger’s latest novel, Tanglewood, is available at the end of May for €13.99 and is published by New Island Books.
14 May 2015 Gazette 23
Gazette
FOOD&DRINK RECIPECORNER
Versatile lamb always goes great with a good salad
Make the most of lamb with a terrific salad YO! Sushi
Japanese restaurant
Clarendon Street, D2 A popular eatery away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Grafton Street, YO! Sushi has been delighting
diners with its top
Japanese fare for a long time, and has a new menu to further please its foodie fans. Pictures: Paul Sherwood
The Picky Eater
SET close to Grafton St, YO! Sushi has been a perennial on the restaurant scene in Dublin, and it’s a great place to pop in for a quick bite. I used to be a massive sushi fan – in my late 20s I made it my business to dine out on the stuff at least once a week. But it sort of lost its appeal; I think I overdid it once or twice and haven’t really craved sushi in a long time. So, when I heard YO! Sushi was launching a new menu recently, I thought this is the perfect opportunity to see if I can rekindle my love for the Japanese dish. The new menu includes old favourites such as chicken yakitori, as well as new additions including popcorn shrimp tempura, beef tsukune, salmon and yuzu salsa tataki, chocolate dorayaki and banana and chocolate harumaki.
Devised by group executive chef Mike Lewis, the new YO! Sushi menu brings together f lavours of amazing street food in Tokyo, along with lots of great regional dishes. For those of you who don’t know the brief with YO! Sushi, there is a conveyor belt with lots of small plates containing everything from norimaki to sashimi to wasabi peas.
Remembering It’s a bit like The Generation Game, but instead of remembering everything you see, you eat everything you see! Sit in the booths or on high stools and pick your dinner up as it passes. I brought my twoyear-old along and he almost hyperventilated with the excitement. Granted, he didn’t go in much for the sushi, but he did like the fruit plates, the miso soup
and the rice, as well as all the chocolate treats they have on there too. For those of you who find this a bit too harebrained, you can order hot dishes from the menu, too, but that just takes away from the experience, in my opinion; although we did mix it up a little and selected from both. This is a great place to bring kids as they get to eat with their eyes as well as their mouths, and small plates make it easy to eat fast and run. We did so, as our darling son, who had behaved impeccably up to this point, decided the conveyor belt would be a great place to send his toy cars and trucks for a little ride. Now that’s something the other diners certainly didn’t expect to pick up in a sushi bar. For further information, see go to www. yosushi.com.
THIS week, we have a delicious recipe for marinated lamb, courtesy of Bauknecht ovens. To accompany the lamb, we recommend serving fresh quinoa, tomato and cucumber salad with ciabatta croutons.
Lamb and marinade ingredients 2kg butterflied leg of lamb Juice of 4 oranges Large pinch of saffron 3 x star aniseeds 1 x dessert spoon of honey ½ vanilla pod (split) 1 tbsp. of coriander seeds Preparation • To marinade, squeeze the juice of 4 oranges into a small pot, then add in all remaining ingredients, bring to boil and then leave to cool. • For the lamb, butterfly cut the leg of lamb (or ask your butcher to do it). • Massage the marinade into the lamb and leave for at least three hours (or overnight for best results). • Turn your Bauknecht oven to turbo grill – medium setting 4. • Cook for 25 mins for medium-rare, or for 35 minsplus for medium to well-done. • Leave to rest for two mins in a warm place, then carve and serve. Quinoa, tomato and cucumber salad with ciabatta croutons ingredients 250g of cherry tomatoes 1 x cucumber 100g of quinoa Juice of 2 lemons ½ clove of garlic 4 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil 1 loaf of ciabatta
A feast for the eyes as much as the stomach, Yo! Sushi’s colourful conveyor belt of food will satisfy both senses
Conclusion
MUCH like its visually pleasing conveyor belt of food, you should give YO! Sushi a whirl (at Clarendon Street, Dublin 2; tel 01 672 8950). Its well-thought out menu features a wide range of Japanese staples, as well as more accessible selections, too.
Preparation • For the ciabatta croutons, cut ciabatta into cubes and mix with 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil. • Place on oven tray in warm oven at 125°C Forced Air Cooking, and cook for 30 mins (until crispy). • For the quinoa salad, bring a large pot of water to the boil, then add quinoa and boil for 15-20 mins. • Drain and refresh in cold water, then quarter the cherry tomatoes. • Half, peel and deseed the cucumber, then chop finely. • For the vinaigrette, finely chop half clove of garlic, then add to lemon juice and 2 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil. Finally, mix, season and serve to taste.
Gazette
24 Gazette 14 May 2015
OUT&ABOUT
CINEMA
ReelReviews
AVENGERS: ultron Not totally Marvel-ous
MARVEL builds on its smash-hit Avengers franchise for the biggest film yet, with Age of Ultron (Cert 12A, 142 mins) rounding up the gang (Captain America, Hulk, Thor – you all know who by now) and adding new characters to the mix, all in the name of battling Ultron. But their battle against this latest nemesis and his legions of robot goons add little that is new to the mix.
child 44
A chilling Soviet tale THERE’S something extrarotten afoot in Soviet-era Russia in Child 44 (Cert 16, 110 mins), with a series of child murders pointing at a cover-up at the highest levels. Investigator Tom Hardy follows the ever murkier trail, but the threat of danger grows stronger, the closer he gets to the truth ... It’s a decent role for Hardy, with Gary Oldman delivering reliable support.
fast & furious 7 Still vroom to improve
YES, technically, Fast & Furious 7 (Cert 12A, 140 mins) does come with a plot – something to do with terrorism, vengeance, family life – but in reality it’s just the latest in the highly-popular, incredibly dumb franchise. Expensive cars get driven very fast and furiously indeed, as ludicrous sequences ramp up the excitement and highamp silliness. Park your brains at home for this one.
The discovery of unsettling old footage from many years ago plunges Dublin film archivist David (Rupert Evans) into an unsettling and increasingly disturbing reality
the canal: despite some flaws, this is a solid and interesting film
Irish horror makes a splash A GOOD horror movie is a rare thing – for every Babadook, there’s a host of terrible films. Just glance through the IMDB scores of what the genre has offered in the past few years and you’ll see the most constant element is a mediocre rating. Audiences flock to the cinema in the hopes of titillating a primal rush of fear, but too often leave disappointed. The power of that fundamental captivation we have with the supernatural is highlighted in the opening scene of The Canal, which sees film archivist David (Rupert Evans) addressing the camera, which pivots to reveal a cinema audience of unruly school kids, evidently on a class trip.
Dave phillips
A shout of “W ho wants to see some ghosts?” quells the c l a m o u r, a s D av i d continues to explain that all the people in the archive footage the group are about to watch are long dead – cue groans of frustration from the kids. It’s a strong, self-aware and promising start to a particularly nightmarish journey. Shot in Dublin, Irish director and writer Ivan Kavanagh’s disturbing ghost story focuses around the central
character of David. Things are looking rosy for him and his pregnant wife Alice (Hannah Hoekstra) as we see them settle into their Georgian house by the canal. F a s t f o r w a r d f i ve years, and we see some obvious changes – their son Billy is well established in their home, and more importantly some cracks are beginning to show in their relationship. David seems to be quite familiar with a female colleague, and at the same time is jealous of the attention that Alice gets at work. Accompanying her on a work night out, he surveys her body language when speaking with clients and suspects that she is having an affair.
Things take a significant turn for the worse when, in the course of work, David watches some archive crime scene footage and finds out that a century earlier a violent murder took place on Black Street, in the very house where David and his family are now living. After watching the footage, something shifts in David’s world – he starts to see movement in the shadows, have strange dreams, and become increasingly hostile and suspicious of his wife. It is the otherworldly sequences that really set The Canal apar t from its peers. Lulled into familiar territory of marital disturbances, it is a shock for the viewer to enter the twisted
dreamscape of David, where he is haunted by the figure from the video. There are some golden moments here that are reminiscent of Don Cascarelli’s Phantasm series, where the mundane and the supernatural worlds meet in a feverish, murky, and electrifying meld. The bulk of the film oscillates between these peaks of intense, engaging, and effective horror and the banalities of David’s life as he tries to understand what is happening to him – it’s the latter where the film at points falls a little flat, with some heavy-handed dialogue and an overreliance on jump-cut editing dispelling some of the tension built up in the creepier
scenes. Like a smorgasbord of horror, The Canal seems to have a little bit of ever ything. In the wonderfully inventive dream sequences, there is a throwback to a distinctly 80s-kind of ethereal horror. We’ve an abundant helping of gore and jump-scares, but also a touch of psychological depth as the story can be read – albeit with a little effort – as an exposition of fear around birth. T he problem with incorporating such a variety of styles is that it never feels like it masters one, but overall The Canal is a solid helping of creative and effective home-grown horror.
Verdict: 6/10
14 May 2015 gazette 25
26 LUCAN GAZETTE 14 May 2015
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Gazette
28 Gazette 14 May 2015
SPORT Top swim award for Dub stars
FastSport
top athlete: portmarnock club member wins big at annual event
o’donoghue and good win Belgan title:
TEmpleogue native Shane O’Donoghue and Shankill’s Kyle Good helped Antwerp-based Dragons to the Belgian Hockey League title last weekend in stunning fashion. One of Europe’s top three leagues, the Irish pair were both on the score sheet in an incredible final victory over Royal Leopold, running up a 10-0 aggregate victory in the two-legged final. Both scored in Saturday’s 4-0 win before Good finished off the rout on Sunday with his side’s sixth goal. It completed a memorable season for the pair following their summer switch from UCD and Monkstown, respectively. They finished the regular season in fourth place but managed to get the better of tabletoppers KHC Leuven in the semi-finals. O’Donoghue linked up with the Irish national team a day after the league win in Germany to play in a series of challenge matches.
sport@dublingazette.com
FIONA Doyle was last night named High Performance Athlete of the Year at the Swim Ireland Annual Awards in the Citywest Hotel, Saggart.
Doyle, a previous Gazette Sports Star of the Month and Portmarnock club member, had an outstanding year in 2014 and won the award based on her performances, in particular her 50m breast-
Bert O’Brien with Sarah Keane
stroke final at the European Championships in Berlin. Doyle has already shown her desire to secure a place at the Rio 2016 Olympics in 2015 with a number of new Irish records and will target qualification for Rio 2016 at the World University Games and World Championships this summer. A total of 12 awards, which celebrate and honour the fantastic work and outstanding accomplishments of Swim Ireland’s athletes, coaches and volunteers, were handed out on the night. Among them was Bert O’Brien, from Sandycove SWPC, who was awarded the Water Polo
Rachel Lee, left, is presented with the Open Water Swimmer award by Sarah Keane
Outstanding Achievement Award for his involvement with the sport which spans over 40 years. Malahide’s Rachael Lee was winner of the Open Water Swimmer of the Year award. She won the 2014 Liffey Swim as well as the 10K National Open Water Swim at Lough Dan. T here was a huge cheer as Brian Sweeney collected the Club C o a c h o f t h e Ye a r Award; a huge number of members of his Templeogue Club attended to celebrate the occasion. Club swimmer of the year went to Tallaght’s Antoinette Neamt for her outstanding perf o r m a n c e s i n 2 014
which included a number of Irish junior records. Ten junior international athletes were also honoured on the night, they represented Ireland at European junior championships in swimming and diving and at the World Youth Olympics. Over 20 volunteers were honoured with awards for their services and involvement in the aquatics over the past 20 years. The final part of the evening saw two inductions into the Swim Ireland Hall of Fame. Anne Cummins presented the first in a touching tribute to her sister Marian Fenton and the second was presented by past
president Wally Clarke to Norman Green who had huge involvement in swimming in the 1970s and 1980s. Speaking after the event, Swim Ireland’s chief executive Sarah Keane said: “We are delighted each year to be able to celebrate the great accomplishments of our athletes and coaches and to recognise our volunteers for the hard work that they do, that sometimes goes unnoticed. “The awards night gives us the opportunity to celebrate and remember the hard work that ever yone puts into our sports; swimming, water polo, open water, diving and masters swimming.”
Aughney lays out 2015 Dublin marathon route sport@dublingazette.com
Maria McCambridge on her way to finishing second in the women’s 2014 SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon
DUBLIN marathon race director Jim Aughney confirmed the route for this year’s race this week at the Mansion House with the event set for Monday, October 26. Over 19,000 people took part in the SSE Airtricity Dublin Race Series last year, and over 14,600 runners, joggers and walkers entered the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon. The 2015 marathon route will follow the same course as the previous marathon in 2014 where changes had to be made
due to the Luas works in Dublin City Centre. The route will start on Fitzwilliam Square and end at Merrion Square as per recent years, but it will run along St. Stephen’s Green towards Meath Street, Lord Edward Street and Parliament Street, taking in City Hall and Dublin Castle – two well-known Dublin landmarks – before entering the quays and moving towards the Phoenix Park. Last year’s race finish from Mount Street Lower towards Merrion Square proved a success
with the runners and spectators so it remains the same for 2015. Last year, Kenyan Eluid Too was a surprise winner of the overall title with a time of 2.14.47 while defending champion Maria McCambridge lost out by four seconds to EstherWanjiru Macharia of Kenya who crossed the line in a great time of 2.34.15. “As the leading marathon in Ireland, we are continuing to improve the standard of marathon running in this country while also increasing participation rates. “This year, the SSE Airtricity
Dublin Marathon is one of two major events announced as part of the new initiative to attract members of the diaspora to participate, with numerous networking events being organised in the lead up to our races,” said Aughney. The SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon was also announced as the winner of the best international event at the Running Awards in London last month where they were up against tough competition from the Boston Marathon and the TCS New York City Marathon.
14 May 2015 Gazette 29
Gazette
Christie’s mission to Box and Burn in LA Lucan BC’s Kerrie Christie is aiming to become one of the world’s top female boxing coaches; she tells JAMES HENDICOTT of her move to the US to hone her skills BOXING coach Kerrie Christie has gone in search of her slice of the American dream, moving to Los Angeles to hook up with notable pro gym Box N Burn. The move is the Lucan native’s latest in her ambitious mission to become “boxing’s premier female coach”. Christie already has an impressive sporting background, coming to boxing after injuries forced her from soccer and immediately taking to the sport. She quickly won an invite to train at Paschal Collins’s Dublin pro gym the Celtic Warrior Boxing Club, where she’s been for the past four years. There, she worked with the likes of prospects Luke Keeler and Jono Carroll who are making big strides in
the professional game as well as world title hopeful Stephen Ormond. Recently, Christie became the first Irish woman ever to gain a formal coaching qualification, picking up her BUI licence earlier this year. It’s a success for which she’s particularly grateful to Collins. The move to LA, of course, brings with it a host of new challenges. “I’ve become a very small person in a big city,” the Dubliner says of her Californian relocation. “I have to establish myself as a hard worker and a reputable trainer. It’ll take time, but as the years go by I’ll be looking for that world champion.” It sounds ambitious, but Christie’s going in at a top location, and is well-placed to make seri-
ous strides. B ox N B u r n h a s recently developed into a small chain, and has seen some high-profile athletes pass through over the years. These have included world champion boxer Chris Van Heerden and UFC champion Chris Weidman. “The gyms are owned by Tony Jeffries and Kevan Watson”, Christie told the Dublin Gazette. “Tony is an Olympic medal winner and an undefeated pro boxer, and Kevan is one of the world’s leading fitness trainers. Ireland’s own Wayne ‘Pocket Rocket’ McCullough is also part of the team.” To get her foot in the door, Christie took the direct approach, presenting the owners with her impressive CV on her sec-
Kerrie Christie, centre, with Tony Jeffries and Kevan Watson
ond trip to LA They were evidently impressed. “The two guys sponsored my visa”, she explains. “They gave me so much support along the way. They’ve made the dream a reality.” The faith shown comes in part from a lifelong knack Christie has for
“Blue skies, amazing weather, lovely beaches and people who want to stay fit and healthy; it’s an amazing place”, she tell us. “As [gym owner] Tony always says, ‘it’s like living on holiday’.” Not that the holiday feel is slowing Christie down. “I loved the
--------------------------------------------------------
‘My mission is to become boxing’s premier female coach - Kerrie Christie’
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connecting when coaching. “I’ve been told I have great patience and can adapt to how different people learn, and being very passionate helps, too. When it comes to boxing, it can be a very mental game. “The biggest challenges you’ll face are trying to get inside your fighter’s head and understand how they think and how they work before and during a fight. It’s a tough sport to be in, and sometimes, if your head’s not right, you can lose a fight before it even starts. “Packie Collins at Celtic Warrior has a great understanding of the psychological side having studied sports psychology.” It’s not taken long for Christie to take to her new environment, but then again, why would it.
gym from the moment I stepped into it,” she says. “It’s packed on a daily basis, from pro athletes to members of the public who want to learn to box. “The atmosphere’s electric. I want to do the best job I can with these guys,” says the driven athlete, who cites Katie Taylor as a major inspiration. “Katie made the path for women a lot easier, which has really helped me. “There’s never been a female world champion with a female trainer. It’s a wild dream, and it’ll take years to get to that level, but it’s achievable. “I can’t wait to spend my next five years here and help the Box N Burn name keep growing throughout LA.” With Christie’s record and determination, you’d be a fool to bet against her.
FastSport
Wild Rovers and Declan’s land Dublin Masters titles THE third Dublin masters tournament saw men’s Over-40s and Over-50s along with the women’s Over-40s teams from home and abroad battle it out for the title at a series of games across Dublin. This year’s line up of teams was arguably the strongest yet and the standard seen at all levels is a testament to the quality of players participating. Following the group games, the men’s Over40s saw Aberdeen and St Declan’s meet in one semi-final and St Vincent’s versus Trailblazers in the other. In two enthralling encounters, St Declan’s clawed back a 10-point deficit to win by four points, while Trailblazers just about overcame St Vincent’s by two points. In the Over-40s women, 2014 winners Wild Rovers had to work very hard to beat a very good Edinburgh team and Oblate Dynamos held off the Dublin All Stars. It set up a series of top notch finals in the Oblate Hall on Sunday. The Over-50s final proved a classic between Rathmines and London Eagles. London Eagles built a six-point lead and held it for most of the game. In the last 20 seconds, though Sean Wynne hit four free throws to tie the game and bring it to overtime. By this stage, London had lost three key players to foul trouble and Rathmines went on to lift The Mick Brew Memorial Trophy. Following the game, Rathmines Paul Gallen was inducted into the Irish Masters Basketball Hall of Fame in recognition of his dedication and service to Masters Basketball in Ireland. In the women’s final, Oblates were missing a key players due to injury for their title battle with the Wild Rovers who contained current Irish international Suzanne Maguire and former internationals such as Catriona White. They ran out comfortable winners and retained the Joe Kavanagh Cup. The eagerly awaited men’s Over-40s cup final saw St Declan’s team pay tribute to John McDonagh who sadly passed away in February. His former team mates were not going to let him down as they powered to an early lead which they never surrendered.
Gazette
30 LUCAN gazette 14 May 2015
SPORT
FastSport
soccer: united under-14s pay perfect tribute to team mate
McCarthy the Hermitage Scratch Cup champion JULIE McCarthy, from Forrest Little GC, second from left, won the 44th annual Hermitage Ladies Scratch Cup, holding off the challenge of Ciara Casey by a single shot. She is pictured with Carolyn Hillery, lady captain of Hermitage Golf Club, presenting the Dermot Kelly Ltd (Ford Dealers) sponsored cup. Also in the picture are her father Ronan McCarthy and James Kelly, managing director of Dermot Kelly Ltd.
Colaiste Phadraig end 13-year wait for Irish title COLAISTE Phadraig CBS Lucan were crowned second year All-Ireland Basketball B champions last week after a thrilling 13 point victory over St Mary’s CBS Portlaoise on a 47-34 scoreline. Lucan had lost to the same opponents in the first year quarter final last year so the stage was set for a revenge mission. They took an astonishing 18-0 lead within the first five minutes thanks to a
phenomenal display from the irrepressible Kris Arcilla. Stan Igboeli was key as his frequent steals set the team up for some lightning quick attacks and playmaker Arcilla did the rest. He scored 12 points in the first quarter with Jack Tighe, Aero Igbiniedu and two baskets from Igboeli to give Lucan a commanding 20-2 first quarter lead. And they stayed over 10 points clear throughout, holding at bay a late St Mary’s flurry to claim the school’s first All-Ireland basketball crown since the Under-19s won in 2002.
The Lucan United Under-14 girls team that won the Molly O’Toole Cup
Lucan fitting cup winners Molly O’toole final
Lucan United 1 Enniskerry YC 0 James hendicott sport@dublingazette.com
LUCAN United’s Under14 girls paid the ultimate tribute to former teammate Molly O’Toole on Sunday, winning the Elite MGL cup named in her honour in front of their largest ever crowd of around 300 supporters. Molly, a student at Lucan Community College and veteran of almost a decade in Lucan’s current squad, passed away after a short illness in January. “We felt totally emotional going into the game,” Lucan’s Metro League secretary Imanda
Lawless, whose daughter Zara captains the side, told GazetteSport. “Molly’s been part of this wonderful club for the last 10 years.” Enniskerry went into the game as big favourites. “They’re reigning Leinster and All-Ireland champions,” Lucan boss Ian Cassells said. “We already played them twice this year. They won those games 6-0 and 3-0.” Lucan’s unlikely victory has a hint of destiny about it, after the west Dublin team also overturned a strong Peamount United and St Joseph’s sides on the way to the final. “The girls dug really, really deep. It was an emotion-filled day, and
the whole squad performed. The result was very important for the girls. “I think the emotion played a role. It was different to winning any other game. This memory will live with this bunch of players for a lifetime. This will be right up there with some of these players’ greatest achievements. To get our Under-14 team as the first club to win the Molly O’Toole Cup was exceptional. “Every player in our squad turned up on the day against an extremely talented side.” An even first half saw Lucan create a number of chances with Ciara Mahon and Zara Lawless
coming close, including a free kick from Lawless that skimmed the post. The Lucan defence stood up to everything that Enniskerry threw at them. GoalkeeperAbby Shiels dealt with everything that Enniskerry could throw at her while the defence was well marshalled by Emma Fallon, Alanna Cassells, Sophi Goodwin and Nicole Smith as the stand out defender. The Lucan midfield tormented the Enniskerry defence with exceptional wing play from Aoife Brophy and Ruby Skirt. The winning goal came midway through the second half, with Aoife Hanley turning on the edge of the
box and hitting the ball on her left foot to score off the inside of left post. Annmarie Byrne hit the post late on and was duly awarded the player of the final award for her exceptional performance from the match officials. Cassells added: “This bunch of players have got better and better as the season has progressed and got their just rewards on winning the final. “We are looking to build and add to our girls section and we are planning an open day on Sunday, July 5 to welcome new talent to the club.” Key contacts for the club are on the club’s website http://www.lucanunitedfc.yourclub.ie.
14 May 2015 LUCAN gazette 31
Gazette
Reid’s 2-2 salvo earns win over Ballinteer sport@dublingazette.com
DAIRE Reid’s impressive attacking display helped Lucan Under-16B overcome Ballinteer comfortably after a tight first half recently. Reid scored 2-2 in a match that was fairly evenly matched up until just before half time, with Sarsfields struggling
against a notable wind early on. The Lucan side pulled away to a comfortable 3-7 to 1-5 lead just before the break. Backs Zach Meade, Paul Murtagh and Ryan Hyland played their role early for Sarsfields, with Shaun Keegan keeping the scoreboard ticking over with some impressive angled points. Midfielder
Alex Bourke’s developing athleticism proved substantial in winning midfield ball, while David Grudzinkas poached yet another goal. Dylan Kelly’s move up from the Sarsfields Under14 also showed potential, with the first-timer showing some impressive skills and notching a late point against his more senior
opponents. The second half saw Ballinteer struggle, as Sarsfields piled on the pressure both defensively and up top and racked up a series of impressive scores. Ballinteer added only two points to their half time total, with Sarsfields coming out 5-17 to 1-7 winners.
Club Noticeboard lucan sarsfields MANY thanks to all the teams who sent in match reports this weekend.
appear at the club on June 13.
website, www.lucansarsfields.ie,
Tickets on sale every Tuesday and
with over 1,500 players in action in
Thursday in the bar at 7.30pm.
the last week across all four codes from age seven to 40+. The weather played havoc with our fixtures. excellent win over Kilmacud Crokes
this Saturda y in Skerries from
Saturdays from 10.30am to 1.30pm. GAA academy at Lucan Sarsfields
in Division 5 with the action again
is on at 9.30am for camogie and
starting in the club at 10.30am.
girls football, 10am for boys foot-
Best of luck to our adult hurling
ball and hurling, for boys and girls
teams in the championship action
born in 2008, 2009 and 2010 – 12th
this week.
Lock, Lucan. Contact Johnny at 085
August 10-14; hurling and camogie on August 17-21. See the website for details. Our golf classic takes place on June 19 this year.
st pat’s (p)
Lucan Sarsfields 4-13 Castleknock 2-7 sport@dublingazette.com
LUCAN Sarsfields’ Under12A hurling side looked in classy, goal hungry form in what eventually became an emphatic win over Castleknock. With the two sides having fought out a number of close encounters recently, Sarsfields have tended to edge things, though this most recent result turned out to be somewhat more emphatic. Lucan keeper Adam Whyte made a number of impressive early saves as
A particular moment of flair came when Hugh Cuffe took on of Ryan’s puck outs and laid off to Coogan. His ball to Kavanagh in space saw Sarsfields notch their classiest point of the game. Harkness was to add to his goals in a late rush for the Lucan side, with Cuffe and Coogan helping shove past a brave Castleknock team in what turned out to be a comfortable victory. Castleknock’s two goals still left the home side well short, with Sarsfields running out 4-13 to 2-7 victors.
The Lucan District Credit Union
Our U-14Bs have home advantage
camogie on July 13-17; football from
Half time saw Sarsfields rejig with Sean Harkness’s move to full forward proving particularly critical in gaining the upper hand. However, sweeping changes saw every area of the pitch occupied by new players, including the goalkeeping position. Harkness immediately made an impact, grabbing an early second half goal as Sarsfields took control. The backs slowly took charge in winning high balls, dominating in defence as new goalkeeper James Ryan delivered a string of accurate puck outs to feed the attacking players.
interest. The club shop is open on Thurs-
football on July 6-10; hurling and
Castleknock put the Sarsfields defence under pressure, with Michael Young at centre back making significant contributions that led to him being awarded man of the match. The period of Castleknock pressure – and their failure to capitalise – turned out to be key; the west Dublin side had missed their chance. Playing with the wind, however, Sarsfields weren’t able to make the first half impact they’d have liked. They went in a point up after Hugh Cuffe, Neil O’Leary, Matthew Coogan and Brendan Kavanagh landed scores.
tee on 087 4650729 to register your
days from 7.30pm to 8.30pm and
summer camps Kellogg’s Cul camp:
u-12 a hurling
If so, keep Friday June 5 free and contact the organising commit-
ahe ad of their Division 1 Feile
Bookings are now open for our
Four-star Sarsfields too good for Castle
Have you got what it takes to beat The Kube?
in CBS on Saturday, a great boost
10.30am.
The Lucan Sarsfields 2003 side produced a fine performance
Clairvoyant Bernie Stokes will
Full details can be found on our
Our U-14A footballers had an
hurling: lucan run up 12-point league victory
Book your tee time now to avoid disappointment.
THE U-14 football Dublin trials in UCD are on Sunday morning; the lads did great with new levels of skills reached. Well done to all who attended. Great win for the U-15s in Division 1. They ran out four-point winners over Castleknock in a great battle, another nail-biting match on Sunday morning. This time the results went St Pat’s, Palmerstown’s way and the lads came away with a win. Well done to all T h e U-12 h u r l e r s star ted the league with a loss against near neighbours Round Tower. Despite missing a couple of key players, they put in a strong performance. Best for Pat’s were Ross McAuley, Cathal Flood, Jack Hanlon and Ben Connolly with score of the day.
1294102. Ther e wa s no winner of this week’s €16,500. The lotto draw numbers were 4, 24, 26 and 27. This week’s jackpot is €17,000. Matt Reilly’s Autoparts are sponsoring with Josephine Donohue’s team in charge.
32 lucan gazette 14 May 2015