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Helena launches her new heavenly collection BEAUTY: P14-15 RECYCLE THIS COPY. KEEP DUBLIN TIDY.

YOUR COMMUNITY • YOUR PAPER

INSIDE: Novel idea is leaving a sweet taste with customers P4

Rugby: Malahide close in on league title in Division 2A Page 32

Soccer: United’s cup run ends with defeat to Orchard Page 30

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERY .........................8 BUSINESS .................... 19 MOTORS ....................... 20 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26

March 8, 2012

REFERENDUM: Making their case

for a Yes or No treaty vote Page 6

Water outage: anger at lack of info I MIMI MURRAY

SEVERAL Malahide estates were left without water for nearly 24 hours last week, and were given no ongoing communication from Fingal County Council about the outages.

Fine Gael Councillor, Anthony Lavin, said that this was not good enough and someone needed to be held accountable for relaying communication to residents.

“The priority is to repair the problem, and it is admirable that they were doing that, but I would hope that the hierarchy will learn the lesson on how to improve feedback,” he said.

A spokesperson for FCC said: “In this case, the crew were consumed with addressing the problems, and, as a result, forgot to call in the updates. This should not have happened and we apologise.”

Full Story on Page 2

Off to the races: Jenna and Lisa enjoy a fundraising night JENNA Culligan and Lisa Bruton

are pictured at a recent race night held in aid of Irish Autism Action in Malahide Golf Club. Television personality Martin King was master of ceremonies and was a hit with

guests who enjoyed a fantastic night’s entertainment and raised much-needed money for a very worthy cause.

Full Story on Pages 8-9

2 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 8 March 2012

EVENT: STORE SPONSORS VIDEO FOR CHILDREN

MALAHIDE Number of Committee places available

Chamber is keeping very busy MALAHIDE Chamber of Commerce is enjoying a particularly busy month.

T he new Chamber website is now online and they have added content of use to businesses and potential visitors to Malahide.

“In par ticular, we wanted to improve the Business Directory. We are now just starting to load data but if your business seems to have been left out, please send

Isabelle and Nessa Farrell

me an email and we’ll fix that problem,” a Chamber spokesperson said.

“Also, check your entry for accuracy. We will list all businesses we know about.

“Chamber members, those who have paid the 2012 subscription, will have their businesses featured at the top of each categor y along with their logo.

“This is another benefit of membership.

“We were delighted to

work with local website development company, Ambient Project, on this revamp and thank Brian and Austin for all their help,” the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, the AGM will be held at the end of March and all Chamber members will be notified by post and are entitled to vote.

“T his year we are looking for a new President as Al Ryan’s term ends in March.

“There are a number of Committee places also available and we encourage you to give us a hand for 2102. It not too onerous and we don’t bite,” the spokesperson said.

With regards to the 2012 Malahide Business Awards, the Chamber said: “Thank you to everyone who nominated Malahide businesses for the various categories this year.

“All these nominations

are now being considered by a sub-committee headed by Deirdre Rochford. “ We w i l l p r e s e n t the awards as part of the AGM at the end of March. We wish to extend to you an invitation to attend and to meet and mix with other business people in the area. It’s usually a very enjoyable evening and a great opportunity to network. We will be sending out details of time and venue in due course.”

WATER: AROUND 3,000 HOMES AFFECTED BY OUTAGES

Council apologises for lack of information I MIMI MURRAY

malahide@gazettegroup.com

Thomas Lynch and Conrad Opperman demonstrate their impressive skills using the Super Quartz Diablo and aluminium sticks

Village Books marks World Book Day VILLAGE Books marked World Book Day by sponsoring a video in which their Junior Book Club kids talk about why World Book Day is so cool.

Grace, Conrad, Bobby, James, Ella, Leah, Kate, Lauren, Daniel and Jack did a stellar job and the video can been seen on the Village Books website (villagebooks.ie).

Every primary school child has received a World Book Day voucher which are valid until March 25 and can be redeemed in Village Books.

The voucher entitles the child to €1.50 off a book or can be exchanged for one of the specially published World Book Day Books.

There are some fantas-

tic stories this year and authors include Derek Landy, Roald Dahl and Jacqueline Wilson.

Meanwhile, Village Books are reporting a “sudden hysteria” for the latest playground craze, a Diablo.

These are essentially a giant yoyo that is not tied to a string.

These hugely popular juggling toys are not only great for keeping idle hands busy, they aid in coordination and in developing concentration.

Keep a look out on the Village Books website (villagebooks.ie) and facebook page (facebook. com/villagebooksmalahide) for updates on new diablo stock and accessories.

SEVER AL Malahide estates were left without water for nearly 24 hours last week and were given no form of ongoing communication from Fingal County Council about the continued water outages.

Fine Gael Councillor, Anthony Lavin, said this was not good enough and someone needed to be held accountable for relaying communication to residents.

“The priority is to repair the problem and it is admirable that they were doing that, but I would hope that the hierarchy will learn the lesson on how to improve feedback.

It was initially supposed to be back at 5pm, then 7pm, then 10.30pm but it still wasn’t back the next morning. We need to have procedure in place and someone has to be held accountable for communication.

“I got a number of very angry texts and emails, many of them young families with children. Around 3,000 homes would have been affected.

“People all understand why the work was happening, but it is the lack of communication and not being updated that

Fingal County Council apologised to the people of Malahide for the lack of information

annoys people. They have the website and Aertel page as a means of communication. Maybe it should be a case of underpromise and over-deliver, that way if you have it back up before you have said, people will be pleasantly surprised.”

In response to a query from Cllr Lavin last Wednesday, the council said: “On Tuesday afternoon our crews made a connection to a new watermain on the Swords –Malahide Road at Gainsborough. This new connection was completed around 5pm but

it resulted in lower pressures in the higher areas around Ard na Mara, Chalfont and Inbhir Ide. This in turn resulted in a loss of water in the higher areas. A second connection to resolve these pressure problems was then begun around 7pm at the Estuary Road junction.

“T he work at the Estuary Roadjunction did not go to plan and our crews worked till 12:30am last night but could not resolve the problems at site. Works recommenced this morning and water was turned back on at mid-

day approximately. As water has been off for a considerable time to a large area it will take some time for pressure to build up in the network and water to fully restore to all residents. There now also appears to be air in the system, which is affecting higher areas such as Chalfont and Texas Lane. The crew are presently flushing the system through water hydrants to alleviate the problem at which time water should flow freely to all areas.”

In response to communication issues, the

council said: “In answer to your question about the fall down in communication, the crews normally prioritise updates to the on-call staff who update the web/aertel etc. In this case, the crew were consumed with addressing the problems and, as a result, forgot to call in the updates. This should not have happened and we apologise for the lack of information to the people of Malahide. This has already been addressed with the staff to remind them of the necessity for clear and timely communication.”

8 March 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 3

NATIONAL INITIATIVE Permanent accommodation

Mother’s Day presents

Government grants for local schools I MIMI MURRAY malahide@gazettegroup.com

SIX North Dublin schools will finally get permanent accommodation, it was announced last week.

Naul National School, Scoil Phadraic in Donabate, Realt Na Mara in Skerries, St. Peter and Paul’s National School, and St Teresa’s in Balbriggan, and St Colmcille’s in Swords have been offered Government grants to replace existing prefabricated units with permanent accommodation, as part of a national initiative undertaken by the

Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn.

Fine Gael TD for Dublin North, Alan Farrell, has congratulated the six schools this week.

“It is my view that the practise of renting prefabricated buildings has been one of the biggest failures of our education system over the past ten years, not to mention a serious waste of money that could have been invested in proper renovation works for long-term gain, particularly during the height of the boom.

“Prefab units should have been a short-term solution for expanding schools. Instead, it became Government

policy to continue to rent or buy units for the long-term, becoming a serious source of worry for schools as conditions in prefabs deteriorated over time.

“Parents and teachers have never been comfor table sending children to school in prefab units, particularly those with issues of damp and temperature regulation problems. Over the years I have visited schools around the north county and met teachers and parents who have been campaigning for a resolution to these substandard prefabs.

“It is for this rea-

RELEASE

Alan Farrell TD, teacher Ms Curry, and the fourth class pupils of St Oliver Plunkett National School at the plinth outside Leinster House on March 1. The pupils travelled into Leinster House for a tour of the Houses of the Oireachtas, on invitation from Fine Gael Deputy Farrell

son that I understand the importance of this announcement to these schools, Naul National School, Scoil Phadraic in Donabate, Realt Na Mara in Skerries, St Peter and Paul’s National School, and St Teresa’s in Balbriggan, and St Colmcille’s in Swords, all of whom I am certain will take full advantage of this investment for their students gain.

“This is one of the big-

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

‘This is one of the biggest initiatives taken on by the Department of Education nationwide and will cost €35 million’ --------------------------------------------------------

gest initiatives taken on by the Department of Education nationwide and will cost €35 million, separate to the School Building Works fund that was announced late last year. “ T h i s i nve s t m e n t

in young people is a remarkable achievement for the Department of Education amongst strong budget limitations, and will be of enormous benefit to children across the country.”

LOOKING for something different for Mother’s Day? Malahidebased Irish start-up company, Fab Cow Design, has just released its latest series of illustrations for Mother’s Day from Irish artist, Francis Leavey.

Whether looking for something quirky or sentimental, the new collection consists of four unique drawings, all related to being a mother.

This is the sixth collection produced by Francis for Fab Cow Design. His other collections evoke emotions involved with having a new baby, children, love and inspiration.

He has also released a Fine Art collection depicting some of the well-known landmarks of Dublin.

Phone orders can also be taken on 01 2542160.

For more information go to: fabcowdesign.com

4 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 8 March 2012

PLANNING

Planning withdrawn A PLANNING application for a residential development consisting of four detached dwellings at Kinsealy Lane has been withdrawn by C & M, G, C & L Crawford.

The detached dwellings were to come with detached garages, and were to be 2.5 storeys with attic accommodation.

The proposed development formed part of the Broomfield Local Area Plan. Planning permission was also sought for a new vehicular access road and footpath from Kinsealy Lane, associated site development works, landscaping and boundary treatments.

The development was also to be served by a new proposed foul sewer to link the site to the Swords Road, Malahide as follows: 2.2kms of (110mm diameter rising main) sewer from Connolly Avenue pumping station to Back Road, to Malahide Road (R107) and onto Swords Road (R106).

PEOPLE Be Sweet Occasions leaving a good taste

Trendy candy buffet proves a sweet deal I LAURA WEBB malahide@gazettegroup.com

A DU BL I N - BA S E D business is sweetening up weddings, parties and corporate events with their trendy candy buffet that is bringing out the best in Irish sweet teeth.

There is nothing more satisfying than dipping a hand into a sweet bowl and savouring ever y sweet flavour in it.

Whether it takes a person back to their childhood, or makes them feel guilty for all of two seconds, a little sugar never hurt anyone, and Dublin entrepreneurs, Bernice Moran, from Malahide, and Sarah Murray, from

Killiney, are bringing that taste of heaven to some plain food events with their company - Be Sweet Occasions.

When she was at a wedding in the US, Bernice got her first glimpse - and taste - of a candy buffet. “I thought it was such a unique and wonderful idea. I decided to do it for my own wedding and it blew my guests away,” she said.

So much so, she had to put a rope around it to get her guests to make an orderly queue.

“It was so funny,” she told the Gazette.

“What happened after that is that people – who were at my wedding –

kept asking me to help them do it at theirs. I loved doing it and so I decided to do it as a sideline job.”

The business, which officially set up last November, has taken off so much in the last few months that Bernice has decided to work parttime as a pilot for Virgin Atlantic.

“It was really word-ofmouth and then we went on the Group-on deal and that really put us out there. We hope to have a launch party in May, so that will, hopefully, get us out there even more. We have a celebrity wedding coming up in July, so that will really get us noticed.

I don’t want to say who it is in case we ruin the surprise.

“We are really busy.

But we can do two weddings a day. We have enough staff to do a couple. It is very busy,” she said.

Bernice’s partner in the venture is Sarah, a qualified interior designer, who comes from a family background of hoteliers, restaurateurs and the entertainment industr y, giving her exclusive knowledge to event organising. Sarah puts her creative side to work on the displays, which help bring the

Bernice Moran and Sarah Murray and a selection of their candy buffets

sweets to life, making them irresistible for all.

The school friends say their candy buffet is not just putting a few sweets into a jar, it’s about choosing what is right for the individual and sourcing the best ones.

“We source all the amazing jars from the US and they are very hard to find and very expensive. We find all the different types of jars and tables with

material that accentuates the table. We also source the candy from the States, because, in Ireland, it is very limited. We get amazing varieties, like Pina Colada fruit soars, vanilla cupcake malt-balls, and things like that; we cater for whatever the client wants.

“If the wedding party had pink bridesmaids, and the flowers were cream, we would do

cream, white and pink candy buffet. We can match the colour theme of whatever you want.

But we do baby showers, bridal showers, hens, 21st, 40th, corporate, any event. The price range is on the website and we have a sale on at the moment running until the end of March,” Bernice said.

For further information log onto: w w w. besweetoccasions.com

Beef Bible comes to La Brasserie LOCAL carnivores will have cause to celebrate this week, with the launch of a bespoke Bovine Menu at La Brasserie, the bistro at Michelin-starred Bon Appetit in Malahide.

Bookings are now being taken for the Bovine Menu, which will be available alongside La Brasserie’s regular menu every evening from Tuesday, March 13.

For what he describes as a “Beef Bible”, chef Oliver Dunne has sourced the very finest cuts of beef from the most flavourful rare breeds of cattle and made them

available with comprehensive notes on breeds, types of cut, ageing, marbling, cooking temperatures and tasting notes.

Each fortnight the menu will offer up to 12 different cuts of a selected breed, beginning with Aberdeen Angus (Rare Breed) and working on through Longhorn, Hereford, Dexter and Irish Moiled over the following weeks.

An excellent relationship with renowned butcher, Maurice Kettyle of Kettyle Irish Foods, means that the menu is very keenly priced.

Such is Oliver’s enthusiasm for this new Bovine Menu that he is offering one very special dish at cost so that as many customers as possible can experience it. For just €49.95 diners can indulge in a 225g Grade 5 Wagyu Sirloin, considered the most delicious beef on earth. The anticipated demand for this opportunity means that it will enjoy a permanent place on the Bovine Menu and diners are urged to book in advance if intending to order in large quantities.

For more information go to www.BonAppetit.ie.

8 March 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 5

LAUNCH New premises attracts rise in members

Credit union’s new location is well received SINCE Malahide Credit Union opened the doors of its brand-new premises for the first day of trading on Main Street on January 18, the state-ofthe-art offices have been well received by members and the community as a whole, attracting a significant increase in new members joining every day.

An official launch was held on Saturday, March 3, at the new offices to celebrate the move to Main Street, with special guests, including the Mayor of Fingal, Gerry McGuire; the President of the Irish League of Credit Unions, Jimmy Johnstone; local businesses and organisa-

tions, community representatives, fellow credit unions from north Dublin, representatives from the Irish League of Credit Unions, local politicians and many more.

Guests were greeted with a food and wine reception and invited to take a tour of the new facilities while enjoying wonderful entertainment, provided by local musicians Cathal Clinch on keyboard, Caroline Clinch on the flute and Natalie Mirolo on the violin.

This launch marks the culmination of months of planning, preparation and hard work since the credit union took the decision

to move from 1, Railway Avenue, where they had operated for over 40 years, to Main Street.

Officiating at the launch, Mayor McGuire, said: “I would like to congratulate the Board, management and staff at Malahide Credit Union for this remarkable new office and facility, which is clearly a very welcome addition to the Main Street, Malahide and the district as a whole. The credit union provides a vital service to the community and, in these challenging times, it is encouraging to see growth and progress. I wish Malahide Credit Union and all its members success and

FastNews Centre extends opening hours

Pictured at the opening were: Chairman of Malahide Credit Union, Bryan O’Flaherty; manager of Malahide Credit Union, Vivienne Keavey; president of the Irish League of

ESTUARY Recycling Centre has extended its opening hours which will make it even easier for residents to stay environmentally friendly this spring. From March 8, the centre will open from 8am to 8pm on Monday to Friday and 8am to 6pm on Saturdays.

Fine Gael Councillor Anthony Lavin said he is delighted with the change.

Credit Unions, Jimmy Johnstone and Mayor of Fingal, Gerry McGuire

prosperity in their new home.”

President of the Irish League of Credit Unions, Jimmy Johnstone, said: “There is no doubt that this is a challenging time for credit unions but also a time of great opportunity.

Malahide Credit Union is certainly leading the way and I am sure that the board of directors, management and staff are very encouraged by the extremely positive feedback they have received

so far from the members, the extended community and their friends and colleagues in the credit union movement.”

Manager of Malahide Credit Union, Vivienne Keavey, said: “Malahide Credit Union is now on Facebook so we would encourage you to find and like us. On behalf of Malahide Credit Union, I would like to thank everyone involved with the move and the build.

We are so delighted with

the end result and completely gratified by the amazing feedback we have received. From our humble beginnings in 1969, we have provided an excellent service to our members, and the community and our new office provides us with the perfect platform to serve our growing membership for many years to come. This is a really a great moment in the history of our credit union.”

Planning granted ST Andrew’s National School on Church Road has been granted planning permission by Fingal County Council for the construction of a two-storey school extension and link building at the rear of the existing school including two classrooms, stairs and lift, toilets, staff room and two set rooms.

6 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 8 March 2012

OPINION The Fiscal Compact Treaty; how should we vote?

Seize the opportunity and reject this Austerity Treaty S O f a r, t h e Government has come up with lots of reasons for us to vote Yes. We should vote for ‘economic stability’ and for ‘economic recovery’.

Unfortunately, the Government never deals with the actual content of the Treaty. This is a Treaty to institutionalise austerity in Ireland and across Europe into the future.

Article 3 of the Treaty requires all countries to meet a severe ‘structural deficit’ target of 0.5%.

This will be locked into our law and an automatic ‘correction mechanism’ will be triggered if we don’t meet this target

– this means automatic cutbacks and extra taxes. The Department of Finance estimates our ‘structural deficit’ in 2015 will be 3.7%. Meeting the target in 2015 would mean an additional €5.7 billion worth of cuts and extra taxes.

That means more unjust taxes, further attacks on social welfare and pensions and it means more drastic cuts in health and education. If the European Commission gives us a longer timeframe to meet the target, it simply means an extension of that austerity over a longer period of time.

Austerity has already

destroyed the economies of Ireland, Greece, Portugal and Spain and threatens all of the eurozone with recession this year. This sort of savage austerity implemented simultaneously across Europe would dramatically deepen the economic crisis.

Article 4 of the Treaty is a provision written for the bankers, bondholders and speculators who caused this crisis.

It is a demand to reduce every country’s debt to GDP ratio to 60% at a fast rate. In Ireland’s case, unless there is economic growth (unlikely because of the austerity policies demanded by

Article 3), it will mean being forced to pay back €4.5 billion to the bondholders in 2015, on top of the €9 billion in interest payments we will be paying to them!

T h e Tr e a t y e f f e ctively rules out significant public investment by the state. At a time when private sector investment is collapsing (despite profits increasing for big business), massive public sector investment is needed to create jobs to get hundreds of thousands off the dole. This will be effectively made illegal by this Treaty.

T he Government’s scaremongering about

Ireland being outside of the euro and the EU should be rejected. This is a stand-alone Treaty.

We must choose whether we want to join this Austerity Club or not.

We should seize this opportunity to reject austerity at the ballot box. Doing so will open a debate and struggle across Europe about what kind of Europe do we want – one for the millionaires or one for the millions.

Paul Murphy MEP Paul Murphy is the Socialist Party / United Left Alliance MEP for Dublin www.paulmurphymep.eu

Paul Murphy MEP

Vote ‘Yes’ in referendum LAST week An Taoiseach announced that he will be putting a referendum to the people of Ireland on the EU Treaty. The Treaty is about reinforcing existing EU rules to reduce Government deficits and debts. By signing it, we will be joining other Eurozone Governments in an official agreement to live within our means. We have already committed to behaving responsibly when it comes to our finances, this Treaty would be rubber-stamping that commitment. This Treaty will not affect our existing spending plans or tax rates.

We know all too well the fallout of fiscally irresponsible governments – we are suffering that fall-out today. If this Treaty were in place in 2007, for example, the then Government would not have been able to introduce the measures which over-stimulated the property market and were part of their General Election campaign promises.

I will be voting ‘yes’ in the referendum and am asking you to vote ‘yes’ too. By supporting this Treaty we will be gaining access to additional ‘insurance’ funds should we need them. We will be putting an end to the excesses of domestic and international boom-to-bust cycles and sending a clear message of stability and fiscal responsibility internationally. We depend on this in order to attract multinationals

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald

to our shores and to forge trade links with countries, including China, who’s Vice-President has just completed a very positive trip to Ireland. This Treaty makes official what we are already doing – it gives us the opportunity to grow trade links and rebuild our international reputation.

The Treaty is based on the common-sense approach that we must run budget surpluses in good times so we can run deficits in bad times. It aims to maintain a debt/ GDP ratio of about 60% except in ‘exceptional circumstances’ such as recessions like the one we are in at the moment. All countries who are signed up to the Treaty will have to act responsibly. The progress we have made in the last year has resulted in investment by companies like Eli Lilly and Abbot Pharmaceuticals. We have seen these results here in our own area with investment by Microsoft, Pfizer and Google in Grange

Castle Business Park. We depend on our international reputation in order to attract this level of investment, which creates local jobs and spin off trade.

If we pass this Treaty and manage our public finances responsibly we will be protected against market speculation from the new Eurozone Rescue Fund. This ‘insurance’ fund is a €500 billion European Stability Mechanism. If we don’t pass this Treaty we will be locked out of this fund but will still be bound by the EU fiscal rules. We are already signed up to the conditions – it makes total sense for us to sign up to avail of the insurance fund too.

If you are undecided about how to vote; inform yourself. If you are unsure about the issues the best way to gain clarity is by reading the Treaty itself. This Treaty is only ten pages long and far less complex than previous European ones. I have put a link to it on my website, www.francesfitzgerald. ie and you can download it from there. The Referendum Commission will be publishing unbiased information explaining what the Treaty sets out, every household should receive this information in the run-up to polling day. A ‘yes’ vote is a yes to progress.

Frances Fitzgerald Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

8 March 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 7

8 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 8 March 2012

EVENT Over one-hundred guests enjoy a recent race night

Darach Culligan, Martin King, Susan and Brian Culligan. Picture: Una Williams

Ready steady, go....

Jenna Culligan and Lisa Bruton

V’s Martin King was the MC on a recent race night held in aid of Irish Autism Action in Malahide Golf Club.

The night, which was organised by college student, Ross Culligan, as part of a college project, was a huge success.

Ross and his classmates organised the

T

event as part of their college degree.

Ross’s mother, Susan, who also helped to organise the night along with two of Ross’s classmates, Colm Hand and Cormac Gordon, said around 100 people, many of them students from DIT college, came along on the night.

WANT TO TALK TO YOUR LOCAL MARKET?

TALK TO US FIRST! Call your local sales person,

Louise Fitzgerald now on

085 8018734 lfitzgerald@ gazettegroup.com

8 March 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 9

held in aid of Irish Autism Action in Malahide Golf Club

Kay Nagle and Barbara Winters

Sarah Cullan, Brian Murnane and Ann Nagle

David Gilloughley, Conor Barry, Simon Glynn and Liam Glynn

Colm Hand, Martin King, Ross Culligan and Cormac Gordan

Nuala angel, Silvia Angel and Susan Culligan

10 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 8 March 2012

EVENT Pancake Tuesday celebrated at Scotch Bonnet

Cooking up a storm at Scotch Bonnett. Pictures: Una Williams

Tasty treats are enjoyed by all TAFF from Scotch Bonnet had a great day on Pancake Tuesday with over 80 mini pancakes and three large pancakes made in their 60-inch paella pan.

They fed all the local kids from the surrounding schools and their parents.

“We served pancakes with coconut /

butterscotch sauce / banana / chocolate sauce/ whippy cream and cinnamon sugar.

Chicken Joe always makes an appearance around Malahide on all the calendar holidays and festivals handing out sweets and treats for the kids and discount vouchers for the adults,” Paul from Scotch Bonnet said.

Stephen Brady and Jamie Gunning

Sean O’Neill, Holly, Luka and Joshuaua Karabegovic

S

Katherine Cristobal, Andrea Dodongo and Mikaela Baldoza

Michael Kelly and Ciaran Shelly

8 March 2012 GAZETTE 11

PEOPLE Hollywood history-maker’s talk in Dun Laoghaire

A Brave task to talk about Brenda’s hit CV IBAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

DUN Laoghaire’s Pavilion Theatre played host to a Hollywod historymaker recently, when film director Brenda Chapman held a two-day seminar.

In 1998, Brenda became the first woman to direct an animated feature for a major Hollywood studio with The Prince of Egypt and her CV is full of other blockbusters, including Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, WALL-E and Up. Brenda is also the original writer and director of Pixar’s upcoming feature, Brave.

The seminar made up

part of Brenda’s time as a Fellow in the National Film School in IADT. T he Pavilion was packed with students from colleges all over the city, questioning Brenda on her career and seeking advice.

Because she’d been stung by big studios in the early years she advised the assembly to become more “law savvy” as to contracts and protection of ideas.

Brenda is from a very small farming community in Illinois where her time was occupied by drawing and making up stories.

“There wasn’t much to do,” she said, adding that she has her own fam-

ily and tries to strike the right balance.

She tried to stay at home for a while when her daughter was born but soon realised that she needed to feed her creative side too.

“I did miss [my creative side} myself and I wanted to give my daughter a good example too.

“I’ve always been respected as an artist.

I was originally hired because I was a woman.

Executives responded to the fact that I was a woman but my peers responded to my work.

“And, despite the communication dispute with Pixar, I still have incredible respect for that ani-

Brenda Chapman (right), writer of Pixar’s upcoming film, Brave (above), addresses local students at the Pavilion Theatre

mation community.”

That “commuication dispute” revolves around the film Brave, which Chapman based on her daughter but which she is no longer working on.

She refuses to be drawn further on the matter as it is in legal limbo.

“Right now, I’m just taking a break. I’ll spend

a bit of time with my daughter.

“I grew up in a really small town and the thing I really wanted to be was a hermit and part of me is like, yeah, I’d still like to do that.”

One theme of the seminar was female involvement. The Pavilion auditorium held a

great number of female students and these were Brenda’s primary questioners.

“I’m very excited to see so many women in there.

Because when I was at that point, there were three or four women in my class. But now, it’s still not quite halfand-half but it’s getting

there.”

In answer to why she chose animation as her lifelong career, Brenda has no doubts as to it being the right choice.

“I love to tell stories and I love to draw and I love fine art, and all that, so the only way I can combine the two sides is through animation.”

12 GAZETTE 8 March 2012

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YOUR LOCAL PAPER, YOUR LOCAL NEWS! Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 or email news@gazettegroup.com

NEW PLANS PROPOSED

Making water meters pay I PAUL HOSFORD

news@gazettegroup.com

A NEW report has suggested giving financial incentives to people who instal water meters to help boost the local economy.

The plan is one of many proposals contained in a document called Water Sector Reform by South Dublin Chamber, which was presented to the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government last week.

T he proposals are based on the recent Government Position Paper and the 2011 Irish Water Phase 1 Report

by Price Waterhouse Cooper.

T h e Wa t e r S e c t o r Reform document also calls for the State’s proposed new water services utility to bear the cost of phased water meter installation.

Peter By rne, chief executive officer of South Dublin Chamber, said the incentive would be a boon for struggling local economies in particular.

“This incentive would boost the local economy and lessen the burden on the State to roll out the metering process.”

Patrick’s Day: It’s time for the party favours CELEBRATE in style this St Patrick’s Day

with a little help from Tesco Ensure you are kitted out for this year’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations by popping down to your local Tesco store where you can pick up an array of fun items available at great value prices.

Decorate your home or workplace for St Patrick’s Day by picking up the Tesco 23 Foot Ireland Bunting at just €6.99 or some Ireland Flags available for just €1.49 each – perfect for decorating your St Patrick’s Day parties.

For the St Patrick’s Day parade, why not pick up a fun Leprechaun Hat with Beard, the trendy Tesco Green, White and Gold Trim Cowboy Hat or the Tricolour Jester Hat for just €5.99 each?

For the ladies, the Glitter Mini Hat with ribbon and feather is just €3.99, the Leprechaun Hairband with Green Hat is just €2.49 or the funky Black Shamrock Tights are just €5.99.

And there’s also the St Patrick’s Day novelty tie at just €3.49 or the St Patrick’s Day Rosettes for just €1.99.

Tesco also has a great range of accessories including the St Patrick’s Day Inflatable Sticks (2 pack) €1.20 or the St Patrick’s Day Vuvuzela Horn just €1.99 which are sure to finish off your Patrick’s Day attire.

For details, visit www.tesco.ie

8 March 2012 GAZETTE 13

14 GAZETTE 8 March 2012

GazetteHEALTH HEALTH& &BEAUTY Blood pressure – keeping it down!

A new heavenly collection CONIC supermodel Helena Christensen was in Dublin last week to officially launch her exclusive Triumph Essence Spring/ Summer lingerie collection, and Gazette Beauty went down to take a closer look.

She has been in the business for over two decades and is still as stunning as she was starting out. The former Victoria Secret model has moved to the other side of the lens. She is now a photographer, and is an in-house photographer at Oxfam.

The international fashion icon greeted guests and posed for photographers at Brown Thomas, when she showed off her lingerie collection recently.

Wo m e n a n d m e n packed the lingerie room at Brown Thomas in Grafton Street to see what her collection offered, but really most just wanted to see what a real supermodel looks like, and hearing whisperings by customers behind me saying: “Oh, my God, she looks amazing” and “look at that body”, they weren’t disappointed.

The Danish super-

I

BLOOD pressure is essential for us all to survive - without it our blood vessels would collapse.

Hypertension, on the other hand, refers to blood pressure above a defined safe limit. Hypertension forces the heart to work harder and it is the single most important risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke.

Symptoms

Because hypertension generally has no symptoms it is essential that you attend your doctor or local pharmacy to get your blood pressure checked on a regular basis.

With thanks to the staff at Lucan Village Pharmacy Helena Christensen (left) has officially launched her exclusive Triumph Essence Spring/Summer lingerie collection

model joined forces with Triumph Essence to design a sensual collection that includes a lacy bra and stunning bodyhugging skirt with subtle shaping properties and sexy string.

For Helena, it’s essential for lingerie designers to get the woman’s perspective because women have to wear them, and what most women want is to feel sexy, yet comfortable in what they are wearing underneath their clothes.

“For me, it’s essential for a lingerie company to have a female perspective. After all, women are wearing these pieces and it’s all about what makes you feel good. And these sophisticated styles definitely do that.”

The model, who is not a big fan of g-strings, says creating the perfect piece of lingerie for women is “basically a science” because everyone has different bodies.

Whether you want to treat yourself to a lavish lingerie collection, or you are looking for something extra special for that extra special dress, be it a wedding or ball gown, the Triumph Essence Collection has a stunning collection of

GOT A STORY? WE WANT TO KNOW! Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 or email news@gazettegroup.com

Each Triumph Essence piece is developed to provide a blend of perfect fit and precise craftsmanship

8 March 2012 GAZETTE 15

Edited by Laura Webb

from Helena flattering designs to suit most body shapes.

The Delicate Essence series combines lace and soft elastic fabric for charming and subtle shaping effects. The Charming Essence series stands out with delicate lace in striking geometric pattern. Decorative tassels, peek-a-book details, fine Guipure embroidery and flirty straps made of pleated mesh are playful details every fashionenthusiast admires.

The Precious Essence series is a dream come true for brides-to-be because of its feminine look, which is available in a creamy white.

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

‘For me, it’s essential for a lingerie company to have a female perspective’ --------------------------

Helena Christensen

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

Each Triumph Essence piece is developed to provide an uncompromising blend of perfect fit, precise craftsmanship and care for the small details that make all the difference. This is true luxury. And these are the qualities Triumph

has refined throughout over 125-years of lingerie excellence.

The Triumph Essence collection, with designs

by Helena Christensen, is available in The Lingerie Rooms at Brown Thomas Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick.

Brown Thomas resident fitters are on hand to help solve all lingerie dilemmas, offering personal consultations to help weary lingerie shoppers to find their optimum shapes and styles.

Book your personal lingerie and shapewear fitting appointment in The Lingerie Rooms Dublin at 01 – 617 1114.

WE HAVE 135,000* READERS EACH WEEK *based on standard industry measurements

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OUR READERS

CALL 60 10 240

16 GAZETTE 8 March 2012

GazettePETS PETS

Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA

THE FACTS: HELP PREVENT POTENTIALLY UNWANTED AND ABANDONED CATS AND DOGS

Spaying or neutering your pet AS THE country’s leadi n g a n i m a l we l f a r e organisation, we at the Dublin SPCA understand and appreciate the importance of spaying and neutering animals.

In fact, for 172 years this Society has assumed a leadership role in advocating and offering affordable spaying and neutering in order to help prevent the cruel and inhumane slaughter of unwanted, homeless, abandoned and neglected cats and dogs.

In Ireland, as in every other country in the world, there are homeless animals. Many of these end up in rescue shelters similar to the Dublin SPCA. Through our very strict re-homing policy, we manage to rehabilitate them with loving, caring families.

They are the lucky ones.

Tr a g i c a l l y, m a ny, many, more, throughout the world, though healthy, wonderful and companionable they may be – face the pros-

pect of being euthanised due to a shortage of new homes and this is the only future they can look forward to.

But it’s not just abandoned animals that are left at shelters. No, it’s the offspring of beloved family pets.

Let me explain: For example, I wish I had a euro every time somebody visits our clinic with a pregnant pet explaining she “managed to get out of the garden, went missing for only half an hour and came back pregnant”.

And, even if the “accidental” offspring manage to get adopted, it’s still possible for them to be placed in a rescue shelter due to them being “too big,” “not great with the kids,” “doesn’t fit in with the new decor,” or “too difficult to handle.” Yep, we’ve heard it all.

So, in order to avoid this happening to you and your pet, because, let’s face it, no family wants an unwanted

pregnancy – I thought I’d make readers aware, or shine a little spotlight if I may, on World Annual Spay Day – it usually falls around the last week in February but you can visit your vet at any time.

He/she will be thrilled to advise you regarding your pet because having your animal altered is the only effective 100% method of birth control.

And, FYI, for those pet parents who are in receipt of social welfare payments, it’s advisable to drop into the Dublin SPCA mobile veterinary clinic at any one of our four Dublin locations, (details on www.dspca. ie/mobileclinic and have a chat with our vet). However, proof of social welfare is an absolute strict condition of this affordable, low-cost service.

Neutering: The Facts.

• Castrating your dog prevents more than unwanted litters – it can help prevent testicular and prostate cancer,

Having your pet spayed or neutered is the only effective 100% method of birth control

which is common in unneutered dogs. In addition to this, if the dog is neutered before he reaches adulthood, he will not naturally develop the types of territorial behaviours un-neutered male dogs develop, i.e. aggressiveness, marking territory, roaming, etc., • Neutering is also a routine, relatively lowrisk surgery with a swift recovery time. Serious complications are rare and owners can usually take their dog home on the same day surgery is performed, having him back to his old self in no time.

Spaying: The Facts.

• Spaying your female dog eliminates the problem of stray males camp-

ing on your doorstep and decreases her own desire to roam and breed. In addition, there are many health benefits attached, such as a marked reduction in the risk of her contracting ovarian cancer, mammary gland tumours and the procedure helps reduce aggression.

The Myths:

• Spaying/neutering will make my pet fat.

Nonsense. Owners make their pets fat! Failing to provide an adequate, healthy diet and daily exercise will render your pet fat.

• Bitches should have one litter.

This is of no benefit at all and simply an old wives tale.

• Spaying and neuter-

ing is cruel.

Look, we, as humans, domesticated animals and brought them into our lives and homes. The environment we created for them is far removed from their natural one and we have made them dependent on us; therefore we are responsible for their care.

What is cruel, in my opinion, is allowing your bitch to have litter after litter and then dumping the puppies in a black sack on a deserted roadside, leaving the poor mites to fend for themselves and the mother heavily burdened with milk, with a serious risk of developing mastitis and dying from lack of veterinary care ... do you get my point?

• My dog’s personality will alter.

Oh grow up! Neutering/spaying has absolutely no negative affect on your dog’s personality. Be positive! This procedure will make your animal more amenable, less aggressive and less likely to pick a fight!

So, to those of you who whine, “it’s not normal,” or “my bitch deserves to have a litter,” my response to that is, get a clue, save a life; spay/ neuter your pet immediately or as soon as practicable. Contact your local vet for details.

For more information log onto www.dspca.ie or email me at miriam. kerins@dspca.ie

8 March 2012 GAZETTE 17

18 GAZETTE 8 March 2012

GazetteMUSIC MUSIC FastTunes with Radio Nova’s Dee Woods

REVIEW: BACK TO THE FUTURE WITH FORMER REPUBLIC STARS

Cars Love Girls love...

I ROB HEIGH

GOT last year’s mud scraped off your wellies?

Ready to reveal your pasty pins in a pair of shorts (no matter how blue the cold makes your legs go.) Have a hankering for something cooked in a van?

Then you’re ready for festival season. And with musical meccas cropping up on seemingly every grassy knoll this year, there are plenty of chances to check out bands you love and possibly discover new ones.

We may be without Oxegen but we do have electricity. The Electric Picnic in Stradbally starts on August 31 and its line-up this year is a melting pot of acts and activities that includes multi-platinum artists like The Killers and The Cure, to festival staples like Christy Moore and Glen Hansard, and up-and-coming talents like Jonathan Wilson and Ed Sheeran. I’m already charged!

Listen to Dee Woods from Radio Nova every weeknight from 7pm to 12am on 100.3FM

CARS Love Girls are set to launch their debut album, Skip School, this week and having heard the album, my goodness, you had better be at the Workman’s Club this Thursday. If you’re not lucky enough to be there, then you ought to rush out and buy the album immediately.

When we spoke to lead singer Bres last summer, he was keen to get the band out into the public arena, but he was equally keen to make sure that the band took time to perfect every flick and twist, and that is clealy what Cars Love Girls have done.

The slow gestation and polishing of every track here bears great fruit, and

is no small tribute to the quality of the songwriting and musicianship of the band, as well as the final touches provided by one of the most prominent names in mastering, Bernie Grundman, who worked on Carol King’s Tapestry, Steely Dan’s Aja and Prince’s Purple Rain.

Whatever way you turn, there are inflections of some of the classiest pop in history throughout this record, and that’s no bad thing to wear on your sleeve when your influences are the best in the business.

Opening with the Prefab Sprout-esque overture of What’s On My Mind, Skip School melts the day around you as you get drawn into its velvet sheen.

Cars Love Girls open up their account with a top-class debut album

There’s a pure pop sensibility that runs through every note of the album, and CLG’s way round a melody is refreshing, to say the least.

Debut single, Lose Your Mind, langorously grooves it way out of the speakers,

while Never Gonna Get It wears its Prince influence on its sleeve, a combination of choppy guitar and synth lines that throw you all the way back to the heights of 1999-era Rogers Nelson.

Cars Love Girls (the

track) is a Steely Daninfluenced west coast classic, another reinforcement of the feeling that this is the kind of music should be listened to in a convertible on a freeway driving next to the ocean.

A fine debut all round.

8 March 2012 GAZETTE 19

GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS

Supported by AIB

Interview: Sandra Taylor, founder of Angelic Touch

A holistic touch to help resolve anxieties SANDRA Taylor had a very successful career in IT, but found that in recent years, it wasn’t getting her out of bed in the morning, and she struggled to figure out what she wanted to do.

This struggle went on for a number of years until she had the luck to end up working in the same company as a woman who shared the same struggle.

They started talking about what they wanted to do with their lives, started doing courses together, and six years later are the best of friends Her journey from there has had its highs and lows, with part of the journey to heal her own issues so that she could help her clients heal themselves. Sandra suffered panic attacks, fears and anxieties, fear of flying, mild agoraphobia, hated crowds and questioned whether her new path in life was the correct one – was an IT consultant job easier?

For her, it would have been the easier path but not the correct one, as she felt that she wasn’t put on this planet to be an IT consultant.

She underwent various therapies to help heal and resolve issues that caused

the panic attacks and anxieties and, today, she is feeling really good.

However, she knows there are a lot of people out there that struggle like she did. As Sandra says, we live in stressful times; we often suffer from stressrelated health problems. Stress acts on the body and the mind and, therefore, on our whole being, causing us to battle through life.

Sandra believes that adopting a holistic and natural healing approach is the best way to balance the body, mind and soul, allowing the body to use its natural ability to heal itself. She achieves this by using a variety of therapies that she is qualified in. In addition to helping clients resolve fears, phobias and anxieties, she is also a qualified reflexologist and massage therapist, and often uses a combination of therapies to help treat the mind and the body.

Sandra also hosts talks/seminars by well-known speakers on holistic health.

For more information about Angelic Touch, or to attend a “Detox Your Mind” event, see www.angelictouch.ie, or call Sandra at 086 838 4134.

the UK taxpayer. Investors are guaranteed up to €100,000 per person (and if sterling, the equivalent of € 100,000 so funds sent across the Irish Sea or up to the North of Ireland would be covered to this threshold) by the UK Financial Regulatory Authority. You may also remember Ulster Bank took over the engagements of ( i.e. bought ) First Active plc, formerly First National Building Society. Other institutions covered by the UK authority include Investec Bank, Leeds Building Society and Nationwide UK Building Society.

KBC Bank, Rabo Bank and Danske Bank guarantee their respective subsidiaries here.

INCOME PROTECTION OR SERIOUS ILLNESS COVER Q – I took out a serious illness policy four years ago. I am a 36-year-old widow with two young children in professional employment, earning in excess of €85,000 per annum. The monthly contributions for this insurance are sizeable and with my current health good, seems to be a big waste of money. A friend of mine suggested I would be better off with income protection.

What would you advise? Jenny – Blackrock

Sandra Taylor

A – Your friend could be right. Serious illness cover,

Q: What part of your working day do you ‘delegate’?

A: None. I’m a one-man-band,

Q: What habits would you like to lose?

A: Saying ‘You know’ at the

Q: What was your first job?

A: Mortgage administrator in

so if it’s doing my treatments, designing/printing my brochures and flyers, updating my website, organising talks/ seminars/courses, I have to do it myself – but I love it

end of every sentence

Q: Have you ever done a job you loathed?

A: No Q: When did you start your present job?

A: October, 2009

ment guarantee? Alan - Mulhuddart

of Scotland (RBS) who, in turn, are owned 84% by

Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be?

A: PE teacher

Q: And your first pay cheque?

A: My memory isn’t that good

Q – Is the Ulster Bank covered by the Govern-

A – The Ulster Bank is owned by the Royal Bank

Q&A

Irish Permanent

DEPOSIT GUARANTEES

Q: What’s currently on your desk that shouldn’t be?

A: ITEC Teaching Diploma assignments – I really need to get the assignments finished

Q: At the moment, what are you looking forward to?

A: Expanding my business

that the last body of the Tit Bonhomme victims was recovered

or critical illness only covers you in the event of contracting a serious illness (the big four in particular are cancer, heart attack, stroke, MS) but you could be incapacitated for any reason outside of these

Q: Describe your dream meal?

A: Diep Le Shaker, Pembroke

“serious” illnesses and not be compensated. With

Street with hubby

tion be more suitable, but the premiums you pay

two young children, not only would income protecattract tax relief at your full marginal rate (which in

Q: What is your guilty music/ TV or movie pleasure?

A: The Champ, or Shemar

Q: Who would you like to have dinner with – Enda Kenny or Dame Edna?

A: Dame Edna, without a

Moore – AKA Derek Morgan, from Criminal Minds

shadow of doubt – at least he/ she would be a bit of a laugh

Q: What music/pictures/movies do you have on your iPod/ iPad? A: I tend to listen to chill-out,

Q: Describe your dream holiday?

A: Somewhere near the sea

covers 75% of your monthly salary (less any social

with my husband and kids, not too hot, with lots of activities, yet lots of treatments to help unwind

Some serious illness or critical illness cover can be

Q: What is the best thing about your job?

A: Working for myself, look-

Q: Is there anything about yourself that you would like to set the record straight on?

A: Redheads have a bad

ing after my clients and seeing their quality of life improving following treatment

reputation of having a fiery temper – not true! We are just passionate souls!

Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook?

A: Kilmacud Crokes GAA,

Q: : Have you achieved anything that you once thought you could not pull off?

A: Getting my first diploma at

Q: What sport do you follow?

A: Football, rugby, GAA and

Louise Hay, Deepak Chopra, CoWorkinn

MotoGP

the age of 43 – in Anatomy and Physiology. It’s never too late!

Q: What sport can you play?

A: Football.

Q: What was your last tweet/ status update?

A: Shared great but sad news

relaxing music most of the time

your case would be 41%). Put another way, a golfing partner once confided to me that he missed out on a payout from his serious illness policy because he only had one stent put into his heart (apparently the minimum is two!). Essentially, income protection welfare payments) until your incapacitation ends or your pension kicks in – whichever is the sooner. considered as part of an overall mix of health cover.

It is important you obtain independent and professional advice.

Q: What would be your dream job?

A: Managing my own beautiful

Contact John with your money questions at

holistic treatment centre

www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the

Q: What do you plan to do when you retire?

A: Enjoy it

Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS

ADVERTISE WITH THE GAZET TE CALL 60 10 240

jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at

director of Money Doctor

LOCAL

MATTERS

20 GAZETTE 8 March 2012

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS RoadSigns Road Signs GETTING MORE MILES FROM SKODA:

SKODA’s Dublin dealerships are giving away 300km of free fuel for every person who visits the dealership between now and March 16, and takes a test drive in any SKODA model.

SKODA will also reward anyone who orders and registers a new SKODA before March 31 with an additional 3,000km Topaz fuel voucher.

This latest offer from SKODA’s Dublin dealerships is part of a nationwide testdrive campaign where SKODA intends to give away up to twomillion kilometres worth of free fuel.

Announcing the offer, Ray Leddy, marketing manager of Skoda Ireland said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the people of Dublin to save some hardearned cash and avail of this free fuel offer.”

A recent survey has shown that 46% of all cyclists have done things like breaking red lights, while nearly three quarters don’t wear a helmet

Nearly half of cyclists break rules of the road HILE the majority of cyclists heed the rules of the road, a roadside survey in Dublin has shown that nearly a half (46 percent) break the law on Dublin’s streets.

The survey by Semperit Tyres was carried out over two days at a number of locations around Dublin city and environs.

Paddy Murphy, from Semperit Tyres Ireland, said: “Safety is key for

W

us in Semperit and that was the motivation for us to carry out this survey. The good news is that the majority of cyclists are careful and law-abiding but there is a significant minority who don’t obey the rules and it needs to be brought home to them that their behaviour is not only a safety hazard for themselves but also for other road users.

“From my own experience, I know that cyclists

don’t have it easy on Ireland’s roads; badly designed and badly maintained roads, insufficient cycle path provision and aggressive driving habits, all combine to make life difficult for cyclists. However, as the most vulnerable class of road user, they really need to heed all of the rules of the road in order to stay safe.”

The main infringements highlighted by the survey included cycling

on footpaths (21 per cent); breaking traffic lights (15 per cent); and cycling against the flow of traffic or wrong way on a one-way street (14 per cent). And although they are not obligatory, nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) of cyclists do not wear a protective helmet. Helmets have been shown to significantly reduce head injuries for cyclists in the event of a collision.

At opposite ends of the

scale, the survey showed that teenagers proved to be the least observant of rules, while over-50s were the least likely to break the law. Exactly two-thirds (66 per cent) of teenagers were seen to break the law with a significant number commiting multiple infringements within a short space of time (e.g. breaking a red light and then cycling on the footpath).

W h i l e t h e s u r ve y was being carried out,

a cyclist who broke a red light while pedestrians were crossing, was challenged by a pedestrian and the cyclist was heard to shout: “Traffic lights are for cars, cyclists don’t have to heed them.”

However, under the terms of the Road Traffic Act, a bicycle is considered to be a vehicle, and thus, similar to car drivers, cyclists are obliged to obey the road traffic laws.

MINI making a statement in the commercial van world MINI are set to reveal a new stand-outfrom-the-crowd concept at Geneva International Motor Show 2012 – The MINI Clubvan Concept – a compact van for business and leisure, and the first premium model in the small carbased van segment.

According to MINI, the Clubvan Concept proves that style can also be

practical. The MINI Clubman-based concept car combines all of the driving fun and distinctive design for which MINI is renowned, with an increased load-carrying capability.

The Clubvan concept opens the door to a completely new market for MINI, premium small businesses who want to combine sharp driving dynamics with

low-cost of ownership, while also making a style statement with their company van.

The Clubvan Concept is a five-door car with a twist. Two front doors for the driver and front passenger, two sidehinged rear doors and the rear-hinged Clubdoor on the right-hand side all create useful access. The Clubdoor gives

owners the option of loading smaller items from the side of the car as well as the rear.

8 March 2012 GAZETTE 21

Edited by Cormac Curtis

WHITE VANS

TomTom looking to improve Freight safety TOMTOM has launched a new partnership with the Freight Transport Association (FTA).

The link-up will see TomTom provide their support for the FTA’s Van Excellence programme, which aims to promote best practice through selfregulation.

TomTom and its network of fleet consultant resellers will promote best practice in van fleets across the UK and Ireland. The local representatives will use the FTA’s best practice guides to help van managers strive towards Van Excellence, using TomTom’s technology to underpin efforts to achieve this status.

“We are delighted to join forces with the FTA, as the Van Excellence programme represents a significant move to raise standards throughout the industry,” said Giles Margerison, of TomTom. “The programme offers an ideal fit with TomTom Business Solution’s own values in promoting greener, safer, more efficient drivers. Self-regulation is important in ensuring high levels of operational best practice and our technology can help to provide the framework companies need to maintain those standards.”

More than 40 organisations have already signed up forVan Excellence and members will be accredited through a robust auditing process. The programme is designed to improve safety and efficiency among van drivers, and help to scrap the outdated “white van man” image.

Businesses interested in signing up for the programme should contact the FTA on +44 (0)8700 202 021.

The new Honda Civic, which has been hailed as one of the safest cars on the road

Civic safety supreme T HE new Honda Civic has received a five-star Euro NCAP Overall Safety Rating and Advanced NCAP Award for Safety Innovation.

The new Civic has been rated one of Europe‘s safest cars, according to new independent crash testing results from Euro NCAP. In addition, Euro NCAP have announced that they are extending Honda’s Advanced NCAP reward for its Collision Mitigation Braking Sys-

tem (CMBS) technology to include the new Civic.

The new Honda Civic has been awarded Euro NCAP’s maximum five-star rating. The rating scheme focuses on the vehicle’s overall safety performance which gives consumers an easy-to-understand single score.

The system considers occupant protection, child protection, pedestrian protection and the availability of driver aids. Since the introduction of Euro NCAP’s new rating scheme all

Honda models tested have achieved five stars.

Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP Secretary General, commented “The ninth generation Civic impressed and achieved high scores in all areas of assessment, putting it on a par with its rivals in this competitive market segment.

The car scored well in Safety Assist and is also fitted as an option with Honda’s Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMBS).”

Euro NCAP also announced that they are extending Honda’s Advanced NCAP reward for its CMBS technology to include the new Civic.

The reward recognises Honda‘s CMBS technology as amongst the best available safety innovations, offering research proven benefits.

Euro NCAP Advanced is an initiative developed in response to the rapid development of new safety technologies, for which there is no independent assessment.

This Tourneo aims to beat competition THE new Ford Tourneo Custom Concept will make its global debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March, bringing a new level of energy and style to the European personal use vehicle segment.

Previewing the introduction of a completely new range of people movers, with commercial vehicles to follow, the Tourneo Custom Concept showcases a dramatic new look that will appeal to customers seeking style,

functionality and space.

“One look at the Tourneo Custom Concept is enough to tell you that it will inject an exciting new spirit into the personal use segment,” said Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe.

“Our forthcoming new range gives us the opportunity to appeal to new customers with a fresh new direction, and we have seized that opportunity with both hands.

“The Tourneo Custom Concept will preview of

a host of exciting new features, which give the vehicle strong car-like appeal.

“These include an allnew interior design with driver-focused cockpit, and a luxurious, fully trimmed cabin which has the ambience and highquality materials of a modern multi-seat saloon car.”

Ford says the Tourneo Custom Concept “communicates very clearly a dramatic new design direction for Ford’s commercial vehicle range”.

The new Ford Tourneo, which will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show

22 GAZETTE 8 March 2012

R1

GazetteTTRAVEL FastTravel

Leopards, temples and culture ... it can only be lovely Sri Lanka SRI LANKA conjures up images of tea plantations, beaches, sacred temples and exotic wildlife, and the island will not disappoint those looking for a holiday of exceptional variety this year, with an exceptional escorted tour available, from €2,139.

Once landed, you’re in a different world, with a night in the vibrant colonial capital followed by a visit to cave paintings, en route to the ruins of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress.

History is everywhere, as shrines and temples punctuate this part of the tour, along with opportunities for an elephant-back safari and a visit to an elephant orphanage.

A cultural evening is then followed by a trip to a tea plantation on the way to Nuwara Eliya, and then on to Yala National Park, where you can look out for leopards and other exotic creatures as part of a two-night stay there. Two relaxing days at the beach at Bentota, with visits to local towns, round off the 12-day adventure.

The full escorted tour starts from €2,139 ex-London, which includes breakfast on most mornings, dinner on seven nights and lunch at the elephant sanctuary. Connecting flights from Dublin can be arranged. To book, visit your local travel agent or call the Thomas Cook Ireland team in Dublin on 01 514 0316.

A spacious Tara Room suite at the Trinity Capital Hotel on Pearse St in the heart of Dublin

CITY BREAK: A FOUR-STAR HOTEL THAT DARES TO BE DIFFERENT

Step into another world at the Trinity Capital JESSICA MAILE

I THINK its important to state that not all four-star hotels are the same. I’m sure we have all been in hotels where the decor and atmosphere makes them all feel similar. The Trinity Capital Hotel breaks that mould.

Walking off Pearse Street and into the reception area, you know you have entered a hotel

with a difference. The subtle lighting and cosy selection of extremely tall Winsdor-like chairs makes you want to just sit back and watch Dublin pass by or marvel at the amazing chandeliers. The interior design makes you feel so warm and at home, as the dark, yet warm, colours give off a cosy, but exotic, atmosphere and you can certainly see why the hotel has achieved it’s four-star status.

As we made our way to our room, the journey down the purple and magenta hallway was relaxing (it sounds a bit much, but with the low lighting, it really worked) and made us wonder what the inside of the rooms was going to look like!

The Tara Rooms may have been at the end of this inspirational corridor, but the best was definitely left to last.

It was a hard choice between the huge bed, or the wonderfully modern

The lavishly decorated bar

sofas that invited you to take the pressure off your legs after a day’s shopping in the capital city. The carpet, cleverly designed to look like floorboards, and the bare brick gave the room a modern, yet homely feel that would be suited in any docklands warehouse apartment conversion.

As evening approached, it was time to sit back with a refreshing pint in the lavishly decorated bar and enjoy the buzz of conversations and the exotic music playing in the background. The soft lighting from the internal courtyard provided a

warming glow and actually made us feel like we were in a much warmer climate.

The Cafe Cairo restaurant provided a wonderful choice of meals to suit our building hunger, and our friendly hostess even helped with a recommendation for which wine to choose.

The delicious lamb kebabs, with a tangy cucumber and mint sauce as starter, just stirred up my appetite as I knew the Surf and Turf was next for the main course.

The succulent steak, and large tiger prawns, did not disappoint, but I

had to make sure I still had room for the blackcurrant cheesecake to top it all off.

The combination of a full stomach and warm ambience combined to make us feel ready to waddle back to our large, comfy bed for a peaceful night’s sleep.

The central location of the Trinity Capital Hotel makes it an ideal venue to appreciate all that Dublin has to offer. It was just a short walk before we were right in the heart of Dublin shopping district, as Grafton Street and O’Connell Street were just a stroll away.

T he Trinity Capital Hotel offers all that you would want from a city hotel, but with that something extra special that you will want to take home with you, especially if it’s one of those oversized armchairs for your front room!

For more information see www.trinitycapitalhotel.com.

8 March 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 23

Edited by Mimi Murray

SAFARI: LUXURY BREAK TAKES IN SPECTACULAR NATURAL SIGHTS

Kenya find a better getaway in Africa?

THE itinerary of the Kenya Migration Safari has been specially designed to put you at the heart of the annual wildlife migration.

Visitors to this beautiful country will experience three very different regions while on safari, including Sambur u, which is rugged and beautiful and is renowned for predators and elephants; Nakuru, which is located in the Great Rift Valley, and is most famous for its flamingos and rhino, and the Masai Mara – world famous for its rolling grasslands and vast migrating herds.

Enjoy this magnificent country as you drive on its rugged roads through rich farm land. Samburu Reserve lies 300km north of Nairobi, on the hot and arid fringes of Kenya. You arrive in time for lunch, followed by a game viewing drive.

The Ashnil Samburu is separated from the reserve by the Uaso Nyiro River.

The reserve lies within the lands of the Samburu people and is home to wildlife rarely found elsewhere in Kenya, including Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, and beisa oryx, which are found only north of the equator.

The graceful gerenuk – an antelope with a characteristic long neck – spends much of its time in a bipedal stance, seeking relaxation in the sparse scrub that grows in this harsh terrain.

This dramatic landscape is blanketed by the hot equatorial sun for most of the year. Relief comes from the cool waters of the Uaso Nyiro River, which rises to the west on the foothills of the Aberdares and which vanishes beyond Samburu in the soggy expanse known

Flamingos flock to Lake Nakaru in their thousands – just one of Kenya’s many stunning natural sights

as the Lorian Swamp.

Sweetwaters is a sheltered oasis, clustered around a water hole and set in the pristine and private Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Game here includes elephants, giraffes, zebras and impalas and you will also visit the 200-acre chimpanzee sanctuary, established by Kenya’s Wildlife Service and the Jane Goodall Institute.

More than 20 orphaned and abused chimps reside here, while becoming rehabilitated so they may be reintroduced to the wild. Sweetwaters also boasts almost 400 bird species.

Nakuru is perhaps the most famous of Africa’s great soda lakes, and Lake Nakuru is home to hundreds of thousands of greater and lesser flamingos and many other water bird species.

Built in a natural dais, overlooking one of the world’s greatest ornithological spectacles, the Sarova Lion Hill Lodge impresses with its panoramic views of Lake Nakuru.

The lodge is surrounded by natural flora and fauna and you can enjoy the vista from the privacy

of your own veranda.

One of the great natural features on earth, the Rift Valley is visible from outer space and stretches 5,500km, spans two continents, and runs from Jordan, through Kenya to Mozambique.

In the Masai Mara, with the reserve borders between Kenya and Tanzania unfenced, the wildlife is free to migrate, and the Mara is probably best known for its annual wildebeest migration. Lion, cheetah and leopard are often spotted; however, it is the vast herds that will leave you spellbound.

The cost is €2,195pp – ground only – and €2,718pp, including flights. The price of this trip includes all transfers, accommodation, meals and game drives as indicated, private transport

while on safari with a naturalist driver/guide, and National Park and transit fees.

International return flights to Nairobi are not included, and will be priced on application to ensure the best fare. Kenya visa fees are USD$50 per person. Travel insurance, and tips to drivers, porters and bellmen are not included.

The Kenya Migration Safari is only available from July 1 to October 31, so book now to avoid disappointment.

This package can be booked as is. However, it is best combined with a beach stay of four or six nights in a resort along Mombasa’s sandy shores.

This can be arranged upon request.

For more information, or to book, visit www. gohop.ie.

You could easily see some of Samburu’s elephants

TravelBriefs Exciting new wedding package on offer at the luxury four-star Slieve Russell hotel in Cavan THE Slieve Russell hotel in Cavan has launched its exciting new wedding package.

The four-star luxury Slieve Russell Hotel, located on the Cavan border, has created a great wedding package that is budget-friendly, covering 100 guests for €5,000, with this offer valid on all Fridays and Saturdays during the months of January, February, March, November and December, 2013, and all midweek dates in 2013 (excluding December 27 to 31).

Set in 300 acres of magnificently landscaped gardens, including 50 acres of lakes, the hotel ensures the perfect setting for your wedding day. Inspirational gardens with vibrant and unique surroundings provide the perfect backdrop for those all-important wedding shots.

For further information, contact the Slieve Russell sales office on 049 952 6444, see www.slieverussell.ie, or email slieve-sales@ quinn-hotels.com.

24 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 8 March 2012

GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT

GoingOUT THE PAVILION THEATRE 01 231 2929 Carthaginans

CONTINUING with The Pavilion’s run of strong, memorable drama, Frank McGuinness’ striking play, Carthaginans, runs on Friday, March 9 and Saturday, March 10. Influenced

by Bloody Sunday, and delving into certain facets of The Troubles, this production, set in a graveyard, both helps to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Bloody Sunday and provides some thought-provoking entertainment for theatre fans. Catch the show at 8pm, with tickets costing €20/6.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 The Field GLENCULLEN Musical and Dramatic Society will bring the intimidating figure of Bull McCabe to life in their production of the classic John B Keane play, The Field. Marking the tenth anniversary of the acclaimed playwright’s death, the imposing tenant farmer will stalk the rural setting of a remote Irish village, while tragedy builds like billowing stormclouds over a simple field ... The show runs nightly at 8pm until Saturday, March 10, with tickets priced at €15/€12.

CIVIC THEATRE 01 885 2622 Love’s Last Shift PRESENTED by Bull Alley Training College, the sights, sounds and mores of 1696 will be brought to life in a broad farce inflluenced partly by the Restoration period’s values, and theatrical tastes. When a virtuous wife’s longabsent rake of a husband returns to London, yet no longer remembers her after all his time spent with the bottle and the brothel, she resolves to trick him, thus showing him the error of his ways ... The play runs at 8.15pm until Saturday, March 10, with admission costing €10/€7 conc.

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 The Picture of Dorian Grey YOU’LL be Wilde about this production of the classic play, with Oscar’s masterpiece being brought to life with ease by the expert players of Wonderland Productions Limited.

Gate Theatre regulars Michael James Ford and Michael Winder will be joined by the RSC’s Simon Coury for an exquisite dinner theatre 90-minute show at 7.30pm on Saturday, March 10, with tickets priced €40/€35 conc, which includes a three-course meal.

Although audiences may not have been quite as enthusiastic, there was near universal critical acclaim for The Artist, which claimed several titles at the recent Oscars’ ceremony, including the widely-expected wins for Best Actor, for Jean Dujardin, and Best Picture

Let’s look at Oscar Kate’s invite was lost in the post – but not to worry, as here’s a look at some key titles from this year’s awards I KATE CROWLEY

THERE’S no accounting for taste – something which my readers would probably hiss each week, but never mind. I mean, I take what you both think very seriously indeed, but I don’t always follow what general audiences, rather than my readers, are interested in.

Take The Woman In Black, for instance, which I part reviewed last week, and noted that it was a decidedly twostar film. (Space prohibited me from revealing at the time that one star was given to star, Daniel Radcliffe’s whiskers.)

However, audiences have begged to differ – in Britain, at least – where I see that the film has become the most successful horror film, like, ever. Yikes. Unlike the film, that’s rather scary ...

Well, sticking with the audience for now, let’s follow ’em right on over

to The Oscars.

Oh, sure, I’m a week late – but, on the other hand, this way I get to look at some of the winners, rather than sitting here with egg on my face from predicting likely winners from the week before.

The Best Picture Oscar went to The Artist, which, in retrospect, wasn’t exactly the greatest surprise in the world.

Although I never got around to reviewing it here, it’s a fine choice for best film, with the preceding year not having any particularly outstanding titles.

Perhaps something of an acquired taste, it still stands out as an expertly made, yet entertaining look back at the fine old traditions of cinema itself, while its shameless mugging and over-the-top acting still has plenty of wit and warmth, making it a good, if somewhat safe, choice for that Oscar.

Not just one Oscar, of course, as it scooped up several others, with Jean Dujardin’s energetic performance seizing Best Actor, while other Oscars included Best Director, Best Original Score and Best Costume Design.

Not bad going for a silent film.

Hugo, which I did review, also did quite well, taking another impressive haul with such winners as Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Editing, and Best Cinematography, all of which helps to show that it’s not just a great, if thoughtful kids’ film, but also something that looks and sounds great, making it an audiovisual treat, and was a pretty good win for what is Marty

Scorcese’s first children’s film.

Of course, Meryl Streep took yet another award, sweeping onto the stage to take Best Actress for The Iron Lady. Another non-surprise, as who on earth would argue with Margaret Thatcher – well, Meryl – on her way to the stage?

I’m assuming thatMer yl’s downstairs loo – or wherever she keeps all her gold awards and statues – now has more bling than the window at Appleby’s.

Something that was almost as golden was the highlyemotional acceptance speech by Octavia Spencer, given her Best Suppor ting Actress win for The Help;

a film I didn’t quite take to, but which was a hit for many.

Christopher Plummer was gracious with his simple speech for his win for Best Supporting Actor for Beginners, while his rivals looked on from the rank-and-file filling the auditorium.

Otherwise ... well, it was a mixed bag of largely unsurprising wins, while Billy Crystal’s shtick went down as well*/terribly* as usual (*delete as appropriate).

And that’s yer lot.

There were some great winners, some worthy ones, bizarre choices and curious omissions – same old, same old – creating an Oscars show, and selection, that was straightforward enough.

And now, the Oscar award for the Best Suddenly Off To The Shops Film Critic goes to ...

In tribute to this year’s Best Picture winner, here’s a monochrome Oscar

8 March 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 25

GazetteGAMING GAMING Bytesandpieces Could chain soon face Game over?

It’s early notice, but gamers will welcome the news of the release date for Bioshock Infinite, with its floating city-state setting of Columbia (above), echoing many of the architectural designs and societal mores of Chicago’s 1893 World Columbian Exposition (right)

Prepared for an Infinite adventure in Columbia?

SHANE DILLON

BEING something of a nerd in many fields, and not just in gaming, I know lots of useless stuff – such as … did you know that the world’s first Ferris Wheel was Irish? (Keep reading – this is going somewhere, I promise.).

Yes, indeed, the humble ferris wheel first made its appearance in Irish Town

– just one of the many national locations found within the vast, sprawling and pretty amazing 1893 World Columbian Exposition (also known as the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893).

Amongst other gems, Irish Town featured a fine example of Irish steel and iron, which the ironmongers had crafted into a giant spinning

wheel with carriages, with which to raise visitors for a view over the vast site.

So far, so … informative, yet what, one might ask, has the little-known wonder of the 1893 Chicago World Fair’s sights got to do with gaming today?

It’s pretty simple, really, as the release date for Bioshock Infinite has

Anotherweebyte...

Chilling news for Blizzard’s staff MANY readers will be aware of the jobs lost in Cork recently when Blizzard Entertainment announced that 200 jobs were to go at its division there, in a move that’s a personal tragedy for all involved, but a step that’s unlikely to have been very surprising for industry watchers, or, indeed, for many of Bliz-

zard’s user base.

World of Warcraft, Blizzard’s international role-playing game, has peaked, plateaued and begun to lose subscribers, with a subscriber base standing at 12 million in 2010, but dropping to 10.2 million by the end of December last – a 15% drop that was set to inevitably hit staff numbers at the firm’s global operations.

There’s absolutely no pun intended, but

Blizzard’s cuts are just another sign of the chill winds that continue to blow through the Irish and global economy.

Hopefully, the staff at Blizzard’s Cork operations will benefit from the support available from IDA Ireland and other such bodies, and, with World of Warcraft set to be part of their past, I’m sure we all hope there’s a world of opportunity ahead for the 200 staff ...

just been announced – October 19 – and, for those who know of such matters, it’s easy to see Bioshock Infinite (or B3, as I’ll call it, being the third in the Bioshock series) as a setting that’s been heavily influenced by the architecture and stylings of the 1893 fair, coupled with the mores and habits of turn-of-thecentury America.

Indeed, even by name alone, B3 seems influenced by the 1893 Fair, as its setting – the floating city of Columbia, traversing the sky with all manner of turbines and wind balloons holding it aloft – looks quite similar in look, and concept, to her earthbound Chicago counterpart.

In B3, faced with the task of roaming through now largely lawless Columbia, which is feared by those lands below the anarchic floating city, the player will constantly endeavour to find, work with and

ultimately escape with Elizabeth – a mysterious women with barely controlled psychic powers, who is an essential part of Columbia’s destiny, and a character at the centre of several rival factions’ plans – and not all of them human ...

So far, so Bioshock, as previous fans of Bioshock’s way of presenting story alongside gameplay will know to expect a first-personshooter that’s presented with interesting undertones to exercise their grey matter, alongside their trigger finger.

Despite Columbia being set to be a very unwelcoming place for visitors on October 19 gamers will certainly be on cloud nine once they step forth into the floating city, where Elizabeth and all manner of wondrous sights, intimidating gangs, political rivalries – and terrifying falls to the distant landscape, below – will await …

I DIDN’T expect to be covering Game’s fortunes again quite so soon after last week’s side story on the retailer’s announcement it would not be stocking a significant new Wii release.

However, the retailer has been making news for all the wrong reasons yet again, as its share price suddenly tumbled 15% at the end of last week.

Continuing its ongoing trading difficulties with distributors, it was reported that Game was unable to reach agreement with EA over credit terms for stocking the imminent and keenlyanticipated cross-platform EA release, Mass Effect 3 (ME3) and, consequently, won’t be stocking ME3 at its stores upon its release this Friday – despite ME3 being one of the key “flagpole” releases for 2012 for all games retailers, and a lucrative money generator for all concerned.

The failure to stock such a key title amounts to even more of Game’s balance-sheet blood in the water, as the retailer struggles to restructure its finances and credit sheet, and reach agreement with its significant trading partners.

ME3’s war should have been a nice little earner for Game – or at the very least, helpful in addressing some of its ongoing credit issues – but, instead, gamers, shareholders and business correspondents could be forgiven for wondering if it’ll soon be Game over for the ailing chain …

GAZETTE

26 MALAHIDE GAZETTE

8 March 2012

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8 March 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 27

GazetteSPORT

STARS IN YOUR EYES Dublin Sports Stars winners for February are announced: Page 29

SPORT SCIENCE: NUTRITIONAL BENEFIT OF MILK FORMS PART OF NATIONAL CAMPAIGN

Basketball Ireland and NDC hold seminar sport@gazettegroup.com

BASKETBALL Ireland, in conjunction with the National Dairy Council (NDC), recently held a Nutrition and Coaching Seminar for coaches at the National Basketball Arena, as part of the Milk it For All It’s Worth campaign.

Dr Tom Hill, a senior lecturer in Nutrition at Newcastle University, led an interactive discussion, supported by

the nutritional team from NDC. Dr Hill has extensive experience of working on diet and nutrition issues with players, athletes and teams across a variety of sports, ranging from soccer to rowing.

T he NDC interest is fuelled by the growing body of scientific research showing milk can play a very positive role in a number of aspects of sports nutri-

tion.

Specific areas of focus include the effectiveness of skimmed milk as a rehydration drink after sports, in addition to research highlighting the beneficial role of milk and milk-based products in recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage.

The beneficial role of milk in these areas has been attributed to the natural nutritional composition of milk.

Dr Tom Hill, Caroline O’Donovan from the National Dairy Council, and and Martin McGettrick, Basketball Ireland

A c c o r d i n g t o D r.

Hill, coaches should be encouraged to initiate basic nutrition strategies with their squads.

“Proper sports nutrition will help athletes to train and compete harder and to recover more quickly, so that they are better able to take on their next train-

ing session or competition,” said Dr. Hill.

“The few hours before, during and after exercise are critical times for ensuring players eat and drink properly and coaches can play a role in giving encouragement to players around this.

“During sport last-

ing more than 30 minutes, fluid intake may be required. Adequate rehydration after sports is vital to replace fluids lost via sweat.”

Fluid requirements should also account for the ongoing sweat loss that occurs during the recovery period after exercise. In summary,

food and drink after sport, which replaces the carbohydrate stores, provides some protein and helps replace the fluid and electrolytes (sodium and potassium) lost in sweat is recommended.

For more information on the campaign, see www.ndc.ie

28 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 8 March 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastGAA

FOOTBALL: LOCAL PLAYERS MAKE MARK IN OPENING TIES with Setanta’s Senan Connell

Dublin should learn from Laois experience DUBLIN starred in a game of two halves at the weekend against Laois.

The Dubs looked comfortable at all times, even at 0-4 to 0-1 down by the 10th minute; they re-grouped and, from then on, went on a scoring rampage.

From a Dublin point of view, they played the better football in the first half.

Pat Gilroy’s men had acres of space, though to Justin McNulty’s delight, Laois did go on a slight spur in the second half. They went from being 0-10 to 0-6 down to 0-10 to 0-8 but then Ross Munnelly missed a kickable free, which would have closed the gap to just one point.

Alan Brogan then went up the other end and kicked a score for Dublin. Small margins at that level make all the difference.

Eoghan O’Gara had a stormer, hitting 1-5 from play. He has obviously been working on his strength and conditioning and has been building on his form for DCU in the Sigerson Cup. However, crucially, he is free from injury, which has not been the case the last few years.

Himself and man-of-the-match Diarmuid Connolly up front were remarkable at times and certainly provide answers to critics who say that Dublin are over-reliant on the Brogan brothers.

Dublin now face the challenge of Armagh at Croke Park this weekend, in a double header that sees the hurlers take on Cork.

Senan Connell is a pundit with Setanta Sports, broadcasting 14 exclusively live Allianz League matches this season.

Setanta Sports Satellite customers can subscribe for just €8.49 per month to get this great GAA plus 33 Premier League games, FA Cup, European soccer and World Class Rugby. Subscribe at Setanta.com/gaaoffer or call 0818 20 30 40.

Emma Colgan from St Margaret’s played her part in Dublin U-16 ladies’ victory over Kildare. Picture: GAApics.com

Young Dubs go for it sport@gazettegroup.com

DUBLIN’S young Jackies were in action last weekend, and both sides started their Leinster championship campaigns with comprehensive victories against Kildare at O’Toole’s.

The Under-16s manager, Fearghal Brennan, must have come away from last Saturday’s Leinster championship game with Kildare delighted after his young charges dismissed the Lilywhites on a scoreline of 9-19 to 2-4.

Although Dublin recorded a comfortable victory, Kildare must have been aware that they were coming into this encounter facing a stern challenge from the reigning Leinster champions, Kildare, having made the move up from Leinster

B championship to topflight football this season were always going to find the step up in levels a taxing challenge.

In front of a sizeable home crowd, Dublin gave a solid performance, dominating every sector of the field. One concern for the Dublin management team would be the missed openings in front of the Kildare posts, but this result can be looked on as a good opening and a learning experience.

Being the early part of the season, the Jackies have plenty of time to work on tweaking their football and scoring skills with four additional round-robin fixtures still to be played.

The Dubs can look forward to a trip down to Wexford on March 24, the Model county girls registered a comfortable away

win over Meath in their opening round game.

Wexford will relish the visit of the Dubs and they also have the potential to cause an upset; Dublin will have to hit top form if they intend to keep their unbeaten run in Leinster intact.

At the same ground, the Dublin Under-14 girls commenced their Leinster championship with a comprehensive win over Kildare. The girls in blue were apprehensive prior to the start of the game, but the nerves quickly disappeared as they entertained their supporters and the Dublin U-16 ladies’ team with some fine, fast-flowing scores from play.

To date, this Dublin side have played challenge games against Waterford and Galway, and they dominated the first half

of the Kildare encounter, claiming the majority of possession and leading at half time by 4-4 to no score.

It is a credit to the current management team that all 29 players available made a contribution to the game and nine of those players made a contribution to the scoreboard to secure a final score of 7-5 to 0-4 in favour of Dublin.

The Dubs have the opportunity to attend a couple of mid-week training sessions to develop their skills before they travel to Wexford on March 23 to compete in the second round of the Leinster campaign.

DLGFA wish to extend a word of thanks to Rhonda and her colleagues in O’Tooles for the hospitality shown to both teams on Saturday and wish a

speedy recovery to the Kildare midfielder who required medical attention in the first half.

DUBLIN U-16s: Danielle Aylmer (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Aoife Curran (O’Dwyer’s), Lauren Magee (Kilmacud Crokes), Stacey Flood (Clan na Gael Fontenoy), Zoe Murphy (Clontarf), Doireann Mullany (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Danielle Pugh (St Peregrine’s), Fiona Tuite (Na Fianna), Ruth Shaw (Clan na Gael Fontenoy), Niamh Ryan (Foxrock Cabinteely), Muireann Ní Scannail (St Margaret’s), Amy Conroy (Round Towers, C), Eabha Rutledge (Kilmacud Crokes), Leah Mullins (Castleknock), Emma Colgan (St Margaret’s) Subs: Louise Ryan (St Sylvester’s) for Conroy, Ann Marie Troy (St Brigid’s) for Tuite, Kate Fitzgibbon (O’Tooles) for Murphy, Sinead O’Keefe (Ballyboughal) for Mullany, Rebecca McDonnell (Westmanstown)

8 March 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 29

in association with

GIFT OF SPORT: CELEBRATION AT ST ANN’S CHURCH

2012 DUBLIN SPORTS AWARDS FEBRUARY WINNERS IN ASSOCIATION WITH

STARof theMONTH

LESLEY O’HALLORAN THE South Dublin tennis ace has had a lengthy and prestigious career in the sport in this country, and brought two gold, a silver and a bronze medal back from the San Diego International Tennis Federation (ITF) Senior World championships, claiming Ireland’s first-ever team title in world tennis in the process.

Dublin gives thanks sport@gazettegroup.com

THE Annual Ecumenical Service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of Sport will be held in St Ann’s Church on Dawson Street on Sunday, March 25, at 7.30pm.

Sixty-three years ago the first service of thanksgiving for the gift of sport took place in Dublin in 1949 in St Peter’s Church, Aungier Street, long since demolished.

The idea for holding such a ser vice arose following discussions between the Revd

SUPPORT

LOCAL BUSINESS

THREE ROCK ROVERS

THE Rathfarnham side travelled to Malatya in south-eastern Turkey to claim promotion from the EuroHockey Indoor Club Champion’s Challenge II, getting back into the top tier of the indoor competition in Europe by virtue of a second-place position in the competition, achieved in spite of some tough breaks on their way to the tournament.

WHAT? It’s March already?

February ended on a high with the showing of the Dublin Sports Awards show on Setanta Ireland, and keep an eye out for more repeats of the show throughout this month.

Not only that, but there were some huge achievements on the world stage by our stars of the month.

World number two at her age level, Lesley O’Halloran brought a handful of world championship medals back to the capital after her great success in San Diego.

Equally far afield, Three Rock

SHOP LOCALLY

TEAMof theMONTH

Rovers achieved their Turkish delight and obtained promotion to the EuroHockey Indoor Club Champion’s Challenge I for the 2013 season.

Let us know!

Let us know about your achievements in sport, so that the Gazette can tell the rest of Dublin — and give you, or your team, a chance to be one of our monthly stars.

Contact us on 01 601 0240 or sport@gazettegroup.com to tell us all about your successes, and follow us on Facebook at facebook. com/gazettesportII.

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George Crummy and Bob Graves, the Irish r ugby international.

Since then the ser vice has developed into an annual ecumenical event, held in the evenings, to allow for maximum attendance from the sporting fraternity The service continues to be the focus of thanksgiving for all men, women and young people whose lives have been enriched and blessed by the gift of sport, whether through active par ticipation, patronage or through the media of radio, tel-

evision or attendance at sporting events and fixtures.

Over the years many prominent sportspersons of note have spoken at the service and, this year, the address will be given by Tommy Carr, the former Gaelic football player for Dublin and All-Star winner in1991.

He has also managed a number of other county GAA teams since his retirement as a player.

The collection is donated each year to a charity and, this year, Pieta House has been

chosen. Pieta is involved in assisting people at risk of suicide and self harm.

Unfortunately, those who participate in sport are not immune from such tragedy and sadness as most recently highlighted by the death of Garry Speed in Britain.

For further information, contact Robert Prole, member of the ASU (Association of Schools’ Unions ) Service Organising Committee by telephone on 01 2889565 or via email to rdeprole@eircom.net.

30 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 8 March 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

Burdis makes grade for Euro championships PORTMARNOCK man Karl Burdis qualified for the European Senior Swimming Championships in Debrechen, Hungary — the last qualification event for the London Olympic Games — on day two of the Carlton Irish Open Long Course Championships and Olympic Trials 2012 last weekend.

NAC High-Performance swimmer, Burdis, won the final of the men’s 100m Backstroke in a time of 55.90. Melanie Nocher (1:01.92) won the women’s event, going under the European qualifying time for the second time this week.

Speaking after his race, Burdis said: “It’s the first senior championships I’ve qualified for in a long time. I only haven’t swam the Senior Europeans and Olympic games, so it’s nice to get one of them knocked off and maybe at European’s, I can get the other one as well”

SOCCER: UNITED DEFEATED BY DUBLIN RIVALS IN QUARTERS

Malahide United will shift their focus to the Sunday Senior 1 title race after bowing out of the FAI Inter Cup last weekend

Malahide fine FAI run ends FAI INTER CUP Q/F Cherry Orchard Malahide United

3 0

I sport@gazettegroup.com

MALAHIDE United’s bumper FAI intermediate cup run came to an end at Elm Dale last Sunday when they were undone by Sunday Senior side, Cherry Orchard.

It proved a tough end to the competition for the Gannon Park men, who had produced some scintillating football to reach the competition’s last eight.

They downed highertier opposition in the form of Belgrove having

already ousted Celbridge Town and Broadford Rovers while Munster Senior League high-fliers Douglas were chopped down in the last 16 stage of the competition.

But this tie proved a step too far for Vinnie Perth’s side, who were stung twice early in the second half, to go with Paddy Collins’ first-half goal, and face an uphill struggle.

And the defeat was compounded when Alan O’Keefe was shown red late on to see them end the tie with ten men.

It leaves United to focus on the Sunday Senior 1 title run-in, in

Crusade success: United rewarded after initiative MALAHIDE United recently

received €10,000 for the club from Lucozade Sport at Gannon Park following their efforts in the Lucozade Sport Club Crusade, a GlaxoSmithKline employee initiative that will be rolled out nationwide in 2012. Paul Smith, Donal Hughes, Don Butler and Tony Reilly from the club received the cheque from Michael Molloy from GlaxoSmithKline.

which four wins from their remaining six games will confirm the title, along with promotion back to the top tier in the province.

They were behind just after the half hour when Collin headed home Declan Carroll’s corner and the lead was extended just after the break when Denis Moran out-paced the visitors’ defence and delivered a neat finish on the run.

Former Dublin Bus and Shamrock Rovers man, Phil Sheppard, completed the win soon after as he again got behind the Malahide defence to finish.

In the first half, goalkeeper Stephen Cashen had done a good job of keeping Malahide in the mix with a number of good saves but the quick double put the tie beyond doubt.

Mark Higgins had gone close for United while the rangy O’Keefe had looked dangerous on the left, endeavouring to create for Bohs’ legend, Glen Crowe.

But they could not convert their chances and rued their opportunities.

For the Cherries, they might have felt a little trepidation when g o a l ke e p e r D e c l a n

Woods went off injured and, with no recognised replacement on the bench, left winger Lee Collins put on the gloves.

But his palms were unduly crossed in the closing phases and the tie petered out without Malahide getting on the board.

Nonetheless, Perth has regularly maintained the league is the primary target while the FAI Senior Cup berth, earned from progressing to the fourth round of the intermediate, has the potential to provide more late-season high jinks.

8 March 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 31

in association with

FOOTBALL: LADIES, U-21S AND JUNIORS IN ACTION

CLUB NOTICEBOARD ST SYLVESTER’S ST SYLVESTER’S 2-8, Ballymun 0-13:

real spring in their step and put

The senior football team scored

up a very big score to win against

two late goals and held on for a one

Good Counsel. The defence had an

point victory over Ballymun in the

excellent day also.

Vincent De Paul Cup. They play St

The U-16 hurlers had a seven-point

Vincent’s away next Saturday in

winning margin over Commercials

the league at 4.15pm.

in a very competitive match that

St Sylvester’s 1-12, St Oliver Plunkett’s 2-9: The junior B football team fought back to earn a very well-deserved draw with Oliver Plunkett’s.

sprung to life in the second half.

The U-14 hurlers had a very good victory away to St Jude’s.

Our sincere thanks to the Malahide Lions Club for their generous

Conor Meehan scored the vital

sponsorship of the coach for the

last point as well as a goal and a

social initiative trip to Croke Park

point in the closing minutes.

on Monday, March 5. Over 60 people

The intermediate hurlers had a

took part in the trip.

FINGALLIANS

St Sylvester’s Gary Sweeney made his mark when he lined out for Dublin’s Under-21s

Sylvester’s plan to go from minor to major I sport@gazettegroup.com

ST SYLVESTER’S, after a serious amount of recent work, have been able to enter their very first minor girls’ team in the history of the club.

They already have had a number of training sessions and many of players who have represented this team going back to 2005 are coming back, making for a very heartening development for the Malahide club.

It is part of a two-year plan for this team with a development team in 2012, comprising mainly of players born in 1995, and a full minor team for 2013.

The side will be run

by Declan Hetherton, a former senior championship winner with Syl’s, and a former Dublin senior and junior player. He has been with the club since the beginning of 2005.

He will be helped by Marie Duggan, who is a

former Cork and Munster ladies’ football star.

She is no stranger to Syls and she managed the club’s U-12 girls team to championship success in 2000.

T he club welcome any girls born in 1994, 1995, or after to come to training in Portmarnock Beach Tuesday 7pm (Fitness), and Thursday Broomfield 7pm (Ball Skills).

Elsewhere, Syl’s Gary Sweeney played a key part for Dublin in their Cadbury Leinster U-21 football championship first-round victory over Wexford last week.

He is the one remaining player left in the side from the All-Ireland winning group of 2010, and he showed his experience to help the Dubs hold off a spirited fightback.

H o l d e r s We x f o r d came from five points down get on terms with ten minutes remaining, only for Dublin to finish

the stronger and secure a quarter-final berth against Laois.

Sweeney put the success down to a superior edge in fitness.

“After what happened last year, when we fell aw ay i n e x t r a - t i m e against Meath (in the first round), there was a big emphasis this year on fitness and getting over the line,” he said.

“After last year, it was absolute hear tbreak to train for whatever amount of months and go out in the first game.

Fair play to Wexford, they put up a great fight.

“We’re just delighted

to get Laois next week in Parnell Park, and we’ll build from there.”

For Syl’s on the pitch, the Malahide men remain unbeaten after three rounds of the Sheridan Cup, as they came back to draw 1-13 to 2-10 with St Oliver Plunkett’s ER. They trailed by six points with about 15 minutes to play, but a goal and a point from Conor Meehan, points from Keith Rossiter, Mark Woods brought them level, Plunkett’s pointed a free and Meehan pointed again at the death to draw the game.

A big thank you to the big crowd

8:30pm. A full attendance is required

that attended the Thursday evening

as we will be introducing the new

launch of the coaching and games

members of our coaching team,

development programme. All mem-

Simon Lambert, Micheal O’Sullivan

bers are now fully aware of the

and Aine Shannon. Our new team will

importance of the Car Draw and

be running some practical work-

selling the remaining tickets by the

shops which will be helpful for you

end of the month.

and your team.

Hurling star ted back over the

Poker fans will be delighted to hear

weekend and the U-15As returned

that Texas Hold-em comes to the

to Div 1 with a win, while the U-15Bs

club on Friday, March 23. Further

drew.

details to follow.

Check out our new look website,

Our Oiche Pocar tri Ghaeilge was

www.fingallians.com. A big thank

a great success. Special thanks to

you to Colm agus Oisin for all their

winner Sean Mac Domhnaill who

hard work on this project.

donated his winnings to the juve-

On March 9, we will be hosting our first coaching workshop of 2012 at

nile development fund. Maith thu, a Sheain!

ST FINIAN’S IT WAS a really busy weekend for the

famous trophy. Lots of these photos

club with lots of events and matches.

will be in the Photo Gallery section of

We hosted an indoor U-10 camogie

our website (www.stfinians.com) over

tournament on Saturday with St Fin-

the next few days.

ian’s girls coming out as winners. Our

Our white-collar boxers have start-

adult hurlers won the first match on

ed their training for the fight night on

our new pitch in Ridgewood and our

April 13. We are looking to get as much

minor footballers and U-15 hurlers

sponsorship as possible for the fight-

also had good results on Sunday. On

ers so please let the event organisers

Saturday we had wins for our U-9s

know if you have any contacts that

and 14s.

would like to sponsor the event.

We also had the visit of Sam Maguire

The club will be participating in the

on Sunday afternoon when every

St Patrick’s Day parade in two weeks

team had their photo taken with the

time.

LOCAL TEAM WIN? WE WANT TO KNOW! YOUR LOCAL PAPER FOR LOCAL SPORTS Call our SPORTS TEAM on 60 10 240 or email sport@gazettegroup.com

ALL OF YOUR MALAHIDE SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31

OUT GUNNED: Malahide’s incredible FAI Inter Cup journey ended by the Cherries P30

MARCH 8, 2012

FEBRUARY FAVES: Dublin Sports Awards winners announced P29

GazetteSPORT

Malahide’ s second team are hoping to celebrate once more at Estuary Road as they face Roscrea this weekend in a potential league decider

Bonus point key for three in-a-row bid Malahide RFC second team are within a big win of adding a Division 2A crown to a pair of J4 victories STEPHEN FINDLATER

malahidesport@gazettegroup.com

MALAHIDE RFC’s second team will hope to secure the bonus point win they require on Sunday against Roscrea to claim their third successive league title.

They are looking to add the Leinster seconds league, division 2A to back-to-back J4 titles as they continue to prosper despite the switch the new arena this term.

The fledgling division has seen the Lions come through to lead the table by a point from Kilkenny after they held their consistency amid a topsy-turvy campaign as the club’s Alun Brophy explained to GazetteSport.

“It’s one of those leagues which has been a bit messy with a lot of concessions,” he said. “We started well, unbeaten after two major tests early on. We drew down in Kilkenny and beat North Kildare out there. The rest of the games we won by 30 or 40 points and not really getting a lot

from them.

“But the whole thing changed when, after Christmas, when Kilkenny came to our place and beat us and we didn’t even get a bonus point.

It put them in the driving seat. Because we had a number of games cancelled, we were always behind them.

“In the last two weeks, we caught up and, in fairness to the lads, they won them with two bonus points [North Kildare and New Ross] to go a point ahead of Kilkenny.”

In the event of a tie on points with Kilkenny, the tie-breaking criteria is the head-to-head record of the respective sides, one which the Cats edge.

As such, a bonus point is the only result against Roscrea which will side-step any nervous calls to Foulkstown where Portlarlington are the visitors.

But Brophy is positive his side can make the final push.

“We’re at full strength. Because the games

have been one after the other, we’ve got a settled side. There are no injuries and no one is away so I expect us to have the same side.

“A lot of the guys have been there a number of years. Conor Keane and Gavin Grace have been unfortunate in that, in other eras, they would be the first team second row because we have a good first team second-row in the first team.

“They are the back-bone of the side. Their line-out work is superb and is one of the things that has stood to us over the years, practically faultless.”

They will hope to repeat the pre-Christmas 32-5 win at Roscrea, a result which lends itself to a confident outlook that the required outcome can be achieved.

“It was played in heavy conditions in Roscrea.

We are a side who like to play in drier conditions and firmness under foot so it was tough going down there. Physically, we are a match for them and if we get any sort of drying over the next few days it will put us in a good place.”