Malahide GAZET TE FREE
Enjoy a life of luxury and comfort in County Laois TRAVEL: P22-23 JUNE 7, 2012
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M A L A H I D E • P O R T M A R N O C K • K I N S E A LY • C L A R E H A L L
INSIDE: A magical note from the Portmarnock School of Music P8-9
A MOTHER’S PLEA: Family’s book in bid to find Amy Fitzpatrick Page 14
On the run: Local students take part in dream event Golf: Local player claims the Irish Senior Open Title Page 32
Sailing: Local Olympian adds prestige regatta title Page 30
ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ..................... 2 BUSINESS .................... 19 MOTORS ........................21 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26
STUDENTS from St Oliver Plunketts, Malahide, were amongst other students from local schools who took part in The Olympic Dream Run recently. The run went from the Deerpark Hotel to Olympic House in Howth. 1,500 children from local schools and the community took part in the run which was jointly led by Mayor of Fingal Gerry McGuire (Lab) and Sonia O’Sullivan.
Malahide cricket club to host England Cricket game to bring up to €1m to local economy
I NATALIE BURKE
THE local community is set to receive a “massive boost” next year, as Malahide Cricket Club prepares to host a visit of the England cricket team, a move set to bring up to €1 million into the local economy.
The announcement was made by the Irish Cricket Union and England and Wales Cricket Board earlier this week, when it was declared Ireland will face England in a one-day international game in September 2013. Local Fianna Fail Senator Darragh O’Brien said he
believes the event will encourage a huge “knock-on effect” to the local economy. “A massive amount of business and tourists will be attracted to Malahide and I hope this is the start of many high-profile games coming to Malahide.” Full Story on Page 5
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COMPETITION: PUT UP FOR TITLE BY HER PROUD DAUGHTER
NETWORK Fingal businesses revisit fundamentals
Local mum is up for Mum of Year title I NATALIE BURKE nburke@gazettegroup.com
A DELIGHTED Malahide mum has been named as a finalist for the Woman’s Way / John West Mum of the Year competition, set to take place in a glamorous ceremony next week. Mum-of-three, Anne Mulhair, is a registered nurse from Malahide who was nominated for the prestigious title by her proud eldest daughter, Aoife. “My daughter called me and told me I was one of the finalists and I didn’t know what to think. I was chuffed to think she thought I deserved such a title. There’s so many deserving women out there and I keep thinking why me?” Anne has been married to husband Paddy for 28 years, however, sadly he was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s eight years ago, something that devastated the family. “Paddy was the biggest heartbreak for us all when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He’s 57 now and he’s now in the end stages of the disease. I’m sometimes asked if I would let him go into a home but I can’t give him to anybody. We love him to bits and he has to be everywhere we are.” While Anne has worked additional jobs to
keep the family afloat, she has also found the time to raise a staggering €20,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association of Ireland, but remains modest. “People feel sad for us because Paddy is so young. But because I work in Beaumont, I see so many sad and worse situations that I feel lucky. I’m healthy and happy and so are my girls, Aoife, Katie and Emily and that’s all I can ask for.” The 15 finalists from across Ireland will be treated to a champagne reception at the Westin Hotel for the final, which is due to take place on Monday, June 11. The awards give the mums of Ireland a pat on the back for all their hard work, while crowning one special mum, Mum of the Year 2012. The finalists are in the running not only for the title but also a prize to the value of €10,000. For Anne, however, being nominated and announced as a finalist means she has already won. “It’s such a fantastic thing it doesn’t matter about winning at all. To be nominated is winning in itself. I’m so chuffed and I’m going to have a sash with ‘Mum of the Year’ on it. For me, everyone’s a winner and I’m chuffed to be anywhere near it.”
Ahmad Rajab, award-winning ActionCOACH business coach; Paul Murgatroyd, Fingal Business Manager and Alan Bell, Referral Institute Ireland
Getting down to business ETTLES Country House Hotel, Swords, was the venue for a recent Fingal Business Network event entitled, Build Your Business – Increase Sales and Profits. Award-winning ActionCOACH business coach, Ahmad Rajab, was the guest speaker who explained the fundamentals of driving business success in tough economic times. Rajab’s involvement in business coaching
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and development spans 17 years, with expertise developed in finance, financial structuring, business strategy, marketing, sales and e-commerce. Alan Bell of the Referral Institute Ireland, will led a session called, The Networking Disconnect, where he demonstrated how to use networking properly to build relationships that will increase business sales.
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McDonald, Needit.ie and Noel Derby, Brand
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Callan, Cregan Accountants
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7 June 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 3
AWARDS RNLI recognises 14 years of generosity
Angling club singled out for its support I NATALIE BURKE nburke@gazettegroup.com
FOLLOWING 14 years of loyalty and generosity in their support of Howth Lifeboat Station, the Howth Sea Angling Club was awarded for their efforts at the recent RNLI awards. The deserving recipients were awarded with a Group Supporter Award at the ceremony, which was held last week at the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham, and was collected by long time club member, Derek Evans. “It is the first time we’ve ever received the award and we’re very proud of it,” he told The Gazette.
“It was a huge effort because the Howth Lifeboat has a lot of fundraisers going on but our contribution was such that they felt it deserved the award above everyone else. I’m reliably told that Howth Lifeboat is the busiest in Ireland by two calls and so it was a massive award to receive.” According to Evans, who has been with the Howth Sea Angling Club for the past 36 years, the club house keeps their RNLI fund collection box at the bar and people contribute to the box at the many functions held at the venue, as well as the “Sunday crowd” who
contribute regularly to boost the boxes. To date, the Howth Sea Anglers have raised €5,600 for the RNLI. “We also run an annual competition for one of our secretaries, Paul Lynam, who died tragically a few years ago, and the money we raise from this memorial also goes to the Howth Lifeboat. These two contributions helped recommend us for this fundraising award,” he said. The annual RNLI Ireland awards took place at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin, with volunteers and supporters being recognised for their role in raising
Accepting the award from RTE’s Bryan Dobson are Nikki Byrne and Derek Evans
funds and awareness for the charity that saves lives at sea. Guest of honour was RTE’s Bryan Dobson, who spoke of his admiration for the RNLI at the event and handed out awards to 45 volunteers. “ W h e n t h e wo r s t come to the worst at sea,
behind us always stands the men and women of the RNLI. There would be no lifeboats or lifeboat crews without the fundraisers and station volunteers. You are all making a difference,” he said. T he Howth Sea Angling Club is widely
regarded as one of the most progressive clubs in Ireland and is currently recruiting new members, whether you’re a novice or an established angler. Anyone interested is asked to call Derek on 087 2409135 or visit www.howthsac.com.
GOLF
Mother and son event MALAHIDE Golf Club calls all mothers and their sons as the club gets set to celebrate its 20th anniversary by hosting the annual All-Ireland Mother and Son Medal Competition in June. The competition has proved a huge success in recent years, with the competition being the last amateur golfing event won by Padraig Harrington and his mother in 1995. The 2012 competition is set to be sponsored by Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain and the competition will be held on Sunday, June 17. The date of the competition was changed in order to facilitate competitors who might find it difficult to take time off work. Anyone interested in taking part in the golf tournament, can book through Malahide’s website, www.malahidegolfclub.ie.
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EVENT Malahide Cricket Club to host international
England team visit a major boost for area I NATALIE BURKE nburke@gazettegroup.com
THE local community is set to receive a “massive boost” next year, when Malahide Cricket Club prepares to host a visit of the England cricket team, a move set to bring up to €1 million into the local economy. This is according to Fianna Fail Seanad leader and local politician, Darragh O’Brien, who welcomed the announcement made earlier this week. The local cricket club is set to host a One Day International game between Ireland and England in September of
next year, at the recently redeveloped cricket venue. The local ground has undergone major renovations over the past three years and now has an impressive 11,000 capacity for hosting international cricket games. The announcement was made by The Irish Cricket Union (ICU) and English Cricket Board (ECB) earlier this week, when it was declared that Ireland will face England at the local cricket club on Tuesday, September 3, 2013. According to Senator O’Brien, he is delighted that the club will host such a momentous and memorable game.
“Malahide Cricket Club has the first international sized cricket ground in the Republic of Ireland and it is a major coup for the club as well as a major boost to the economy in Malahide,” he said. “I was delighted to assist in securing €450,000 in funding for the refurbishment of the ground from the previous government. The ground is now able to host 11,000 spectators in what is a state-of-the-art facility.” Senator O’Brien believes the anticipation and excitement of the game next year will encourage a huge “knock-on effect” to the
Fianna Fail’s Senator Darragh O’Brien welcomed the announcement
local economy, driving business and tourism to the area as well as being a hotspot for other national and international teams who may visit the area and the club in the future. “A game of this magnitude will bring €1 million to the local economy. A
massive amount of business and tourists will be attracted to Malahide and I hope this is the start of many high-profile games coming to Malahide. “The investment in the grounds has paid off; a lot of credit must go to Fingal County Council and especially all those
within Malahide Cricket Club for the effort they put in. “The ICU must also be congratulated for securing a team of England’s stature to play and let’s hope it’s a repeat of the famous World Cup victory for Ireland last year,” he concluded.
MEETING
Goat plan for heathlands MODERN technology is set to give way to old time farming practices, according to Cllr Joan Maher (FG) , who is pursuing the adoption of goats to help maintain the heath lands at Howth Head. The idea will be raised at an upcoming council meeting where the possibility of placing goats on the head, to graze on certain areas, will be discussed. “I think the idea of us having goats on Howth Head would be lovely and I’m looking at possible sites,” said Cllr Maher. “We want them to keep down the growth and would be moving them around the hill. We were looking at a solar electric fence to keep the goats in, but because it could prove hazardous, we are looking to find more suitable fencing.”
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6 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 7 June 2012
CRIME
Burglary incidence declines RECENT crime trends show that no burglaries were committed in the Swords or Malahide areas during the week ending May 20, making it the first week this year that crime rates were lowered. As a result of the recent reports, gardai are confident that the operations put in place to deal with the increase in burglaries in the area are having a significant impact. According to Superintendent Ronan Galligan, the trend continued last week with another year low for Coolock, Swords and Malahide. “Gardai wish to acknowledge the part played by the community in assisting them during this operation in particular the many Neighbourhood Watch and Community Groups who continue to support the gardai. The recent trends can be attributed to the efforts of everyone concerned.”
MARINA Development to feature fast food and off-licence units
Food market go-ahead sparks anger I NATALIE BURKE
MALAHIDE residents have condemned the recent decision by An Bord Pleanala to allow the controversial development of a food market in the Malahide Marina to go-ahead, according to local Labour councillor Peter Coyle. The recent permission granted by the Board
acknowledges the change of use of the former “Fragrance House” factory to a number of retail units, which was met with the dismay of local residents and Cllr Coyle. “Local residents are not at all happy with the decision and there is a huge concern that it will bring in anti-social behaviour. “There are other obvi-
ous concerns that it will cause extra traffic as well as it has a very narrow entrance, but it is the potential anti-social aspect that everyone is most worried about,” he said. The board recently overturned the county council’s decision to refuse permission for the development that will host fast food and off-
licence units at the vacant factory location. An Bord Pleanala have determined that these units be ancillary developments “in the interest of protecting the residential amenities of the area”. In response to the decision, Cllr Coyle admitted he could not see how the latest development would be beneficial to the amenities of the area or the
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of space to be made available for the facilities within the proposed plans. A spokesperson from An Board Pleanala has said anyone looking to see the board’s reasoning can view the reports, which are publicly available online. More information and report details can be viewed at w w w. pleanala.ie.
High drama comes to the Castle I NATALIE BURKE
nburke@gazettegroup.com
THIS summer is set to bring high drama to Ardgillan Castle once again this year, when T heatre in the Park returns in June. Chapterhouse Theatre Company will be presenting Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in the beautiful Walled Garden on Friday, June 13, in conjunction with Fingal County Council and Ardgillan Castle.
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people living nearby. “They’re saying it’s protecting the local amenities but in actual fact, it’s the complete opposite so that’s what really stands out for me personally,” he said. Cllr Coyle also questioned the interpretation of “ancillary” under development law as he believes the case in question allows for 20 per cent
Worth its salt: Irish soccer star gives the thumbs up to a revolutionary treatment REPUBLIC of Ireland and Sunderland defend-
er, John O’Shea, took time out from his busy training schedule for Euro 2012 to visit the Salt Therapy Spa in Malahide, where he sampled salt therapy, a revolutionary treatment for respiratory conditions. John has suffered with asthma since childhood and was interested to try the relief therapy that is gaining in popularity all around Ireland and the
world. Relaxing in a specially designed halo (salt) chamber, visitors inhale microscopic particles of salt, which can penetrate deep into the airways, where they have a cleansing effect. The centre’s general manager, Scott Lindsay explained: “Sodium chloride, or salt, breaks down congestion in the sinuses and fluidises mucus in the airways. The therapy is 100% natural and drug free.”
Love story This will be the Castle’s third year to host the outdoor theatre and guests are invited to take a step back in time with Elizabeth Bennet, her sisters and their adventure with the abrupt Mr Darcy, in the classic and renowned
love story adapted by Laura Turner.
Picnics T he theatre takes place at 7.30pm while the grounds will be open from 6.30pm for picnics and tickets are available from Ardgillan Castle, Balbriggan Library and Skerries Library. Tickets cost €14 for adults, €10 for children, students and senior citizens and family tickets are available for €35. Visitors are asked to bring their own seating. Tickets purchased from Ardgillan Castle ticket office can be posted out for an additional €1 total handling charge, or may be collected at any of the three sales points up to but not including - the day of the event. For more information, call 01 8492212.
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7 June 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 7
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CONCERT The Portmarnock School of Music put their very
Sarah Kelly
Naomi McCullagh
Eve Healy, and teacher Martin McGahon
Teacher Marianne White and Lauren McCullagh
All of the performing students and the, rightfully so,
7 June 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 9
talented young maestros centre stage in annual event
Harry O’ Halloran, and teacher Martin McGahon
Seona Coogan
very proud teachers. Pictures: Una Williams
Dan Caldwell
Serene Almahfouz
Laura Corrigan with Emma and Mary Kielty
School hits right note HE SECOND annual summer concert of the Portmarnock School of Music took place on Sunday 27 May in St Anne’s Parish Centre. With an enrolment of over 30 students, the school is developing year by year. There were performances on flute, violin, voice, piano and
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guitar by students, some as young as five. Lessons are available for next semester starting the week of September 3. For queries please phone 0868647276 or email mariannewhite82@gmail.com for further information.
Lena Almahfouz
Emma Kielty
10 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 7 June 2012
GARDENS Almost 80,000 flock to Phoenix Park for Bloom 2012
Gerry Daly
Cyrilla O’Carol and David
Ian Borher certainly looks the part for Viking
Murray
Lawnmowers
The Mallow Chords performing on the farm. Pictures: Ania Sherlock
Blooming good fun NCE again hordes of fans of everything horticultural flocked to the Phoenix Park over the June Bank Holiday for Bloom, Ireland’s largest gardening, food and family event. This was the sixth year for the gardening extravaganza, and with cookery and craft demonstrations, free gardening advice from the experts, Irish food
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produce, live entertainment and gardening workshops, there really was something for everyone. This year’s event offered expanded walking space in which to accommodate the large numbers expected to visit the 27 show-gardens, 100 Irish food and drink producers, 40 nurseries, 25 cookery demonstrations and 160 retailers.
A beautiful and unique vegetable display from Mr Middleton Garden Shop
David Shortall
7 June 2012 GAZETTE 11
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SNAPSHOT The stories of the day from around the capital
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Song for LauraLynn DUBLIN singer/songwriter Mahoney has released a rousing anthem in anticipation of Euro 2012 with proceeds going to LauraLynn House, Ireland’s only children’s hospice. The song We’re on our Way was co-written with Rob Malone, whose past credits include working as a writer and bassist with international chart-topper David Gray. Irish captain Robbie Keane has given his seal of approval to the song saying “It’s a winner and I love it” and the video has already clocked over 300,000 views on YouTube. LauraLynn House, which opened in September 2011 at the Children’s Sunshine Home in Leopardstown, will receive proceeds from each sale. The funds will be used to support the annual running costs of the hospice, which amount to €1.5 million. At present, the hospice receives no financial state support. The song is now available for download from iTunes and from all good music stores.
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TWO talented Dublin photographers have scooped up major prizes in the Epson Birdwatch Ireland National Photo Competition with their images Little Egret and Merlin. Mark Camody of St Mary’s Abbey, Dublin 7, was awarded the prize for second runner up in the Senior Category, and John Fox of Fairview, Dublin 3, took an overall runner up prize in the same category. The beautiful Little Egret image, which was taken at Rogerstown Estuary, captured both the wildlife and scenery in the area, and was
Irish Captain Robbie Keane (right) helps Dublin singer/songwriter Mahoney launch his rousing anthem ahead of the Euro 2012 campaign along with Irish soccer fans , brothers from left Ben (11) and Mathew (7) Horkan from Dublin
well deserving of the prestigious award. The judging panel was particularly impressed with how the entrants captured their natural heritage and the high technical quality of the images. The competition received an overwhelming response from photographers and birdwatchers alike. Oran O’Sullivan, head of operations at BirdWatch Ireland said: “It is wonderful to see the growing interest in this space and we thank all entrants for taking part.”
Gospel music THE new Matt Talbot Community Trust Centre is set to benefit from a charity concert where the Dublin Gospel Choir will play Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Ballyfermot. This one-off event will be a
great opportunity to see the famous Dublin Gospel Choir, with members from all over Dublin, in an intimate setting and to support a local charity. Commenting on the announcement of the concert, Eoin Hickey chairman of the Matt Talbot Community Trust said: “We are delighted to have the likes of the Dublin Gospel choir performing live in concert to benefit our centre. This is a great opportunity to see them in such a unique environment as Our Lady of the Assumption Church. We hope as many people as possible come out and support our great cause.” Tickets are available to buy at www.ticketsireland.ie, alternatively call 01 626 4899 or drop into the Matt Talbot Community Trust Centre. Tickets are adults €12.50, children €5 and concession €8.50.
7 June 2012 GAZETTE 13
GRANTS Dublin Bus chooses Capuchins
FAMILY: EXTRA VIGILANCE AT THE POOL OR BEACH
Have a safe summer in the water I ELLEN COONEY
Former Irish footballer Niall Quinn with Brother Kevin Crowley, Fr Bryan Shortall and Mark Kelly, manager of Dublin Bus
Day centre nets Quinn’s ¤5k F O O T BA L L l e g e n d Niall Quinn has donated €5,000 to this year’s Dublin Bus Community Spirit awards, with the generous sum going to the Capuchin Day Centre. Patron of the programme since 2003, Quinn travelled to the Capuchin Day Centre on Dublin Bus recently to launch the ninth year of the company’s programme, which awards grants to numerous voluntary groups across Dublin. Delighted with his generous donation, Dublin Bus has chosen The Capuchin Day Centre as
the charity to receive the money in recognition of its invaluable service that supports homeless and marginalised people in Dublin. According to a spokesperson for Dublin Bus, in times of economic uncertainty, the services provided by the Capuchin Day Centre and the tireless work that Brother Kevin undertakes on a daily basis “are more important than ever”. Since its inaugural year back in 2003, Dublin Bus has helped over 1,300 community and voluntary groups located across its network throughout the county.
Successful applicants over the years include Draiocht, Ringsend’s Collide Dance Academy, Fettercairn Youth Horse Project, the Sunshine House in Balbriggan and Santry Active Retirement Association. Commenting on the award Draiocht received last year, Sarah Beirne, children and youth arts co-ordinator at Draiocht, said: “We applied for funding for CREATEability. This is a series of bi-monthly arts workshops aimed at families with a child with an intellectual disability between the ages of eight to 13 years.
The Dublin Bus Award enabled us to develop CREATEability into a longer-term project, giving the participants the time they needed to get to know us and our building and feel that they belong there.” Speaking about his role as patron of the programme, Quinn said: “This is my ninth year as patron and I have seen first hand the difference these grants can make to local community groups and I want to encourage every voluntary group in the Greater Dublin Area to fill out an application form and get their entry into Dublin Bus.”
Under the terms of the programme entrants submit a proposal with details about their organisation and the project they wish to have funded. Each application is then judged independently and grants ranging from €5,000, €2,000 and €1,000 are awarded. Organisations can apply to the programme by completing an application form. Forms are available now on the Dublin Bus website: www.dublinbus.ie or by phone at 01-7033208, or email community@dublinbus.ie. The closing date for applications is Friday, June 6 at 5pm.
SUMMER holidays are closing in and Irish parents are being urged to stay vigilant and attentive in cases where children are near water. With families flocking to beaches and pools at every glimpse of sun, it is increasingly important for people to be aware of any and all dangers. A drowning incident can happen silently and instantly, in as little as one inch of water and in less time than it takes to answer the telephone. Carol McNally, who runs Water Babies classes in Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Wicklow and Louth, says: “We all look forward to getting away from it all and letting our little ones splash around, but parents tend to relax and gain a false sense of security for children in a holiday setting, when in fact they should be more vigilant than usual. “Ver y young children react instantly and adversely to sudden and unexpected submersion, and are temporarily paralysed with fear.” The good news is that using a few simple guide-
lines, parents and carers can minimise the chances of such a tragic incident befalling their child. Supervision
These include active supervision of children around the water by an adult who is a capable swimmer, being safety conscious around the pool and saving local emergency numbers on your mobile phone. Parents must also be aware that flotation devices are not life preservers and that swimming in areas with large waves, strong undercurrents or no lifeguards is extremely dangerous. Carol McNally is a strong advocate for vigilant water safety. The multiple award winning Water Babies lessons teach children how to swim from a very young age, further ensuring their safety. Most will happily be swimming distances underwater by about 30 months, and then naturally start swimming on the surface as their strength increases. For more info on Water Babies classes, check out www.waterbabies.ie
14 GAZETTE 7 June 2012
WINNER
Wedding giveaway
PEOPLE New book reinforces family’s search for
A mother’s
THIS May, the Red Cow Moran Hotel delighted one lucky bride-to-be, Louise Campbell, when she was declared the winner of its spectacular wedding giveaway. The life-changing prize, worth more than €10,000, was given away at the hotel’s wedding fair. Louise left the venue with a couture wedding dress courtesy of Tamen Michael, a wedding reception for 100 guests in the Red Cow Moran Hotel, and a five-star honeymoon to Lanzarote, thanks to Thomas Cook. The Red Cow Moran Hotel sales manager said: “This was by far the most successful wedding fair for us – it was great to work with fellow wedding suppliers and roll out a huge giveaway.”
I NATALIE BURKE
nburke@gazettegroup.com
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Audrey Fitzpatrick and her book, Please Find My Amy, which she hopes will prompt someone to come forward with information to help find her missing daughter
AS THE mother of missing schoolgirl Amy Fitzpatrick releases a book in a desperate attempt to solve the mystery of her daughter’s disappearance, new information has emerged which could possibly help the family find some answers. Just after 9pm on Tuesday, January 1, 2008, 15-year-old Amy said goodbye to a friend and began the short walk to her family’s villa on Spain’s Costa del Sol. However, she never made it home. Somewhere along the way, the teenager vanished, and no trace of her has been found since. For the last four years and five months, Amy’s mother, Audrey, has been campaigning to find her daughter, and officially launched her story last week, on the same night she received a telephone call from Spanish police to tell her about a possible development in the case. The call from the Spanish authorities has
led Audrey to believe that an Irish gangster, already serving time in a Spanish prison, could be questioned in the coming days as to Amy’s disappearance. The development came after a stranger contacted the Fitzpatrick family through Facebook, and told them the convicted man had allegedly boasted about killing Amy four years ago.
Devastated While the latest lead could result in being another dead-end for the devastated family, Audrey insisted she would pursue every lead possible in helping to solve the case. She said: “It could be a dead end, and we have done this so many times before, but when we get any little thing that might have an effect on the investigation, we go for it at 100 miles an hour.” While the Spanish authorities chase the latest lead in the case, Audrey is keeping busy promoting the book she hopes will help end the
family’s four-year ordeal. Audrey Fitzpatrick: Please Find My Amy, which is ghost-written by crime journalist, Michael O’Toole, details the Fitzpatrick family’s relentless search for Amy. Audrey said: “The book came about because we just started taking everything down, copies of legal information, police statements, as well as our own notes. “We didn’t know what day of the week it was for a long time so it was hard to remember certain things and certain dates. “It got to the stage where we were going back years to when she was younger, and it began to be kind of therapeutic. So, we began to pour everything on to paper. “Michael O’Toole was the ghost writer, and he wrote the book brilliantly. We had lots of information and facts, and he helped us make it into a story that people could read, so it was great,” she said. Audrey said she pins her hopes on someone who might have some
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7 June 2012 GAZETTE 15
missing 15-year-old Amy Fitzpatrick, who vanished in 2008
plea to find her daughter -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
‘When you read it and are finished with it, don’t put it in the bin – leave it in your hotel room, or by the pool. Someone from some country might recognise Amy.’ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Audrey Fitzpatrick, mother of missing teenager, Amy
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Audrey Fitzpatrick and her partner, Dave Mahon, who have never given up looking for Amy
information recognising Amy’s picture, and is appealing to holidaymakers to pass the book on once they have read it. “We were hoping to have it in the airports for the summertime for people going away on holiday, and I say to people all the time, when you read it and are finished with it, don’t put it in the bin – leave it in your hotel
room, or by the pool, or in a hotel lobby for other people to read. “You never know – someone from some country might recognise Amy,” she said. A disappearance such as Amy’s is every parent’s worst nightmare, and it plunged Audrey, her partner, Dave, and their son, Dean, into a living hell that continues
to this day. According to Audrey, all that the family have left of Amy are their precious memories, and a determination that will keep them fighting for her. The campaign to find Amy has cost the family everything they had, and more. Their life savings have been frittered away as they spent a fortune in keeping Amy in the public’s consciousness. It has cost them their home, and the great life they worked so hard to achieve in Spain, as well as their physical and mental health. Dave has had stressrelated chest pains, while Audrey’s heart stopped
last year, following a number of panic attacks. She said: “Our health issues were one of the reasons we returned from Spain to Ireland in January; we know we will be
looked after, here. “Another reason is because we were broke, but, also, the book was a major thing for us. “We tried for the past couple of years with pub-
lishers, but we were only back in Ireland five days when we got this publishing deal,” said Audrey. Today, Audrey and her family take one day at a time, and continue to focus on solving Amy’s disappearance. “We’re only back a few months, and we’ve done a lot. We were really left on our own to do a lot, so we did a lot of the investigating ourselves.
“Even now, having PR for the first time, I still do stuff on the side as well. I can’t leave it alone or I feel I’m not doing something right. So I keep going, all the time,” she said. Please Find My Amy, published by Paperweight Publications, was officially released on Tuesday, June 5, and is available from book stores around the countr y, priced €12.99.
16 GAZETTE 7 June 2012
R1
GazetteSTYLE STYLE Students battle for top spot in Triumph awards Edited by Laura Webb
Diabetes: Are you at risk?
DIABETES results when the body is unable to remove sufficient amounts of glucose from the blood. It is estimated that there are about 146,000 undetected prediabetics in Ireland at present. Uncontrolled diabetes dramatically increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and can lead to nerve damage, kidney damage, and damage to the eyes, foot ulcers and risk of infections. If you suffer from constant thirst, frequent urination, or regular infections, visit your local pharmacy for a fiveminute diabetes test to rule out this disease. With thanks to the staff at Lucan Village Pharmacy
I ELLEN COONEY
RISH fashion students watched last week as their creations battled for a place in the world finals of the Triumph Inspiration Awards in Brown Thomas. The city centre department store hosted the national final of the fifth annual competition, where Triumph once again challenged young students from all over the world. Sixteen of Ireland’s brightest and best
I
fashion students came together on the night to compete for the opportunity of a lifetime. The hopefuls came from the award winning Griffith College Dublin and Limerick School of Art and Design. Judging
With Xpose’s Karen Koster acting as MC, the 16 selected students watched as their creations were displayed for the prestigious judging panel. The panel comprised celebrities, such as TV
personality Bruno Tanioli, who has judged both Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars, and industry experts including Brown Thomas creative director, John Redmond and newspaper columnist, Triona McCarthy. Triumph invited the students to display their creativity and expertise to produce a catwalk showpiece inspired by this year’s theme Dragons and Butterflies. Shanghai
T he quintessential Chinese symbols that represent opposing elements were chosen because the International Grand Final is taking place in Shanghai this October. The Irish winner will be travelling to the beautiful city to represent Ireland and to compete against 30 other international winners for the top prize.
The Triumph Inspiration Awards curates the most innovative and inspirational lingerie designs and provides a platform for young people to showcase in front of a renowned jury of fashion, design and media greats. Last year ’s exper t
judging panel included Viktor&Rolf, Ellen von Unwerth, Lily Cole and Helena Christensen, to name but a few. Winner
The winner of the TIA 2012 will follow in the footsteps of the winner
from Triumph Inspiration Award 2011. Boglarka Bodis’ extraordinary creative design, Les Fleurs du Mal, will be commercialised into a limited edition collection that will be available in autumn 2012 in selected stores.
Models Isabelle, wearing a design by Orla Doyle from LCAD, Yomiko, wearing a design by Claire Tolan GCD, Sarah wearing a design by Leanne Ryan LCAD and Teo wearing a design by Sarah DeGreeve GCD
7 June 2012 GAZETTE 17
GazettePETS PETS
Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA
THE FACTS: TRAVELLING CAN BE VERY STRESSFUL FOR BOTH YOU AND YOUR PET
Ensure a safe, happy and relaxing travel experience HE sun is out, signalling the start of the holiday season and I want to remind pet parents to make every effort to ensure their pets – as well as their family – have a safe and happy experience when travelling to and from that holiday destination; whether it’s by road, sea, rail or air. Remember, travelling can be very stressful for both you and your pet; I know, I’m one of those people who bring their dogs everywhere, and take it from me, poor holiday planning can literally be listed as grounds for divorce in our house. However, with thoughtful preparation, you can ensure a safe, happy and comfortable experience for everyone. Here’s a few top tips from a weary traveller. • The first thing you must do is log onto www. agriculture.gov.ie/pets and check out the requirements for entry or re-entry of dogs, cats and ferrets into Ireland because, as
T
of January 1 this year, an EU passport system came into effect. • When you and your spouse are excitedly discussing your travel plans and destinations, make sure you remember to get your pets involved. And no, I don’t mean sit down and ask them where they’d like to go! I’m simply suggesting you factor your furry friends into the equation. • Take your pets to the vet to ensure they are up-to-date on all vaccinations and that you have a supply of any medication they are currently taking. • If you own dogs that will be in contact with other dogs, make sure they are vaccinated against kennel cough. • Additionally, make sure your dog has basic training so that he will at least behave during the trip. • Obtain a clean certificate of health from your vet and make sure this is dated at least 14 days before your departure if travelling by air or sea.
• Ask your vet about any parasites, health risks, and so on to your animal that may be associated with your planned destination. • Make sure your pet wears a collar and ID tag and is micro chipped. Make sure his details are up-to-date and clearly displayed. For Air/Ferry Travel The first time I took my dogs on a ferry and somebody callously described them as “cargo”, I nearly had a fit. However, this is how they are considered and even if your dog is the most relaxed canine in the world, (a la our middle one, Belle), the cargo hold does not make for a pleasant travel experience. If required, purchase an approved shipping crate – it should be large enough for your pet to comfortably stand, sit, lie down and turn around in. Write the words, LIVE ANIMAL, clearly on at least two sides of the crate and use arrows to prominently indicate the
Ferret in transit: Does your pet need a passport? Check it out online
upright position of the crate. Make sure the door is securely closed but not locked so that airline/ ferry personnel can open it in case of emergency. Whenever possible, book direct flights and tell every airline/ferry employee you encounter that you are travelling with a pet in the cargo. This way they will be ready if any additional attention is required. Always check ahead with your airline’s/ ferry’s pet policies.
For Car Travel Plan the journey tak-
ing into account any rest stops and/or restaurants where you can safely eat with your pet. In order to make the journey safe and secure, a well ventilated pet carrier/crate, large enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down and turn around in should be provided. Alternatively a pet harness/safety belt should be attached. However, if your dog is anything like my lot, they will probably gnaw through the straps, rendering them useless. So,
it’s up to you; you know your own pet so you’ll know the best way to secure them. Don’t allow your pet to travel with his head outside the window. This can subject him to inner ear damage and lung infections and your pet could be injured by flying objects. Cats should always be held in a carrier. Don’t allow your children to tease or annoy your pet whilst travelling. Never, ever, leave your animal alone in a parked car. On a hot day, even with the windows open, a
parked car can turn into a furnace and very quickly, in a matter of minutes, heatstroke can develop, causing death. In cold weather a car can turn into a fridge, holding in the cold, causing the animal to freeze to death. Take along plenty of bottled drinking water from your own tap. Drinking water they are not used to could cause the animal’s tummy to become upset. Bring along a travel bag for your pet and include things like first aid kit, clean towel, fresh water, paper towels, poo bags, treats, favourite blanket and favourite toys. Above all, remember to try and enjoy your holiday because one bad experience for both you and your pet can prompt you to say what I’ve said so many times… “Never again!” For more information,
log onto www.dspca.ie or contact your vet or email me at miriam.kerins@ dspca.ie
18 GAZETTE 7 June 2012
GazetteMUSIC MUSIC Bloody marvellous rerelease of indie’s timeless classics “THEIR CDs are round and their cassettes are rectangular, but that’s about all My Bloody Valentine has in common with anyone else making records these days.” - Hype Magazine, 1992. 20 years later, with My Bloody Valentine reformed, the only thing needing to be changed in that statement is the possible deletion of the word cassette. Rumors of re-issues of their hallowed and classic releases have been seeping through the internet since 2004, but as with most good things, it took slight-
ly longer than expected to come to fruition. Finally, Sony have released the final collection. While the original studio albums have been painstakingly re-mastered by Kevin Shields, Loveless comes as a 2-disc set featuring a previously unreleased re-mastering from original analogue tapes. It’s an album that isn’t supposed to be played at full volume, which is what many speaker systems are built specifically for these days. The re-mastering has added some clarity to the music, while carrying
over many of the small details from the 1991 release. Butler’s voice is a triumph and the guitar sound which was praised so much still shines through. The main difference to be heard is in the volume boost, which many fans may argue, actually takes something away from the original purpose behind the music. The two versions of Loveless together make a fantastic release and provide an exceptional way of comparing the different sounds, especially for those still in possession of
My Bloody Valentine’s rereleases show the enduring quality of what at the time was a revolutionary approach
the original 1991 copy. Loveless was always going to be a controversial rerelease, but the rest of this collection won’t spark much of a debate for one simple reason. There’s very little at fault with any of the other three discs. Isn’t Anything was originally recorded in Wales over the space of two weeks and was the band’s
debut LP. The record was greatly overshadowed by the release of Loveless, but has now come into a life of its own through a perfect, re-mastering. Its unique feel still remains, with its dense sounds mixed with Kevin and Bilinda’s otherworldly vocals. The light re-mastering makes for a re-release that takes very
little from the original, but gives an opportunity for new fans to be captured by My Bloody Valentine’s music. To top the collection off there’s the compilation of EPs which span both the old favourites and some which were previously unavailable. Spanning over two discs, the set gives fans a chance
to reminisce over more lightly re-mastered versions, and to discover sounds they never knew existed. All in all these releases are a must have for any My Bloody Valentine fan, and a great addition to any music enthusiasts collection, giving opportunities to compare, discover, and rediscover.
7 June 2012 GAZETTE 19
GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS A different take on architecture
Supported by AIB
Interview: David Shannon, architect
THIS time last year David Shannon was strongly considering emigrating and leaving Ireland in search of employment. Due to a sudden drop in the construction industry, he, like many of his colleagues were looking further afield for employment opportunities. Prior to committing to a move, he closely looked at the current architectural market and analysed the possibilities of setting up his own practice. A primary consideration was that his practice needed to be different and it needed to cater to the general public. With that in mind, he opened an architectural shop. David moved into
what was a vacant space (which used to be the mortgage department of First Active Bank) on Patrick Street, Dun Laoghaire and converted it into an architectural studio. The workings of the studio are directly in public view, it being a shop window. This reveals to the public what an architect actually does. David makes models, sketches designs and discusses interesting projects with clients in this space. The studio operates outside the remits of a traditional or conventional architect’s office and caters for passing trade. He endeavours to
David Shannon
encapsulate an informal atmosphere where conversation and design can take place. Currently he is running an open door “free architecture” service, where people can drop into the studio to discuss potential projects they may have or
day do you ‘delegate’? A: Early morning and late in
astronaut, a flying doctor or something rather ambitious like that.
the evening are probably my most productive times during the day – no phone calls, no emails, no distractions.
Q: What was your first job? A: Washing dishes in an old
Q: What sport do you follow? A: I enjoy watching rugby and
folks’ home on the weekends. I remember the porridge always being a difficult one to shift off those bowls.
especially going to watch my younger brother play at the weekends.
Q: And your first pay cheque? A: Was very welcome. I remember thinking how liberating it felt to earn my own money.
Q: When did you start your present job? A: I opened David Shannon Architects on July 18, 2011.
Q: What is the best thing about your job? A: Everyday is different, challenging and ultimately rewarding. I enjoy designing spaces for people to live, work and play in. I get great satisfaction from seeing how space can enrich, inspire and excite its users.
Q: What part of your working
Q – Ulster Bank announced recently they are going to allow tracker mortgages to be transferred to the next purchase. Will the other lenders follow suit do you think ? Pat – Swords A – Yes, good news at last. It was obvious there would be a huge amount of borrowers trapped in their homes unable to move to bigger or better located homes for fear of losing the coveted tracker rate. You can see why from the following table: Mortgage
questions they may have with regard to design, planning issues, certifications etc. David thinks it’s a very exciting time for architecture and the build environment. “Yes, we are certainly in challenging times,
but great creativity is happening all around us, especially in the design fields. “I am ever encouraged by the level of enthusiasm and positivity of people and with that, our ceaseless ambition to succeed.”
Q&A Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be? A: I probably wanted to be an
CHANGING TRACKERS
Q: What sport can you play? A: I enjoy surfing, I try to get to the west as often as I can. I find the ocean revitalises me and is a great stress reliever.
Q: What is your guilty music/TV or movie pleasure? A: If I owned a TV, it would probably be David Attenborough’s wildlife programs, I could watch them all day, fantastic cinematography coupled with Attenborough’s voice over; amazing.
Q: Who best represents modern Ireland – David Norris or Jedward? A: Is that a trick question? Q: What music/pictures/ movies do you have on your iPod/iPad? A: No “Pod”, no “Pad”. But
if I did, it would probably consist of a real mixture; from Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd to Air and Daft Punk, including all the classic 1980s favourites of course.
Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook? A: Local businesses, I try to be as supportive as I can.
Q: What was your last tweet/status update? A: I have been working on expanding my studio space in Dun Laoghaire, so keeping people updated with all the goings on there. I also make updates on current and new projects in the studio.
Q: Describe your dream meal? A: Sitting outside in the evening sun, enjoying fresh fish just off the barbecue, with a baked potato and a cold beer.
Q: Who would you rather have dinner with – Enda Kenny or Dame Edna? A: Probably Mr Kenny, as I have a couple of questions I would like to fire his way.
Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously?
A: I tend not to spend money frivolously. If I do, it’s normally on a bicycle or surfboard or something of that nature.
Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own? A: One which has a hole in the sole (I must throw them out), one which I am wearing now and one for weddings and the like.
Q: What was your worst holiday experience? A: No such thing, never had one.
Q: Describe your dream holiday? A: Warm, dry weather, travel, culture, camping, fresh food, cycling, swimming in the sea, all topped off with some good company.
Q: What would be your dream job? A: I am in my dream job! Q: What do you plan to do when you retire? A: Retire? It’s not even on the radar yet, but I believe architecture will always play a part in my life. It would be nice to have a place over in the west, overlooking the sea.
Rate
Term
Repayment (capital & interest)
€200,000
1.5% (0.5% 25 yrs over ECB rate)
€799.87 per month
€200,000
5.99% 25 yrs (standard variable rate)
€1,287.38 per month
So if you have sold your current home irrespective of negative equity or not BUT as long as you have the income capacity to still justify the new mortgage (may include additional monies) you will be allowed to retain that element of your mortgage on a tracker rate which was the same amount as your previous tracker mortgage. The surplus, if it is required, will be subject to the standard variable rate or a fixed rate if available. Lending is at a 40-year low and this could stimulate the market. As regards other lenders, yes I think they will follow and soon. Remember though it is still down to your income ability as all lending is based on the ability to repay. Before you approach your lender, do your sums and pre-empt any objections arising.
SAVING FOR YOUR CHILDREN Q – We have two children aged one and four and after hearing that the cost alone for 3rd level education without fees exceeds €42,000 for each child, need to knuckle down and start some serious saving. Any suggestions ? Carmel – Blackrock A – Very sensible. Planning is where it is at – from the moment your child is born you should be planning. Even putting some of the child benefit away each month from day one would be a help. I worked out that if you lodged the full child benefit of €140 per month and add another €110 to it totalling €250 each month into a deposit account from the time your child is five until they reach 18. For 13 years at 3% interest per annum, the total saved would be €42,000… enough to put ONE child through 3rd level education – and that is not including fees (source: Bank of Ireland). Saving in a regular saver account – all the deposit takers have them – is a good stepping stone to amassing a sizeable sum at the end of each year and then investing that in a longer term, higher yielding deposit account. You could also invest some in a stock market investment – equities basket – where over time, the returns should outstrip the deposit returns. Make sure you obtain professional independent advice. Contact John with your money questions at
jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing director of Money Doctor
20 GAZETTE 7 June 2012
GazettePROPERTY PROPERTY
Number 2 Pear Grove, Castle Avenue in Clontarf is presented to the market by Savills for an asking price of €250,000
CLONTARF: TWO-BEDROOM TOWNHOUSE NEAR VILLAGE FOR €250,000
2 Pear Grove is a group peach of a property .com
www.
gazette
All of your latest local news, sport, features and pictures are now just a click away
SAVILLS Estate Agents are bringing 2 Pear Grove, Castle Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin 3, a pristine two-bedroom townhouse, to the market for an asking price of €250,000. Tucked away off Castle Avenue in Clontarf, in a very private location, this magnificent home has much to offer. The accommodation comprises an entrance hallway extending to 1.23m x 3.22m, which features laminate timber f looring and an impressive feature spiral staircase. The kitchen has wall and floor kitchen units, a granite worktop, an integrated oven, hob and extractor fan, as well as a dishwasher and fridge freezer. The sitting room is carpeted and has a feature fireplace with gas inset.
Upstairs in the property is a landing with access to a hot press, and the two bedrooms in the property. The main bedroom is 4.14m x 2.64m and has timber flooring and a slide robe. The second bedroom also has timber flooring and a built-in wardrobe. The bathroom has a WC, wash-hand basin, and a bath with shower over, with a tiled surround. The bathroom has a window lighting it, as well as a heated towel rail and tiled flooring.
Benefits The property has a management fee of €1,200 per annum (subject to change), which includes house insurance, bins, a car parking space, external maintenance and repairs and maintenance and lighting of the common areas.
T he proper ty also benefits from gas fired central heating and has a house alarm. It has a recently installed kitchen, which was fitted a year ago, and has been double glazed in the past two years. Situated in a superb and mature location just off Castle Avenue, Clontarf, this property is only metres from the Seafront promenade and Clontarf Castle, with ever y possible amenity that Clontarf has to offer a stone’s throw away. 2 Pear Grove is within walking distance of Clontarf village and benefits from a bus and Dart station close by. This property is also ver y convenient for access to the city centre. Viewing is very highly recommended and can be arranged by contacting Savills, Clontarf on 01 853 0630.
7 June 2012 GAZETTE 21
GazetteMOTORS MOTORS
Edited by Cormac Curtis
RoadSigns Road Signs
JAGUAR TAKES A TOP ACCOLADE:
Although some may say that Opel aren’t the most exciting of car manufacturers, recent years have seen Opel sharpening both their brands and designs. The Insignia Elite 2.0CDTi 16v (with stylish dash, below) has a near-exhaustive list of features, adding a notable level of polish and luxury to this very accomplished executive saloon.
Elite addition, indeed CORMAC CURTIS
IN RECENT years, Opel have been upping their game in the looks and image departments. Let’s face it – as a car manufacturer, you couldn’t always accuse them of being terribly exciting or cutting-edge. But, to be fair, despite their lacklustre moniker, a series of well-crafted advertising and marketing campaigns have elevated the German brand’s image beyond recognition. With the Insignia, we were presented with an uber-cool feature filmstyled ad with a Jason Bourne-type character spying on the latest Opel release – it certainly grabbed my attention, and it certainly marked a new move for Opel. There is no doubt this is a very accomplished executive saloon with exceptional attention to detail and a very high build quality. The model I got to test drive was the very comfortable Insignia Elite 2.0CDTi 16v, which was
SPECS: OPEL INSIGNIA ELITE 2.0CDTI 16V Top speed: 221km/hour 0 – 100km/hr: 9.5 secs CO2 emissions: 115 g/ km Tax Band: A – Road Tax €160 Entry Price: €34, 860 inc options (base model from €25,495)
priced at €34,860. From the driver’s point of view, there is nothing taken for granted in terms of equipment – the list of features is exhaustive, to say the least. It boasts a fully integrated satellite navigation system (Navi 600) with 7” colour screen, SD memory card, centreconsole multi-function controller, USB connection, CD player with MP3 functionality, stereo radio, seven speakers and shark fin aerial. There is a high standard of leather trim, with heated front seats for comfort. The driver’s seat is further upgraded at this level with eight-way electri-
cally adjustable settings with memory. Unfortunately, this is where I found myself getting frustrated with the Insignia, as the pampering and comfort just began to get in my way. The driver’s seat very generously moves backwards when you turn off the engine to give more room to get out. This is indeed a nice touch, but every time it did this while one of my kids was in the back seat, it pressed up against their feet, and led to a flood of complaints. Getting back into the car meant there was a few seconds that you had to wait for the seat to move forward into posi-
tion before you could safely start driving again – when you’re running late, this kind of thing can really set you off! I’m certain there are ways to disable these functions, but, for the life of me, I couldn’t find them – and I explored the custom car settings at length in an effort to solve the problem. To be fair, they are very comfy seats, and the electric four-way lumbar adjustment keeps the back from getting sore. Moving on, the visibility is enhanced with intelligent adaptive forward lighting with high-pressure headlight washers and dynamic headlight beam levelling, as well as
front fog lights. Add to this rain-sensitive windscreen wipers, front and rear parking distance sensors, and an electro-chromatic rear view mirror, and there is a driver’s paradise of features at hand. The internal climate of the car is controlled with a dual-zone electronic climate control, with heat-ref lective windscreen and humidity sensor. Add to this electricallyoperated rear windows, and it means you can easily stop the kids from letting a gale of wind in when you’re on the motorway and maintain the perfect temperature. This model featured
Bluetooth control and brilliant paint as extras, adding €480 to the price – which came in at €34,860. As a premium saloon, my only real gripe with the Insignia is the room in the back – I don’t feel it would accommodate four adults in comfort over any kind of distance. But, otherwise, it really does tick all the boxes. Everything is built to a high standard, and it includes just about every extra you could want. It certainly isn’t up to the level of other German brands, but it will lead the likes of the Skoda Superb and Ford Mondeo, given its attractive price range.
LUXURY car brand, Jaguar, has been announced as the number-one manufacturer in the JD Power and Associates/What Car? 2012 UK Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Study (VOSS). The study was based on the evaluations of almost 18,000 individuals, after an average of two years’ ownership. Every aspect of vehicle ownership was rated, ensuring that the results allowed the VOSS to be the most comprehensive of its kind. When split into model line-ups, the Jaguar XF finished second overall – a rise of 15 places within just 12 months. The 2012 result marks the culmination of a steady rise in owner satisfaction, with Jaguar having finished third in the 2011 survey.
22 GAZETTE 7 June 2012
GazetteTTRAVEL Fast Travel Golf trip is the perfect gift for Father’s Day IF you’re still thinking about what to get your dad for Father’s Day, then you might consider From the Green to the Screen golf package at Waterford Castle. The Garden Lodges at Waterford Castle are beautiful examples of contemporary design which optimise space and light to create a relaxed and stylish ambience. The threebedroom selfcatering lodges were designed by awardwinning architects Fewer Harrington Lawlor and sleep up to six people. They have been fitted out to the highest specifications, and strike a perfect balance of country retreat and luxurious contemporary living. The stunning contrast between the lodges’ contemporary lines and the surrounding natural beauty and old-fashioned castle is a perfect marriage of two worlds coming together in harmony. This highly distinctive parkland golf course is a treat to play on and the special package also takes each golfing group to a garden lodge after their round, where pizza and cold beer will be waiting for them. This will be delivered to the lodge from the Clubhouse in time for guests to watch that day’s big Euro 2012 match on a huge screen. Prices start from just €165 per person sharing for two nights (minimum of three people sharing). Go to www. waterfordcastle.com or call 051-878203 to book.
The Heritage Golf and Spa Resort offers guests luxury accommodation with a variety of options to choose from
The life of luxury in Laois ALEN MCMAHON
HAVING recently been married, and with our honeymoon not until July, my new wife and I decided to have a mini honeymoon to fill in the gap until the real one. The 5-Star Heritage Golf and Spa Resort in County Laois came highly recommended from friends who had played on the hotel’s 72-par championship golf course, designed by Seve Ballesteros and Jeff Howes Golf Design. Nestled in the charming village of Killenard, the hotel combines a great countryside setting with optimum convenience for both business and leisure guests. Located just off the M7 motorway, the resort was only about an hour’s drive from Dublin. The weather was glorious as we arrived, which really showed off the hotel in
The Spa Experience provides an amazing heat and cooling journey
all its finery. I was hugely impressed with the design and grandeur of the place. We were staying in one of the junior suites which offered wonderful living space and a fantastic view over the golf course and the Slieve Bloom Mountains. As well as plenty of space, the room featured two interactive flat screen TVs, an electronic safe, full turn down service, gas fireplace, 24-hour room ser vice, indi-
vidually controlled air conditioning and an executive desk among just some of the great features. The grounds boast a 5k walk around the golf course which has some breathtaking views. All in all it took about 40 minutes and made sure we were ravenous just in time for our meal. There are three restaurants at the resort and opening days vary depending on the day of the week and holi-
day season. Sol Oriens award-winning steakhouse and Italian restaurant on the grounds of the hotel was our choice and the concierge was only too happy to whisk us the short distance on a golf buggy which we both enjoyed. We were warmly greeted and received excellent attention by the staff. I started with warm goat’s cheese, roasted peppers and sun dried tomatoes while my wife had fresh mussels cooked two ways, both went down a treat. Braised veal shank and marinated rack of Irish lamb for mains were both cooked to perfection, and devoured with vigour. The restaurant also has an extensive wine selection – we chose a Pinot Grigio which was very reasonably priced. Tiramisu for both was a delightful end to a fantastic dining experience.
After that we headed to the Slieve Bloom Bar for an after-dinner drink. A f ter a great night’s sleep brought on by a very relaxing evening, we got up early for breakfast as we were due in the spa resort at 10am. Breakfast was amazing; they had everything on offer, from full Irish to pancakes and waffles with a great range of juices, fruit, yoghurts, breads and pastries available. An underground corridor leads to the luxury spa which boasts 20 treatment rooms with a wonderful selection of treatments and packages. The spa experience provides an amazing heat and cooling journey which left both of us extremely relaxed and feeling refreshed for our trip home. With summer finally here and schools closing, the hotel has a number of
family breaks on offer.
3-Night Package Enjoy three night’s B&B in a family guestroom from €290pps with an evening meal on one evening in the Arlington restaurants for the family. 5-Night Package Enjoy five nights B&B in a family guestroom from €465pps, with an evening’s meal on three evening in one of the resort restaurants for the family. Summer Family Package Enjoy three nights B&B in a set of deluxe interconnecting rooms from €599 per stay. Enjoy a family dinner on an evening of your choice in the Arlington restaurant. Visit www.theheritage.
com or call 057 8645500.
7 June 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 23
Edited by Mimi Murray
KILKENNY: FROM CULTURE TO COMEDY, THIS CITY HAS IT ALL AND IT’S ONLY AN HOUR AWAY
Something to suit every visitor DAVE PHILLIPS
KILKENNY has shown itself to be a top spot if you’re looking for a night or two outside of Dublin, but don’t want to face half a days drive. This summer sees several new gallery shows and smaller music festivals running over weekends, alongside the more established comedy festival, and the wealth of permanent and always popular cultural attractions that feed into the lively and creative air of the place. On a recent visit to the city we stayed in the Pembroke Hotel on Patrick Street. The Pembroke is a boutique four-star hotel, which offers a modern, clean, and comfor t-
able experience; pulling together a sturdy, minimalist chic mixed with some traditional charm - the rooms include towelling robes, slippers, and a bowl of fresh fruit. The location couldn’t be better, situated right in the heart of the city. This makes it very handy to take advantage of the hotel car park (with off-street parking in the courtyard and overflow parking close by) and really get to explore the narrow streets by foot. The famous Kilkenny Castle is just a minutes’ walk away from the front door of the hotel and most of the other cultural and heritage attractions aren’t much further if you’re on the historical trail. Around the hotel
you’ll also easily find a selection of boutique clothes shops, antique stores, and pubs where you’ll undoubtedly be able to find a quiet corner or lively session according to your taste. An evening meal in the hotel is definitely recommended - Stratham’s Restaurant offers a seasonal menu with a great selection of wine. Much like the rest of the hotel, the menu is kept simple in a way that effuses quality and style. The result is a short selection of dishes that are cooked and presented expertly, an approach which is much preferable to a longer selection of hit-or-miss dishes. The combination of generous rooms that
are well provided and exceptionally clean, with excellent food, and in a location where you can forget about the car for the weekend makes the Pembroke highly recommended as a place to stay if you’re visiting Kilkenny this summer. Accommodation, particularly for a short trip, should be hassle-free, and that’s exactly the feeling the Pembroke has, delivered with a, classy, modern, and reassuringly chunky feel. For more information on the Pembroke Hotel and Stratham’s Restaurant and Bar visit www. kilkennypembrokehotel. com For information on upcoming events in Kilkenny visit www.kilkennytourism.com
The Pembroke offers a modern, clean, and comfortable experience
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24 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 7 June 2012
GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT
GoingOUT THE PAVILION THEATRE 01 231 2929 Travesties
FOLLOWING the hugely successful and popular Plaza Suite, Rough Magic are back at the Pavilion Theatre with the delicious comedy Travesties by Tom Stoppard. Best-known as the author of the Oscar-winning film Shakespeare in Love and the plays Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and Arcadia, Stoppard is at his best in this absurdly funny masterpiece featuring James Joyce, Vladimir Lenin and Dadaist Tristan Tzara. Running from June 7 to 23, tickets are priced from €18 to €25.
MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 Bloomsday Celebration THE Mill Theatre and Roly Saul’s present a special Bloomsday Celebration Brunch to mark the 90th anniversary of the publication of Ulysses. Join the team in Roly Saul’s restaurant for a buffet brunch with fare inspired by Leopold Bloom’s breakfast, including a glass of burgundy! Brunch will be accompanied by theatrical readings from Ulysses and music and song from the Joyce era. The celebration takes place on Saturday, June 16 from 11.30am. Tickets are priced at €15.
CIVIC THEATRE 01 462 7477 Griswold GRISWOLD is a riveting new play full of black humour about the dysfunctional relationship between two men who both need and depend on each other to survive in a hostile environment. Living in dire financial straits their mutual friendship comes under unbearable strain as they struggle to survive in the most ridiculous and dangerous of circumstances. Griswold is darkly comic and dramatic, an experience not to be missed. Running from June 12 to June 23 and tickets are €20.
DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 Niamh Kavanagh and her band NIAMH’S back with her brilliant blend of rock, soul, r&b, Eurovision hits, tracks from her successful albums and her own favourites with that amazing voice Commitments’ director Alan Parker ‘‘had to have’’. Described as the ‘‘Rolls Royce’’ of Irish singers, Niamh Kavanagh represented Ireland at the Eurovision twice, collecting maximum points from the Irish vote, and is the voice behind three of the biggest hits from the Commitments ever. Catch her on June 30 with tickets €20/€16.
Bella was wondering who this grizzly man was and what he had done to her androgynous vampire friend
Once upon a time The fairest of them all? Not sure about ‘them all’ but it’s certainly fairer than the other Snow White film this year I NIALL BERMINGHAM
I KNOW just what you’re thinking. Honestly, I do. “You wait so long for an updated, retelling of Snow White in film form and then, all of a sudden, two come along in the same year.” Magical. However, unlike the dismal Mirror Mirror (starring Julia Roberts and Sean Bean), Snow White and the Huntsman is actually alright. It’s neither terrible nor is it the new Citizen Kane but the breathtaking visuals, effective set pieces, and generally good performances from the cast make it enjoyable at best. I say “generally good performances” because there is an exception. Snow White is played by K risten Stewart (Twilight) who has been showing us the same kind of character in all of her film roles: a drab,
FILM OF THE WEEK: Snow White and the Huntsman ### (12 A) 127 mins Director: Rupert Sanders Starring: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost, Ian McShane
OUR VERDICT:
ENJOYABLE to a point, I don’t think anyone is going to experience anything life changing while watching it but as a harmless summer flick, it does its job. With enough action to keep the boys satisfied and the fact that it’s a Snow White film, it’s obviously going to get the girls in. Not for the very young though.
boring, 40 shades of grey kind of character. Even though Stewart is the main character, it just seems as though she’s there while everything is happening around her. You can look past Stewart’s performance though at the world around her. A world beautifully designed with tremendous love and care. The main reason that director Rupert Sanders got the job (his first major directing credit on a film) was because of the wonderful image of the world that he had imagined. The sets used are fan-
tastic and the effects are seamless. Everything, from the biggest sweeping shot of a landscape to the tiny fantasy creatures in the background of the haunted forest, is just a delight to see. I’m fairly certain everyone knows the story of Snow White so I won’t go into too much depth about it. There’s an evil queen (Charlize Theron), a magic mirror, a poison apple, a damsel in distress, dwarfs (more on them later) and a huntsman (Chris Hemsworth of Thor fame). The main difference in this take on the fairy tale
is that the huntsman, instead of just letting her go, decides to help Snow White and show her the subtle arts of war so that together they can lead a revolution against the evil queen and free the land from her tyranny and corruption (both of which are shown through some very dark scenes throughout the film). And so together, Snow White and the huntsman raise an army, which Snow White takes command of (Stewart fails to show any semblance of leadership or charisma in her role as commander). The battle scenes, like everything else, look amazing and the action is genuinely exciting. The biggest surprise of the whole film however is the dwarfs, eight dwar fs to be exact. The level of actors that they got to play them is just astounding: Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone,
Nick Frost and Ian McShane to name just a few. This merry band of miniature men adds a lot to the film with song, dance and good humour in spades. Despite all the good things about this film (the look of it, Theron’s uncompromisingly evil queen, the dwarfs) and its near infinite potential, I believe it fell short due to the casting of a plank as the lead role, a pretty lame love story and some pretty major plot holes. All in all not completely forgettable but not memorable either. If you have an undying love for Stewart or are a 15-year-old girl then you’ll find it’s right up your street. If you are neither of the two mentioned, have nothing else to see and can manage to ignore Stewart then you might enjoy yourself. Now, bring on Prometheus.
7 June 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 25
GazetteGAMING GAMING Bytesandpieces Pick up a Porsche for 1,200 points
Funnelling wide-ranging influences from everything from television’s Lost to Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, Tomb Raider’s forthcoming reboot is already creating quite a stir, with its release holding lots of promise of a reinvigorated franchise
Lara Croft is back* I SHANE DILLON
*WELL, almost. This article’s slightly-misleading headline points to some interesting news, as it’s just been revealed that Tomb Raider, and its back-to-basics reboot, has just been offcially – and finally – confirmed for a release date of March 5, 2013. Once again starring everybody’s favourite aristo-turned-adventurer Lara Croft, the long-delayed title has been tantalising industry figures for a while now, popping up on the radar every so often but without anything more tangible to
say than, yes, a substantial game exists but, no, there’s no release date. Until now. With a new trailer also just released, showcasing further gameplay elements and pointing at a new direction for the long-running (and somewhat stale) franchise, there’s a slow-burning excitement about Tomb Raider. Whereas the most recent releases in the long-established franchaise were somewhat formulaic, and considering that PlayStation 3’s Nathan Drake has cornered the Globe-trotting Adventurer segment of
the market, Tomb Raider’s developer, Crystal Dynamics, really had to think long and hard about how to make Tomb Raider relevant to gamers again. After all, there are too many gamers out there who associate Lara Croft with 1990s platforming, rather than with CurrentGen gaming. So it is that Lara’s being taken back to basics – literally, as there are few more basic matters than the battle to survive against a hostile world. It’s already known that Lara’s gaming world will be an open one, as she
finds herself shipwrecked on a mysterious island, littered with all manner of wrecks from across the ages, and where desperate survivors, and hostile figures, await. In a nod to several other world-exploring titles, Lara’s island exploration will be somewhat curbed until later in the game, once she’s unlocked the necessary items and skills to access previously inaccessible areas, and thus further develop the story. In the meantime, the frightened young lady washed up on the shore at the start of the game will face a grim, but
character-forming journey around the island, as she’s forged into the resourceful, determined adventurer that people have come to expect ... Or so, at least, we can expect the press bumpf to say once Tomb Raider gets its release, next March. It’s certainly a great gaming prospect to look forward to, with a mature theme to explore as, perhaps, the industry itself matures a little, in line with many of its gamers who, like yours truly, have hit the 40-year mark. Tomb Raider will be released on XBox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.
Anotherweebyte... Sony’s Cloud-based service could shower you with 15,000,000 songs FED-UP battling iTunes? Ever get that syncing feeling when you’re trying to organise your music? Well, Sony Ireland could have the answer, courtesy of its free Music Unlimited app, available now on iTunes (and likely to greatly reduce your need to use the blasted thing again). Well, I say “free”, because it’s free to download – however, unsurprisingly, a basic or premium subscription is then needed, along with an internet or mobile data connection. So far, so in line with lots of current streaming services. It’s all part of Sony’s increasing interest in Cloud-based services, and the obvious growth such functionality offers, with Music Unlimited promising more than 15 million songs to down-
load, manage in playlists, browse by genre, wander off exploring similar artists, and so on – all related to the user’s subscription level. Originally launched in December, 2010, the service has grown pretty decently since then, with solid home Wifi networks, increasing numbers of public hotspots (and those lucky enough with work access), as well as mobile roaming, providing plenty of scope for lots of users to avail of Music Unlimited’s Cloud-based collection. You can easily find Music Unlimited on iTunes, bearing in mind that it’s free to download, but that a service subscription is also required. Once you’re up and running (and roaming), its Cloudbased service will probably make quite a splash.
Music Unlimited provides access to more than 15 million tracks
IT’S been a while since the last available racing update, but there’s no denying that petrolheads aren’t getting plenty of bang for their buck from Turn 10 Studio’s Forza Motorsport 4, which has just released yet another expansion pack – this time, in the shapely form of Porsche , and the downloadable pack’s 30 new vehicles and related events Available on the XBox Live Marketplace for 1,600 Microsoft points, it is, perhaps, a premium price for an expansion pack – then again, that’s an awful lot of Porsche for your points and, once again, the vehicles look better here than in real life. So ... shiny ... I know about as much about racing as Del Boy Trotter knows about patent infringement legislation, but even I’m impressed by the consistent quality in these irregular packs – did I mention that the cars look better than in real life, already? True, you’d probably have to really love racing, and understand the sheer scope of how tuning your motor makes all the difference, but who doesn’t love Porsche, let alone the chance to grab about 30 of them? Motor on over to XBox Live, now ...
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GazetteSPORT
HIGHER GROUND: A new era dawns for Irish cricket in Malahide: Page 29
SAILING: VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT AS ICONIC TALL SHIP RACES SET TO END IN DUBLIN
Come aboard, me hearties, for a memorable trip sport@gazettegroup.com
DUBLINERS with a hankering for a taste of a life on the ocean wave can now apply to get exactly that with the announcement that volunteers are being sought for the Tall Ships Races 2012, which run from August 23 to 26. This year, Dublin is set to be the final host port for the races and there will be a four-day long celebration in the city,
with the quaysides, north and south of the Liffey, alive with street performers, buskers and bands all weekend. The Tall Ships Races, which will have passed through France, Portugal and Spain on their way to Dublin, will see the city burst with festival atmosphere both on and off the water. An exciting family programme in Grand Canal Square will present nautical themed workshops
and installations, interactive concerts, puppet shows, storytelling and water-sports displays in Grand Canal Dock. Following the conclusion of the Tall Ships Races 2012 Dublin event, some of the fleet will compete in the inaugural Irish Sea Tall Ships Regatta, which will be a race from Dublin to Liverpool. Up to 1,000 volunteers are required for the Tall Ships Races 2012 to give visitors the warmest of
Over 1,000 volunteers are required to help stage the Dublin aspect of the Tall Ships Races 2012
welcomes, help create a great atmosphere and an experience the city and the visitors will never forget. People are being sought to offer their experience, volunteer your skills, learn
something new and have fun doing it. There are a variety of voluntary roles which need to be filled, including production, hospitality, ship liaison, media and marketing, event co-
ordination, stewarding and volunteer management. For more information and to apply today to become a volunteer of The Tall Ships Races 2012 in Dublin, see www.
dublintallships.ie/volunteer or e-mail enquiries to volunteer@dublintallships.ie. Applicants must be over 18 years old and training and induction will take place before the event.
28 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 7 June 2012
GazetteSport Sport
Cathal Williams (left), and Tom, Sam and Alex Dunne, pictured here with Dublin hurler Liam Rushe
Louisa, Tommy and Ciaran Curly
Children of all ages were invited to show off their skills
Hurling hooley Parnell Park is host to day of family fun ENTRA launched its Brighten Up Your Day community events in 2012 with a free family event which visited Parnell Park in Dublin recently, but which will be running every weekend in 15 locations around Ireland until July 28. The event in Parnell Park featured Liam Rushe of Dublin and John Mullane of Waterford and featured an array of family entertainment including BBQs, live music, a hurling simulator to test your hurling skills, face painting and a hurling skills session for children.
The children who participated at the Centra Brighten Up Your Day community event at Parnell Park
C
Liam Rushe and John Mullane with Cathal McHugh, Jean Lyons, and,
Jack Murray, Joseph and Cameron Cooper, and Evan McGlynn are
in front, Mark Coulter, Cian McHugh, and Jack O’Sullivan
seen here with Centra’s McCarthy Family
7 June 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 29
Malahide level the playing field With the reinvention of cricket in Ireland in full effect, Malahide Cricket Club have seen their international standard arrive, writes ROB HEIGH The culmination of a long process of fundraising, planning and plain hard work has arrived at Malahide Cricket Club. The progressive north county-based side last week saw their first team play the very first adult competitive match on their new pitch at The Village against Old Belvedere, the realisation of years of development that started first in 2006, when the club members first floated the idea of developing their grounds to international standard. That standard has now been achieved, and GazetteSpor t spoke to Malahide CC president, Kevin Murphy, last week, ahead of the first bales being placed upon the field in anger. “This is the culmina-
tion of a long process of renovation of the grounds and playing sur face at Malahide CC. “Last week, we held an internal club game, with two teams featuring a mixture of young
and see how we - and it - settle in. “This process started in 2006 when the idea was first floated, and it has been brought through to fruition now, with the pitch ready to host international
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‘There is a real sense of excitement about the new grounds and the possibilities they represent.’
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and old, male and female members of the club, to be the first players to play on the new pitch. “We are watching how the grounds develop at the moment. Like when the builders move out in a house renovation, we need to get used to the new surface,
cricket matches.” Those prestige international matches will be able to be watched by around 11,500 spectators thanks to the thoughtful planning that has gone into the grounds’ redevelopment. “Around the earthworks and remodel-
The Malahide First XI side who took on Old Belvedere at The Village last week when the first competitive match took place on the new surface
ling of the ground, which has created a bowl effect, there are elevated mounds that mean that spectators can look down onto the pitch and watch the matches in comfort. It’s a spectacular spectator’s arena. “There is also the space and land that for larger games, we will be able to install temporary stands.” The first international match to be played at the ground will be against South Africa A, who will be coming to Ireland for a pair of T-20 matches on August 31 and September 2, but the major news alongside the ground redevelopment coming to its apex is the announcement by Cricket Ireland that the auld enemy, England, will be coming to Malahide to face Ireland on September 3, 2013, in a first one-day international to be held at the grounds (subject to ICC granting ODI accreditation), where the home nation will be hoping for a repeat of their famous victory over England at the 2011 World Cup, a prospect which is exciting current Ireland cricket coach, Phil Simmons. “I live just around the corner from the ground so it’s fantastic for the club and the area to be hosting a game of this magnitude,” Simmons said.
“It’s going to be a super venue for cricket, and the fact that it’s England coming will give the whole day that extra edge that contests between the countries in all sports seem to inspire.” Kevin Murphy reflected on the process of the development of Malahide Cricket Club, its grounds and the prospects that it creates not only for the club, but for the sport in the country. “The process began when we began negotiations with Fingal County Council for additional ground for the club, which all came through. The Spor ts Council grant came through, and the contractors began work in late September last year on the larger area. “We laid a new square two years ago, which was the first physical par t of the process, which was something that the club raised the funds for, as that aspect takes far longer than the other works. “The feeling at the club is that everyone is delighted with the new surface, it’s quite spectacular, and it bodes well for the future of the club. “We intend to get a real sense of excitement about the new grounds and the possibilities that they represent. It’s all systems go now.”
FastSport
Fennell and Flynn launch Mulligan cycle DUBLIN footballers Eamon Fennell and Fingallians’ Paul Flynn were on hand last week to launch the annual Tomas Mulligan Memorial Cycle in aid of Pieta House, the suicide crisis centre. The fun cycle, which is in its fifth year, is held in memory of Dublin and Round Towers footballer Tomas, who was lost to suicide in 2007. This event, organised by the Mulligan family, takes place on August 11 and 12, and this year’s destination is Dundalk and the Cooley Peninsula. The cycle aims to raise awareness of the work carried out by Pieta House and to celebrate the lives of those lost to suicide and have fun. For more information, see www.pieta.ie
Shamrocks host Childline charity run RAHENY Shamrock Athletic Club are holding a charity 5km race in St Anne’s Park on June 17 in aid of Childline. The race, which begins at 11am, is open to runners, joggers and walkers from all over the city. Race headquarters in the Cara Hall, near Raheny Garda Station, and the route is a flat twolap course which takes its path inside the park, with no traffic to inhibit the athletes. There will be prizes in all usual categories, and medals to all finishers. Participants can
enter online at www. rahenyshamrock.ie for €15, or enter on the day for €20. For more information on the event, contact Sean on 087 224 8274.
Get your game faces on WITH Ireland’s first match against Croatia set to kick off this weekend, fans who want to add a little colour to their support should look no further than Churchtown-based company Team Colours Online’s range of tricolour tattoos and pendants. These Irish flag products are available from www. teamcoloursonline. com and at Heaton’s stores nationwide.
30 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 7 June 2012
GazetteSport Sport FastSport
CRICKET: CLUB PLAY FIRST GAMES ON NEW NATIONAL PITCH
More sail success for Owens and Flanigan THE newest sailors to join the Providence Resources Irish Olympic Sailors’ line-up, RSGYC’s Ger Owens and Scott Flanigan, won the Delta Lloyd Regatta in Medemblik, Holland, in the 470 class last week. The result followed hot on the heels of their Olympic qualification in Barcelona and was their first regatta since that success in May. The pair sailed consistently throughout the three days of competition, winning four of their nine fleet races. “Although the fleet was not at full strength,” ISA performance director, James O’Callaghan, said, “a win is win and this will be a further confidence boost to the guys after their Olympic qualification.” “This was unexpected. After qualification for the Olympics, we weren’t busy with winning here, so we’re very happy. This is a big surprise for us,” Owens said after the pair’s success. They subsequently headed to Weymouth, the venue for the Olympic regatta, as they began preparations before the Sail for Gold regatta which runs throughout this week. Also competing at the regatta was Annalise Murphy who finished ninth overall and the Irish Paralympic sailors, John Twomey, Anthony Hegarty and Ian Costello in the Sonar class, who finished sixth overall. Meanwhile, TV personality Kathryn Thomas launched Sail Spree in Dun Laoghaire harbour this week, a new initiative to encourage people to get on the water over the weekend of June 23 and 24. The campaign is similar to the nationally acclaimed Culture Night, whereby clubs and training centres all over Ireland will open their doors to the public to try sailing, windsurfing, power boating or jet skiing. For more details of events, check out the website, www.sailspree.ie.
Malahide first XI were victorious against Old Belvedere in their first competitive game on their new pitch at the Village
Malahide mark new dawn sport@gazettegroup.com
MALAHIDE Cricket Club’s first XI marked the start of many years of the club’s competitive matches on their new international pitch with a comprehensive 66-run win against Old Belvedere in a sun-drenched Village last week. Losing the toss and being asked to bat on a slow wicket by their visitors, Malahide added 34 runs before Marc Ellison was caught. Jim Govan came in at Number 3, and he and opener John Pryor added a further 61 runs before Govan was caught at
long on. Pryor was next to be dismissed, being run out on 54 when looking for a second run that was never there. Quick-fire 33s from Nick Turner and Ryan Gallagher pushed the score towards 200, but it was Callum Riches and Alan Reynolds, who hit the first six from the new square, that meant the visitors would be chasing 219 to win, after restricting Malahide to 218 for six wickets. Old Belvedere’s task of chasing the game achieved no momentum when the opening pair of bowlers of Callum
Riches and Pete Saville kept the run rate down and forced the batters to chase the game and, with some excellent catches, Belvo lost three quick wickets. Shravan started hitting some big shots, but Boyne’s bowling of Fur and the dismissal of Ullah by a brilliant running catch from Ellsion off Kirwan deprived him of any support at the crease, and his excellent little innings of 51 was ended with a catch by Riches when he ambitiously tried for his fifth six. The Belvedere innings fizzled out and, despite
an unbeaten 33 from Abbubaquer, his colleagues could not assist, and when Gallagher had Singh LBW in the 43rd over, it was all over, with Ellison the pick of the fielders with three impressive catches, and Malahide recorded their first win on their new turf on an historic weekend for the club. The adults were not the first to the crease on the new pitch, however, as the Under-11 girls side played the very first competitive game on the new ground two days previously against The Hills. Despite some excel-
lent bowling by the girls the Hills posted a score of 103 for 4. In reply, Malahide found the pace of the bowling from the older girls from the Hills just a little too much. T he club wish to extend their thanks to those who helped provide the hospitality that the U-11 girls’ team are famous for, which, despite the result, helped make a historic day a great success. Malahide: Grace Flannigan, Sarah Condron, Sarah Whymms, Sarah Pye, Maria O’Halloran, Sarah Brophy, Rebekah Moore and Isobelle McCormack.
Bronze for Drumgoole in Tullamore sport@gazettegroup.com
PORTMARNOCK CS’ Aisling Drumgoole came home with a bronze medal when she finished the senior girls’ 400 metres in 58.63 seconds, less than a second off gold, at the Aviva AllIreland schools track and field championships last weekend at the Harriers stadium in Tullamore. Another local heroine was Loreto, Swords’ Anne-Marie Torsney, who picked up a pair of medals, the highlight of which was a brilliant performance in
the junior girls’ discus when she threw 33.22 metres to edge out Aoife Doyle, from Intermediate School Kilorglin, by just nine centimetres to claim the national title. Torsney added a bronze in the shot putt with a 10.31 metre effort. Meanwhile, Fingallians’ club member Sarah Murray came home third in the senior girls 100 metres, her 12.24 seconds run 0.33 off Bandon’s Pia Healy winning sprint. Elswhere in the competition, Dubliners performed well
across the board. Colaiste Iosagain’s Siofra Cleirigh Buttner added to her wealth of titles when she took the intermediate 800m in 2:10.27 to better Amy O’Donoghue’s championship record of 2:10.80 from 2010. She later completed a double when she won the 1,500m, finishing 11 seconds ahead of the field. Her schoolmate, Claire Ni Carthaigh, was another long-distance medallist when she took silver in 10.27.88 in the senior girls 3,000m while, at inter level at the same distance, Sarah Ni Mhaolmhuire took bronze.
Wesley’s Stephen Rice was another big winner when he claimed the inter boys javelin crown with a throw of 50.59m, three metres clear of Raphoe’s John Kelly. The championships had hardly begun before the first record was set in the girls intermediate hammer. Alice Akers (Scariff CC) had a throw of 47.04m in the fourth round, before improving significantly to 48.22m in the last round. Her throw improved on the record of 47.59m achieved by her sister, Rachel, in 2001.
7 June 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 31
GAELIC GAMES: HURLERS, FOOTBALLERS IN ACTION
CLUB NOTICEBOARD ST SYLVESTER’S DARREN Clarke scored eight points
and the junior Bs getting the better
for Louth against Dublin, with a
of neighbours, Naomh Mearnog.
magnificent point from a line ball
The intermediate hurlers play
the pick of the bunch in what was an
championship against Whitehall
excellent performance. Two great
Colmcilles in Broomfield on Satur-
performances from both the Dublin
day, June 9 at 7.30pm.
football and hurling teams gave us
The junior hurlers also play cham-
a great start to this year’s cham-
pionship against Naomh Fionnbarra
pionships.
in Malahide Castle on Sunday, June
AFL1: O’Toole’s 0-7, St Sylvester’s
10 at 11am.
1-12 - The senior football team had
The U-12s are running a fund-
a very good victory over O’Toole’s in
raising quiz night on Friday, June 8
the league and they both face each
at 8.30pm to raise funds for their
other in the championship next Fri-
upcoming trip to Ardara.
day in Drumnigh at 7.30pm. All our football teams had good
The annual Malahide inter club Golf Challenge takes place on June 22.
wins this week, with the intermedi-
This week’s lotto jackpot is €2,400.
ates defeating Naomh Olaf, the jun-
Play and win on www.stsylvesters.
ior As winning against St Vincent’s
ie.
FINGALLIANS Dublin’s footballers and hurlers shone at the weekend as they returned to big game action. Picture: Fergus McNally
Dublin soar in spite of simple NC tests I sport@gazettegroup.com
A COMBINED tally of 5-45 to 1-19 provided a resounding start to the Dubs’ championships summer, but both Pat Gilroy’s footballers and Anthony Daly’s hurlers will still emerge from last weekend’s proceedings with a degree of cautious optimism. For the hurlers on Saturday in O’Connor Park against Laois, St Pat’s Liam Rushe ran amok in the first half, while his pair of goals were added to by Cuala man David Treacy’s deft deflection. 3-14 to 1-1 ahead at the break, it was scarcely a contest, but it did provide the likes of Conal Keaney, Stephen Hiney and Tomas Boland with comfor table returns to the line-up, as they sought to build toward championship fitness. Rushe’s goals were suitably spectacular while Paul Ryan – one of six Ballyboden St Enda’s
men in the starting lineup, joined later by Davie Curtin and Simon Lambert — clipped some fine scores for his 0-9 total. Club-mates Keaney, Conor McCormack and Shane Durkin all added a brace of points each, as the final total ran to 3-23 to 1-7. Next up, though, is the real challenge of the summer’s early stages when the focus turns to All-Ireland champions, Kilkenny, who Dublin will face on Saturday, June 23 in O’Moore Park, Portaoise (5pm) with the Electric Ireland Leinster MHC semifinal between the Dubs and the same opponents providing the curtainraiser. M a n a g e r A n t h o ny Daly said afterwards he had hoped for more of a battle, despite his side claiming their first win of the year. “ We s p o ke a b o u t June 2 quite a bit during the year and that
was the target for all of the injured boys to get themselves ready. “There was a good lot of positives, but, obviously, it wasn’t much of a hard game really. “The second half was a bit dead and drab, but we came as ready as we can be, and that’s all you can do.” For the footballers, it was a case of more of the same at a damp Croke Park on Sunday, when Bernard Brogan put away a pair of firsthalf goals and Louth were all but dismissed by the break. A wonder point from Fingallians’ Paul Flynn from the base of the Hogan Stand’s 45 line had helped push Dublin into a 0-9 to 0-3 lead, with St Sylvester’s Darren Clarke providing the only responses from frees. But Kevin Nolan and Alan Brogan unlocked the door for Bernard to clinically flash home the
opening goal. Flynn was central to the next major moments later and the contest was done, 14 points in the margin at half-time. There were plenty of chances to extend the gap to even more emphatic proportions as Kevin McManamon and Diarmuid Connolly did everything but raise the green flag again. It left Gilroy lamenting a few glitches, but he has four weeks to smooth out the kinks ahead of a date with either Longford or Wexford in the semi-final, set for early July.
ALL the best to our members who
ex-pat Cathal McGee as he swaps
are leaving aside their boots for the
Ireland for Canada and gives us an
next two weeks and studying hard in
insight into the GAA scene. Log on to
preparation for their exams.
www.fingallians.com and go to Fins’
There was an nationwide plea for
TV.
blood donations last week. This week,
As part of the Raising The Red Bar
County Fingal and Swords can help.
coaching initiative, Bart McEnroe will
The bloodbank will visit the club on
be speaking at a coaching event in
June 7 from 5 to 8.30pm. Please get
Fins on June 8 at 8pm. Bart is involved
down as early as possible.
in the mental side of team prepara-
Well done to the Dublin hurlers and
tion, and has a very strong and posi-
footballers, who got the summer
tive reputation. He has worked with
championship program off to a win-
both the Dublin and Tyrone teams
ning start.
who recently won All-Ireland titles.
Thanks to all who helped as our U-14
This session is aimed at mentors and
footballers played host to a French
selectors from U-14 level up to adult
team on Sunday morning.
in all codes. For any information and
Fins’ TV: This week, our camera crew were in Toronto, interviewing
to reserve your place please contact Eoin Cullen on 086 807 6910.
ST FINIAN’S Congratulations to the Dublin sen-
The lads on the U-12 hurling team
ior hurling and football teams for
had a good win vs Lucan, with Jack
great performances at the week-
Kane and Andrew Crowley putting
end.
in fine performances.
Our Intermediate football team
The fun day is planned for June 23,
had a great win against St Marga-
and we will also be having a spon-
ret’s during the week, putting in a
sored 24-hour cycle, which will fin-
fantastic second-half perform-
ish at 5pm on the fun day.
ance. The result puts the lads into
Sponsor ship car ds ar e being
second place, one point off the top
given to each team; please ensure
of Division 3.
that they are completed before the
Our U-14 hurlers also had a great
day of the cycle.
week with two fine wins, which puts
The summer camp dates have
them in joint first place in their
been published, and entry forms
league. The crunch tie against joint
can be found in the Downloads sec-
leaders, Craobh Chiarain, takes
tion of our website.
place on June 14 at 7.30pm in Rivervalley.
Best wishes to all members taking Junior and Leaving Cert exams.
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ALL OF YOUR MALAHIDE SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31
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JUNE 7, 2012
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GazetteSPORT
Adrian Morrow (Portmarnock), with his wife Irene, winner of the 2012 Irish Seniors’ Amateur Open Championship at Athenry Golf Club
Morrow masters Irish Senior title Portmarnock man takes home Irish Senior Amateur Open title in Athenry to add to his 2008 success STAFF REPORTER
malahidesport@gazettegroup.com
PORTMARNOCK’S Adrian Morrow has captured the Irish Seniors Amateur Open title at Athenry Golf Club after leading the event from start to finish. This is Morrow’s second win in the event, his first coming in Westport in 2008. Having started the day with a three shot lead over Scotland’s Ian Brotherston, Morrow was never troubled by the chasing pack and ran out champion by three shots.
Bogeys His final round got off to a poor start, with bogeys at the first and fifth leaving the Dubliner on 2 over par. He got one shot back at the sixth, only to make bogey on the next. A birdie on the tenth was cancelled out with bogey on twelve, but a birdie on the penultimiate hole secure victory over playing partner Brotherston.
Maurice Kelly (Killeen) won the Over 60s trophy, while James Kinloch from Scotland raided the Over 65s trophy. And James Fox and Geoff Lenehan almost came close to adding to Portmarnock’s excellent week as they finished well up the rankings as the East of Ireland Amateur Open in Baltray. Fox went into the final day with a four-stroke overnight lead going into the final round but was not able to keep Moyola Park’s Chris Selfridge at bay, making for another painful memory in the competition. In 2009, he had shared the lead with Paul Cutler with 36 holes to go only to finish ten shots behind the Portstewart man. Having avoided the horrific morning conditions that forced officials to delay the start by 70 minutes, the Leinster interprovincial was happy to add a one over 73 to his opening 66 to lead from Co Sligo’s Gary McDermott (69) on five under par 139. “I’d have taken that on the first tee,” said
Fox, who believes he’s a better player than he was when he jointly led at halfway in 2009 before fading to 10th. “I am three years older and three years more experienced. That said, I bet nobody remembers who was leading at halfway.”
Slipped But he was left to suffer again as he slipped to a morning 76 to find himself tied for the lead with Newlands’ Andrew Hogan (68) on one under heading into the final round with another ten players within four shots. Selfridge and Knock’s Nicky Grant both hit form in the final round of the competition with the former securing the title in a three hole play-off to secure a second major title in the space of a week. Portmarnock’s Geoff Lenehan recorded a remarkably consistent set of results to take a share of sixth place with rounds of 73, 72, 72 and 71, just one shot back from his club mate at the end of the fourth round.