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WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE FINGAL AREA, WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED 

NOVEMBER 2-8, 2017

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DONABATE SHOCKED AS ARSONISTS TARGET PHARMACY, SALON

Halloween horror as businesses torched  SYLVIA POWNALL THERE have been renewed calls for a garda station in Donabate after a pharmacy and neighbouring hair salon were destroyed in an overnight arson attack.

Pharmacist Nuala Mac Cinna spoke

of her shock after the blaze, which was deliberately started in wheelie bins to the rear of the property, gutted the shop.

“I can’t believe it,” she said. “The fire spread so rapidly. When I got here last night the fire was in the roof and

spreading very fast. I just feel disbelief.”

Swords gardai are appealing for witnesses who saw anything suspicious between 11.30pm on Sunday and 1am on Monday to come forward.

Local resident Diane Lawson told The Gazette: “Enough is enough. Two

businesses, their proprietors and their staff have lost their livelihoods for the foreseeable future.

“Why not reduce the number of councillors and increase the number of gardai and patrol cars in the area?”

Continued on Page 6

2 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 2 November 2017

EMERGENCY | COUNCIL RAMPS UP RESPONSE AS CRISIS ESCALATES

FASTNews

FINGAL County Council plans to open at least two more homeless hubs as spending to tackle the crisis is expected to top €140 million in the capital next year.

The four Dublin local authorities are braced for an increase in homelessness and a revised capital investment of €142.2 million is forecast for 2018.

Dublin City Council, through the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, leads the provision of services on behalf of all four councils, including Fingal.

A total of 1,007 families with 2,046 children were accessing emer-

Liam Gallagher confirmed for Malahide Castle gig

FCC to open another two ‘homeless hubs’ gency accommodation in Dublin in January, but the figure had jumped to 1,138 families with 2,416 children by September.

The document found that the number of homeless was rising faster than the rate at which families are being moved on – and showed no signs of slowing.

Spending It states: “The numbers presenting for emergency accommodation continues to increase; therefore it is not envisaged there will be any significant fall in spending for the foreseeable future.”

The Peter McVerr y

Trust said it anticipated that by the end of this year the official homeless figure will have increased by “a massive 25%”.

The charity is working in tandem with Fingal County Council to provide a further two hubs in Fingal after the first opened in Swords earlier this year.

Hubs – which have laundr y and cooking facilities, as well as play and study space for children – are cheaper than private emergency accommodation and typically accommodate up to 14 people who have their own private room with shared facilities.

FORMER Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher is the first act to be confirmed for a summer gig at Malahide Castle next year.

The open-air concert is scheduled for Friday, June 15 and tickets (from €49.90 including booking fee) go on sale from this Friday, November 3, at 9am via Ticketmaster. Following the success of Arcade Fire and The 1975 earlier this year, LCD Soundsystem will also play on June 5 with others rumoured to be in the pipeline.

Welcoming the news, Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) said: “This is great for local businesses in the area and generates valuable income for Fingal County Council that can be reinvested into our parks and heritage properties, improving community and recreational facilities.”

FCC to kick off a football development school course

Joe’s Green-ing as he contemplates a general election run THE Green Party has selected Joe O’Brien to once again run in the general election – expected to be called in either March or September of next year.

He was given the nod at a selection convention in Swords last week where Mark Henry also put his name forward for the ticket. Joe ran in his first general election last year – the first ballot faced by the Green Party in Fingal since the retirement of former leader and poll-topper Trevor Sargent.

O’Brien failed last year to bring back the seat that the Greens held via Sargent from 1992 to 2011, but this time round he’s full of fighting talk.

He said: “Fingal needs progressive, hardworking representatives that are constructive and are not duped by empty spin that seems to be increasingly mistaken for good government.”

He accused the current “vain and fearful” government of “stagnation” and said it had failed to tackle the big issues including housing and climate change. He added: “It’s the housing crisis that really has shown that this government is incapable of making the decisions needed to bring the change we are all looking for.

“There are housing developments and areas all over Fingal poorly served by the Celtic Tiger era that are still suffering from inadequate transport, community and educational infrastructure. Now we see further poorly planned and supported development often in areas where these infrastructure issues have not been resolved.”

A SCHOOL football development course is being offered across Fingal for the second year as the council continues its partnership with the FAI. This year, 26 transition year students are taking part – mixing academic subjects such as Maths and English with Kick Start 1 and 2 coaching courses and modules in fitness instruction, media skills and personal development.

Participants will return to their local primary school one day a week to work with teachers in the delivery of physical education and gain valuable work experience.

The course ran last year with the support of Blanchardstown Area Partnership (BAP) and Sports Ireland, with BAP again lending its support this time round.

Every little will help at a youth group’s bag drop VOLUNTEERS are being asked to help out with the Irish Youth Foundation (IYF) Tesco national bag pack weekend on November 4 and 5.

Individuals, sports teams, families, groups of friends, corporate teams and youth clubs can donate two hours of their time to support IYF. Volunteers can choose their preferred date, time and location around Dublin. To find out more and to sign up, email Anne at alhenoret@youthworkireland.ie, or call 087 9545 777.

Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Second Floor, Heritage House, Dundrum Office Park, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240. Email: sales@dublingazette.com news@dublingazette.com web: www.dublingazette.com twitter: @DublinGazette Visit us on Facebook at DublinGazetteNewspapers

2 November 2017 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 3

CHARITY | BRAVE SCHOOLGIRL CHOPS OFF HER GOLDEN LOCKS FOR A WORTHY CAUSE

LESS IS MORGAN!

Nine year old selflessly donates her 15-inch ponytail to help a children’s cancer charity  PATRICK FINNEGAN BRAVE schoolgirl Morgan Doyle made the ultimate sacrifice for any nine year old last Friday – lopping off her golden locks for the Rapunzel Foundation.

The big-hearted fourth class pupil at St Margaret’s NS also used the occasion to help raise funds for Aoibheann’s Pink Tie, a charity that assists dren who the families of chilhave cancer.

Morgan’s mum Natasha, who had the unenviable task of cutting her hair, told The Gazette Morgan had wanted to donate her hair for some time, adding that they had allowed it grow right down to the end of

her back. Just before her mum went to work, Morgan took time to tell The Gazette: “It’s not fair that children are in hospital waiting to be fitted with wigs, so I decided to have my hair cut to help them.”

School principal Ciara Gaughan was very proud of Morgan’s gesture and said: “Morgan has been preparing for this for such a long time and we are delighted to be a part of it.

“It is for a great charity and one that is close to the hearts of the local community here at St Margaret’s NS.” Sixth class pupil John Sugg summed up the feelings of everyone when he added: “Morgan did a really good thing here today.”

4 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 2 November 2017

Out and About IBYE co-ordinator Anne Donaldson with Oisin Geoghegan, head of enterprise in Fingal; Noel Davidson, Entrepreneurs Academy, and Paul Reid, chief executive, Fingal County Council

Fingal’s fab 15 through to final for €50k young entrepreneur funding FINGAL’S 15 best young entrepreneurs have made it the county final, with a €50,000 investment fund up for grabs for the best six entrants.

The final takes place on Thursday, November 30 in County Hall, Swords and will see the initial field whittled down to six winners in three categories – best business idea, best start-up and best established business.

Fingal’s county entrepreneur finalists hail from Portmarnock, Malahide, Baldoyle, Castleknock, Clonee, Sutton, Blanchardstown and Rush.

IBYE, which has a €2 million investment fund, is run by all 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) and is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland. The competition is now in its fourth year.

Further details on the competition and supports available to young entrepreneurs are available through www.localenterprise.ie and from the IBYE website at www.ibye.ie.

Tom, Dan, Dave and Eoin. Pictures: ALISON O’HANLON

A hearty party to honour Lee and support others T

HE family and friends of the late Lee Kelly (inset), who died of cancer aged 26, held a charity fundraiser in the city centre in Nancy Hand’s bar, Parkgate Street, in his name last week. The night of celebration raised funds for Beaumont Hospital and St Francis Hospice, where Lee was cared for in his final days. Everyone did their best to honour the late Blanch man, celebrate his life, and help to support the facilities’ work with so many others also bravely facing their own battles.

Kieran Marshall

Martin O’Shea

Warren Kelly, Marie Flynn and Sonya Flynn

2 November 2017 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 5

Out and About

Sam and Lynda Jackson Shane and Mary Kelly

Ann O’Shea and Bernie Kelly Ami Hughes and Claire Hughes

Mark Touhey, Tara O’Shea and Sam Kelly

(Lee’s mum)

Sinn Fein blast ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’ hit on LEADER funding BALBRIGGAN Cllr Malachy Quinn has slammed a government decision to cut LEADER funding by €10 million to fund a private roads scheme.

The Sinn Fein Cllr said he was “appalled” at the move to raid the LEADER pot in order to bolster the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) fund.

Responding to revelations via parliamentary question from his party colleague, Deputy Peadar Toibin, Cllr Quinn said: “This is effectively robbing Peter to pay Paul.

“The LIS has since been marketed about the country as a coup for Minister [for Rural and Community Development, Michael] Ring when in fact the budget for essential community funding was being pilfered.”

Cllr Quinn added: “As a former board member of Fingal Leader Partnership, I am only too aware how important LEADER funding has been to rural communities in Fingal.”

‘Nightmare’ He said changes to the scheme in 2014 had left it a “bureaucratic nightmare” for local groups applying for funding. He added: “Citizens have been made jump through 18 bureaucratic hoops just to achieve funding before they even start the particular project that they are seeking to develop.

“The overwrought process has ensured that only a handful of projects have so far received funding in each county. Despite claims that the process has been reformed, funds are still not getting through to projects on the ground.”

6 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 2 November 2017

MALAHIDE | MUM OF TWO BELIEVES SHE BEAT DIAGNOSIS WITH HER SELF-BELIEF

‘I beat my MS with a positive attitude and determination’  SYLVIA POWNALL

A MUM-OF-TWO who cured herself of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) claims mind over matter is key – and she wants to spread her message.

Karen Sweeney (36) from Malahide was given a clean bill of health earlier this year and is now living symptom-free, despite being diagnosed with MS in 2012.

Single mum Karen ditched medication in favour of mindfulness and meditation in December 2014 and she hasn’t looked back since.

She told The Gazette: “I started getting numbness in my hands and blurred vision in one eye and when it got markedly worse I went for an MRI scan.

“The doctor told me if I was 80 years of age, the number of lesions on my brain would be normal – I was 31!

I had a very large lesion on my spine, which was lighting up.

“It was very scary. The first thing you think with MS is, ‘Am I going to end up in a wheelchair?’ That was the most frightening thing, not knowing for sure.”

Karen, whose youngest daughter was just one at the time, was hospitalised and pumped full of steroids before being subjected to gruelling rounds of injections.

She said: “The side effects were awful. The injections were so strong, I’d wake up at three or four in the morning sweating, shaking, vomiting.

“I couldn’t go back to sleep, I’d have to shower and change the bed sheets. I went into a really dark place; the whole weekend would be spent in bed. I was surviving, not living.”

At the time Karen was still holding down a full-time job as a radio station sales manager, but in late 2014 she gave up her career to focus on her treatment.

“Something gave me a little light of hope and I said, ‘I’m not going to let this beat me’.

“I was borrowing strength from somewhere, and I didn’t know where.

I didn’t want to let MS win – I refused

to sink into it.”

Karen took the brave decision to come off all medication and heal herself from inside out. She said: “My neurologist advised against it, my family and friends advised against it.

But I decided to make myself better.

“I researched mindset and mindfulness, started juicing, exercising, started putting myself first unapologetically. I started saying no to people or situations that didn’t serve my best interests.

“I felt different straight away. I

with the mental tools to overcome adversity.

She said: “I know what it feels like to be at the point where you want to take your own life. No matter what issues you’re facing – work, health, relationships – the same strategy applies to build up your own mental health and put in the work, to invest in yourself.”

Karen launched My Gratitude Attitude Journal online earlier this year and

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‘Something gave me a little light of hope and I said, ‘I’m not going to let this beat me’. I was borrowing strength from somewhere, and I didn’t know where. I didn’t want to let MS win – I refused to sink into it.’

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liked myself again. I stopped whinging, and stopped playing the martyr all the time.”

The success of Karen’s new regime – which included keeping a daily journal of gratitude – was borne out when she went for an MRI scan this January.

She revealed: “The neurologist asked me what on earth I’d been doing because he said there was no sign of the MS, I’d got to burnout stage.

“I sobbed for 24 hours afterwards. I feel so privileged and lucky and proud that I took a leap of faith and it worked.”

K a r e n n ow wants to help others who have hit rock bottom and says we can all be masters of our destiny once we are armed

on Sunday, November 12, she will host a oneday seminar at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links.

S h e

said: “Portmarnock beach is where I go to clear my head, so it was the perfect venue ... I spent many a day crying there; it’s food for the soul.”

For further information, see www.mygratitudeattitudejournal.com.

BLAZE

Shock as Donabate businesses torched by arsonists Continued from Page 1

The devastating blaze set the tone for a busy Halloween period for firefighters who responded to 501 calls in Dublin between 9am and 11pm on Tuesday alone.

Several units of the fire brigade were called out after a fire near Lusk got out of hand and caused problems for motorists on the M1.

A firefighter suffered a perforated eardrum after a banger was thrown at him while he attended the scene of a massive bonfire in Blanchardstown.

But it’s the peninsula that is counting the cost of serious criminal damage after gardai confirmed the fire was started deliberately and appealed for witnesses.

Ms Mac Cinna said: “Seven people work in the pharmacy. I will try to get back open as soon as possible. The customers are fantastic. I would be here 14 years this Christmas.”

Flames Fire crews from Swords, K ilbarrack, Finglas and Tara Street battled the blaze until 4am on bank holiday Monday as flames engulfed the one-storey building.

Gardai have trawled CCTV footage and conducted door-to-door inquiries. They are asking parents whose children were on sleepovers with friends on Sunday to double-check their movements.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Swords Garda Station at 01 666 4700.

2 November 2017 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 7

Blanch reports BOROIMHE | COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDER GROUP DEMONSTRATES CPR SKILLS the most house sales for Dublin THE highest number of house sales in the capital for the first six months of the year were recorded in Blanchardstown, according to research by myhome.ie.

There were 751 house sales in the D15 suburb, ahead of D18 sales (387) and Dublin 8 (366).

The property website’s managing director, Angela Keegan, said while new builds on the outskirts of the city are great for first-time buyers, the added traffic to the M50 is concerning.

She warned: “Commuting times are increasing at an alarming rate as the city spreads beyond the M50 and this will be a huge issue for Dubliners in the years ahead.

“Clearly, it should be a major concern for our planners right now.”

‘Emergency’ a hit with shoppers at SuperValu Swords CFR volunteer Brian Hand demonstrating CPR to locals

Hamper winner Hugh Rogers is congratulated by with Swords

Swords CFR volunteer Paul Clifford

CFR volunteer Paul Clifford, and

demonstrating how to clear a foreign object

SuperValu manager Damien Farrell

from a baby’s airway

SHOPPERS at SuperValu in Boroimhe were stopped in their tracks on Saturday when they came upon what looked like a medical emergency.

The event was all in a good cause though as Community First Responders demonstrated CPR to raise funds for a public access defibrillator for the town.

Zita Corkery, secretary of the newlyestablished Swords CFR, said the day was a huge success and raised €727 towards the badly-needed medical equipment.

She said: “We wish to acknowledge Donal and his team for offering the store entrance to our group and raising much-needed funds to purchase AED for Swords.

“Our last fundraiser in the Manor pub over the summer raised €900, so we are well on our way to securing a housed public access outdoor defibrillator by Christmas. It will save a life.”

SuperValu sponsored a hamper worth

€250 which was raffled and a large number of customers took time out of their day to learn what the demo was all about.

Zita said: “It ties in with Ireland’s first ‘Restart a Heart’ initiative, which was rolled out nationwide by CFR Ireland.

“The aim is to show people how to perform CPR and how to use a defibrillator.”

Just last month, Rush school principal Tim O Tuachaigh told The Gazette how he used a defibrillator to save a pupil who collapsed in the yard.

The device – sponsored by Apache Pizza – was housed at the nearby GAA grounds and he called for the Government to provide them at all schools.

Swords CFR is seeking volunteers who can offer 12 hours a month, have their own car, are over 18 and are resident in the town.

For further information, email swordscfr@gmail.com, or see the group’s Facebook page.

8 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 2 November 2017

BALBRIGGAN | PUPILS LEARNING ALL ABOUT HOLES, CRUMBLING WOOD, LEAKS

Principal pleads for new school as kids squash into decrepit prefabs  SYLVIA POWNALL

More than half of the school’s hundreds of pupils spend their time in ‘temporary’ structures – erected 17 years ago – which are crumbling

THE principal of St Molaga’s NS in Balbriggan has pleaded for a new school building, revealing that

more than half her pupils are attending classes in prefabs.

Pauline Costello says the health and safety of both staff and students is being put at risk as 52% of the 462-enrolment spend their day in 16 temporary structures.

The draughty prefabs – which have limited heating, are poorly insulated and are now in a serious state of disrepair – were erected as a ‘temporary’ measure 17 years ago.

But although St Molaga’s is listed on the Department of Education’s major building works for 20192021, there is still no sign of a schedule for construction.

Ms Costello said: “Pupils and teachers in the prefabs are isolated from the main building.

This means they must walk in all weathers to and from the PE hall, for choir lessons, to the office, etc.

“There are obvious health and safety concerns in this. Some of the classrooms are too small to cope with our pupil/ teacher ratio. Three classes in prefabs have 30 pupils.

“The rooms are unsuit-

School principal Pauline Costello with Senator James Reilly (FG), who joined Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee (FF) in raising the school’s condition at the Seanad

ed to active learning activities as movement causes the floors to shake and sound travels easily from room to room.”

There are also security concerns around the fact that members of the public can access any of the prefab classrooms at any time.

Ms Costello revealed: “During heavy downpours, windows leak and water pours onto electrical sockets and heaters.

Floors have had to be replaced.”

Last week, Senators James Reilly (FG) and Lorraine Clifford-Lee (FF) raised the issue in

Another rotting, crumbling piece of wood at a prefab

the Seanad and called for a commitment and timeframe for building works.

Senator Reilly, who visited the school to see the situation first-hand, demanded action as the health and safety of both staff and children was being put at risk.

Senator Clifford-Lee also raised the matter with Education Minister Richard Bruton in the Seanad and said Balbriggan students were “suffering” as the Government ignored the need for a new building at St Molaga’s.

She said: “As it stands, there are 462 pupils, and in order to support the school’s growing numbers, three extra classrooms and special education rooms are required.”

She said revelations that 21 new schools earmarked for 2015 had yet to get under way did not bode well, adding: “My worry is that St Molaga’s could be pushed further down the line as a consequence.

Minister Bruton needs to knuckle down.”

FASTNews

Gas-powered data centres planned for D15 THREE new gaspowered data centres are being planned for Blanchardstown.

Orion Reo – a company linked to investment fund Oaktree Capital – plans to link into a nearby highpressure gas pipeline to power speciallydesigned generators to overcome the mounting pressure on the area’s power supply.

The proposed 31,537sq m development, on a 5.73-hectare site previously owned

by Brian Daly Transport, is in the Orion Business Park.

EirGrid has indicated that new power connections over 10MW in Ballycoolin and the wider area “would require deep reinforcement of the current grid infrastructure, which is already operating near maximum capacity”, according to planning documents.

The Orion planning application is awaiting a decision from Fingal County Council.

Gino’s Gelato open in Swords SATURDAY marked the opening of the sixteenth Gino’s Gelato store in Ireland, at Swords Pavilions.

The chain’s latest 40-seat store will be serving up its famed range of gelato, crepes, waffles and specialty coffee.

The new shop will employ 15 staff, including a master gelato maker who will make the gelato fresh in store each day.

Co-founder Anthony Murphy said: “We are delighted to be opening a new outlet in the Pavilions. We’ll be offering all of our usual treats, and will also be catering for children’s birthday parties.”

2 November 2017 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 9

COURTS | DRUGS MINDER REMANDED ON CONTINUING BAIL; SUSPICIOUS FUNDS FORFEITED

‘Sacrificial lamb’ found with €27k cocaine haul A 22-YEAR-OLD man who was caught with more than €27,000 worth of cocaine in his bedroom was a “sacrificial lamb” to drug dealers, a Dublin court has heard.

Niky Sosso pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having cocaine for sale or supply at his home at Parslickstown Drive, Mulhuddart on January 28, 2016.

Garda Ronan Farrelly

said a search warrant was executed on the evening of the day in question after a tip-off and Sosso himself answered the door.

W hile sniffer dogs searched the house, Sosso immediately told gardai where they would find drugs in his bedroom – in an iPhone box, in a bag in his dresser and in a shoebox.

A total of 387g of cocaine with an estimated

street value of €27,115 was retrieved from the house.

Sosso, who has no previous convictions, was fully co-operative but told gardai he was too afraid to reveal who he was working for.

Sosso, a student at the time, told gardai he was holding the drugs for other people, from whom he took orders. He said he got into it to “make a bit of money”.

The life and death of a beloved natural landmark in the heart of The Naul

Timberrr ... but council vows to replace a Naul landmark FINGAL County Council is now working on preparing the site at The Naul to replace the iconic red chestnut tree beside the Seamus Ennis Centre which was part of the landscape for more than a century.

The local authority says that despite efforts to save it, the tree had become dangerous and for safety reasons has been felled and removed. The tree featured in many photographs of The Naul dating back to the 1800s.

The council’s senior parks superintendant, Kevin Halpenny, said: “We are very aware of the importance of the tree to the local community and it will be replaced by a new specimen chestnut tree.

“The large planting pit, which is itself a prominent feature in the village, will also be repaired and improved by council staff. Fresh soil and a built-in watering system will be provided for the new tree.” Details of the replanting event will be provided closer to the date.

Describing him as “not an essential cog” in the operation, his counsel said he’d received “very little reward” for his role and “he has nothing of particular value in the world”.

When asked what he thought would happen now he had lost the drugs, he replied: “I don’t know.

I fear the worst”.

“He was a sacrificial lamb,” his solicitor,

Michael Bowman SC, told the court.

He said his client’s family moved to Ireland from the Congo in 2007 and his parents were hard-working people who “are devastated and humiliated by what has transpired”.

Judge Karen O’Connor ordered a probation report and she remanded Sosso on continuing bail until his sentence in December.

State seizes €71k said to belong to ‘Moldovan mafia’ CASH seized by customs officials which was claimed to be the property of “the Moldovan mafia” has been forfeited to the State as the proceeds of crime.

Officers seized the sum of €71,000 from Ramon Rodriguez, with an address at San Isidor, Sabadell, Spain, at the Maldron Hotel at Dublin Airport in February 2016.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Mr Rodriguez had been made aware of the application to forfeit the money to the State, but he had indicated he was in fear of his life and would not be returning to Ireland.

Mr Rodriguez said that the money belonged to “the Moldovan mafia”.

The court heard he was identified getting off a flight from Barcelona and followed. A bag he was carrying held the cash inside a biscuit tin and bed sheets.

10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 2 November 2017

Out and About

Roisin Madigan, Caoimhe Madigan, Cara Hand, Femke Hendriks and Moya Hand

The glorious and festive fireworks at Swords Castle. Pictures: Allison O’Hanlon

Artur Molloy

Fingal Festival of Fire is a treat for Halloween revellers D

Annabelle Edwards

Tawfig and Rawan with their son Taim

OUBLE, double, toil and trouble, wicked witches, ghastly ghouls and grisly gremlins were just some of the horrid creatures spotted at the free Halloween event, Fingal Festival of Fire held in Swords.

Locals enjoyed live music from The Great Escape before the grand finale, a magnificent fireworks display, which no Halloween event would be the same without.

2 November 2017 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 11

Mrs Browne to inspire Boom Boom to victory

Dawn, Aoibhinn and Cillian Kearns

Teagan and Kriztina Barody

AARON ‘Boom Boom’ Browne is a remarkable young man, who is stepping up in his conquest to become Muay Thai Kick boxing World Champion, in his latest outing against a tough opponent.

Irish champion Aaron (24) from Ashbourne will fight Italian champion Giuseppi Conti in a European eliminator fight at St Finbarr’s GAA club in Cabra on 18 November under full Thai rules in the 65kg weigh division. Boom Boom is making his 65kg debut after collecting the 70kg title earlier this year.

Aaron’s father Gerry was the comedy partner of Brendan O’Carroll. His mother and Aaron’s grandmother, Annie Browne, who is a hale and hearty 87 yearold renowned for her turn of wit, was the inspiration for the creation of Agnes Brown.

Aaron’s success story has been remarkable ; he is the most decorated Irish fighter and is currently holding 7 different belts. What makes Aaron’s success so remarkable is that he has to fight his own demons, as he suffers from ADHD, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia, which made school a real problem for him, but he feels this is just a little bump on the road to be overcome. Aaron told us that discovering Muay Thai Kick Boxing changed his life in a very positive way.

“I found my feet and I concentrated my energy into being as good as I could be and since I joined the Lionheart gym, I’m improving with every fight and I’m very confident of taking a big step towards becoming world champion on November 18.

Doors open at 6pm, with tickets priced €25, walk-up tickets €30, and U-18 tickets priced €15. For further information, call 087 2388 666.

Scammer given time to repay victims A WOMAN who scammed prospective lodgers out of more than €10,000 in rental deposits and then refused them access to her house has been given 12 months to pay the money back.

Olga Leschen (50), with an address at Ballentree Drive, Tyrrelstown, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing the money over a six-week period between September and October 2015.

Judge Terence O’Sullivan adjourned the sentencing for 12 months to allow Leschen, who arrived in court with €5,000, the opportunity to pay the injured parties back their money.

Garda Tom McCarrick told the court Leschen advertised renting her house on Daft.ie and took deposits from eight different parties with the amounts ranging from €200 to €2,600.

Leschen emailed each of the eight par-

ties informing them of impending surgeries or other health issues and pushed back the date they were to move into her house. None of the parties were ever allowed to take up residence in her house and none of the deposits were returned.

Judge O’Sullivan said “There was no sophistication” to the theft. He ordered that the €5,000 be split evenly between the injured parties and adjourned sentencing for one year.

Woman who stole a million-plus is jailed A PERSONAL assistant who stole more than €1 million from her employers over a 14-year period has been jailed for four years.

Siobhan Maguire (47), of The Brambles, Skerries, scammed cheques and spent the money paying her mortgage, going on holidays and supporting her children.

Maguire pleaded guilty to 32 samThe Peppard, Renehan and Acojedo families

ple theft and fraud charges related to lodgement of 660 cheques to her bank account on dates between 2001 and 2015.

Her former employers have been partially reimbursed by banks and the outstanding loss is now €325,000.

Judge Ryan imposed four years imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently.

GAZETTE

12 DUBLIN GAZETTE 2 November 2017

DUBLINBUSINESS

Expansion changes in store for Nesta I RI S H- ow ned sel fstorage company Nesta has announced plans to increase its current operations with a €2 million investment.

The planned expansion will see an added 100,000sq ft of storage space created, across Sandyford, Deansgrange, Kylemore Rd. and Santry.

Managing director Brian Hefferon (pictured) said: “The investment will mean a 35% increase in available space and make Nesta the largest [such storage] provider in Ireland.

“It will allow us to meet the growing needs of the local communities we ser ve. We will also increase the amount of office space,

from 25,000sq ft to more than 30,000.”

The planned development is scheduled to get under way this year, with Hefferon adding they expect to see the project completed within 2018, increasing the company’s services available to local communities, and facilitating further employment opportunities.

He added: “Directly, the investment will create two full-time staff to manage the space, but indirectly it will offer start-up businesses with a cost-effective premises to grow their business and, in turn, create more employment.”

For further information, see https://www. nesta.ie.

Celebrating 40 years of excellence DUBLIN-based international construction company Ardmac celebrated the completion of a rebranding initiative in culmination with its 40th anniversary as a leading international specialist contractor in Dublin with a party at the Westin hotel.

Pictured are Brent Pope; Tom Kelly, head of manufacturing, global sourcing and competitiveness division at Enterprise Ireland; Richard Joyce, managing director, Linesight, and Ronan Quinn, chief executive, Ardmac.

THE Cadbury Foundation, which has been in operation for more than 80 years, has donated €56,000 to Irish mental health organisation and Cadbury Ireland charity partner, Aware, to support its Beat the Blues initiative for secondary schoolsand Paulina Maiziesyte.

A positive mental health programme, Beat the Blues is aimed at senior cycle students throughout Ireland.

Delivered over two class periods, the programme is designed to teach students about mental health and to help equip them with the tools to deal with life’s challenges.

To mark the donation, Eoin Kellett joined Gerry O’Brien, head of fundraising at Aware, and Dublin football legend and Aware ambassador, Bernard Brogan, to pay a visit to Larkin Community College, Cathal Brugha Street,

Dublin 1.

There they joined Bernard’s fellow Dublin teammate and Aware mental health trainer, Kevin McManamon, where he was delivering a Beat The Blues talk to the school’s students.

Speaking at the school, O’Brien said: “We are really grateful to The Cadbury Foundation for their generous donation to support our Beat the Blues initiative.

“The funding will allow us to

expand the programme, so that more Irish students will be able to understand, and most importantly, look after their mental health.”

Pictured are Bernard Brogan, Hanna Marzin, Leah Cleary and Paulina Maiziesyte, happy to take an upbeat selfie to help spread the message of positivity, sharing experiences and availing of support to help maintain positive mental health.

Six Dublin companies in the running for Seedcorn funding competition

Ill winds blow a little bit of good for tax returns

SIX Dublin companies have been shortlisted for the Dublin regional final of InterTradeIreland’s Seedcorn competition, which takes place next month.

Assure Hedge Ltd, CroiValve Ltd, EnergyElephant, ikydz Ltd, Coroflo and Eskimo Software compete against other shortlisted companies in the Best Early Stage Company and Best New Start Company categories for a chance to win €20,000 to help finance the initial stages of their ventures.

The shortlisted companies are based across Dublin and are involved in a range of industries, including medical devices, currency hedging and software.

The winning companies from each of the four regional finals

will go on to compete in the all-island final of the competition, which will take place on Wednesday, November 22 at the Crowne Plaza Northwood, Co Dublin.

Overall €100,000 prize Companies are in with a chance to compete for the overall Best New Start Company prize, worth €50,000, or the overall Best Early Stage Company prize, worth €50,000, and ultimately the Overall Winner title, worth €100,000.

Now in its 15th year, Seedcorn is the island of Ireland’s biggest business competition for new start and early stage companies in any sector, from any part of the island.

The competition is aimed at companies which have a new equity funding requirement and has an overall cash prize fund of €280,000, with no equity stake.

To date, InterTradeIreland has supported more than 2,300 enterprising companies through the Seedcorn process.

With €229 million in new equity being raised by the companies which have reached the regional finals stage of the Seedcorn competition over the past 14 years, the competition has a strong track record of supporting early business start-ups to become investor ready.

Further details are also available on the Seedcorn website at www.intertradeireland.com/ seedcorn.

REVENUE have extended the deadline for online Pay and File submissions due to the impact of the recent storms across the country.

Revenue said it was very aware of the difficulties that affected many households and businesses as a result of Storm Ophelia and Storm Brian, and was conscious that this may have impacted on preparations to meet the upcoming online Pay and File deadline.

In order to assist customers and practitioners impacted by power outages, the deadline has been extended to midnight on Thursday, November 16.

Howe ve r, t h e O c t o b e r 31 deadline for paper filers remained unchanged.

2 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

MOTORING P24

DUBLINLIFE

SLOBBERY, LUBBERLY PORKIE WILL DELIGHT HIS LOVING FAMILY OUR Dog of the Week looking for their #SpecialSomeone* is Porkie, a one-yearold male Pit Bull cross.

Porkie is a smashing young dog who will make a fantastic addition to an experienced home. From a young age Porkie has been boisterous and playful and can become overexcited easily.

For that reason, it is very important that he finds the right home, as he will grow into a large, strong dog.

Porkie is looking for a home with adults who can continue the fantastic training started here at Dogs Trust. This includes basic training, self-control training to help with excitability, and muzzle training, as he is a restricted breed. He enjoys the company of other dogs but would need a confident and playful (yet sensible!) dog to live with if his new family had another pet. Equally he would be happy in a home without other pets.

You can contact Dogs Trust by calling 01 879 1000 – they are based in the Ballycoolin Industrial Estate near Finglas, just off Exit 5 on the M50.

Map and directions can be found on their website, www. dogstrust.ie.

You can also find Dogs Trust on Facebook and on Twitter.

WIN

CINEMA P28

Let The Gazette take you on a tour of everything that’s happening across Dublin city and county this week



GAZETTE

MUSIC P20

’s y e o H ia r a M f o y p o c a signed l ir G t s o L t s a L e h T l debut nove ‘A haunting, mesmerising first novel with a chilling secret at its core. It will grip and surprise you to the very last page’ - RTE GUIDE

ON a perfect July evening in the sizzling Irish summer of 1976, fifteenyear-old Festival Queen Lilly Brennan disappears.

Thirty-seven years later, as the anniversary of Lilly’s disappearance approaches, her sister Jacqueline returns to their childhood home in Blackberry Lane.

There she stumbles upon something that reopens the mystery, setting her on a search for the truth a search that leads her to surprising places and challenging encounters.

Jacqueline feels increasingly compelled to find the answer to what happened to Lilly all those years ago and finally lay her ghost to rest.

But at what cost?

For unravelling the past proves to be a dangerous and painful thing, and her path to the truth leads her ever closer to a dark secret she may not wish to know.

To WIN a signed copy of Maria Hoey’s The Last Lost Girl, just visit the Dublin Gazette Facebook page and Like and Share our Last Lost Girl post.

Alternatively, you can email your entry to competitions@dublingazette.com making sure to put Last Lost Girl in the subject line, and your contact details in the body of the email.

‘NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAM’ Read Dublin novelist Maria Hoey’s exclusive interview with The Gazette – see Page 18

GAZETTE

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 2 November 2017

DUBLINLIFE

FEATURE

PEOPLE: THE GAZETTE TALKS TO XPOSE HOST AND HB HAZELBROOK FARM ICE CREAM AMBASSADOR

Karen keeps her cool as a busy mum and presenter  EMMA NOLAN BETWEEN working as an Xpose presenter and running around after two babies, Karen Koster is a busy woman.

The Gazette sat down with the Killiney local to discuss how she balances life and work and how she takes time to slow down and enjoy the quiet moments.

With two boys under three, Karen says that time is flying with Finn and JJ. “My constant dialogue in my head is: ‘Am I doing the right thing? Am I working too much? Will I look back and feel I didn’t spend enough time with them?’ So the time that I do have with them is so precious to me.

“I know with my guys, I try to pack so much into the weekends – be it visiting grannies and nanas, and playdates or going to the zoo – that you forget that you can actually just have a bit of craic at home!

“You don’t have to over-stimu-

late children all the time, because they need quiet time too instead of rushing around all the time.

“I try and have those quality moments because my two are so young and I know those baby years are going to be gone so quick.”

That’s why Karen is now ambassador for HB Hazelbrook Farm’s “share a little magic campaign”.

“I jumped on this campaign because it’s a nostalgic one for me. I can clearly remember making ice cream sandwiches with my own mum, so now that I’m a mum myself I want to pass it on to my little guys.

Simple moments “It’s all about just slowing down and finding the joy and enjoyment in the simpler moments; just sitting down, having an ice-cream with your kids to watch a movie or something.”

Karen says she really tries to make those quiet moment counts.

“I’ll try and

make the drive to the creche fun, singing songs in the car to Finn and JJ. We love nothing more than pointing out a digger on the street or a cement mixer – that’s very exciting! It’s trying to make those little things more fun.

“In the early days, you’re trying to get kids into a good routine – making sure they have to be in bed at a certain time, and they have to have a bath every night – that’s gone out the window for me. They’re washed twice a week and they’re grand!

“I’ve sort of tried to take the rushing out of their childhood because I certainly didn’t have that in my day.”

When it comes to her work life, one of Karen’s best moments recently was meeting the iconic Victoria Beckham.

“I was so starstruck!

I basically couldn’t hear anything she was saying, it was probably the most nervous I’ve been in a long, long time – I got heat rash from my chin down to my toes!

“But she totally disarmed me by being so charming; she was a breath of fresh air. I thought she’d be a little aloof or maybe even a little robotic, because we’re so used to the paparazzi shots where she doesn’t smile and all that, but she was incredibly warm. She was lovely; she had time for everyone.”

Read more about HB Hazelbrook Farm’s new campaign at icecreammakesuhappy.ie.

HB Hazelbrook Farm ambassador Karen Koster with Luke Dempsey, from Sutton, and Amelia Kavanagh, from Lucan. Pictures: ROBBIE REYNOLDS

2 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 2 November 2017

Out and About

Some 19 members of Lucan Harriers athletes took part. Pictures: Caroline Norman

A general view of runners making their way past St Patrick’s Cathedral during the SSE Airtricity Dublin

A fiendishly fun Dublin Marathon Marathon 2017 in the heart of the city. Picture: Cody Glenn/Sportsfile

B

OYS and ghouls of all ages and levels of fitness took part in the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon at the start of the week, with some horribly good Halloween-inspired costumes and accessories fleshing out a fun spectacle for the onlookers. Organisers nodded a friendly fang-you-very-much to a variety of Draculas, with Drac and pals adding a splash of colour along the route. Thousands took to the streets around the city centre, where great weather provided some perfect conditions for the runners and onlookers alike. Harrier clubs took to the streets alongside a number of international pro runners, but everyone had a great time on the day.

Patrick Valentin makes

Richie Powell crosses the line to finish

a dramatic finish. Picture:

second in the wheelchair category.

Paul Boyle finishes strong despite his

Cody Glenn/Sportsfile

Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

“injury”. Picture: Cody Glenn/Sportsfile

2 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

Out and About

Hazel Watt and her friend, Catriona Kilbride, both from Glasgow, take a selfie together with their medals.

Picture: Cody Glenn/Sportsfile

GAZETTE

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 2 November 2017

DUBLINLIFE

FEATURE

First... but not the Last IT’S often said that good things come to those who wait – in reality, they come to those who believe in their own ability, and who keep at it.

Dubliner Maria Hoey had always dreamed of becoming a writer, having shown promise as a schoolgirl and later winning praise – and prizes – for her short stories and poetry.

But what she wanted most, and believed she was destined to do, was to write novels.

Maria had left school at 16, and went to work, landing an office job in her hometown of Swords. After marrying young and having her daughter Rebecca, Maria went back and took night classes so she could complete her Leaving Certificate.

By then a hardworking and determined single mum, Maria went on to become a dental nurse and more recently a legal secretary – a job she only left this year.

In the intervening years, she went back to college at 30, and earned herself a first class degree in English and History from DCU. Fast forward to this summer, some 38 years after she completed her Leaving, and the 56 year old had her debut novel, The Last Lost Girl, published.

The psychological thriller is the first in a three-book deal Maria signed with Poolbeg, with her second novel due to be published next year.

The talented author spoke to The Gazette about growing up in Swords, following her dream and writing on the go as she walks along Portmarnock beach.

She says: “I’d written poetry and short stories all my life. I’d had some success getting short stories, and poetry published with Poetry Ireland.

“Then I wrote a short story back in 2010 and it was shortlisted for the Michael McLafftery Award, and it was runner-up in Mslexia International (a prestigous international women’s literary magazine) and I thought, ‘Wow, I think this is it, this my novel’.”

Maria describes herself as an “erratic writer”, but says that the long wait to pen her first novel made it all the sweeter.

She explained: “It took me so long to do this. It was a lifetime dream, but, for whatever reason, it wasn’t the time, and I started to think, ‘It’s never going to happen’ and then, as I say, the story just came to me – and it’s even more special now because it took me so long, “I’ve signed a threebook deal with Poolbeg and I’m half way through the second book.”

Though The Last Lost

DEBUT NOVELIST MARIA HOEY TALKS TO THE GAZETTE ABOUT LIFE, WRITING & WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER GIVE UP YOUR DREAM

“We had a great party actually, and Glasmore has the most incredibly community spirit, and they’re so, so proud of me,” she laughs.

“We had a huge bash, and the mayor came out, and we had a street party, and then we had a party in Fingallians GAA, and they had to stick a marquee tent on to the back of it because the turnout – we had people coming back after 50 years, and it was just incredible.”

Maria has some gems of wisdom for aspiring writers, and also paid tribute to her husband Garret for always believing in her.

She adds: “Garrett was really encouraging.

And the one thing he was really right about was, he used to say, ‘Stop polishing it, just finish it!’

“Because I would just be there crafting sen-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘Don’t write for the market.

Write what you have a heart for. I wish I could write about wizards and vampires. I can’t.’ tences, you know. And now, because obviously I have a deadline for my second and third novels, that’s just a luxury I just can’t allow myself.

“Obviously the quality of the writing really matters to me, and I have to write well, but though I would still be a stickler for that, I know now I need to get a first draft down and finished, and then go back and craft the second draft, “But I think the big thing is, you just literally have to write.

Girl is set in a fictional Irish town, Maria revealed that her inspiration was her hometown.

“I very much had my home town of Swords in mind for the geography of The Last Lost Girl,” she says.

“The story moves between the heatwave summer of 1976 and the present day.

“And there’s a fictional UK town, which I made up myself, but definitely, for the 1976 section of the book, I had Swords firmly in mind, and the Fingallians summer festival was the model for the book.

“With the second book, I haven’t really got the geography of it straight in my mind, but it will definitely be locally based.”

While Maria now lives in Portmarnock with her husband Garret, her ties to her

Believe “And then the big thing is to believe – if it is your dream to write, then you have to keep faith with yourself, because certainly, when I was writing my book, I could see that all the prognoses was doom and gloom – you know, I’d hear that nobody’s even looking at unsolicited manuold stomping ground of Swords are as strong as scripts. But the thing is, you can’t let that stop ever. you. You have to write, and finish the book, and In fact, when The Gazette caught up with her, keep faith, and believe that, although that bit is she was still recovering from a street party to cel- out of your control, it will still happen. ebrate her old estate’s 50th anni“And the other thing is – versary. don’t write for the market!

She continued: “Well Swords is Write what you have a heart my hometown, where I grew up, for. sThere’s no point in trying to write about wizards if and I went to school in St Joseph’s that’s not your thing.

– then the Mercy Convent – Rush, “I wish I could write about so I’m very much a North County wizards and vampires. I Dublin girl. can’t. We’d all love to, but “I’m very proud to say that I you have to go with what grew up in Glasmore Park, in your heart is in.

Swords, and they are celebrating “And just believe.” their 50th anniversary this year.”

That sense of community is n The Last Lost Girl is published clearly one that still means a lot to

by Poolbeg Crimson and is availthe talented writer, who bashfully able from all good bookshops admitted her old neighbours were priced €8.99 (Kindle, €5.67). as proud as punch of her achievements.

2 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

GAZETTE

DIARY PHOENIX PARK: HELPING FUND THE ORGANISATION’S NATIONWIDE SUPPORT

Aware of our flagship fundraiser?

AWARE has launched the 12th annual Aware Christmas Run which will take place in the Phoenix Park, on Saturday, December 9.

The Run is Aware’s f lagship fundraising event, seeing over 2,000 people take part and raising more than €60,000 for the organisation’s nationwide support, education and information services.

Online registration is now available at aware. ie/events for both 5k and 10k options at a cost of €25 per person.

Gerry O’Brien, head of fundraising at Aware said: “The Aware Christmas Run offers the perfect excuse to get friends, family and colleagues together to do something fun, festive and healthy, while helping ensure that Aware continues to make a real difference in the lives of others throughout the year.”

TAKE PART IN FUN RUN AND HELP TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE MUMS, dads, sons and daughters are invited to take part in a fun 5k run

with Keith Duffy and friends this November.

The event kicks off from 2pm on Sunday, November 12, in St Anne’s Park.

“Calling all dads, and granddads, mums, sons and daughter, sign up today and help make a big difference to families all over Ireland,” says Keith Duffy, founder of the Keith Duffy Foundation, supporting charities across Ireland.

I n d i v i d u a l t i c ke t s cost €15, parent and child tickets cost €25 and a family ticket costs €40.

For more information about the event please contact the Fight Blindness team on 01 6789004 or fundraising@fightingblindness. ie.

HAVE YOUR MOST DESIRED CHRISTMAS WISH COME TRUE

WHAT is the one thing that will make your Christmas wish come true?

One4all is pledging to spread extra cheer this winter by granting a number of special Christmas wishes and is calling on people in Dublin who would love to have their Christmas wish come true to take part.

The lucky winners will receive a prize like no other – memories that will last a lifetime and an experience that is guaranteed to leave you with that warm fuzzy feeling long into the New Year.

Whether it’s being reunited with a long-distance loved one, asking the love of your life to be yours forever, or making the

Leinster rugby player Joey Carbery and tv presenter Cassie Stokes with Matthew Hannon and Ryleigh Brady launching the 12th annual Aware Christmas Run. Picture: Naoise Culhane

wish of a child come true, One4all wants to hear from you.

Participants are invited to enter the competition until November 27, through One4all’s Facebook page or through one4all.

Simply submit your wish, detailing exactly what you desire and wait for the magic to unfold.

IT’S WEAR RED DAY AGAINST RACISM SCHOOLS, businesses, community and sports organisations in Dublin are being encouraged to get involved in Wear Red Day, an initiative of antiracism and education charity, Show Racism the Red Card (SRtRC).

SRtRC is calling on the public to wear red on November 24 and donate €2 to help raise much needed funds for the charity.

All funds raised through Wear Red Day will be used by SRtRC to continue to challenge racism by providing education resources, programmes and intercultural activi-

ties which support integration.

Show Racism the Red Card are encouraging

participants to share their activities on social media using the hashtag #WRD17.

For information on how to get involved in Wear Red Day, contact info@theredcard.ie.

2 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

DUBLINLIFE

MUSIC

A comeback adventure in Balian beats

N O S ’ T A H W

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

Award-winning opera-pop singer and composer joins an unusual Gamelan orchestra collaboration in Dun Laoghaire

Dubray Meets Nigella Lawson

The famed chef drops in on Dubray’s Grafton Street store to sign copies of her books, and perhaps hand over the odd cooking tip along the way. Saturday, November 4 at 11am.

Pet Expo 2017

The National Show Centre in Swords brings everything about pets together for a two-day weekend exhibition.

From cats and dogs to tarantulas and snakes, you’ll find shops, clubs, entertainers and information. November 4 and 5.

International Stout Festival

PET EXPO 2017

Where better to celebrate the world’s selection of different ‘black stuffs’ than Guinness?

This four day festival at the Storehouse will feature food to accompany special one-off brews, from November 2 to 5.

WWE Live

Wrestling of the non-Olympic variety comes to the 3Arena, in what’s sure to be a hugely popular evening featuring plenty of colourfully-clad stars.

The throws, ringside antics and groin-hugging suits drop in on November 2.

The FAI Cup Finals

With the ‘League of Ireland’s rubbish’ myth swatted away by recent European successes, embrace the rising star of Irish club soccer.

Dundalk v Cork is as big as the men’s games gets, and preceded by UCD in the women’s finale. November 5.

Vintage and Flea Market

The Bernard Shaw’s ever-wonderful market cycles back round to the vintage Saturday, where you’ll find classy pre-worn clothes, furniture, vinyl, garden ornaments and great, great coffee. November 4.

Mongoose EP launch

The fantastically underrated Irish folk-pop act launch their new EP, entitled simply ‘Four’.

The EP features a song written by each member of the band, then restyled collectively. Plenty of intrigue, then. November 3.

Dine in the Dark

The annual event in aid of the National Council for the Blind of Ireland comes to a host of city restaurants, each of which will dish up surprise meals in the pitch black for one night only.

Learn all about it at dineinthedark.ie. Various dates.

New album of the week

Kygo - Kids In Love. The Norwegian house star has been helped to fame by a massively popular track performed together with a certain Ed Sheeran, we’re reliably informed Kygo (pronounced Ky-gu) is what the kids are into these days.

It pulses.

GAZETTE GAZETTE

GAZETTE GAZETTE

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 2 November 2017

THE IRISH GAMELAN ORCHESTRA presents a concert of new music, dance and spoken word with a stellar line up of special guests.

 JAMES HENDICOTT COMBINING her plethora of talents, Julie Feeney exploded onto the Irish music scene in 2005 with ‘13 Songs’, a delicately perfect Choice Music Prize winning album on which she personally plays no less than eleven instruments.

Renowned for her theatrical and intimate live performances, she’s gone on to tour the world, write operas, play a ten-night stint at the National Concert Hall, become influential in fashion circles, and even qualify as a primary school teacher.

It’s been a quiet few years for Feeney, however, and the way she’s chosen to return might surprise. Having contributed to an album alongside them in 2015, Feeney is now performing live as a much-valued guest of the Irish Gamelan Orchestra.

Gamelan is the traditional formal, orchestral style of Java and Bali, in Indonesia, and it’s visually spectacular. It consists of drum and xylophone-style

instruments, some of which are made out of metal, and some wood, alongside vocals and key changes far outside of western orchestral norms.

Feeney was originally brought into the Irish Gamelan Orchestra as part of their collaborative approach to music.

The collective invited star musicians with a classical edge - like the Galway-born pop-opera fanatic, and Belfast’s piano-meets-poetry artist Duke Special - to contribute alongside spoken word acts like author Joseph O’Connor (Ghost Light) and ex-Riverdance man Colin Dunne.

While the project is very much an aside for Feeney, it clearly evokes a passion.

“The orchestra is almost overwhelming, physically,” she explains. The set up, with the guests, probably sounds a bit like a variety performance, but it really isn’t. They asked different composers to contribute pieces, and I originally composed a short 20-minute piece with Michael Murphy to play at a college launch. I’m very lucky, I don’t really get asked to do

things that don’t sound great to me, and this was really exciting from the start.”

“It’s such an interesting style of music, very different to anything I’ve experienced in composing before, and it’s been great finding a connection with that.”

Feeney’s been on something of a break since releasing 2012 album ‘Clocks’, her third, in part because of the arrival of two little ones into her life. It’s clear her children have had a profound effect on the composer, one that’s likely to flow into the content of her fourth release, expected sometime next year.

As well as the album, which is in advanced in its progress, there’s also an operatic composition based on OscarWilde on the way.

“I’ve become very aware of what’s going on in the world, far more than before they came along,” she tells of her new life as a parent. “I find I see much more of the world. I’m far more into politics than I used to be, and it really affects me.

“I don’t feel it’s my place to talk about, for example, war in Syria in my music, as it’s not my experience.

But it affects me deeply now. You’re very aware that your world is also your children’s world and you notice things in a different way.”

“You also have to be far more controlled with your use of time,” she continues. “I hope people will understand that I decided to take some time off and establish my children on our planet. Certain things will be different. It’s very much about the music now, I just don’t feel the need to be a spokesperson for independent music. That’s just gone, I just don’t really care for it anymore. I have three hours scheduled in for recording in a few days time, and I have to plan that really carefully. But I wouldn’t change that one bit.”

“With the opera, I won’t be managing, or producing, or anything like that. I’ll just be making the music. I used to be the person who would write at 3am, or go swimming at midnight. But I’ve only spent two nights away from my children in their lives so far, and I found it really hard. That’s not about to change.”

“I’m different emotionally, too. I’m more grounded and I’m feeling things so deeply, and yet nothing is

quite as black and white as it used to be. I’m feeling things I just didn’t think were there.”

The album, which has no confirmed date just yet, will reflect that new depth, and it’s being produced simultaneously with a separate long-term project in the form of an adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Happy Prince’, entitled ‘Bird’. The latter has been on the go for years for Feeney, and was close to completion in 2013, when she set it aside to focus on her children. That’s proven a smart move, as it’s now undergoing considerable alterations.

“I’m really glad I didn’t finish it in 2013,” she explains. “Marina Carr has come on board with it, and I’ve found it’s turning into something a little bit different. Marina suggested I don’t just tell Oscar Wilde’s story, but that I also try to delve into the worlds of some of the characters in my own way, to explore their perspectives.”

There’s a passion behind these projects, one that’s always simmered in what Feeney does, which seems motivated by life experience (and the delicate expres-

sion of it) above all else. It’s captured in the story of a detour on a trip to Seattle, during which she was asked to travel to a remote district of Canada and perform for a loyal fan who’d recently been in a major accident.

Feeney went, played no less than six gigs, and put on a fashion show, too.

The pace is a little slower today, but the output no less wonderful. Feeney will be keeping things international whilst staying local, exploring those Javanese beats while she constructs her next solo masterpiece.

With Feeney’s music traditionally of the sublimely mellow, emotional and vocally breathtaking variety, her Gamelan interlude might just invert a cliche: the lively storm before 2018’s perfect, beautiful calm.

Julie Feeney performs in Dun Laoghaire with the Irish Gamelan Orchestra on Friday, November 11. She’ll play alongside other guests including Joseph O’Connor and Colin Dunne at the Pavilion Theatre, tickets available at paviliontheatre.ie.

GAZETTE

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 2 November 2017

DUBLINLIFE

Arnotts Alex and Ani Deathly Hallows Necklace €49 Rafaelian Silver Finish

Arnotts Alex and Ani Hogwarts Expandable Wire Bangle €36 Rafaelian Silver Finish

FOR THE

SPORT OF IT

Harry Potter Glasses -Harry Potter Glasses Ring Wrap €36 925 Sterling Silver or 925 Sterling Silver w14kt Gold Plate  EMMA NOLAN Style Editor

Alex and Ani.. and Harry?

GYM clothes don’t have to be your grossest baggy sweats any more.

Life Style Sports has officially launched Women’s Studio – the

one-stop destination within Life Style Sports stores and online, for trend-conscious and fit-focused womenswear.

As well as launching Women’s Studio as a new concept, the chain has also welcomed the new Instagram channel, @LifeStyleS-

portsWomensStudio.

The new athleisure range aims to find a balance between sportswear and everyday clothes to take you from the gym to the street, combining function and fashion.

To shop the collection, see lifestylesports.com.

THE ALEX AND ANI Harry Potter collection has arrived at Arnotts, a limited edition collection inspired by the much loved book and movie series.

Alex and Ani teamed up with Warner Bros Consumer Products to launch Alex and Ani’s 10-piece capsule collection and features a range of necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings adorned with symbols from one of the most loved series of all time.

Alex and Ani is a lifestyle brand that creates meaningful, eco-conscious jewellery to positively empower and connect humanity.

The memorable symbols seen throughout the new Alex and Ani Harry Potter Collection are designed to reignite the magic of the series that has captivated generations of dreamers for 20 years.

For more information, contact Sarah Williams at swilliams@arnotts.ie or Natalie Burke at nburke@arnotts.ie.

Latest campaign shots from Lifestyle Sports Women’s Studio. See www. lifestylesports.com. for details.

2 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

FOOD&DRINK

GAZETTE

STYLE

The full scoop on Gino’s opening at the Pavilions LAST Saturday marked the opening of the 16th Gino’s Gelato store in Ireland, at The Pavilions in Swords.

The new store will house 40 seats, serving up the chain’s famed range of gelato, crepes, waffles and specialty coffee.

The outlet will employ 15 staff,

including a master gelato maker who will make the gelato fresh in store each day.

Speaking about the latest opening, Gino’s co-founder Anthony Murphy said: “We are delighted to be opening a new outlet in Swords Pavilions. It’s a great shopping centre, so we are

in great company!

“We’ll be offering all of our usual treats and will also be catering for children’s birthday parties which is a fun addition to this store.

“We have 16 stores across the country now, employing 250 people. We are also opening two

stores in Cork in the coming months, as well as one each in Limerick and Kilkenny.

“It’s amazing to see the growth of the business over the past few years. I think a lot of it is to do with the optimism of the Irish – we’ll eat gelato all year round, we don’t let the weather bother us!”

A Guaranteed way to find a Food Hero GUARANTEED Irish is calling for nominations for Dublin’s Food Hero. Since the beginning of the year, the organisation has run the Guaranteed Irish Hero Awards, recognising the best talent in Ireland across various sectors.

To date, awards have been made to high-achievers in the arts, sports, science and music industries. Now, they are hoping to find the country’s top food figure.

Members of the public are invited to nominate their Guaranteed Irish Food Hero before the deadline of Thursday, November 30.

Launching the call for nominations, Brid O’Connell (below), chief executive of Guaranteed Irish, said: “We’re calling on businesses and individuals to get involved and nominate anyone who has demonstrated a real commitment to creating a better Dublin and Ireland, through championing jobs, community and provenance within the food sector.”

To nominate your Guaranteed Irish Food Hero, email info@guaranteedirish.ie or use the dedicated hashtag: #GIhero on social media, including details of your nomination.

Luxury treats ready for any chocaholic

ATTENTION chocolate lovers! Luxury chocolatier and cocoa grower Hotel Chocolat has just opened a brand-new store in Dundrum Town Centre – and even chocolate gin is on the menu.

“More Cocoa, Less Sugar” is the mantra of Hotel Chocolat, which stocks rare and vintage chocolate bars made with premium cocoa from around the world.

Looking for something unusual? Hot chocolate fans can try their interesting cocoa-infused interpretations such as Cocoa Gin and Cocoa Beer.

Meanwhile, foodies will love experimenting with their range of sweet and savoury condiments, including Spiced Cocoa Nib Ketchup, Cocoa Balsamic and Chocolate Orange Marmalade.

For further information, see hotelchocolat.com or visit the store.

GAZETTE

24 DUBLIN GAZETTE 2 November 2017

DUBLINLIFE

FASTNews

Don’t put all of the pressure on the TPMS MOST modern cars now come with tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) to let the driver know if the tyre pressures fall to a dangerous level. While this valued technology has been proven to improve road safety by advising of a change in tyre pressure, drivers need to check their TPMS is working and be aware that it does not warn drivers of the condition of their tyres nor the amount of tread depth.

Vehicles first used after January 1, 2012 and equipped with a TPMS fitted by the vehicle manu-

Dacia Duster delivers SUV driving delights Dacia has brought a new level of value to the SUV market with the competitively priced Duster. This re-styled midrange SUV has lead the Renault owned brand to a significant market share in the Dublin car market and for good reason as MICHAEL MORONEY reports.

facturer must have a functioning system to pass the NCT test. While typically reliable, drivers do need to check their car’s TPMS to ensure it’s working on a regular basis, as the system can fail and batteries in the wheel-mounted sensors can run out.

Tyre pressure monitors are currently a failure point on the National Car Test (NCT) but it is simply a check to see whether or not it is functioning. The TMPS warning light on the dashboard must come on, and switch off again within a few seconds, in order to pass. There is no further investigation made during the NCT of whether or not the system is accurate.

Any alerts displayed by the system should not be ignored and, if in doubt, the advice of a tyre professional should be sought. Regrettably, too many drivers are ignoring the warning lights as the number of NCT failures due to faulty TPMS systems has risen between 2015 and 2016.

Kona joins Hyundai SUV range HYUNDAI Ireland has

ing prices from €20,995.

announced the speci-

Hyundai will be offering

fication and pricing for

the Kona with a 1.6-litre

the new Kona SUV which

turbo-diesel engine later

is due at Hyundai dealer-

in 2018 followed by a full

ships in Dublin from this

electric version in 2019.

week onwards. The new

This new Kona will be

Kona claims to offer a

available in four trim lev-

completely new compact

els, Comfort, Executive,

SUV platform.

and two Premium ver-

DACIA’S very popular Duster SUV got a mid-life makeover last year and there is more to come for 2018.

The Duster is an affordable SUV that offers a reasonable price package for families that want SUV features at a value price.

I’ve recently driven the upgraded Duster, which is a model that just been on the Irish market for five years. Despite it’s relatively short time here, the distinctive Duster design and the value for money image have made the car highly identifiable.

The Dacia brand is a wholly-owned part of the Renault Group. For decades Renault had been supplying Romanian-based Dacia with car components and then in 1999, the Renault Group acquired the full business.

Dacia Duster 1.5 dCi Summit Engine 1.5 litre Engine power 109hp 0 – 100km/hr 11.8 seconds Economy 21m/litre

(4.4/100km or 59mpg) Fuel Tank Capacity 50 litres CO2 Emissions 115g/km Road Tax Band A2 €180 Main Service 15,000km/12 months Euro NCAP Rating 5-star (2012) Warranty 3 years/100,000km Entry Price €16,890 Dacia’s brand image is all about value, using some tried and test Renault components that are now also found in the Nissan range, which is also part of the Renault family of brands.

For the Irish market Dacia has kept things simple. There is one diesel engine offering with 109bhp power out

and varying CO2 levels depending on whether you opt for two- or fourwheel drive versions. The price differences are then based on the specification options, while the entry price of €16,890 sets the tone for the value discussion.

In an overall sense and relative to the competition, you get a whole lot

of car value in a Dacia Duster for the competitive price and the package includes three years/100,000km warranty. These are the compelling reasons to give the Duster a closer look but they are not the only ones.

Taking the Duster to the road I soon found that the overall car styling and build quality has improved so much from the first Duster that I drove almost five years ago.

This newer Duster has improved comfort, better engine performance, its smoother and quieter to drive. It well deserves to be respected and not just for its value tag.

The engine performance is good, not remarkable, while it is on par with the entry-level Nissan Qashqai. Both

the Duster and the Nissan Qashqai use a similar 1.5-litre Renault designed diesel engine. While the Dacia version will be a slightly older generation engine, there is little difference in the key performance features.

The economy data for the Duster is a match for the competition. While this is not a heavyweight SUV on the scales, it does deliver an economy figure that’s only surpassed by the related Nissan Qashqai. With a rated economy figure of 21m/litre (4.4/100km

Continental aims zero road

The early edition mod-

sions, a manual and auto-

els will be offered with

matic gearbox version.

a 1.0-litre turbo petrol

All cars come on 16 in alloy

engine rated at 120bhp

wheels and include a lane

The ‘blind’ Mercedes Benz E Class with blacked out

and a six-speed manual

keep assist and a driver

windows that showed how the car’s camera and sensor

gearbox with star t-

fatigue warning system.

systems can navigate a pre-prepared course

LAST week, Continental best known as a leading tyre company, brought its Vision Zero Live event to Mondello Race Circuit in Co Kildare.

Over three days, car owners, staff from tyre retailers and managers of large company fleets had the opportunity to participate in a range of ‘hands on the wheel’ demonstrations of the company’s latest tyre and automotive technologies.

Continental and its five divisions

have a very clear safety vision. The company wants to achieve zero injuries, zero fatalities and zero accidents on our roads, hence, Continental’s Vision Zero initiative. The company aims to achieve this through ensuring that Continental’s full range of technologies, from the company’s premium tyres to the safety systems that are in many of the vehicles from all of the main car brands.

Using a fleet of some 20 vehicles to run a series of practical demonstra-

2 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 25

GAZETTE

MOTORING

Citroen launches compact C3 Aircross compact SUV CITROEN will have its new C3 Aircross

for maximum passenger comfort, with

compact SUV at Dublin Citroen dealer-

generous legroom in the front and rear,

ships from next week, with entry prices

as well as an exceptional modular boot

starting at €20,695. The new Citroen

space with a volume of up to 520 litres.

C3 Aircross got its first public show-

The new C3 Aircross also scored maxi-

ing at the Ideal Home Show at the RDS

mum 5 Euro NCAP rating for car safety

Simmonscourt over the Bank Holiday

for models fitted with either Safety

weekend.

Pack 1 or Safety Pack 2.

This new generation SUV has been

trim levels Touch, Feel and Flair. The new

Comfort programme and uses the lat-

SUV offers a choice of five different inte-

est in grip control technology with hill

rior ambiences comprising of special

descent assist for added driver control.

seat upholstery, a range of dashboard

It comes with a new continuous con-

textures, door panel designs, and

nectivity system that includes wireless

touches of colour on the central console

smartphone charging.

surround, steering wheel, air vents and

Citroen claims that technology

or 59mpg), this Duster beats all others in terms of economy, on paper at least.

Out on the road, the Duster demands a little more the accelerator pedal the achieve its best.

That meant that my relatively shorter test drive than usual gave a performance that was 25% off the rated figure. That in my book is the standard in the market, so it is enough for me to rate the Duster a reasonably economical car.

Interestingly, the Duster has the longest wheel-

base among the midrange SUV’s such as the Qashqai, Toyota RAV4 and Volkswagen Tiguan.

This despite the fact that it’s the most compact in terms of length and that makes it easier for city driving. Add the fact that its turning circle is good you have a car that’s easy to drive and now comes with some additional driver friendly features.

Since the first days of the Duster the build quality has improved significantly. The car just feels more solid and by some styling adjustments, the

look has also been modernised. These subtle changes to the styling give a better look to the car, while its raised stance is preserved to give a true SUV look to the Duster.

The Dacia has plenty of safety kit it has not undergone a Euro NCAP safety test since 2011, when it received a three star rating.

The car comes with ISOfix couplings, four airbags and a host of safety features, I’m surprised that as a Renault Group car it has not a more recent Euro NCAP safety rating.

I drove the Summit

version with some additional kit over the entry model. This included cruise control and speed limiter, electric front and rear windows, MediaNav touchscreen navigation, rear parking sensors, rear parking camera, metallic paint, 16” alloy wheels, burnt orange air vent surrounds, Duster orange trim upholstery, body side and wheel arch mouldings. That extra kit adds nearly €5,000 to the price, while it’s still competitive for a similar specification package from the competition.

seat backs. The car has a practical inte-

continues as a core theme in new C3

rior with a split sliding and folding rear

Aircross with 12 different technologies

bench, 60/40 split-folding and adjust-

that assist your journey including voice

able seat backs.

controlled 3D navigation, keyless entry The Dacia Duster is now five years on the Irish market and with a mid-life upgrade and more changes to come in 2018, this mid-range SUV has a lot to offer for family motoring with entry prices starting at a competitive €16,890.

The car is available in three specified

influenced by the Citroen Advanced

The new Citroen C3 Aircross is avail-

and start, 60/40 sliding rear bench,

able with either the PureTech petrol and

lane departure warning and blind-spot

BlueHDi diesel engines, as well as the

monitoring. Citroen claims that the new

latest generation EAT6 fully automatic

C3 Aircross offers best-in-class space

gearbox as a further option.

Citroen is launching the new C3 Aircross SUV at Dublin dealerships from next week

Stonic joins expanding compact SUV market KIA has entered Europe’s and Ireland’s fastest-growing market sector, the small B-SUV segment with the new Stonic. This is a new sporty and smart new model priced from €18,599 for the entry level 1.2-litre model.

The Stonic is based on the latest Rio and is powered by what Kia claims are high-efficiency, high-technology petrol and diesel engines. There are four engine

fatalities with new technology demo tions, participants at the Vision Zero Live event were shown how dangerous it is to drive on tyres that are at or near the legal tread depth level of 1.6mm. In addition, there was the opportunity to get behind the wheel and perform emergency braking manoeuvres in cars fitted with premium and budget tyres and to observe the difference in performance and stopping distances.

Some of the Continental automo-

tive technologies that were on display included Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) where the car will stop automatically if the driver does not intervene to avoid a collision. AEB is becoming ever more popular on all types of cars and is no longer the preserve of the more premium brands.

One of the most popular activities from Vision Zero Live was the opportunity to get behind the wheel

of a Mercedes E Class with all of the windows blacked out and just the option of using the car’s camera and sensor systems to navigate a preprepared course.

Speaking about Vision Zero Live, Tom Dennigan, Head of Continental Tyres Ireland, said: “This event is all about educating the public about the wider expertise of the Continental Group and showing our longstanding commitment to safety.”

options for the Stonic, the 1.2-litre petrol entry level; a more powerful 1.4-litre petrol and a range-topping, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol version. The diesel option power comes from a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine.

Stonic is slightly longer than the Rio, at 4,140mm. It is also 70mm taller and rides 42mm higher from the ground to give it a clear SUV stance. While the two cars share some mechanical components, Stonic has a bespoke body and interior.

All models are front-wheel drive as the take-up for all-wheel drive in this sector of the market is small. All versions are equipped with an extensive range of active safety features and up-to-the-minute connectivity. Electronic Stability Control

The new Kia Stonic comes with 1.2-

(ESC) and Vehicle Stability Management

litre entry level petrol engines and

(VSM) are standard.

prices start from €18,599

GAZETTE

26 DUBLIN GAZETTE 2 November 2017

R1

DUBLINLIFE

WIN

Everything’s

The Rose Hotel’s bedrooms boast possibly the comfiest beds in Ireland

a two night spa break for two at The Rose Hotel, Tralee

TO CELEBRATE the launch of the new Serenity Spa, The Rose Hotel in Tralee are giving one lucky reader the chance to win a relaxing retreat for two people in this charming hotel in the heart of the Kingdom.

The lucky winner will enjoy a two-night stay with a delicious breakfast each morning and dinner on one evening of your choice in the elegant Rose Room restaurant with seasonal menus created by Head Chef Odran Lucey. You and your guest will also enjoy a 25 minute treatment each in the newly launched Serenity Spa - choose from a relaxing Swedish Back Massage, an Express Elemis Facial or an indulgent Hot Stone Massage.

The Serenity Spa offers guests a range of Elemis treatments in luxurious and soothing sur- Spinach & white asparagus arancini with roundings. Designed to nurture red pepper & tomato ragout and nourish the mind, body and soul, visit the Serenity Spa and emerge invigorated and reenSimply Like and Share the Rose Hotel ergized. Authentic and easeful, warm and welcoming, The Rose post on the Dublin Gazette Facebook page, Hotel is the perfect place for a or email competitions@dublingazette.com, relaxing retreat in the heart of putting Rose Hotel in the subject line and your contact details in the email itself. the Kingdom!

Nurture the mind, body & soul with a spa break THIS winter make rejuvenating and relaxing a priority with a spa break at The Rose Hotel, Tralee.

Designed to nurture and nourish the mind, body and soul, the newly launched Serenity Spa at The Rose Hotel is a tranquil haven to escape to this winter, featuring carefully selected world acclaimed ELEMIS Skincare Therapy products.

Spoil yourself with a weekend escape at The Rose Hotel where you and a guest can enjoy a two-night spa break with a

bottle of Prosecco on arrival, dinner on one evening of your choice in the elegant Rose Room restaurant, breakfast each morning and a choice of spa treatments at the Serenity Spa (choose from a deep tissue massage or an ELEMIS 55-minute facial of choice). Spa Escapes start from €480 for a total stay based on a twonight stay for two sharing.

For more information on spa breaks visit www.therosehotel.com or call +353 66 7199100.

 ALISON O’HANLON

KERRY’S county town is world-renowned for the Rose of Tralee International Festival, but unless you’re from Mars, you already knew that, didn’t you!

Did you also know that some of Ireland’s best traditional pubs can be found in the Kingdom’s largest town; or that the 160km Dingle Way ends and starts in Tralee; or that it’s home to arguably Ireland’s best indoor water park – meaning the kids will be happier than a Kerryman in Croker when the Dubs lose.

A gang of us headed down to the Kingdom last weekend for a weekend of R&R, and if it’s a lovely, chilled out staycation you’re after, the four-star Rose in Tralee is the place to be.

Owned by Dick and Eibhlin Henggeler, the Rose Hotel is the kind of place that helps to give Ireland its reputation as the Land of a Thousand Welcomes.

The Henggelers themselves epitomise warmth and friendliness.

The couple bought the then Fels Point Hotel back in 2015 to honour their late daughter Dorothy, who sadly died in 2014 aged just 27 – less than three years after she was the Washington DC Rose at the festival.

And Dorothy, who was known as Dott, would be proud of all her parents have achieved in Tralee, a place that meant so much to their daughter and a place that will forever be special to them.

The Henggelers play a leading role in the annual festival and are behind the town’s push to build a

2 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 27

R1

GAZETTE

TRAVEL

Rosey in the Kingdom Tralee guards the entrance to the Dingle Peninsula in north Kerry permanent dome on the land adjacent to the hotel – on the same site where a temporary dome goes up every autumn as the world’s eyes turn to Tralee.

We turned up in Tralee late, as usual. After checking in and quickly dumping our bags in our wonderfully luxurious suite, we nipped down for a bite to eat in Dott’s Bar, a cozy hotel lounge where you’re made to feel instantly at home.

The food – a massive bowl of mussels for me – was locally sourced and seriously scrumptious, but even if it hadn’t been, the friendliness of the staff is such that everything about this place just seems perfect.

After a hearty breakfast the following morn-

ing, we headed down the road to check out Siamsa Tire, home to the National Folk Theatre of Ireland. And it was here where the whole R&R thing went out the window, as we were given an impromtu hour-long lesson in Irish dancing from the wonderfully talented Jonathan Kelliher, the company’s artistic director.

When he had put us through our paces and patiently watched us fail miserably as we attempted to ‘Shoe the Donkey’, Jonathan took us on a tour of the theatre, an impressive warren of gallery spaces and rehearsal studios that can accommodate everything from art exhibitions, dance sessions, music and theatre performances, workshops and big-stage productions.

Next up on the itinerary – a nice hot whis-

Afternoon tea works best with bubbles. Every time!

key back in Dott’s, before we got to enjoy every girl’s dream: Champagne Afternoon Tea. Need I say more. Didn’t think so.

But it gets better. Because Afternoon Tea was followed by every girl’s other dream: A sublime couple of hours being spoiled and pampered at the hotel’s Serenity Spa. While us girls were being given an idea of what heaven is really like, the gents in our group took the five-minute stroll into town, where we were told later that both Sean Og’s and the Bailey Corner were amongst the best bars “in the world, never mind Ireland”. They needed food.

We all did.

But whether you were hungry or not, there’s

simply no way you could ever turn down dinner in the hotel’s elegant Rose Room. No way ever.

With so much excellent local produce to choose from on head chef Odran Lucey’s a la carte menu, you’re guaranteed to experience the real flavour of the region.

I went for the Kerry lamb, which arrived with a mini shepherd’s pie, caponata, black olives and some envious glances. It was, like everything else this hotel has to offer, divine.  TO reserve your star at the Rose Hotel, visit www.therosehotel.com.

And you can check out what’s on at Siamsa Tire while you’re in Tralee by going to www.siamsatire.com/events

Siamsa Tire – The National Folk Theatre of Ireland

The 160k Dingle Way starts and ends at Tralee and takes in

some of Kerry’s most impressive beauty spots

Dotts Bar is the perfect place to unwind

GAZETTE

28 DUBLIN GAZETTE 2 November 2017

DUBLINLIFE

CINEMA

THOR - RAGNAROK: THE GODS THEMSELVES WOULD APPROVE OF THIS FUN SEQUEL

By Zeus, Thor’s new film hammers home a winner THOSE who found themselves caught up in the cultish fervour that followed director Taika Waititi’s hilarious vampire-farce, What We Do In the Shadows (2014), and delighted in the offbeat buddy-comedy of last year’s, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, will have been understandably dumbfounded at the announcement that the New Zealand filmmaker would be helming Thor: Ragnarok (Cert 12A, 130 mins).

Waititi’s cinematic worlds thus far have been intimate in scale and scope, uniquely oddball comedies, as absurd as they are endearing.

These tendencies seem alarmingly ill-fit for the massive-scale blockbusters that Marvel trade in, so one would be forgiven for any scepticism held.

However, Marvel’s “God of Thunder” (Chris Hemsworth) is in safe, capable hands – hands that have moulded a series in danger of going s t a l e into a refreshing, off-the-wall c o m e d y, w h i c h boasts all the frenzied, explosive superhero action we’ve come to expect from the studio, but fills its gaps with the director’s unique brand of humour.

It strays further from the well-worn “Marvel formula” than any other release in the 17-film MCU franchise.

F o l l ow i n g h i s return to Asgard at the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) , Thor has spent some time fruitlessly searching

ReelReviews

A SACRED DEER

Will it make a killing?

THERE’S something disturbingly dark at the heart of The Killing of a Sacred Deer (121 mins), despite its occasionally absurd leanings. Colin Farrell is the bearded, brilliant doctor at the heart of the film, but his family life with Nicole Kidman begins to shake apart when he takes a paternal interest in a youth. Things take a surreal but dark-hearted twist for the worse ...

 MARTIN MACNAMARA

for Infinity Stones.

After a run-in with a gigantic fire-demon, who warns the god of the fabled “Ragnarok” – the destruction of Asgard, the gods’ home – Thor sets off on an adventure that finds him imprisoned on a planet on the other side of the universe.

There, Thor is forced to fight in a deadly contest by “the Grandmaster” (Jeff Goldblum, at his most wonderfully eccentric), a battle that sees him eventually team up with an old friend, The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo).

BLADE RUNNER 2049 Just misses the mark

Returning as Thor, Chris Hemsworth has to face off against Hela, the Goddess of Death (a fun turn from scenery-chewing Cate Blanchett) as the latest threat to the gods

Meanwhile, the Goddess of Death, Hela (Cate Blanchett, left), as evil as she is powerful, is also intent on taking over Asgard, so Thor finds himself in a race against time to get home and stop her.

Loki also makes an appearance here, played by Tom Hiddleston in a considerably more comic role than in previous instalments.

The same could be said for any of the series’ cast of otherworldly heroes and villains: the mighty T hor is at his most bullheaded, the Hulk

has never been so concerned with “smashing”, and particular applause must be given to Karl Urban’s hilarious turn as evil henchman, Skurge.

Marvel have quite clearly given Waititi free reign to reshape this universe with all his charming and bizarre idiosyncrasies; above all else, this is a comedy.

In that respect, Ragnarok is closest in style to the Guardians of the Galaxy films, and with all its space-hopping madness, it’s fair to say that Waititi’s vision could only have been greenlit following the success of the aforementioned galactic superhero-comedy.

This, however, is a much, much funnier film. Unfortunately, all that humour pushes

a typically epic-in-scale plot to the background at times and the characters have less archetypal growing to do than in your standard Marvel adventure.

Hela is a strong villain, as nasty as they come, but regrettably one-dimensional. Thor accepts some responsibility along the way, but is very much the same hero we get when the film starts.

These narrative flaws are easy to forgive – there’s just so much to fall in love with and laugh at in this vibrant, charming and utterly daft superhero movie.

A Marvel movie that doesn’t fit the Marvel mould, this is one of the studio’s best, and certainly one of the year’s finest comedies.

Verdict: 8/10

BLADERUNNER 2049 (Cert 15A, 163 mins) is an interesting sequel that continues to explore what it means to be human, but there’s something a little soulless here. Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford are fine, but they’re a little lost under the weight of its admittedly great visuals. Its underwhelming box office returns suggest that it’s just missed the mark in delivering a razor-sharp sequel to the classic film.

HAPPY DEATH DAY

Has some killer deja vu IMAGINE Groundhog Day with a serial killer twist.

That’s perhaps the ‘elevator pitch’ for Happy Death Day (Cert 15A, 100 mins), which is surprisingly enjoyable despite its pure B-Movie shlock story. A young college student keeps getting murdered – then relives the same day, trying to work out who the killer is. The twist here is that her ‘reboots’ are limited, adding some urgency to her quest.

2 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29

GAZETTE

TECH Nintendo mark a big milestone

GREAT news over at Nintendo HQ with the news that its Switch console has been a roaring sucess .

Despite flying under the radar of many gamers and retailers, the Switch has taken just six months to hit half of its predecessor’s lifetime sales, clocking up a very impressive 7.6m unit sakes in just six months, compared to the Wii U’s 13.5m units sold across five years.

Choosing to take a more gaming-focused approach (rather than the cold war tech race that Sony and Microsoft are locked in) has clearly paid off, with Nintendo recording sales of 374bn yen (£2.5bn) in the last quarter – an outstanding increase of 173% on the same period last year.

Cuphead continues to dazzle

SPEAKING of sales figures, Cuphead has been a spectacular success for Microsoft.

Long in development, the rock-hard, 1930s cartoons-inspired game has wowed critics and gamers, with its stunning, hand-animated retro look and challenging gameplay going down a treat on MS platforms.

The exact figures aren’t in just yet, but its been clear that since its release barely a month ago, its sale have rocketed, making it a quiet but well-deserved hit.

With everything from fake news to state-orchestrated misinformation and manipulation swirling about, navigating online content is insidiously becoming more difficult

FAKE NEWS: SOCIAL MEDIA GIANTS INCREASINGLY CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE

Online war worsens FACEBOOK has been back in the tech news headlines again this week, with ‘that Russian thing’ our American friends are dealing with also ensnaring the tech titan in its grasp.

It’s been widely reported for some time now that Russian-backed content was swirling about on Facebook during the race for the US presidency last year, but the scale of the issue was given some extra clarity this week.

On Tuesday, just ahead of going to print, the company was preparing to release definite figures to a Senate judiciary committee, seeing millions of US voters potentially affected by tinkering orchestrated from abroad, with Russia in the frame.

It was reported that, last year, the company found some 120 fake Russian-

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

 SHANE DILLON sdillon@dublingazette.com

‘From an Irish context, it’s fascinating to watch the political drama unfolding, while paranoidly wondering if our own social media platforms are being manipulated by any foreign agent’

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

backed pages pumping out 80,000 posts that 29 million Americans would have received directly.

Multiply that number by the amount of reshares, likes and following the posts, and it’s hard to put an upper number on the amount of people – American voters, to be precise – whose votes could have been influenced by this very definition of fake news.

The news will come as a cold comfort to a variety of tech analysts and political scientists, who’d long suspected that the scale of this new cold war tak-

ing place on a technological frontline wasn’t being taken seriously – now, the figures compiled by Facebook lay bare this unquiet reality.

Of course, Facebook isn’t the only tech and social media giant caught in the crossfire – Google and Twitter have also reported similar suspicious activity on their own platforms, as have others.

These, too, have also given US regulators and politicians an oversight of the scale of the irregularities and issues that they’ve uncovered, ranging from

advertising spending on controversial issues, to YouTube channels linked to Russian disinformation, with ‘divisive’ topics – ranging from immigration to LGBT topics etc – getting promoted.

Already a topical issue, the political interference across these social platforms took on another, even more urgent dimension this week.

In the fast developing story at the time of going to print, legal actions against key US officials saw Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and adviser

Rick Gates indicted for conspiracy, with their alleged Russian links playing a key role in the charges.

From an Irish context, it’s fascinating to watch the overseas political drama unfolding, while paranoidly wondering if our own social media platforms are being manipulated by any foreign agent.

Taking my tin-foil Conspiracy Hat off again, nobody wants to go back to the good-old, badold days of fearing ‘Reds under the bed’ or wondering if CIA ‘spooks’ are tapping everything.

However, when political and technological giants start publicly battling, it’s difficult not to wonder if even smaller players on the global stage (like Ireland) are also being manipulated

on these new social media frontlines.

For now, the highstakes clash between the political and technological spheres will be fascinating to watch play out, with social media platforms and their everyday online processes which most of us use very much in the spotlight.

It’s worth keeping the drama across the pond in mind the next time you see a particularly outrageous or provocative thing online – or even something that’s perhaps subtly manipulative.

A dose of sceptimism for a lot of online ‘news’ and posts is a healthy thing, particularly for those who turn to social media as their primary news platform.

Ultimately, you have the news – and then you have what you read online ...

30 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 2 November 2017

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34 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 2 November 2017

SPORT

FastSport BELVO MOVE INTO 1B’S TOP FOUR IN STYLE: OLD Belvedere swept to a comprehensive 38-10 win over Dolping at Musgrave Park last weekend in the Ulster Bank League Division 1B. Winger Shane McDonald weighed in with a hat-trick of tries in Old Belvedere’s eye-catching win.

Having scored only three tries in the opening four rounds, ‘Belvo turned in their best attacking display yet under Eddie O’Sullivan.

Replacement Chris Carey’s injury-time try, which registered the bonus point, was the ideal finish as O’Sullivan’s men climbed into the top four. They are now unbeaten in three league games and beginning to find form heading into the winter.

They laid down solid foundations in the first half, their goalkicking centre Tim Foley kicking three penalties and converting McDonald’s opening try to give Belvo a 16-3 interval lead.

RUGBY: FOUR SECOND HALF TRIES SEE HQ CLUB PULL AWAY AT TEMPLEVILLE

Lansdowne sweep clear to keep perfect run rolling on

UBL DIVISION 1A

St Mary’s 7 Lansdowne 33  sport@dublingazette.com

FOUR second half tries propelled Lansdowne to a dominant 33-7 bonus point win over St Mary’s College as they moved to the top of Division 1A on Friday night.

Mike Ruddock’s men took advantage of leaders Terenure’s defeat at Clontarf to hit the summit, going ahead through Charlie Rock’s 55th-minute try and never looking back.

Clashes between these sides normally have some interesting sub-plots, and this latest encounter was no different.

Lansdowne are coached by ex-Wales senior and Ireland Under-20 head coach Ruddock and, in the opposite corner, his son Ciaran led Mary’s into battle.

The late withdrawal of fullback Sean Kearns was a setback for the hosts but, just three minutes in, they broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion as USA international Tim Maupin gathered a terrific cross-field kick from Conor Dean, on the right wing, and used his pace to

Lansdowne clear their lines against St Mary’s last Friday. Picture: Lansdowne RCC Flickr

score a converted try.

Dean, who started for Leinster A last week in the British & Irish Cup, failed with a 26th minute penalty attempt.

His opposite number, Lansdowne talisman Scott Deasy, also missed a tricky placekick before the visitors finally opened their account just past

the half hour mark.

Some patient build-up play was rewarded when Ireland Sevens international Adam Leavy confidently powered his way through the heart of the Mary’s defence for an impressive levelling score.

The match was now finely balanced and the next score

would be crucial.

Both sides created decent phases in opposition territory and timely steals by Mary’s pair Adam Coyle and Daragh McDonnell frustrated Lansdowne.

Nonetheless, it was the visitors’ lively scrum half, Rock, who succeeded in squeezing

over to the right of the posts, a few minutes later.

The headquarters club were very much on the front foot head into the final quarter.

Replacement hooker Jack Dinneen supplied the finish touches to a pushover try, converted by Deasy, and fellow replacement Jack O’Sullivan registered the bonus point by the posts after Lansdowne had worked the ball through a central channel.

Mary’s pressed hard for a consolation score in the closing minutes, but it was Dan Leavy’s younger brother Adam who had the final say.

The pacy left winger completed his brace thanks to a quick-witted counter attack and an assist from Daniel McEvoy.

Deasy tagged on his fourth successful conversion to complete the win.

Division 1A’s early pacesetters Terenure College lost for the first time this season as they went down 29-17 to Clontarf under the Castle Avenue floodlights on Friday.

The result saw them drop b e h i n d L a n s d ow n e w h o remain on a perfect winning start to the campaign.

Glutz and YM fightback but still see the red mist  STEPHEN FINDLATER sport@dublingazette.com

YMCA’s Grant Glutz. Picture: Adrian Boehm

YMCA produced a stunning comeback to draw 3-3 with Leinster hockey’s men’s Division One title rivals Corinthian but ended the week sitting in sixth place with a points deduction hanging over them.

On the pitch, it was a game of two halves at the new local derby between Corinthian and YMCA who both have high intentions of pushing for the Irish Hockey League playoffs.

It was the reds who controlled

the first half and opened the scoring with a fine striker’s finish from Stephen Reid who slotted the ball home. Ian Stewart then pouched another goal for the reds from a far post cross before Robbie Clarke made it 3-0 at half time with a tapin following a great stop on the line from a YM defender.

Corinthian then appeared to sit back as YM came out firing.

Grant Glutz was taken out after a neat one-two in the circle and coolly slotted home the resulting penalty stroke.

Ben Campbell also showed his composure after another defen-

sive mistake by the reds to go around Corinthian captain Ross Murray in goals to make it 3-2 midway through the second half.

Then, after a reds attack which looked like it might seal the result for them, it was YM who countered and it was Glutz who beat the defence but was once again taken down for another penalty stroke and yellow card.

Glutz sent Murray the wrong way to make it 3-3 and, in the dying minutes, had a short corner to nick the win but weren’t able to convert.

That outcome would have been

enough to put YM into a share of third place after four rounds of matches. However, the club have subsequently been docked points for each team in the club for an issue relating to the postponement of a Division 3 game. YMCA are currently appealing.

Asked about the situation, the LHA is not currently in a position to outline the situation of the case.

“At the moment, it is subject to appeal so it wouldn’t be appropriate to comment on it. To be fair to them though, it is important to point out that it not because of any direct action by YMCA 1sts.”

2 November 2017 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 35

GAZETTE

FASTSport

O’Hanlon’s hopes of Irish title cut short Clonliffe man celebrates Irish marathon glory only to find out Raheny’s Sittuk had become eligible for national title  sport@dublingazette.com

Killester delight packed crowd at IWA Clontarf PYROBEL Killester’s women delighted a packed house at the IWA in Clontarf as they beat IT Carlow 87-61 to move up a place in the women’s basketball SuperLeague.

Chantell Alford and Rebecca Nagle both scored 15 points with good support from Aiobheann Byrne, Hannah Thornton, Aisling McCann, Emma Sherwood and Jade Daly.

It meant they had something to spare as they progressed on a 43-37 half-time lead.

Elsewhere in the women’s competition, Courtyard Liffey Celtics overcame DCU Mercy on Sunday running out 71-68 point winners at the end of a nail biting fourth quarter at DCU. A 30-point display from Liffey’s Jazmen Boone sent Mark Byrne’s charges home to glory in a game that certainly lived up to its billing.

Speaking afterwards, Byrne said: “That was a really tough game, we always knew it was going to be tough. We had a super start, which is something we hadn’t had in recent weeks, but we let it slide and they had a really good press. But the girls did well, they hung in and dug deep and were smart down the stretch so I’m delighted.”

In the Men’s Super League meanwhile, it was a very busy weekend with eight more teams in action again.

UCD Marian bounced back well from their loss to Pyrobel Killester last weekend to see off DCU Saints 104-80, Maree lost out to Griffith College Swords Thunder, while Black Amber Templeogue secured a win over KUBS. Elsewhere, it was a thriller in Clontarf as Pyrobel Killester and Garvey’s Tralee Warriors went head-to-head, but a superb performance from Trae Pemberton in the fourth quarter sealed the win for the visitors, while UCC Demons made the long journey to Belfast Star worthwhile on Sunday afternoon, winning out 84-75 in the end.

On Monday, there were further games. Griffith College Swords Thunder ell at the hands of DCU Saints for the second week in-a-row, losing out 65-69 at the ALSAA.

GARY O’Hanlon has spoken out after a Kenyan-born athlete denied him the chance to lift the Irish national title at the Dublin Marathon last weekend.

The Clonliffe Harriers runner thought he was the first Irish man over the line when he crossed in a time of 2.18.52 but he was unaware that Freddy Sittuk, who finished nearly three minutes earlier, had become eligible for the national title after being resident in Ireland for six continuous months which made him eligible for the Irish national title.

“I didn’t know he [Sittuk] was part of the national field, I was only

told after I crossed the line,” O’Hanlon told the Irish Times after the race.

“Look, I was sure I’d won the national title, and in my head that’s the way I ran my race too. I don’t mean to knock it, but this opens the gates, and we could be flooded now with athletes coming here to win national titles.

Sittuk participated in the marathon wearing the colours of Raheny Shamrocks and has run for the club for the last five years, winning numerous races on the Irish circuit including the Limerick half marathon earlier this year and the Waterside marathon in Derry.

The Raheny representative still trains in the Kenyan town of Iten

in between his spells in Ireland.

“You hear about these Kenyans running for Turkey, or wherever, and Fionnuala McCormack giving out about missing out on medals. It’s different if they’re living here on a permanent basis,” said O’Hanlon.

At 43 years of age, O’Hanlon ran a personal best beating last year’s Irish champion Sergiu Ciobanu and Belfast native Stephen Scullion.

“I’ve always wanted to win a national title, and I ran a best by a minute here, so in my mind I am national marathon champion. I was thinking a lot about that coming in the closing minutes, my new born son, and how I was

going to celebrate it. I definitely feel like I’ve earned it.”

“I had it geared up in my mind, to come through in the second half, and got past Sergiu, and then Stephen. I felt in control the whole way; ran on my own the whole way. I don’t want to sound bitter about it but when I heard about this Kenyans denying other people medals, I never really thought it would affect me.”

Despite the controversy, Sittuk believes he is entitled to compete for the national title having run for the Dublin club for the last five years.

“I think yes, it’s fair because I have run for Raheny since 2012 and I

Gary O’Hanlon (Clonliffe Harriers), Frankie Sittuk (Raheny Shamrocks) and Sergiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe) following last Sunday’s Dublin marathon .

have competed for them in cross-country and also in the half-marathon,” said Sittuk.

This year’s Dublin marathon was the 38th in its history with a record 20,000 people taking to the street – a huge rise since the 2,000 who competed in the first race back in 1980.

On the women’s side, Laura Graham (Mourne Runners) defended her title in 2.39.06 ahead of Caitriona Jennings (Letterkenny) in second in 2.42.36 and the evergreen Pauline Curley (Tullamore Harriers) in third in 2.50.53.

The performance guaranteed selection for Graham for the European Athletics Championships Marathon Cup team in Berlin next August by winning the national title along with the qualifying standard from the Berlin marathon in September when she ran 2:37:05.

It was a brilliant run for the serial racer and marathon runner whose trophy cabinet continues to grow apace. She had to hold off a strong run from 2012 Olympian Caitriona Jennings (from Rathfarnham WSAF) who was ahead of her twice in the race.

“It was tough,” said Graham after who was delighted to defend her national title. “I love it. I just enjoy it.”

Curley was equally ecstatic and in slight shock to have won the bronze medal – her 11th time on the podium.

GAZETTE

36 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 2 November 2017

SPORT

FASTSport

SOCCER: FIFTH PLACE FINISH FOLLOWING STRONG LATE LOI RUN

Malahide continue fine start on national stage MALAHIDE carved out a 29-7 bonus point triumph over Bangor to move up to fourth place in Ulster Bank Division 2C, making it three wins from five since promotion to the national competition.

A strong start saw lock Cameron Ross twist out of a couple of tackles to touch down in the fifth minute, and out-half Conal Keane converted and swiftly added a penalty.

Those early concessions seemed to bring the best out of Bangor who, despite facing into the wind, improved as the first half wore on.

Impressive ball retention saw them force Malahide on the defensive and although Nathan Graham missed a 22nd minute penalty, Jason Morgan’s men felt the 10-point deficit could be overcome in the second period.

However, they had not reckoned on Malahide going up through the gears. The hosts’ bubbly back-line began to carry more of a threat, and with 58 minutes on the clock, a big scrum and quick reactions from flanker Eoin Crowley saw him breakthrough for a converted try straight from a tap penalty.

Bangor cancelled out that effort with a seven-pointer from in-form youngster Lewis Bret, but Malahide winger Marcus McAllister reopened the 17-point lead with a slick individual try in the 68th minute, using scrum possession to chip through on the right wing and gather on the bounce to go over untouched.

As Bangor’s error count increased, the Dubliners pounced in the dying embers of the game for a hard-earned bonus point. They capitalised on a Bangor fumble and rounded the visitors’ defence for back rower Simon Kinsella to score in the corner.

Bohs captain Derek Pender. Picture: Martin Doherty

Bohs close season on high LOI PREMIER DIVISION

Bohemian 3 Finn Harps 1  DARRYL GERAGHTY sport@dublingazette.com

BOHEMIANS finished their season in style with an excellent 3-1 victory over already relegated Finn Harps at Dalymount Park.

Missing the suspended trio of Dan Byrne, Rob Cornwall, Keith Ward and the injured Shane Supple, for the first time of the season, Keith Ward’s depleted side took on an attacking looking Finn Harps side with three in attack up in the form of Eddie Dsane, Caolan McAleer and Danny Morrissey.

From the off, the home side dominated much of the play and really should have been one up after just two minutes. Izzy Akinade was well tackled by Ciaran Coll in the box, which saw the ball rebound at hip height to top scorer Dinny Corcoran but the big striker couldn’t adjust his body in time and saw his shot go just wide.

Just before the half hour mark, the home side got their rewards with Philly Gannon getting his first of the season. The ever threatening Akinade looked to play a one-two with Corcoran but Gannon burst through the middle to latch onto the return pass.

MILLS CUP WIN Bulls win the northside derby to march through CLONTARF claimed the laurels from their

Leinster hockey senior Mills cup first round tie with a 2-0 win over Dublin North at Mount Temple last Saturday.

The win means the Leinster league side will go through to face a national level opponent in round two in the form of either Pembroke or Glenanne. Corinthian were the other side to win in round one thanks to a 4-0 win over Avoca. They will play either Kilkenny or UCD next. Picture: Deryck Vincent

Having seen his initial effort parried by Ciaran Gallagher, the midfielder did well to continue his run and slide in to poke home.

Minutes later the home side should have doubled their lead when awarded a penalty for Packie Mailey’s handball from an Oscar Brennan’s corner.

Up stepped Corcoran, looking for his 16th of the season, but scuffed his effort onto the post to keep it at 1-0.

Finn Harps looked a threat with the pacey front three but the much-changed backline of Bohs, including the impressive debutant John Ross Wilson, kept them at bay.

The second half sparked into life following a late Mark Timlin challenge on substitute Jamie Hamilton.

Handbags resulted in both Timlin and Derek Pender going into the book.

Moments later, the Bohs skipper Pender did brilliantly to get to the end line and clip a delightful ball to the back post for Akinade to volley home.

Just a minute later, the impressive Hamilton got in on the act when Oscar Brennan played a lovely ball across the box.

The left winger controlled his first time strike brilliantly back across goal as Gallagher scrambled.

To their credit, Harps showed some battling spirit and never give up attitude you’d expect from an Ollie Horgan side.

They got a consolation their play deserved, albeit from in fortuitous fashion.

Three corners in a row saw an almighty goalmouth scramble and a black and red shirt looked to have gotten the last touch. It may well go down as an Ian Morris own goal but hard to tell.

Thanks to Cork City’s 1-0 victory over Bray, Keith Long’s troops finish an impressive fifth in the table when, just weeks ago, they were looking nervously over their shoulder at relegation.

2 November 2017 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 37

GAZETTE

SOCCER: KEITH ANDREWS LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE TRANSITION YEAR FAI COURSE XXX

Fingal develop FAI football program

 sport@dublingazette.com

FINGAL County Council and the FAI of Ireland have launched the second year of the Transition Year Football Development Course which gives participants an opportunity to meet their educational requirements while developing football skills.

The programme was officially launched by former Republic of Ireland senior international Keith Andrews, Mayor of Fingal Cllr Mary McCamley and Fingal County Council’s Chief Executive Paul Reid, and FAI Vice

President Donal Conway at Corduff Community Centre today.

Over the course of the 2017-18 school year, the 26 Transition Year students participating will mix academic subjects like maths and English with Kick Start 1 and 2 coaching courses and modules in fitness instruction, media skills and personal development as well football training and strength and conditioning work.

In addition, the participants will undertake an ITEC Fitness Instructors Course delivered by Lit-

ton Lane Fitness Training.

They will also return to their local primary school one day a week to work with teachers in the delivery of physical education and gain valuable work experience.

“The second year of the programme is designed to allow the students to commit to the development of their football skills as well as engaging with their communities without compromising their education,” said course coordinator, and co-funded FAI Development Officer with Fingal County Council, Denis Hyland

FastSoccer HOEY AND EGAN PROVIDE DUFF FIREWORKS:

Blanch’s Rabby Tabu and Luke Clancy and Malahide’s Carl Callaghan and Adam Verdon, with Fingal Co Co’s Paul Reid, Mayor Mary McCamley and Keith Andrews. Picture: SON

The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Mary McCamley, praised the programme: “Fingal County Council’s partnership with the FAI has proven hugely beneficial to our residents.

“Education and sport are both demanding and important to young people. ” The course ran last year in partnership with the

support of Blanchardstown Area Partnership and Sport Ireland. It was extermely well-attended and recorded an impressive average attendance rate of 93% throughout the school year.

Marion Brown, Principal Sports Officer with Fingal County Council said: “The success of this project’s first year has

attracted a lot of positive attention from other local authorities who would also be hugely interested in delivering it to students in their area.

“I’m confident that the work, preparation and experience brought to this project will deliver another beneficial course for the programme’s participants.”

DARRAGH Hoey struck the key penalty for Corduff FC as they advanced to the fourth round of the SFAI Under-13 Cup last weekend, getting the better of East Meath United.

Normal time had ended 3-3 with extra time advancing the score to 4-4 in Corduff Park, Hoey and Josh Clark both scoring twice in the game.

Jack Egan also played a hero’s role when he made three saves in the shootout, setting up Hoey for the vital finish.

Next up is a date with Parkvilla.

GAZETTE

38 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 2 November 2017

SPORT

FOOTBALL: MARINO MEN GRIND OUT LOW-SCORING WIN AS BIG NAMES

FASTGAA

St Vincent’s dig out DUBLIN SFC FINAL

St Vincent’s 1-8 Ballymun Kickhams 0-8  JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

Maur’s Eadaoin McGuinness. Picture: GAApics.com

Maur’s run of success ended by Dunboyne ST MAUR’S incredible run of ladies football championship success came to an end last weekend as they lost 3-12 to 1-11 to Dunboyne.

It was a unique pairing of Dunboyne and St. Maurs, 2015 and 2016 All Ireland Junior Club Champions respectively.

Two early goals from Fiona O’Neill and Player of the Match Emma Duggan put the Meath Champions into a lead they never relinquished. Olivia Leonard was tireless in her running for St Maurs and contributed two points to the scoreboard herself, but it was Dunboyne who took a four-point lead into half time; 2-05 to 0-07.

St. Maurs threw everything at the Dunboyne rearguard, closing the gap at one stage to just two points but Dunboyne were steady and methodical and their third goal from O’Neill and several scores from the reliable boot of corner forward Aoife Thompson ensured the spoils would go to Dunboyne

ST VINCENT’S overcame their north Dublin rivals Ballymun Kickhams in a stodgy Dublin senior football final on Monday night, as a slippery surface and some less than inspired shooting dulled the contest in front of a packed Parnell Park.

The contest was arguably the tale of two Dublin forwards: Diarmuid Connolly, ever-influential as he drove on his Vincent’s side alongside an in-form Ger Brennan, and Dean Rock, almost anonymous outside of frees, as he struggled to get going for Kickhams.

The battle was fierce in the opening stages, however, with both sides struggling to string together an attacking move. The

first moment of note saw James McCarthy (quite legally) absolutely clatter Niall Mullins in the Vincent’s midfield, leaving the latter on the ground for several minutes.

Vincent’s br ushed themselves down to be by far the better of the two sides in the opening period, however.

After a free from Enda Varley had them in front, Eoin Dolan got back behind his goalkeeper to turn a Mossy Quinn effort off the Kickhams line.

Though superbly placed, Dolan seemed to know little about it.

Rock leveled up with a free against the run of play, before Connolly – who had been left alone to set up Quinn’s effort moment earlier – astonishingly found himself u n m a r ke d i n s p a c e behind the Kickhams defence for a second time.

He went alone this time, beating Evan Com-

erford at his near post to give Vincent’s a 12th minute lead they were never to surrender.

Connolly had fisted a point and set up Gavin Burke for another before the Kickhams response

came, in the form of a Rock free and a welltaken Carl Keeley point, bringing Mun to a margin

St Vincent’s in Parnell Park prior to their Dublin senior football championship final on

CLUB NOTICEBOARD CASTLEKNOCK

OUR nursery with thanks to Tigers Childcare is every Saturday morning at Tir na nOg/ Somerton.

New members always welcome. Nursery enquiries to lisakiernan1@gmail.com.

Well done to Cara Feeney, Emma McMenamin and Sophie King who represented the club with the Dublin U-15 footballers at the Leinster blitz.

Good luck to the three U-15 boys football teams in football semi-finals on November 5.

The club would like to wish GPO Paul Hudson every success in a new career in USA. He made a fantastic contribution and will be sorely missed.

Preparation is well underway for our latest fundraiser, Lipsync Battle, on November 11 in Westmanstown. Visit the club’s website to get a sneak peak at all the participants competing and find out how to sponsor a group.

No winner of our lotto

jackpot with four match three winners winning €75 each. Lucky dip winner was Sinead Kehoe who takes home €30. Our new jackpot is €2,800 with the next draw in Myo’s on November 2.

Thanks to Rialto Ford for the continued support.

ERIN GO BRAGH

NO WINNER of our lotto jackpot which is €10,000.

Please support as these funds are vital for the running of our club. Numbers drawn were 5, 17, 23 and 27.

This Friday, we are doing a guaranteed winner of €250.

Our Halloween disco took place last Friday and it was a tremendous success. Thanks to all who attended, a lot of scary people on the night.

Fantastic result from our U-15 boys who won the football championship quarter-final on Friday evening against St Brigid’s.

Best of luck to them on Sunday against Whitehall in their championship semi-final. Best of luck to

our U-16 hurlers who are playing away to O’Toole’s in the hurling shield final this Saturday. All support would be greatly appreciated at these matches.

Well done to both Ellen Gribben and Aoife O’Sullivan who were part of the Dublin football development squads who played in Leinster blitz in Naomh Mearnog on Saturday.

The good work continues at juvenile level with all our teams continuing to thrive.

New members are always welcome to any of our teams, no experience necessary.

Our adult hurlers are looking for a manager; if you are interested, please contact pro.eringobragh. dublin@gaa.ie Our adult football team and 2017 championship semifinalists are now looking for new players for the 2018 season. All newcomers welcome. Contact George Burke at 087 9709795 or email georgejburke@eircom.net.

Our nursery (Little Green Machine) continues every Saturday morning from

11.30am to 12.45pm, and Tuesday evenings from 6-7pm in Phibblestown hall.

Please contact Donal Quinn on 086 380 1621 for further details.

Our end of year season party takes place in the Grasshopper on Saturday, November 25. Tickets €10.

Please note our AGM will take place in our clubhouse on Wednesday, November 29.

We would welcome and encourage all members wishing to help drive the club forward in 2018 to take this opportunity to become members of our various executive committees or take up one of the other available positions within the club. For our club to continue and prosper, we need more volunteers.

The deadline for receipt of nominations and motions is midnight on Monday, November 6.

FINGALLIANS

2018 Membership: A new facility has been created on

the club’s SmartCard system that allows you to start putting money aside for 2018 membership.

If you wish to build up a fund, you can ask the bar staff to top up the Membership Purse on your card. The money placed on the Membership Purse cannot be used for bar purchases but only against membership in January 2018.

If you need any more details, please talk to Feidhlim or one of the committee members.

U-16 hurling C championship final: Fingallians v St Peregrines at 11am this Saturday, November 4, in Parnell Park.

Senior Ladies: The league win v St Brigid’s keeps the girls in pole position with one game remaining.

Cumann na Mbunscoil: Gaelscoil Bhrian Boroimhe had four Fingallians girls on their team during the week who beat St Mary’s of Garristown in Croke Park.

Well done to Cara, Sophie, Lauren U-9s agus Siofra, U-10s.

Club upgrades and works:

Over the last week, the club has replaced the dated ball-stop nets on the main pitch. In the bar and hall, we have new large screens and projectors installed and now available for all big sporting occasions.

Bank Holiday Marathon: Well done to all our members who completed the gruelling 26 miles and 385 yards on Sunday morning.

Winter bar hours: Monday to Wednesday, 6-11pm; Thursday 6-11.30pm; Friday 6pm-12am, Saturday 3pm-12.30am and Sunday 1-11pm. The winter timetable will run until Monday, March 5, 2018.

International Rules Update: The first test will take place in Adelaide on Sunday, November 12 at 5am.

The second test will take place in Perth on Saturday, November 18 at 8.45am (both Irish time). Ireland are the current holders of the Cormac McAnallen Cup after a four-point win in 2015.

We had no lotto winner last week. The numbers drawn were 13, 29, 31, 34 and

35. The jackpot this week will be €3,667.

GARDA WESTMANSTOWN

GREAT win by our minors on Sunday morning away at O’Toole’s in the semi-final of the championship shield.

A great all round performance ending in a final score of 2-15 to 1-8 ensures a place in the final against St Pat’s, Palmerstown; date and venue to be fixed this week.

Well done to the Doherty brothers Oisin and Rian who helped their school Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada overcome Our Ladies Ballinteer in Cuman na mBunscoil in Croke Park last Wednesday.

The boys scored five points each and all at Garda Westmanstown Gaels are very proud of youhopefully the first of many appearances at Croke Park.

The club AGM takes place on Monday, November 20 in Westmanstown Sports Centre at 8pm. All club

2 November 2017 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 39

GAZETTE

CANCEL EACH OTHER OUT IN PARNEL PARK SHOWDOWN

yet more glory

of 1-4 to 0-4 at halftime; in truth, probably close than they deserved to be.

Jason W helan and

another Rock free saw Ballymun close the gap to two twice, as they looked to come back at Vincent’s

Monday in Parnell Park. Picture: Grainne McKinney

members are asked to attend; this is your club and this is your opportunity to have your say on how things are run; bi ann gan teip!

The club annual gala dinner and awards night takes place at Westmanstown Sports Centre on Friday, December 1 at 8pm. It’s been a long and busy season and this is the time to celebrate the achievements and look forward to next year. Tickets will be available this week from club officers and cost €35; don’t miss out.

SKERRIES HARPS WELL done to our minor footballers on their championship quarter-final win against St Anne’s on Sunday. Hard luck to the U-16 camogie team who lost out in the championship final against St Peregrines on Friday.

Congrats to our GPO Louise and her club Corduff, Monaghan on winning the Ulster ladies junior championship final on

in the second period, but Vincent’s always looked in control, with Carthy and Quinn chipping in to maintain the gap.

The potentially gamechanging moment for Kickhams came in the 50th minute, when Keeley found himself in behind the Vincent’s defence after Ballymun;s best attacking move of the game.

His shot was tipped onto the crossbar and over by Michael Savage from close range, when he probably should have scored. With the tallies at 1-8 to 0-8, it turned out that both their chance and the final’s scoring was over.

Vincent’s approach to the closing stages, logical though it was, drew the ire of a substantial portion of the Parnell Park crowd.

From 50 minutes on, the Marino side played keep ball. On one occasion throwing the ball

around their own backline for the best part of four minutes, while on another an easy pass to a man clear through on goal was turned down in favour of keeping possession.

So slow was their play, in fact, that when presented with a close-range free to give Vincent’s a four point lead, Quinn took so long over it that the referee eventually decided to throw the ball up instead.

It was not the first bit of time-killing gamesmanship from the holders.

The final moments in particular, then, did not make for a fine closing spectacle, but Vincent’s won’t care, and Kickhams could do precious little about it.

The Marino men take their fourth title from their fifth final in the last five years, and once again head on to provincial level.

FINAL DECIDER

EGB’s brave run undone by Commercials ERIN Go Bragh pushed Commericals all the way but the west Dublin side were able to make use of the tough Rathcoole conditions in the second half to land a 1-15 to 0-9 victory in the Under-15B hurling shield final.

Under foot conditions were very heavy and the pitch was far from conducive to good hurling. EGB took control from the throw in and went three points up early on with excellent points from play from Jack Carroll and Glen Campion and a well converted free from Conor Gorman. They were winning most of their personal battles and, with Conor McCleod and Luke McEntee outstanding in the half back line, Commercials were finding it very difficult to make headway, Matthew Nitoi was in fantastic form between the posts and they finished the first half deservedly 0-7 to 0-5. Indeed, they spurned a number of goal chances which would come back to bite the team in the second half. But, in the face of a stiffening wind, Commercials got on top and drove on to secure a well-deserved victory in the second half, limiting EGB to two points while running up 1-10.

In difficult conditions, the likes of Conor McCLeod, Jack Carroll, Luke McEntee and Matthew Nitoi gave everything. It was indicative of the spirit of the side that only came together for championship hurling under the tutelage of coaches John McCleod, Jack Carroll and Karl Johnson.

CLUB NOTICEBOARD Sunday. See full results on www.skerriesharps.ie/ results.

Upcoming Fixtures: Saturday, November 4 – U-21 football championship vs St Mary’s, Saggart, away at 2.30pm. See full fixture details on www. skerriesharps.ie/fixtures.

Zingo Result 3-5-1-7-4-6-2.

No jackpot winner. Jackpot now a fantastic €6,600.

Draw next Sunday at 6pm.

How do you win? You buy a ticket! You can play on line at skerriesharps.ie and follow the links. Envelopes only €2 or three for €5. Our club Zingo allows us to accomplish so much as a club, thanks to all those who play every week.

The academy is back on next Saturday, November 4 at the usual time of 10-11.30am. Tea/Coffee will be available upstairs in the clubhouse and club shop will be open. Reminder to all that the club car park is closed during the academy for health and safety reasons.

Drop off only.

Upcoming Diary Dates: Friday, November 17, 8pm,

music night in aid of the 2018 Feile fund; Friday, November 24, Abba night from 8.30pm; Sunday, December 2, Juvenile Presentation Evening; Thursday, December 7, Club AGM 2017; Friday, December 16, Christmas draw and music night.

Many thanks to all who supported the bag-packing fundraiser last weekend.

Club shop open during all home fixtures. Children’s hoodies and rain jackets are back in stock along with a new style of half zip tops, training jerseys and tops, skinny and regular track bottoms and polo shirts.

ST BRIGID’S

NURSERY is back again this Saturday from 9.30 to 11am with all four to seven-yearolds very welcome.

St Brigid’s are delighted to welcome Dublin selector Declan Darcy to St Brigid’s on Monday, November 6 at 8.30pm to talk to our coaches, or any member interested in coaching about

his experience in managing, training and coaching teams.

Declan played with St Brigid’s and is an inspirational coach and manager of teams at all levels.

U-21 football championship is at home at 2.30pm on November 4 with the minor hurling championship at home at 11am on Sunday.

The AFL6 side play Crumlin in an important fixture on Thursday at 8.15pm in Russell Park. The lads would appreciate your support.

Well done to Colleen Barrett and all the Naomh Olibheir players who competed in Croke Park last week, winning the Corn Irish Rubies.

Make sure to keep up with all our news on our club app or via the website www. stbrigidsgaa.com There was no lotto jackpot winner last week and the lotto draw this week will be on Friday, November 3 in Myo’s. The jackpot will be €6,200. Thank you very much to everyone who supports St Brigid’s club lotto and to our

great lotto committee.

Our adult ladies football teams are looking for new members for our Division 1 and Division 7 teams and Gaelic for Mothers and Others are also recruiting.

Players of every standard and all ages are welcome; call 086 4090371 for details.

ST FINIAN’S

THERE were no adult or juvenile fixtures at the bank holiday weekend.

Best of luck to the AHL9 team who are playing the league semi-final at home to Whitehall Colmcille next Sunday, November 5 at 2.30pm. All support welcome and appreciated.

Well done to the U-13 boys who concluded their season with a fine away win on Thursday evening under lights at Man O’War. Despite a slow start in the first half, the team gathered their composure to lead narrowly at half time. Man O’War briefly retook the lead early in the second half but

the Swordsmen struck back with a combination of fine goals from Daniel Devereux, Padraig Darcy, Lucas Malone and Liam O’Connell and resolute defending from Eoin and Conor Ryan and Stephen Murnane. With the 2017 league season over, it’s onwards and upwards for the St Finian’s U-14 boys in 2018.

Congratulations to Mia Hanlon, Alex Scannell, Sarah Tobin, Alannah Gallagher and Emer Crosbie who all won Cumann na mBunscoil finals with their schools this week. Sarah, Alex and Mia play with the U-11 girls and Emer and Alannah are on the U-10 team. They attend Scoil an Duinninigh and Gaelscoil Bhrian Boroimhe. Well done girls, we are all delighted for you.

There will be a clothing recycling collection on Saturday, November 11 at 1pm to raise funds for the club. Please donate all clean, unwanted clothes (in any condition), bed linen, towels, curtains (no duvets please), shoes, handbags, belts and soft toys or no household

bric- a-brac.

Please drop bags to the clubhouse on Monday, November 6 to Thursday, November 9 from 7.30pm to 9pm and Saturday, November 11 from 11am to 1pm. Thank you for your support.

Applications are invited for team managers/ management for the 2018 season for the following St Finian’s adults teams: intermediate men’s football, junior men’s football, junior A hurling, junior B hurling, senior ladies football, senior camogie. All expressions of interests should be forwarded to the club secretary at the following email address: secretary. stfiniansswords.dublin@ gaa.ie. The closing date for applications is 5pm, Wednesday, November 8.

The nursery and academy, sponsored by Sky Handling Partner, will resume at the normal times: 10am and 11.30am respectively on Saturday, November 4. The coffee shop and club shop will reopen on Saturday, November 4 from 10am.

GAZETTESPORT

ALL OF YOUR NORTH DUBLIN SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 34-39

MALAHIDE MAGIC: Newly promoted side record third bonus point win on the national UBL rugby stage P36

NOVEMBER 2-8, 2017

SILVERWARE SEASON: GAA titles galore up for grabs as 2017 comes to close P38-39

St Vincent’s celebrate their hard fought Dublin senior football championship success in Parnell Park. Picture: Grainne McKinney

Marino men march on St Vincent’s boss Brian Mullins hails his side’s work rate as they land another SFC title in a final dog-fight on Monday night in Parnell Park

 DAVE DONNELLY

sport@dublingazette.com

ST VINCENT’S manager Brian Mullins said their Dublin senior football championship final against Ballymun Kickhams ‘went as expected’ after the Marino side eked out a 1-8 to 0-8 win.

Diarmuid Connolly’s well-taken goal in the 13th minute proved the difference-maker in an attritional and low-scoring game at Parnell Park on Monday night.

It’s the fourth time in five years that Vincent’s have lifted the county title, and their second final win over Ballymun in that time, as their golden generation continues to flourish.

Ballymun manager Paddy Carr said his team

“will look back with regrets” at a game where, despite the closeness of the scores, they rarely looked like challenging for the win.

“It went like we had expected,” Mullins said after the game.

“We have huge respect for Ballymun, they’re a very good team and we were determined that we were going to try and play the game our way and I think, for the most part, we succeeded in that.

“It was based on an awful lot of hard work and tackling and moving the ball quickly which I think we did.

“The dividend out of that effort and mentality is four out of five so they’re very happy with that, though they don’t like talking about the one

that got away so we’ll not talk about that today.”

At the heart of Vins’ success was a determined defensive effort, led by captain Ger Brennan, which denied Ballymun any space in the attacking part of the pitch.

“I can’t run – that’s why I was [in defence] the whole time,” Brennan joked in a post-match interview with broadcaster Eir Sport.

“Their game-plan is fairly obvious in that they try to pull you wide and run down those channels.

“In the first half they got through on a couple of occasions and we wouldn’t be happy with that but, for the most part, we snuffed them out.”

Carr was sanguine in his post-match interview, and admitted that the scoreline didn’t

reflect the gulf in quality between the north Dublin rivals on the day.

“We can have no arguments. We were outperformed. We’ll look back with regrets. It didn’t really come together.

“At no stage did we look like we were going to drive on. If we knew that was the way we were going to play we’d be very disappointed.

“We didn’t do ourselves justice and that’s in no way taking away from St Vincent’s. They were the better team tonight, by far the superior team.

“They did what they had to do to win but I think they’ll probably feel they didn’t really get out of third gear and yet they were still ahead of us.”