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WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE FINGAL AREA, WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED  FEBRUARY 15-21, 2018

ROCKIN’ THEIR STREET STYLE WEARING their finest glad rags, this trio – Nadia Forde, Brian Dowling and Pippa O’Connor – looked dressed to impress at the K Club, where they were among the many well-known faces attending the inaugural Blossom Tree Ball in aid of Temple Street Hospital. Picture: Brian McEvoy

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DIRECT APPEAL AS TYRRELSTOWN SPORTS HUB FACING EVICTION

‘Save our GAA club from NAMA, Taoiseach’  SYLVIA POWNALL AN TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar is being urged to save a GAA club in his constituency from being turfed off their only playing pitch by NAMA. The State agency established during the banking crisis plans to sell a plot of land in D15 which will result in Tyrrelstown GAA Club being evicted.

On Monday, Dublin

West TD Jack Chambers (FF) raised the issue in the Dail and called on the Taoiseach to intervene on behalf of the club which he said provides “a vital outlet” for the youth of the area.

A petition to save the pitch launched just days ago had already surpassed its target of 600 supporters by early yesterday (WED).

Continued on Page 4

2 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 15 February 2018

TYRRELSTOWN | PARENTS SAY THEY ARE BEING TREATED UNFAIRLY

School’s car park policy angers parents of special-needs kids  SYLVIA POWNALL

PARENTS of autistic children who attend St Luke’s NS in Tyrrelstown say they are being treated unfairly by being denied access to the car park.

The school has two classes for young pupils with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) who finish classes at 1.30pm – but the parents claim the car park is locked at 1pm.

One mother, whose fiveyear-old son attends St Luke’s, said it is putting children at risk because they have to walk out onto a busy road to get into the car.

She told Dublin Gazette: “They close the gates every day at 1pm so nobody can gain access but staff. It’s chaos. For kids on the spectrum it’s a serious hazard because some of them don’t have great mobility.”

In 2013 the school posted on its website noticeboard: “As and from Monday, May 13, only staff, official disability sticker holders and Setanta personnel will have access to the car park at our school complex and school opening and closing times.

“The gates will be closed to all others. If you have a car, we would suggest that you park away from the school and walk to the school.”

Parents of ASD pupils affected by the lunchtime

rule have written to the school pointing out that most of them have disabled badges but are denied access nonetheless.

The mum, who asked not to be named, said: “There’s disabled spaces in the car park, but the guy on the gate won’t open them. I’m driving from Lucan so I never make it before 1pm.

“My little boy won’t walk, he has poor muscle tone so I have to carry him. Would it be too much to ask them to open the gates for 20 minutes and let us use the disabled spaces so we could collect our children safely?”

An email sent to the school principal on behalf of the parents pointed out that many of the children “do not have a typical awareness of their surroundings which results in them being a flight risk”.

The email says parents support the school in proactive safety measures but argues that in the case of special needs children steps must be taken to ensure “that their liberties are not denied”.

It is understood that restricted parking space has been an issue at the school for some time.

Dublin Gazette contacted St Luke’s NS by phone about the issue and asked for a comment via email, but none was received.

FASTNews

Greens in push for Swords to be a reusable cup town GREEN Party representative Mark Henry (pictured) has launched a campaign to make Swords Dublin’s first reusable cup town.

He is asking every cafe in the town to give their customers a discount if they bring their own cup.

He congratulated the barista bars in Swords which already offer the discount, including Look Mam No Hands!, Starbucks, Esquires, Butlers and Insomnia, for leading the way.

But he urged the others to follow suit, adding: “It’s astonishing to think that we use two million disposable coffee cups in Ireland every single day.

“The cost of them is included in your coffee; most of them end up in bins, and a lot of them are unrecyclable, even if you do put them in the green bin.

“So they’re a waste, and a waste of money.”

Progress ‘is being made’ for ET primary school site

Learning the ropes on how to run a business

TYRRELSTOWN Educate Together National School students Elizabeth Belmont Gorska, Alicia Francis and Rebecca Evans are pictured at their jewelry stall when they took part in the recent Lil’ Mart Business Day. This mini business event was a six-week project for 6th class which involved brainstorming business ideas, presenting them to a Dragon’s Den of teachers, voting

as a class on which business to go with, deciding on a name, logo and slogan, making posters and advertising, investing seed money in the business (€1 per child), making and baking all products and setting up of stalls. Each group had a stall and managers, advertisers and accountants made sure everything ran smoothly.

See full Gallery next week Picture: SIMON PEARE

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PROGRESS is being made in finding a new permanent home for Malahide/Portmarnock Educate Together primary school, according to Education Minister Richard Bruton.

His department has also confirmed that a suitable site for a primary and secondary school has been identified and work is ongoing to acquire the land.

Welcoming the news, Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) said: “Officials from Fingal County Council are now in discussions on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills with regard to reaching an agreement to acquire this in order to provide a new, permanent home for the school.”

Calling on the council to “do the deal” and have the schools at separate sites, Senator James Reilly (FG) added: “I am confident Fingal County Council, who have a lot of experience in acquiring sites for schools in Fingal, will proceed professionally as usual and successfully conclude the purchase of these long-awaited sites.”

Could you help take cancer patients to treatments?

THE Irish Cancer Society is looking for volunteer drivers in north County Dublin to drive cancer patients to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda for their chemotherapy.

The service is free to the patient and volunteer drivers are paid a contribution towards their fuel, all road toll costs, and some refreshments during the day. Volunteer drivers are usually booked for just one or two drives per month.

Patients undergoing chemotherapy who would like to avail of the service can contact their healthcare professional in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital to refer them to the service. Alternatively, they can call the Volunteer Driver Service team at 01 231 0522, email transport@irishcancer.ie, or see www.cancer.ie.

15 February 2018 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 3

Locals urged to have say on boundaries INDEPENDENT Cllr Tania Doyle has urged D15 residents to have their say regarding proposed changes to constituency boundaries.

The deadline for submissions is next Monday, February 19, and Cllr Doyle says input from those on the ground is vital.

A review of local electoral areas is under way with a recommendation from Fine Gael to reintroduce smaller threeand four-seater LEAs. Cllr Doyle said: “Since 2011 the population of Fingal has increased by a whopping eight per cent, to 296,000.

“Fingal also boasts three of the fastest growing electoral divisions in the state, of which the Mulhuddart LEA is one.”

Cllr Doyle said the

scale of development taking place is evidence of rapid population growth and highlights the need for social and affordable housing.

Mulhuddart LEA is vast, taking within its boundary the communities of Clonsilla, Ongar, Hartstown, Huntstown, Corduff, Littlepace, Mulhuddart, Castlecurragh, Parslickstown, Hansfield, Barnwell and Hollystown.

Cllr Doyle said: “It is vital that it maintains its current levels of public representation and cannot be subdivided for the benefit of certain political interests.

“Reintroduction of smaller LEAs would be a retrograde step. We need our communities to use their voice through the vote.”

Petition launched for swimming pool BALBRIGGAN residents are calling for a promise made three decades ago to be honoured with the provision of a public swimming pool.

The rapidly-expanding town has one of the youngest populations in the country but there is no municipal pool facility to serve its 23,000 residents.

Now an online petition is being circulated and will be presented to Minister for Sport Shane Ross. As of Monday it had reached 1,316 of its 1,500 target.

The petition states: “The people of Balbriggan have been trying for 30 years to have a swimming pool built, and have had numerous promises by councillors and politicians pre-election for a swimming pool, only to have these promises turn to dust post-election.

“There is a general feeling of anger… Balbriggan warrants a swimming pool, it has the population size to sustain one.”

The petition warns the town is “rapidly becoming a ghost town with many shops and pubs closing down”.

It adds: “A swimming pool would help to bring in much needed investment, and help lower the chronic rate of youth unemployment.

“Given that Balbriggan is a coastal town, it is imperative that our youth get to learn to swim, and that Fingal Council and the Government act on this decisively.”

To sign the petition visit the Facebook page, Campaign for a public swimming pool for Balbriggan and surrounding areas, and follow the link.

THE SALTY DOG | BAND ON TOUR TO HELP FINANCE FIRST ALBUM

The Boxty Gang set to bring the craic to Skerries  SYLVIA POWNALL THE Salty Dog in Skerries will host a gig with a difference on March 9 as modern folk band The Boxty Gang perform as part of their nationwide whistle stop tour.

The musicians are finishing work on their debut album due for release this summer and hope the funds raised on the night will help finance its release.

A unique blend of modern Irish folk along with funk, American folk and Bluegrass has earned them a huge following in the US and Asia.

The band, with members from Balbriggan and Skerries, was runner up of the 2016 Michigan Irish Music Initiative and has also performed in Norway and Belgium.

Acting manager Josh O’Loughlin said: “In April, we are completing work on our debut album which is due to be released in early summer.

“From this, we will be working to secure dates at festivals throughout Europe and the States

The Boxty Gang have ahuge following in the US and Asia

next year.

“In order to fund the completion of our album, we will be hosting some fundraising concer ts throughout Ireland in early March in Skerries, Trim, Ennis, and Galway.”

A live version of their debut single ‘When I Returned to You’ performed in Belgium last

November is available on YouTube and Facebook (links below).

Josh said: “We’re hoping to draw a large crowd to The Salty Dog to help fund the album. We’ll be having the craic that night for sure.”

Listen to the track at: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=B-R7fpVxejI

Fingal Old IRA Commemorative Society parade and talk

Reenactors in action

THE Fingal Old IRA Commemorative Society is visiting Balrothery Village on February 18, when its Irish Volunteer reenactors will parade behind the National Colour Party.

The parade which will commence from ‘The Cuckoo Stone’ at midday will march to the community centre supported by a piper, where Pat Nugent’s photo exhibition drawn from across the decades will be opened.

The exhibition features many historic shots including dramatics pictures of the aftermath of the Sack of Balbriggan.

At 1.15pm Skerries historian, Frank Wherity will give an illustrated talk on his grand-uncle Thomas Hand, an active trade unionist and member of the Gaelic League.

In December 1920 his home was raided by the Tans and he was killed. There was a military Court of Enquiry into his death rather than an inquest.

This talk by Frank will deal with the life and times of Thomas Hand and those he worked with and the community he lived in.

All are invited to attend what will prove to be an enjoyable afternoon.

4 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 15 February 2018

FEARS | RESIDENTS OBJECTING TO SCALE, HEIGHT OF PROPOSED BUILD

Call to halt ‘overbearing’ blocks plan for Donabate  SYLVIA POWNALL DONABATE residents are fighting plans to build what they describe as “overbearing” three-storey apartment blocks in the seaside town.

Developer McGarrell Reilly was granted planning permission by Fingal County Council for more than 250 homes – 196 houses and 62 apartments – on a site at Hearse Road.

But the decision has been appealed to An Bord Pleanala by several parties amid fears the development will change

the landscape of the peninsula for the worse.

In a submission, Cllr Adrian Henchy (FF) said that although he acknowledged the need for new homes the scheme would stick out like a sore thumb.

He wrote: “The design of these units and the integration with the overall Donabate emerging area is not apparent.

“This scheme will put further pressure on the existing limited amenities and facilities in Donabate.

The scheme should not be granted in its current form in the interests of the peo-

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Some residents of neighbouring Prospect Hill claim the scale of the proposed scheme is “unacceptably high-density and is overbearing” ---------------------------------------------------------

ple who live and work in Portrane and Donabate.”

Residents who claim they are under siege from construction traffic have in increasing numbers called on the local authority to put the brakes on building until the distributor road is completed.

Of the 196 homes in the proposed Hearse Road

development, the majority would be two-storey, three-bed units, with some four- or five-bed homes.

The 62 apartments would consist of 12 one-bed and 50 twobed units in three blocks with a creche, open spaces and other associated infrastr ucture

included in the plans.

Some residents of neighbouring Prospect Hill claim the scale of the proposed scheme is “unacceptably high-density and is overbearing”.

The residents’ association contends the development would be “out of scale and out of character in terms of its appearance, compared with existing development in the vicinity”.

The group adds: “The current site will be dominated by apar tment blocks at its centre, one of the highest locations on the site.

“Repositioning the apartment blocks to the eastern boundary, along the railway line or to the western side would provide safer pedestrian access, as well as improving the visual aspect.”

McGarrell Reilly was established by Sean Reilly in the 1980s and was one of the most prolific house builders in the country during the boom.

It went into NAMA following the crash but has now become an active developer again and is currently pursuing a number of significant projects in Dublin.

Fingal companies and start-ups wing it to a special new Aer Lingus foundation in the hopes of helping their business lift off

A NEW foundation set up by Aer Lingus to help fledgling businesses has taken flight.

The TakeOff Foundation Start-Up Awards to support SMEs, charities and the arts community was launched earlier this week.

Applications are now invited from Fingal-based start-ups and three winners will receive complimentary flights and expert mentoring.

The awards were launched at an Aer Lingus Social Media Masterclass for Start-Ups held in conjunction with Fingal Dublin Chamber and Fingal Local Enterprise Office (LEO) that was attended by more than 100 business-owners and start-ups.

This event provided new businesses from across Fingal with advice on how social media can be used to build business success, drive brand awareness, and to gain fol-

lowers and new business in a really cost-effective way.

The prize package received by each winning start-up will consist of an allocation of European and long-haul international flights, business mentoring with key staff across a range of Aer Lingus business departments, and exposure for each start-up within the airline’s Cara magazine.

This initiative is targeted at start-ups based in Fingal that have been trading in the Irish market for the past 18 months at least, and for no more than three years.

Successful candidates will be selected following a shortlisting phase and subsequent presentation to a judging panel consisting of representatives from Aer Lingus, Fingal LEO and the Fingal Chamber of Commerce.

Entries close on March 11

Veronica Dugan, Wright Group, and Ursula Boland, Gary B Wheelchair Accessories

and interested candidates can apply by downloading the application form from https://www.aerlingus.com/ about-us/takeoff-foundation/start-up-awards/, and emailing the completed application to startupawards@ aerlingus.com. Pictures: Chris Bellew/Fennell Photography

Maryanne Okoye and Alani Oluwole Idown, Wollydee Associates

SPORTS

Desperate plea to act as club’s future now in doubt Continued from Page 1

It claims the area has been “criminally neglected” regarding youth services.

The Taoisecah gave no assurances. He reiterated NAMA’s role in supplying land for much-needed housing, but added: “I am aware of the local issue and we are working on it.”

According to the petition on uplift.ie, the west Dublin club is one of six in the area and has the youngest membership.

It states: “Tyrrelstown has both the youngest and most ethnically diverse population in the entire European Union.

Due to rapid growth and under-investment in facilities, it has seen more than its fair share of social problems.

‘Vulnerable’ “We believe it is no exaggeration to say that we have kept many of our most vulnerable youths ‘on the straight and narrow’ and away from activities that would be harmful to themselves and others.

“We have also brought their parents from all backgrounds together in an atmosphere of friendship and mutual respect.

Yet all our hard work and benefits to the community could potentially be wiped away overnight.”

It adds: “There is however an alternative. Were this land to be put at the disposal of the community, for the benefit of the community, it would represent a great step forward.”

Deputy Chambers (FF) said the club had been “a pillar of the local community for the past decade”.

He added: “Surely NAMA’s approach in this instance does not tally with the Programme for Government.”

15 February 2018 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 5

COURTS | MONEY AT HEART OF SOME CASES BEFORE THE BENCH, BUT NO COMPO FOR GARDA

Fradulently claimed €88k social welfare A WOMAN who fraudulently claimed more than €88,000 in Social Welfare payments has been sentenced to two years in prison, with 15 months suspended.

Mercie Wambui (32), with an address at Brackenwood Avenue, Balbriggan, used the money to financially support her family in Kenya who were in “dire conditions”, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.

Wa m b u i c a m e t o Ireland from Kenya in 2006 as an asylum seeker and was later entitled to certain State benefits.

However, she also used a false identity to get a job with the Daughters of the Cross in 2008, which she never declared.

Wa m b u i p l e a d e d guilty to sample counts

of fraud amounting to €88,877 on dates between August 2010 and September 2016.

Judge Melanie Grea l l y a c k n ow l e d g e d the “grave and difficult circumstances” of Wambui’s background, and the fact that three of her sisters and her father had died since her arrival in Ireland.

‘‘Extreme measures’ She said her inability to work legally in Ireland as an asylum seeker caused financial constraints which initially forced her to take a criminal route, adding: “People required to live on such a paltry stipend ... are sometimes driven to extreme measures.”

However, she added that Wambui’s offence had “elements of a systemic and significant fraud”.

Two carjackers dragged driver to the ground TWO men who dragged a woman from her car before stealing the vehicle have received partially suspended prison sentences of seven years.

Eugene Traynor (40), of Whitestown Grove, Blanchardstown, and Martin Cully (35), of Dromcarra Green, Jobstown, Tallaght, stood in the middle of the road and forced the woman to stop her car.

Cully then opened the passenger front door, leaned in and unbuckled the woman’s seatbelt. Traynor took the car keys and both men roared at the woman to get out before physically dragging her to the ground.

In a statement to the court, the victim said she suffered nightmares and flashbacks of the “horrible, terrifying experience”.

Traynor and Cully pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawful seizure of a vehicle at Old Connacht Avenue, Bray, Co Wicklow, on June 15, 2017.

Judge Patrick Quinn banned Cully from driving for life. He suspended the final two years on his sentence and the final two and a half years on Traynor’s sentence, on condition both men stay drug-free.

Traynor’s 20 previous convictions include robbery and theft offences, while Cully’s 67 previous convictions include seven for burglary.

Teen stole jewellery worth €10,000 after asking for bathroom

A ROMANIAN teenager who stole €10,000 worth of jewellery from an elderly couple while pretending to be collecting for charity has been given a suspended sentence.

Carmen Nicolae (now aged 20), of Rosevale Court, Blakestown Road, Blanchardstown, said she was collecting for the starving in Africa.

She stole the jewellery, which had great sentimental value, after being let into the house to use the bathroom.

Nicolae pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the theft of jewellery at the couple’s house in Artane on October 2, 2015. She has five previous convictions for theft and fraud offences.

Garda Keith Cassidy told Fiona McGowan BL, prosecuting, that the 84-year-old victim answered a knock to his front door.

Nicolae, then aged 18, told the man she was Spanish and was collecting for the starving in Africa. He gave her €5. She asked to

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‘Nicolae went upstairs to use the bathroom, then returned downstairs, said thank you and left. His wife later discovered jewellery to the value of €10,000 missing from a box in their bedroom.’

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Stock image

use the bathroom and the man agreed.

Gda Cassidy said Nicolae, who was wearing a shoulder bag, went upstairs while the man waited for her. She then returned downstairs, said thank you and left. His

wife later discovered jewellery to the value of €10,000 missing from a box in their bedroom.

The stolen jewellery included a diamond engagement ring, charm bracelet, gold chains, an eternity ring, earrings and cuff links. The collection had been built up over years and had huge sentimental value for the couple.

None of the items were recovered. The court heard someone had taken the items from Nicolae and they were sold in the city centre.

Defence counsel said Nicolae had come to Ireland as a 14-yearold, having been married back in Romania that year. He said her husband worked in security and she is expecting their third child.

Judge Patricia Ryan, who described the offence as “mean and nasty”, noted Nicolae had brought €1,200 to court as “a practical expression of remorse” for the couple involved.

She imposed two years imprisonment, which she suspended for three years.

No compensation for garda injured on duty A GARDA left with a disfigured fingernail after a patrol car door slammed on his little finger cannot pursue a compensation claim, the High Court has ruled.

SMr Justice Max Barrett rejected Garda Noel Callan’s challenge aimed at overturning the Minister for Justice’s refusal to

allow him seek compensation, and awarded costs against him.

Garda Callan injured his finger while on duty in Swords on August 26, 2011. One of those being arrested for a public order offence lashed out with a kick which resulted in Garda Callan’s little finger getting caught in the

patrol car door.

The garda was brought to hospital and the nail on his little finger removed and he had stitches to the nail bed. He was out of work for a week and on indoor duty for two weeks.

He disputed the Minister’s refusal to sanction a claim under the Garda Compensation Acts

because the Minister considered, based on medical reports, the injury was minor.

In his judgment, Mr Justice Barrett said Garda Callan suffered an injury that ought never to have been visited upon him, but he noted a doctor ruled there was “no residual functional impairment”,

which he said might yield the reasonable conclusion that the injury is minor in character.

Counsel for Garda Callan asked the judge to make no order for costs, meaning each side pay their own, and said media coverage of the case had caused a lot of distress for his client.

6 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 15 February 2018

EVENTS Mount Sackville School fundraising event for Jigsaw

Elaine Curtin and Teresa Conlon

Goretti Browne and Helena McInerney

The royal treatment for a worthy cause

L Paula Dunne and Jeanne Dowdall. Pictures: Simon Peare

Adrienne Austin and Margot Murphy

Susan Clegg, Donna Brereton, Annette Flynn and Siobhan Murphy

UTTRELSTOWN Castle was the venue for a special fundraising event held by Mount Sackville School for Jigsaw Dublin 15. Jigsaw Dublin 15 is a free, non-judgemental and confidential service supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people aged 12 - 25 living, working or studying in Dublin 15.

They provide guidance and support for young people who are going through a difficult time. They are located on the second floor of Blanchardstown Library.

Marion Cronin and Eileen Ward

Fiona McHugh, Bernadine McCoy and Yvonne McCarthy

Therese Brogan and Anne Marie Leahy

15 February 2018 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 7

PEOPLE | TALENTED 28-YEAR-OLD SINGER SONGWRITER FROM DUBLIN 15 NOMINATED FOR BEST MUSIC ACT

Dublin 15 singer Caroline hits the right note with debut EP  SYLVIA POWNALL SINGER songwriter Caroline Kay from Dublin 15 has been nominated for an award following the success of her five-track debut EP ‘Notes’.

The talented 28-yearold moved to London to pursue her dream of performing on a West End stage and has been busy creating her own music and online videos.

Notes went straight to the top of the Irish iTunes charts when released last August and bumped Ed Sheeran off the number two slot in the UK Singer Songwriter charts.

Now Caroline is up for a Best Music Act award at the Gossies on February 23 along with the likes of Kodaline, Aine Cahill, Picture This, The Coronas and The Script.

The songstress, who grew up in Carpenterstown with two brothers and her parents Margaret and Donal, says her love of music started at a young age.

A still from Caroline’s music video, On My Way

She told Dublin Gazette: “My parents come from large and relatively musical families but are arguably each the least musical within those families so I’m lucky that the flare for music was passed to me somehow.

“My parents did have a couple of Broadway/West End CDs and some of the classics (Barbara Streisand, Bette Midler, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra) so music was always being played in the house.

“I started piano lessons when I was about seven and sang in the church

choir, school choir and was a part of the local drama society too.”

Caroline says she was “no child prodigy” and her voice took time to develop but she had a passion for music and stuck with it.

Her favourite genres include pop, jazz, blues and musical theatre and she describes her music as “technically pop music but it doesn’t have a mainstream sound”.

Caroline has been based in London for the past six years and says although she suffers the odd bout of homesickness the West

End shows help to distract her.

She said: “I do miss family and friends and missing out on the little things but I get home quite often.

“My ultimate goal is a successful career on the West End. That’s what I trained for and that’s my biggest goal.”

Not content with her EP success, Caroline has also been working on an Irish musical set in Dublin penning the script, lyrics and music and teaming up with a composer.

She’s now looking forward to the red-carpet glamour at the Gossie Awards at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Golden Lane next week.

She said: “Just to be recognised for my work is special.

“I think the Irish are especially great for supporting their own and it’s lovely to have them wishing me well.”

Listen to the EP on Spotify or watch the video on Youtube.

MSD to create 350 jobs in Swords PH A R M A g r o u p M S D h a s announced plans for a new biotech facility in Swords in a move expected to create 350 jobs.

The plant will be built on the site of its former women’s healthcare product business and is expected to be up and running by 2021.

MSD’s parent company Merck put the 33-acre site on the market with a price tag of €25 million last year but has now decided to build the new biologics plant within the existing buildings instead.

Welcoming the news Senator James Reilly said more quality jobs “hot on the heels of major

investment by Korean firm SK Biotek” could only be a good thing.

Deputy Darragh O’Brien also welcomed it and praised Fingal County Council.

In a statement the council said it was “another major boost” for Swords.

Caroline, who grew up in Carpenterstown, says her love of music started at a young age. Her favourite genres include pop, jazz, blues and musical theatre.

8 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 15 February 2018

OPINION | ‘CHANGES TO OUR LAWS ARE NOT AN ATTACK ON RURAL IRELAND, BUT A NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO STOP THE DEVASTATION THAT EVEN A SINGLE DEATH CAN WREAK’

‘Drink driving changes are to save lives’

“HOW much alcohol can I consume before getting behind the wheel of a car – legally?” is a question I am repeatedly asked these days.

It started when I dared to suggest that people who are caught driving with more than the allowed limit of alcohol in their blood should get a mandatory three-month ban for this dangerous – sometimes fatally dangerous – offence.

It didn’t seem to be a draconian suggestion.

I wasn’t even changing the amount of alcohol you can legally consume before getting behind the wheel of a car.

But you’d think I’d decided to outlaw Guinness or impose mandatory abstention every holy day of obligation from the reaction I got in some quarters.

Somehow, a desire to save lives and reduce road traffic casualties turned into an “an attack on rural life”.

It was argued that people in rural Ireland are unable to socialise unless they are allowed to break the law and drive home with a few pints on board. This, despite the fact that eight out of ten alcohol-related collisions occur in rural areas.

Seemingly they weren’t the only ones to have their lives ruined by a simple change of penalty in our drink-driving laws. Priests, I was told, would no longer be able to say mass for fear of being breathalysed

on their way home.

There was talk of hedges jumping out at people, fairy forts and large dinners being as much of a threat to road safety as drink driving, but the gist of the warning was clear: Ross was attempting to ride roughshod over rural life. He must be stopped!

Why can’t he concentrate on the real culprits; speeding, enforcement and fixing those blasted potholes? Why can’t he just focus on people who have ten or 20 pints and leave the rest of us to enjoy our one or two – sure, what harm are we doing?

The answer, of course, is “plenty”. People who are just marginally over the drink driving limit are causing huge hurt, injury and even death to others.

Multiply that by all the families, friends and extended communities who are also affected and you’ll see the amount of harm that people just over the drink driving limit are doing.

Research shows us that approximately 7-8 people are killed per year at the lower alcohol levels [20082012]. The culpable party was not a pedestrian or passenger, but the driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at lower alcohol levels. That’s a lot of harm, to a lot of people.

It’s hard to imagine that a sociable few drinks could cause so much devastation to people’s lives.

What’s even harder to imagine is if it happened to you.

How would you feel if your loved one was struck down and killed by a driver who was just over the BAC limit? How would you look at yourself in the mirror if you were the one who did the killing?

Sometimes we need to hear the reality at the coalface– not from the politicians or the lobby groups – but from the experts in the field and the people whose lives have been hugely affected by these issues.

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‘Being over the limit can vary from person to person depending on many factors, including weight, food intake, tiredness etc’

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Minister Ross

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Next week I am delighted to share a space with Ray d’Arcy – who has proven a great advocate for road safety – and Donna Price, founder of Irish Road Victims Association, recently appointed to the board of the RSA and the mother of a child who was killed by a drink driver.

They will be joined by Brian Farrell of the RSA and, I hope, as many of you who can come and contribute to this valuable discussion.

We want to hear your concerns, your ideas and recommendations as we all work together to make our roads safer for all our families and our communities.

And, getting back to the original question – how much alcohol can I consume before getting behind the wheel of a car – legally?

I’m afraid there’s no hard and fast answer to that. The current law – which I am NOT changing, all I am changing is the penalty – says that you are over the limit with a BAC of 50mg.

But this can vary from person to person depending on many factors, including weight, food intake, tiredness etc.

Ultimately, the best guideline is: if you’re going to be drinking, get someone else to drive you home. You won’t regret it.  SHANE ROSS

Minister for Tourism, Transport and Sport

15 February 2018 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 9

FASTNews

Malahide Castle, Gardens scoop prestigious award MALAHIDE Castle & Gardens has won Best Heritage Project at the national Community and Council Awards. The title comes in recognition of the major repair and conservation work that took place at the site including major conservation work to the courtyard.

The Talbot Botanic Gardens is a centre of horticultural excellence and is one of the top three of its kind in the country. The castle, demesne and visitor centre welcomed more than 140,000 visitors in 2016 and was awarded a Green Flag in 2017.

The garden, woodland and landscape at the 265acre historic amenity is maintained by the operations department of Fingal County Council.

This is the 12th year of the awards, presented by IPB Insurance and LAMA, which, highlight and recognise projects that are the joint effort of councils and community groups. There was other good news for Malahide Castle and Gardens this week when they also won an award from CIE Tours for customer service excellence in 2017.

Pictured are Kevin Halpenny, FCC; Cllr Sean Conlon, LAMA representative, Monaghan County Council; Caroline Power and Colin Gilhooley, FCC, Cllr Mary McCamley, Mayor of Fingal, and Cllr Mags Murray (FF), chairperson, LAMA.

All welcome for a musical fun, fundraising table quiz PORTMARNOCK Musical & Dramatic Society is hosting a music table quiz in the PSLC leisure centre on Friday, February 23 at 8pm.

A table of four costs €40. The quiz will feature music from the 70s, 80s and 90s, TV signature tunes and musicals, and a great fun night for all the family is guaranteed.

This is a joint fundraiser with Portmarnock MDS and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, which needs funds to cover the cost of sending crews and boats to the R116 disaster in Belmullet last March.

Fine Gael rep calls for a garda station in Donabate FINE Gael representative Bob Dowling has written to Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan calling for a garda station in Donabate. He penned the letter in response to the rise in crime, concerns raised by local residents and the population growth, which is expected to top 21,000 people by 2021.

He said: “Everybody in Donabate and Portrane knows of a friend or family member in the area who has been subjected to horrible crimes. This simply cannot continue and the only way to prevent this is to increase the gardai in the area and to also provide a permanent garda station in Donabate”.

Dowling identified the old Educate Together school site as an ideal location for a garda station.

TRANSPORT | WARNING SIGNS TO HELP SUPPORT CYCLISTS

Council acts to help make its fleet safer -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 SYLVIA POWNALL

FINGAL County Council has added warning signs to the back of its 70-vehicle fleet in a move to back the minimum passing distance law (MPDL) campaign.

The local authority also installed road safety signs along six routes after consulting with cycling clubs on the issue.

The road safety division within the council has also backed a campaign for a MPDL, requiring motorists to pass cyclists at 1m clearance on 50kmh roads and 1.5m on faster roads, to be introduced.

The move was welcomed by MPDL campaigner Neil Fox from Balbriggan, whose sister Donna was killed when she was knocked off her bike as she cycled to work.

He told Dublin Gazette: “It

‘A duty of care is owed to all vulnerable road users ... and it is time to act decisively’

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MPDL campaigner Neil Fox from Balbriggan, driven to act by his sister Donna’s (left) death, who was killed as she cycled

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is great news that Fingal County Council is backing the MPDL. Naturally as Donna was from Fingal it has extra significance for me as a campaigner for this law.”

Urging people to lobby TDs and senators to back it, he added: “To me it is a no-brainer. The task however is to convince enough members of the Oireachtas now to allow the bill to pass the vote on February 28.

“A duty of care is owed to all

COASTAL LINK PLAN

Application to construct new cycle, walkway

AN APPLICATION to construct a cycle and walkway between Baldoyle and Portmarnock has been submitted to An Bord Pleanala.

Fingal County Council wants to provide the 1.8km route for pedestrians and cyclists adjacent to the coast road (R106) from Red Arches Road to just south of the coast road/Station Road roundabout.

The proposal consists of a 3m-wide cycle track and two metre-wide footpath separated by a 2.4 metre-wide grass verge. It is located in the Racecourse Park.

It would also involve the construction of a new 30-metre long, 4m-wide bridge over the Mayne River, and the upgrading of the existing priority junction

between the coast road and Moyne Road to a signal-controlled junction with pedestrian facilities.

The plans also outline the provision of toucan crossing facilities on the coast road at either end of the proposed scheme.

These are wide walkways, painted on the road, to facilitate pedestrians and cyclists crossing the road. It acknowledges that diversions will be required, while some existing services may be moved underground.

A Natural Impact Statement attached to the application and the plans themselves can be inspected free of charge or purchased at a cost of €100 at the offices of Fingal County Council until March 23.

vulnerable road users by the state and it is time to not merely reflect on our attitudes but to act decisively.

“I am motivated by the loss of my beautiful sister 17 months ago. The shock and grief make me want to highlight how fragile life is; in a moment a life can just be gone, and so many others torn asunder.”

MPDLs already exist in 42 jurisdictions including many

states in Australia and the US, and councils in Wexford, Mayo, Kerry, Sligo and Donegal have erected signs cautioning drivers to overtake safely on popular cycling routes.

Pressure has been increasing on the Government after figures from the Road Safety Authority showed that cyclist road deaths doubled last year.

Senior safety officer with the council’s road unit Niamh Russell said: “Many of our councillors are avid cyclists and Fingal has a lot of rural roads that stretch into scenic areas, so improving safety in these areas has been a priority for a while.

“I am a cyclist and a motorist so I hear the arguments both sides have put forward about the need to be aware of others on the road.”

10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 15 February 2018

EVENTS No matter what’s happening in your area, Dublin Gazette’s

Pictures: Shay Hogan

Castleknock Hurling & Football T Club Annual Adult Awards Night

HE Castleknock Hurling & Football Club Awards Night took place at Castleknock Golf Club last week.

Successes from 2017 were celebrated along with dinner and dancing and entertainment. The players can now look for ward to a succesful 2018.

15 February 2018 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 11

far-ranging photographers have all the events and angles covered

M

EMBERS of the Teacher’s Society of Ireland are ready to give some lessons in laughter with their upcoming production of the classic Mel Brooks musical, The Producers. The teachers are currently busy rehearsing what promises to be a hoot and a half in March, as they bring to life the tale of a scheming shyster, his nervous accountant, and their get-rich plan to stage the world’s worst musical and make a killing. What could possibly go wrong? For tickets see www.eventbrite.ie; for further information on the show, email teachers.ms@gmail.com.

Busy Producer-ing their next musical

Top marks for ambition DARRAGH Barber from Tyrrelstown (centre) is pictured with Ruby Clancy and Sophie Osborne at the launch of the new, free, mobile messaging service Komeer, which is saving each school using Komeer an average of €5,000 per year.

Once downloaded, alert messaging is unlimited and it allows the schools to send multiple messaging with no SMS costs to an unlimited number of users.

Pictures: Andres Poveda

GAZETTE

12 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15 February 2018

DUBLINBUSINESS

ENTERPRISE | DEPARTMENT TRYING TO ENCOURAGE GREATER PARTICIPATION RATES

Engaging SMEs with the public procurement process PAT Breen – Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection – has welcomed the recent launch by Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan of a new range of materials from the Office of Government

Procurement (OGP) aiming to promote SME participation in the public procurement process.

The initiative, developed in response to industry feedback, includes a series of introductory breakfast briefings, organised by InterTradeIreland, and

a range of videos explaining the procurement process.

The innovation in providing additional encouragement to Irish businesses, comes at the suggestion of an SME advisory group chaired by Minister O’Donovan.

The group, containing representatives from the public sector and business representative bodies, has been working to further promote SME participation in the public procurement process.

Welcoming the initiative, Minister

Breen said: “I am delighted that the OGP, with the support of this department and its agencies and key business representative bodies, has developed a suite of materials to make the public procurement process for SMEs clearer.”

Minister of State for Mental Health Jim Daly (centre) Member First Credit Union’s school liaison officer, Marie Kane, and chief marketing officer Darren O’Reilly

EDUCATION | TRAINING FOR STUDENTS

Initiative is a real credit MEMBER First Credit Union, in partnership with UnPlug, have launched a new digital education initiative with Minister of State Jim Daly, targeting ten primary schools in North Dublin.

Designed to raise awareness of the impact that technology and social media have on the lives of young people, and to promote positive tech habits for children in the school setting, the initiative aims to provide them with the skills and coping strategies to have a more balanced relationship with technology and social media.

Its workshops are designed to be fun, evidence-based and focused on practical steps for positive change.

The initiative is being uniquely delivered in two workshops in each school.

One workshop is delivered to primary school children in 5th and 6th class, but the other is for their parents and guardians.

Darren O’Reilly, chief marketing officer at Member First Credit Union, said: “We want young people to manage their technology and empower them with digital literacy skills.”

Echoing his words, Member First Credit Union’s chief executive, Fiona Cunningham, said: “Modern life and the ‘always-on’ mentality is stressful and can impact on young people’s wellbeing, so we hope to see the programme adopted

across the local communities we serve in North Dublin.”

As one of the largest community-based credit unions in the country, ser ving communities across north Dublin, Member First Credit Union has recently rebranded as a next-generation credit union.

As a technically capable, remotely accessible credit union with a visible local presence, Member First Credit Union sees the withdrawal of banks from the main streets as an opportunity.

By filling the void and offering its services across multiple platforms, it aims to become the numberone loan provider in north Dublin.

15 February 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

STYLE P22

TRAVEL P25

DUBLINLIFE Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week

MARVELLOUS MARTIN IS A BRAINY BOY DUBLIN Gazette has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for lost and abandoned dogs.

Martin is a handsome two-year-old German Shepard that’s not just a pretty face, as he has proven himself to be a very bright spark with brains to burn.

He still requires some additional training, but with his clever brain and love for food this should be an easy task.

With his love for people, he’s looking to be the only dog in an adult-only home so that he can get the attention he deserves, but his potential adopters will need to be used to owning a dog of his size, and he is looking for someone that will be home during the day.

If you think you can offer Martin a loving home, contact Dogs Trust at 01 879 1000.

They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website www. dogstrust.ie.

You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline or over on Twitter @ DogsTrust_IE.



GAZETTE

DIARY P14

A FUN FAMILY TREAT FOR MID-TERMS

It’s Butlers to the rescue to help entertain ‘chocaholics’ WITH midterm breaks looming, lots of parents will be scrambling for activities to keep the kiddies occupied.

The Butlers Chocolate Experience could be a pretty sweet solution to help fill some time, as well as proving a perfect day out for chocolate lovers of all ages.

On arrival at the centre at Clonshaugh Business Park, close to the M50/M1

junction (or a hop away from the No 27 bus route), visitors will dress like a real-life Butlers chocolatier and gather to watch a chocolate movie, learning about the fascinating origins of the cocoa bean and the history of Butlers, accompanied by delicious chocolate treats.

With an expert guide in tow, the budding chocolatiers will explore the interactive museum and step

out on the Chocolate Gallery to see the Butlers factory, savouring the sweet aroma as they discover the secrets of how Butlers Chocolates are created.

Finally, everyone gets to unleash their inner chocolatier in the Chocolate Experience room, where they can decorate their own chocolate masterpiece to bring home as a treasured souvenir (or as a tasty treat after they’ve fin-

ished admiring their own handiwork).

The Butlers Chocolate Experience entry must be booked in advance, priced €13.50 per person, with tours running daily at 10am, noon and 3.30pm, Monday to Saturday (subject to change and availability) You can save 5% by booking online at www. butlerschocolates.com/ book, or call 01 671 0599.

Steady, steady ... applying the finishing tasty touch

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15 February 2018

GAZETTE

DUBLINLIFE Karen gets her teeth stuck into children’s oral hygiene initiative

DIARY

CAMPAIGN: RAISING AWARENESS OF DENTAL HEALTH

TV broadcaster Karen Koster was joined by Kate O’Riordan (age 2) to launch Dental Care Ireland’s “First Dental Visit” campaign, which aims to raise awareness about the importance of establishing a good dental health routine from an early age.

Throughout the month of March, Dental Care Ireland’s Dublin practices in Knocklyon, Cabinteely and Swords will be offering a free first dental visit to all patients under five.

Speaking at the launch, Karen said: “We all know about teething and tooth fairies when it comes to our children’s dental health, but otherwise I think there can be a tendency to wait until a problem arises before

seeking advice.

“At the baby and toddler stage in particular, it is so helpful to speak to a dentist and find out what you should or shouldn’t be doing to prevent potential issues from the outset.”

MACBETH TO TAKE TO THE BORD GAIS STAGE SHAKESPEARE’S legendary Macbeth will take to the Bord Gais stage for a limited run next week.

The fear-filled tragedy will run for six shows, in what is promised to be a ‘kinetic and blood-thirsty’ production.

Macbeth revolves around a murderous individual, his mind clouded by demons as his lust for power ignites a passion

within him to seize the throne.

The show will run from February 20 until 24.

Tickets are on sale now from bordgaisenergytheatre.ie, with prices from €15 to €30.

AN AMAZING COLLECTION OF ART THE Bernard Shaw, renowned as a legendary pub and flea market, will be hosting The Shaw Art Market on February 17.

The art market will take place as part of the bimonthly flea market.

A hipster haven on the border of the city and Rathmines, a collection of art will be available from stall holders for purchase.

Running two markers a

month, the Bernard Shaw hold a vintage and flea market on the first Saturday of each month.

For more information, check out thebernardshaw.com/flea.

COMPLEX TO HOST WORLD PREMIERE THE Complex will host the world premiere of Anthony Goulding’s new play F.A.T. D.A.D. from Thursday, February 15 to Sunday, February 25.

The play tells the story of the profound impact a teacher and hunger striker had on his pupils in the Smithfield area during the 1980s and 1990s.

Inspired by true events FA.T. D.A.D., an acronym for the six counties under British rule, depicts the

TV broadcaster and mum Karen Koster is pictured with Kate O’Riordan (age 2) at the launch of Dental Care Ireland’s ‘First Dental Visit’ campaign.

Picture: JULIEN BEHAL PHOTOGRAPHY

life of a teacher, Fiachra Martin.

His classroom acts as a symbol of a divided Ireland and the conflicting lives of his students.

Mr Martin goes on hunger strike with Bobby Sands, and while his beliefs deepen, he finds himself unemployed and homeless.

His bond with his former students however holds strong.

Tickets for the show can be purchased online at a cost of €18 / €15 concession / €12 for groups of 10 or more at www.tickets. ie or by emailing bernadette@thecomplex.ie.

ROMEO AND JULIET COMES TO DUNDRUM MILL Productions will

bring their production of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to the Dundrum stage next week Directed by Geoff O’Keeffe this abridged version of the play is the ideal opportunity for all Junior Cert students to see one of Shakespeare’s most popular tragedies performed.

The play stars Tom Moran, Laura O’Leary, Neill Fleming, Jennifer Laverty, Matthew O’Brien, Paul Eliott, Claire O’Donovan, Jack Mullarkey The play lasts one hour and 30 minutes with tickets priced at €12.50 per student (1 Teacher per 20 goes free) For bookings please see www.milltheatre.ie / ph.

01-2969340.

EVENT BOASTS DIVERSE LINEUP FOLLOWING a successful debut in 2017, the innovative SPECTRUM festival will return this coming March for a second year.

S PE C T RU M 2 018 , presented by IMC, is fuelled by a diverse programme of music, encompassing jazz and creative music.

From “free” jazz to electro-folk, the festival will take place across three Dublin venues – The Grand Social, the Fumbally Stables and DBD (under The Mess) - from March 9 until 11.

Tickets are priced from €16, and are on sale from improvisedmusic.ie now.

15 February 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

ARTS: CLASSIC 1950S PLAY SEES IMAGINATIVE REBOOT

This take on Anger should delight fans  JORDAN UPSHAW YOUNG Irish director Annabelle Comyn has breathed new life into the 1950s John Osborne classic, Look Back in Anger.

The production debuted at the Gate Theatre on February 7 and features a stellar cast who share an easy chemistry.

Ian Toner is Jimmy Porter, the original “angry young man” of theatre.

Tooner brings just enough charm to offset his character’s self-aggrandising speeches and malice.

As Alison Porter, Clare Dunne gives a believable performance as a victim of spousal abuse while bringing a refreshing new strength to the role.

Lloyd Cooney and Vanessa Emme round off Cliff and Helena, the couple’s respective best friends.

Cooney brings a surprising yet welcome amount of likability and comic relief to the serious subject matter, while Emme successfully disrupts the entire plot when she arrives on the scene.

However, Comyn’s fresh reinterpretation of the source material is what stands out most. Even those familiar with the

play will be surprised by this production.

Through well-chosen directorial decisions, Comyn gives the female characters an agency they were previously denied.

Nearly all of the stage directions from the script are narrated by whichever actor happens to be offstage. This provides a sense of Osborne’s influence; the audience can almost see him using his words to yank the characters around, often against their will.

Beyond that, the characters sometimes resist their orders, waiting for them to be repeated before complying. Sometimes they ignore them completely.

However, the young female director wrests power from the author and puts it in the hands of the female characters instead.

Comy n has pulled off the daunting feat of changing the narrative without changing the script and staying faithful to Osborne’s story while making it her own.

Look Back in Anger runs at the Gate until March 24. Tickets can be bought at www.gatetheatre.ie, or directly at its box office on 01 874 4045.

The women at the heart of this take on the well-worn play successfully bring it in a bold new direction

GAZETTE

FEATURE

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15 February 2018

EVENTS No matter what’s happening around the city, The Gazette’s

Nadia Forde, Brian Dowling and Pippa O’Connor

Lisa and Keith Duffy. Pictures: Brian McEvoy Photography

Having a ball at a fundraising event P

IPPA O’Connor Ormond welcomed a host of famous faces for the inaugural Blossom Tree Ball in aid of Temple Street Hospital at The K Club in Straffan, County Kildare.

Pippa’s husband Brian Ormond was the MC for the evening with Barry Murphy on hand to conduct the auction and Brian Dowling did an impromptu blind date ahead of St Valentine’s Day. The event raised a huge amount of money to help purchase vital pieces of equipment for the children’s hospital, and many well-known faces stepped out to support the cause.

Jenny Nolan, Colin O’Shea and Rachel O’Shea

15 February 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

far-ranging photographers have all the events and angles covered

Ellen Jones and Conrad Jones

John and Emma O’Sullivan

Sinead Beggan and Julie Husman

Oonagh and Joanne O’Hagan

Laura Jayne Halton, Umit Kutluk and Laura Mullet

Carol Byrne

GAZETTE

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15 February 2018

DUBLINLIFE

PUZZLE PAGE SUDOKU

CODEWORDS EASY

TOUGH

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

HOW TO SOLVE

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

WORD SEARCH

Codewords are like crossword puzzles - but have no clues!

Instead, every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number, the same number representing the same letter throughout the puzzle.

All you have to do is decide which letter is represented by which number! To start you off, we reveal the codes for two or three letters.

As you find letters, enter them in the key and into the grid.

Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.

SCRIBBLE BOX

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK BACK NEXT WEEK FOR THE SOLUTIONS TO THIS WEEK’S PUZZLES

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

FIND THE FOLLOWING HIDDEN WORDS abode

location

accost

lodging

direct

pad

domicile

place

dwelling

speak to

greet

venue

hail

whereabouts

hold forth house lecture locale

15 February 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

How could I become more confident, like you always are?

I HAVE been a big fan of yours since you appeared on X-Factor and I love your sense of positivity and zest for life.

I wish I had your confidence, and I wonder have you always been so outgoing, or is it the result of your success on X-Factor?

Martin, Skerries

MARY SAYS: I’M A firm believer that life is all about choices and that we all have to make choices in our lives.

Sometimes the choices are straightforward and sometimes they are tough and sometimes, in hindsight, the choices we make might not be the best choices – but remember we all make mistakes in life, the trick is to learn from our mistakes.

One of the biggest choices I had to make in my life was entering the X-Factor.

Believe you me, I had little or no self-confidence before I chose to enter.

The truth is, my family and friends had to practically drag me to the auditions and push me out in front of the judges for that initial audition!

However, having overcome that fear, and having made the choice to enter, my confidence grew over the weeks that followed and I think that showed in my performances in those weeks.

Conf idence breeds confidence; once you can overcome that initial fear you will be surprised how quickly confidence can grow.

Take a deep breath and go for it – what do you have to lose?

My panic attacks are ruining my life – should I tell my friends the truth?

I HAVE agoraphobia and suffer from anxiety and panic attacks, meaning that it’s very difficult and almost impossible for me to go out.

GAZETTE

ADVICE I keep making excuses to my friends not to go out with them, and I’m afraid they’ll think I’m a bit odd.

So far I’ve kept it a secret from even my closest friends, and only my husband knows the truth. I’ve given him strict instructions not to tell anyone about this!

Do you think I’m right to keep it secret, or should I confide in my cl o s e s t f r i e n d s ?

I’m afraid they won’t understand, but it is ruining my life.

Stephanie, Lucan

MARY SAYS: I CAN empathise with your situation, having suffered similar symptoms at different periods during my life.

Firstly, I can understand you wanting to keep this a secret. None of us wants to feel odd or to admit to something that might cause people to look at us in a negative light.

Confiding in your husband is a brave thing to do, but I suspect he will feel helpless in this situation.

Can I reassure you that you are not alone. Tens of thousands of men and women will suffer the same symptoms at some stage in their lives.

More than likely the symptoms will have been triggered by some incident or incidents in your life that you may not be able to relate to.

It’s time to be brave and to face your fears. Please confide in your GP; they will understand and will no doubt refer you for specialist counselling to tease out the root cause of your fears.

Once you face your fears they will lose their power over you, and you will be able to return to a happy life with your loving husband and friends. Trust me, and be brave.

I’ve been doing great with my weight loss – but how can I stick to my plan?

I HAD my last child at

Is there something on your mind? Mary Byrne is delighted to offer her advice to Dublin Gazette readers; email her today at marybyrne@dublingazette.com 37, and he’s a real bundle of joy! However, I’ve piled on the weight since and I decided to follow you on Operation Transformation.

I was doing really well and was sticking to the plan, but I’ve started to slip.

My greatest weakness is that I’m ‘a picker’, even straight after my dinner. I love to have a biscuit or two with a cup of tea, and then I

regret it immediately!

What advice could you give me to help overcome this and get back on track?

Joan, Finglas

MARY SAYS: OPERATION Transformation was one of the biggest

challenges of my life.

I had to face some of my biggest fears and make some life-changing decisions and break some of the habits that I had learned over a lifetime.

This takes a lot of selfdiscipline and, from experience, your priorities af ter hav-

ing a child are with the baby and not with yourself.

First of all – well done in sticking to the plan; this shows you do have the self discipline!

As for slipping, well, I think we all like to treat ourselves, as a little reward, from time to time and let me reassure you there is nothing wrong with that.

Like you, I’m a picker as well. My trick is to have something to hand to pick on that is relatively healthy.

I stopped buying the chocolate and the biscuits and made sure I had sliced fruit (apples, strawberries, grapes) or vegetables (celery

or sliced carrots) to hand to nibble on.

These are delicious with one of the low-fat dips you can pick up in the supermarket.

In this way you can feel both rewarded and healthy.

You’re doing so well to stay on track, particularly with the demands of a new baby, so don’t be too hard on yourself.

The odd slip is allowed – just don’t make a habit of it!

REMINDER Mary needs you to contact her by noon on Monday, so don’t delay – send your problem to Dear Mary at Dublin Gazette today!

15 February 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

DUBLINLIFE

MUSIC

LET’S GO OUT MUSIC

GAZETTE

GAZETTE

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15 February 2018

O Emperor return Ready, Eddi, go!

Waterford group’s new single, Make It Rain, may be a

crowning glory

PICKWEEK OF THE

FEBRUARY 16 (Friday) Eddi Reader @ The Pavillions Theatre, €22 The former Fairground Attraction vocalist has never quite reached the same heights as her early days solo. That’s through no fault of the songwriting: if anything she’s better now than in the vocalled love ditty, Perfect, that helped to make her name.

BEST OF THE REST  JAMES HENDICOTT RETURNING to the scene after a break of a couple of years, O Emperor leave behind their hang-ups, delving into a free-spirited, avant garde, industryignoring new phase.

The Waterford act are back, but not as you know them...

When they burst onto the Irish music scene with major-label debut Hither Thither, O Emperor were a band known for their meticulous attention to detail.

They wrote beautiful, haunting indie-pop songs that meandered wonderfully, every note carefully adjusted in agonised-over studio recordings.

That startling attention to detail was a blessing and a curse: at times a constraint on the release of the band’s music, but creating a distinctive and much-loved sound that propelled them to national attention.

In hindsight, frontman Paul Savage admits: “We needed to let that perfec-

The lads in O Emperor admit they’re slow at getting things done, preferring to wait until the music is right

tionism go and accept that at a certain point what we’ve done is actually fine.

“We used to obsess over things like the exact level of reverb. Looking back, I don’t think other people really notice or care about things like that.”

A f ter a couple of years away, O Emperor returned having done a

full 180. New single, Make It Rain, is the first offering from an as yet untitled new album, and the first of a series of pre-album singles set to come out over the course of a year.

The band also completed their live return with first show in some time last week at Cork’s Quarter Block Party.

Savage says: “We did most of the recording two years ago, but we’ve only got to mixing now. We’re very bad at taking our time with things.

“We got a notion to go ahead with it now, though, so we’ve gone ahead.

We’ve gone really rough and ready with stuff. It’s actually written live; it’s just live jams.

“We recorded two to three hours of us jamming and picked out bits we liked, and chopped up and constructed some bits in the edit. Then we added the vocals later, but even the vocals were kind of made up on the spot in some cases.

“It’s inf luenced by things like Sun Ra, Can, and krautrock stuff, and really concentrates on atmosphere. It can actually be quite difficult to reproduce live, and it’s really radically different to anything we’ve done before.

Evolved “It’s already evolved quite a lot from the record in rehearsal and in the live

show, as it’s very difficult to actually reproduce what you did before. There are clashed notes, odd chords, stuff like that.

“We’re trying to base the live show in a framework and jam around that,” he continues, “which can be hard to do, especially where you’re nervous. It’s easy to mess up on the spot, but it’s really exciting to do.”

In the early days, O Emperor were signed to Universal, and looked like a serious prospect for the kind of overblown music industry success that the likes of Hozier and Walking On Cars went on to achieve.

The difficulty, as Savage recalls it, was that even back then the band weren’t particularly suited to radioplay. Even when second album Vitreous was the hot favourite for the 2013 Choice Music Prize (Ireland’s national music award, eventually won by Villagers, with Awayland), O Emperor were never quite a household name.

Savage says: “Being with

Universal was a long time ago, and important in the development of the band.

It was short-lived but it taught us what we needed to know about the music industry and how to exist within it.

“We weren’t as avant garde back then, but we were never the type for daytime radio. Daytime radio is very limited, unfortunately, and it doesn’t suit 99% of Irish bands.

“It would be difficult if you really wanted to pursue things full time, but we’ve never really been at that level.”

These days, it’s more about having fun, though it’s easy to get the sense that the more relaxed approach might bring about the band’s very best days.

Savage sees the falseness and tepidness of the music industry for what it is, and prefers the more stress-free approach the band are taking now.

He says: “We’re just enjoying playing, enjoying making music. We’ve played in Germany and the UK before, and I hope

we’ll be able to do that again, but it’s different doing it for the enjoyment.

Stressful “We found the PR stuff to be a lot of work, and quite stressful, especially when you’re spending money and feeling like you should be getting better results; that it’s not really helping you that much.

“There’s an obsession with things being new, and you end up doing things like launches for international tours that are fictitious, really, as everything that’s online is available everywhere already, so you’re not really doing anything new. But from a PR point of view you need a ‘new release’.

“We’re less and less interested in stuff like that, and far more focused on the music this time. If people discover our music in four years’ time and listen to it then, that’s great.

That’s a nice thing.”

O Emperor make their Dublin return in playing the Bello Bar on February 17. Single, Make It Rain, is out now.

FEBRUARY 15 (Thursday) Jake Bugg @ Whelan’s, €28 Brit-pop style vocalist Jake Bugg might have an air of 90s throwback, but when he gets pounding on that guitar he hammers through the fast-flowing melodies and hooky riffs.

Get a close-up on this rare small-venue acoustic tour.

Finbar Furey @ Vicar Street, €36.50 Wild Beasts @ Olympia Theatre, €28.50 FEBRUARY 16 (Friday) Loney Dear @ The Workman’s Club, €16 Sharon Shannon @ Draiocht, €20 Fehdah @ The Sugar Club €10 Alestorm @Tivoli Theatre, €25 Anna Mitchell + Patrick Freeman @ Whelan’s Upstairs, €12 FEBRUARY 17 (Saturday) X Factor Live @ 3 Arena, €46 Donal Dineen @ Hang Hai My Tribe Your Tribe + Cat Turner @ Whelan’s Upstairs (late show), free

Clara Rose @ The Underground, €10 The Kerbs @ MB Slattery’s, €8 FEBRUARY 18 (Sunday) Smokie @ Vicar Street, €36.50 Call Girl @ Toner’s, €6 Malojian @ Whelan’s, €13 FEBRUARY 19 (Monday) Galantis @ Olympia Theatre, €28 FEBRUARY 20 (Tuesday) Wiley @ Olympia Theatre, €26 One of the men at the absolute heart of the current thriving UK Grime scene, Wiley is a bonafide superstar set for big, big things. This isn’t quite in at the ground floor, but you won’t see him somewhere this small again in a hurry.

T he Ruby Sessions @ Doyle’s, €6 FEBRUARY 21 (Wednesday) Christian Loffler @ Sugar Club, €12.50 Paradise Lose @ Tivoli Theatre, €25 Katie Gallagher @ Cat and Cage, €5

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15 February 2018

DUBLINLIFE Dune Chorizo €95

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This dry-touch formula is incredibly light, with an invisible no-streaks finish and a clean skin sensation leaving no white marks.

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River Island Stone wool blend overcoat €120

nds Isla r e Riv Round r Clea lasses g Sun €22 B G P

WINTER is (hopefully) almost over and Spring is just around the corner. As the weather gets warmer and we spend just a bit more time outside, it’s important to make sure your skin is protected from the sun’s rays. La Roche Posay have a wide range of sun products to keep you protected and moisturised. After all, a well-dressed man should have healthy, happy skin, too! La Roche-Posay is available in pharmacies nationwide.

My UV Patch Users scan the patch using the My UV Patch mobile app, which analyses the varying photosensitive dyes squares to determine the UVA and UVB exposure level. Through a smart algorithm factoring in the user’s personal data - phototype, skin type, location and weather data the app generates essential information on what behaviours to adopt and what protection to apply.

Cicaplast Levres (7.5ml RRP €6.50) A protective and replenishing treatment in a custom-tailored texture especially for lips. Cicaplast lips is a replenishing lip balm that creates a protective layer on lips to immediately fill cracks and prevent them from reoccurring.

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River Island Black gingham button-down shirt €33

Dune Patch in black €145

15 February 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

GAZETTE

STYLE

EASING INTO SPRING

and

Celebrate stripes in any which direction. The Spring/ Summer 18 Collection from River Island

 Jessica Maile, Style Editor

Muted colours in relaxed styles for warmer weather.

The Spring/ Summer 18 Collection from River Island

Ahhhhhh, spring... That time of year when you have no idea what to wear because the weather is so changable. It’s not unheard of to go through all four seasons in one day.

Transitioning your wardrobe is easy if you just switch it up to lighter fabrics and lighter colours until River Island you work cream your way to Headquarters summer’s stamp baseball more relaxed styles. cap €17 Original Penguin T-Shirt €45

egas €75 don Fabr

Dune Lon

24 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15 February 2018

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

GIVEAWAY

EZ’s Melissa Casserly presents Noirin Ui Ghoill with her €2,000 voucher

A helping hand for a golden moment ... Lisa Dundon is presented with her €2,500 voucher by Lisa Halley, EZ Living Furniture

PRIZES: LEADING FURNITURE RETAILER ANNOUNCES THE OVERALL WINNER, RUNNERS-UP IN GIANT GIVEAWAY

Tipp-top triumph for one lucky customer in EZ Living’s €8,000 Golden Ticket contest THE EZ Living Furniture Biggest Sale Ever ended on a high last week with customer Lisa Dundon from Tipperary scooping the €2,500 prize as part of the €8,000 Golden Ticket giveaway.

The overall Golden Ticket winner was chosen in the Clonmel, Tip-

perary Store. Lisa was awarded the €2,500 prize as part of the EZ Living Golden Ticket competition, in conjunction with the final week of the leading furniture retailer’s Biggest Sale Ever.

For the entire month of January, EZ Living Fur-

niture offered customers the chance to win their furniture for free – with more than €8,000 in prizes given away.

All customers had to do was simply make a purchase during the Biggest Sale Ever in-store or online to be in with a chance of winning their

furniture or accessories for free in the weekly draws.

As well as receiving €50 vouchers, the winners from each store were entered into a draw to win a grand prize from €500 to €2,500 in EZ Living Furniture vouchers every week.

EZ’s Anthony Leneghan presents Ruth

EZ’s Marius presents Bobby Luiz with

Brehany with her €1,000 voucher

his €500 voucher

EZ’s Niall McMahon presents Sebastian Billioud with his €1,500 voucher

15 February 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 25

TRAVEL

GAZETTE

DUBLINLIFE TravelExtra How to keep up with the Head East for the Kardashian – by using holiday of a lifetime an SUV to zip around LA  SYLVIA POWNALL THE number of people choosing to spend their holidays in LA is rising.

Data from Rentalcars. com shows holidaymakers are flocking to the City of Angels to explore all the top celebrity haunts – and they want the perfect car to give them the all-American experience.

Episodes of hit reality show Keeping Up With the Kardashians often show Kim and her clan whizzing around LA in their SUV cars, and it seems Irish car renters want a slice of the action.

Research shows 42% choose to hire SUV trucks such as range rovers and jeeps, when they’re in LA, compared with just 8% in other locations.

Hiring an SUV or convertible is one way you can holiday like a Kardashian in LA, but there are a number of stops you can make on the way...

1. Carousel Restaurant – Hollywood The Kardashian sisters regularly celebrate their Armenian heritage at this old-school Middle Eastern joint. “We go once a month, and it reminds us of our dad because he used to take us here once a week for dinner,” Khloe said in an interview with Food and Wine magazine.

2. Hansen Cakes Anyone who follows the KardashianJenner sisters on Instagram knows no birthday

party is complete without a cake from Hansen Cakes. The bakery designs ornate celebration cakes for all the sisters’ big events.

3. Barry’s Bootcamp Rumour has it that Kim and Kanye head to Barry’s Bootcamp for couples’ training sessions.

According to reports, the pair have been seen sweating away in the 6:30am class, so if you really want to holiday like a Kardashian, you need to be up early!

Thai’s the limit for an unforgettable break Feel like you’ve wandering into a Hollywood set as you explore some of Petchaburi’s charms

4. Bel Bambini North and Saint are the trendiest kids in celebland, and Kim has been spotted on a number of occasions shopping at this bespoke kids shop.

The shop stocks designer Versace baby changing bags – for a cool $600. (Gulp.)

5. Lancer Dermatology Kim (below) has Dr Harold Lancer to thank for her unbelievably flawless skin. She hails him as her skincare guru, and he is Hollywood’s go-to expert when it comes to looking younger.

The Lancer Method reverses the usual order of skin care – beginning with polishing, or exfoliation, followed by cleansing, and then nourishing.

He believes that by polishing first, the result is a deeper cleanse, a more efficient d e l i ve r y of active ingredients and m o r e robust c e l l renewal.

 SYLVIA POWNALL Travel Editor

IF YOU’RE planning a bespoke trip to Thailand and want to take in the best of what it has to offer, then here are a few must-see recommendations

See for yourself why Maya Bay cove is world famous

Jungle trails and waterfalls also await

Try snorkelling in Mu Ko Surin’s crystal-clear waters

1 Train from Hua Hin to Petchaburi Hua Hin is the charming coastal town where the king has his summer palace, with one of the best-loved street markets in Thailand.

A stay here is highly recommended (cheap and cheerful downtown, or blow the budget at the five-star Sheraton resort on the outskirts).

The one-hour train ride north to Petchaburi is a magical experience and will take you off the tourist track. Once there, the temple and architecture are worth the trip, but the journey itself is the most memorable part.

The train returns at sunset and costs less than a euro.

2 Discover Chiang Kham T h i s l i t t l e - k n ow n

northern district offers scenic countryside on the border of Laos far from the madding crowd and queuing of Bangkok.

Phu Sang national park is a wonderland of limestone caves, waterfalls and natural plunge pools – not to mention the rare flora and fauna, and the hidden temples such as Wat Saen Mueang Ma. A double room in the Chiang Kham Grand Villa will set you back €20 a night.

3 Trek through the jungle Less than an hour from the Myanmar border lies Pai, a hotspot for tourists keen to see Mae Yen waterfall. Wildlife will abound on the threehour walk with farmers selling fruit at stalls along the route.

Your shoes might get a bit wet on the river crossings, but the views are spectacular and it’s well worth it.

4 Snorkelling at Mu Ko Surin The Surin islands in the Andaman Sea are surrounded by coral

reefs and are rated the number-one snorkelling destination in Thailand.

Day trips abound, but to fully immerse yourself in the experience a stay at the campsite at Mai Ngam bay is recommended.

A tr ue must-see is Suthep Bay – the country’s first underwater signposted snorkelling trail.

A two -person tent costs €15 a night (nps. dnp.go.th).

5 The Island(s) The notorious Maya Bay cove was made famous in Danny Boyle’s The Beach.

You can spend a night on the Maya Bay Sleep Aboard boat in Kho Phi Phi after an opportunity to explore the caves and jungle before watching the sunset with a cold beer.

Snorkels are provided after dark and fresh local cuisine is served. Bedding is provided on the sand to sleep under the stars, or aboard the boat if you prefer.

T he entire experience costs around €100 (mayabaytours.com).

GAZETTE

26 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15 February 2018

DUBLINLIFE

FEATURES

PYEONGCHANG: ATHLETES DOING THEIR BEST FOR US

Bubba and co – giving their all for Ireland  QUINN KANNER DESPITE our general lack of snow and winter sports, Ireland has five athletes representing us in the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang – and one of them even grew up in Ireland!

Team Ireland’s secondyoungest member and only snowboarder is also the only Olympic vet on the team.

Seamus O’Connor made history as the first snowboarder to ever represent Ireland at the Olympics (in Sochi, 2014) and was the flagbearer for the team this year.

The Californian currently lives in Utah, but he’s eligible to compete for Ireland due to his Irish paternal grandparents.

Seamus finished the Men’s Halfpipe Qualifiers in 18th place, but unfortunately only the top 12 moved forward.

Our team’s four skiers include athletes living in the United States, France, Norway and Austria.

Tess Arbez grew up in the French Alps and has an Irish mother; she’s competing in the Ladies’ Slalom and Ladies’ Giant Slalom events.

Thomas Maloney Westgaard also has an Irish mother and is a duel citizen of Ireland and Norway.

He’s been competing for Ireland since 2016, and his Twitter bio roughly translates to “Norwegian. Competes for Ireland. Confused?”

He finished in 60th place for the Men’s’ 15km + 15km Skiathlon, and in 62nd for the Men’s Sprint Classic Qualifiers.

Donegal-born Patrick McMillan grew up in County Clare and went to Kings Hospital Secondary School here in Dublin. He started skiing seriously after a clerical error meant he couldn’t continue to play for the U19 Leinster Rugby team.

He splits his time between Ireland and Austria, where he trains, and is competing in the Men’s Super-G, Men’s Downhill and Men’s Alpine combined.

Rounding out the team is Brendan ‘Bubba’ Newby, who was born in Cork, but grew up in Utah where he still lives and works.

He’ll be competing in the Men’s Ski Halfpipe, starting February 20.

Patrick McMillan getting a feel for the conditions during his downhill training for the Games

ARTS: AN EXCITING LINE-UP OF PLAYS FOR ST PATRICK’S FESTIVAL

An exploration of living in Dublin in Where We Live  MARK O’BRIEN A T WO-WEEK pro gramme of theatre productions, work-in progress showings, music events and live art is coming to The Complex in Smithfield as part of the upcoming St Patrick’s Festival.

Where We Live is a kaleidoscope of stories about what it feels like to live in Dublin and Ireland today, told by some of the best storytellers on the island.

It investigates ideas around money, housing, migration, gender, community, the city and sex.

Jenny Jennings and Phillip McMahon, codirectors of event organisers THISISPOPBABY, said: “Where We Live aims to challenge the prevailing narratives fed to us by the media, the Government and increasingly, the algorithms and echo chambers of social media.

“We’re creating a kind of ‘town hall’, where discussion should be heated,

performance will be redhot, and where opposing views are encouraged.

“We want to tell funny, devastating, exhilarating and joyous stories that imagine and re-imagine what our city and country could be.”

Plays from Oonagh Murphy, Tara Flynn, Peter Daly (above) and Veronica Dyas, an immersive exhibition from Eamonn Doyle, Niall Sweeney and David Donohoe and a one-off concert from The High Hopes Community Choir are just some of the events to look forward to during this creative fortnight.

The consequences of the financial crash of 2008 are a theme that features in several works.

Veronica Dyas’ play, Here & Now (I live here now), tells the story of how ridding herself of her possessions has made her a happier person.

In November 2011, Veronica travelled to the Camino de Santiago – a trip that she said changed

her life.

When she returned, she came back to a house that was €100,000 in negative equity with mortgage arrears.

One year to the day later, she handed her keys to an estate agent and become an unlikely and nomadic landlord, living with friends and family and slowly shedding herself all but the most basic of possessions – something she called Project Downsize.

‘Fear’ She tells Dublin Gazette: “When I came back I was just surrounded by all this stuff and what I realised was that I’d bought the house out of fear.

“I’d bought the house out of shame because people were saying ‘You have to get on the property ladder, you’ll never get a house if you don’t buy now’, all that kind of stuff.”

After renting out her house, Veronica contin-

ued to get rid of what she viewed as unnecessary possessions.

“I started giving away my clothes. I gave all the stuff from the house to St Vincent de Paul, to charity shops, to Oxfam.

I gifted specific books to specific people.”

With the house currently up for sale, Veronica said that, once she pays the bank what she owes she may only have enough to “maybe buy a van to live in” and says that Here & Now aims to highlight the social policies that have impacted on generations of Irish people.

Actor and chartered accountant Peter Daly’s play, Money, tries to get to grips with what actually happened on the path to, and beyond, that fateful day in 2008 when the country was plunged into recession.

The play also has an autobiographical element, with Peter unafraid to reveal some of his own financial missteps.

He says: “It’s me as me,

talking about money and and talking about the wider Irish economy but also my own relationship with money.”

Money also explores deeper themes, asking whether success equates to monetary wealth or something deeper.

“I try and cover how crazy we went during the boom and then the bubble and then the bust.

“I look into what was driving us and how could we be so blind to what was almost an inevitable collapse that was coming down the line, and most of the reasons were that there was huge money to be made.

“And where there’s huge money to be made, people will take big risks and when people take risks, the money gets bigger and when the money gets bigger, even more people pile in.”

We Live Here runs from March 6-18, with tickets for Where We Live events on sale now from www.thisispopbaby.com.

15 February 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 27

GAZETTE

CINEMA

An iconic shot from Get Out – but will the film get the top win at the Oscars?

OSCAR LEADERS GET EVEN MORE AWARDS AHEAD OF THE BIG SHOW NEXT MONTH WITH the Oscars looming next month, the last few ceremonies by lesser known but also highly prestigious awards bodies are wrapping things up, with the Writers Guild of America just the latest to give some unsurprising nods to the clear frontrunners.

Twin juggernauts Get Out, and Call me by Your Name scooped Original Screenplay and Adapted Screenplay respectively, with the biting satire on racism, and the gay coming of age tale, continuing to steamroll the opposition despite some superb competition.

At this stage, it’s beginning to feel that nothing than stop the films’ total domination of the planet’s film awards – and deservedly so, as they’re both terrific – but even though the Writers awards tend to be echoed by the Oscars soon afterwards, nothing is certain.

There’s a chance that the critics’ darling The Shape of Water – the film about a cleaner falling in love with a sea monster – will sweep away the top Oscars, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Television Things were less open and shut with the Writers’ television awards, with many critics still convinced that we’re in the golden age of television, such has been the remarkable calibre of shows that have popped up in recent years.

From new dramas to westerns, sci-fi to documentaries, the past year has seen some remarkable work on the small screen.

Dystopian but timely drama The Handmaid’s Tale nabbed Drama Series and New Series awards, while a plethora of old favourites, ranging from Curb Your Enthusiasm to Better Call Saul at least garnered awards nods in their categories.

“What you lookin’ at?” If you’ve any sense, it won’t be Cloverfield Paradox, just added in a surprise move to Netflix. Despite its high-profile cast – and Chris O’Dowd (right) seemingly playing his role purely for laughs – the film is a disappointing addition to the smash-hit Cloverfield legacy.

CLOVERFIELD PARADOX: INTERESTING GAIN FOR NETFLIX ULTIMATELY DISAPPOINTS

A monster of a mess

 SHANE DILLON

REMEMBER Cloverfield? The found-footage monster film that conquered the world back in 2008, followed by an indirect but decent sequel of sorts in 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)?

Well, how the mighty have fallen, because the latest addition to the Cloverfield oeuvre – Cloverfield Paradox (102 mins) – is an oeuvre-cooked monstrous mess – so much so that it’s been dumped straight onto Netflix by Paramount, rather than stink up cinemas.

It’s an interesting move for Netflix, which is no stranger to original programming, of course, but has a comparatively light record when it comes to

screening original big-name films.

Speaking of light, an exception came late last year with Bright, an underwhelming high-concept Will Smith vehicle starring him as a rather unpleasant cop in the ’hood teaming up with an orc partner to safeguard a powerful wand while some bad elves – oh, don’t ask, as it was anything but a magical experience.

However, Paradox goes a step further, leaving viewers scratching their heads and wondering what on earth Netflix took ownership of such a troubled production for.

Earth is central to the film, which largely follows a group of orbiting astronauts attempting

to fire up a McGuffin machine to create infinite energy for the planet, which is slipping into chaos below as our resources run out.

Tensions are running high both on terra-firma and terraspace-stationah, with the international crew at their wits end in trying to get their science project to work, watching war break out and adding to the pressure on their spinning station.

Perhaps they should have relied more on asking The IT Crowd’s Chris O’Dowd for tech support, as he’s also on board, but seemingly treating his role and the entire film as a flat-out comedy, despite the (admittedly impressive) earnestness on show from some of his fellow

cast members.

So far, so ... odd, given that the first two films in the Cloverfield universe were very much set in the ‘now’, whereas this tale just feels like some near-future offshoot that, frankly, is pretty hard to relate to the giant-monster flicks that its predecessors ultimately proved to be.

It’s not long before terrible things start happening on board the station, the crew start meeting grisly or unexpected deaths, and the film starts turning into some kind of mish-mash between Gravity, Sliders, Life, and Doctor Who. Believe me, that would be a better production to watch, as Paradox’s muddled tale of desperate astronauts and parallel

universes (spoiler alert there) fails to line up the easy shots that such a diverse sci-film should be able to take.

It’s almost worth watching for Chris’s funny turn (there’s an unintentionally absolutely hilarious scene where his neatly-severed-yet-still-alive arm wants to write the crew a warning, with Chris playing the scene like it’s a Red Dwarf offshoot), but the end result is just awful.

As such, Paradox is an early candidate for the worst-of-2018 film lists that you’ll see appearing near the year’s end.

If you’re looking for a great stompy-monster show, Netflix is still home to Stranger Things, but this thing is just strange...

Verdict: 3/10

MiniReviews...

PHANTOM THREAD

THE 15:17 TO PARIS

50 SHADES FREED

SUPPOSEDLY Daniel Day Lewis’s final film, Phantom Thread (Cert 15A, 130 mins) would be a terrific swansong to bow out on. It’s the type of role that Lewis can do in his sleep – playing a driven character who’s far from perfect, playing a dressmaker sewing and snipping his way through one muse after another (not literally) until one woman proves more

QUIETLY slinking into cinemas comes Clint Eastwood’s latest, The 15:17 to Paris (Cert 15A, 94 mins). It’s hard to know what to make of Clint’s latest, which tells the true-life tale of how three ordinary guys leapt into action to thwart a terrorist attack on their train – with the three guys playing themselves in the roles! While their act was undeniably heroic, the

ITS two stars may have all the charisma and chemistry of a concrete breeze block and a lonely hamster, but that hasn’t stopped 50 Shades Freed (Cert 18, 105 mins) becoming a financial smash-hit. Not so much a standard film as a loosely edited collection of property and luxury porn shots with two mismatched leads stumbling through its and-then-this-happened plot,

It’s definitely sew good

It’s rail-ly an odd film

than his match. Part period drama, and part sly comedy, director Paul Thomas Anderson stitches together a sumptuous-looking film that could also see it stitching up some Oscars in March.

A hundred ways awful

trio aren’t exactly the world’s greatest actors, let’s say, and in the current climate the film’s subject matter may rankle a little. At least Clint’s latest is an interesting move by the grizzled director.

the film is an utter mess – but its fans and viewers aren’t bothered about such matters as plot, dialogue, character development, and so on. As a plus point, at least Freed is the final film in the series ...

GAZETTE

28 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15 February 2018

DUBLINLIFE

FASTNews

The Skoda Vision X urban crossover

Skoda has new crossover Vision

SKODA will present a further development of its model range, with the hybrid Skoda Vision X model, due to be released at the Geneva Motor Show in March. This is a compact hybrid SUV, which Skoda claim has been designed for an active, urban lifestyle.

Ibiza delivers fresh style with connectivity

Compact cars, now often called superminis, are all moving to petrol fuel and for good reason, especially for low mileage city drivers. The Seat Ibiza is one of the new generation city car options that have enough space for a family in a stylish fresh design, as MICHAEL MORONEY found out during his recent test drive.

The car will come with distinctive bumpers, sporty side sills, a large panoramic glass roof and 20-inch alloy wheels create a powerful look. The sharp design is claimed to be inspired by traditional Czech glasswork.

The interior of the Skoda Vision X has a new wide, ergonomically contoured dashboard with freestanding colour display dominates the visual impression in the interior. The infotainment and connectivity services can be accessed quickly and intuitively via the screen. Illuminated elements made of cut crystal glass in conjunction with the colour display are designed to create atmospheric lighting effects.

The new Skoda Vision X Skoda’s vision of a modern crossover. By adding a third model to the SUV family, Skoda will be expanding their range of models with a focus on the fast-growing SUV segment. By 2025, Skoda will have brought out plug-in hybrid vehicles in addition to all-electric cars. Then, every fourth vehicle the brand delivers worldwide will have a plug-in hybrid or purely electric powertrain.

Promising start for Renault Group in 2018

RENAULT Group Ireland has claimed a promising start to 2018, taking fourth place in the combined new car and van market with a 10.1% share with almost 4,500 units sold in January. The Renault Group finished the month

THE Seat Ibiza has been a pillar model of the Seat car brand in Ireland with more than 30,000 sold over the five generations of the compact car. During 2017, Seat launched their fifth incarnation of the Ibiza with claims to bring a higher quality feel to the driving experience along with refreshed design while retaining the value for money image.

I’ve driven the Ibiza in the past and this new version is sharper to look at, smoother to drive and comes with new lower levels of economy. The Ibiza is in the smaller compact car market where there’s lots of competition.

Despite this, it retains its distinctive look and brings together the best of the Volkswagen Group technology in a design that individual to the Spanish

Seat Ibiza Xcellence Engine 1.0 litre Engine power 115hp 0 – 100km/hr 9.3 seconds Economy 21km/litre (4.71/100km or 60mpg)

Fuel Tank Capacity 40 litres CO2 emissions 108g/km Road Tax Band A3 €190 Main Service 20,000km/12 months Euro NCAP Rating 5 star (2017) Warranty 2 years Entry Price €18,745 origin brand. What’s very noticeable in the design is the Seat design full LED triangular headlights.

This Ibiza design is sharper as well as being significantly more modern. The new car has higher levels of connectivity than in the past with three options of Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Mirror

Link. This brings the Ibiza into the same connectivity league of some of the bigger cars in a compact and affordable package.

I found the system quick to set up and easy to use with my Apple iPhone package.

I took the Xcellence version of the Seat Ibiza for a recent test drive. The Xcel-

as the bestseller in counties Carlow, Louth, Waterford,

lence is one of four trim levels in the Ibiza range, second from the top which is the FR model, so I expected to get some useful specification in the car.

I was keen to evaluate the Ibiza’s compact threecylinder petrol engine in the new design. This engine is widely available in cars from across the Volkswagen Group, such as the Skoda Fabia and Volkswagen Polo, so the Seat offer has to be at least as good.

The engine is smooth and lively and rated at 115bhp and delivers good acceleration across the range of gears in the sixspeed manual gearbox.

The gear change mechanism is easy with a light feel clutch in support. This is just one of three compact engine options for

the Ibiza Xcellence, there are two smaller engine power options using the same engine design, that are programmed differently in terms of ability while the price difference is not that significant and the performance value far better as you go up the power offering.

Out on the road, the Ibiza Xcellence can deliver some pace, with the car achieving 100km/hr in just 9.3 seconds. You will have to work through the gears to get the most economical speed as with all modern petrol engines, so cruising at top motorway speeds can be less economical.

Mercedes-

Westmeath and Wexford.

Renault Group Ireland enjoyed its most successful year so far in 2017, achieving third position in the combined new car and van market with a combined market share of 9.8% and 15,226 vehicles sold. In January, Renault achieved a 6.2% share of the car market, while Dacia took 2.6%.

January saw a good start to the year for Renault Bank with €25.5 million lent to new car customers. Lending to business customers purchasing vans increased by 34% versus January 2017, indicating that the low rate of 3% APR across the Renault range is attractive to LCV customers. Dublin’s Renault dealers have attractive offers on models registered by 31 March 2018 across its Renault and Dacia PC and LCV ranges.

The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March

MERCEDES-BENZ has lifted the covers off its all-new A-Class which will be unveiled to the public at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. The new A-Class claims to be more ‘grown up’ and more comfortable than before.

There are numerous body changes to give the new A-Class a larger appearance, noticeably a more sloping bonnet and lower, more angular headlights and grille with inset star. The car claims to have more front headroom, more rear elbow and shoulder room than the cur-

15 February 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29

GAZETTE

MOTORING Fiat opens the order doors for stylish Tipo S-Design FIAT has expanded the Tipo range to include the new S-Design, a car with claims of more style and substance.

The new Tipo S-Design is only available in hatchback with entry prices starting from €22,995 for the 1.4 T-Jet 120hp petrol version.

This new version is immediately recognisable thanks to its distinctive wide grille with glossy black trim, which continue around the

The new Fiat Tipo S-Design

edges of the fog lights and on the

hatchback is now in Fiat Dublin

mirror caps. It also encases the Bi-

showrooms and is available to

Xenon headlights, which make their

order now

first appearance in the Tipo family.

New diamond-cut 18-inch alloy

The new Seat Ibiza Xcellence model comes with three engine power options and entry prices starting from €18,745. The new models are more stylish and are underpinned by the latest in Volkswagen Group car technology.

Sticking to the 2000rpm engine speed will bring fuel savings and achieve the rated figure of 21km/litre (4.71/100km or 60mpg), in reality, the feel of the car tends to force you to drive on and that economy level will be difficult to achieve on longer drives or in city traffic.

The car comes with the usual start-stop facility and although it’s lighter than some of the competition, including the Volkswagen Polo, it doesn’t achieve any better in terms of overall economy. The fuel tank capacity at 40 litres matches that of the competition, and I found that I was getting a range of almost 650km from

the full tank, which is very acceptable for a car of this size.

There are more specification features in the new Seat Ibiza. The standard kit includes Front Assist safety system as standard, while Adaptive Cruise Control, Wireless Charger and GSM signal amplifier are all available as options.

The new Ibiza rightly claims to have the largest boot in the segment with a capacity of 365 litres. That’s significantly bigger than the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo boots and that’s before the rear seats are folded.

Usefully, the Ibiza came with a space-saver spare wheel,

which for me is always a bonus.

On the safety front, this Ibiza comes with the impressive accolade of achieving a five star rating in the 2017 Euro NCAP testing programme. That’s a high rating and is based on the standard car specification across Europe, which includes Ireland. There are two ISO fix couplings in the rear and the driver protection rating of the car has improved with the new model, while the child protection rating has remained the same.

The front passenger airbag can be disabled to allow an additional rearward-facing child restraint to be used in

that seating position.

Entry prices for the Ibiza Xcellence models start at €20,180, which is very price competitive in the supermini league, making the car more competitive than the likes of the new Ford Fiesta, while Nissan’s new grown up Micra is keener priced for an equivalent entry model.

Seat has still some useful new car incentives that might help to add to the value that’s underpinned in a car that’s firmly based around the latest in the Volkswagen Group chassis and technology. That’s what adds the extra Xcellence factor to the Ibiza new generation deal.

Benz prepares for A-Class arrival rent model. The boot capacity is also 29 litres greater than before.

The car has a new dashboard design that is divided into two sections, one set above the other. The lower section separated from the other by appearing to ‘float’ before it in a three-dimensional way.

The new A-Class comes with what is claimed to be an ultra-modern multimedia and infotainment system, one of whose characteristics is a capacity to ‘learn’ thanks to its use

of artificial intelligence. Branded the Mercedes-Benz User Experience, MBUX, for short, this intuitive operating experience is claimed to significantly reduce driver distraction.

The new A-Class will be available with a range of new engines, including two four-cylinder petrol options of 1.4-litre and 2.0-litre capacity and a new 1.5-litre diesel with power outputs in the 116bhp to 224bhp range initially. higher performance AMG versions will follow. Transmission

options include a six-speed manual (on A220 version) and seven-speed automatic (on A250 and A180d versions).

The new car comes with advanced safety systems including see-ahead camera and radar with up to 500 metres range plus many ‘active’ features now common in MercedesBenz models, including Lane Keeping, Adaptive Braking, and various Distance Control and Driver Assist systems.

tainment system, fitted with high-

wheels, tinted rear windows and

resolution seven-inch touchscreen,

body coloured handles complete

and Apple CarPlay and Android

the look. It is available in a choice of

Auto to allow drivers to access

five colours, including the exclusive

their phone’s functionality while in

new Street Grey.

the car.

The new looks and equipment,

The interior has been restyled with new Techno leather and fabric

are underpinned by the nimble

seats. Double stitching on the

1.4-litre T-Jet 120hp petrol engine.

Techno leather and Airtex seats

Combined with a manual trans-

is replicated on the gear knob and

mission, it produces 139g/km CO2

steering wheel, while glossy black

while returning 6. l/100km on the

accents highlight the dashboard

combined cycle and travelling from

and Tecnico Grey fascia, which

zero to 100kph in 9.6 seconds.

The 1.6 M-Jet 120hp diesel with a

spans the entire width of the pas-

manual transmission, it produces

senger compartment.

The Fiat Tipo S-Design includes

98g/km CO2 while returning 3.7

some new technology as standard,

l/100km on the combined cycle and

including the next-generation

travelling from zero to 100kph in 9.8

Uconnectseven-inch HD LIVE info-

seconds.

Renault continues support for partner Pieta House RENAULT Group Ireland and its network of 28 dealerships around the country raised €5,000 for charity partner Pieta House during its recent Open Week. During this period, dealerships donated €5 for every test drive taken across the Renault and Dacia ranges, with the total amount raised matched by Renault Ireland. Renault Ireland has also provided Pieta House with a brand-new 181 Renault KADJAR for its fleet.

Patrick Magee, Country Operations Director Renault Group Ireland: “We are delighted to be in a position to support Pieta House’s incredible mission, and we hope this donation will make a positive difference in the charity’s everyday work.”

Brian Higgins, CEO Pieta House: “We deeply appreciate all the support from Renault Ireland over the years. We are very thankful to accept this generous donation from Renault Ireland, and all the dealers nation-

Renault Ireland recently raised €5,000 for

wide. These funds will go

its charity partner Pieta House, which was

directly to the delivery of

presented during the handover of a brand-new

our free service across the 181 Renault Kadjar by Liz O’Gorman, marketing country, helping people all manager at Renault Ireland to Brian Higgins of over Ireland.”

Pieta House

30 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 15 February 2018

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34 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 15 February 2018

SPORT

FastSport HOOLAHAN CALLS TIME ON IRISH CAREER: FORMER Shelbourne star Wes Hoolahan retired from international football this week after 43 caps for the Republic of Ireland.

The Dubliner etched his name into Irish footballing history with his exquisite finish against Sweden in Ireland’s opening game of EURO 2016, while he also provided memorable assists for Robbie Brady’s goal against Italy in Lille and James McClean’s strike against Austria in Vienna.

Since making his senior debut in 2008, Hoolahan had to wait another four years before earning his second cap but went on to become the third most used player under Martin O’Neill with 35 of his appearances coming within the current manager’s era. Twenty-four of his caps came in the starting team.

SOCCER: TALLAGHT CLUB AIMING TO AVOID SIMILAR SLOW START TO LAST TERM

Rovers chase sun in bid to start season in sunny style

 DAVE DONNELLY sport@dublingazette.com

SHAMROCK Rovers boss Stephen Bradley says his squad’s pre-season trip to the Algarve has given them an edge in their preparation for the new League of Ireland season.

The Hoops were invited to take part in the week-long Atlantic Cup in Portugal, where they faced Swedish sides Dalkurd FF, Hammarby IF and IFK Norrkoping on their way to a fourth-place finish.

And Bradley feels that, added to the quality of the opposition in all three games, the warm-weather training has allowed them to focus more on the tactical side of the game.

“It helped us training,” Bradley told the Dublin Gazette. “We could do a lot of tactical stuff we wanted to do and not have to worry about the snow or the rain or the wind. That was a big part of why we went, that and the games.

“Yeah, the standard over there was good – really

Shamrock Rovers celebrating a late cup goal against Dundalk last season. Picture: Martin Doherty

intense games, really good games. I think the lads are ready to go, but it’s always different when it’s a league game, always.”

An up-and-down start to the 2017 season, which saw the Hoops lose six of their first ten matches, meant Bradley’s side were never really in

the title race as Cork City raced clear.

Gelling The Tallaght native had stressed all along that his squad – which was muchchanged from the one inherited from Pat Fenlon – would take time to gel.

That showed with wins over Cork and Dundalk in the final series of games, though they lost out to the Lilywhites in both the EA Sports Cup final and FAI Cup semi-final on their own turf.

With an away Dublin derby at Bohemians followed by Dundalk at home in the sec-

ond round, Bradley feels the pressure to perform early-on will create the ideal environment for his side.

“I think it’s perfect. Other than Bohs at home, [games] don’t come much bigger for us. A sell-out, it’s going to be a rough and ready game.

“It mightn’t be a great spectacle but we know what type of games it’s going to be and we’ll be ready for it.

“In these games, it all goes out the window. It’s about the rivalry of us and them. You get out there and it’s intense and it’s hostile and it’s a strange one.

“Any derby is like that around the world – they’re all the same. Very rarely is it pretty to look at.”

Bradley confirmed the signing of striker Dan Carr earlier in the week, while ex-Leeds Un i t e d a t t a c ke r E o g h a n Stokes may still earn a contract.

However, he was beaten to the signing of the former Liver pool defender Daniel Cleary – who spent the entirety of pre-season with his squad – when Dundalk made a late bit for the Dubliner.

Method in Liam Buckey’s ‘madness’ at St Pat’s  DAVE DONNELLY sport@dublingazette.com

St Patrick’s Athletic’s I an Bermingham at the Aviva Stadium this week at the League of Ireland launch

LIAM Buckley has called on his St Patrick’s Athletic side to find that little bit of “madness”’ to take them back to the top table of Irish football.

Speaking to the Dublin Gazette at the launch of the SSE Airtricity League at Lansdowne Road on Tuesday, the Dubliner was in optimistic mood.

A disappointing campaign last year saw Buckley’s young side battle relegation to the

very last day, when a draw away to Derry City was enough to see them to safety by the slimmest margin.

Experience Experienced players like Killian Brennan and Owen Gar van, both recr uited in the summer, were key to the great escape and they’ve been retained this year.

And ‘Bucko’ feels there is enough talent in his squad this year to challenge at the right end of the table and possibly for European football.

“I want my team to play as well as they can,” Buckley said. “I want them to play with desire, a bit of madness, a bit of passion – they have the ability. They need to just get on the pitch and play.

“We have enough players in the squad to do well and I’m excited about where we’ll go at this moment in time.”

Pat’s beat Shamrock Rovers to the signing of the defender Kevin Toner – who signs after making four Premier League appearances for Aston Villa.

Along with former Rov-

ers wingers James Doona and Dean Clarke, there’s a healthier balance of youth and experience this time around.

Enough for Buckley to sound a note of cautious optimism ahead of the league opener as double winners Cork City come to Richmond Park for the first time since a dramatic 4-2 defeat in October.

“Bring on Cork on Friday night – they’ll be a good test for us. They are league and cup champions” he said.

The tie gets underway in Inchicore at 7.45pm.

15 February 2018 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 35

GAZETTE

FIRSTDivision

UCD consistent picture amid a flurry of change  DAVE DONNELLY

AMID all the change in the First Division with the introduction of three new teams and the shift to a ten-team league, UCD have been a picture of consistency.

Having fought off interest from Drogheda United for manager Collie O’Neill, the only real change has been Under-19 league-winning coach Ian Ryan replacing Evan McMillan as his assistant. Winger Simon Power – a peripheral figure last year – has moved on to Norwich City but captain Gary O’Neill has opted to stay, as have the bulk of last year’s squad.

And Dubliner Ryan feels that consistency will serve them well as they chase promotion back to the top tier for the first time since 2014.

“It’s probably the best squad I’ve seen there with the strength of the 20-22 players we have,” he told the Dublin Gazette.

“It’s all scholarships this year. Everyone in the first-team squad is on a scholarship – we don’t have any outside players.

“Ideally, we’d like to win the league, yes, but we’re there to develop the players and for them to realise their potential.”

A short trip down the N11 in Cabinteely, there’s been much change as senior figures Jason Byrne and Daire Doyle have left for coaching posts.

Strikers Ryan Swan and Gareth McCaffrey have moved on to Bohemians and Drogheda respectively, while former captain Victor Ekanem has also joined the Drogs.

Last year’s First Division player of the year, Marty Waters, remains with his local club, however, and Pat Devlin’s side will look to kick on from last season’s best-ever sixth-place finish.

Ireland Colleges & Universities star Joe Doyle and Dean Casey will provide competition up front, while Conor Earley scored twice as Cabo pushed Dundalk all the way in a 4-2 pre-season defeat. The club have announced they’ve allocated season tickets to all of their schoolboy players and managers. The total value of season tickets being given away exceeds €50,000.

All tickets are packaged and ready to be collected by the manager to distribute to their players ahead of the start of the 2018 season on Friday, February 23 ahead of Wexford at Stradbrook.

Bohs playing Long game on eve of new campaign Gypsies boss taking different approach with the hope of reaping rewards in 2018 despite a tight budget with evening trainings with a squad willing to take some leaps of faith  DAVE DONNELLY sport@dublingazette.com

KEITH Long believes his Bohemians squad for the forthcoming League of Ireland season is stronger than at the same point last year – when the Gypsies went on to finish fifth.

Bohs kick off their Premier Division campaign on Friday with the biggest game of them all – the Dublin Derby against fierce rivals Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount Park.

And the Dubliner says he’s got more strength in depth at his disposal than he did 12 months ago – despite losing firstteamers Fuad Sule and Warren O’Hora to league football in England.

Combative mid-

fielder Sule has moved to London to join up with League Two Barnet while the classy defender O’Hora signed a threeand-a-half-year deal with Premier League Brighton.

Speaking at the launch of Bohemians’ underage partnership with schoolboy nursery St Kevin’s Boys – former club of internationals Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick – Long said he will continue to have faith in young players.

“I think I’m happier than I was last year,” he said. “There’s more strength and depth to the squad than this time last year and the reason why is we’ve got a lot of games midweek and that will take its toll over the course of the season.

“Whether we’re stronger than last year... a lot of people would have had misgivings about us coming into the start of the season, but things evolve, things change.

“We brought a lot of young players into the squad and we’ve got some young players into the squad again this year, so who knows? We’ll see.

Pre-season can be phoney.”

Long has looked both inside and outside the league to strengthen with Kevin Devaney returning having starred despite Galway United’s relegation and JJ Lunney moving from St Patrick’s Athletic.

Irish under-19 internationals Darragh Leahy and Dylan Watts are also in situ at Dalymount,

Leahy signing from Coventry City and ex-UCD midfielder Watts on loan from Leicester City.

After new signing Ryan Swan was struck down with a pre-season knee ligament injury, Long says signing another striker would be nice but, with a tight budget, it’s unlikely.

“It’s ver y difficult to find a striker at this moment in time. We’ve got restrictions in terms of what we can bring in budget-wise, so we’re looking for a striker but it’s easier said than done. “ L o a n m ove s a r e options but it’s easier said than done, particularly when they’re coming from full-time clubs, because we’re part-time, albeit that we’re training as some of the full-time

All the League of Ireland teams gather for the new season which start on Friday evening. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

clubs.

“We train at night and that can be difficult to try and persuade fellas that are coming from a fulltime set-up to take a leap of faith coming with us.

“We believe what we’re trying to do with the players is as good as anything that’s around the league but trying to convince them to take what they perceive as a step backwards is difficult.”

Midfielder Ian Morris – who is also the club’s youth development officer – believes Bohs can kick on from last season and challenge for Europe in the reduced ten-team league.

“I’ve been thinking about this for a long time.

Obviously with 12 teams, the player pool is bigger.

“Going down to ten teams, you’re nearly getting all the top players, the better players, into ten teams. I think the league is going to be a hell of a lot stronger this year.

“The tempo in our training is extremely high, the standards we set, and any of the players that come back into us now, that’s the first thing they say.

“Sometimes the socalled top clubs in the league don’t like playing against us because we’re so intense and we like to get on with the game.

“We’re hard to play against, and that’s what we’ll be looking to do again this year, upset teams and if we want to play, we can play.”

GAZETTE

36 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 15 February 2018

SPORT

FASTSport

CYCLING: IRELAND’S TOUGHEST ROAD RACE REVERTS TO HISTORIC NAME

Kelly’s Spirit of Rugby BALBRIGGAN RFC Club Welfare Officer, Lisa Kelly has been awarded an inaugural Irish Rugby Spirit of Rugby award at last weekend’s NatWest 6 Nations game against Italy in the Aviva Stadium by President of the IRFU, Philip Orr. The Spirit of Rugby programme aims to support players, coaches, volunteers and parents within the game and to educate them about their rights and responsibilities on and off the field.

Kelly has actively followed the Club Action Plan, ensuring compliance with vetting, training of volunteers and signed declarations of Intent.

She has also engaged age-grade players in a consultation processes ensuring the club is meeting the needs of these players so they stayed involved in the years ahead.

She has delivered information session to coaches and parents, ensuring the club and its officers are aware of this important work in safeguarding age-grade players in the club.

Hingston takes up Malahide job MALAHIDE Cricket Club have announce Michael Hingston has been appointed as the club’s new Cricket Development Manager.

He is currently employed as coach education manager for Cricket Ireland

and brings a wealth of coaching experience, knowledge and expertise to the three-year role to oversee youth coaching at the club.

Chair of Cricket, Gary Stewart said: “Michael has a great pedigree, a really professional approach and some unique ideas that will transform youth coaching. It is a real coup.”

Przemek Kasperkiewicz of An Post Chain Reaction celebrates winning stage 8 of the 2017 An Post Ras. Picture: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Skerries the final Ras test sport@dublingazette.com

SKERRIES will once again play host to the final dramatic stages of Ireland’s toughest road race with confirmation that the Ras Tailteann will end in the north county town for stage eight on Sunday, May 27.

Returning to the historic Rás Tailteann name following the end of the previous race sponsorship by An Post, the route of Ireland’s toughest annual sporting event was unveiled on Tuesday, with no less than 34 climbs set to slow legs and quicken pulses next May. Totalling eight days and 1168.7 kilometres in

length, the race will begin in Drogheda on May 20 and end in Skerries eight days later.

The route designed once again by Stephen O’Sullivan and assessed

by Gerard Campbell will feature four gruelling category one climbs, 10 category two ascents plus 20 third category slopes, and pitch specialist climbers against all-rounders.

The profile is much hillier than recent years with the 34 climbs considerably more than the 21 in 2015, 25 in 2016 and 21 last year.

As for the final stage back into the north county, whomever is in the yellow jersey at that point

must then negotiate a 144.6 kilometre race from Naas.

As has been the case in recent years, the latter part of this stage will follow familiar roads, including laps of the circuit in Skerries, and should once again attract huge crowds.

After racing through Newbridge, the first climb the riders will encounter is the category three Hill of Allen.

Next up is the similarly ranked Plukhimin and Cross of the Cage before the peloton reached the finishing circuit and two ascents of the category three Black Hills climb.

As ever a breakaway group will almost cer-

tainly try for the stage win, while those in the bunch may well mount one last assault on the yellow jersey before the bunch tears down the finishing straight in Skerries.

Race director Eimear Dignam’s assessment: “The early climb to Allen will catch a few fellows out. I think we will have the peloton together when we come into Skerries for what will be two finishing laps this year.

“The Skerries stage end committee, headed up by Paul Deans always do a wonderful job, and the people there always come out and support the race. The crowds along the roads are amazing,

and the cheers along the finishing stretch is wonderful.”

“This year’s route is very reminiscent of the 2013 route, when we headed down to Kerry and Glengarriff. A couple of stages are very different, though,” says the new race director Eimear Dignam, the daughter of the former race organiser Dermot Dignam.

“For the most part, there are a lot of hills, but there are an awful lot of very fast roads and very undulating roads on a lot of the stages. I think it is a mix straight across the board, it varies from stage one to stage eight, from hills to fast days.”

15 February 2018 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 37

GAZETTE

SOCCER: ROVERS PREVAIL IN SENIOR CUP CLASH

AULSoccer

Raheny celebrate one of their goals. Picture: Deryck Vincent

Raheny’s Transilvanian express  DAVE DONNELLY Shamrock Rovers had the edge in class to nick a 2-1 win over St Mochta’s

Saints rue penalty claims on the double

LEINSTER SENIOR CUP Shamrock Rovers St Mochta’s  DAVE DONNELLY

2 1

sport@dublingazette.com

ST MOCHTA’S r ued some controversial refereeing decisions as they bowed out of their first Leinster Senior Cup campaign to Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.

Former Hoop Dean Kelly had put the Saints in a great position with a goal right after half-time, Ireland Under-17 star Brandon Kavanagh having given Rovers the lead with a first-half penalty.

However referee Ben Connolly’s decision not to allow a penalty for a foul on Karl Somers proved a turning point and a mistake from goalkeeper Mark Osborne allowed Evan Smithers in for a winner.

It was the decision, with the game poised at 1-1, to deny Kelly the chance to double his tally from 12 yards that left the Blanch side’s manager Brian McCarthy wondering what could have been.

“The decisions were

plain to see,” he told the Dublin Gazette. “It certainly wasn’t a penalty [for Rovers] and I definitely think we had a stonewall penalty. Unfortunately, that’s football and we just have to get on with it.

“Sometimes you get decisions, and sometimes you don’t. There were other decisions that didn’t go for us, little things, but that’s football.”

McCarthy – who led the Saints to their firstever LSL Sunday Senior title last season – admitted that his team found it hard to deal with the speed and organisation of a young Rovers team.

Stephen Bradley’s senior team only returned from the Atlantic Cup in Portugal on the morning of the game, so Under-17 manager Aidan Price took charge of a teenage selection.

The junior Hoops ran rings around Mochta’s in the first half and deservedly led at the break.

“I don’t think an awful lot of credit has been given to that Rovers team.

They were very, very good.

They’re super players and

they’re very well-drilled.

“It’s easy for people to say they’re the 19s, but the League of Ireland with young fellas like that coming up is in a better spot than it has been for a long time.

“These Leinster Senior Cup games with League of Ireland clubs can be a bit dull, but for everyone who was there it was well worth the five euro!”

McCarthy’s attention now turns back to the league, where they sit eight points behind lead-

ers Bluebell after they won at second-placed Killester United on Friday.

“Winning the league last season, you realise quickly that you’re a bit of a scalp for people. Teams will set up differently against you, and I think we’ve got to grips with that eventually.

“If you can put two or three wins on the bounce it puts you in a strong position. We’re defending champions at the minute and we’re third, so it’s not doom and gloom.”

RAHENY United advanced to the last 16 of the AUL Liddy Cup following a dominant performance against fellow northsiders Real Transilvania at St Anne’s Park on Friday, winning 2-1.

Goals in either half from Michael McCabe and Matt Nolan gave Chris McDonnell’s side a commanding lead against the visitors, who had two players sent off during the game.

Real did pull one back late on as Mihai Madaran got on the end of a sweeping counter-attacking move, but Raheny held out comfortably to book a date with St Paul’s Artane in the next round.

“I think we dominated it fitnesswise and were able to get on it and play out from the back, which is the way we like to play,” McDonnell told the Dublin Gazette. “We like to get on it and let the lads kind of build it out from the back.

“They struggled to get any pressure on us and we were able to carry the ball into their half fairly easily until their final third.

“They’re not a bad footballing side. They get on it and play but we were dangerous in attack and they were lacking a little bit of pace up front to really trouble us.”

The opening goal came about as the result of some enterprising play down the left-hand side, and a kind

bounce allowed McCabe to stride in on goal and slide the ball under the goalkeeper.

Things got progressively worse for the Romanian side when they were reduced to ten men after Cristian Pralea was judged to have kicked out at an opponent. It took until 20 minutes from the end for Raheny to make their pressure and numerical advantage count on the scoreboard, however.

After the Real defence were caught upfield, the home side were able to break in numbers and it finished in a tap-in for Nolan. A harsh sending-off for Claudiu Medelet for reckless use of the elbow followed, but Real did pull one back when Madaran finished following a wellworked one-two.

Overall, McDonnell – the FAI junior international coach who took over at the beginning of the season – feels his young side have acquitted themselves well in their first season in Premier A. The club were relegated from Premier B at the end of 2016/17 but McDonnell was behind the successful attempt to rejoin in the top tier after several clubs left for the Leinster Senior League.

“I’d say my age profile wouldn’t be far over the 20 mark if I was to average it out and a lot of these lads haven’t played Premier A football before.”

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GAZETTE

38 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 15 February 2018

SPORT

LADIES FOOTBALL: DESPITE A FIRST EVER WIN OVER CORK AT CROKE

Bohan demands

FASTGAA

NATIONAL LEAGUE DIV 1

Dublin 3-9 Cork 1-14  JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

Skerries Harps get the VIP treatment at Croker SKERRIES Harps’ Under-13 girls attended the Dubs’ Allianz League and Lidl National Football League double-header in Croke Park on Saturday evening in style.

Winners of an AIB competition, in partnership with Dublin GAA, the 25 girls and five mentors were treated to a VIP experience including a buffet meal and a bird’s eye view of the games.

During Dublin’s clash with Donegal, AIB had organised for three special guests to surprise the girls; Dublin footballer Jack McCaffrey and ladies footballers Nicole Owens and Hannah O’Neill. The Dublin stars chatted to the team about the evening’s matches, signed autographs and of course took selfies.

The team from Skerries Harps were the second round of winners for AIB’s new competition, giving juvenile clubs the chance to win a VIP matchday experience to one of Dublin’s Allianz League games in Croke Park.

DUBLIN sur vived a storming late comeback from Cork as the All Ireland champions claimed their third successive league win in the first part of a double-header at Croke Park last Saturday.

This was a great advertisement, too, played out between arguably the top two sides in ladies football, and certainly more competitive than the men’s victory over Donegal that followed shortly afterwards.

Olwen Carey bagged two goals and Carla Rowe clocked their third as they held on for victory despite a late fightback from the Rebels.

It was the sky-blues first ever win over Cork at HQ but, despite this,

manager Mick Bohan says there is plenty more that needs to come from his side if they are to retain their All-Ireland title.

“We were very disappointed,” Bohan said afterwards, after they saw an eight-point lead diminish to one in the final 20 minutes.

“I was just disappointed that we stopped doing the things that we had been doing so well and just went into our shell.

“That’s the part we have to look at because ultimately, we know we’ll be playing Cork again at some stage in the season.

There’ll be more at stake so we’ve to learn from it.”

Like Dublin, Cork went into the contest u n b e a t e n w i t h t wo league wins from two, and the Rebelettes made a powerful start, with Eimear Scally putting away a penalty just two minutes in.

That proved to be a moment that forced a push on for Dublin, however, and the tide turned after ten minutes of rapid points exchange, with Carey smashing home after she got onto a pass from Noelle Healy, mak-

ing it 1-3 a piece with ten minutes on the clock.

Healy was playing a starring role, in fact, with much of the Jackies best play routed through the marauding forward.

She was again at the heart of the second three-

pointer for the Dubs, as she charged through the Cork defence, before teeing up Carla Rowe on 16 minutes to complete the early turnaround, and put Dublin in front 2-3 to 1-4.

The game calmed a lit-

Carla Rowe holds off a Cork challenge

CLUB NOTICEBOARD CASTLEKNOCK

OUR nursery, with thanks to Tigers Childcare, is back in full swing in CCC every Saturday. New members always welcome. Nursery enquiries to lisakiernan1@ gmail.com.

Fantastic night had by all at the adult awards on Saturday celebrating another successful year for the club. Well done to all the very worthy winners and thanks to the Castleknock Golf Club and all the organisers for a great night.

Members and friends of Castleknock GAA are invited to the launch of the club book upstairs in the Carpenter on Monday, February 19.

Contribute your memories, photos, programmes, press cuttings, and memorabilia.

Well done to Ciaran and the Dubs on a great win over Donegal at the weekend.

Big thanks to all those who volunteered their time selling national draw tickets during the week.

No winner of our lotto jackpot with thanks to Rialto

Ford. Numbers were 7, 19, 26 and 27.

Three ‘match 3’ winners winning €100 each. Lucky dip winner was Phil Shannon who takes home €30. Our new jackpot is €5,400 with the next draw in the Carpenter on February 15.

ERIN GO BRAGH

NO winner of our lotto jackpot which is now €5,300.

Numbers drawn were 6, 17, 21 and 23.

Please note our membership can now be paid online and we would encourage everyone to pay as soon as possible.

Well done to our adult footballers who beat Lucan Sarsfields in a friendly on an icy Sunday morning.

Great win for our U-15 footballers against St Peter’s. Well done to our minor girls who had played for the first time together in a preseason friendly against Westmanstown.

Well done to our U-14 footballers who had a great

win against St Sylvester’s.

Congratulations to the club’s latest qualified referees James Padden and Cian Forde.

Super win for our U-13 boys in their first grading match against Erin’s Isle.

Well done to our minor boys who just lost out to a strong Ballyboden team in a preseason friendly.

Erin Go Bragh hurlers are looking for new players; if interested, please contact Karl on 087 2352074.

Our nursery (Little Green Machine) has restarted training and is in Hansfield on Saturday mornings from 9.30-10.30am and in Phibblestown on Tuesday from 6-7pm and on a Saturday from 11.30am to 12.45pm.

Our G4M&O team are also looking for new players; it’s a great way of meeting new people in your community while also having some fun and getting fit. No experience necessary. Please call Ciara on 087 914 7154 for further details.

FINGALLIANS

MEMBERSHIP: This is urgent for all players. Forms are available in the clubhouse or on the club website - www. fingallians.com Our big fundraiser of the year, Race Day at Bellewstown, will take place on Saturday, July 7.

After a long winter break, this Sunday, February 18, the first round of football leagues commence. Division 2 footballers away v Naomh Mearnog at 10.15am, Division 6 away v St Oliver Plunketts at 12pm, Division 10 at home v Lucan.

Easter camp dates: Monday, March 26 to Thursday, March 29. Each day from 10am to 2pm. It will cost €40 for members and €60 for non-members. It is for girls & boys aged four to 13 years.

Vetting of members: This is a legal requirement.

Every person involved with a team must be vetted. A person who is not vetted is no longer be allowed on a sideline, interact with

children, transport players to games or training or be near ANY team. If you are not registered, please click on the link on the GAA website or contact a team manager.

Athletic Section – Dublin Championships: Well done to Liana Buckley on her second place finish in the long jump and in the 60m, U-19 boys Leon Chiza and Pascal Ryan were first and second from the National Sports Arena.

Junior and Leaving Cert members: We will be hosting a supervised Irish language conversation group for déagóirí in the clubhouse gach oíche Máirt, 8-9pm.

Starting on February 13 and running until the oral exams are críochnaithe. Suitable for daltaí preparing for Junior and Leaving Cert.

Saor in aisce agus fáilte roimh chách. Tuilleadh eolas ó Liam-086 3814422 Club shop: shop open Saturday mornings at 10am for players and parents looking for club clothing for the coming season.

Saint Patrick’s Day Parade: The club are looking

for mentor and parents to put their names forward to help with the organisation on this event. Please email David on secretarybng.fingallians. dublin@gaa.ie for further information.

Lotto: No winner last week, so we have a big jackpot this Tuesday of €3,572.

GARDA WESTMANSTOWN LEAGUE season is upon us with both intermediates and juniors in action next Sunday, February 18 both in away fixtures. Inters travel to Donabate to take on St Patrick’s in Division 3 with a 10.15am throw in and juniors go to Bushy Park to play Rathgar Gaels with a 12pm.

Midday start.

Training continues this week at Westmanstown on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm. Minors preseason continued with a challenge against Ballyboden St Enda’s. First league fixture on February 25 at home to St Anthony’s.

Ladies train on Mondays and Wednesday at 7.30pm and on Saturday morning at 8am in the Garda Grounds in the Phoenix Park. Minors had run out against Erin Go Bragh on Sunday and the U-14s play Scoil Ui Chonaill away next Sunday starting at 3.15pm.

Juvenile season starts on the weekend of February 24/25.

All club members are reminded membership is now due and may be paid online at payments. gardawestmanstowngaels. com. Registrar Marco will be available on Saturday mornings to take cash or cheques and Garda members can sign the weekly deduction form.

First fundraiser of the year takes place on Friday, February 23 when the ladies section holds a table quiz at Westmanstown starting at 8pm. Table of four costs €40.

Why not put a team together to support our ladies teams and have a fun night out as well? To enter, contact Julie Kavanagh.

The National Club Draw is

15 February 2018 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 39

GAZETTE

PARK, MANAGER DEMANDS MORE FROM HIS PLAYERS

Dubs step up tle going into the break, with the consistent Orla Finn and Healy doing the damage at either end, and the Dubs going in two points up at 2-5 to 1-6.

Clinical Carey was back into the action

straight after halftime, grabbing her second goal and Dublin’s third, this time with Sinead Goldrick a key architect as Dublin looked to have put the contest to bed early.

Cork can never be

t a ke n f o r g r a n t e d , though, having won ten of the past twelve All Ireland titles, and while Healy and Rowe briefly extended Dublin’s lead to a substantial eight points midway through the half, it was Cork who would

Leah Caffrey in possession . Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

now closed and thanks to all who supported it and especially Paul Curtis for organising. Hopefully, we’ll have a few winners when draw takes place.

Looking a little further ahead the annual golf classic is pencilled in for Thursday, June 7 at Westmanstown; a bit away but never too early to think about teams, tee boxes, sponsors etc.

Willie McGee and his team have already declared their intention to defend last year’s title!

Davy Cryan continues to fade away on Operation Transformation and Walk For Davy continues every Monday night at 7.30pm in Westmanstown where young and not so young can burn off the last of the Christmas excess.

Despite the poor weather, lots of juvenile action last week with several teams in action. U-16 Boys lost narrowly to Fingal Ravens in their league opener, the U-12As had a great 5-7 to 0-2 win over St Mary’s Saggart; the U-15 boys won against

St Peter’s by a point, 2-4 to 0-7; the U-14 boys beat St Sylvester’s and the U-14 girls beat St Brigid’s by 5-8 to 2-9.

Well done to all our juvenile players, their coaches and mentors.

Congratulations to Ethan Kenny, Eoghan Healy and Luke Fagan who represented their school in the Go Games in Croke Park during the interval of the Dublin v Donegal National League game. Well done boys.

NAOMH PEREGRINE

MEMBERSHIP fees for 2018 are now due and payable.

Check cnp.ie for the easy on-line way to pay. Details of all memberships available are included.

The CNP Coaching the Coaches Course with Amanda Scallan and Vinny Murphy begins this Thursday, February 15 with Session 1 – The Warm Up – Getting ready for the game. Meet at the astro pitch at 7.30pm.

We would encourage that

at least one mentor/parent from each team attends to keep refreshing their coaching skills.

Episode 11 of AIG’s Dub Club Chronicles video series features St Peregrine’s GAA, some of its personalities and facilities, and is a must see for all members. Check it out on the internet. The feature is dedicated to the memory of Marianne Costello who tragically died almost 12 years ago.

A table quiz in aid of the Feile teams takes place in the clubhouse on Friday, March 9 from 7pm. This is specifically aimed at our younger members though adults can join in as well.

The cost per table of four is €20 and there will be prizes for the winners and plenty of spot prizes also. As it is part of our Seachtan Na Gaelige celebrations, we will have a few questions “as gaeilge” too.

There was no winner of the club lottery. The numbers drawn were 3, 11, 24 and 26.

Next week’s jackpot rises to €4,400 with the usual 10

end the game on top.

Finn and Ciara O’Sullivan, plus a series of kickable frees for the visitors had the home side on the defensive, and with Dublin having failed to score for the final fifteen minutes, Melissa Duggan’s chip over the bar very nearly dipped the other side of the crossbar and – had it done so – would most likely have handed Cork the win.

Frees from Finn and Scally brought about an exciting end to the contest, and Dublin will have some ‘saved by the bell’ concerns as a period of being overrun was put to and end with the home side still holding the narrowest of leads.

Cork are a big scalp, however, and a 3-9 to 1-14 win in their first league game at Croke Park is another step on what’s becoming an impressive form streak.

CHAMPIONSHIP BLOW

Bernard Brogan at the recent launch of the 2018 Sports Industry awards . Picture: Billy Stickland/Inpho

Brogan injury tempers win over Donegal BERNARD Brogan looks set for an extended spell on the sidelines following news that he sustained a cruciate knee ligament injury in the build-up to last Saturday evening’s National Football League tie against Donegal at Croke Park.

The St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh man had been named initially in the starting line-up for the clash but was one of a number of changes to the starting team.

It was subsequently reported that he had sustained the serious injury in training, putting the remainder of his season in doubt.

Dublin are already without Jack McCaffrey with a similar injury for the forseeable future with his surgery taking place last October.

For Brogan, though, reports are that he is currently looking to avoid going the surgery route - in a similar manner to Michael Darragh Macauley - which could see him return to action sooner and possibly play some part in this year’s championship which gets under way against either Offaly or Wicklow on May 27.

In the Donegal tie, Dublin ran out 0-20 to 0-15 winners with Colm Basquel kicking four points in front of a crowd of 21,469.

The tie was also notable for the debut of Ballymun Kickhams Paddy Small, brother of John, who impressed. The Dubs were well in control at half-time with a 0-11 to 0-5 advantage before Donegal fought back in the second half, causing some concerns. But a late flurry from the sky blues saw them make it three wins from three.

CLUB NOTICEBOARD consolation prize draws of €40 each. Support your club’s and players’ development by entering the draw at €2 per entry.

ST BRIGID’S

OUR club nursery continues every Saturday from 9.30 to 11am for all four to sevenyear-olds. New families and members are always welcome.

St Brigid’s race night takes place in Russell Park on February 23, 2018. Make sure to save the date, a great night guaranteed.

St Brigid’s are delighted to offer a limited number of Gaeltacht Scholarships for this coming July and August.

Contact Stiofán on 087 6339238.

Well done to all our county representatives: Noelle Healy received player of the match in the NFL Division 1 game on Saturday, an historic occasion with Dublin Ladies and men playing NFL in Croke Park as a double header. Both teams now with three from

three.

2018 fixtures are nearly back in full swing- the adult leagues start on February 18 and underage ladies football and camogie the following week.

Thank you to all who supported the GAA club draw over the past few weeks.

There was no lotto jackpot winner on February 8 and this week’s draw will be on Friday, February 16 in Myo’s. The jackpot will be €1,800.

A huge thank you to our committee and to everyone who supports our St Brigid’s weekly lotto.

ST FINIAN’S

IT DOESN’T be long coming around but the new season is already upon us with all teams back in full swing in training.

The AFL4 team are at home to Thomas Davis at 10.15am on Sunday, February 18 while the AFL8 team are at home to Naomh Fionnbarra at noon.

Come out and show your support for the adult football

teams.

A big thank you as always to Brian in Airways Motor Company who kindly sponsored a new set of juvenile goalposts for the club.

Brian & Airways Motor Company www. airwaysmotorcompany.ie are long standing supporters of St Finian’s GAA Club and the club asks members and supporters to support our sponsors.

Some coaches and players from the U-11 boys team were present to accept the donation on behalf of the club.

Congratulations to Rachel Fagan from the U-16 LGFA team who was playing with the Dublin U-16 LGFA team versus Louth last weekend.

The Sam Maguire cup will be in AIB Swords branch on Thursday, February 15. AIB will donate €50 to St Finian’s GAA Club for all new home insurance customers.

When you get your policy number, click on the link https://aib.ie/personalforms/AIB-Insurance-GAAOffer-Donate-eur50 to fill in

the online form and choose St Finians Swords in the club dropdown box.

Membership subscriptions for 2018 are now due. Payments can be made online under Club Membership on the homepage of the club website: www.stfinians.com.

Some minor changes have been made to membership categories and rates for 2018.

The club has introduced a family membership which would be the most cost effective for most families.

Membership can be paid over three months online (after the initial amount is paid the subsequent two monthly payments come out automatically).

As a substantial element of the club’s outlay comes at the start of the year, all memberships should be paid as soon as possible.

There are yoga classes taking place in the clubhouse activity room every Thursday evening.

For further details, please contact Jacquie at 087 786 8363.

GAZETTESPORT

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

THE FINISH LINE: Skerries to provide the epic ending for Ireland’s toughest cycling race, An Ras Tailteann P36

FEBRUARY 15-21, 2018

LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN: GazetteSport previews the Dublin club’s LOI hopes P34-35

Knock call on Nally Castleknock’s John Kindlon in action against Skerries Harps last season in AFL Division 1. Picture: Niall O’Connell

Somerton club looking forward to new AFL Division One season with new boss looking to build on the meteoric rise through Dublin scene’s ranks AFL1 PREVIEW  JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

CASTLEKNOCK’S footballers have had a meteoric rise in recent years, following their long-running charge from Division 9 to the top tier of Dublin football.

That peaked two years ago with a Dublin senior football final run, but change is afoot in 2018, as they go into next year under the guardianship of a new manager.

New boss Colm Nally – formerly a coach at Dublin, Louth and Meath, as well as a Dublin Senior player – was attracted to Castleknock as a progressive club that presents a challenge to manage, and hopes to present a team that

matches that forward-thinking philosophy.

“We’d love to have a solid league,” he told the Dublin Gazette ahead of the AFL1’s first matches this weekend.

“Having said that, the championship is always the priority. There are too many variables to really define a proper league target but we will use it a little to find new players, and to find a style that suits us.

“The Dublin leagues are very competitive.

You definitely know where you stand. I don’t really think there’s a pressure, apart from the pressure to perform.”

Nally singled out the game against 2016 senior final opponents St Vincent’s, as well as contests against local opposition St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadg and St Brigid’s as the big

games in the Castleknock season.

He admits, however, that there are no easy games in the top tier, with strength in depth perhaps Castleknock’s biggest weakness. The team can expect to lose the likes of Ciaran Kilkenny and Graham Hannigan to the Dublin county side for large chunks of the league season.

“We accept that Dublin comes first,” Nally says. “But we probably only have about 18 or 19 senior players so injuries are potentially quite a big problem for us.

“We’re training with our first and second teams together at the moment and I expect the players involved in the two will fluctuate depending on who’s available.

“They tend to play at the same time, but in the league you’re always going to have to move

things around.

“There’s lots of learning to do. We need to be well coached, well organised. That’s where it’s at and the time to do it is in the league,” Nally concludes.

“We need that understanding that we can carry forward into the championship which can all be over very quickly in Dublin. But the quality of the league is really good.”

Meanwhile, Castleknock’s new Somerton clubhouse is currently in progress, and whatever happens in the league this season, a new home to go alongside their pitches will also be a key progression this season.

Castleknock open at home to newly promoted Naomh Olaf at Somerton, at 10.15am on Sunday morning.