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WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE FINGAL AREA, WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED  DEC 27 - JAN 3, 2018

READY FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE IN DUBLIN? NOW that Christmas Day is behind us, there’s still lots to enjoy about this very special time of year – and once the city has had its fill of turkey sandwiches over the next few days, most of us will start looking ahead to the next big bash – the New Year’s Eve celebrations in the heart of the city.

INSIDE, you’ll find a brief guide to some of the biggest celebrations going on in town, with Dublin’s New Year Festival organisers again ready to wow onlookers with some pretty unforgettable acts. And, even if you haven’t been able to get an elusive ticket to some of the sold-out shows, wherever you are across Dublin city, you’re sure to find something fun, fab and free taking place in your neighbourhood ...

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JUSTICE MINISTER CONFIRMS FACILITY EARMARKED FOR OPENING

Rush Garda Station to reopen in months  SYLVIA POWNALL RUSH Garda Station will reopen “within months” along with five others, according to a report presented to the Government.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) will now do whatever is necessary to return the building – which had been leased to the local musical and dramatic society – to its former purpose.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan confirmed the move last week – but no definite timeframe has been given for the project.

Reacting to the news, Senator

James Reilly(FG) said the community can now look forward to a safer future “with a dedicated garda presence back on our streets”.

Continued on Page 4

2 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 26 December 2017

HOUSING | PROPOSALS PUSH FOR BETTER USE OF VACANT PROPERTIES

‘Turning empty office space into homes is a win-win for everyone’  SYLVIA POWNALL VACANT shops and offices in Fingal could be converted to homes to tackle the housing crisis, according to local politicians.

Proposals brought to Government for empty commercial premises to be used for housing without the need for planning permission have the backing of James Reilly.

The Fine Gael senator says with more than 8,500 people homeless, converting vacant retail units and ‘over the shop’ spaces makes perfect sense.

He told Dublin Gazette: “This will have the dual benefit of creating urgently needed housing supply in high-demand areas, while at the same time breathing new life into our towns and urban areas.

Could and should the county’s empty commercial units be turned into homes to help alleviate the housing crisis?

“The proposals have the potential to have a positive impact on the people of Fingal.”

The suggestion from Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy, which he says will help bring more housing to the market quicker, is due for debate in the Dail in early 2018.

Cllr Tom O’Leary (FG) said there were several commercial units lying idle in Fingal which would be ideal for the scheme if

it gets clearance.

He told Dublin Gazette: “Up to nine one-bed apar tments could be provided over shops. There is definitely demand out there for that type of accommodation.

“One advantage for property owners would be reduced commercial rates bills due to a change of status.

“We would get muchneeded homes in central locations, and the owner

would get a sustainable guaranteed income. It’s a win-win for all.

“I am calling on all property owners in towns in Fingal to review their properties for conversion without planning permission for living accommodation.”

It recently emerged that 9% of Dublin dwellings – almost 21,000 units – are vacant. Many buildings converted to commercial use are empty, as demand

for centrally-located office spaces dwindles.

In September, Fingal County Council chief executive Paul Reid warned that councils were struggling to find buildings to convert into family hubs for homeless people.

He said the local authority could not keep pace with the “increased number of presentations” from those who’d lost their homes.

Have your say on how to commemorate the past HAVE your say on how events of the past are commemorated in Fingal. The council is putting together a commemorations programme for 2018 to 2023 to celebrate local history and heritage.

A council spokesperson said: “Commemoration has, in the past, often meant holding a series of standalone events to commemorate and remember significant historical happenings and people.

“While many events and people related to the struggle for independence in the period 1918-1923 will be commemorated, the council also wishes to consider other significant events, persons or themes of relevance to Fingal and its communities.

“This includes an exploration of the broader social and historical context of the period 1918-1923 which witnessed significant transformation at local, national and international levels.

For example, the end of the Great War in 1918 led to independence not just for Ireland, but for many other countries across Europe.”

To have your say, see https://consult.fingal.ie/en/ surveys and complete the survey before January 24.

Reilly welcomes news of a new Swords school campus A NEW school campus for Swords is on the way after the Department of Education closed a deal to buy a site in Mooretown.

The land will cater for a primary- and post-primary facility – with a third school site to be provided in the urban centre of the Mooretown Local Area Plan under the deal.

Welcoming the news, Senator James Reilly (FG) said: “This is wonderful news for the population, who will now have two additional schools in the western area of Swords.”

The site is being acquired under the Fingal Schools Model which sees a collaboration between the local authority and the Department of Education & Skills, which will deliver on community sports facilities as part of the initiative.

Happy New Year to all our readers and advertisers!

Delight as the Liam Rodgers Community Centre is officially launched for all at Kinsealy in Swords

THE Liam Rodgers Community Centre was launched by Mayor Mary McCamley at Kinsealy in Swords just in time for Christmas.

The centre is named after local activist Liam Rodgers, who campaigned for the facility up

until six weeks before he lost his battle with cancer in 2009.

The centre, which caters for Kinsealy and Melrose residents, includes a sports hall along with meeting rooms that will cater to the various youth clubs, ladies’ clubs, seniors’ groups, residents’

associations and more.

Cllr McCamley said she was “very happy to see Mr Rodgers’ dream being realised”. The community stalwart’s proud mother and his daughter, Amanda, were on hand to see the fruits of his labour at the official launch.

Pictured at the centre’s launch are Fingal County Council chief executive Paul Reid and Mayor Mary McCamley with Liam Rodgers’ mother, Mrs Rodgers, the chairperson of Local Development Group Jim Kiely and Liam Rodgers’ daughter, Amanda.

2017 saw Dublin Gazette make the bold move to reposition its titles in line with the four local authorities in Dublin – a move that has proven hugely successful so far.

Dublin Gazette prides itself on its high-quality editorial, offering our loyal readers news and sports coverage like no other newspaper in Dublin.

Repositioning our titles allowed us to offer the people of Dublin four FREE newspapers that offer readers and advertisers alike four unique regional platforms that are specific to their county council area.

2017 was an exciting year for Dublin Gazette, a year of change. Our new website (DublinGazette.com) launched in April, and combined with the repositioning of our titles this has helped Dublin Gazette cement our position as Dublin’s Number-One Free Newspaper.

With your help, 2018 can be even bigger and better (just like your four new and improved Dublin Gazettes). So please continue to pick up your local edition of Dublin Gazette – Because Local Matters.

All of our staff here in Dublin Gazette would like to take this opportunity to wish all our loyal readers and advertisers a Happy New Year! Feel free to send us any stories or feedback to news@dublingazette.com Dublin Gazette – The future is LOCAL, the future is FREE. PATRICK FINNEGAN, Group Editor, Dublin Gazette

26 December 2017 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 3

SWORDS CO-AUTHOR SYLVIA BOND PAYS TRIBUTE TO CONTINUING LEGACY OF QUIZ BOOK AUTHOR RICHARD MAHER

Late husband’s Dahl-ing gift keeps helping family  SYLVIA POWNALL A MOTHER-OF-FOUR who cowrote a children’s book with her late husband says its success is his legacy to his family.

Sylvia Bond, from Daleview in Swords, penned the Roald Dahl Quiz Book with her hubbie Richard Maher (left) in the 1990s and it’s still a kids’ favourite to this day.

Brave Richard lost his battle with leukaemia before the project was finished, but Sylvia (65) said she was determined to see their labour of love through to the end.

She told Dublin Gazette: “When Richard was having his chemotherapy he started reading

to the boys at bedtime.

“Then I started giving them a little quiz on the stories and they got so excited about it.

“Richard died in November 1992 at the age of 35. Then, six months later, I got a letter from the publishers – he’d written to them and they asked me to finish it.”

Sylvia was busy working as a teacher and raising her young kids Paul (7), Peter (4), Brian (3) and one-year-old Aoife.

However, after hearing Patricia Scanlon reveal on radio that she’d written to Maeve Binchy for advice at the start of her career, she decided to do the same.

Sylvia said: “I wrote to Maeve

and she rang me the very next morning. She was a wonderful help to me and we were friends to the day she died. I miss her a lot.”

The book has sold more than 200,000 copies and Sylvia feels it’s a way of keeping her late husband’s memory alive.

She said: “I feel it was a gift that he gave us that meant we could have a summer holiday every year. I still feel he is looking after us.”

The quiz book – right, available from Amazon and Waterstones – features more than 300 questions on Dahl’s best-loved works, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Sylvia’s favourite, Fantastic Mr Fox.

4 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 26 December 2017

MALAHIDE | FUNDRAISER TO HELP

SUPPORT CHARITY’S VITAL WORK

POLICING

Move on station ‘a victory for locals’, says FG senator Continued from Page 1

Marie Nally and Anne Marie Healy

Mary Bardin, of the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland pictured with Aoife and

Adriana Fitzpatrick and Orla Smith

Sisters, Alexandra and Lungu

Anne Mulhair, Forget Me Not

Edel Cush, Edel Timmons and Sharon Syme. Pictures: Joe Keogh

Community digs deep to support Alzheimer’s

 SYLVIA POWNALL

AN ANNUAL fashion event now in its ninth year has raised more than €55,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland.

The Forget Me Not fundraiser in Geisha restaurant, Malahide earlier this month attracted 150 supporters who dug deep for

the cause.

The event was set up

by Anne Mulhair and her daughter, Aoife, in 2009 after Anne’s husband Paddy was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers at the age of just 49.

Anne, along with her three daughters – Aoife, Katie and Emily – provided care for Paddy at their

Fingal County Council set to give Meakstown a community centre, subject to funding

FINGAL County Council has undertaken to provide a much-needed community centre in Meakstown.

The project will be included in its capital programme for 2019 to 2021,

family home in Malahide until he sadly passed away in June, 2016.

The family continued to support the fundraiser in Paddy’s memory and as a show of support for the Alzheimer’s Society for its help throughout his illness.

At the event, Anne said: ‘It is important to increase the awareness of early

according to officials.

They were responding to calls from Cllrs Justin Sinnott, Philip Lynam, Duncan Smith, Eugene Coppinger, Joe Newman, Paul Mulville, Darragh Butler and Anne Devitt.

All members of the Swords ward voiced their support for Meakstown Community Council in their vision for a centre, as the area’s population approaches 8,000 people.

Councillors jointly stated: “There is

onset Alzheimer’s and to showcase the facilities that are available through the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland to support carers and families.

“On behalf of our family, Aoife and I would like to sincerely thank everyone for supporting our event this year.

“We would particularly

like to express our gratitude to those who have attended since the beginning back in 2009.”

Sponsors on the night included Savills, Adman, Jule, Inglot, The Skin Boutique, The House Hotel, Galway and Old Street Restaurant, who donated some raffle prizes.

Fashion was provided

a considerable population of younger people with no community facilities available.”

Significant development levies – including an estimated €3 million for the Charlestown Bovale project – have been generated in the area but are not, according to councillors, being fed back into the community.

In a report on the matter, officials said: “The council acknowledges the need for a community facility in the

by Paula’s Boutique, Marc Cain, Ellen B and Gents of Distinction menswear, while hair was done by Malahide Hair Studio.

According to latest figures, there are an estimated 180,000 people in Ireland who are currently, or have been, carers for a family member or partner with dementia.

Meakstown area.

“The community development office and parks department has for some time been working closely with Meakstown Community Council.”

The council said the project would be included in the revised three-year capital programme to 2021 “but funding will have to be identified”.

Upgrade works on Lanesborough Park are included in next year’s works programme.

He told Dublin Gazette: “This is a major victory for local residents who have worked so hard on this issue for so long.

It has always been my view that the closure of Rush Garda Station was the wrong decision.”

Acting Garda Commissioner Donall O Cualain ordered the OPW to progress the opening of stations at Stepaside and Rush in Dublin, as well as at Bawnboy, Co Cavan; Ballinspittle, Co Cork; Donard, Co Wicklow and Leighlinbridge in Carlow.

The project is described as a “pilot scheme” and while the report recommends their “immediate” reopening, it is not clear just when this will happen.

Calling for urgent action, Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee (FF) warned: “The head of estate management in An Garda Siochana has sent a letter to the OPW to establish what work is required in each garda station.

Reopening “This process of establishing what is needed will take a number of months. It is clear that the reopening of Rush Garda Station, or any of the others named in the report, will not happen any time soon.”

The closure of the station caused uproar locally and while its reopening is welcomed, residents have questions around the issues of manpower and opening hours.

Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) remains optimistic.

He said: “The station’s closure has damaged the local community, leaving them feeling significantly less safe and less secure.

“This is a Christmas wish come true for the area.”

26 November 2017 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 5

6 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 26 December 2017

Out and About

Jim Gavin with Anne-Marie Corcoran

Joanne Kirwan and Gillian McCrossan

Special guests make it a memorable night Danielle Carberry and Michelle Hoare. Pictures: SIMON PEARE

D

UBLIN manager Jim Gavin had The Sam Maguire Cup with him when he visited St Peregrines GAA Club for their members night. Jim was on hand to give out awards and medals at the player of the year awards part of the night. Dakota 5 played some great music at the end of the event to round off what was a great night for the club.

Jim Gavin with Vinnie Murphy, former Dublin great Vinnie Murphy

Luke O’Grady

Tom Reilly and John McLoughlin with Jim

Rachel Brennan with Jim

26 December 2017 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 7

Out and About

Imran Maher

Jim with Ian Berigan

Cian Airoldi

Jim Gavin with Vinnie Murphy and Karl Brady

Draiocht bids farewell to 2017 in a stylish fashion

W

ITH the help of the very bubbly Coolmine Musical Society Choir, delicious food from Betelnut Cafe and mince pies from Mannings Bakery Blanchardstown, Draiocht bid farewell to 2017 and raised a toast to 2018, as they kicked off Christmas in style at their Friends & Supporters Party. This annual event is a way to thank everyone who has supported the venue during the year, as they head into their 17th year of operation in 2018.

Charlie Kurtz, Phoenix FM; Eileen Brogan, Castleknock School of Music; Nicola Murphy, Draiocht and Ann Kurtz

Denise Reddy, Fingal Arts Office, Cllr Mary McCamley, Mayor of Fingal and Emer McGowan, Draiocht director

Coolmine Musical Society Choir

8 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 26 December 2017

26 December 2017 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 9

10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 26 December 2017

INCIDENT | CHARGED WITH DANGEROUS DRIVING

Balbriggan Beach

Suspended sentence for teenager who assaulted young man in gang attack at Balbriggan Beach A TEENAGER who assaulted a young man on Balbriggan Beach and broke his wrist has been given a suspended sentence.

Craig May (19), of Fancourt Heights, Balbriggan, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Daniel Kelly on May 27, 2016 – the night of Kelly’s graduation.

The court heard the injuries inflicted in the unprovoked attack had delayed Mr Kelly’s

defence force career ambitions and he was now constantly “looking over his shoulder”.

May was 17 when he set upon Mr Kelly, kicking him several times in the head along with a group of teenage boys.

The court heard Mr Kelly was walking home from the beach with his girlfriend when they met a mob who started shouting abuse. He was pushed down a hill and May ran at him.

A scuffle ensued

before the rest of the gang joined in and started kicking Mr Kelly repeatedly in the head.

His girlfriend sat on top of him in a bid to halt the assault and she too was kicked several times.

Upon hearing May, who had seven previous convictions, had €1,000 in compensation for his victim, Judge Pauline Codd handed down a 30-month sentence and suspended it on a number of conditions.

Firefighter sent forward for trial over man’s death  SYLVIA POWNALL

A FIREFIGHTER charged with dangerous driving causing death and failing to help a pedestrian who was knocked down has been sent forward for trial.

Derek Keane (38), of Loughshinny Harbour, Skerries, faces charges in connection with the death of Rush man Callum Grimes (27), who died in Beaumont Hospital in July – six months after he was knocked down on the Skerries to Loughshinny road.

Mr Keane is also charged with failing to report the fatal incident on the R128 at Loughshinny, on December 27, 2016.

Under road traffic legis-

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‘Under road traffic legislation introduced in 2014, he is charged with failing to offer assistance to Mr Grimes, with intent to escape liability, knowing that the injured required medical assistance at the scene or to be taken to hospital’

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lation introduced in 2014, he is charged with failing to offer assistance to Mr Grimes, with intent to escape liability, knowing that the injured required medical assistance at the scene or to be taken to hospital.

Mr Grimes had been out socialising at a bar in Skerries on St Stephen’s

night and started walking the 5km journey home after it’s believed he couldn’t get a taxi.

He was found unconscious with serious injuries on the side of the road by a breadman making morning deliveries, with broken glass and plastic from a vehicle scattered nearby.

A local nurse helped administer first aid before emergency services arrived.

At Mr Keane’s first court appearance, Sergeant Sean Pender said the defendant, a retained firefighter, replied “No” after caution when charged with the offence of dangerous driving causing death.

He said there was no objection to the defendant being granted bail, on condition he surrendered his passport and signed on at a garda station every Wednesday between 9am and 9pm.

He was remanded on bail on his own bond of €400. Mr Keane has not yet indicated how he will plead.

Thumbs up for sharing some Christmas goodwill for sick kids at Temple Street

THESE children from across north Dublin had a warm welcome for Freddy Fyffes, the banana character, when he visited Temple Street Children’s Hospital recently, where he was one of a number of characters visiting as part of the annual Santa Claus

visit. Blanchardstown kids Iosua Stefan (4) and Sienna Morgan (4) joined Shannon Bonney (9) from Ashtown to help celebrate, putting a brave face on their time at the hospital as they got into the spirit of sharing some Christmas goodwill .

26 December 2017 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 11

DONABATE | GRIDLOCK, POOR PLANNING CITED

Water great group of kids!

Students roll out a reusable stainless steel bottle product

STEVEN Baruwa, Gail Cabello, Binta Barry, Marie Farrell, Vincent Pontanosa and Cathal Barker Berry were among the students at Coolmine Community School showing plenty of bottle as they rolled out a new initiative to reduce the use of plastic.

Second-year student Cathal Barker Berry designed a reusable stainless steel water bottle, and these are now being sold to students at a reduced rate.

They bear the school logo and the slogan, Every Drop Counts, and sales

to date have exceeded all expectations.

A school spokesperson said: “Apparently there are enough plastic bottles discarded each year to stretch to the moon and back 50 times.

“Worryingly, to make one litre of bottled water, it takes a quarter litre of oil and seven litres of water.

“Coolmine CS has shown it is a leader when it comes to all things sustainable and this plastic-free water bottle initiative has received great interest from other schools.”

Half-marathon’s return to Phoenix Park is welcomed

 SYLVIA POWNALL

A DECISION to return the Dublin Half-Marathon to its original venue in the Phoenix Park after traffic gridlock at September’s event in Donabate has been welcomed.

Last week, an independent review published by Fingal County Council admitted the race at Newbridge House was hampered as a direct result of poor planning.

Most of the 2,500 participants were delayed by up to two hours in tailbacks and the traffic grid-

lock led to local motorists being unable to leave the peninsula.

Race chairman Jim Aughney apologised to runners and locals affected by delays, adding: “This was the first year running the event at this location. We had a full and comprehensive traffic management plan in place.

“It is clear, however, that there were shortcomings and we will take on board the findings.”

Although the report acknowledges that failing to notify residents

of road closures was a “serious oversight” and recommends a number of changes, it offers no decision on whether Newbridge House is capable of hosting similar events in the future or not, and merely calls for a “baseline assessment” of the venue.

Green Party representative Mark Henry, who was one of the race participants stuck in a lengthy tailback on September 23, said the review was “inadequate and disappointing”.

He asked why no alter-

native transport options were considered other than driving – and said that residents must be thoroughly informed in the future.

He told Dublin Gazette: “This review should have concluded if Newbridge House is capable of hosting events like this or not. Instead, it calls for yet another review to be undertaken to answer that question.

“It is clear that an awful lot of work is required if Fingal County Council is to host the race here again.”

12 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 26 December 2017

Out and About

Roisin Gleeson and Aimee Geraghty

Berangore Kengne and Akeem Shopeju

Celebrating Foroige’s 10 years in Tyrrelstown Sadhbh Coffeeduff, Mayor of Fingal Cllr Mary McCamley and Akeem Shopeju.

Pictures: ALISON O’HANLON

T

YRRELSTOWN Community Centre held a special ceremony recently to celebrate Foroige’s 10-year presence in Tyrrelstown. The event highlighted the positive contribution many young people have made to their community. There were presentations made to many young people graduating from programmes, as well as a number of young people performing on the night.

Stephanie Cleary, Dave Tumama, Mayor of Fingal Cllr Mary McCamley, Lizzy Olukunle and Inspector Miska, Jess, Gemma, Sasha, Lily, Aimee, Sarah and Roisin

Anthony Twomby

26 December 2017 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

Out and About

The girls impressed with their lovely carol singing

A memorable event to mark a milestone Sophie, Alyssa and Molly. Picture: ALISON O’HANLON

Principal Edel Greene and vice principal John Moore with some of the students

T

HE Parents’ Association of St Mary’s Secondary School in Baldoyle organised a special Carols by Candlelight performance last week to celebrate the school’s 50th Anniversary. All former students (and parents) and teachers were welcome to attend the event which proved to be a very memorable way to mark this milestone.

Strictly an incredible way to raise €11,000 for Jack THESE dancers stepped, slipped, spun and jived their way at the White Sands Hotel, Portmarnock towards raising an incredible €11,000 for Jack Cready.

Eagle-eyed readers may recall our gallery showing some of the locals who came along to the White Sands Hotel to support the cause, but what about the Strictly stars of the night whose fancy footwork wowed?

We’re delighted to help pay tribute to the dapper dancers, who didn’t put a foot wrong as they stepped up to the challenge of helping little Jack, right, who has a rare genetic condition and suffers multiple seizures a day.

Pictured are (front) Garry O’Connor, Derek Walsh, David Mooney, John Courage, Conor Browne, Luke O’Toole, Robert Kenna and Aaron Brennan with

(back) Grainne Redmond, Sarah Hughes, Laura Creeby, Cliona O’Connor, Jean Gill, Derek McKeever, Caroline Mulhern, Shauna Cummins, Sinead Bedford, Beth Doyle and Lauren Keogh.

In addition to helping to raise awareness of his very rare SCN2a gene mutation, the dancers’ efforts, and the terrific support of the local community, will help to support Jack with special equipment.

GAZETTE

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 26 December 2017

DUBLINBUSINESS

New skills audit tool launched to help businesses MINISTER for Education and Skills Richard Bruton has launched a new skills audit tool and extra supports which will make it easier for employers to identify their skill needs.

Minister Heather Humphreys has also announced that 300 employers, in association with Enterprise Ireland, will be first to participate in the initiative.

Minister Bruton has set the ambition to make Ireland’s education service the best in Europe within a decade.

Skills for Growth is a package of supports for employers to help them understand and plan for their skill needs.

Each employer who participates in the programme will be given access to a new skills audit tool to capture

robust and consistent data on the skill needs of their business, and oneon-one assistance from a regional skills forum manager.

Announcing Skills for Growth, Minister Bruton said: “Ensuring we are planning for the future skill needs of our economy is so important to delivering on our ambitions as a nation.

“The Skills for Growth initiative is a fantastic development which will greatly enhance the ability of our regional skills fora to identify and, indeed, respond to these skills needs.

“If we want to be the best in Europe, we must ensure that the partnerships and links between the education system and enter prise are strong and continuously improved.”

Pauline Logan, network manager, Dublin City LEO Women in Business Network; Anita Donoghue, owner of The Hair Cafe Salon; Rita Smyth, Role Players for Training, and Mary McSweeney, deputy head of enterprise and economic development, Dublin City LEO. Picture: Chris Bellew/Fennell Photography

CELEBRATION | INVESTMENT, SERVICES SUPPORT PART OF PRIZE PACKAGES

Women entrepreneurs Irish businesses showing growth scoop top LEO awards THE number of businesses in Ireland is growing faster than seen in most major economies in the last year, , according to a new study by accounting and consultancy network UHY. Ireland ranks within the top 10 of UHY’s global business creation table out of 21 countries studied.

According to UHY, there has been a 3% increase in Ireland’s business numbers in the last year, with 205,000 Irish businesses in total in 2016, compared to 198,000 in 2015.

By comparison, the other majorWestern economies studied saw their number of businesses increase by just 2% last year, compared to the previous year. Overall, across all countries in the study, business numbers in 2016 increased by 8% on the previous year.

UHY says the figures reflect growing confidence in Ireland’s economy, as it leaves the shadow of the financial crisis behind.

However, the top-five rankings in the UHY table for growth in business numbers are dominated by emerging economies.

China topped the table, with a 19% increase in business numbers in the last year. There were over 26 million Chinese businesses in total in 2016, compared to almost 22 million in 2015.

THE Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Dublin City Women in Business Network awards saw Anita Donoghue, of The Hair Cafe Salon in Smithfield, and Rita Smyth of Role Players for Training, scoop top places.

As a celebration of exceptional women in business in the Dublin City area, the awards took place at the LEO Dublin City Women in Business Christmas networking event held at The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Kildare Street.

Award nominees were evaluated under two categories – the Rising Star award, and Best Start-Up award.

The Rising Star award went to Rita Smyth, of

Role Players for Training, with the company providing professional corporate role players to support and facilitate learning and development in business and executive education.

Rita’s win included an investment of €1,000 in her business, a €500 voucher towards services provided by Dublin City LEO, and a professional video on the company commissioned by Dublin City LEO in order to further promote Role Players for Training.

Anita Donoghue, of The Hair Cafe Salon, won the Best Start-Up award, in recognition of her business, in operation since September 2016.

The business provides

a boutique body and mind relaxation service, in addition to hair care.

Anita’s win included an investment of €500 and a €500 voucher towards ser vices provided by Dublin City LEO. Commenting on the awards, Mary McSweeney, deputy head of Enter prise and Eco nomic Development of Dublin City LEO, said; “I am delighted to present these awards to two worthy businesswomen who are growing and developing their business in the Dublin City region.

“It is great to see that there has been an increase in women starting their own businesses in the last few years, supported through Dublin

City LEO. “The Dublin City LEO office is here to encourage and support women who are starting a business or are already up and running.

“We aim to provide access to a support network of services and advice, together with access to like-minded entrepreneurs and startups, to maximise their chance for success and growth in their industry.”

G u e s t s p e a ke r a t the Dublin City LEO Women in Business Networking event was social media expert Samantha Kelly, also known as The Tweeting Goddess, who shared valuable tips with the audience on how to enhance a company’s

online presence and how to boost social media platforms in order to grow a business.

The Dublin City LEO supports start-ups and growing businesses in the Dublin city area through financial support, training and providing enterprise assistance.

One of these support initiatives is the Women in Business Network, which has been in existence for more than 10 years and has a membership of more than 100 women in business in the Dublin City region.

Dublin City LEO is supported by Dublin City Council, Enterprise Ireland and the EU European Regional Development Fund.

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

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GAZETTE

DUBLINLIFE

26 December 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

SOCIETY: PUBLIC URGED TO USE A FREE GUIDE TO ENSURE OLDER PEOPLE STAY SAFE AND WARM

Help seniors weather winter  MARK O’BRIEN

THE winter season can often be a difficult time of year for older people within communities, both in terms of weather and loneliness.

Older people may be worried about turning on their heating for fear of rising heating costs, and this in turn can lead to health issues.

In response to this, OFTEC Ireland, Age Action and Jim Daly, Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Mental Health and Older People,

have officially launched a free guide, offering key advice to help older people using oil home heating to stay safe and warm throughout the winter period.

The Keeping Warm this Winter guide, which is being distributed throughout Ireland, was created by OFTEC, which represents the domestic oil heating and cooking industry in Ireland, in conjunction with Age Action.

The guide is part of an annual awareness campaign that has proved to be very successful since its launch

three years ago.

Minister Daly said: “This free guide offers key advice to help older people to stay safe and warm throughout the winter period.

“I urge our older people to keep their homes warm and to eat well. It is essential that older people are not afraid to ask for and accept help from friends, family and neighbours when offered.

“Finally, I would like to ask our communities to be extra aware of their older neighbours this winter.

“We often assume that if

someone needs help they will ask, or that someone else will check in with them. During this festive period and the whole winter, let’s not wait to be asked or for someone else to do it.”

Age Action will be distributing the guide throughout its network of offices and shops and the guide is available free of charge. Alternatively, a digital copy is available to download from both the OFTEC and Age Actiown websites.

For more information visit www.ageaction.ie. www. oftec.org or www.oilsave.org.

Justin Moran, Age Action head of advocacy and communications, with Jim Daly, Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, and David Blevings, OFTEC Ireland manager. Picture: Iain White, Fennell Photography

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE  CITY 26 December 2017

26 December 2017 CITY  DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 26 December 2017

GAZETTE

FOOD&DRINK DUBLINLIFE Yule be Avonmore cheesecake BAKING: THIS DELICIOUS, RED VELVET CHEESECAKE RECIPE IS A REAL CHRISTMAS CRACKER

Ingredients For the crust  20 chocolate biscuits of choice (eg Oreos or Bourbon Creams)  60g Avonmore Butter, melted For the filling  4 x 170g packs of soft cream cheese, at room temperature  200g sugar  3 tbsp cocoa powder  4 eggs  230g sour cream  2 tsp vinegar  60ml Avonmore Buttermilk  1 tsp vanilla extract  60ml red food colouring

For the topping  100g Avonmore freshly whipped cream  100g sugar  120ml water  200g fresh cranberries

Preparation  Preheat the oven to 170C/150C fan/gas mark 3 and place a circle of parchment paper into the bottom of a 23cm springform cake tin.  In a bowl, combine the ingredients for the crust and mix together until the mixture resembles damp sand.  Press the crust mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the

prepared cake tin. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then remove and allow to cool slightly.  Cover the outsides of the cake tin thoroughly with tin foil and set aside.

Reduce the oven temperature to 150C/130C fan/gas mark 2.  In a large bowl, blend the cream cheese, sugar and cocoa powder together with an electric mixer on low speed until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.  Add the eggs one at a time, beating slowly and scraping the sides of the bowl after each.  Stir in the sour c r e a m , v i n e g a r,

buttermilk, vanilla extract and red food colouring. Beat on low speed until well combined, then transfer the filling into the cake tin.  Tap the tin sharply on the counter a few times to release any

air bubbles.

Place the cake tin inside a larger baking dish. Fill the baking dish with enough warm water to reach about halfway up the sides of the cake tin, making sure the water level is below the top of 

the tin foil. Bake for 1 hour and 45 minutes.  Turn off the heat and leave the cheesecake in the oven, with the door closed, for a further 30 minutes.  Crack the oven door open and leave the cheesecake in there for another 20-25 minutes or until set. Remove cheesecake from the oven and place in the fridge for at least an hour.  To make the sugared cranberries, combine the sugar and water in a saucepan over a medium heat and stir for 2-3 minutes until the sugar has dissolved.  Stir in the cranberries

until well coated. Transfer the berries to a wire rack using a slotted spoon, and allow to dry for at least one hour.  To decorate, place the whipped cream in a freezer bag and carefully snip off a small corner to form a piping bag.  Beginning at the edge of the top of the cake, pipe small rosettes of cream all the way around in a circle. Begin again immediately inside this circle and pipe another circle of rosettes.  Fill the inside of the cream circle with sugared cranberries and garnish the centre with a sprig of holly, if desired.

26 December 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

26 December 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

DUBLINLIFE

 JAMES HENDICOTT IT’S that time again: the year’s most anticipated night out, followed by a hungover vow to change yourself for the better, a gym owner’s favourite couple of weeks, the odd salad, and finally everything getting back to normal.

Dublin’s New Year Festival has been lighting up the city (literally) over the last few years, and has slowly expanded from mainly a big gig to a whole lot more.

This year’s stars are massive Swords band Kodaline, who will be accompanied by Keywest and Hudson Taylor in an extremely local-leaning pop-fest line up.

That core event is long since sold out, but there’s plenty of other stuff to explore, much of which is free, and spread out across December 31 and January 1.

These events include several light displays (which are free ticketed events on the Custom House - register through Ticketmaster), acrobatics, smaller concerts, flyboarding and a host of pop-up performers.

We caught up with a few of the people involved to ask them all about what they do...

HELIOSPHERE Carrying out acrobatic performances whilst hanging from oversized helium balloons seems like a wacky and potentially dangerous idea, but also a nice way to present gymnasts in a new way, against a bright background, and allow them to perform.

Heliosphere pioneered the concept.

“Research, testing and practise,” were key, they say, adding “we research the science so an envelope of just the right size and which is light and strong enough to hold the helium, is used with enough ‘useful lift’ for the aerialist to fly but be manipulated from the ground safely by the crew without so much lift that they fly as well.”

“Our show consists of a big launch moment where our aerial dancer flies into the air.

It is a delightful and impossible image. We then perform an aerobatic segment to music where she flies in loop-the-loops and then flies down to meet the audience.” “[The idea] came from a desire to create the illusion of flying. We wanted to combine the talents of an acrobat, music, lights a wonderful location and some innovative design, to create a sum larger than all the parts. The venue, the event and the weather all shape the final show.

“This means that no two shows are really the same. We don’t see this as a problem but as the fun. A little piece of magic.”

FLYBOARDERS You might have come across Flyboarders once or twice: they’re those crazy looking people who seem to be surfing on jet packs out of water, powered by a kind of tube mechanism attached to a jet ski as they fly over the surface.

The sport is only five years old, having

A VERY DUBLIN NEW YEAR Kodaline, light, aerial performers, brave water-tech and drumming mayhem: what to see at Dublin’s New Year Festival

MUSIC

GAZETTE

GAZETTE

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 26 December 2017

N O S ’ T A H W

E D I U G S T N EVE

with JAMES HENDICOTT

Dublin NYE Festival

We explore the massive two-day extravaganza that’ll help see the city into the New Year elsewhere on this page.

Kodaline will be playing in the New Year, while there’s plenty of other bits to get excited about, too.

Overhead, The Albatross

FLYBOARDERS

Probably Ireland’s finest instrumental rock act, Overhead, The Albatross are an absolute riot of a live act, guaranteed to shake the Workman’s Club to its rafters (and, frankly, worthy of a far bigger venue). They play December 28.

VIBE FOR PHILO

Vibe for Philo

The annual memorial for a certain Phil Lynott extends to two days this year at Whelan’s, with a ‘pre-vibe’ on the 3rd of January and the main event on the 4th.

Pay tribute to Dublin rock royalty with a show that’s never less than loud, emotional and memorable.

HELIOSPHERE

Something Happens

A band that pretty much only come out at Christmas these days, Something Happens will do their annual Christmas gig at Whelan’s on December 29, led as always by music radio presenter Tom Dunne.

Father Ted Day

The Bernard Shaw’s annual post-Christmas tradition returns with silly avengence, as all the priests, Mrs Doyles and lovely girls drop in for various shenanigans and a few of Father Jack’s favourite tipples. December 26, from 6pm.

Dublin GAA Return

HIT MACHINE DRUMMERS

KODALINE

come about as a result of the experiments of a French jet ski champion.

It’s quickly gained popularity, though, and will feature in the Liffey during the festival. We don’t envy them the temperature.

There’s plenty that can be done on a flyboard, even in winter. “There are numerous tricks that we can perform, back flips, 360s, supermans and dolphin dives,” they explain, “however in the winter time with the LED suits and water temperature, dolphins and underwater tricks are restricted a bit.

Both pre-season tournaments, the O’Byrne Cup and the Walsh Cup are kicking off as early as January 3 this time around, with a (no doubt much-changed) Dublin set to play Offaly and Wexford in the football, and Antrim and Meath in the hurling.

There are numerous combinations that we can perform, though, and with the right atmosphere and crowd support double and triple back flips are possible.”

“The River Liffey is quite wide compared to some of the canals that Flyboard Team Europe perform at, however with three flyboarders (for the first time ever in Ireland) at one time in a professional show it will make it a bit more difficult.

“It will be a challenge we all look forward to.”

As for actually riding those boards?

“Sense of direction can be difficult at times, especially when performing shows and tricks. One key thing to look after is the hose, which weighs up to one tonne when full of water.

This is one the most important things as if it hits the jet ski or if you fly into it, the hose can cause serious damage or injury.

Once you have direction and your position with the hose and jet ski is ok, then generally everything else works out.

We’ve had flyboarders as young as ten or as old as eighty giving it a go.”

HIT MACHINE DRUMMERS Performing a mix of high-energy drumming and a little Irish dancing, the Hit Machine Drummers are one of the rising stars of the small-scale, interactive end of Ireland’s music scene, performing short, frantic, punchy sets.

“Members of the group have toured the world with some of the biggest names in music today,” they tells us.

“Our show involves high-quality drumming, but also incorporates Irish dancing and crowd interaction, and our main aim is to make sure the crowd enjoy them-

Turning Pirate selves and to leave them wanting more.”

“We’re lucky to have some World Champion Irish dancers hidden within our drumming group. Those guys have toured the world as part of some of some of the biggest music and dance productions, like Riverdance and Lord of the Dance.”

“All the members have to be very physically fit, as the show is so high energy. We know the audience feed off our energy on stage, so we always give it 100% when performing. That can be difficult to do when you’re playing three to four shows a day at

a festival, but regular rehearsal and exercise give us the stamina needed.”

“We love the challenge of producing new and exciting pieces with just drums as our instruments.

“We always have the audience in the back of our mind when working on new sets and we strive to create something that will not only excite and impress them, but will have them on their feet and wanting more.”

All the info you could possibly need on Dublin New Year’s Festival can be found on nyfdublin.com

NYE’s Mixtape Vicar Street’s annual seeing in of the New Year features an all star line up including Lisa Hannigan, James Vincent McMorrow, Mick Flannery, Booka Brass and Niamh Farrell.

It’s never less than a riot.

FATHER TED DAY

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 26 December 2017

GAZETTE

DUBLINFITNESS

Choose the correct coach to keep you motivated in the New Year Gareth Francis is a qualified personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach with over eight years experience in the fitness industry.

He now works as head coach in Kickstart Fitness.

THINKING of joining the gym and getting into shape in the new year?

A lot of us will give ourselves the annual New Years resolution of “getting into shape” but truth be told, more than half of us will give up before January ends.

Most of the time this failure will come down to some simple factors but

 GARETH FRANCIS

info@dublingazette.com

the one I see people doing most is setting themselves unachievable goals.

For example, giving yourself one week to lose a stone of body fat and telling yourself you’ll go to the gym everyday is not a realistic target or goal.

Then when you don’t reach your set goals it can be disheartening and that’s when people tend to

give up.

The first thing you should do when starting any exercise plan is to set a goal.

The smaller the goal the more achievable it’s going to be.

So my advice on setting goals in the new year is to set them small and every time you reach one it motivates you to set another and keep progressing.

Where do you start if you’re a complete beginner? Firstly you need to choose a gym to workout in or a coach to work with.

If you’ve no gym experience, I’d highly recommend finding a good coach to help you set and achieve these goals, or a gym that has plenty of classes, not only to teach you correct technique but to motivate you along the way.

Walking around a gym going from machine to machine, not knowing exactly what you’re doing could push you further from your goals and risk injuring yourself .

How do I choose the right coach?

The best coaches aren’t necessarily the guys who have the most Instagram followers, or who are in the best shape themselves and definitely not the ones who try to sell you juices

26 December 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

CHECK OUT

www.kickstartfitness.ie

When you don’t reach your set goals it can be disheartening and that’s when people tend to give up

and quick fixes.

The best coaches are the ones who get the best results, so do your homework.

Check out how many people they’ve helped who’ve been in your situation before hiring them.

You can’t put a price on the feeling of being healthy and in good shape, so don’t be afraid to spend a little when it comes to reaching your fitness goals.

I know a lot of us would spend more on one night out in town with friends than it would cost to work with a coach twice a week.

Also be patient and trust the process. It didn’t take you a few weeks to fall out of shape so don’t expect it’s going to happen overnight when trying to get into shape.

Every exercise plan should also be sustainable. This means you can make lifestyle changes and not end up back where you once were.

So a plan that’s easy to stick by, works around your lifestyle and is effective to your goals.

GAZETTE

24 DUBLIN GAZETTE 26 December 2017

DUBLINMOTORING

FASTNews

Joe O’Grady, group head of finance and business development, Sandyford Motor Centre; Colin Sheridan, sales and marketing director, Gowan Distributors Limited; Front row: Des Cannon, managing director at Gowan Distributors Limited, Peugeot Importers in Ireland; Bruce Soraghan, dealer principal, Sandyford Motor Centre

Sandyford Motor Centre gets Peugeot SANDYFORD Motor Centre has been appointed as a Peugeot dealer by Gowan Distributors Limited, Peugeot importers in Ireland. Fronted by Dealer Principal, Bruce Soraghan, Sandyford Motor Centre is now retailing the full line-up of Peugeot passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, with a range of quality used cars for sale.

The after sales department is now also fully equipped with the latest Peugeot diagnostic equipment. The parts department is now stocking a full range of genuine Peugeot parts and accessories.

Bruce Soraghan and Joe O’Grady both are quoted as saying: “The Peugeot franchise is undoubtedly drawing lots of interest in the Irish market and it has become very clear to us that the lion-brand will be a good fit for us.

“The new SUV line up, including the new Peugeot 3008 SUV, just crowned Irish Car of the Year 2018, and the new Peugeot 5008 7-seater SUV, just launched, together with the excellent van range, will undoubtedly bring us new custom. We very much look forward to 2018 with Peugeot in confidence.”

Will 2018 be the year of the electric car?

in association with

Sales of electric cars in Dublin City and surrounding commuter regions are expected to expand significantly in 2018, with range improvements in the cars and more importantly, a longer term Benefit-in-Kind tax incentive, writes MICHAEL MORONEY as he examines the electric vehicle benefits for 2018.

THERE is growing interest in the ownership of electric cars in Ireland and specifically in the Dublin region, as range anxiety fades with improved battery performance.

Equally importantly, was the news in the recent Budget that the 0% Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) incentive as a one-year trial, will now be available for a minimum of three years. This has become a real game changer when it comes to company car ownership of electric cars.

Despite fears in the motor industry, the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe in his budget opted not to raise the price of diesel, against the background where there was a lot of speculation that he would seek to close the price gap with petrol. The only motor related meas-

ure announced in the Budget was the introduction of a new incentive for company-owned electric vehicles.

The Government estimate the cost of the BIK incentive at just €500,000, but they might be surprised as the motor industry, across many brands with electric car options, is seeing more interest in electric and hybrid cars as a result of this tax incentive scheme.

Minister Donohoe said that he was taking this approach to motoring taxes in order to allow scope for a comprehensive review of BIK on motor vehicles in time for the next budget.

This BIK extension will now make electric vehicles a far more attractive option for many commuting motorists, with

possible savings of up to €10,000 a year for lowmileage company car users. Car leasing firms, which usually buy vehicles in a three-year cycle, will now be able to plan depreciation costs of electric cars in a more viable way over a number of years.

This will mean that the electric car option will come into focus for many company car drivers and fleet managers who look for ways of reducing the costs of their daily commute into the Dublin region.

The lower BIK rate comes on top of the current vehicle registration tax (VRT) tax relief to a maximum of €5,000 and the SEAI grant of up to €5,000 which is already in place.

Nissan has been a leader in the supply of

electric cars in Ireland.

The company reports that based on 2018 pre-sales and customer enquiries in their showrooms they are already starting to see some very interesting shifts in customer preferences with regard to drivetrain.

“Pre-sales activity tells us what next year’s trends will look like and we are seeing great interest in electric car ownership in Ireland,” according to James McCarthy, managing director at Nissan Ireland.

What has happened in the electric car market for this year does not reflect the likely changes expected in 2018.

The figures in Table 1 show that while the overall new car market in Ireland dropped by 10% to 131,196 to 146,215, sales

of electric/hybrid cars rose by 65%.

The big increase has come in hybrid petrol cars, where Toyota has been promoting its hybrid range with price and car exchange incentives.

Sales of the clearly identifiable Toyota Prius are up marginally, but the big growth has come in sales of the hybrid versions of the Yaris, Auris and RAV4, all of which have significant growth in 2017.

Sales of pure electric cars also increased in 2017.

The registration figures produced by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), show electric car sales growth of 58% year on year.

Nissan expects this to increase in 2018, even though Leaf sales dipped in 2017 while imports of

Ford boosts EcoSport features THE new Ford EcoSport compact SUV, due in Ireland for January 2018, claims enhanced versatility and capability, more refined styling and sophisticated technologies for customers in Europe.

The EcoSport features new SUV styling similar to that the mid-sized Kuga and large Edge. EcoSport’s rear bumper and tail light designs also are revised to deliver a cleaner appearance.

The EcoSport for the first time offers Ford Intelligent All Wheel Drive technology with claims of improved traction on and off-road. This is combined with

an advanced new 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel engine, delivering up to 125bhp and lower CO2 emissions. This new diesel engine is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, with claims of 4.5 l/100 km fuel efficiency and a low 119g/km CO2 emission figure.

Ford’s SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. SYNC 3 is supported by EcoSport’s floating, 8-inch colour touchscreen, which can be operated with pinch and swipe gestures and is available as standard on EcoSport

in Ireland.

When the new EcoSport arrives in Ireland in January, the car will be offered in Titanium and ST-Line versions with a range of high technology and extras as standard including, Ford SYNC 3 navigation with 8” touchscreen, DAB radio, emergency assistance, Apple CarPlay / Android Auto, rear view camera, keyless start, cruise control with speed limiter, and partial leather trim.

The entry prices start at €26,900 for the Titanium 1.0 litre powered by a 125bhp EcoBoost petrol engine.

Ford has a new version of the EcoSport SUV for January 2018

26 December 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 25

in association with Toyota’s Prius has been among the bestselling hybrid cars for 2017 as Toyota pushed hybrid sales across the range with price and car change incentives

Keep your car lights on longer FOLLOWING this week’s Winter Solstice

lights on once the engine is running

daylight time starts to get slightly long-

even during daylight time. This is a huge

er each day as winter wanes, however,

boost to road safety as the old adage

Continental Tyres Ireland is advising

for pedestrian safety: ‘Be safe, be seen’!

motorists not to wait until darkness to

is equally true for motorists and other

turn on their lights.

road-users.”

“However, there is a significant amount of older vehicles on our roads and many of these cars and vans do not have daytime running lights, so for the drivers of those vehicles our advice is to drive with dipped headlights all day long. If motorists take this small step of

The issue of visibility is a leading

always driving with their lights on, day

contributory cause to road accidents

and night, we believe it would be a huge

in Ireland. Poor lighting outside of

boost to road safety this Christmas and

built up areas and bad road conditions

into the New Year”.

Many motorists who mistakenly leave

compound this problem. So as New Year

used Nissan Leaf’s rose from 167 to 352 cars between 2016 and 2017.

Overall, there are now close to 1,600 Leaf pure electric cars on Irish roads.

This growth sales prediction for 2018 is because Nissan’s new Leaf comes with a more powerful 40kWh battery as standard that now claims a maximum 378 kilometres range from a single charge.

The Leaf using the same three-pin plug takes up to a maximum of 16 hours from flat because of its higher capacity. If you use a more powerful EV home charger (6kWh) the new Leaf will take eight hours to charge fully from flat. A 40-minute charge at a public quick charger (50kWh) can deliver 80% capacity, according to Nissan.

Even though uptake has been relatively slow in Ireland, the Leaf is the world’s best-selling EV with close to 300,000 sales in 49 markets; there are approximately 30,000 Leafs in Norway alone Europe’s leading electric car market.

Nissan claims that the consumer interest in the new Leaf is growing exponentially and Nissan Ireland expects a 200% increase in LEAF based on pre-sales interest com-

pared with sales in 2017.

The Hyundai Ioniq was also a strong seller in electric and hybrid drive during 2017, putting marginally behind the Toyota Prius.

The Renault Zoe, BMW i3 and i8, while the impressive Volkswagen e-Golf made an initial impact but

expect to see more in 2018.

The recent Carzone Motoring Report also confirmed a significant trend toward hybrid and electric cars. The survey indicated an increasing demand for

electric cars is increasing in Ireland. It showed that 16% of those surveyed said they would consider buying an electric car in the near future.

And the number of searches for electric cars on the Carzone website has increased by over 180% year-on-year in 2017.

Being kind to the environment was the number one reason why people would switch to an electric car but a lack of available charging points was the key factor in not mak-

ing the switch. 82% say they do not have access to a charging point at their workplace and for rural dwellers availability of a charging point is an issue.

Just 30% of those living rurally have a charging station less than 5km away.

approaches, Continental Tyres Ireland

their fog lamps on when there is no fog.

is urging Irish motorists to make an

Tom added: “I think many motorists

extra New Year resolution to always

consider fog lamps as part of their front

(day and night) drive with headlights on

headlamps and they drive with them on

(dipped when appropriate).

far too regularly.

“Driving with fog lamps on when there

Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland, said, “A lot of newer cars come

is no fog is dangerous as they can dazzle

with day-time running lights (DTRLs)

all other road users, so please turn

as standard, this means they have

them off when there is no fog!”.

Impreza and XV return safety rewards for Subaru Subaru’s XV Crossover and Impreza models have each achieved the maximum five star overall rating in the 2017 European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) 4 safety performance test. The two cars achieved outstanding scores in all four assessment areas of Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Pedestrian Protection and Safety Assist, well above the minimum threshold required and with noticeable high overall average.

The new Subaru XV Crossover and Impreza are the first models to feature the new Subaru Global Platform (SGP), designed to deliver higher levels of safety performance, driving enjoyment and ride comfort.

26 DUBLIN GAZETTE 26 December 2017

Out and About

Karen Hardy, Amelia Coogan, Adam Coogan and Jennifer Coogan

Enjoying an array of exciting attractions T

Niamh McDonald and Eoin McLarnon. Pictures: SIMON PEARE

HRILL seeking Dubliners headed to the RDS as Funderland returned with the best thrill rides and family attractions. This year Funderland presents an array of exciting attractions direct from Germany including the Power Wave, Break Dance and the amazing Star Flyer called “Around the World”. They have attractions to suit all ages and tastes. All the old favourites will be there too along with the Funderland Loop, Ireland’s only looping roller coaster!

Andrea Cooke, Jamal Cooke, Alison Clarke and Harry Clarke

Niamh Dillon, Louise Jane Maguire and Sinead Wollohan

Karr and Caitlin Walsh

26 December 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 27

Out and About

Mia McDonagh and Aoife Lawlor

Halle Keogh, Holly Clarke, Megan Keogh, Ellie Mae Clarke, Lyn Keogh and Mandy Clarke

Sarah and John Quinn

Millie Rose Wilson, Charlene Wilson, Stephen Hopkins and Ellie Hopkins

Sarah Donnellan, Luke Donnellan, Ben Donnellan, Linda Hynes, Dara Hynes, Brooke Lewis, Zoe Lewis and Eimear Lewis

GAZETTE

28 DUBLIN GAZETTE 26 December 2017

DUBLINLIFE

Luke Skywalker’s (Mark Hamill) peaceful and solitary existence gets upended when he encounters Rey (Daisy Ridley)

STAR WARS THE LAST JEDI: THE RESISTANCE PREPARES TO DO BATTLE WITH THE FIRST ORDER

A force to be reckoned with

WITH a wait of merely two years, comparatively little next to what Star Wars fans are used to waiting, The Last Jedi (Cert 12a, 2 hours 33 mins) picks up right from where 2015’s T he Force Awakens left off.

While JJ Abrams’ instalment garnered plenty of critical acclaim and broke box-office records, many diehards critiqued the series’ long awaited seventh-installment’s adherence to franchise formula.

The same cannot be said here; The Last Jedi manages to be the most unpredictable installment since the series defining Empire Strikes Back.

Director Rian Johnson’s personal touch cuts through decades of convention and makes for an epic that feels both exhilaratingly fresh and comfortably familiar.

Some of the narrative decisions here may not sit well

 MARTIN MACNAMARA

with Star Wars devotees, but this expansive midpoint in the new trilogy cares little for fan service.

Picking up right after the events of The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi sees burgeoning Jedi Rey (Daisy Ridley) interrupting the legendary Luke Skywalker’s solitary life to learn the ways of the Force.

M e a nw h i l e , Ky l o R e n (Adam Driver) and General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) of the First Order hunt down the remains of the resistance, following the obliteration of the Republic in the previous film.

On board a fleeing resistance ship, stormtrooperturned-rebel Finn ( John Boyega) wakes up to find himself in the midst of the chaos, while Princess Leia (Carrie Fischer), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and new addition Vice Admiral Holdo (Laura Dern) attempt to outmanoeuvre the First Order’s ceaseless assault.

Kicking off proceedings with its heroic rebels on the run and a hopeful Jedi in search of enlightenment, many will make quick comparisons to the narrative stylings of The Empire Strikes Back.

Indeed, plenty accused The Force Awakens of sticking too rigidly to the formula of franchise-starter A New Hope (ignoring the series’ fundamental loyalty to mythical storytelling archetypes).

Those early trepidations will be swiftly dashed. The

Last Jedi is the most expansive, defiant and forwardthinking instalment yet building on and injecting the Star Wars mythology with a heady cocktail of fresh ideas.

Stubborn series-obsessives, naturally, will have plenty to complain about, but The Last Jedi does much to move the franchise forward, while remaining faithful to the spirit of its legendary universe.

That’s not to say that all these new directions work.

From the word go, T he Last Jedi takes a comedic approach that’ll feel jarringly familiar to any of those millions upon millions of moviegoers who’ve attended Disney’s Marvel movies.

There are jokes here - lots of them. While the series has certainly never been some humourless desert of cold, hard space-opera, The Last Jedi’s over-abundance of

comedy is often distracting and out of place, going for the comedic jugular when it should aim to excite, thrill and terrify.

In this area, the cutesy “porgs” are the least of the movie’s problems.

Thankfully, Johnson sticks to the darker dramatic route when it really counts.

The Last Jedi is long - the longest Star Wars entry yet - but packed as it is with twists, turns, family drama, e n o r m o u s a c t i o n s e tpieces and pit stops in characteristically imaginative galactic locales, it never feels laborious or sluggish; the pace perfectly matches the epic narrative.

At the risk of spoili n g

any sur prises, I’ll resist outlining the merits of The Last Jedi’s plot points - be assured, there’s plenty of drama you won’t see coming and tension you’ll barely be able to stand. In some ways, Rian Johnson’s first Star Wars effort is the least “Star Warsy” movie yet - that’s not a bad thing.

The Last Jedi will delight hordes and inevitably disappoint many of the faithful.

Naysayers be damned, this is epic, expansive and exhilarating sci-fi drama.

Verdict: 8/10

26 December 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29

Blooming marvellous garden holidays

Tatton Park

GAZETTE

TRAVEL

TravelShorts

Last minute Tenerife from €539pp MILES of sandy beaches, year-round sunshine and dramatic volcanic scenery, holidays to Tenerife offer plenty of unforgettable experiences.

Resorts like Playa de las Americas, Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos and Playa de la Arena boast large, sandy beaches that have attracted holidayWinter Gardens Cambridge

makers for hundreds of years.

The year-round sunshine, tonnes of watersports and beachfront cafes, bars and clubs make the beaches of this island hard to beat.

 SYLVIA POWNALL Travel Editor

TR AVEL Department has launched a range of escorted garden holidays for 2018 and they’re blooming marvellous!

New tour destinations include Catalonia, Shakespeare’s Gardens and the unique winter gardens of Cambridge with visits to some of the most iconic gardens in the world.

And if you fancy flying further afield there’s a superb opportunity to experience the gardens of Japan during the spellbinding cherry blossom season.

Gardens Kyoto

The garden tours are led by expert guides Frances and Iain MacDonald, who run the renowned Bay Garden in County Wexford.

Having spent time living and working in Japan herself, Frances MacDonald is the perfect guide to bring garden enthusiasts to some of the country’s most impressive gardens and attractions.

She said: “Our garden tours are unique as our groups are small, allowing for individual attention from either myself or Iain.

“We welcome all ages and those travelling alone as the common

interest in gardening, at varying levels, unites our group and allows us to share knowledge.

“We visit not only gardens that are generally open to the public but also smaller private gardens, where the owners guide us around their creations, which inspire and delight us.

“We look forward to visiting a new selection of gardens both in Ireland and further afield in 2018, and returning with renewed energy and fresh ideas for our own gardens.”

The once-in-a-lifetime 13-night Gardens and Sights of Japan tour visits the bustling high-rise metropolis of Tokyo, the gardens of the ancient c i t y o f Ky o t o , t h e renewed city of Hiroshima and Mount Fuji.

Another highlight for 2018 is a new five-night break to the Gardens of Catalonia, including excursions to the stunning Marimurtra Botanical Garden on

Many people might not realise it, but Tenerife is an island that possesses a rich and exciting past – evidence of which can be seen in its beautifully preserved colonial towns and villages like Garachico.

Christmas and New Year

the Mediterranean, the Temps de Flors Flower Festival in Girona and a full day tour of Barcelona.

Also new for 2018 is a three-night tour o f S h a ke s p e a r e ’s Gardens and the Cotswolds, visiting some of the fine houses and gardens associated with England’s greatest playwright.

Alternatively there’s a magical Winter Gardens & Christmas in Cambridge two-night break featuring a guided tour of the winter wonderland at Cambridge Botanic Gardens.

Closer to home, there will also be new Irish tours to the Gardens of Carlow and Kildare, and the Gardens of Antrim

deals to the Canaries:

Park Guell

• 31-Dec-17, Dublin to Lanzarote, San Marcial, Matagorda, 2*, SC, 14nights from €669pp • 22-Dec-17, Dublin to Tenerife, Hotel Catalonia Las Vegas, Puerto De Cruz, 3*, HB, 7nights from €939pp Winter 18 getaways from €369: 04-Jan-18, Dublin to Gran Canaria, Tamanaco, Puerto Rico, 2*, SC, 7 nights from €499pp

and Down.

Other highlights include the Gardens of Cornwall, Gardens of the Lake District, Gardens of Lake Como, Gardens of Brittany and Gardens of East Cork, as well as trips to two major Horticultural

Shows – Chelsea Flower Show and the Tatton Park Flower Show – and two exclusive tours to Highgrove, the garden of HRH Prince Charles.

Further information at 01 6371635 or visit www.traveldepartment. ie/garden.

12-Jan-18, Dublin to Tenerife, Globales Tamaimo Tropical Hotel, Puerto de Santiago, 3*, SC, 7nights from €399pp.

To Book: Visit www. falconholidays.ie, Call 1850 45 35 45 or visit a Falcon Shop/travel agent.

30 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 26 December 2017

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GAZETTE

34 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 26 December 2017

SPORT

FastSport DUBLIN ALIGNED WITH BILBAO: UEFA have paired Dublin with Bilbao as host city partners following a draw for host city pairings in Nyon, Switzerland.

Four matches will be played in Aviva Stadium in a unique version of the tournament that will be spread across 12 different countries and represents the biggest sporting event to be hosted in Ireland.

In a UEFA Executive Committee meeting, attended

by FAI CEO John Delaney, it was also announced that the four matches originally scheduled to be held in Brussels will now be allocated to Wembley Stadium, London.

Delaney said of the news: “The host city pairings marks an exciting chapter in the build-up to the European Championships, which will see Dublin and Ireland hosting the biggest ever sporting event to take place in our country.”

SWIMMING: IRISH RECORDS GALORE AT EURO SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dublin-based quartet make major splash in Copenhagen

 sport@dublingazette.com

A QUARTET of Dublin-based swimmers played their part as Irish swimmers broke 13 Irish records at the European Short Course Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark.

This added to 16 Irish records at the Irish Short Course Championships in Lisburn, making it 29 Irish records broken across a one-week period.

Swim Ireland National Performance Director Jon Rudd has been encouraged by the performances both at home and in Copenhagen: “This has been a fantastic week for Irish swimming; when you consider that we have broken 13 Irish records here in Copenhagen whilst another 16 records were broken back at home at our National Short Course Championships, you have to feel that we’re on the move as a collective.

“We’re certainly not where we want to be yet and there is much work still to be done but we’re in a good place with our national team, our national squad and our national centres and we’re about to launch what we believe is a very exciting coach development programme through and

The Irish Swim Team at the European Short course Championships in Copenhagen

into Tokyo 2020.”

On day one in Denmark, Brendan Hyland knocked almost a second off his best time in the heats of the 100m Butterfly. The Tallaght man clocked 52.20 to finish second in his heat.

In the 50m breaststroke, UCD’s Darragh Greene finished in a best time of 27.65 while Conor Ferguson, based at the NAC in Abbotstown, completed the first morning session for

Ireland with a top-twenty position in the 200m Backstroke in 1:55.84.

Alex Murphy, another based at the NAC, bettered his time of 26.66 from the morning of the 50m breaststroke to 26.52 in the first semi-final of the event but missed out on a final spot.

On day two, Murphy and Greene were impressive in the 200m Breaststroke heats with both taking significant times off their previous bests. Mur-

phy was the fastest of three Irish competitors clocking 2.08.05, just one tenth of a second off Andrew Bree’s 2007 Irish record (2:07.95). Greene clocked 2.11.02.

A day later, Murphy, swimming in the unseeded heats, dominated the field in his race in a new Irish 100m breaststroke record of 57.69, smashing Barry Murphy’s 2013 record of 58.31.

The NAC’s athlete’s previous best had stood at 58.71, comfort-

ably qualifying for the semi-final in a top-eight position. He was unable to match his heat time but was under his previous best for the second time, touching 8th in the second semi-final for 16th place overall.

On day four, Ferguson set a new Irish Junior Record in the 100m Individual Medley. Ferguson’s time of 55.41 bettered the record of 55.84 that he had set in Dublin last month.

Ferguson brought Ireland’s championships to a close with a new Irish record in the semifinals of the 50m Backstroke.

He had progressed from the morning heats in 23.97 after becoming the first Irishman under 24 seconds in a new junior and senior Irish record. The 18-year-old lowered that record to 23.84 to place 13th overall.

Ferguson said he was “really happy” with his week, “it’s been great to end the meat off on a high, this week has given me more experience. It was a bit of a rocky road at the start of the week, I was quite disappointed, but sometimes you win, sometimes you learn. I just had to change my mindset for the second half of the week and it definitely paid off.”

Molloy and Lavelle step up to shoot Alex to glory  STEPHEN FINDLATER sport@dublingazette.com

The Alexandra College Junior Cup side

ALEXANDRA College landed the first major title of the Leinster schoolgirls hockey season as they took the Junior Cup title, beating Muckross Park in a shoot-out in the final at Grange Road.

It owed much to some Amy Molloy heroics in goal and the cool head of Eva Lavelle in sudden death to eventually get the result after a well-contested tussle.

Molloy had initially stepped into the role for the semi-final with Rachel O’Mahony – goalkeeper

for the early rounds – away on holiday for the semi-final and up to the day before the final.

Molloy duly kept a clean sheet in normal time in the final and produced a series of key interventions in the shoot-out, setting the scene for Lavelle to coolly slot the winner, 3-2.

Early on, Muckross started superbly, bossing the first 10 minutes with Kate Sheridan’s thumping shot saved off the line by Lavelle at the left post.

Alex stormed back, winning a series of corners while Muckross keeper Kate O’Donnell made an

incredible diving stop to tip away Ella Tempany’s rising shot as well as keeping out a couple of corners.

Lucy Crowe and Abby Clarke – an Irish soccer international – were particularly solid at the back for Muckross as the game settled down with chances becoming rare.

For Alex, Lavelle was a quality performer in midfield with some slick skills.

The second half saw openings at a premium until the last few minutes when Ailill Dorman twice went within inches of a winner.

It sent the tie to a shoot-out where Lavelle and the impressive Isabelle Maleady both scored in the opening round before the goalkeepers took over. Molloy and Kate O’Donnell kept out the next six shoot-outs.

Emma Whelan put Alex on the brink of victory only for Clarke to make it 2-2 at the end of the regulation five.

Molloy then made a brilliant double save in the first round of sudden death, allowing Lavelle the chance to race in and place a calm winner, sparking an eruption from the red side of Grange Road.

26 December 2017 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 35

GAZETTE

VOLLEYBALL

Rockford reach national final for third year in a row ROCKFORD Manor made it three All-Ireland schools volleyball finals in succession, continuing a superb five-year run of form in the sport for the Stradbrook Road outfit.

This team started off in 2013 playing junior volleyball, known as spikeball, and were the first team to play the sport in Rockford.

“Start as you mean to go on” was the mantra and the girls definitely did this by reaching the National Spikeball final. The girls set a precedent of success for later years.

In 2015, they went on to reach an All-Ireland final at cadette level, but were unlucky to lose out at the final hurdle.

They continued to work hard and learned from this defeat to go on and win the Senior C All-Ireland volleyball final in 2016.

And, on December 13, their 2017 season culminated in yet another All-Ireland final, facing off against Colaiste Mhuire, Ennis in the Senior B competition, adapting well to the standard in a higher division.

They would also have been feeling confident going into this game as they already bested their opponents Colaiste Muire, Ennis (25-15 25-15) in a league match only a few weeks earlier.

However, this was the first time any of these schools appeared in a Senior B final and anything can happen in a one-off game.

It was Colaiste Muire who hit the ground running with some great shots coming from all players putting them into a comfortable 10-1 lead with just seven minutes played, Rockford Manor had no response in the first set with the Clare team winning the opening set 25-7.

The second set was much more even until some great serves from Colaiste Muire edged them ahead before they extended their lead to win their first Senior B title.(25-15) Once again, they were unlucky to lose but can reflect on an incredible run of success to reach the national decider on three successive occasions, particularly as the school only started volleyball five years ago.

The school collaborates with Dalkey Devils Ladies team to develop young players with a lot of students play collaborating with the club, benefitting the school team and the community team.

Mercy and Marian take Christmas number one

DCU and UCD clubs sit atop the Basketball Ireland Super League standings as they finish their 2017 schedule with important wins over Glanmire and KUBS, respectively  sport@dublingazette.com

DCU Mercy and UCD Marian have a lot to celebrate this festive season as they remain top of the Women’s and Men’s Super League tables ahead of the Christmas break.

DCU continued their solid form of late in Glanmire on Saturday afternoon, winning out 62-57 against their longtime rivals in Cork.

Despite trailing 35-27 at half time, superb performances from Sarah Woods and Rachel Huijsdens sent DCU home to victory. The diminut i v e Wo o d s l a n d e d three from outside the D en route to 18 points in total while Alex Masaquel also made an impact with 11 points.

The win keeps DCU clear at the top of the table with eight wins from nine outings going into the Christmas period with their next league

tie set for decision on January 20, a derby date with Pyrobel Killester.

Elsewhere in the Women’s Super League, Courtyard Liffey Celtics got back to winning ways with an 85-51point win over Portlaoise Panthers, Jamzen Boone a n d D e vo n B r o o kshire both clearing the 20-point barrier in a comprehensive return to form.

K i l l e s t e r wo n o u t 72 - 5 8 o n t h e r o a d a g a i n s t M a xo l W I T Wildcats. The Dubliners led from the front, building a 34-25 lead at half-time with Aisling McCann, Hannah Thornton and Ella McCloskey making the difference.

In the Men’s Super League, a solid win for UCD Marian over fellow Dublin club, KUBS, on Saturday evening saw them remain top of the table going into Christmas, with just two losses

so far this season in the League.

Mike Garrow dropped in 29 points in a handy enough 88-66 victory as their 14-point halftime lead never looked in danger of being overhauled.

Elsewhere, UCC Demons built on their big Cup quarter-final win against Tralee on Wednesday evening by upsetting Griffith College Swords Thunder in Dublin on Saturday, winning out 90-77.

Black Amber Templeogue moved up to second place on the table with a 92-83 point win over Éanna – the second win for Templeogue against their local rivals in as many weeks, while Pyrobel Killester also made it back-to-back wins against Moycullen, when they overcame the Galway team 108-83 on Saturday evening.

Elsewhere in the league, Garvey’s Tralee

Warriors put Wednesday evening’s loss to Demons behind them to run out 90-67 point winners over Maree, while DCU Saints came out of Belfast with a 78-72 win over Star.

The upshot of this series of games is that UCD Marian head up proceedings on 30 points with Black Amber Templeogue, Killester and Tralee all three points back but have played a game extra.

Swords T hunder are a further three points back.

There’s just one more g a m e i n t h e M e n ’s Super League before Christmas, with the big Galway derby between

Moycullen and Maree tipping off next Saturday evening, December 23.

In the Men’s Division One meanwhile, it is a happy Christmas for Keane’s SuperValu K illorglin who have completed the entire first half of the season unbeaten at the top of the table with 13 wins out of 13 games. Cork sides, Neptune and Ballincollig, are neckin-neck in joint second place.

In the Women’s Division One, UL Huskies had the better of Griffith College Swords Thunder on Sunday afternoon, winning out 73-64 in the end.

UCD Marian’s Mike Garrow receives the November Player of DCU Mercy’s Sarah Woods was in flying form . Picture: Martin Doherty

the Month award

GAZETTE

36 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 26 December 2017

SPORT

FASTSport

ATHLETICS: CHRISTMAS IN MOROCCO PART OF BIG PLANS FOR 2018

MSB’s Aoife Brown. Picture: Matt Browne/Sportsfile

Metro magic for Brown at Waterford nationals AOIFE Brown struck gold for Metro St Brigids AC in the Under-13 girls 2,500m event at the National Novice and Juvenile Uneven Age Cross Country Championships in Waterford.

Emily Bolton also took bronze in a great performance but was beaten to the line by Saoirse Fitzgerald from Lucan Harriers and Annalee’s Cait O’Reilly. Bolton finished in an impressive time of 5.27 minutes.

The Under-11 girls also took bronze for finishing third overall.

ITB scholars get major boost HAMMER thrower Lauren O’Keeffe, from Rush, Swords’ soccer players Steven Ball and Shane Elworthy, Oldtown rugby player Conor Creaby, and basketballers Anna Brennan (Malahide), pictured below, and Jordan Fallon (Castleknock) were all among the annual sports scholarships awarded to IT Blanchardstown students.

A total of 22 scholarships were awarded

to sports students in kickboxing, soccer, basketball, rugby, pool, canoeing, boxing, athletics and badminton with all packages totalling €25,000.

ITB rewards fulltime students who have shown outstanding sporting ability by offering scholarships to assist them in reaching their full potential, both academically and in their chosen sport.

Students selected for the ITB Sports Scholarships benefit from a financial package as well as support services made available.

Flynn’s marathon focus David Flynn in training in the Rockie Mountains earlier in 2017

 JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

BLANCHARDSTOWN athlete David Flynn is continuing his step up to marathon distance over the winter, having notched a series of impressive recent results that include a win over 10km in the Phoenix Park 10km and Waterford Half Marathon.

Flynn hopes recent time spent training at altitude in Morocco, training with top-level Belgian pro Soufiane Bouchiki and working with his training group in Mammoth Lakes California will help push him still further.

“The step up to the marathon can be quite daunting at first,” Flynn told the Dublin Gazette of his recent change in focus.

“But when your putting the time and effort into it that I am, I gain confidence as the training gets more intense.

“For example, this will be my fourth week running over 100 miles a week, including an 18 to 20 mile-long run every Sunday. Other than that, I’m running twice a day everyday.

“The highlights of 2017 were representing Ireland

in the European Cup in Vaasa, Finland. We stayed up in the first league which was very important for us as a small country, competing against countries like Portugal,Turkey and Sweden.

“Another highlight was running 66 minutes for the half marathon in Rock and Roll San Diego. The race was extremely humid and I knew after the race that in the right conditions I could knock a minute off that time next time.”

Per formances like Flynn’s run in San Diego and recent win in Phoenix Park give plenty to build on for 2018 and he’s going to extreme measures to ensure he gets the best from himself.

“I got back from three weeks altitude training in late November, and got in very good shape up there.

My training partner Soufiane Bouchiki is a Belgian professional athlete who was one place off making the world championship final in the 5000m this year, along with credentials such as winning a European Under-23 cross country gold medal.

“Training with him everyday elevates my fitness to new heights, along with

helping me gain confidence. Next year I hope to qualify for the European championships in the marathon. I think Ireland as a team can compete with the best in Europe.

“I’ll also represent Ireland and my club Clonliffe Harriers at the European Clubs in Portugal 2018.

My main goal, though, is to cement my name in Irish athletics as one of the best marathoners in the country.”

Christmas, with the ice, isn’t naturally a great time to train to run distances, but Flynn simply gets out of town and dedicates his time to his sport, essentially setting the season aside for training purposes.

“The cold winters and

ice on the ground can be tough going. But I’ll be honest, I usually try to get away to a warmer climate when the temperatures drop below zero. Sometimes if it’s very bad I have to run on a treadmill, which I hate, or aqua jog in a pool.

“The off-season is something I’ve struggled with in the past. I thought during the offseason I could go out with friends regularly or go on holidays but the reality is if i want to get the most out of myself and achieve my goals on the international stage I can’t have a social life or go out with friends at the weekend, because if I stay up late it will hamper recovery, and if I drink it

David Flynn en route to success in the Phoenix Park

will interfere with training.

So my next off-season will consist of aqua jogging in the pool everyday and cross training.

“This year, I will head to Morocco, to 6000 ft until January 1 to train with some of the best athletes in Europe.

“I don’t think they even celebrate Christmas in Morocco, so it might be just a normal day over there! In Morocco, all the vegetables are brought straight from the farm, and they have countless fresh fruit markets, so I will be eating very healthy this Christmas!”

The dedication needed to progress, clearly, has become part of Flynn’s psyche.

26 December 2017 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 37

GAZETTE

FINAL BATTLE Malahide reach Leinster schoolboys golf decider

FASTSport

MALAHIDE Community College’s golf team ended as runners-up to St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny in the final of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup in Newbridge.

The team of Sean Guiden, Josh McCabe, Jack Keogh, Shane O’Neill, Ben Gaynor, Luke Dalglish, Liam Cully and Gavin Glennon are pictured with team manager Michael O’Sullivan and Leinster chairman John Ferriter. Picture: Jenny Matthews/Cashman

SOCCER: UNITED ENJOY FRUITS OF KEELING CUP LABOUR

Tridents’ derby day joy in Confey Kinsealy United celebrate their success. Picture: Peter Hickey

Farrelly seals deal for Kinsealy United KEELING’S CUP FINAL Kinsealy United Swords Manor  sport@dublingazette.com

1 0

K I N S E A LY U n i t e d enjoyed a fantastic end to the year as their Under-12 Sunday team won out in the 2017 Keeling’s Cup final in Balbriggan, beating near neighbours Swords Manor in the final by a single goal.

This was a tournament organised for north Dublin teams to extend their season.

Other participating clubs were Malahide

Un i t e d , B a l b r i g g a n , Lusk Utd and Stamullen FC. The boys went out for the last five Sundays and made the final which was played under floodlights on the all weather pitch in Balbriggan.

Previous victories over Lusk, Malahide and Balbriggan had the Kinsealy boys in good form and they started well with very steady at the back with solid performances from PJ Hickey, Cian Squires and Liam Aylward.

A superb reflex save from Indrit Domi kept it

scoreless but, just before half time, an excellent ball to Dillon Farrelly, which he struck early, swerved over the Manor keeper and in off the cross-bar, making it 1-0 to Kinsealy at half time.

Work rate Ha rd work in the midfield from Lorcan McGuinness and Cian Kelly kept Swords at bay from there on. The forwards also ran tirelessly with Lele Mazzola, Ryan Kelly, Aaron Hickey and Ryan Hills hustling and harassing their Swords rivals.

They battled hard in the second half with b o t h t e a m s h av i n g chances to score but, with no further goals forthcoming, it was Kinsealy who all jumped for joy when the final whistle sounded.

The other squad members also played their part over the last five weeks were Josh Asamoha, Tadgh Donnelly, Callum Jones, Zach Deere and Jack Doyle with strong per formances throughout. Farrelly, meanwhile, was voted as player of the tournament.

TRIDENTS basketball club’s Division 1 senior team grabbed a narrow 52-46 win in Confey as they travelled to near neighbours Liffey Celtics for a local derby clash.

The Dublin 15 club started strongly and took an early lead which they held at the end of the first quarter. Celtics fought back well in the second quarter and built up a five-point lead of their own by half time.

In the second half, Tridents applied strong defensive pressure and the game was level going into the last quarter before they went on to pull away and led by 12 points going into the last few minutes.

Celtics never gave up and two three-pointers brought them back within six points. Some great defence and some vital free throws from Niamh Langan saw the game out for the visitors.

The two sides will meet again in January for another league derby clash in Tridents home court in ITB. The win was Tridents fifth win out of seven so far in their league campaign as they go into a four-week break before that rem-match with Liffey Celtics.

Tridents’ Under-11s, meanwhile, ended the first half of their season with a strong performance away to Kubs.

The girls played some great defence and some brilliant offence with Aideen Harrington and Amy Byrne top scorers for Tridents.

The game was played in great spirit by two good teams and it was a fine spectacle for all the enthusiastic spectators from both sides.

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GAZETTE

38 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 26 December 2017

SPORT

GAELIC GAMES: SOMERTON CLUB CELEBRATES ITS METEORIC RISE VIA

FASTGAA

Castleknock to tell their  JAMES HENDICOTT

sport@dublingazette.com

Aherne honoured at Irish Times awards MALAHIDE women Sinead Aherne was among a group of three Dublin sport stars to be honoured at the Irish Times Ireland Sportswoman awards.

Aherne won the award for her role in leading the Dublin ladies football team to All Ireland success in September over Mayo. It was a second All-Ireland medal for Aherne, her first coming against Tyrone in 2010.

The St Sylvester’s attacker, who made her debut for the Dubs as a 17-year-old in 2003, led from the front in the final, scoring nine points in total.

She is pictured with Sport Ireland chairman Kieran Mulvey and Irish Times Sports editor Malachy Logan.

Picture: Tom Honan

CASTLEKNOCK will mark their relatively short but eventful 20-year history in the new year as they put pen to paper to chronicle the remarkable rise of the Somerton club in a new book.

It will be released to coincide with the opening of their new clubhouse in 2018 with proceeds going to long-time club charity, the St Francis Hospice.

The working title is ‘The Castleknock GAA Story’.

“It’s not a traditional club history book,” PRO Paddy Hewson, part of a team of seven curating the text, told the Dublin Gazette.

“It will have all our big days covered with stories told from the perspective of members and fans. It will be quite anecdotal in that sense.

“We’ll be looking to bring in lots of members, talking about the big and small days out, why they

joined, why they stayed, as well as some of the stories around their experiences.

“There have been some huge moments in establishing the club. I think a lot of people will relate to some of the problems we’ve faced, the obstacles

in getting going and how we grew. The opening of the clubhouse will be an important moment, as it will give us a meeting place.

“Of course, making the Dublin senior football final against St Vincent’s [in 2016] was huge for the

club in establishing us.

That day caused such a buzz in the area, one that people won’t forget easily.

“It marked the maturing of the club and, since then, it’s been about proving that getting to that final wasn’t a flash in the pan, that we’re a serious

threat at senior level.”

There have been other great moments, of course, from Ciaran Kilkenny’s establishment at the heart of the most successful ever Dublin side – “he’s a great ambassador for the club” – to the day the ladies played two cham-

The Castleknock minor camogie side that won their championship this season; right, the proposed book cover for the

CLUB NOTICEBOARD CASTLEKNOCK

THREE fantastic new appointments to the club executive: new registrar Lisa Kiernan, PRO Paddy Hewson and Language and Cultural Officer Gary O’ Hara.

Congratulations and best of luck to all.

Former players living in London, Dubai and Oz have been in touch to contribute to “The Castleknock GAA Story”. Have you a club pal home for Christmas?

Tell them about the book.

We would love to hear from members who now live abroad. Contact knockgaastory@hotmail. com or text 086 1619052.

The club wish to sincerely thank all the sponsors who supported the very successful LipSync fundraising event in November.

Club Christmas social night takes place on Friday, December 22 from 9pm in The Carpenter, join us for a night of good company while celebrating several great achievements and

a memorable year in the development of the club.

No winner of our lotto jackpot with thanks to Rialto Ford. Numbers were 8, 14, 22 and 29. Five match three winners, winning €60 each.

Lucky dip winner was Jo O’Sullivan who takes home €30.

The club would like to wish all its members a very happy and safe Christmas and New Year.

FINGALLIANS

COMPETITION Winners: A big thank you to Ryan Groves and his crew of Paul Murphy, Ciaran Bambrick and TJ Howard on winning €4,000.

Ryan entered a competition on Ireland’s Greatest Sporting Moments and was drawn as one of the two finalists out of 40 weekly winners. The quiz had three questions each and Ryan won 3-2.

Fuair Fingallians aitheantas as an obair atá á dhéanamh againn ar son an Ghaeilge i bPáirc an

Chrócaigh ag an ndeireadh seachtain. Bhronnadh bonn airgead orainn ón bhFondúireacht Sheosaimh Mhic Donnchadha.

Fingallians received recognition for the work done in Irish language promotion at a presentation in Croke Park at the weekend.

We were awarded the silver medal by the Joe McDonagh foundation.

Membership: Forms for 2018 are now available at the club bar or to download on the club website www. fingallians.com.

Athletic section: Sarah Murray was the senior athletic of the year for her wins at the National Universities over 60m and 100m. She also won the international universities, representing Ireland.

Katherine Markey won the overall masters cup for her performances at 60m, 100m and 200m.

On Christmas eve, there will be music with Dave Cleary from 6-8pm.

Nursery Holidays: We are now finished for 2017 and will

resume at 10am on Saturday, January 13.

Grúpa Comhrá: Tógfaimid sos go dtí an 17ú Mí Éanair.

Ar ais ansin gach Céadaoin ag a 9 sa bheár. Irish Conversation Group: We’ll take a break until January 17.

Back then each Wednesday at 9pm in the bar.

Awards Night Date: Many had our adult teams had an outstanding 2017. Winning medals and player of the year presentations will take place on Saturday, January 20, 2018, in the club hall.

Further details to follow.

Thank you to our sponsors in 2017: As the busiest time of year approaches for local retailers, the club asks that you remember to support the companies who support us be it sponsoring team jerseys, Race Day in Bellewstown or at other events throughout the year.

Their backing is gratefully acknowledged and we look forward to continue working with them in the new year.

Lotto: Numbers 9, 19, 27, 32 and 35. We had two winners Veronica Farrell and

Leo Quinn. The jackpot this Tuesday will be €2,466.

NAOMH MEARNOG

BEST wishes for the Christmas and the New Year: On behalf of our executive committee, we wish all our members, friends and the entire community a happy, holy and peaceful Christmas.

Beannachtaí na Nollag oraibh go léir.

Ring in the New Year in the club bar. There will be live music with Killer Ceol (aka Killian Feehan) on New Year’s Eve. Admission is free and all are Welcome.

Thank you to all our volunteers. As we approach the end of another busy year on and off the pitch, we would like to thank all the volunteers who help out in the running of any aspect of the club.

Without volunteers, we could not function as a club.

We will be having a volunteer appreciation night for all mentors, groundforce,

committee members and all other volunteers who help out in the club on Saturday, January 27 from 9pm until late.

There will be live music with Brendan Finglas and finger food plus the usual light refreshments.

2018 membership early bird Incentive– get 10% back on your club loyalty card. There is an early bird incentive for members who pay their 2018 membership in full before the end of January 2018.

Such members will receive an extra credit on their club loyalty card equal to 10% of the total amount paid for membership.

For example, if you are paying for family membership (two players) of €270, you will receive an extra credit of €27 on your club loyalty card (ie a credit of €77 rather than the normal €50). To pay your 2018 membership, click on the website link to the club’s online registration system below.

The winner of the

mountain bike, sponsored

by Jimmy’s Bike Shop, was Yvonne Coughlan; the turkey and ham voucher, sponsored by JW Smyth Family Butchers, was won by Peter O’Donovan; the wine hamper, sponsored by Jus de Vine, was won by Lucette McNamara and the wine/ beer hampers were won

by Gar O’Driscoll and Rita Butterly.

Many thanks to Jimmy’s Bike Shop, Jus de Vine and JW Smyth Family Butchers for their very generous sponsorship of the prizes for the Special Christmas raffle.

The next club lotto draw will take place on New Year’s Eve in the club bar for a jackpot of €5,500 and the chance to win one of three “Lucky Dip” prizes of €50.

There are also two attendance prizes of a bottle of premium spirits and a bottle of premium wine to be won at the club lotto draw each Sunday night.

Play online or in the club bar.

Well done to Hannah Collins who has been

26 December 2017 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 39

GAZETTE

STORIES FROM THOSE THAT MADE IT COME TO FRUITION

20-year GAA story

pionship finals in the same evening.

“That came almost in tandem with the men’s success,” Hewson recalls.

“It was a seminal moment for the club, even though we lost both finals by a point.

“We’ve also had a

camogie promotion again this year, and juvenile success, as well as some Feile success at a national level in the past.

“We’ll be covering all of those, but also looking at the foundations of the club, something I think a lot of clubs will relate

to. The people who were there at the start will all be part of it.

“We’ll also be talking to players who played against us in big games and players now living in London, Dubai and Australia, like Deborah Geraghty, one of our first

club’s 20th anniversary. Picture: Shay Hogan

selected on the Dublin ladies football junior All-Stars who play in DCU on January 14.

SKERRIES HARPS

MANY thanks to all who supported our annual Christmas draw which took place on Saturday, December 16 and to those who enjoyed our appreciation night for members/mentors for 2017. A great night was had by all.

Congratulations to our prize winners - all 28 of them!

Main cash prizes were won

by Paul Walsh Junior, Cait O’Donoghue, Tracey Tolan and Johnny Beggs! Special word of thanks to all who sponsored prizes for the draw - including Moriarty’s SuperValu, Olive Deli, Liam and Barbara Fynes, C&T Supermarket, John Thorne and Cian Geraghty as well as the many individuals who donated prizes. Your support is much appreciated .Thanks also to the hardworking fundraising committee on a successful last fundraiser of 2017 after a year of huge

female players, who’s now based in Australia.

“Aisling Rafferty, who’s been playing with Castleknock since she was a kid, so been there all along, is part of the team putting together the book.”

The success of Castleknock, who have risen from Division 9 to serious contender in the Dublin senior football over the course of their short lifetime, is a great model for other newly-established clubs. The pace of progress is only set to continue.

“The opening of the clubhouse is the next big step, and the completion of years of the Somerton project, which has been backed financially and through their own professional expertise by our club members,” Hewson explains.

“Their backing has been so critical. The book will tell all those story, letting the members tell us what it’s been like for them.”

Ciaran Kilkenny signs autographs for young fans. Picture: Shay Hogan

CLUB NOTICEBOARD effort in this vital area of the club.

Zingo Result: 4-3-2-7-5-16. We had no jackpot winner this week so the jackpot is now a fantastic €7,300, Dividend €650.

How do you win? You buy a ticke. You can play on line at skerriesharps.ie and follow the links. Envelopes only €2 or three for €5.

Free raffle for spot prizes on night for all those present at Zingo draw. Our club Zingo allows us to accomplish so much as a club, Thanks to all those who play every week.

Academy will recommence in January 2018 - keep an eye on our website and Facebook page for details.

Gormanston indoor hurling will also start in January - watch this space for details.. Always a great fun event for our players from Academy to U-12.

Upcoming Diary Dates:Friday, December 29 - annual Christmas golf outing takes place in Skerries GC. Timesheet now open, 9.30 11.30am. Followed by a meal and prize giving from 8pm

in the Harps clubhouse.

Contact Paul Murray on 085 1740474 to book your slot.

NYE 2017 - Skerries Harps presents Bob McQuaid (swing/jazz) plus food tickets €15 . A night not to be missed - contact Joanne/ Fergal to book your spot limited to 80 !

Skerries Harps annual Christmas tree collection: tags are now on sale for €5. When you buy your Christmas tree, look out for our team of Feile fundraisers.

You can also pick up your tag at the following locations: Skerries Christmas Trees (Opposite Gerrys)/ Michael Connolly Trees (Bus Bar/ Monument Corner)/ Skerries Hardware / Greg Reddins/ Philanns / Stacks Pharmacy Holmpatrick / TMG Cycles Skerries Point / Shankeys Menswear.

Dublin Ladies 2018 Calendars now available signed by Lyndsey Davey for only €10.

Contact the club Facebook page for details of how to pick up a copy.

We would like to wish all our

members, players, friends and supporters a very happy Christmas.

May you enjoy the blessings of the season with your family and friends.

ST BRIGID’S

CONGRATULATIONS to David Clarke, winner of St Brigid’s lotto jackpot of €7,400 last week.

Thank you to everyone who has supported our lotto during the year and to our wonderful lotto committee.

Lotto is taking a well-earned Christmas break and will resume on January 18 in Russell Park with a jackpot at €1,000. Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas and a very happy 2018.

The club nursery has finished for this year and will resume on January 13 from 9.30 to 11am for all four to seven year olds.

Club training has also finished for the Christmas period and is due to resume from January 8.

Wishing all the best to our

players due to take part in the Dubstars and Bluestars over the Christmas period.

Make sure to keep up with all our news on our club app, Facebook and Twitter pages or via the website www. stbrigidsgaa.com.

Our club race night takes place in Russell Park on February 23, 2018.

GAA National Draw tickets for a new Renault Clio are now on sale from players, mentors and from behind the club bar priced at €10.

St Brigid’s wish to extend sincere sympathy to the McAvinue and Hughes family Mulhuddart following recent bereavements.

ST FINIAN’S

CONGRATULATIONS to Laurie Baxter from the LGFA team who was picked to play with the Junior Dubs Stars (Navy) team on Sunday, January 14 in DCU (St Clare’s) at 11.30am.

Come out and show your support for Laurie – COYGIB! The U-13 soon to be U-14 LGFA/camogie are offering

a Christmas tree collection service in conjunction with Greig Donnelly’s Swords Christmas trees which can be bought from club car park.

It’s €5 a tree for collection on January 7 and all proceeds will go to new training gear for Feile 2018.

Juvenile mentors can email their Christmas party photos to pro. stfiniansswords.dublin@ gaa.ie or Whatsapp them to James Freeman to be uploaded to the Club Facebook page subject to parental consent.

St Finians GAA Club extends sincere sympathies to Alex Scannell from the U-11 LGFA and camogie teams and to her family on the passing of her father Peter.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

River Valley and Ridgewood pitches will be closed until Sunday, January 15, 2018.

The first match of 2018 will be played on Saturday, January 20.

Please support the National Club Draw, €10 per ticket.

Tickets are available in the club office or any member of the executive committee and all funds raised will be retained by the club.

The nursery and academy, sponsored by Sky Handling Partner, will resume on Saturday, January 13, 2018 after the Christmas break.

There are Aerobics & Fitness classes taking place in the clubhouse activity room on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. For further details, please contact Bernie at 085 135 9766.

The club lotto jackpot on December 15 was €4,200 and the numbers drawn were 12, 13, 17 and 20.

There was no winner.

Lucky dip winners of €40 were Mark Hunter, Tracey Jackson, Deirdre Irwin and Carmel Savage. Next week’s jackpot is €4,300.

As this is the last club notes for 2017, St Finian’s GAA Club extends a very happy and peaceful Christmas, and a prosperous 2018 to its members, supporters and their families.

40 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 26 December 2017