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WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE FINGAL AREA, WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED  FEBRUARY 8-14, 2018

DEARMARY

HAPPY TO HONOUR A HERO

P21 ROSES ARE RED, SINGLETONS ON VALENTINE’S DAY COULD BE BLUE, BUT LOVELY MARY BYRNE HAS GREAT ADVICE FOR YOU!

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NOEL Murphy, Frank Donnelly, PJ Brennan and Peter McGlynn were delighted to help pay tribute to a fallen D15 hero – Blanchardstown man Sgt Hugh Gaynor, who was killed on UN peacekeeping duties in the then Belgian Congo in 1960 – at the official unveiling of a plaque in his honour at the weekend. Picture: Rob Kennedy Photography

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LINE OF ENQUIRY BEING PURSUED INTO FRIGHTENING INCIDENT

Gardai hunting a D15 sex pest

Foul-mouthed driver targeted two sisters walking close to shopping centre  SYLVIA POWNALL GARDAI in Blanchardstown are hunting a suspected sex pest after a man approached two sisters and tried to lure them into his car.

Officers have issued an appeal for information after the predator pulled up beside the girls – one in her 20s, and one a teenager – and began touching himself.

The attempted abduction happened near the Power City roundabout close to Blanchardstown Shopping Centre on Wednesday, January 31.

Orla Mahony (25) told Dublin Gazette: “We were walking to my gym in Coolmine. A car passed us really slowly, pressing down on the horn for around a minute straight, then beeping and stopping repeatedly.

“He drove alongside us then roared at us to ‘Get into the f***ing car’. He had his hand down his trousers.”

A garda spokesman told Dublin Gazette: “Investigations are ongoing.”

The two girls have described the driver of the silver Golf as

being in his 30s with a tan complexion and of stocky build. He had black or dark brown hair and a beard.

The car drove alongside the sisters before skidding into the bus lane and pulling up beside them.

Orla said: “I initially thought it was a friend or someone messing. Then the window came down and a man started screaming at us ‘Get in the car.

I’ll give yous a lift home. Where are yous going?’

Continued on Page 6

The car in question , as snapped by one of the sisters

2 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 8 February 2018

CRIME | GARDAI URGE DRIVERS ‘BE VIGILANT’ AFTER VIOLENT ATTACK

Fear behind the wheel as Balbriggan cabbie is viciously assaulted  SYLVIA POWNALL

GARDAI have cautioned taxi drivers to be vigilant after a cabbie was brutally assaulted in Balbriggan and another died after an apparent scuffle over a mobile phone.

A taxi driver from Dundalk called to Balbriggan Garda Station in a dazed and confused state with blood dripping from his neck and

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‘The cabbie was taken to Beaumont Hospital and treated for facial injuries and a puncture wound to his neck. Two of his teeth were later found in a rear footwell of his car.’

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chin after a passenger attacked him.

He picked up a fare – a lone male – in Skerries who was joined by three

other men known to him.

A fourth man, not known to them, was then permitted to share the fare.

The man lunged at

the driver once the three others in the taxi got out at their destination on Hampton Street in Balbriggan shortly before 2am on Tuesday, January 23.

He punched the 48-year-old driver repeatedly in the face and punctured his neck with a sharp object.

The cabbie was taken to Beaumont Hospital and treated for facial

Medical colleagues pay tribute to the late Dr Fiona Larkin, 54 COLLEAGUES in the medical profession have paid tribute to Donabate resident Dr Fiona Larkin who died in December at the age of 54 after battling cancer.

In an obituary posted online, the Anthropological Association of Ireland (AAI) noted that her impact on Maynooth University where she registered as a mature student after an early career in business in South Africa was “immediate and longlasting”.

She won one of the early government scholarships to pursue her work on how women in lower-level professions in coloured communities

in South Africa and white Irish communities in Ireland perceived and dealt with the risk of HIV. Her struggle with

cancer did little to slow down her scholarship, culminating in editing an important collection with her friend and col-

league, Dr Fiona Murphy – ‘Memory and Recovery in Times of Crisis’.

The mother-of-two served as a committee member and editor of the AAI journal, and was elected its president in 2014. She was also one of the founders of the Irish Medical Anthropology Network.

The AAI states: “It took only a few minutes in Fiona’s presence to see that she was definitively a woman of action, possessed in equal measure of integrity, energy and purpose.

“She has left a hole in the lives of everyone who was privileged to have known her either professionally or personally.”

injuries and a puncture wound to his neck. Two of his teeth were later found in a rear footwell of his car.

It’s the latest in a spate of assaults on taxi drivers in Balbriggan and in parts of west Dublin including Ongar, Blanchardstow n and Mulhuddart.

Meanwhile, tributes have been paid to driver Moses Ebohon Ikpefua, who died on Sunday when he became unwell shortly after what gardai described as a disagreement over a fare.

The cabbie, aged in his 40s, had been resident in Ireland for a number of years and was living in Clondalkin. He was taken to St James’s Hospital after stumbling from his cab and calling out for help, but died a short time later.

Co-founder of Whistle Taxi app and former taxi driver John Boyle said: “It’s got to the stage where being a taxi driver is the most dangerous job in Dublin.

“You won’t find one driver who hasn’t been robbed, attacked or at least threatened.”

A number of cases involving robbery and assault on taxi drivers are currently before the courts.

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FASTNews

Deputy Farrell ‘concerned’ as council is appointed to monitor airport noise level QUESTIONS must be asked about Fingal County Council’s appointment as an independent noise regulator for Dublin Airport, according to a local TD. Fine Gael’s Alan Farrell said he has “concerns” over last week’s decision by Transport Minister Shane Ross.

He said: “Dublin Airport is one of the biggest rate-payers for Fingal County Council and, as such, a number of residents in the areas most impacted by noise emanating from the activities of the airport – namely Portmarnock and St Margaret’s – have contacted me with concerns about the independence of Fingal County Council in this role.

“There will be significant costs associated with Fingal County Council taking on this role, particularly in terms of ensuring the adequate equipment, resources, and personnel with the necessary expertise are in place.

“Residents in Fingal must not be put in a position where they have to foot the bill for our local authority becoming the Airport Noise Regulator.

“Minister Ross must address these matters and outline how he intends to ensure Fingal County Council will be independent in the administration of its duties as the regulator, and how he will ensure the costs associated with the council taking on this new role are not passed on to local residents.”

Public urged to speak out to protect electoral areas SWORDS must not be divided and must be kept within one electoral boundary for council elections, according to Cllr Darragh Butler. The Fianna Fail public representative and former Mayor of Fingal is urging voters to make submissions urging that the local electoral area remain unchanged.

Fingal’s 40 councillors are currently elected across five local electoral areas (LEAs), with nine for Swords including Donabate, Portrane, Rolestown, St Margaret’s, Meakstown and parts of Santry.

Cllr Butler fears that if a review of boundaries is based on Census 2016 and the brief of reducing large electoral areas in favour of urban-focused LEAs, it will mean dramatic changes in Fingal.

He warned: “The Swords LEA will have to reduce from nine seats to seven, losing some areas to neighbouring constituencies. No part of the town of Swords should be moved to the Howth/Malahide LEA. The logical border [between them] should be the M1.

“What final decision is made is anyone’s guess, so it is important that people make submissions.”

The boundary committee will accept submissions by email to boundarycommittee@housing.gov.ie, or by post to: The Secretary, Local Electoral Area Boundary Committees, Room 1.67, Custom House, Dublin 1, up until February 19.

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

8 February 2018 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 3

PEOPLE | SKERRIES NATIVE HOPING FOR A WIN FOR IRELAND

Let’s get Together to back Ryan’s Eurovision bid  SYLVIA POWNALL

EUROVISION hopeful Ryan O’Shaughnessy says his phone has been ringing off the hook since the news broke.

The former Voice of Ireland contestant will represent Ireland at the song contest in Lisbon this May with a ballad entitled, Together.

Skerries native Ryan (25) said he’s “over the moon”, adding: “It’s an

honour to be flying the flag for Ireland” “It’s just great. When you write a song like that and people decide it’s the one for a competition, it’s special.”

Former soap star Ryan played Mark Halpin in RTE’s Fair City for almost a decade before making the move to music and writing his own songs.

He finished in fifth place in Britain’s Got Talent in 2012 – winning high praise from Simon Cowell for a self-penned ballad – and starred in the first Irish series of The Voice.

Ryan, who ranks Eurovision win-

ner Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids among his favourite songs of all time, revealed: “For years, my family has been involved in Eurovision.

“My uncle, Gary O’Shaughnessy, sung in 2001 for Ireland. It’s been in the pipelines. My mam said to me every year: ‘You have to enter a song this year’ and I never really did.

It was always kind of pushed back.”

He will perform the song he cowrote with Mark Caplice and Laura Elizabeth Hughes in the first semifinal on Tuesday, May 8.

The song is not ready for release online yet – but we’re sure it’s a winner!

4 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 8 February 2018

Out and About

Nolwenn and Edwin Kirwan. Pictures: SIMON PEARE

Kevin Halpenny and Stephen Peppard

Mobile library vans launched T

Mobile Library driver Stuart Carey

Alistair Hamill

HREE new Fingal County Council Mobile Library vans were launched in front of Blanchardstown Library last week. The launch featured the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Mary McCamley, Fingal County Council chief executive, Paul Reid, and Fingal County Librarian, Betty Boardman as well library staff, local authors and local schoolchildren.

The original vans were in service since 1994 and operated across Fingal for the past 24 years.

The vans service rural and residential areas throughout the county, as well as visiting 23 primary schools. They provide an extremely valuable service to residents with limited mobility or no means of transport to their local library branch.

The new Mobile library vans have on-board Wi-Fi, a story-telling area and a completely new external design with access to online catalogues that allows them to check availability of books in every local authority in the country.

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Mary McCamley, Mr Podzo the Magician with the junior infants from Scoil Bhride BNS

8 February 2018 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 5

Out and About

Betty Boardman and Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Mary McCamley

Richard Bolton, Betty Boardman, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Mary McCamley, Paul Reid, Lillian Whelan and Alistair Liz McAleer and Helen O’Donnell

Hamill

6 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 8 February 2018

CASTLEKNOCK | THEFTS CLONSILLA | FOUND DERELICT BUILDING ON FIRE

Wheelie good news for dad as stolen bikes are returned A DAD-OF-TWO has told of his joy after stolen bicycles worth thousands of euro were tracked down and returned to him.

Peter Murtagh’s two high-performance bikes were taken by armed raiders while he and his wife Sarah were upstairs bathing their two young daughters.

Three brazen thieves armed with crowbars smashed windows and the conservatory door of his Castleknock home to gain access at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon.

Speaking about the robbery, Peter said: “My one-year-old obviously can’t comprehend what has happened but the three-year-old saw the smashed glass.

“For it to happen in broad daylight, we just

can’t comprehend it.”

He put the word out on social media asking for any information on the bikes – a Cervelo P3 TT which cost €5,500 in 2011, and a Planet X Pro Carbon Road Bike.

Within days, gardai tracked the stolen property down before it had been shipped abroad and keen cyclist Peter expressed his delight on Facebook.

He said: “Unbelievable end to a stressful few days for me and my family. I can’t thank you enough for sharing my post.

“It really helped in tracking down these lowlifes. My bikes were stripped down, professionally cleaned and a few small amendments made. I suspect that a professional third party was involved.”

Cllr Waine calls for an old schoolhouse to be preserved – before it’s too late  SYLVIA POWNALL A LOCAL councillor has called for the historic old schoolhouse in Clonsilla to be taken into public ownership and preserved for generations to come.

Cllr Matthew Waine (Solidarity) issued the plea after he discovered the building on fire on Saturday and called the emergency services to tackle the blaze.

The derelict building, believed to be in private ownership and managed by NAMA, has been the scene of antisocial behaviour and is frequently used by teenagers for late night drinking.

Cllr Waine told Dublin Gazette: “By pure chance I happened to be driving by the old schoolhouse on the Porterstown Road to show my kids and I noticed that someone had set fire to it.

“I managed to quickly ring the fire brigade, who were on the scene in five minutes. Thankfully the building was saved.”

The council’s local area committee had been discussing the her-

intervene in identifying if the property could be acquired by the State and passed into the ownership and responsibility of Fingal County Council so that it can be secured, protected, renovated and developed as an important amenity for our community?”

Cllr Waine says he is now awaiting a reply.

A light Spring snowfall surrounds the quaint derelict schoolhouse in Clonsilla. Picture Cllr Matt Waine

itage site as recently as last Thursday, arguing for it to be protected and renovated as an amenity for the local community.

Cllr Waine has now written to Heritage Minister Josepha Madigan urging her to intervene and for the State to acquire the building.

Listed building He wrote: “I am writing to you to ask for your assistance in securing a property of significant architectural and heritage importance, namely

the Old School House o n t h e P o r t e r s t ow n Road, Clonsilla, Dublin 15. I believe the property is a listed building.

“While Fingal County Council have spent money in the past in securing the property, this has not stopped anti-social behaviour from taking place on the site.

“I am concerned now that it is only a matter of time before significant damage is done to this historic building.

“Can I ask you to

‘Decaying’ Echoing Cllr Waine’s concerns, Cllr Tania Doyle (Ind) told Dublin Gazette: “As a longstanding resident of Clonsilla, I have seen how the schoolhouse has deteriorated over the years and is decaying before our eyes.

“T his is a historic building, and is truly an asset not only to the community of Clonsilla, but the community of Dublin 15, and beyond.

“I have laid dow n motions calling for a working group be set up, to source and draw down funding for the taking in charge and redevelopment of this historic building.

“I look for ward to cross-party support for the motions when they come up in the council.”

POLICING

Call to be vigilant as ‘sex pest’ targeted two sisters Continued from Page 1

“I started screaming, telling him to go away, and he got really aggressive and started screaming ‘Get in the f***ing car now’ over and over.

“I opened my phone and took a picture of the car while my sister called 999. We realised he had his hands down his trousers.

“We ran to the gym while on the phone to emergency services, and he drove up and around the roundabout four or five times, following us.”

Others – including two teenage girls and a teenage boy in Mulhuddart – have since contacted the sisters to report similar incidents by somebody matching the man’s description, but gardai say they are not aware of these.

Inspector Anthony Twomey at Blanchardstown Garda Station said: “We’ve taken statements from the two girls involved and we’ll be following up with details of the car.

‘Witnesses’ “We would be appealing for any witnesses who might have been in the area at the time to come forward.”

Orla is now urging others to be vigilant. She warned: “Just in case any girls or women are walking around, please be careful – it can happen to anyone.

“There were two of us, and he wasn’t afraid to do it, so please be careful.”

Separately, gardai have confirmed they are investigating after a 10-yearold boy was allegedly approached by a stranger and asked to get into a car in Rush on Saturday morning.

The terrified youngster ran into a local supermarket and sought help from staff after the incident on Whitestown Road shortly after midday.

8 February 2018 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 7

FAMILIES | SINGLE MUM TAKING TO MINI-MARATHON TO HELP CHARITY FOR SUPPORTING HER SON, TRISTAN

Help Katrina raise €1,000 to support Pieta House’s work  SYLVIA POWNALL A MUM-OF-TWO has told how she’s running the mini marathon to raise funds for Pieta House after the charity helped her 13-year-old son through a time of crisis.

Katrina Rogers from Donabate has set a target of €1,000 to show her appreciation for the help her family received from the suicide and self-harm intervention centre.

Katrina (39) will undertake the 10K women’s race in the name of her eldest son, Tristan, who availed of Pieta’s services when he was just 11 years old.

The devoted single mum bravely decided to speak out about her son’s mental health issues in the hope that it will help others and raise awareness for the charity.

She told Dublin Gazette: “We went to see them because he had two suicide attempts. The first one was in November 2015 and the next was in January 2016, just before his twelfth birthday.

“He was still in primary school at that stage. We had 15 sessions with Pieta House and it did him the world of good. He seemed a lot chirpier after that.”

Tristan was later diagnosed with dyspraxia – a brain condition which causes problems with coordination and physical movement.

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‘The single mum decided to speak out about her son’s mental health issues in the hope that it will help others’ --------------------------

Katrina said: “Tristan was always a nice, quiet, smiling child. We noticed a difference in him compared to other kids about four years ago, and Asperger’s was suspected.

“He was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, anxiety and depression.

Two years later, the occupational therapist diagnosed him with dyspraxia.

“I felt relief, because that made sense; it ticked a lot of boxes. It meant I knew

what to do and knew what sports I could put him in.”

Tristan, a student at Donabate Community College, has now swapped GAA for tennis and is a regular at a local teenage gym. However, the family has had to stop their regular visits to Croke Park.

Katrina revealed: “We went last week for the first time in a long time and it wound him up. He can’t cope with crowds or noise.”

Happily, Tristan has been doing well and has now learned to ask for support at the earliest sign of trouble.

“He came to me on Saturday night and said, ‘Mam, I need help’,” Katrina said. “We spent a few hours in the psychiatric unit of Temple Street Hospital and they talked to him.

“Now we’re waiting for an appointment with CAMHS [the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services]. I’m coping better now, keeping an eye on him.

“His younger brother is just gone 12 and he’s a totally different kettle of fish – very yappy, never stops talking. They’re like chalk and cheese.”

Katrina, who takes part in the annual Pieta House Darkness into Light fundraiser walk, says the charity is delighted with her initiative and will supply her with t-shirts for herself and her mum Kathleen (64), who is also doing the mini marathon.

She said: “I’ve had one donation put through the letter box from I haven’t a clue who. There was no name on it, just ten euro, and it said ‘For Pieta House’.”

To donate, see https:// w w w.justgiving.com/ fundraising/runforpietahouse. For support, contact Pieta House’s suicide helpline at 1800 247 247.

Donabate woman Katrina Rogers and her son, Tristan (13), who Pieta House helped through moments of personal crisis – help that the single mum hopes to repay by running a 10k mini marathon in honour of supporting the charity

8 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 8 February 2018

ENTERPRISE | FOCUS ON DATA RULES

Breakfast seminar to get EU ready for law A LEADING law firm has teamed up with Fingal Dublin Chamber for a breakfast seminar to help businesses get GDPR-ready.

GDPR – the EU General Data Protection Regulation change – is the subject of tec support and LK Shields Solicitors’ free event for Fingal-based businesses on Tuesday, February 13 at 7.30am in the Radisson Blu, Dublin Airport (above).

The morning seminar will deliver a comprehensive overview of the impending legislation to harmonise data privacy laws across Europe, and how businesses in the Fingal region can best prepare for GDPR’s impending enactment from a technological and

legal standpoint.

The GDPR will regulate how Irish businesses operating in the EU process the personal data of their employees, customers and

their contacts.

The GDPR comes into force across Europe on May 25 and will bring sweeping changes and potentially large fines to businesses.

Failure to comply with GDPR requirements risks fines of up to €20 million, or 4 % of a company’s global worldwide turnover, whichever is greater.

Registration for the morning event is required. To register, email: Marketing@intuity.ie.

HOUSING | LOCAL AUTHORITY OPENS NEW SCHEME

On the look-out for a cheap mortgage?

Turn to the council  SYLVIA POWNALL FINGAL County Council has become one of the first local authorities in the country to offer mortgages to first-time buyers at knock-down rates.

The council last week opened applications for the House Purchase Loan Scheme, which allows house hunters who’ve been rejected by banks to borrow money for a home.

Single applicants earning up to €50,000 a year and joint applicants earning a combined €75,000 a year are eligible to apply for the housing loan on properties valued up to €320,000.

Buyers can use the loan to purchase new or second-hand properties and can borrow up to 90% with fixed repayments over a 30-year period at a competitive rate of 2%.

The council’s chief executive Paul Reid, said the scheme would play a part in addressing one element

Fingal County Council is one of the first councils in the country to roll-out the new purchase loan scheme

of the housing crisis.

He added: “It will benefit buyers who don’t qualify for social housing but who also do not earn enough to access the housing market.”

The local authority’s director of housing, Margaret Geraghty, said it would be “significant” for middle-income earners who otherwise are finding it difficult to get a foot on the property ladder.

Cllr Malachy Quinn (SF) welcomed the initiative and said as a member of the housing commit-

SciFest is well worth droning on about ...

WITH a drone keeping watch from a few feet above them, former SciFest winners Conor Foy (2013) and Caolann Brady (2016) helped launch this year’s nationwide SciFest competition for second level schools.

As the largest and most inclusive science fair initiative on the island of Ireland, SciFest helps to encourage an interest and participation in science, with the winner(s) of this year’s SciFest to represent Ireland at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona. Picture: Shane O’Neill

tee he had continuously lobbied for “a break” for those in limbo – above the threshold for social housing, but unable to secure a mortgage.

He told Dublin Gazette: “The scheme offered by the council will go some way to address this issue, but the building of affordable housing and social housing remains a vital component.

“With proposals in place for mixed-tenure developments in Donabate, Hacketstown in Skerries as well as Castle-

lands in Balbriggan, an opportunity for development of sustainable communities in Fingal can only be a positive move by the council.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Tom O’Leary (FG) is forging ahead with efforts to bring a ‘public bank’ to Fingal for the first time.

A meeting between councillors and Germany’s Sparkasse heard the lender wants to open up to 10 regional banks in Ireland.

Lobbying for a branch in both Fingal and Dublin West, Cllr O’Leary said it could secure €250million in loans at favourable rates.

The German bank has a track record dating back more than 200 years and provide access to finance in recession, including mortgages at 1.1% over 30 years’ fixed rate.

A repor t from the Department of Finance will determine the outcome.

8 February 2018 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 9

PORTMARNOCK | DJ DAVE (OF DERMOT & DAVE FAME) GRABS A PIZZA THE DELIVERY ACTION

Dough believe your eyes – here comes the Domi Cart  SYLVIA POWNALL TODAYFM presenter Dave Moore turned pizza delivery boy in his native Portmarnock last week to celebrate the opening of the chain’s new store.

DJ Dave swapped decks for dough to surprise super fans with a very special delivery by a golf buggy dubbed the “Domi Cart”.

The celebrity local created his very own Pizza Legend – the Martello Tasty – named after the seaside village’s famous defence landmark, the Martello Tower.

The freshly hand-made to order pizza is topped with pepperoni and jalapeno peppers for an extra kick on a Domino’s classic crust.

The golf buggy was chosen since the shoreline along the rugged peninsula is famed for its stunning golf courses, most notably The Links at Pormarnock Hotel.

The course, which opened for play in 1995, was designed by Bernhard Langer and was the first that International Management Group developed in Ireland.

The Domi-Cart is now regularly seen around Portmarnock and the latest edition to the Domino’s fleet can reach a breackneck speed of 17mph, and carry up to

Pictures: Julien Behal Photography

four pizzas each trip.

Dave – who is half of the award-winning comedy radio duo Dermot & Dave – said he was thrilled to welcome the new pizza chain to his home town.

He said: “The Domi-Cart is a great way of paying homage to Portmarnock’s love of golf. It was an honour to work with such a talented crew to create my own Martello Tasty – hopefully, we’ve delivered a hole in one with this new pizza recipe.”

Fellow Portmarnock resident and super fan Tim O’Callaghan

FASTNews

Farrell slams Department of Transport for ‘again ignoring’ Fingal’s network of local roads LOCAL roads covering 1,340km have been ignored by the Department of Transport in its latest round of grants, according to Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell.

Funding was made available to local authorities for maintenance and improvement of regional and local roads – with zero support for Fingal.

Deputy Farrell said: “Once again, the Department of Transport has ignored rural County Dublin, which is wholly unacceptable.

“Fingal County Council confirmed to me that within the Fingal area there are 65km of national roads including motorways, 264km of regional roads, and 1,011km of local roads.

“Over the past number of years, Fingal County

got the “biggest surprise” when he ordered a pizza and saw the radio host standing at his door.

He said: “I’ve been a big follower of Dave’s for years and I love Domino’s, so combining the two really made my week.

The Domi-Cart is brilliant and locals are going to love it.”

Domino’s spokesman Joshua Speers said: “We’re super proud

Council has not received any maintenance support from the Department.

“The maintenance of regional and local roads is provided for directly by Fingal County Council members and funded by the local property tax.”

Get to grips with the past with the Fingal Living History group

FINGAL Living History held their annual open day in Swords earlier this week and are inviting new members to join. Anyone interested in finding out what they are all about, or in taking up a great new hobby for 2018, is asked to get in touch.

Why not try your hand at historical crafts or learn how the weapons of the Viking era were really used?

For further information, see their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Fingal-Living-History-Society-307994099799/

t o launch t h e DomiCart in P o r t m a rnock and look for ward to welcoming customers into the new store.

I’m sure Dave’s Pizza Legend will be

an equally big hit in the community.”

The Martello Tasty can be ordered on www.pizzalegends.ie using the ID “MARTELLOPORTMARNOCK”, or customers can create their very own pizza legends.

Watch a clip of the extraordinary delivery here: https://youtu.be/eRBfX4EJvU

10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 8 February 2018

Out and About

Ali and Andrea from St Patrick’s NS, Skerries

Fingal Mayor Cllr Mary McCamley congratulates the winning school, St Marnock’s

Keen competition as schools battle it out F

Emma and Jack from Mary Queen of Ireland NS, Rivermeade. Pictures: ALISON O’HANLON

IFTH class students from six Fingal schools came together in the Riasc Centre in Swords to battle it out in the final of the book reading competition. Battle of the Book is a competition aimed to encourage primary students to read using an interactive approach that includes drama, art and creative writing. The competition was fierce with St Patrick’s in the orange coming in second place and St Marnock’s in the yellow taking out first place. Fingal Mayor Cllr Mary McCamley, Paul Reid Chief executive officer of FCC and Maura Cassidy of daa were there to support the kids.

Glen, Sam, Ciaran, Emma, Karli, India and Bethany from Mary Queen of Ireland NS, Rivermeade

Rakel, Emma,Grace and Lynn from St Nicholas of Myra NS, Kinsealy

Maeve, Ciara and Lilly from St Marnock’s NS

8 February 2018 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 11

Out and About

Jasmin, Hannah and Erin from St Colmcille’s NS, Swords

Tylor, Ciara, Shane, Max and Cody from St Margaret’s NS

The winning team - Jeremy,Sarah, Shauna and Noah from St Marnock’s

Mark and Ava of St Nicholas of Myra NS, Kinsealy

John and Ryan of St Nicholas of Myra NS, Kinsealy

12 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 8 February 2018

COURTS | ATTACKS ON CITIZENS GOING ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS

Man jailed for carrying out random assaults on strangers within an hour A MAN who carried out two random assaults on strangers in the street within the space of an hour has been jailed for one year.

Judge Karen O’Connor described both attacks as “horrific, gratuitous, violent and unprovoked”.

Gavin Mulgrew pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting David Rooney causing him harm on Suffolk Street on July 9, 2015.

Mulgrew (23) , of Old Brazil Way, Knocksedan, Swords further admitted to assaulting Yannick Said, a French national, as he returned home from a language class that evening at Chancery Place in Dublin.

He told gardai that his memory of both events was “hazy” as he had been high on

tablets, but he identified himself on CCTV footage.

On arrest, he said: “I do so many tablets, I couldn’t tell you what I did an hour ago.”

The court heard Mr Rooney was walking home from work when Mulgrew punched him in the face and “walked off casually”. The victim was hospitalised for five days with a fractured cheekbone.

M i n u t e s l a t e r, Mulgrew was one of five youths who attacked Mr Said. He was hospitalised with a dislocated shoulder, facial injuries and a broken nose.

Mulgrew has 34 previous offences and has been diagnosed with ADHD. He is now drug-free. He was handed a three-anda-half year sentence, with two-and-a-half years suspended.

Jockey tried to gouge out a taximan’s eye  SYLVIA POWNALL

A DUBLIN jockey who punched a taxi driver in the face and tried to gouge his eye out said he is “horrified” by his actions and has sworn off booze.

Christopher Timmons pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm at Morehampton Road, Donnybrook on the night of July 24, 2016.

Timmons, with an address at The Pines, Castleknock, penned a letter to the court saying he was “horrified” by his own actions, especially as both of his grandfathers had worked as taxi drivers.

The 29-year-old, who has one previous minor conviction, said he no longer drinks alcohol. He brought

the sum of €3,950 to court to cover the financial losses suffered by the taxi driver as a result of the assault.

Judge Karen O’Connor ordered a probation report and adjourned the case to April 13. She said that pending the outcome of the report, she will sentence Timmons to 200 hours of community service in lieu of 18 months in prison.

The court heard that Timmons had hailed a cab on the night and there was “some confusion” over the fare in respect of another person who was already in the taxi.

The taxi driver told gardai that Timmons became very aggressive, slammed t h e p a s s e n g e r d o o r, punched the roof of the car and kicked the side door.

The driver then got out

of the taxi and asked Timmons what he thought he was doing to him, before walking back towards his car.

Timmons then grabbed him from behind by his shirt, punched him in the face and was trying to “gouge his eye out” with his fingers.

A victim impact report prepared by the injured taxi driver said he suffered a financial loss of €3,941 and had since changed his job and had become a bus driver.

Judge O’Connor said Timmons’ behaviour was “out of character”. She noted he was clearly a talented jockey with an impressive employment record, who had shown remorse and cooperated with gardai.

Mummers the word when it comes to helping out WREN’S the right time to call on Mummers to help support a great cause, such as the St Francis Hospice?

Any time, of course, but this colourful collection comprising

the Fingal Mummers took to the streets and byways of the county at the end of last year, where they shook sticks and waved wooden swords, peered through masks and straw hats,

and played live music as they walked, skipped and danced about – all in the name of fundraising for the hospice.

Thanks to the Mummers celebrating traditional folk cus-

toms for a very contemporary cause, they managed to raise €1,570 to help, with the funds now lodged. Well done to the Mummers, and to everyone who donated to the cause.

FASTNews

Concern over broadband ‘blackspots’ still in Fingal COUNTLESS households across Fingal could be left without access to high-speed broadband, a TD has warned. Deputy Darragh O’Brien (FF) voiced his concerns following Eir’s decision to pull out of the tender process for delivering the National Broadband Plan (NBP), leaving just one bidder.

He said: “In reality, there are large swathes of broadband blackspots in Fingal, some areas of which are adjacent to Dublin Airport – a major transport hub that serves millions of passengers each year.

“It’s quite shocking to consider that such a vast area which has a dynamic local economy, from technology and finance to the agri-food sector, is left without a high-speed broadband connection.”

He said employees in Ireland’s fastest growing county were being denied the option of working from home due to broadband issues.

He added: “It appears as if the NBP is hanging by a thread and I am not at all confident that it can proceed with just one bidder.”

Meanwhile, local Senator James Reilly (FG) said Fine Gael remains committed to broadband roll-out in Fingal and in particular rural parts of the county.

Septic tanks ‘not posing a risk’ to Brook Beach water SEPTIC tanks within the catchment area of Brook Beach in Portrane do not pose a threat to bathers, according to Fingal County Council.

When quizzed on the deteriorating water quality, the local authority said dog walking and “dog fouling” on the strand could be to blame for some of the pollution.

The issue was raised at a meeting of the Swords/ Balbriggan area committee where the council was asked to provide a detailed report. Water quality dipped from ‘good’ in 2016 to ‘poor’ in 2017.

In its response, the council said: “The potential causes for the deterioration in water quality include domestic wastewater treatment systems within the beach catchment, animal fouling at the beach, and surface water streams within the beach catchment.”

The council report added: “It was considered that domestic wastewater treatment systems within the beach catchment that were not functioning correctly could contribute to pollution of streams within the beach catchment and could consequently affect the bathing water.

“As a result, wastewater treatment systems within the beach catchment were inspected in 2017.

“The interim outcome of this work is that septic tanks within the beach catchment are not posing a risk to bathing water.

“This review will continue during 2018, and inspection and enforcement action will be taken as required.”

8 February 2018 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

Out and About BLANCHARDSTOWN | COMMEMORATING SGT HUGH GAYNOR

Gathered to honour a UN hero’s sacrifice

Blanchardstown native and UN hero Sgt Hugh Gaynor

D

ESPITE the chill winds and icy gusts of an early February in Dublin, many people were thinking of a hot, dusty climate when they assembled in Blanchardstown last weekend, where they were gathering to commemorate and honour the loss of a hero who hailed from the town – Sgt Hugh Gaynor (above).

Sgt Gaynor lost his life while on United Nations peacekeeping duty in the then Belgian Congo in 1960, with the 27-year-old losing his life with several comrades from the 33rd Infantry Battalion in an ambush.

The formal unveiling of a plaque to honour Sgt Gaynor’s sacrifice proved an emotional moment for many of those gathered, with everyone thinking of the sad loss of nine Irish soldiers so far from home, while also feeling delighted to help honour Sgt Gaynor.

The neat plaque was saluted and applauded, with Fingal’s Mayor, Cllr Mary McCamley, summing up the town and country’s thanks for the bravery of Sgt Gaynor and his comrades.

The old guard pay their respects... Noel Murphy, Frank Donnelly, PJ Brennan and Peter McGlynn.

Pictures: Rob Kennedy Photography

Anthony Byrne, UN Veterans

Cllr McCamley with Thomas C Kenny and Sally Gaynor

Applause as Fingal’s Mayor, Cllr Mary McCamley, formally unveils the plaque honouring Sgt Gaynor

Peter Origan, Kevin Carton and John Roche

Ollie O’Connor and Tom James

GAZETTE

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 8 February 2018

DUBLINBUSINESS

TECHNOLOGY | DIGITAL MAPPING HELPS TO HIGHLIGHT MAJOR PROJECTS

A lot to dig into in a new platform for Irish construction ESRI Ireland has announced that Construction Information Services (CIS) has leveraged its digital mapping platform to present its members with a visual guide to construction projects around Ireland, with some 36,500 construction projects – worth €56 billion – currently mapped on this visual platform.

Having published a weekly report since the 1970s providing compa-

nies with the information about construction projects, and transitioning online in 2008, CIS wanted to provide its subscriber base with a more interactive experience. such, CIS As approached Esri Ireland to create a map showing the location of all projects around the country.

T he result is CIS Mapping – an interactive system that enables construction companies

planning for the future to examine the opportunities for new builds throughout the country.

Subscribers to the service can view their search results on a highly-detailed map of Ireland, and filter results using a number of criteria, including project type, location and size of the project.

This allows companies to quickly assess jobs that might be of interest and proceed to the next

Celebrating the launch of a new digital mapping platform to help gain an understanding of Irish construction projects are Dermot O’Kane, sales manager, Esri Ireland with Tom Moloney, managing director, CIS

stage of the process.

Esri’s platform also enables CIS to illustrate other data sets that may be of interest to their customers, including area demographics and zoning information. All of this information can be very helpful to compa-

nies bidding for business.

Tom Moloney, managing director, CIS, said: “The construction sector in Ireland is once again becoming an important pillar of the Irish economy after a number of difficult years.

“To ensure this posi-

tive momentum continues, companies need access to in-depth, reliable data about projects across the country from the pre-planning to onsite stages.

“This is where CIS Mapping comes in. With more than 36,500 con-

struction projects worth €56 billion already listed on the map, this tool presents organisations with a huge opportunity to quickly and efficiently decide on the projects that interest them most, and that demonstrate the most potential.”

DUBLINLIFE

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GAZETTE

8 February 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

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

ANIMALS: MEET PJ – THE LATEST ABANDONED VICTIM LEFT FOR DOGS TRUST TO CARE FOR

Is a dog for life, or just for Christmas?

IT SEEMS that many people are still not heeding the advice that “a dog is for life, not just for Christmas” after dog welfare charity Dogs Trust reported a spike in people looking to surrender a dog in the three weeks following Christmas.

The charity launched their #PawsForThought campaign in November last year, where they urged the public to “pause” and think twice before getting a dog for Christmas.

An upsetting case arriving at Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre came on Janu-

ary 9, when a two-year-old Jack Russell Terrier – PJ (right) – was cruelly abandoned at the centre.

The distressed dog watched from the car park as a man dropped his lead and drove away. With no other option, PJ was taken into the safety of Dogs Trust and is now looking for a loving family.

PJ is suffering from a lack of confidence which could indicate that he missed out on socialisation in his early life, as he is very quiet, spending most of his day in bed, and is scared to meet other

dogs and play the way a happy dog should.

Catriona Birt, head of operations at Dogs Trust, said: “It is painfully upsetting to see PJ, a friendly young dog, being discarded in such a heartless way.

“PJ is a particularly sad case which highlights how important those early months are for a pup and how vital it is to make time to socialise and habituate your new arrival in their puppyhood and adolescence.

“Our care team here are helping PJ with basic training and confidence build-

ing, and showering him with love and affection.

“He is recovering well from the incident, and he is looking for a new family who will love and

Poor little PJ was cruelly abandoned after Christmas

care for him.”

Dogs Trust operates at full capacity and offers as m a n y places as possible to dogs from pounds, as they are the ones most at risk of destruction, so unfortunately the charity are not in a position to take surrendered dogs from members of the public.

Suzie Carley, executive

director of Dogs Trust, said: “We urge the public to avoid getting a dog around the Christmas season.

“It is disappointing to see that this message is still falling on deaf ears for many, as the number of surrender requests continue to rise.

“PJ is a particularly sad case. He is such a sweet and kind dog, and for him to be discarded this way is deeply upsetting.

“Dogs Trust recognises that not all surrender requests are made lightly, and that sometimes

circumstances change, resulting in no other option but to surrender a dog.

“We would ask the public to try and anticipate any major lifestyle changes such as an upcoming move, or a baby coming into the home, and consider how a dog may impact this before bringing one into your home.

“Dogs Trust coined the phrase, ‘A dog is for life, not just for Christmas’, and it is astonishing to see that almost 40 years later this message is still as relevant today.”

GAZETTE

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 8 February 2018

DUBLINLIFE

DIARY

CHARITY: IRISH GYM EXERCISES A FUNDRAISING IDEA TO HELP SUPPORT POOR UGANDANS

Water way to help improve lives

AN IRISH- OWNED gym group – Gym Plus – has launched a charity initiative in its eight locations to help provide clean safe drinking water in communities in Uganda.

Already, one well has been drilled in OkelloKuc in northern Uganda, a place where sharing the same water source with animals is a way of life, and where children have died from drinking dirty water.

Now, the new borehole benefits 172 local households, where people had previously walked 2km to draw water from an open well.

To fund further safe water developments in East Africa, Gym Plus is selling reusable 1 litre Camelbak water bottles and a smaller BPA free children’s drink bottle, with €2 from every sale going to the project.

In addition, the reusable bottle will also help to reduce the amount of waste plastic that ends up in the ocean.

Launching the water campaign, Josh van der Flier, Leinster and Ireland rugby

player, said: “This Gym Plus partnership gives gym members the opportunity to m a k e a real d i f f e rence in Ugand a n

children’s lives, simply by buying a new water bottle.”

Gym Plus has Dublin clubs in Rathfarnham, Swords, Clarendon Street and Ballsbridge.

PUT YOUR DESIGN STAMP ALL OVER A ‘POSTCARD GARDEN’ ARE you a blooming good gardener, or a budding green-fingered Leinster and Ireland rugby player Josh van der Flier launching

the Gym Plus water bottle campaign to help Ugandans

plant perfectionist?

Bord Bia’s Bloom festival returns to the Phoenix Park this June bank holiday weekend, with organisers looking out for people to design ‘Postcard Gardens’.

These gardens offer passionate amateurs, garden clubs and community and Grow It Yourself (GIY) groups a chance to showcase their talents to more than 100,000 visitors attending the popular event.

The Postcard Gardens comprise 3m x 2m plots which can be used to represent a club, locality or a special person or character from your community.

Applications are now open on the Bloom website and will close by March 6.

For application details, email kerrie.gardiner@bloominthepark. com, call 086 130 4170, or visit www.bloominthepark.com’s exhibit section.

BRIGHT SPARKS WANTED FOR 70 ESB APPRENTICESHIPS THE ESB has announced that its ESB Networks Apprenticeship Pro gramme is now open, with the company looking for 70 bright sparks to join its prestigious programme.

Apprenticeship pro-

grammes, such as the ESB’s, play a pivotal role in helping to maintain and develop core parts of the Irish economy.

ESB’s high-quality apprentices hip pro gramme offers on-thejob experience as well a s cl a s s r o o m - b a s e d learning, with successful apprentices obtaining a QQI Advanced Level 6 Electrical Trade Certificate with the utility, which serves 2.3 million domestic and business customers in Ireland.

Applications are being accepted until Wednesday, March 14. To apply, see www.esbnetworks.ie/ careers.

8 February 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

GAZETTE

FEATURE

Perhaps a little overshadowed by the sinking of better-known ships of the era, the loss of the RMS Leinster in the Irish Sea still casts a long shadow

BOOKS: EXPLORING THE LEGACY OF THE GREATEST MARITIME TRAGEDY IN IRISH WATERS

Honouring the RMS Leinster, 100 years after her tragic loss  SHANE DILLON WITH this year marking the 100-year centenary of the sinking of the mail boat Leinster just outside Dublin bay, history buffs and those looking for more information about Ireland’s greatest maritime tragedy will find plenty of food for thought in The Last Voyage of The Leinster (right).

Officially launched late last year, the handsome hardback tome delves into the ship’s sinking, which saw more Irish people killed than those who were lost on more famous sinkings, such as on board the Titanic or the Lusitania.

However, the loss of the RMS Leinster, and the official death toll of 501 people out of a total of 771 on board, had a profound impact on Dun Laoghaire, with the tragedy striking at families as far away as Australia.

With the State commemorating the Leinster’s loss as one of the key national events of

2018, this year will also see communities far beyond the historic coastal Dublin suburb focusing on the Leinster.

For any reader, the book is likely to give an invaluable insight into the lives and loss of those on board that fateful morning of October 10, 1918 – just a month and a day before the end of the First World War. That day, the mail ship was bound to Holyhead, but she was soon torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat just outside Dublin Bay. The ship had been pre-

viously targeted in the Irish Sea, but this time, she was unable to avoid the three torpedoes that slammed into her hull in quick succession.

While those on board largely comprised military personnel from a range of armed forces, there were also many civilians, as well as postal workers in her mail room, and nurses drawn from all over the world.

Along with many of these, a wide range of famous and prominent people were also lost when the ship rapidly sank following a huge

explosion, as well as several children, with many of the military personnel who died buried at Grangegorman Military Cemetery.

The loss of life connected with the Leinster didn’t end with her quick sinking – the crew of the U-boat which sank her, the UB-123, was itself lost very shortly afterwards on or about October 19, with her entire crew also lost at sea.

Today, The Last Voyage of The Leinster provides a fascinating look at the ship, those that sailed and worked on her, and a world in flux at the time as the first world war raged and society faced rapid changes.

However, it’s also largely an exploration of the ordinary men and women on board who were lost when she sank, as well as the thoughts of their ancestors and prominent people, a century later.

Her loss was a devastating blow that reverberated far around the world, with modern Dun Laoghaire

continuing to bear the scars of her loss, as well as honouring one of the greatest ships to have sailed from the historic Dublin port.

The fascinating National Maritime Museum in

Dun Laoghaire is set to play a key role in commemorating the Leinster, which is also further recalled at the postal museum in the GPO, in the city centre.

Published by the Mail

Boat Leinster Centenary Committee with assistance from Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, The Last Voyage of the Leinster is widely available at all good book shops, priced €15.

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 8 February 2018

Out and About

Ashley Kehoe and Claudine Kehoe Carol Byrne Judy Wong, Timoa Stoilowa, Roy Wong and Amanda Wong. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

Shona Guerin and actor Television star Caitlyn Jenner Lucy Kennedy won the award for

Michelle Regazzoli won Best Freelance Make-

Best Female TV Star

Up Artist

Emma Leary and Beth Kelly

Barry Keoghan

A celebration of the best in fashion and entertainment A HOST of Irish and international stars took to the pink red carpet at the Mansion House for the inaugural Xpose Benefit Awards last week. The public voted the winners in 14 categories, with the best and brightest in the fashion, beauty and entertainment industries of Ireland awarded on the night. Television star Caitlyn Jenner showed up at the bash unexpectedly before scooping the Beauty Icon award.

Rob Condon, Christian Shannon and James Patrice won Best Male TV Star

Pippa O’Connor won Best High Street Range

Claire Brock and Anne Marie Hand

Darren Regazzoli

Caroline Lambe

8 February 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

8 February 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

DUBLINLIFE

PUZZLE PAGE

ADVICE

Valentine’s Day is a day for you to focus on you, not just others

SUDOKU

CODEWORDS EASY

TOUGH

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

HOW TO SOLVE

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

WORD SEARCH

Codewords are like crossword puzzles - but have no clues!

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

Is there something on your mind? Mary Byrne is delighted to offer her advice to Dublin Gazette readers; email her today at marybyrne@dublingazette.com

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

SHARE A GREAT VALENTINE’S NIGHT WITH MARY AND PALS

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

Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.

SCRIBBLE BOX

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

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

FIND THE FOLLOWING HIDDEN WORDS Aniston

Jolie

Bardot

Kidman

Berry

Mirren

Binoche

Newton

Dench

Paltrow

Dunaway

Portman

Fonda

Streep

Gardner

Tautou

Green Haley Hudson

GAZETTE

GAZETTE

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 8 February 2018

TREAT yourself to a great Valentine’s night with Mary next Wednesday – she’s starring in The Red Cow Inn’s Trio Royale cabaret show, alongside Elvis Idol USA winner Liam Murphy and diva Kayleigh Cullinan.

Mar y and friends are looking forward to welcoming couples, singles, friends and groups along to share the great night’s entertainment, with everything from soulful sounds to rockn-roll and divalicious hits to enjoy. For further info, see redcowinn.ie.

Sharing with others is great – but I’m tired of being ‘Mother’ and nagging people to help clean and tidy up our home...

I JUST moved into an apartment with a group of girls, and it’s been great fun – but I seem to be the only one that cleans.

I don’t mind sharing chores, but no one seems to care if the bin overflows, or if the kitchen and bathroom need to be cleaned.

I don’t want to sound like a nag, and it’s my first time living away from home, so I’m nervous they’ll get mad if I constantly ask them to help!

I didn’t know them before I moved in.

How can I bring it up without sounding like their mother?

Sarah

MARY SAYS: CLEANING can be one of the biggest issues in sharing accommodation. It starts as something that shouldn’t

be a big deal, but then grates on your nerves as you constantly spend hours of your precious time cleaning up other people’s mess.

Everybody’s standards of cleanliness are different. Some people are happiest surrounded by clutter, whilst others like to fold their trousers and iron their socks.

There’s no right or wrong way to live – it’s about finding a compromise that works for everybody.

You won’t sound like their mother, you’re all adults! If they are old enough to be out living by themselves, they should be able to wash a cup.

You need to have a gentle but firm conversation with them. They probably don’t even realise how untidy they are – after all, they leave a cup down, and by a miracle it’s gone, washed and back in the press as if by magic!

Be ready to compromise and come up with a suitable arrangement with them.

However, do not leave passive-aggres-

VALENTINE’S Day is coming up next week, and I know there are a lot of people who are really looking forward to it – but I know that there are also a lot who will feel really left out and lonely.

For me, over the years, I felt that way too when I didn’t have a partner.

It took me a long time to realise that Valentine’s Day is not just about couples, it’s about the whole concept of love itself, and the power that love can give to each and every one of us.

When my daughter was young, I remember sending her a Valentine’s Card and thinking to myself: “Am I nuts, sending my daughter a Valentine’s Card?”

But when I saw her face light up I realised that Va l e n tine’s Day was not just for lovers but it was for me,

my daughter, my family…

As the years went on, I realised that I had to love myself, too. Love is one of the most beautiful things that we can share with ourselves and others, so this Valentine’s Day, if you are feeling lonely, remember that it’s not just for the couples, it’s for you too.

Celebrate it in whatever way you want, buy yourself some flowers or a box of chocolates, and sit down and watch a movie on TV and tell yourself: “I’m worth this – I can celebrate Valentine’s Day without needing somebody sitting there beside me”.

Just feel the love of yourself and the ones you love around you.

It’s a day for love – not just a couples’ love but to show yourself and all your loved ones just what they mean to you.

Unless you’re happy to be The Magical Apartment Fairy who tidies up after everyone else, don’t be afraid to tell the others to clean up too

sive notes lying around the place; do not bitch behind their back, and do not divide the kitchen into ‘their’ area and ‘your’ area!

Use phrases like: “I feel that...”; don’t blame and say: “You do this…” etc. Hopefully, it will improve and they will follow your lead!

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

GAZETTE GAZETTE

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 8 February 2018

DUBLINLIFE BEST OF THE REST

FEBRUARY 8 (Thursday) The Script @ 3Arena, €42 The Lost Brothers @ The Sugar Club, €22.50 RavenEye @ The Grand Social, €13 Chinese Newspaper + Easy Tide + Young Earth @ Whelan’s, €8 The Felonies + Boom Child + The Elephant Room + Emma Langford @ The Workman’s Club, €8 A selection of the Irish acts most likely to breakthrough into mainstream consciousness this year takes to the stage as part of Gigonometry Presents in the Workman’s Club. The Felonies and Emma Langford look particularly hot property: get there while it’s cheap.

Hamell On Trial + Clive Barnes @ East Side Tavern, €16

PICK

OF THE WEEK

FEBRUARY 9 (Friday) The Script @ 3Arena, €42 FEBRUARY 10 (Saturday) The Script @ 3Arena, €42 I Draw Slow @ Whelan’s, €15 Dimitri From Paris @ The Button Factory, €25 The Ratzingers @ The Mint Bar FEBRUARY 11 (Sunday) Franz Ferdinand @ Olympia Theatre, €36 The 00s indie icons Franz Ferdinand have a new album for 2018, and while it’s unlikely to soar in the way early hits ‘Fire’ and ‘Take Me Out’, they still have the jaunt and melody to make one hell of a night out.

Red Hot Chilli Pipers @ Vicar Street, €29 Therion @ Tivoli Theatre FEBRUARY 12 (Monday) Paul Weller @ Olympia Theatre, €55 The modfather returns to Ireland, fresh from playing the Sydney Opera House.

Expect solo material and classics from his unforgettable former band The Jam. Maleek Berry @ The Academy, €20 SYML @ Whelan’s, €15 FEBRUARY 13 (Tuesday) Paul Weller @ Olympia Theatre, €55 The Ruby Sessions @ Doyle’s, €6 Lewis Capaldi @ The Academy, €15 The Front Bottoms @ Vicar Street, €24.50 FEBRUARY 14 (Wednesday) Paul Weller @ Olympia Theatre, €55 Iron and Wine @ The Helix, €30.50 Suicideboys @ Tivoli Theatre, €24.50 5 Dollar Shakes @ Whelan’s, €8

PAUL WELLER

AT THE OLYMPIA THEATRE The legendary Modfather behind The Jam and The Style Council returns to Dublin for a number of performances at The Olmpia Theatre.

The quintessential soundtrack to English life, Paul Weller’s timeless songwriting has never been more critically acclaimed with the release of his latest album, A Kind Revolution.

Tickets €55

8 February 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

“Music Magpies” the Eclectic Indie Beats of Django Django

 JAMES HENDICOTT Having bounced from a bedroom-DIY debut that brought a Mercury Prize nomination, to a follow up they seem to have dismissed as an uninspired blip, Django Django - an almost impossible band to peg - are back with a third album, Marble Skies, and heading for Dublin....

Django Django have been hovering around the edges of a burgeoning indie scene for years, hard to define but easy to love.

They draw in aspects of straight up indie rock, electro-punk, mild psychedelic tendencies and plenty of varied, often-sampled beats.

The entire concept seems to hang on limitless experiment, something that’s evolved strongly through their careers, and now revolves around a large practise room in Tottenham (North London), crammed with their monstrous vinyl collection and all the instrumentation they need.

“We have to take it a little differently now,” frontman Vincent

Neff - a native of Derry - says of the band’s everyday life.

“When we’re back in London, it’s very much a normal working schedule, as some of us have families, so the whole all-night, up drinking while we write music thing is largely a thing of the past.

“That’s totally different on tour, of course, but when we’re recording we have to consider family life.

“W hat we produce comes largely from a lack of belief in genre. Dave [Maclean, the band’s producer and drummer] has a crazy techno record collection, while the other lads have other influences.

“There are five or six new records coming into the practise space every week.

“Growing up in the 90s you were going to a gig one night and a rave the next, listening to the Happy Mondays and hard house.

“I don’t really understand how anyone can just be into a genre, and come out with stuff like ‘I just listen to techno’. That idea eroded for us a long time ago.”

There are difficulties with that variety, of course, not least in Django Django’s textured and nuanced sound being extremely difficult to reproduce live.

“It takes a long time to sort,” Neff admits, laughing.

“You get onto the stage and it sounds different. There are definitely some songs we just can’t do, and others that are different live, that we change the rhythm of, or use different instruments.

“Some songs we try for a few minutes as a live set up and it’s immediately obvious it’s just not going to work. Others we kind of stumble on solutions.”

Latest album Marbles Skies has been a long time coming.

“By the time it comes to release you’re just excited to have it out there,” Neff says of the launch of their third release.

“It’s been six months finished, and working on other stuff, like videos, and how to play the tracks live, and it’s more of a relief than anything to actually have it out there.

“Ideally we’d like to put it out

the next day, but things don’t really work that way, though I did come across a label that does that recently.

“We actually wrote this one apart, in a sense, and that worked quite well. It was quite dynamic at the beginning. We got Anna [Prior, the drummer with Metronomy] involved.

“Dave being away from us was a bit of an accident, but in a way it gave us all space, and we came at each track with fresh ears, which made things slightly different from before.”

There’s a sense, in fact, that Neff wasn’t all that happy with Django Django’s second album, which saw the act shift to the ‘big time’ but perhaps become a little less themselves.

They moved from a very-much bedroom recording set up in their 100,000-selling self-titled debut, to a high-end studio production in sophomore release, Born Under Saturn.

“You can say you don’t care when the critics aren’t as into it,” Neff says, “but that’s only so true.

If someone pummels it, it’s not like you can go out and just fix it the next time.

“Nothing’s ever going to be to everyone’s taste and you kind of have to go with your gut.

“But I don’t really believe anyone doesn’t care what people think of what they’ve put so much work into.

“We work with an amazing label, and that gives us real freedom,” he continues.

Based on the reception of its early singles and the first few days of the new album, it seems likely the Marble Skies will be the popular return to form that Django Django were looking for.

The critics are certainly infatuated, if continuing a charming and convoluted struggle to pin down exactly what this band actually are.



Django Django play the Tivoli Theatre on Francis Street on March 2.

Their acclaimed third album ‘Marble Skies’ is out now..”

GAZETTE GAZETTE

MUSIC

GAZETTE

24 DUBLIN GAZETTE 8 February 2018

DUBLINFITNESS 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.

 GARETH FRANCIS info@dublingazette.com

5

fitness myths That need to die in 2018

Myth 1

Training and targeting specific body parts for fat loss

IF only this were true, we could do endless crunches and our stomach fat would disappear but unfortunately this isn’t the case.

We can’t pick and choose which area we want to burn fat in.

Our body reduces fat as a whole when we expend energy (burn calories) so this is why bigger exercises like squats, deadlifts, lunges and sprints are actually better for fat loss.

They take more effort to do therefore they burn more calories. Although you can target specific muscles to grow under fat.

Myth 3

Cardio is best for fat loss FOR most people who join the gym to lose some weight, they’ll head straight to the treadmill or cardio machines.

Even though this is an effective way to burn up calories and lose fat, in my opinion, we all need some strength training in our training plans.

Even if the goal is just to lose a few pounds, strength training is a more effective way to lose fat long

CHECK OUT www.kickstartfitness.ie

term.

This is due to the excess post oxygen consumption that occurs elevating your metabolism leaving you burning calories long after your workouts are done.

You also get the benefit of building lean muscle while strength training.

So I advise strength training being the base training of your programme and cardio, you just add in to burn up some extra calories.

Myth 2

When you get old your metabolism slows down

ALTHOUGH this term is somewhat true it is very over exaggerated. As we get older our metabolism does slow down but not by a significant amount. Studies have proven that our metabolism actually only reduces from 5% to 10% as we get older.

One thing that does slow down as we get older which is always overlooked is our NEAT levels. Basically this is the amount of activity we do that is not exercise.

As we get older, we tend to move around a lot less which makes our energy expenditure a lot less, storing calories and gaining weight, so we just need to move a bit more to maintain what we had when we were younger.

Myth 4

The weighing scales I’M not completely against people using the weighing scales as a tool to track their progress, once they know how to use it right!

Yes I know you would think it’s as simple as stepping on and reading the numbers right?

But if those numbers aren’t what you expected them to be, it can be very disheartening.

Here are a couple of things to consider when weighing yourself that could tip the scales in the wrong direction.

Are you using the same scales each time?

Have you eaten food that’s still in your system? (fasted first thing in the morning is best).

Have you used the bathroom before stepping on?

Are you female and close to your monthly cycle?

Are you retaining water?

So taking all of the above into account, there are other ways to track your progress.

Like body-fat measurements or feeling better in your clothes and looking at yourself in the mirror because those three never lie.

Myth 5

Fat burners Firstly let me say, if there was a pill you could take that just burned fat like some of these well known brands say it can, there would be a lot of empty gyms out there. In fact there’s never been

any research that showed any of these so called “fat burners” actually work.

Truth be told, if they did, I’d probably take them myself, so don’t waste your money guys.

8 February 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 25

STYLE

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There is little bit of love in the air at Littlewoodsireland.ie in the lead up to Valentine’s Day. Treat yourself to something innocent and pink with a frilly blouse or go full-on red with a romantic dress with the ever-so-tough biker jacket to show your wild, passionate side. Watch out! You could get love struck with just a click.

elegent colour. Available in pharmacies nationwide

V by Very Tea Dress €62

V by Very High heel knitted sock boot, €58

Treat your skin FRENCH brand Payot have two new products that will leave you living your skin this Valentine’s Day. The Peeling Oxygenant Depolluant (RRP €38) peeling mask oxygenates, detoxifies and neutralises pollution while the Gommage Doucer Framboise (RRP €35) contains real raspberry seeds for super soft exfoliation. Available in pharmacies and selected stores nationwide and at http://payot.ie

Floral blouse €42

V by Very Faux leather biker jacket, €2

Behind every strong brow is a strong woman ELIZABETH Oakes has been a Permanent Make-up technician and educator for over 15 years and is highly regarded within her field. On a regular basis, Elizabeth meets clients who are suffering the effects of cancer and are losing or have lost their hair through the effects of cancer treatments.

With her skills, Elizabeth can give back something to these ladies and considers herself very lucky to be able to help them in a such an important way.

The eyebrow treatments that Elizabeth offers makes such an astounding difference to their lives and helps bring confidence back in these ladies whilst they are suf-

fering the physical and mental effects of cancer.

Elizabeth feels extremely passionate about helping and supporting these people and gives a lot of her time and skills to these ladies on a regular basis on a pay-with-a -smile ethos.

A charity event will be held on the February 18 in the NSI Swords

where ladies in these situations are invited to attend and get a brow treatment complimentary.

There will be many other surprises on the day. It will be an intimate event and a look good, feel better pamper day for the ladies involved.

For more information or if you would like to partake or support in anyway please call 012544245 or email info@elizabethoakes.ie

Love is in the CREATE the perfect hairstyle for Valentine’s Day using the

hair

revolutionary Remington Air Plates (€99.99).

The innovative suspended plates adjust to provide maximum contact for straighter hair and faster results. Each plate is coated in black titanium ceramic to ensure a smoother glide and smoother results, up to 75% smoother than a standard straightener.

Available from independent Irish electrical retailers and pharmacies nationwide.

GAZETTE

26 DUBLIN GAZETTE 8 February 2018

DUBLINLIFE

FOOD&DRINK

Tastytitbitsabout PANCAKES

IT’S that time of year again – Pancake Tuesday is almost upon us, with next February 13 ushering in one of the tastiest Tuesdays of the year.

W hether you like ’em big and flat like the Mammy makes them, or small and fat like our American friends serve them, pancakes are a delicious dish that is also surprisingly adaptable.

Quick and easy to make, as well as being

very budget-friendly, pancakes have a surprising versatility that goes far behind the traditional serving (sprinkled with sugar and a quick dash of lemon) that many of us still plump for.

Whatever way you’re tucking into your perfick pancake next Tuesday, these titbits about the humble pancake may give you some food for thought ...

Devout Christians know that the day is the

last day to indulge before the start of Lent, with the day traditionally used to use up the last of some food staples before marking their fasting.

In line with seeking some spiritual nourishment, Christians also know that Pancake Tuesday falls 47 days before however Easter Sunday

falls that year.

Those with a sweet tooth may prefer to mark Pancake Tuesday in Ireland rather than Finland or Iceland – our Finnish friends celebrate Shrove Tuesday (to use its religious title) with green pea soup; in Iceland, it’s marked with salted meat and peas.

The Swiss have perhaps a more literal take on Pancake Tuesday – they refer to it as “Gudisdienstag” which is derived from a word meaning “a stomach full of food”.

Whatever your reason – as if any were needed – be sure to tuck in to some tasty pancakes next Tuesday, and enjoy!

Go gluten-free at restaurant week PERONI Gluten Free has teamed up with some of Ireland’s leading restaurants to host Gluten Free Restaurant Week from Monday, February 5 to Sunday, February 11.

Each participating restaurant has created a special gluten free Italian dish, which is on the menu all week, and comes complete with a complimentary bottle of Peroni Gluten Free.

Dublin restaurants taking part include Coppinger Row, The Exchequer, Sophie’s at The Dean, Angelina’s, Roberta’s, Lemon & Duke and The Bridge 1859.

To enjoy this offer, customers simply make a reservation at their restaurant of choice and choose the special Peroni Gluten Free dish when they place their order. Gluten free options range from a beetroot risotto at Coppinger Row to braised lamb shank at The Exchequer.

Peroni Gluten Free will also sponsor a new Free From award at the Restaurant Association of Ireland Awards.

The award will go to the Irish restaurants offering the best ‘free from’ options on their menu, and whose presentation highlights the unique qualities of the ingredients.

For more information on the awards, please visit www.rai.ie.

Coppinger Row Beetroot

Ireland needs to become a foodie destination

The new Failte Ireland Food & Drink Strategy aims to change overseas visitor perceptions of Irish food and drink

THE Irish Tourism industry needs to work towards changing the perception of food and drink amongst overseas visitors.

Paul Keeley, Director of Commercial Development at Fáilte Ireland said that Irish Food and Drink needs to be to repositioned from being a pleasant surprise to becoming one of the compelling reasons to visit Ireland.

His remarks came at a briefing to tourism and food & drink industry representatives on the publication of the tourism body’s new Food and Drink Strategy 2018 – 2023.

“Food and drink consumption is an intrinsic part of the tourist experience,” he said.

“Quality experiences are now a major contributor to increasing holiday satisfaction, cre-

ating positive memories and driving advocacy.

“A m o n g s t t h o s e deciding on a holiday location, the expectation of good food is nearly as important as hospitality.

Global reputation

“We undoubtedly have the product and expertise, we have natural produce, fresh ingredients, and great fish and meat but we need

to ensure that our food and drink offering gains a global reputation that matches the reality on the ground.”

The new Food and Drink Strategy is seeking to increase the number of tourism businesses engaged with development initiatives and, overseas, to increase and enhance the awareness and perception of Ireland’s food and drink offering.

In 2017, revenue from overseas visitors totalled €6.5bn with approximately a third - about €2 billion – spent on food and drink.

By targeted investment and effective promotion of the quality food and drink experiences available, the report claims that food could help grow tourism revenue by as much as €400 million over the next five years.

8 February 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 27

GAZETTE

CINEMA ReelReviews

COCO

Go loco for Pixar’s latest PIXAR’S latest has more than the bones of a good movie – it’s a great one, as Coco (Cert PG, 105 mins) fleshes out an old Mexican tradition with beautiful style. A young boy becomes trapped in the land of the dead, with his ancestors teaming up to help him back to the land of the living – and to pursue his dreams – in one of the best animated films in recent years. Truly heartwarming stuff here.

Welcome to the house of horror – horror-bly cliched, that is, as Winchester’s sprawling mansion contains as many obvious jump scares as creepy ghosts

DARKEST HOUR

It’s bullishly brilliant COARSE, rude, calculated and bad-tempered – even so, Winston Churchill’s suddent rise to power at the heart of Darkest Hour (Cert PG, 125 mins) is a terrific examination of the legendary leader’s legacy. An unrecognisable Gary Oldman excels as the British bulldog, with a sense of mounting pressure, and the Dunkirk Risotto evacuation, adding to the tension behind the theatrics.

Darkest is an early bright spot in the year’s releases.

THE COMMUTER

Some rail-ly daft action LIAM Neeson straps on his action shoes yet again for The Commuter (Cert 15A, 104 mins), playing yet another everyman allround action hero forced to save the day in one extraordinary day. He’s the titular train commuter who gets caught up in a deadly game, on board a train full of other passengers, bad guys and suspects. It starts well, but ends up derailed by its muddled plot twists.

WINCHESTER: PLENTY OF LACE FRILLS, NOT SO MANY CHILLS IN MISFIRING HORROR

Has boring bullet points  SHANE DILLON THERE’S something about the haunted house as a narrative device that keeps seeing filmmakers returning to this tried and tr usted cinema device time and again.

After all, it’s the easiest thing in the cinematic world to lure in an audience, then send them tripping down a dark hallway here or shadowy staircase there, all the while readying one cheap jump scare after another to make ’em jump.

However, at this stage, it’s a little too tried and trusted – for ever y film that tries

something new with the formula (such as 2011’s horror-comedy, Cabin in the Woods), there are dozens of derivative shlockhorror films that

leave audiences itching to run for the exits out of boredom, rather than fear.

As the latest addition to the genre, Winchester (Cert 15A, 99 mins) at least aims to try and do something new, basing itself – very loosely – on a real-life house (and a character in its own right): the Winchester Mystery House.

Built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of the eponymous firearm kingpin, the actual Californian mansion is a sprawling labyrinth of 160-plus rooms.

I t ’s r e p l e t e w i t h dead ends, staircases to nowhere, unlikely twists and turns, and Liberally doused in black ... Helen Mirren is the eponymous widow at the heart of the film

a-la-carte architecture – apocryphally attributed to Sarah’s fear of ghosts, with the confusing, baffling layout designed to keep ghosts and bad spirits lost inside.

(One can only guess what the original house was like, as the famous 1906 earthquake saw a lot of it destroyed.)

Hey, that all sounds like the great basis for a haunted house movie, I hear you cry – as did Hollywood.

Step forward Helen Mirren, gamely stepping into Sarah’s shoes as the eccentric widow liberally doused in yards of black lace, ruling like a lost queen over her winding, sprawling, confusing realm of rooms, hallways, and hidden horrors.

Yes, horrors, as it’s not long before we’re firmly in bog-standard haunted house territory here, with

the Winchester home gunning for horror fans but, alas, shooting plenty of blanks along the way.

It’ll come as no surprise to learn that the Winchester house is soon swimming in more spirits than the average pub at Christmas, with all kinds of creepy goings-on, courtesy of just some of the many, many unfortunates who’d lost their lives to the late MrWinchester’s massproduced rifle.

Sarah is just the trigger – pun intended – for the increasingly batty horrors on show here, with a snooping psychologist (Jason Clarke) further added to the mix, and proving to have his own ghosts (inner, that is) in tow.

Add in problems with the staff, things that go bump in the night (and the day), and one cheap jump scare after

another, and you have a Winchester that’s rifled through one too many cinema cliches.

Mirren seems to be enjoying herself in the archly over-the-top role, but while she’s a grand Dame, this film isn’t exactly grand guignol, being neither horribly good nor horrifically bad.

Ultimately, Winchester is very much a “Meh” film, and you’ve certainly seen meh-ny better ones.

Much like the actual Winchester Myster y House, you’re likely to stroll right along through this film, taking in the sights, clocking some of the particularly cool rooms and interiors – and then calmly exit, with the film, as with the house, little more than a jumbled maze in the mind – and that’s about as amazing as Winchester gets.

Verdict: 4/10

GAZETTE

28 DUBLIN GAZETTE 8 February 2018

DUBLINLIFE

Penalty points for incorrect tyre pressures IRISH motorists are being warned that for the first time since penalty points were introduced in 2002, drivers could now be liable to incur points on their licence if their tyres are either under or over-inflated. Following an analysis of the penalty points issued to Irish drivers during 2017 carried out by Continental Tyres in Ireland, the research has shown that for the first time ever, a driver was given two penalty points for having incorrect tyre pressure.

The penalty point offence in question, ‘unsuitable tyre due to degree of inflation’, was one of a raft of new tyre-related penalty point offences that were introduced in April 2016 by then Minister for Transport Paschal Donohue. However, the first allocation of penalty points under this measure was made during July 2017. The analysis was carried out as part of Continental Tyre Group’s commitment to its Vision Zero strategy, a long-term commitment to reduce accidents through tyre technologies and innovative automotive systems.

According to Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland: “Irish motorists need to realise that incorrect inflation of their tyres does not only have important safety implications for the performance of a vehicle, now you could get penalty points if your tyres are either over or under-inflated.”

The new Volvo XC60 Hybrid drive gives impressive road performance coupled with low CO2 emissions in a car that’s rated as one of the safest Volvo ever produced. Prices for the hybrid models start from €69,950 with some attractive grant incentives to ease the cost.

New era XC60

Volvo’s commitment to cleaner driving now comes in the shape of the new plug-in hybrid XC60 mid-range SUV model that heralds an era of change for the Swedish brand as MICHAEL MORONEY when he took the car rated as the safest on the market for some lengthy test drives.

THE new generation Volvo XC60 has a hybrid engine offer that confirms Volvo’s intention to have no petrol or diesel only cars in its range by next year. The new hybrid version of the Volvo XC60 affirms that plan with a drive system that claims to further enhance the capabilities of what is in every other sense, a very impressive mid-size SUV. The 2018 version of the Volvo XC60 is impressive in so many respects. The car is such a solid vehicle on the road, combining comfort, safety and now new low levels of exhaust emissions, in one. As I’ve mentioned in the past, the XC60 does the SUV thing really well with a level of style and comfort that makes this car less intrusive than some of the other brands.

In recent weeks, the XC60 has come through

a new generation Euro NCAP crash test programme to add its credits.

Volvo claims that this car is one of the safest that it’s ever made, and it has been crowned the best-performing large off-roader and the car with the best overall performance in the Euro NCAP 2017 Best in Class safety awards.

The XC60 scored a near-perfect 98% in the adult occupant safety category, and its Safety Assist system scored a 95% rating, 20 percentage points higher than the nearest large off-road competitor, further confirming Volvo’s position as a leader in automotive safety.

Sometimes we take the Volvo safety message for granted, while in this car its one of its outstanding features. The other is the plug-in hybrid drive system. At a time when we are being encouraged to move

away from diesel and petrol engines, the Volvo hybrid offer is timely.

alent of 407bhp backed by huge torque levels that give almost instant accel-

Volvo XC60 Hybrid T8 Engine Engine power 0 – 100km/hr Economy Fuel Tank Capacity CO2 emissions Road Tax Band Main Service Euro NCAP Rating Warranty Entry Price This hybrid drive offer is a powerful one. Volvo combines the power from a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with that of a rearwheel-drive electric motor to give a powerful package in what’s labelled as the T8 version. The combined power comes to the equiv-

2.0 litre 320hp +85hp 5.3 seconds 21km/litre (2.1/100km or 136mpg) 50 litres 49g/km A1 €170 20,000km/12 months 5 star (2009) 3 years (100,000km) €69,950 eration.

This smooth combination of petrol and electric power gives the car a hugely impressive 0 to 100km/ hr acceleration time of just 5.3 seconds. And I assure you that it can easily deliver that pace.

The plug-in system gives

a pure electric range of up to 45km (28 miles). The combined engines claim a fuel consumption figure of 2.1 l/100 km (134.5 mpg), which on paper is impressive. The CO2 rating is very low at 49g/km and that’s kept the road tax at an affordable €170.

T his new plug-in hybrid XC60 comes with an eight-speed automatic gearbox that allowed very smooth acceleration and when the two power sources are combined, the car has really impressive acceleration power.

The transmission is very seamless and effortless to use.

Volvo’s City Safety system is fitted to every XC60. This includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection, and the world-first application of Steer Assist.

This feature helps to avoid

or limit the severity of collisions at low speeds by assisting with the steering in an emergency, such as when swerving to miss an obstacle.

There’s an obvious luxury feel in a minimalist Swedish way to the interior of the XC60 hybrid.

The seating is good and firm with electric adjustment on the test car. The touchscreen infotainment system is easy to use and Bluetooth phone set-up took little effort and more than one phone can be connected.

The Volvo XC60 T8 hybrid is possibly the safest and one of the cleanest cars in the luxury end of the mid-size SUV market.

Hybrid XC60 entry prices start at €69,950.Grant incentives are available such as a €2,500 refund on VRT in addition to a €5,000 grant for private buyers.

8 February 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29

Skoda replaces Yeti with stylish Karoq THE new Skoda Karoq compact SUV, the second model in the brand’s SUV offensive, is now on sale in Ireland, with entry prices starting at €27,715 for the Ambition specification models. This new Karoq replaces the Yeti, which has been a popular model with Irish drivers.

The Skoda Karoq is positioned just below its bigger counterpart, the Kodiaq, in the Skoda vehicle line-up. While the Kodiaq is primarily a seven-seat vehicle, the Karoq is strictly a five-seat compact SUV with all the space, functionality and

features that are synonymous with the brand.

This new Karoq is larger than the Yeti, which it replaces, being 160mm longer and 48mm wider.

The boot capacity has increased by 105 litres to 521 litres in standard format. Despite this, Skoda claims that the Karoq is actually 13kg lighter than the outgoing Yeti.

From the exterior, the Skoda Design language is evident with crystalline effects in the LED head lights and body panel lines.

Like all Skoda models, the Karoq offers class-leading luggage space and func-

tionality. Positive impressions continue into the cabin.

On the inside, the optional and unique VarioFlex seating system can be adjusted into multiple formats (or removed completely) to accommodate the more bulky luggage transporting tasks. With VarioFlex seating, the standard luggage capacity increases to 588 litres. All Karoq versions are provided with a foldable umbrella that is stored beneath the passenger seat.

The Karoq comes with a choice of four engines, ranging from 115bhp to

150bhp, with three DSG automatic gearbox offerings, as well as a 150bhp 4X4. The top navigation systems, Columbus and Amundsen, also offer a Wi-Fi hotspot for on board Wi-Fi. A wireless phone charger can also be added to the Karoq, removing unwanted cable clutter.

The entry level Ambition trim comes standard with 17” Ratikon alloy wheels, 8” touch screen Bolero infotainment system, Climatronic airconditioning, rear parking sensors, Smart Link+ and chrome roof rails and window surrounds.

GAZETTE

MOTORING

The new Skoda Karoq replaces the Yeti with more space, more style and improved engine options with entry prices starting at €27,715 for the Ambition specification models.

FASTNews New electric car grant for taxis and public vehicles THE Department of Transport has announced a new electric car grant

licence and wish to replace their vehicle.

Jaguar offers fast charge electric I-PACE

It will also be available for existing drivers

JAGUAR’S new electric I-PACE car will promise both

who operate a wheelchair accessible

rapid charging and rapid performance when it goes on

vehicle (WAV) licence and wish to replace

sale on March 1 of this year. The car claims a charging

their vehicle with an electric WAV and the

time of less than 45 minutes combined with sports car

new licence holders who wish to operate

performance and SUV practicality. Jaguar claims that

electric WAVs or limousines.

the new I-PACE will be an everyday car, whether on the

scheme worth up to €7,000 for taxis and Toyota lead the new car

public service vehicles. The scheme will

market in January

be available nationwide to existing taxi

Toyota’s hybrid sales give market lead TOYOTA Ireland claims that its new car market lead for January 2018 is thanks to significant demand for its hybrid range.

Toyota ended January with a 11.83% market share, achieved through the sale of 4,393 passenger vehicles, 48% of which were hybrid, according to the company.

Looking across Toyota’s best-selling hybrid models, Yaris sold 1026 units, of which 49% were hybrid, Auris sold 807 units, of which 71% were hybrid, C-HR sold 813 units, of which 77% were hybrid and the RAV4 sold 582 units of which 49% were hybrid.

Toyota Ireland’s chief executive Steve Tormey said: “With close to 50% hybrid

mix of our total passenger car sales, it’s very clear that hybrid is the best technology in the market today to meet customers’ needs for more environmentally friendly and better driving experiences. With diesel now accounting for only 21% of our car sales, Toyota customers are ahead of the market in their move out of diesel and into hybrid.

“Similar to the Irish Government, Toyota too has a vision for a zero emissions society, which we believe can be a reality by 2050.

To help achieve this, Toyota’s self-charging hybrid cars, which are in electric mode for up to 55% of the time, should be viewed as a stepping stone for consumers into full electrification”.

The new Jaguar I-PACE

drivers who operate a standard vehicle

The electric vehicle grant scheme will be applicable to both new and second hand electric vehicles. For the purpose of

school run, daily commute or even coping with sub-zero temperatures.

This new I-PACE has been rigorously tested across

this Grant Scheme only Battery Electric

extremes of terrain and temperature, the I-PACE has

Vehicles (BEV) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric

tamed the Arctic at Jaguar Land Rover’s cold weather

Vehicles (PHEV) will qualify for purchase

test facility in Arjeplog, Sweden, at temperatures as low

relief. Fully hybrid vehicles or vehicles

as -40°C.

older than six years of age will not be eligible for support.

Customers will be able to use mains power to prepare the car’s battery and cabin temperature ahead of a

Up to €7,000 grant will be made avail-

journey. Pre-conditioning the car ensures maximum

able from the National Transport Author-

range, performance and comfort whether tempera-

ity for the purchase of a new BEV and up

tures are freezing cold or extremely hot. Setting up pre-

to €3,500 for the purchase of a new PHEV

ferred charging times and pre-conditioning schedules

— with lesser amounts being available

can be done from either the on-board InControl system,

the older the vehicle is (up to a maximum

or the Remote smartphone APP, and is as easy as setting

of six years old).

an alarm.

30 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 8 February 2018

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8 February 2018 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 33

GAZETTE

34 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 8 February 2018

SPORT

FastSport NOVA HITS THE SIX AT SIX: FOR the next six weeks, Radio Nova will bring their unique twist on The Six Nations Championship with the ‘6 At 6’ from 6pm-7pm every Thursday.

Brent Pope will join Pat Courtenay in studio as they look forward to the weekend’s games.

Does Brent Pope still believe we can claim the Grand Slam as he has so often stated or with a resurgent Wales and England on form, have his expectations dropped?

Of course, with no Brent on TV this year, Nova is the only place to get your annual Popey fix. And being two Kiwis, Brent and Pat are not afraid to say it as they see it.

There will be special guests dropping by and the lads will be encouraging listeners to call directly into studio.

The ‘6 At 6’ with Pat Courtenay and Brent Pope continues on Thursday, February 8.

ULTRA-RUNNING: CABRA-BASED RUNNER BREAKS EIGHT HOUR MARK FOR 100KM

Higgins follows Pheidippides route on the road to Sparta

 JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

DUBLIN-BASED ultramarathon runner Alastair Higgins has hit the much sought-after automatic qualifying time for iconic ultra race the ‘Spartathlon’, taking home first place in the UK’s Flitch Way 100km race, near Braintree, in the process.

Higgins took the lead in the Flitch Way race with around 20kms to go, having run much of the distance in third place.

His consistent splits saw him average four minutes 43 per kilometres over the 100kms, and contained only 12 kilometres at over five minutes pace.

It saw Higgins reel in the leaders over the out and back course, to finish in seven hours and 55 minutes. A sub-8 hour time is enough to qualify for the Greek contest.

“The course was 5kms each way, out and back, which acts as a kind of mental reset after each time,” Higgins said of the race.

“It breaks it all up into five or 10km chunks, which is helpful as it can be hard to keep track of your pace when you don’t

Alastair Higgins following the 100-mile Vartry Lakes race

have regular markers.

“As it was out and back, I could also see the other runners in front of me at about the same point on the course every time, and I knew I was slowly reeling them in.

“I was trying to keep some-

thing for the end, and knew I had a bit in the bank. The eight hours was key, that’s an automatic qualifying time for Spartathlon, and outside of that you need a slower time to get into a lottery.”

The Greek race traces the

route Pheidippides took from Sparta to Athens, a path of around 150 miles that finishes with a climb up and down a mountain.

There are regular time cut offs that must be made by racers, and another serious inhib-

iting factor is the heat.

Training in Ireland involves regular runs in multiple layers of clothing aimed at raising the core temperature.

The field of athletes is world class, and a top 50 finish would be a fantastic achievement.

Higgins, though, is used to the hard yards: “I peaked at about 180kms a week,” he said of his recent training, “and tried to stay above 100 miles, which is about 161kms.

“Obviously, as a parent, that doesn’t always go to plan and you can’t really just add it on next week at that kind of distance, so you just have to accept it and move on.

“I’ve learnt a lot about recovery and nutrition, and you can really maximise the benefit and bounce back quickly.

“The worst part after the last run is actually my arms, from holding water bottles.”

Higgins is also the drummer in popular Dublin dance act Le Galaxie, and as well as the Spartathlon, plans to run the Belfast to Dublin ultra race later this year (he ran the same contest in reverse in 2017), and to go for entry to notorious American ultra race Badwater.

Saints stun Marian with crucial last minute free throws  sport@dublingazette.com

DCU Saints’ Dee Proby. Picture: Sportsfile

DCU Saints caused a big upset in the Men’s Super League on Saturday evening as they overcame league leaders, UCD Marian, at the death, 71-70.

A nail-biting finale to one of the games of the weekend saw the clash ultimately decided on the free throw line, as everyone held their breath when Dee Proby edged DCU ahead.

UCD Marian missed the opportunity from the same spot at the other end – netting just one from two of their bonus

shots – to tie the game on the buzzer to send the game to overtime.

“I’m delighted with the win!” said Saints head coach, Joey Boylan. “It was a tough game, and the last couple of minutes it came down to who was getting their shots and who would miss them and, unfortunately for them, they missed a free throw on the buzzer.”

Marian didn’t have long to wait though until they got back to winning ways as they took the spoils from their big clash with UCC Demons at the Mardyke

in Cork on Sunday, winning out 95-78 in the end with a 31-point display from Mike Garrow.

“We would have loved to have won both games,” admitted Marian’s Ioannis Liapakis. “But the way things came about, one win is enough – it’s good, we’re happy. We needed that win: in five months, we had only two losses and all of a sudden, in one week we had two losses in a row. We needed that win to get back on track.”

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, meanwhile, kept their spot at second place on the table secure

this weekend, with an 84-72 point win over Pyrobel Killester in the Complex in Tralee.

I n t h e Wo m e n ’s S u p e r League, meanwhile, the hugely anticipated clash between Courtyard Liffey Celtics and DCU Mercy certainly lived up to all expectations, with Liffey winning out 61-57 in a cracking game.

A nail-biting end to the clash saw brilliant scoring from Devon Brookshire and international underage star Sorcha Tiernan see them home to victory.

8 February 2018 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 35

GAZETTE

FASTSport

Gillick back on home turf for Marlay parkrun VHI is calling on walkers, joggers and runners to join them at Dublin’s Marlay parkrun on Saturday, February 10 when they will host a special event to celebrate their partnership with parkrun Ireland.

Parkrun, in partnership with Vhi, support local communities in organising free, weekly, timed 5k runs every Saturday at 9.30am which are open to all ages and abilities.

In addition to the normal Marlay parkrun on Saturday, Olympian, David Gillick will be on hand to lead the warm up for parkrun participants before completing the 5km course alongside newcomers and seasoned parkrunners alike.

Refreshments will be provided in the Vhi relaxation Area at the finish line. Free massage balls will be given out on a first come first served basis and a qualified physiotherapist will also be on hand to guide participants through a post event stretching routine.

Marlay parkrun event director, Liam McCambridge is extending a warm welcome to newcomers: “The community at Marlay parkrun prides itself on being welcoming to all, so if you’ve never completed a parkrun before or have just let your parkrun habit slip, I’d encourage you to give it a go this weekend.

“Vhi will be providing an extra level of support to participants and volunteers so Saturday is a great opportunity to get active! Just register at parkrun.ie and we’ll see you in Marlay Park for what should be a brilliant morning!”

The Vhi parkrun roadshow visited 11 parkruns during 2017 and has hosted events in Dublin, Kildare and Limerick over the past number of weeks.

The events across Ireland are organised by more than 600 volunteers every weekend from Bere Island to Ballina to Ballinteer. Over 100,000 registered participants have run more than 3.6 million kilometres at parkrun Ireland events since it started here in November 2012. Originally launched in the UK in 2004, parkrun is the single biggest participation running event globally with nearly three million registered participants and an average of 165,000 weekly participants.

To register for a parkrun near you visit www. parkrun.ie. New registrants should select their chosen event as their home location. You will then receive a personal barcode which acts as your free entry to any parkrun event worldwide.

McGuckin going back in time to sail around world Battling high winds and rough seas is one thing but one Goatstown man is making things even tougher as he harks back to the 60s in his bid to circumnavigate the globe solo  JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

DU BL I N E R G r e g o r McGuckin is looking to be the first Irish native to sail solo and non-stop around the world, with his challenging adventure race set to get underway in late June, amid a field of 25.

McGuckin isn’t making his life easy, either: the contest he’ll enter is a recreation of an infamous non-stop, solo race that took place in 1968. It goes so far as to use yachts dating back to the era, ban electronic navigation (the competitors will rely on a compass and the sun and moon), and even prohibit communication that wasn’t available 50 years ago.

Instead of an MP3

p l ay e r a n d K i n d l e , McGuckin – and the rest of the competitors – will carry a haul of books and cassette tapes.

McGuckin’s circumnavigation is expected to take approximately 270 days, and his number one goal is to finish, though the 31-year-old hasn’t ruled out a push to win the competition. Having crossed the Atlantic on numerous occasions, as well as the Indian Ocean, his main concerns are not so much about the sailing, but about the isolation.

“We’ll have long range radios, which work sporadically, so I will be able to talk to home, though I’ll be relying on limited charge and intermittent contact,” he tells us.

“We have a GPS, but it’s for safety, and it’s kept

Gregor McGuckin on the bow of his boat

in a box that we’re disqualified for opening. The same goes for the satellite phone, except for calling the organisers.”

“I’m confident I’ll be fine alone for the first month or six weeks but I am worried about boredom. It’ll be easier if I’m going along at a good speed, the boat is well maintained and I’m near the front. If I’m out of the race somewhere down the back, it’ll be a lot more difficult.”

Despite it being 50 years old, McGuckin’s is confident his boat, a Biscay 36 Ketch - touted as one of the most competitive models permitted in the race - is more than capable of the journey.

“It’s a good solid boat,” McGuckin explains.

“They weren’t so certain

of the strength of fiberglass at that time, so they actually made the hulls a lot thicker and a lot stronger to be sure they were safe.

“It has basic controls; I have modernised the control system a little bit, but it’s not like driving a vintage car. It’s definitely a boat capable of making it around, and it’s in pretty good nick right now.

“It’ll have to last under sail for almost the entire distance [around 30,000 miles] , as while I have an engine for emergencies, I’ll have very little fuel.

So I hope it holds up,” he jokes. “The Southern Ocean has effectively no land mass in the way, so storms build with constant westerly winds.

They’re bigger seas, and bigger challenges thou-

sands of miles away from land. It’s cold, grey and big, and crossing the Atlantic isn’t really comparable, but I’ve been in big seas before.

“As much as that, my worries are things like that I read quickly. I might try reading in a different language or something to make it take a little bit longer, as I can’t bring too many books for weight reasons.”

McGuckin was raised in Goatstown and attended Colaiste Dhulaigh.

His passion for sailing has developed from an interest in windsurfing, and he has spent recent years teaching children to sail off the coast of County Mayo. He has over 50,000 miles of logged sailing experience, and will add a further 30,000 should he complete his trip.

While the race gets under way in June, a feature film about a competitor in the original contest, The Mercy (starring Colin Firth) is out this week, with Firth playing Donald Crowhurst.

Crowhurst was a failed amateur competitor in the original 1968 race, widely believed to have committed suicide once he realised his ill-thought-out plan to ‘win’ by hanging around in the Atlantic and return home at speed without circumnavigating the globe was likely to be discovered, and lead to his bankruptcy.

The original race was won by Robin KnoxJohnston.

GAZETTE

36 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 8 February 2018

SPORT

FASTSport

SOCCER: BALBRIGGAN MAN HEADS UP SCHOOLS CENTENARY SHIELD BID

Cassidy adds to the team at Portmarnock

MOIRA Cassidy, one of the most popular figures in Dublin golf circles is to take on a new role as Golf Sales Director at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links.

The new role for Cassidy is one of a number of changes to the golf team at the Links which has just reported a very successful year in 2017.

Club professional Conor Russell will now be fully responsible for the day to day golf operations while Niall Carbery will look after group golf. The announcements follow a highly successful 2017 for the golf operations at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links which has seen green fee income rise and has also seen 70 new members join the club.

The Leinster intepro winning side has provided a series of players to the Republic of Ireland Centenary Shield line-up

O’Connor names Irish panel sport@dublingazette.com

BALBRIGGAN Community College’s William O’Connor has named an 18-strong Republic of Ireland Schools panel for this season’s Centenary Shield crusade.

It features Balbriggan’s Lido Lofeta along with Peter Adigun from Riversdale Community College in Corduff and Chanel’s Ali Reghba in the northside contingent, following an eight-day assessment period with over 40 players observed.

O’Connor keyed up a number of competitive friendly games in the build up to the season with St

Patrick’s Athletic, Galway United, Dundalk FC, Bohemian FC, Jim Crawford’s Under-18 home based select team and Colin O’Brien’s Under-17s all tested.

The initial trialing process kicked off last November when the FAI Schools hosted the annual Interprovincial Tournament which saw 64 top class scholars competed in a three day competition.

Leinster secured the title on that occasion and it’s no surprise that a number of their key players will feature this season for O’Connor’s side.

Of the final 18, three have already been capped

STAR PERFORMANCE NDSL U-12s set up battle with DDSL in semi-final THE NDSL’s Under-12 outfit registered a very

impressive win over Carlow in the SFAI Subway championship on Sunday.

Jake Hough opened the scoring in the second half after a scoreless opening phase.

Sean Harmon, Thalaga Seoagopa and Patrick Gligor also added to the NDSL’s tally, while others including Ross Woods, Dino Costin, Sean Keogh and Aaron Downes also impressed. The win sees the NDSL set up a thrilling Leinster semi-final with the DDSL.

for the Republic of Ireland Schools in the Centenary Shield in 2017 with James Carroll, Ronan Manning and Darryl Walsh featuring extensively for former Head Coach Paddy O’Reilly.

The 2018 series will see the Republic of Ireland with two consecutive away fixtures as the boys in green commence battle.

The team will travel to ‘the Rock’ in Cefn Druids to take on the Welsh Dragons in a fortnight’s time.

Wales will be looking to avenge last year’s performance which saw them plunge at the death.

Late drama at Whitehall saw the Republic of

Ireland snatch an injury time winner from the penalty spot courtesy of Clonkeen College student Sean McDonald to claim an auspicious opening victory, 2-1.

A month later the Irish students will visit Luton Town to take on their hosts England in what should prove to be one of their toughest tests in the four match programme. In a game to forget, the Irish lost 5-2 at home to the three lions last season.

England are always title contenders and they shared the spoils with Northern Ireland in the previous campaign so our title ambitions may

be resting on this game.

O’Connor’s crew will be hoping to celebrate the St Patrick’s weekend.

Northern Ireland will be the Republic’s penultimate fixture at the end of March. It’s always a humdinger with little between the two sides. The Republic will wrap up proceedings in Home Farm FC in April when Scotland come to visit.

In his first term at the helm, O’Connor will want to stamp his authority early on. The first two games away from home aren’t ideal but if he gets a win and a draw, it leaves it all to play for in the final two home ties.

8 February 2018 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 37

GAZETTE

SOCCER: HUGE SIGNING MAKES INSTANT IMPACT FOR D15 CLUB

ATHLETICS

Clonliffe’s Chris Sibanda leads the way .Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Clonliffe rack up the medals The Hartstown Huntstown Senior 1B side prior to their win over Mid-Sutton

Barbour adds cutting edge to Harts-Hunts LSL SUNDAY SENIOR 1B Hartstown Huntstown Mid Sutton/Sportslink  DAVE DONNELLY

1 0

sport@dublingazette.com

HARTSTOWN Huntstown took one step closer to survival in LSL Sunday Senior 1B with a hardearned 1-0 win over Mid Sutton/Sportslink on Sunday afternoon.

January signing Christopher Barbour was the man who settled the tie at Sportslink Santry, the former amateur international netting a classy long-range finish in the second half.

39-year-old Darren McGrath – who until last year had been playermanager of the club – was named man of the match as the Blanch side kept a clean sheet to move up to fifth in the table.

Having beaten Peamount United the pre-

vious week only to see the result expunged due to Peamount’s departure from the league, the Blanch club were on a four-game losing streak.

Their last official victory had come in November, when they hammered Mid Sutton 7-1 at home – their sole win amid seven defeats.

“We went out to Mid Sutton in good spirits off the back of [the Peamount game] and dominated the game,” assistant coach and director of football David Byrne told the Dublin Gazette.

“We were tested by the Mid Sutton guys who put pressure on the defence but thankfully we saw the game through and it finished 1-0.”

In the first half, the visitors had to be thankful for the performance of goalkeeper Kyle Delavari after

he saved spectacularly from a penalty.

Defender McGrath returned to the side this month after taking six months out to train for a marathon, and his return has provided much-needed stability at the back..

Barbour ’s sur prise move from Collinstown has provided them with a cutting edge, while Brian Lynam and Sean O’Reilly have returned from St Mochta’s and Verona.

While the result does lift the progressive young club up to fifth in the table, they’ve played more games than any other club in the division and boast the lowest goal differential.

Their recent run of poor form outside the victories over Mid Sutton has seen the club nervously looking over its shoulder at the relegation places below

them.

Peamount’s decision to drop out of intermediate has eased those worries somewhat, with just two relegation spots left, but Byrne isn’t taking anything for granted.

“We played Peamount and beat them 3-1. They’ve since left the fold of intermediate football unfortunately, but it’s good for us as they’re one of the teams that will go down this year.

“The table can be deceiving in a sense. If we won our last eight games we’d have a chance of promotion.

“If we lose the majority of the games, we’re still in with a chance of relegation.

“We’ve eight games left in the league and our priority is to secure intermediate football, which is a massive part of the club’s overall plan.”

CLONLIFFE Harriers took home plenty of silverware from the NIA Abbotstown at the AAI Indoor Games where Luke Lennon-Ford won his 400m after an excellent battle with Jason Harvey (Crusaders) in 48.53.

There was a win also for Keith Marks, this time in the high jump, with a best of 1.90m. In the 60m, Leo Morgan ran 6.97 in his heat, Keith Marks 7.09 after a stumble out of blocks, Keith Pike 7.04 and 7.02, Isreal Ibeanu 7.41, 7.36 and then a 23.30 in the 200m.

In the middle-distance events, both Hannah Browne (2.23.50) and Ale Hernandez (2.23.90) recorded 800m personal bests while, in the 3,000m, Efron Gidey ran 8.55.14 and Eoin Taggart a best of 8.56.04.

In the race of the day, a great run by Richie Owen saw him end the 1,500m in fourth place.

Earlier in the week, the Clonliffe men continued their domination of the National Indoor League with their third win in succession at Abbotstown.

The win came from a great team effort by the entire squad. Having topped the standings after both rounds 1 and 2, they made sure with impressive performances throughout the day. Maximum points were scored in five of the 11 events: David Donegan in the pole vault (4.10m), Keith Marks in the long jump (7.15m), Marcin Klinzow in the high jump (1.85m), Chris Sibanda in the 200m (22.17) and Dara Kervick 400m (48.50).

With very solid points then contributed, again, by Klinzow, this time third in the shot (11.63m), Niall Counihan second in the triple jump (12.97m), the 4 x 200m team were also second, Leo Morgan 2nd in the 60m, Mark McDonald third in the 800m and young Greg Hosseny fourth in the 1,500m, the win was assured.

The women`s team put in a spirited display with Lean Bergin`s win in the 400 (58.67) providing the highlight with their seventh place finish.

Leah Bergin at the AAI indoor games .Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

GAZETTE

38 DUBLIN GAZETTE  NORTH 8 February 2018

SPORT CAMOGIE: ST VINCENT’S WOMAN CONFIDENT OF TAKING DOWN CATS

FASTGAA

Dubs go from two from two IT’S TWO wins from two starts for the Dublin senior footballers as they overcame Tyrone by five points in Healy Park, Omagh on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 9,465 with a 2-13 to 0-11 victory.

The Dubs played almost the last half hour, including added time, with 14 men after Niall Scully had been dismissed for a second yellow card in the 48th minute.

Like in the previous round against Kildare Jim Gavin’s men responded well to the early concession of a goal as Cathal McShane’s 1-1 in the opening minutes had Tyrone four points clear inside five minutes.

However, as the half progressed Dublin began to find the feet when playing into a strong wind and by the break were 1-7 to 1-5 in arrears with Ciaran Kilkenny grabbing Dublin’s goal in the 23rd minute and they powered on for the win.

McCarthy lines up revenge mission NAT. CAMOGIE LEAGUE  DAVE DONNELLY sport@dublingazette.com

DUBLIN camogie star Eimear McCarthy believes her team have what it takes become the first side from the capital in more than 30 years to take home the AllIreland title.

The Girls in Blue were knocked out of the Leinster and All-Ireland championships last year by Kilkenny, who went on to reach the finals of both competitions.

But the side had a hugely productive year, reaching the All-Ireland semi-

final for the first time in over 20 years.

And St Vincent’s clubwoman McCarthy feels the squad have learned enough from their recent run-ins with the Cats to knock them from their perch in 2018.

“I don’t fear Kilkenny and I do believe that we will get over Kilkenny this year,” McCarthy said, speaking exclusively to the Dublin Gazette at the launch of Dublin GAA’s season at Parnell Park.

“We have to drive forward with belief and put in good performances.

It’s got to be good perfor-

Eimear McCarthy at AIG’s launch of the Dublin season. Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

mances for 60 minutes of the game and once we can get that we can beat anybody.”

Despite the disappointment of failing to reach a final last year, Dublin received an impressive seven all-star nominations in 2017.

McCarthy was one of those nominated, and the midfielder believes that will have given the squad confidence they have the quality to go one step further this year.

“Everyone wants to win.

Everybody wants to come home and win the All-Ireland. We definitely could

have taken it last year.

“A f e w d e c i s i o n s mightn’t have gone our way and that kind of thing, but last year is last year and we’re driving on for a new year. We’re going to take it this year hopefully and make it to Croke Park.”

The Dubs managed their first win of the league campaign at the weekend as they eased past Meath by 0-15 to 0-10 at Trim GAA club.

Having drawn with Limerick on the opening day, Dublin were roundly beaten by Kilkenny in atrocious conditions at the Parnell’s astro facility

in Coolock two weeks ago.

With Clare and Waterford also having played out a draw, it leaves four sides now delicately poised in second place on three points, with the Girls in Blue to play both sides in their remaining games.

“If we look at our league scores last year, we went to Cork in the first round of the league and scored four points. It’s definitely a positive that we are scoring, and we are scoring a lot from play.

“We are going to learn a lot more from the mistakes we make. It’s easier to make them now.”

CLUB NOTICEBOARD CASTLEKNOCK

OUR nursery, with thanks to Tiger Childcare, is back in full swing in CCC every Saturday.

New members always welcome.

Nursery enquiries to lisakiernan1@gmail.com.

This year’s adult awards night takes place in Castleknock Golf Club on Saturday, February 10 at 8pm. Tickets €15 at the door includes a drink and finger food.

Dublin match on TVs

from 7pm. All club members welcome.

Volunteers still required for slots inside the exit of SuperValu to do a bucket collection and sell national draw tickets on February 8, 9 and 10. Please consider helping or asking extended family to give a dig out. Text hours you can volunteer to Breda Griffin on 086 8416431.

No winner of our lotto jackpot with thanks to Rialto Ford. Numbers were 1, 5, 12 and 19. Fifteen match three winners, winning €20 each.

Lucky dip winner was F Browne who takes home €30.

Our new jackpot is €5,200 with the next draw in de Brun’s on February 8.

ERIN GO BRAGH

ALL of our teams are back training and we wish them huge success for the coming season.

Best of luck to all our members who are doing their mock exams in the coming weeks.

No winner of our lotto

jackpot which is now €5,200.

Numbers drawn were 5 ,7, 21 and 26.

Well done to our U-8 hurlers who played their first challenge game against Westmanstown on Saturday in preparation for the coming season.

Well done to our U-15s who came from five points behind four with minutes left to earn a draw against Round Towers.

The Erin Go Bragh adult football team continued its preparations for the

commencement of the league with a 1-7 to 0-10 draw against Castleknock in a challenge game in St Catherine’s on Sunday.

Well done to Ellen Gribben and the Dublin U-15 ladies football development panel who beat Louth in Fingallians.

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

Our nursery (Little Green Machine) has restarted training in Hansfield on Saturday morning from

9.30 to 10.30am and in Phibblestown on Tuesdays from 6-7pm and on a Saturday from 11.30am to 12.45pm.

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

Please note our membership can now be paid on line and we would

encourage everyone to pay as soon as possible.

FINGALLIANS

MEMBERSHIP: Registration

by GAA has been brought forward a month earlier this year due to the calendar year for matches starting earlier.

This means that membership is due immediately. Anyone who hasn’t paid membership

by February 28 will not be registered to play until they

8 February 2018 NORTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 39

GAZETTE

LADIES FOOTBALL: NA FIANNA STARLET SAYS HER SIDE IS TARGET FOR EVERYONE ELSE

Leah relishing Dubs bid for title retention NAT. FOOTBALL LEAGUE  DAVE DONNELLY sport@dublingazette.com

NA FIANNA’S Leah Caffrey says the Girls in Blue have their eyes firmly trained on retaining their All-Ireland crown as their National Football League season kicks into gear.

Dublin take on Cork – whose six-year All-Ireland winning streak came to an end last summer as Dublin lifted the title – on Saturday in the year’s first televised game at Croke Park.

Two weeks later, Mick Bohan’s side face their opponents from last year’s final, Mayo, in Castlebar in

a double header with the men’s team that will also be broadcast live.

Na Fianna clubwoman Caffrey realises they’ll be the team to beat come the summer and that the upcoming games will be an opportunity to lay down a marker for the entire season.

“The title would be the biggest aim and we know other county teams want to take that away from us,” Caffrey told the Dublin Gazette at Dublin GAA’s season launch at Parnell Park.

“We’re just looking forward to getting back into it now. 2017 was last year

have paid their membership in full. Forms are available on the club website and at the club bar.

Camp No.1: Own Your Skills multi-sport camp is taking place in Fingallians during the mid-term – Thursday, February 15 and Friday, February 16. The cost of the camp is €30.

For more information, contact 086 2112040, email ownyourskillz@gmail.com or check the Facebook page.

Vetting of members: Every person involved with a team must be vetting. A person who is not vetted is no longer be allowed on a sideline, interact with children, transport players to games or training or be near any team. If you are not registered, please click on the link on the GAA website.

Silver Medal: The club were awarded of a silver medal from the Joe McDonagh foundation for our efforts in promoting the Irish language within the GAA. We are looking to harness the momentum and build on our success in 2018. De bharr sin, táimid ag lorg baill nua chun páirt a ghlacadh ar ár gCoiste na Gaeilge. Má tá suim agat sa Ghaeilge, cláraigh do shuim le

and we’re focusing on this year. We haven’t won anything yet, and it’s going to be twice as hard this year to retain the title.

“We’ve loads of new girls in the squad now and there’s a lot of competition for places. The standard is there – it’s definitely going up because of the newer girls coming in.”

The Dubs made hard work of a spirited Westmeath side in Mullingar on Saturday, trailing by seven points early in the second half before eventually winning out by a fivepoint margin.

And Caffrey admits that, at this time of the year, it’s

FastGAA ST BRIGID’S RACE NIGHT:

Leah Caffrey with young Dub, Kyah O’Reilly, age 8, in Parnell Park to kick off the 2018 Dublin GAA Season. Picture: David Fitzgerald

all about shaking off the ring-rust with the likes of Mayo, Cork and Kerry primed and ready to capitalise if they’re below their best.

“Because we played Mayo in the final last year it’s going to be very competitive when we go down and play them this year, and that’s before the men’s game as well.

“It’s about peaking consistently throughout the

year, but peaking in the summer, during the championship, that’s the most important thing.”

Caffrey – who struggled with a knee complaint over the winter break as an exhausting season took its toll – admits the first few weeks back have been a challenge.

However, victories over Donegal and Westmeath have helped them ease their way in with much

tougher challenges to come in the weeks ahead.

“At the minute we’re a bit rusty because we haven’t been playing with each other. Any games [we play] are getting experience under our belt.

“We started back in January there and we didn’t have that much preseason but we got a good bit of fitness in and we got a good result against Donegal [in week one].”

ST BRIGID’S social committee is running a race night on Friday, February 23 as their major fundraiser for 2018.

The club are currently inviting people or companies to aid their fundraising effort by either sponsoring a race or by buying advertising space in the programme.

To sponsor a race, the cost is €200.

This will include a full page ad in the programme as well as banner heading over the particular race. To buy a full page ad in the programme, the cost is €100. A half page ad is €50. Please submit your ad to ptimoney111@eircom. net, preferably in jpeg or PDF format.

Al funds raised will be entirely spent on the development of players.

CLUB NOTICEBOARD Liam ag 086 3814422 Fab Four: Special thanks to Kyran O’Brien for organising an evening to celebrate Fingallians women, both past and present, who have played for Dublin.

Comórtas Ó Sé: Beidh Fine Ghallainn san iomaíocht i gcomórtas sinsear na bhfear ag Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé Lidl ag tarlú idir 16ú is 18ú Feabhra i bhFionntrá, Corca Dhuibhne, Co. Ciarraí.

Fingallians extends deepest sympathy to the Caul family on the death of Evelyn Caul, last month (mother to members Matt, Dominic, Brendan and Peter). Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hAnam dilís.

GARDA WESTMANSTOWN TRAINING continues for intermediates and juniors on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm in Westmanstown.

Opening league fixtures on Sunday week, February 18 with the inters away to St Patrick’s Donabate and the juniors away to Ranelagh Gaels.

Ladies training is on Mondays and Wednesdays

at 7.30pm and Saturday morning at 8am. The U-14s beat Templeogue Synge St in a preseason challenge and take on St Brigid’s next Sunday at 12.30pm in Westmanstown.

The ladies are holding a fundraising quiz at Westmanstown on Friday, February 25. Best of luck to U-16 coach Sean and Eve on their wedding next weekend.

Club memberships must be renewed before end of February in order that registration and insurance requirements are complied with.

Payment can be made online at paymen. gardawestmanstowngaels. com or by cash or cheque to registrar Marco Nuvoloni.

Davy Cryan continues to lead the way on Operation Transformation with all at the club very proud of his achievements. Don’t forget to Walk For Davy every Monday night in Westmanstown at 7pm.

Lots of juvenile action last week with the U-16 boys beating Raheny in a challenge.

League action starts next weekend with a home tie against Fingal Ravens at 3.30pm on Saturday. U-14s

played at Garristown, U-12s welcomed Binn Eadair and the U-13s were away at Lucan.

The U-14 and U-16 girls enjoyed a training session with the Dublin team at St David’s in Artane. Our U-11 and U-12 camogie girls enjoyed a great workout on Saturday; well done to all concerned.

NAOMH PEREGRINE

MEMBERSHIP fees for 2018 are now due and payable. Details of all fees for the membership options are listed on the club website at www.cnp.ie and are also payable online. A membership registration day takes place this Saturday, February 10 from 9.30am to 11am.

Training time slots on the all-weather pitch and in the hall for adult teams: times are being agreed and will be published on the notice board and website as soon as they are finalised. Until then, teams should continue to use their previous time allocations.

Congratulations to Lewis

White who plays football and hurling for our U-10s on winning two silver medals for Ireland at the European Taekwondo championships in Italy. Well done, Lewis.

Members are reminded of the great value for money and the excellent food served at the weekly Sunday carvery in the lounge.

There was no winner of the lottery this week. Numbers drawn were 9, 16, 21 and 24. The jackpot increased to €4,200 next Sunday.

Remember, each entry costs only €2 and provides funding for sports development in the club.

Best wishes to all the juvenile teams taking part in the Gormanstown Indoor Hurling Tournament each weekend up to the end of February.

Thanks to all the parents and mentors involved in making this participation a success.

ST BRIGID’S

OUR club nursery continues every Saturday from 9.30 to 11.00 for all 4 to 7-year-olds.

New families and members are always welcome.

Our club race night takes place in Russell Park on

February 23, 2018. Make sure to save the date, a great night guaranteed.

St Brigid’s are delighted to offer a limited number of Gaeltacht Scholarships for this coming July and August.

Contact Stiofan on 087 6339238.

Thank you to Fr Harris, the choir and to all who assisted with the St Brigid’s Day Mass in the club.

2018 fixtures started last Sunday with U-15 leagues, juvenile from U-12 have fixtures next weekend with CCC back with a bang on the February 18 with six home matches listed.

There was no lotto jackpot winner on February 1 and this Thursday’s draw will be in The Greyhound, Blanchardstown, on Thursday, February 8. The jackpot will be €1,600. Thank you to our committee and to everyone who supports our lotto.

St Brigid’s would like to extend our sympathy to the family of Christy Lawlor who served the club as PRO and who passed away recently.

ST FINIAN’S THERE was an

“Incorporating Athletic Development into training sessions” workshop in the clubhouse on Friday evening which was aimed at CCC1 & CCC2 Boys & girls coaches.

Well done to GPO Paul Lyons who as always conducted the course in a very professional manner, making it a valuable & enjoyable experience for the coaches taking part.

Membership subscriptions for 2018 are now due. Payments can be made online under Club Membership on the homepage of the club website www.stfinians.com.

Some minor changes have been made to membership categories and rates for 2018. The club has introduced a family membership which would be the most cost effective for most families.

Membership can be paid over three months online (after the initial amount is paid, the subsequent two monthly payments come out automatically).

As a substantial element of the club’s outlay comes at the start of the year, all memberships should be paid as soon as possible.

GAZETTESPORT

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

BARBOUR OF HARTSTOWN: HHFC add major cutting edge for 2018 with amateur international on board P37

FEBRUARY 8-14, 2018

FIGHTING OFF THE RIVALS: Caffrey relishing challenge of being the side to beat P39

Bohemians and St Kevin’s Boys young stars have formally joined forces for 2018 and beyond

Bohs’ tangerine dream

St Kevin’s Boys and Bohemians formally join forces to develop their pathway to League of Ireland football with groundbreaking agreement  DAVE DONNELLY

sport@dublingazette.com

LEAGUE of Ireland club Bohemians and schoolboy nursery St Kevin’s Boys have formally announced a partnership that will see the clubs work closely together on youth development.

The partnership will see a joint team bearing the crest of both clubs compete at Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 National League level, with an Under-13 league also in the pipeline.

Both clubs fielded separate sides in the Under15 league during its inaugural 2017 season, an interim measure approved by the FAI while the clubs thrashed out a long-term joint venture.

“Bohemians was always our first choice and

the first club we sat down with,” said St Kevin’s Boys head of youth development Alan Caffrey at the launch of the partnership in Dalymount Park.

“It just took a bit longer than we thought it would. We now look forward to bringing young players and sitting in the stands watching them make their debut here.”

The underage teams will wear Bohemians’ traditional black and red at home while their changed away strip will be tangerine – St Kevin’s Boys colours.

It was important to both clubs that their symbols and identities remain distinct and that underage sides be recognised as a willing partnership rather than one taking over the other.

“Obviously, Bohemians has a massive tradi-

tion and so does Kevin’s. It was important for people that they seen both identities in the club.”

“Having the crest on the jersey, having the away jersey tangerine, we’re happy that nobody’s lost any identity.”

Caffrey himself was an important link between the two clubs. He was assistant manager to Gareth Farrelly after returning from an academy role with West Brom in 2005 and was caretaker manager following Farrelly’s dismissal in 2006.

Much of what the Dubliner has sought to achieve with the merger has its roots in that time, when he observed the sorry state of underage football in the National League.

“Funnily enough, it was a conversation I had

with a Bohs board member when I came back from West Brom and I asked about the youth section.

“One of the comments I made, I remember where I was when I made it, was you would have to invest in your youth system probably half of what you invest in your senior section.

“And of course in them days it wasn’t looked at. It was laughed at probably. It’s good for Irish football that they’re starting to turn it around.

“Obviously the investment isn’t as massive as it needs to be, but at least we’re at a starting point.”

Bohemians present Chris Brien added: “While our elite section has been successful to date with our previous link to the NDSL, we can move to a different level with this partnership.”