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Mixed reaction as Cllr joins Fine Gael party  EMMA NOLAN

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Cllr Lynsey McGovern

AN INDEPENDENT councillor from Dundrum has joined Fine Gael.

Cllr Lynsey McGovern, who represents the Sandyford/Glencullen ward in DLR, said she believes she can “make a much

bigger difference” as a member of Fine Gael than as an Independent.

“It was not a decision I made lightly. I had thought about it for many months,” said McGovern.

“I developed a great working relationship with my Fine Gael colleagues on DLRCC over the last three years in relation to poli-

cy and budgetary matters and it is therefore a natural progression for me to now join the party.

“There is strength in numbers and that’s key in getting decisions over the line at the end of the day.

“It is my view that the support that will be available to me from Fine Gael and its members will be

of enormous assistance in my role as a county councillor.

“I will now have much wider access and support to councillors both locally and nationally and access to national politicians, decision makers and Government ministers.”

Continued on Page 6

2 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 2 November 2017

UCD | PLANS LACKED ‘ARCHITECTURAL IMAGINATION’ - COUNCILLOR

Gasps greet plans for new student residences  EMMA NOLAN PLANS for new UCD student accommodation in Clonskeagh have been slammed by councillors for being too “overbearing”.

512 student accommodation units proposed for the UCD Campus as submitted as a Strategic Housing Development to An Bord Pleanala were presented to local councillors last week where there was an “audible gasp” as they were unveiled.

Cllr John Kennedy (FG) said: “When presented with the photomontages of one part of the scheme approximating seven storeys facing upon Roebuck Road and the Ardilea Estate in Clonskeagh, there was an audible gasp from the councillors present in reaction to the sheer scale and incompatibility to the surround-

ing residential area.

“I have never been in any previous meeting of councillors before where such a sharp intake of breath was instantly palpable in relation to a given proposal.”

Cllr Kennedy said that the plans lacked “architectural imagination” and would have an “overbearing impact upon a wellestablished and well-regarded residential area” in Clonskeagh.

“There must be more architectural congruency evident and new high-density designs should be more complementary to their existing surroundings,” he said.

Cllr Deirdre Donnelly (Ind) welcomed the increased number of student accommodation units but voiced her concerns about the development overlooking residential areas.

“If UCD were to reconsider the

proximity of the units and locate them more centrally and look for alternatives in relation to access for construction I would certainly welcome this development.”

Cllr Kennedy believes that the planners are not adhering to the adequate design context for high density developments as set out

in the Government document ‘Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas’.

“My viewpoint is that this is not being respected properly in relation to the part of the scheme impacting upon residential areas in Clonskeagh, and it should be altered accordingly,” he added.

FASTNews Liam Sullivan (board member), Colette Reid (past manager), Matt Whelan (founder member/ex director), Pauline Wolfe (ex chair) and John Oliver O’Toole (founder member/ex board member)

Core Credit Union celebrates 50 years THE Core Credit Union in Sallynoggin Glenageary celebrated 50 years in business last week.

Founded in June 1967 with approximately 100 members, the credit union opened for business in St Kevin’s School on Friday evenings and Sunday mornings. By 1969 over 1,000 applications for membership had been received which lead to purchasing the premises at 8 Church Place, Sallynoggin.

Over the years the building was renovated and expanded first in 1987 and then a major refurbishment in 2000. In 2014, Sallynoggin Glenageary Credit Union merged with Core Credit Union which has seven offices and over 30,000 members in the Dun Laoghaire area.

To mark the Credit Union’s 50th anniversary an exhibition of photos was displayed.

Plans were slammed by councillors for being too “overbearing”

Newly renovated Knocklyon practice officially opens

Dynamic duo enjoy local arts festival

QUENTIN Pereira-O’Brien is pictured with his dad, Leo, when they attended the Nutgrove Arts Festival last week. The festival is an annual celebration of community arts and culture, taking place in the unique setting of Nutgrove Shopping Centre in South County Dublin.

Now in its seventh year, the festival has become an integral part of the local area’s cultural calendar, welcoming a selection of exciting performers, musicians and dancers to take over the centre for ten days each year.

Picture: Rose Comiskey See full gallery next week.

DENTAL Care Ireland, a new nationwide network of local dental practices, last week marked the official opening of its newly renovated Knocklyon practice at Knocklyon Shopping Centre.

Formerly Knocklyon Dental Surgery, Dental Care Ireland Knocklyon continues to offer the full spectrum of dental treatments, from routine to cosmetic dentistry, led by previous owner and principal dentist Dr Vincent McDonagh.

Building on the strong heritage of Knocklyon Dental Surgery, the practice has recently been upgraded in line with Dental Care Ireland’s standards, to provide new state-of-the-art facilities and technology.

In addition, orthodontist Dr Lian O’Dwyer has joined the team to offer specialist orthodontic treatments for patients, including metal or ceramic braces and Invisalign.

Dental Care Ireland is an Irish-owned network of established, trusted and high quality dental practices in local communities throughout the country.

To date, the group employs over 150 staff across 12 general and specialist dental practices in Dublin, Meath, Carlow, Mayo, Offaly, Wicklow and Kilkenny.

For further information, visit www.dentalcareireland.ie

2 November 2017 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 3

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

LESS IS MORGAN!

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

The big-hearted fourth class pupil also used the occasion to help raise funds for Aoibheann’s Pink Tie, a charity that assists the families of children who have cancer.

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

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

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

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

4 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 2 November 2017

Out and About

Glamorous fundraiser a hit with the ladies L

AST Friday afternoon found Stradbrook a buzz with excitement as 180 ladies arrived at Blackrock College Rugby Club for the Ladies Lunch event. There were absolutely no high tackles, only high heels, at this glamorous fundraiser. Guests were greeted with a champagne reception, as musician Jamie Duff entertained on the guitar. A fashion show by Irish Wholesaler Myles Cunningham was an event highlight, showcasing gorgeous clothing, perfectly appropriate for those autumn afternoons spent on the sidelines of the rugby pitch.

2 November 2017 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 5

Out and About

6 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 2 November 2017

COURTS | DETECTIVE CALLED STATE SOLICITOR ‘INCOMPETENT USELESS HOBBIT’ FROM PAGE 1

A custodial sentence of some sort is inevitable says Judge A DETECTIVE who was found guilty of harassing a State solicitor by sending her abusive letters and emails is facing an “inevitable” custodial sentence, a judge has said.

In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Melanie Greally ordered that Eve Doherty (50) be placed into custody next Monday ahead of her sentencing in January next year, noting she has shown no remorse for her actions.

“A custodial sentence of some sort is inevitable,” Judge Greally said, setting a sentence date of January 19 next year.

D o h e r t y, w i t h a n address in Blackglen Road, Sandyford, Dublin, was found guilty by a jury

of harassing Elizabeth Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013 following a two-week trial last July.

She was found not guilty of two counts of making false statements on two dates in March 2012, when she claimed Ms Howlin was perverting the course of justice.

At the time in question, Ms Howlin worked with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) where she was involved in deciding whether or not to direct prosecutions in criminal cases. Doherty held the position of detective sergeant and worked in the crime and security division of An Garda Siochana.

The trial heard that over an 18-month period, letters and emails were sent to Ms Howlin’s home, her place of work and to her GP calling her a “corrupt bitch”, an “incompetent useless hobbit” and a “two-faced bitch”.

The court heard Ms Howlin didn’t know Doherty until the trial and that Doherty was then in a relationship with the victim’s ex-partner. A victim impact statement was handed into court from Ms Howlin, but was not read out.

Kerida Naidoo SC, prosecuting, said Doherty sent emails from a Dublin city centre internet cafe to hundreds of recipients using anonymous

email accounts. The court heard she holds a degree in Cybercrime and diplomas in Psychology and Legal Studies.

Following a garda investigation that involved contacting the Canadian email server company, Hushnet, gardai tracked down the internet cafe from which the emails were being sent. Doherty was arrested after she sent an anonymous email from the cafe while wearing sunglasses and a wig.

As well as letters and emails, Doherty dispensed leaflets around Ms Howlin’s housing estate, falsely claiming

that Ms Howlin was a political appointee and that she would “pull” files to prevent the prosecution of anyone connected to her or the government. Ms Howlin is a distant cousin of the TD and labour party leader, Brendan Howlin.

Doherty was suspended from An Garda Siochana but is currently still a serving member of the force, the court heard. After her arrest, she spent a month in St John of God psychiatric hospital. She has no previous convictions.

A13-page psychological report was handed into court, which found

Doherty suffered from s e ve r e wo r k- r e l a t e d stress, depression, anxiety, paranoia and suicidal ideation. She suffers from nightmares, insomnia, headaches and chest pain and is on anti-depressant medication, the court heard.

“This is not something that can be explained simply by malice or badness,” Mr O’Higgins said, adding it was a “complicated” case involving psychological issues.

He said the offence was committed by a person who was suffering from depression, paranoia and significant levels of stress.

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

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

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

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

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

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

McGovern makes a move

The physiotherapist received a warm welcome to the party from her new FG colleagues.

Josepha Madigan TD said: “She is an impressive, hardworking representative for the people of Sandyford/Glencullen and I look forward to working closely with her for our mutual constituents.”

Councillor Emma Blain, said she is looking forward to “continuing and strengthening our good working relationship in representing the people of our local electoral area” with Cllr McGovern.

While the reaction to her move has been good overall, some of Cllr McGovern’s constituents have criticised it as a “kick in the teeth” and branded her a “fraud”.

Responding to a Facebook post announcing the news, one constituent said: “Say goodbye to your votes and respect.” While another said: “Must have learned about the brown envelopes.”

Another commenter wrote: “Well that’s a kick in the teeth to everyone who gave you a vote as a independent Cllr, people wanted a fresh new voice and a change from the FG/FF and Labour parties and now you go and jump ship.”

In a response to negative criticism of her move, Cllr McGovern told The Gazette that she feels she can better serve her constituents as a member of FG than by herself.

“When you’re in politics, it’s actually really difficult as much done as you’d want to get done to the people you represent.

“When I go door to door, people bring up a lot of national issues like medical cards, that I can’t deal with as a local county councillor, I need to have that link in with a TD who has the access and the staff behind them to source the information, so it [being a member of a party] just makes it easier to do the role.”

2 November 2017 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 7

VUE 2017 | MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE VISUAL ARTS

Artist shortlisted for prestigious award  EMMA NOLAN

Coveted Q Mark nomination for DLR Leisure Services THE National Q Mark Awards 2017 nominations have been announced and DLR Leisure Services in Monkstown, Meadowbrook and Loughlinstown were nominated for a prestigious Q Mark for Leisure Centres.

This nomination means they are in the top 6.75% of all audits completed by the Excellence Ireland Quality Association (EIQA) on the island of Ireland.

The coveted Q Mark is awarded only to companies who achieve the highest standards of quality and excellence.

Niall Cull, acting CEO DLR Leisure, said: “Being nominated for the Q Mark award recognises the invaluable social and fitness contribution that the DLR Leisure team provides to the local community from the cradle to grave. The long term rewards of using the Q Mark framework are that they encourage us to constantly look for ways in which we can improve our operation which in turn benefits our customers.”

A RATHFARNHAM sculptor has been shortlisted for the biggest prize in Irish contemporary art at Vue 2017, Ireland’s national contemporary art fair.

Janet Mullarney is one of only four Irish artists to have made the shortlist for the €5,000 Savills Art Prize, which will be awarded to an artist who has exhibited in the last year and made a substantial contribution to the visual arts in Ireland.

Samuel Walsh, Charles Tyrrell and John Gibbons have also been nominated for the coveted award, presented by RHA director Dr Patrick Murphy on the first day of the event at the Royal Hibernian Academy gallery from November 2-5.

Janet, who is from Rathfarnham, learned her traditional woodcarving skills in Italy and since then, has exhibited extensively in both Ireland

and abroad.

The multiple award-winning artist does not limit herself to wood and her work spans a range of media and methods including cast bronze and aluminium, fabric, glass and video.

She is highly-regarded for her carved and modelled sculptures of human and animal figures, whose meaning is often left open to interpretation She is also a member of Aosdana, a state body set up through the Arts Council to recognise outstanding contributions to the creative arts in Ireland.

“This is the third year the Savills Art Prize has been presented at Vue and we hope the award will become as important to Irish art as the Turner Prize is in the UK,” said Vue 2017 organiser Louis O’Sullivan.

“Savills is the perfect partner to present the Prize as most art is found in homes and businesses, and not

just museums.

“Vue 2017 is a great opportunity for collectors and investors to experience some of the best contemporary art currently being created in Ireland.”

Opening hours are 6-8pm on November 2, 11am8 p m on November 3, 11am-7pm on November 4, and 12-6pm on November 5.

S e e vueartfair.ie

8 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 2 November 2017

SANDYFORD | SITE TO BE REDEVELOPED AS ‘OFFICE SUITES’ WITH SLEEPING FACILITIES

Eyesore to be turned into offices with beds  EMMA NOLAN ABANDONED eye-sore, the Sentinel building in Sandyford is finally set to be completed, but the plans have been described as being “effectively bedsits”.

The 13-storey building was left unfinished when Cork developer John Fleming declared bankruptcy in England due to debts of more than €1 billion in 2010.

The site remained idle and was first declared derelict in late 2013, when the building was bought by Galway developers, the Comer Brothers.

There have long been calls for the building to be completed – it was branded as a “tragedy waiting to happen” in May of last year as a number of teens gained access to

the site and posted photos on the 12th storey.

The council has now granted permission to Dante Property Company, owned by the Comer Brothers, to finish the tower block.

It is to be redeveloped as 300 “office suites” with sleeping facilities for workers.

It is planned that each unit will measure 28sqm, (12sq m smaller than the minimum size of a studio apartment), and come with a kitchenette, bathroom and “overnight stay” amenities.

It is unclear if workers will live in the building on a permanent basis.

Eva Dowling, the Green Party’s area representative for Stillorgan, said that the developer has managed to “avoid complying with the building standards for residential

units by designing a stack of tiny offices fitted with showers, kitchenettes and pull-out beds”.

“This looks suspiciously like 300 bedsits disguised as ultramodern offices,” she said.

She warned that although planning permission has been granted for the new plans, the developer has been given another five to ten years to complete the building.

“The developer should have been forced long ago to either complete or else demolish this eyesore.

“The planning office has told me that they have no enforcement powers to compel a developer to complete a building. This needs to change. Nobody should be allowed to litter the skyline for decades with half built rubbish.”

FASTNews

Penneys unveils Nutgrove uplift PENNEYS has unveiled its newly refurbished store in Nutgrove Shopping Centre.

The design and layout builds on Penneys latest contemporary shop fit with new and improved fitting rooms and increased number of cash desks, access to free Wifi and a customer ‘recharge’ seating area for enjoyable and convenient shopping.

Other new features include an enlarged beauty section.

Penneys’ 56 employees will also enjoy a refreshed ‘back of house’ area, including open spaces designed with modern features and comforts such as a ‘Recharge cafe’ with a fully equipped kitchen.

The Sentinel building in Sandyford is finally set to be completed

Carer in sex attack at video spared prison Topthe dlrtheatre LexIcon

A CARE-WORKER who filmed two sexual assaults on vulnerable residents in a care home has received a suspended prison sentence of 18 months.

Peter Hilliard (54) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of sexual assault between February 2013 and June 2016 at Bloomfield nursing home, Stocking Lane, Rathfarnham, Dublin.

The offending came to light in June 2016 when a colleague of Hilliard’s saw a video on Hilliard’s Facebook page of him sexually assaulting an elderly resident.

Hilliard had recorded himself touching the woman’s breasts before putting the video up on Facebook, Garda Shane Whelan told the court.

This video shows a male in the room at the same time of the assault.

The staff member alerted gardai who went to Hilliard’s house at Bolbrook Grove, Tallaght, and seized laptops and mobile phones.

During a digital search of this equipment investigators found a second video, filmed sometime after February 2013, in which Hilliard carried out a similar attack on another resident of the care home.

Gda Whelan told Dean Kelly BL, prosecuting, that Hilliard has no previous convictions.

After his arrest he told gardai he

felt bad about his actions and said: “I thought about killing myself.”

The court heard that at the time of the assaults Hilliard was suffering from sleep deprivation as a result of working so many hours.

He told gardai that the mobile phone footage of the later assault was uploaded accidentally to Facebook because he didn’t know how to operate his phone.

Kieran Kelly BL, defending, told the court that his client was sorry for his actions and that his family were standing by him.

Two victim impact statements were handed into the court but were not read out.

Unemployable Judge Terence O’Sullivan noted that as a result of his actions Hilliard had lost his job and was now unemployable in the health sector.

He said that he has engaged with counselling services since the offending came to light.

He suspended a sentence of 18 months on condition that Hilliard keep the peace and attend a weekly therapy group.

He also ordered that Hilliard place himself under the supervision of the Probation Service for 18 months.

UMBRELLA Theatre Company will bring their specially commissioned production of The Meeting – Frederic William Burton - Life and Work to the dlr LexIcon Studio, Dun Laoghaire, on November 30 and December 1 2017 at 8pm.

The National Gallery of Ireland has commissioned Umbrella Theatre Company to create and perform this new play, inspired by the life and work of Burton, to complement their current exhibition on the painter, which opened on October 25 and runs to January 14, 2018.

The performances at the Lexicon are the only performances outside of the National Gallery of Ireland.

Tickets can be purchased at www.themeeting-lexicon.eventbrite.com.

2 November 2017 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 9

10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 2 November 2017

Out and About

Rip-off robbers fancy dress group. Pictures: Rose Comiskey

Students go all out for Halloween Flintstones Rebecca Currivan, Jill Malloy and Alice McNabb

S

T Joseph of Cluny School in Killiney held a brilliant Halloween fancy dress day at school before the midterm break last week. There was great competition between all of the children to see who had thought of the best costume idea and a huge amount of effort was put in. And to top it all off, Jake Carter stopped by to play a nsong from his new EP!

Caoilinn Divilly, Ella Harford and Ellen McGibney

Cristina Lanzas, Natacha Saura, Cristina Jake Carter onstage

Rodrigues Guillerno and Claudia Perez

Emily Daly and Ella Buckley

2 November 2017 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 11

Aoibhe Doyle

Oisin McLaughlin with Orla Lambert

Spanish teacher Jenny Gordan

Teacher Stacy Stout

Kate Kelly, Saoirse Whelan and Sophie Mangan

Charlie Carry, Alison Duggan and Aoife Moriarty

Ellie Magennis, Jessica Barnes and Ava Clarke

Charlotte Spain and Anais Chambers

GAZETTE

12 DUBLIN GAZETTE 2 November 2017

DUBLINBUSINESS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dublin 1.

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

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

“The funding will allow us to

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

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

Six Dublin companies in the running for Seedcorn funding competition

Ill winds blow a little bit of good for tax returns

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

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

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

The winning companies from each of the four regional finals

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

MOTORING P24

DUBLINLIFE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WIN

CINEMA P28

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

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GAZETTE

MUSIC P20

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

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

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

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

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

But at what cost?

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

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

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

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

GAZETTE

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 2 November 2017

DUBLINLIFE

FEATURE

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

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

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

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

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

“You don’t have to over-stimu-

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I’ll try and

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

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

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

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

“I was so starstruck!

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

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

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

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

2 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 2 November 2017

Out and About

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

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

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

B

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

Patrick Valentin makes

Richie Powell crosses the line to finish

a dramatic finish. Picture:

second in the wheelchair category.

Paul Boyle finishes strong despite his

Cody Glenn/Sportsfile

Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

“injury”. Picture: Cody Glenn/Sportsfile

2 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

Out and About

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

Picture: Cody Glenn/Sportsfile

GAZETTE

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 2 November 2017

DUBLINLIFE

FEATURE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Though The Last Lost

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

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

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

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

She adds: “Garrett was really encouraging.

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

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

‘Don’t write for the market.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

GAZETTE

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

Aware of our flagship fundraiser?

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

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

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

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

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

with Keith Duffy and friends this November.

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

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

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

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

HAVE YOUR MOST DESIRED CHRISTMAS WISH COME TRUE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ties which support integration.

Show Racism the Red Card are encouraging

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

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

2 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

DUBLINLIFE

MUSIC

A comeback adventure in Balian beats

N O S ’ T A H W

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

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

Dubray Meets Nigella Lawson

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

Pet Expo 2017

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

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

International Stout Festival

PET EXPO 2017

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

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

WWE Live

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

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

The FAI Cup Finals

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

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

Vintage and Flea Market

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

Mongoose EP launch

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

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

Dine in the Dark

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

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

New album of the week

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

It pulses.

GAZETTE GAZETTE

GAZETTE GAZETTE

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 2 November 2017

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GAZETTE

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 2 November 2017

DUBLINLIFE

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

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

FOR THE

SPORT OF IT

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

Alex and Ani.. and Harry?

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

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

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

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

portsWomensStudio.

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

To shop the collection, see lifestylesports.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

2 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

FOOD&DRINK

GAZETTE

STYLE

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

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

The outlet will employ 15 staff,

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

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

in great company!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Luxury treats ready for any chocaholic

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

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

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

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

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

GAZETTE

24 DUBLIN GAZETTE 2 November 2017

DUBLINLIFE

FASTNews

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kona joins Hyundai SUV range HYUNDAI Ireland has

ing prices from €20,995.

announced the speci-

Hyundai will be offering

fication and pricing for

the Kona with a 1.6-litre

the new Kona SUV which

turbo-diesel engine later

is due at Hyundai dealer-

in 2018 followed by a full

ships in Dublin from this

electric version in 2019.

week onwards. The new

This new Kona will be

Kona claims to offer a

available in four trim lev-

completely new compact

els, Comfort, Executive,

SUV platform.

and two Premium ver-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Continental aims zero road

The early edition mod-

sions, a manual and auto-

els will be offered with

matic gearbox version.

a 1.0-litre turbo petrol

All cars come on 16 in alloy

engine rated at 120bhp

wheels and include a lane

The ‘blind’ Mercedes Benz E Class with blacked out

and a six-speed manual

keep assist and a driver

windows that showed how the car’s camera and sensor

gearbox with star t-

fatigue warning system.

systems can navigate a pre-prepared course

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

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

Continental and its five divisions

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

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

2 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 25

GAZETTE

MOTORING

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

for maximum passenger comfort, with

compact SUV at Dublin Citroen dealer-

generous legroom in the front and rear,

ships from next week, with entry prices

as well as an exceptional modular boot

starting at €20,695. The new Citroen

space with a volume of up to 520 litres.

C3 Aircross got its first public show-

The new C3 Aircross also scored maxi-

ing at the Ideal Home Show at the RDS

mum 5 Euro NCAP rating for car safety

Simmonscourt over the Bank Holiday

for models fitted with either Safety

weekend.

Pack 1 or Safety Pack 2.

This new generation SUV has been

trim levels Touch, Feel and Flair. The new

Comfort programme and uses the lat-

SUV offers a choice of five different inte-

est in grip control technology with hill

rior ambiences comprising of special

descent assist for added driver control.

seat upholstery, a range of dashboard

It comes with a new continuous con-

textures, door panel designs, and

nectivity system that includes wireless

touches of colour on the central console

smartphone charging.

surround, steering wheel, air vents and

Citroen claims that technology

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

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

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

Interestingly, the Duster has the longest wheel-

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

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

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

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

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

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

I drove the Summit

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

seat backs. The car has a practical inte-

continues as a core theme in new C3

rior with a split sliding and folding rear

Aircross with 12 different technologies

bench, 60/40 split-folding and adjust-

that assist your journey including voice

able seat backs.

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

The car is available in three specified

influenced by the Citroen Advanced

The new Citroen C3 Aircross is avail-

and start, 60/40 sliding rear bench,

able with either the PureTech petrol and

lane departure warning and blind-spot

BlueHDi diesel engines, as well as the

monitoring. Citroen claims that the new

latest generation EAT6 fully automatic

C3 Aircross offers best-in-class space

gearbox as a further option.

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

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

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

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

Some of the Continental automo-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The new Kia Stonic comes with 1.2-

(ESC) and Vehicle Stability Management

litre entry level petrol engines and

(VSM) are standard.

prices start from €18,599

GAZETTE

26 DUBLIN GAZETTE 2 November 2017

R1

DUBLINLIFE

WIN

Everything’s

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 ALISON O’HANLON

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

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

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

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

The Henggelers themselves epitomise warmth and friendliness.

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

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

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

2 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 27

R1

GAZETTE

TRAVEL

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

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

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

After a hearty breakfast the following morn-

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

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

Next up on the itinerary – a nice hot whis-

Afternoon tea works best with bubbles. Every time!

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

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

We all did.

But whether you were hungry or not, there’s

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

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

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

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

Siamsa Tire – The National Folk Theatre of Ireland

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

some of Kerry’s most impressive beauty spots

Dotts Bar is the perfect place to unwind

GAZETTE

28 DUBLIN GAZETTE 2 November 2017

DUBLINLIFE

CINEMA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ReelReviews

A SACRED DEER

Will it make a killing?

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

 MARTIN MACNAMARA

for Infinity Stones.

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

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

BLADE RUNNER 2049 Just misses the mark

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Verdict: 8/10

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

HAPPY DEATH DAY

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

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

2 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29

GAZETTE

TECH Nintendo mark a big milestone

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

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

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

Cuphead continues to dazzle

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

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

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

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

FAKE NEWS: SOCIAL MEDIA GIANTS INCREASINGLY CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE

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

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

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

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

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

 SHANE DILLON sdillon@dublingazette.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

on these new social media frontlines.

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

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

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

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

30 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 2 November 2017

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34 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 2 November 2017

SPORT

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

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

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

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

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

Lansdowne sweep clear to keep perfect run rolling on

UBL DIVISION 1A

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

score a converted try.

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

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

the half hour mark.

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

The match was now finely balanced and the next score

would be crucial.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

YMCA’s Grant Glutz. Picture: Adrian Boehm

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

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

It was the reds who controlled

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

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

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

Ben Campbell also showed his composure after another defen-

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

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

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

That outcome would have been

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

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

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

2 November 2017 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 35

GAZETTE

FASTSport

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Raheny representative still trains in the Kenyan town of Iten

in between his spells in Ireland.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GAZETTE

36 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 2 November 2017

SPORT

FASTRugby

HOCKEY: BOOTERSTOWN SCHOOL REMAIN THE ALL-IRELANND KINGS

Wesley grab losing bonus against lively UCC side OLD WESLEY came undone 31-27 in a highly entertaining Ulster Bank League Division 1B to UCC in a hugely entertaining clash.

Brian Walsh’s youngsters bounced back from a heavy Munster Senior Cup defeat to Cork Constitution with their top-scoring out-half James Taylor chipping in with another 16 points from placekicks. His season’s haul now stands at 54 points after five rounds.

A kick out on the full from Old Wesley led to UCC building through several phases, putting good width on the ball before a gap opened up for centre Linn to cross for a fifth-minute opener, converted by Taylor. Full-back Jack Maybury then got the visitors off the mark by turning a scrum penalty into three points.

The 21-year-old Maybury, who is in his second season in the Wesley senior squad, looks an assured kicker and he was excellent throughout for Morgan Lennon’s men, finishing with a 22-point tally. His second penalty success came after Tommy O’Callaghan’s probing kick had led to Walsh being pinged for not releasing.

However, UCC continue to look the more potent side with ball in hand. Former Munster centre Cian Bohane made an incision off a lineout ball and he fed Walsh to run in a 21st-minute unconverted try.

Maybury knocked over three penalties in the space of seven profitable minutes, with Taylor nailing one kick at the other end. That left the sides tied at the turnaround – 15-15 – before Taylor was successful with two of his three penalty efforts in the third quarter, giving UCC a six-point buffer.

It was end-to-end stuff with Wesley penalised for sealing off again and Taylor registering another three-pointer. The visitors’ hard-working hooker Conor Maguire was just held up on a muscular drive towards the line, but from the resulting 75thminute scrum, they attacked the blindside and Eoghan O’Reilly’s timely pass sent Maybury over to cut the gap to 24-20.

But Bohane’s value to UCC was summed up when he broke the line once more and released the supporting Slater to score in the corner, with Taylor’s well-struck 79th-minute conversion pushing the margin out to 11 points. Wesley snapped back to earn a losing bonus point thanks to a JJ O’Dea turnover and a rapid run-in by winger O’Callaghan from halfway.

Ben Walker lifts the Tasmanian Shield in Cork last Friday. Picture: Rob Micallef

Andrew’s perfect judgement ALL-IRELAND FINAL St Andrew’s, Booterstown 1 Wesley College, Ballinteer 1 Andrew’s win 4-1 on penalties  sport@dublingazette.com

NICK Judge produced two immaculate shootout saves to ensure St Andrew’s remain the dominant force of the All-Ireland Schoolboys hockey scene, winning the Tasmanian Shield at Garryduff for the fifth time in sixth years.

His blocks saw Andrew’s prevail 4-1 in a penalty stroke competition against Dublin rivals Wesley after normal time ended up locked at 1-1, the Ballinteer side battling all the way but could not find

the winning touch.

It meant the Booterstown outfit were the champs for the seventh time in total, joining RBAI at the top of the all-time winners list. It also meant they have now won five of their titles by beating Wesley in the deciding match.

Wesley started the brighter with a number of strong chances from play. The Saints, though, held strong with Matteo Romoli to the fore at sweeper while Jamie Pullen and Stephen McCann put in huge shifts to break up their Ballinteer rivals’ rhythm. Gavin Quill’s deflection was the pick of the Wes chances.

Andrew’s grew into the

GENESIS TOURNAMENT Stillorgan club welcomes all-Ireland competition GENESIS Hockey Club welcome teams from around Ireland to St Raphaela’s in Stillorgan for their annual Under-18 girls tournament over the bank holiday weekend.

The event saw teams from Wexford, Cork Harlequins, Bray, Portadown, Avoca, Corinthian and Railway Union join the host club.

Portadown ended up winning the competition with five wins and one draw - without conceding a single goal - to claim the laurels after two days of action.

tie and they went ahead five minutes before halftime when a raking move down the right channel ended with Riley Marchant on the right baseline.

He spotted a near post gap and slipped home for 1-0.

Rian McDonald and Greg Arrowsmith had chances to extend the advantage in the first four minutes of the second half but, after that flurry of openings, Wesley reasserted their control.

With Cameron Ruttle wreaking havoc, they won a series of penalty corners, one of which was slapped home by Rob McCollum for 1-1. They had more of the openings to win the game, drawing some bril-

liant stops from Judge.

There was drama 10 minutes from the end when Andrew’s were awarded a penalty stroke when a shot hit the post man’s body.

After a review between the umpires, the shot was deemed to be going wide and a free out was the final decision, meaning the tie stayed locked at 1-1 until full time.

No major chances came in the additional period, meaning the tie was to be settled by a penalty stroke competition. Judge saved in the first and third round while Romoli, David Shanahan and Greg Arrowsmith all scored to build a 3-1 advantage.

It gave Ben Walker – a senior international – to add the crowning moment for a second successive year and he duly flicked home to secure their seventh Tasmanian Shield.

Coach Ivan Ovington has been at the helm for each of the seven victories and he said afterwards: “We did it the hard way this year, beating Ulster’s best side Sullivan Upper in the group stages and then High School and a very good Wesley side.

“We were glad to get the game to extra time and were willing to take our chances on strokes in the end. We reverted to instinct at times but we got there.”

2 November 2017 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 37

GAZETTE

SOCCER: WOMEN’S SENIOR FAI CUP FINAL PREVIEW

VICTORYShield

Joeys five give star showing UCD Waves will have to cope without Aine O’Gorman. Picture: Sportsfile

Waves looking to wash out final Rebel rising WOMEN’S FAI CUP FINAL  DAVE DONNELLY sport@dublingazette.com

UCD Waves will look to lift their first major piece of silverware when they take on Cork City in the final of the FAI Cup at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday.

Waves have already w o n t h e Wo m e n ’ s National League shield this season with victory over Galway but could l ay d ow n a m a r ke r should they scoop the big prize.

Waves – formed by the merger of UCD and DLR Waves in 2014 – led the league early on but saw their challenge taper off as injuries and inconsistency hit hard. “ We ’r e p r o b a b l y slightly favourites,” says captain Aine O’Gorman, who will cheer her team on from the sidelines as

she misses out with a knee injury.

“I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing but that gives us confidence that we know we can beat them.

It’s a cup final and anything can happen in cup games.”

The striker sustained medial ligament damage representing her country in September’s World Cup qualification win over Northern Ireland in Belfast.

O’Gorman is one of a handful from the current squad who suffered heartbreak in the 2014 final against Raheny United.

T h e 2 8 - y e a r- o l d scored an equaliser that day but couldn’t prevent her side falling to a 2-1 defeat, and O’Gorman reveals the pain of that afternoon helped fuel their desire this time

around.

“It’s a big thing every season, the cup final, with it being in the Aviva.

“It’s probably what e ve r y p l ay e r i n t h e league wants to do.

“I think there’s a good couple of us that played [in the final] before so I think we probably were driving on to relive that experience and hopefully do one better this time.”

Favourites Having beaten Cork in each of their three meetings – without conceding a goal, and scoring eight – UCD are rightly considered favourites.

However, O’Gorman is careful to guard against complacency, noting Cork City is very much a club – and a squad – on the up.

“It gives us confidence

beating them three times, but you can’t take anything for granted.

They’ve improved a lot as the season’s gone on – they’ve gone from strength to strength.”

One factor in Cork’s corner could be the crowd – with the senior men also facing Dundalk on the same bill, a large travelling support is expected from the banks of the Lee. “[That’s why] we need to push for people to get out and support us.

“I’ve seen tweets of busloads of them being organised to come up for the double-header, so it looks like they’ll have good support there on the day.

“When you go on the pitch, you need to still just focus despite what’s going on in the crowd, stick to our gameplan and get the job done.”

FIVE current or former St Josephs Boys players were involved as the Republic of Ireland Under-16 squad retained the Victory Shield with a 2-0 win over Scotland in Bangor last weekend.

Current stars Cian Kelly, James Furlong and Festy Ebosele were joined by former Joe’s players Mipo Odubeko and Harry Halwax in the squad.

Ireland were victorious in the competition last year and repeated that feat once again after they remained unbeaten from their three games.

Paul Osam’s side went into the game knowing that a win would be enough to lift the trophy and his players dully obliged with goals coming from Matt Everitt and Armstrong Oko-Flex to ensure that Ireland ended the competition with seven points from three games.

They kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland through Troy Parrott’s first half penalty and were provided a further boost when the group’s other game between Wales and Scotland finished 1-1.

They followed up that win with a 2-2 draw against Wales two days later thanks to an injury-time strike from Oko-Flex. That left the team sitting top of the group and needing just a win over Scotland to retain their trophy.

Ireland took the lead in the 39th minute after Parrott’s effort was kept out by the combination of Scotland keeper Harry Stone and the post, but Everitt reacted quickest to head home.

The second half was a much more entertaining affair but, like the first, the back of the net was found only once. Thankfully for Ireland, it was Stone who was picking the ball out from the back of the net in the 65th minute. Oko-Flex cut in from the wing to exchange passes with Everitt before coolly firing home from the edge of the box.

Osam was clearly delighted with his team when he spoke about the win after the game.

“We had some targets to hit before the tournament. One of those goals was to have three clean sheets. Keeping clean sheets always gives you a chance and we kept two in three games, which was the bedrock for us winning the tournament.

Osam also spoke about the maturity his players showed to stick to the game plan set out prior to kick off.

“We had a game plan today. Scotland are a very good side and we had to be solid defensively. The players sticked [sic] to the plan brilliantly. The whole game plan came together really well.”

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38 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 2 November 2017

SPORT

LADIES FOOTBALL: KILBOGGET CLUB TOO GOOD FOR KILDARE CHAMPS

FASTGAA

Lucan overturn Kilmacud LUCAN Sarsfields over-turned their group stage defeat at the hands of Kilmacud Crokes to land the Dublin Under-15 camogie Division One championship.

The win made for a famous win for Lucan who did the double, winning the ladies football Division One title as well.

Kilmacud had won the group with four wins from four, running up an impressive 4-15 to 2-1 defeat of Lucan amid other wins over Na Fianna, Castleknock and Faughs/Celtic but they could not carry the momentum through into last weekend’s decider.

Foxrock Cabinteely celebrate their Leinster senior title. Picture: GAAPics.com

Flying Foxes’s three in a row LEINSTER LSFC FINAL Foxrock Cabinteely 4-17 Confey 1-7  sport@dublingazette.com

Picture: Steven Dagg

Crokes and Mun ready for semis KILMACUD Crokes will play their AFL Division One league semi-final on Sunday morning at Silver Park against Ballymun Kickhams at Silverpark at 11am.

They topped the regular season table last week thanks to a mammoth 4-14 to 0-6 win over Lucan Sars-

fields in their final game of the regular season with Mark Vaughan landing 1-5 and Pat Burke 1-4.

Mun’s loss in Monday’s senior football championship final to St Vincent’s meant they are free to now play the league playoffs having finished fourth in the table.

St Jude’s travel to St Maur’s for the other semi-final on Sunday.

AN AMY R ing 2-13 haul inspired FoxrockCabinteely to their third Leinster Senior title in a row in Coralstown Kinnegad on Sunday afternoon.

Fox-Cab were 2-12 to 1-4 ahead at the break thanks to goals from Hannah O’Neill and Niamh Collins and an incredible ten points, including four frees, from captain Ring.

Indeed, the Dalkey club tore into the tie, scoring the first six points inside 12 minutes to get off to a breathtaking start.

Confey did belatedly get

on the board with a couple of points but O’Neill struck in the 19th minute to stretch out a 1-7 to 0-2 lead. Collins added another for a 13-point lead before the Leixlip side showed their attacking intent with Aine Gately pulling back a goal before half-time, reducing the gap to 10 at the break.

But the reigning champions continued their dominance in the second half with Ring contributing a further 2-3, including a penalty and three frees.

To their credit, Confey never gave up and Rachel Divilly (0-4) and Gately (1-2) were their top scorers while their goalkeeper Mairead Scanlon was in

top form, denying the Fox Cab forwards on multiple occasions.

Ring’s first goal arrived in the 45th minute, pushing Cuala out to a 14-point lead and the tie was done and dusted from there on with Confey only able to add one more point to their total.

Ring’s penalty closed out the result, coming with one of the last kicks of injury time.

The full time whistle brought an end to three wonderful games of football in Coralstown’s home in Kinnegad as Foxrock Cabinteely won on a 4-17 to 1-7 scoreline.

Foxrock-Cabinteely will now go on to face

Mourneabbey, the Cork champions, in the All Ireland semi-final on the weekend of November 18 and 19.

Foxrock-Cabinteely: Laurie Ahern, Sarah Quinn, Aedin Murray, Roisin McGovern (0-1), Sarah Brophy, Niamh Collins (1-0), Sinead

Goldrick (0-1), Laura Nerney, Tarah O’Sullivan, Ciara Crotty, Fiona Claffey (0-1), Ciara O’Riordan, Hannah O’Neill (1-1), Amy Ring (Capt., 2-13, 1 pen, 7f), Ciara Murphy.

Subs: Niamh Ryan for O’Riordan, Sinead Delahunty for Murphy, Cara Cooke for McGovern, Lorna Fusciardi for Murray, Hannah Foster Ryan for O’Neill.

Foxrock Cabinteely’s Tarah O’Sullivan. Picture: GAAPics.com

CLUB NOTICEBOARD BALLINTEER ST JOHN’S

LOTTO results (October 26): numbers drawn were 5, 8, 14 and 20. No winner. Next week’s jackpot is €1,600; lotto joker €275. Winner of €100: Angela Byrne c/o BSJ Bingo, €50 Sheila Gillick and Billy Cullen. Bingo every Monday at 8pm.

Well done to our U-21 hurlers who overcame Oliver Plunkett’s in an end to end championship game on the all-weather pitch on Saturday.

The match went to extra time and we eventually prevailed.

Well done to Eoin O’Callanan who played most of the match with a broken thumb. Speedy recovery Eoin. Mile buiochas to the huge crowd for their support.

The senior hurlers lost to Lucan Sarsfields in the league but still have a playoff for promotion to look forward to.

The junior B team had a great win over Trinity Gaels to finish off their season in style. Hard luck to Our Lady’s BNS football team, beaten by Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada Leamhcan in their Croke Park final last week.

The minor footballers did us proud in their championship

semi-final on Sunday against a highly fancied St Vincent’s A team. The game went to extra time with Vincent’s edging in front only in the last minute.

Great match and a great team performance well done.

Credit both teams on a very entertaining match. Best wishes to neighbours Naomh Olaf in their senior football playoffs.

CUALA

CONGRATULATIONS to our senior hurlers and adult ladies footballers who made last

Saturday a red letter one with two championships won for Cuala.

First to throw in on an action-packed day were the Cuala ladies who came from two points down at half time to defeat Meath champions Clann na nGael by 4-8 to 1-7 in the Leinster junior final in Kinnegad.

They can now look forward to an All-Ireland semi-final against the champions of either Britain or Ulster on November 18/19.

Next up were the senior hurlers who faced local rivals Kilmacud Crokes in the Dublin

SHC final in Parnell Park. It was another tight affair with Cuala taking a two-point lead into half time which they stretched out to three by the final whistle. Final Score: 1-13 to 0-13 to give the Dalkey men a third championship in a row.

They face Kilkenny champions Dicksboro next Sunday in the Leinster championship.

Hard luck to our minor footballers who lost to Na Fianna in the championship semi-final on Sunday.

Many thanks to all those who came out to support all our teams over the weekend.

In particular those who

clocked up the miles doing the Trifecta of Kinnegad, Parnell Park and Mobhi Road.

There was no winner of the Cuala development lotto this week. The lucky dip winners were Colm Small and Denise Coleman. Next week’s jackpot will be €12,500.

KILMACUD CROKES

HARD luck to our senior hurlers who put up a brave performance but just lost out by a goal to Cuala in the county final on Sunday: Cuala 1-13pts to 0-13 for Crokes.

2 November 2017 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 39

GAZETTE

HURLING: DALKEY CLUB NOTCH THREE IN A ROW

Cuala relentless

DUBLIN SHC FINAL

Cuala 1-13 Kilmacud Crokes 0-13  JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

CUALA took home their third consecutive Dublin Senior Hurling title on Saturday night but rivals Kilmacud Crokes took them right to the wire.

Indeed, in a tight, competitive contest at Parnell Park, only a point separated the pair as the contest went into injury time.

Crokes, in fact, started the stronger. In the early stages, the Glenalbyn club seemed to have the number of Cuala’s powerful full-forward line as early attacks were comfortably snuffed out.

It was starting to show on the scoreboard, too, as a David Treacy free was all Cuala had to show in response to points from Lorcan McMullan, main man Oisin O’Rorke, Fergal Whitely and Seanie McGrath with ten minutes on the clock.

Nobody holds Cuala down for too long, though, and they started to edge back into the contest as they grabbed a little more ball on the puck out, and found stability in midfield.

In a fashion that’s been typical of the club over

recent years, they turned a deficit into a lead in no time, with Treacy and Mark Schutte points narrowing the gap.

Then came the key moment from Darragh O’Connell, who found space in amongst the Crokes full back line and blasted the sliotar past Eoin Dalton, who had no chance in the Crokes goal.

O’Connell’s return from injury was looking increasingly important for Cuala, in fact, as he acted as a foil for Treacy and Schutte – both of whom added further points before halftime – in creating space and linking play.

Cuala led 1-3 to 0-4 with twenty minutes on

the clock, and the margin was to remain the same come half time, as Whitely, O’Rorke and the generally well-martialled Con O’Callaghan chipped in on the scoreboard. The tally was 1-5 to 0-6 in Cuala’s favour at the midway stage.

Crokes came rumbling back after half time through a pair of O’Rorke frees. They looked like they’d undone their good work when they conceded a penalty on 36 minutes.

But when Treacy stepped up to blast the resulting set-piece, Dalton pulled off a fantastic reflex save.

On another day, the save might have spurred a comeback; instead, it

prompted a scrappy period of play that Cuala came out of the better.

Colm Cronin and O’Callaghan added three in quick succession, giving Cuala a lead of more than a single score with a quarter of the game to go.

O’Rorke, Crokes star player, was to lead a brief charge back, with fantastic play from Ross O’Carroll and the frontman reminding the holders that Crokes weren’t about to go away.

O’Rorke scored twice more, in fact, reducing Cuala’s lead to just one as the hour ticked by.

Cuala, though, showed the necessary composure, with two points from Treacy to win back the title.

LEINSTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONS

Cuala celebrate the Leinster championship title. Picture: GAAPics.com

Wylde Leinster celebrations CUALA’S super Saturday saw sweep to an excellent Leinster ladies

football junior championship title as a trio of second half goals earned them a comprehensive 4-8 to 1-7 victory over Clann nan Gael in Coralstown.

They had trailed by two points at the break – 1-2 to 1-4 – but Sinead Wylde produced the goods in incredible fashion to keep Cuala’s journey rolling on.

The final took some time to get started and, with 22 mins gone, the Meath Champions led by two points to one. However, it ignited into action with two goals in a minute, Vivienne McCormack netting for the Royals while Wylde raised a green flag for Cuala, the first of her hat trick.

After the break though, it was the Dublin champions that commanded the driving seat as goals from Dublin U-16 Grainne O’Driscoll and two from Wylde, including a penalty, pushed them into the lead.

Four second half points from Dublin minor Jennifer Dunne were critical as Cuala were crowned junior champions for the first time.

Although it was heartbreak for Clann na nGael, they never threw in the proverbial towel and excellent performances from full forward and captain Louise O’Connor, Vivienne McCormack and Orlagh Lally ensured Cuala had to fight for each and every ball.

Wylde was deservedly awarded Player of the Match before Leinster President Finbarr O’Driscoll presented the David McCabe Cup to Cuala’s Ruth Moran.

Cuala are now through to the All-Ireland semi-finals where they await the winners of Britain/Europe/Ulster. Their semi-final is set for the weekend of November 18 and 19.

Cuala’s John Sheanon attempts a block on Oisin O’Rorke. Picture: Steven Dagg

CLUB NOTICEBOARD

Best of luck to Cuala in their next round in the Leinster championship.

Hard luck also to our U-15 camogie team and our intermediate footballers who both lost out in their championship games.

The camoige team lost out to Lucan in their county final. And the footballers lost out to Jude’s in their semi-final.

The minor footballers also came up short in their E championship county final against Sylvester’s. Well done

to club member Mick Carolan who completed his 38th Dublin City marathon on Sunday.

Mick is one of an elite group who has completed every single Dublin City marathon since the race started.

NAOMH OLAF

WELL done to the minor football team who beat Ballymun Kickhams in the semi-final of the minor A shield on Sunday.

David Byrne will bring the

Sam Maguire Cup to the Naomh Olaf clubhouse on Sunday next at 12.30pm.

All academy, juvenile and adult teams are invited to come along and give him your support.

The Brendan Martin Cup won by the Dublin ladies team will also be there along with trophies won by Naomh Olaf teams this year.

Naomh Olaf GAA club AGM will be held on Wednesday, November 29 at 8pm. Nominations to 2018 executive committee and motions for the AGM

to be lodged with Maeve Kearns, Runai, by 9pm Friday, November 3.

Minor B hurling shield semi-final: Naomh Olaf v Isles of the Sea, takes place in Pairc Ui Bhriain next Sunday at 11am.

Division 11 football final: Lucan Sarsfields v Naomh Olaf, takes place next Sunday at 2.30pm in 12th Lock. Please support these vital matches.

SHANKILL

OUR juvenile academy

will return to action this Saturday, November 4 in our winter location at St Laurence’s College.

Check with your team manager for training times. Catering for both boys and girls from 4 to 6 years of age, it is sponsored by O’ Donnell’s Pharmacy and is in action every Saturday morning from 10am to 11am.

The cost is only €2 per child and there is no annual subscription.

Qualified coaches are always in attendance and all equipment is supplied

free of charge. So why not come along any Saturday morning and give the Academy a try?

There was no action this weekend as the club took a rest on the October bank holiday weekend.

The ladies adult football team is going from strength to strength with all abilities catered for so check out our Facebook page and follow the link to the ladies Facebook group, e-mail stevedavis203@gmail. com or contact Steve on 087 6414123.

The men’s adult football team have ambitions to climb up through the league divisions so new players are always welcome; contact Kevin on 086 8449902.

For more information on the club, contact, secretary.shankill. dublingaa.ie or call 086 4010438.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Join Shankill GAA Club, your community, your village GAA club where everybody knows your name.

GAZETTESPORT

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

CREST OF A WAVE: UCD gunning for a first ever FAI Senior Cup title against Cork in the Aviva Stadium P37

NOVEMBER 2-8, 2017

LEINSTER’S LEADING LIGHTS: Foxrock continue incredible run in provincial action P38

Cuala captain Ruth Morgan is presented the Leinster JFC trophy by Finbarr O’Driscoll (Picture: GAAPIcs.com); action from the senior hurling final (Picture: Steven Dagg)

Cuala’s double dream

Dalkey club lands two huge titles in the space of a couple of hours with junior ladies footballers and senior hurlers make for a super Saturday

 STEPHEN FINDLATER

sport@dublingazette.com

CUALA enjoyed a dream Saturday as their senior hurlers landed the Dublin championship for the third time in succession on the same day their ladies footballers landed the Leinster junior championship in Kinnegad.

The former were pushed all the way by Kilmacud Crokes, eventually grateful to a couple of David Treacy scores in injury time to record a 1-13 to 0-13 with Darragh O’Connell’s goal proving crucial.

For the ladies, Sinead Wylde scored a hat trick of goals as they overcame Clann na nGael 4-8 to 1-7, overcoming a first half deficit in devastating style, crowning a spectacular weekend.

Speaking in the wake of the hurlers victory, Cuala captain Paul Schutte said it continues an amazing run for a series of current players, following in family footsteps.

“Myself, the Treacys, the O’Callaghans. All their dads won championships,” Schutte said after the final. “This club is built around families and we all want to follow our fathers and uncles and stuff like that and we celebrate as a family.

“It was always a goal of mine as a young lad; my dad captained Cuala and won three championships and I just wanted to replicate him. I am on cloud nine!”

As for the challenge of Crokes, it was another nail-biting victory in their great south Dublin rivalry.

“We played them twice last year, drawing and

winning by a point so we were expecting the toughest of games and they delivered it. There were a couple of goalmouth scrambles at the end so we are just delighted to get over the line.

“Mattie [Kenny] deserves a lot of credit. When you try to go back to back, there’s always a danger you are not going to train hard enough because you get complacent,” Schutte said in praise of his manager. “But he gave us a nice long break and then backed us to get the hunger back. After the summer. We came back ready to go again.”

And now they have a Leinster championship date with Kilkenny champions Dicksboro.

“It’s brilliant the journey we are on and hopefully the Cuala Ultras will build momentum again. It’s just great for the whole of Dalkey.”

On the women’s side, they have an All-Ireland

semi-final to look forward to on November 18 or 19, another big day on the horizon.

For Kilmacud in the hurling final, their manager Ollie Baker praised his own side’s performance against the reigning All-Ireland champions as a Herculean second half performance ended up just short.

“We went in at half-time with the advantage of the breeze and it didn’t work out for us in the first half,” he said afterwards.

“We went in on the opposite end of the scoreboard. And I think maybe we put an awful lot of work into trying to get that scoreboard back to equal and we never managed to get ahead.

“That was a huge thing for Cuala. They could hit us on the break then. And they got their scores a bit easier in the second half.”