Dublin Gazette: South Edition

DublinGazette DECEMBER 5-11, 2019

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THE LATEST NEWS & SPORT FROM THE DUN LAOGHAIRE-RATHDOWN COUNTY COUNCIL AREA

No new patients for Shankill care-home GARY IBBOTSON SAINT Joseph’s Shankill, one of Ireland’s largest dementia care-homes has been forced to put a stop to all new residential admissions as funding to the facility is cut.

Management at the home informed staff and families of awaiting patients

last weekend.

In November, it was reported that the facility may have to close completely but meetings with the Health Service Executive (HSE) secured the funding needed to keep the home open into 2020.

However, its residential services will be severely hit as talks with the National

Treatment Purchase Fund ultimately failed to deliver the funds needed.

Emma Balmaine, Chief Executive at Saint Joseph’s said: “We will do everything possible to save St Joseph’s – however time is running out in respect of securing the necessary budget for 2020, and our Board is firmly of the view that there is no basis as of now, to

enable us accept any new admissions at this time.

“The HSE had come to the table, they understood our issues and we have an agreed way forward for continuing to fund daycare into 2020. Unfortunately, the talks with NTPF are not progressing in the same vein.”

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2 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 5 December 2019

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FASTNews

can’t take new patients GARY IBBOTSON news@dublingazette.com

A SPECIALIST dementia care facility in south Dublin, St Joseph’s Shankill, has informed staff and families of awaiting patents that it will no be longer be accepting any new residential admissions due to funding cuts.

The facility is currently home to 60 people living with dementia and provides two respite beds with an additional 120 days care places per week. However, the service has run at a deficit over the past seven years.

In November, Dublin Gazette reported that the facility was in risk of complete closure if more funding could not be sourced,

Jingles the Penguin soft toys will be available

St Joseph’s staff and families of patients protesting outside the Dail recently

but after productive meetings with the Health Service Executive (HSE), it’s daycare services with be adequately funded into 2020.

However, the same cannot be said for it’s residen-

tial services which will now be severely rolled back.

Discussions with the National Treatment Purchase Fund have failed to deliver an acceptable resolution in terms of

the funding required to sustain the 60 residential places, and thus, new admissions have halted.

Chief Executive of Saint Joseph’s, Emma Balmaine said that “talks had been progressing well up until the end of last week.”

“The HSE had come to the table, they understood our issues and we have an agreed way forward for continuing to fund daycare into 2020. Unfortunately, the talks with NTPF are not progressing in the same vein.

“We will of course continue to engage, but the gap between what’s on offer and what is needed to sustain this highdependency service into the future, is still far too wide.

“We will do everything possible to save St Joseph’s – however time is running out in respect of securing the necessary budget for 2020, and our Board is firmly of the view that there is no basis as of now, to enable us accept any new admissions at this time.”

Speaking on the news, L a b o u r se n a to r a n d member of the All Party Oireachtas Group on Dementia, Kevin Humphreys, said that he was “extremely concerned” and it is “clear to everyone just how vital this centre is for the residents and users of the service and their families.”

Tesco stores host ‘Festive Fun Days’ for all customers TESCO stores across Dublin - including Cabinteely and Shankill - are calling on locals to drop in-store on December 6 and 7, to join Tesco colleagues for a series of ‘Festive Fun Days’ in aid of Temple Street Children’s University Hospital.

This year’s series of ‘Festive Fun Days’ aim to raise €150,000 for the little heroes of Temple Street, with all of the vital funds raised going toward purchasing an advanced Retinal Camera for the Theatre ward.

Using this new equipment, an Ophthalmologist can ensure timely intervention, which can prevent loss of sight and in the case of Retinal cancer can cure many cases.

Geraldine Casey, Director, Tesco Ireland said: “Last year was a great success in terms of generosity and community spirit, with Temple Street proving to have a special place in everyone’s heart. We are so happy to be able to bring our colleagues and customers together to help the little heroes of Temple Street at this special time of the year. We encourage everyone to drop in store to embrace the joy of Christmas and get involved in this year’s festive fun!”

Tesco customers and colleagues will also be able to support the little heroes of Temple Street by purchasing limited edition festive floral bouquets and children’s favorite, Jingles the Penguin soft toys, with funds from each sale going directly to Temple Street.

Other participating stores include: Artane, Cabra, Clarehall, Clearwater, Drumcondra, Jervis St., Kilbarrack, Malahide, Parnell St, Phibsboro, Santry, Talbot St., Dorset St Express, and Fairview Express.

Dundrum Climate Vigil take to streets in support AS students and environmental groups took to the streets last Friday to protest how governments around the world are dealing with climate change, they were joined by the Dundrum Climate Vigil, a group of local people who gather on Dundrum Main Street every Friday morning doing the very same.

Green TD Catherine Martin, the Mayor of Dundrum Martha Lynam, local county councillor Anne Colgan, and local friends and neighbours also showed their support as the group took to the streets on Friday 29 with banners and placard.

The group is echoing student demands worldwide for ‘Climate Action Now’ – calling on governments and local authorities to do more to stop climate change.

5 December 2019 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 3

CHRISTMAS: GAA CLUB INVITES FAMILIES TO COME AND SEE THE BIG MAN

Sensory-friendly grotto plans for Santa visit this Christmas GARY IBBOTSON

KILMACUD Crokes GAA Club will once again host a sensory-friendly Santa’s grotto on Saturday, December 14.

Open to club members and the public, the event came about after Kilmacud Crokes’ Healthy Club Programme realised that some families in the community felt excluded at Christmas time and could not enjoy a Santa Claus experience.

The sensory Santa’s grotto will be similar to a sensory garden, where children with special needs or autism get the opportunity to stimulate senses, individually or collectively.

Clare Boyle, a member of

the organising committee for the event says the idea came about in “August or September and from then on we reached out to members to assist us, alongside some teachers from local schools to provide us with background/training to ensure it worked.”

Boyle says that the grotto will be set up in the Kilmacud Crokes function room and will consist of mood lighting, low music and a quiet room where bean bags will be placed for children to enjoy if they wish.

“We will have colouring books and mood boards for the kids also to have downtime.

“Santa himself has been informed of this special event and he has prom-

Santa with some of his elves and assistants from last year’s sensory-friendly grotto .

ised also to be on his best behaviour alongside his trusty elves!” she says.

Crokes’ Healthy Club Programme first hosted the event last year, and Boyle says they will continue to do so as long as

the demand is there.

“We want to be at forefront of providing this magical service to families ensuring everyone is included.

“That’s the theme, ‘Inclusivity’. Some fami-

lies last year had never attended a Santa event before so to hear that made us all very proud.

“As a club we are very proud to be in a position to be able to serve our community,” says Boyle.

“This is very important to us all at Kilmacud Crokes. Last year all the participants and volunteers at the event got so much out of it and families were thrilled that it went smoothly for them.”

LEISURE

Wicklow Way gets new fund injection THE WICKLOW Way, which runs from Marlay Park to Clonegal in Co. Carlow is to see a funding injection of €20,000 under the 2019 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan TD (FG) says “there is no doubting the importance of projects like this for the wellbeing and quality of life of local residents.”

The Wicklow Way is roughly 132km long consisting of paths and forest tracks.

Minister Madigan said: “Thousands of tourists make walking, hiking, cycling and other outdoor pursuits an important part of their stay in Ireland.

4 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 5 December 2019

SHOEBOX

COUNCILLORS QUESTION DECISION

Residents send out appeal

87 homes leased at cost of €52.5m

AS PART of its usual Christmas activities, the Llewellyn Residents Association in Nutgrove are organising a shoe box appeal with the aim of distributing them to homelessness charities.

The group is asking for donations of new clothes, toys and tinned/ dry food inside a shoebox or similar sized cardboard container.

In a statement, the group said they “did this successfully last year but our aim is to make it bigger and better this year and this is where we need your help.

“Most of us will go on a spending spree this year, as other years, but there are many for whom this is not possible.

“We will be grateful for any help you might be in a position to offer.”

It’s beginning to look alot like Christmas for Felix Local hero and recent Rugby World Cup winning coach Felix Jones was on hand to turn on the Christmas lights in his hometown village of Glasthule, and launch the Christmas Festival. Felix’s son Alfred brought along his dad’s gold medal to proudly show off. Pictured alongside Felix was Mark Caviston as well as young environmentalist and coastal crusader Flossie Donnelly (aged 12).

Picture: MICHAEL CHESTER

DUN Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has announced it has entered into a deal to lease 87 homes, at the cost of €52.5m, in an effort to introduce more social housing.

The homes, which are located in the Herbert Hill apartment complex on Sandyford Road, Dundrum were recently purchased by German-based fund, Realis for €55m.

However, the terms of the deal have made some local representatives question the agreement and its value-for-money.

The local authority will be 100% responsible for the upkeep of the properties for the full-term of the lease which will run for 25 years.

Furthermore, after the expiration of the lease, all residential units will be handed back to Realis for

private sale or rent.

Brian Leeson, Eirigi representative for Dundrum says that the deal “represents a scandalous waste of money”.

“The Herbert Hill deal is going to cost at least €35m more, than the cost of building 87 homes on public land - homes that would provide secure affordable homes for local families for their full one hundred year life cycle.

“The overall cost of the Herbert Hill dea - which I believe will exceed €60m - could have built up to 300 homes on public land,” he says.

Cllr Jim O’Leary (FG) says he was “shocked councillors were not informed in detail” before the agreement was formally announced.

The deal falls in line with pillar two of Rebuilding Ire-

land: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness which Independent councillor Sean McLoughlin says, “Rebuilding Ireland is not working.”

“In this instance, it only covers over the cracks of the housing and homeless crisis in DLR and the wider country. This is the first time DLR is using this mechanism, and hopefully It will be the last.”

Leeson says a familyfriendly protest will take place outside Herbert Hill on Saturday next, December 7 from 12pm to 1pm.

The demonstration will “give people the opportunity to register their opposition to the Herbert Hill deal and to DLR, encouraging the vulture takeover of housing in this area,” he says.

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6 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 5 December 2019

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Mollie Greenan, Ruby Eadie and Dominique Perry from Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua in Ballyogan. Pictures: Alison O’asd

Pupils are encouraged to get active in Ballyogan P

UPILS from local schools took part in the Daily Mile event organised by the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership where schoolchildren were encouraged to follow a healthier lifestyle by participating in fun run during their school day. The event was held at Samuel Beckett Sports Campus in Ballyogan.

Pupils from Gaelscoil

Alex Cassidy, Cian McGrath and Rhys Keating

Shliabh Rua

5 December 2019 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 7

8 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 5 December 2019

FASTNews

POLITICS: POTENTIAL IMPACT ON HOUSING IN FOCUS

Madigan welcomes classrooms funding for Scoil San Treasa in Mount Merrion

MINISTER for Education Joe McHugh has announced that Scoil San Treasa (inset) in Mount Merrion will receive six new classrooms in place of the existing prefabs.

Under a new grant, Scoil San Treasa will receive four new regular classrooms, a classroom to be reconfigured for learning support teachers, a supplementary learning support classroom and new toilet facilities for assisted users.

The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan, said it “is

wonderful news for the whole school community in Scoil San Treasa and Mount Merrion”.

She added: “The school has long sought new classrooms to replace existing prefabs and for learning support needs.

“I am delighted that Minister McHugh announced the funding to provide new and upgraded classrooms to replace the existing prefabs, as well as new toilets for assisted users.

“I want to congratulate the principal, Frances Mullin, as well as members of the Board of Management, staff, parents, and students.

“Schools are at the heart of all our communities, and many require ongoing investment to ensure that all facilities are in safe and secure condition.”

Funding available for conservation work THE application process for funding towards the Conservation of Protected Structures and Historic Structure is now open.

The fund, and the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, supports the owners and custodians of protected structures in local authorities across the country as they carry out hundreds of small-scale, labour-intensive projects to repair or conserve historic artefacts.

The projects will provide support, training and local jobs in practice of conservation, tra-

ditional skills and construction.

The funding, announced by Minister Josepha Madigan, includes up to €2.5 million in Exchequer funding for the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, and up to €1.8 million for the Historic Structures Fund.

The application process is now open, and will close on January 31 next. Details of the schemes and how to apply are available on all local authority websites – contact the Conservation Officer for additional details.

Cllr Lewis blasts ‘ludicrous’ threat to council powers GARY IBBOTSON

LOCAL counc illor and housing activist Hugh Lewis (PBP) has, expressed dismay over the reports that the Government is considering stripping the power of local councils to deliver housing.

According to The Irish Independent, the Government is considering handing the authority to develop housing over to the Land Development Agency (LDA) in order to speed up the process of construction.

This is in order to stop councillors holding up further projects by debating funding and demographic mix of residents.

However, ever since the inception of the State, the remit to build social housing has fallen under local councils and elected representatives.

In response to the report, Cllr Lewis says that the suggestions is “ludicrous” and the idea

Cllr Hugh Lewis (PBP)

that taking the power away from local councils will speed up the construction of social housing is “shocking” and “utterly disingenuous”.

He said: “It has precisely been the ideological abandonment by central government to construct the homes needed that has led to a now

20-year wait for a council home, and no available affordable homes in Dun Laoghaire county.

“Their policy has been to instruct councils to deliver the majority of homes through private contracts and not bricks and mortar.”

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is

currently in the process of handing over the site at Shanganagh Castle to the LDA, with the intention of developing private and social housing.

It is understood that 600 homes will be developed on the site, with about 200 earmarked for social status.

Three years ago, councillors voted to retain the lands at Shanganagh, but earlier this ye a r co u n c i l exe c u tives announced that the funding needed to develop housing on the site would not be made available by central government.

Cllr Lewis says that the council is on track to deliver only 13 homes this year, and believes “an emergency social and affordable house b u i l d i n g p ro g ra m m e to immediately start delivering the homes required” is needed.

At the time of writing, a housing crisis protest has been organised for the city centre today.

Cabinteely concerns over apartments plan GARY IBBOTSON

RESIDENTS of Cabinteely are objecting to the recently submitted planning permission for the development of an eight-storey apartment block on the former Doyle’s nursery site in Cabinteely.

The application has been made to An Bord Pleanala (ABP) by Marlet Property Group, and consists of an eight-storey apartment block and 234 residential units.

The planning permission also includes the demolition of the

‘Benoni’ house on Brennanstown Road and a construction of a roundabout at Lambourne Wood.

In May last year, ABP approved Marlet’s application to build 26 houses and 89 apartments on the same site.

Cllr Cormac Devlin (FF) says that many residents are concerned about the scale of the proposed development and potential impact the influx of vehicles will have on traffic.

He said: “At eight storeys tall, the apartments would be the high-

est buildings by far in the area.”

Local resident, Emma Sheehan is concerned about the potential traffic congestion if the development goes ahead.

She said: “Where do they propose all the cars go?

“Brennanstown Road cannot take this, the new development beside Carrickmines Wood and any development at Barrington Tower – [there would be] mayhem and [the plan is] dangerously stupid.”

Marlet have yet to reply for comment on the residents’ concerns.

5 December 2019 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 9

CHRISTMAS: THE NEW SHOW FOR ALL THE FAMILY IS A WINNER – OH YES IT IS!

‘Aladdin’ flies in to Dublin to help The Gaiety put on no ordinary panto SYLVIA POWNALL

THE magical story of Aladdin is getting a 2019 makeover at Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre – and panto audiences are loving it.

Now extended until January 17, the Arabian tale combines genies and flying carpets with an Irish institution in the form of bumbling Garda PC. The Corkman puts manners on the cast as he orders them not to address the audience as ladies and gentlemen (offensive) or boys and girls (ageist).

“Dem’s de rules,” he yells, brandishing a red

hurley at street urchin Aladdin, princess Jasmine, Widow Twankey and her son, Wishee Washee.

Stars at the gala opening included Boyzone’s Keith Duffy, RTE’s Baz Ashmawi, Pat Kenny and Weekend AM hosts Laura Wood and Anna Daly.

Dublin Gazette tagged along just to see what all the fuss was about. Was it worth it, you ask? Oh yes it was.

Hero Aladdin is played

by West End star Julian Capolei, who also led the cast in Disney’s Aladdin The Musical in London’s West End.

The swagger and charisma of his performance are matched by iconic panto dame Joe Conlan, who celebrates 30 years in the industry, in the role of Widow Twankey.

Another veteran of the Christmas panto, Nicholas Grennell, whips his young audience into a frenzy of booing as lamp-stealing villain, Abanazer.

Meanwhile, Michael Joseph pokes fun at himself – and the audience – at every opportunity as chief mischief-maker Wishee Washee.

This version sticks faithfully to the story,

Sport Ireland to divide out €4.2 million

Panto fan Leah (right) loved Aladdin at The Gaiety in the city centre – just the latest in the venerable theatre’s excellent pantos

but it ditches the Disney tunes, with Abanazer channelling Billie Eilish’s ‘Bad Guy’ and princess So Shy twerking away.

The intimate Gaiety venue, which staged its first panto in 1873, is perfect for witnessing a

‘magic carpet’ flying right over your head as Aladdin and Jasmine sing ‘Rewrite the Stars’ from The Greatest Showman.

Our critic, Leah (6) was rapt for the entire threehour show.

She concluded: “I don’t

want it to be over. Can they do it again?”

As the saying goes, this is no ordinary panto ...

Tickets for Aladdin (from €19.50) are available now at www.gaietytheatre. ie and also at www.ticketmaster.ie.

Calls for councils to better monitor rents GARY IBBOTSON news@dublingazette.com

INDEPENDENT Dun Laoghaire senator, Victor Boyhan is calling on local councils to be held more accountable for the standards they hold on private sector landlords’ properties.

Speaking in the Seanad last week, Senator Boyhan said that “local authorities randomly inspect the properties of private sector landlords.

Who is keeping an eye on

the local authorities, however?

“People with young children have come to me because they have mildew on the walls of their residence.

“They have been told to go out and buy a bottle of bleach by the local authorities and those people have that in writing, by the way. They were told they had to ventilate their residences better, use bleach and take the mould off the walls.”

Senator Boyhan said

that more transparency is needed regarding housing maintenance.

“People across the country, are living in appalling accommodation which is part of our social housing stock.

“Who is monitoring that situation? This is an important issue because tenants often fear that continuing to harass the local authority about the poor standards of their accommodation will result in some sort of rancour, to the detriment of a

FASTNews

Victor Boyhan

transfer or move to another property.

“It is not acceptable for local authorities to be acting as judges and juries in their own causes,” he said.

Boyhan says that local authorities “are failing on a whole range of fronts and we need to monitor them because no actor currently has responsibility in that area.”

Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Jim Daly TD (FG), who was standing in for Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy, said that such complaints should be made to the Office of the Ombudsman and no authority currently holds the necessary responsibil-

ity.

Speaking to Dublin Gazette, Senator Boyhan says proper maintenance in housing stock is an issue that continues to arise “I believe that the same standards for the Private Rental Sector should apply to Local Authority housing stock.

“It is my intention to continue to advocate for an independent inspectorate to ensure high standards are maintained for social housing stock”.

THE announcement that €4.2m in Dormant Accounts Funding will be made available for a range of sport and physical activity measures countrywide has been welcomed by Leas-Cathaoirleach, Deirdre Donnelly (Ind).

The investment will be divvied out by Sport Ireland who will prioritise people with disabilities, people who are educationally disadvantaged and people from disadvantaged communities.

“I am delighted to see that some of this money will be invested in sport in our own county in particular Ballyogan”, said Cllr Donnelly.

“I welcome any initiative that promotes in particular health and fitness.

Christmas in Dun Laoghaire THIS past Saturday, November 30, the Harbour Plaza in Dun Laoghaire hosted the launch of the town’s Christmas festival.

Beginning at 4pm with a seasonal DJ set from Upbeat Generation, Santa arrived at 5:30pm while CORus Choir filled the air with their dulcet tones. At 5:45pm, the town was lit-up

by An Cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Shay Brennan and Santa Claus.

This year’s light display is the biggest ever the town has seen.

The festival will run until December 23 and also includes the iconic Ferris Wheel from ‘Grease’.

10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 5 December 2019

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Michael O’Brien, Jim Tracey, Ged Walsh and Senator Michael McDowell. Pictures: EMILY GALLAGHER

John Sheahan and John Kaye

Take a trip along the Dodder with this fantastic new book A

very special book was launched last week that will take you on a historic trip along the Dodder to see two suburbs, including Churchtown.

On the Banks of the Dodder by Ged Walsh is an illustrated history of Churchtown and Rathgar, with illustrations by Michael O’Brien. The Churchtown launch took place in De la Salle, Churchtown.

The book is available from www.obrien.ie, in bookstores and in SuperValu, Churchtown.

Dymphna and Barry Walsh with Svetlana Pironko

Jim Tracey Ged Walsh singing a book

Michael O’Brien (publisher and illustrator)

Valerie Grant, Carmel Behan and Margaret Melony

Michael and Elizabeth Barry with Miriam Kennedy

5 December 2019 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 11

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Launch of the Dare to Dream exhibition T

HE launch of the Dare to Dream exhibition took place last week at dlr Lexicon Library, Dun Laoghaire.

The exhibition showcases the work of

Sarah Webb and Graham Corcoran who composed a book on Irish people who took on the world and won.

Pictures: Peter Cavanagh

Pippa O’Connor

Dr Ruth Freeman-Kishida with her children Isaac and Ayla

Hazel and Eve O’Donoghue, Katie Gaskin and Sara O’Flaherty

12 DUBLIN GAZETTE 5 December 2019

DUBLIN GAZETTE EXCLUSIVE EXPOSE ON VULTURES FUNDS: PART 5 OF 7

Dealing with vulture funds This week we give you advice on all you need to know when dealing with Vulture Funds.

In researching this piece, Padraig Conlon spoke with several legal and property experts, among them Edmund Honohan, Master of the High Court.

Here is what we’ve learned…

DUE PROCESS All you ever need to know ...

Three important reminders: 1. Have you done an Affidavit?

2. Have you done an Affidavit?

3. Where is your Affidavit?

It’s a fast track process.

You will not be allowed to give sworn evidence in person unless you’ve filed an Affidavit.

If you don’t file an Affidavit, it could be game over.

The County Registrar can order an Eviction.

But if an Affidavit is filed, the case must be transferred as a “defended” case, to a Judge.

You can appeal the Registrar’s Order (10 days).

Ask the Registrar for a Witness Summons returnable for the Hearing before the Judge; naming the MABS official you have dealt with up until now.

You will probably get a letter from the solicitor telling you not to attend Court, and isn’t that strange?

Following the crash, they changed the Rules of Court so that you wouldn’t be allowed to give evidence from the

(Ironically, you do not need a new Affidavit to do so!)

TENANTS witness box.

Nice one! Happily, some judges choose to ignore those changes.

But don’t expect the judge to do your work.

That’s not their job.

Even if it’s obvious that you need an Adjournment, for instance to read a new Affidavit just handed to you, you must ask, and he will not prompt you.

He, or she, may not even give you the reasons you’ve lost the case though failure to do so means he/she’s in breach of your entitlement under the European Convention on Human Rights.

You have only 10 days to appeal the Judge’s Order to the High Court.

This affects you too.

So, if your Landlord mortgaged the house as a “buy-to-let” investment, he may be in arrears.

Even if you’ve paid the rent, you may get a letter from a “Receiver” giving a deadline to leave.

Do you have any rights?

Think of it this way: the Bank or Vulture Fund is your new Landlord.

They must follow the Law and deal with you under the supervision of the PRT. And guess what: 70% of these “Notices to Quit” have been found to be in breach of the rules.

So, if you get a “Notice to Quit” don’t just hand back the keys - talk to THRESHOLD.

5 December 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

What to do - Where to go - Who to talk to Some tenants may not be confident that in Ireland a Landlord cannot just throw you out and change the locks.

It’s true, they can’t, and there are plenty of NGO’s who will be happy to help you.

Only time will tell if you must vacate. In the meantime, sit tight.

EVICTION Could it be your turn?

The small print says: “if you fail to make your payments when due your home is at risk.”

That was true then, and it’s true now.

Whoever owns your loan, owns your home.

That’s the law. If you can pay off the loan, you get back your home.

But, you’re in arrears and you’re still there: how come?

It’s simple: nobody wanted to evict you.

The banks didn’t, the building societies didn’t, the Government didn’t, and even (sometimes) the Judges don’t.

Until now the lenders (“mortgagees”) followed guidelines (a “code of conduct”) set by the Central Bank and many agreed a “restructure” of payments.

Sometimes the borrowers (“mortgagors”) agreed a voluntary surrender of the house, or just walked away.

The Government rewrote the Insolvency Laws, and a few borrowers have done “arrangements”.

Even when the lenders objected the Court has the final say as to whether you get to keep the house, and on what terms.

(You will need a Personal Insolvency Practitioner for this.)

Another option suitable for some was the Government’s Mortgage-to-Rent scheme, but it hasn’t worked, as planned.

WARNING

A Vulture Fund has bought your Loan.

There’s the new problem, the Vulture Fund now actually wants to evict you.

It owns your house and wants you out so it can be sold on to someone else, at a handsome profit.

Best offer they’ll make to you is: “Give us the keys and we’ll write off your debt.”

If you can do that, fine, but you may be refused public housing afterwards.

If you are in need of further advice please contact MABS, the State’s money advice service, who will help guide you through dealing with problem debt. MABS is free, confidential and independent and can

be reached MABS Helpline 0761 07 2000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm) For a call back from the helpline, email: helpline@mabs.ie

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 5 December 2019

DUBLIN

STYLE P20

NEW HONDA CIVIC PACKS IN A VERY IMPRESSIVE RANGE OF FEATURES P21

MAGAZINE

MUSIC P19

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF THE NEWS AND EVENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND COUNTY Pictures: Conor McCabe Photography

Water spectacle!

DUBLIN Port’s Harbour Master, Captain Michael McKenna, and his daughter, Bella, were delighted to help welcome DPC Tolka – Dublin Port Company’s new pilot boat – as she arrived at the port recently. The state-of-the-art vessel (in orange, top left) will be able to reach larger vessels in all kinds of weather conditions at Dublin Bay, helping to guide them safely in. With the DPC Tolka’s importance to both the port and the capital alike, she was given a superb welcome by a flotilla of vessels as she made her confident way across the bay to the port.

5 December 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 5 December 2019

ROSCOMMON: LIVE – OR STAY – LIKE A KING OR QUEEN IN AN IDYLLIC COUNTRY RETREAT

Cloontykilla Castle set to offer the ultimate dream staycation in 2020 PADRAIG CONLON

THE popularity of shows like Game of Thrones and Downton Abbey make many of us dream of being king or queen of a castle.

Roscommon native Sean Simon also had a head full of those dreams – and he’s working on making that dream a reality for guests at Cloontykilla Castle, Roscommon, from the middle of next year.

A successful acting career in musicals and theatre productions in London’s West End, as well as appearances in several major movies, gave Sean the opportunity to fulfil a childhood dream in the place where he grew up.

Talking to Dublin Gazette, he said: “When I was a child, I told my parents that one day I’d have the money to buy the two castles, known as Cloontykilla Castle and McDermott’s Castle, in Lough Key Forest Park.”

Originally from nearby Boyle, he had played among the ruins of Cloon-

tykilla Castle, known locally as Rockingham Castle, when he was a small child.

Built in 1839, the castle was designed by famous architect John Nash, who also designed Buckingham Palace, and was built

by Lord Stafford King Harman.

The Stafford King Harmans left Ireland in 1957 after a fire destroyed the living quarters in Rockingham Castle.

Sean bought the two castles from the Irish Forestry Board in 1997 with the dream of restoring the once great buildings to their former glory.

So began two decades of hard graft, which have pushed Sean to the very limits.

He said: “It has been a very interesting and challenging project as both castles had been abandoned and neglected and were in ruins.

“I’m currently turning Cloontykilla Castle into a magnificent five-star luxury retreat that will be a completely authentic

There has been lots of interest in the ambitious project, driven by Sean Simon (seen above, right, with Kevin McCloud, the presenter of Channel 4’s Grand Designs on its initial focus on the project some years ago). Such was the enormous interest in that episode, Grand Designs is returning for a follow-up episode next Summer. Screengrabs: YouTube

experience.

“If you’ve ever wanted to have your own castle for a week, then it will be the place for you!

“When I open in the Summer [2020], guests will be able to rent the castle and experience what life was like in the 13th Century, but with 21st Century luxury touches such as underfloor heating, and so on.

“It will be a fantastic venue for small private weddings, and parties, set among the most beautiful countryside, that is abundant with wildlife.

“There’ll also be horse riding available, and wonderful country walks, as

well as a private harbour with access to the Shannon.

“It’s a great concept. It’s not a hotel, there’s no bar, and no restaurant – it’s a private castle you can rent out.

“If you need anything

from a chef to a driver, we can organise all that, no problem at all. There’ll be a phone number for guests to call if need be.”

His work on Cloontykilla Castle has even featured on the hit Channel 4 show, Grand Designs, in 2012.

Sean proudly said: “That show had the highest-grossing viewership in the history of the programme, and the production team are coming back for a return show next Summer.

“It’s a massive deal – that episode is available on US Netflix, and was watched by 107 million people, coast to coast, in the USA! “I can’t wait for people to come and experience Cloontykilla Castle. It is going to be something they have never, ever experienced before.

“This historical experience is not something currently available anywhere else in Ireland, and will leave guests with unforgettable memories.”

Cloontykilla Castle is due to open next Summer.

For further information, see https://cloontykillacastle.com/.

Architectural render showing how the magnificent project should look upon its completion: Picture: NYD

5 December 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

TAKE A BREAK, AT HOME OR AWAY Celebrating the best of the best in the travel sector THE Irish travel industry’s prestigious ‘Oscars’ took place recently, with the 28th annual Irish Travel Trade News (ITTN) awards celebrating the best movers, shakers, airlines and agencies and much more at work in the Irish travel industry. Pictured are Ciara Foley, Austin Carroll, Paula Cross, Michael Coffey, of Platinum Travel (with Neil Steedman, ITTN, secondright) – members of Platinum Travel, which scooped the 2019 ITTN Travel Agency of the Year award at the black tie event at the Clayton Hotel. Picture: Paul Sherwood

You could stay at a Generator hostel in Barcelona (above), London, Copenhagen, Paris, Rome – or even right here in Dublin, in Smithfield – with a 20% discount

Hostels generate a cool 20% discount SHANE DILLON

Travel Editor ‘BLACK Friday’ has been and gone, with the American-influenced shopping day casting a spell over travel, too, with many agencies and operators offering a range of Black Friday deals recently.

However, not to be outdone, all kinds of postBlack Friday travel deals are also available at the moment, and for those

looking for something that could be a bargain break – especially for anyone coming up from down the country – Generator hostels are currently offering 20% off stays, both here and internationally.

With Generator Smithfield already proving particularly popular for ‘staycationers’ on a budget – as well as for people jetting off to the Generators scattered across many of Europe’s capital cities – it’s

hard to argue with a cool 20% discount, especially as pre-Christmas shopping trips loom.

The sale promotion is live with bookable dates up to March 28 next, and applied automatically at check-out; reservations must be made at least three days prior to arrival date, for a minimum stay of two nights, and is subject to availability.

For further information, see staygenerator.com.

American Holidays celebrates a move over to new setting at Exchequer Street AMERICAN Holidays recently officially celebrated the formal opening of its new offices in Exchequer Street, following its move earlier this year from its long-established offices just off Grafton Street.

Now located at No 16, Exchequer Street, Dublin 2, the new American Holidays offices builds on the expertise built up by the company’s travel experts from many years of presenting some of the best deals and destinations for Irish visitors to America.

Bladhana Richardson, head of marketing with American Holidays, said, “With this new store, we really wanted to create a unique experience for our customers.

“Every member of our team, throughout the entire business, has

collectively visited every part of the United States – so, it’s safe to say that there isn’t anyone on our team who can’t provide you with a tailormade getaway to America.”

With the major office move behind them, the American Holidays team are busy at work focusing on the dream trips available in its recently launched 2020 brochure.

For further information on the office and the 2020 deals, just see www. americanholidays.com.

TRAVEL

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 5 December 2019

DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS I N F O R M AT I O N

COOL AND QUIRKY THINGS

BITS & BOBS

Heritage House, Dundrum, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240 Dublin Gazette Newspapers publishes four weekly quality free titles, covering the latest news, sport, entertainment and lifestyle from the four local authority areas of Dublin

C O N TA C T S Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@dublingazette.com Commercial Director: Liz Ferris lferris@dublingazette.com Group Editor: Patrick Finnegan pfinnegan@dublingazette.com Deputy Group Editor & Travel Editor: Shane Dillon sdillon@dublingazette.com Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile jmaile@dublingazette.com Picture Editor: Alison O’Hanlon picturedesk@dublingazette.com Online & Style Editor: Rachel D’Arcy rdarcy@dublingazette.com Advertising Sales:

01 - 6010240 sales@dublingazette.com

FIND US ON

www.dublingazette.com Dublin Gazette Newspapers Ltd. Terms and Conditions for acceptance of advertisements Reserve the right to omit or suspend or alter any advertisement(s) in any of its publications. We also decline any responsibility in the event of one or more of a series of advertisements being omitted for any reason whatever, nor do we accept liability for any loss or damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertisement. If your advertisement appears incorrectly, contact the Advertising Department immediately, as responsibility cannot be accepted for more than one week’s incorrect insertion. Responsibility cannot be accepted if the complaint is made more than two weeks after insertion. If one places an advertisement for more than one week and then cancels it after the first week, no refund or credit will be given for weeks cancelled. The advertiser undertakes to indemnify the Proprietors against any liability for any civil action arising out of the publication of the advertisement or any other matter printed or published in the City Gazette, Fingal Gazette, South Gazette and West Gazette. The placing of an order or contract will be deemed an acceptance of these conditions.

RTE presenter Blathnaid Tracy and RTE 2FM presenter Tracy Clifford joined Craig Fitzgerald and Matthew Murtagh, of Irish band (and previous nominees) The Academic, to help launch the RTE Choice Music Prize 2019. The RTE Choice Music Prize Live Event will take place on Thursday, March 5 next in Vicar Street, where it will continue to champion Irish music. Picture: Maxwell Photography

Unlucky crook targets Viking treasure leads two Bikers gather to elderly bodybuilder’s men straight to ... prison smash a record A HARLEY Davidson enthusiast home – big mistake! TWO Englocal corogathered 3,497 motorcyclists in A HOME invader in Rochester, New York got more than he bargained for when he tried to burgle an 82-year-old bodybuilder’s house..

According to a local news station, Willie Murphy was enjoying a quiet night in when a man showed up at her front porch.

The man told Murphy that he was injured and asked her to ring an ambulance. Murphy picked up the phone to ring 999 but smartly didn’t let the man into her house.

While on the phone, Murphy heard a loud smash and returned to her sitting room to see the man trying to break in.

Unlike many 82-year-old women, Murphy is well able to handle herself in a physical altercation and proceeded to beat the man with a wooden table, forcing the robber out of her home with bruises and a broken ego.

lish metal detectorists are facing jail time after uncovering Viking t re a su re – believed to be more than 1,000 years old – but tried to keep their find (inset) for themselves.

Under British law, any treasure found by detectorists that is believed to be more than 300 years old must be reported to a

ner to be processed and valued.

However, George P o w e l l a n d L ayton Davies aroused suspicion with the valuations on the “old treasure” that they found, with Herefordshire police soon detecting the detectorists’ true haul.

Powell and Davies were sentenced to 10 years and eight years respectively.

Texas last week to break the Guinness World Record for the largest parade of Harley motorcycles.

Adam Sandoval said he started trying to break the record in 2010 and ended up with three failed attempts before Saturday’s event, which involved the help of Paris HarleyDavidson in Paris, Texas.

Sandoval said he wanted to bring the record back to the United States after learning the previous record was set in Greece.

A Guinness adjudicator was present at the Cox Field airport tarmac, the location of the gathering, to count the bikes participating in the parade.

DOG OF THE WEEK DUBLIN Gazette Newspapers has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for lost and abandoned dogs.

This week’s dog of the week is MaxMali, a very intelligent and handsome seven-year-old Belgian Shepherd.

He loves cuddles and pets as well as a game of fetch! He is looking for a quiet home with no other pets so he can lap up all the attention for himself.

Max-Mali would love his future family to be quite active so they can bring him on adventurous walks to sniff out new places.

He also loves keeping himself busy with brain games and putting his clever

brain to use by doing basic training and learning new tricks. Max-Mali will make an amazing companion and will be a very loyal friend to his future human best friend.

If you have room in your heart and home for Max-Mali then please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website www.dogstrust.ie.

You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE. (Remember: Always have your dog on a lead when in public.)

max-mali

5 December 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

WELL WORTH A LISTEN

ENTERTAINMENT

A slow act of musical poetry JAMES HENDICOTT

PERHAPS the strangest thing about David Keenan’s wild developmental story – still unfolding slowly after years of slow-building to the heights of an Olympia Theatre headline slow – is how long it’s taken the Dundalk man to release an album.

Keenan (right) is an intense character; his words flowing with the considered, poetic bent of someone who’s spent a lot of time thinking about what the world means, and his own place in it.

Talking to him about his music is a strange experience, uncomfortably intimate at times, having a top-class songwriter look you in the eye and talk off the cuff in a way that isn’t

all that dissimilar to the way he delivers his lyrics.

The album, A Beginner’s Guide To Bravery, is now just around the corner, being due just after Christmas, and is very much a long-term project.

“It’s a consequence of living,” Keenan says of his record. “It’s a kind of bookmarking of a certain period.

“There are songs on the record from four years ago, and others I wrote this year.

“They’re a by-product of my own individuality, so in a way they’ve been developing since I was a child.

“A collection of things have aligned. I’ve been releasing EPs for a couple of years, with the intention of getting a body of songs that tell a story.

“There’s a lineage between each song, but they have to have their

own personality, too. It’s the story of my evolution, moving to Dublin, finding a stride, the emotional journeys.

“It’s also been about getting the right band, and recordings that I was happy with. That was a

lot about getting people I trusted into the band.

“I did it live, and that was important to me. Life isn’t click-tracked.”

The product is a brave, coherent album that’s a certain early contender for 2020 Album of the Year

consideration.

It’s been a long time coming, but Keenan is a good bet for 2020’s great Irish breakthrough.

David Keenan plays The Olympia Theatre on January 13, with tickets priced at €25.

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 5 December 2019

HOME & STYLE

Keep your home looking cool this christmas WHILE DECORATING your Christmas tree each year is a major tradition, the way we are decorating it today has become anything but!

People are saying goodbye to their flimsy tinsel, and multicoloured lights and instead, giving a big warm welcome to bold and often themed décor.

People are creatures of habit and don’t like change but guess what – your interior does!

It’s okay to be afraid of change, but sometimes change might be exactly what your interior both needs and deserves!

Lucky for you, EZ Living Furniture are giving us their top tips to make the most out of our themed Christmas decorations.

Ready for some themed tips? Let’s get started!

1. Start the season off right!

In order to make the most of your theme, it is important to invest in a tree that’s durable and will withstand the festive season (and the surprisingly heavy baubles!).

Whether you invest in a green tree or a frosted white one, your tree will set the tone for your theme!

2. Theme your Tree!

Before you start decorating, pick one central theme that everything can be tied to. Themes

don’t have to come from a colour, they can also have many different sources such as shapes, patterns, symbols, and even moods. Pick a theme and stick to it!

3. Light it Up! Start with the lights first.

Whether you decide on warm yellow hues, multicoloured lights, or sparkling whites. Weave your lights from the top of the tree right down to the bottom and work your way back up. Make sure to test the lights before you start on your baubles as lights will be the most intricate part to redo.

4. Balance your Baubles!

In order to create the most aesthetic look, EZ Living Furniture are suggesting you invest in 3 different sized baubles.

This will add flair to your tree!

5. Theme it with a Topper!

In order to really perfect your theme, your tree topper should be the perfect finishing touch!

Invest in a show stopper that you will be proud of!

After all, it is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation!

For more information simply log onto ezlivingfurniture.ie , or call into any of EZ Living Furniture’s Christmas departments Nationwide!

FRESH IDEAS FOR YOUR WARDROBE

(L-R) A Nu meet-up in London, humble beginnings in Trinity College, and founder Aisling Byrne

Become a Nu you with this innovative new app  Rachel D’Arcy IRELAND’S FIRST clothes sharing app launched in Dublin this month, taking a step in the sustainable direction.

Fo l l ow i n g a n e x te n s ive amount of testing during the Summer, the app – Nu – brings the model of clothes sharing to Ireland for the first time.

Billed as a social network for women looking for an unlimited revolving wardrobe, the app was created by Dubliners Aisling Byrne and Ali Kelly.

Speaking about the app, Aisling Byrne, said: “Creating a sharing economy for clothing means that pieces that might have gathered dust at the back of Dubliner’s wardrobes get to see the light of day.

“As Irish women ourselves,

we’re guilty of keeping our ‘good’ clothes for special occasions and then never wearing them. We want to take the stress out of finding nice outfits for special occasions and to encourage our members to get the most out of their wardrobes.”

Back in 2014, Aisling and Ali went to India on the Suas volunteer programme and saw first-hand the reality of the fastfashion industry. When they returned to Dublin, they struggled to find affordable alternatives to fast-fashion brands.

Both feeling isolated in their efforts to make more conscious fashion choices, they decided they needed to make a change.

What began as an idea became a reality from late 2017.

Building a Squarespace website for women at Trinity College, the site allowed students to share ball

BeautyBITS

Penneys launch their own shopping Monopoly game with Hasbro What does a thimble, a dog and a brown shopping bag all have in common? They’re all included in the Penneys MONOPOLY game, released just in time for Christmas!

Penneys MONOPOLY sees players take a shopping trip, as they buy and build Penneys stores. Fill your baskets with amazing fashion at amazing prices, and race through the changing rooms.

The game is available for €22 from Penneys stores across Dublin.

gowns ahead of Trinity ball.

Roaming the Trinity lecture theatres, Aisling asked for photos of outfits that students would be willing to share for the upcoming ball. Up they went on the Squarespace – with students coordinating swaps over WhatsApp. With 350 sign-ups and 60 swaps in three weeks, Nu had proved that the model could work.

The web platform launched in September 2017 and people outside of Trinity could now upload and share their clothes online with the growing Nu Community. Nu recruited brand ambassadors and began to build student communities across the UK and Ireland.

Aisling said: “We want to offer Irish women an alternative to fast-fashion. Nu encourages friendship, sharing and actually wearing our clothes with a goal to extend the life-cycle of our

favourite pieces. Looking good doesn’t have to cost the earth.”

The app aims to create communities of women across the country who can share their much-loved, but little-worn, items of clothing. Women of all ages and sizes can use the app to share clothing for upcoming events such as weddings, Christmas parties and work events as well as day-to-day and streetstyle fashion.

To track the environmental impact of the Nu app, Aisling worked with the London Waste and Recycling Board to develop a detailed impact calculator allowing members to track their carbon, waste and water offset each time they borrow and lend pieces on the platform.

Find out more about Nu: https://www.thenuwardrobe. com/ or follow Nu on Instagram.

Ireland’s First Cannabidiol Massage Treatments launched in Dublin spa The Buff Day Spa in Dublin will became Ireland’s first spa to offer cannabidiol massage treatments this week.

The CBD oil is mixed with massage oil, allowing it to absorb quicker as part of the therapeutic massage process. Minor aches and injuries respond well to the new technique, as does chronic pain like arthritis, according to Heidi Grimwood of CBD Spa. CBD Spa works in conjunction with CBD Ireland Online, more information can be found on https://www. cbdspa.ie/.

5 December 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

WHAT’S NEW IN THE WORLD OF TRANSPORT

MOTORS

REVIEW: NEW VERSION IS A PROUD ADDITION TO A 40-YEAR HERITAGE OF QUALITY CARS

Honda Civic Sedan 1.0-Litre VTEC impresses with ease DECLAN GLYNN

BUILDING on its 40-year heritage, the all-new Honda Civic Four-Door Sedan stays true to the original Civic concept of “a car for all people, a car for the world”.

The new car is a marriage of distinctive design, sporty styling and versatile practicality – with a renewed focus on rewarding driving dynamics.

The all-new Civic has been engineered from the ground up to fulfil the promise of agility on the road, while also having the ability to turn heads with its striking design language.

A lightweight, highly rigid bodyshell complements the car’s lower centre of gravity, while a sophisticated new suspension system contributes to an engaging and fun driving experience.

The new Honda Civic Four-Door Sedan stays true to its roots, but the revamped model also packs in innovative features alongside its power and comfort

FACT BOX

1) 126bhp 2) 0-100km/h in 10.6-seconds 3) Dynamic performance 4) Low fuel consumption 5) Annual road tax just €190 The new Civic debuts an all-new 1.0-litre VTEC Turbo petrol engine that has been developed specifically to deliver a powerful, engaging and efficient driving experience,

and a comprehensively revised 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel engine, which delivers outstanding real-world efficiency and refinement.

The new Honda Civic Sedan is available in two

lavishly equipped trim levels – Smart Plus and Premium, while all models come with Honda Sensing as standard.

Featuring a collision mitigation braking system, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, road departure mitigation, intelligent speed limiter, intelligent adaptive cruise control, and traffic sign recognition, this innovative suite of advanced safety and driver assis-

Advice to maximise your EV’s battery life DECLAN GLYNN

FOR the growing number of Electric Vehicle (EV) owners in Ireland, the good news is that there are a raft of techniques, and technology, to increase how long your battery lasts.

This guide should help you to achieve more distance per charge from your battery.

Intelligent braking Electric cars come with ‘regenerative braking’ technology. This is where the electric motor is used to slow a car down, and in the process, this recharges its battery a little.

However, EVs also come with traditional braking systems which use normal brake pads pressing against brake discs to slow you down – which wastes energy as heat, due to the friction involved.

Most electric cars use regenerative braking as much as possible, but will also use the traditional brakes under heavy braking.

To recapture as much energy as possible, you should avoid pressing too often, and too hard, on the brake pedal – unless you have to avoid an unexpected obstacle, of course.

Stop stopping This doesn’t mean flying across every T-junction and ignoring red lights.

It means trying to avoid coming to a complete standstill as much as possible, because getting an electric motor turning from rest puts strain on the batteries.

In reality, this means keeping the car moving if you’re approaching a roundabout and can see no one is coming, or keeping moving when joining another road – provided you can see no other cars are there – rather than stopping on a slope and having to do a hill start.

Drive in someone else’s slipstream When driving along, your car is faced by a wall of air which,

depending on speed, can put up quite the fight to be moved out of the way, limiting your range in the process.

However, when driving on motorways, if you can stay relatively close to the vehicle in front (preferably a larger one), albeit far enough back that you can have enough space to slow down if that vehicle slams on the brakes, you can let the vehicle in front do all the work of pushing stationary air out of the way.

This leaves you with ‘clean’ air, which is much easier to drive through, therefore helping to boost your range as your car faces less wind resistance.

Windows up Aerodynamics are a large influencer in how efficient a car is at turning energy into distance travelled. A good general rule to boost your range is to drop the windows down at low speeds to cool the cabin down, and use air-conditioning briefly at higher speeds.

tance technologies ensure the new Civic is among the very safest cars in its class.

My review car was a Honda Civic Sedan 1.0litre Turbo (petrol) Smart Plus model which looked amazing in stylish Lunar Silver metallic paint.

Key equipment in this model includes a leather multi-function steering wheel, 17” alloy wheels,

climate control automatic air-conditioning, auto wipers, electrically retractable door mirrors, driver seat lumbar support and front and rear parking sensors.

Other features included Honda CONNECT with GARMIN Navigation, two USB/HDMI inlets, front fog lights, alarm system, Bluetooth, and Low Speed Following (CVT/9AT

transmissions only).

Honda’s CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) is optional in petrol engine guise, while Honda’s wonderfully smooth 9AT (9-speed automatic transmission) is available as an option with the diesel engine.

Pricing for the most sophisticated Civic sports sedan ever starts at just €27,750

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 5 December 2019

DUBLIN SENIORS

This week, we look at housing aid, the grants for physical activity and the dangers of falls and fractures

Housing Aid for Older People Scheme

Sports grants to promote physical activity in older people The Go for Life National Grant Scheme is celebrating a momentous allocation of funding for sporting activities in older age-groups.

The grants scheme, a combined initiative from Age & Opportunity and Sport Ireland, will distribute over €300,000 across 1,084 groups.

This allocation brings the total grant fund allocated to date to over €6 million.

The National Grant Scheme provides an accessible and enjoyable means for older people in communities nationwide to reap the health rewards from doing physical activity.

Brendan Griffin, Minister of State with responsibility for Sport, said: “I am delighted to see that almost €300,000 has been allocated by Sport Ireland to the Go for Life grants to over one thousand groups this year. This means that 33,000 older people will take part in sport and physical activity as a direct result of this grant scheme.

“Over the last eighteen years, the National Grant Scheme funding has supported and empowered thousands of groups of older people to get more active more often and the record number of applications this year shows the continued importance of the scheme for groups throughout the country. Go for Life is doing a wonderful job of providing opportunities for older people to enjoy all the benefits that participation can bring.”

Karen Smyth, CEO of Age & Opportunity, said: “Today’s grant funding is helping us create an Ireland, where all older people are more active and more connected and the allocation of grants ensured clubs and groups from all walks of life could benefit from the scheme.”

Of the successful funding allocations, 243 grants were awarded to Active Retirement Associations, 278 grants were awarded to Irish Countrywomen’s Associations and 21 applications were made

by Local Sports Partnerships.

Other funding allocations included: 33 Men’s Sheds’ groups; 2 Women’s Shed’s groups (for the first time); 11 Arthritis Ireland initiatives; 16 Irish Wheelchair Association groups; and activities for 22 Family Resource Centres.

The Grant Scheme is part of Age & Opportunity’s ‘Go for Life’ programme, funded by Sport Ireland, and delivered nationwide with the support of Local Sports Partnerships and the HSE.

THE HOUSING Aid for Older People Scheme is used to improve the condition of an older person’s home.

In general, it is aimed at people 66 years of age and older, who are living in poor housing conditions. However, in cases of genuine hardship the local authority may assist people under age 66.

If you have a disability and your home needs to be adapted to make it more accessible, the Ho u s i n g Ad a p ta t i o n Grant for People with a

Disability or the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme may be more suitable for you.

VAT refunds are available on aids and appliances used by people with disabilities. This refund scheme also applies to the cost of installation work.

Rules Local authorities have been instructed that only essential repairs should be undertaken to make the property habitable for the applicant.

Local authorities vary as regards what type of work they will grant aid

under the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme. You should check with your own local authority to see which types of work its scheme will cover.

The type of work that is grant aided can include some or all of the following: n Structural repairs or improvements n Dry-lining n Repair or replacement of windows and doors n The provision of water, sanitary services and heating

n

ing

Cleaning and paint-

n Radon remediation n Re-wiring

n Any other repair or improvement work considered necessary.

Many older people may be eligible for the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme. However, priority will be given to people on the basis of financial need.

Means Test Your total household income is assessed to find out if you qualify for the grant and at what level of

assistance.

When applying for the grant, you must provide evidence of ownership of the property and evidence that the Local Property Tax on it has been paid.

How to apply Download an application form from your local authority’s website or ask for one to be posted to you. Contact the Housing Section of your local authority for information about the eligibility rules in your area, which may differ from those in other local authority areas.

NATIONAL FALLS AND BONE HEALTH PROJECT FALLS ARE a challenge for older people and a significant and costly cause of injury. The original AFFINITY project commenced in 2013, to deliver the vision described in the National Strategy for Prevention of Falls and Fractures in Ireland’s Ageing Population.

The senior stakeholders agreed in the latter half of 2016 that the project needed to be re-focused in light of changes in HSE structures, and the need to significantly scale up implementation of falls and fracture prevention.

AFFINITY 2018-2023 has been set up to bring renewed focus, coordination and clear direction to the spectrum of falls and fracture prevention service

improvement initiatives currently underway in the community, and within acute services across the country.

Aim Reducing harm from falls requires not just a single discipline or service, but rather a whole community and a range of services including health services.

The aim of the AFFINITY

National Falls and Bone Health Project (2018-2023) is to coordinate the development of a comprehensive falls and fracture prevention system.

Such a system involves all parties focusing on a common agenda of reducing falls and fractures and their impacts, by bringing together and integrating primary prevention, secondary prevention and rehabilitation

as well as measuring outcomes collectively.

The intent is to increase awareness of the preventable nature of falls and to enable older people, communities and health and social care providers to reduce the risk and rate of falling where possible, to reduce the severity of injuries and to promote the best possible outcomes for people who have suffered a fall-related injury.

Further information on AFFINITY 2018 - 2023 is available from: Eileen Moriarty, HSE Lead on Affinity National Falls and Bone Health Project Telephone: 021 4923194 Mobile: 086 7871707 Email: Eileen.Moriarty@hse.ie

5 December 2019 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

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GAELIC FOOTBALL P30

THE BEST IN DUBLIN

SPORT

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back and salutes Jim Gavin’s remarkable reign as Dublin senior football manager from the early days through to a sixth All-Ireland senior title in seven attempts in the spring.

Not only an incredible success on the field, the Round Tower, Clondalkin man’s tenure will be defined by doing so with quiet dignity.



GAZETTE

RUGBY P29

PAGE 31

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS INFORM YOU OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORES OF YOUR FAVOURITE TEAMS RUGBY | LEINSTER MAKE IT SEVENS PRO14 WINS IN A ROW

Cullen hails Byrne as Warriors tamed by changed fifteen  sport@dublingazette.com

CIAN Kelleher and Ross Byrne combined to do all of Leinster’s scoring as they quashed Glasgow Warriors’ lightning-quick start to record a 23-10 result in their first Guinness PRO14 win at Scotstoun Stadium in seven years.

It made it seven wins from seven for the province in the Pro 14, building an eight-point gap at the head of Conference A over Ulster.

Byrne converted Kelleher’s 30th and 34th minute tries and fired over three penalties, including a vital second half brace of kicks, as Leo Cullen’s youthful side – showing a full 15 personnel changes from their Lyon trip – recovered impressively from some early setbacks.

Glasgow full-back Ruaridh Jackson scored two tries of his own, the first while Leinster’s Hugo Keenan was in the sin-bin. Yet, the Warriors lost their grip on a 10-3 lead as Kelleher’s snappily-finished efforts moved the

visitors seven points clear.

Coach Leo Cullen picked out Byrne for special praise for his performance in the overhauled Leinster side.

“Ross Byrne was a bit unlucky in playing in that [World Cup warm-up] match against England at Twickenham,” Cullen said. “It was a tough day for him but he’s come back and he’s been outstanding for us. I can’t speak highly enough about him. He’s one that will push on.

“We’ve got a very competitive group of players. We picked guys who were highly motivated to come over here and do a job for the team. And they were excellent today. It wasn’t a perfect performance by any means but they each showed a lot of character.

They dug in well for each other.”

Plenty more changes are in the pipeline for the next fixture as the Heineken Champions Cup returns against Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens.

For that tie, there have been a number of injury updates. Fergus McFad-

Leinster rugby coach Leo Cullen. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

den (elbow) was a replacement in the win over Glasgow Warriors on Saturday and trained as normal after coming through with no issues.

Josh Murphy (head) and Peter Dooley (knee) were withdrawn in the same game.

Murphy will now follow the graduated return to play protocols under the supervision of team medics while prop

Dooley will be further.

Joe Tomane has recovered from his hamstring injury and has returned to full training ahead of the back-to-back games against Northampton Saints.

Rory O’Loughlin (shoulder) will again increase his training load and will be further assessed while Seán Cronin remains unavailable for selection as he also increases his training

SPORT CONTACT INFO SPORTS EDITOR: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com

For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@dublingazette.com Phone: 01 601 0240

28 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 5 December 2019

CLUB NOTES

ROUND

1

SOCCER: WAYSIDE BOW OUT OF METRO CUP TO BLUEBELL UCD AFC manager Diarmuid McNally.

Picture: barry Cregg/ Sportsfile

BALLINTEER ST JOHN’S LOTTO results for Nov 28th Nos. 6,11,12 and 23.

No winner. Next week Jackpot €2,000. Joker consolation prize winner Tom Murphy.

Additional Turkey prizes on offer for the festive season. BSJ Bingo every Monday at 8:00 pm.

Well done to our U21 Footballers who qualified for the final of the B Championship after a hard fought one point win over St Marys . Our 2 pts half time lead did not last too long as we went 2 points in arrears within 5 minutes.. We fought back well and were 4 pts up going into injury time but a St Marys goal left our big support on edge until the final whistle.

Our final opponents will be St Vincents with date , time and venue TBA. Congrats to our 1st All Star Coman Goggins on his selection to the Evening Herald’s top 50 Dubs of the current millenium.

Nice to greet Diarmuid Desmond back from illness to chair the 2020 BSJ Festival Committee.

Under 9’s finished off a great season with a team building event in Explorium.

A great morning’s fun was had by all. Christmas party with Santa for the juveniles in Club House on Saturday Dec 21st.

Club Shop open Thursdays 7:30 to 8:30 and Saturdays at 11:30 – 12:30. All club gear on sale . New BSJ “Pop Up” Christmas Club Shop in Nutgrove Shopping Centre beside Santa Grotto Saturdays and Sundays 1-5 pm.

UCD and Broadford through METROPOLITAN CUP  DAVE DONNELLY

Kilmacud Crokes’ Under-16 footballers

sport@dublingazette.com

IT WAS a good weekend for south Dublin clubs in the Metropolitan Cup as UCD and Broadford Rovers both picked up good wins to advance to the last 16.

The Students were 2-0 winners over Templeogue United at the UCD Grounds while Broadford picked up a morale-boosting 2-1 win away win over Inchicore Athletic.

However, Wayside Celtic were unfortunate to come out the wrong side of a 1-0 scoreline against last year’s beaten finalists Bluebell United at Jackson Park.

The Metro Cup, the Leinster Senior League’s flagship cup competition containing sides from all

KILMACUD CROKES CONGRATULATIONS to the U16 A Footballers who have won the Championship after their 0.19 to 1.9 win over St. Vincent’s.

It wasn’t their only success this year as they also won the league, along with the U16 A Hurlers who won their Championship his year!

Hard luck to the second team who lost their U16 D Final to St. Catherine’s by 8 points. Well done to Lau-

ren Magee who captained the Leinster team at yesterday’s Inter Pros tournament in Kinnegad. Club Benevolent draw Saturday December 7th.

Annual Pitch and Putt for benevolent fund will take place on Saturday Dec 21st.

Football Section Fundraising Annual day at the races on Saturday Dec 28th . Check out the Club Web Site for details.

four intermediate divisions, was won by Crumlin United in a penalty shoot-out last year.

And UCD made the best of their divisional advantage over Sunday Senior 1A side Templeogue to run out comfortable winners on their home patch.

Diarmuid McNally’s side triumphed thanks to goals in either half from Cian Ryan and Gareth Coughlan.

It was a much-needed fillip for McNally’s side who have won just one of their ten league games to date, losing five, and they sit outside the drop zone on goal difference with seven points.

Broadford have also endured a rough couple of years with successive relegations taking them from the top division to the brink of relegation back to junior football.

LEOPARDSTOWN

Christmas festival launched by O’Brien

THE launch of the 2019 Leopardstown Christmas Festival took place at Joseph O’Brien’s yard in Piltown on Monday morning with his horses head out for their morning gallop.

The Melbourne Cup, Breeders Cup and Cheltenham Festival winning trainer reported yesterday’s big-race winners Fakir D’Oudairies and Cerberus will be fit and well and on target for their Christmas options.

Picture: Morgan Treacy/Inpho

They sit a point adrift at the bottom of Sunday Senior 1B with just four points from their six games so far. They have, however, a number of games in hand on all the sides ahead of them.

The scalp of an Inchicore side a division above them has come at the right time for David Carpenter’s side.

Eoin Ryan and Owen Norton were on target for the Nutgrove side at Bernard Curtis Park in Bluebell, while Mick Plunkett was on target for the home side.

Wayside can consider themselves unlucky not to become the third south Dublin side in the hat for round three as they were edged out by Bluebell in Kilternan.

A solitary goal from Sean Byrne was enough to see Peter Lennon’s side eliminated, having received a

bye in the first round.

Byrne broke from midfield and latched onto Jordan Payne’s pass to score the only goal, though Wayside will be aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty.

Bluebell manager Andy Noonan admitted it “looked a stonewall penalty” but the rub of the green favoured Bell and they advanced at Wayside’s expense.

Wayside’s attention can now return to the league, where they’ve endured a rough beginning to their first season back at the top level following a two-year absence.

They took just a point from their first seven games but have turned their form around in recent weeks with a 5-3 win over Newbridge Town followed up with a narrow win away to Portmarnock.

5 December 2019 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 29

RUGBY: SUPER START TO THE SEASON KEEPS ON ROLLING

Wesley’s AIL six of the best AIL DIVISION 1B Shannon 20 Old Wesley 24  sport@dublingazette.com

OLD WESLEY continued their stunning start to the AIL Division 1B season with a sixth successive win, raiding Limerick to beat Shannon.

They did so despite a prematch setback when experienced flanker Stephen Boyle was forced to withdraw from the starting 15 with a wrist injury suffered in the warm-up.

But Wesley showed their intent from the outset, JJ O’Dea winning a turnover in minute one and they took the lead in the sixth minute. Shannon failed to find touch with a clearance kick, allowing Ed O’Keeffe to set off on a scything run, bringing play from 40 metres out to the opposition 5 metre line.

Following a couple of quick recycles, Paul Derham powered over for the first try; Rory Stynes converted for a 7-0 lead.

Shannon responded in kind, flexing their forward muscles for the first time, forcing a penalty which Billy Grey pushed wide. They also crossed the line only for the try to be chalked

off for a double movement.

Then, after 17 minutes, Shannon surprisingly ran a penalty in front of the posts. The gamble paid off when the home pack mauled over the line for Kelvin Brown to score.

Grey also kicked a short range penalty goal to give Shannon the lead for the first and only time in the match.

Soon after, Stynes returned the compliment, regaining the lead for Old Wesley.

Wesley were dealt a blow when Ed O’Keeffe was shown yellow for a dangerous tackle but they made light of the numbers deficit when Burns made another fine carry, bringing play agonisingly close to the line.

Just on half time, Shannon lost a line out, and Burns was on hand again with a fine run. This time, however, from quick recycled play, the ball went out the back line.

A perfect pass by James O’Donovan found Tommy O’Callaghan in open space for him to cross with relative ease for a try out wide and a 15-8 halftime lead.

Wes started the second half where they left off with O’Donovan deemed to be held up from the first play. A Stynes’ penalty extended the lead

from close-in and he then showed his range with one from close to halfway for another three points onto the total.

As expected, Shannon fought back instantly when Wesley failed to collect from kick-off with Thomas Ahern running a try virtually untouched, signalling a larger roar of approval from the partisan crowd.

This sharpened the Shannon spirit, but ended after conceding a penalty for offside, and Stynes, from a similar position to his previous kick, was bang on target once again with the huge kick.

A jersey pull by Shannon’s Ben Daly earned him a yellow card, restricting their options going into the last 20 minutes as the light started to fade. Wesley winger Richard Walsh did find himself in the clear and he got to within 10 metres of the goal line however a penalty relieved the pressure for Shannon.

It left Shannon in range of nicking a losing bonus point which they were able to grab as Stynes spent time on a yellow-card with Ikem Uguwueru profiting to score in the corner and Grey landed the conversion with the final whistle.

Monkstown’s Gareth Watkins (in red) takes on Mark Samuel.

Picture: Adrian Boehm

MEN’S EY HOCKEY LEAGUE  STEPHEN FINDLATER

sport@dublingazette.com

MONKSTOWN won an excellent men’s EY Hockey league contest at Belfield 2-1 against UCD to continue their run of form, moving within two points of leaders Lisnagarvey at the winter break.

Both sides contributed to the contest with UCD coach Michael Styles frustrated his side could not get more from a tie in which they created plenty

of chances.

Town started well and forced a corner within the first two minutes which Max Maguire made a good glove save above his head from a Rory Nichols flick.

The students then started to really get into it and they scored from their first corner via Guy Sarratt, one of nine ex-Town men in the UCD side.

The visitors equalised with a corner of their own from Nichols and it remained that way at the break as Matteo Romoli’s

bouncing shot was heading wide before hitting Nichols’ knee and flew into the net. It was originally awarded but then chalked off following a consultation.

Davy Carson got the final touch to the only goal of the second half, knocking it in after Jason Lynch’s cross got a great touch from Mark Gibbons.

The ball bounced off the post, hit Maguire and then fell to Carson. Town held out for the last 10 minutes without Andrew Fogarty

on a yellow card.

It was another fine defensive performance with Keith Kenning excelling at sweeper in place of the unavailable David Cole, while David Nolan was UCD’s driving force in the playmaker role.

“We have teenagers throwing themselves at balls just to touch them over sidelines in the last 10 minutes; the character is really strong in this team at the moment,” Town player-coach Gareth Watkins said.

Old Wesley hooker, Ben Burns, makes a strong burst for the Shannon line

30 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 5 December 2019

ROUND

CLUB NOTES

2

NAOMH OLAF CONGRATULATIONS to the Naomh Olaf Under 16 Boys Footballers and their mentors who defeated Lucan Sarsfields in the C Shield Final last Saturday what a fantastic way to finish the year! Congratulations also to the 2012 girls - they celebrated their graduation from the girls academy with a party, pizza and special guests. A great bunch of girls - see you all on the pitch in 2020!

There was no winner of last Sunday’s Members Lotto Draw - numbers drawn were 2, 19, 26 - next week’s jackpot will be €1,800. €30 winners were Daragh Keenan, Claire Whyte, Sheila Fagan, B Keenan and Shay Keenan. The Monster Christmas Lotto Draw will take place on Saturday 14th December with fabulous prizes on offer - tickets only €2 available in the Club Bar, in Sandyford House and online at www.naomholaf.ie. Special prizes on the night for those in attendance at the draw.

The Chairman and Executive Committee extend their deepest sympathies to team mentor, Noel O’Grady, and his family on the passing of his mother, Tess, of Carrowkeel, Riverstown, Sligo. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha.

The annual Mass for deceased members of Naomh Olaf GAA Club will be celebrated at 12 noon on Sunday 15th December at the Church of the Ascension of the Lord, Balally.

Naomh Olaf Farmers Market continues every Friday from 8.30am until 1.00pm with high quality produce direct from the farm, the bakery and the sea - definitely worth calling in to have a look.

If you have an event or celebration coming up, the function room in Naomh Olaf could ideally suit your needs. Catering and DJ packages available too! Call in to have a chat with Paul, Clubhouse Manager, any evening or give him a call on 085-2525356 for more details.

SHANKILL

WE ARE looking for girls, boys and adults to join in with our club choir who will be singing for charity in Lidl Shankill on Saturday 14th December pm our Facebook page. Our Irish class people were delighted to receive their Fainne.

Mile buiochas go Jamie O Tuama na tOifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge CLG who travelled out from Croke Park to the event in Shankill to make the presentations. The club Chase the Ace Sunday night draw in Brady’s is paused at this time to allow for the Christmas programme of events in the pub.

The next draw will take place on Sunday 22nd December. The jackpot stands at €1400. Club AGM was well attended and all positions on the executive committee were filled. The committee is looking forward to another year of action and progress on all fronts.

Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others a group has been set up catering all ages, all abilities, no experience of GAA games necessary. This is a fun social group and its FREE. The venue is Scoil Mhuire from 7pm to 8pm on Tuesday nights, PM us on Facebook or contact Steve 087 6414123.

Our Adult Ladies and Men’s teams are

already preparing for next year. If you would like to join us and represent you Village see below for details.

The juvenile Academy which is for boys and girls from 4 to 7 years of age and sponsored by O Donnell’s Shankill Total Health Pharmacy is in action at 10.00am every Saturday and has moved for the winter months to St Anne’s, Rathmichael and Scoil Mhuire National Schools.

The cost is only €2 per child there is no annual subscription and all equipment is provided free of charge.

The final training session for the Academy before the Christmas break will be on Saturday 7th December and we are hoping that a special person will pay us a visit.

For details of our Ladies adult football teams e-mail stevedavis203@gmail.com or contact Steve 087 6414123. The men’s adult football team contact Kevin Martin 086 8449902.

For more information on the club, contact, secretary.shankill.dublingaa.ie or call 086 6072746. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Join Shankill GAA Club, your community, your Village GAA club, where we all belong.

HURLING FRIENDS AWARD Geraldines honoured for juvenile efforts GERALDINE P Moran’s GAA club were presented with the Friends of Dublin Hurling Juvenile Club of the Year award, recognising their work in promoting hurling in the club.

Club chairman Ted McEnery is pictured with the award at the Red Cow Moran Hotel last weekend where the best in the county’s small ball practitioners were honoured.

FOOTBALL: TEN-YEAR WAIT FOR A TITLE ENDS

Cuala’s extra edge earns U-21 glory UNDER-21 A FINAL Cuala 2-16 Na Fianna 2-15 after extra time  CÓILÍN DUFFY sport@dublingazette.com

CUALA ended over a decade without Under 21 A football championship silverware, as they dug deep in extra-time to take a first title since 2009, thanks to a one-point win over Na Fianna in Abbotstown on Saturday.

Na Fianna powered back in the second half of normal time, after a solid Cuala start and, indeed, forced extra-time with a late pointed John Foley free.

However, Cuala held that little bit extra in extra-time, and with Dublin Senior panellist Peadar Ó Cofaigh-Byrne leading the charge, they claimed victory by the minimum margin.

The Dalkey side may be mainly known for their successes in the small ball of late, but they’ve been putting in the hard yards in football also, and this Under 21 success shows that there’s plenty of exciting times ahead for Gaelic Football in Cuala for years to come.

Managed by Maurice

Cuala’s Under-21 footballers celebrate their success last weekend

O’Callaghan, father of Cian and Con; they produced some great football over the 80 minutes plus of action, that was a fitting end to this competition, that always produces some excellent football. Ó Co fa i g h - By r n e impressed at midfield, as Cuala began impressively, and powered to an 0-8 to 0-1 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Peter Jackson (1-3) was among those solid in attack, and indeed O’Callaghan’s charges

CAPTAIN MAGEE Crokes star leads Leinster side KILMACUD Crokes’ Lauren

Magee, pictured in possession, captained Leinster at last weekend’s ladies football interprovincial series at Kinnegad.

She was joined in the side

by Foxrock Cabinteely’s Laura Nerney and Lorna Fusciardi.

They missed out on a final appearance following defeat to Munster and a late goal concession against Connacht who featured Fox Cabis Aisling Tarpey.

Picture: matt browne / SPORTSFILE

could have been further ahead, but for David O’Hanlon pulling off a stop on a Jack Twomey goal effort Peter Feeney and Brian O’Leary (0-6) were among those that kicked Na Fianna into life, but they trailed 1-10 to 0-5 at the break.

Jackson grabbed Cuala’s opening goal late in the half, but on the restart Na Fianna upped their game, despite losing James Doran to an injury.

A David Lacey (1-3)

penalty goal, coupled with points from John Foley (0-3) and O’Leary cut the gap to a point.

Na Fianna looked like silverware might be theirs when Liam Stacey found the net in the closing minutes of normal time.

This was cancelled out as Cal Doran (1-1) found the net, before Foley’s late pointed free forced extratime at 2-11 apiece.

The sides were well balanced in extra-time, but Cuala held that slight extra edge.

5 December 2019 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 31

FOOTBALL: JIM GAVIN CALLS TIME ON HISTORIC REIGN AS DUBLIN SENIOR MANAGER

Meeting with fans at his homecoming in Clondalkin in 2013

Dublin manager Jim Gavin celebrates the 2017 success with his children Jude and Jasmine. Pictures: James Crombie/ Inpho

The Dream-maker S

Dublin Gazette Sports Editor Stephen Findlater conducts the first one-on-one interview with Jim Gavin following his appointment in November 2012.

Gavin celebrates with Brian Fenton after the 2019 final. Picture: Oisin Keniry/Inpho

ELF sacrifice, commitment, respect, perserverance, hard work. These are the things I have always believed in.”

Jim Gavin’s words to the Dublin Gazette just two weeks into his tenure as Dublin senior football manager would be the underlying principles that guided his incredible reign, culminating in their five in-a-row success earlier this year.

In total, he would bring six All-Irelands, five national leagues and seven Leinster titles to the capital. More than the trophies, the Round Tower, Clondalkin man did so with a quiet dignity, deflecting the spotlight to the players that so delighted the Hill, always showing respect and integrity toward the opposition.

2018 final celebrations.

Picture: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

He was also a man who gave prominence to the essence of Dublin as a city, something for the marquee team to reflect in the way they played, to pay tribute to Molly Malone and the rare auld times. Stories abound of taking the squad to the top of the Guinness Storehouse to survey their city; or, at the start of the 2019 campaign, when the players were brought to the Clonturk Road scene in Drumcondra of Dublin’s very first All-Ireland win in 1892.

IT gave the team an inherent sense of place, a sense of purpose, a commitment to be part of greatness of what it means to be a Dub.

Hill 16 salutes their heroes in 2013

Gavin applauds the support after the 2013 final

GazetteSPORT DECEMBER 5-11, 2019

ALL OF YOUR SOUTH DUBLIN SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31

WESLEY’S SIX OF THE BEST

RUGBY: Ballinteer

old boys continue their immaculate winning streak in AIL Division 1B with victory in Limerick over Shannon. SEE P29

BLUE MAGIC RUGBY: Leinster build for Northampton dates with seventh win from seven Pro14 outings.

SEE P27

CUALA GO THE EXTRA MILE FOOTBALL: Dalkey

club withstand huge Na Fianna fightback to end their 10-year wait for Under-21A championship success. SEE P30

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Dublin toasts Jim Gavin’s legendary reign as boss  CÓILÍN DUFFY

sport@dublingazette.com

TRIBUTES have been pouring in for Jim Gavin, after he called time on his involvement as Dublin senior football manager on Saturday, following a meeting with Dublin GAA CEO John Costello.

In a statement on the shock move, Dublin GAA Chairman Sean Shanley paid tribute to the “five-ina-row” All-Ireland winning manager.

“Dublin GAA will be forever grateful to Jim Gavin for his dedication, commitment and contribution as a player and, since 2003, leading the next generation of players at Under-21 and Senior level,” Shanley said. “I regret his departure but appreciate the huge sacrifices he has made over this period.”

The statistics are staggering. In 107 competitive games across the All-Ireland and Leinster Championships, and the Allianz Football League, 86 wins were produced, resulting in 18 titles out of a possible 21.

In addition to the five-ina-row, under Gavin’s tenure, Dublin also claimed Sam Maguire in 2013.

They went unbeaten under his stewardship in Leinster, picking up seven provincial titles in-a-row – along with five Allianz Football League Division 1 titles including a four-ina-row between 2013 and 2016; and a further success in 2018.

Gaelic Players Association CEO and former Dublin player Paul Flynn, who

Jim Gavin steps away leaving a remarkable legacy of five All-Ireland titles in a row.

Picture: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

“He has not only driven the standards for

Dublin GAA, but also intercounty teams all over the country“ retired from inter-county football last May, was among those to pay tribute.

“He has not only driven the standards for Dublin GAA, but also intercounty teams all over the country,” he said.

These were sentiments echoed by Barry Cahill.

“He was so meticulous about his preparations and how he went about his business. “ He l e f t n o s to n e unturned in how he approached things, and

he was very meticulous in how he went about it.

“The results speak for themselves, not just what he has done in the past seven years, but the previous four years with the Under-21s also.”

Jim’s home club Round Towers Clondalkin will host a special “members only” event to pay tribute to him this Saturday.

The club toasted Jim and fellow club member Frank Roebuck, who has also been involved with Dublin under Gavin.

“What has been achieved by Jim is unprecedented. This is testament to the huge responsibility he has undertaken to meticulously prepare the team for each of the challenges it has faced and to ensure players receive the best preparation and support.

“For the past decade, Jim has been keenly involved in preparing Dublin teams.

We are forever grateful to Jim for the role he’s fulfilled in promoting our club and the Clondalkin com-

munity with great honour.

“We also take this opportunity to pay tribute to our very own Frank Roebuck, who has been an integral part of Jim’s backroom team and has undertaken huge personal sacrifices to support Jim and the team.”

Meanwhile, Dublin GAA have already begun the process to seek Gavin’s successor.

It’s expected that the new manager will be announced next week, on or before December 12 - the date of the annual

Dublin GAA Convention.

On Monday night at a meeting in Parnell Park, a sub-committee to interview potential candidates was proposed, and it is likely that committee will be rubber-stamped by the County Committee tonight (Thursday).

Interviews with potential candidates are set to take place this weekend with former All-Ireland Under 21, and Minor winning manager, and ex-GPA CEO Dessie Farrell among the forerunners.