Dublin Gazette: South Edition

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

Foiled break-in

TWO men were arrested following an attempted break-in at the Central Park complex in Leopardstown , with seven people left injured.

It is understood the burglars attempted to take valuable items such as laptops, phones and watches from the resiSEE PAGE 4 dence.

SPORT BASKETBALL:

Meteors win promotion with magical victory in Leixlip, earning their Super League return. SEE P29

AN EAR-ESISTIBLE LAUNCH EVENT THE team at Specsavers Stillorgan were joined by Irish hotelier and television personality Francis Brennan to celebrate the new audiology unit and introduction of OCT technology in the store. Francis is the Specsavers Audiology Ambassador. Picture: Paul Sherwood

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Woman killed after robbery in Dalkey GARY IBBOTSON

Find us on Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

GARDAI in Dun Laoghaire are appealing for witnesses after a getaway car driven by thieves ran over two women in their 50s, killing one in the process.

In a statement, gardai said at approximately 9:20pm on Tuesday night, “a number of males entered a convenience store on

Barnhill Road, Dalkey. It’s understood they threatened staff before making off with a sum of cash.

“They left the scene in a car that was involved in a collision with two female pedestrians moments later at the junction of Ballinclea Road and Avondale Road, Killiney.

“They abandoned the car at the scene of the collision and fled on foot.”

One of the victims, 54, was taken to St Vincent’s University Hospital where she was later pronounced dead. The other pedestrian was also taken to St Vincent’s but her injuries are not believed to be life threatening Anyone with information is asked to contact Dun Laoghaire Garda Station at 01 666 5000, or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111.

Stepaside Garda Station reopens AFTER eight years of lying idle, Stepaside Garda Station has finally re-opened.

Closed almost a decade ago due to budgetary cutbacks, Stepaside was one of 139 stations country-wide to shut between 2012 and 2013.

However, at 7am on March 9, the station formally reopened and is now available to the public between 7am and 9pm every day, with a 24/7 garda presence.

Minister Shane Ross entered the outgoing government on the condition that the station would re-open, and he was the first person to arrive at the new facility.

SEE PAGE 2

2 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 12 March 2020

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DELIGHT AS STEPASIDE POLICING HUB REOPENED

Eight-year wait ends as garda station opens

FASTNews

 GARY IBBOTSON

gibbotson@dublingazette.com

AFTER eight years of lying idle, Stepaside Garda Station has finally re-opened.

Closed almost a decade ago due to budgetary cutbacks, Stepaside was one of 139 stations countrywide to shut between 2012 and 2013.

However, at 7am on Monday, March 9, the station formally re-opened and is now available to the public between 7am and 9pm every day, with a 24/7 garda presence.

Outgoing Minister for Transport, Tourism and

Picture: Dublin 18 Scenery Appreciation Society

Residents frustrated over illegal dumping Outgoing Minister Shane Ross talks to gardai at reopened Stepaside Garda Station

Sport, Shane Ross (Ind) entered the outgoing government on the condition that the station would reopen, and he was the first person to arrive at the new facility.

He said: “I was at the

station at 7am this morning to welcome gardai.

“I have always stressed the need for community gardai here, and I praise the community for keeping the faith that the station would reopen.”

The station will be run

by Sergeant Shane Curtis and will be manned by 25 gardai to police the area, which also consists of a roads policing unit.

Work began on refurbishing the station in February, 2019, with the estimated cost of its refurbishing coming to €1.5m.

On the big day, Cllr Michael Fleming (Ind) said he was “delighted to welcome Sergeant Shane Curtis and his colleagues to Stepaside Garda Station this morning at 7am for the official reopening of the garda station”.

He added: “It is a testament to our community effort to fight for this and see the result today. Our community now has enhanced security, and we hope that this will act as a deterrent to criminals.”

The reopening of the station was not originally welcomed by gardai hierarchy, however, with assistant commissioner Pat Leahy previously saying it was not a “numberone priority” due to “other pressing demands on resources”.

He said: “If I was being given extra additional manpower today, Stepaside would not be my first allocation [for them].

“I could not send guards to Stepaside before I’d send them to Ballyfermot and Ronanstown and the north inner city.”

SOUTH county Dublin residents have expressed frustration after the historic Puck’s Castle site was once again the site of illegal dumping late last month.

The Dublin 18 Scenery Appreciation Society posted an image of the dumping online with the caption: “Dumped right outside our local historic Puck’s Castle last night [shown above]. Also, a little further up from the castle, more rubbish left at the entrance to Rathmichael Woods car park.”

The image shows a plastic skip filled with rubbish and other miscellaneous items dumped on the side of Puck’s Castle Lane.

It is understood that dumping at the site has become a regular occurrence in recent times with some local residents asking Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to install cameras at the castle entrance. The dumped materials have since been removed by the local authority.

St Patrick’s Call to use Day parade ‘reality’ tech cancelled at key sites THE Stepaside Business Association has announced it has decided to cancel the Stepaside St Patrick’s Day parade due to spread of the Covid-19 virus.

In a statement, Cllr Michael Fleming (Ind) said the cancellation was “in the interest of public health and safety”.

Cllr Fleming said that “with the first case of community transmission in Ireland, we felt that the public health and safety in our community has to be paramount.

“As chairman of Stepaside Business Association, it is with regret that we have had to make this decision, but we feel it is the morally correct one.”

However, Cllr Fleming added: “We now look forward to the Stepaside St Patrick’s Day Parade 2021.”

CLLR John Kennedy (FG) is calling for the implementation of augmented reality assessments on tablet devices for strategic housing sevelopments (SHDs).

He said the augmented reality software could be used on-site by planners to assess how the proposed developments would impact their surroundings.

Cllr Kennedy said: “Augmented reality assessments can be used by a planner on-site using an iPad as, when facilitated by GPS, [the tech] allows the planner to move the tablet around the proposed site to better gauge [the impact of] overlooking ... on existing surroundings.

“This is a much more accurate method that can be used by An Bord Pleanala to ascertain the given appropriateness of any given SHD on a community.”

12 March 2020 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 3

BALLYEDMONDUFF ROAD: VOLUNTEERS TO ACT LIKE A TAXI SERVICE FOR AMPHIBIANS

Public asked to hop to it and help to protect frogs FOLLOWING on from last week’s story that appeared in Dublin Gazette featuring frog migration at Barnacullia, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) is calling on volunteers to assist it in aiding frogs crossing the Ballyedmonduff Road.

Until March 30, from 7-10pm, thousands of frogs will be following traditional migration routes on their way to spawning ponds.

However, many get killed on their journey by drivers who cannot see them.

DLRCC says that its biodiversity officer and traffic section are working with the Herpetological Society of Ireland (HSI) to get the frogs across the road safely.

It said: “These volunteers act like a taxi service, using buckets to transport the frogs and toads across the road.”

DLRCC is asking for the pub-

lic’s help in the matter by using alternative routes to Barnicullia and surrounding areas, or slowing down and stopping when the volunteers are working on the road.

DLRCC’S traffic department is erecting speed limit signs on the road, and volunteers will be wearing hi-vis vests and carrying torches.

The council says “traffic in the area [is] requested to reduce speed and may be asked to stop

for a short period of time.

“If you are driving in the area, please take your time on this road as volunteers will be on the road in different locations.

“Please obey the signs and the instructions of the patrol leaders who will be managing the traffic.”

For further information, or to sign up as a volunteer, contact the biodiversity officer at annemurray@dlrcoco.ie, or the HSI at info@thehshi.org.

Many frogs get killed by drivers who cannot see them

Denis finally gets a full driver licence – after 40 years driving New provisional licence changes prompt man to finally take ‘the test’ on RTE show GARY IBBOTSON

DUN Laoghaire man Denis Murray (64) has become one of the first people to take a driving test while being filmed as part of the RTE television series, The Test.

After holding a provisional licence for 40 years, Denis needed to take the full test after a new law means that any provisional driver without a fully qualified driver in the car, with at least two years of driving experience, can have their vehicle seized.

Denis appeared on the six-part series which follows the fortunes of a group of drivers trying to pass their driving test.

H o w e v e r, t h i n g s didn’t go as smoothly as planned for Denis, who failed on his first attempt.

He said at the time: “I thought I had a good chance. Whatever happened to me, my head just wandered.

“You feel so nervous at

the time. My head went – but I’m not going to let it go now.”

On his first try, Denis went through a red light, crossed the white line in the middle of the road, and put his handbrake on before the car had come to a complete stop.

Tester His tester, Alan Carolan, said “for a lot of the test, Denis was driving too close to the centre line”.

He added: “He has a tendency to apply the handbrake before the car has come fully to a rest, and the bell was going off warning him.

“He went through a red light, which potentially is a very dangerous fault.”

Speaking as to why he never went for the full licence before now, Denis said previously there was little reason to do so.

He said: “You could drive on a provisional licence and keep renewing it, and that was quite normal.

“I’m a carer now for my

FASTNews Ballinteer concert is postponed

DUBLIN County Choir has announced that its scheduled concert, to take place later this month in Ballinteer, has been postponed.

The group was expected to hold its Spring concert in St John’s Church, Ballinteer on March 28 .

However, this has now been postponed, with no date set for the rescheduled concert. The concert will now take place at a later date.

The group advise those who have purchased tickets to the March 28 concert to keep hold of them, as they will still be valid for the next concert.

As soon as it knows the date for the rescheduled event, it will make an announcements through Dublin Gazette and their usual channels.

For more, see DublinCountyChoir.com.

Meeting over Cabinteely ‘incidents’

Like many of us, Denis didn’t pass his driving test on his first go – despite having been driving for 40 years with his provisional licence – but, also like many of us, he passed on his second attempt. Well done, Denis!

wife, Agnes, and she has epilepsy, so I take care of her and she can’t drive, so I have to have that [the licence].

“It’s so important to take her to hospital appointments, and to take her to church every day.”

Prior to taking his first test, Denis said it was “strange” to be doing it at 64 years of age, he but was “glad” to be finally giving it ago.

After two months of practicing and more lessons, Denis repeated the

test, and passed the test on his second attempt.

This time, he said: “I’m really delighted! I’m actually shocked – I’ve been hammering at this for so long. It’s quite emotional, to be honest.”

The Test reveals that

there are still 65,000 people in Ireland on their third or more provisional licence, with 40,000 of these drivers on their fifth such licence or more.

You can watch The Test on RTE One on Mondays at 7.30pm.

A PUBLIC meeting will take place on March 19 in St Brigid’s National School, Cabinteely in response to what local residents say is an “alarming” increase in the number of anti-social behaviour incidents in the area.

According to Cabinteely Residents’ Association: “the meeting will present the opportunity to discuss solutions to this crisis and hear from local residents and businesses”.

For further information, email: cabinteelyparkresidents@gmail.com.

4 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 12 March 2020

Curtain closed on Dolmen Theatre THE owners of the Dolmen Theatre in Cornelscourt have announced they have been forced to close the theatre after five years in business.

In a statement published online, the owners said it was with “great sadness that we announce the closure of the Dolmen Theatre”.

They continued: “We are no longer in a position to programme any future productions.”

Opened in 2015, the theatre operated at the Magic Carpet Centre on the Bray Road.

The statement continued: “Our mission was to give a platform to new writing and help to create a bridge for small productions to find their way to bigger stages. We are happy to say that very many plays that started life in the Dolmen went on to achieve great success at home and abroad.

“We would like to thank everyone who helped us on our journey, all the productions who performed at the Dolmen, our loyal patrons and especially the Crowley family – the owners of the Magic Carpet Pub – for their very generous support.”

Gardai appeal for help in finding missing teen GARDAI in Dundrum are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 15 year-old Bradley Sutcliffe (pictured).

Bradley was last seen in Blackrock on March 4.

He is described as being 5’ 8” in height, of medium build with short brown hair.

When last seen, Bradley was wearing a black jacket, a grey tracksuit and a grey cap.

Anyone with any informa-

tion is asked to contact gardai in Dundrum at 01 666 5600, the Garda confidential line at 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

Seven people injured during foiled break-in GARY IBBOTSON

TWO men were arrested following an attempted break-in at the Central Park complex in Leopardstown where seven people left injured.

According to the gardai, the incident occurred on Saturday, March 7 at 3pm at Central Park, which is home to several apartment blocks and high-end business headquarters.

Speaking after the incident, a spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said: “Gardai in Dundrum are investigating an aggravated burglary that occurred at an apartment in Leopardstown, in the afternoon of Saturday, March 7, at approximately 3pm.

“Two men in their early 40s entered the apartment and were interrupted when the residents heard them in the next room.

“The men were detained by the residents, and a number of the residents were assaulted during the incident.

“Gardai attended the scene as the two men were attempting to flee.

“Gardai arrested both men and seized a hammer and property from them that was taken from the apartment.

“Both men were taken to Dundrum Garda station, where they are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 and

Part of the main entrance to The Central Park apartment and business complex in Leopardstown. Picture: Google Maps

investigations are ongoing.

“All seven residents were injured during the incident and a number of them sought medical attention.”

It is understood the burglars attempted to take valuable items such as laptops, phones and watches from the residence.

The garda spokesperson said investigations are currently ongoing.

Cllr and Leas Cathaoirleach for Dun LaoghaireRathdown County Council, Deirdre Donnelly (Ind), said: “This is absolutely frightening, given the fact in particular that the individuals were armed and injured a group of seven residents.

“It clearly reinforces the need for better CCTV [cameras and coverage] in the county and also a better garda presence.

“I would like to con-

gratulate the gardai who responded so quickly and brought the alleged offenders to Dundrum Garda Station.

“I think that the increase in violent crime, however, raises the fact that there are clear weaknesses in our justice system.”

The incident follows on from a stabbing that occurred at Glencairn Luas stop in Leopardstown on Monday, March 2 where a

teenager was stabbed by a group of males.

It is understood that the boy, in his mid-teens, was approached by the group at about 10pm and was stabbed after an altercation broke out.

The boy was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital by ambulance but his injuries are not believed to be lifethreatening.

No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.

CINEMA, PAGES 16-17

Parasite: The hype surrounding Boon Joon Ho’s Korean black comedy thriller is justified, our reviewer finds, as it mixes satire, social commentary, horror and even humour



FASTNews

TWO ARRESTED FOLLOWING INCIDENT IN LEOPARDSTOWN

12 March 2020 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 5

VANDALISM: NO ARRESTS YET AND INVESTIGATIONS ARE ONGOING FOLLOWING ATTACK

Sallynoggin clubhouse set ablaze again GARY IBBOTSON

SALLYNOGGIN Pearse Football Club is in recovery mode after its clubhouse was set alight this past weekend.

Situated at Pearse Park, Sallynoggin, the clubhouse had previously been the site of vandalism when it was broken into and new equipment was set on fire last September.

According to gardai, no arrests have yet been made and investigations are ongoing.

In a statement, a garda spokesperson said: “Gardai are investigating an incident of criminal damage by fire that occurred at a shed on a sports

ground in the Pearse Road area of Sallynoggin on March 7 at approximately 4:50pm.

“Gardai and Dublin Fire Brigade attended the scene. No injuries. Investigations are ongoing.”

Club chairman Richard Cummins said the club is “disgusted with the recent arson attack on the clubhouse”.

He added: “Luckily our gear and training equipment is stored elsewhere now – the building has been repeatedly broken into since September.

“As a result of the latest attack, the building has been condemned, and we can no longer use it at all.

“This leaves us in limbo,

without a place to change now before our new clubhouse is built.”

Cummins says that recent anti-social behaviour that has been witnessed at Carriglea FC, Cabinteely FC and Sallnoggin Pearse is “a plague” and that “no club should have to be dealing with these issues”.

He said: “We are now in a position that will mean we need to rent an antivandal cabin to change in.

Unfortunately, the council haven’t the budget to help, so we will be left to finance this on our own.”

For the past 15 years, the club has been campaigning for a new clubhouse as the current facility is in bad

Heritage tours spring into action PICTURED at the launch of Dun LaoghaireRathdown County Council’s (DLRCC) Spring into Heritage series of tours and lectures were Cathaoirleach Shay Brennan; James O’Sullivan, heritage programme coordinator, DLRCC; Derek Traynor, manager, Maritme Museum of Ireland; and Tom McHugh, deputy chief executive, DLRCC.

The Spring into Heritage programme of events are a series of free guided tours run by the Heritage Office of DLRCC, and are suitable for schools, students, families, historic groups and individuals interested in local history. The event run until May 3 and can be found at events.dlrcoco.ie and dlrtourism.ie. Picture: Peter Cavanagh

AT THIS week’s Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council meeting, councillors voted to increase on-street parking charges from May 1.

Members of Fianna Fail, Labour and the Green Party put forward the motion, which was passed by the majority of councillors present.

The original proposal to increase the cost of parking at Dart stations by 100% and on-street parking by 33% was amended due to the overwhelmingly negative public reaction towards the suggestion.

Dart parking charges will now not be amended, and on-street parking fees will be raised by an average of €0.20 per hour.

All on-street and off-street parking will be charged on a Monday-to-Saturday basis, with residents permits not increasing in price.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Hugh Lewis (PBP) said: “In the absence of a decent public transport system that caters for all of our communities and is so badly needed, an increase in parking charges is effectively another flat tax on the people of Dun Laoghaire.

“Incredibly, only a mere 0.4% of all submissions agreed with the idea of increasing the charges – for the ruling parties not to listen and stand up for the 99.6% that were against the increases is an affront to local democracy.”

On-street parking fees to rise

disrepair and a “death trap,” according to Sallynoggin native and team manager, Darren Brady.

In July, the Dun Laoghaire-Rathrown County Council agreed to file for planning permission for the construction of a new clubhouse, but this most recent arson attack could further set back the club’s development.

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett (PBP) said that “this fire is the lat-

est of a series of attacks on the clubhouse because, as the club have been saying for a long time, it is totally unfit for purpose”.

He added: “It is further evidence of the need for the council to fast-track the club’s proposal for a new purposebuilt club house.

“The council must work with the club as a matter of urgency to ensure that the plans for the clubhouse are progressed.”

Cllr Juliet O’Connell (Lab) also expressed her sympathies for the club and players, saying it was a “terrible situation for a club who strive to improve their local community every day”.

She added: “The community needs to focus now on staying strong and rebuilding as soon as possible to mitigate the negativity this type of incident inflicts on the locality.”

6 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 12 March 2020

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

At the Dublin Gazette table were Alice McGarvey, Bridget Aylemer, Carmel Leahy, Liz Ferris, Jim Ferris, Ciara Battitan, Eilish Hessian and Francis Higgins. Pictures: EMILY GALLAGHER

Loughlin Murphy, managing director, Toyota Sandyford, sponsor of DLR Chamber’s International Women’s Day celebrations, with Ruth and Ian

DLR Chamber celebrate International Women’s Day D

UN Laoghaire Rathdown Chamber, (WIBA), celebrated International Women’s Day last week at the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire.

Link for Change was the theme for this year’s event, of which Dublin Gazette was its media sponsor.

There was a diverse range of speakers including psychologist and leadership coach Paula King, leading business person Colm O’Brien, motivational speaker and coach Gaia Ferreira and Mary Mc Caughey, head of communication at the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.

Gabby Mallon, chief executive of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Chamber, said she believes “we should all be ambassadors for each other and work towards advancing in business together”.

Gaia Ferreira, Mary McCaughey and Colm O’Brien

Muriel Bulger and Deputy Cormac Devlin, FF

Paula King, Kingston Academy Caroline Elliot and Antoinette Redmond

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Chamber of Commerce president Aileen Eglington with Barry Andrews MEP

Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, FG with Cllr Marie Baker (FG) and Cllr Anna Grainger (FG)

Ian Britton, Pax Financial, and the chief executive of DLR Chamber, Gabby Mallon Barbara Scully, MC

12 March 2020 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 7

OPINION: TEEN CALLS FOR A GREATER FOCUS ON EVERYONE PLAYING OUR PART FOR THE PLANET

Everything starts at a local level to help make a real, global difference EVERYONE’S heard about climate change.

Heard that our planet’s temperature has risen by one degree since 1800, which doesn’t really seem like a big deal – until you take into account that two thirds of that has taken place since 1975, and the rate at which the temperature is increasing has nearly doubled in the past 50 years.

The past decade has been the warmest on a record that dates back to the 1800s, with 2016 as the warmest year [on record].

Those are the facts.

While to some in Ireland this may seem as an opportunity to finally get a tan without leaving the country, there’s a reason the term ‘global warming’

 ANNE BYRNE

Transition Year student at Dominican College Sion Hill, and climate change protestor

was replaced by ‘climate change’.

It means more storms, colder Winters and rising sea levels along with the warmer Summers [for Ireland].

Unfortunately, in places around the globe the situation is even worse.

What’s most unfair is that the areas being hit hardest are the poorest, most vulnerable regions that have contributed the least to the problem.

Melting ice caps lead-

ing to rising sea levels, which in turn threatens to sink island nations such as Nauru, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands.

[Factor in] flooding in Bangladesh, droughts in Pakistan, fires in Australia and the list goes on.

So, what are we doing?

Every little helps, not to quote Tesco, but it all starts local.

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s Climate Action Plan for 2019-2024 has outlined some of the statistics for this area’s emission output.

Emissions from council owned buildings, and projects run by the council – together with emissions from the council’s [transport] fleet – totalled

11,280 tonnes of CO2 produced annually, with 55% of that coming from public lighting, according to a report published by the council in 2017.

Taking into account the whole of Dun LaoghaireRathdown county, the biggest contributors to emissions were residential and commercial.

What’s the plan to lower this?

Some things suggested in the plan are to upgrade public lighting systems (54% of public lights are currently LED-based, so the aim is to increase that), install energy performing contracts into upgraded and newly built buildings, increase the number of electric vehicles in the municipal fleet, improve

public transport routes and support cycle campaigns as well as improve the sustainability of public parks by planting more trees and implementing a Dublin Bay Biosphere work programme.

Many of us are taking to the streets regularly to protest the inaction of our government on climate, which will affect us greatly.

Globally, we need a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030 in order to have a chance to stay under 1.5°C above pre-Industrial Revolution levels (at which stage, 80% of our coral reefs will be gone).

Coupled with the idea of global climate justice, whereby richer countries like Ireland have been dis-

Climate change means more storms and worse Winters for Ireland, and great harm to many other countries

proportionately responsible for emissions, this is nowhere near what’s necessary.

As teenage climate change activist Greta Thunburg said: “The sci-

ence is crying out for urgent action, and still our leaders dare to ignore it.”

Eve r yo n e h a s t h e responsibility to protect our world for future generations.

8 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 12 March 2020

CARE: BODIES WORKING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS SUSTAINABILITY

HSE, St John of God work on funding crisis RACHEL D’ARCY

SAINT John of God Community Services (SJOGCS) has written to its staff, patients and volunteers to notify them of an escalating funding crisis within the organisation.

The board of directors have told those supported

by SJOGCS, their families and staff that unless the HSE respond to them ‘appropriately’ by March 20, they may be forced to serve 12 months’ notice of termination of service.

Clare Dempsey, the chief executive of SJOGCS, said the board are acutely aware of their fiduciary responsibilities and, in the absence of proper funding, are currently unable to execute their responsibilities.

Dempsey said: “We will continue to seek what must be a sustainable solution in order to continue providing vital services to those who rely on it.

“In the event of the termination of the Service Arrangement next year, we are committed to the orderly transfer of service

responsibility to the HSE in order to minimise the level of disruption to the children and adults supported by the services, their families and staff.”

The consequences of termination of the service would see a transfer of responsibility for the provision of services from SJOGCS to the HSE, and would result in the winding up of the company.

Deficit SJOGCS has identified a need for an additional €27.5m in 2020 and the requirement for the HSE to address the accumulated deficit of €33.4m, built up over the past six years.

SJOGCS provides residential, day and respite services to children and adults with an intellectual disability across Dublin and other counties in the east.

It also provides community mental health services to children, adolescents and adults with mental illness in Dublin and Wicklow.

SJOGCS has said in a

Daffodil Day called off over safety fears

According to Saint John of God Community Services, they have identified a need for an additional €27.5m in 2020 to address funding concerns

statement that they have engaged extensively with the HSE over the past several years, and has alerted them to the potential termination of Service Agreement and transfer of services.

According to SJOGCS, the State – through the HSE – has “not acknowl-

edged the seriousness of the implications” of the underfunding of services.

In response to a query from Dublin Gazette, a HSE spokesperson said: “‘The HSE is working with St John of God Community Services in relation to ensuring the sustainability of services and supports for

vulnerable adults and children.

“This support follows an agreed action plan developed in order to ensure sustainability in terms of future provision.

“This process is ongoing at present between St John of God Community Services and the HSE’.”

Free support helpline launched for older people to help tackle Coronavirus fears PADRAIG CONLON

A CHARITY has launched a national support line for older people who are worried about the Coronavirus outbreak.

ALONE, the organisation that supports older people, has set up the free helpline in collaboration with the Department of Health and the HSE. The helpline complements the clinical advice and information being provided by the HSE through its website and helpline.

Professional staff are available to answer queries regarding Covid-19 – commonly known as the Coronavirus – and give advice and reassurance where necessary.

Sean Moynihan, the chief exec-

FASTNews

utive of ALONE, hopes the free helpline will provide vital support for older people.

He said: “The World Health Organisation advises us to be smart and inform ourselves about Covid-19, and to be kind and support one another.

“This free support helpline provides additional information supports for older people who may have concerns or support needs; it is led by our voluntary sector, who provide invaluable work with communities, and is working as part of our co-ordinated national response to Covid-19.

“We are ramping up our response to Covid-19 to provide support to all older people nationwide, working in collaboration

with the Department of Health and the HSE. “As the situation develops, as well as advice, information and emotional supports, we will ensure every older person will have access to food, medication, fuel, daily contact, and any other support that may be needed.

“We want to emphasise that these supports are free, and are available to all older people, including those who have not previously used our services.

“Should any older person need any advice or practical support, we encourage them to call us at the free helpline, at

0818 222 024.

“As the situation develops, we may need to call on civic organisations to support our work.

“At the moment, the risk of contracting Covid-19 – the Coronavirus – is low to moderate.

“In line with HSE advice, older people should continue to carry out their daily activities as normal while taking the appropriate preventative measures, including regular washing of hands and practicing cough etiquette,” he said.

The free support line is open from Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm, by calling 0818 222 024.

THE Irish Cancer Society has cancelled its main fundraising event, Daffodil Day, due to public health concerns.

Averil Power, chief executive of the charity, said the decision was taken to cancel all street collections and events scheduled for March 27.

She said: “We have made this decision to protect the health and wellbeing of our patients, volunteers and supporters.

“We also want to focus all our energies on providing cancer patients and their families with the information, advice and support they need at this time.”

Daffodil Day, supported by Boots Ireland, is the Irish Cancer Society’s biggest fundraiser, taking place each year in March.

Funds raised go towards supporting cancer patients and their loved ones by providing free advice and support, as well as by funding life-saving cancer research.

Could you Graduation escort a ceremonies Tralee Rose? cancelled THE deadline to apply to become a Rose of Tralee escort for the 2020 competition is March 20.

Last year’s Rose of Tralee, Dr Sinead Flanagan, and the Rose Escort of the Year, Jamie Flannery, are calling for gentlemen in Dublin to become a Rose Escort for this year’s festival, which takes place from August 21 to 25.

Dr Flannery said: “It’s been an absolutely fantastic experience, to date, and we’re only halfway through the [Rose] year.

“The week in Tralee last August was a phenomenal experience. I’ve made friends for life in the Roses, and in the Rose Escort class of 2019, from all over the world – and it hasn’t stopped there.

“Since August, I’ve been lucky enough to get the opportunity to travel to Frankfurt for the Christmas markets and volunteer with Chernobyl Children International in Belarus.”

To apply before March 20 to become a Rose Escort, see www.roseoftralee.ie.

DCU has cancelled its Spring graduation ceremonies over Coronavirus fears.

The university made the announcement on Wednesday, March 11 to its undergraduate and postgraduate students, who were due to graduate on March 21.

DCU president Professor Brian MacCraith confirmed an alternative date for the graduations will be decided on over the coming months.

In a statement, he said: “Following extensive consultation involving the senior management of the university, and in careful consideration of a range of factors associated with the evolving Covid-19 situation, both nationally and internationally, the university has regretfully decided to postpone the Spring graduation ceremonies that had been scheduled for March 21.”

“The university regrets any inconvenience caused to graduates, their families and guests, and trusts that [they] will understand why this decision has been made,” said Prof MacCraith.

12 March 2020 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 9

COUNTRY SET TO MARK TRAGEDY

A day to reflect on The Great Famine “

Schools around the country will be invited to hold a minute of silent reflection on Friday, May 22

Treasure hunters set to help sick kids TEMPLE Street Children’s Hospital ambassador and rugby legend Jamie Heaslip joined little Lily Quintana Morel (4), and Hazel Ahern, AIB, at CHI at Temple Street recently, where the trio were helping to launch this year’s

Techies4TempleStreet charity treasure trail. Techies 2020 takes place later this Summer on Friday, June 19, supported by lead sponsor AIB, and will see more than 1,600 team members of Ireland’s tech and business sectors compete in

a treasure trail across the city – to help support Temple Street and some of the country’s sickest children. To register your team, see techies4templestreet. ie or call Temple Street Foundation at 01 878 4344. Picture: Andres Poveda

THE Department for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has announced that the National Famine Commemoration will take place in Buncrana, Co Donegal on Sunday, May 24.

Minister for Culture Josepha Madigan, chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, declared the news last week.

This is the third time the state commemoration has taken place in Ulster, with the ceremony giving people the opportunity to honour those who died or were forced to travel abroad as a result of The Great Famine (1845 to 1849).

The commemoration will culminate in a solemn wreath-laying ceremony

in the town.

Schools around the country will be invited to hold a minute of silent reflection on Friday, May 22 in memory of those who perished or suffered loss during the famine, while sporting organisations will be invited to observe a minute of silence at matches taking place over the weekend.

Minister Madigan said: “The National Famine Commemoration affords us an opportunity to pay tribute to the memory of

Dublin’s Number One Newspaper

DublinGazette Wherever you are, we’ve got you covered

those who perished and suffered during that desolate time.

“The choice of Donegal as host for the 2020 commemoration is particularly significant, given the impact of poverty and emigration on the people of the county throughout the 19th Century.

“With many people living in small, one-room houses and increasingly reliant on their potato crops, the famine swept through Donegal, causing disease, death, family fragmentation and emigration.

“The commemoration will reflect on this momentous event in Irish history and remember all those who suffered as a result of An Gorta Mor [The Great Hunger].”

10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 12 March 2020

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Naoise Culhane

Ryan Byrne and Tommy Dickson

Gearoid and Lorraine Teevan

Fellow photographers congratulate Mark Condren, who was named Press Photographer of the Year 2020. Pictures: Shane O’Neill, SON Photographic Ltd

Press photographers mark big wins in style M

ARK Condren was named Press Photographer of the Year at the recent glittering black-tie awards ceremony in Dublin.

The 42nd annual Press Photographers Association of Ireland awards took place

at a gala awards ceremony held in Dublin, with photographers from across the island of Ireland represented.

Awards were presented across nine categories – news, daily life & people, nature & the environment, politics, sports action,

sports feature, portrait, art & entertainment and reportage, alongside a dedicated award for multimedia.

Caretaker Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was in attendance to present the overall award and congratulate the photographers.

Crispin Rodwell, president, Press Photographers Association of Ireland; Dr Matthew Barrett and caretaker Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

Bernie and Dave Meehan

Eric and Jenny Luke

Jackie and Bernie McMahon with Justin and Marian McInnes and Val and Alison Keating

12 March 2020 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 11

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Aideen Lowe with Aoife

Regina Gleeson with Peter

Pearl Kelly and Reuben O’Brien with author Martina Devlin

DALKEY Library made use of the extra day in February to invite people to ‘leap’ in the door for a ‘Leap into Libraries’ event – especially named for the day that was in it – and which was held to celebrate National Libraries Day. Pictured at the event were artist Hazel Hurley and Sophia Cleary. Pictures: Peter Cavanagh

Dalkey Library leapt into action to promote books on February 29

Eadbhard Blaney

Eric and Luke McCann

12 DUBLIN GAZETTE 12 March 2020

digital

Fall in love with YOUR local paper on our newly improved website www.dublingazette.com, Facebook and Twitter

DublinGazette Wherever you are, we’ve got you covered

For all digital enquiries contact JPMontgomery@dublingazette.com

12 March 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

STYLE: A DEEPER SHADE OF BLUE:

TRAVEL

MAGAZINE

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CLASSIC Blue is the 2020 colour of the year, meaning we’re about to see it hit the High Street in a big way.

Already, hues of royal navy, crisp ocean-like blues and other beautiful blue shades have crept into the style book for many stores.

We’ve picked out some of our fave blues on offer ...

PAGE 21

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF THE NEWS AND EVENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND COUNTY

Celebrate a little-known Irish innovator PADRAIG CONLON

A NEW play coming to Dublin next week aims to shed light on the life and legacy of a truly exceptional Irish woman.

Despite being a pioneering organic chemical compound scientist who proved the benzene ring is flat, Kathleen Lonsdale (1903-1971) remains largely unknown by the Irish public.

The Lonsdale Project, written and directed by Sian Ni Mhuiri, is a new theatre show for young people from the ages of 11 years plus that aims to change all that.

The play connects science with real events and spotlights the fascinating story of Lonsdale, who was a prominent chemist, crystallographer, anti-war campaigner, writer, mother, and former inmate of Holloway Prison.

This co-production with Riverbank Arts Centre and theatre

production company, Super Paua, will celebrate her life, her writings, and her adventures in areas such as x-ray diffraction, crystallography and passivism.

Following the play’s recent world premiere at Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge (the town where Lonsdale was born in 1903), it transfers to Smock Alley Theatre to run from Thursday, March 19 to Saturday, March 28.

Actors The play features three of Ireland’s top young rising actors – Clondalkin native, Hazel Clifford, who recently featured in The Gate Theatre’s hit adaptation of Roddy Doyle’s The Snapper; her fellow Dubliner, Graeme Coughlan, who appeared in The Collector; and Aoife Spratt, who has worked on RTE’s Republic of Telly, and recently in Dave Minogue’s feature film, Poster Boys.

Dublin Gazette caught up with Hazel ahead of next week’s opening night in Smock Alley.

She said: “I’m so excited to be involved with this play as I’ve never done anything like this before.

“I’ve never done children’s theatre so it’s going to be a wonderful new experience to be engaging with young children.

“I really hope they like this play – the story of Kathleen Lonsdale is so important; she was such a fantastic, amazing woman who was way ahead of her time.

“Like so many Irish people, I’d never heard about her before I did this play. She believed in the power we have to change the world – something which is really needed today.

“The story of her life is truly inspiring,” she said.

You can see a longer interview online at DublinGazette.com.

Actors Graeme Coughlan, Hazel Clifford and Aoife Spratt – all ready to help bring the little-known life and achievements of pioneering Irish scientist Kathleen Lonsdale to life

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 12 March 2020

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

A WRY LOOK AT SOME OF THE

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

BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE FOR KIDS C O N TA C T S Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@dublingazette.com Commercial Director: Liz Ferris lferris@dublingazette.com Acting Interim 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:

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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.

WOMEN working on the new national children’s hospital project at the St James’s 12-acre site gathered last week to show solidarity with International Women’s Day 2020.

Pictured are staff from the National

Paediatric Hospital Development Board, Childrens Health Ireland, the design team and contractors working on the construction of the hospital.

Women are key members of a huge range of related fields at the ambitious build, including

LA police forced to ask thief to bring back a carjacked body POLICE in Los Angeles were forced to issue a tweet asking for a person who carjacked a hearse to return a coffin with a body inside, following the hearse’s theft from outside a Greek Orthodox church in Pasadena on February 27 while the attendant was inside the church.

The Sheriff’s office tweeted: “To the suspect(s) driving around in a black Lincoln Navigator stolen [in] Pasadena: Out of all the bad decisions you have made, at least make one good one and bring back the deceased person and casket inside the Navigator.”

A witness reported seeing the vehicle the next morning, with Los Angeles police pursuing the hearse on the freeway until it crashed a short time later.

The body and casket were found undisturbed in the back of the crashed car.

scaffolders, architects, health and safety officers, quantity surveyors and engineers, consultants, nurses, HR and financial professionals and administrators to name but a few sectors at the gradually rising new hospital. Picture: Jason Clarke

You can get your mayo by the SLICE, thanks to Japan CALLING all mayonnaise lovers – a Japanese company has unveiled the latest innovation in condiments, by selling mayonnaise slices.

That’s right – you can buy slices of mayonnaise, made for sandwiches, if you’re tired of using the traditional means of putting mayonnaise on bread.

Japan’s Bourbon Company began selling the product on March 2, with slices similar to an individually-wrapped piece of cheese.

The company instructs consumers to put the slice of mayo on bread and then warm both, meaning it shouldn’t be eaten straight from the plastic.

There are currently two flavours of the mayonnaise slices on offer – a tuna ,flavour and another with hints of ‘spicy fish’.

Both flavours come with four slices per package, and cost ¥200 (c. €1.67), though sadly they’re not available to buy in Ireland just yet!

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

This week’s dog of the week is Ivy, a sweet and affectionate five-yearold Husky cross girl who loves belly rubs from everyone she meets.

She can form strong attachments with people – so, ideally, she is looking for a home where there is someone always there to keep her company.

Ivy has a lovely, playful personality and had great fun with her toys.

She would benefit from positive

reward-based training to help her behave calmly around other dogs, and also with handling by vets.

If you have room in your heart and home for Ivy, 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.)

ivy

12 March 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

ODD THINGS THAT CAUGHT OUR EYE THIS WEEK

Barking mad vote sees a dog end up as mayor A DOG in Colorado received a prestigious honour recently, when he was sworn in as the honourary mayor of his town.

Parker the Snow Dog, dressed in a patriotic tie and becoming glasses, was voted into the position of mayor of Georgetown unanimously on February 11.

The pooch and his pawl i c i e s p rove d p o p u l a r amongst humans, which included bringing “hugs, love, and cookies to the people of Georgetown”.

Parker’s inauguration ceremony took place at Georgetown Community Center, with Clear Creek County sharing some adorable pictures from the ceremony on Facebook.

The caption of the pictures read: “It was a packed house Tuesday night at the Georgetown Community Center for Parker’s inauguration ceremony.

BITS & BOBS

THIS WEEK’S TOP TWEETS Today I completed a chore I have been putting off for six months. It took 15 minutes. I will learn nothing from this. @ashleyn1cole

Liverpool have now lost to Atletico, Watford and Chelsea since the young fella in Donegal wrote to Jürgen Klopp.

“Local law enforcement, citizens of Georgetown and fans of Parker the Snow Dog attended the event. Police Judge Lynette Kelsey administered the Mayor oath to Parker.”

Parker – with more than 6,700 likes on his own Facebook page – now keeps his constituents up to date by sharing ‘MayorMonday’ content, thoroughly enjoying his new role.

The RTE archives report of the first McDonald’s opening in the Soviet Union looks like it could be the opening of @newschambers Phibsboro Shopping Centre.

Brutalist architecture knows Setting up an online- no bounds. only dating facility for @Aislingonline everyone who can’t leave the house while we’re Just found out my all in self-isolation and mum is actually Daniel Day calling it Quarantinder.

Lewis preparing for a role. @Ciaraioch

@fairycakes

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 12 March 2020

12 March 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

ENTERTAINMENT

GOINGOUTOUT

WHAT’S BIG IN MUSIC, CINEMA, TV AND MORE

Disney+ reveals a AN INSIGHTUL LIBRARIAN’S OUTLOOK massive content line-up for launch RACHEL D’ARCY

WITH just days to go before Disney+ launches in Ireland, the latest streaming service to hit the Irish market has revealed its full line-up of content.

Launching on March 24, there will be more than 500 movies, 350 television and cartoon series, and 26 exclusive Disney+ Originals available from some of Disney’s biggest brands, including Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars.

If you’re more of a Pixar fan, some of the biggest Pixar movies will be available, injecting a healthy hint of nostalgia into our streaming schedules.

Some of the top Pixar offerings include Inside Out, Cars, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and Up. Marvel fans can also rejoice as the biggest films in the franchise hit the platform, such as the cult favourite Avengers: Age of Ultron, the Iron Man trilogy, all

Lilo & Stitch

There will also be more than 600 episodes of The Simpsons, thanks to Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox. Some of Disney’s most beloved classics will also be available to stream for the first time, including animations such as Oliver & Company, Lilo & Stitch, Hercules, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.

Iconic series from Disney will also be available, with a few of our top picks including Boy Meets World, Wizards of Waverly Place, Lizzie McGuire, and That’s So Raven.

three Captain America movies, and the X-Men series. There will also be dozens of Marvel series available to stream.

If you’ve seen or heard of Baby Yoda during the past few months, and wanted to find out where he originated from, now’s your chance – a host of Star Wars content will be available on Disney+, including The Mandalorian, starring none other than Baby Yoda himself. There will also be the entire Star Wars series of films, as well as television content and shorts from the Star Wars universe.

For further information on what else is coming to Disney+, and how to sign up, see preview.disneyplus.com/ ie.

Baby Yoda in The Mandalorian

‘A social justice fire is burning in me’, Laura muses  JAMES HENDICOTT

L I B R A R I A N by d ay, ambitious and imaginative songwriter by night, Laura Elizabeth Hughes is working on the idea of her twin passions meeting in the middle.

She’s always been into writing. Lyricism is key to her work, but she also jots ideas in the more conventional sense, and is working on bringing her music, and other music, into libraries, too.

Her passions make for a disparate fusion, but it’s one that’s working: the Dubliner’s YouTube channel is closing in on three million views, her music giving that sense of an ambient canvas against which her voice can paint a stark, emotive picture.

“Lyrics are something people will take different things from,” she tells us.

“People connect in different ways, and it’s very personal to me. The human condition can be very individual, but also universal, so I think I just have to put myself out there and hope it connects.

“It’s a singles and EPs game at the moment, but I’m focusing on getting back into the game. There might be an album one day, but 8, 10, 12 tracks is a lot to ask.”

There’s a philosophy to the way Hughes has risen in recent months, and it’s one, perhaps unwittingly, that might sound familiar to fans of the comedian Danny Wallace.

Wallace, feeling frustrated with life, decided to say yes to ... well, pretty much anything he was asked.

The resulting book led to a Hollywood movie,

and changed his life.

“I’ve been of the mind, since summer last year, to just say ‘Yes’ to things,” Hughes says, echoing Wallace’s thesis.

“It’s created some wonderful opportunities. I spend my days in Dublin libraries, telling stories to kids all day. Two years in libraries has opened my eyes.

“The kind of people who go to libraries, there can be a lot of outreach, and it opens your eyes to privilege and changes your worldview.

“I write a lot of unpublished stuff, and there’s

a real social justice fire burning in me at the moment.”

In fact, Hughes adds, she could easily release

an album if it were only down to having the music.

It’s a question of both sticking to the very highest quality stuff, and

keeping some of the tracks to herself.

“Sligo Tourism asked me to use a song on their adverts, which was a bit

CINEMA | PARASITE STARTLES

SINCE snagging the Best Picture Oscar at this year’s ceremony, the hype surrounding director Boon Joon Ho’s Koreanlanguage black comedy thriller, Parasite (Cert 16, 135m) has been second to none.

With films receiving as much buzz as Parasite has, it’s only natural for some scepticism to be present.

What if the film doesn’t

live up to the praise it’s garnered?

Thankfully, from the opening scene right until the credits, the storytelling in Parasite grips your attention, drawing you into the world of both the Park and Kim families.

Although it’s a subtitled film, the humorous moments and slightly more terrifying moments don’t fail to translate for a second, with the content of the movie – think of searching high and low

for a WiFi signal – applicable to all cultures in 2020.

It starts off somewhat slowly, painting a near idyllic tale of a destitute family – the Kim family – managing to secure jobs working for the prestigious Park household, albeit through a level of deceit (think: poisoning the housekeeper to secure a job for their mother, or forging university documents).

With the matriarch of the Park family seem-

ble-write’ a lot in my journal, and the subject matter informs my music.”

Speaking about her forthcoming headline

Are you part of the 37% of Irish people using podcasts?

Latches onto viewers with chilling effect RACHEL D’ARCY

of a no-brainer for me,” she says of a busy year.

“But a lot of my work is about writing and never makes it to music. I ‘ram-

show in The Sound House – part of a longer headline tour – Hughes admits there is a pressure.

“I’ve played there as a support slot before,” she says, “but that’s different – you can just play and there’s no real pressure.

“I do worry it’s just me and my guitar, playing quiet music, and that I might be swallowed up.

“There’s more pressure with headlining, but you do at least know that they’re there for you, which is nice, too.

“I’ve only just started doing [a] full bands show, and I do like the idea of having two ways of playing – one that’s just me, and one that’s a bit more.

“At the moment, it’s all about milestones and hitting those little moments.

I have my goals, but they’re not about those big ideas of success, they’re more about crossing little borders. I want to connect.”

Laura Elizabeth Hughes plays the Sound House, Eden Quay on April 9. Tickets, priced at €12.50, are on sale now.

GARY IBBOTSON

A poor family, the Kims, try to turn their lives around in Parasite – but matters soon start getting out of hand ...

ing somewhat absentminded, and her husband seemingly heartless as well, you find yourself rooting for the Kims, wanting them to succeed and climb out of the poverty that they’ve managed to find themselves in, even if it means betraying their employers.

Things take a sudden turn, however, just when

the Kims manage to get settled and the viewer finds a comfort with the story so far.

The aforementioned housekeeper makes her return to reveal a grisly secret, with the entire movie taking a deep, dark tumble into darkness from that point forward.

Nothing about the plot or its storytelling feels

forced, with everything progressing naturally with a dark humour and a degree of suspense looming in the background.

That suspense is what makes the ending of Parasite one of the best movie endings in the past few years.

You’re aware something is looming, but you could never expect the incred-

ibly grisly, yet somewhat comedic ending and the subsequent dreamlike telling of the final moments of the film.

In all, Parasite isn’t for the faint of heart, particularly in the latter half of the film, but it’s a definite must-see.

There’s a reason it won Best Picture at the recent Oscars, after all!

OVER the past decade or so, the popularity of podcasts has risen like a bottle of cola when it meets a Mentos, or Roy Keane’s rage when he sees a footballer with a fashionable haircut – it’s rocketed, quickly!

Last year, Spotify and Apple announced they hosted more than 500,000 different podcasts on their respective platforms – and it’s estimated there are currently more than 700,000 being made worldwide.

There are roughly 29 million different podcast episodes ready for your consumption.

The most popular podcast in the world, The Daily, by The New York Times, has amassed more than one billion streams since its launch in January 2017. Ireland is no stranger to the expansive world of the podcast, too.

Last June, it was reported that 37% of Irish people listen to podcasts – only third in the world behind Spain and South Korea – and, in 2016, the Dublin Podcast Festival was founded, running every year since.

So, here at Dublin Gazette, rather than overload you with a huge list of podcasts, we’ve just picked out a couple of great Irish

podcasts to listen to, in no particular order, which should be well worth a listen.

(Disclaimer: Not included on this list are the more well-known shows such as Second Captains, and The Blindboy podcast. They’re great podcasts, but we feel it’s important to give more obscure productions a spotlight) No Encore A music-focused podcast hosted by journalist Dave Hanratty and Craig Fitzpatrick, No Encore is a fun, meandering show which sees the hosts discuss and analyse the latest music news, review new releases and interview some of Ireland’s most intriguing musical acts.

Stardust, by TheJournal.ie Produced by TheJournal.ie, Stardust is a six-part podcast detailing the Stardust nightclub tragedy nearly 40 years on.

Survivors, families of victims, journalists and first-responders are all heard from in this exceptional podcast, which informs the listener of the devastating fire, its background and aftermath, including up to the present day and the new inquest launched by the Attorney General.

THE WHO, MARCH 18, 3Arena; Price: €69+ THE Who has one of the greatest rock legacies in music history – they’re one of the all-time great live bands, have sold more than 100 million records, including nine US and 10 UK top ten albums, and 14 UK top ten singles in a career spanning six decades.

Now, 55 years after they made their first recordings, The Who is back with their first new album in 13 years, entitled WHO.

MARCH 12 (Thursday) Ludovico Einaudi @ The Bord Gais Energy Theatre, SOLD OUT The Regrettes @ The Academy Green Room, €16

MARCH 13 (Friday) The Rifles @ The Workman’s Club, €16 Ludovico Einaudi @ The Bord Gais Energy Theatre, SOLD OUT Elvana @ The Academy, €25 Lethal Dialect @ The Button Factory, €18 Alternating Current Festival @ The Sound House, €22+ Country to Country Festival @ 3Arena, €53+ MARCH 14 (Saturday) Annie Mac @ The Guinness Storehouse, SOLD OUT Alternating Current Festival @ The Sound House, €22+ Nada Surf @ The Button Factory, €25 Country to Country Festival @ 3Arena, €53+ Leo Sayer @ The Bord Gais Energy Theatre, €45 Kormac @ Vicar Street, €30 The Stunning @ The Olympia Theatre, SOLD OUT MARCH 15 (Sunday) Alternating Current Festival @ The Sound House, €22+ Mount Alaska @ The Pepper Canister Church, €15 Country to Country Festival @ 3Arena, €53+ Lightning Seeds @ The Academy, €33 Andy Irvine + Paul Brady @ Vicar Street, €47 MARCH 16 (Monday) Colm Mac Con Iomaire @ Vicar Street, €28 Hip Hop Against Homelessness @ The Sugar Club, €15 Kila @ Merrion Square (early show), FREE YelaWolf @ The Academy, €27 Aslan @ The Olympia Theatre, €33 The Bonny Men @ Whelan’s, SOLD OUT Jamie Cullum @ Bord Gais Energy Theatre, €46+ MARCH 17 (Tuesday) Horslips @ The Olympia Theatre, €34 MARCH 18 (Wednesday) Andy Irvine + Paul Brady @ Vicar Street, €47 Grace Carter @ The Academy 2, €18

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 12 March 2020

DUBLIN FOOD & TRAVEL

A GUIDE TO TEMPTING FOOD AND LOCATIONS

FOOD | PERFECT AS EASTER NEARS

You’ll spring for delicious lamb cutlets GARY IBBOTSON

SLIGHTLY longer days, slightly warmer rain and slightly brighter clouds can only mean one thing: Spring has arrived.

Although the weather might not have changed drastically from the dreary months of Winter, fresh produce certainly does.

Asparagus, rhubarb, scallions, new potatoes and strawberries are all freshest during the spring months and, with them, lamb is a fantastic accompaniment.

Beautifully tender and a sponge for flavour, lamb cutlets served with crusty bread and a light salad are a perfect dish for Easter and (hopefully) the brighter days ahead, with this recipe courtesy of Bord Bia sure to be a hit INGREDIENTS • 12 lamb cutlets, well trimmed • 2 tablesp olive oil • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • Finely grated rind and juice of 1 lemon • 1 teasp ground paprika • 2 teasp chopped fresh oregano or thyme • 1 teasp clear honey • Sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper • Serve with peach, soft cheese and rocket leaves, dressed with a little olive oil and lemon juice PREPARATION • Place the olive oil in a shallow non-metallic dish and add the garlic, lemon rind and juice, paprika, herbs and honey. Season to taste, and stir until well combined.

• Add the lamb, turning to coat, then set aside for at least 10 minutes or up to 24 hours covered with clingfilm in the fridge, if time allows. The longer you marinade, the better the flavour.

• When you are ready to cook, light the barbecue or pre-heat a griddle pan until smoking hot.

• Shake off the excess marinade from the lamb, put the lamb on the barbecue on medium-hot coals or on to the griddle pan.

• Cook for 6-8 minutes until cooked through, turning once. Remove from the heat and leave to rest for a couple of minutes.

• Serve the lamb with the salad and crusty bread.

Even by the increasingly great standards of hotel pools, Hotel Kilkenny’s has a real wow factor – just part of the hotel’s attractions

TRAVEL | FAMILIES ARE LIKELY TO LOVE THIS STAYCATION

Kilkenny getaway will really make a splash SHANE DILLON

Travel Editor WITH some people reluctant to travel abroad at the moment (see below), many others will be looking for a great staycaction instead.

Easter is always a popular time to get away from the city, and the fresh air from down the country may sound even more appealing than usual to us city slickers round about now.

If that sounds like you, why not head off to Kilkenny, where a thoroughly

comfortable family Easter break beckons?

The pretty town has been a hit with holidaymakers for many a long year, with a range of hotels popping up to meet demand.

Among these, the fourstar Hotel Kilkenny is sure to appeal to a family on the go, with the hotel offering a two or threenight Easter activity break for a family of four, with two children under 12 staying for free.

The staycation package includes accommodation in a spacious deluxe bed-

room, a full Irish breakfast each morning, and a two-course dinner on one evening in the hotel’s Pure bar.

You can also enjoy full use of the health and fitness club and pool, and full free access to the kids clubs, family swimming facilities and play areas.

The Kids Club at Hotel Kilkenny offers a wide range of activities, which are guaranteed to keep any four to 12-year-old entertained, with a Lego building challenge, foozeball knockout, bowling tournament, disco/karaoke night, cookie decorating, a movie night, tabletop pool

tournament, quiz night, arts & crafts and board game nights – phew!

The kids club is open every day during school holidays from 9.30am until 12.30pm, and again from 5-10pm, giving the grownups plenty of time to relax at the hotel, go shopping or explore Kilkenny.

Sealing the deal, the package is from just €350 for the two-night break, and from €450 for the three-night stay.

For further information on this great Easter Family break package, see Hotelkilkenny.ie.

COVID-19 claims an airline victim: Flybe TOURISTS around the world are nervously following COVID-19’s progress as it strikes at airline and tourism bodies just as much as at our human ones.

Flybe – the largest independent regional airline in Europe – made headlines late last week with its sudden collapse, with the impact of the Coronavirus dealing a death blow to the

already troubled airline.

Wobbling on the edge of collapse over the past year, Flybe had been battling a range of financial difficulties before the rise of the Coronavirus.

However, with airlines everywhere facing a tsunami of cancellations and passenger claims for refunds, Flybe buckled under the pressure, tempo-

rarily stranding passengers and plunging thousands of people out of work.

However, where Flybe has gone, others will follow – even the mightiest airlines are now busy cancelling or curtailing flights, or seeking to make savings to offset the devastating impact that COVID-19 is having on their fortunes.

It’s not just airlines, of course – the hotel, tourism and travel sectors are also under growing attack by the economic fallout.

Unfortunately, 2020 looks set to see more airlines and travel groups collapse, directly because of the tiny virus and its huge impact ...

12 March 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Bronwyn Toner, Alice McAleer, Yvonne McEvoy and Ramona Nicholas

Lauren Redmond and Vanessa McKay

Emelia Devlin and India Hill

Lorraine Keane with designer Deborah Veale and the models at the Irish Fashion Collective show at City Hall. Pictures:Brian McEvoy

High fashion takes over City Hall

A

WARD-WINNING designers Paul Costelloe and Don O’Neill headlined the fourth Irish Fashion Collective show, presented in association with Sherry Fitzgerald, which took place in City Hall recently.

Organised in aid of Saint Joseph’s Shankill, both Don and Paul – who previously featured individually – joined the cream of other leading Irish designers including

Don O’Neill and Pascal Guillermie

Deborah Veale, Louise Kennedy, Helen Cody, Lainey Keogh, Roisin Linnane, Melissa Curry and Sharon Hoey to showcase their Spring/Summer collections in the historic surroundings of City Hall.

All funds raised from the evening went to supporting Saint Joseph’s Shankill and its vision to lead the way in dementia care in Ireland.

Deborah Veale, Siobhan Grant and Mari O’Leary

Helen Cody and Rory Murphy

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 12 March 2020

 YOUR DUBLIN

MAKE A BEELINE FOR THE DAY TO THESE AREAS

THERE AREN’T MANY CAPITAL CITIES WITH ACTUAL CASTLES IN THEIR SUBURBS – BUT MALAHIDE, DUBLIN CERTAINLY HAS ONE

DUBLIN MADE EASY A LOOK AT SOME OF THE CITY’S MOST POPULAR SUBURBS

WHETHER you’re a true-blue Dub, a blow-in culchie from down the country, or one of the many people from around the world who’ve made Dublin home, our fair city has a huge range of variety in its suburbs. However, many of us tend to just stay in the same old work-home, work-home cycle, and don’t explore the city much. So, this week, we present three suburbs that are well worth visiting.

RANELAGH

WITHIN walking distance of the city centre and full of great places to eat and drink, Ranelagh has undergone a massive change over the past 20 years.

In the pre-Celtic Tiger era, at the tail end of the 90s, Ranelagh was populated mainly by students and renters and along with its neighbour, Rathmines, it comprised the ‘flatland’ area of Dublin.

Since then, however, it’s changed quite a lot and is now one of the most expensive places to live in Dublin, and is now still a very trendy area to live in.

As well as all of its places to socialise in, Ranelagh has two great green areas, with Ranelagh Park and Belgrave Square.

SANDYMOUNT

A VILLAGE steeped in history, Sandymount is full of character and charm thanks to both its seaside location and wonderful old buildings.

James Joyce lived here, at Dromard Terrace, and he famously used Sandymount in his most well-known book, Ulysses.

At the opening of its third chapter we meet the main character Stephen Dedalus mid-thought strolling on Sandymount Strand.

You can follow in his footsteps on the promenade that still exists today while also admiring the striking Martello Tower, which was built in 1804.

MALAHIDE

WITH a medieval castle, marina and beach, the pretty coastal village of Malahide has a head start on most Dublin suburbs when it comes to amazing features.

Only a half an hour from the city centre, you’ll find every kind of shop imaginable, plus award-winning pubs and restaurants in this picturesque seaside village.

It can get very busy in the summer with tourists from all over the world, drawn to its charming streets and the sea.

The town also boasts some excellent toplevel golf courses, if that’s your thing.

Because its by the sea, there are also many great walking trails around the town and by the sea, too.

12 March 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

WHAT WONDERFUL WEARABLES

DUBLIN STYLE & HEALTH

STYLE | CHECK OUT THE COLOUR OF THE YEAR 2020 Blue Neck Scarf TK Maxx €5.99

Joe Browns

New Look Blue Puff Sleeve Denim Smock Dress €29.99 M&S Padded Plunge Swimsuit €40

New Look Blue D-Ring Belt High Waist Tapered Jeans €39.99

New Look Navy Faux Croc Tote Bag €29.99 Littlewoods Ireland V by Very Colorblock Chunky Trainer €42

TK Maxx Blue High Heeled Shoe £199

Dorothy Perkins Lola Skye Blue Sweater €32

Classic Blue  Rachel D’Arcy, Style Editor

PANTONE, the authority on all things colour, announced in late 2019 that their colour of the year for 2020 would be the fabulous Classic Blue.

In 2000, the Pantone Color Institute – commonly known as Pantone – created the Pantone Color of the Year as a trendsetting concept for branding, marketing and creativity

as a whole.

This year, Leatrice Eiseman, the executive director of Pantone, said that classic blue has been selected for the “consistency and confidence” that the colour expresses in a time “that requires trust and faith”.

“Imbued with a deep resonance, Classic Blue provides an anchoring foundation ... It encourages us to look beyond the obvious,” said Eiseman.

Fashion usually takes some inspiration from Pantone’s colour of the year for the Summer and Spring seasons, and this year is no exception.

There are hues of classic blue on offer across stores as we head into the next season, across garments, accessories, shoes and more.

Here are some of our top picks of the beautiful blue hues on offer across the board, inspired by the colour of the year.

BEAUTYBits Treat yourself with a five-star treatment THE WICKLOW Street Clinic is a five-star, awardwinning aesthetic clinic just off the hustle and bustle of Grafton Street.

Offering pure relaxation, the clinic is a proud Eminence Spa distributor, the organic brand direct from Hollywood that counts Jennifer Lawrence, Victoria Beckham and Madonna among its fans.

The brand plants a tree for every product sold - more than 14 million, to date - and uses solar and wind energy to create its products. They also use organic chemistry harnessed from plants to create alternatives to pharmaceutical skincare with the same results.

The clinic’s professional therapists are trained in CACI non-surgical facelifts, massage, Eminence organic facials, Q Fractional IPL laser facials, hair removal, microneedling, LED facials, the Plasma Pen facelift and are the only clinic in Ireland to have a Harley Street surgeon, Dr Roberto Viel, to carry out botox, profhilo and filler treatments.

The Wicklow Street Clinic won several awards last year and are nominated in the upcoming IMAGE Business of Beauty Awards.

For more details about the clinic, visit thewicklowstreetclinic.ie.

Catrice launch a PETA lipstick collaboration CHIC BUDGET brand Catrice have always been proudly cruelty-free - and now, they have the ultimate collection to prove it.

The ‘CATRICE loves PETA’ collection sees the brand partner with charity PETA to offer ten exclusive, limited-edition lipsticks, available throughout March from Penneys.

The charity lipstick is 100% vegan, containing absolutely no animal ingredients, including carmine (pigments derived from scale insects for red hues). In addition, 10% of the net proceeds of the lipstick sales benefit PETA’s animal welfare initiatives.

SKINCARE | SLEEP IS KEY FOR YOUR OVERALL HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Be sure to take care of your skin this World Sleep Day RACHEL D’ARCY

WORLD SLEEP DAY is on March 13, which aims to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of sleep.

We spend up to a third of our lives sleeping, but 35% of people do not feel they get enough of it, impacting both their physical and mental health. A lack of sleep can also be a major contributing factor in accelerating some of the premature signs of ageing.

World Sleep Day is organised by the World Sleep Day Committee of the World Sleep Society, with the intention to help lessen the burden

of sleep problems on society through better prevention and management of sleep disorders.

World Sleep Day is held the Friday before Spring Vernal Equinox of each year Image Skincare have created a mask that aims to help maximise every minute of your beauty sleep: the Vital C Hydrating Overnight Masque.

This product works while you slumber so you can wake up to glowing, hydrated and healthylooking skin, making it the perfect thing to sample this World Sleep Day, and beyond.

The Vital C Hydrating Overnight Masque is priced at €62 and has a triple mineral complex that energises the skin for a revitalised look.

The gel-texture delivers water to the skin and locks in vital nutrients while you sleep.

Containing plant-passed retinol, the product is safe to use during pregnancy and provides the skin with optimum levels of hydration, and boosts collagen production while you sleep.

Use 3-4 times a week in place of your night cream for optimum results.

Image Skincare are a clinical skincare brand, powered by safe, proven ingredients.

Represented by a network of 20,000 skincare professionals in more than 70 countries worldwide, IMAGE skincare is available from imageskincare.ie.

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 12 March 2020

DUBLIN TECH & MOTORS

TECH TIME

Battle looms for Twitter’s soul SHANE DILLON

TWITTER looks like it’s facing into a fight for its soul – or, less prosaically, a potential boardoom battle over its future operations – with the news that a major Republican donor has purchased a significant stake in Twitter, and reportedly wants to oust chief executive Jack Dorsey.

Dorsey is viewed by many people as advocating censorship, given Twitter’s ongoing process of removing various posts, or even shutting down accounts entirely.

Many American Republicans, in particular, have singled Dorsey out as an obstacle to ‘Conservative values’ – enter activist investor Paul Singer, founder of Elliott Management, which typically actively pushes for change in the companies that it invests in.

As such, Twitter shares spiked at 7.9% on the news of Singer’s investment of a currently unknown amount, and his interest to oust

MOTORS | THE ALL-NEW S6 COMPREHENSIVELY IMPRESSES

A superfast and super capable sporty Audi DECLAN GLYNN

Jack Dorsey

Dorsey, with neither Twitter or Elliott Management commenting – yet – on what an investment or future direction for Twitter could entail.

How could this impact on Irish users?

While there are different regulations and regulators operating between America and Europe, any fundamental change at the top of Twitter is almost certain to see a shift in policy here, too.

Views and users which currently fall foul of Twitter regulations could be seen in a more forgiving light, quietly ushering in some, ah, unconventional views.

2020 could be a very interesting year ahead for Irish Twitter users, depending on what happens at the top of the company ...

New show could ‘go viral’ in 2021 IN WHAT is the best – or arguably worst – bit of viral marketing this year, the acclaimed US channel HBO has just announced that it’s working on a TV adaptation of the bestselling PlayStation game and cultural juggernaut, The Last of Us. If living with Coronavirus fears wasn’t already distracting enough, HBO is betting that viewers will lap up its adaptation of the complex, violent, smash-hit game.

After all, with the real world increasingly in panic mode outside right now, what could be better than curling up with a TV show following a gruff, bitter widower trying to safely bring a teenage girl across an America that’s been utterly destroyed by a virus out-

A FRESH, FUN NEW FAMILY CAR

break that killed billions?

The dramatic series is a co-production with Sony’s new division, PlayStation Productions, given that Sony is sitting on a large range of game-related IPs that could work great on TV, similarly to Netflix’s recent big critical and viewer hit with The Witcher.

We’re unlikely to see TLOU before next year, at least – assuming that the Coronavirus doesn’t kill off the show before it begins.

THE new Audi S6 is a sporty all-rounder with a comprehensive range of cutting-edge technologies in the areas of infotainment and driver assistance systems, a powerful drive system, and a striking exterior.

Available in either Saloon or Avant (estate) body styles, the S6 also perfectly fulfils its brief as a fast, fun family car with space for the growing family.

The new Audi S6 features a new 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo TDI (diesel) engine, which produces a hefty 349PS (344bhp), and a whopping 700Nm of torque for truly outstanding performance.

This mighty engine is assisted by a 48-volt mildhybrid system, for greater efficiency.

My review car was an Audi S6 Saloon Quattro Tiptronic TDI, which looked amazing in striking Floret Silver metallic paint.

A massive array of safety, infotainment, comfort, and convenience features are fitted as standard in the new S6, while also standard are five, self-explanatory, driving modes – Effi-

The new Audi S6 is blessed with beauty and power, making it a delight to drive

c i e n c y, equally QUICK FACTS Comfort, matched 1) A6-based super saloon Auto, by the 2) Mild hybrid technology Dynamc a r ’s 3) Outstanding specification i c, a n d standard 4) 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine Individ8-speed 5) On sale now ual. autoPush matic the starter button of the (tiptronic) transmission, S6, and the car roars into enabling the car to sprint life with a wonderful from 0-100km/h in just throaty growl, providing 5.0-seconds, on its way to a clear indication of just an electronically limited how powerful this car top speed of 250km/h, really is. while consuming as little Effortless performance as 7.8l/100km on a comfrom the V6 TDI engine is bined driving cycle.

D e ce n t e f f i c i e n c y, together with an annual road tax of just €570, ensures that the new Audi S6 is a car that can be used every day, without the need for deep pockets.

The S6 is a superb motorway cruiser, but also comes into its own on twisty back roads, too.

The car’s standard four-wheel-drive system ensures that the car feels planted to the road at all times, and provides great reassurance to the driver

when faced with a multitude of road surfaces, while also offering terrific grip as you power out of bends.

The super-fast, amazingly capable, and thoroughly enjoyable new Audi S6 is yet another fine example of Audi’s ‘Advancement Through Technology’ philosophy.

On-the-road pricing starts at €89,060 for the 4-door, 5-seat saloon, with the Avant model priced from €97,030.

Another general decline in registrations THE Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) has released its official new vehicle statistics, showing a further decline in new car registrations.

According to the data for February, such registrations were down 7.7% (with 13,915 vehicles) when compared to February, 2019 (15,069 vehicles).

Registrations in the year to date are also down 4.9% (at 45,096 vehicles) on the same period last year (47,439 vehicles).

Light Commercial Vehicles are down 6.9% (at 2,294 vehicles) compared to February last year (2,465 vehicles), and in the

year to date are down 0.8% (at 7,946 vehicles).

However, Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGVs) registrations are up by 14.5% (at 300 vehicles) in comparison to February, 2019 (262 vehicles).

According to SIMI, in the year to date, HGVs are up 11.04% (at 684 vehicles).

Used car imports for February (at 6,196 vehicles) have seen a decrease of 30.1% on February, 2019 (8,859 vehicles).

In the year to date, imports are down 28.2% (at 12,818 vehicles) on 2019 (17,862 vehicles).

Also in February, 401 new electric vehicles were registered compared to 325 on the same month last year (+23.38%).

SIMI also revealed that, so far this year, 1,294 new electric cars were registered, in comparison to 1,124 in the same period last year – an increase of 15.12%.

Both hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles continue to increase their market share.

Finally, the five top-selling car brands so far this year are Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Skoda, and Nissan, while the top-selling car this February was the Volkswagen Tiguan.

12 March 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

CHALLENGE YOUR BRAIN...JUST FOR FUN!

CODEWORDS

You could advertise here

DUBLIN PUZZLES SUDOKU EASY

MODERATE

SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

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

WORD SEARCH

HOW TO SOLVE Codewords are like crossword puzzles - but have no clues! Instead, every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number, the same number representing the same letter throughout the puzzle.

All you have to do is decide which letter is represented by which number!

To start you off, we reveal the codes for two or three letters.

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

Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

FIND THE HIDDEN WORDS CAME CANDIDATES CURTAINED DAMSELS INITIATED INSTINCT LEAFLET PRIVY PUFF RASPBERRY RATED

REGRETFUL SCREEN SKIPPER SLAM STAY THIEVES TREADING WASHTUBS WEAR WHOM WORK

To advertise here please contact sales@dublingazette.com or call 01 6010240

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12 March 2020 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 27

ATHLETICS P30

THE BEST IN DUBLIN

SPORT

INTO THE DARKNESS: SWIMMING: GER Carty reflects on his

biggest ever challenge, surviving jellyfish stings and avoiding cruise ships in the depths of night as well as dealing with his own demons.

He looks back on his 19-hour swim, the culmination of a life of taking on phyiscally-demanding swims across hairy sea conditions.



GAZETTE

BASKETBALL P29

PAGE 28

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS INFORM YOU OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORES OF YOUR FAVOURITE TEAMS PEXPO | TRINITY COMPREHENSIVE AMONG THE ANNUAL WINNERS

Dublin schools excel at DCU’s PE showcase  sport@dublingazette.com

SCHOOLS from the greater Dublin area figured strongly at the sixth annual PExpo hosted by DCU. Winning the best overall award in the junior category for second and third year students were Abhirami Santhoskumar, Ruby Roche and Michelle Dolores of Woodbrook College for a project on “Mixed or singlesex lessons. Do participation levels change?” The project was one of four submitted by Woodbrook students.

Other Dublin area schools taking category wins included St Joseph’s Rush, St MacDara’s Templeogue, Templeogue College, Dominican College Griffith Avenue, Coolmine Community College, Donabate Community College and Trinity Comprehensive Ballymun, where the PExpo first took place in 2015 before moving to DCU two years ago.

Putting in a magnificent entry of 11 projects across a wide range of subjects

was Mount Temple, Malahide Road.

Another school making eye-catching contributions was Donahies Community School with five entries from its second year students.

Other Dublin schools entering projects included Kishogue Community College Lucan, Santa Sabina Sutton, Luttrellstown Community College, St Mary’s Holy Faith Glasnevin, Loreto Balbriggan and Coolmine CS. Students attending the PExpo could judge the work of their peers.

Winning the junior peer prize for a project on “Confidence – does it affect your sporting ability?” were Caoimhe Molloy, Molly Nugent and Phoebe Lemon from Wellington Lane, Templeogue.

Senior winners were Kate Smyth and Karl Ormsby from Trinity Comprehensive School for their project on “Adaptive sport”.

PE is – at last – part of the Leaving Cert cycle, and winning the Leaving Cert PE award were Grace Healy and

Trinity Comprehensive’s seniors won the peer group award. Picture: Lindie Naughton

Riya Suunu of Dominican College Griffith Avenue for their “Investigation on the effects of psychological preparation of sport”. Trinity Comprehensive School took the award in the Senior Cycle PE Framework section.

In the Sports Psychology category, Aaron Hurley of Templeogue College was the winner for a project on “Psychological effects of an injury on an

athlete post-recovery”.

Winning a special prize from the Irish Heart Foundation for their work on fitness testing was a group from Coolmine Community School.

Students submitted projects in nine categories and were judged not only on content but also on presentation.

Next year’s PExpo will take place on Wednesday, March 3, 2021.

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 12 March 2020

CLUB NOTES

ROUND

1

BALLINTEER ST JOHN’S LOTTO results for Mar 3rd 7,17,19 and 23. Jackpot not won. €100 Una Corcoran c/o the Willows, €50 Dermot Srevenson c/o The Coach House and Peggy Cushion. Joker consolation Henry Costello. Jackpot next week €2,800 and Joker €250. Bingo each Mon night at 8:00pm.

Hard luck to the BSJ Camogie players on the Loreto High School Beaufort team beaten in the All Ireland Post -Primary Senior Final, Rachel Dolan, Hannah Mulholland, Belen Swords, Ellie Doran, Rebekah Fitzpatrick , Saoirse Kavanagh, Lisa Webster and Rachel Cullen. Team was coached by Donal O Gorman.

All 3 Adult Hurling teams were in action on Sunday. The Seniors were beaten by a strong Lucan team, our Juniors As lost to Skerries and the Junior Bs beat O’Tooles. Minor Hurlers are away to Round Towers Clondalkin next Sunday at 11.

Next round of Adult hurling matches is on March 22nd. Minor A Footballers beat St Sylvesters to maintain their unbeaten record. Minor B’s had their first defeat losing our to Kilmacuid Crokes Minor B’s.

A full round of AFL fixtures this Sunday.

The Seniors play St Brigids in Marlay while the Intermediate team are away to St Sylvesters in Bloomfield , both throw in at 10-30. The Junior A team are at home to Ballyfermot in Loreto , throw in at 12. The Junior B team are also at home to Ballyboden in Loreto throw in at 3.

Special New Season offers at the Club Shop Club shop opening hours: Saturday 11.30am - 12.30pm Thursday 7.30pm - 8.30pm.

KILMACUD CROKES HARD luck to the AHL1 team who lost to Ballyboden, 0.14 to 1.14.

Well done to the recently promoted AHL2 and AHL3 teams, who beat Erin’s Isle, 0.20 to 0.9, and Round Towers, 2.15 to 1.17 respectively.

Hard luck to the AHL6 who lost to St. Finians 1.7 to 2.12. The AHL9 team drew with Stars of Erin, 5.9 to 5.9.

In Football, hard luck to the MFL1 team who lost to Ballyboden, 0.7 to 3.11.

The MFL3 team drew with Thomas Davis, 3.9 to 4.6 and the MFL4 team beat Ballinteer, 2.11 to 0.5.

In Ladies Football, hard luck to the U18 Division 1 team who lost to Lucan Sarsfields, 5.12 to 2.10 and the Division 6 team that lost to Erin Go Bragh, 2.6 to 3.6.

Well done to the Dublin Senior Ladies Footballers who beat Waterford, 4.5 to 0.13, in their round 5 league game.

The Crokes representatives involved with the team include Aoife & Laura Kane, Lauren Magee, Cassie Sultan, Amy Conroy, Grace Kos and Eabha Rutledge.

In Camogie, hard luck to the Dublin Seniors who lost to Limerick, 0.10 to 1.10.

Julia Buckley and Siofra Walsh were the Crokes players involved.

Well done to Anna Geraghty and the Intermediate team had a good 4.8 to 0.7 victory over Laois in Division 2 of the league.

Well done to the Minor team who beat Laois, 1.10 to 2.2, in their All-Ireland Championship game.

Congratulations to Issy Davis, Niamh Comerford, Ciara Jones, Hannah Reynolds and Roisin Ni Chasaigh who are all on the panel.

In Football, well done again to the Dublin U20 Footballers and Padraig Purcell, Conor Kinsella and Anthony Quinn, who won the Leinster Championship on Friday evening.

We launched our KC Friday Sport Club last week in the beautiful sunshine.

The sports club is for kids between 5-12, with a disability to come along and have fun, get some exercise and make new friends.

Check out the club web site for more details.

SWIMMING: MARINO OPEN SWIMMER REFLECTS ON TOUGHEST

Channel conqueror Ger Carty’s battle with demons and the deep blue sea  PAUL KEANE

sport@dublingazette.com

A JELLYFISH sting? Ger Carty compares the painful sensation to a bee sting before correcting himself.

“I’d say it’s probably more like a bad nettle sting, that’s how I’d describe it.”

He should know because when he climbed out of the sea at Sangatte, in 2011, hauling himself up onto the unwelcoming, rocky coastline of northern France – almost 19 hours after leaving England – his body was covered in them.

“It was mainly on the legs and upper torso that the jellyfish got me,” he recalled, matter of factly.

Truth be told, after swimming for 18 hours and 52 minutes, through night and day, through shipping lanes, through body battering currents and in dangerously cold temperatures, the impressions left on his ravaged body by Compass jellyfish while crossing the English Channel were the least of his concerns.

“I was in a desperate state. My face and body had puffed up through stress, I looked about 70, my tongue was swollen, my eyes were swollen, my face was swollen, it was sheer stress,” recalled Carty who, on September 16, 2011, swam 68 miles in total, from one country to another.

“I was looking to do it in 10 and a half hours; I ended up just shy of 19 hours. As

the crow flies, it’s a 23-mile crossing but I ended up swimming around 100km, 68 miles.

“I spent nine hours in the dark. There was a boat accompanying me but it wasn’t like it was two or three feet away, I had to keep 100 or 200 metres away because of the swell and fumes.

“You’re on your own, looking ahead into a black abyss. You look down at times and you see giant shapes moving beneath you. I saw an awful lot of cruise ships; I could actually hear the music coming from some of them.

“They looked ginormous. I was in one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world and you do get scared that one of them mightn’t see you and might run over you.”

Young Gerard Carty began swimming when he was at Scoil Mhuire National School in Marino.

He tried athletics. “I was brutal”, he shrugged.

He tried Gaelic football.

“I hadn’t got the aptitude or the co-ordination for that,” he concluded. So he tried swimming.

“I’ve a relatively long torso and short legs,” he said. “Even though I’m six-foot, that’s the way my body is built and it’s a good composition for a swimmer. I started taking part in galas with the school, and it went from there really.”

Carty won the Dun Laoghaire Harbour swim

in 2004 and that same year set Irish records at 800m and 1,500m while swimming in Glasgow.

Four years later, aged 39, he set out with around 20 other hardened sea swimmers from Rathlin Island, off the coast of Antrim, and pointed his body towards Ballycastle 14kms away. Only five completed that race in August 2008 and Carty came first in just over three hours.

“That was the platform for me when I was told, ‘You’ve got to swim the English Channel’,” he recalled. If only they knew what they were asking.

His prep for the crossing, just over three years later in 2011, was flawless, even sleeping with just a thin sheet on his bed for a year beforehand to get his body used to prolonged periods of intense cold.

He satisfied all the criteria and competency tests laid on by the Channel Swimming Association

and paid the €3,500 for a manned boat to accompany him across.

Hurricane Katia meant a false start before he finally entered the water on September 16 under a full moon.

Around 4am, eight or nine hours in, he could sense his body clock ticking towards sleep. Then he tore a rotator cuff muscle in his left shoulder.

For a while, he swam using only his right arm.

The closer he got to France, the warmer the water and he was able to swim with both arms again.

“The cold took my mind off the pain,” he said. “It’s like an ultra-marathon, or someone running for hours and hours; it’s 90 or 95% mental. Everybody gets their demons, they start knocking on your door saying: ‘You’re too tired.

You can’t keep going’.

“Your mind is making every excuse to quit or give up. I tried to think of my

mind as a blackboard when those thoughts would enter. I’d pick up the duster and just wipe out the negative thoughts.”

Aside from ambition, obsession and sheer belligerence, what helped propel Carty through choppy waters and his demons was the real inspiration.

“I was swimming on behalf of my colleague, Paula Mulvaney, who was battling cancer at the time,” said Carty.

“Channel swimmers don’t normally do it for charity because 90% don’t make it across. Nobody wants to hear about you failing so that was keeping me going.”

Carty is a senior sports development officer/water safety development officer with Dublin City Council.

He still swims competitively and is a regular in the Leinster Open Sea races though initially after the channel swim, he fell out of love with swimming.

12 March 2020 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 29

EVER CHALLENGE Ger Carty, who is one of Ireland’s toughest long distance swimmers. He is also one of the local heroes who is helping to promote Dublin City Sports & Wellbeing Partnership’s work all across the city.

ASDF SDAFASDF: NA A SFSDAF SDAF ASDF DASF DASAMBITION BASKETBALL: SOUTHSIDERS FULFILL SEASON’S

Meteors soar to title and Super promotion WOMEN’S DIVISION ONE PLAYOFFS Trinity Meteors celebrate their Division One title in Leixlip last Sunday

 sport@dublingazette.com

“I suffered from PTSD after it,” he admitted. “It was a very difficult crossing, the week after a bad storm, swimming through slop at times. I was way out of my comfort zone.

“I get the odd flashback even now; getting your feeds every 45 minutes, only stopping for 15 seconds to take them or you’ll be pushed away off course, trying to lie on your back and co-ordinate yourself to pee.”

Three kilometres from the shore, Carty remembers finally spotting France. Yet despite fresh adrenaline coursing through his veins, he couldn’t make that last surge forward.

“The boatman advised me not to go for it. The tide was against us and he reckoned it could pull me away and we’d miss our landing spot altogether so he took me parallel to the shore for what seemed like an hour.

I got very frustrated,” he

recalled.

So what was the feeling when it was all done, euphoria or relief?

“I was exhausted,” revealed Carty. “I remember looking at the rocks, wondering after 19 hours lying in the water if I could even stand up on them.

‘Would I fall and break my ankle on the rocks?’

“It took me a year really afterwards. I didn’t swim for a year, maybe 14 or 15 months.

“I was fed up of it, lost the gra for it. I know people who have failed the channel swim and given up swimming entirely.

“I didn’t want to be one of those people and I’m grateful to a friend of mine who told me: ‘Look, you have to get back in the water’.

“Even just for exercise and keeping healthy, and my boys were only young at the time, I knew I had to do it. It was the best decision I made to get back in.”

TRINITY Meteors were crowned Women’s Division One champions in style on Sunday afternoon in Leixlip as they ran out 80-65 point winners over Team Tom McCarthy’s St Mary’s of Castleisland in the league final.

The game certainly lived up to its billing, as the sides were neck-and-neck from the off with just one point separating the teams at halftime.

A huge start to the third quarter from St Mary’s saw them edge into the lead behind superb work from Emma Sherwood, Lorraine Scanlon and Denise Dunlea.

But Meteors weren’t behind for long and, led by taliswoman Edel Thornton and superb performances from Lauren Grigsby and Sarah Kenny, they edged back into the lead by four points going into the last.

It was raining threes for the Dubliners as the final quarter got underway though, with Thornton and Grigsby both draining a number of key shots from outside the arc.

Despite a superb comeback charge from St Mary’s, with Siofra O’Shea and Sherwood leading in superb fashion, it wasn’t to be, as Meteors became clinical on finishing and stormed home to league title glory and promotion back to the Women’s Super League with an 80-65 point win.

Speaking afterwards, Meteors’ Eimear Mairtin said: “It’s great to win. We’re delighted to get back up to the Super League. We lost the Cup this year, but it was all about consistency in the league for us and we only lost once in that, and that was against Castleisland.

“We knew this was going to be a tough game, so it’s nice to get the win and get back to where we wanted to be.”

The win came hot on the heels of a Saturday semi-final success over their National Cup nemesis, the Portlaoise Panthers, who they beat 80-63.

Sarah Kenny was simply outstanding, scoring 23 points as Meteors found some breathing space in the third quarter.

Trudy Walker’s 17 points kept Panthers in the game, but Kenny – who sank numerous three pointers in the period – along with Grisgby and Thornton kept the scores raining in for Meteors to see them lead 59-48 going into the last.

Portlaoise’s young stars Ciara Byrne and Ciara Wheeler ensured that Trinity couldn’t relax in the fourth quarter, but Kenny kept the Dubliners out in front to see them into Sunday’s final.

For Meteors coach Vinny O’Keeffe, it was a just reward for a stunning season: “Delighted about it; we had the best league record all year but the big fear was that would come back to haunt us and we wouldn’t be able to make it through to the Super League.

“Castleisland are a really good team and have the best defensive record by a mile so to score 80 points, win and get to the Super League. I am thrilled to bits.

“They are a fantastic team to work with and hopefully they will do us proud again next year.”

Salmo’s perfect dozen to win trophy UNDER-20 RUGBY  sport@dublingazette.com

DE LA SALLE Palmerston’s young guns lifted the David Coughlan Memorial Cup on Sunday after a hard-fought 18-10 win over an excellent Coolmine side.

It saw them complete the perfect dozen and wrap up the JP Fanagan Premier 3 league title at Kirwan Park with 12 wins from 12.

First half tries from Jim Feehan, captain Shane Cleary and Cameron Stewart gave the home

side a 15-0 lead at the interval, although the scoreline didn’t tell the whole story of what was a very competitive and hard-fought first half.

Coolmine had the better of the second period and two unconverted tries saw them close the gap to 15-10 and set the home support’s nerves even further on edge.

Salmo defended for their lives and relief eventually came in the shape of a late Jake Finlay penalty goal which would prove to be the final score of the game and see the home side to victory.

This hugely-entertaining game was a credit to both clubs and made for a fitting end to a very competitive and absorbing

campaign which now makes way for knockout rugby as the Harry Gale Cup gets under way imminently.

30 DUBLIN GAZETTE  SOUTH 12 March 2020

CLUB NOTES

ROUND

2

NAOMH OLAF THERE was no winner of the Club Lotto Draw on Sunday 8th March - numbers drawn were 11, 14 and 31 - the jackpot on Sunday 15th March will be €3,000. €30 winners were Derek Dowling c/o Emma O’Brien, James Morgan c/o Gary Walsh, Dolores O’Reilly c/o Club, Margaret Kyne Delaney c/o Anthony Delaney and Mick Shivnan c/o Club.

It was great to see back to back matches being played at the Páirc Uí Bhriain last weekend with all pitches being playable. The Under 18 Ladies Footballers lost to Trinity Gaels, they play Templeogue Synge Street in Bushy Park on the 14th March. Under 18 Camógs drew with Lucan Sarsfields with 1-01 a piece.

Adult Hurling teams played away matches with the Division 3 team finishing 2 points behind Castleknock and the Division 6 team trailing Civil Service Hurling by 5 points at the final whistle. In Minor Men’s Football, the Division 2 fixture against Erin’s Isle was called off, while the Division 4 men travelled to play Lucan Sarsfields in a closely contested match with the Lucan lads winning by a single point.

Sunday 15th March sees the adult camogie team play Naomh Fionnbarra at Páirc Uí Bhrian at 12pm, with the Minor Men’s Hurlers play Naomh Barróg in Division 2 and Bray Emmets in Division 2. In adult men’s football, Division 2 team play a home fixture against Whitehall Colmcille, the Division 5 men travel to play Erin’s Isle, and in Division 9 it is a home match against Erin Go Bragh.

Congratulations to Olaf’s man, Luke Murphy Guinane and the Dublin Under 20 Footballers on winning the Leinster Final against Laois. Congratulations also to Naomh Olaf player, Christine Shanahan and the Dublin Minor A Camogie Team on their Championship win over Laois.

SHANKILL THE club Chase the Ace Sunday night draw in Brady’s there was no winner of the jackpot and the €50 prize went to Martin Scarff.

This week’s jackpot is €1900. Tickets are €2 each or 3 for €5 available in the pub. At last the rain stopped and there was plenty of of action over the weekend with some fantastic results.

Well done everybody. Our Easter Camp for boys and girls begins on Tuesday 14th April in Stonebridge Road. Places are limited see our Facebook page for details or call Steve 087 6414123.

We are delighted to be chosen by the LGFA as one of only of only thirty clubs from across the country for the Gaelic4Teens initiative. This programme is for girls in the 13 to 17 years age group who are most lightly to give up sport and never to return. More information to follow.

Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others, a group has been set up catering for 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 your 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 Pharmacy Shankill is in action at 10.00am on Saturdays in 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.

For details of our Ladies adult football teams e-mail stevedavis203@gmail.com or contact Steve Davis 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.

WANDERERS LOTTO: We have a winner of our main jackpot, numbers drawn were 14-17-24.

Congratulations to John Durkan who has won the €10,000. Jackpot next week is €2,500. Our Lotto is now online through our Website or Facebook page.

If you are interested in playing for our Adult Men’s teams this season please contact Dave on 0877256754. If you are interested in joining our Ladies team this season please contact Dionne on 0879315556 for more info.

Our Juvenile training is on Saturday mornings and Wed evenings along with the nursery on Saturday mornings, please contact Fergal on 0876213142 for more details, the club is looking for new members at all levels so please reach out as per above if interested.

If you would like a Match Report or Photos submitted to the website or press please contact pro@wanderersgaa.ie. All items for the club notes must be submitted by Sunday evening to pro@wanderersgaa.ie.

ATHLETICS: DSDAC WIN BIG AT NATIONAL EVENT

Sheridan’s triple at Irish Masters MASTERS ATHLETICS  sport@dublingazette.com

DUNDRUM South Dublin AC enjoyed a number of stand-out performances in Athlone last weekend at the Irish Health Life National Masters Championships.

The pick of the bunch among their many medal winners must go to Shane Sheridan who came first in the 60m, 200m and 400m, making it a triple gold.

The runner-up to Sherdian in each of these events was his club mate Peadar McGing, making for a DSD-heavy podium on each occasion.

Adina Gheorghiu was another big winner with a 60m-200m gold medal double in the women’s Over-45 races.

Other winners included were Sheelagh Jones in the Over-60s 400m and she also took medals with a silver in the 1,500m and bronze in the 800m to complete her set.

In the same age group, Lucy Moore took first in the weight for distance competition with a throw of 3.85m. She cleared 1.10m in the high jump while she took silver in the shot put with a best

Members of the Dundrum South Dublin AC team that competed at the national indoor championships in Athlone

distance of 7.92 metres.

In the men’s Over-45s, Kevin Byrne led the way in the 60m hurdles with a time of 10.59 seconds and was a bronze medal winner with 4.53 metres.

Vigetta Moran claimed bronze in the Over-45 weight for distance; Avril Dillon was first in the women’s Over-40s 60m hurdles, and then took second in the flat version of the same event.

And, in the oldest of

BADMINTON More Leinster glory for DLSC

DE LA SALLE Churchtown continued their winning streak when they took both Dublin and Leinster titles at Under-16 level in Baldoyle.

They won 6-0 v Chiaran Naofa, Offaly; 6-0 v Dundalk Grammar School and 5-1 v St Kieran’s of Kilkenny to take them into the final.

There, they saw off Good Counsel, New Ross, 4-2.

The team comprised Ciaran Nolan, Ben Boylan, Alenjandro Rodriguez and Jose Maria Milán Céspedes.

the age categories, men’s Over-85 athlete Con Hearty took the 3,000m walk in 20.24.96.

In the Irish schools cross-country championship, club members from the DSD club were also to the fore.

Mount Anville’s Eimear Maher produced a great run to win the intermediate girls race.

Isabelle Tomkin Beddy (Holy Child Killiney) qualified for the Schools Inter-

national by virtue of her eighth place in the junior girls race. Faye Dervan (Wesley) was 13th in the Senior Girls Race.

With Jamie Byrne 19th and Killian O’Brien 25th, in the Junior Boys race, they helped their school – Wesley College – to win silver team medals.

Morgan Clarkson (Coláiste Eoin) was 14th Inter Boys with Saoirse Ni Bhriain (Coláiste Iosagáin) was 15th Inter Girls.

12 March 2020 SOUTH  DUBLIN GAZETTE 31

XXX: SARS GRAY’S SIDE OVERCOME SLOW START TO SWEEP PAST LAOIS FOOTBALL:

Dublin cruise to Leinster U-20 championship LEINSTER UNDER-20 FC FINAL Dublin 0-20 Laois 0-8  sport@dublingazette.com

DUBLIN secured back-to-back Leinster Under-20 football championship titles with a commanding ten-point provincial final victory over Laois at Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow on Friday night.

The Dubs were slow starting but a string of seven points in-a-row as the opening half developed put Tom Gray’s side on the road to victory.

The O’Moore County opened well with points from Ronan Coffey and keeper Matthew Byron, who drove over a massive free from 50 metres.

Dublin needed to get going and wingback Lee Gannon provided the inspiration with a well struck point from 35 metres.

He followed up with a second point from play in the tenth minute to reduce the gap.

In between one of Dublin’s key players on the night, Kieran McKeon, had a goal effort saved by keeper Byron from close range.

A minute later, the Dubs were level when Ciarán Archer slotted over from play, the first of his seven points (including deadball), following good direct play from full-forward Luke Swan.

Byron edged Laois back in front before Dublin took control to reel off seven points without reply.

Dublin improved significantly in the middle third and The Laois defence found the dynamic Mark Lavin difficult to slow down.

Points flowed from Archer, Lavin, stylishly slicing over with the outside of his right boot, Seán Foran, Archer again, Lorcan O’Dell, and two Archer frees to move 0-10 to 0-4 clear.

When attack-minded corner-back Alan Murphy’s goal chance glanced off the Laois crossbar Dublin were in full flow and by the half-time break were 0-11 to 0-5 in front, with Archer closing out the scoring with his second successful ‘45’.

The O’Moore County enjoyed lots of second half possession but the Dublin defence gave nothing away cheaply as their work-rate, intensity and tackle count kept their opponents at arm’s length.

Crokes’ Comerford plays key role for Dublin

Lucan Sarsfields duo Alan Murphy and Mark Flavin

Laois missed a late penalty when Mark Barry pulled his effort wide of Josh O’Neill’s left hand post.

At a key moment, Rory Dwyer broke forward for a crucial early point in the second half after Laois had wrestled back the upper hand.

Sub Conor Kinsella made an immediate impact on his introduction when scoring to make it 0-14 to 0-7 after 48 minutes.

Kieran McKeon kicked three brilliantly struck, clinical points inside the concluding ten minutes to ensure Dublin did not loosen their control of the game on the scoreboard.

“We came down here expecting a right battle,” said Dublin manager Tom Gray afterwards.

“I know the scoreline looks like we won comfortably. It certainly didn’t feel like that during the course of the 60 minutes!

“When we reflect on this day, we will be very happy to have won the game but we’ll also recognise we’ll need to kick on to be a challenge in the semi-final.”

Dublin advance to face the Ulster champions Tyrone in their All-Ireland U20FC semi-final in Croke Park as part of a double-header with the other semifinal (Kerry v Galway) on St Patrick’s Day.

Cuala off to winning start in AHL1 AHL DIVISION ONE ROUND-UP  sport@dublingazette.com

Cuala have started their title retention bid well

CAMOGIE

REIGNING champions Cuala opened the defence of their crown with a 3-11 to 1-13 triumph at the expense of Faughs at Islandbridge two weeks ago and they duly built on that at Bray Emmet’s against the newly promoted Naomh Barrog.

The Kilbarrack men enjoyed a dream start to life in the top-flight as they finished with four points to spare over Ballyboden St Enda’s (2-13 to 0-15) in their competitive bow of 2020.

They were on course for another successful outing when they developed a 1-4 to 0-1 cushion during the early exchanges of their meeting with Cuala.

Yet, with Oisin Gough leading the way, they gradually came to terms with the Barrog attack. Liam Murphy and Darragh O’Connell were also prominent and when the half-time whistle was sounded, Cuala found themselves 1-13 to 1-9 in front.

The Dalkey outfit had a considerable wind advantage at their disposal after the restart and, thanks in no small part to the scoring prowess of Dublin senior star Mark Schutte, they created additional daylight between the teams.

Though a game Barrog persevered with their challenge, Cuala ultimately emerged on the right side of a 2-30 to 1-12 final scoreline.

Ballyboden St Enda’s bounced back from their defeat at the hands of Barrog with a 1-14 to 0-14 win over Kilmacud Crokes at Pairc Ui Murchu.

With Eoghan O’Neill bagging a goal, Boden established a 1-10 to 0-4 interval buffer.

Inter-county stars of past and present dovetailed effectively for the home team with Conor Dooley, James Roche, Conal Keaney and Shane Durkin all stepping up to the mark. Crokes did their best to stem the tide and cut considerably into the Boden lead on the resumption.

However, they ultimately suffered a 1-14 to 0-14 reversal to their southside counterparts.

Nonetheless, after getting the better of Ballinteer St John’s at Silver Park a fortnight earlier, Crokes remain within touching distance of top spot.

They are joined on two points by Lucan Sarsfields, who began their campaign in fine style against Ballinteer. Originally set to face St Brigid’s at 12th Lock on February 23, Lucan travelled to Ballinteer Community School for their 2020 debut on Sunday morning.

Supplementing Ben Coffey’s six-point haul, Sean McClelland, former county star Peter Kelly and Ciaran Dowling rattled the John’s net to propel the visitors towards a 3-22 to 1-12 victory. St Vincent’s triumphed on the exact same scoreline at Pairc Naomh Uinsionn against Whitehall Colmcille.

Like Lucan, Vincent’s remained idle on the opening weekend of the term and will now hope to bring momentum into their away encounter with Faughs on Sunday week (March 22).

St Brigid’s lost out to Craobh Chiarain on a margin of 0-19 to 3-8.

A CRACKING late run of seven points saw Dublin’s minor camogie side get the best of Laois 1-10 to 2-2 in the Tesco All Ireland Minor A Camogie Championship last Saturday in Clonad.

In tough, windy conditions, Kilmacud Crokes’ Niamh Comerford played a pivotal role in their second win of the season. She was joined in the starting team by Naomh Olaf’s Christine Shanahan and Crokes club mate Issy Davis.

Comerford got Dublin off to a great start with the first point before Laois hit the net with a low flying free.

Comerford scored another point from a free in the ninth minute and Emily Byrne followed on a minute later with a lovely point from play under pressure.

This was to be Dublin’s last score of the first half as Laois edged in front 1-2 to 0-3 at half-time.

The Dubs came out in the second half to play with the wind more favourable for them and they took advantage of it.

In the seventh minute Laois scored their second goal but that was to be their last score. In the same minute, Byrne hit the back of the Laois net to cut the gap back to 2-2 to 1-3.

Dublin would go on to score the next seven points without reply via Róisín Ní Chathasaigh (0-3), Aisling Gannon (0-1) and Meadhbh Hicks (0-1) along with two frees by Comerford.

GazetteSPORT MARCH 12-18, 2020

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

METEORS SOAR UP TO SUPER STATUS BASKETBALL:

Southside club back in the big time following epic double weekend of playoff wins in Leixlip.

SEE P29

MASTERFUL ATHLETICS:

Dundrum South Dublin AC clean up at the national indoor masters championships in Athlone. SEE P30

CROSSING THE CHANNEL SWIMMING:

Dubliner Ger Carty recounts his epic battle to swim across the English channel, a 19-hour odyssey beset with drama. SEE P28-29

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Waves boss Kelly says WNL not far off pro level  DAVE DONNELLY

sport@dublingazette.com

A PRE-SEASON trip to face Glasgow Celtic convinced DLR Waves boss Graham Kelly that the gap in standards from the Women’s National League to full-time professional football is relatively small.

The south Dublin side were invited to Glasgow for a weekend last month and, though they lost 4-0 on the day, it was an invaluable way to kick off their series of preseason games.

Defender Niamh Prior, a senior Irish international, trained with Celtic for the week leading up to the game before lining out for Waves.

While the opportunity to experience the fulltime set-up in Glasgow was beneficial, the main take away for Kelly was that his amateur side aren’t all that far away in talent or ability.

“We went over there and had a really good time,” Kelly told Dublin Gazette.

“To go over there and play against a professional team in a full-time set-up – and the invite is there for us to go again – is fantastic. It’s a relationship we can hopefully build on in future.

“Playing against a club like Celtic, they’re massive. So for the girls to go over [was great].

“The night before we played, the first-team manager Fran Alonso and David Hay, who was head of the women’s

The DLR Waves on their recent trip to Glasgow Celtic

“Financially, we’re a million miles behind, but what we’re doing on the pitch is very similar“ academy, came down to the hotel.

“They did a presentation to the girls on Celtic Football Club and how they’re now going professional. It was a good insight for the girls into how a club like Celtic are trying to go pro.

“And to see what we’re doing here, we’re not a million miles away from it.

“Financially, we’re a million miles behind, but

what we’re doing on the pitch is very similar.”

Kelly has managed to keep the bulk of last season’s squad, who finished sixth from eight teams in the Women’s National League, while adding a pinch of extra quality.

Defender Oleta Griffin has arrived from Kilkenny United following their exit from the league.

Young players like Amy Murphy, Mel Clarke

and Katie Malone have arrived from junior football.

Club captain Catherine Cronin and ex-Ireland goalkeeper Eve Badana have both stayed on and, along with Rachel Doyle, will form the core of experience on which the young side can build.

“Niamh Prior and Fiona Donnelly are only 21, but we’re so young they are our experienced players. Eve is excellent

around the squad, Catherine the club captain and the vice-captain.

“It’s brilliant to have these girls that will help the younger girls develop. You can see how some of the girls that played last year, how they’ve pushed on this year.

“We hope to try and break into that fourth or fifth position. Finishing sixth last year; you want to try and build on it and

maybe take in a good cup run.

“We’ve goals, we’ve individual goals and team goals as a unit, and we want to close the gap on the top three, Wexford, Peamount and Shels.

“We need to try close the gap with Galway and Cork, and Athlone have had a really good pre-season as well and t h ey ’re go i n g to b e tough.”