Swords GAZET TE FREE
‘These annual French events are simply ooh-la-lovely’ TRAVEL: P22 RECYCLE THIS COPY. KEEP DUBLIN TIDY.
YOUR COMMUNITY • YOUR PAPER
INSIDE: Opposition to ‘monster’ wastewater plant P3
November 10, 2011
PARTNERSHIP: Celebrating a big marathon win with NDungu P5
Recognition: Swords firm wins award IT WAS a great day for Swords-
Rugby League: Local star claims Ireland hat-trick Page 32
based Gift Voucher Shop (GVS), the Irish company behind the One4all brand, at the recent international Prepaid Awards in London where they won an award in the Best Prepaid Innovation category. GVS received the accolade for its popular Budget Card. Pictured is Michael Dawson (right), group chief executive of the Gift Voucher Shop, receiving the accolade. Full Story on Page 7
Football: St Margaret’s miss out on championship Page 31
ALSOINSIDE:
GALLERIES ......................8 MOTORS ........................18 BUSINESS ................... 20 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26
Fears for future of Metro North project Leo says no new ‘significant’ plans for next five years
Q MIMI MURRAY
SPECULATION is mounting that the Metro North project is about to be axed by Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar. The speculation came after the Minister said that there would be no “new significant road and rail projects in the
next five years. The concentration is going to be on maintaining assets as they are now”. Socialist Party/United Left Alliance TD Clare Daly, said the Minister’s announcement killed “the prospect not only of a vital piece of infrastructure for the northside of Dublin, but also the hope many thousands
of unemployed construction workers had of getting back to work”. In response, a spokesperson for the Department said: “No formal decision has been made on Metro North, or other significant capital projects.” Full Story on Page 2
2 SWORDS GAZETTE 10 November 2011
FINGAL County Enterprise Board holding workshops
Learn how to market your business effectively Q LAURA WEBB swords@gazettegroup.com
A WORKSHOP on how to market your business effectively is just one of the various development workshops taking place this month. Fingal County Enterprise Board (CEB) is reminding
local businesses about the array of workshops they are offering for start-up businesses or trading businesses. Taking place on Thursday, November 10, the workshop on How to Market Your Business Effectively is a one-day interactive and fast-moving seminar that will teach you
everything you need to know to market the business more effectively. The event takes place from 9am until 4pm and costs €50 per participant. A part-time course on Start Your Own Business begins on Monday, November 14, for five weeks, two evenings per week (Mon-
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A part-time course on Start Your Own Business begins on Monday, November 14
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day and Wednesday) from 6.30pm until 9.30pm. This course consists of a series of workshops designed to
give participants an excellent foundation for starting a new business. This course costs €200 and is essential
for anyone who wishes to start a new business for the first time. Both events take place at the Fingal Business Training Centre, at Fingal CEB offices in Swords. For further information, or to book a place, log onto www.fingalceb.ie
Minister TRANSPORT: VARADKAR NO ‘NEW welcomes SIGNIFICANT ROAD PROJECTS’ news jobs boost at SR Technics LOCAL Minister leo Varadkar has welcomed the announcement that 150 new jobs will be created at Dublin Aerospace. T h e D u b l i n We s t TD and Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport said the recent announcement of 150 new jobs at Dublin Aerospace is “excellent news for Dublin West” and “particularly for the large number of skilled aviation technicians affected by the closure of SR Technics”. “Some 45 jobs will be created immediately, with the remainder being recruited over the next two years. The loss of SR technics was a major blow to the area, with hundreds of experienced and specialised staff losing their jobs. So the creation of skilled new positions for aviation technicians is very significant,” Minister Varadkar said. He went on to say that: “As Minister for Transport, I am also very pleased to see an Irish firm maintaining our long-established expertise in this sector.”
Speculation on axing Metro North mounts Q MIMI MURRAY
swords@gazettegroup.com
SPECULATION is mounting that the Metro North project is about to be axed by Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar. Speaking in Clare recently, Minister Varadkar told a tourism conference: “We are not really going to have any new significant road and rail projects in the next five years. The concentration is going to be on maintaining assets as they are now.” Responding to the speculation, Socialist Party/United Left Alliance TD Clare Daly said: “This announcement kills the prospect not only of a vital piece of infrastructure for the northside of Dublin but also the hope many thousands of unemployed construction workers had of getting back to work.
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‘This kills the prospect not only of a vital piece of infrastructure, but also the hope of many thousands of construction workers had of getting back to work’
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“This comes as no surprise coming on the back of the promised €750 million cut in capital spending in Budget 2012. Precisely when state investment in jobs is needed most because of the collapse of private sector investment, this Government does
the complete opposite of what is required. “The timing of the announcement is cynical in the extreme. The Socialist Party and its candidate in the recent Dublin West byelection, Ruth Coppinger, who topped the poll in the Swords part of the constituency strove to make Metro North, alongside Metro West, a key point of debate about how to combat unemployment during the election campaign,” she said. Sinn Fein Transport spokesperson, Dessie Ellis, and Dublin North West TD said: “This decision will put an end to a process which started with the publication of Transport 21 back in 2005. Six years later, with massive consultation having taken place and in excess of €150 million being spent from the public purse it is to be aban-
The future of the Metro North project is in doubt following comments from the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar TD
doned. This is not good for Dublin or for Ireland and will be a blow to the many people who had hoped to find work on the project. “Metro North presents the opportunity to provide a world-class light rail system for Dublin, which would link the city centre to the northern Dublin suburbs, businesses like Ikea and,
most importantly, Dublin Airport. It would create thousands of jobs directly as well as many jobs from the ripple effect of this kind of major investment.” In response to claims that Minister Varadkar is about to cancel the project, a spokesperson for the Department said, “No formal decision has been made on Metro
North, or other significant capital projects. The Government’s capital investment review has examined capital expenditure proposals in order to establish a set of priority projects and programmes, taking into account the very serious financial constraints. The outcome of this review will be published later this week.”
10 November 2011 SWORDS GAZETTE 3
FINGAL Several local sites are considered
Opposition to ‘monster’ water plant Q MIMI MURRAY swords@gazettegroup.com
THERE has been strong opposition this week to the “monster” wastewater treatment plant that will be built in Fingal. Labour TD, Brendan Ryan, was speaking out at a public meeting in Rush Community Centre on Wednesday, November 2, on the matter of the proposed wastewater treatment plant mooted for several sites in Fingal. The Greater Dublin Drainage Project has nominated nine potential sites in north Dublin for a “monster” wastewater treatment plant, according to Deputy Ryan, which would have the potential capacity to deal with a population equivalent of 800,000 people. “I am fundamentally opposed to plans for one
big wastewater treatment plant. I believe there should be a series of smaller plants so that all areas take their share. “The idea that north Dublin should treat the sewage for all the Dublin region, including Kildare and Meath, is unacceptable. That was my position when Donabate/Portrane was under consideration and it is my position now. It will inform my position on every site under consideration today. “I have already written to Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan seeking the potential for revisiting the need for a monster wastewater treatment plant. I will be pressuring the Government on this matter over the coming weeks and months in order to achieve an outcome in the interests of north Dublin.”
A spokesperson for Greater Dublin Drainage project said: “The option of having a large number of smaller wastewater treatment plants rather than one regional plant was given great consideration as far back as 2005 as part of the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study (GDSDS) and again in 2008 when the Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) report was published. Both reports confirm that one large plant will have a lesser impact on the environment than would a large number of smaller plants. “One of the reasons why a number of smaller plants would not work is that local rivers and streams in north Dublin are too small to be able to absorb the treated water from a number of smaller plants.”
Labour TD, Brendan Ryan, voiced his opposition to the plant at a public meeting
BALBRIGGAN: MILLFIELD
New stores set to open FIVE new fashion stores will open their doors at the Millfield Shopping Sentre in Balbriggan this November. Mayor of Balbriggan, Grainne Maguire, will be on hand to cut the ribbon this Saturday, November 12, at Vero Moda, Jack and Jones, Villa, Only and kids clothes favourite, Name it. Customers will find great opening offers, €5
vouchers for lucky shoppers, and the first 200 customers in each store will receive a goodie bag. The stores will also be running a competition in which one lucky winner will receive a €1,000 shopping spree across the five stores. On top of all this, Spin 103.8 will be broadcasting live and there will also be a DJ playing outside all stores all weekend. Doors open at 10am.
4 SWORDS GAZETTE 10 November 2011
FINGAL: CEMETERY
¤1,900 for a grave space THE cost of a grave space including the foundation for a headstone in Fingal cemeteries is €1,900. The council outlined the costs for burial within a Fingal cemetery at a recent Howth/Malahide area committee meeting. Purchase of a grave space without foundation for a headstone is €1,400 while internment fees cost €435.75. A cremation plot at Fingal and St Finians’s costs
€624.25 whilst cremation costs €332.75. Fine Gael Councillor Anthony Lavin asked the council under what circumstances waivers are applied. “Apart from the necessity for the purchase of a grave space, there is no charge for the interment of a child up to one year old,” the council said. In relation to plot sales, the council said: “There is no VAT on plot sales.”
EVENT Scientist and Technology Exhibition
Students vie for a space at RDS Q LAURA WEBB
The RDS will once again be full to the brim with exciting projects by young scientists
swords@gazettegroup.com
YOUNG scientists are entering in record numbers for the 2012 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, with 1,743 ideas put forward and 130 projects from Dublin schools qualifying for the RDS exhibition. It’s the highlight of the school year for many young secondary students, and this year’s entrants show that the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition hasn’t lost its spark among budding scientists. This year, 1,743 ideas were entered by 3,842 students from across the 32 counties. Of those entered, 130 projects from 55 schools in Dublin have qualified for this year’s exhibition in the RDS. In Dublin Nor th, a number of different schools will exhibit their projects during the January show, including Fingal Community School in Swords, St Mary’s secondary school in Baldoyle, Balbriggan Community College and Loreto School in Balbriggan. Interest in the competition has increased over the years and already judges have remarked on the impressive nature of entries this year, based on preliminary reviews. Each year, more and more students are entering the competition and are battling it out for a place in the RDS exhibition. To allow for more students to take part, BT has extended the space at the exhibition making 550 places available, an increase of 30 on last year, allowing up to 90
additional students take part in January. Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD, said: “In its 48th year, it is great to see the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition continue to break new records for both the number of projects entered and schools competing. --------------------------
‘It is hugely uplifting to see 1,743 ideas generated in classrooms across Ireland, thought up by curious young minds’
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“It is hugely uplifting to see 1,743 ideas generated in classrooms across Ireland, thought up by curious young minds who are eager to positively impact the world around them. “Research and innovation are critically important to our economy, and I commend everyone involved in the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition for providing a platform to stimulate and showcase Ireland’s talent both nationally and internationally.” The 2012 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition takes place in the RDS, Dublin from January 11 – 14. For more information, log onto www.btyoungscientist.com, check out http://www.facebook. com/BTYSTE, follow on twitter at http://twitter. com/btyste or call 1800 924 362.
10 November 2011 SWORDS GAZETTE 5
EVENT Winner invited by Balbriggan Town Council
Balbriggan celebrates marathon win
Initiative St Wendel is involved in an initiative to promote athletics through a partnership between Furstenfield in Austria and the Bushtrekkers Club in Kenya. The programme is called Run2gether and is primarily aimed at nurturing talented runners from Europe and Kenya. T hrough the combined efforts of St Wendel, Balbriggan
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‘This success has opened up major sporting links for Balbriggan and Fingal in general with our partners in St Wendel and we will be building on this’
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Town Council and Fingal County Council, three Kenyan runners travelled to Dublin, little realising that one of them was about to break the Dublin Marathon record.
Proud Balbriggan Cathaoirleach, Grainne Maguire said: “We are so proud to have been a part of this momentous occasion. “I would like to thank Geoffrey and his team for coming to Dublin and giving us such a thrilling race. “We in Balbriggan Town Council wish him continued success for the future. “The co-ordination of the trip could not have happened without the support of our Town Clerk, Brian Murray, and Fingal County Council Events officer, Paul Barnes. “T his success has opened up major sporting links for Balbriggan
and Fingal in general with our partners in St Wendel and we will be building on this.” Fingal County Council’s Stephen Peppard said: “The partnership we have built-up with St Wendel, and the athletics element of that relationship, will support what we want to do within the county. “Fingal County Council is planning to host a 10K race in Swords during the middle of 2012 with the winner getting the opportunity to travel to a training camp in Austria where they will train with the Kenyan team. “It’s something we have been looking at for some time and achievements such as Geoffrey’s helps to raise awareness and make it all the more worthwhile. “I would like to thank Eugene Coppinger and the Dublin Marathon organisers for facilitating the three Kenyan runners.”
The athletes pose with members of Balbriggan Town Council
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K E N YA N r u n n e r, Geoffrey NDungu, celebrated winning the National Lottery Dublin Marathon in a record-breaking time of 2 hours, 8 minutes and 32 seconds, not just in Geoffrey’s camp but also in Balbriggan. Geoffrey was invited to participate in the Dublin Marathon by Balbriggan Town Council because of a strong Partnership Agreement between the north Fingal town and the City of St Wendel in Germany. On a recent visit to Fingal, Thomas Wüst, from the City of St Wendel Administration, raised the idea of inviting athletes to come and run in the Dublin Marathon, with Cathaoirleach of Balbriggan, Cllr Grainne Maguire.
Take time to spoil yourself: Total luxury at the K Spa in Straffan
Cathaoirleach Grainne Maguire, Geoffrey NDungu and Cllr May McKeon, Deputy Mayor of Fingal
BEAUTY PAGES 14-15
6 SWORDS GAZETTE 10 November 2011
BUSINESS: COMPANY ANNOUNCES NEW HEADQUARTERS
OPINION Call for more treatment facilities
Local area to get big boost Q MIMI MURRAY swords@gazettegroup.com
SWORDS received a huge boost this week in the form of a significant investment in a medical manufacturing facility. Lynch Medical Supplies (LMS), a leading manufacturer, distributor and service provider for the healthcare and medical industries, has announced a significant investment in a new central headquarters facility in Swords. T he company was founded in 2003 by the now chairman John Lynch in order to supply specialist sports injury products and soft tissue implants for the public and private healthcare sector. The firm operated at the time from a 400 sq foot retail unit in Malahide, north county Dublin. Within a short time LMS had out-grown this unit and relocated to larger premises in Baldoyle Industrial Estate, where the company was able to expand its offerings to the healthcare business. In 2007, Lynch Medical moved to acquire Midland Bandages Ltd, a specialist manufacture and exporter of highquality bandages supplying the HSE, private sector and veterinary suppliers within the Irish Healthcare Marketplace. The move to the 15,000 sq foot facility coincides with a rebranding programme undertaken by LMS in recent months as the company prepares for future growth over the next 12 to 18 months. The company, which currently employs 16 people has seen continu-
ous annual growth of approximately 25% year on year, cumulating in it becoming one of the biggest single players on the Irish healthcare market. LMS currently operates in Ireland, United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Caribbean, USA, and South Africa. LMS provides a wide range of products for the healthcare and medical industries, including both surgical and orthopaedic products and medical consumables. During 2010, LMS extended its service offering into Irish pharmacies and has already over 500 pharmacy clients in this fastgrowing market segment. Evolution
John Lynch, chairman of Lynch Medical Supplies said: “This announcement is all part of the natural evolution of our business. We compete on an international scale against global multinational players and the investment in the new HQ facility will provide us with the scale necessary to grow and develop our business into the future.” Lynch explains: “Over the next 12 to 18 months, we will expand our product offering into the existing orthopaedic markets and have high hopes for our move into specialist joint reconstruction. We are also actively pursuing a small number of strategic acquisitions, which will enhance our portfolio and strengthen our hand in future European market expansion. As part of this growth, we also aim to recruit an additional five staff by the end of 2011.”
Councillor Ciaran Byrne
‘Ringsend is nearing its maximum capacity’ Q CLLR CIARAN BYRNE
AT p r e s e n t , 70% of Fingal’s waste water goes to Ringsend for treatment. This facility is nearing its maximum capacity and another treatment facility/facilities is/are required. Fingal will not be able to continue to function in the future without additional capacity somewhere. In regard to the design and location of waste treatment plant(s), unfortunately, elected members in Fingal County Council have no powers in relation to issues of waste management. This is as a result of legislation introduced by previous national governments. We can try to inf luence those who do, but, in the last resort, at a national level, it is the Department of the
Environment (Minister Hogan) and An Bord Pleanala that will make the final determination (subject to the technical assessment of the different sites). I can sympathise with the view that a major sewage treatment plant near any community entails considerable impact, both immediately on the site location itself and, if not properly designed and operated, on surrounding communities. Regrettably, in the past, despite progress in waste treatment, there has been a litany of broken promises by local authorities regarding the standards and operating impacts of sewage treatment plants on local communities. These problems have had to be redressed retrospectively, e.g. in Swords and Ringsend (built in 2003 at a cost
of €300 million). Ringsend is also the site of the Poolbeg waste incinerator. Like Ringsend, some communities in Fingal have already been asked to take other waste facilities in the greater public interest. For example, the selection of sites in the Rush/ Lusk area would be a major imposition on the people of the area as currently proposed. The massive Balleally landfill has impacted on the Rush/Lusk area in previous decades and there is now a proposal for a hazardous landfill site in at Lusk/Naul area, at Holly wood (adjacent to another landfill site in the Nevitt). There are also smaller sewage treatment plants operating in Skerries (also serving the town of Balbriggan) with an outfall to the sea, and
another under development in Portrane that will also serve Rush. Therefore, in determining the preferred location of such, any sewage treatment plant (large or small) consideration has to be given, in all fairness, to the burden that these communities already bear. This should be part of the site selection process. Therefore, if it were determined by these technical bodies and the Minister to locate this facility in Fingal on one of the short-listed sites, then as an absolute minimum I believe that, in such circumstances: 1) the treatment tanks should be covered (and the air ‘scrubbed’ to remove odours) - as is now the case in Ringsend 2) water should be treated to tertiary level
(thereby protecting the local environment) that would provide billions of litres of treated water annually for commercial and industrial use in the county (producing employ ment amongst things) 3) road infrastructure in the vicinity of a selected site (if such a site is identified) be upgraded to cope with the removal of solids (that are reduced to pellet size) to their disposal destination. Finally, proximity of the facility to dwellings is part of the site selection criteria. My belief is that these distances should be greater that currently proposed. These additional costs will have to be authorised by Minister Hogan if a site is selected, regardless where that site might be.
10 November 2011 SWORDS GAZETTE 7
EVENT International Prepaid Awards
Michael Dawson, group chief executive of the Gift Voucher Shop, is pictured (right) receiving the accolade
Swords firm honoured with award THE Swords-based Gift Voucher Shop (GVS), the Irish company behind the One4all brand, has been recognised at the prestigious international Prepaid Awards in London with an award in the Best Prepaid Innovation category. GVS received the accolade for its popular Budget Card, which enables over 300,000 people to budget for their utility bill payments through the UK Post Office. Speaking at the aw a r d s c e r e m o ny, Michael Dawson, group CEO at GVS said: “We created Budget Card with the aim of deliver-
ing an innovative and secure product for Post Office customers. This award is superb recognition of the product’s success and reaffirms our position as industry innovators among the best in the business.” A household name in Ireland with the One4all multi-store gift card and voucher, GVS branched into the UK market in 2006 and has grown and extended its business to include a number of innovative prepaid and account based products including the Budget Card. The Budget Card was launched in May 2010 to
enable Post Office customers to budget for their utility bill payments. It replaced the traditional Post Office Savings Stamp which was withdrawn from the Post Office’s network of 12,000 branches. Celebrating innovation and best practice within the prepaid industry, the Prepaid Awards are open to all companies and individuals providing a prepaid product or service. The awards were judged by an independent panel of experts chaired by Roger Alexander, chairman of Greenings International.
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STUDY: FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN
Local input wanted CONSULTATION on the Fingal East Meath Flood Risk Assessment and Management Study (FEM FRAMS) is ongoing and Fingal County Council is looking for locals to come along to information nights and have their say. The aim of the study, which is nearing completion, is to map flood risk and to develop a Flood R isk Management Plan that sets out a long-term set of prioritised actions and measures to manage the
identified risks. “Consultation with the public and stakeholders will be held in November on the Flood Risk Management Plan, the Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report and the f lood maps which identify areas at flood risk,” the council said. The launch of the plan was undertaken by Minister Brian Hayes in Fingal County Council Council Chamber, Swords at 9.30am on
November 8. Public Information and Consultation Days will be held at Rush Library on November 10 between 3pm and 8.30pm and in Duleek Civic Offices, County Meath, on November 11 between 10am and 5pm. Further information regarding the FEM FRAMS including the newsletters, maps and reports are available from the project website www.fingaleastmeathframs.ie
8 SWORDS GAZETTE 10 November 2011
PICTURES Gazettephotos.com is packed full of local pictures;
Laela Gibney and Veronika Sespytite
Merija Lasa’Lasa, Erin Reville, Mollie O’Neill and Ruby Gilmurry. Pictures: Una Williams
Muthmira Mohammed and Valeria Visnakova
First day at ‘big’ school
HE children at St Colmcille’s looked very smart in their new school uniforms when The Gazette called by on their first day at school to see how it was going at the popular local national school. The momentous event of “first day at school” can be an unnerving experience for some, but the local children looked very much at ease as they settled down to their first day, beginning to make some new friends, and getting a feel for what this school business is all about, and whether it’s really more interesting than preschool fun. Luckily for the teachers – and for the pupils’ parents – the day was a great success, with the children deciding that, okay, they’d come back again, and continue their fun games and learning at St Colmcille’s.
Anna Keogh
Nicole Ikoli
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Lauren Boland and Anastasija Ivanova
Darragh Brown, Sean Smart and Conor Rhodes
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10 November 2011 SWORDS GAZETTE 9
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Katherine and Lily
Dylan, Adam, Mark and Jamie
Jamie and Dylan
Louie, Luke, Caitlin and Jamie
Emily, Adam and Joshua
Raising money for African children ARGUERITE Gallagher, from Plan Ireland, visited the children in Creative Day’s pre-school and spoke to them about children and their families in Africa. She showed them posters of the children’s homes, schools, where they cook and get clean water. The children then planned a garden fair to raise money
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for the children in Africa. They planted seeds to sell at their farmers’ market stall, baked cakes, donated their toys and books to sell. They played “splash the teacher” which they really enjoyed. The event was a great success and the children raised €270 for the East Africa Appeal.
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10 November 2011 GAZETTE 11
LIVE A return to home soil as Dubliners Tarantella Falls relaunch debut album
It’s all falling into place now Q MICHAEL HANNAN
DUBLIN band Tarantella Fall will relaunch their debut album, Abandoned Road, at Blanchardstown’s Captain Americas this Friday, November 11. It is a homecoming gig for frontman Chris Kinsella, a Blanchardstown native who has lived there all his life, and he is looking forward to playing back on his old turf. “Captain Americas is a fantastic new venue in the area that the band is very excited about playing. It is great to see a new venue in the area promoting live original music and, it’s free in on the night so be sure to get there early,” he said. Abandoned Road is a concept album that tells the story of John Willmore, a man with a dark
past who decides to share that darkness with those he meets. The album has been described as “reminiscent of the storytelling of Tom Waits, Bruce Springsteen or Willie Vlautin” which “veers between the alt. rock musings of REM, the heavy guitar workouts of Neil Young and the sinister atmospherics of Slint,” according to Olaf Tyaransen of Hot Press. Formed in late 2009, Tarantella Fall’s line-up is completed by Neville Foster on drums, Graham Keogh on bass and Ronan O’Donovan on guitar and harmonica. They take the first part of their name from the Tom Waits song Tango Till They’re Sore and the name of an Italian dance. The second part comes from a poem by Hillaire
Belloc in which the last line refers to a waterfall. The band made their live debut in January and first launched Abandoned Road in March. It’s been an eventful year for the quartet, who had their song, Wasteland, featured in Network Two’s The Importance of Being Whatever. They helped musician Dave Browne break the Guinness World Record for continuous guitar playing of over 114 hours with a stint with him in the Temple Bar Pub. They have also performed for Special Olympics Ireland on Henry St, and shared the stage with Irish bands of the moment Royseven, The Minutes and Bipolar Empire as part of the Jägermeister Freezer Sessions in Dundalk.
Dublin band Tarantella Falls are set for a debut album relaunch in Captain Americas this Friday, November 11
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GazetteNUTRITION NUTRITION
Getting your digestive system in tip-top shape Q LEILA JOHARI
IF you find yourself experiencing hear tburn or indigestion you may be suffering from a digestive imbalance, an inability to produce the appropriate enzymes to break down food or an inability to secrete the acid or alkali environment throughout the digestive system. A poor digestive system can result in embarrassing symptoms such as bloating, burping and belching which we would all prefer to avoid.
Importance of a healthy digestive system An optimally functioning digestive system is essential to good health. The nutrients in food cannot promote health if they are being inefficiently absorbed. The average person only absorbs 30% of the nutrients needed by the body each day. This is why we must ensure that our gut is as healthy as possible. Strategies for dealing with dodgy digestion • Avoid large and too frequent meals • Avoid drinking with meals as this dilutes the action of digestive juices making complete digestion more difficult • Avoid strong spices, salt, sugar, curries, alcohol and coffee as these are gastric irritants and acid-forming foods such
as meat and fast food • Avoid fried foods • Avoid eating under stress as it impairs digestion • Avoid poor food combinations. A meal consisting of raw fruit, cooked fruit, raw vegetables, cooked vegetables, several types of protein, starch and sweets will lead to indigestion. Keep meals simple and chew food well. Never combine fruits with vegetables, fruits with starches or liquids with solids.
Bacteria isn’t always bad One of the most important factors in boosting digestive health is ensuring that there is the right balance of good and bad bacteria in the stomach. When bad bacteria overwhelm the good, d i g e s t i ve p r o b l e m s occur. A good way of guaranteeing you have enough of these beneficial bacteria is to eat probiotics - foods that contain cultures of these bacteria. Probiotic bacteria naturally dominate in a healthy gut; they reinforce the integrity of the intestinal lining as a protective barrier to prevent harmful organisms or materials from crossing into the body’s bloodstream. The lifestyle link If you are ill, stressed, very tired or taking antibiotics, your gut flora suffers. When your gut flora is in decline, the harmful bacteria can
grow in formidable force, and, of course, the good bacteria are no longer able to do their important jobs. So you’re convinced that you need to keep your good bacteria happy and healthy. The question is how? Eating more probiotics is the obvious answer. They contain living cultures of good bacteria, most often Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium species. They are available in milk-based drinks, yogurts and cheeses. The idea behind probiotics is that they introduce colonies of good bacteria into the colon. Eating probiotic products is like infecting your body in a good way. Some research suggests that only a small proportion of the bacteria in probiotics make it through to the colon – many are killed in the acidic conditions in the stomach, which is why acid-forming foods should be avoided. Prebiotics are food for the good bacteria. They are indigestible carbohydrates that encourage the existing good bacteria to thrive. Basically, they are soluble fibre such as whole grains, oats and rye, and good sources include Jerusalem artichokes, onions, garlic and bananas. So listen to your gut reaction and make the dietary changes that will boost your digestive system. And remember, it’s not “you are what you eat,” it is “you are what your body can absorb”.
An optimally functioning digestive system is essential to good health
10 November 2011 GAZETTE 13
EVENT
10 Years and still going strong for the Boys!
The longest-running male lifestyle event, Toys 4 Big Boys, in Ireland kicks off on November 11 with a host of brand new features. Girls in the City will run in parallel with Toys 4 Big Boys in a different part of the Citywest venue.
Be wowed by Toys 4 Big Boys at Citywest GET ready to experience this juggernaut of excitement as the longest running male lifestyle event in Ireland kicks off on November 11 with a host of brand new features. Take a deep breath and prepare to be amazed and wowed as the show provides something of interest to all – lads, dads and families. Those who visit the event will enjoy a fun day out full of escapism and the chance to feast their eyes on everything they could possibly want. This year will witness the biggest show yet, where revellers can expect to see amazing stunt shows that will shock and awe, the biggest Military Zone ever, the greatest cars and bikes you will see in Ireland, as well as the coolest gadgets on the planet! Driving and drifting
Scream at the top of your lungs as the Oblivion Zip Line takes you from the top of the massive arena to the bottom in a matter of seconds. And if the Terminal Velocity Stunt Jump doesn’t frighten you to death, make your way over to the Live Action Arena and witness some top-class formation driving and drifting from some of the best drivers that Ireland has! If you are still standing, and can take some more excitement, make your way over to the Adventure Zone or try water zorbing, kayaking, the bunjeetrampoline, climbing, the gaming arena, golf, hovercrafts, the Jedi Academy, for our younger visitors, laser clay shooting, our fantastic live stage, paintball, microlights, RC rac-
ing, skate ramp, wrestling, martial arts displays and much more. The impressive Nintendo Unleashed Tour comes to Ireland for the first time at Toys 4 Big Boys, where you will be able to experience incredible 3D graphics, thanks to the revolutionary new Nintendo 3DS and you can also try out some ground-breaking prereleases. Nothing beats the satisfaction of playing new releases before everyone else, especially trying games that aren’t even available in the country! And with great excitement, the event will see the first ever Soccer Live! Arena, where Ireland’s best young freestylers and street footballers will make their mark at this years’ inaugural competition. There will be freestyle master classes with world renowned Daniel Dennehy and Peter Fleming, Ireland’s first ever 2 v 2 soccer tournament, street soccer challenges, and you may even get the chance to meet a soccer legend! No excuses
Did we say there was free parking? Well, there is but, if you want someone else to do the driving, take the Luas (which departs from Connolly Main Line Railway Station) right to the front door – hop on the Luas Red Line to the last stop (Saggart) and you’re just 200 metres from the venue, so there really are no excuses! You simply need to come to this show! Commenting on the Toys 4 Big Boys Show, John McDonald said:
“The Toys 4 Big Boys Show has changed considerably over the years and this year, being our 10th anniversary, there are no holds barred. We’re investing a huge amount of money in the 2011 event, which will see a big array of new features and activities for everyone to enjoy – and there will be parts to the show which no one has seen before! There really is something for everyone at this year’s show – young lads and their friends, dads with their sons and families looking for something different to do. And, for the ladies….the Girls in the City event will deliver on everything they could possibly want.” For tickets, and more information on this year’s show, check out www. toys4bigboys.ie. Flat rate ticket price of €10 with children under 10 free! Girls in the City
This brand new event will run in parallel with Toys 4 Big Boys in a different part of the Citywest venue. An all-new concept event for women and their friends to have fun, with beauty, style and fashion. Three fashion shows a day; talks, workshops and demonstrations; delivering all the elements of a fulfilled and confident life. This event is styled and produced by French fashion guru, Cynthia Baloula. Online admission price of only €10 Free parking Community and competitions: Facebook.com/ girlsinthecity.ie Tickets: girlsinthecity. ie/tickets
14 GAZETTE 10 November 2011
GazetteBEAUTY BEAUTY Total luxury at the K Spa in Straffan
Vaseline’s makeover
ONE of Ireland’s most trusted skin care ranges, Vaseline, has just undergone a major makeover. Built on the premise that no two women are the same, Vaseline has developed a new three-stage moisturising treatment that works with every woman’s unique skin type. The essential range includes, Essential Moisture, Aloe Fresh and Cocoa Radiant. “Our customers wanted a thicker texture and a milder formulation and so we created our new Essential Care Range in response to those demands,” says Lauren Brooking, of Vaseline Ireland. The Vaseline Essential range is available from supermarkets nationwide
Q DAWN LOVE
I’VE been to a fair few beauty spas in my time as a journalist, but there are few that can compare to the K Spa in Straffan, Co Kildare. Tucked away on the grounds of the luxury five-star K Club Hotel and Resort, this is an absolute gem of relaxation and tranquillity. Once the home to the
Barton family, the design of the hotel is based on that of a great chateau at Louveciennes, situated to the West of Paris, and just as it exudes luxury so to does the K Spa. Covering 20,000 sq ft, the spa is situated in a separate building to the main hotel and incorporates seven treatment rooms, two private suites, a swimming pool, saunas
and steam rooms. The Spa carries two beauty ranges, the Irish organic brand, Voya, and the luxurious French skincare range, Carita. I arrived on a rainy Thursday morning and was offered a glass of chilled, still water while I filled in a questionnaire form for the two therapists who would be looking after me.
Covering 20,000 sq ft, the K Spa is situated in a separate building to the main hotel
After changing into a luxurious towelling robe and slippers I headed off for a K Spa Signature Massage, which is a fullbody massage that fuses Eastern and Western techniques. My beauty therapist was Janet and to say I was thoroughly spoilt would be an understatement. Using delicious grapeseed oil, Janet really concentrated on getting the lymph system going and when I say I felt three inches thinner at the end of the hour-long treatment, I’m not kidding. I think that’s the beauty of going for a K Spa Signature Massage. They are designed to suit the individual needs so, if you are pregnant and want to tackle any fluid retention, or if you have cellulite or you simply want to relax, then it’s an ideal treatment to opt for. Next up was a facial using products from Carita, the range that every chic Parisian keeps on her bathroom shelf. My therapist, Mona, felt that, although my skin is combination, it was also dehydrated, so she treated this in a number of ways.
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‘I left feeling completely pampered and indulged, the way you should after a morning at a first-class spa’ --------------------------
First off, my skin was cleansed and then exfoliated with Carita’s famous mixture of roasted sunflower seeds marinated in essential oils such as thyme, lemon and clove, all of which are designed to exfoliate, brighten and soften your skin. The next stage involved a relaxing massage and, for the mask, Mona used Carita’s Bain des Lagons, which plumps up the skin cells and increases its ability to maintain its moisture reserves.
While the mask was on, my hands were massaged and I was given an Indian head massage, at which point I nodded off completely. Before applying a moisturiser, she used a concentrated moisture booster called Serum des Lagons (a favourite with many a beauty editor) which is essentially a fresh, thirst-quenching gel that refines the skin’s texture and leaves it looking like you drink the requisite eight glasses of water on a daily basis and never, ever indulge in a late night. I left feeling completely pampered and indulged, the way you should after a morning at a first-class spa. For more details about the K Spa, or to make a booking, call 01 601 7200 or log on to www.kclub. ie
The luxury five-star K Club Hotel and Resort
10 November 2011 GAZETTE 15
Edited by Dawn Love
Getting your hair ready for the big party season DOES your hair need a touch of magic in the leadup to the party season? L’Oreal Paris’ first triple reinforcing programme, with Arginine and a protein complex, could be just the ticket for you then. The high concentration of Arginine in the Elvive Triple Resist range works from the root along the lengths, to the ends, leaving your hair feeling stronger and nourished. Fans of the range include Hollywood siren Jennifer Lopez and products to chose from include the Triple Resist Reinforcing Shampoo (€5.35) and Triple Resist Reinforcing Conditioner (€5.35). For a special treat the Triple Resist Reinforcing Masque (€7.96) has a rich, melting and soft texture while the Triple Resist Reinforcing Treatment (€5.99) penetrates ultra quickly targeting the root of the hair. and has seven treatment rooms, a swimming pool, saunas and steam rooms
16 GAZETTE 10 November 2011
GazetteMUSIC MUSIC
Competition time: Win new editions of classic Nevermind
Still one of the most influential and game-changing records ever made, Nirvana’s Nevermind is 20 years old this year, and to celebrate we have ten copies to give away. Simply answer the following question: What was the name of Nirvana’s first album? Send your answer to competition@gazettegroup.com, with the subject line “Nirvana”, before Friday, November 11 or log on to our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/gazettenews, and like and share the Nirvana post on your wall.
INTERVIEW: CELTIC ROOTS SHINE THROUGH
Katherine’s dream continues apace Q ROB HEIGH
MAKING the connection between the Celtic traditions has been something that many overseas acts have attempted over the years, to varying degrees of success, but Welsh mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins has more of an affinity than most. She was on fine form when I spoke to her from London recently, where she was promoting the release of her new album, Daydream. The record features two very Irish songs in its roster of beautifully rendered standards, which Katherine was delighted to talk about how they came to appear on this, her seventh studio album. “Carrickfergus is a song I’ve known for quite a few years, and I have always wanted to record it, but sometimes when you’re making an album, there’s not space for everything, and not everything fits. It has been on my list for quite a few years, and finally I had a space for it.
Katherine Jenkins will return to the Dublin stage in December 2012
“Black is the Colour was introduced to me by an Irish friend, who told me about Christy Moore, and I had never heard of him before. “I started listening to some of his songs, and I found out how beautiful that song is, I knew immediately that would be the first song on the
album. “When I had that, I knew I had a song that would match Carrickfergus, and that they would complement each other.” Katherine was in Dublin last week, making press appearances and suggesting by Twitter that she was about to take over as the host of The Late Late Show, but she is set to return to the stage of the O2 next December with a full choir and orchestral backing, something she cannot wait to come around. “I’m really looking forward to coming back to Ireland. I absolutely love singing there, and I always feel so welcome, the Welsh and the Irish have a great affinity.” Katherine has had a meteoric rise to fame over the years since her first appearance on the music scene, and Daydream again underlines what is so special about her voice and style. It sounds like a Sunday afternoon at Christmas-time, warm and enveloping, mellow and rich. I asked Katherine when she thought
she had truly found her voice. “I think that came on my second album. At the time I was doing a lot of touring between recording sessions, and I felt I had developed a lot as a performer. “And I think I found my voice through the live experience rather than through the recording process. I think that’s when I started to realise where I was and where I wanted to be.” For someone who has achieved so much - millions of record sales worldwide, singing with some of the finest tenors and acts in the business, I wondered what ambitions Katherine still had for her future career. “I feel like a lot of the things I’ve really enjoyed and am proud of are things that I never expected to be involved in, like Doctor Who, like Popstar to Operastar, and so I feel that I’m happy to go along this path. And I’m really lucky, if I can carry on singing and making albums, I’d be really happy with that.”
10 November 2011 GAZETTE 17
GazettePETS PETS
Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA
THE FACTS: RATS MAKE GOOD COMPANION ANIMALS DUE TO THEIR HIGH INTELLIGENCE
Keeping the social and furry rat as a pet LET’S talk about rats! Pet rats! Yes, people do keep them as pets; mainly because due to their high level of intelligence, they make wonderful companion animals and, as they live a relatively short life, (average three years), those who don’t wish to make the long-term commitment that comes with owning a cat or a dog, usually find this type of pet appealing. Here’s the science bit: The domestic rat is related to the wild brown rat. However, people have been breeding him as a companion pet for around a hundred years. Including his seven-inch tail, this animal ranges in length from between 14 to 18 inches and his coat can be curly and shiny, all
black or black and white. However, (for a variety of reasons) not everyone is suitable to have one of these curious little creatures as pets. And here’s why…
salmonella may produce problems in an otherwise healthy adult that may then pass to the unborn child. Personal hygiene is the key here and, if you’re in any doubt, consult your family doctor.
Care
You cannot keep a pet rat caged 24/7. Like the rest of us, they need time out to stretch their legs, to socialise, to interact with their owners by snuggling up on their laps and to explore new areas of their environment. If you don’t allow this type of socialisation, your rat may become depressed. Rats are nocturnal creatures, which means they sleep during the day and need a quiet room when you’re going about your business. During the night
Welfare
The domestic rat is a relative of the wild brown rat
when you want to sleep, Roland the Rat wants to play. Are you prepared for this? Do you know what a Zoonotic disease is (a disease in animals that may be transmitted to humans) and how to prevent it? If you’re getting a pet rat for a child, you need to be aware that young chil-
dren have an underdeveloped immune system and aren’t in the habit of washing their hands following close contact with animals. This can make them particularly vulnerable to the effects of salmonella – an intestinal bacteria carried by rats. The same rule applies if you’re pregnant because
As social animals, your pet rat will need a companion and this means another rat because, if Roland doesn’t have a friend, he’ll get bored and become unhappy. A pair of males is recommended because they do well together if introduced when young. (Babies can be removed from their litter at six weeks). Female rats actually get on better if introduced when they’re a little older. Please be sensible, you
don’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to know that males and females who are unaltered will breed, and breed, and, er breed and the litter count can reach as high as 20! So, have the little guys neutered/spayed as soon as you can. Housing
Rats love climbing so get your little pet a wire cage with a solid floor and use pelleted, recycled paper, shredded paper towels or napkins. Never use pine or cedar shavings – they’re harmful to rats. Provide a small box or plant pot for hiding and PVC tubes for running through or small tree branches for climbing. If introducing an exercise wheel, make sure it has
a solid surface without wire rungs to ensure his tail doesn’t get caught when running. Diet
Roland Rat’s main diet should be a good quality pellet chow containing soy meal, which is specifically formulated for rodents. I’d recommend peas, carrots, apples and bananas as treats and dog biscuits to keep his teeth in good condition – but never give chocolate, onions, toffees, peanut butter etc. Fresh, clean water in a feeding tube should also be available at all times. For more information, log onto www.dspca.ie or email miriam.kerins@ dspca.ie
18 GAZETTE 10 November 2011
GazetteMOTORS MOTORS RoadSigns Road Signs VW PASSES 8 MILLION MILESTONE: VOLKSWAGEN Group increased vehicle sales in September to achieve record nine-month results. The German-based car company said that it is well on the way to hitting sales of eight million cars this year. Volkswagen group retail sales for all brands, including Audi, Skoda and Seat, rose 13.3% in September to 751,900 vehicles. This gave a ninemonth retail sales figure of 6.11 million cars, a 13.9% increase from last year. The Audi and Skoda brands have lead the expansion in sales by increased sales in expanding markets, including China and central and eastern Europe and by a significant rise in US sales. In Europe, Volkswagen Group sales grew by 10.8% to 2.7 million cars.
The new BWM 3 Series range has more space and significantly better engines
BMW launches new 3 Series BMW has launched the latest version of the 3 Series, its best-selling model in the world, in time for the 2012 market. The new BMW face, with flat headlights reaching along as far as the BMW kidney grille, is part of the signature design of the new BMW 3 Series. The sixth generation of the 3 Series has grown in size compared to its predecessor. It has a wider track, both front and rear, and the car is 93mm longer with a 50mm longer wheelbase. Despite the extra size, the new car is
40kg lighter. On the inside, BMW claims that the new 3 Series is noticeably bigger and the rear passengers get more space and leg room. The new car will be available in three trim and equipment variants, the Sport Line, Luxury Line and Modern Line. BMW will be offering a choice of four new refined and economical engines, all of which feature new BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. In addition to two further optimised diesel engines, and the already
successful six-cylinder petrol unit, customers can also enjoy the power of the new turbocharged four-cylinder variant in the BMW 328i. This latest-generation petrol engine claims to give dynamic driving coupled with reduced fuel consumption and emissions. BMW is the first carmaker to offer an eightspeed automatic gearbox in the premium mid-size segment. It can be specified in combination with any of the petrol and diesel engines in the range
and links up with the Auto Start-Stop function that comes as standard. BMW claims that the compact and efficient gearbox allows the new BMW 3 Series to match, or out-perform, models fitted with the standard six-speed manual gearbox in terms of both fuel economy and emissions. The new eight-speed automatic claims to bring together shift comfort, dynamic performance and efficiency of the highest order. As components of the BMW EfficientDynam-
ics technology line-up, the Auto Star t-Stop function, Brake Energy Regeneration, Optimum Shift Indicator and needbased operation of ancillary components also play their part in reducing fuel consumption. Added to which, the new Driving Experience Control switch offers Comfort, Sport and Sport + options, but also Eco Pro mode. The Eco Pro switch helps drivers maximise fuel economy through their driving style, thereby enabling them to
increase the distance they can travel between visits to the pumps. The same goes for the CO2minimising BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition, whose peak output of 163bhp contrasts with average fuel consumption in the EU driving cycle of 24.3km/litre (4.1l/100km or 68.9 mpg) and CO2 emissions of 109g/km. BMW said that it will add further cutting-edge engines to the line-up in 2012. The new BMW ActiveHybrid 3 petrolelectric engine cars will be premiered next year.
Volvo records Europe leading cut in CO2 VOLVO claims to be at the top of the table among European carmakers when it comes to reducing carbon dioxide emissions. This is shown in the sixth annual analysis conducted by T&E, the European Federation for Transport and Environment. Europe’s eight largest carmakers cut their CO2
emissions by an average of 2% to 6% in 2010. Volvo Car Corporation is the exception that stands out, with a CO2 reduction of no less than 9%. Successful
This is the result of an environmental focus under the Volvo “DRIVe towards zero” banner. Sales of fuel-efficient,
diesel-engine cars from the DRIVe range have been successful. This is one of the explanations behind the major reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Examples of popular models are the V50 DRIVe with emissions of 99 g/km and the V70 DRIVe with 119 g/ km. Volvo Car Corporation’s CO2 strategy also
includes electrified cars with varying degrees of hybridisation, even more efficient diesel and petrol engines, and alternative fuels. This is one of the explanations behind the major reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Another reason may be that Volvo has downsized its engines in many
cars from bigger older technology engines that were less efficient. Feasible
“The aim is to come down to an average of 95 grammes of carbon dioxide per kilometre across our total car sales in 2020. In theory that is entirely feasible, but a lot depends on devel-
opments in legislation, incentives, energy availability and, of course, customer demand. In addition, the EU intends to introduce a new method for calculating carbon dioxide, and this, too, will impact our plan,” said Peter Mertens, senior vice-president Research and Development at Volvo Car Corporation.
R1
10 November 2011 GAZETTE 19
20 GAZETTE 10 November 2011
10 November 2011 GAZETTE 21
GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS
Supported by AIB
Interview: Jim and Trish Doherty, The Golf Warehouse
Couple know their golf business off to a tee
CLOSING EXPENSIVE BANK ACCOUNTS Q – I have three bank accounts and a credit union account at the moment. I was thinking of closing the bank accounts, due to the fees I am currently paying. Will this affect my credit history ? Also have c. € 35,000 to invest for between five and 10 years – where is the safest and best
THE Golf Warehouse is an Irish, family-run and owned business located at the Mill Shopping Centre in Clondalkin. The shop in Cherry Orchard had been open for over 10 years when it moved to the Mill Shopping Centre in September 2011. So, they have a lot of experience in the golf business. Run by husband and wife team, Jim and Trish, they are aiming to make golf affordable. Jim has been involved in the golf business for nearly 20 years. He is from Palmerstown but went to primary school in St Joseph’s and secondary school in Moyle Park College. He then went to college in Scotland, the birthplace of golf. When he came home, he was working in his family’s golf wholesaling business, supplying all the professionals and golf shops around the country. He opened up The Golf Warehouse in November, 2001. Trish is from Stillorgan and has worked in various companies in an accounts role before getting involved in the golf business. Being lucky enough to have worked in companies, from Maersk to Ogilvy and Mather, has given her a wide knowledge of how companies work. She is also a qualified Accounts Technician. They are excited to be in the Mill Shopping Centre and their aim is to be the alternative golf shop providing advice and good value for money to their customers.
return ? Jimmy – Westland Row A - Maintaining one current account, let alone three, is expensive, especially if you use overdrafts and then exceed them. Interest rates start at c. 14%, and you could pay an additional 12% in surcharges when you exceed your overdraft. This, apart from the arrangement fee (€ 25) plus referral fees (€4.44 per day per item) and then the ignominy of having a standing order, direct debit or cheque sent back (€12.70 each). Charges can vary from bank to bank. Bank of Ireland for instance charge 28c per transaction, BUT it is free if you lodge € 3,000 per quarter (three months). You also have to make nine debit payments from the account using Banking 365 online or maintain that € 3,000 in the account at all times. Their charge is € 11.40 per quarter for the first 90 transactions (average cost 12.66c per transaction), after which the cost rises to 28c per transaction. As you can see, it is all money. Only if you have a number of standing orders and direct debits (which cannot be appropriated to deposit or cash save accounts) is it worth maintaining a current account. I would certainly close two of the current accounts and, as long as you are not abandoning debts, this will not affect your credit history. Credit unions can only pay third parties by cheque – they do not have Direct Debit or standing order faciliJim and Trish Doherty of The Golf Warehouse
ties. Also, unfortunately, they do not pay dividends or interest at the moment either because of the bad debt provisions they have to allow for - this by
Q&A Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be? A: Trish: A ballerina. Jim : A rock star.
Q: What was your first job? A: Trish: McDonalds. Jim: Lounge Boy in The Silver Granite, Palmerstown.
Q: And your first pay cheque? A: Trish: It was £30 and I got a pair of Pepe Jeans. Jim: Probably around £20 and spent it on records.
Q: When did you start your present job? A: Trish: December, 2006. Jim: November, 2000.
Q: What is the best thing about your job? A: Trish: Meeting different people. Jim: The interaction with customers.
Q: What part of your working day do you ‘delegate’? A: Trish: Some of the golf talk –
order of the Financial Regulator - but they are a
Jim knows more than I do.
The Frames to Yo-Yo Ma!
Jim: As much as possible.
Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook? A: Trish: Jim does that
Q: What sport do you follow? A: Trish: Eh, golf. Jim: Golf, football, rugby, snooker, darts, tennis – pretty much anything with a ball.
Q: What sport can you play? A: Trish: Eh, golf. Jim: Golf, football – badly, snooker – just hit and hope.
Q: What is your guilty music/ TV or movie pleasure? A: Trish: Have to say Happy Gilmore – proves anyone can play golf. Jim: Love Actually (but it’s a secret – don’t tell anyone).
Q: What music/pictures/movies do you have on your iPod/ iPad? A: Trish: There are nearly 10,000 songs – everything from Mamma Mia to Frank Sinatra to Cold Play. Jim: Quite varied, from U2 to
Jim: Loads of people, from BOD to Martin Sheen to Glen Hansard, list is long.
Q: What was your last Tweet/ status update? A: Trish: Ask Jim. Jim: Happy Election Day.
Q: Describe your dream meal? A: Trish: Coca Cola Ham. I might print off the recipe for anyone who asks me nicely. Jim: Anything cooked by Trish (fab cook). Fajitas, mmmmm.
Q: What habits would you like to lose? A: Trish: The need for chocolate
Jim: Would rather starve – and that’s saying something.
Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously? A: Trish: Books – love reading. Jim: CDs, DVDs etc.
Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own? A: Trish: Not sure.
Regarding your € 35,000 for that period of time, the National Treasury Management Agency’s State Savings would be both the best and safest in terms of deposit returns. The National Solidarity 10 year Bond pays 1% less DIRT tax per annum – net 0.73% per annum. That is 7.3% after 10 years, but you also receive a 40% tax-free lump sum totalling 47.3%. In your case, that would mean a total return of € 51,555 net into your hand after 10 years on your lump sum. To obtain the same from any DIRT deducting deposit
Jim: Too many for a bloke, maybe 20-30.
taker, they would have to offer you a gross 5.41%
Q: Describe your dream holiday? A: Jim: With Trish and our six-
Best rate currently is Permanent TSB’s two-year
year-old by a pool, in the sun, with many beers.
Q: What would be your dream job? A: Trish: Mystery shopper or
every year to match the 10-year Solidarity Bond. fixed account at 4.22% per annum Contact John with your money questions at jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing director of Money Doctor
personal shopper.
daily.
Jim: Rock star.
Jim: Eating sweets late at night.
Q: What do you plan to do when you retire? A: Trish: Suppose I have to go
Q: Who would you rather have dinner with – Enda Kenny or Dame Edna? A: Trish: Neither.
very useful and important Irish institution.
where my hubby goes… Jim: Somewhere warm.
146,000* PEOPLE IN DUBLIN READ OUR PAPERS EACH WEEK *based on standard industry measurements
TO ADVERTISE CALL 60 10 240
22 GAZETTE 10 November 2011
GazetteTTRAVEL FastTravel
Chatsworth House is one of several historic English venues celebrating Christmas in style
Help to celebrate the spirit of Christmas with delightful family holidays in England IN THE build-up to Christmas, there are lots of enchanting festivals and events taking place just across the water – so what better time to take the family on a short break to England? In Westonbirt, the National Arboretum will become a wonderland of festive lights when the Enchanted Christmas event returns for 2011. Alongside carols and festive treats of mulled wine and roast chestnuts, visitors will be able to take the 45-minute illuminated trail around the old arboretum. The trail takes in some of the gems of Westonbirt’s collection, spectacularly highlighting the beauty and shape of the trees. For further details, go to www.forestry.gov.uk/ website/forestry.nsf/byunique/infd-8j9ce8. Chatsworth House, in the Peak District, has brought out the holly and the ivy for its very own Christmas carol spectacular. All the classic carols will be brought to life in a series of stunning visual displays, along with a few extras, across the lower floors of the historic home. Visitors will be taken on a magical, festive journey around the house, complete with beautifullydecorated Christmas trees, shepherds and their sheep, snow and sleighs. There is also the opportunity for children to take part in a traditional Nativity at the farmyard, starring real animals. This is running until December 23. For further details, go to www.chatsworth.org. At Kenilworth Castle, kids can participate in traditional toy-making workshops with historical games experts, Heuristics. Not only will they learn how to make a traditional wooden toy, which you can take home, there will be carols, fun games, storytelling, mince pies, mulled wine and hot spiced apple cider. This runs from November 27 to December 31. For further details, see www.englishheritage.org.uk/kenilworth. Where better to put on a Dickensian Christmas market than in the historic Kent town where Charles Dickens once lived? Lining the grounds of the red-and-green-tinged medieval Rochester Castle are rows of cheery fairy light-draped stalls, offering mulled wine, Dutch waffles, roasted chestnuts and plenty of handmade gifts. And, as shoppers enjoy the seasonal sugary treats, they’ll be entertained by costumed characters, street performers, bands, and carol singers. For further details, go to www.dickenschristmasmarket.com.
Whether for weddings, business travellers or holidaymakers, the wellappointed hotel has something to suit all interests and requirements
HOTELS: RELAXING AT THE RADISSON SSON BLU ST HELEN’S HELEN’S
Fine food is the icing on the cake Q MIMI MURRAY
THE Radisson Blu St Helen’s, located along the Stillorgan dual carriageway, is the perfect spot for business meetings, but also has an informal atmosphere that attracts guests for pleasure as well. Staying there on a recent Friday, my husband and I were slightly perplexed on arrival to see a wedding party just about to check in. However, we were attended to promptly, and we hurriedly rushed past the bride, not wanting to lower the tone of her pictures. Our business-class room was well laid out, and had everything the business traveller would
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‘We made our way to the beauty salon on the ground floor – it really was one of the best treatments that I have had in a long time’
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need. With one ear on the radio and the presidential election count, and an eye on the clock, we dressed for dinner. Talavera Restaurant, located in the basement of the hotel, serves typical Italian cuisine. It seems to be popularwith locals, and many couples dropped by their neighbour’s tables in order to say hello and discuss our latest “prez”, Michael Squee. The mostly Italian staff were excellent, and really attentive throughout the night. My starter choice
of beef carpaccio, with sheep’s cheese, was nice and light, while my husband’s pasta with seafood was really tasty. Plaice fillets with a caper and tomato sauce was nicely cooked and light. My husband felt he chose badly, as he wasn’t a fan of the polenta, but his ossu bucco (veal shank) was well-cooked. An affogato dessertice cream with Baileys poured over it was delicious, and my other half said the tiramisu was spot-on.
Wines are mostly Italian, with a handful from other regions, but we decided to stay faithful to the Italian theme and ordered a lovely Sangiovese, which was very drinkable. After dinner we moved to the Orangerie Bar for an after-dinner drink. Next morning, we made our way to the beauty salon on the ground floor for some pampering. I went for a full body massage, while my hubby decided to try something a bit different and went for
facial – or “a macial”, as I have been calling it ever since. My therapist, Roisin, was excellent, and it really was one of the best treatments that I have had in a long time. There is no pool but guests can use a nearby club if they feel the need to get a few laps in before breakfast. However, there is a gym, which we did not make good use of, and instead headed back to Talavera for a tasty breakfast and a dissection of the election results. For more information on the hotel go to www. radissonblu.ie/sthelenshotel-dublin. For information on the spa call 01 2188198 or email info@ pureradiantbeauty.ie.
10 November 2011 SWORDS GAZETTE 23
Edited by Mimi Murray
Bridge the gap to a trip to Tullamore THE four-star Bridge House Hotel in Tullamore, Co Offaly, is currently holding a room sale until 6pm on Sunday, November 13, during which time a limited number of rooms will be available each day for just €25 per person sharing, on selected dates until the end of February, 2012. Located less than 90 minutes from Dublin, Limerick and Cork, the Bridge House Hotel, with a luxury spa, awardwinning leisure club, and Michelin Guide-recommended restaurant, is perfectly located for a short break. for further details, visit www.bridgehouse.com, or telephone 057 932 5600.
With a limited room sale for just €25 per person sharing, Tullamore’s luxurious Bridge House Hotel has so much to offer guests, whether those staying with a promotional or regular rate
For those looking to travel further afield, have Christmas all wrapped up with a Stena Line shopping weekend in Wales, from only €99 per adult. This fare includes
return travel by coach from Rosslare to Fishguard with Stena Line, and one nights’ accommodation in The Ivy Bush Hotel, with dinner and breakfast.
Enjoy an afternoon shopping in Carmarthen, and, before returning home the next day, enjoy a visit to Haverfordwest Indoor Market for all those little festive extras.
For further information, or to book, see www. stenaline.ie/iv ybush, telephone 01 204 7733, or visit your local Stena Line office or travel agent and quote A586..
FRANCE: RANGE OF SUPERB ANNUAL FESTIVALS
From wine to lights, the French celebrate in style MANY cities around France are pulsating with festivals at this time of year, with just a few to mention, including the Beaujolais Nouveau Festival, The Festival of Lights and the Cannes Dance Festival. Running from Thursday, November 17 to Saturday, November 19, the Beaujolais Nouveau Festival will kick off at the stroke of midnight. It is rumoured that the young wine, which comes from a region south of Burgundy in France, must be finished by Christmastime, and there have been regulations put in place to delay the wine’s release until the third week of November. This means that the arrival of the wine is strongly received in France, and, all over the country, celebrations take place and grand traditions have developed in honour of its release each year.
TravelBriefs
The biggest of these takes place in Beaujeu, the capital of the Beaujolais region, which springs to life with the Sarmentelles’ party. This three-day festival involves the opening of huge barrels of the wine, and much sampling by party-goers, along with music and fireworks. Wherever you may be in France, this is a great night to be a part of.
Lyon festival Over in Lyon, every building is illuminated during December’s Festival of Lights, or Fetes des Lumieres, as the locals call it. The people of Lyon parade through the night carrying lanterns, keeping alive the tradition, which dates from 1852, when a statue of the Virgin was unveiled on the hillside during a storm. Today, a host of activities take place throughout the procession,
Flying fish swimming over and around spectacularly colourful buildings and sculpture? Lyon’s spectacular Festival of Lights always delights locals and visitors.
which has been extended into a jam-packed four-day festival, in early December. Finally, the Cannes’ Dance Festival takes place from Tuesday, November 22 to Sunday, November 27. The “overshadowed” cousin of the Cannes Film Festival has just as
much cultural value and entertainment on offer, and this major festival is held every two years at the Palais des Festivals. The Christmas Markets, located at the Boulevard Saint Germain and Place Saint-Sulpice in Paris, are a must visit for those travelling in the area throughout
December. Sip on a vin chaud as you browse for gifts and treats for loved ones. And, of course, Pere Noel is always on hand as well to take requests from any young visitors. For further details on any of these festivals, go to www.rendezvousenfrance.com.
Great must-see offers at The Mustard Seed hotel in Limerick The Mustard Seed hotel in Limerick has a great value three-night break offer, including a bottle of Prosecco in your room on arrival, a four-course dinner on one evening, and full Irish breakfast each morning. A light supper can be available each evening during your stay, and massage therapy is available from the resident Thai masseuer. Picnic baskets can be arranged for day trips or local hikes. This package costs €315 per person. Alternatively, a rest and recharge package offers two nights accommodation, full Irish breakfast and dinner on one evening, from €180 per person sharing. For further details contact the Mustard Seed on 069 68508, or email mustard@indigo.ie.
24 SWORDS GAZETTE 10 November 2011
GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT
1GoingOUT PAVILION 01 231 2929 Boom Box SHANKILL-based Rampage School of Dance are ready to bring their innovative dance to The Pavilion, with more than 50 dancers, drawn from a wide range of age groups, helping to bring the community group to life. Their 2011 annual show comprises several modern dance styles, with suprises adding to the fun. See their shows nightly at 8pm on Friday, November 11 and Saturday, November 12, with admission costing €13.
MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 A Skull in Connemara THE Mill presents the second play in the Leenane trilogy, by playwright Martin McDonagh. In a rural Connemara town, a gravedigger prepares for his annual autumnal task of disinterring old, forgotten bones in the graveyard to make room for new arrivals. However, with his late wife’s remains due to be moved, rumours about her sudden death begin to surface ... This play runs nightly at 8pm from Tuesday, November 15 to Saturday, November 19, with admission costing €10.
DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 Travels with my cello THE internationally-acclaimed celist, Julian Lloyd Webber, will perform a diverse body of work, ranging from favourite classics by Bach, Faure, Saint-Saens and Debussy to a number of pieces by his father, William, and his brother, Andrew. He will also reminisce on his collaborations with musicians as diverse as Yehudi Menuhin, Joaquin Rodrigo, Cleo Laine and Stephane Grapelli, as well as Elton John and, of course, his brother, Andrew. This not-to-be-missed show takes place at 8pm on Saturday, November 12, with admission costing €30/€27 conc.
This group of would-be penthouse robbers – purely on behalf of ordinary people who’ve lost all their savings in an elaborate scam – are keeping a close eye on their unscrupulous target, in a bid to come up with the perfect plan to reclaim everyone’s savings
Not a towering hit
Despite high hopes for its notable cast, this high-rise heist never hits the dizzying heights of comedy, says Kate Q KATE CROWLEY
Oh, BROTHER. It’s at times like this – the preChristmas lull, in terms of cinema releases – that I start eyeing up my metaphorical Gone Fishin’ sign, gathering metaphorical dust as it hangs on the back of a metaphorical chair. However, there’s nothing metaphorical about being unable to go Gone Fishin’, as you folks are due a review, and by jingo, you’re going to get one, whether you like it or not. Speaking of lines and hooks, here comes something that’s fishin’ for your attenshin’, in the form of Tower Heist. I’m not the kind of gal that normally takes to heist movies, or Ocean’s 11 derivatives (honestly, did anybody like Ocean’s 12? Anybody?), or anything where a bumbling e n s e m b l e s o m e h ow comes up with a plan for one last/big/unlikely
FILM OF THE WEEK: Tower Heist +++ (12A) 104 mins Director: Brett Ratner Starring: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Alan Alda, Casey Affleck, Matthew Broderick, Gabourey Sidibe, Noo Yawk, Noo Yawk
OUR VERDICT: SOME of the scenes and storyline seems a little too muddled, more because of the direction than any intentional character development, but, despite this and some flat gags, it’s a diverting enough tale. Putting a white-collar, comic spin on the “Ocean’s 11” one-big-score niche, the enemble do their best to create an amusing tale of revenge, despite ineptness ...
score. Again. Frankly, dear old Hannibal in television’s The A-Team came up with better plans in the time it took to light his cigar than a group of shmucks do in two hours at the cinema – still, when the shmucks in question are Eddie Murphy, Alan Alda and Ben Stiller, it’s a film that’s probably worth shmucking along to. With a story to spur viewers on from the getgo in these difficult economic times – and to cut a long story short – a building manager (Stiller) of a typical rich Noo
Yawker tower, by Central Park, finds himself coming up with a cunning – and highly illegal – plan once it emerges that the Madoff-like super-rich character (Alda) in the penthouse at the top has invested all of the tower staff’s funds rather unwisely. Namely, he’s invested their money in the Bank of Himself, ripping them all off in grand style, and is now still very much living a luxurious life in his sky-high home, while all of the now-penniless (or dollar-less?) doormen, cleaners and so on are –
well, you can guess the rest, I’m sure. What’s an upset building manager to do? Why, hatch a plan to get everyone’s money back, of course, with the staff – and a number of hangerons, including a building tenant who’s also lost everything (Broderick) – determined to help him carry out a heist. Seeing that they’re all pretty sure they’ll fail without some real criminal know-how, as this bunch of blue collar havea-go thiev- err, heroes have plenty of determination, but not enough street smarts to pull things off – it’s not long before they’ve added a career criminal (Murphy) to the mix. After all, it often takes a crook to catch a crook, and, under his tutelage, it’s not long before the “perfect” heist to plunder the penthouse is on the way, with everything from a gun-toting Jamaican maid (Sidibe) to what I’ll call
An Unlikely Ferrari part of the denouement. So, can the guys and gals of the tower pull together and find a way to stick it to The Man (at the top)? Can they pull off their big job during the perfect distraction of the Macy’s Day Parade? And can Stiller and Murphy wisecrack some gems together in this unlikely buddy movie? Without wishing to rain on anyone’s Macy’s Day Parade, it’s not quite a towering achievement, as despite the notable cast, some of the jokes and gags fall further than the eye from the top of the tower. Still, at least Murphy is back on amusing “street” form, after a few too many interminable family- and make-up-led roles in recent years, while there’s a nicely underplayed, and largely sympathetic, feel to some of the characters.
10 November 2011 SWORDS GAZETTE 25
GazetteGAMING GAMING
‘Kinect is great for the entire family’ SHANE DILLON
LAST week, I spoke to Kieran Penwill, Microsoft’s Retail Sales and M a r ke t i n g C o u n t r y Manager for Ireland, who was keen to talk about the XBox 360’s Kinect motion sensor, which is a key platform for Microsoft to open up gaming to be more accessible and fun for the whole family, as well as enabling new and emerging types of gameplay. The Kinect sensor and technology takes the controller out of gaming, and can enable additional user input, thus making gaming both simpler and more accessible, or more involving and immersive, depending on its implementation. Kieran has worked with Microsoft since 2005, and has worked in this current role since 2010, overseeing the launch of Kinect in Ireland in November, 2010. He has overseen the launch of a number of significant games here, such as Halo Reach, Gears of War 3, Forza 4, as well as key Kinect titles, including Dance Central 2, and Kinect Sports: Season Two – all of which makes him the perfect insider to talk to for everything XBox 360-related in Ireland. Kieran was keen to
stress the XBox console’s move out of gamers’ “territory” in bedrooms, and into family living rooms, with the Kinect sensor playing a large part of that success, coupled with the console’s use as an entertainment hub capable of streaming TV and content to other rooms. “The feedback from the random sample groups, is that something like 40% of people’s time on XBox is spent on non-gaming experiences. “We need to look after our core gamers, who love XBox, but we have to remember that, when we launched Kinect, this is more than just a core gaming platform – this is a home entertainment device,” said Kieran. “The [360] has traditionally been there for teenagers, or for the 20-something, but what we’re seeing now with the launch of Kinect is that [the 360] is down in the living room, so that the 360 can be brought back to ‘home’,” he said. It’s fair to assume that much of that 40% of nongaming use would come through Microsoft’s partnership with Sky, with XBox users able to use their consoles for much more than gaming. “The partnership with Sky has absolutely been a focus, to further integrate the 360 into home enter-
Bytesandpieces Ready to blast a new battle game ONLINE browsers may have noticed a variety of initial complaints about the cross-platform new release, Battlefield 3 (B3), for a few reasons, such as the surprise (though entirely optional) need to install a 2GB texture pack on the XBox 360 to maximise how it looks. Personally, my first (and unexpectedly irritated) hour with B3 was spent turning my console on and off, while a constantly freezing and looping intro mission had me ready to march on the developers, ready to give them an earful! Still, it’s important to note that the vast majority of B3 gamers, regardless of their console or PC set-up, have not reported any problems, and, with a patch likely to appear in the near future to “fix” any such potential problems, B3 has certainly lived up to the pre-release hype and interest, with several superb features. With its rival, the latest instalment in the Call of Duty series, now in shops, the retail battlefield is definitely raging – but perhaps all this is just target practise before Halo: Reach arrives ...
Kieran Penwill, Microsoft’s Retail Sales and Marketing Country Manager for Ireland, is keen to promote the XBox 360 as a console for “hardcore gamers”, but, with the Kinect motion sensor, also as a fun family console and home entertainment hub
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‘We need to look after our core gamers, who love XBox, but we have to remember that, when we launched Kinect, this is more than just a core gaming platform – this is a home entertainment device’
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tainment. “Over the course of time, what we want to do is like in the US, and ideally to start streaming terrestrial [television], but that’s something to happen in the future. For now, Sky subscribers can stream [Sky content] through their Xbox.” Of course, a key Microsoft strategy is to celebrate the Kinect sensor, and to publicise how it can add to gaming experiences, Kieran said. “For example, with [racing title] Forza 4, we implemented that with Kinect, so that when you turn your head, the motion sensor senses that you’re moving your
head, and it enables you to look at what’s coming up behind you. “That’s what we’re doing – bringing Kinect more into that core gaming experience. It just gets you more immersed. “We’re nurturing our core gamers, and we’re trying to utilise the Kinect for the family as best we can. For example, we’ve got third-party titles, like Sesame Street: Once upon a Monster, coming out; it’s timeless, and great for counting and so on, a great learning experience for children. “We’re going to have three times as many Kinect titles launching in these next nine
months versus the last nine months, so we’ve got a lot more Kinect product launching through the first half of 2012,” he said. With sales of upwards of 10 million Kinect units on top of the 55-million XBox 360 base, there’s already a huge user-base that should be expected to expand massively in the new year, with titles like the upcoming Kinectenabled Star Wars – possibly the ultimate Kinect title – inevitably going to further boost bits profile, and user base. For now, the message from Kieran, and Microsoft, is very clear. “It’s really important to say that we look after our core gamers, who are our number-one priority. We look after them, and we nurture them. “But the 360 and the Kinect is for everybody – everybody can use it, and the great thing about it is that it gets you up off the couch!”
GAZETTE
26 SWORDS GAZETTE 10 November 2011
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GazetteSPORT
ROAD TO LONDON: Linda Byrne set for marathon battle at Olympic Games Page 29
DIVING: NAC HOSTS SIXTH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS THAT SAW CITYWIDE SUCCESS
Locals claim the honours at NAC championship sport@gazettegroup.com
IRISH divers won more than 60 medals against an international field in the National Diving Championships last weekend at the National Aquatic Centre in Blanchardstown. Almost 30 competitors from Dublin and Kildare faced off against tough opposition from across Europe, including the UK, Italy and Lithuania. The national diving
championships, now in their sixth year, are the highlight of the sport’s calendar in this countr y and always produce fiercely contested action. This year was no different, with the three-day event featuring competitors aged eight to 60, diving from heights ranging from one metre to 10 metres. The highlights included triple gold for Natasha MacManus (13),
from Killiney, who won the one-metre, threemetre and platform women’s competitions. Jack Ffrench, from Maynooth, won gold in the one-metre and platform men’s events. Sean McCormack, from Rathfarnham, won the threemetre men’s event. All three are members of the National Diving Squad, which is supported by Swim Ireland. Other winners included Tony Miller, Vivienne
The Irish medal winners at the National Acquatic Centre after the National Diving Championships
and Francesca Hew, Roisin Kane, Seanagh Carton, Jack Price, Adam Walsh and Fionn Nolan. Many of the young Irish winners are a similar age to British Olym-
pic medallist Tom Daley when he won his first championship. “I am so pleased that so many countries were represented this year,” said Ireland’s national coach, Vladyslava
Shapoval. “It was a fantastic competition at all levels and I would like to thank all of the officials - including members of the London 2012 team – and volunteers who assisted this
weekend. “I am delighted with the performance of the squad and we aim to compete next year at junior elite level in the UK next summer and elite European level in 2013.”
28 SWORDS GAZETTE 10 November 2011
GazetteSport Sport FastSport
Anti-doping app for sportspeople released THE Irish Sports Council this week has launched a new anti-doping application that is available to Android phone, users allowing them to check their prescribed and over-the-counter medications purchased in the Republic of Ireland before they take them to ensure they are compliant with anti-doping regulations. Earlier this year the Irish Sports Council launched the iPhone anti-doping application that has been a huge success with athletes across the country. Since the iPhone app was launched in May, there have been over 1,200 downloads, with users checking between 10 and 20 medications each time compared to between two and three when they check from the Eirpharm website. The app accesses information on the widely used Drugs in Sport Database on www.eirpharm.com. The app allows the user to look up their medication by name or to search by ailment type. Useful features include the ability to email a search result to any email address, to save the search in the app history, and to re-check medications in saved history against current database listings. “The launch of the Medication Checker App for iPhone proved very successful earlier in the year. Results saw a ten-fold increase in the number of medications that users check on the Eirpharm.com database through the app. The ability for users to quickly check over-the-counter medications using a smartphone helps reduce the risk of inadvertently doping through the use of day-to-day medications,” said Ailish Keaveney, Head of Education and Research with the ISC.
RUGBY: LOCAL UNDER-21S CLAIM WIN IN GALE CUP CAMPAIGN
Malahide RFC’s J4 side claimed a vital win in their tie against St Mary’s College
Gale-force Malahide GALE CUP Portlaoise Malahide RFC
15 22
sport@gazettegroup.com
MALAHIDE’S Under21 side travelled to Portlaoise last Sunday knowing that a victory would put them right in the mix in the business end of the Gale Cup. For a side that did not exist 12 months ago, the team have made huge strides in a very short period of time. However, an away trip to Portlaoise was always going to test their mettle. The home team star ted the stronger and through their solid scrum and big carriers in midfield, they were soon attacking deep in Malahide territory. T h e v i s i t o r s we r e penalised for handling
the ball in a ruck and Portlaoise moved into a 3-0 lead. Malahide then started to gain some possession of their own, and through Luke Murphy, Neal O’Keefe and Oisin K l i n ke n b e r g h , t h e y always posed a threat to the Portlaoise defence. The home line held f i r m , h owe ve r, a n d when they managed to turn the ball over, it was transferred quickly to their speedy left wing, and he managed to win the 70-metre foot race to the Malahide line. With ten minutes to the break and staring at a 10-0 deficit, Malahide knew that they needed to get something on the board before half time. The visitors increased the pace of their game and, from a quick tap penalty, Luke Mur-
phy broke through the Portlaoise defence and, while the cover stayed wide on wing Matthew Brennan, Murphy was able to cross for the try and get the visitors on the board. With the score at 10-5 at the break Malahide felt that they were well in this tie. The second half continued in the same pattern as the first, with Portlaoise using a dominant scrum to get tight runners on to the ball. Malahide defended well and were starting to get some joy of their own, with Sean Halligan, Reece O’Connell and Ben O’Connor starting to carry some ball. Unfortunately, it was another Malahide turnover that handed Portlaoise their next score,
with the ball once more ending up in the hands of their left wing, who this time won a 50-metre race to the line. Such a score against the run of play can sometimes turn a game but, in fairness to the visitors, they kept working hard and, through the efforts of Stephen Lavelle, they were starting to win some good ball from the lineout. Malahide soon found themselves attacking the home side’s line and, when Luke Murphy managed to find a gap in the defence, he put Stephen Lavelle in for the score. T he conver ted tr y brought the gap between the sides just three points. As Malahide continued to attack a tiring Portlaoise outfit, a
succession of penalties again brought play into home side’s 22 and, when they were caught offside in front of the posts, Luke Murphy accepted the opportunity to bring Malahide level. With time still left on the clock, Malahide went in search of the winning score, and after a couple of near-misses, second row Victor Barbosa was able to breach the defence to get the vital try. Murphy was successful with the kick and the visitors were able to hold on for a hard-fought victory. Elsewhere, Malahide’s third team had a brilliant 30-26 victory against a previously unbeaten St Mar y’s College to blow Section C of the J4 league wide open.
10 November 2011 SWORDS GAZETTE 29
in association with
Byrne-ing up the miles ahead Dundrum South Dublin’s Linda Byrne made a huge statement for her future in athletics by qualifying for the 2012 Olympics
IRISH athletics had a glimpse of its future in the Dublin marathon last week when Linda Byrne was the first Irish woman home over the 26-mile course, and achieving the qualifying standard time for the Olympics in 2012. It’s all the more massive an achievement when Linda’s previous distances in cross-country racing were only between five and eight kilometres, even more so when you realise that this was her first-ever full marathon. “I ran half of the Dublin marathon last year for the experience and really enjoyed it, and was doing really well in road races. After I left the Under-23 cross-country age group, I felt that I had to focus on the marathon, as it seemed like an event that I could make the qualifying time in.
“This was just my first marathon, and I think that I got everything right in the run-up to the race, and I just need to keep doing that in the lead up to London.
old Dundrum South Dublin athlete ran a well-planned race on the October Bank Holiday weekend in which her preparation paid off. “It was a huge sense of
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‘When I saw the clock above the finishing line, I could see the time, and I told myself, ‘just hold up’. It was a huge sense of achievement’
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“As well as that, I think I can go faster - the weather conditions in Dublin weren’t ideal, and, on a better day, on a faster course, I’m sure I could improve my time.” Linda was delighted when she spoke to GazetteSport last week about making the qualifying time for the London games, and the 25-year-
achievement. I realised pretty much as soon as I crossed the line that I’d achieved the standard, and I’m still trying to take it in now. I was in shock, really. “Over the last few miles I knew I was inside the time, but my legs were starting to tighten up and it was very tough. But I knew I had to keep going,
Linda Byrne marks her debut in the marathon with the national title in Dublin
and when I saw the clock above the finishing line, I could see the time and I told myself, ‘just hold up’.” “Now I have the qualifying time, there is a huge amount of pressure off, and I know that I won’t have to make the time at another race before the Olympics. It’s a lot of work to go into a race and then recover in time for the Olympics and get in the right training to peak in time for the big race. I can concentrate on shorter distances, and prepare for London.” H e r a c h i e ve m e n t means that she may also be eligible for funding from the Irish Sports Council, whose decision to cut her from the carding scheme in 2009 meant that she was on the verge of leaving athletics for good, before deciding on long-distance events as her focus for the future. “I was pretty much supporting myself in terms of my training. I should, hopefully, get back on the carding scheme for support from the Irish Sports Council, which will be great and mean I can concentrate on training full time from now on.” Linda is also at an advantage in terms of her age. With the majority of marathon stars coming into their own as they reach their early 30s, the 25-year-old knows she is only at the beginning of a long road ahead.
“My trainer, Enda Fitzpatrick, was saying to me that London will be a stepping stone for me, and I will be aiming to improve continually over the next few years, with the goal being Rio de Janeiro in 2016. “A lot of people think I was quite young to run a marathon at this age, but that’s because I have been running for so many years, I’ve built up a lot of training and I thought I was ready to try,” said Byrne. Linda has made a huge leap in terms of distance and performance in a short space of time in graduating from crosscountry to marathon running, but her grounding in her original discipline has stood to her in her decision to change up. “I’ve been taking part in competitive races since I was 15, when I was in my first international crosscountry race, and that stood me in good stead. “Obviously, the distances are much different, going from five to eight kilometres to 26 miles, but you need to be strong over country ground. “I’ve put in a lot of miles over the years, and that strength came into play in the marathon. I changed my training a bit, but not a huge amount. I didn’t put in a huge amount of miles before this marathon, and I think there is room for improvement there.”
FastSport
Cross-country success for locals at Santry THE Dublin cross-country championships, which took place at Santry last weekend, saw a number of successes for athletes and clubs across the city. Metro St Brigid’s athlete John Coghlan, son of the former world 5,000m champion, Eamon, won the senior men’s race, ahead of Blanchardstown native David Flynn, running in the colours of Clonliffe Harriers, and fellow MSB racer Liam Tremble. In the junior men’s event, James Egan, from Dundrum South Dublin, finished in second place behind Kevin Dooney, from Raheny Shamrocks. In the women’s races, DSD achieved a one-two-three in the junior race, with the places taken by Siofra Cleirgh Buttner, Claire McCarthy and Sorcha Humpries. DSD were place second overall in the women’s team event, while Rathfarnham WSAF came third in the men’s team competition.
O’Driscoll set for a season on the sidelines LEINSTER and Ireland star Brian O’Driscoll is set to be out of competitive rugby for around six months after undergoing surgery on a neck injury. This will mean the soonest he would return would be around the time of the Heineken Cup semi-final, and it is unlikely that he would be included at that stage. He will also
be absent for the 2012 Six Nations competition, but should be available to make his return in the summer tour of New Zealand. There are concerns that O’Driscoll would consider an end to his career, but with 18 months remaining on his current contract, he has no intention of hanging up the boots anytime soon. Leinster will begin their Heineken Cup campaign this weekend against Montpellier in the French city.
30 SWORDS GAZETTE 10 November 2011
GazetteSport Sport FastSport
Fine weekend for Fingal in league campaigns FINGAL had a progressive weekend after a tough start to the Leinster league campaign when they broke their run of defeats as they grabbed a 5-0 Neville cup win over Portrane last Saturday in ALSAA. In a tie postponed due to floodlight failure a week earlier, it saw the greens complete the semi-final line-up as Glen Shekleton netted a hat-trick while there was a welcome strike for Andy Shekleton after a lengthy time out, his first of this campaign. Fingal face Railway Union in the final four while the top half pairs UCD and Glenanne. They followed up with a first point of the division one campaign from a tight game on Sunday. Clontarf showed a much more rigid defensive turn than they had a day earlier when they fell 7-2 to UCD in a game that saw them record their first ever clean sheet in division one after four seasons of trying in the top tier. A tense affair, both sides had a couple of clear chances, the best probably falling to Cain Cooney in the second half but he slipped at the back post with the goal beckoning, allowing Nigel Grothier to get across and shut down two bites on goal. He also pulled off a spectacular save to Andrew Poynter’s shot in the first half while Adrian Sweeney had Fingal’s best opportunity. He rounded Stephen Cairns but allowed enough time for Stephen Ludgate to get back and clear off the line. Fingal enjoyed more of the possession and territory, winning the corner count 4-0 but lacked cutting edge around the 25, but player-coach David Bane was reasonably happy with the build-up phases of play. For the bulls, Gareth Borland – another player-coach and work colleague of Bane – is hoping to get back some of his players after Nick Burke was unavailable for the weekend; James Gurbiel popped an AC joint, Rob Kelly’s patched up hamstring has not fully healed and James Rogan has another six weeks on the sidelines with a groin injury.
SOCCER: MALAHIDE STARS ADDED TO SELECT UNDER-15 PICK
Andrew Brown and Colm Deasy will hope to follow in the footsteps of Glen Daly and Sam O’Connor, above with Giovanni Trappatoni
Local duo in Ireland panel sport@gazettegroup.com
MALAHIDE United duo Andrew Brown and Colm Deasy have maintained their places in the reduced Republic of Ireland Under-15 panel, named by Niall Harrison this week. They will hope to follow in the footsteps of club men Glen Daly and Sam O’Connor who made their debut for the Republic of Ireland at Under-16 and -15 levels respectively in the last year. As a result, they could be selected to be involved with the squad which travels to Qatar in
early December to play two games against the Aspire Academy, in what is becoming an annual trip for this age group. In the wake of the SFAI Umbro Kennedy Cup at the University of Limerick in the summer, Deasy was included in a panel of 18 players who went on to play in the Hibernia Trophy. Since then, Brown was added to the panel, which includes 13 players from the DDSL in the latest 18-player selection, following a four-day training camp at which 36 players were invited. There, the players
were assessed by Harrison and five other coaches before settling on this latest squad. Harrison, though, has been at pains to point out this group is a fluid one, with the key task to deliver a large group of players to John Morling at U-16 level, Deasy and Brown’s potential opponents in Qatar provide a stiff test as a group who play fulltime with a high level of focus on technical aspects of the game. Further assessments of this group will take place in late December to see how the players have progressed following
the programme, before they play six international games in the New Year, potentially against Belgium, among other opposition. Closer to home, Swords Celtic enjoyed a fine weekend with eight wins alone on Sunday. The club’s Under-12 Premier team continued their winning ways, beating Clontarf by 4-0, and now sit top of the Premier table, leading by five points. The Under-15B team went to Swords Rovers and were losing the game 3-1, only to come back strongly to win by a margin of 6-3; Anto
Escandor scored four for Celtic. The Under-18 Premiers welcomed back g o a l ke e p e r G a r e t h McGrath after a long absence from injury; they took on Artane Beaumont Under-19s in the Cup and beat them 4-1. Two goals from Terry Onyeabor - the second from a superb Dean Wright cross and a penalty save from keeper Conor McGrath - the second save in as many matches – wasn’t enough to avoid defeat to Tolka Rovers - the team went down by four goals to two.
Shield starlets: Fingallians’ Under-11 champions FINGALLIANS’ Under-11 girls won the Dublin Division 1 Shield title last weekend when they emerged victorious from their final. This is a fantastic result for the local Swords team after their first season playing together.
10 November 2011 SWORDS GAZETTE 31
in association with
FOOTBALL: SAINTS’ MINORS MISS OUT ON TITLE
CLUB NOTICEBOARD FINGALLIANS Three major trophies arrived in the
St Margaret’s matched Ballyboden in many areas, but were no match for three quick-fire goals. Picture: GAApics.com
Margaret’s denied by clinical ’Boden MFC DIVISION 1 FINAL Ballyboden St Enda’s St Margaret’s
4-14 2-9
sport@gazettegroup.com
A BLISTERING secondhalf performance saw Ballyboden St Enda’s claim the Minor Division One championship title when they over-turned a halftime deficit to put paid to hopes of a breakthrough St Margaret’s victory on a cold, still night in Newcastle. Maggie’s were limited to just an Emma Colgan goal in the second period, as a run of three goals between the 42nd and 47th minute turned the game completely the Firhouse Road club’s way. It was a game played at a ferocious pace throughout, St Margaret’s hassling and harrying a feature of the first half, while Boden’s pace and swift handpassing made for a titanic tussle. At times, Maggie’s overstepped the mark, which saw them give up five frees
to the dead-eye accuracy of Sarah O’Brien prior to the break. Kate Dwyer, though, was proving a real handful in the right-corner, opening her side’s account with a very good point on the turn. And her dynamism helped her side build a 0-4 to 0-1 lead, using her power and exceptionally light feet to swivel her marker on numerous occasions. Boden had plenty of aces in their deck, too, as Ciara Ruddy’s incredible speed from midfield and O’Brien’s immaculate radar, kept it close and they hit the front for the first time in the 13th minute. Ruddy created the space before off-loading to Maria McGrath who drilled home despite a brave hand at full stretch from Susanna Geoghegan. In combination with O’Brien’s six points in the first half, five from frees, it
saw Boden nudge ahead to 1-6 to 0-7 before Dwyer netted to retake the lead for the Balreesk club. Rachel Dwyer’s ball was a speculative one down the right touch-line but Kate Dwyer did well to initially to get ahead of her marker and turn in an instant. Still 25 metres out, she hared in on goal and bashed home. With Kate Hurley also weighing in with three finely taken points and some powerful displays from Dublin senior B player Megan McKeown and U-14 goalkeeper Shauna O’Hara – playing out the field – Margaret’s looked in great shape, leading 1-9 to 1-7 at the interval. But Ballyboden were to dominate the second half from the off. Claire King and Michelle O’Reilly were superb in marshalling Kate Dwyer and Hurley in a rejigged full-back line, keeping the previously unstoppable duo scoreless.
O’Brien continued where she had left off while the buzzing Maria McGrath and Megan Carney found more room to manoeuvre. They helped strike 3-4 without response to break the game, Carney with a fine effort, cutting in from the right to fire into the bottom left corner. Suzanne Campbell was instrumental in the next major four minutes later, popping to Sinead Crowley – previously deployed as a corner-back – who took advantage of her more advanced role. She netted a second time as Ruddy played in Cathy O’Neill who found Crowley again for a 4-10 to 1-9 lead. Emma Colgan’s stunning solo goal offered a brief lifeline with six minutes to go but four more Boden points garnered a richly celebrated victory. For Maggie’s, they will look to next year with just two of the panel moving out of the age group.
day.
club over the weekend: On Satur-
Our AGM will be held on Thurs-
day morning, the U-11 girls won the
day, November 17 at 9pm. The club
Division 1 Shield. Next up on Sunday
accounts will be available to all mem-
morning, the U-15s won the B cham-
bers on Thursday and Friday night in
pionship v Skerries, and then, in the
the club bar from 8.30 to 9.30pm.
afternoon, the U-14 girls won the
Our car draw ha s now being
championship. The mentors of all the
launched: Tickets are available
teams would like to thank the large
through all the team managers, club
numbers that turned up and sup-
bar, club office each morning, www.
ported the club and made the differ-
fingallians.ie, or email fingallians@
ence in the three narrow victories.
gmail.com
The senior footballers have the
A course for new referees will com-
most important week coming up.
mence in Parnell Park on Thursday
They play O’Toole’s in the league
November 10 at 7.30pm. It will con-
and, on Sunday, they play Naomh
tinue with further sessions on Mon-
Fionnbarra at 11am. Both games are
day, November 21, Thursday, Novem-
at home and remember, supporters
ber 24 and concluding on Thursday,
can make the difference.
December 1. All those interested in
Well done to the club members that
taking up refereeing are welcome
completed the Dublin Marathon and
to attend. Please contact Parnell
the New York Marathon last Sun-
Park.
FINGAL RAVENS CONGRATULATIONS to the girls’ U-12
in Kettle’s Hotel at 7pm.
team who won their championship
C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s t o S ke r r i e s
final on Sunday in a very exciting
Harps on winning the IFC, and to St
game that went down to the wire,
Brigid’s on winning the SFC.
with Ravens beating Parnell’s by a
Club AGM will take place on Thurs-
point, well done to Ann, Mary and
day, November 17 at 8pm in Roles-
Tosh in the background.
town Hall.
Hard luck to the U-14 girls, Michelle
Pub quiz on Thursday, November
and Tanya, who lost in the final to
24 in Kettle’s Hotel for our juvenile
Templeogue SS; great achievement
section.
to get to the final, you did yourselves and your club proud. Thanks to everyone who helped out with hosting the five girls’ finals at the club last Sunday.
Don’t forget to text your name to 086 858 7231 if you are interested in competing in the white-collar boxing fundraising next February. Lotto: Numbers drawn were 5, 17,
Well done to the U-12 team who
19 and 27. There was no winner; €20
beat Castleknock in their last game
to Richard Daly, Ned Newman and
of the season.
Noel McCarthy. Next week’s jackpot
Committee meeting this Thursday
is worth €2,742.
ST FINIAN’S WELL done the U-11 hurlers who
6pm on November 10. Motions for
finished runners-up in their league
consideration must be in writing
following a win away to St Pat’s,
and signed by the proposer.
Palmerstown, on Saturday. Both
Preparations are well under way
teams played well displaying an
for the fashion show which takes
array of skills in a close-fought
place on November 26.
first half. The Finian’s lads worked
Following the success of the last
harder again in the second half to
clothing collection a further date
finish the season on a high note.
has been selected and a collection
The mentors would like to thank
will take place on Saturday, Decem-
St.Pat’s for providing some goodies
ber 10. Please start gathering all
for the lads after the match and a
your clean unwanted clothes, bed
special thank you to all the parents
linen, duvets, pillows, towels, shoes,
who travelled to support the lads
bags, belts and soft toys. Further
during the season.
details will be issued nearer the
The club AGM will take place in the GAA Centre on Thursday, Novem-
time about drop-off times to the club house.
ber 17 at 8.30pm. Nominations for
Lotto: Numbers drawn were 2, 7,
chairman, secretary and treasurer
13 and 19. There was no winner. The
and motions for the AGM should be
€50 winners were Aimee Hender
returned to the club secretary by
and Mark O’Reilly.
R1
ALL OF YOUR SWORDS SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31
MAGGIE’S MAY: St Margaret’s great
run in championship ends in final P31
LONDON CALLING Linda Byrne on a marathon mission P29
GazetteSPORT
Joe Taylor was on scintilating form for Ireland’s rugby league side, but they were denied by a strong French resistance
NOVEMBER 10, 2011
Treble for Taylor in first tie at Thomond North Dublin Eagles’ player scores a hat-trick in debut rugby league international tie at Munster home ground STEPHEN FINDLATER swordssport@gazettegroup.com
NORTH Dublin Eagle Joe Taylor produced a scintillating performance for the Irish rugby league side when he crossed for a hat-trick of tries in the third game of the Autumn international series. His treble was ultimately in vain for the Irish side as France rallied late to secure a 34-16 victory in Thomond Park. In what was the first-ever rugby league international in Thomond Park, a record number of spectators were in attendance to see Irish wing Taylor in fine form. He impressed in what was the first series of matches under the stewardship of Mark Aston, the former Sheffield Eagles boss who is looking to progress the sport in Ireland now. It is the starting point toward the 2013 World Cup and, with the North Dublin Eagles, Taylor is one of a rare breed in Irish green who has made his way into the team by starting out his career in Ireland.
The majority of the national panel are drawn from second- or third-generation Irish people living in the rugby league-rich north of England. But the side have high ambitions as Aston explained when talking about the relevance of the game in Thomond and fixtures against Wales and Scotland in the past weeks. “It is important that we improve on last year as we are building towards the World Cup in 2013 “I spoke to the players about the games and outlined that we want to see them improving and proving that they want to play for Ireland. They have to be proud to play for their country.” In the France tie, Aston’s men got off to a flying start when a kick from Paul Handforth forced a goal-line drop-out which led to a sweeping back move down Ireland’s right with Greg McNally supplying the final ball to the Laois native. France bounced back to build a lead but 20-yearold Taylor bagged his first ever international try in the corner from Tyrone McCarthy’s pass Ireland were happy at the break as they went
in with a two-point lead ahead of a side they had never beaten before. A dream start followed in the second half when Liam Finn chipped into the corner for Taylor, who rose above his opposing winger to gather and score in the corner. However, with 66 minutes on the clock, Olivier Elima made amends for earlier indiscretions when he touched down to bring his side to within two points of the hosts. France then took the lead when Kane Bentley crashed over for his second of the game. Bosc added the conversion to put them 16-12 up. Then, with 15 minutes left France extended the lead when Greg McNally misjudged the bounce of the ball and Bosc pounced to touch down. He added the conversion to put France ten points ahead. Elima and Bentley then rubbed salt in the wounds to make it 34-12 but, with seconds left, Taylor had the last laugh with a hat-trick of his own to make the score 34-16.