Swords

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INSIDE: Local students meet with author Terry Pratchett P6

Cycling: Paralympic star Walsh rides to medal double Page 32

Soccer: Trap and Tardelli help launch Fingal Euro initiative Page 30

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ......................8 MOTORS ........................18 BUSINESS .................... 21 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26

February 16, 2012

GOING GREEN: Looking forward to St Patrick’s Day parade See Pages 2-3

Blow to council as 39 staff to retire I MIMI MURRAY

THE loss of 39 staff in Fingal County Council before the end of the month is set to be a huge blow to the local authority.

The public sector staff are due to leave before the Government’s deadline for those wishing to take early retirement, on February 29.

County manager David O’Connor said they have put plans in place in order to make

the council as resilient as possible when these people leave.

However, he did say there will be problems, and the council will find themselves with gaps.

Socialist Councillor Ruth Coppinger said the scheme was proving to be an absolute disaster for public services.

February 1 was the closing date for applications for the Government scheme.

Full Story on Page 10

Busy night for businesses: Enjoying a networking event BREDA Lattimore, Bizzy B’s, and Margaret Fox, Juniper Pre-school, were among the many guests who enjoyed the latest networking event organised

by Fingal County Enterprise Board through the Fingal Business Network.

The event was well attended with over 200 companies interested in a handson demonstration of how to use social media to deliver more effective networking.

Full Gallery on Pages 8-9

2 SWORDS GAZETTE 16 February 2012

ENVIRONMENT: SUSPICIONS ABOUT LOCAL DISTRIBUTION

Fianna Fail Councillor, Darragh Butler

Concerns over nonsmokeless coal use

LOCAL residents who have suspicions about non-smokeless coal being distributed in the Fingal area can report it to the Environmental Health Officers at Fingal County Council.

Fianna Fail Councillor, Darragh Butler, asked the council about the use of smoky coal by residents in the Fingal area, but council officials said it is not actually an offence to use the coal.

Consideration

“The current legal situation is that it is not an offence for householders to burn non-smokeless coal in their homes. The Air Pollution Act, 1987 (Marketing, Sale and Distribution of Fuels) Regulations 1998 to 2011 specify, inter alia, the sulphur content of coal, the areas where it cannot be sold and other responsibilities on coal suppliers.

“It is understood that consideration is being given to changing the legislation to make it an offence to use nonsmokeless coal, but no change has yet been made.

Burden

“If it were to be made, it has the potential to place a very significant burden on staff resources investigating complaints, as well as proving to be very costly carrying out the tests required to prove sulphur content.

“In the event that residents have suspicions about non-smokeless coal being distributed in the Fingal area, they should be reported to the Environmental Health Officers at 8906275, 8906276 or 8906280.

All reports will be investigated,” the council said in its report.

CELEBRATION Another hotly anticipated

Swords to be swathed in green on March 17 I MIMI MURRAY

swords@gazettegroup.com

SWORDS will once again turn green this March 17, with another hotly anticipated St Patrick’s Day parade expected from Swords le Cheile.

As our pictures show, the parade proved to be an enormous success last year, with over 15,000 people turning out for a very special day for families in the area.

This year, the Swords St Patrick’s Day Parade will start out from Dublin Road at 12 noon and travel down Main Street and into North Street. There will be an official reviewing stand on Main Street, outside County Hall.

Many community and sporting groups will be taking part, as well as street performers, stiltwalkers and balloon modellers. Viking warriors will be battling in the streets, as well as Special Forces on parade.

“Swords le Cheile is an important civic initiative, supported by our council that has established a formal community platform for projects across a range of social, cultural and economic issues

in Swords. As such, it a very important project in bringing local government and local civic and community bodies closer and will greatly enhance our shared ability to initiate and develop new programmes for the people of our capital town.

I am looking forward to another great day of community celebrations at the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Swords this year,” said Fingal Mayor, Cllr Gerry McGuire.

Swords will be bedecked with bunting and it is anticipated that there will be a truly festive atmosphere in the town centre during St Patrick’s week and particularly on St Patrick’s Day, with many pubs and restaurants providing music sessions and special offerings for families. Swords le Cheile and Fingal Dublin Chamber is asking all businesses in Swords to make a special effort to create promotions and activities around St Patrick’s Day and to get customers and staff involved in making it a memorable time for the people of Swords.

“Bringing people who live and/or work in

Swords together is the main aim of Swords le Chéile and we hope to generate a great sense of community for the many thousands of men, women living and working in the town.

“We are delighted to have received the full support of Fingal County Council in organising and managing the parade on St Patrick’s Day. “The St Patrick’s Day Parade is a very special day to celebrate all that is best in Ireland – the food, the music, the peo-

ple, the fun and craic. We want to grow the tradition in Swords by giving the many sporting and community organisations in the area the opportunity to participate in the parade.

“So everyone is invited to come along and get involved. There will be something for everyone, young and old, and we look forward to seeing you there,” said Swords le Cheile chairman, Joe Harford.

“The Chamber welcomes the opportunity

for the business community to support Swords le Cheile and its work in bringing together all sectors of the community to participate in the St Patrick’s Day Parade, as well as other cultural activities which can only enhance the town,” said Tony Lambert, Chamber CEO. Does your club/group want to take part in the parade? For an application form and full details, contact Brian Molloy on 8905639 or email: events@fingalcoco.ie

16 February 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 3

St Patrick’s Day parade from Swords le Cheile

MEETING: NEW SKILLS Public speaking club seeks members EAST Coast Toastmasters are inviting new members to come along and join their group every second Tuesday in Swords.

“We think we are the friendliest public speaking club in Dublin, and we love to get visitors at any of our meetings – those meetings are friendly, fun and supportive and we usually have 10 to 20 people.

Skills

“We meet in the Airside Premier Inn every s e c o n d Tu e s d a y a t 8.15pm, and if anyone wants to improve their speaking skills, they could start by checking out our website which is at w w w.eastcoasttoastmasters.com,” a spokesperson for the club said.

4 SWORDS GAZETTE 16 February 2012

TEAGASC Debate over planned move of Research and Development Centre

TD says centre move will cost taxpayers millions

I MIMI MURRAY

THE planned move of the Teagasc Research and Development Centre from Kinsealy to Ashtown will cost the taxpayer millions, according to Socialist Party TD, Clare Daly.

She was commenting to a debate she had on

the issue with the Minister for Agriculture in the Dail last week.

“The Minister totally dodged the issues posed.

On the one hand he said that these matters were for Teagasc to deal with and it would be inappropriate for him to interfere. On the other, when pressed

he admitted that he had a role. This is just not good enough. Of course the Minister has a role. This organisation is funded from the public purse and operates under his Department. Reiterating statements made previously by Teagasc management is not good enough,

particularly when it has been alleged that this move will cost the state millions in unnecessary expenditure for facilities that already exist in Kinsealy.

“In fact, contrary to what the Minister said, that combining operations will involve cost sav-

ings, everything needed exists in Kinsealy. The Minister failed to answer why €2.5 million is being spent to upgrade classrooms in the Botanic Gardens, when these classrooms already exist in Kinsealy. The practical work will have to continue in Kinsealy because the

Ashtown site is too small and more land will have to be acquired. In these austere times, when budgets are being cut and ordinary people faced with vicious cuts, this is even doubly disgraceful. These matters are already before the Dail Public Accounts Committee. All further

works should stop until it is fully investigated.”

She concluded: “Fine Gael and Labour promised reform. Before the election, Minister Reilly said if elected he would ensure that this move would be halted. A year on, and the sound of silence is deafening.”

Council to remove trees in Hilltown

IT’S the intention of Fingal County Council to remove a proportion of trees in Hilltown Grove on an annual basis.

Residents have, in the past, raised issues regarding the overgrown trees in this area.

The council said the tree crew carried out a significant amount of essential tree works in the Hilltown area last November.

“A number of trees were removed that had outgrown the available rooting space, along with others that were obscuring public lighting columns.

There are still a good number of trees in the area that are presenting similar

problems or will do so in the next few years. It is the intention of the Operations Department to remove a proportion of these trees annually.

“To achieve the tree policy objective of a mixed age and mixed species urban forest composed of species appropriate to the available space, a phased replacement programme needs to be introduced in the Hilltown and wider River Valley area.

“The Operations Unit would welcome the opportunity to meet with residents associations and local representatives with a view to agreeing a schedule of replacement over the next 10 years or longer,” the council said.

Fingal County Council responded to a motion tabled by Labour councillor, Tom Kelleher

TRAFFIC: INVESTIGATION SHOWS ILLEGAL PARKING

Double yellow lines proposed for road DOUBLE yellow lines along a portion of Lanesborough Road would be of local benefit and improve traffic movement, according to Fingal County Council.

Making any move on this would be subject to consultation with the gardai and residents, the council told the elected members at a Swords/ Balbriggan area committee meeting last week.

Responding to a motion tabled by Labour councillor, Tom Kelleher, the council said: “Lanesborough Road is a 7.5m width carriageway which serves a mixed residential development consisting of individual dwellings with off-street parking and duplex apartments, with parking to the rear

in some cases and to the front in others.

“There are extensive double yellow lines along the southern side of the road, starting at the entrance from St Margaret’s Road and at the junctions of Lanesborough Close and Square.

“The need for double yellow lines on the junctions is apparent and Fingal County Council is in full agreement with regard to the necessity of double yellow lines at these locations.

“A 7.5m carriageway can accommodate parking along one side whilst maintaining free-flow, two-way traffic in most cases without representing a traffic hazard. In this context, some parking could be considered

(removal of double yellow lines required) along the straight stretch of Lanesborough Road on the south side.

“In order to maintain consistency the introduction of double yellow lines along a portion of the road at Lanesborough Court where cars are parking on both sides close to the bend would be of benefit.

“This would be subject to consultation with residents and An Garda Siochana.”

M e a nw h i l e i n S t Columba’s Estate, a preliminary investigation has been carried out and some illegal parking was noted (primarily vehicles partially mounted on the footpath).

“No particular difficul-

ties were observed which gave rise to concerns regarding obstruction of traffic or obstruction of driveways/access to dwellings within the St Columba’s Heights or Rathbeale Rise area of the Estate. Off-road parking is available to the majority of the residents.

“A significant level of on-road parking was occurring on St Columba’s Rise adjacent to the green space which effectively reduced the road carriageway to a single lane over this section.

“The Traffic Section will carry out a more detailed examination on the parking pattern on this section of St Columba’s Rise, including at school times, and a further report will issue,” the council said.

16 February 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 5

6 SWORDS GAZETTE 16 February 2012

HOUSEHOLD

Challenge: Facts and fiction with Professor Pratchett

Charge can be paid in variety of ways

THE new household charge can be paid in a variety of different ways, Fingal County Council said last week.

Fianna Fail councillor, Darragh Butler asked the council how Fingal residents can pay the new Government charge if they do not have internet access, which, he said, is a particular concern for senior citizens who have not been given an exemption.

“T he council will accept registration forms and receipt cash payments for the €100 household charge at our offices in Swords and Blanchardstown. We will also accept completed registration forms with cheque payments, postal orders, bank drafts, credit and debit card details and will forward all forms to the Household Charge Bureau.

“Registration forms are widely available at our offices, at all public libraries and at Citizen Advice Bureaus. Completed forms and payments (as specified on the form) can also be forwarded directly to the Household Charge Bureau at PO Box 12168, Dublin,” the council said.

LOCAL MATTERS SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS

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STUDENTS from St Joseph’s Secondary School in Rush met with acclaimed science fiction author, Terry Pratchett as part of the Trinity Access Programme (TAP). The students attended the “Unseen University Challenge” in the Biomedical Centre, Trinity College on Monday, February 6. The challenge was staff versus students and the subject was of course, the novels of Terry Pratchett, who also adjudicated.

In an example of “the student teaching the master,” the quiz was won by the students, with quizmaster Terry Pratchett recommending to the staff that they should read more of the author’s work in future.

Afterwards Professor Pratchett took questions from the audience and Rush student, Alex Farrell, stepped in with a question which took the renowned novelist 20 minutes to answer.

Professor Pratchett became the adjunct professor in the school of English in November 2010 and spends some of his time offering master classes in creative writing to post-graduate students, so it is an invaluable opportunity for the secondary school students from Rush to get some advice from the world-renowned novelist.

TRANSPORT: DECISION TO FOLLOW AFTER MEETING WITH COUNCIL

Dublin Bus is looking into adding Knocksedan route I MIMI MURRAY

swords@gazettegroup.com

DUBLIN Bus has agreed to look at adding Knocksedan to its regular bus route, and will return to Fingal County Council with a decision in a few weeks’ time, following a meeting with the council last week.

Fianna Fail Councillor, Darragh Butler, asked the council to make contact with Dublin Bus and Swords Express to see if they will consider adding Knocksedan as a first / last stop to their routes at

the very least when their buses / coaches are passing Knocksedan to / from their respective garages.

“Whilst in the past we have not succeeded in convincing Dublin Bus to add Knocksedan to their regular bus route, at least if we could have Knocksedan added to the schedule in part at least when buses are returning to / from Harristown,” he said.

“I also raised an issue on behalf of the Swords Senior Citizens regarding a bus service to Beaumont Hospital. Dublin

Bus stated that they don’t have the resources at present, but that they will look at this again in the future when they do.

“Dublin Bus also confirmed that they have applied for the 41x to come home via the Port Tunnel in the evenings and they are optimistic of getting a positive response in the not too distant future.”

Councillor Butler said that this is an important issue and is costing Swords residents an hour out of their lives, five days a week. He says he will

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‘When asked about Portrane and Donabate, and if there were any plans to improve this service, Dublin Bus confirmed that the Portrane route will be rescheduled to maximise usage of the service but there will be no addition to the service’ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

continue to follow up on this issue and added that it would be “absolutely crazy if permission was not granted”.

When asked about Portrane and Donabate, and if there were any plans to improve this service, Dublin Bus con-

firmed that the Portrane route will be rescheduled to maximise usage of the service, but there will be no addition to the service.

Dublin Bus also confirmed that they are looking at a 41a service that will better link the various

parts of Swords to Dublin Airport. Councillor Butler said that this will be most welcome to Swords residents going to and from the airport, but, in particular, would be great news for the hundreds of airport employees who live in Swords.

16 February 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 7

8 SWORDS GAZETTE 16 February 2012

EVENT Getting PR Through Social Media, a networking event

Barry Gargan, Absolute Office Limited, and Austin Byrne, Irish Spray foam

Top tips to get some PR HERE was plenty of interest in the latest networking event organised by Fingal County Enterprise Board through the Fingal Business Network. The event entitled, Getting PR Through Social Media, was held in the Clarion Hotel, Dublin Airport.

Over 200 Fingal-based companies attended the event which aimed to provide guests with the forum and opportunity to network with other small business owners based in the Fingal area. The presentation on the night was followed by a hands-on demonstration of how to use social media to deliver more effective networking.

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Yvonne Whelan, Community Matters; Don Earley, Web Direct and Vera Lee

Lisa Murphy, Landscape Restoration Design, and Mary Simons, Peter’s Play Centre, Balbriggan

Colm Heaney, Easy Pen; Walter Hendrickx, DigiSafe, and Damien Heaney, Easy Pen

Frank Manning, FJM Associates and Gerry McColgan, Producer

Breda Lattimore, Bizzy B’s and Margaret Fox, Tuniper Roger Harford and Robbie Burn, Essence Bistro, Swords

Pre-school

16 February 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 9

organised by Fingal County Enterprise Board

Jim McGiven, Canada Life and Michael Gibbons, Suzanne Colgan, NetSpeed; Agata Logowska, Green Candle and Maeve Ferris

Combined Business Media

Andrea Cawley, Metro Hotel and Louise McClean, City North Hotel

Louise McClean, City North Hotel and Andrea Molloy,

Oisin Geoghegan, CEO of Fingal County Enteprise Board; John Lennon, Topstat Ltd;

Clarion Hotel

Cathy Lennon, Topstat Ltd and Ross McMahon, Crossway Foods Ltd

Catherine and Kevin O’Brien, Carry Out Off-Licence

10 SWORDS GAZETTE 16 February 2012

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ASHTON BROC: ILLEGAL DUMPING COMPLAINTS

Estate to be monitored

ASHTON Broc estate is to be monitored, and any issues of illegal dumping will be investigated by Fingal County Council.

A number of complaints were received over the Christmas period about dumping and littering in the general Ashton Broc area, and, in particular, on an unopened roadway.

As a result of these reports on Tuesday, January 10, Ashton Broc was inspected by a Waste Enforcement Officer who found it to be exceptionally clean, with no obvious evidence of littering or fly-tipping. The Litter Warden for the area also inspected the estate, on three occasions from January 11 to January 18, 2012, and found no significant issue in respect of littering.

“Arrangements are being made to make contact with a representative

of the residents to meet on site in case our inspections have been focused on the wrong area,” the council said.

“The estate will be monitored and any issues of illegal dumping will be investigated and, where evidence is found, fines will be issued. The Inspectorate Division receives approx 2,000 complaints each year in respect of littering and all complaints are investigated. Residents have been asked to report any incidents of illegal dumping to the Inspectorate Division and the litter warden will investigate.

“In respect of the unopened roadway, the Inspectorate Division is awaiting details from land registry as to the ownership of the land.

On receipt of this request enforcement action will be taken,” the council said.

A proud moment: Swords woman is conferred CONGRATULATIONS to Sheena Murphy who was conferred with a Bachelor of Sciences (Hons) in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science from Dublin City University recently.

Sheena celebrated the momentous occasion with her family, including parents, Bernard and Maureen, and brother, Shane (above). Sheena is from Windmill Avenue in Swords.

SCHEME: EARLY RETIREMENT TAKES ITS TOLL

Huge blow as local council loses 39 staff this month I MIMI MURRAY

swords@gazettegroup.com

THE loss of 39 staff in Fingal County Council before the end of the month is set to be a huge blow to the local authority.

The public sector staff are due to leave the council before the Government’s deadline for those wishing to take early retirement, on February 29.

C o u n t y M a n a g e r, David O’Connor said they have put plans in place in order to make the council as resilient as possible when these people leave. However, he did say there will be problems, and the council will find themselves with gaps.

February 1 was the closing date for applications for the Government’s early retirement scheme, and 39 staff took the deal, which will mean

they can retire early, on pensions based on their pre-pay cut salaries.

“It would have been my preference to list all 39, but it is not my choice to do so as a number of them do not want it known, they just want to slip out the door because the retirement option is being taken very much against their own judgement.

“Though they would prefer to continue working, it is so significantly against their financial interest, they have no choice but to retire.

“Some of those would be very well-known to councillors, especially people delivering local services. We didn’t have to put any implementation teams in place in order to deal with this because we put our implementation plans in place about 2.5 years ago and restructured the organisation

in order to try to make it as resilient as possible in dealing with the kind of changes we will have.

“That’s not to say we won’t have problems, and we won’t find ourselves with gaps, and the institutional memory that will leave with them, but we will deal with it,” O’Connor said.

Socialist Councillor Ruth Coppinger said: “The idea of taking out such experience from the public sector at such close proximity… was proving to be an absolute disaster for public services.”

She said that these are people who have a huge wealth of experience and knowledge who have basically had a “gun put to their heads”.

One high-profile loss is the head of Finance, Pat Keane. All parties paid tribute to the man whose legacy is that he never once went into the

red whilst being at the helm in Fingal’s finance department, something the county manager said is virtually unheard of.

“Anyone who looks at a recent history of banking would thank us for not availing of that (overdraft) service,” he said. He said Pat Keane’s catchphrase was: “If you don’t take money in, you can’t spend it out.”

Mayor of Fingal, Gerry McGuire, said Keane was an astute and prudent manager, but he also had a human side to him and was mischievous.

“W hen we invited the Dublin team out, strangely, a green and gold flag got under the Sam Maguire and all one had to do was throw an eye in Pat’s direction and you could see the mischievous grin. He will be sadly missed and it was a pleasure working with him.”

16 February 2012 GAZETTE 11

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GOT A STORY? WE WANT TO KNOW!

Water look: Fair to make a big splash THIS bridal model couldn’t

Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 or email news@gazettegroup.com

hide her delight at testing the waters of the luxurious pool at the four-star Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel in Killiney – just one of the attractive features that the hotel is highlighting at its upcoming wedding fair on Sunday afternoon, February 19.

The Castle Hotel’s wedding fair promises to make quite a splash with attending couples planning for their big day, with a complimentary glass of champagne to help put those attending in the mood, while the hotel’s wedding fair will be on hand to run through the hotel’s many fine features, including its banquet suite and fine views over Dublin Bay.

APPEAL: INFORMATION EVENING TO HELP SUPPORT CHARITY

Irish Guide Dogs are looking for volunteers IRISH Guide Dogs for the Blind is calling on Dublin north community members to “Get Going for Guide Dogs” and volunteer in 2012.

The national charity is hosting a volunteer information evening at Croke Park Hotel at 8pm on Tuesday, February 21, to highlight the many ways that volunteers can get involved to help support their work.

Irish Guide Dogs is on a national drive to find volunteers willing and

able to help.

More than 80% of the organisation’s income is raised through voluntary donations, and all services for people living with sight loss or autism are offered free of charge.

Guide dog owners, Tom and Breege O’Neill, from Balbriggan, have been supporting Irish Guide Dogs for more than 30 years.

They know first-hand the life-changing impact a guide dog makes, and

have worked tirelessly for many years to help fundraise so that more people can avail of the organisation’s services.

Tom says: “Without fundraising volunteers, Breege and I would not have the mobility and freedom we currently enjoy through our guide dogs.

“In the last few years, Irish Guide Dogs has needed to do more with fewer resources. Fundraising, in particular, is an area needing additional support.

“We’re hoping that the information evenings will

Guide dog owner Tom O’Neill is pictured with Santa Sabina, Sutton, students during his educational school visit about the work of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind

highlight the value of the organisation’s work, and inspire more people to

support it.”

Nick Palmer, director, Kingston Technology International, has been an active fundraiser for Irish Guide Dogs for more than ten years, and says it’s his love of dogs that got him initially started.

An active volunteer for the charity’s Balbriggan Branch, Nick says: “I like to describe Irish Guide Dogs as a ‘feel-good’ charity, because you get to see the positive outcomes of your efforts as a volunteer.

To find out more, call Finbarr Roche at 1850 506 300, e-mail finbarr@ guidedogs.ie, or see www. guidedogs.ie.

16 February 2012 GAZETTE 13

CHARITY Raising vital funds for Suas programme

Face-painting fun for St Patrick’s Day Ireland, India and Kenya.

In Ireland, Suas runs the Bridge 2 College programme, which assists children in designated disadvantaged secondlevel school areas in reaching third level.

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‘Last year in Kenya, Suas was responsible for training 183 teachers ’ --------------------------

Suas provides an interactive third-level learning experience for these children and helps to focus their aims for the future.

L e av i n g C e r t i f i c a t e results have improved due to involvement with this course, as the stu-

dents learn about college life and aim to achieve the best results in order to get there.

Last year in Kenya, Suas was responsible for training 183 teachers and played a vital hand in setting up and strategically effecting new educational initiatives in India and Kenya.

Simple

Simple, but crucial, things, like the electrification of classrooms, also falls under Suas’ sphere of activity.

To help Suas to continue their sterling educational work here in Ireland and abroad, support their Saint Patrick’s Day Fundraising Campaign this year by volunteering or donating what you can.

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S UA S E d u c a t i o n a l Development is holding its annual St Patrick’s Day face-painting to help raise funds for vital educational programmes at home and abroad.

Hundreds of volunteers help out every year in Dublin, Cork and Galway.

Suas is seeking the help of the public again this year.

So, if you want to take up the brush and facepaint for the charity, organise something different, or just help out in general, now is your chance.

Simply log onto www.

Suas.ie, email: info@suas. ie or phone: +353 1 662 1400 and volunteer in your area.

Suas targets underfunded communities in

Oh, MINI! A look at one of the cleanest car brands in Ireland

Rose of Tralee, Clare Kambamettu, at the launch of the Suas Shamrocks for Schools campaign with the Suas Shamrock, Shay Coughlan

MOTORIING PAGE 20

14 GAZETTE 16 February 2012

By Laura Webb

GazetteBEAUTY BEAUTY

Aging is toast with Ziaja Rose Butter HERE is a time in our life when we have to face the inevitable – we are getting older – but that doesn’t mean we can’t age gracefully and fight back against unwanted wrinkles.

A new range of anti-aging face care for woman in their 30s and older vows to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Ziaja Rose Butter is a derivative of rose oil, which contains higher quantities of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Here comes the science – these skin omegas are important nutrients that stimulate collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid (the skin’s very own natural plumper) and, together, they help to maintain skin firmness and elasticity.

Many women, from the age of 30, begin to notice fine lines and wrinkles appearing, and that’s all down to the reduction of collagen and elastin.

The key to tackling the first signs of ageing is incorporating collagen and elastin with supporting ingredi-

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Ziaja Rose Butter Moisturising Day

Ziaja Rose Butter Skin-Firming Night

Ziaja Rose Butter Micro Peeling –

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Cream – €6.99

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ents into daily routines, and regular exfoliation with a gentle scrub or athome peel.

The Ziaja rose butter range uses ECO-certified ingredients, and its floral scent is designed to give skin a great sensual experience.

What’s great about this range is that it doesn’t have to break the bank, with the full range available under €25.

ing film of moisture that restores the skin’s natural protective barrier.

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and hyaluronic production – plumping the skin from within, helping to visibly reduce lines and wrinkles.

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Ziaja Rose Butter Water – €4.50

This range is available at McCabes pharmacies and independent pharmacies nationwide. Shop online at www.originalbeauty.ie.

16 February 2012 GAZETTE 15

16 GAZETTE 16 February 2012

GazetteMUSIC MUSIC Time for a spring clean in your music collection I DEE WOODS

LIVE REVIEW: A NIGHT OF SUBLIME MAGIC AT THE SUGAR CLUB

Sweetness and soul I JESSICA MAILE

I CAN’T believe it’s the middle of February already. And although it may not feel like it, spring has sprung and what better time for a spring clean...of your music collection?

We all have a favourite band or artists who we won’t hear a word against. We collect their albums and re-issues and wear their logo emblazoned across a t-shirt, while simultaneously guffawing at a friend who records Glee every week (I’m not really sure why we’re still friends, actually).

Working in a station that plays classic rock, it’s striking how strongly our listeners feel about the music we play and what it means to them. One listener will say: “If it doesn’t have Peter Green in it, then it just isn’t Fleetwood Mac,” while another will name Rumours as their favourite album.

Everyone’s got an opinion, which is what makes it interesting, but if working in a station where listeners are so passionate has taught me nothing else, it’s that all music has something to offer.

Try it yourself: Venture out of the Rock section in the music shop or borrow that album your mate keeps banging on about. You could be pleasantly surprised.

I HAVE literally thousands of songs on my iPod, but I have been left wanting for something new, something fresh and definitely something real.

Since the beginning of 2012, I have been searching for some real voices, something that rings strong and true.

Voices that sound good in the recording studio, as well as live, and whichare not manufactured for a vapid TV talent show.

Artists that pay their dues in small venues and work their way to the big time because they can actually perform.

Luckily for me, I made my way to The Sugar Club last weekend, where

I was priveleged to see The Staves and Michael Kiwanuka.

The Staves — Emily, Jessica, and Camilla Staveley-Taylor — are sisters from Watford, England, blessed with amazing voices. They weave intoxicating three-part harmonies through songs about love and longing with a folk flair.

Songs like Mexico and I Try, from their debut EP are enough to make anyone melt, as their voices cast their spell.

The Staves have a purity all of their own and are a joy to listen to.

After being completely delighted with The Staves, I was introduced to Michael Kiwanuka.

Michael is a 23-yearold Londoner who has

Michael Kiwanuka brought the soul to the Sugar Club last week

soul without compare.

He has been compared to the likes of Bill Withers and Otis Redding, which you can definitely hear in the richness of his voice, especially in

songs like Tell Me a Tale and Home Again.

Although his style is not exactly original, and has been labelled retro-soul, his strong but soothing voice captures

the spirit of the music of the past and brings it up to date with his poetic lyrics and catchy melodies. His album, Home Again, will be available March 12.

WE HAVE 146,000* READERS EACH WEEK *based on standard industry measurements

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OUR READERS CALL 60 10 240

16 February 2012 GAZETTE 17

GazettePETS PETS

Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA

FACTS: OLDER CATS HAVE A FULLY-FORMED PERSONALITY MAKING THEM BETTER PETS

Feline like you need some company?

ARE you looking for the puurrrfect partner?

Feline like you need someone to keep you company; to be kind to you on those lovely spring evenings?

A companion who adores belly rubs and enjoys squeaky toys?

Pawtastic! We’ve got the cutest companions for you, right here at Ireland’s oldest and largest animal rescue shelter.

Why not drop up and see for yourself, because the Dublin SPCA animal shelter is bracing itself for the onset of kitten season and would dearly like to re-home some special older felines in order that they can free up space in preparation for orphaned kittens.

Interested? Then read on…

• Annette is a sevenyear-old domestic shorthaired tabby and white female who’s looking for a quiet, relaxed life partner.

This independent woman doesn’t like fuss and, although she may appear to be shy, interested parties will soon realise Annette loves to play and, most of all, looks forward to spring evenings spent huddled by the fire.

If you can provide Annette with candle-lit suppers, we guarantee, she’ll soon be eating out

of your hand.

• Angel and Gucci – A couple of swells, these wise guys are strictly exclusive and must be re-homed together.

Why? Because the brothers refuse to be separated; besides Angel is only 10 months and needs big bro Gucci (4) to keep him in check.

T hese magnificent moggies would ideally be suited to a family with older children who can provide them with a stimulating, fun environment.

• Fatboy and Sullivan – Two siblings who like to live it large like the Lord and Lady of the manor.

You see, the pair, who are the best of buddies, are like a comedy duo with fun and f lir tatious Sullivan playing the adventuress who likes to drink from the tap before exploring her territory, while Mr Smooth, Fatboy, is a laid back moggy who gets his kicks snuggling under the duvet and purring for cuddles.

An older cat’s personality is fully-formed making them far less likely to provide any nasty surprises to their adoptive family in the future.

So, what the new owners sees, is what the new owner gets.

If properly intro duced, the older cat is less likely to upset an already resident cat or dog than a rambunctious kitten.

Older cats are usually litter- and scratch-post trained so their owners don’t have the hassle of

teaching them, there are fewer messes to clean up and the furniture is more likely to be left intact.

For more

information log onto www.dspca.ie or email me miriam.kerins@dspca.ie

The Dublin SPCA has a whole range of cute companions for you

18 GAZETTE 16 February 2012

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS RoadSigns Road Signs

PUNTO VAN AND AMAROK WIN BIG WITH IMWA: THE Fiat Punto Van and Volkswagen Amarok have been named Category Winners of the Continental Irish Van of the Year 2012 title by the Irish Motoring Writers Association (IMWA) Van Jury.

All nine voting members of the IMWA Van Jury took part in the vote. In deciding on these category winners, the jury members took into account such attributes as load capacity, reliability, overall versatility, cost of ownership and drive comfort.

Presenting the awards to Adrian Walsh, Fiat Ireland; and Paul Burke, Volkswagen Ireland, Paddy Murphy, of Continental Tyres said: “In today’s tough commercial vehicle market, these two great vehicles have won the valuable endorsement of the Irish Motoring Writers Association. I am sure that winning this Continental Irish Van of the Year Category Award will be a huge boost for both the Punto Van and Amarok.”

Michael Moroney, chairman of the IMWA van jury, said: “The Continental Irish van category awards are of particular interest to Irish van / commercial drivers and fleet managers, as they highlight the niche models best suited to the particular requirements of the Irish market.”

Brigita Moloney holds up the keys to her new Ford Fiesta presented to her by Dr Senan Mullins, CEO The Care Trust; Mary Kennedy, Care Trust Ambassador, and Eddie Murphy, managing director and chairman, Ford Ireland

Happy winner in Ireland’s largest car giveaway DUBLIN’S Brigita Moloney, a Ballinteer local, was this week announced as the winner of a Ford Fiesta in The Care Trust’s fundraising draw, which, as Ireland’s biggest car giveaway, will see 36 cars up for grabs in 2012.

Picking up the keys for her new car, a delighted Brigita said: “What a way to start 2012, I am absolutely thrilled to win a car as part of The Care Trust draw. I love the sleek and sporty look of the Fiesta

and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel.”

Dr Senan Mullins, CEO of The Care Trust said: “Congratulations to Brigita – we wish her many years of safe and happy motoring. Without the support of Brigita, and thousands of other Irish people, The Care Trust wouldn’t be able to provide funds for its valuable work. Think of it, for a little more than the cost of a cup of coffee per week, our contributors

have the opportunity to win a lovely new Ford Fiesta, or one of many generous cash prizes in each of our 36 draws.”

Clondalkin native Mary Kennedy, The Care Trust Ambassador, was also on hand at the prize draw and had nothing but praise for the work the trust carries out: “With all that The Care Trust does to raise funds, the most incredible part is seeing how many people have been helped – and

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

‘With all that The Care Trust does to raise funds, the most incredible part is seeing how many people have been helped’ --------------------------------------------------------

just how the services and support for children and adults with disabilities have improved.”

Set up more than 50 years ago, The Care Trust fundraises to provide essential funds to the

Central Remedial Clinic (CRC), Rehab and the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital.

The money raised helps fund these organisations in their work with the many thousands of

children and adults with physical, medical or intellectual disabilities, those who are socially disadvantaged and those requiring medical care.

The Care Trust’s prize draws take place three times per month with all winners notified by post.

For €3.50 per week / €15 per month, contributors are eligible for all draws. For more information, see thewwwcaretrust.ie or phone (01) 200 0060.

New Porsche Centre Dublin opens in Dun Laoghaire PORSCHE presence in Ireland steps up a gear this month with the opening of Porsche Centre Dublin, adding new car sales to the existing pre-owned and after-sales business. This positive development is supported by local customer demand for new Porsche models and represents a vote of confidence for

future business in the Irish market.

The new centre expands the existing Porsche Service Centre site on Rochestown Avenue and comes at an exciting time for Porsche enthusiasts in Ireland, following the recent launch of the all-new 911 Carrera, and forthcoming introduction of the new Boxster.

The powerful line-up of sports cars available at Porsche Centre Dublin also includes the mid-engined Cayman coupe, versatile all-wheel drive Cayenne and four-door Panamera Gran Turismo. The Cayenne Diesel and Panamera Diesel models benefit from road tax of €677, thanks to their low

emissions of 189 and 172 g/km CO2 respectively.

Porsche Centre Dublin is located just off exit 16 of the M50 at Rochestown Avenue, Dun Laoghaire. Customers can contact the Centre on 01 235 3375or by email at info@porschedublin.ie

16 February 2012 GAZETTE 19

20 GAZETTE 16 February 2012

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS DRIVING

Proper training not being offered MORE than half of businesses operating vehicle fleets do not offer their employees training on safe, cost-efficient driving a new study has revealed.

According to research, commissioned by fleet management specialists TomTom Business Solutions, 54 per cent of companies have not introduced formal training to improve their employees’ driving style – even in the face of rising fuel prices.

The study discovered that 35% of companies do not even offer their drivers fuel-saving tips, even though 83% believe their staff is guilty of speeding.

“Appropriate driver training can have a significant impact on a fleet’s cost base,” said Giles Margerison, director UK and Ireland for TomTom Business Solutions.

“Heavy acceleration, braking and excessive speed have the biggest negative impact on fuel economy and it is important employees are made aware of the knock-on effects caused by bad driving habits.

“Alongside company-set benchmarks for performance, fleet management tools are a cost-effective way to promote greener, safer, more efficient driving. Globally, our systems account for savings of around €1.5 million each day.”

A further 80% of those questioned believed their drivers were involved in harsh driving practices, but only 27% offered incentives for employees to improve their miles per gallon – and cut costs as a result.

See http://youtube/ aR7IF-OkPTk for advice from TomTom Business Solutions on how to promote greener, safer, drivers by giving them immediate feedback on their performance behind the wheel.

MINI has the lowest average CO2 emission’s (117.1g/km) making it the cleanest brand in Ireland

Another reason to enjoy MINI A

RECENT CO2 survey of Irish new car registrations in 2011

by Motorcheck.ie has revealed MINI to have the lowest average CO2 emission’s (117.1g/km) making MINI the cleanest brand in the land.

Motorcheck.ie CO2 measurement is a true-to-life survey of the 89,000+

vehicles registered in Ireland last year.

Combining this significant achievement with MINI’s competitive pricing, made all the more affordable through MINI Financial Services and low-cost road tax, is it any wonder that January 2012 saw a 100%+ increase in MINI registrations versus the same month last year. The best-selling model, the

MINI First, is currently available for just €299 per month with a €299 deposit*.

The survey was carried out by the car history experts Motorcheck.ie.

Motorcheck.ie provides vehicle history information for any vehicle registered in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK.

See http://www.motorcheck.ie/ blog/mini-is-the-cleanest-car-in-ireland/ * Available through MINI select with MINI Financial Services over 36 months at 10,000km per annum with 3.5% APR. Optional Final Payment (inluding €75 fee) of €8,394.

New Ford B-Max to be revealed in Geneva FORD will throw open the doors to its all-new production-ready B-MAX compact multi-activity vehicle when it is revealed at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March.

Ford president and CEO, Alan Mulally, will be in Geneva to unveil the new B-MAX, which promises to set new standards with its unique design and best-in-class technological features. Its return to Geneva, in full production form, comes just a year after the concept was unveiled at the Geneva show.

According to Stephen

Odell, chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe: “The B-MAX combines an exciting, innovative design, with features that only previously have been found in bigger cars.

“It’s a brand new car that responds to the needs of an increasing number of customers who want much more from their small cars,” he said.

Bringing the B-MAX to production demanded a new approach to door construction, which has resulted in wide-open access for drivers,

passengers and luggage – with the centre pillars integrated into the doors themselves.

The B-MAX also will deliver superior craftsmanship and high-quality materials rarely found on an affordable compact car, together with flexible seating and class-leading load-space.

Ford’s new 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, with its advanced combination of power and efficiency, will be available on the B-MAX, as will Duratorq TDCi diesels.

The Ford B-MAX goes on sale in Europe later this year.

The new B-MAX promises to set new standards with its unique design and best-in-class technological features

16 February 2012 GAZETTE 21

GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS

Supported by AIB

ENTERPRISE: NEW SPONSOR FOR THIRD-LEVEL COMPETITION

A NON-EURO CURRENCY ?

Q – While many commentators say the euro will fail or go to a two-tier system, I know you are still positive about the euro. But if you had to put some of your money abroad, which currency would you invest in, why and what about the Norwegian Krone? Alison – Co Dublin A – I am on record as saying the euro will not fail, nor go into a two-tier system. I do, however, agree with you in the diversification philosophy. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, etc. However, as you saw from the Swiss Franc, too much investment caused the currency to strengthen, exports started to fall and the Swiss gov-

At the announcement of AIB’s sponsorship of the Bolton Trust / DIT Student Enterprise Competition, were Rea O’Neill, chairman, Bolton

ernment intervened and devalued the Franc by 10% - so

Trust; Nick Donnelly, regional director AIB; Paul O’Sullivan, dean of the DIT College of Business and Paudie O’Donnell, DIT

much for safety ! So, the biggest worry is that exchange rate. There is no point in moving it to another currency, whether it be Canadian or Australian dollars, Sterling, US dollars because unless it is a permanent move, you will be repatriating the funds eventually and probably anxious at the rate it will then be. One solution and what I would recommend is a Danish Krone account: - Minimum € 20,000 to open the account - Investment period : 2 years 6 months - Interest rate : 1.25% per annum

AIB teams up with DIT in enterprise awards

- Exit rate is guaranteed to match the entry rate or better (you cannot lose)

STAFF REPORTER

- Covered by the Deposit Protection Scheme (€100,000 per person ) Call or email me for details. This is only available with Danish Krone – if you want Norwegian Krone, you have to take the exchange risk and ask is it worth it ?

CREDIT UNIONS Q – I took out a car loan with my credit union at 6.7% for five years nearly three years ago. I am now in the middle of a contract payment and got a letter to say they are increasing this rate to 8.9%. Can they do this ? Am extremely annoyed, feel cheated and wonder do I have any rights ? Mary – Co Dublin A – I really empathise with you as it does seem unfair.

You are on what is known as a variable rate loan. This gives your credit union the right to increase rates not only as they increase in this country, but when they feel additional margin is required. With the recent events – the Financial Regulator had ordered over 300 of the 409 credit unions to stop paying dividends and interest as both liquidity and bad debts were issues – including the Newbridge Credit Union situation where an outside accountancy firm was appointed by the Central Bank to manage the office. On the bright side, any monies held are safe as they are covered by the Government’s Deposit Protection Scheme up to € 100,000 per person.

Go back to the credit union and renegotiate. If they do not lower the rate to the original rate, ask them to extend the loan so at least you are making the same repayments as before. Extending that loan to six years would DECREASE your repayments by € 8.42 per month !

Good luck with the negotiations.

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

THE Bolton Trust/ DIT Student Enterprise Competition has announced a three-year sponsorship agreement with AIB. The Bolton Trust is an independent voluntary trust, actively committed to assisting people in creating sustainable business.

It was established in 1986 by staff of the Dublin Institute of Technology.

As part of its commitment to encourage and promote new business enterprise in Ireland, the student enterprise competition was set up in 1993.

It is a business plan competition and is open to the 20,000 students of DIT and has been running for 19 years. In that time it has grown to be the largest third-level competition of its kind in Ireland.

The competition promotes innovation and entrepreneurship amongst the students, and encourages them to apply their course work creatively to the

demands of real-life enterprise.

This year is the first year of AIB’s involvement with the competition in a sponsorship role. Sharing a commitment to students and enterprise and innovation, it is an exciting and promising partnership.

N i c k D o n n e l l y, regional director of AIB Dublin South said: “We are delighted to be able to partner such a dynamic and innovative college as DIT, and applaud their work in providing students with the practical skills required for an everchanging workplace.

“In conjunction with DIT, the hard work and dedication of the members of the Bolton Trust provides a platform for potential entrepreneurs to flourish.

“AIB recognises the importance of nurturing this emerging talent and, through our support of the Student Enter prise Competition, would like to encourage the creativity and innovation which is essential for any successful business.”

22 GAZETTE 16 February 2012

GazetteTTRAVEL Travel EXTRA HE year 2012 is Northern Ireland’s time to shine and emerge as an international mustsee tourism destination, according to Howard Hastings, chairman of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB).

Speaking in Dublin last week, Mr Hastings urged people throughout Ireland to head north and play their part in making this a year to remember for Northern Ireland.

“This really is our time and our place to change global perceptions of Northern Ireland and put ourselves firmly on the global tourism map,” said Hastings.

NITB’s new £2 million marketing campaign, spearheaded by a new TV ad highlighting the exciting year ahead, was launched across Ireland in recent weeks, and is proving a big success, according to the board’s market manager (ROI), Fiona Cunningham.

“The reaction to our all-Ireland marketing campaign in the first two weeks has been phenomenal,” Fiona said.

“The new advert is proving to be a huge success, not only on TV but also on YouTube, where it has picked up more than 34,000 views already.

“The opening of the world’s biggest Titanic exhibition in Belfast, and the associated Titanic Belfast Festival, kick-start a remarkable programme of historic events,” she said.

A new website, www. ni2012.com, contains everything visitors need to know about attractions and events in Northern Ireland this year.

For now, we have compiled a breakdown of some must-visit attractions happening in 2012.

T

Scott Wylie-Dob finds a short cut at the launch of GraboneEscapes.ie

GrabOne Escapes sends Dubliners off packing BUDGET-SAVVY travellers in Dublin will be grabbing bargains galore on the new GrabOne Escapes website, www.GrabOneEscapes.ie, which launched last week.

Dubliners can save over 50% off everything from city breaks to scenic retreats, family attractions, romantic getaways, spa breaks, cultural activities and outdoor adventures.

GrabOne Escapes will feature a range of fantastic daily offers for staycations and short breaks in Ireland, along with a selection of international escapes.

The launch comes on the back of the hugely successful deal website, GrabOne.ie, which is already a winner with shoppers from Grafton Street to Dundrum, Temple Bar to Swords (and all across Ireland) who have saved over €6 million in less than a year.

Commenting on their new travel venture, Ruairi Doyle, general manager of GrabOne said: “GrabOne Escapes is a dedicated travel website, working with the best tourism and travel operators to offer outstanding value on breaks throughout the country and further afield.

GrabOne Escapes makes taking a break in Ireland or abroad even more affordable. And it is also a fun way to discover new places you may never have even thought about visiting.”

The launch is well-timed, with a recent survey by the National Consumer Agency indicating 57% of Irish consumers have already signed up to an online discount site, with an estimated 32% of the adult population having made a purchase and travel is, by far, one of the services in most demand.

Clontarf Castle in Dublin, Pillo Hotel in Galway and Irish Landmark Trust with properties across Ireland, are just some of the tourism trade who have already signed up for the initiative.

How does it work? Simply sign up to www.

GrabOneEscapes.ie to view the great deal that’s on offer. If it takes your fancy, click buy and you’re ready for your next trip - all for a fantastic price.

GrabOne Escapes is built on the back of their hugely successful deal website GrabOne. ie which is currently available in Dublin, Cork, Belfast, Galway, Kerry, Limerick and the South East, and has saved Irish consumers over €6 million in less than a year.

Titanic Belfast Festival 2012: Belfast, April-May

A FUSION of international-scale events worthy of the great ship her-

self is planned to mark the centenary of Titanic’s fateful maiden voyage.

From the opening of the multi-million pound Titanic Belfast visitor attraction, through to commemoration services on the 100th anniversary of the ship’s sinking, there will be something for everyone. A range of plays, tours, talks, films and major musical events will all position Belfast as the “home” of Titanic.

Peace One Day concert: Derry-Londonderry, June 21

THE Peace One Day Concert on midsummer’s day will attract massive media attention and the biggest names in music.

It’s one of the kick-off events for the UK-wide London 2012 Festival, the finale of the four-year Cultural Olympiad which complements the sports at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

T his concer t will showcase the iconic new public space at the historic Ebrington site in Derry-Londonderry, which is linked to the city centre via the new Peace Bridge. Massive Attack have already been confirmed to play at the gig, and other acts will be confirmed shortly.

There has never been a better year to discover Northern Ireland

2012 Irish Open: Portrush, June 28 – July 1

THE 2012 Irish Open will be hosted by Royal Portrush Golf Club, bringing the world-class event to the Northern Ireland venue for the first time since 1947. Home-grown golfers Darren Clarke, G r a e m e M c D owe l l and Rory McIlroy have enjoyed recent major successes and have firmly established Northern Ireland as the golfing capital of the world.

Land of Giants: Belfast, June 30

LAND of Giants will celebrate iconic Northern Ireland giants on an epic scale, with a spectacular

show featuring music, acrobatics, pyrotechnics, special effects and a cast and crew of over 500 people, all in front of an audience of 20,000 on Belfast’s newest events space, the Titanic Slipways.

The event takes inspiration from some of the giants found in our local history, literature,

society and landscape – Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver, the legendary Finn McCool, Harland and Wolff’s iconic Samson and Goliath, the ships, Olympic and Titanic, industrial achievements and, of course, the Giant’s Causeway.

Funded by Legacy Trust UK, Land of Giants will be a highlight of the

London 2012 Festival and will play a key role in the lead up to the 2012 Olympic Games.

Peace Camp, by Deborah Warner: July 2012

C R E AT E D b y t h e renowned opera and theatre director, Deborah Warner, in collaboration with actor Fiona Shaw and creative producer

16 February 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 23

Edited by Mimi Murray M

FastTravel A wealth of craft, food and small businesses on show in Meath CRAFTERS Ireland’s hugely popular Meath Craft and Food Fair are a great day out for the whole family, and will be taking place in the Newgrange Hotel, Navan, on February 26 from 12 noon until 5pm.

Visit over 30 of the best crafters, foodies and small businesses in the area, including restaurant-quality curry sauce, wickless candles, the best cakes and biscuits Meath can offer, woodturners, hand made jewellery, the forever living company, plus much much more.

For those who want to exhibit at this event, please contact Scott on 085 28 28 420, or check out www.craftersireland.ie.

and d take k part iin the h cell ebrations to welcome to Northern Ireland yacht crews from around the world.

FLAGS by Hans Peter Kuhn: The Giant’s Causeway, August/ September

THIS is the year the Giant’s Causeway unveils the visitor centre worthy of its giant reputation as a must-see destination.

FLAGS by Hans Peter Kuhn, a London 2012 Festival event, is an installation embedded in the dramatic landscape of the Causeway, creating a new visitor experience, drawing on the natural power of the elements. A series of flags, randomly positioned along the banks of the cliff face, will rotate freely in the wind, creating a flickering pattern of yellow and red set against the backdrop of this spectacular landscape.

Artichoke, this major new living artwork has been co-commissioned

by Derry~Londonderry Culture Company 2013 for the Cultural Olympiad.

Installations will appear simultaneously from dusk until dawn at locations around the coast of the UK and Ireland. These glowing,

murmuring artworks are a poignant exploration of love poetry and a celebration of the extraordinary variety and beauty of our coastline.

Clipper Homecoming Maritime Festival: Derry-Londonderry, July 5-8

THE Clipper Round The World Yacht race will

make its homecoming leg from Nova Scotia to Northern Ireland, arriving in Derry-Londonderry in late June 2012, and welcomed by a four-day maritime festival at the end of the following week to celebrate the visit of the world’s longest race.

This is an opportunity to be inspired by the endeavour of the crew

50th Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s: Belfast, October 19 – November 3

DANCE, music, theatre, visual arts, film, classical and world music will all come to life in many forms during this autumnal event.

This year promises a world of talent on your doorstep, and, in 2012, an extended programme will dramatically increase its visibility and Northern

l d cultural l l offering, ff i Ireland’s including Belfast’s worldclass cultural venues.

For full details on the key events in ni2012, visit www.ni2012.com.

24 SWORDS GAZETTE 16 February 2012

GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT and

GoingOUT PAVILION 01 231 2929 The Glee Experience

STRAIGHT from two sell-out shows at The Olympia Theatre, The Glee Experience is a musical tribute to the smash hit TV show featuring all your favourite characters, songs and storylines.

The workshop is at 3pm and 7pm on Saturday, February 18, with tickets priced €15.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 The Magic of Musical Theatre at The Mill THE Mill Theatre is delighted to present this benefit with some of your favourite performers in a tribute to musical theatre. Guest artistes include West End star Roisin Sullivan, Sandra Oman, Eoin Cannon, The Glencullen and Kilmacud Musical Societies, Garry Mountaine, Jack and Mac, Joe Conlon, Alison Vard Miller and many more make this a truly magical evening.

This performance takes place on February 18 at 8pm.

Admission: €20/€18

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 Eddi Reader CONSTANT touring with her band has created a magical organic chemistry between Eddi and her players. Whilst renowned for her technical vocal ability, it is Eddi’s passion and instinct that combine to ensure she connects emotionally with her audience.

She famously harmonised with Annie Lennox, touring with the Eurythmics, after her time with successful punk outfit Gang of Four. It was the short-lived but warmly remembered Fairground Attraction that really brought Eddi Reader into the limelight though.

February 20 at 8pm. Tickets €20 / €18 conc

Oskar (Thomas Horn) is destined to spend all his inquisitve, highly-focused energy on uncovering his wise father’s (Tom Hanks) last mystery when he discovers a mysterious key following his father’s death in the 9/11 attack in New York. Can Oskar discover the key’s importance?

Highly calculating Despite being a somewhat manipulative tale, the central actors’ performances elevate the film, to great effect I KATE CROWLEY

WITH the aura of Valentine’s Day still lingering, I know that my dear readers are, most likely, expecting me to produce a luvverly film or two for your consideration.

Well, tough – you’ll both have to pick something “rosemantic” yourselves to go and see.

Instead, Nicolas Cage is back with his sequel to Ghost Rider, and, with Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Cage delivers a tour-de-force bravura performance, as – Oh, who am I kidding.

You both know very well that I can’t abide Mr Cage, and so, I’m moving on to something less tragic… …or, well, to something actually much more tragic. We’re now at the point where what’s simply referred to as 9/11 is – just about – acceptable as a plot-driver in films; something that’s far enough back, yet still close to

FILM OF THE WEEK: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close #### (12A) 129 mins Director: Stephen Daldry Starring: Thomas Horn, Tom Hanks. Sandra Bullock, Max von Sydow, John Goodman, the ghost of 9/11

OUR VERDICT: BASED on the best-selling (and highly controversial) book of the same name, this post-9/11 tale can feel pretty manipulative in parts. Still, young newcomer Thomas Horn delivers a knockout performance which rises above the somewhat calculated direction of the film, with his memorable character lifting the entire film by a grade, while Hanks and Bullock also deliver strong, memorable roles.

today, to have resonance with many viewers, yet to almost be comfortably removed from the events of those awful days.

Here, 9/11 is the catalyst for Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close; the film loosely based on the top-selling book of the same name, by Jonathan Safran Foer.

Oskar (Horn) is a bright, talented and inquisitive young boy, drifting through life in New York with his mother (Bullock) since the loss of his father (Hanks) in the World Trade Center attack, where dad had

been at a meeting in one of the Twin Towers, but never made it home.

However, Dad’s never really far away, as much of Oskar’s life continues to be shaped by his decent father’s shadow, with the memories of their life together continuing to shape Oskar’s life.

Finding a mysterious key, Oskar knows – he just knows – that he has to find what it unlocks, somewhere in the city, and thus uncover his Dad’s last secret.

Dad also pops up regularly throughout the film, courtesy of flashbacks,

further reinforcing the family life and father-son relationship that drives Oskar forward in his mysterious quest.

And so, with this mystery key to inspire him, Oskar’s afoot in the big city, off to explore and try and work out what the key unlocks, and where to find such a place.

Whatever about the dangers of a nine-yearold boy wandering New York’s boroughs by himself, Oskar finds that, although the puzzle of finding where Dad’s key belongs could, perhaps, be beyond him, his journey to find its resting place will bring him to lots of other people who have their own 9/11 stories …

Straight off the bat, I should say that Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is certainly not “the” definitive 9/11 film – no doubt it’ll be decades, if at all, before such a film comes to pass – but, in a

somewhat manipulative way, it’s a striking film nonetheless.

Considering that the film’s puppetmaster – or director, Stephen Daldry – has orchestrated a terrific performance from newcomer, young Thomas Horn (with Hanks and Bullock exercising their acting chops a little, too, and with decent turns from the likes of the legendary Max von Sydow, and John Goodman, among others), it’s hard not to feel too bad about having heart strings, err, strung, and being manipulated into caring for Oskar, and the assorted characters he meets.

Despite the very bookish-feeling that underpins it all – and without making any pun or wordplay at all – Horn’s towering performance, and the interesting, if slightly calculated, direction of the film raises it above the bog-standard movies also out this week.

16 February 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 25

NEW MEDIA Bytesandpieces Challenging a Twitter precedent

Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte, is faced with the difficulty in funding RTE as the State’s public service broadcaster, while, at the same time, many citizens now access national and international programming online, rather than watch television

Problem of imposing a broadcast charge SHANE DILLON

TODAY, more than one state broadcaster around the world is wondering what the future holds for their national resource.

Here, Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte, faces some cold facts, regarding the fractures running underneath RTE, and the state broadcaster’s finances, resources and remit.

The population is growing – now up to 4.8 million, as per the latest census – yet RTE continues to face people switching off their television sets and increasingly meeting their entertainment needs through their laptops, smartphones and games consoles instead.

I n c r e a s i n g l y, t h i s means that – for example – people may watch RTE online, even if “online” means sitting on the Luas from Dundrum or Tallaght, via an app on their phone.

Meanwhile, many other

citizens are also tuning in online, or on the move, to a wide range of international broadcasters, such as the BBC, C4, Sky et al, ignoring RTE altogether.

Traditional TV viewing now accounts for an ever-decreasing share of people’s personal time – and decreasing audiences also means further decreasing finances, once advertisers start pulling back from shows, or demanding revised rates.

Finances Minister Rabbitte has to consider the state of RTE’s finances, its public duties as the state broadcaster, and issues of both how to engage with the entire population in a fair and transparent manner – as well as what stick to wave for those with no intention of propping up what is, for many, an irrelevant matter that they feel no connection to.

As such, the Government is still mulling over a new broadcast charge, which, as many read-

ers may know, is being mooted as a possible replacement for the television licence, as a catchall new system to target everyone, and a means to ensure compliance from everyone to support public service broadcasting in the country.

It’s certainly an interesting proposition, on the face of it, as everincreasing numbers have clearly abandoned watching many RTE programmes on an actual television, only to watch these shows online, or via an app, instead.

However, while this issue is still far from the fore of the public consciousness, a number of thorny issues immediately spring to mind – including, for starters, the issue of charging citizens for whatever content they access online.

After all, whatever about people watching RTE online, if an Irish citizen (or resident, say) watches BBC programming online, or America’s

NBC, or China’s CCTV, or Qatar’s Al-Jazeera, or even a multitude of publicly-available content on YouTube – how, then, can the Irish State charge citizens to access internationally-available content that does not originate in the State itself?

When such online programming does not contribute one cent to the Irish purse, it must be asked how Minister Rabbitte, and the Government, expects to charge for such access.

Access This is especially relevant to ask, considering that such individually-selected content is not otherwise available within, or provided by, the Irish State – yet a broadcast charge would, in effect, constitute a tax, by another name, for internet access.

This raises further, interesting points about civil liberties, which I’ll leave for another day, but I cannot help but wonder

if such points are being duly considered.

In addition, I wonder how these international organisations (ranging from the aforementioned BBC to Al-Jazeera et al) would feel about the Irish Government, in effect, making money off their online broadcasts via a broadcast charge.

We can all agree that the State must charge for public service television, and that the Minister has to take steps to streamline revenues in line with the rapidly-changing viewer model, and the continuing decline and fragmentation of audience share in Ireland today.

However, the issue of what, exactly, a possible broadcast charge would constitute, as well as the issue of how to implement it – and then to police it, particularly regarding concerns over, in effect, creating a de-facto tax on internet access – could well be a sleeping dog with quite a bark for this Rabbitte, if awoken ...

MANY readers know how Twitter is being used as an alternative means of communication around the world, with interesting questions emerging about Twitter’s use in the future, by both citizens and authorities alike.

In Britain, Doncaster man Paul Chambers’ legal case continues following his conviction for a January, 2010 Tweet, where he Tweeted to friends and followers that Robin Hood airport (which was closed by heavy snowfall, thus preventing him from travelling to Northern Ireland to see his girlfriend) had a week to reopen, “otherwise I’m blowing the airport sky high!”

However, authorities were not amused, and he was subsequently charged and convicted of causing a menace under the Communications Act 2003, in what is believed to be Britains’ first criminal conviction for the content of a Tweet.

At the time of writing, Chambers’ case was due to go before Britain’s High Court to appeal against his conviction under a number of freedom of expression, and civil liberty grounds, with Chambers having already been given a £1,000 fine and losing his job. It’ll be interesting to see how Chambers’ case concludes.

Ah, for the good old, pre-Twitter days, when one could mutter unlikely threats without a legal precedent being set!

GAZETTE

26 SWORDS GAZETTE 16 February 2012

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GazetteSPORT

DUBLIN ALL-STARS: All the winners from the Dublin Sports Awards: Pages 28-29

TELEVISION: US EXPERIENCE INFORMS INSIGHTFUL PROGRAMME ON NEW YORK SIDE

Setanta to air GAA diaspora documentary sport@gazettegroup.com

THE player drain caused by the recession has been one of the bleaker stories for the GAA in the past few years, with clubs losing stalwarts to Australia, Canada and the US, thinning their ranks.

On the flip side, that drain has been acting as a link to the homeland for many Irish abroad.

It is a connection which Ballinteer man, Cillian O’Chonchur, delicately

helps portray in the documentary, An Exile’s Home in the Bronx, which debuts this week on Setanta.

It follows the fortunes of the 2011 New York side and their struggles to prepare for a Connacht senior football championship date with Roscommon, hoping for a maiden win.

The result did not materialise but, along the journey, O’Chonchur and directors Niall and Steven McCann, amassed over

80 hours of footage from within the camp, with heartfelt, personal interviews with the players.

O’Chonchur, a sports journalist, came up with the original premise whilst on a Fulbright scholarship in New York, and says the story told became very much that of the players and their situations.

“The New York team, itself, would not have any major stars in it. Dan Doona played minor and U-21 for Kerry, and a few

The New York team prepare for their match against Roscommon in the Exiles documentary

of them did similar but didn’t pursue it. One of them sums it up: ‘If football was their main goal, they’d be back in Ireland’,” he told GazetteSport.

“Although it’s based around the game with Roscommon, it hopefully comes across as not a straight, sports documentary but as one which sees these guys having to leave

Ireland for New York while at the same time trying to cling on to their only bit of Irishness.”

O’Conchur – whose brother Padraic lines out for Ballinteer St John’s senior footballers – had initially looked at making the documentary in 2010, centring on the American side’s tussle with Galway.

He and another Irish

masters’ student at New York University initially put together a piece for a college television project, building a rapport with the players and team management and approached Setanta with a view to broadcasting it.

They backed it and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland came through with funding for the

project in March of 2011.

“I came back to Ireland in May [2010] and started writing up a treatment and then found out last March we got the funding so, from then until two weeks ago, it was pretty much all I eat, dreamed and slept. There’s no better way to learn something than doing everything yourself.”

28 SWORDS GAZETTE 16 February 2012

GazetteSport Sport

Insaka FC’s James Igwilo and coach Uby Ufoh

Sports Awards

Team of the Year - Castleknock’s celebrations begin. Pictures: Geraldine Woods

Every one’s a winner HE third annual Dublin Sports Awards took place recently at the Clarion Hotel Liffey Valley and once again proved to be a true celebration of the best of Dublin’s sporting communities.

The gala night saw Olympic athlete Deirdre Ryan and Somerton club Castleknock GAA rewarded for their achievements in 2011 with the Sports Person and Sports Team of the Year prizes.

The event will form part of a programme to air on Setanta Sports in the coming weeks, and we will keep you posted as to air dates and times as soon as we have them.

Cricketer George Dockrell and Sarah Sarsfield

T

Fingallians’ Paddy Kelly

Wigan star Conor

for the junior hurlers

Sammon’s father, Hilary

Lucan Sarsfields’ camogie mentors, Thomas Dowling, Mary Rigney and Joe Whyte Swords Celtic’s Vincent McGrath

Camillus and Maura Muldowney representing golfer Sheena McElroy

Deirdre Ryan’s father, PJ

Motor star Gary Thompson talks to Paul Dempsey

16 February 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 29

in association with

FastSport CMH Ballon’s Tomas Ilves and captain Majuydas

Mountview’s Cian McGrath

Hannah Tyrrell

Canoe stars Neil Fleming and Peter Egan

’Rock image wins world recognition AN ICONIC image from the match between Old Belvedere and Blackrock College in the Ulster Bank All-Ireland League Division 1A match at Anglesea Road was awarded the second-place prize in the Sports Singles’ Category at the 55th annual World Press Photo Contest.

Sportsfile snapper Ray McManus’ picture was chosen from over 100,000 entries worldwide.

McManus said: “It’s a huge privilege for both Sportsfile and myself to be honoured on an international stage. This is the third time that we have been awarded for our work at the contest, and underlines the hard work and dedication of the Sportsfile team.”

Paul Dempsey chats to Mick Lynch of Castleknock GAA

Annalise Murphy’s Brian Murphy

brother, Finn

Bohs back depression awareness charity BOHEMIANS showed their support for the Lean on Me depression awareness last Monday night by wearing the Lean On Me logo on their jerseys in their Setanta Cup match against Portadown.

Bohemians are currently without a long-term shirt sponsor and are using the opportunity to promote the campaign, which is supported by Lundbeck and Aware.

The Professional Footballers’Association of Ireland (PFAI) and the

Dublin footballer Kevin Nolan with Lorna Atkinson, Paul Ryan

Ryan O’Dwyer

Fiona Waters and Hazel Nestor

Leeanne Royle with dad, David, and mum, Tina, with St Brigid’s Kevin Bonner, Alan Daly and Graham Norton

Kim and Mark Maguire

Irish Rugby Union Players’ Association (IRUPA) have also announced their partnership with the depression awareness campaign.

General secretary of the PFAI, Stephen McGuinness, said: “The PFAI have come on board with the Lean On Me campaign to try and encourage our members and the wider public, to open up and talk to someone if they think they might be struggling with symptoms of depression.”

For more information, log on to www.leanonme.net, or contact the Aware loCall helpline at 1800 303 302.

30 SWORDS GAZETTE 16 February 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

Stanley and Duffy score top keeps Celts in cup SWORDS Celtic are still alive and kicking in two national SFAI Cups after their U-12 side advanced to the last 16 of the competition with a 2-1 victory over Dungloe Town.

Celtic won the game by 2-1 with the goals scored by Karl Stanley, pictured above, and Aaron Duffy.

Reward for the win is a home tie against the winners of the game between Killinardish Coachford, from Cork, and Templemore.

With their U-16 side preparing for a final 32 battle against Mervue United, it sees the club well advanced in competitions which started off with over 250 entrants taking part in the first round.

Swords Manor were undone in the latter competition when they fell to Real Tubber but they had enjoyed an impressive run, getting results against Navan’s Torro United 3-1 in the third round after prior results against Kilbarrack United and Johnstown.

Celtic, meanwhile, enjoyed a decent weekend though a number of fixtures fell foul of the wet conditions.

All three of their home games survived went ahead with good results being the outcome in each case.

The Under-11 Premier team kicked off first against visiting Baldoyle. Celtic went ahead in the first half when a Ciaran Daly corner ended up in the net directly from the kick.

Jason Dignam made sure of the three points with his second-half strike - the win jumping the team to third position in the league.

On the same pitch, the Under-11D team were next up playing St Ita’s. Celtic were unlucky to go a goal down but a perfectly placed shot from Danny Delaney levelled the sides before Celtic again fell behind.

When defeat looked the most likely result Luke Jordan rescued the team with a lastminute goal to draw the game at two all.

The only other home game of the day ended in a draw when the Under 14 DDSL team scored a late equaliser against ten-man Drogheda Boys, 4-4 the final score.

CYCLING: FIRST MAJOR CYCLING SHOW SET TO SADDLE UP

Andrew Hudson from Dundrum with racing legend Sean Lally share a joke at the launch of the Irish Cycling Show

Lally the epitome of cycling I sport@gazettegroup.com

SWORDS cycling club legend Sean Lally was on hand to promote the first-ever Irish cycling show, which is set to be held in the RDS on May 19 and 20.

Now 70, Lally has been cycling all his life and admits he “doesn’t know any different” and will continue on as long as he can.

“I’m still racing and did 70 miles yesterday.

There’s a group of us who go out every Thursday and the weekends as well,” he told the Gazette at the launch of the show last Friday.

It is a sport which he still enjoys immensely, having started at age 14, and was hooked ever since. “ My i n t r o d u c t i o n started off youth hostelling, as lots of us did way back when. We went all over the place, to Wicklow, Kilkenny and Tipperary; places like that.

From there, I got into racing and got the bug from there.

“I didn’t know much about racing until I was 18 when I got involved in the club scene and, after that, I didn’t look back.

I’m originally from what was a fairly deprived housing estate in those

Young Ravens lead out the Dubs: Croker duty for Fingal duo FINGAL Ravens pair, Tadhg Daly and

Cathal Kettle, had the privilege of leading out the Dublin senior football team as mascots last Saturday night in Croke Park when the Dubs returned to football league action for the first time since winning the All-Ireland title last September.

Tadgh and Cathal wore the alternative jerseys Dublin togged out in for the match, in support of the Survive or Suicide charity.

days. Being able to get away at the weekends and the fresh air, and just getting to see everything, generally was fantastic.”

He has since become a member of Swords and has had a glittering career on the international stage and still lines out regularly in competitive action in IVCA competitions.

Asked if he thought it might be time to give up the saddle, he quickly replied: “Sure, why would I? I’m fit, healthy and still competitive in age-group racing. It’s a sport for life!”

The many benefits of cycling have led to

a focus on the sport at government level. A report by the Irish Bicycle Business Association (IBBA) shows that the Irish Cycling Economy is valued at €138.68 million following the introduction of the Cycle to Work Scheme in 2009.

Junior Minister Alan Kelly is also said to be developing the 2009 National Cycle Policy Framework with a view to making cycling more accessible for people as a nation and also for tourists.

Meanwhile the opportunities in cycling tourism, environment and health are all rea-

sons why cycling is fast becoming Ireland’s hottest and fastest-growing sport.

Event organiser, Hugh Bonner, said: “The Irish Cycling Show will feature exhibitors from every facet of cycling and related industry, including cycle retailers and distributors, and there will also be emphasis on general feature attractions to entertain the whole family.”

For more information on the Irish Cycling Show, log on to www. irishcyclingshow.ie or find them on facebook or follow @IrishCycleShow on twitter.

16 February 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 31

in association with

DUBLIN GAA: SENIOR SIDES RETURN TO LEAGUE

CLUB NOTICEBOARD FINGALLIANS THE car draw is in its final month.

sentatives for the GAA talent com-

There will be an updated progress

petition, Scor na bpaisti. It will be

table again this week on email and

held at St Peregrine’s GAA club on

also in the club bar. Members are

Saturday, February 25. The catego-

asked to submitted their sold tick-

ries include ceile dance, solo singing,

ets as soon as possible.

instrumental music, ballad group,

Unfortunately, Padraig Durkan,

storytelling, novelty act, team quiz

our current GPO will be leaving us.

and set dancing. Contact Liam on

Padraig recently applied, and was

086 381 4422 for further informa-

successful in being accepted, for

tion.

the primary school teacher training

The club will again take part in the

course. Our loss is the children of

Swords St Patrick’s Day Parade on

Ireland’s gain. We would like to wish

March 17.

Padraig the very best and thank him

Sarah Murray collected gold at of

for all his great work over the last

the Leinster Indoor Championships

few years.

at Nenagh, Co Tipperary, last Sun-

Fingallians are looking for repre-

day.

FINGAL RAVENS

Dublin ladies were in ruthless form against Kildare in their first outing of 2012. Pictures: GAAPics.com

Jackies jubilant on return to Division 1 LADIES’ NFL DIVISION 1 Kildare Dublin

0-6 5-18

I sport@gazettegroup.com

FINGALLIANS Fiona Hudson and Amy McGuinness both played their parts when the Dublin ladies’ footballers got their year off to the perfect start, announcing their return to NFL Division One in serious style.

They helped the side run up an emphatic 27-point victory over a hapless Kildare, to get new manager Peter Clarke’s tenure in the hot-seat off to the perfect start.

From the throw-in, Dublin looked like they meant business, with the Kildare goalkeeper making a fine save after just 40 seconds.

This was a sign of things to come, with Niamh McEvoy and Sinead Aherne netting for the Jackies with two goals in the first eight minutes, along with points from Olivia Leonard and Nata-

lia Hyland to build a lead of 2-4 to no score after 15 minutes.

Kildare, to their credit, fought hard and began to win more possession, but with Siobhan McGrath marshalling a well-organised defence, the Lilywhites only managed a point from their possession before Dublin midfielder Goldrick netted the third goal for the Jackies in the 20th minute.

Points from Aherne, Ciara Murphy and Siobhan Woods, left the score 3-8 to 0-1 in favour of Dublin when referee Pat Kehoe blew for half-time.

Kildare started the second half brightly, kicking the first score of the half and began to settle into the game.

Dublin, however, driven from midfield by the elusive Goldrick, rallied again, with points from McEvoy, Hyland and Woods.

Kildare never gave up and kicked four points,

but goals from Leonard and Aherne polished off a fine performance from Dublin, which gets their campaign of to a great start.

Next up, they travel to play in Meath next Sunday.

Meanwhile, on the men’s side, Kilmacud Crokes’ Craig Dias made his senior competitive debut but there was to be no repeat of the Dubs’ victory of last September as they fell 1-14 to 0-11 to Kerry in Croke Park.

The Kingdom dominated the second half of the first round of the Allianz NFL Division 1 clash on Saturday night to give them the spoils over a lacklustre Dublin.

Darran O’Sullivan netted the killer goal 15 minutes from time after top-class build-up play to extend his side’s lead to five points.

It was a rusty start for the Dubs who might have been further down in the final tally had Kerry con-

verted some of their 17 wides.

Early on, Kevin McManamon’s point made it five points each in the 20th minute and the lead was taken when Stephen Cluxton’s ’45 and another effort from Mossie Quinn made it 0-7 to 0-5 at half-time.

But Kerry bossed the second half and Dublin’s cause was also not helped by the sending off of Eamon Fennell in the 67th minutes as the home side’s challenge petered out before the finish.

Dublin face Mayo this Saturday night in Castlebar in their next outing.

WHITE-collar boxing takes place

at 11am; junior A team play Ballymun

on February 17 in the Wright Venue.

Kickhams in Rolestown at 11am; jun-

Tickets are only €20 each, available

ior B team play Colmcilles at 2.30pm

from Declan 086-2673830 or Alan 087-

in Balheary.

2364559.

Club membership for 2012 is now

Well done to Tadhg Daly and Cathal

due, please get your membership

Kettle who both had the privilege of

forms from any committee member

leading out the Dublin football team

or team mentor or they can be down-

as mascots last Saturday night in

loaded from our website, all mem-

Croke Park.

bership must be paid by March, as

Next Sunday, all our adult teams

agreed at the club AGM non-paid up

have league games. Senior team

members (adult and juvenile) will not

play Ballymun Kickhams in Ballymun

be permitted to play after March.

ST COLMCILLE’S COMPETITIVE cup football is back

Club lotto is held every Monday

next Sunday afternoon with a home

night at 10pm, envelopes cost €2

game against Ravens, throw-in at

per line or €5 for three lines. Fur-

2.30pm. All support welcome.

ther details of the new set-up will

Adult football back in full swing

be discussed during these sessions.

with training continuing each Tues-

New players are always welcome. If

day and Thursday at 7.30pm sharp

interested, pop down to the club on

in Balheary.

Tuesday or Thursday at 7.30pm and

2012 membership is now due and

speak to one of the mentors.

letters are been posted over the

The club are seeking support to

coming weeks, in addition forms

help kick start the juvenile section

are available from behind the bar

- any help welcome - if interested

in the clubhouse.

please let Adam know.

ST FINIAN’S THE 2012 season commenced with

teams who achieved their first vic-

matches for our U-12, U-14 and U-16

tories at Gormanston yesterday

footballers. The U-12s were the only

scoring ten goals and three goals

team to record a win but the U-16s

respectively. Our U-12 camogie

did start with a draw.

team also recorded a good wins at

Camogie section registration day takes place next Saturday, Febru-

the Gormanston indoor tournament on Sunday.

ary 11, at 2pm in the club house. All

Yes, it’s true, the Kerry senior

parents and players are invited to

footballers did have a pre-match

attend. Please remember to bring

training session on our pitch in Nev-

your member ship forms . Light

instown on Saturday. The players

refreshments will be served. Men-

needed a pitch to do a bit of stretch-

tors will be on hand to answer any

ing and kicking. Many thanks to all

questions.

the lads who signed autographs and

Well done to our U-10 camogie

posed for pictures.

ALL OF YOUR SWORDS SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31

KICKING ON: Trappatoni launches new local soccer initiative in Fingal area P30

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

YEAR IN REVIEW: Dublin celebrates its sporting heroes P28-29

GazetteSPORT

Catherine Walsh, left, became a world champion last Friday when she claimed the 3km female tandem pursuit title, beating a much-fancied British pair

Walsh conquers the cycling world Swords’ woman hits it big in LA to take home gold and bronze medals from Paracycling World Championship swordssport@gazettegroup.com

SWORDS’ woman Catherine Walsh, riding in tandem with pilot Francine Meehan, produced a stunning performance last Friday to claim gold on the first evening of the 2012 UCI World Paracycling Track Championships at the Home Depot Velodrome in Carson, Los Angeles.

She claimed the 3km Female Tandem Pursuit to beat the British pairing of Aileen McGlynn and Helen Scott by almost three seconds, coming from behind to claim the world title.

Earlier on, in the semi-final, Walsh and Meehan set a new Irish record of 3:37.392 to finish in first place, and book a place in the ride-off for the gold medal in the afternoon’s decisive finals.

The British duo built up almost a second lead by half-way but Catherine and Fran picked up the pace and had almost three seconds to spare when they crossed the line – a

terrific performance that had the stadium on their feet.

And the duo followed up with a bronze medal in the Women’s Match Sprint on Sunday. In the morning’s qualification round, the pair set a new Irish record of 12.259 to leave them in fourth place and secure the last available place in the afternoon’s sprint finals.

Experience The Irish girls were drawn against favourites GB in the first two heats. Walsh and Meehan rode very shrewdly but the experience of the British duo shone through and they took both heats.

This result ensured a “best of three” series against Germany for the bronze medal.

The plan was to lead out and maintain pressure on the straights to prevent the Germans passing.

This worked well in the first heat and the Irish pair triumphed narrowly. Similar tac-

tics were employed in the second heat and by the bell, the Irish pair had pulled away to win comfortably.

That medal was an unexpected bonus and crowned Ireland’s best ever Track World Championships.

In their other event, Walsh and Meehan finished in seventh place in the 1k individual time trial, in a time of 1:13.826.

Ireland finished an impressive seventh in the medal tally out of 31 countries.

The tremendous performances by the squad will likely ensure that Ireland secures its target of at least six places for London 2012.

They returned home with two gold medals, two world champions – Colin Lynch also a winner – as well as a silver and a bronze.

Ireland’s final country ranking points total for the London 2012 Paralympic Games will be known in two weeks time and this will determine the number of Irish Paracyclists competing at the games this summer.