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YOUR COMMUNITY • YOUR PAPER

INSIDE: All you need for your child’s special day P20-21

Football: Fingallians fix on promotion push for 2012 season Page 32

Football: Fingal Ravens denied progress in derby cup tie Page 31

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ......................8 BUSINESS .....................16 MOTORS ....................... 18 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT .. 24-25 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26

February 23, 2012

BOOSTING BUSINESS: Enjoying an

After 6 Networking Evening See Page 8

Over ten thousand reply to plan on drainage I MIMI MURRAY

TECHNICAL and environmental specialists working on the Greater Dublin Drainage Project (GDDP) are considering issues raised by local residents in more than 10,000 submissions received during a recent consultation on the plan, in advance of any further shortlisting of sites.

The GDDP team are currently assessing the nine

potential alternative land parcels identified in north Dublin last October, the two marine outfall locations and the transfer pipeline corridors, against a range of environmental and technical criteria. They hope to identify a smaller number of emerging preferred sites for the new regional wastewater treatment works in the coming months.

Full Story on Page 4

Strike a pose: Local Hip Hop groups impress on TV show LAUREN Masterson, Cathaline Badinas, Roger Bejenaru and Dylan Bennett of local Hip Hop crew, Lil Hustlers, were dancing on air recently when they took part in Sky 1’s Got to Dance competition. Despite not mak-

ing it into the finals of the show, the group, who range in age from 10 to 13, made quite an impression on the judges and show host, Davina McCall.

Picture: Una Williams

Full Story on Page 3

2 SWORDS GAZETTE 23 February 2012

COUNCIL

COUNCIL: ENSURING NEW COLLECTION TIMETABLES

Waiver may be available PEOPLE living in unfinished estates in north Dublin may claim a waiver of the household charge, Fingal County Council said at a recent area committee meeting.

The household charge of €100 was introduced under the Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011. The “liability date” was January 1 (2012) with three months to pay the charge.

“The legislation provides that the owner of a residential property in certain unfinished housing estates as prescribed by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and as set out in the Schedule to the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012, may claim a waiver of the charge. It is important to note that the owner must complete the application form and declaration in order to claim the waiver,” the council said.

Changeover problems are resolved says council

‘Bin issues resolved’

Everything’s coming up roses: Couple get a nice surprise on Valentine’s Day HAPPY COUPLE Carl Tighe and Dana Arcibasova, were among some of the lucky customers Swords Pavilions Shopping Centre management surprised with some

lovely gift bags on Valentine’s Day, which included candles and strawberries from Dunnes Stores, chocolates from Butlers and roses from Arbour Blooms.

RECENT problems that residents have encountered with the changeover of the bin collection from the council to Panda have been resolved, according to Fingal County Council.

Calls have been made for the council to make immediate contact with Panda to ensure that all customers in the Swords and Balbriggan Wards that have transferred from Fingal County Council to Panda have received new collection timetables.

Cllr Darragh Butler (FF), said there appears to be a lot of confusion

in certain areas, including Rolestown and Killsallaghan.

“The initial difficulties Panda encountered in the first week of January, after having taken over the Green Bin service, appear to have been solved.

“The council has raised the issue of the delivery of new calendars to rural customers and understand that all customers should have received calendars by now; if they have not done so they need to ring Panda’s call centre to have one sent to them,” the council said.

23 February 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 3

ENTERTAINMENT Lil Hustlers make it to semi-finals

Local group wows judges on TV show Got To Dance

I MIMI MURRAY swords@gazettegroup.com

LIL Hustlers may not have made it through to the finals of Sky 1’s Got to Dance competition, but they certainly made quite an impression on the judges, as well as show host, Davina McCall.

The Lil Hustlers are a junior, 80s-inspired, hiphop crew, ranging in age from 10 to 13, making them among the youngest performers to make it to the semi-final stages of Got to Dance this year.

Choreographer and owner of Streets Ahead Dance Studio in Cloghran, Tara Treacy, said the kids were very upset to be knocked out in the semifinals but it is onwards and upwards for the dance troupe.

She told the Gazette about the dancer’s journey to England.

“We applied on the net around August time and went to the auditions in the Helix. From there we were shortlisted and went on to the Dome auditions in Kilmainham in October.

“You need two out of three gold stars and the group got three gold stars

The dance group

from all three judges, Ashley Banjo, Kimberly Wyatt and Adam Garcia.

Only 30 acts make the live shows and we were on a shortlist for that. At that stage the judges sit down and go through the audition tapes and they decide.

“I knew the night before that someone was coming to see the group but I didn’t tell them. When Adam Garcia walked in, the kids went into shock and you could hear a pin drop. He launched into a long conversation to keep the kids waiting but when he said they were through to the live shows the kids were bawling.

“We then travelled over to England for the video shots and photos and that was very exciting, getting their hair and make-up done. They also got to meet the presenter, Davina McCall and she was so lovely. She had so much time for the kids, and would come running in with no make-up on and give them all big hugs. She was so downto-earth. They didn’t get to meet any of the other judges except when they were on stage.

“Adam was devastated

when they left the show as he thought our studio was amazing.

“We have had such a big interest from social media and got loads of comments from people saying they couldn’t believe we didn’t get through.

“We have been getting some bookings but it will take a little while to get back to normal for the kids.”

Lil Hustlers are unbeaten on the Irish Competition circuit with titles, including, The All-Ireland Hip Hop Championships 2009-2010, The Irish Hip Hop Masters 2009-2011, The RTE Kazoo Dance fusion Competition and, in 2010, they came third at The World Hip Hop Championships in Las Vegas.

The 80s’ theme for their Got to Dance audition routine was developed

by Treacy, and the Lil Hustlers have become obsessed with the era.

Lil Hustlers come from the same dance school as last year’s semi-finalists, Ghetto Fabulous, and also auditioned last year, but despite receiving three gold stars, they didn’t make it to the live shows.

Kaitlinn Delaney, Amy Delaney, Chloe Simpson and Zacc Milne

LEIXLIP

Water is perfectly safe, says council WATER from the Leixlip Water Treatment Plant is perfectly safe and meets all requirements of the Drinking Water Regulations.

Fianna Fail councillor Darragh Butler asked the council to investigate the lime content of the water supply at Lanesborough.

“The water supply to the Lanesborough area is solely from our Leixlip Water Treatment Plant. The hardness of the Leixlip water is variable in the range 100 to 300mg/l of calcium carbonate with an average of about 200 mg/l of calcium carbonate.

It would be considered mildly hard water,” the council said.

4 SWORDS GAZETTE 23 February 2012

CONSULT Vital new wastewater treatment infrastructure

The Greater Dublin Drainage project will identify a suitable location for vital new wastewater treatment infrastructure in north Dublin; a new regional wastewater treatment works, a marine outfall and an orbital sewer. Pictured reading the submissions are Aoife Lawler, senior executive engineer, Fingal County Council, with Peter O’Reilly, Fingal Co Council and project engineer, Greater Dublin Drainage; Ciarán O’Keeffe, Tobin Engineering and project manager, Greater Dublin Drainage and Jillian Bolton, principal engineer, Jacob’s Engineering

Over 10,000 submissions are made about drainage project I MIMI MURRAY swords@gazettegroup.com

ISSUES local residents raised in more than 10,000 submissions received during the recent consultation for the Greater Dublin Drainage project are being considered by the project’s technical and environmental specialists in advance of any further shortlisting of sites.

The Greater Dublin

Drainage project will identify a suitable location for vital new wastewater treatment infrastructure in north Co Dublin, a new regional wastewater treatment works, a marine outfall and an orbital sewer.

According to Peter O’Reilly, project engineer, Greater Dublin Drainage, among the issues raised during the non-statutory consultation last October and November, are – to

review the need for one regional plant, because of the current economic climate; to review recent population statistics, to ensure the new plant is correctly sized; to consider possible impacts on the environment and coastal waters; to consider possible impacts on the agricultural, horticultural and fishing industries locally and to consider the impact and mitigation of possible odours from the new plant.

The Greater Dublin Drainage Project team are currently assessing the nine potential alternative land parcels identified last October, the two marine outfall locations and the transfer pipeline corridors, against a range of environmental and technical criteria.

They hope to identify a smaller number of emerging preferred sites for the new regional wastewater treatment works in the coming months.

“When a shortlist of sites is announced, Fingal Co Council will hold another round of nonstatutory consultation to give people another

opportunity to make their views known and make further submissions to the project team, before any final decisions are made,” Peter O’Reilly said.

“The project team and the consultants will then conduct a final round of studies, to identify the most suitable locations for the new wastewater treatment works, the orbital sewer and the marine outfall, with an announcement expected possibly towards the end of the year. A full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will assess in full, all potential impacts of the preferred location for each of the three elements; the wastewater treatment works, the marine outfall and the orbital sewer.

“There are four distinct phases involved in selecting the best site for this new wastewater infrastructure and we are now in phase 2,” said Mr O’Reilly said. “Phase 1 involved preliminary screening to identify constraints and the nine land parcels within which we hope to find a location for the new wastewater

treatment works, the new sewer and the new marine outfall.

“Phase 2 now involves us assessing all nine land parcels against a range of environmental and technical criteria to identify a shortlist of sites. The nine land parcels do not stand in isolation. They are being viewed in conjunction with the marine outfall locations and their relative merits and the environmental impacts of pipeline routes, to and from these parcels.

“Phase 3 will involve another opportunity for the public to be consulted on the emerging preferred sites(s), marine outfall location(s) and transfer pipeline corridor(s).

Phase 4 later this year will involve the selection of the preferred site, marine outfall location and transfer pipeline corridors, based on the findings of all the studies and on consideration of the submissions received during all the public consultation.”

The new regional wastewater treatment works is needed to augment the Ringsend regional wastewater treatment

works after 2020 and will be developed in phases.

When it opens, it will be no bigger than a sixth of the size of the Ringsend plant. Even when fully extended, by 2040, the new plant in north Co Dublin will not be more than one-third of the size of the fully extended Ringsend plant.

The regional waste-

water treatment works in north Co Dublin is needed to protect the environment and secure the future economic, commercial, industrial and residential needs of the Greater Dublin Area after 2020.

For more information, Lo Call 1890 44 55 67 or email info@greaterdublindrainage.ie.

The nine areas identified by the Greater Dublin Drainage Project Team and FCC • Annsbrook, approximately 2.5km north-east of Ballyboghil (Ballyboughal) (62 hectares).

• Baldurgan, approximately 1.6km south-east of Ballyboghil (57 ha).

• Cloghran, approximately 2.2km east of Dublin Airport and 3.3km south of Swords (32 ha).

• Clonshagh (Clonshaugh), approximately 2.5km east of Dublin Airport and 1.3km north of Belcamp and Darndale (40 ha).

• Cookstown, approximately 2.5km south-east of Ballyboghil (80 ha).

• Newtowncorduff, approximately 2.2km west of Lusk (43 ha).

• Rathartan, approximately 2 km west of Rush and 3km to the east of Lusk (41 ha).

• Saucerstown, approximately 3.3km north-west of Swords (36 ha).

• Tyrrelstown Little, approximately 2.8km north east of Lusk and 3.6km north-west of Rush (114 ha)

23 February 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 5

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FAS ‘This is a welcome measure for the long-term’

Decision to end training courses to be reviewed I MIMI MURRAY

THE decision to end FAS training courses in Balbriggan is to be reviewed by Minister of State, Ciaran Cannon.

“Last week, I raised this matter with the Minister of State for Training and Skills, Ciaran Cannon, as a topical issue in the Dail chamber to highlight that FAS has continued to reduce training provision in Balbriggan since 2010,

despite having 5,000 people per month signing on the Live Register,” Fine Gael TD, Alan Farrell, said this week.

“FAS have indicated that a recent review of services in Dublin North showed that the courses provided in the Balbriggan area have not achieved critical performance measurements or value for money and therefore were not continued.

“I have been informed by

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‘I intend to ensure that the current withdrawal of training in Balbriggan is a temporary measure’

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the Minister that the FAS centre in Baldoyle, which has the responsibility for Dublin North, is currently undergoing a review to identify training requirements that are in line with labour market

demand.

“This is a welcome measure for the long-term and I look forward to the reform of training courses in the Dublin North area as recommendations are acted upon in due

course.

“However, in light of the current situation in Balbriggan, it was my intention to receive an undertaking from the Minister that he will engage with FAS officials specifically in relation to Balbriggan.

“This has been granted and in the Dail chamber he spoke of his intention to ensure that there will be training provision in Balbriggan in the future and that nobody in

the area, who seeks to have a high-quality and appropriate level of training, will be in any way disadvantaged.

“I intend to ensure that the current withdrawal of training in Balbriggan is a temporary measure and that replacing outdated training courses with new market-driven education will remain on the agenda both within FAS and the Department of Education and Skills.”

A-wear jobs are secured

Late launch: An evening of health checks

A GROUP of international investors has acquired the fashion retail company A-wear, securing all 132 jobs in Dublin.

The store will continue to trade as normal at its eight Dublin stores, including one in Swords, and all its stores across the country following the acquisition by a group of international investors headed by British businessman, Michael Flacks, of Flacks group.

Jim Luby, of McStay Luby, was appointed as receiver to A-wear by previous owners, Hilco, and reached agreement with the international group of investors to sell the business.

The transaction means all 460 full and part-time jobs across the 32 stores in Ireland - 132 of which are in the Dublin stores will be protected.

It also secures the long-term viability of the A-wear business and ensures that shoppers in Dublin can continue to enjoy the A-wear product offering.

Commenting on the transaction, Michael Flacks, president and CEO of Flacks Group said: “This acquisition is a very positive development for A-wear, its employees and customers.

“I have been highly impressed by the strength of the A-wear brand, its excellent standing as a leading fashion retailer in this market and its potential for future growth.”

A LATE-NIGHT health check clinic to facilitate people working long hours has been launched by McCabes pharmacy in Swords. The clinic will open until 11pm every night and offers health checks such as blood pressure, cholesterol, menopause, bone density, diabetes, haemoglobin and ferritin levels and thyroid function. To celebrate the new service, McCabes Pharmacy is holding a Health Check Focus Day on February 24, where customers can avail of a comprehensive in-store health check at a hugely reduced rate. Phone 01 8406555 to make an appointment and for more information. Pictured are supervising pharmacist Marese O’Brien, pharmacy technician Jane Glennon and pharmacy technician Marie-Anne Finn.

COUNCIL: TESTING WATER SAMPLES TO PRODUCE A MAP OF AFFECTED AREAS

Study is being conducted to identify lead piping in region I MIMI MURRAY

A STUDY is currently being conducted by Fingal County Council in order to identify regions which may contain lead pipes.

The council said that they would be taking water samples and testing them for lead and would produce a map identifying the areas affected. These tests are bring done based on the period when the water main was laid.

Socialist Councillor Eugene Coppinger asked the council for a report outlining the areas concerned and what proposals are in place to deal with a replacement plan.

The council said that, for many years, lead was used in the manufacture of small diameter water supply pipes – service pipes.

“This means that, in many properties built prior to the 1960s part, or all, of the service pipe from the watermain in the street to the property, as well as the internal plumbing in buildings may be made of lead.

“Fingal’s drinking water does not contain lead when it leaves the water treatment plants and there are no lead watermains in the Fingal Water Network. Furthermore, the quality of Fingal’s drinking water

is monitored on an ongoing basis and, to date, on the infrequent occasions when a level of lead has been detected at the customer’s tap, the level normally falls far short of the permissible limit.

“Also, where Fingal has carried out watermain replacements, any lead services discovered in the public area were replaced by the council. The owner/occupier of the property was also made aware of the situation and advised to replace any lead pipe in their internal plumbing system. However, any internal work to be done will be at the expense of the property owner/

occupier,” the council said in its report.

Cllr Coppinger said he thought this was “silly”.

“You will bring the new pipe up to property boundary, fill the drain and then advise them they should change the piping from the boundary into the internal.

That seems a little bit silly if you are going to fill a hole up to the wall but leave lead piping from there in,” he said.

The council said it does not own the pipe once it crosses the property boundary. “It is the property of the owner and, therefore, if we were to enter into private property even with the agree-

ment of the owner and replace that service, it would be a huge burden, cost wise, on the council.

It’s not something the DOE fund and it’s not something the council is responsible for.”

Anyone who has concerns about the possibility of lead being present in their supply can take some simple, shortterm precautions: • Do not drink water that has been standing in the pipes for long periods, for example overnight.

In these circumstances, clear the standing water by flushing a toilet or filling a bowl from the kitchen tap. Don’t waste the water; use it on the garden or for something else other than drinking or cooking.

• Do not drink water from the bathroom taps as it may be fed from a storage tank rather than directly off the mains.

• Replace all privately – owned lead piping from the property boundary to the property, and any internal lead piping within the property.

23 February 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 7

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R1

EVENT Business After 6 Networking at the Crowne Plaza Hotel

Kathleen Redmond and Gaye Grehan

Tom Lenahan, John Twomey, Michael Kennedy and Donal Butterly. Pictures: Una Williams

Meet, learn, connect HE Chamber President, Siobhan Moore, welcomed the many members and their guests to the first Business After 6 Networking Evening of 2012 recently at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry. Over 70 business men and women attended this great networking occasion which was a great opportunity to Meet – Learn – Connect – Network with like-minded business people to increase business contacts and receive referrals to grow

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Chamber president, Siobhan Moore, Cllr Gerry McGuire, Mayor of Fingal and Tony Lambert

and improve business.

In the coming year, the Chamber will be organising monthly Business After 6 Networking Evenings as well as a monthly Business Breakfast starting with Dermot O’Leary, chief economist with Goodbody Stockbrokers on Tuesday, February 28 in the Radisson Blu Hotel Dublin Airport. Other speakers will include the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar TD.

Joelene Devine and Tom Lynch

Eileen Timmons, Pat Cussen and Dee Seamus Ryan and Christina Wilson

Whelan

23 February 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 9

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Clarification of Govt plan

Enterprise Board is open for business

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“I WRITE to you in connection with the recent announcement of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs 2012. Included in the new plan is a proposal to dissolve the County and City Enterprise Boards and this announcement has caused some concern among our many clients and affiliated organisations. Since the news broke, we have received a large number of enquiries from businesses and entrepreneurs seeking clarification as to how this decision may affect them.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to share with you what we know and to assure you of our continued commitment to the provision of the highest level of service. I also wish to confirm that we are OPEN for business.

The Government has announced a re-focusing of enterprise support structures, which calls for the establishment of Local Enterprise Offices (One Stop Shops) in each Local Authority area, working with Enterprise Ireland’s new Small Business Unit. The intention is that the County and City Enterprise Boards will migrate into this new structure. As yet, there is very little detail on matters such as reporting responsibilities, levels of autonomy, advisory structures and staffing levels. There has been no mention of changes in the range of services that county and city Enterprise Boards provide by way of business supports and the budget line available.

We feel strongly that the role currently undertaken by our Board of Directors and Evaluation Committee, all undertaken on a voluntary basis and providing much guidance and direction, must be brought into any new system.

The impending changes represent an opportunity to improve the efficiency and efficacy of local service delivery to businesses throughout Ireland. The real challenge will be to avoid creating labyrinthine structures, which, quite frankly, do not deliver a quality service to clients

Heavenly Hendricks: Getting your own red carpet look

and are not an efficient use of limited resources. The new approach needs to eliminate duplication, reduce red tape and introduce synergies into the national enterprise support structure.

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‘The impending changes represent an opportunity to improve the efficiency and efficacy of local service delivery to businesses throughout Ireland’

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In Fingal, I have no doubt that the outcome to this change can be successful, and, by success, I mean better service, greater coordination and joined-up thinking. It is our intention to embrace this change and facilitate a move forward to an exciting future, where entrepreneurs get the right support and conditions to create and grow businesses that will, in turn, create the jobs of the future for our families and citizens.

We promise to keep you informed about progress on the new arrangements and would welcome your input on how the new structures need to operate from your perspective as a cust o m e r and stakeholder.”

Oisin Geoghegan CEO, Fingal County Enterprise Board

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

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OUR READERS

CALL 60 10 240

Oisin Geoghegan, CEO, Fingal County Enterprise Board

BEAUTY PAGE 14

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HEALTH: NATIONWIDE SCHOOL’S CONTEST

GOT A STORY?

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

TELL US ABOUT YOUR LOCAL EVENT, CELEBRATION OR FUNCTION!

Professor Niall Moyna and RTE Radio 1’s John Murray are calling on first-year secondary school students to put themselves forward to have their fitness levels tested by the commonly-used “bleep test” method

Improve kids’ fitness with Beat the Bleep RTE Radio 1’s John Murray Show has teamed up with Dublin City University to challenge 9,000 secondary school students to improve fitness by taking part in a Beat the Bleep competition.

Beat the Bleep was launched on the popular show, last week, by Professor Niall Moyna, head of the School of Health and Human Performance at DCU, and fitness advisor to the Dublin GAA club.

Students from 125 different secondary schools nationwide have been challenged to beat their previously recorded class average fitness levels over the next six weeks.

The class with the best result will be awarded €1,000 towards their school’s physical education programme, and a place for each participating student on a three-day live-in sports and activity camp at DCU. In January, John Mur-

ray and Prof Moyna called on first-year secondary school students to put themselves forward to have their fitness levels tested by the commonlyused “bleep test” method, which involves continuous running between two lines 20m apart in time to recorded beeps.

The student’s score is the level and number of 20m shuttles reached before they were unable to keep up with the “bleep”.

12 GAZETTE 23 February 2012

Gazette Contacts

Block 3A, Mill Bank Business Park, Lucan Tel: 01 6010240 Fax: 01 6010251 Managing Director: Michael McGovern email: mmcgovern@gazettegroup.com Editor: Cormac Curtis email: ccurtis@gazettegroup.com News Editor: Dawn Love email: dlove@gazettegroup.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile email: jmaile@gazettegroup.com Sports Editor: Rob Heigh email: sport@gazettegroup.com Financial Controller: Carly Lynch email: clynch@gazettegroup.com Advertising Production: Anita Ward email: ads@gazettegroup.com Advertising Sales: 01 6010240 email: sales@gazettegroup.com

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

CHARITY Public urged to use books to help

Start a new chapter for St Michael’s House ST MICHAEL’S House, who provide communitybased services for children and adults with an intellectual disability, has this week launched its 2012 Bring A Book, Buy A Book campaign.

RTE presenter Miriam O’Callaghan was on hand at the launch of the campaign to lend her support.

She said that she hoped as many people as possible would become involved.

“I am delighted to support the St Michael’s House Bring A Book, Buy A Book campaign this year.

“Setting up a cam-

paign location in work, at home or in the classroom couldn’t be easier, and is a great way to encourage reading.

“I urge as many people as possible to take part in this great initiative to support St Michael’s House in raising funds to provide essential communitybased services for people with an intellectual disability,” she said.

The campaign asks volunteers to set up campaign locations in their offices, schools, colleges, clubs or homes.

Volunteers contribute their second-hand books, and purchase books donated by their col-

leagues, fellow students, friends or family, at a cost of €2 per book.

The campaign encourages reading for all, and all funds raised will go directly to St Michael’s House.

Inez Bailey, director, National Adult Literacy Agency, said: “Not only does the campaign encourage people to read and share books, but it also raises much-needed funds for St Michael’s House.

“So, if you can’t donate, why not buy your books from one of the many locations around the country, and make a difference with your pur-

chase?” she asked.

Eamonn Fitzgerald, chairman, St Michael’s House, said that the aim this year was to raise more money than last year.

He said: “We are delighted to launch the Bring A Book, Buy A Book campaign. We raised €45,000 last year, and aim to exceed that figure this year.

“We look forward to welcoming back those who have supported the initiative in the past, and we hope to see some new schools, clubs, families and companies taking part this year, too.

“This is a great way for companies to boost

morale, while participating in a worthwhile programme,” said Fitzgerald.

A number of pop-up shops will be set up for the Bring A Book, Buy A Book campaign.

This year, pop-up shops can be found in a number of Dublin city centre locations, including Connolly Station and Grafton Street.

St Michael’s House has also teamed up with Eight Twenty Cabs to provide their customers with free books to celebrate the campaign, while the institution will also be leaving free books in selected Eight Twenty cabs around the city.

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

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OUR READERS CALL 60 10 240

23 February 2012 GAZETTE 13

support a special, nationwide fundraising initiative

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Penn-ing a winner: The story of a fading rockstar Eamon Fitzgerald, chairman, St Michael’s House and RTE broadcaster, Miriam O’Callaghan, were joined by St Michael’s House service users, Ruthanne and Dylan, to help launch the event

Miriam O’Callaghan shares a story with Ruthanne Gallagher and Dylan Campbell

Sarah Mullins, general manager, Eight Twenty Cabs, said: “The drivers have had a great response from their passengers, and we are delighted to be a part of this very worthwhile cause, and it is fantastic to see this campaign growing in support every year.”

The Bring A Book, Buy

a Book campaign was first piloted in 2008, with 15 different locations taking part.

The campaign has since enjoyed growing success, with 140 locations taking part in 2011, and a total of 90,000 books exchanged and €45,000 raised for St Michael’s House.

The campaign will take

place from March 1 to March 8. To register your location and receive a starter pack for the campaign, see the Facebook page at www.facebook. com/stmichaelshouse; visit the website at: www. smh.ie or www.bringabookbuyabook.ie, email: fundraising@smh.ie, or phone 01 884 0200.

ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 24

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SYMPTOMS

Check for signs of diabetes ARE you at risk from diabetes? Staff at Lucan Village Pharmacy are encouraging locals, and all Dubliners, to be aware of the symptoms as part of being more health-aware.

Diabetes results when the body is unable to remove sufficient amounts of glucose from the blood. It is estimated that there are about 146,000 undetected prediabetics in Ireland at present.

Uncontrolled diabetes dramatically increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, and can lead to nerve damage, kidney damage, and damage to the eyes, foot ulcers and risk of infections.

If you suffer from constant thirst, frequent urination or regular infections, visit your local pharmacy for a five-minute glucose test to rule out this disease. With thanks to the staff at Lucan Village Pharmacy

GazetteBEAUTY BEAUTY

By Laura Webb

A heavenly look from Hendricks I LAURA WEBB

THE award ceremony season is about to take a bow for another year when the biggest event, the Oscars, hits the small screen this week, but before it ends, Gazette Beauty looks back at one of the best BAFTA looks, courtesy of Mad Men star, Christina Hendricks.

The American beauty is not seen as one to shy away from a hint of colour, and her amazing pale complexion means everything and anything suits her flawlessly.

Her BAFTA, red-carpet look perfectly complemented her fiery red hair and elegant black gown. Coral gloss and peach blush brought great warmth to her pale skin, and can easily be repeated in the front of a bathroom mirror with a little help from Maybelline.

To get the look, use medium coverage foundation like Dream Satin Liquid by Maybelline (€11.99) for that dewy complexion.

Warm tones on blue or green eyes work wonders on highlighting that colour. Choose complemetary toned shades such as those used in Maybelline’s Eye Studio Quad in Coral Drama (€9.99). The lightest base shade should be used all over the lid, including the inner eye then blend the brighter coral tones into the lash line and socket line. Use Maybelline’s Eye Studio Gel liner (€11.99) to give lashes a full and thick look by adding a flick to the eye, finishing off with the New Falsies Flared mascara (€11.99) on top lashes only.

Cheeks look healthy with a touch of cream blusher, Maybelline’s Dream Touch blusher in Peach (€10.89) is best applied to the apples of your cheek using light criss-cross motions, for a perfectly blended result.

Finish the make-up by adding a splash of colour to lips with Maybelline’s Colour Sensational lipstick in Coral Pop (€10.49); for a stonger colour apply one coat then blot with tissue paper and apply another coat. For added shine, and to make lips appear fuller, use a clear lip gloss on top.

Maybelline Falsies Flared Mascara

Maybelline Dream Touch Blush Peach

Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid

Maybelline Eye Studio Quad Coral Drama

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Mad Men star, Christina Hendricks

23 February 2012 GAZETTE 15

GazettePETS PETS

Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA

THE FACTS: WHEN YOU SHOULD – AND SHOULD NOT – INTERACT WITH KITTENS

Preparing for the annual wave of ‘unwanted’ kittens S I write, we are in the throes or organising, stocking up and preparing for kitten season here at the DSPCA. However, even though it’s still February, and kitten season doesn’t historically start until April, this week, we welcomed our first orphaned kittens of the year – little Starsky and Hutch – through our shelter doors.

Last year, the DSPCA rescued 2,038 cats, some of which were injured strays, felines abandoned by their owners, victims of road traffic accidents, or “surrenders” by members of the public.

Sometimes, a wellmeaning member of the public brings in a litter, assuming they’ve been abandoned by the mother, when she is actually away finding food, or trying to keep humans and other unwelcome prey away from her nest area.

Other rescue cats we see are mothers with newborns, and many orphaned babies who were brought directly into the nursery, where staff work round the clock providing the critical care they so desperately need.

So, where do they all

A

Tending to the needs of another newborn kitten that has ended up in the tender care of the DSPCA

come from?

They are usually the offspring of former domestic cats who’ve been abandoned by their owners, and are now giving birth, flooding our shelter with homeless litters.

As you can imagine, the cats are not the only ones feeling the effects of the stress.

The burden also presents enormous challenges for us here at the DSPCA, with space and finances stretched to the limit and, on top of our usual complement of rescued animals, we are inundated with hundreds of homeless cats.

So, what can readers do to help?

Firstly, the most efficient way to reduce the overwhelming burden of

unwanted cats is to spay or neuter your own cat.

Unaltered cats are driven by hormones, and will sneak outdoors in search of a mate. It’s important to know that mating just the once can start a cycle that will result in thousands of unwanted animals, who are often left to fend for themselves and end up arriving en masse here at the DSPCA. Here are some guidelines to follow if you come across a mother cat and her litter.

Firstly, try to establish if the family is tame or feral.

If the mother cat miaows and responds to you giving her food and water (never offer milk), then she’s most likely tame.

Give the family shelter, but do not separate

mother and kittens – keep them together in a garden shed, downstairs loo, cloakroom or utility room – and ring the DSPCA at 01 – 499 4700 for advice.

If the mother and her kittens hiss and warn you off, then it’s likely they’re feral. If the kittens have opened their eyes fully (this usually occurs at around two weeks), it’s likely the kittens can see, and may try to defend themselves by biting you.

In this case, leave them alone and, again, do not remove kittens from the mother, but ring the DSPCA and we will offer you advice.

It’s important to understand that, even though the family is feral, there is every chance we can tame the kittens, re-home them when they are ready to leave their mother, and spay the mother, so that this situation does not recur.

Either way, it is imperative that you do not ever remove or separate the kittens from their mother – to do so could mean their certain death.

For more

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

16 GAZETTE 23 February 2012

GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS

Supported by AIB

Interview: Andrew Kavanagh, director, Sales and Marketing, Castleknock Hotel & Country Club

TRACKER – PAY OFF OR INVEST ?

Q – MY MORTGAGE has a balance of €175,000.

It is on a current tracker rate of 1.75% (0.75% margin) but, last month, my mother’s probate came through, leaving me with just over €200,000 tax-free. What would you advise - pay off the mortgage, or invest ? Gerry - Kimmage A - While it is very tempting to have your home debt-free, the fact is that you could earn greater net interest on a deposit account than paying mortgage interest.

For example, the best demand deposit account currently is 3.1% - net 2.17%, after deduction of 30% DIRT tax – or 0.42% greater interest. However, you might want the cash flow and, therefore, it still comes down to your annual budget.

On a 25-year capital and interest term, you are paying c. €720 every month – including the capital.

While you would earn €61.25 more interest each month on the deposit than you would be paying the mortgage interest, you still have to pay that capital back monthly.

Paying off the loan entirely eliminates that monthly debt completely, and your cash flow immediately improves. Does this suit you, or have you something better to do with the money ... if you can afford to continue those payments ?

For example: - Invest in your own start-up business - Pay off any debts - Help any family members in trouble - Improve and update your home – iPad, iPhone, 3D tv, etc .

One thing you do have is time. With tracker rates likely to remain low for the next two years, you do not have to make this decision now. Take professional advice.

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.

Enjoying working with the community ANDREW Kavanagh is the director of Sales and Marketing at Castleknock Hotel & Country Club, part of the FBD Hotel group, a role he has held since May, 2008.

Andrew was born and raised in Hartstown, attending St Ciaran’s National School and Hartstown Community School. He has a BA Honours Degree in Marketing Management, and started working in the hospitality industry at CentralR.com, an online travel website, as a sales executive.

He worked his way up to sales manager before opening their new Asia-Pacific office in Sydney as operations manager in June, 2006. Upon his return to Ireland, he worked in sales and marketing roles in both the Morgan Hotel and the Ballymun Plaza Hotel before beginning in Castleknock Hotel & Country Club.

He says: “I really enjoy working with the local community and trying to make the hotel a focal point for the local area. We sponsor teams like Castleknock GAA and Castleknock Celtic, trying to give them as much support as possible, and we’ve been delighted with the progress that both clubs have made with their facilities.”

Andrew has described the hotel’s recent performance as very positive after a difficult couple of years for the Irish hotel industry as a whole. The hotel has seen huge growth in the level of weddings and conferences booked in the past 18 months, and this looks to be continuing with new capital projects in the pipeline and 19 new staff recruited last year.

He currently lives in Clonsilla with his fiancee, Pamela Nolan, who is the HR manager at Castleknock Hotel & Country Club.

Andrew Kanavagh, Castleknock Hotel & Country Club

Q&A Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be?

A: A pilot Q: What was your first job?

A: Packing shelves in Roches’ Stores, Blanchardstown

Q: Have you ever done a

job you loathed?

A: Wondering if our general manager reads your paper ... Never!

Q: What is the best thing about your job?

A: Working in the area I was born and raised in

Q: What part of your working day do you ‘delegate’?

A: Making the tea Q: What’s currently on your desk that shouldn’t be?

A: A can of gin and tonic mixer that’s been there for about 18

months.

Q: What sport do you follow?

A: I get told that I would

late, and promising each morning to change my ways the next night – only to repeat the cycle.

watch two insects running up the wall for sport. I’m a bit of a fanatic.

Q: At the moment, what are you looking forward to?

A: My wedding next

Q: What sport can you play?

A: I like to play golf, soccer, tennis, cricket with Clonee Cricket Club, but I’m not the best.

Q: What habits would you like to lose?

A: Going to bed far too

LOCALMATTERS SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS

week

Q: What music/pictures/movies do you have on your iPod/ iPad? A: Wall Street 2 – I don’t know why, it’s not even that good

Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook?

A: I really like to follow some of the presenters on Newstalk, and some football journalists

Q: What was your last Tweet/status update?

A: Giving out about my team, Liverpool

ADVERTISE WITH THE GAZETTE CALL 60 10 240

Q: Describe your dream meal?

A: Homemade lasagne, fat chips and coleslaw

Q: Where do you enjoy

spending money frivolously?

A: Like many people, I tend to find I like spending frivolously on my mortgage.

Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own?

A: About six or seven Q: What was your worst holiday experience?

A: Playa de Los Americas, Tenerife. A lads’ holiday when I was 19.

Let’s just say, we didn’t live or dine in luxury.

Q: Describe your dream holiday?

A: Road trip around the USA for a couple of months

Q: What would be your dream job?

A: To own my own travel business

Q: What do you plan to do when you retire?

A: Lots of holidays, lots of golf, lots of grandchildren

23 February 2012 GAZETTE 17

18 GAZETTE 23 February 2012

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS

Edited by Cormac Curtis

RoadSigns Road Signs HONDAS GET A HART TO HELP WITH UPGRADES D U BL I N Ho n d a owners can now avail of the company’s latest innovation, HART (Honda Advanced Repair Technology).

This wireless diagnostic technology is now available at all authorised Honda Dealers, and has been designed to assist after-sales technicians in communicating and upgrading software on Honda vehicles in a fast and efficient manner.

HART provides the technicians with a seamless integration of troubleshooting with the on-board vehicle diagnostic systems, not only improving efficiency, but also first-time repair.

While the interior of the Mazda TAKERI (inset) is as stylish and luxurious as one would expect, the company’s real focus for the TAKERI at the 2012 Geneva International Motor Show will be its wealth of notable features, ranging from its clever capture and storing of energy via its regenerative braking system to further improving fuel economy

Takeri – a Mazda marvel T T H E 2 01 2 Geneva International Motor Show Mazda is set to unveil, for the first time, its Mazda TAKERI concept – a next-generation mid-sized saloon featuring Mazda’s unique i-ELOOP regenerative braking technology.

It will be joined onstage by the Mazda CX-5, a new compact crossover SUV equipped with the full range of Mazda’s breakthrough SK YACTIV technology; the MX-5 Special Edition Spring 2012, designed exclusively for the European market, and an array of new technologies and production models.

A

Adapting Mazda’s new KODO – Soul of Motion design theme, the TAKERI concept brings a new level of strength and allure to sedan styling.

The TAKERI offers a taste of the future direction of Mazda’s next-generation CD sedan, having inherited the vision of the Mazda SHINARI, a four-door sports coupe concept showcased last year in Geneva.

Under this exterior, the TAKERI features Mazda’s highly-efficient new SKYACTIV-D diesel engine, with i-stop (idlestop) system, and sixspeed SKYACTIV-Drive automatic transmission.

The TAKERI aims for

the ultimate in energy efficiency without compromising on Mazda’s characteristic “zoomzoom” performance, and is the first car to be equipped with i-ELOOP. Kinetic energy Short for “Intelligent Energy Loop”, i-ELOOP – the company’s first regenerative braking system – uses a unique solution that converts kinetic energy to electricity during deceleration and stores it in an electric double layer capacitor.

The power is used to run the vehicle’s electric components, thereby reducing the engine load

and increasing fuel economy by up to 10%.

This contributes to the Mazda TAKERI’s outstanding fuel economy, which is achieved at no sacrifice to performance or comfort.

The all-new CX-5 is the first production model incorporating Mazda’s new KODO – Soul of Motion design theme, and is also the first built with the full SKYACTIV technology range of engines, transmissions, body and chassis.

The CX-5 thus delivers outstanding performance and responsive, yet predictable, handling, as well as a high-quality ride and exceptional safety.

Class-leading fuel economy and CO2 emissions come courtesy of the CX-5’s lightweight and aerodynamic design, together with the frugal SKYACTIV engines (all featuring i-stop), and fuel-saving SKYACTIV transmissions.

The new MX-5 Special Edition Spring 2012 has been given an extra touch of class with a host of premium features, including chrome headlamp inserts, grille surrounds and fog lamp bezels on the outside, and Havana Brown premium leather upholstery on the inside.

Available only in Europe, the latest ver-

sion of Mazda’s legendary roadster comes with soft-top or retractable hard-top, and a choice of four body colours: Radiant Ebony – exclusively for this model – along with Crystal White Pearl, Metropolitan Grey and Brilliant Black.

In addition to extended audio connectivity, the Special Edition Spring 2012 will be the first MX-5 with an integrated navigation system.

Mazda’s display at the 82nd Geneva International Motor Show will also showcase the company’s brand-new SK YACTIV technology, as well as all current models.

Number of prestigious awards for Ford from EURO NCAP EURO NCAP, Europe’s leading authority on auto safety, has named the Ford Focus the Best in Class small family car, in recognition of the vehicle’s crash-test rating and advanced safety technology.

The Focus scooped one of only five Best In Class awards accolades on the strength of its maximum five-star

Euro NCAP rating, as well as four Euro NCAP Advanced rewards last year – an achievement unmatched by any other high-volume car.

Euro NCAP also made special mention of the new Ford Ranger after it became the safest pickup yet tested by the organisation, achieving the only five-star Euro NCAP rating ever award-

ed to a pickup.

The Ranger scored highly in all areas of assessment, receiving particular credit for pedestrian protection.

Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe, said: “This award has special meaning, because designing and building the safest vehicles possible is a core value at Ford.

“The Focus exemplifies our approach to design cars that both help drivers avoid accidents and protect them when one is inevitable.”

The Focus five-star rating was achieved through an adult occupant score of 92%, child occupant rating of 82%, pedestrian score of 72% and safety assist rating of 71%.

23 February 2012 GAZETTE 19

&

CommunionsCONFIRMATIONS 20 GAZETTE 23 February 2012

A few tips for family day to A

time; planning all of the details and imagining how the day will go.

They will feel very grown-up, especially as they are all dressed up on the day.

The Communion photo is an important part of every Commun-

ion experience, and it’s important to preserve the memory of this special occasion in a timeless portrait.

There are a number of things to keep in mind that will help ensure you get photographs you will enjoy for years to come:

1. You should choose your photographer wisely, just as you would with any service provider you are thinking of hiring to work with your children.

Don’t just go with the cheapest, or the one that the school has coming in, without checking out their work.

Ask yourself a number of questions before booking: • Do you like their photographic style?

• Do they just take traditional, posed shots, or can they produce more relaxed, artistic work that shows some of your child’s personality?

• Are they technically

GET YOUR

CHILD’S First Holy Communion is a special milestone in their young lives, and in the life of their whole family.

They have probably been looking forward to this day for a very long

proficient? Do skin tones look right? Can they photograph a white dress without losing the detail?

• Are the photographs available in black and white or just colour?

• Can you buy the CD of photos for you to reproduce them for relatives if you really like them?

• Do they have experience working with children, settling any nerves and getting the best out of your child on a potentially stressful day?

2. Remember any accessories that make up part of your child’s Commun-

PARTY

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60 10 240

23 February 2012 GAZETTE 21

CELEBRATING YOUR CHILD’S SPECIAL DAY

one special remember ion outfit, such as gloves, parasol, tie pins or cufflinks.

“Ever yone forgets either the rosary beads or a prayer book!” says professional photographer Denise Cannon.

“Keep them in Mammy’s handbag or Dad’s pocket until you need them, but don’t worry – a good photographer should always have spares on hand.”

Also remember any special gifts the child has been given for their day, such as a cross pendant or dove pin as it might be nice for your child to be photographed wearing them.

3. USE this opportunity to have the whole family photographed together.

It often takes a special occasion to prompt a family photo, so this is a perfect time to have one taken while everyone is dressed to the nines with their hair done!

Have your photographer take photos of the Communion child with all of the different members of the family for a unique record of the day.

Imagine how delighted Granny, or the child’s

godparents, would be if you give them a portrait of them together on their special day.

4. COMMUNION portraits are most often taken on the day itself, but you may be able to lessen some of the stress if you can have them taken beforehand.

If girls are practising their hairdo before the day, they can pop on the dress and they’re ready, while boys just have to change into their new clothes.

If you’re including the family in the pictures, it’s a good opportunity to see if everything fits everyone and if their outfits will look good together in a portrait.

You can also have the portrait taken after the occasion, but bear in mind that the dress, or suit, might not survive the Communion celebrations unscathed.

But a good photographer should be able to retouch any small stains or damage with little trouble.

Getting the right picture will help make a special day one to remember

22 GAZETTE 23 February 2012

GazetteTTRAVEL Travel EXTRA Blag a bloomin’ bargain dahn the stalls at a luvverly London market BARGAIN hunters, and those looking to find some real gems, are well-served by London markets, with BMI ready to whisk you away in style.

Brick Lane Market is spread across several streets in the Brick Lane area, and features a wide range of market treasures while, of particular note, there are also some fantastic stalls selling exotic spices and colourful saris.

Camden Market offers an extensive range of goods, from designer clothes and accessories, to one-off pieces of art, food and furnishings.

Portobello Road Market has been a market since the 1800s, but became particularly famous for its antiques in the 1950s. Now, numerous stalls offer everything from fruit and bread to posters, clothes, music and of course, antiques.

Old Spitalfields Market is a popular, covered market, selling everything from clothes to food to artwork. Once you’ve finished shopping, the cool bars and clubs of Shoreditch are just a stone’s throw away.

Covent Garden London, housed in and around the iconic Market Building and piazzas, is an architectural masterpiece, with speciality shops, restaurants and cafes.

Petticoat Lane Market, despite its name, is actually located on Middlesex and Wentworth Streets, near Liverpool Street station, and has great fashion bargains and household goods.

For further information on London markets, log onto www.visitlondon.com; for flights to London, see www.flybmi.com.

Rugby’s cancelled? cosy up at Kinnitty K, I admit it occasionally I book weekends away – with my wife, but without the kids – to coincide with Ireland’s rugby internationals.

So, sue me.

But, to be fair, I am lucky enough to be married to someone who is as obsessed with rugby as I am – if not a little more so.

Imagine then, if you will, the opportunity to visit Kinnitty Castle, in Co Offaly, without the kids, for the weekend of the Ireland v France Six

O

Nations’ clash.

It is, as the younger readers might say, a nobrainer.

We knew little or nothing about Kinnitty Castle before this trip, so, just like any other couple would, the Mrs and I did a little digging around online to find out what was being said about the place.

I really wasn’t ready for what we found.

Bearing in mind that we’re talking about a Gothic revival castle in the country - why is it people expect a place like this to offer satellite

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

‘This is a castle with the kind of magic that reminds couples why they like to sneak off by themselves in the first place

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

TV, air con, double glazing and a mini bar?

This place was first destroyed in the year 1209, fast forward 700 years, and Republican forces burned the castle, after which it was rebuilt in 1928 to the building that stands today.

This is not a Jurys or a Holiday Inn, it’s not a

Four Seasons, A Carlton or even a Sheraton.

This is a castle that possesses the kind of magic that reminds couples why they like to sneak off to the country by themselves in the first place.

No two guest rooms are the same, each boasts its own distinctive design and character – if you’re

lucky, you’ll get to stay in the O’Carroll suite – without doubt the biggest and most elegant guest room I have ever had the pleasure of staying in.

Stunning period furniture and lighting make this a unique experience.

And, for those who enjoy a dramatic bed, this one will take your breath away.

A free-standing, highbacked bath finishes off the luxury here, so let’s talk about the food.

We sat in the magnificent dining room, and enjoyed starters of spiced cream of cauliflower soup

23 February 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 23

Edited by Mimi Murray

FastTravel The Dominican Republic delights

A weekend at Kinnitty Castle, left, was just the thing for Cormac Curtis, above, and his wife. A lunch at The Thatch, in the nearby village of Crinkle, proved a successful outing ahead of the weekend’s rugby internationals

Special offer: Enjoy Easter with the family at Kinnitty APART from Christmas, Easter is one of the only holidays when the family can get together around a table full of food and eat until their hearts are content.

Kinnitty Castle Hotel is putting on a deliciously

So, just Castle as well as crab and avocado - a real treat, especially the soup.

Moving on to our mains, my hake on a fennel rosti served with langoustines was perfect, and my darling wife enjoyed a rump of lamb served with roast veg and a red wine jus – all cooked perfectly, and seasoned to perfection, the missus never once reached for the salt!

Mille feuilles chantilly cream strawberries and an almond and pear tart finished off a stunning meal.

After enjoying our food, the grounds of the castle

provided the perfect setting for an evening walk to help work off one or two calories!

The next day, after a terrific hot breakfast served to the table, NOT a buffet, we had a quick flick through the newspapers before heading for the nearby town of Birr.

As I said, it was a rugby weekend, so we needed to fit in a little sight-seeing before the matches kicked off.

The Birr Castle Demesne is a delightful, award-winning spot where guests can get some fresh air and enjoy

special three-course Easter Sunday Lunch for just €21.50 per person (or two courses for €17.50 per person), with a special Easter Egg hunt for the children at 11am around the Castle grounds, on Sunday, April 8.

Guests can extend their stay to include luxurious overnight accommodation with breakfast the next morning from an extra €75 per person.

Steeped in fascinating history and full of character, Kinnitty Castle Hotel is a blend of old-world style and taste, complete with charming bedrooms.

For details, call Kinnitty Castle Hotel on 057 9137318 or visit www.kinnittycastlehotel.com.

an afternoon coffee.

But you cannot visit Birr without swinging by the famous Thatch restaurant in Crinkle.

No prizes for guessing the kind of roof on this place – but the real magic is with the incredibly friendly staff and terrific value in delicious food.

Seafood chowder, garlic mushrooms, duck spring roll and tiger prawns all provided the perfect base for an evening in a local pub to catch the Six Nations...

Did I mention there were two matches to watch?

A little advice from the

local music shop owner led us to the Chestnut pub, a more perfect spot we would not have been able to find.

This place poured a great pint, had candles lit all over, a roaring fire, and a big screen - Pub perfection.

The Italians almost got the better of the English that afternoon, and the Ireland game has yet to be played – but that didn’t stop us getting back to the hotel to enjoy a few last hours of luxury.

This place comes highly, highly recommended.

FOR some luxury this summer, look to the Dominican Republic with Tropical Sky, which, from €1,079 per person, has a package for seven nights on an all-inclusive basis at the five-star Now Larimar in the Dominican Republic, making a saving of €340 per person.

The price includes scheduled flights from Dublin, a room upgrade with accommodation in a deluxe tropical view room, resort transfers, taxes and surcharges.

The package also includes a US$200 resort coupon per room per stay. Located on a picturesque white-sand beach, Now Larimar boasts gourmet restaurants, premium cocktails, a world-class spa and endless daytime and nighttime activities. For details on this, and other holidays, contact Tropical Sky at 01 807 7996, or see www.tropicalsky.ie.

24 SWORDS GAZETTE 23 February 2012

GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT

GoingOUT PAVILION 01 231 2929 The Picture of Dorian Grey

YOU’LL be Wilde about this production of the classic play, with Oscar’s masterpiece being brought to life with ease by the expert players of Wonderland Productions Limited.

Presented by The Pavilion, yet to be hosted at Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney, Gate Theatre regulars Michael James Ford and Michael Winder will be joined by the RSC’s Simon Coury for an exquisite dinner theatre show at 7.30pm on Friday, February 24, with tickets priced €45, which includes a three-course meal.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 David O’Doherty

CONTINUING The Mill’s eclectic range of entertainment for south Dublin arts lovers, and running nightly at 8.10pm in the Studio until Saturday, February 25, Studio Shorts will feature a number of brisk but memorable plays. Small Box Psychosis, Bar and Ger, and The Philadelphia, will entertain with their tales of being trapped in an elevator, the relationship between a brother and sister, and a man’s bizarre adventures, respectively, and all courtesy of The Balally Players, with tickets priced at €12/€10.

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 Johnny McEvoy

THE dulcet tones of Irish legend, Johnny McEvoy, are sure to delight at Draiocht, with his return visit to the venue sure to strike a chord with his fans. A warm-hearted, nostalgic evening awaits music fans, featuring many of McEvoy’s songs, presented with a master’s touch for the best of Irish folk and ballads. Johnny will also feature a number of tracks from his new album. Catch his show on Saturday, February 25 at 8pm, with tickets priced €25/€23 conc.

The legendary, titular singer of Cheyenne and the Fellows (Sean Penn) finds his dull, boring life living in wealthy obscurity in Dublin is about to change when he heads off to New York to reconcile with his dying father – only to find himself travelling the States as an unlikely Nazi hunter

Penn-ing a winner Nazis, pop stars, New York and Blanchardstown – This Must Be The Place is anything but a conventional film ...

I KATE CROWLEY

AH, I love cinema! Just think of all the exotic sights and locations that a film can take you to, whisking you away from mundane, depressing reality! (The sorry sight of the Crowley household’s bedraggled back garden in February is reason enough to practically move into the nearest one-screener.)

I mean, just think of all the amazing locales that a film can take you to – such as, err... Blanchardstown Shopping Centre!

Yes, indeed, you read that right. Hollywood is all set to welcome the sights and sounds of humble BSC to her sun-kissed shore, courtesy of Sean Penn’s upcoming film, This Must Be The Place, which, some readers may have noted, was partly filmed in parts of Dublin some time back, with a number of other instantly recognisable Dublin loca-

FILM OF THE WEEK: This Must Be The Place #### (15A) 110 mins Director: Paolo Sorrentin Starring: Sean Penn, Frances McDormand, Judd Hirsh, Harry Dean Staunton, Eve Hewson, Blanchardstown Shopping Centre

OUR VERDICT: IN SOME ways, This Must Be The Place is like a lot of films you’ve seen before – yet, in other ways, it’s like nothing you’ve seen before. Mixing up several road movie tropes, and with much of the film having a familiar Americana setting, it still manages to create its own identity in an already crowded genre, largely thanks to Penn’s memorable character, and unusual subject matter.

tions and sights also popping up in the film’s first act. And now, this must be the review; a little in advance of its imminent release, but hey – my column, my rules, folks!

Cheyenne (Penn) is a faded pop star with a, um, rather distinctive look, mooching around in Dublin, living a thoroughly boring life in his mansion, supported by the royalties from his long-gone hits, and living with his lovely American wife of many years, Jane (McDormand).

Plodding around Dublin, Cheyenne’s life – bar

the delightful Jane – is more or less meaningless ... until, that is, meaning and purpose comes a-callin’, courtesy of his dying father back in the States, whom he hasn’t seen in 30 years.

Arriving too late to make things up with his old man, Cheyenne, the eternal (if aging) rock star, learns that his father, an Auschwitz survivor, had wanted to track down his Nazi tormentor from the camp, who is probably still alive and living somewhere in America.

With his lipstick, candyfloss hair, reading glasses

and wheely-suitcase, Cheyenne is probably the world’s least-likely Nazi hunter – but this lost cause sparks a flame in the somewhat lost star.

Despite his thin, weedy voice and an almost befuddled way of expressing himself, Cheyenne actually has plenty of depth of character to face up to the unlikely challenge of finding his father’s tormentor.

(Of course, all Dubs will know that any middle-aged man who can wander around our city, sporting bright lipstick and clad in The Cureinspired fashion, would have to be made of stern stuff, indeed.)

So begins a road movie, of sorts, as Cheyenne, rock star and Nazi-hunter, sets off to find an old Nazi and, in the process, find himself. (I feel contractually obliged to bung that one in there, folks.)

However, as he drifts through one rural back-

water after another, standing out like a visitor from another planet, one question remains – what will Cheyenne do if he ever catches up with his quarry? Will he be very mean, or will he be Nazi?

It’s a pretty interesting film, if slightly curious in its subject matter. I mean, who would have thought that aging stars, Americana, a road trip movie, Auschwitz, extensive David Byrne (he of Talking Heads fame) music, Sean Penn and, um, Blanchardstown Shopping Centre would make a great film?

However, luckily, this witches’ brew works, with Penn managing to tone down his usual Pennisms to create a memorable character.

Although we’ve seen much of this kind of content matter before, we’ve never seen it quite like this, making this The Place to spend an entertaining 110 minutes.

23 February 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 25

GazetteGAMING GAMING Bytesandpieces Adding to controversial Heights with another interesting chapter I’VE written here before about Zynga’s controversial Apple IOS title, Dream Heights, and how it’s been accused in several quarters of the gaming press of too closely resembling another (and superior) title, Tiny Tower.

Well, in the continuing drama around this particular release, the latest chapter in Dream Heights’ life has seen the US iTunes store listing glowing reviews of the title, which is fair enough – until you note that some of the five-star rave reviews come from the people who created it.

With “cloning” of smash-hit titles proving an increasingly contentious issue in the gaming industry (and with apps particularly susceptible to this emerging trend), it can be difficult to spot the original among almost identical titles – especially if they clone its graphics and gameplay

When cloning around is no laughing matter SHANE DILLON

DID you know that, while games titles – and, rarely, characters, or other key components – may be patented and registered for protection under various copyright laws, the content itself is rarely given legal protection?

Incredibly, while gaming standalone titles, and franchises, continue to generate vast amounts of money for the lucky top-tier of developers and publishers, there tends to be very little legal protection for such intellectual property (IP).

If I were to announce to Gazette readers that I was about to write a children’s book about, say, a teenage magician called “Harold Porter”, who wears contact lenses, and who has a z-shaped scar on his forehead, and that my masterpiece would be entitled, Harold Porter And The Philosophical Rock, I might expect

to receive a number of legal letters, somewhat sharpish, from a variety of impressive law firms.

If, however, I wished to, say, make a smartphonebased, touchscreen-driven, physics-based game, where I catapulted a number of birds towards flimsy structures made of wood, glass and rock, principally with the aim of crushing some cyancoloured boars (and called my game, say, Annoyed Birds), there would be nothing to stop me.

Indeed, apart from keeping an eye on this very topic and how it’s regularly reported in a variety of international gaming websites and publications, I, myself, have seen a number of such “cloned” titles, available to buy or download on a leading app digital distribution portal.

Typically, the “developer” of such titles insist that, no, they’re not blatantly

copying an original title, but are, instead, merely adding a similar title to an established genre.

In this manner, I’ve seen leading games’ assets (principally, instantlyrecognisable characters, models, and textures) repackaged into someone else’s game, which tended to have identical gameplay and structures.

Wild West In this kind of anything-goes landscape, cloned titles – in the form of Harold Porter – is free to pop his head up in this Wild West that much, if not most, gaming IP inhabits, legally speaking.

So, where are the sherriffs for this bold – but wild – lawless landscape, where Harold Porter and his gang are free to ride into town, grab whatever original IP they find, and then ride off into the sunset, ready to flog “their” wares from the back of a digital distribution

wagon?

(I apologise for all of these Western cliches, but they seem to fit my points, perfectly!)

Well, while legal eagles have yet to properly police this largely lawless landscape in the same manner as publishing, music and cinema are protected, its inhabitants – gamers – are slowly but surely beginning to form posses, and bring vocal, frontier justice to bear on any questionable actions

by Porter, and pals.

Where such members of Porter’s Gang ride into town (principally, hitching themselves near the front of gaming sections on distribution hubs), and once they’ve been spotted, “vigilantes” – or, irate gamers, to you and me – start h a m mering up the equivalent of

“wanted” posters, in the form of highly-critical reviews, low grades and, most damningly of all, explicitly referring to the original title from whence the clone sprang.

While gamers are perfectly happy to engage in largely similar content, and games that are largely similar, they don’t take very kindly to the thought that Game B has been, basically, cloned from Game A – and especially when those behind Game B claim their innocence, despite any strong evidence to the contrary.

It’ll be interesting to see how the industry shapes up to the increasing threat of blatantly cloned titles, as new media platforms bring the issue increasingly to the fore, and will, potentially, railroad Porter’s Gang out of town in the near future ...

Descriptions As reported online, John Lerma, senior user experience designer, described it as “awesome”, while Matthew Ott, Zynga producer, wrote: “Dream Heights is beautiful, fun and polished.

Another must-play from Zynga!”

However, when it comes to selling apps and games online, the industry, and gamers, frown on what, to many, seems like a system open to abuse, if developers start praising their own work in a commercially-driven sector. Balancing out such glowing reviews, gamers have been busy leaving a wall of one-star reviews for Dream Heights, adding another interesting chapter to this tale ...

GAZETTE

26 SWORDS GAZETTE 23 February 2012

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Reid Patrick (Padraig) Late of Woodside Back rd, Malahide, Passed away on the 23 Oct 2011. His wife Rose, Sister Nellie and all the family would like to thank all those who sympathised with us on our sad loss. We wish to thank everyone who called to the house, attended the Removal Mass & Burial. Thanks to all who sent Mass cards, messages of sympathy, everlasting gifts and made donations to the Irish Cancer Society. Thank you to all our relatives, kind neighbours, Friends and the community of Malahide whose support and generosity will never be forgotten.

Thanks to the staff of Beaumont Hospital, the Orthopaedic Hospital Clontarf and the Hospice Raheny, Especially Una our night nurse from the I.C.S, to Patricia public health nurse, occupational therapist Donal. To Dr.A.Rooney, Dr.C.Mooney & staff,Aine & staff of McCabe’s Chemist Malahide. To all Padraig’s friends who worked at the airport with him. To Msgr Father Peter Briscoe for being of great support to us all, for his lovely Removal Mass and all who took part in making it so special & personal. As it is impossible to thank everyone please accept this acknowledgment as a token of our sincere gratitude and appreciation. May he Rest in Peace. Always in our thoughts.

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GazetteSPORT

ALL ROUND THE WORLD Documentary focuses on the Irish experience and GAA abroad: Page 29

SWIMMING: YEAR OF OLYMPIC PREPARATION SEES NAC SET FOR PRESTIGIOUS VISITORS

Aquatic Centre powers into the new year sport@gazettegroup.com

AS IT faces into one of it’s busiest and biggest years ever, the National Aquatic Centre has partnered with Electric Ireland to help power it through 2012.

This year is set to be a very busy one, with the NAC due to host preOlympic international teams, such as the USA Synchronised Swimming Squad, Olympic Water Polo Champions, Hun-

gary, and also the UK water polo squad as they prepare for the London games in summer. Similarly, Electric Ireland will also share a keen interest in the build-up to games as Energy Partner to Ireland’s Olympic team.

Last year, the NAC broke the 800,000 mark for the first time and became Ireland’s third most popular fee-paying attraction, with an overall 46% growth in numbers over the past five years.

As part of the 12month contract Electric Ireland will supply all the Dublin-based centre electricity requirements.

Energy efficiency is high on the centre’s agenda and their efforts were recently recognised when they were shortlisted for the Sustainable Energy Awards. With the help of Electric Ireland the National Aquatic Centre is making great progress in reducing its energy requirements.

Some young swimmers help cap the announcement of the NAC’s partnership with Electric Ireland

The centre, which is the premier venue for competitive swimming, diving and water polo in Ireland, has facilities which include a 50-metre pool, diving pool with Olympic diving boards and major leisure water park.

It successfully hosted the swimming events of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

and the European shortcourse championships.

David Conway, director of operations for the National Aquatic Centre, said: “We have enjoyed working with Electric Ireland over the last three years and are delighted with the energy efficiency we have managed to achieve. We look forward to another

mutually beneficial year together in 2012.”

He added: “It is the policy of the National Aquatic Centre not only to look for first-class suppliers, but also to ensure that we get the most competitive pricing possible and best value for money.”

Announcing the contract, Electric Ireland’s

customer relationship manager, Alan Daisey, said: “We are extremely pleased to be continuing to work with the centre; we have developed a highly flexible, innovative contract which will help drive cost-savings and energy efficiency for the National Aquatic Centre in the months to come.”

28 SWORDS GAZETTE 23 February 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

Fionnuala hails the Great Ireland Run THE SPAR Great Ireland Run held a Love to Run flash lap last week with Fionnuala Britton, the European Cross-Country Champion, on hand to lead the event.

Runners, joggers and walkers joined Fionnuala on her lunch break to complete a lap around Merrion Square Park (approximately 1100 metres) to show their love for running, and to promote this year’s Great Ireland Run, which will take place this year in the Phoenix Park on Sunday, April 15.

Ireland’s fastest growing 10km running event will be broadcast live on RTE. For more information on the 2012 event and how to enter, see www.greatirelandrun. org.

Ireland back on form after shock defeat IRELAND’S cricketers, who featured local heroes Kevin O’Brien and George Dockrell, reversed their shock defeat to Kenya in Mombasa last weekend with a 117-run win over their hosts in the second of their World Cup qualifying matches against

the African team.

Ed Joyce helped to restore Irish nerves after he scored 88 runs in the 117-run win, the boys in green having started poorly to stand at 76-4 before Joyce stepped in, Ireland eventually finishing their innings on 237-9 from 50 overs.

Ireland now face the Kenyans in a trio of Twenty20 matches before they travel to South Africa for their training camp.

LADIES’ FOOTBALL: DUBLIN DENIED BY OLD ENEMIES AT HOME

Dublin ladies’ footballers suffered their first reverse of the Division 1 campaign against Cork last weekend

Cork pip the Jackies NFL DIVISION 1 Dublin Cork

0-8 1-8

sport@gazettegroup.com

DUBLIN’S great run at the start of their 2012 Bord Gais Energy Division 1 league campaign came to an end last weekend when the visit of Cork to Pairc Ui Murchu saw the Rebelettes claim a decisive win over the Jackies that puts them at the top of the table.

The sides could barely be separated throughout the 60 minutes, but a goal from Cork’s second-half sub, Doireann O’Sullivan, proved decisive and was the difference between the sides come the final whistle.

The first score of the game, a pointed free by Cork Sports Woman of the Year, Juliet Murphy,

came in 10th minute of the first half.

Cork, who had a huge percentage of possession, appeared to have left their kicking boots on the team bus, much to the relief of the Dublin defence and management. Cork’s second score was another free, this time converted by three-time All-Star, Nollaig Cleary.

Foxrock Cabinteely for ward Ciara Murphy was the first on the scoreboard for Dublin with a well-taken point from just outside the 20.

Amy McGuinness, who was introduced into the game for corner forward Orlaith Egan, slotted over a free to bring the sides level. With eight minutes remaining in the first half, Dublin had begun to get the measure of the Rebe-

lettes, and their running game was starting to ask questions of the Cork half-back line.

A penetrating Dublin move up the pitch, which had originated in front of the Dublin full-back line via midfield, resulted in Dublin’s Sinead Aherne being taken down in a combined tackle by Anne Marie Walsh and Deirdre O’Reilly.

Up stepped Aherne to take the penalty, but Cork keeper, Elaine Harte, managed to get down quickly and blocked the shot. The save gave her team new momentum and they broke rapidly down field, the drive resulting in another Cork free which was once more converted by Murphy.

On the restart, Dublin were quickly on the scoreboard with a Niamh

McEvoy point. The St Sylvester’s star had been moved from her named midfield berth to the half forward line, and was showing well for the ball and was giving the midfield pairing of Goldrick and Finnegan a target to aim for.

At this stage, the game ebbed and flowed, with both sides exchanging points and the lead. On target for Cork again was Murphy and Cleary, while Dublin’s Aherne and McGuinness where on target for the Metropolitans, sharing their team’s free-taking duties.

The game’s only goal came from O’Sullivan, whose speculative shot on goal while running through the heart of the defence foiled the Dublin keeper.

To Dublin’s credit

they continued to battle hard, running time and time again at the Cork defence desperately seeking that elusive goal, while Cork defended in large numbers in front of Harte’s goal.

With Dublin pressing hard, Cork relented and conceded a free which Aherne duly pointed, bringing Dublin to within three points of the six times league champions. But time caught up on the Sky Blues when referee McEnery blew his whistle to signal the end of this entertaining encounter.

Eamonn Ryan’s team remain the only division one team with a 100% record, and Cork would be many pundits favourites even at this stage of the competition to retain their league crown come May.

23 February 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 29

in association with

Once upon a time in America

FastSport

The experience of the Irish abroad in sport formed Sign up for RugbyForce and help your local club the basis for a fascinating documentary, as STEPHEN FINDLATER found when he spoke to its director THE player drain caused by the recession has been one of the bitter problems for the GAA in the past few years with clubs losing stalwarts to Australia, Canada and the US. On the flip side, that drain has been acting as a link to the homeland for many Irish abroad.

It is a connection that Ballinteer man, Cillian O’Chonchur, delicately helped to portray in the documentary, An Exile’s home in the Bronx, which airs throughout February on Setanta Ireland.

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 heart-felt and personal interviews with the players.

O’Chonchur, a sports journalist, came up with the original premise whilst

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 documen-

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

‘These guys [in the documentary] had to leave Ireland for New York while, at the same time, trying to cling onto their only bit of Irishness’

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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 of them did similar but didn’t pursue it. One of them sums it up: ‘If football was their main goal,

tary, but as one which sees these guys have to leave Ireland for New York while at the same time trying to cling on to their only bit of Irishness.”

For some, this has meant 11 years away from home and, for Waterford man Aidan Power, nine years since seeing his father, having left Ireland to pursue work.

To add context, the likes

NY manager Seamus Sweeney puts the side through their paces

of Kevin Moran, Darragh O Se and Jack O’Connor lend their words on the American GAA experience, providing a context of the passion that exists in the Irish community.

Indeed, Moran suggested it was a seminal moment in his career, saying it was there he “got the love for football back”, going on to win two AllIrelands before signing for Manchester United.

But Moran and O Se’s experiences came from their position as “weekend players” unlike the central characters around Gaelic Park “There have been so many players to play over in the US, it was very hard to break it down. You can’t everything in it.

“Moran and O Se; they were weekend players.

One of the things we left was that Dara got banned for six months because he wasn’t authorised to play over there. As it happened, there was a meeting and it was lessened as there were so many players who had played over there without being sanctioned.

“For O Se, he’d go over for three days. It was far more common when there was more money around, mainly for the league finals, so it could have been a who’s who of players over there.”

O’Conchur – whose brother Padraic lines out for Ballinteer St John’s senior footballers – had initially looked at making

the documentary in 2010, centering on the American side’s much closer 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.

The Irish sports channel backed the premise, and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland came through with funding for the project in March of 2011.

With the transitive nature of the New York team, O’Chonchur and this team set about putting together a new story but the essence remained in place.

“We didn’t use any of what we shot the first year.

As it happened, the score was much closer in 2010 when they almost beat Galway, so we basically started afresh because some of the players weren’t there. The players we wanted to follow had stuck around.

“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.”

SOME of Dublin’s top local club rugby players lined out last week in their Ulster Bank League strips at Old Wesley RFC – flanked

by Irish rugby stars, Sean O’Brien, Sean Cronin and Shane Jennings – to help to launch Ulster Bank’s RugbyForce, an initiative which provides rugby clubs with support to renovate their club and upgrade their facilities.

RugbyForce encourages rugby supporters, their friends and families to give something back to their local community and rugby club by volunteering to undertake renovations to clubhouses and grounds.

Every registered club will be provided with online guidance and tools, and the first 25 clubs will also receive an increased support pack that includes €250 worth of materials, t-shirts for volunteers and an Ulster Bank RugbyForce plaque.

Four lucky clubs (one from each province) will be selected for a very special makeover, which will see them awarded with €5,000 of goods and resources to use during their RugbyForce makeover weekend.

Clubs must register for Ulster Bank RugbyForce online by April 13.

Ulster Bank introduced the RugbyForce programme last season, after joining forces with the IRFU to become their official Community Partner.

Ireland and Munster rugby legend, Alan Quinlan, is calling on clubs across Ireland to enter the programme.

“With the success of the Irish national team and the outstanding development of our provincial sides in recent years, support for Irish rugby has seen a dramatic increase.

The focus on young player development is at an all-time high and, thankfully, this professional development has been fed into rugby clubs across the country. Every week, exceptionally talented players line-out for their clubs in crunching showdowns.”

Speaking about RugbyForce, John Hussey, IRFU President, said: “I would encourage all rugby clubs to enter the Ulster Bank RugbyForce initiative. It is a unique way of providing an added incentive for helping clubs maintain their facilities. It also provides a fantastic opportunity to bring members, players and supporters together to improve their local club.”

For more information, log on to www. ulsterbank.com/rugby

30 SWORDS GAZETTE 23 February 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

FITNESS: NEW CLASSES OPEN FOR 2012 IN LOCAL AREA

Swords Celtic sides reach cup semi-finals SWORDS Celtic’s Under-12 and Under-14 sides claimed cup semi-final slots last weekend without conceding a single goal in either tie.

Goalscorers for the Under-12 Premier team, Reality Osuoha, Jamie Condon, Christian Harris and Karl Stanley, saw off the challenge of Clontarf by 5-0 which puts them into the semi-finals of the Kevin Moran Cup. The Under-14C team defeated Ratoath in the quarter-finals of the league cup by 3-0.

SARI hold penalty kick record bid ANTI-RACISM sporting organisation, SARI, are partnering with the Colleges’ Football Association of Ireland, the FAI and IT Tallaght in an attempt to break the world record for consecutive penalties.

The record was set by the Major League Soccer franchise in New York last June, when 742 penalties - including one from David Beckham were taken. SARI’s aim is to take at least 1,000 - and, hopefully, to keep going.

The event will take place in Tallaght Stadium on Wednesday, February 29 from 8.30am till 5pm.

As part of the event, they will be raising funds for SARI and The National Children’s Hospital, Tallaght.

For more information, see www.charit-

ypenaltykick.org

Browne wins singles and scramble JIMMY Browne was this week’s singles winner at Ballyboughal pitch and putt club with a net score of 45, with Frank Hughes just one back, taking the runners-up slot.

In the three ball scramble, Browne was again a winner, playing with Sue Browne and John Fitzpatrick to gross 42. Fitzpatrick produced a hole in one on the 17th to aid their cause.

Next Saturday sees the Bartle Maxwell Shield take place. The event is open to past and present members and former winners.

All proceeds go to Temple ICU. Tee-times start from 2.30pm.

New members are welcome, and should contact 085-1743748 or visit www.ballyboughalpitchandputt. com for more information.

Bootcamp Ireland have been running their intensive and effective classes across Dublin for several years

Boot camps begin in Fingal I sport@gazettegroup.com

THOSE of you who are looking for a workout with something extra in the local area will be delighted to learn that Bootcamp Ireland is opening three new locations in the coming weeks, in Donabate, Swords and Malahide.

Bootcamp Ireland has been putting men and women of all fitness levels and ages through their paces, using military-style fitness techniques with real military instructors and sports professionals since 2004.

Speaking to Gazette-

Sport about the programme and the benefits that participants receive, Bootcamp Ireland’s Natalie Kavanagh, said: “We love training outdoors all year round, and our instructors are fantastic at motivating you and encouraging you to reach your limits in a fun way.

“Bootcamp uses a combination of interactive, motivating circuits, that include all-over body exercises, running and motivational games “We set out to cover all the different components of fitness - cardio, muscular endurance, muscular strength and

Debut cup for DCU: Colleges’ camogie crown for side DUBLIN City University captain and Naomh Mearnog player, Laura Twomey, lifted the Purcell Cup last weekend at Waterford IT when DCU’s camogie team defeated Queen’s University, Belfast, in the final of the hard-fought tournament.

The team defeated Maynooth in the semi-final on Saturday, before going on to comprehensively defeat Queen’s on Sunday to lift the Purcell Cup for the first time.

flexibility - Bootcamp Ireland is the best way to get fit, stay fit and, most importantly, to have fun at the same time.”

The six-week sessions commence the week of February 27, and take place at St Patrick’s BNS in Donabate on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7pm; at Colaiste Choilm in Swords on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7.30pm, and at Malahide Community School on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm. There is also a bonus class available to all members on Saturday mornings on Donabate beach at 10:30am for an hour.

“Bootcamp Ireland classes take place in the great outdoors, rain, hail or shine. The militarystyle fitness classes are the ideal workout featuring calisthenics - pressups, lunges, squats and crunches, which target all the main body parts, as well as drills and sprints.

“This type of interval training with bursts of intense activity, alternated with lighter activity is proven to give the best results, while all the time training at your own pace,” said Kavanagh.

Also included in the membership is access to free hikes, excursions,

trips and social nights with other bootcampers and membership to the Bootcamp Ireland Running Series providing support to members taking part in charity runs, mini-marathons and marathons throughout Ireland New recruits to the programme will benefit from a complimentary neuromuscular massage treatment and a 15% discount at Lifestyle Sports, the sponsors of Bootcamp Ireland. For more info about the north County Dublin classes, contact Natalie at 0867886565, or natalie@ bootcampireland.com.

23 February 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 31

in association with

FOOTBALL: DERBY SEES SYL’S TAKE THE SPOILS

CLUB NOTICEBOARD FINGALLIANS WE ARE at the most important stage

ing their leagues next weekend. This

in the car draw and all tickets need

week, the U-13, U-15A and Bs all had

to be returned as early as possible

good wins at underage level.

this week.

If you have any tickets to be returned please get them in to your team ticket contact or mentor, or to the club bar ASAP.

Easter Camps 2012: Football camp from April 2 to 4; Hurling camp from April 10 to 13.

Camps will run from 10am till 2pm.

Camps cost €30 for members and €50

Let’s make a big effort to get as

for non-members. Camps are for

many tickets in as quick as posssi-

both boys and girls aged four to 13

ble.

years. For more information, please

New website: Access is now available to our new site, www.fingallians. com, and it will merge this week with www.fingallians.ie.

The season is just kicking off with all the adult footballing teams start-

contact simon.lambert.gpo.dublin@ gaa.ie or 087 623 8188.

Best of luck to the boys and girls that will be representing Fingallians for the first time in the Scor na bPaistí competition next Saturday.

FINGAL RAVENS

St Sylvester’s claimed their second win of the new season with a St Vincent de Paul Cup win over Fingal Ravens

Derby defeat for Ravens in de Paul Cup ST VINCENT DE PAUL CUP St Sylvester’s Fingal Ravens

1-13 0-5

I sport@gazettegroup.com

ST Sylvester’s senior footballers made it two wins from two in the Vincent de Paul Cup last Sunday morning with a convincing 11-point win over near-neighbours, Fingal Ravens.

Syl’s once again fielded a young side and last year’s Dublin minor, Conor Meaney, was very impressive in the half-forward line, helping himself to 1-4, and his side to a convincing victory.

The Malahide men were by the far the slicker side, and they raced into a 1-4 to 0-1 point lead after 10 minutes, with points from Eoin Fanning (0-2), Russell Cleere and 1-1 from Meaney.

T he goal was just reward for dispossessing Ravens coming out of defence, with the Syl’s

youngster latching on to a spilt ball and driving first time to the net.

Ravens upped the intensity levels in the second quarter, but fell foul of a number of late challenges resulting in a number of yellow cards being flashed, including a second yellow and a red to their centre-half forward just before halftime.

At this stage, Syl’s were 1-6 to 0-2 points ahead, with their two scores coming from Meaney and wing back, Glen Hazley.

Half-time precipitated a number of changes, i n cl u d i n g s p r i n g i n g Dublin star Micheal McCar thy from the bench with 20 minutes remaining.

The home side kept the scoreboard ticking with points from Fanning, Conor Daly (0-2), Cleere and finally McCarthy slotting over the final score of the match in the 58th

minute.

There were a number of positives for Syl’s manager, Gabriel Bannigan, to take from the match. Defensively, Syl’s were very solid, with Colm McIntyre, Kian Cleere and Glen Hazley doing very well, while Dave Galvin had a solid match in his first game back from injury.

Ross Hazley and Padraig Bracken held sway in the middle of the field, while, up front, Fanning, Daly and Cleere all showed up well, along with man-of-the-match, Conor Meaney.

This win backs up their recent victory over a strong St Vincent’s side in the first series of group games, and sees Syl’s head up the Group One table from Ballymun Kickhams, with just points scored separating the sides.

Ravens, meanwhile, have lost both of their ties to date and rest at the bottom of the table.

The season, though, steps up a notch next we e ke n d w h e n t h e leagues get underway.

O n S u n d ay n e x t , Syl’s face a very testing assignment when they welcome St Oliver Plunkett’s to Broomfield for their first AFL1 game in 2012; throw-in at 10.30am.

Ravens are due to host newly-promoted O’Toole’s in a north Dublin derby, while Fingallians play Erin’s Isle in AFL2.

Battle of the Hoops last Friday was

Anyone looking for a DVD of the

one of the greatest night the club has

night must text their order to Declan

ever run. Thanks to the all the box-

on 086 858 7231.

ers for their commitment to training

We would like to thank St Sylvest-

over the last six weeks. Thanks to

er’s, Garristown and Clann Mhuire

all the sponsors, thanks to every-

for facilitating the changes of venue

one who attended on the night and

to our adult games last weekend due

thanks to everyone for the work

to our pitches being unplayable.

they have put into this fundraiser

Well done to our U-13s on their

over the last number of months, and

remarkable comeback against Ball-

especially to Declan Hannigan for the

inteer last Saturday.

huge amount of work that he put into it.

U-15s put in a good performance against St Brigid’s in the league.

ST COLMCILLE’S COMPETITIVE football finally under

required to allow for ma ximum

way after a few postponements

benefit from the trainer and the

due to the weather. The cup opener

sessions.

saw the adult team travel to Lusk

Next weekend sees the league

and, with a strong second-half

opener, with a home tie to St Mar-

performance, the lads came away

garet’s - check noticeboard for the

with the points; good all round team

throw in time.

performance for the first game of

New players are always welcome.

the season, with strong displays

If interested, pop down to the

from Gary Byrne, Adam Thomas

club on Tuesdays and Thursdays

and Tommy Murphy.

at 7.30pm and speak to one of the

Adult training continues on Tues-

mentors. Club lotto is at €9,000

days and Thursdays at 7.30pm and

and the draw is held every Monday

a full turn-out from the squad is

night at 10pm.

ST FINIAN’S THE juvenile football season start-

Preparations are ongoing for the

ed in full on Saturda y and wins

St Patrick’s Day Parade, so put it in

were recorded by our Under-12 and

your diary as we need a big turnout

Under-14 teams.

on the day.

Our adult hurlers had their first

The St Finian’s Ladies Club will

match of the season but were beat-

take place every Tuesday night at

en by Parnell’s.

8.15pm in the clubhouse. All are wel-

The Sam Maguire Trophy will be

come.

making an appearance in the club

Lotto: Jackpot was €3,700 and the

on the afternoon of Sunday, March

numbers drawn were 3, 10, 12 and 17.

4.

There was no winner.

A timetable has been issued to

The €50 winners were NF c/o Pea-

each team in the club to have their

cock’s Bar, William and Bella Mur-

picture taken with the trophy.

phy.

ALL OF YOUR SWORDS SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31

RAVENS’ RAVAGED: Fingal side undone

by St Sylvester’s in VdeP Cup battle P31

FEBRUARY 23, 2012

EXILES IN THE BRONX: Life as part of the New York county panel P29

GazetteSPORT

Fins are looking forward to the 2012 season with optimism and with many of the same panel that earned a play-off place last season

Fingallians target league promotion Having come within four points of a return to AFL1 last term, the Swords’ side spy a sustained 2012 league run STEPHEN FINDLATER

swordssport@gazettegroup.com

FINGALLIANS will be hoping to go one step further this year as they bid to return to AFL1, getting their division two campaign underway next Sunday (10.30am) at Lawless Park.

Last year’s campaign came up just short as O’Toole’s won the promotion play-off final by four points to confine the Swords’ side to division two for another year but, a year wiser, they go into the campaign confident they can run another sustained challenge.

They will not have the services of Laois intercounty man Brendan Quigley, whose work has returned him to his native Laois.

Alan Hanrahan remains in situ as manager, with Dan Davern in his backroom team, and the latter says the panel has a more experienced look to it than 12 months ago.

“It’s pretty similar to last year. We’ve lost one or two, unfortunately, to emigration – no dif-

ferent to most other clubs – but, other than that, we have much the same but wouldn’t be too far away.

“We’ve gave it a good rattle last year, getting to the league play-off final. Our aim will be pretty much the same as last year. Obviously, we’d love to win the league outright but we look at all games one at a time and see what happens after that. Our ambitions are realistic.

We were there or thereabouts last year, and it’s the same this year.”

Tempered One of the reasons for a tempered outlook is the involvement of Kilmacud Crokes’ first team in the division this year – a side who have won the Leinster SFC twice in the past three years.

With a glut of intercounty call-ups, they struggled in the league but new boss Hugh Kenny has oodles of quality they can call on that makes the timing of when Fins face them

as an integral factor for that tie with intercounty call-ups a potential game-changer.

“It’s no different to two years ago when St Brigid’s came down,” Davern explains. “They were the side to beat and won the league handy enough and went on to the senior championship.

“Kilmacud Crokes, you’d think they would be the big team in the league but, in division two, anyone is capable of beating anyone else so it’s wide open and not as clear-cut as division one. With a team like that, when you catch them is key with all their county players or not is important.”

As for the challenge of Erin’s Isle, it is a tough starting point, a repeat of last year’s opening round of fixtures when there was just a point separating the sides in the Finglas club’s favour.

“It was a tough game with only a point in it.

We expect it to be similar enough; it’s not too long since they have been in division one.”