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March 22, 2012 Mar

INSIDE: Battling against post-natal GAZETTE COMPASS: Choose your depression P6 ideal travel destination Pages 19-22

Basketball: Local star looks to return to Europe from US Page 32

Football: Local stars shine but Dublin denied victory Page 31

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERY .........................8 PETS..............................16 MOTORS ........................17 BUSINESS .................... 18 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26

Plan for walking trail has long way to go I MIMI MURRAY

THE Donabate to Malahide walkway is a long-term project that will be delivered on an incremental basis, Fingal County Council told councillors at a Balbriggan/Swords area committee meeting.

Fianna Fail councillor, Darragh Butler, asked the council for an update on the proposed walkway and asked for clarification as to what amount of funding is available.

“This remains a top priority project that residents are starting to get optimistic might actually get delivered in the not-too-distant future,” he said.

FCC said the National Transport Authority has granted a sum of €100k towards the provision of the walkway, but the work proposed will require the submission of an Environmental Impact Statement to, and the consent of An Bord Pleanala.

Full Story on Page 6

A close shave: Wally waves goodbye to his hair for charity WALLY WADE got high praise from his

colleagues at Fingal County Council when he had his head shaved by local barber, Frank Lyster, as part of an effort to raise money for cancer, as part of the Shave or Dye campaign,

run by national radio station, Today FM. The event was so successful that the council are considering making it an annual fundraiser Full Story on Page 3 & Gallery Pages 8-9

2 SWORDS GAZETTE 22 March 2012

COUNCIL Promoting Balbriggan as a place of major heritage interest

Call for funding to refurbish tourist attractions FUNDING opportunities will be explored for a potential project to refurbish and/or develop several structures as tourism products in Balbriggan.

Labour councillor Ciaran Byrne, asked the council to make an application for substantial funding under the next

rounds of EU funding programmes.

The programmes are commencing in 2012 -2013 and include specific funding from the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), that can be used for the integrated refurbishment and inte-

grated development of four related structures in Balbriggan, including the inner harbour, the Martello Tower, Gallen Mills and the wooden lifeboat house (under the railway viaduct).

He asked that this would be done with a view to promoting Balbriggan

as a place of major heritage tourism interest.

The council said these properties are under the ownership of a number of different legal entities.

The Inner Harbour is in the ownership of the council and is maintained by the council’s Operations Department. The

Martello Tower is located on land owned by the council and is under the stewardship of the Parks and Heritage Properties Division. Gallen Mills has been redeveloped and is in private ownership, and the Wooden Lifeboat House is in the ownership of CIE and is currently

rented by the council for use as a storage depot for the Operations Department.

“The council’s Economic Development Unit will liaise with the council departments with responsibility for the properties and the private landowner to investigate whether

a proposal can be identified to develop these structures and also EU funding opportunities, including DG Mare, will be explored to investigate funding for a potential project to refurbish and/ or develop these structures as tourism products,” the council said.

Council considers double yellow lines SOME parking may be considered along a straight stretch of Lanesborough Road, the council have said.

This comes following a request from Fianna Fail councillor Darragh Butler, to investigate the requirement for the existing double yellow lines along the road in certain areas. He asked that, whilst fully adhering to any safety concerns, the council investigate the requirement for the existing double yellow lines on Lanesborough Road in front of Lanesborough Square and to consult with residents who appear to want to have them removed due to parking fines.

“Residents agree that the lines would have to remain on the turn coming into

the estate as parking here would be dangerous,” he said.

In its response, the council said: “A 7.5m carriageway can accommodate parking along one side whilst maintaining free-flow, two-way traffic in most cases without representing a traffic hazard. In this context some parking can be considered (removal of double yellow lines required) along the straight stretch of Lanesborough Road on the southern side.

“The operations department will consult with the residents and An Garda Siochana in relation to this matter. It is expected that a meeting will take place in the coming weeks,” the council said.

Fingal County Council say it is unlikely wasps are nesting in a tree on Rivermeade Avenue

RIVERMEADE AVENUE: FEARS WASPS WILL RETURN

Tree is to be spared the chop, says FCC I MIMI MURRAY swords@gazettegroup.com

ONE par ticular tree along R ivermeade Avenue seems to have attracted some rather nasty house guests.

A large number of w a s p ’s n e s t s we r e reported at the Rivermeade Avenue bus stop last summer, and locals now fear that the same thing will happen this year if the council do not prune the tree in question.

H o w e v e r, F i n g a l County Council said they would not agree to this measure as the tree is in good condition and pruning would not alleviate the problem.

The council said that

the Balbriggan/Swords Tree Crew spent almost two weeks in the Rivermeade Estate carrying out essential tree works.

“Thirty-five mature trees that were presenting problems were felled. The main reasons for removal were d a m a g i n g p r o p e r t y, blocking street lights and sight-lines, decay, structural weakness and those in very poor condition. The tree at the bus stop was inspected and found to be in good condition and no works were recommended. As a number of trees in the immediate vicinity were removed it was felt that the retention of this tree was very important.

“It is most unlikely that wasps are actually nesting in the tree as this rarely happens in our wet climate. If a wasp’s nest is identified in one of our street trees, it would be dealt with through normal pest control measures.

It is more likely that the wasps were attracted by honeydew, the sticky excretion of sap-sucking aphids. Aphids and the resulting honeydew are ubiquitous on broadleaved trees in Ireland.

Almost every species attract some aphids.

The sugary excretion is seasonal and difficult to predict. Dry periods are the worst and last summer seemed to be particularly bad

throughout the county.

As honeydew is essentially sugar and water it is washed off in the rain. Birds, lacewings and ladybirds act to keep the aphid population in check.

“The tree is in good condition and pruning the tree will not control or alleviate the p e r c e i ve d p r o b l e m .

The pruned tree will put on a lot of very soft growth on the pruned branches, which may prove to be even more attractive to aphids and encouraging even more wasps. We will monitor the tree late next summer to ascertain if the wasp population at this location is excessive,” the council said.

22 March 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 3

CHARITY Fingal Baldies fundraising shave-a-thon

Losing long, lovely locks to encourage more donations I LAURA WEBB news@gazettegroup.com

A VERY brave woman has shown her support to the Shave or Dye campaign by shaving off her long golden locks and joining five male colleagues, known as the Fingal Baldies, in a fundraising shave-a-thon.

Caroline Bradley surprised everyone in Fingal County Council when she put her best head forward to be shaved by a local barber.

Fingal Baldies made up of Vincent Flynn, Wally Wade, Caroline Bradley, Mick Loftus, Paul Smyth and Ruairi O’Dulaing each shaved their head of hair to raise money for cancer, as part of the Shave or Dye campaign, run by national radio station Today FM. So far, they have raised a staggering €4,000 and it continues to rise each day.

Speaking to the Gazette this week, Caroline said she hopes this will encourage more women to take part in the campaign, if not shaving but at least dyeing their hair for a good cause.

“I just thought that going for the shave, instead of the dye; it would encourage people to donate more. This was just something I knew I could do. So many people around me have been affected, or are still

affected by cancer. I was hoping by me doing this, more women might get involved next year.”

Reaction from work colleagues and family members differed, with some thinking she was just going to dye her hair, while others weren’t too convinced she would go ahead with it. Which she did, and now sports a Sinead O’Connor-type hairstyle. “I have no regrets in doing it, I just pray it will grow back quicker,” she joked.

According to Caroline’s hairdresser, the amount of hair she had before the big shave would take four years to grow back.

“At the end of the day, it’s only hair and I have my health.”

Vincent Flynn, coordinator of the Fingal Baldies thanked all his recruits for taking part in the shave-a-thon, which happened at Fingal Offices in Blanchardstown last week. He started the Fingal Baldies this year after taking part in the successful Guinness record attempt for the most shaved heads in one place with Today FM. After this, he decided to change his approach to it and organise a fun and worthy group event.

“There was a fantastic buzz about the place. I must admit I was surprised Caroline shaved her head, but fair play to her. I basically camped

Caroline Bradley says goodbye to her long locks as local barber, Frank Lyster, shaves them away. Picture: Andrew Foley

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

‘I just thought that going for the shave, instead of the dye; it would encourage people to donate more’ --------------------------

Caroline Bradley

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

outside our staff canteen in Fingal trying to persuade people, and five kindly came on board. I put us down for a target

of €1,500 and we got over €4,000 and we are still counting,” Vincent said.

A kind staff member knitted novelty beanie hats for the baldies, which were auctioned off and a raffle on the day also helped to raise money for the cause. If this success is anything to go by, and if Today FM continues the campaign each year, Vincent says staff and Fingal consider making it an annual fundraising event.

To sponsor the Fingal Baldies log onto www. mycharity.ie/events/fingal_baldies See Gallery on pages 8-9

Members of the Fingal Baldies include Mick Loftus, Vincent Flynn, Paul Smyth, Caroline Bradley, Ruairi O’Dualaigh, Wally Wade with County Manager, David O’Connor (fourth from left), Sabrina Finn and Frank Lyster

FINGAL

Cleaner county awards RESIDENTS and businesses helping to make their county a cleaner and greener place to live in, are being asked to take part in the 2012 Fingal Cleaner Communities Awards.

The countywide competition rewards residents, community groups and businesses in their efforts to keep their area and premises clean and wellpresented.

Fingal is now inviting entries to take part in the awards. Application forms and full details of the competition are available by contacting the Environmental Awareness Team, Fingal County Council, County Hall, Main St., Swords, Co. Dublin, phone 01-890 6236, or email enviraware@fingalcoco.ie.

Application forms are also available to download from the FCC website. Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday, May 25, 2012.

4 SWORDS GAZETTE 22 March 2012

FastNews

Showing support for MS Society of Ireland LOCAL company Harris Heating are helping out a worthy cause, by donating a free boiler installation to the MS Society of Ireland.

The generous donation is worth €1,700 and is sure be a most welcome donation to the Society.

Pictured is Tom Egan, of Harris Heating, with Olivia Kirwan, of MS Ireland. They are joined by Eco Boiler the Clown, who made a special appearance to highlight their support of the MS Society of Ireland and the invaluable work they carry out.

Harris Heating will carry out a domestic boiler service for just €55, so don’t clown around and make sure your boiler is in good shape.

Councillor calls for exercise stations to be installed in Ardgillan Park THE use of fitness trails around Ardgillan Park will be reviewed by Fingal County Council.

Labour councillor Ken Farrell, asked for the exercise stations to be dotted around Ardgillan Park, workout stations similar to the ones found in Malahide Castle and Fr Collins Park, in Donaghmede.

“Due to the limited capital funding available for 2012, the repair of cycle paths and footpaths damaged in heavy rains in late 2011 has been prioritised for 2012.

“The provision of exercise stations is being considered but will depend on availability of capital funding in the second half of the year,” the council said.

IPPA Happy Faces Day charity

Studio to pull out fundraising event I MIMI MURRAY

swords@gazettegroup.com

GIGGLES and Smiles Photography is hosting its annual Happy Faces Day charity event in Swords Central, beside Pennys, from 11am to 5pm on April 1.

This will be the seventh year that Giggles and Smiles Photography, who were recently awarded Ireland’s Best Classical Portraiture P h o t o g r a p h e r, h ave been involved in the Happy Faces Day charity fundraiser.

They are pulling out all the stops to make it bigger and better this year with enter tainment, suppor t from local shops and amazing prizes.

Nationally, Irish Professional Photographers A s s o c i a t i o n ( I PPA) Happy Faces Day has raised almost €280,000 since 2006 through the hard work and enthusiasm of professional photographers nationwide. This year, a record number of 110 professional photographers have already signed up to IPPA Happy Faces Day charity event.

The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation was set up in 1997 by Jonathan Irwin and his wife, Senator MaryAnn O’Brien (MD of Lily O’Brien’s Chocolates) to provide home nursing care to young children in Ireland who have severe developmental delay as a result

of brain damage.

They decided to set up Jack and Jill based on their own experience with their son, Jack, which is the blueprint for the Jack and Jill model of home nursing that supports nearly 300 families in Ireland today.

The service includes home visits, advice, information, funding, lobbying and bereavement support. Jack and Jill requires €2.7 million per annum to survive and with less than 20% coming from the State, the Foundation relies on mobile phone and cash donations and big fundraisers such as IPPA Happy Faces Day in association with Canon.

Giggles and Smiles Photography will be running their Happy Faces

Day event in Swords Central beside Penneys on Sunday, April 1, from 11am to 5pm. For a €25 donation to The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation you receive the gift of an individual portrait minisession and a desk-size portrait; 100% of every donation will be paid directly to The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation. Book your appointment today by calling 01-806-1582.

Avoid disappointment as it is expected to fill up fast. Anyone can have their portrait taken, young and old.

Further information can be found at www. happy facesday.ie or www.jackandjill.ie/ w w w. g i g g l e sandsmiles.com.

22 March 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 5

event in Swords Central

all the stops for for charity

Council’s thumbs down for litter bins on beach LITTER bins will not be provided on North Beach in Balbriggan, Fingal County Council said this week.

Meeting At a recent Swords/Balbriggan area committee meeting, Independent councillor May McKeown, asked the manager to provide the bins at that location.

“There are currently three litter bins provided at the open

space beside the car park at the Martello Tower, Balbriggan, and a further dedicated bin for dog fouling within the car park.

“While it is not possible to place litter bins on the North Beach as the beach is tidal, consideration will be given to placing an additional litter bin near the two seats which are situated near the beach.

“It should be acknowledged

that there are ongoing issues in relation to the placement of litter bins along the coast in Balbriggan as litter bins are repeatedly vandalised or burnt out.

“There is also increasing evidence that bags of domestic refuse are being placed in bins that are currently in situ, and this is an offence under the Litter Pollution Acts, 1997 – 2003,” the council said.

6 SWORDS GAZETTE 22 March 2012

EVENT Great Bake Monster Sale fundraiser COUNCIL:

UPDATE ON PROPOSAL

How to fight post- Walkway is longnatal depression term I MIMI MURRAY

NURTURE post-natal depression Suppor t Services, based in Rush, will hold a Great Bake Monster Sale on Friday, March 23, in Joe Mays pub in Skerries.

The aim is to raise much-needed funds for this worthwhile service, which is run by humanistic counsellor, Irene Lowry.

Lowry has her own practice, Fine Counselling, and she says she felt compelled to start the service after losing two young mothers to suicide.

“I lost two young mothers, aged 29 and 24 years, in 2010 who died through suicide battling post-natal depression. These mothers came for counselling too late and, unfortunately, they had their suicide plan in place. They could not see how visiting their GP could help them. Talking with them, they really believed that they would be better if they left this world and commented ‘who would miss them anyway’.

“They left three young

children under the age of five years. It was an horrific time. Having spent a lot of time as a counsellor with both families, I decided in January 2011 to research post-natal depression Support Services in Ireland and found, whilst there are some services available, there is a serious lack of support services in this area.

“My colleague, Lilian McGowan and myself established Nur ture throughout 2011. We secured our charity status with Revenue. Lilian is also a bereavement counsellor and works in the area of suicidology.

“Research shows that 12,000 mothers in Ireland will experience post-natal depression. We have been advised that this trend will continue in 2012, as we are in a baby boom.

“Statistically, 10% of mothers will seek professional help for PND. However, whilst visiting their GP is crucial to their mental health, so too is talk therapy, i.e. visiting a counsellor to talk about their inner feelings.

“Unfortunately there

project says FCC I MIMI MURRAY swords@gazettegroup.com

THE Donabate to Malahide walkway is a complex and longterm project and will be delivered on a longterm basis as funds become available, Fingal County Council said last week.

Humanistic counsellor, Irene Lowry

are a lot of private counsellors still charging €60/70 a session and, in our current down turn, mothers generally cannot afford these fees.

“Nurture is bridging this gap as our counsellors are open to charging a fee of €35 or less for a counselling session, depending on the client’s income. Nurture has

been backed by Minister for Health, James Reilly, and our immediate aim is to secure funding from the Government to run the charity on a no-fee basis.”

For more information, or if you would like to donate monies to Nurture, please follow the link on their website www. nurturepnd.org

BUSINESS: LOCAL FIRM ENJOYING SUCCESS

Aiming to meat your needs I MIMI MURRAY

THE Dublin Meat Company is one success story that is worth telling.

Brian and David O’Leary, along with their dad, Paddy, set up the company six years ago and have gone from strength to strength in that time, coming up with several savvy ideas of how to make the business a success during the current economic turmoil facing Ireland.

The company now employs around 20 full- and part-time staff in the Swords/Malahide and Artane shops, and intends to keep punters happy for a long time to come.

“My dad had a shop in Northside Shopping Centre for 40 years but rents were outrageous so he decided to move to Butterly Business Park with the idea being that the saving he made on rent could be passed on to customers.

“It is a factory shop and my dad and brother set this up. I came on

Paddy O’Leary of the Dublin Meat Company

board three years ago and we set up the shop in the Kinsealy Garden Centre on the Malahide road. The third shop was opened two years ago on Forest Road in Swords.

“We have cut down on our costs by centralising the labour above the shop in Artane, all the butchery is done there. We have also launched an online shop and we deliver anywhere in Ireland.

“One of the things unique to us is our weekly special, and we send a text out to over 7,000 people letting them know of our special. This week, it is five dinners for €20, which consists of 800 grams of roundsteak mince, five chicken fillets, 1.2 kilos of ham fillet, two chickens, and one kilo of homemade lasagne,” he says.

Brian says they mostly make a loss on this special but they do it hoping it attracts more customers through the doors who will then buy more produce.

“People go mad for it. We announce it on a Monday night and we can have the box of meat couriered out by Tuesday morning. It costs €5 for delivery or, if you spend over €70, you get delivery for free.

We stand over the quality of everything.”

Long may their success continue.

Visit www.dublinmeatcompany. com for details.

Update Fianna Fail councillor Darragh Butler asked the council for an update on the proposed walkway and asked for clarification as to what amount of funding has been made available and what this should achieve.

“This remains a top priority project that residents are starting to get optimistic might actually get delivered in the not too distant future,” he said.

Grants In response the council said: “As part of its allocation of grants to Fingal County Council for 2012, the National Transpor t Authority has granted a sum of €100,000 towards the provision of a walkway and cycleway to run between Malahide and Donabate.

“Work proposed as part of the scheme will require the submission of an Environmental Impact Statement to, and the consent of An Bord Pleanala.

“The monies granted will be expended on the preparation of the necessary studies required to compile the Statement for submission to An Bord Pleanala.

“It should be noted that this is a complex and long-term project which, realistically, will be delivered on an incremental basis as funds become available,” the council said.

22 March 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 7

COMPETITION Three-day festival to find the winner

Search for the 2012 Dublin Rose is now on I LAURA WEBB

THE search for the Dublin Rose is now on, and, this year, organisers have changed the format for choosing the capital’s rose, by dedicating a three-day festival to finding a Rose that will represent their county at the Rose of Tralee later this year.

Applications are now open and everyone who applies will be featured in the three-day festival in May. “We encourage as many people as possible to enter. The major thing this year is that we put entrants up for the threeday festival at the Carlton Blanchardstown Hotel,”

Dublin Rose co-ordinator, Brendan Galvin, told the Gazette.

“We are doing it differently this year; we used to run it on a system where we had heats in different parts of Dublin, who would then go to the grand Dublin final. We didn’t like that system, so what we are doing now is running a whole Dublin festival in the Carlton Hotel in Blanchardstown from May 18-20. There is a selection night on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and the Dublin Rose will be picked out of that.

“Instead of girls going out in heats, they will all really come in second place after the Dublin

Rose is selected. We want this to be a fun experience, which allows all Dublin Roses to be involved in it right until the end,” he said.

According to Brendan, the Dublin Rose experience is more than just about getting the title to represent Dublin at the Rose of Tralee festival in August. “The emphasis we want to get across is the amount of fun the girls are going to have. It’s not a competition, it’s not about who is going to be a Dublin Rose, it’s about entering for the whole Dublin Rose experience.

“People see the Rose of Tralee as just being what is on the telly those

Organisers are dedicating a three-day festival to finding a Dublin Rose

two nights, but really it goes beyond that, that is a minuscule side of it. It doesn’t really show the whole story; there is so much more behind it and the big word is ‘friendship’. The amount of friends that are made through this is fantastic, it really is.

“Our job, as Dublin Rose coordinators, is to make sure every girl has a fantastic time. There were four girls last year, who never met each other until the festival, and now they all live together. There

are loads of stories like this. They have a fantastic time,” Brendan said.

Girls aged six to 12 years can also experience the festival by becoming a Rose Bud. Rose Buds are paired with an International Rose, attend the first televised selection night in the Dome, participate in two Rose parades and take part in their own Gala Rose Bud evening and enjoy the fun of a week-long Rose Bud Summer Camp.

As part of the selec-

tion process, the Gazette is running a colouring competition in association with Dublin Rose, details of which are coming soon.

For further information on Dublin Rose, log onto www.roseoftralee. ie/centres and click Dublin, or find Dublin Rose on facebook for dates of information evenings.

The Rose of Tralee International Festival takes place from August 17-21 and is one of Ireland’s largest and longest- running festivals.

NOTICES

New dog fouling notices for beach DOG-fouling notices will be erected on areas of Balbriggan beach where there are none at present.

Independent Councillor May McKeon asked that the council provides penalty notices with regard to litter and dog fouling on all beaches in the Balbriggan area.

Reminder

“There are a number of signs already erected along the walkway at the beach relating to dog fouling and reminding dog owners of their responsibilities. T he Operations Department has also agreed to erect signage in relation to littering at the key entrance points to the beaches.

In conjunction with this work, where no dog-fouling notices are present, they will be erected,” the council said.

8 SWORDS GAZETTE 22 March 2012

CHARITY Fingal County Council colleagues take part in a

Baldies a cut above the rest GROUP of brave colleagues at Fingal County Council put their best heads forward recently when they had their hair shaved by a local barber to raise money for cancer, as part of the Shave or Dye campaign, run by national radio station Today FM. The group, known as the Fingal Baldies, so far have raised a staggering â‚Ź4,000 and the amount continues to rise each day.

A kind staff member knitted novelty beanie hats for the baldies which were auctioned off and a raffle on the day also helped to raise money for the cause. If this success is anything to go by, and if Today FM continues the campaign each year, coordinator Vincent FLynn says staff and Fingal consider making it an annual fundraising event.

A

The Baldy Crew enjoying their warm hats. Pictures: Andrew Foley

Caroline Bradley has her hair shaved off

Mick Loftus in his

cupcake hat

Ruairi with his cactus hat

Caroline enjoying her photo hat

Frank Lyster awaits his first volunteer

Vincent Flynn in his angry birds hat

Mick Loftus getting the chop

22 March 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 9

fundraising shave-a-thon to raise money for cancer

A hairy moment for Paul Smyth

Wally’s turn in the chair

Vincent Flynn

Wally Wade and Caroline Bradley

Ruairi O Dualaigh

10 SWORDS GAZETTE 22 March 2012

EVENT Great opportunity to plan for your big day

A wedding fair at the stylish Ardboyne Hotel

M

Pet care: Natural remedies for keeping pets healthy

SEE PETS PAGE 16

The Ardboyne Hotel is hosting a Spring Wedding Fair

THE Ardboyne Hotel is hosting its Spring Wedding Fair on Sunday, March 25, from 2pm – 5pm. The event, that takes place throughout the hotel, promises to be one of the top wedding fairs of 2012, with an opportunity to speak with a variety of wedding suppliers from the local area.

The Ardboyne Hotel management team will also be on hand to show you around this most attractive venue, giving guests information on the hotel’s special wedding offers that are currently available.

On the day, the beautiful Boyne Suite will be set up with a host of exhibitors from the local area that can provide guests with their services and help in all things that are important for the perfect wedding day.

There will be entertainment – from Irish dancers to a stunning bridal fashion show by McElhinneys of Athboy.

The Ardboyne Hotel is traditionally known as a premier destination for weddings, and is synonymous with weddings of the highest quality.

The hotel’s relaxed atmosphere in the open

plan lobby, to the luxurious ballroom, T he Boyne Suite, with its crystal chandeliers and windows overlooking their beautifully landscaped gardens, there is no question as to where guests will want to celebrate saying “I do”.

The Ardboyne Hotel is registered for civil wedding ceremonies and the Tara Suite will be set up in the day as it would be for a wedding ceremony. The room is a perfect setting for an intimate, relaxed wedding ceremony with family and friends.

Enchanting

The hotel’s enchanting gardens create an astounding backdrop for all wedding photos.

With 29 well-appointed bedrooms available, as well as a beautiful bridal suite, guests can avail of a reduced rate on a wedding night.

There are a host of packages available, with the Three Ring Package proving extremely popular. The Bronze Ring Package costs €3,295, with the Silver Ring Package costing €3,595 and the Gold Ring Package priced at €3,895, all based on 100 guests attending.

All packages include red carpet on arrival, champagne reception for the bridal party, complimentary tea/coffee and homemade biscuits on arrival, five-course dinner, two glasses of house wine served with the meal, evening buffet, bar extension, floral centrepieces for all tables, chair covers and gold bows, bridal suite and two bedrooms for parents, free parking and anniversary dinner.

This year, for the hotel’s Spring Wedding Fair, guests can avail of a special offer, with an opportunity to enjoy €200 off their wedding day or a complimentary day-after wedding party for those who book between now and May 31 for a wedding in 2012.

Bookings

The hotel is also taking bookings for Christmas weddings and have limited dates available between Christmas and New Year.

For those unable to attend the wedding fair and are interested in the hotel’s special offers, contact the wedding co-ordinator, Michelle, on 0469023119 or mgilbane@ ardboynehotel.com.

St Vincent de Paul is looking for volunteers THE Society of St Vincent de Paul is the oldest and largest, voluntary, charitable organisation in Ireland. The Society is a volunteer organisation that is always in need of volunteers. The work is challenging but very rewarding.

The SVP is involved in a wide variety of works in support of those in need, which means there are many ways that the public can give their time to help the Society.

The kind of activities that people can become involved in will depend entirely upon their own personal interests.

Some activities the Society partici-

pates in are home visitation and hospital and prison visits. The Society also has 34 Vincent’s shops spread throughout Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare.

Volunteers generally give a couple of hours a week to their work, so volunteers can give as little or as much time as they want.

In the Society of St Vincent de Paul, too few people are trying to do too much. The society needs the public’s help to help people in need.

Anyone interested in volunteering some spare time to help can contact Claire Banks at (01) 8198414.

22 March 2012 GAZETTE 11

SPRING It’s time to get tooled up to tackle your lawn

Gardening greats at new centre WITH Dubliners enjoying the first signs of spring over the weekend, it’s no wonder they are taking to their gardens in their droves to prepare for what, we hope, will be a summer of long, lazy afternoons enjoying our own patches of green.

For all those green-fingered enthusiasts, there is an all-new new Husqvarna Centre opening up in a prime Dublin location on the Longmile Road this weekend, March 24.

From ride-on mowers, lawnmowers, blowers, hedgetrimmers, chainsaws, automowers and trimmers, to name but a few, Husqvarna Ireland

have all your garden needs wrapped up.

The Husqvarna range are a household name in Ireland and are known for their excellent design, attention to detail and long-lasting performance.

The Husqvarna lawnmower is tailor-made for both you and your garden needs. It mows lawns to perfection leaving your garden without a blade of grass out of place. The Husqvarna lawnmowers have a 3-in-1 cutting system, comfort handle and a robust design.

The Husqvarna Automower® recently featured on a Channel 4 pro-

gramme, entitled Home of the Future, and it truly is a revolutionary product, becoming increasingly more popular by the day.

Husqvarna developed the Automower®, the original robotic lawn mower and the undisputed leader. With the Automower, there is now no need for compost heaps, the grass cuttings produced are so fine that they decompose quickly, providing a natural fertiliser for the lawn. Also, the Automower is well equipped to work in the rain.

A Rider from Husqvarna can go almost anywhere, and has an

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

The Husqvarna Automower, top, and Rider, above

extremely small turning circle. It’s both easy and fun to drive, whether it’s fitted with a cutting deck, broom, sweeper or one of the many other attachments.

Liffey Distributors are the exclusive distributors of Husqvarna Forest, Garden and Construction products, Flymo, Jonsered, Partner, McCulloch, Aspen Fuel, Gardena and Oregon.

Established in 1970

by Vincent Brady, Liffey Distributors started in a portacabin on Iona Road in Glasnevin. Liffey Distributors is still run by Vincent and supported by all of his family and employs over 30 staff from a 40,000 sq ft base in Blanchardstown.

For your information on your local supplier, please log onto: www. husqvarna.ie.

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.

12 GAZETTE 22 March 2012

GazetteFITNESS FITNESS

Brought to you by Derry Temple personal trainer and pilates instructor

How to reach your own fitness peak IVING a busy daily life is challenging in itself and succeeding in your life’s goals on top of that can be extremely demanding.

Throughout my life, I have been lucky enough to witness many people succeeding against seemingly insurmountable odds.

Whenever I see this, it inspires me.

I find it is important to engage and spend time with people who have demonstrated that inner strength to achieve their goals; people who can inspire you to reach yours.

When you feel like quitting, it is worth reminding

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yourself of stories where people have persevered and achieved their ambitions. Sometimes it can be just a small thing or, in the case of my friend, Cian O’Brolchain, it can be a big thing.

Cian is preparing to ascend the summit of Mt Everest later this year and he has already overcome odds beyond any that I had ever imagined. In the last year he has endured some of the world’s highest and most treacherous mountain climbs.

On a recent excursion to scale Cho Oyu, he described how some fellow climbers not only didn’t make it to the summit but lost their lives in

the process. Climbing in extremely bad weather, and having witnessed several of his colleagues drop out due to altitude sickness, dehydration and exhaustion, Cian still succeeded in reaching the summit.

Seeing the frozen body of a climber who had perished in the ice, and having to climb past the dead man’s body, was his biggest test. He knew he had to concentrate and put the tragic events around him out of his mind to prevent another fatality.

He struggled on despite dehydration, exhaustion and lack of food. His legs and upper body ached from carrying his heavy

pack, but he knew that, if he stopped, he might not get up again.

Cian used powerful visualisation techniques to remember past sporting achievements and reminded himself of all the support from family and friends that made it possible for him to be there. Staying focused on these positive and powerful images kept his determination focused as he closed his mind to the negative thoughts.

He describes as amazing the experience of standing atop the treacherous mountain peak, gazing at the horizon where he could see in the distance his ultimate

Cian O’Brolchain will attempt to scale Mount Everest later this year

ambition – Mt Everest.

The hardship and effort was worth this truly amazing experience.

Stories like Cian’s are what inspiration is all about. Sometimes ordinary people just like you have persevered to beat the insurmountable.

Remember, that whatever roadblocks life puts in your way, you should

never let them stop you.

Ignore the temptation to quit and do not allow negative thoughts to drag you off course. Stay focused and determined and you too will reach Your Peak.

You can follow Cian’s remarkable journey on www.irelandtoeverest. com.

If you are looking to get fit and healthy and

are looking for someone to inspire you, then surround yourself with those who have done it already.

Temple Training provides a FREE assessment and can advise on what fitness regime could help you reach your physical peak. See www.templetraining.ie, email info@ templetraining.ie or call 085 7131417.

22 March 2012 GAZETTE 13

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GazetteBEAUTY BEAUTY

Edited by Laura Webb

Don’t weight - Lose It Now!

Getting some Olympic-style locks

TWO out of every five Irish adults are overweight and obesity is now the most common childhood disorder in Europe. A weight reduction of 10% drastically improves your energy and mental health and also helps reduce blood pressure and cholesterol. The aim of a weight loss programme should be to reduce fat whilst maintaining muscle tissue. CLA 24/7 tablets, in combination with healthy meal planning and increased physical activity, help optimise the relationship between body fat and muscle mass. Contact your local pharmacy for advice on healthy weight loss.

SHAPE up your hair with Olympic-style locks like Pantene Pro-V ambassador Olympic and World Champion cyclist, Victoria Pendleton.

Although we would all love to be on the same fitness and health level as an Olympian, getting the same beautiful glossy hair will do just fine thanks to the Pantene Pro-V smooth and Sleek range. It contains micro-smoothers which work with hair to silken each strand and to lock out humidity to help keep frizz from forming and leaving hair feeling smooth and silky.

Victoria shares her top tips on how she keep her hair looking amazing, despite a gruelling exercise routine.

With thanks to the staff of Lucan Village Pharmacy

What is your greatest hair challenge?

Training every day means my hair is prone to a lot of frizz, so I need a hair care regime that helps combat frizz throughout the day.

I’d recommend the new Pantene Smooth & Sleek 24h Frizz Fighter, it’s really light and smells gorgeous.

How important is having healthy looking hair?

Having healthy hair is really important to me and I always like to look and feel good on, and off, the bike. Pantene Smooth & Sleek range helps give me gorgeously, healthy-looking hair every day.

What hair products do you swear by?

Working with Pantene has reminded me of just how effective and amazing their products are. I especially love their new Smooth & Sleek 24h Frizz Fighter, and also the mousse in the rangeboth products help to really deliver a smooth and moisturised finish.

How often a week do you wash your hair?

Training with a helmet on every day means I wash my hair most days. I love to leave in a hydrating smoothing product after washing, to help combat frizz.

What would be your best hair care tip?

My best hair care tip would be to choose a hair care range that is right for your hair structure.

Working with Pantene has made me realise the importance of this, and it

Pantene Pro-V ambassador Olympic and World Champion Cyclist, Victoria Pendleton

really does make a difference. I have quite thick hair, so I use the Smooth & Sleek range.

What is your favourite

hair look?

I always think a timeless elegant look is a really smooth, sleek blow dry. This is so much easier to achieve at home if

you use styling products, Pantene’s Smooth & Sleek hairspray and mousse are my go-to products to achieve this look at home.

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GazettePETS PETS

Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA

THE FACTS: NUTRACEUTICAL TREATMENTS CAN BE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE

Natural remedies for keeping pets healthy HIS week I decided to write about a problem very close to my own heart – in fact it’s breaking it. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) or in lay persons terms, dog dementia.

Yep, after 17 years of faithful companionship, loyalty and unselfish love, our eldest Jack Russell Terrier, Sophie, has begun to display strange behaviours.

Ever since I rescued her as a six-week-old, frightened puppy from a lift shaft in an area of north Dublin, Sophie has showered me with love and been my best friend.

No matter what obstacles life throws at me, Sophie stoically sees me through them. Now, although physically healthy, my darling little friend is often in a state of confusion, doesn’t greet me the way she used to, stares into space and bites and

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snaps at me when I feed her or offer her treats.

I’m around animals long enough to realise what’s wrong with Sophie and don’t really need our wonderful vet to confirm that she is displaying signs of CCD. Similar to Alzheimer’s in humans, CCD tells me there are physical changes taking place in Sophie’s brain – the result of which means a deterioration of how she remembers, thinks and acts, all causing great upset to our lives.

Sophie has other “old lady” problems too, but none of them is life-threatening. Therefore, while my duties as her Mom may be more demanding due to her problems, the fact is my best friend still enjoys a good quality of life.

She eats well, she sleeps well, in fact she sleeps quite a lot, she drinks adequately, her coat is good and she

lets me know when she needs to relieve herself.

So, in the grand scheme of things, her dad and I reckon great-aunt Sophie deserves a little extra help and that is why we’ve consulted our lovely vet with regard to providing alternative remedies, such as herbal and nutraceutical treatments that contain brain sustaining supplements.

And no, I’m not trying to teach an old dog new tricks, rather help her extend the happy, good quality of life she already enjoys with us.

So, what is a nutraceutical? Basically, from what I understand, it’s a term used for a product isolated or purified from food(s) that is generally available in medicinal forms, which are not usually associated with food.

What are the benefits of herbal remedies to your dog? I believe they can be of great benefit

– especially as the gap between natural remedies and traditional treatments is not very wide.

Traditional medications are actually synthesised from herbal compounds that have been used to treat the same problems for centuries.

Herbal remedies are also highly cost-effective and often less expensive than conventional medicines.

How do they work? I believe natural remedies will strengthen the inherent immune system of my dog – allowing her body take care of her problems, (rather than mask them), and, hopefully, with their help, the short life Sophie has left will be enhanced, and the great thing is, without any of the side effects of conventional medications.

My love and loyalty for Sophie will never falter.

We face tough times, but we face them together.

Many pet parents are seeking more ‘natural’ forms of treatment

I’ll be there for her as she has been for me. Patience and love is the key.

Many pet parents are seeking more “natural” forms of treatment for their pets. However, I would like to mention the information contained in this column is simply a guideline. It is in no way a substitute for pro-

fessional, medical advice from your vet – whom you should always consult before using, or treating your pet with a natural remedy. A specialised practitioner will best advise as to which remedy can interact with your pet’s prescriptions, interact with each other and safety and effectiveness,

etc., It is only when you are armed with your vet’s advice, that you will be able to make an informed decision regarding your pet’s healthy future.

For more

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

22 March 2012 GAZETTE 17

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS

Edited by Cormac Curtis

RoadSigns Road Signs RENAULT ABOUT TO GO POSTAL:

The new Renault Grand Megane GTline offers a far more attractive option for those who need extra load space but don’t fancy a traditional estate car

Touring, just grander CORMAC CURTIS

ENAULT have a loyal fan base in the Irish market, and have always offered their customers a little more spec than many of their competitors and for less money.

Traditionally, Renault have offered practicality and value, but wouldn’t have necessarily been the prettiest or most desirable cars on the road.

In recent years, to be fair, they have made huge improvements with their styling, most notably their 2008 release of the Megane Coupe.

The dramatic and aggressive design elements of this car coincided with a move by Renault to invest a lot more time and mileage in to the test phases of their cars.

The brand’s reputation has improved steadily

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SPECS: RENAULT GRAND MEGANE GT LINE 1.5 dCi 0 – 100km/hr: 12.9 sec Economy: 4 L/100km (comb) CO2 emissions: 120 g/km Road Tax Band: A (€104) Price: €27,200 (model tested)

since, and the addition of models such as the Grand Megane, especially in the GT Line spec, is bound to add to their new-found cache.

Renault have brought the Grand Megane GT Line to the Irish market powered by a 1.5-litre dCi engine producing 110bhp, with a 90bhp option also available.

I spent a week driving the Grand Megane, and was very pleasantly surprised, not just with the performance, but also with how the power from

the engine is matched with a well-balanced sport chassis, lowered suspension and precise steering.

In short, I wasn’t expecting what is essentially an estate car from Renault to put such a wide smile on my face.

Not only is the Grande Megane keeping up with its competitors in terms of performance from small, fuel-efficient engines, which help to keep cost of ownership down, but their interior design team were obviously allowed

to throw out the Renault style book, as well as the budget plan.

Sitting in the cockpit, the driver enjoys sports seats that certainly keep you in place when you decide to power through a few twisty roads.

I admit that they were a little snug for me personally, but I imagine that I’m a little older and wider than the target market.

The upholstery is a very attractive half-leather/ cloth offering, with contrast stitching that certainly looks the part.

The overall pallet doesn’t hold any surprises, but there are some glossy panels that add some nice highlights to the cabin.

The dials are sporty and eye-catching, the steering wheel, gear knob, and handbrake are wrapped in leather and have a reassuring quality feel to them. The handbrake is at an offset angle, which is another nice touch that makes the cabin a little special.

Fur ther attractive touches include electric folding door mirrors, colour-coded sport bumpers and headlights with black surrounds, dark metal window surrounds and door handles.

This all adds up to a very pretty car indeed, but let’s not forget about some of the more practical aspects of this grand tourer.

For that special driving

holiday, the Grand Megane allows for a generous 486 litres of boot capacity with the five-seat configuration, and an impressive 1,600 litres when the rear seats are folded down.

More than enough space for a few cases of your favourite tipple.

The car’s boot comes with a storage compartment system that makes it easier to organise the loading space – another nice touch that is often missing from some of its competitors.

This car is something that fans of Renault will certainly covet, and it will not disappoint those who spring for the €27,200 price tag (or €25,000 for the 90 bhp version).

Renault still offer attractive trade-in and their own scrappage deals, so there are a few ways to bring that sticker price down a bit.

Kia’s Rio and Picanto red dot awards brings their total to 6 LAST WEEK saw Korean car manufacturer, Kia, awarded two top honours for its Picanto and Rio models in the 2012 red dot design competition.

The five-door versions of Kia’s A-segment Picanto and B-segment Rio were both winners in red dot’s internationally acclaimed Product Design category, in a competition that saw more than 4,500

products entered by 1,800 manufacturers from 58 countries across a variety of product sectors.

Judges scrutinised and tested the products in detail, with winners selected on the basis of their level of innovation, functionality, ergonomics, durability, ecological compatibility and intuitive handling.

Only products featuring the highest standards of design are eligible for the coveted red dot.

These two latest wins bring Kia’s red dot total to six, with the Soul crossover winning in 2009, Venga compact MPV in 2010, and both Sportage compact SUV and Optima sedan claiming top spots in 2011.

Optima was also named Best of the Best in 2011 – the red dot competition’s highest accolade for ground-breaking design, for which only the best products in each category are eligible.

Commenting on the awards, Kia’s chief officer, Peter Schreyer, said: “We are very proud of the red dot awards for the Picanto and the Rio.”

AN Post and Renault Ireland are joining forces in Ireland’s first ever on-the-road trial of electrically powered post vans.

The study will compare the energy/ fuel efficiency, maintenance costs and overall performance of the Renault Kangoo ZE (electric) mini van against its traditional diesel counterpart over the next 12 months.

An Post operates one of Ireland’s largest fleets, and, in 2011, their f leet-related fuel costs were in the region of €10 million.

Commenting on the trial, An Post chief executive, Donal Connell, said: “We’re very pleased to be conducting this likefor-like trial with this calibre of vehicle and we’re looking forward to reviewing the data with Renault Ireland over the coming months.”

18 GAZETTE 22 March 2012

GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS 25 new jobs at Datapac IRELAND’S largest indigenous ICT solutions provider, Datapac announced last week that it will create up to 25 new jobs.

This follows the awarding of an €8m ICT consumables contract by the National Procurement Service to Datapac.

This new contract follows a strong start to 2012 for Datapac, enabling it to make a strategic decision to grow its business.

The new jobs will be based across all of Datapac’s locations and 15 of the roles will be created this year, with the additional 10 positions being created over the following two years. The new positions will include sales, marketing and logistics roles.

Supported by AIB

Fourth tech award for Eden training I BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

EDEN Training in Rathfarnham has won the National Award for Training Centre of the Year, 2012 at the 15th National IT Training Conference.

This is the fourth win for Eden Training in the six-year history of the awards.

T he ECDL (Euro pean Computer Driving Licence) course at Eden Training won the ICS Skills Best Practice Training Centre on

March 9, 2012.

At the event, held in the Crown Plaza Hotel in Dublin, former President Mary McAleese described ECDL as “a huge national movement” and as an “enabler; it is what gives people the opportunity to advance their careers; to advance their education,” which can “empower people to avail of the advantages that technology can give”.

The award represents a standard of excellence nationally as Eden out-

flanked 1,000 other training providers. The ECDL certificate is a truly international qualification that is recognised in 148 countries.

The conference was addressed by Jim Friars, chief executive at ICS Skills, and Mary Cleary, professional development manager at ICS Skills, which is the organisation that oversees ECDL provision in Ireland.

“It was a great honour to again have our efforts with regard to ECDL provision recognised,”

From Leftt: Michael O’Connor (ICS Board), Denise Leahy (ICS Board), James Bannigan (Eden Training), Jim Friars (ICS CEO) and Sean Connolly (ICS board)

said Eden Training business development manager, James Bannigan.

“We feel that ECDL is a crucial steppingstone for those seeking to engage with IT on a

personal or professional level. That’s why we’re continually reinvesting in this programme to ensure the maximum possible learning outcome for our students.”

Those interested in doing the ECDL course, or any other with Eden Training, can go online at http://www.twitter.com/ edentraining or contact them on 01 4953155.

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Gazette

DONEGAL DELIGHT P2O

GOING BACK IN TIME New Titanic attraction to be opened to the public AFTER three years under construction, the same length of time it took to build the Titanic itself, the Titanic visitor attraction in Belfast is now completing its finishing touches and will be open to the public on March 31.

In Gallery 1, visitors step back into Edwardian Belfast. To appreciate the achievement Titanic represented, visitors are immersed in the Belfast of the e a r l y 19 0 0 s a n d become acquainted with the people who lived there. Visitors will walk through Belfast’s ‘streets’ towards Queen’s Island with a rising sense of expectation, eventually passing through a set of original Harland and Wolff gates In the Arrol Gantry and Shipyard Ride, visitors take a 20m journey in a metal elevator up the Arrol Gantry, the enormous steel structure built to facilitate the construction of Titanic and her sister ships, Olympic and Britannic. They then join Harland and Wolff’s workers on a “shipyard ride”.

Continued on Page 22

The Hagia Sophia is a well-preserved example of a Roman Catholic Cathedral during the reign of Constantine and during Istanbul’s heyday as a Christian capital

LONGITUDE 79° 24’ W | LATITUDE 43° 40’ N

A city of delights where the east meets the west

I SHONA MURRAY

STANBUL, aptly referred to as the most ‘western’, eastern city and the most ‘eastern’, western city is a capital serving conscientious travellers wishing to enjoy the ease and closeness of city delights with an interest in deep history and diverse culture.

As a central hub for European markets, Istanbul not only economically links the Middle East to the West, but its Christian heritage makes it more European than many other European cities.

Formerly, Constantinople, after Roman Emperor and saviour of the Catholic Church, Constantine the Great, Istanbul once served as the capital of the Roman Empire.

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Following the founding of the Republic of Turkey, the name Constantinople was replaced officially by Istanbul having had numerous names adopted to it by its various rulers, most significantly, the Ottoman Empire from which its adaptation into an Islamic capital, began in 1453, ending centuries of Christian rule in the region.

The most startling example of the successful Ottoman siege against the Roman Empire is in the Saint Sophia Museum, or Hagia Sophia.

This is an astonishingly well-preserved example of a Roman Catholic Cathedral during the reign of Constantine and during Istanbul’s heyday as a Christian capital.

It served as a Christian church until

the fateful coup by Ottoman soldiers in 1453 and was immediately transformed into a mosque.

Its Byzantine architecture and glaringly Christian features are what makes the Hagia Sophia all the more remarkable given its historic and bloody takeover more than 500 years ago.

Although the typical accoutrements of Catholic ceremony, such as the bibles, altar, bells and sacristy, were removed to make way for prayer mats and separate worshipping sections, the stunning Christian mosaics, beautifully crafted in golds, reds and blues were left untouched.

Instead, the Ottomans merely covered the Christian iconography with Islamic wording, thereby preserving what is now

possible to see in the museum today.

Despite being one of the strongest reminders of Christian domination in Turkey, the Hagia Sophia is credited with influencing the distinguished architecture that Istanbul has today.

No greater example of this exists than the Suleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul’s second largest mosque and one of the most imposing sights in the city.

Built over one hundred years after the Ottoman coup by Sultan Suleyman, the mosque, which is open to visitors of all creeds, also houses the tombs of the sultan and his family, as well as his successor in the marble mausoleums at the back of the Mosque.

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Athlone really has everything for Easter THE mighty River Shannon that flows through the town of Athlone is a haven for all types of waterbased activity, including kayaking, fishing, boating and the ever-popular Viking Boat, for lazy afternoon cruises – perfect for girly weekends, romantic breaks or family getaways.

For a golfing break, courses abound, with the Athlone Golf Club and the popular Glasson Golf club never too far.

For families, there is loads on offer, including Glendeer Pet Farm, walks in Portlick, learn a waterbased activity on Lough Ree, or just enjoy the kids’ camp in the Athlone Springs Hotel, while parents enjoy a superb meal in the Cedar Restaurant or a superb treatment in their beauty rooms.

Athlone is a place that will make a short break relaxing, enjoyable and excellent value for money.

The Athlone Springs will be doing an Easter Egg Hunt and Kids’ Camp over the Easter Holidays and mid-terms. This is available to everyone, and all kids are welcome.

The Athlone Springs Hotel is an independently owned hotel but forms part of the Select Hotels of Ireland group, and offers good food and great facilities. The hotel offers a full gym, a 20m pool and beauty treatment rooms. Visit www.athlonespringshotel.com or contact reservations on 090 644 4444 or by email on info@athlonespringshotel.com.

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LONGITUDE 8° 7’ W | LATITUDE 54° 39’ N

Making tracks for a Donegal delight I MIMI MURRAY

AS THE crow flies, Donegal is just as close to Dublin as Cork, but the fact that it lacks a really good road network makes it that little bit harder to get too, but very much worth the trip in my estimation.

It remains quite untapped by tourists; however, hardy souls have been making their way to Donegal’s beaches for years to make good use of the spectacular surf.

The coastline is dotted with stunning beaches, but being a large county, we only got to experience the south on a recent jaunt up there.

We stayed in the beautiful Lough Eske Castle, which has been renovated in recent years.

A castle has been located on the hotel site dating back as far as the 1400s.

The current castle was built in the 1860s, but was completely destroyed by fire in 1939.

As a focal point of the hotel, the main castle building has been completely renovated and enhanced to create Lough Eske Castle, which opened as a hotel in December 2007.

Expect relaxing spa treatments at Lough Eske Castle

The long driveway passes Lough Eske, which looks very inviting for a walk or cycle.

After a sensitive restoration, the building feels quite new, but the developers have gone to great lengths to keep much of the old-world charm.

Our deluxe room had some very comfortable, modern features, such as under-floor heating and an open gas fire, which come in handy as Donegal weather can be changeable.

Drizzle is to be expected, so bring warm clothing if you want to tramp around the countryside and experience what the county has to offer.

After a hearty buffet breakfast, which I am not normally a fan of, but these guys pull it off, we travelled to Kilcar on our second day, keeping

a beady eye out for one of its famous part-time residents, Sarah Jessica Parker.

Beaches surrounding the area, such as Muckross and Fintragh, are breathtaking, and were completely isolated. It’s no wonder the Parker/ Brodericks love this part of the world.

Further along the coast are the majestic Slieve League cliffs, dramatically overlooking the Atlantic beneath.

We soon needed a drop of something hot to warm us up, and headed back to the hotel for a swim and steam.

The leisure area is compact, with a pool, gym and spa, and while my husband hired a bike to explore the surrounding area, I made good use of the spa.

My rose facial was

everything you relaxing, everythi would ld expect ffrom a really good treatment.

Dinner is served in both the Gallery bar and Cedars Grill. We opted for the restaurant and it served up some tasty dishes, including duck confit for me, while my husband dined on sirloin steak.

Our desserts were delicious, including a platter with pecan tart, chocolate madeleines, panna cotta and home-made ice cream.

Delicious Other guests we spoke to said the bar food was delicious, and the bar area actually seemed like a more intimate setting, so comes highly recommended.

Service is second to none at the hotel and our waitress, Natalie, really went above and beyond, as did all the staff throughout our stay.

Prices start from €185 per room, per night, including breakfast for up to two adults sharing.

For more information on rates, offers and packages contact Lough Eske Castle reservations on +353 (0) 74 97 25100.

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LONGITUDE 79° 24’ W | LATITUDE 43° 40’ N

Istanbul is as stunningly beautiful as it is unique Continued from Page 19

Female and male prayer sections and the Mecca-facing orientation of the building, remind visitors that this unusually imperialistic Islamic site is in fact an operational mosque, given its architectural similarity to buildings such as the Saint Sophia.

Although some argue that Istanbul resisted from becoming a truly Islamic city, dominant sites like the Suleymaniye Mosque and the similarly immense Blue Mosque, as well as the traditional call to prayer for the city’s approximately 13 million people, 90% of whom are registered Muslim, are inarguable reminders of Turkey’s omnipotent Ottoman history.

However, historic sites, such as the Blue Mosque do not observe strict dress codes or practices unlike other religious attractions in the world. The clear objective is for visitors to respectfully understand Istanbul’s deep history.

T his more liberal approach towards western visitors makes the city even more appropriate for tourists wishing to both educate themselves on Middle Eastern cultures and history while indulging in the respite that a European city break brings.

Located south-west of the Hagia Sophia are the Underground Cisterns, the creation of Byzantine Emperor of Constantino-

ple, Justinian I. The cisterns were used to supply water to the Emperor and other important palaces until the Ottoman takeover.

Its design and craft are fascinating examples of Roman architecture surprisingly congruent with Istanbul’s clearly Islamic theme. In more recent years, the Basilica Cistern was the scene for the 1960’s James Bond film, From Russia with Love.

History

After engaging in Istanbul’s remarkable and accessible history, a trip to one of the traditional Hamam’s, or bath houses, is the only way to end a day of learning before an evening of fine dining begins.

The traditional bath houses were constructed by the Romans but the tradition of ritual cleansing and socialising remained throughout the Ottoman Empire.

Each house provides separate facilities for men and women as attendees are required to fully undress in order to enjoy the immense heat from the marble stone where one prepares to be doused with perfectly tepid water and rich oil infused soap by one of the Haman’s attendants.

A trip to the Haman starts at approximately €40 for self-service where soap and exfoliating mittens are provided.

Otherwise, pay up for €60 to be scrubbed from

head to toe by one of the Haman’s professional attendants, and retire to one of the warmed beds for an oil massage.

For those wanting an original experience, The Cemberlitas Haman comes highly recommended and is a short distance from the Hagia Sophia.

When eating out, the trendy Beyo’lu district offers the best mix of European and Middle Eastern foods, including deliciously fresh fish but a selection of more unusual fare such as sheep or goat’s brain is also available. It’s advisable to take a walk close to the famous Galata Bridge which links to the old city in order to find the most authentic, local eateries.

We flew with Turkish Airlines, which were recently awarded Best airline for Europe 2011 and you can see why as staff were very friendly and professional.

Before departing Istanbul, visitors can opt for the Turkish Airlines Business Lounge, which featured a business centre, private relaxation rooms, massage chairs.

City breaks to Istanbul are available from WingsAbroad.ie or call 01 8719444 or contact your local travel agent.

Fly to Istanbul with Turkish Airlines, Europe’s Best Airline 2011 (www. turkishairlines.com). Stay at the 3-star Seres Hotel from €319pps (excl. taxes).

Istanbul’s Grand Bazaarr. Inset: some of the city’s bustling night life

Gazette

22 GAZETTE 22 March 2012

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The Titanic visitor attraction in Belfast is now completing its finishing touches

New Titanic attraction to be opened to the public Continued from Page 19

In Gallery 3, visitors will see the Launch of Titanic and Galler y 4 tells of the skill and craftsmanship that went into Titanic, from the fitting of its enormous boilers and engines to the fine joinery and upholstery work of its linens, carpets and cab-

ins. Visitors will experience the reality of the ship’s interiors in a 3D cave that recreates the engine rooms, third-class saloons, first-class corridors, grand staircase, a la carte restaurant and navigation bridge, allowing visitors to ‘walk’ the ship’s length. There are also detailed, full-scale reconstructions of 1st,

2nd and 3rd class cabins.

Visitors are now swept up in the celebratory atmosphere as Titanic leaves Belfast and then sets sail from Southampton on her maiden voyage in Gallery 5. The gallery features the extraordinary photographs of Father Frank Browne, the young Irish Jesuit who was given a gift of a ticket to travel on Titanic from Southampton to Queenstown and photographed the journey. His images provide a unique chronicle of Titanic’s first and only voyage.

The atmosphere of the exhibition now changes radically into a dramatic sensory experience, as visitors enter a darkened tunnel where the temperature, soundtrack and images all evoke the tragedy of Titanic’s collision with an iceberg and subsequent sinking, with the loss of 1,500 lives.

Visitors will sense the tragedy and the ending of the dream, which led to Titanic’s creation.

Given the level of interest in Titanic Belfast, and the accompanying festival, visitors are being encouraged to pre-book tickets where possible.

Tickets for Titanic Belfast can be purchased online at www.titanicbelfast. com or by phone / in person at the Belfast Welcome Centre at +44(0)28 9076 6399.

Lift off with a South African adventure that takes in the Garden Route from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town

LONGITUDE 18° 22’ E | LATITUDE 33° 55’ S

The kaleidoscope that is the modern South Africa I STEPHEN McKENNA

SOUTH Africa is a kaleidoscope of diversity, culture and colour. It is emerging from its hugely positive world cup experience with a tangible sense of pride and hope for the future.

Located at the south end of the world’s most epic continent, this vast area of land is fringed by both the Indian and Atlantic oceans. South Africa’s vibrant cities, historic towns, fertile vineyards and magnificent game parks provide all those who visit with a rewarding and intriguing experience.

South Africa offers so much to all those who are lucky enough to visit and is hugely popular with Irish visitors.

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

‘The Garden Route is a wellknown, readymade road trip with stunning landscapes’ --------------------------

On this particular trip to South Africa, we started our journey in Port Elizabeth before we choose to drive to Cape Town with a number of stops along the way.

The Garden Route is a well-known, readymade road trip that runs between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town with stunning landscapes that will take your breath away, from the awe inspiring safaris on offer, to sip-

ping wine and tasting the culinary delights en route to Cape Town.

Cape Town’s most distinctive feature is its stunning setting: it lies on a dramatic coastline of pristine white beaches and icy waters, overlooked by the iconic flattopped Table Mountain, with lots to do and see of historical, cultural and general interest. If you’re fascinated in another kind of wildlife, hit the bars and nightclubs on Cape Town’s jumping Long St or sample African homebrew in a township shebeen (unlicensed bar).

South Africans are some of the most upbeat, welcoming and humorous folk you’ll encounter anywhere, from farmers in the rural north who

tell you to drive safely on those dirt roads, to kids who wish you molo ( “good morning” in Xhosa).

GoHop.ie are having a free Safari information event on March 27 in Dublin. Send an email to yes@gohop.ie with subject header Gazette to RSVP. To plan your South African adventure, contact Andre on 01-2412372, email andre@gohop.ie.

A 14-night South African Safari, Garden Route and Cape Town holiday in the Spring (September travel) includes hotels, lodges and meals, car rental and flights is on offer with prices from €2,329. Other dates also available.

Visit www.gohop.ie for more information.

22 March 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 23

GazetteMUSIC MUSIC LIVE SHOWS: METEOR SPONSORED EVENT SEES TALENT GALORE

Crawl’s lush live line-up I ROB HEIGH

THE first-ever Dublin incarnation of the iconic Camden Crawl music festival held in London since 1995 has been announced for the weekend of May 11 and 12 and sees a great mix of established and fresh faces on both the international and local music scenes.

Meteor Choice Music Prize double winner, Jape, as well as fellow Choice 2012 nominees, And So I Watch You From Afar, will be in action on Friday, May 11. Prodigious New York indie rockers We Are Scientists and

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masked maurauders, Rubberbandits, will also be on stage that day, with Bastille, DELS, Dutch Uncles on the bill.

The Saturday line up will be equally eclectic, with former Supergrass frontman, Gaz Coombes, and Choice 2012 nominees, Tieranniesaur and Cashier No 9, leading the line, with Mystery Jets and Ghost Poet in action.

These names are barely a sniff of the full line-up, and the full bill is extensive and varied to say the least, with a treat guaranteed for all music lovers.

The festival bill is packed to the gills with

100 acts set to take to the stages of 15 venues across the city.

The two-day event costs €40, and the weekend ticket is exchanged for a wristband that allows unlimited access to all venues, stages and aftershow parties. Arrive early as surprise guests may appear at any time or in any venue. Day tickets are also available for €25.

The London event began in the mid-90s when Britpop was king, and saw The Wedding Present and Kenickie on the bill. After a hiatus, the festival returned, and Snow Patrol, Maximo

Leading the line-up on Friday is local band, Jape

Park, and the Fratellis were among the names who have appeared on the bill on their way to wider

mainstream success.

For more information, see entertainment.ie/ camdencrawldublin.

FastTunes with Radio Nova’s Dee Woods USUALLY when an artist releases an album with as much hype as Bruce Springsteen’s, Wrecking Ball, I tend to wonder, is it because the music isn’t up to scratch? Well, if you’ve heard it, or read the review on this page last week, you’ll know that’s not true. This rock icon has got the goods.

Delivering a keynote speech last week at the a Texas music festival, Springsteen said when he picked up a guitar at the age of six, he’d only 10 years of rock history to draw on. So he started making his own.

Wrecking Ball is his eighth number one album in his home country, and he has nearly treble the number of Grammy’s.

This summer’s gigs at the RDS will be played just a few months before his 63rd birthday and if you’re going, you’re in for a treat. He’s the only artist I’ve ever seen that looks like he’s playing his first gig every time. He enjoys it so much, you can’t help but get caught up in the Springsteria!

24 SWORDS GAZETTE 22 March 2012

GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT

GoingOUT THE PAVILION THEATRE 01 231 2929

Country Roads: A Celebration of John Denver

COUNTRY Roads - A Celebration of John Denver consists of a strong live band, with backing vocals and, of course, Wayne as John Denver. Enhanced with video footage throughout, this tribute show traces the early and late music of Denver, including the legendary hits, Country Roads, Annie’s Song, Leaving on a Jet Plane and many more. Catch the show on March 25 at 8pm. Tickets €20.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 The Mai THE MAI is the moving story of four generations of women in one family in the midlands. An accomplished, beautiful forty-year-old woman, The Mai has always sought an exceptional life. We enter the world of The Mai on the day of her husband’s return after an absence of four years. In the midst of their troubled reunion are the idiosyncratic and comical characters that comprise the family. Irreverent and unapologetic, the opium-smoking, 100-year-old matriarch, Grandma Fraochlan, presides over all. Catch the magical performance from March 7 to 31, at 8pm, with tickets priced at €16/€14.

CIVIC THEATRE 01 885 2622 Many Young Men of Twenty IN Martin Mangan’s production of the John B Keane classic, Many Young Men of Twenty the scene is transposed from a 1960s Kerry backwater to McLoughlin’s Bar at Achill Sound whose clientele consists of those arriving from or departing for England. Characters include Seelie, an unmarried sister who spends her time under her brother’s thumb, serving in his bar and witnessing all those who leave for England and those who return. Catch the show on Saturday, March 24 at 8pm. Admission: €20.

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 An Evening of Dance JOIN these young energetic dancers from Marian Lennon School of Ballet as they demonstrate their skills in classical ballet, modern and contemporary dance. There will be something for everyone to enjoy as the young dancers of all ages perform a rich and varied repertoire, including a magical journey to Saint-Saen’s Carnival of the Animals, Sleeping Beauty and a super Musical Medley that will have you dancing in your seats! Catch this show on March 23 and 24 at 8pm. Tickets €18/€14 concession.

Benjamin (Matt Damon) walks implausibly good-looking zookeeper Kelly (Scarlett Johansson) around the zoo that he has, as the title might suggest, bought following the death of his wife.

A little animal magic Following a seven-year break from feature-film making, Cameron Crowe returns with a trick or zoo up his sleeve.

I PAUL HOSFORD

WITH our own Kate Crowley off on holiday, I am required to sit in the hallowed chair of Gazette movie reviewer.

So, for those of you who flip to the Ents pages to see Mrs Crowley take down Hollywood’s finest (and not so finest), I apologise wholeheartedly.

For this is a review of the newest work by one of my favourite directors.

Full disclosure time – I was always going to love We Bought A Zoo. I, like Crowe, am a Billy Wilder aficionado, firmly believing that sentimental films can avoid the pitfalls of sappiness.

The first film I can remember genuinely loving is Jerry Maguire, which has as many detractors as fans and Say Anything’s Lloyd Dobler ranks in my alltime favourite movie protagonists.

I even loved Elizabeth-

FILM OF THE WEEK: We Bought A Zoo ### (PG) 124 mins Director: Cameron Crowe Starring: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Peter Riegert, Elle Fanning, Angus Macfadyen

OUR VERDICT: IT skirts a fine line. In lesser hands, this falls into schmaltz and drowns in a sea of heavy handed imagery. But, this is Cameron Crowe. The fine line between over-sentimentality and heartfelt emotion is where he has spent his career. Beautifully acted and assuredly shot, Crowe is back and close to top form. Hopefully, the next one doesn’t take seven years.

town.

Now that the truth is out of the way, what about Crowe’s newest effort?

Based on the true story, and book, of Englishman Ben Mee, We Bought A Zoo tells the story of a man who, following the death of his wife, buys a zoo. Funnily enough.

Transporting the story from Devon to LA, the fictional Ben is played

by Matt Damon, here for perhaps the first time showing his 41 years.

But, grieving man buys zoo does not a two-hour story make, so enter a

fusty inspector played by John Michael Higgins.

Damon and his gang, Thomas Haden Church as wisecracking brother, Scarlett Johansson as potential love interest, and Colin Ford and Maggie Elizabeth Jones as the children, must scramble to get the zoo up to code and open to the public.

In many ways, it is a very un-Crowe film, with a straight journey to the end, rather than the meandering of Singles, Almost Famous and Maguire.

That in itself is the film’s biggest weakness.

For only the second time in his career, Crowe shares scripting duties, this time with Aline Brosh McKenna.

McKenna is a fine writer, no doubt, but here her voice seems out of kilter with her partners.

It seems that two writers, who should complement each other, Crowe’s lightness and McKenna’s spot-on workplace observation (The Devil Wears Prada, Morning Glory) just failed to gel.

Everytime it seems that the film has settled in an area, be it a bear on antidepressants or Johansson’s Kelly railing at the constant staff turnover, the other writer’s sensibilities take over and it becomes a little uneven in the middle.

Not that there is nothing to be enjoyed, even in the script.

The relationship between Ben and son, Dylan, is a particular highlight, with both

Damon and Ford infusing their characters with enough bite and anger to create a realistic tension.

Johansson and Haden Church add excellent grounding, with Johansson showing real selflessness in her role, given that it is not a straight, two-hand love story.

As always, one eye will be on the soundtrack of a Cameron Crowe film and, once more, the master of music in films doesn’t disappoint.

Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and Neil Young might be standard enough fare, but the former Rolling Stone writer shows he still has a finger on the pulse by adding jonsi, Wilco, Sigur Ros and Bon Iver to the mix.

At the heart of the film, however, is a thoroughly likable performance from Damon.

His Ben is an earnest, decent man, one who we instantly root for. Kind of like the director, then.

22 March 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 25

GazetteGAMING GAMING group

The unnamed protagonist of I Am Alive looks out over Haventon.

It may be Alive, but is it worth downloading?

PAUL HOSFORD

IT is finally alive. I Am Alive, the newest release from Ubisoft, has had a torturous route to consoles.

First announced as far back as 2008’s E3, the survival horror finally made an appearance on Playstation Network and Xbox Live Arcade last week.

The question of whether it will prove worth the wait is rather a moot one.

Nobody would realisti-

cally argue that a download-only game has been worth four years waiting.

But, if the question is whether it is worth getting, the answer is a resounding yes.

In I Am Alive, you play an unnamed protagonist, of whom little is known and who, generally reveals little.

All you know is that your character has spent a year attempting to get back to their home town of Haventon.

One year before the

game picks up, the entire world has been decimated by a catastrophe known simply as “The Event”.

Cities are in ruins, bridges collapsed and skyscrapers crumbling.

It calls to mind a number of games, books and films, most notably, The Road, by Cormac McCarthy.

In the same way that book was methodical and slow-paced, I Am Alive is not a run-and-gun zombie survival game.

In fact, the biggest threat does not come from the undead, more from the living.

In the antithesis to the Hollywood, let’s all band together resolution of apocolypse-stricken folk, the residents of Haventon are, by and a large, a group of murderous outlaws.

Navigating the treacherous ruins of the city, the sprawling skyline and the gangs intent on bashing your head in and stealing your pants, all take their toll.

With that in mind, there is a stamina meter, a novel introduction in such a game.

You are a mere man, so running, climbing, swinging and fighting all take it out of you, and resting or eating food the only way to revive.

This addition, as well as the scarce nature of resources, makes the gameplay as strategic as it is action-packed.

With just a few bullets,

targeting the alpha members of a gang to scare the others becomes a handy trick.

As does pointing an empty gun at a foe. Just don’t try to fire it.

Saving NPCs can garner retries or extra supplies, but much of the game’s relatively short run time is spent on your own, forraging and scavenging for supplies, which can range from water, food, gas and medicine to cigarettes, tools, climbing gear, weapons, and ammunition.

Enemies don’t leave behind 30 or 40 bullets or a Gatling Gun that will help you take down 30 baddies at a time, or a key to a secret store room.

Because of that, the feeling of stumbling upon a bounty that may only include a couple of pieces of food and a rope, is remarkably gratifying.

As is helping your fellow stricken survivors.

If that’s the kind of post-apocalyptic survivor you are.

All of your latest local news, sport, features and pictures are now just a click away

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GazetteSport Sport

Rose O’Sullivan and Alanna Tilly

Barry Sheirdan, Sharon and Marie O’Sullivan

Olympic medallist David Wilkins and Roger Greene

Ellen Jenkins, Brendan Costello and Paul O’Sullivan

Sailing launch Estuary club open new dinghy centre M ALAHIDE Yacht Club recently unveiled its newly redeveloped Dinghy Sailing Centre at the Broadmeadows to herald a new era at the club.

Club members attending the official opening celebration last weekend were addressed by the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Gerry McGuire, the president of the Irish Sailing Association, Niamh McCutcheon, and the club’s 1980 Olympic silver medallist, David Wilkins.

Dinghys take to the water as the new facility is opened

Nathan, Charlotte, Kate and Izobel, with Alan Farrell TD

Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, Senator Darragh O’Brien and Cllr Peter Coyle

22 March 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 29

in association with

Community hero hailed at Croker ROB HEIGH talks to Foxrock Cabinteely founder, Pat Ring, who was honoured by the LGFA with the Club Person of the Year award last week ONE of the architects of one of Dublin’s most community-oriented clubs was honoured at Croke Park last week, when Foxrock Cabinteely’s Pat Ring received the Leinster Tesco Provincial Club Person of the Year award.

Pat, who has been an integral part of the club’s formation and progress to it’s current level, was one of the four provincial winners whose efforts and input to the sport the Ladies’ Gaelic Football Association chose to acknowledge.

T he club, whose achievements in 2011 included the Dublin Ladies’ County Board’s best large club award i n D e c e m b e r, h a s gone from strength to strength since it’s formation in 2000.

They were runnersup in the Dublin sen-

ior ladies’ league and reached the semi-final of the Dublin championship, won the AllIreland Sevens’ Shield competition, as well as running and support-

er, we had a lot of work to do.

“Since I got involved, the biggest change I have seen has been the rise in numbers. It has been phenomenal. We

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‘Although I got the award, it was very much a club effort.

The contribution of the mentors, volunteers and family members is huge.’

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ing over 25 teams at all levels and ages at the club.

But the club started humbly following the merger of the small parish clubs, Cabinteely and Foxrock, as Pat recalls.

“I was involved in the Cabinteely side, and helped negotiate the merger in 2004. When the clubs came togeth-

are unique in that we started as a girls-only club, the only club in Ireland to do so. We grew from about five teams with 80 kids, and now we are up to 550 girls playing in 25 teams, over the course of seven or eight years.

“On the back of that success, families were requesting that we start a boys’ club, instead of

Pat Ring, of Foxrock Cabinteely, with his award at Croke Park

them going to bigger clubs in the area, and now we have 140 boys playing in Foxrock Cabinteely. Both sections are still growing dramatically.”

Foxrock Cabinteely’s growth can be attributed to the unique way they interact with the community, as Pat explained.

“The structure of the club is unique in that we carved out this niche in initially providing a club for girls, working closely with four local primary schools, St Brigid’s in Cabinteely, Hollypark i n F ox r o c k , J o h n s town in Killiney and St Anne’s in Shankill. It’s very much a partnership that works both ways. We all benefit from the relationship.”

The significant increase in interest in the club led to the rapid increase in the number of teams that they have been able to field, which can equally be attributed to the care with which they approach the children who come through the gates of the club to take part in Gaelic football.

“Of course, the goal is to be successful on the pitch, but, for us, to provide football for all abilities is equally important. We are putting in a second-level team for the girls who might not be able to compete at senior level, but they

will be able to play at junior level. We want to ensure all our players have a path and can see how they will progress with the club at every level.

Pat Quill, president of the Ladies’ Gaelic Football Association, hailed the “dedication, inspiration and leadership” that the winners of the provincial prizes show: “This is one of the most pleasing and rewarding dates in our Association’s calendar, whereby we recognise the great voluntar y work that takes place in communities throughout the country. It is a great personal honour and a source of pride to your family, club, county and province to be nominated for such a prestigious award.

They are role models in their communities and I thank them.”

Pat himself was keen to stress the part his fellow Foxes take in making the club the success it is.

“Although I got the aw a r d , i t w a s ve r y much a team effor t and a club effort. I am anxious to acknowlege all the people who put so much into the club over the course of every year.The huge amount of mentors, volunteers and family members also contribute a great deal to the success of the club.”

FastSport

College gridiron coming to Aviva in September THE AVIVA Stadium is set to play host to one of the longest-running rivalries in American College Football when the United States Naval Academy host rivals, the University of Notre Dame, on September 1.

Already on sale in the US market, the interest for the Emerald Isle Classic has been phenomenal, with over 25,000 tickets already sold, resulting in a huge boost to the Irish economy with the influx of American tourists in September.

Tickets for Irish gridiron fans are on sale now through Ticketmaster, and are expected to sell out quickly.

As part of the build-up to the game, the Notre Dame band marched in the St Patrick’s Festival Parade in Dublin last weekend.

The Navy-Notre Dame series has been played annually since 1927, making it the longest uninterrupted intersectional series in college football. Navy has emerged victorious in three of the past five years making the fixture a lot more competitive after decades of Notre Dame victories.

Most Notre Dame and Navy fans consider the series a sacred tradition for historical reasons.

Notre Dame, like many colleges, faced severe financial difficulties during World War II and during that time the US Navy made Notre Dame a training centre and paid enough for usage of the facilities to keep the University afloat.

Notre Dame has since extended an open invitation for Navy to play the Fighting Irish in football, and considers the game annual repayment on a debt of honour.

Naval Academy Athletic Directior, Chet Gladchuk, said: “We are delighted to bring this game to Ireland and we plan to bring the full show with us to make the most of this special occasion. This is one of our biggest rivalries and, along with a great American Football game, we plan to showcase all of the game’s traditions, including the jet fly-over, a 1,000 Midshipmen march, bands, along with a huge travelling alumni and support from both sides.”

30 SWORDS GAZETTE 22 March 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

Fingal 10k race added to Dublin race series LAST week saw the launch of the Fingal 10k road race, following an announcement by Fingal County Council.

This is the first year such an event has been held in Fingal, and it will form part of the Dublin Marathon Race Series.

The Race will take place on Sunday 22nd July and will start from Swords and finish on Swords Main Street.

Three of the largest athletics clubs in Fingal, Clonliffe Harriers, Fingallians Athletics, and Metro St Brigid’s will assist by providing volunteer stewarding during the event.

For more information on the Dublin race serioes, see www.dublinmarathon.ie.

Swords come close in Dublin cup final tie SWORDS Basketball Club’s Under-17s put in a massive effort in their Dublin Cup Final tie with Killester powerhouse, Cubs Basketball, but came up just short in the closelycontested battle.

Currently second in their league, coach Damien Byrne sang his side’s praises.

“It really was a massive achievement, and we ran them close until the end of the third quarter, where they managed to get away from us.

“This my first year with the team, and the majority of the lads are playing on the same team for the first time this season.

“They’ve put in a massive effort this year and we’ll really be put to the test in two week’s time when we play in the Billy Kelly Invitational in Cork, the most prestigious tournament in Irish basketball,” said Byrne.

Celtic back to cup business NEXT week sees Swords Celtic’s underage sides return to action after the Bank Holiday.

The Under-13A team play Ashbourne Premier in the cup semi-finals, while the Under-14Cs play Mid Sutton in their league cup semi.

The Under-18 Premiers take on Balbriggan Premier in the third round of the 18 and 19 Cup.

MARTIAL ARTS: CARD SEES NATIONAL CHAMPION IN ACTION

Paul Cowzer, seen in MMA action recently, is bringing the Rumble in Rush back to the North county at the end of this month

Rumble returns to Rush PETER CARROLL sport@gazettegroup.com

PAUL Cowzer, national feather weight MMA champion, and founder of Rush Fight Academy, is bringing the seventh instalment of the Rumble in Rush to Dublin on March 31, which will host some of the country’s finest martial arts prospects.

One of the premiere promotions for MMA in Ireland, the Rumble originally came about, according to Cowzer, due to the constant travel his team had to put in to get competition around the country.

“Most of the lads that train in our gym are from the areas that surround us – Swords, Skerries, Rush and Lusk. We were forced to travel up north for every event; we were up to Belfast every month.

“Eventually, the lads got fed up with it, so I decide I’d start my own promotion in Dublin.

It was a few years back now, and it really has gone from strength to strength. With MMA constantly growing as a sport, it can only get bigger and better,” said the gifted veteran.

Rumble in Rush has been well-known to get the fans on their feet, and

this fight card promises to be just as explosive, with a much-anticipated match taking place between Carl McCann, a Sprawl champion, against Jake O’Hamhsaigh, who has been making a name for himself on the back of his victories in the MMA league.

With McCann and O’Hamhsaigh’s bout acting as a primer, the main card packs a punch too, with the return of the explosive Darrah Harte, a protege of Cowser’s, as well as a rubber match between Adam Caffrey and Ellis Doran before Aaron Skelly and IB Bizzy take centre stage

in what should be a barnstormer.

“Darrah Harte is a very exciting fighter, but his opponent has an amazing Muay Thai background that could cause him some problems.

“Ever yone is an xious to see the two teen champions, McCann and O’Hamhsaigh trade leather, and Skelly and Bizzy match up very well for the last fight of the evening; it should be an aggressive showing from both men,” said Cowzer.

The Rumble in Rush will focus on the amateur aspect of the sport, something that Cowzer believes gives it an extra

edge as a spectacle.

“As much as the big promotion’s fights are great, a lot of people are focused on avoiding a loss rather than looking for the win.

“This promotion has built a reputation on its fast paced action and the relentless pursuit of fighter’s going for victory. This one will be no different,” said Cowzer.

The Rumble in Rush takes place on March 31 in St Maur’s GAA club.

Doors open at 6.30pm.

For tickets you may contact any of the clubs involved or you can get in touch with Paul Cowzer on 086 379 9603.

Draw nudges Fingal closer to safety sport@gazettegroup.com

FINGAL edged closer to safety but the concession of two late goals denied them the mathematical security of being free from the drop in Leinster hockey’s men’s division one as they tied 3-3 with Irish Hockey League chasing YMCA. They looked well set for three points that would put them safe, but a late swing, both at their game and at UCD, where a last-gasp equaliser kept their faint hopes of avoiding the relegation play-off alive.

In a tie switched at the last minute to Newpark, YM had hit the front early on through Richie Pedreschi, tapping in the only goal of the first half.

But Fingal have been in much improved form since the turn of the year, and were level six minutes after the break when David Bane fired home a drag-flick.

Adrian Sweeney added the second when he got a nice deflection to a cross from the right wing and the ALSAAmen appeared to have the game done and dusted when

Sweeney got on the end of a Bane overhead pass that he subsequently squared to Tom Manning to finish into an open net.

It had Fingal flying and, with UCD trailing 3-2 to table toppers Glenanne, they were a notional nine points clear of the students with less than eight minutes remaining.

But YM got back into the tie when Pedreschi grabbed his second, rebounding at the second attempt after two good Nigel Grothier initial saves.

Johnny Bruton then levelled

from Marcus Richardson’s square ball with four minutes remaining as a miscommunication at the back cost them dear, making it three a piece.

The loss of a couple of points was compounded when Shane O’Donoghue scored with the last touch of UCD’s game to keep it interesting at the bottom. Fingal are six clear of the ninth placed students with two games to go in the campaign.

It was Fingal’s seventh point from their last three outings to move them clear of the drop zone.

22 March 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 31

in association with

GAELIC: HURLERS, JACKIES LOSE BY SINGLE POINT

CLUB NOTICEBOARD FINGALLIANS LESS than two weeks to go. Could

beat Tyrone on Sunday afternoon

members please return the

in the National League, with the

remaining car draw tickets. A final

Fingallians quintet of David Mar-

push is required to make the last

key, Dermot Vaughan, JM Sheridan,

three months a total success.

Peter Daly and Paul Quinn.

Well done to all the members that

Poker night will start in the club

suppor ted our club in the mag-

next Friday at 8pm. This is open to

nificent Swords St Patrick’s Day

members and non-members.

Parade last Saturday.

Amy Mc Guinness (Fingallians and Dublin) is chased by Amanda Casey of Monaghan. Picture: GAApics.com

Double disappointment for Dublin’s dynamos

the TG4 show, The G Team, after a

group to be the largest with 350

great effort from Fiachra and the

persons.

team.

A big thank-you to all the danc-

Cainteoir na Seachtaine was won

ers, musicians and singers who

by Kate Donnelly from the U-10

provided the entertainment in the

girls, and second was Molly Cumis-

hall after the parade.

key from the same squad.

Easter camps: Football, April 2 to

Well done to Loughgiel Shamrocks

5 (Monday-Thursday); Hurling April

on winning the All-Ireland club

10 to 13 (Tuesday-Friday). Camps

hurling title and great to see them

will run 10am until 2pm daily. Please

star ting their big day using the

see www.fingallians.com for appli-

club’s training facilities to warm

cation forms, and forms are avail-

up.

able through local schools, team

Our Golf Society play Roganstown

mentors, the club bar and the club

next Friday, March 23 from 1.15 to

office.

2.45pm. Please contact the bar to

Well done to Fingal hurlers who

ON A weekend when there were few club matches played, neither the Dubs’ hurlers nor the Jackies’ footballers could take the spoils in a pair of epic and hard-fought games that were decided in both instances by a single point.

In Aughnamullen, Dublin blitzed the Monaghan goal from the first whistle, taking an early fourpoint lead, with a brace from Sinead Goldrick adding to a point apiece from Fiona Hudson and Orlaith Egan.

But All-Star Ciara McAnespie majored shortly afterward, beating Cliodhna O’Connor in the Dublin goal. Two minutes later, Caitriona McConnell brought the sides level when she converted a 20 metre free.

The Blues struggled to find their range, squandering numerous scoring opportunities in front of the posts both from play

and from frees.

In spite of that, Goldrick and Olivia Leonard raised the white flag for the Sky Blues, but the move of the first half came when the raiding Goldrick intercepted a Monaghan pass, lobbed the ball to the unmarked Egan who duly despatched the ball to the back of Linda Martin’s net.

After going in four points ahead, Dublin again failed to find their range and were made to rue their missed opportunities, with Monaghan’s Ellen McCarron scoring to bring them back within a point, and then suffered a huge setback when Goldrick was forced to retire with a wrist injury.

Points from McCarron, Therese McNally and Caitriona McConnell took the Farney women ahead, but Gemma Fay goaled to put Dublin back in the match.

With four minutes left, and the sides level,

it looked as though the match was destined to finish tied. But Monaghan’s Sharon Courtney had other ideas, and her fisted point proved the difference between the sides, consigning Dublin to defeat.

They remain in the mix for the knock-out stages in third place, with Monaghan moving into second behind Cork, and the Jackies face Laois in their last league match on April 1.

Hurlers E l s e w h e r e , N ow lan Park saw an epic, high-scoring encounter between the Dubs and the Cats that was also decided by a single point, and the home side in the ascendancy.

In a heart-breaking finale, Matthew Ruth consigned Dublin to back-to-back single goal defeats, with a goal in the last 30 seconds that saw Kilkenny claim the points.

In spite of the defeat, Dublin can take solace from the tough and uncompromising play that saw them score six goals against the perennial hurling favourites.

But to be caught cold, having been eight points clear with 15 minutes left, must have been galling for the Dubs, especially as they showed their team unity having gone down to 14 men after Ryan O’Dwyer’s dismissal for a second booking.

Paul Ryan opened the scoring but hurt his hamstring in the process, with Danny Sutcliffe and Conor McCormack netting in the first half, helping put Dublin 3-8 to 1-9 ahead at half time.

David O’Callaghan and Sutcliffe scored early in the second half, and Eamon Dillon ended the run of majors for the Sky Blues, before goals for Richie Power and Ruth’s match-killing score allowing the Cats to take the cream.

get a tee time.

ST FINIAN’S A great day was had by all at the St

mark the date in your diary.

Patrick’s Day Parade in Swords. We

The Garda Band will be performing

had a great turn-out from the club

in the Community Centre on Thurs-

and the streets were lined with the

day 12th of April.

people of Swords and Fingal.

Many thanks to Nick Collier for

I sport@gazettegroup.com

Mi-adh / hard luck to Donabate on

Media reported the Fingallians’

providing the truck for our float.

Some of the St Finians Wheelers have been spotted out on the bikes again recently. If you would like to

Video of the day is available on

come out for a gentle spin please

YouTube. Photos will be available

don’t hesitate to contact any of the

later in the week on our website,

lads through info@stfinians.com

www.stfinians.com.

The fighters in our White Collar Boxing event continue to train hard for the Fight Night on Friday, April 13. Please support them by getting your ticket early or helping out with any potential sponsorship

The Lotto Jackpot was €4,100 and the numbers drawn were 1, 7, 12, 17.

There was no winner.

The €50 winners were Jim Shelly and David Logan.

N e x t w e e k ’s j a c k p o t w i l l b e €4,200.

or advertising. This is going to be

For all the latest news and

a great event for the club and a

updates why not follow us on Twit-

ma jor fundraiser. Make sure you

ter @StFiniansSwords

FINGAL RAVENS CLUB membership for 2012 is now

contact Desy 087-9957427 or Declan

due, please get your membership

086-2673830.

forms from any committee member or team mentor or they can

Committee meeting this Thursday at 8pm in Kettles Hotel.

be downloaded from our website,

Our dinner dance will be held in

all membership must be paid by

Kettles Hotel on Sunday 6th May

March, as agreed at the club AGM

(bank holida y weekend), please

non-paid up members (adult and

keep the night free.

juvenile) will not be permitted to play after March.

Boxing DVD only €20, contact Declan on 086-8587231 to order your copy.

We would like express our sympathies on the death of Pat McNamara who passed away last week.

Lotto numbers were 5, 8, 12 and 16, no jackpot winner, €20 to Maire-

We are holding a poker classic in

ad Kiely, Catherine Flanagan and

Kettles on Thursday 26th April at

Bernie Devine. Next week’s jackpot

8pm in Kettle hotel, €50 per ticket,

is now worth €3,400.

ALL OF YOUR SWORDS SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 28-31

SO CLOSE: Dublin senior hurlers and ladies’ footballers lose out by single point P31

MARCH 22, 2012

LEINSTER’S FINEST: Honour for Fox/Cab football founder P29

swordssport@gazettegroup.com

SWORDS basketball graduate Travis Black is hoping to kick-start another week in his formative career this week when he pursues his dream of reaching the professional basketball ranks in Europe.

He helped the Spartanburg Christian Academy to reach the NCJAA championship this week which got underway on Tuesday afternoon against Missouri’s Three Rivers Community College.

It is a notable waypoint for Black, who left Ireland four years ago at age 17 to follow his passion.

The point guard started his career with Swords, following in the footsteps of his father, Ken, who played to a high level in America before taking on coaching roles that eventually brought him to Ireland.

He settled here, having seven children, of which Travis was the second oldest. Travis showed a similar flair for basketball and made the big decision four years ago to travel to Spartanburg area to live with his uncle Clarence and

attempt to forge a career in the game.

Speaking about the move to Todd Shanesy of USC.com, Black said it was hard at first, uprooting himself from friends and family.

“I’ve gotten used to it because my uncle has been so great to me. I want to play pro basketball in Europe. That’s my goal. To do that, I need college experience in America. It’s more competitive. There are better coaches and facilities. I just want to get better.”

He has also had to adapt to a new position as he was pegged as a point guard midway through his debut season.

“This is my first time being a point guard, so it was a hard adjustment,” Black said. “The first part of the year, I struggled a lot. But I’ve been working on my ball-handling and in the second half of the year, I’ve been more confident. It took me a while to realise that, in order for the team to do well, I had to do my part.

“Early on, I had so much adrenaline going that I wasn’t able to focus. I was just so happy to play basketball in

Travis Black, left, in action for SMC Pioneers. Photo: Tim Kimzey

America. College has shown me how to control my emotions. I just have to take care of the basketball and do what I have to do as a point guard and assist my teammates. When I do that, everything else will fall into place. I believe that’s what happened.”

While his intended path will lead him

back to Europe, the longer-term route is zoned in on a return to Ireland and, potentially, back to Swords BC. “Ireland is the best country in the world,” he said. “I will live my final days in Ireland. There’s no doubt about that.

The people are so friendly. They accept anybody. That’s my home.”

GazetteSPORT

Travis’ hoop dream coming true