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YOUR COMMUNITY • YOUR PAPER

INSIDE: Opinion piece asks why are our TDs paid so highly? Page 5

Tennis: Futures doubles victory for James Cluskey Page 32

Hurling: Fingal prepare for final after Donegal win Page 31

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ..................... 2 BUSINESS .................... 19 MOTORS ....................... 20 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26

April 5, 2012

FEAST OF FASHION: Ross Nugent Foundation fundraiser See Pages 8, 10

Major blow as Peats shuts in Swords I PAUL HOSFORD

THERE was a “disaster” for workers in Swords this week when electronics chain, Peats, announced that all 11 of its stores are to close, with the cumulative loss of 75 jobs.

Mayor of Fingal, Gerry McGuire (Labour), said that the closure marked a “major blow for Swords, the Pavilions and the local workforce”.

Cllr McGuire said that the

decision to give staff their entitlements was “something decent that a lot of companies haven’t done”.

“It’s a disaster for the staff and I think it’s indicative of how difficult it has become to trade in this marketplace,” said Cllr McGuire.

Cllr McGuire added that the council was “doing everything it can” to help companies in this difficult market.

Full Story on Page 4

Fundraisers: Keith’s in town to highlight Autism Awareness Day KEITH Duffy visited the Pavilions

in Swords this week to highlight World Autism Awareness Day last Monday.

He joined members of the Irish Autism Action organisation, and

Deirdre King of the Pavilions, to make people aware of the day.

Every year, autism organisations around the world celebrate the day with unique fundraising and awareness-raising events.

2 SWORDS GAZETTE 5 April 2012

HOUSEHOLD CHARGE

Govt just ‘passing the blame’ I PAUL HOSFORD swords@gazettegroup.com

THE Government has been accused of “wrongly trying to use local authorities such as Fingal County Council as a pawn in their blame game following the household charge debacle”.

The accusation comes from local Fianna Fail senator, Darragh O’Brien.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan, this week, said that he was looking at rewarding local authorities that “pull out all the stops” in collecting the charge, but Senator O’Brien said this tactic was merely “deflecting blame”.

“To deflect attention away from their failure on the household charge, the Government has taken to blaming local authorities for the large numbers of people choosing not to pay. This whole episode has been a debacle from the start, and because half the country has decided to boycott the charge, Minister Phil Hogan is now looking to use councils such as Fingal as a scapegoat.

COMPETITION Swords school named top Fingal School

“It is not the fault of our local councils that the information campaign was a disaster and the simple fact is many people didn’t know if they were exempt or how they were supposed to pay. The instructions given to the various councils were also ambiguous and this was a disaster waiting to happen because the information simply wasn’t there,” said O’Brien.

Mayor Cllr Gerry McGuire, Yvonne Holmes and Marie Phelan with members of the “Green Team” from Swords Educate Together NS

Debacle

The senator said that the debacle over the payment of the charge was down to the Government and local authority workers should not be blamed or used as “enforcers”.

“Local authority workers in Fingal are also very uncomfortable with the idea of possibly having to knock on residents doors as “enforcers” for Phil Hogan,” concluded senator, O’Brien.

The Department of Environment rejected these claims, saying that “nobody has attempted to blame or scapegoat Local Authorities in this regard, and claims to the contrary are simply not true”.

Local pupils leading the charge E RP, Ireland’s only pan-European compliance scheme for electrical and electronic waste and waste battery recycling, recently announced the results of its Go Recycle and Win Competition with Swords Educate Together being named as the top participating Fingal school. The competition set the challenge to primary

schools around the country to collect over one million batteries, with each school given a target based on the number of students in the school. Swords Educate Together had the highest collection rate in Fingal with each student collecting an average of 1.8kg – the equivalent of over 100 AA batteries each.

Deirdre Moffat, Trish Kennedy, Yvonne Holmes, Fiona Rushe, Mayor McGuire, Bronagh Dillon, Elaine Bermingham and Marie Phelan with members of the Green Team

Trish Kennedy, Yvonne Holmes, Mayor McGuire and Bronagh Dillon with members of the Green Team

5 April 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 3

BIRTHDAYS Little Ladies Pamper Parties on the up

It’s party time as business enjoys success I NATALIE BURKE

FOR any parent who has had difficulty thinking of an idea for a little girl’s birthday party, Malahide natives Dee Roche and Tracy Hussey, stumbled upon one light-bulb idea that has quickly turned into a whirlwind success.

Little Ladies Pamper Parties was founded just a few months ago and has already appeared on TV3’s Ireland AM, expanded across three counties and is set to take on two new staff members.

The girly party planners, Dee and Tracy, host two -hour-long,

child-friendly pampering sessions for little girls’ parties, complete with bright pink spa robes, nail painting, foot spas, chocolate fountains and karaoke machines.

The pamper parties cater for girls between 8 and 12 years, while special “Princess Parties” are designed for younger girls, complete with fairy wands and tiaras.

The company began in October 2011, when the parties were first hosted throughout Swords and Malahide but, according to Dee, they had no idea just how fast the company

would take off.

“We came up with the idea one day last August when we couldn’t find any thing similar for our own little girls. We looked online but anything already in Ireland was much too grown up for little girls.”

With seven children between them, Dee and Tracy have successfully managed to juggle motherhood as well as their business and are already thinking about the next step.

“Since we appeared on Ireland AM, the business has really taken off. We’re training in two new staff members which will allow us to

BEAUTY

Easter offers and specials at Embody Day Spa THE Embody Day Spa is celebrating the arrival of the Easter holidays with eggs-clusive offers and treatment specials.

Young girls enjoy a party in their bright pink spa robes

accommodate all the requests we get.

“We hope that within the next year, we’ll be able to cover the whole country,” said Tracy.

Despite today’s economic climate, Tracy admits kids’ birthday parties are one area people don’t want to cut costs.

“We were aware of the tough times when we first set up the business, but really, we can’t

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‘We were aware of the tough times when we first set up the business, but really, we can’t believe the response’ --------------------------------------------------------

believe the response.

Parents like to plan something nice if they feel they’re getting value for money and with us, they really are.”

Little Ladies Pamper

Parties range from €190 for Princess Parties to €230 for Deluxe Pamper Packages.

For more information, visit www.littleladiespamperparties.ie.

Packages T he spa, which is located on North Street, Swords, are offering new packages, including the two-hour spa package for €49 and the Mother and Daughter Special for €95, which is normally priced at €240.

The Deluxe facial is reduced to €39 from €70, the Deluxe Manicure is reduced to €29 from €50 and the Full Body Holistic Massage is reduced to €29 from €60.

For more information, or to make a booking, contact the Day Spa on 01 8079765 or email info@embody.ie.

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4 SWORDS GAZETTE 5 April 2012

RETAIL Eleven shops are to close, with a cumulative loss of 75 jobs

Peats World of Electronics has ceased trading I MIMI MURRAY swords@gazettegroup.com

THERE was a “disaster” for workers in Swords this week when electronics chain, Peats, announced that all 11 of its stores are to close, with the cumulative loss of 75 jobs.

Mayor of Fingal, Gerry McGuire (Labour), said that the closure marked a “major

blow for Swords, the Pavilions and the workforce”.

“It’s a disaster for the staff and I think it’s indicative of how difficult it has become to trade in this marketplace,” said Cllr Maguire.

The company has been trading in Dublin since 1934 when Brigit and William Peat set up shop on Parnell St. All six of their children

joined the business and their youngest son, Ben Peat, is the current chairman.

It was he who sent out the statement on Tuesday morning notifying staff and customers that the company “could not continue to trade in light of its current financial constraints”.

He told staff that a combination of recession impacts, unsustainably high rental

costs and a changing marketplace, in which online shopping was eating into high-street retailing, meant that the business could not continue to trade going into the upcoming lean summer.

Unlike in a number of other cases, Peat said that staff will be paid their entitlements and redundancy due in full, and asked for their support for both col-

leagues and the business in the coming days, while the business “settled its affairs to the very best of its ability to do so”.

Cllr Maguire said that the move to give staff their entitlements was “something decent that a lot of companies haven’t done”.

In 2007, the statement said, Peats turned over €24 million, but that had more

than halved now, leaving the company no choice but to close its doors.

All stores have now been closed and telephone calls will automatically be directed to a call centre to accommodate any enquiries arising.

In making enquiries customers are invited to call 01-9023718 or to email admin@peats.com

O’Connor comments outrageous – Daly RECENT comments made by County Manager, David O’Connor, regarding the household charge have been described as “outrageous”, by local TD, Clare Daly.

Speaking at the AntiHousehold Tax Rally, which was held in the National Stadium, Dublin, last week, the TD said that comments made by the county manager, stating that failing to pay the household tax would lead to cuts in service, were outrageous.

“Every year for the past number of years, council budgets have been slashed and services diminished as Council staff leave and vacancies are not replaced. To attempt to blame householders for an overall dissemination of council services is a disgrace.”

Cut

The TD went on to say that the county manager “knows that his budget has been cut by more than he would receive, even if everybody paid”.

“Why isn’t he highlighting that? Council budgets have been cut by over €170 million by the Government. They are like the school bully robbing Johnny’s lunch and then going around to the other children and demanding that they hand over their sandwiches because Johnny has nothing to eat! The only way to take on bullies to is make a stand against them.”

Fingal County Council had not responded at the time of going to print.

FINGAL CHAMBER: ELECTION OF NEW BOARD BRINGS IN NEW FACES

New Chamber Council sets out on ‘exciting, challenging future’ F OL L OW I N G t h e recent annual general meeting of the Fingal Dublin Chamber, a new Chamber Council has been elected for the next year.

There were 30 valid nominations for the enlarged council, which follows on the Fingal Dublin Chamber and the D15 Chamber coming together to form a stronger and more representative Chamber for the Fingal region.

President Siobhan Moore paid tribute to the board members for their work and dedication over the past year and thanked those who have agreed to continue as council members.

Both John O’Boyle, from AIB, and Mau-

rice Meade, from DHL, who stepped down due to work commitments were thanked for their work during their time on the board. Siobhan welcomed the new members who, together with the outgoing members of the council will be part of a new restructured body to govern the Chamber.

“We are setting out on an exciting and challenging future for the Chamber with the coming together of Fingal Dublin Chamber and the D15 Chamber members. The restructuring includes a new corporate name, new Memorandum and Articles of Association and a new council to guide the Chamber. We want to build a stronger

and more sustainable Chamber which is necessary in the present economic climate. We look forward to the members support in driving the new restructured organisation,” Siobhan told the annual general meeting.

“What really inspires me most in my work with the Chamber is the unrelenting passion and energy of the people involved at every level – it’s amazing what we achieve by putting our collective expertise and energy together. For me, this sense of community and co-operation is what makes the Fingal Dublin Chamber stand out and it’s why we have achieved so much in recent years because members see

the benefits, not just for themselves, but for everyone in the business community.

“The Chamber is the voice of the business community and we will play our part in creating and promoting a business climate where businesses can grow and prosper in the region,” commented Chamber chief executive Tony Lambert.

The members of the Chamber Council are: Siobhan Moore, President (Dublin Airport Authority) , Siobhan K i n s e l l a , Tr e a s u r e r (Nifast Health & Safety) , David Donnelly (Bank of Ireland), Tony Lambert, Chief Executive & Company Secretar y, Sarah Bohan

(Engage Ireland), John Carolan (IBM Sales & Support Centre), Maura Cassidy (Dublin Airport Authority), John Connolly (Symantec), Sean Corrigan (Balbriggan Enterprise & Development Group), Gerry Fitzmaurice (North County Leader Newspapers), Joe Gavin (Blanchardstown Centre), Assumpta Harvey (LINC Centre, Institute of Technology Blanchardstown), Martina Hilliard (O2 Swords) , Ian Hunter (Pavilions Shopping Centre), Jock Jordan, The Gift Voucher Shop), Michael Kennedy (Michael Kennedy Insurance Group), Paddy Lonergan (Bank of Ireland) , Stephen Malone (Malone Engi-

neering), Terry McCoy (Red Bank Guesthouse & Restaurant), Jennifer McKenna (Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown), Ray Molloy (AIB Business Banking) Neal Morrison (McInerney Saunders Char tered A c c o u n t a n t s ) , B e rnadette O’Connell (Atkins Ireland) , Colm O’Maolmhuire (Enterprising People – Daoine Fiontraiocha), Andrew O’Neill (Clarion Hotels Ireland), Lucia O’Riordan (AIB Swords) , Sean Sandford (Sandford Freight), Alan Spain (S & S Office Interiors), Guy Thompson (Castleknock Hotel & Country Club), Francis Whelan (Broadmeadow Healthcare Group).

5 April 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 5

OPINION Bringing political pay level to real world

It’s time our TDs got Real Pay for their job AARON MCKENNA

WHEN Alexander the Great led his army across the ancient world, he ate when and what his soldiers ate, slept when they slept and led them from the front.

When Leo the Lion, and his colleagues in Dail Eireann, travel to work they claim tax free expenses no ordinary person is allowed.

The salaries paid to our politicians bear no relation to what similarly responsible individuals get in the real world.

Compare

Compare the pay of a Government minister to that of your average company managing director: The minister earns 41% more. What does a minister, who already has a professional staff of civil servants looking after the department, do that deserves that premium?

TDs earn as much a s s e n i o r c o m p a ny directors, individuals with real commercial responsibilities. Most TDs show up in the Dail to vote as they’re told by party whips and mind the vote in their constituency.

It may be mentioned that, in the private sector, bonuses are paid on top of basic pay. But bonuses are rarely paid when a company is in financial receivership, or while substantial cut-

backs are being made.

When our new Government came to power it reduced the pay of ministers. Rather than a pay cut, this was less of a pay increase for those being promoted. The Taoiseach still earns more than the Prime Minister of Britain and a host of other leaders of nations far larger and less bust than Ireland.

There have been many s i c ke n i n g m o m e n t s since the beginning of the crisis in 2008, but among the least edifying for our body politik was watching them fight for their own pay, expenses and pensions when Brian Lenihan proposed a change to the regime.

Politicians were rubber stamping budgets that stripped SNAs from schools, pensions from blind people and nurses from hospitals.

But, at the first mention of vouched expenses or an attack on their salaries and pensions, the backs were up.

Our new Government has not lifted a finger to the gravy train. The Taoiseach, Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Sector Expenditure and Reform, are among those who don’t provide receipts for their expenses.

Revenue would treat any ordinar y person claiming expenses without receipts as a fraud,

BOOTCAMP

Local student part of ‘Best Group’

A SEVENTEEN-YEAROLD student from Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, was one of a team of five students, chosen as Best Overall Group, at the BT Young Scientist Business Bootcamp last week.

Deirdre Harford was par t of the winning bootcamp team event, which was held at University College Dublin.

Winning project The team’s winning project was based on an “automated water circulation anti-freezing system” and was evaluated by a panel of expert judges and course mentors.

The winning students were each awarded a summer placement at one of the leading thirdlevel universities in Ireland.

Aaron McKenna, organiser of the Real Pay Petition

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‘The proposal to reduce the pay of politicians is not based on a race to the bottom. This campaign is benchmarking politicians against real work done in the real world’ --------------------------------------------------------

trying to hide income.

Revenue also states that no person may receive tax-free expenses for travelling to their place of work.

Commute

Dublin TDs receive €12,000 a year to travel to Leinster House, conveniently located in Dublin 2. If you live in a suburb and commute to the city centre you might be paying over €1,000 a year for a tax-saver commuter ticket. Our local TDs claim that much every month.

There are some, such as Joe Higgins, who say they only take the average wage. This is of no advantage to the taxpayer as they give the balance of their salary to spend campaigning for votes.

These socialist fighters aren’t shy about taking expenses: Patrick Nulty

was entitled to claim the moment he was elected. Joe Higgins got €24,500 in 2011. Ministers claim the majority of their expenses via their departments, but both Joan Burton and Leo Varadkar are claiming over €1,000 a month from the Dail as well.

The proposal to reduce the pay of politicians is not based on a race to the bottom. This campaign is benchmarking politicians against real work done in the real world.

It’s time for politicians to take a fair share. If you agree, sign the petition: RealPay.ie Aaron McKenna is

the organiser of the Real Pay Petition. You can contact him via aaronmckenna.com, on 0858434246 or on twitter @ aaronmckenna

6 SWORDS GAZETTE 5 April 2012

5 April 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 7

RETAIL Pavilions Shopping Centre hosts a VIP evening

Customers enjoy evening of discounts and offers I NATALIE BURKE swords@gazettegroup.com

SHOPPERS at the Pavilions Shopping Centre, Swords, were treated to some special VIP treatment last week, when two fashion retailers, Vera Moda and Jack and Jones, hosted a special customer evening promoting exclusive discounts, offers and beauty treatments.

The late-night shopping

event was held on Thursday, March 29, from 6pm until 9pm and, despite the good weather taking its toll on the usual shopping crowd, s t o r e m a n a g e r o f Ve r a Moda, Emily McElerney, said the VIP event managed to attract a large number of shoppers and the evening was a great success.

“We were all really happy with the number of people that turned up and we had

a few hundred customers between both Vera Moda and Jack and Jones.

“Customers were given some special VIP treatment with refreshments and salon treatments and it went really well,” she said.

While Vera Moda and Jack and Jones offered customers the exclusive discount of 25% off their purchases for the night, customers were also treated to glasses of

pink rose, bowls of sweets and trays of mini muffins, as well as free bra fittings by Change Lingerie, nail treatments by The Gloss Nail Bar and fish manicures by the Swords Fish Spa. “The fish manicures were a little different. There were plenty of squeals coming from customers but they were delighted with how soft their hands were afterwards.

“T he male customers shopping at Jack and Jones got a special treat too; they got some peace and quiet while the women were busy with their VIP treatment.”

Customer evenings Vera Moda and Jack and Jones host customer evenings four times a year, with the next event to be held in the autumn, and, according to Emily, it’s just one of the

many things retailers have to do to remain competitive.

“It’s another example of what stores have to do to entice customers in these tough times.

“We have to be more inventive and more creative than ever and having a VIP night is one of the ways we do this. Customers can hear about our events by signing up to our customer club instore.”

Warning issued on bogus collectors

Networking: Creating opportunities THE Fingal Dublin Chamber held it’s Business After 6 Networking Evening recently, when it hosted a social event in Dowler’s Steakhouse Restaurant and Wine Bar, Swords, last week. The chamber organises the networking events in an attempt to create more opportunities for local business men and women to meet and to share their experiences.

Dowler’s Steakhouse Restaurant and Wine Bar was the ideal location for the chamber’s networking evening and is known for its warm, relaxing atmosphere and choice of wines, champagnes and cocktails, together with great food. The stylish and modern design makes it the ideal venue for after-work drinks.

Pictured is Christy Dowler, President of Fingal Dublin Chamber, Siobhan Moore, and Chamber CEO Tony Lambert.

THE VOICE OF IRELAND: FORMER OTT SINGER REMINDS US OF HIS STAR QUALITY

Alan battles his way through to quarter-finals of TV show I NATALIE BURKE

WHEN former OT T singer, Alan Fitzsimons, took to the stage in the blind auditions of RTE’s The Voice of Ireland, the singer reminded the whole country, as well as the judging panel, of the voice that had once made it to the top of the Irish and British charts.

Quarter finals The talented singe r / s o n g w r i t e r, w h o lives with his wife and daughter in Swords, has already battled his way through the first few weeks of the live shows and has reached

the quarter finals, which will take place on Sunday, April 15.

“It’s an amazing experience and I’ve met so many amazing people,” Alan said.

“The rest of the contestants are fantastic and we’re all getting on so well. It’s natural to feel a bit of pressure and I’ll admit it has gotten to me sometimes, but I made sure I enjoyed myself on last week and I think I came across as being myself. That’s the main thing.”

The Swords contestant, who works as a Customer Care manager for Vodafone, was saved

by his mentor, singer Brian Kennedy, when he was in the bottom two last week.

“I challenged myself with a ver y current song (he sang Dave Guetta’s Without You) and I’ll be honest and say I was nervous, but I just tried to really enjoy myself and it’s just how the show goes, but I’m delighted to have gotten through.

“It’s hard becoming friends with the other contestants and having to compete against them but, at the end of the day, it’s part of the show and I could go at any time, so I’m just

going to enjoy every minute of it and I’m looking forward to getting back to myself for the next live show.”

Alan was first introduced to the music industry at the age of 17 when he joined boy band OTT, and admits he can’t help loving being back on stage.

“It can be tough in this industry but it does feel different this time.

I’m a little bit older and – I hope – wiser, and I do feel stressed as all the contestants do.

“It’s only natural and it involves a lot of hard work, but it’s just amazing to be back on

stage.”

The Voice contestant appeared at the Swords Pavilions Shopping Centre last week, when he performed at the launch of the new Volkswagen Up, and says he is really grateful of the support he has received locally.

“The reaction I got in Swords was amazing and I really enjoyed doing the gig. There was such fantastic support there for me and I’m looking forward to doing more local gigs this week.”

Alan will be singing at a number of local venues over the next week,

with appearances in Fowlers, Malahide, on Thursday; Duffy’s Bar, Malahide, on Sunday and Siam Thai on Saturday, April 14, and is hoping that the public in Swords and Malahide will support him in his bid to be crowned as the Voice of Ireland.

“I’m singing a really emotional ballad next week and am going back to what I love.

“It’s one of my alltime favourites but I won’t be playing it safe, I still want to challenge myself and show people what I can do. I hope I sing it well and I really hope I get through!”

THE county council has warned members of the local community to be on alert after a number of “bogus collectors” have been spotted calling door-to-door in the north county Dublin area seeking to extort the €100 household tax.

A spokesperson for Fingal County Council told the Gazette that a number of people have been seen calling to houses, pretending to be from the council and demanding the payment.

She said that members of the public should be aware that it isn’t common practice for council staff to call door-to-door, and there are no staff members calling to houses in search of the tax. She also stressed that council staff always carry proper identification with them.

“It’s not just a council issue; we have had bogus collectors calling to houses before, pretending to be from gas, water and other types of companies.

“There are also teenagers calling to houses pretending to be raising money for local schools.

These bogus collectors are opportunists and enterprising criminals who jump on the band wagon and masquerade themselves as others,” she said.

T he spokesperson noted that council staff and other company employees usually drive a marked vehicle and normally only arrange scheduled visits.

8 SWORDS GAZETTE 5 April 2012

EVENT At a charity fashion show at The Wright Venue

Don Nugent with his wife Sandra and daughter Emma, co-founders of the charity

A feast of fashion for Foundation HE Wright Venue in Swords hosted a fashion show in aid of the Ross Nugent Foundation recently.

TV presenter and stylist, Lisa Fitzpatrick, was MC for the night, and models from Andrea Roche Model agency, along with a number

T

of Ross’s friends took to the catwalk to raise funds for a Foundation that was set up in the name of 18-year-old Ross who lost his courageous battle against cancer in May 2010.

The theme of the fashion show was Carnival, and with a special appearance by Irish band, Keywest, it was

certainly a great night of fashion and fun. Ross’s parents, Don and Sandra Nugent, and sister Emma, set up the foundation in July 2010 in order to raise funds to purchase equipment for the Oncology ward in Beaumont Hospital.

Continued on page 10

Make-up artists for the evening - Michelle Field and Jonathan Tynan

A selection of models took to the catwalk during the fashion show

5 April 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 9

10 SWORDS GAZETTE 5 April 2012

FASHION SHOW Ross Nugent Foundation fundraiser

Claire Keogh and Fionnuala Kennedy

Julie, Aoife, Sarah, Catherine, Sarah and Aislinn from Swords

Lisa Fitzpatrick, fashion stylist and TV presenter was Don with Andrea Roche

the MC on the night

Carol O’Connor, Jacqui O’Mahoney, Nancy Williams and Laura Williams

5 April 2012 GAZETTE 11

HEALTH Fundraiser for children

Citywest workers urged join fun event MORE than 5,000 workers at the Citywest Business Campus will take to the streets in aid of Barretstown Children’s Camp.

Ireland legend Ronan O’Gara was on hand to announce the launch of the first annual CityWest Fun Walk, which takes place on Friday, April 27, at 1pm at Browns Barn, Citywest.

Barretstow n are encouraging all staff that work in Citywest and beyond to get out and walk, run or jog the route.

Stephen Campbell, Citywest campus manager, is very excited about the upcoming fundraising event.

“We are delighted to support this Citywest Campus Fun Walk in aid of Barretstown. We

Noah Quinn and Ronan O’Gara at the launch of the Citywest Fun Walk for Barretstown

are looking forward to seeing a large number of the campus community out on the day enjoying a walk around the landscaped areas of the cam-

pus,” he said.

The route will begin at Brown’s Barn, then head over the N7 Bridge, through the campus and along the Luas line, back up the main road and will finish back at Brown’s Barn.

To register, log on to www.citywestfunwalk. org. There will be an online €10 registration fee, and all proceeds will go to Barretstown.

Registration commences on the day, from 12pm, and all participants will get a free t-shirt and goodie bag on the day.

Barretstown is a Kildare-based camp uniquely designed for children who have been affected by a serious illness, primarily cancer, and their families.

Barretstown works to assist in the cancer

recovery process through activity-based therapy.

Each year, approximately 1,900 children come to Barretstown to take part in its programmes of therapeutic recreation.

The programmes build confidence, trust and selfesteem.

Survival In Ireland, five children are diagnosed with cancer every week.

Due to the everimproving treatment process, childhood cancer survival rates will have increased to 90% by the end of this decade.

To register, log on to www.citywestfunwalk. org, or contact Ciara Smullen or Liz Denieffe at citywest@barretstown. org; telephone 045 864 115.

EASTER: LIDL IS TOP OF THE CHOCS

Time for treats AFTER 40 days and 40 nights of desperately trying to keep the kids away from sweets, Lent is drawing to a close, and with that, the annual reward of an Easter egg feast.

So, for anyone looking to stock up on delicious chocolate treats ,and even sweeter prices, it’s time to hop on down to Lidl, who have a whole range of sweet treats that won’t leave you hopping mad at the cost.

They have lots of Easter goodies by Lidl’s delicious own brand, Favorina, to suit all tastes and budgets, including Favorina Chocolate Bunny or Chocolate Painted Bunny.

For lots of little treats, go for a bag of goodies, like the Favorina crispy chocolate pralines– a firm favourite, thanks to their creamy and crisp fillings.

So, hop along to Lidl to stock up on choco-

late and luxury food and drink items this Easter.

For further information about Lidl’s Easter special offers, or to

locate your nearest Lidl store, log on to www. lidl.ie.

Availablity is limited so shop early to avoid disappointment.

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5 April 2012 GAZETTE 13

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GazettePETS PETS

Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA

THE FACTS: FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE

Protect your cat from FIV HIS week I thought I’d write about a medical condition known as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, or FIV. Officially diagnosed back in 1986, FIV is commonly associated with cats, a condition that often scares the wits out of concerned pet parents.

So, with that in mind, I thought I’d do a sort of FIV 101 for cat parents; just in case any readers had a kitty that’s recently been diagnosed.

T

Is FIV like HIV? It belongs in the same group as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, so it gets a lot of negative press and is often referred to as Feline Aids.

Can I/the kids/my dog catch it from my

cat?

No. It’s species specific.

FIV cannot be transmitted to humans, or to any other animals, so please don’t stop giving your kitty love and attention just because she’s been diagnosed with the condition.

How did my cat catch the virus?

Ever heard of a cat fight? Well, that’s possibly how your kitty caught the virus. You see, the virus is present in the saliva and blood of infected cats, and although a very fragile virus, meaning it is unable to survive outside of the body making it difficult to pass from kitty to kitty; it can be passed through biting.

If an infected cat bites an uninfected cat the virus is injected directly into the bloodstream of the

Older cats with FIV can be adopted, but it is wise to look after younger cats.

uninfected cat. However, if an uninfected cat bites an infected cat, the risk is lessened. Even though there is still the element of risk present. In this scenario, the virus is not directly injected straight into the blood stream… if that makes sense. The virus cannot be transmitted indirectly through food, feeding dishes, toys

or bedding, etc. Also, it’s worth knowing that there is no scientific proof the virus is passed through sexual contact but the male often grabs hold of the female’s neck with his teeth, puncturing the skin.

What are the signs of FIV? A blood test is needed

to ascertain infection so please do go to your vet who will best advise. However, raised lymph nodes, conjunctivitis, diarrhoea, gum inflammation, eye and nose discharge, etc., are just some of the things to watch out for. Bear in mind that some of these conditions can occur in uninfected cats that’ve been fed an improper diet, so you see, the signs vary and only your vet can properly diagnose.

It is worth remembering, the virus will deplete certain white blood cells in your kitty, making her more susceptible to other infections. I cannot stress enough that if in doubt, visit your vet.

What is an infected cat’s life expectancy?

Infected cats usually

retain their strong immunity for years following infection and it’s usually some years later when the symptoms begin to show, and most of them can be treated quite easily with prescribed medication.

So, don’t worry, it is not a death sentence and an infected kitty, once managed by a vet, can live a happy, healthy lifespan.

In fact, did you know, your cat is more likely to die as a result of a road accident than to have her life ended as a result of FIV?

How do I protect my cat?

You could keep her indoors but possibly a tad dramatic. We would recommend you spay/neuter as it reduces the need to fight and wander.

Want to adopt a HIV

kitty?

HIV cats find it difficult to find new homes but, remember, these kitties are normal pets who deserve to be loved and cherished as much as uninfected ones. If you can provide a home with an enclosed garden, or cat run, then why not call into your local rescue shelter and give a HIV cat a chance. All she needs is love, regular veterinary check-ups, up-to-date vaccinations and a proper diet that includes vitamin supplements to help build her immune system.

The information is a guideline only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice.

For more information, contact your vet or log onto www.dspca.ie or email me at miriam.kerins@dspca.ie

5 April 2012 GAZETTE 15

GazetteFITNESS FITNESS

Brought to you by Derry Temple

A ray of sun can make you fitter SPRING is here and the sun has started to shine!

This is the time to come out of hibernation and shake off the winter blues.

Now that the clocks have gone forward, we have longer evenings with more activity time. You can expect better weather too, which should encourage you to get outside and get active.

The biggest benefit of getting our activity outdoors is that we can also get some much-needed sunshine. Sunshine and exercise cause the body to produce feel-good betaendorphins and serotonin that simply cannot be obtained from food (no matter how much chocolate you eat!).

The other important

benefit is, after a long dark winter, you may be deficient in vitamin D, “the sunshine vitamin”. Our body’s primary means of obtaining vitamin D is through sun exposure and, since Ireland is located in a northerly latitude, it does not receive enough sun to provide vitamin D for large periods of the year.

In recent times, vitamin D has come to the forefront of the nutrition world because of the numerous health benefits that have been associated with it. While we can get good sources of vitamin D from fish, such as salmon, sardines, tuna and also milk and eggs, the best source is natural UVB sunlight.

Vitamin D is crucial to the function and health of our bodies and low levels of vitamin D are implicated in several diseases. It has been historically proven and documented that adequate calcium intake can improve general bone health and decrease the risk of certain bone diseases that are more prevalent in later life.

What many people don’t realise is that vitamin D is critical in the body’s ability to properly utilise calcium. Calcium absorption in the intestines actually requires vitamin D and, when its levels are deficient, calcium is not optimally absorbed even if there is enough of it in the diet.

personal trainer and pilates instructor

The keys to seeing signs of a stroke Taking in the sun isn’t just good for plants

If this is the case, then the body will mobilise calcium from the skeletal bones and release it into the bloodstream.

This inevitably causes a loss of bone density and can lead to osteomalacia, osteopenia and, eventually, to osteoporosis.

Bone health is an important health issue for people over 50 years of age and becomes an increasing concern as we age.

Temple Training will

hold a free fat-loss workshop for Gazette readers on Tuesday, April 17 at 8pm in Le Cheile Community Centre, Donnycarney.

This is an introduction to our “Body Design” course, which will empower you to “attain a lean body, healthy mind and an abundance of energy for life”. To secure your place simply e-mail us at info@templetrain ing and mention that you are a Gazette reader.

TEN THOUSAND Irish people have a stroke every year and around 2,000 of them die from stroke.

The most common form of stroke occurs when the artery that supplies blood to the brain becomes blocked causing a part of the brain to be damaged.

FAST

A handy guide to identifying signs of a stroke is FAST. Facial weakness – can they smile?

Arm weakness – can they raise both arms?

Speech – can they speak clearly and understand you?

Time to call 112 or 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Speed

Speed is essential as stroke damages brain tissue.

Two of the principal culprits that can lead to a blockage of the arteries are smoking and high cholesterol.

You can have your c h o l e s t e r o l l e ve l checked at your local pharmacy or by your GP. With thanks to the staff of Lucan Village Pharmacy.

16 GAZETTE 5 April 2012

GazetteBEAUTY BEAUTY

Edited by Laura Webb

Dare to bare your legs with a number of great treatments T FELT like summer last week – that feels a long time ago, already – and, for ladies across Dublin thinking of baring their legs in a great summer dress, or shorts, they should make sure they look the part whenever the good weather returns.

We don’t often get a chance to bare our legs in Dublin, but when we do, we like to take full advantage of the sun’s rays.

I

In this dreary town, we can often neglect our legs and leave them hiding behind skinny jeans or black tights Letting them breathe in the open air means making legs look supersmooth, and there is no better place to start than waxing.

Gazette Beauty came across Wax in the City – a leading international waxing-only studio located in South William

Street.

It opened last week and there is already a buzz about the top-quality treatments it supplies.

Specialising in hair removing, it uses highquality natural beeswax, and skin is treated with Hamamelis water before and after hair removal.

No wax strips are used, which makes it fast, gentle and leaving skin feeling smooth for two to four weeks.

Prepare to have perfect pins for summer – or any time of year – with a number of luscious leg beauty products

The wax used by Wax in the City is suitable for all hair removal, from face to toes, and is great for sensitive skin.

Once the hair has been removed, keep your legs smooth and supple with a great moisturiser.

One such product is Weleda’s Aloe Vera Body

Lotion. This product lightly moisturises and keeps the skin smooth.

Ingredients such as organic jojoba oil, apricot kernel oil and organic shea butter support the skin’s moisture balance, and gives off an amazing aromatic smell.

This product is avail-

able at Nourish health and beauty stores, and selected health stores and pharmacies nationwide.

Once complete, sun worshippers can decide whether they want to go all natural with their bare legs, or add a bit of colour by using their favourite tan product.

A good instant tan is Karora Instant Tan washoff (rrp €14.99).

This tan is not only suitable for skin-bronzing legs, it can also be

used on the face and body.

A great fau x glow helps to disguise cellulite and blemishes, and gives a fashionable tan that many have been already spotted with on the spring-summer catwalks.

So, whenever it happens, with these great products and services you’ll be all set to pick out your favourite sun dress or shorts and show off those fab legs when the sun beams back.

Max Factor Miracle Touch CReamy Blush; €10.79

A Blush you’ll welcome to see on your glowing face CREATE a fresh face look by adding a pop of colour to your skin with MaxFactor’s very own creamy blush.

MaxFactor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush is designed to bring fresh dew to cheeks. It glides on easily, and leaves cheeks with a subtle hint of colour, ideal for a fresh spring/summer look.

This cream blush is a softly pigmented, nongreasy creamy formula that transforms at the touch, blending easily and evenly over skin.

The result is a sheer blush of colour across the cheeks, giving a fresh, natural glow, which can be built up easily for a more dramatic evening look.

Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush is available nationwide in four shades – Soft Copper, Soft Murano, Soft Candy and Soft Pink – and are priced at €10.79 RRP each.

5 April 2012 GAZETTE 17

18 GAZETTE 5 April 2012

GazetteMUSIC MUSIC FastTunes with Radio Nova’s Dee Woods A household charge for our homes, sky-rocketing petrol prices for our cars...and now our musical ears are getting a bashing.

Sonisphere 2012 in the UK was billed to be the rockingest yet, with headliners Queen (with Adam Lambert) being joined by Kiss, Faith No More and The Darkness.

Then last week, organisers literally pulled the plug saying the “challenging year was more difficult than anticipated”, which presumably translates to spiralling costs outweighing poor ticket sales.

With Glastonbury on a year’s break and Oxegen taking a breather here, it’s a chilling thought that the future of the big music festival could be as unpredictable as an Irish summer.

With more music being sold over cyberspace than in shops, is it possible that promoters in the already-strained music industry are bowing out of staging huge, outdoor gigs?

Could we be telling our wide-eyed grandchildren legendary tales of overpriced burgers, wearing shorts in the rain and paying hundreds of Euro to sleep in a mucky field with thousands of fellow music fanatics - just for the love of music?

I hope not, that’s something everyone should get to experience for themselves.

Although we have to look at the plastic glass as being half full, 2012 does have Electric Picnic in Stradbally (The Cure, The Killers), the Rory GallagherTribute Festival in Ballyshannon (Horslips, Mick Taylor) and The Sea Sessions in Bundoran (Happy Mondays, Kaiser Chiefs) to name but a few.

Or if a mucky field doesn’t do it for you, what about partying with some Easter bunnies on dry land? Listen to Radio Nova this week for your chance to win a trip to the Playboy Mansion’s Rock n Roll Fantasy Party with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler in May. Listen to Dee Woods from Radio Nova every weeknight from 7pm to 12am on 100.3FM

REVIEW: THREE DIVERSE RELEASES AHEAD OF THE BREAK

Magic number for preEaster goodies I ROB HEIGH

LIKE a candy store display, there are far too many goodies on offer in the music scene at the moment. So, which are the fun-filled Easter eggs and which are the empty vessels?

First up is the return of trance-dance duo, Orbital, with their first album since 2004, Wonky.

The record represents their first recorded work since their return to the live arena in 2009 after their retirement from the business after the Blue Album in 2004. Their revival showed how much they had been missed, as festival-goers and fans flocked to their appearances, and now, eight years since their last release, they have returned with Wonky.

Orbital always demonstrated a more considered approach to their recorded output and live shows in comparison to the more Pavlovian mechanics of

stadium house acts like Chemical Brothers, and that’s a trend they continue on Wonky.

There are some fine grooves on offer here, certainly, but they are inlaid within Orbital’s acid-inf lected melodies and electronic riffs that show old habits die hard — one foot remains in the chill-out space, one on the dancefloor, but the headlights are still firmly aimed at the stars.

Next out of the shiny wrapper is Noctourniquet, the sixth album from The Mars Volta, the band, who rose from the ashes of one of the most influential and thrilling bands of the last 15 years, At The Drive In. With ATDI’s Omar and Cedric driving the creative agenda, and with the diversity of the ideas, soundscapes and melodies colliding, Noctourniquet is the sound of a million ideas colliding all at once.

This isn’t rock as you

Orbital, Estelle and The Mars Volta make for an eclectic trio

know it, it’s not punk, it is completely its own beast and what a magnificent, prickly and involving beast it is.

Listening to all of The Mars Volta’s records over the years has been a challenge, but an enduringly rewarding one for those who can stay the distance and appreciate the nuance and intelligence at play.

There truly is very little out there that makes its mark on you like Mars Volta, and, given the time and the inclination, you will thoroughly

appreciate the craft at play in Noctourniquet.

Finally, Estelle, the American Boy singer who has divided her time in recent years between Brooklyn and her home town of London, and has made some impressive appearances of recent times, showcasing her silky vocals with The Roots and John Legend at venues across America.

All Of Me, her latest release, demonstrates all of the cross-Atlantic influences at play in her career, and is as smooth

a piece of pop-soul as you are likely to hear this year.

It also features more mature and intelligent lyrics than this genre usually displays, with Estelle obvioulsy drawing on the personal and social consciousness displayed by the likes of The Roots in their music.

This is a classy piece of work that demonstrates Estelle’s talents as a writer and as a savvy and adept listener to the trends and styles that best suit her skills

5 April 2012 GAZETTE 19

GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS

Supported by AIB

Interview: Anthony Carmody, partner at Carmody Moran Solicitors

Taking stress out of Courts ANTHONY Carmody is a partner in Carmody Moran solicitors, one the fastest-growing legal firms in West Dublin. Having merged Carmody & Co with Moran Solicitors, the Carmody Moran mix is gaining a strong reputation. Anthony brings a wealth of expertise to the practice, having previously worked in one of the big top-10 Dublin law firms, as well as a niche defence law firm. Anthony was keen to establish a general legal practice specialising in the area of court disputes with Q: What was your first job?

A: At 16 I ran away to sea and was a steward on the ferry to France

Q: And your first pay cheque?

A: IR£71 per week Q: Have you ever done a job you loathed?

A: A steward on the ferry to France on a rough sailing… you can probably imagine the cleaning jobs

Q: When did you start your present job?

A: I started my apprenticeship as a solicitor on February 5, 1996

Q: What is the best thing about your job?

A: When people have to access

the expertise to offer clients a cost-effective legal service that aims to simplify the traumatic experience of taking a case through the courts.

This week, he spoke to the Gazette about the challenges his clients face. Anthony says he has “no typical day and feels strongly that he can help his clients by advocating on their behalf and advising them when tackling the challenges that result from road traffic accidents, employment claims, etc”. He says: “One

legal advice they can be often quite intimated, so when you get working with them and explain the process and seeing them relax working with me, that’s a great part of the job

Q: Have you ever achieved anything that you once thought you could not pull off?

A: Setting up my own practice,

day I can be securing a client a divorce and the next day I’m in the High Court on a personal injury action.”

He goes on to say: “The most rewarding part of my job is getting my clients the results they deserve and that, while I cannot turn back the clock for them, it is always great to obtain a just and fair outcome.”

Carmody Moran solicitors have offices in Dublin 15 and Dublin 7. To find out more, visit www.carmodymoran.ie or telephone 01 827 2888.

Q: Is there anything about yourself that you would like to set the record straight on?

A: I’m not a complete nerd Q: What sport do you follow?

A: Rugby and soccer, in particular Sligo Rovers

Q: What sport can you play?

A: I have played every sport going

which now employs six of us

and was equally useless at each one

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

A: Not anywhere near enough; I’m

Q: What habits would you like to lose?

A: Smoking… if only I could turn

very hands-on in work

the clock back to 1989!

Q: What’s currently on your desk that shouldn’t be?

A: A few empty coffee cups

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

A: Continuing to build up our

practice that people come to when they wish to get solid, affordable and realistic legal advice and building on our reputation for putting clients first.

Q: What is your guilty music/TV or movie pleasure?

A: Eurovision – it’s the worst and the best thing on TV

Q: Describe your dream meal?

A: Outdoors somewhere with my

Solicitor Anthony Carmody

Inc. back to work.

Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously?

A: Bookshops or HMV Q: Describe your dream holiday?

A: Up in the mountains somewhere with my wife and baby son getting away from it all

Q: What would be your dream job?

A: I don’t think that there is any-

wife, family and friends

thing else I would want to do or could do as well as what I’m doing,

Q: Who would you rather have dinner with – Enda Kenny or Dame Edna?

A: Enda Kenny, as I’d love to know

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

A: I don’t think that I will ever

what his plans are to get Ireland

retire

20 GAZETTE 5 April 2012

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS RoadSigns Road Signs New M-Class set for Irish release WITHIN the coming weeks, Mercedes-Benz will introduce the second of three new models planned for release in Ireland this year - their new third-generation M-Class sports utility vehicle.

The M-Class links a strong off-road heritage to the comfort of a luxury premium saloon. In appearance, it has been given a more defined, forceful look with the introduction of new headlamps and grille and centrally mounted three-pointed star.

Improvements include a more spacious and comfortable interior with more elbow room, a new dashboard and upholstery and a raft of standard and optional infotainment systems.

The M-Class is powered by an all-new line-up of engines - one petrol and two diesel units. In Ireland, the version most likely to appeal is the 204bhp ML250 CDI BlueTEC 4-MATIC selling at €71,060 ex works with road tax of just €481.

Notable features of the new M-Class include a new on/off road package that provides six transmission modes, depending on road conditions. Air suspension, anti roll stabilisation, adaptive damping that moves from firm to soft, electric steering and a tightest-in-its-segment turning circle combine to boost driving pleasure.

The new Mercedes-Benz M-Class

TomTom app hits tablets: TomTom has released an updated version of its WEBFLEET Mobile fleet management app, extending use to tablets and making fleet management more accessible for managers on the move.

WEBFLEET® Mobile is designed to give businesses the flexibility needed to inform customers at all times and operate an efficient vehicle fleet and workforce.

New functionality allows users to view details for all current

orders, manage workflow and meet service agreements.

New jobs can be sent straight from the smart phone or tablet to a field workers’ TomTom PRO device, providing them with all critical information about the job.

WEBFLEET Mobile displays an accurate time of arrival, which can be used to inform the customer.

The new version also displays tracks for selected trips by date and vehicle. It is available in app stores for TomTom’s 15,000 business customers.

Done deal: Renault join Dubs for 2012 season DUBLIN football star, Bernard Brogan, is joined by local schoolkids Jack Murray, Roisin Gregory Cox, Mikey O’Driscoll and Molly Fitzgerald. The group got together this week to celebrate the launch of an official car partnership between Renault Ireland and the Dublin Gaelic Football Team.

Renault will partner the All-Ireland Football Champions for 2012, a partnership that will see a number of players driving new Renault models. Players Denis Bastick, Kevin Nolan, Barry Cahill, Michael Dara

MacAuley, Eoghan O’Gara, Alan Brogan and Bernard Brogan took to the pitch at Parnell Park, home of the Dubs, with Renault managing director Eric Basset.

Commenting on the deal, Mr Basset said: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with the Dublin football team today and we believe it’s a great natural fit as we share the same values - hard work, performance, challenge, and dedication. In 2012 Renault and Dublin GAA will have to continue to perform based on the good 2011 results, so we’re in it together!”

Dublin fully charged for 2012 EV Summit DUBLIN is to host Fully Charged 2012,an international Electric Vehicle (EV) Summit that is taking place on July 11, 2012, in the Convention Centre.

T h i s o n e - d ay E V conference and exhibition will bring together thought leaders and policy makers from Europe, US and China as well as other experts at the cutting edge of EV technology. International executives from IBM, Nissan, Renault, Siemens, International Energy Agency will share their knowledge, latest research results and expert views

about this dynamic and emerging industry.

A panel discussion with those responsible for ecar programmes in Estonia, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands and UK will provide delegates with an insight into the business models, consumer uptake and challenges of EV adoption.

In addition, first year results from Green eMotion, the EU funded transport research project with a budget of €42 million, will be discussed.

A range of electric cars and related EV products and solutions will be on display. A number of Irish

Dervla O’Flaherty, ESB ecars, and Reg Plunkett, owner of the 1899 Sperry Cleveland vintage electic car

small and medium enterprises, who have invested in developing a range of innovative products/ services for the EV market, will be showcased using the umbrella Ecar Ireland brand.

These world-class solutions, supported by Enter-

prise Ireland, have been proven in the Irish market and are being actively marketed internationally.

All participating exhibitors to date are listed at www.fullycharged2012. com/exhibition.html There will also be an Ecar Test Drive Zone,

whereby members of the public will also have the opportunity to test drive electric vehicles in Dublin city on the same day.

Interested parties should register online @ www. fullycharged2012.com Fully Charged 2012 is a satellite event of the prestigious Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF 2012) which is one of the highlight events of Dublin, City of Science 2012.

A discount delegate fee is offered to those who wish to attend both events.

Registration for one or both of these events is available online: www. fullycharged2012.com.

5 April 2012 GAZETTE 21

Edited by Cormac Curtis

RoadSigns Road Signs

LONG-AWAITED KIA OPTIMA SET FOR ARRIVAL:

Eddie Murphy, chairman and managing director, Ford Ireland, and Mark Anderson, director of Titanic 100 Cobh project, at the handover of two specially liveried Ford

Ford getting on board ORD Ireland has become a partner of the Titanic 100 Cobh 2012 centenary project, with the provision of a pair of specially liveried new Galaxy models that will be used during the yearlong commemoration.

Cobh (or Queenstown as it was known then) was the last port of call for the ill-fated Titanic on April 11, 1912, when 123 passengers boarded the ship before it put out into

F

the Atlantic ocean. Three days later, the “unsinkable” ship sank following a collision with an iceberg in the north Atlantic.

Tragedy To commemorate the visit of the Titanic to Cobh and the terrible tragedy, the Titanic 100 Cobh project has been set up and will run a packed agenda of events throughout 2012.

According to Marc Anderson, Director of the

Titanic 100 Cobh project: “Cobh will be buzzing during 2012 as we commemorate this important part of the town’s, and Cork harbour’s history.

We are delighted with Ford’s support and, as the centenary date in April approaches, the two Galaxy vehicles will be very busy. But the activity doesn’t end there because, into the summer and beyond, our programme of events means that the cars will

be familiar sights on the roads around Cobh and its environs right until the end of the year.”

Eddie Murphy, chairman and managing director of Ford Ireland, said: “The Titanic is an important part of Cobh and Cork’s history so it is fitting for Ford, with our historical Cork roots, to be involved in the Titanic 100 Cobh project. In addition to providing these vehicles for use during the year, we are

also sponsoring a novel Titanic-themed short film competition for budding film-makers.”

Inspired Entitled 8 Minutes: The Ford Short Film Competition, Entrants are invited to produce an eight-minute short film inspired by one of the themes of Titanic. Twelve finalists will be given the opportunity to showcase their work to the wider film industry and the gen-

eral public at a great family evening out at Fota House Cobh on Saturday June 9th. On the night, one overall winner will be chosen and will receive the use of a Ford Fiesta for a year, fully fuelled, taxed and insured. Visit w w w.8minutes.ie for more information.

More information in relation to the Titanic 100 Cobh 2012 project and the range of events planned can be accessed at www.titanic100.ie.

Dublin winner in the latest The Care Trust fundraiser DEIRDRE Ni Dhonaill, of Rathfarnham, and Susan Banks, of Kilnamanagh, were each the lucky the winner of a Ford Fiesta in The Care Trust’s latest fundraising draw which, as Ireland’s biggest car giveaway, will see 36 cars up for grabs in 2012.

Commenting on her win, Susan said: “I am really thrilled to win a Fiesta in The Care Trust draw - I really love the sporty look of the car. It couldn’t have come at a better time for me as I had been looking around to replace my eight-year-old car and now I can’t wait to get behind the wheel.”

Gaeilgeoir Deirdre was also delighted with the win: “Ta me an-sasta leis an Fiesta nua – is carr alainn e”. Deirdre’s sons will benefit from the win too as she will give them her old car now that she has a sparkling new Fiesta for herself.

Winners The Care Trust’s prize draws take place three times per month with all winners notified by post. For €3.50 per week / €15 per month, contributors are eligible for all draws. For more information, see www.thecaretrust.ie or phone (01) 200 0060.

Phil Reid, of The Care Trust, presents the keys for a new Fiesta to Susan Banks and Deirdre Ni Dhonaill, while Aidan Kane, of Rathfarnham Ford, looks on

THE Optima Kia’s long-awaited new D segment saloon will arrive in dealerships throughout Ireland in the coming two weeks. The Optima, which has won numerous design awards, is an all-new car from the ground up. Longer, lower, wider and with an extended wheelbase compared to previous D-segment offerings from Kia, the new sedan embodies what Kia’s chief design officer, Peter Schreyer, calls “a bold, athletic and visual sporting energy”.

Welcoming the announcement, Kia Motors Ireland MD James Brooks said: “Having being largely absent in recent years from this important segment of the market we are delighted to be back with this very attractive sedan.”

22 GAZETTE 5 April 2012

GazetteTTRAVEL FastTravel A wonderful place to take a well-Erned relaxing trip Strokestown Park offers an Easter treat for families, with fun, eggs, music and puppets

VISIT Strokestown Park, Co. Roscommon, this Easter Sunday and enjoy an action-packed day of Family Fun in the Park’s idyllic six-acre walled gardens.

The Park will be open from 12 noon to 6pm on the day with a whole host of activities and entertainment available for children to enjoy.

For an entry fee of just €10 per child (admission is free for adults accompanying children) guests can enjoy a great array of fun activities and entertainment, including live puppet shows which will be performed by Conor Lambert’s Custard Pie Puppet Company, face-painting, bouncing castles, craft workshops, which are being presented by the Eco Envolve Team and includes both individual and group craft activities.

There will also be a live musical performance

by Eileen O’Toole, an exciting Easter Egg Hunt and unlimited access to the Park’s stunning gardens The Strokestown Park Woodland Walk Cafe will be open all day on Easter Sunday and special lunch rates will be available, with separate menus for kiddies and adults, for just €5 and €10, respectively.

Pre-booking is advisable, so secure your tickets today.

Tickets are available online at www.strokestownpark.ie or by phone at 071 9633013.

Enjoy a relaxing weekend close to home with the Ballsbridge Hotel ENJOY your next weekend break in Dublin with a special offer package at Dublin’s Ballsbridge Hotel and Berkeley Court Hotel. Both will be offering phenomenal deals this spring to brighten your next Dublin excursion.

The Dublin Sightseeing Package at Ballsbridge Hotel, starts at only €55 per person sharing, which includes an overnight stay and a delectable Full Irish Breakfast. Explore the many sights and attractions the city has to offer with tickets for the Dublin City Sightseeing tour also included.

Packages are subject to availability so early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment. To make a booking visit www.ballsbridgehotel.com and www.berkeleycourthotel.com.

BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

THE Lough Erne Resort in Enniskillen is a golfcentred hotel with full course and a training academy both designed

by Nick Faldo.

Perched on the edge of Lough Erne in Fermanagh, the hotel has an impressive pedigree, with the awards to match.

Indeed, it was the first AA and Northern Ireland Tourist Board five-star hotel in Northern Ireland, and was awarded the title of Best Hotel at the 2011 Northern Ireland Tourism Awards.

T he beautiful setting and sumptuous hotel are not the most impressive things about the Lough Erne Resort, however.

They are merely the surface layer of an exquisite resort.

The golf course is now world-famous as it was Nick Faldo’s first Irish creation.

The course is a real treat for avid golfers and non-golfers alike as it offers a real mix of golfing styles.

It meanders around Castle Hume Lough and Lower Lough Erne and the holes vary from pine-lined and heathland.

There are a lot of

water features on the course too, which only adds to its interest and diversity.

Along with the magnificent views of the grand lake and the beautiful hotel, the experience of playing on the course is a multilayered sensory delight.

Lough Erne Resort

guests and participates freely with whatever event is ongoing at the resort.

Another very novel feature of the resort is the Faldo Academy.

This is a state-of-theart facility for improving your golfing skills by practising with the assistance and guid-

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

‘So, if you are a seasoned golfer, or a complete novice, the course and academy are a wonderful way to have great craic whilst improving or learning the game’ --------------------------------------------------------

won Golf Resor t of the Year from the Irish Golf Tourism Operators Association in 2010.

T he Resor t effor tlessly marries old world charm and up-to-date luxury.

It is set on its very own 600-acre penins u l a , b e t we e n C a s tle Hume Lough and Lower Lough Erne, just outside Enniskillen.

A Master at work Rory McIlroy is the touring professional of Lough Erne resort and has a house on the course in the golfer’s village.

When McIlroy visits the resort he often leads golf clinics for the

ance of the hotel’s resident golf pro, the expert Lynn McCool.

Lynn had a highly successful amateur career and won many titles throughout Ireland.

She then won a golf scholarship at the University of Hawaii before embarking on a four-year training programme at The Belfry.

She is a very adept and straight-talking instructor and believes that keeping things simple is the best way to improve a golfer’s form.

“Sir Nick Faldo was the most straightfor ward and simple instructor I’ve ever come

across and if you practise the stance, grip and swing I show you, you can play on any course in the world effectively,” she informed me before tee-off.

A Beginners look McCool is equally good at instr ucting beginners, of which I was one.

She tells you in very basic terms and by showing you your alignment and swing on the s c r e e n , h ow e a s i l y you can improve your game.

The Faldo Academy is an indoor structure that leads on to an outdoor green where your swing, trajectory, distance and other technical skills can be monitored and tracked by a computer programme and equipment housed in the academy.

Lough Erne houses the first Faldo Academy in Europe and, according to the man himself, through these academies, “we aspire to achieve the very best in all that we do”.

Revolutionary Lough Erne claims that the Faldo Academies have revolutionised the way in which golf instr uction and practise facilities are being viewed.

The beautiful jetty at

It has been designed with golfers in mind and all of the staff at the facility assist golfers to replicate the shots that they will experience on the golf course.

So, if you are a seasoned golfer, or a complete novice, the course and academy are a wonderful way to have great craic whilst improving or learning the game.

Another facility at the Lough Erne Resort is the Thai Spa. This spa and thermal suite offers a truly authentic experience in the art of relaxation and Thai massage. From the moment you enter the spa you are taken in hand and led through a series of relaxing experiences, from head massage to foot massage, and everything in between.

I had the back, neck and shoulder massage

5 April 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 23

Edited by Mimi Murray

TravelBriefs

Killiney’s landmark Fitzpatrick Castle is fit for a King, and Queen, this Easter weekend

Lough Erne Resort in Enniskillen at dusk is a highlight of any stay, as trips to the Catalina Restaurant (top) and infinity pool (bottom)

as well as the head massage.

T he dexterity and power of the delicate Thai girl working on me was quite remarkable.

She was a true master of the art of massage and I was very revived and relaxed on leaving the suite.

Dinner was ser ved in the hotel’s Catalina Restaurant where the cuisine was of the highest quality.

Ever y thing on the menu, from vegetarian meals to a seafood selection and fowl, like quail and duck, were locally sourced.

All of the bread, too, which was some of the most exotic I’ve ever had, (curry for instance) we r e b a ke d o n t h e premises.

I had the hake on a bed of lentils with a great sauce and the most debauched choc-

olate dessert of three different creative incarnations.

In all the whole experience at the Lough Erne Resort was a very good one.

The staff is highly attentive and accommodating and all of the facilities, from the golf course to the spa and the dining, was absolutely above par.

Escape for an overnight retreat with dinner in the award-winning Catalina Restaurant, a restful night’s sleep followed by the very best of Irish breakfasts.

For more information on this fabulous resort, log on to www.lougherneresort.comor call the reception on 048 6632 3230 The Lough Erne Spring retreat costs from £89.50 per person, based on two persons sharing.

WITH the Easter break fast approaching now is the time to think about booking a break with family or friends, and Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney, have a great selection of great value packages now available with something to suit everyone.

Enjoy an Easter break the whole family can enjoy with the Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel Family Package. The package includes a two-night break for up to a family of five with breakfast each morning and dinner on one evening and a third night’s B&B absolutely free! Its also never been easier to entertain the children this Easter with Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel’s Kids Club, which will run Saturday, April 7 and Sunday, April 8 from 7pm to 10pm – perfect for giving mum and dad the opportunity to enjoy a relaxing dinner. On Easter Sunday morning, from 10.30am, a special Easter Egg Hunt will take place with the Easter Bunny leaving lots of delicious Easter eggs for children to find throughout the Castle.

The Family package is available from just €205 per adult for a midweek break, and €240 per adult for a weekend break.

Fancy an Easter break with friends? Then why not try the Spring Midweek Special from Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel. From just €145 pps (based on two sharing) you can enjoy a twonight break with breakfast each morning, dinner on one evening of your choice and scrumptious afternoon tea for two as an extra treat for you to enjoy during your stay.

Or why not enjoy a longer getaway with the Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel Spring 3 for 2 Offer.

This package includes two nights B&B, with dinner one evening, complimentary wine and chocolates in your room to enjoy upon arrival and a third’s night stay with breakfast absolutely free. This great-value package is available for just €175pps for a mid-week break and €195pps for a weekend break (based on two sharing).

All Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel guests can enjoy full use of the hotel’s extensive leisure facilities as well as free WIFI and car parking.

To make a booking contact the reservations team on (01) 2305556 or email: reservations@fitzpatricks.com

24 SWORDS GAZETTE 5 April 2012

GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT

GoingOUT THE PAVILION THEATRE 01 231 2929 Baglady

FRANK McGuinness’s rarely-performed play has an extra poignancy in the current economic climate, given the social exclusion that some citizens continue to face. Here, True West, in association with Eska Riada, take a “baglady” (as memorably played by Maria McDermottroe) – someone you might walk past in the street – and reveal the person inside, stripping away the layers of alienation to find the isolated woman inside. Catch this moving play at 8pm on Thursday, April 5, with tickets costing €15/€13.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 Faulty Towers Dining Experience DISCERNING diners are cordially invited to attend Basil and Sybil Fawlty’s upcoming special Easter three-course meal at The Mill, with fine fare provided by Roly Saul’s restaurant.

Basil, and his loving wife, Sybil, will be ably assisted by Manuel – one of Barcelona’s finest waiters – to ensure the evening runs perfectly smoothly, and without any possible chance of mishap or mayhem whatsoever. Your Fawlty evening can be enjoyed on Saturday, April 4, with the price for the three-course meal, and Basil’s attention, set at €45.

CIVIC THEATRE 01 885 2622 The Playboy of the Western World PRESENTED by Loose End Studio, and performed by the ITT Dublin Drama Society, the classic Irish play by JM Synge gets a fresh approach in this upcoming production.

Still striking a contemporary note with modern audiences, the secrets of a small Mayo townland will be revealed when wedding plans are interrupted, as Christy Mahon’s arrival will upset Pegeen Mike’s plans ... Catch Playboy nightly at 8.15pm from Wednesday, April 11 to Saturday, April 14; tickets priced €10/€7 conc.

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 Easter Integrated Dance Project CROI Clan, a professional contemporary dance company based in Cork, invites both disabled and non-disabled dancers, aged between 13-18 years, to participate in this exciting and dynamic week-long project, which celebrates and encourages dance diversity. The week will conclude with a dance piece set in a professional show in Draiocht’s studio space. The free project will run from Tuesday, April 10 to Saturday, April 14. If interested to participate, email sarah@draiocht.ie or telephone 01 809 8029.

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It could be something of a tall order for Snow White to thwart Queen Clementianna’s plans to marry a rich young prince but, thanks to this rather unlikely band of brigands she falls in with in the forest, she’s ready to face the challenge

Not a Grimm story It’s Snow joke to say that director, Singh, has struck the right note with an upbeat reboot of the classic fairytale I KATE CROWLEY

UNFORTUNATELY, The Gazette does not employ yours truly as its political correspondant, meaning that, alas, my dear readers are spared my thoughts on a number of pressing issues of the day.

Yes, that’s right, you’ll both have to only guess what I might have to say on such matters as the Mahon Report, Bertie, the €100 Household Charge, the Troika, and so on. Why, it’s all enough to make a gal wish for an escape into a fantasy land.

And, oh, look, here comes one now!

Presented in the cinema style du jour, Mirror Mirror is a reimagining, reboot (or rehash) of Grimm’s old tale, rejinked for modern audiences.

(Yes, yes, very good – it’s Snow White’s tale, with added glitz, polished CG effects, knowing asides, and so on.)

FILM OF THE WEEK: Mirror Mirror #### (PG) 106 mins Director: Tarsem Singh Starring: Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Armie Hammer, Nathan Lane, blink-and-you’ll-miss-him Sean Bean, and seven rogues

OUR VERDICT: FORGET anything to do with whiney vampires, woeful werewolves and angsty moaning that would make Kevin The Teenager look good by comparison – this slice of pure fantasy is an amusing, upbeat slice of family fun, with Roberts’ gamely knowing portrayal of a youth- and beauty-obsessed queen adding another layer of deliciousness. For a fun, feisty fairytale, Mirror Mirror is certainly a film to reflect on ...

Not a million miles away from the classic fairytale, here, Snow White (Lily Collins) is a lovely lass, living in Ye Olde Kingdome under the tender, motherly ministrations of the Queen (Julia Roberts, right).

That’s “tender” as in “pretty insecure and increasingly jealous of Snow, and ready to get rid of the girl once she’s old enough to scupper her plans to marry the next passing rich young prince and thus stabilise her broke kingdom’s finances and bag herself a toy-boy in the process,” folks.

Enter the Prince (Armie Hammer) who, as fairytale luck would have it, falls for the girl, not the queen.

If Queenie’s going to have any chance of blagging her man – and his money – S n ow ’s gotta go, and so it’s not long before a certain someo n e ’s b e e n sent on a onew a y

trip to the forest, where people tend to have a habit of not returning from.

Of course, as the tale is better known by another well-known title, rather than “SnowWhite and the Hungry Forest Monster that Ate her for Lunch”, Snow soon runs into a group of bandits, of sorts, who’re small in stature but can stand shoulder-toshoulder with any soldiers in the kingdom, such are their impressive fighting skills (and, err, occasional use of stilt-legs).

Beautiful, feisty and strong-willed Snow (and, thank God, not oooh-angsty like too many young female leads have been in several films lately) enlists the help of her seven new friends to square up to

the tall order of reclaiming her rightful place in the kingdom, thwarting the Queen’s plans, and – duh – netting the Prince, and getting the fairytale ending that everyone expects.

But the Queen may have other ideas, once she learns that Snow is still alive ...

Camply colourful and upbeat, it’s a film that’s full of great design and striking vistas, with amusing turns from several of its leading and supporting stars, such as seasoned ham, Nathan Lane, while there’s a fun frisson to the Queen’s/Roberts’ obsession with fading beauty.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall ... who’s the sharpest critic of all? What’s that you say? Meeee? Why, thank you! Upon reflection, there’ll be extra Pledge for you this week, my polished sidekick ...

Startled to learn Snow lives ... Queen Clementianna (Julia Roberts)

5 April 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 25

GazetteGAMING GAMING Bytesandpieces True out-of-this world marketing

Whether standing at the gleaming entrance to the flagship store on Fifth Avenue (above), or passing by a billboard in a corner of Chinatown (right), Apple have significant branding around New York – a stark contrast to Dublin, where the company has little comparable presence. Pictures: Shane Dillon

A tale of two cities SHANE DILLON

THIS may sound like something of a grand statement, but I was at Apple’s flagship store on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Central Park, in Manhattan, just last week, as well as at a number of other key game and technology outlets all around the island.

All just part of a routine holiday, but it was pretty interesting to note the very different approaches, and

interest in, gaming and tech between the two distant, and disparate, capital cities (on paper, at least, if not by legislation).

Firstly, my condolences to the GAME staff at a number of locations around Dublin, given last week’s well-publicised abrupt closure of the Republic of Ireland wing of the games retailer.

Although I’d written here previously about the ailing chain’s difficulties, it’s regrettable that what

many business, gaming and technology followers had half expected would indeed come to pass, and that the company would enter administration, with GAME’s outlets in the Republic being closed, while those in the North, and Britain, continued trading.

Like other interested parties, I’d been on a deathwatch, of sorts, while in Manhattan, as gloomy business headlines indicated what was

Anotherweebyte...

Feeling The Force of some great promotional ideass IN MY main piece, above, I briefly touched upon how games stores in Ireland never quite market themselves very well, by comparison to their peerss that I’ve seen elsewhere.

However, games companies are much more savvy about great marketing, as Microsoft proved when it enlisted the intergalactic tin can hero, R2-D2 (with human friend, Craig Sutton) to help launch Kinect Star Wars in Ireland recently, which was released on April 3. nect title, which It was a great way to publicise the latest top Kinect is one of the year’s most anticipated titles for Kinect, XBox 360 and Star Wars fans alike, letting fans jump straight into the action, using Kinect to engage with the Star Wars universe in a wide variety of key settings, light sabres at the ready.

It shouldn’t be hard to Force any Star Wars fan to pick this one up ...

coming, as looming rent payments, and other costs, seemed impossible for the chain to meet.

What a contrast between the sight of nearly deserted games stores and technology sections in Dublin – for all retailers, I hasten to add – and that of the many such similar retailers in Manhattan.

Eve n c o n s i d e r i n g the vast differences in economies in scale and populations, I saw much busier shops (or “stores”, for our American friends) around New York than to be seen here at home, or, indeed, in London, where I was also on a similar ITrrelated stroll around last weekend. w Back Stateside, and, whether in bustling flagw sship stores or much ssmaller independent rretailers, I was impressed by the engaging displays, b and a much better, handsa on approach to displayo iing the latest (and recent, iinteresting) titles than I have seen for several years here in Dublin.

Even better, the swamp of second-hand titles –

which did much to add to GAME’s difficulties, as well as to HMV’s equally ailing section, in my opinion – was not as prevalant, giving a much wider range of recent stock .

With GAME now gone, what does the future hold for games retailers in Ireland? If I were to shake a Magic 8-Ball app beside me, it would probably answer: “The future is unclear” ...

With the loss of GAME in the Republic – with staff members’ sit-ins making news around the world, I noted, in the relevant gaming/tech press – there’s a sudden loss of a key games retailer, further reducing choice for Dublin (and Irish) consumers.

Presumably, that’s good news for the few remaining chains and online distributors (major supermarkets still present extremely limited choice, so I discount them), but, given the stale state of the market, and how games are marketed in Dublin, at least, I hope they can continue playing ...

SPEAKING of marketing – well, it’s a fairly broad theme that I’ve chosen for this week’s page – Roxio, makers of the infamous Angry Birds series, came up with an out-of-this-world idea for the latest instalment in the smashhit franchise, Angry Birds Space.

Seeing as this series is likely to send some readers into an angry rage, such is its love/hate appeal, rather than delve into the game – widely available at a unmber of sources, and which Roxio are hoping will make the franchise the first game series past the one-billion download mark, as it’s somewhere around 800 million, at present – I’ll just say that getting NASA astronaut Dave Pettit (above) to demonstrate the principles of Angry Birds – while in gravity-free orbit on board the International Space Station – was, perhaps, not Mankind’s greatest scientific moment, but a pretty fun way of looking into the principles of the series, as well as some inspired marketing.

Dave’s scientific discussion of how angry birds could attack greedy green pigs, using the principles of velocity, can easily be found on YouTube.

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26 SWORDS GAZETTE 5 April 2012

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The Planning Application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority during the public opening hours of 9:30-16:30, Monday - Friday at Fingal County Council, Fingal County Hall, Main Street, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin.

A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of a fee of €20, within the period of 5 weeks, beginning on the date of receipt

by Fingal County Council of the Application.

I Evelyn Lambe intend to apply for planning permission for construction of four Velux type roof-lights to the front of the dwelling, and a new window to the side of the dwelling at 32 Oak Hall, Malahide, Co Dublin. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the office of the planning authority during its public opening hours and a submission or observation may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee(20 Euros) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of this application.

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GazetteSPORT

STARS FOR MARCH This month’s Dublin Sports Awards winners are announced: Page 29

CHARITY: IRISH CRICKETERS GIVE BACKING TO CAMARA’S 10K EVENT IN SANDYMOUNT

Batting for the betterment of Irish schools sport@gazettegroup.com

TWO members of Ireland’s World Cup cricket team, Trent Johnston and Max Sorensen, were on hand recently to support the launch of Camara Education’s 10K r un, which will take place along Sandymount Strand on Saturday, May 26.

T h e a n n u a l c h a rity 10K Run, now in its third year will raise vital funds for Camara Edu-

cation’s Irish School’s Programme, which aims to supply 65 Irish schools with 1,300 computers and train 300 school teachers in ICT in 2012.

Every €5 that is raised will help another child in a disadvantaged area gain access to ICT, making it easier for them to reach their employment potential and build a better future.

The run is open to all ages and abilities and

you can walk, jog or run. The race will commence on the Promenade, Strand Road at 9am shar p, with the course stretching around Sean Moore Park and the Irishtown Nature Reserve providing scenic views of Dublin Bay for entrants.

Camara Education is an Irish charity and social enterprise dedicated to using technology to deliver a more effective education to

Trent Johnston and Max Sorensen from the Irish cricket team, with Killian Byrne, launch the 10k race

disadvantaged children in Ireland, Africa and Jamaica.

Camara Education’s CEO, John Fitzsimons said: “It’s a great opportunity to get some exercise and help Camara deliver e-learning opportunities to some of

the most disadvantaged schools in Ireland.

“Last year’s event was a huge success, and we are on track again this year for a big turnout.

It is geared toward everybody, young and old, and is a great family day out and also a good pre-

mini-marathon run.”

Johnston added: “The education that Camara provide with the computers is of utmost priority. It’s an amazing job they do.”

Along with trophies for the winners and gold medals for all, partici-

pants can also choose to fundraise for the event with prizes being awarded to the top ten fundraisers.

Register now at www. camara.ie, and avail of the special early bird registration fee of €15 until April 11.

28 SWORDS GAZETTE 5 April 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

RUGBY: LOCAL CLUB PROGRESS TO LAST FOUR IN CUP CONTEST

Walk of Dreams 2012 set to take to streets THE John Giles Foundation, in association with Three, sponsors of the Irish national soccer team, last week launched the 2012 Walk of Dreams, which will take place this year on May 7.

This will be the second time that the Walk of Dreams has been held. Last year, the initiative involved more than 25,000 participants who raised a total of €360,000, which went back into club and community projects involving soccer throughout Ireland.

The 2012 Walk of Dreams will include five new venues this year and will bring together the football family to raise funds for the work being done by the foundation.

Half of funds raised will be retained by participating football clubs while the other half will go to the Foundation for community football projects in clubs, schools and community groups throughout Ireland.

John Giles said: “Last year’s walk showed the power of the football family to turn out en masse and raise funds for club and community projects through the foundation.

“Following the walks, €360,000 raised went into community projects benefiting young people in 62 projects nationwide.

“This year, the number of walks will grow to 20 and we look forward to demonstrating, through the numbers walking for a great cause, the important role that football plays in Irish community life.

“Half of the money raised will go back to participating clubs while the other half will be used by the Foundation to fund football projects where they are needed most.”

For more information, see www.johngilesfoundation.com.

Swords RFC players attentively gather for their pre-match talk before their game against Enniscorthy

Swords go to town in Towns TOWNS CUP Q/FINAL Swords RFC Enniscorthy

14 0

I sport@gazettegroup.com

SWORDS travelled to Enniscorthy last Saturday with hopes of progressing to the semifinals of the Seconds Provincial Towns Cup. The task looked to be a daunting one, with Enniscor thy being a club very much on the up, with four of their teams competing in c u p s l a s t we e ke n d , including their firsts who played in the Provincial Towns Cup the following day.

The weather was fair with no breeze and, due to the recent good weather, the ground was firm, which made for a fast flowing game.

Swords started well playing a high-tempo game, and opened the

scoring when out-half Ben Moriarty touched down left of the posts within the first ten minutes, before centre Aiden Forkin narrowly missing the conversion attempt.

S wo r d s ke p t t h e pressure on and were rewarded with a penalty in front of the posts, which Forkin slotted over with ease bring the score to 8–0.

Enniscorthy counterattacked well but were unable to penetrate Swords’ solid defence.

The rest of the half was played between the 22s. Swords were unlucky in the 38th minute when second row Derek Brennan was yellow-carded and took his seat in the sin bin.

Man down Swords started the second half with 14

players and, within the first two minutes, Forkin was also sent to the bin.

Howe ve r, Swo r d s weathered the storm well, and did not concede a score during this period, and were awarded a kickable penalty to the left of the posts.

Centre John Butler stepped up in place of the binned Forkin and confidently converted, bringing the score to 11–0.

Swords were back to 14 players when Tek Sieczkowski came on for Brennan and, four m i n u t e s l a t e r, F o rkin returned to bring the team back to full strength.

Swords kept their momentum going, wo r k i n g t h e i r w a y down the pitch, and were awarded another kickable penalty which

Forkin scored with 10 minutes to go.

Swords made three changes with five minutes to go, with Dave Cahill coming on for Beikmanus on the wing, Gary McCormack replaced Dave Gallagher on the opposite wing, and Leo Price coming on for Mal Bradley at hooker.

Swords held the home team scoreless up to the final whistle, securing

their place in the semifinal against Tullow on April 15, with the venue not yet confirmed.

Swords RFC: M. O’Reilly, D. Gallagher, J. Butler, A. Forkin, J. Beikmanus, B. Moriarty, R. Power, D.Reilly (capt), M. Bradley, E. O’Hobain, D. Brennan, A. McLoughlan, C. Linnane, A. Barry, S. Mulligan.

Subs.: L. Price, D. Cahill, G. McCormack, J. Kubran, W. Sieczkowski.

5 April 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 29

in association with

2012 DUBLIN SPORTS AWARDS - MARCH WINNERS

FastSport

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

# STARof the MONTH

# TEAMof the MONTH

APRIL showers? Let’s hope not!

But the stars continue to rain from the sky here in Dublin, and March’s winners are a soccer double-bill that shows the talent on offer across the city in the underage levels.

Let us know about your achievements in sport, so that the

DAN CASEY ST JOSEPH’S Boys’ Casey is a star on the rise, his talents having seen him appear in Irish colours on several occasions in recent months. His trip to Qatar to play against the ASPIRE academy in late 2011 was a gateway to him getting his first international call against Belgium in Killarney. His selection was vindicated when he took the captain’s armband in the first match, and scored goals in both ties.

COLAISTE PHADRAIG MARCH was a memorable month for the Colaiste Phadraig first-year team, which claimed not only the Umbro FAI Schools’ Leinster Cup title after defeating Chanel College, but also their league title with victory against the same opponents. Their cup success, a 2-1 win in Arklow, was a well-deserved one, and they now progress to the All-Ireland semifinals in May.

Gazette can tell the rest of Dublin — and give you, or your team, a chance to be one of our monthly stars.

Contact us on 01 601 0240, or sport@gazettegroup.com, to tell us all about your successes, and follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Ireland’s biggest kids’ race in Great Ireland Run THE SPAR Great Ireland Run, which will take place on Sunday, April 15, in Phoenix Park, will feature the largest-ever children’s run in Ireland.

Over 1,100 children between the ages of five and 15 have already entered the MiniRun and Junior Run events.

The Mini and Junior Runs take place over a flat 2.5km course, which uses the start and finish areas of the adult SPAR Great Ireland Run. An adult is allowed accompany a child running in the Mini Run. The Junior Run starts at 11.15am followed by the Mini Run at 11.30am.

Entries for the Mini and Junior Runs are still open at www.greatirelandrun.org.

Current Olympic champion at 5,000 and 10,000 metres, Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia, will lead off the main field in the SPAR Great Ireland Run at 1pm when up to 10,000 runners, joggers and walkers will enjoy the stunning beauty of the Phoenix Park as it celebrates its 350th birthday this year

30 SWORDS GAZETTE 5 April 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

SOCCER: CELTIC TAKE DIVISIONAL TITLE WITH GAMES TO SPARE

Swords Celtic’s Under-12 Premier side claimed the NDSL league title against Maynooth last weekend

Swords U-12s claim league title sport@gazettegroup.com

Thompson back on track for 2012 season MALAHIDE motor-racing sensation, Gary Thompson, has been given a huge boost ahead of the 2012 season after he was signed by the KCMG group to race for them once again this year in Japanese Formula 3.

The 19-year-old Dubliner, who made his Formula 3 debut with KCMG, gained an impressive number of podiums and secured his maiden win in Motegi last year, making him the first Irish driver to win a round in the highly-competitive Japanese championship.

Driving a Toyota-powered Dallara F308, KCMG is confident that Thompson can deliver the Japanese Formula 3 championship title this season.

Official pre-season testing for Japanese Formula 3 got underway at the world-famous Suzuka circuit last week.

Before the testing began, Thompson said: “I’m delighted to be back in Japanese Formula 3 with KCMG. We came close to the championship last year and this year that has to be the goal.

“I’m looking forward to testing this week in Suzuka. It will be my first time to drive the F308 but I’m very confident that we can be on the pace very early.”

KCMG managing director Paul Ip said: “We are happy to have Gary back on board with us this year for Japanese Formula 3. Gary is a winner, and we are certain that he can deliver the championship this season.’

Thompson will continue to be backed by long-time supporters, Aviation Display and Achievement.

S WOR D S C e l t i c ’s Under-12 Premier team claimed one of the earliest league crowns of the season when they scored five against visiting Maynooth to win the NDSL Premier league with three games to go.

Reality Osuoha, Cian Moore, Jamie Condon, Christian Harris and Alex McCormack were all on the mark against the second-placed side in the division to secure the top spot in the division.

The result means that Celtic are four points

clear of Maynooth, who have just one game remaining to play this term.

It added to Swords’ memorable season, reaching the quarter-final of the SFAI cup, and this young side are still in the mix in two local cup competitions.

Premier league The club’s Under-17 Premier side, meanwhile, made their way through a tough battle in the Mary Farrell Cup against Corduff.

A week earlier, the ’Duff had visited Balheary in a league match, with Celtic winning by

Super Sarah: Long jump nets Fins athlete title FINGALLIANS’ AC’s Sarah McCarthy won the U-18 long jump with 5.77m on the final day of the Woodie’s DIY individual indoor events were held today at Nenagh Stadium. These championships produced quite a number of new records, and a huge number of athletes have produced new personal best performances, which all augurs well for the future of athletics in Ireland.

a comfortable 3-0 margin.

But the cup quarterfinal was markedly different.

Corduff were a goal up in the first five minutes, and had scored a second before Andy Dunne pulled one back for the home team.

A converted penalty

by Corduff left Celtic with a mountain to climb, but determination, and the team’s never-give-up attitude, paid off when Niall Grogan closed the deficit to 3-2.

Twenty minutes to go and Corduff were rattled, and when Dunne

was pulled down in the box, Brian Finnegan stepped up and scored the resulting penalty.

Extra-time brought only one goal, crucially scored by David Ryan after some interplay with Dunne.

The goal gave Celtic the win, and deservedly put them into the cup semi-final.

Double They are also on the double trail, currently leading their NDSL division by nine points with six games remaining. They need just just two fur ther wins to annex the league title.

Elsewhere, following on from a cup quarter final win against Balscadden, the Celts’ Under-9A team drew at home against Glebe North when Adam O’Hara scored a lastminute goal to level the sides at 1-1.

Zack Whelan, from the Under-11D team scored five goals against Kilbarrack when the teams met at Balheary a week ago, marking his third hat-trick of the season and he duly scored again against visiting Priorswood.

However, Malik Alimi led the scoring for the team with five goals.

5 April 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 31

in association with

HURLING: FINGAL HURLERS END LEAGUE WITH WIN

CLUB NOTICEBOARD FINGALLIANS A VERY big thank-you to all the sup-

At a special convention of the Dub-

porters of the car draw. 88% of tick-

lin County Board held last Monday

ets were sold. With this result, we

evening the clubs ratified 15 pro-

have now guaranteed the success of

posals, which were all specifically

our juvenile development plan for the

proposed to speed up and “clear the

coming years.

way” for the implementation of the

Our first members’ night will take

Dublin strategy document “Unleash-

place on Easter Saturday, April 7 in

ing the Blue Wave” which is a road

the club bar, with DJ Shay from 9pm.

map for the development of the GAA

We would encourage as many mem-

in Dublin for the next five years. The

bers as possible to make the monthly

document will be available this week

members’ night a firm fixture in their

on www.fingallians.com

social calender.

the final night of the US Masters on

from Tuesday to Friday from 10am

Easter Sunday (April 7). In addition

to 2pm daily. There are still spaces

Halpenny Golf are installing a putting

available so please contact Simon

green in the bar for the night.

Lambert on 087 6238188 for further information.

The Fingal hurlers will end their season in the final against Monaghan on April 15

Fingal get ready for final with victory NHL DIVISION 3A Fingal Donegal

2-19 4-12

I sport@gazettegroup.com

FINGAL built up to their National Hurling League Division 3A final with a dramatic victory in Lawless Park last Sunday, which saw Niall Feeney grabbing the decisive goal with the last puck of the game.

T he nor th Dublin region were already assured of a deciding date against Monaghan — set for Sunday, April 15 in Tullamore at 2pm — and manager Willie Bourke duly rang the changes. But they came away with a fourth win from their five-game league programme.

Fingal were quickly i n t h e a s c e n d a n c y, with deadball specialist John-Matthew Sheridan firing them into a fourpoint lead early on.

T hey went fur ther ahead on the quarter-

hour when Graham Dillon goaled.

Indeed, Sheridan’s incredible run of scoring in 2012 saw him run up a dozen points all told, to go with Dillon’s haul of 1-2 on the day.

Donegal, however, got back into the game.

Niall Campbell was particularly prominent with six first-half points, and they cut Fingal’s lead to 1-10 to 1-8 by the break.

A green flag straight after the interval from Danny Cullen put Donegal in front for the first time, before Ronan McDermott bagged two additional goals.

However, the introduction of St Sylvester’s Andrew R ichardson strengthened the Fingal attack and, with just seconds to go, he set up Feeney for the winning score.

The Fingal v Monaghan NHL3A final will provide the curtainraiser to the NHL1A

relegation play-off between Dublin and Galway on April 15.

Elsewhere, Fingallians’ Amy McGuinness weighed in with three points as Dublin’s ladies’ footballers booked their place in the Bord Gais Energ y Ladies’ NFL division one semi-final following a three-point win over Leinster rivals, Laois.

Dublin’s semi-final opponents will be Monaghan, while the other semi-final pairing will see Meath take on reigning league champions, Cork; both fixtures are pencilled in for April 29.

In a fine start, Olivia Leonard was first to register a point while McGuinness, Sinead Aherne and Orlaith Egan helped build a five-point lead as Laois struggled to get with the pace of the game.

They slowly grabbed a foothold, though, and reduced the margin to

0-6 to 0-3 by half-time but, despite the extra pep in the Laois step in the second half, it was Dublin who were on the score board first, McGuinness slotting over two fine points to push her side five points ahead.

Dublin were thankful for the Portmarnock woodwork when a rasping shot from Mary Kirwan rebounded back off the bar into a safe pair of Dublin hands, maintaining their lead.

Egan, meanwhile, was using her body strength to good effect, combining well with the experienced Aherne. This duo got the Dubs next three points, Egan with two from play, Aherne nailing a 20-metre free.

And while Laois did raise the last white flag of the game when Mary Kirwan slotted over her third free of the match late into injury time, the Jackies held on for a 0-11 to 0-8 win.

For golf fans, the club will show

Next week sees our hurling camp

The club would like to acknowledge the contribution of Alan Leetch to our

Check out www.fingallians.com and

football and hurling teams. Alan joined

the footage professionally produced

the club, aged seven and played both

from the St Patrick’s Day Parade.

codes at underage with team mates

Our athletes competed in the

Rossa Kelleher, Ed Sweeney, Paul

National Juvenile Indoors at Nenagh

Flynn, David Killeen, Martin Daly and

over the weekend, and returned with

Eamon Creamer from the current

an impressive set of results.

senior squad.

ST FINIAN’S A very busy weekend of fixtures

club provided we sell plenty of tick-

and blitzes, with good wins for our

ets. There are two prices: €15 for

Under-16 football, Under-12 hurling,

Under-18s and €25 for adults. The

minor hurling and senior camogie

adult ticket includes entry fee to the

teams. Our intermediate football-

Wright Venue nightclub so you can

ers kept the momentum going with

dance the night away.

a draw away from home against Whitehall Colmcilles.

We had the first matches for our newest team, the Under-8 camogie

The Easter Football Camp is taking place from April 10 to 13. The application form can be downloaded from our website downloads section.

team, at a blitz played in the Valley,

We wish a speedy recovery to Eoin

while our Under-10 camogie team

O’Connor, who broke his wrist on

also performed well in their blitz on

Sunday and, no, it wasn’t in training

Sunday.

for the White Collar Boxing.

The white-collar boxing night is

The Lotto jackpot was €4,300 and

now less than two weeks away and

the numbers drawn were 4, 11, 15

tickets are available from any par-

and 17. There was no winner. The €50

ticipant or committee member. This

winners were Timmy Diston and Paul

is going to be a great night for the

Curran.

FINGAL RAVENS Well done to the U-9 girls who had

until their membership is paid.

their first blitz last Sunday morn-

We are holding an Easter camp for

ing. They played St Pat’s, Donabate,

four- to 12-year-olds, from April

Skerries Harps and Man O’War.

10 to 12, 10am to 2pm. Cost is only

Senior team drew with St Maur’s in the league on Saturday evening.

Div 10 team had a good win against Round Towers (Lusk) on Sunday afternoon.

Club membership for 2012 is now

€25 per child. Contact Mick on 0868148464 or Alan on 087-2364559 to book your places.

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

overdue. Please get your member-

We are holding a poker classic on

ship forms from any committee

Thursday, April 26, at 8pm in Kettle’s

member or team mentor or they can

hotel, €50 per ticket; contact Desy

be downloaded from our website.

087-9957427 or Declan 086-2673830.

As agreed at the club AGM, non-

Our dinner dance will be held in

paid-up members (adult and juve-

Kettle’s Hotel on Sunday, May 6

nile) will not be permitted to play

(Bank Holiday weekend).

ALL OF YOUR SWORDS SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31

FLYING FINGAL: North Dublin region marches into NHL3A final in style P31

APRIL 5, 2012

MARCH MADNESS: Dublin Sports Awards winners revealed P29

GazetteSPORT

James Cluskey picked up an impressive win at the F2 Futures competition in Cidivino, Italy, last weekend

Cluskey in form for Davis battle Swords tennis star wins Italian doubles title ahead of Ireland’s date with Egypt in the Davis Cup play-offs swordssport@gazettegroup.com

SWORDS man James Cluskey, playing with India’s Purav Raja, defeated Italian pair, Andrea Agazzi and Enrico Iannuzzi, to win the final of the men’s doubles at the Italy F2 Futures in Cividino on a scoreline 6-7(10) 6-4 [10-2].

It provided the rangy right-hander with the perfect preparation for next weekend’s Davis Cup tie against Egypt.

Cluskey has been in situ in the northern African nation since Monday ahead of that tie, which commences on Friday, and has pushed his claim to be part of Saturday’s doubles rubber in Group II of the Europe/Africa playoffs.

Ireland lost out 3-2 in the first round of the competition to Hungary Cluskey is closing in on reaching his highest ever world doubles ranking, moving back up to 289 in the past fortnight, nine off his previous best, which he held late in 2011.

It follows a recent semi-final appearance in Poitiers in an F5 Futures event after three quarter-final appearances to start the year.

His run in Italy saw him overcome hometown players, Lorenzo Frigerio and Giacomo Oradini, in the last 16, 6-2, 6-4 before getting past another Italian duo in the form of third seeds, Alessandro Collella and Federico Gaio.

Cluskey is one of a couple of Irish men in good form as Castleknock’s James McGee won both the singles and doubles titles in Bahrain last weekend at the Bahrain F1 Futures as his preparations for this week’s Davis Cup continue in excellent fashion.

McGee defeated Spain’s Jordi Samper-Montana in the final on a scoreline 6-4 6-4 and was also victorious in the doubles event with partner Sam Barry. The pair had a 7-5 4-6 [10-8] win over Jeremy Jahn (GER) / Matthew Short (GBR).

The trio are joined by Irish number one

Conor Niland, and will be captained by Garry Cahill, and will hope to continue their winning record over the African nation.

Ireland have met them three times previously in the competition and have not lost since they met for a first time back in 1976 in Cairo.

Since then, Ireland were comfortable 4-1 winners in Fitzwilliam in 2003 while they also ran up a 3-0 success in 2007 with Niland also involved that day.

The main threat for the Irish team comes from 20-year-old Karim-Mohamed Maamoun and Sherif Sabry but with both residing in the mid-600s in the world, will go in as vast underdogs against the likes of Niland who has been pushing the world’s top 200 for a couple of years.

With McGee similarly in the mid-300s, Ireland carry the aces but the clay surface may not be to the liking of a side more used to indoor, hard courts.