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February 21, 2013 Find us on

Month XX, 2012 Swords • Balbriggan • Applewood • boroimhe • Airside • Rivervalley

Swords GAZET TE FREE

February 21, 2013 Find us on

Month XX, 2012 SWORDS • BALBRIGGAN • APPLEWOOD • BOROIMHE • AIRSIDE • RIVERVALLEY

INSIDE: Make your child’s communion or confirmation day extra special See P18

INVESTIGATION: Local TD Daly blasts gardai for her recent arrest Page 8

Impressive run: Local athlete takes silver Stars:

Fourth annual Gazette Sports Awards preview Page 28

Football:

Flynn helps Leinster into Inter-pro final Page 31

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES......................6 DUBLIN LIFE...................11 OUT&ABOUT ..................17 CLASSIFIEDS ................26 SPORT ...........................27

FINGAL was well represented at the recent Woodie’s DIY AAI Senior Indoor Championships which took place in Athlone Institute of Technology International Arena in Athlone.

Local athlete Louise Kiernan (left) of Fingallians AC came second in the women’s 60m event. Pictured centre is first place Kelly Proper, Ferrybank AC, and third place Leah Moore, Clonliffe Harriers AC with Ray Colman, chief executive of Woodie’s and Ciaran O Cathain, president of Athletics Ireland.

Cost of council refit could cost €320,000 Report says each additional seat could cost between €15,000 and €20,000

 HIROMI MOONEY

THE estimated cost of refitting the Council Chamber in Swords to cope with the expected increase in the number of Fingal council-

lors from 24 to 40 could be up to €320,000. Proposals to restructure local government were revealed last October, with a recommendation to increase the number of councillors in Fingal County

Council (FCC).

In a report, FCC said no firm costs had been calculated, but that it was not “unreasonable” to say there would be a projected cost of €15-20,000 per additional

seat for the County Hall Chamber, located in Swords.

If there is be an increase of 16 councillors, this could set the council back between €240,000 and €320,000.

Full Story on Page 7

4 swords gazette 21 February 2013

dublin GAZETTe newspapers i n f o r m at i o n Block 3A, Mill Bank Business Park, Lucan Tel: 01 - 6010240 Dublin Gazette Newspapers publish eight weekly quality free titles, covering the greater Dublin area from Swords to Dun Laoghaire

c o n ta c t s Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@gazettegroup.com Acting News Editor: Rob Heigh rheigh@gazettegroup.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile jmaile@gazettegroup.com Picture Editor: Paul Hosford picturedesk@gazettegroup.com Acting Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sport@gazettegroup.com Financial Controller: Carly Lynch clynch@gazettegroup.com Advertising Production: Suzanne Sheehy ssheehy@gazettegroup.com Advertising Sales: 01 - 6010240 sales@gazettegroup.com

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

Relax Tracks to make you switch off

New CD to help exam teens ‘stop the world’ A DUBLIN North musician and former teacher has launched a new CD aimed at helping young people relax in the run up to their exams this year.

The new CD is aimed at helping young people suffering from stimulation overload in advance of the junior and leaving certificate exams, and its creator hopes it will help them focus as exam preparations begin.

Gearoid McCartney, a former teacher at the Mater Dei Institute of Education on the Clonliffe Road, has teamed up with Emmaus Retreat and Conference Centre in Swords to produce Stop The World - A Meditation. The CD is designed to help young people switch off from the noise that surrounds them almost constantly.

“Young people are bombarded around the clock with noise, games, TVs, laptops and tablet computers 24-7,” McCartney says.

“Add peer pressure and exam pressure to that, and sometimes the hardest thing to find can be a few minutes of calm, of respite, to gather your thoughts and escape your troubles for a few brief moments.”

“Stop The World - A Meditation guides the listener through four stages of meditation in a way that resonates with young people in particular.”

Gearoid has honed this technique through prac-

 natalie burke nburke@gazettegroup.com

tice and years of experience as a secondary school teacher. His original meditation sessions were so successful they quickly became integrated into the school week, with every class having at least one session a week.

“The students were calmer, serene and more relaxed - the meditations gave them an oasis of calm in their busy lives.

You can’t learn effectively if you’re stressed out of your mind,” says Gearoid.

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

‘Meditation was like my soul had a chance to catch up with my body’ --------------------------

One of his students agrees, and describing his experience, said: “Meditation was like my soul had a chance to catch up with my body.”

For the last five years, Gearoid has worked as the retreat team coordinator at Emmaus Retreat and Conference Centre in Swords , where he has helped groups of all ages from all over the

Gearoid McCartney has launched the new Stop The World - A Meditation CD to help young people switch off

world achieve a “peaceful, responsive state of mind”.

“Study is important, and friends are important, but the mental wellbeing of our young people

is most important of all.

Hopefully, this CD will help them retreat from the stimulation overload every day, even for a short while, and allow them to recharge their batteries,”

he said.

Stop The World - A Meditation is available in Veritas stores and also from Emmaus Retreat and Conference Centre, Lissenhall, Swords.

Over 600 in need of four-bed housing in Fingal A TOTAL of 316 people applying for Social Housing Support in North Dublin are in need of four-bedroom accommodation, Fingal County Council (FCC) revealed last week.

The figures were released following a query raised by Coun-

cillor Gerry McGuire (Lab) at a recent council meeting.

The figures showed that in total, 627 applicants in Fingal are in need of four-bedroom accommodation, in accordance with the Allocations Scheme for Social Housing Support by first

area of preference. Of these applicants, it emerged that 131 are located in Balbriggan, 116 are in the Swords region and 69 are in Malahide.

As of February 6, 2013, there were a total of 9,790 approved applicants who had applied to

FCC for Social Housing Support.

“The average waiting time on the waiting list is six to eight years depending on the applicants’ area of preference and availability of dwellings,” the council report stated.

21 February 2013 swords gazette 5

council Lighting set to be improved

transport: Local economy and tourism to benefit - Farrell

Fuel rebate scheme may reduce bus costs  natalie burke

nburke@gazettegroup.com

LOCAL Dublin North bus operators could see a reduction in operational costs, following the announcement of an expansion of the fuel rebate scheme.

T his is according to local TD Alan Farrell (FG), who said the recently announced rebate scheme for private coaches will be of considerable benefit to the local economy as well as tourism in the area.

The announcement that the original rebate for haulage companies will now be available for private coach companies was made last week

by Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan.

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

‘This positive impact will be mirrored throughout the country ’

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

“There are clear wide ranging benefits to granting a fuel rebate for coach operators, both on a national and local level,” Deputy Farrell said.

“Fuel prices have been driving up the cost of doing business for this sector in recent years.

This rebate will mean a reduction in operational costs for local operators such as Malahide Coaches and Swords Express, and will pro-

vide a vital boost to this sector as well as benefitting local tourism and thus increasing spending capacity in the area.

“This positive impact will be mirrored throughout the country as we continue to host The Gathering and will allow operators to offer value for money and better services at a time when we are looking to attract record numbers to our country.

“In conjunction with other pro-tourism measures, such as the launch of The Gathering, the fuel rebate will help bring more visitors to Ireland in 2013. This can only lead to increased spending in our economy and increased job creation,” he said.

Street lighting at Forest Fields Cottages in Swords is set to be improved by Fingal County Council.

The lack of lighting in the area has resulted in a ‘dark spot’ which has become an issue of concern for residents, according to local councillor Darragh Butler (FF).

Endless Love: Search for the longest married couple ends with chocolate tesco extra Balbriggan has announced the winner of its Endless Love competition as Pat and Rita McCormack, who have been married for 51 years. The lucky couple won a luxurious Valentine’s Day hamper including flowers, champagne, chocolates and much more. The lucky couple is pictured with their grandchildren Marian and Katlin Casey.

Tesco Extra Balbriggan store manager Marty Geraghty said: “Our Endless Love competition was a really fun way for us to celebrate Valentine’s Day with our customers in Dublin, and push the boat out for one couple who really embody the romance of the day and we want to congratulate Pat and Rita on their win.”

Confirmed

At a recent area committee meeting, FCC confirmed that the area has been examined and it has been noted that lighting in the area is less effective, following recent alterations carried out by ESB Networks.

The council is applying to the ESB for permission to place an additional street light at the end of the cul-de-sac.

6 swords gazette 21 February 2013

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Bernie Caffola and Emma English

Lil Hustlers. Pictures: Una Williams

A special Valentine’s Day for tiny dancer Lily Mae

T

he Wright Venue in Swords hosted a group of both professional and amateur dancers on Valentine’s Day as they competed in a Strictly Come Dancing style event.

There were 13 professional dancers, each of whom were paired with a

complete amateur. Each competitor also took part in a group dance routine as part of the opening number.

The aim of the event was to raise as much money as possible to support four-year-old Lily Mae who is suffering from Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, a rare

Adam Costello Doherty and Judi Costello

and extremely aggressive childhood cancer of the nervous system. Celebrity guests and judges were in attendance on the night, along with Dave Behan (Tallafornia) the host, four play DJ’s, the Dublin GAA team and many special guest performers.

Mark O’Neill from Tallafornia and Carl Mulvey Michael Sharp, Judith Sibley (Lily-Mae’s mam), Virginia Macari and Louise Doody, Debbie Loughran, Anne Morrissey and Lisa Benson

Stuart O’Carroll

Kelly Donegan and David Behan from Tallafornia

Claire Malone, Gareth Brady and Rachel Sorohan

Kelly Smyth and Eamonn McGill

Marcus Quinn and Rachel Shehan

21 February 2013 swords gazette 7

council Members to increase from 24 to 40

€20k per seat for new cllrs  HIROMI MOONEY

FINGAL County Council (FCC) has estimated the cost of re-fitting the council chamber in Swords to cope with the expected increase in the number of Fingal councillors as €15,000 to €20,000 per additional seat for the County Hall Chamber.

However, FCC stated at the council meeting last Monday, February 11, that no firm costings have been calculated yet.

The number of Fingal councillors is expected to increase from 24 to 40, under the action programme, “Putting People First”. This programme was launched

in October as part of the government’s reform of the political system, and overall will save the taxpayer over €420 million.

This programme will see the number of local authorities reduced from 114 to 31 city and county councils, with integrated areas called Municipal Districts. Council seats will be reduced from 1,627 to no more than 950, and the members elected at local level will also represent the district at county level.

FCC stated: “T he design work is at an early stage and work is being carried out on the project brief” while “consultations are ongoing with

the IT and corporate services departments”.

FCC stated they may consider a change of venue for the area committee meetings, given the capacity of Baldoyle, and Malahide library may be selected as the new venue.

FCC stated: “It is not anticipated that the proposed increase in Fingal County councillors will result in an increase in staffing payroll costs.

Due to the current moratorium on recruitment, no additional staff will be recruited for this purpose and the extra demands will have to be met from within existing staff resources.”

Cllr Daragh Butler (FF): “I personally think Fingal works quite well with 24 councillors”

“I personally think Fingal works quite well with 24 councillors. I think the last thing we need is another 16 councillors on top of that,” said Cllr

Daragh Butler (FF).

“I think people would much rather the money were spent on extra facilities and extra services and extra special needs

assistance. Maybe a modest increase would have been needed – I think 24 to maybe 28 or 30. But going up to 40, I think is a bit too much.”

library

Poetry contest FINGAL County Libraries will launch their Heart in Mouth poetry competition at Blanchardstown Library on Friday, March 1 at 8pm.

This will be Ireland’s first ever poetry prize for original audio poetry, where entrants will record and submit their best work to the judges, poets Colm Keegan and Dave Lordan.

The winner will receive an iPod, and the runners-up will be invited to partake in the Heart in Mouth performance poetry showcase in April.

The competition deadline is Saturday, April 20.

8 swords gazette 21 February 2013

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

council Long-awaited play area gets the go-ahead

New playground at Ward River Valley SWORDS is set to see the development of a brand new playground this year, according to Fingal County Council (FCC).

The long-awaited play area will be built at Ward River Valley, on the Brackenstown Road in Swords.

Following a recent consultation phase, which allowed members of the public to submit their observations on the proposed project to the coun-

cil, the deadline has passed and according to FCC, the plans to build the playground will go ahead this year.

The plans for the development were originally presented to councillors at an area committee meeting held in September 2012.

However, when Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) asked for an update at the recent area committee meeting on Thursday, February 14, the council confirmed that the proposed playground will be

positioned centrally within the park, in a sheltered, south-facing location.

Plans state that the playground will be 400 square metres in area, the boundary will be secured with a 1.35-1.8 metres high railing, and the play equipment will be suitable for children under eight years of age only. A safer surface will be provided in the critical fall areas around each piece of equipment.

“The good news is that both

of these proposed playgrounds have been approved and the appropriate arrangements will be made to proceed with their development. However the bad news is that this is all subject to funding becoming available. I believe that the Swords Needs Playgrounds group are considering starting a fundraising project to help gets these projects off the ground which is a great example of community initiative and involvement,” said Cllr Butler.

offices

Airline on the move to Swords  natalie burke

LOCAL Independent TD Clare Daly has accused the gardai of deliberately attempting to discredit her

results: issue being investigated by ombudsman

Daly hits back at gardai for arrest

 natalie burke

LOCAL Independent TD Clare Daly has accused the gardai of deliberately attempting to discredit her by revealing details of her recent arrest on suspicion of drink driving.

Since her arrest, Deputy Daly has revealed that she was not over the drink driving limit when she was arrested by gardai recently, with results proving she was in fact 33% below the limit.

She also said the issue is now being investigated by the Garda Ombudsman due to the fact that the news of her arrest on

suspicion was leaked to the media.

“I believe that this was a deliberate attempt to discredit a left-wing TD who has raised issues of malpractice within An Garda Siochana. This information could only have come from within the gardai,” she said.

Deputy Daly was arrested by gardai on Monday, January 28, after she made an illegal right turn on the South Circular Road and after consuming a hot whiskey when visiting a house in south Dublin.

“I was breathalysed but the equipment didn’t register a read-

ing,” a statement on the TD’s website said. “I was arrested and handcuffed on the side of the road. I objected to being handcuffed and stated that I would willingly go to the Garda station. I was told by the arresting garda that this was procedure.”

At Kilmainham garda station, Deputy Daly said she was at one point placed in a cell by herself.

“I believe that the gardai implementing road safety have a job to do and I support them.

However, I object strongly to the arrest, handcuffing and release of information re the arrest on

suspicion of drink driving to the tabloid press early on Tuesday. My legal advice is that none of this is procedure,” she said.

According to Deputy Daly, the official result of the test on the urine sample she provided showed that she was 33% below the allowable limit.

The Garda Ombudsman is investigating the matter, as a criminal investigation under Section 98 of the Garda Siochana Act 2005. “This is a very serious issue. Every citizen is entitled to their good name and to have their privacy respected,” she continued.

SWORDS will be the new home to Ryanair, after the airline bought a new office building to relocate its Irish operations.

The Airside Business Park premises, which covers 100,000 sq ft, will be the new home for the airline’s commercial, customer service, finance, IT, legal and marketing departments. The 400 staff currently located at the Dublin Airport offices will move to the new building by the end of the year, with some facilities for pilots and cabin crew remaining at the airport.

“This is a significant investment by Ryanair, allowing us the space and facilities to further develop our Dublin organisation, at much lower costs and allowing other staff currently housed in satellite offices to be brought together under one roof,” Ryanair’s Robin Kiely said.

“The relocation will also provide a welcome economic boost for the growing town of Swords, which continues to attract blue-chip corporations – including the world’s largest airline.”

21 February 2013 swords gazette 9

contest Local girl to perform on Late, Late

Aimee aims for coveted spot at Eurosong  HIROMI MOONEY

LOCAL girl Aimee Fitzpatrick will perform for a chance to represent Ireland in Eurovision 2013 on RTE’s The Late Late Show tomorrow, Friday, February 22.

The 17-year-old Leaving Cert student from Loreto College in Swords will be competing against four other finalists in Eurosong 2013.

Aimee is mentored by DJ Mark McCabe, and she will perform the song Crashing Down by Robert Grace. She will be competing for the coveted spot against Zoe Alexis Bohorquez, Ryan Dolan, Inchequin and Kasey, in the contest, which will be decided by a combination of public and regional jury vote.

“I’m really excited. I can’t wait for everybody to see the performance live,” Aimee told The Gazette this week.

“I’m getting such a good reaction from everybody; huge support from my school, my local community – loads of people. Everybody’s just been really supportive, so it’s been good.

“The song is a very relatable song. It’s basically just about somebody being in love with somebody that doesn’t have much interest in them or isn’t paying that much attention to them.”

Balance

Although she is fast approaching graduation from secondary school and the Leaving Cert exams, Aimee is managing to keep the balance right between rehearsals and study.

“Whenever I’m not working, that’s when I’m doing my study. So it’s grand. It manages to work somehow,” she said. “It’s not pressure;

FastNews Fingal Women in Business THE Fingal Women in Business Network is set to hold its next briefing session in Swords on Wednesday, February 27.

The session is a members-only morning briefing session, and will be held at the Fingal County Enterprise Board offices in Swords from 10am to 12 noon.

Network manager Eve Bulman will be on hand to share her tips on how she uses Constant Contact for business.

Members wishing to attend, can contact Eve at wib@fingalceb.ie.

Make me an offer for art

Loreto College student Aimee Fitzpatrick will perform for a chance to represent

THE Grange Gallery in Ballyboughal Village will be hosting a Make me an Offer art exhibition this month, where visitors can decide how much they want to pay for an original work of art.

The exhibition will see paintings on display by artist Maura Murthagh, and all proceeds from sales will go towards the Dublin Simon Community.

The exhibition is currently running until February 28. For more information, visit www.thegrangedublin.ie.

Ireland in Eurovision 2013 on RTE’s The Late Late Show

I’m just doing my best.

That’s all I can do.

“I’ve been singing since I was a baby, but in front of people, for only about two years. The more I do it, the more confident I get, but I used to not even sing in front of my mum. I used to not sing outside of my bedroom,” she said.

Aimee is passionate about singing, and would like to pursue music when she leaves school.

“I just want to see where the wind takes me. I’d like to go to America for a couple of months and do music over there. Wherever I will be, I’ll be doing music anyway; whether it’s Ireland, England or America,” she said.

Aimee advises anyone

who has a dream to take any opportunity to make it happen.

Opportunity

“Whatever opportunity you have, just take it; whether it’s big or small, because I’ve done so many little gigs – some of them in hotels, and loads of charity gigs, and they’re a lot of hard work, but they do add up. If it wasn’t for me doing all those charity gigs, nobody would have recognised me.

“So when I did my YouTube videos as well, if I hadn’t done that, Mark McCabe wouldn’t have noticed me, and I wouldn’t have been picked for it. So I think just put yourself out there and do as much as you can.”

support your local business support your local community

Jobseekers information day in Swords  natalie burke

Labour Party TD Brendan Ryan will be hosting a Jobseekers Information Day in Swords this weekend, in an effort to address ongoing problems with unemployment.

The information day will be held at the Carnegie Court Hotel, Swords, on Friday, February 22

between 2pm and 4pm.

“There are currently 5,000 people on the live register in Swords and the purpose of this information day is to highlight the range of information and services available to those seeking employment, training or education,” Ryan said.

“This Jobseekers Information Day is a proactive measure to try to ensure that unemployed people

are aware of the various organisations and agencies that can assist them in getting back into the workforce. I meet people week in and week out who do not know about the supports on their doorstep.”

The free event will be attended by representatives from a range of local groups, including FAS, JobBridge and Fingal Adult Education.

SwordsGazette Call us on 60 10 240

10 swords gazette 21 February 2013

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Cathy O’Connor

Dave O’Sullivan and Nick Munier were delighted to attend the fundraising evening at Cafe en Seine in aid of the ISPCC

Fundraising party was the place to be Seine ...

A

HOST of sparkling Irish stars and celebrities set forth for a glittering night out at Cafe en Seine in the city centre recently, where the Dawson Street venue was playing host to a fundraising evening in aid of the ISPCC.

Also staged to celebrate Calum Best’s birthday, the terrific night of entertainment saw many well-known faces in attendance, keen to help support the charity’s work with children, as well as the chance to enjoy some

Greg French and Sharon Stacy Hennessy

craic with a plethora of top talents, including comics Katherine Lynch, Joe Rooney and Dave Young, while music fans spotted the likes of Brian Kennedy, Rick Savage and boyband Level 5, to name but a few.

Lisa Murphy and Jo Jordan

Dylan McGrath and Alison Canavan, Brian Kennedy and Bernie Cafolla

Virginia Macari

Claire O’Connor and Sinead Brennan

21 February 2013 Gazette 11

schools P14

dublinlife

Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week, as well as the latest from our schools

archives: consult a professional genealogist

Research your family tree for free at the National Archives The National Archives of Ireland (NAI) is providing a free family history service to visitors to the archives in Bishop Street.

Members of the public can consult a professional genealogist about sources relating to their family history free of charge. The archives house every historical record of the modern Irish state.

The Gazette spoke to head of reader services in the NAI, Aideen Ireland, about the free service and how the pub-

lic has been responding to it.

“The free public service has been running since 2003 where people can come in and speak to a genealogist for half an hour or more about their family history.

“It’s been very popular but since the downturn in the economy there has been a drop off in numbers.

“We used to offer a full day’s service but can’t any longer. Now we offer the service from Monday to Friday from 10am to 1.30pm

and we will continue to provide it for as long as we can afford to. I urge people coming in to bring as much of their own material as they can into the experts to quicken the process.

“When people come in they first have to apply for a reader’s ticket. They then talk to one of our genealogists who may then steer them to our document room where they can order what they need for further research.

They may also be advised to

look at our microfilm or be given links to other institutions.

“People can also come back to see the same genealogist or a different one to continue their family research, and we encourage them to do this again and again.”

If you are interested in discovering more about your lineage, go to the fifth floor of the National Archives, at the back of the Reading Room.

Visitors are dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis.

The National Archives of Ireland

asdfsdaf business P27 P16

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12 Gazette 21 February 2013

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dublinlife

competition, to search for Ireland’s best dancers

Show off your dance skills with Funtasia contest DANCE fever is sweeping across Dublin this week, as Funtasia begins the search for Ireland’s best dancers.

Taking inspiration from the hit TV show, Got2Dance is open to all ages and styles of dance and will be held at Bettystown, Co Meath on Sunday, February 24, March 3 and March 10.

“We’re looking for Ireland’s best dancers,” said Andree McCarthy of Funtasia. “We’ve arranged a superb line-up of guest judges who are renowned in the world of dance, including Aidean Byrne, a hip-hop dancer with Raw Edge Crew, and Tobi Omoteso, whose hip-hop routines have earned him international acclaim both featured on Sky TV’s Got2Dance. We are also thrilled to welcome Belinda Murphy, a chore-

ographer and dancer with Riverdance.”

For more information, visit www.funtasia.ie.

Join oxfam’s together on women’s day OXFAM is calling Dubliners to join hundreds of people all over Ireland by hosting an Oxfam Get Together for International Women’s Day on March 8, and help raise money to support women living in poverty worldwide.

An Oxfam Get Together can be anything from a coffee morning to a movie night or even a karaoke night. The heart of the idea is to get together with friends, family and colleagues and do something that you love – while fundraising for Oxfam.

Speaking about her recent trip to Tanzania, Oxfam Ireland ambassa-

dor and judge on RTE’s The Voice of Ireland Sharon Corr said that this can change lives in the poorest areas of the world.

“An Oxfam Get Together is simple. Just organise something fun with the people you love spending time with – and help raise vital funds that will transform the lives of women affected by poverty and injustice around the world,” she said.

To download your Oxfam Get Together fundraising pack or to find out more, visit www.oxfamireland.og/gettogether.

scramble to find eggs for jack and jill A GREAT Lily O’Brien sponsored Easter egg hunt is on in Dublin until Easter Saturday, March 23, in aid of the Jack and Jill Foundation.

Over 100 fibreglass eggs will be hidden around Dublin and the hunt is on to find them.

Each egg is 75cm high and has been decorated by well-known artists and celebrities.

To get involved, you have to find 20 of the eggs and collect the code on each one.

You can then enter a draw to win a grand prize of diamonds and other smaller gifts, including chocolate factory visits and a year’s supply of chocolate from Lily O’Brien’s.

At the end of the Big Egg Hunt, the decorated eggs will be auctioned for charity in aid of the Jack and Jill Foundation through an online auction, and there will also be a live auction at the Four Seasons Hotel on Saturday, March 23.

Sell

Your

Dancer Tobi Omoteso will be a guest judge for Funtasia’s Got2Dance dance

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21 February 2013 Gazette 13

Seachtain na Gaeilge set to return

campaign: 5km event in aid of UNICEF Ireland

Race to cut children’s mortality rate to zero A 5km race is being held on March 2 in St Clare’s Sports Grounds in Glasnevin in aid of UNICEF Ireland, and has been organised by a group of seven students who are studying for a MSc in marketing in DCU. The students are hoping to raise €4,000 for UNICEF Ireland as part of the international organisation’s Believe In Zero campaign.

“Every day, 19,000 children die from causes we can prevent, like malaria, malnutrition and exposure. UNICEF believes that number should be

zero,” their spokesperson said.

“Over the last 50 years, UNICEF and its partners have helped reduce the worldwide child mortality rate by more than half.

Five years ago, 25,500 children died every day from preventable causes.

Much of that success is recent—the result of tried and true lifesaving interventions and programmes perfected in more than 150 countries.

“No other humanitarian organisation saves more children’s lives than UNICEF. By joining the Race To Zero on March

2, you can help UNICEF work to toward the day when zero children die from preventable causes.”

Caroline Keyes, spokesperson for the group at DCU, said: “We feel this event is a great way to get fit and have fun whilst suppor ting children around the world who need help.

“The money raised will go towards the charity’s Believe in Zero campaign.”

The race is open to everyone to run, jog or walk.

Race start time is 11am with registration (picking

up race numbers) beginning10am. Entry fee is €20 for adults and €10 for students. For more information about the event, log on to Facebook at www.facebook.com/ UnicefirelandRaceToZero, or register directly on www.unicef.ie.

If you have any queries about the Glasnevin event or would like more information, email Caroline at unicef5km@gmail. com or call on 086 158 8433.

For more information log on to www.unicef.ie/ GetInvolved/5km-Raceto-Zero--35-93.aspx

Gazette

feature

The race takes place on March 2 in Glasnevin

Early next month sees the return of Seachtain na Gaeilge which will this year be packed with Gathering events as well as Bliain na Gaeilge.

Organisers have a host of treats as gaeilge lined up with a special calendar of Irish-language events happening locally and nationally from March 4 to 17. It is hoped that the use of Irish will spread across the world throughout 2013.

Seachtain na Gaeilge 2013 will mark Bliain na Gaeilge as its biggest festival and will be celebrating 120 years of the revival of the Irish language.

All events can be accessed via the website at www.snag.ie.

dublinlife

schoolLife

Get involved with our new Gazette schools pages As part of the relaunch of the Dublin Gazette Newspapers, we are reaching out to all the schools in our catchment areas to become a closer part of our community than ever before.

Schools are the beating hearts of communities, one of the last places around which a community can gather.

We are calling on budding writers and photographers from all of our schools to help fill the pages and, in order to encourage the next generation of journalists and snappers to get involved, we are partnering with Harvey Norman to present the Dublin Gazette Newspapers’ Cub Reporter and Cub Photographer of the Year awards.

For more details, contact rheigh@gazettegroup. com, or on 01 601 0240.

schools

st benildus college: students’ success in aib challenge

Building the perfect bank  Bhadrajee Hewage

St Benildus College, Kilmacud

Students at St Benildus College created their Solid Savings Bank recently to compete in the 2012/2013 AIB Build-aBank challenge, a competition aimed at educating Transition and 5th Year students about the reality of the banking world, including marketing and business.

The school has been competing in the Builda-Bank Challenge for over seven years now and this year’s competition saw over 30 students competing for six places on the banking team.

AIB Student Officer, Frank Browne of the Sandyford Branch, selected Bhadrajee Hewage for the position of manager, Stephen McEntee for assistant manager, Michael Crowley for the position of sales and marketing executive, Kevin Treanor as auditor and Adam McCormack and James Kearney as tellers.

SSB held its grand opening in early January 2013 and were generously supplied with balloons for the occasion by Leisureplex, Stillorgan.

The grand opening was so successful that 52 accounts were opened on the day and at the time of

St Benildus Bank Builders Adam McCormack, Kevin Treanor, Michael Crowley, James Kearney, Bhadrajee Hewage and Stephen McEntee. Picture: Frank Browne

print, over 80 accounts have been opened. This is about 80% more than the amount created last year and around 125%

more than the amount created by the banking team two years ago. The bank offers savings services, issues laser and debit

cards, allows customer to sign up for 24hr internet and mobile banking, and allows customers to lodge money.

Why advertise with the Gazette?

Let our advertisers tell you why:

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Dlr Leisure Services has been using Dublin Gazette Newspapers for a number of years to communicate with our customers on our programmes.

We find the service we received excellent and they always offer us good value for money. The personal touch of having an account manager makes our life so much easier. The Dundrum & Dún Laoghaire Gazette covers the areas in which our centres are located. Dlr Leisure Services would have no hesitation recommending the Gazette to others to promote their company.

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Gazette

14 Gazette 21 February 2013

B e c au s e L o c a l M at t e r s

21 February 2013 Gazette 15

FEATURE Major new contemporary music festival in Dublin is announced

Anti-bullying campaign to be launched

A major new music festival has been announced for Dublin and will allow people the chance to experience and explore new contemporary music from Ireland and abroad.

The first New Music Dublin (NMD) event, which takes place between March 1 and 3, has been set up by the Arts Council, The National Concert Hall, RTE Orchestras and the Contemporary Music Centre.

The festival will be held in the National Concert Hall and will showcase a broad range of musical creativity with the work of major international and Irish artists on offer.

Included in the NMD line up will be the RTE

The ISPCC, Ireland’s oldest independent children’s charity, will be launching an anti-bullying campaign this spring.

Believing there is a need for a concerted effort nationwide to work in partnership with schools, parents and communities to reduce incidents of bullying, the ISPCC will be hosting an anti-bullying awareness week from March 4 to 10, together with a nationwide campaign to raise awareness.

A Day of Action will take place on March 8, which will see staff and volunteers of ISPCC selling the “bullying shield” (€2) nationwide to raise awareness and funds for the charity’s cause.

Concert Orchestra performing the Irish premiere of Arvo Part’s Symphony No 4, Garth Knox will bring his Italian inspired Saltarello to the stage, and the Hilliard Ensemble will be singing the haunting music of Icelandic composer Johann Johannson.

In addition to the principal concerts, NMD has a schedule of workshops, masterclasses and other events to appeal to Dublin music lovers.

As well as the National Concert Hall, the Contemporary Music Centre (CMC) will play an important role in New Music Dublin by also hosting a number of events specifically to promote and support Irish composition.

Here,TCD Music Composition Centre will perform new music and show a documentary about composer Raymond Deane which was commissioned

by CMC for Deane’s 60th birthday.

Evonne Ferguson, director of CMC says: “I can’t wait for an entire weekend of immersion in such unique sound worlds from Ireland and abroad that puts Irish composition in a wider European and international context.

My only problem for the weekend is how not to miss anything.”

Tickets costing €5, are available from the box office of the National Concert Hall on 417 0000 or online at info@nch.ie

Cheque it out: Helping to grant magical wishes of sick children john Tuohy, chief executive, Nightline, presenting a cheque for

€5,000 to Susan O’Dywer, Make-A-Wish Ireland. Nightline Parcel Motel raised €1 from every parcel delivered over the Christmas period and is presenting all proceeds raised to charity partner Make-A-Wish Ireland. The Make-A-Wish foundation grants magical wishes to children between the ages of 3-17 years with lifethreatening medical conditions. All proceeds raised will be donated and used to grant the wishes of children nationwide creating wonderful lasting memories that will stay with their families forever regardless of what the future may hold.

GAZETTE

16 GAZETTE 21 February 2013

DUBLINLIFE

BUSINESS

Q&A: BRENDAN CUMISKEY, MANAGING DIRECTOR, TC MATTHEWS

Value to leave you floored DESPITE the impact of the recession, Brendan Cumiskey, managing director, TC Matthews, says that the firm – the biggest seller of wool carpets in the country – has noted that the demand for quality wool carpets has never diminished, even in recession.

“People are happy to look at wool carpets as an investment, rather than as a once-off discretionary purchase,” he says.

He added: “Carpets still account for a big slice of home furnishing spend, and we owe it to our customers to personally advise on what is the best investment for them – as a result, they trust us.

“Because we buy big volumes of wool carpets, we get them at very keen prices, and can then pass these savings on. It means more people who thought they couldn’t afford wool, now can.”

How long have you been in business?

Personally, I’ve been involved in the carpet trade all my life. TCM have been in business for a little longer – 100+ years.

What makes your business successful?

The team: we have the most dedicated staff I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with, and we have great customers – it’s that simple.

What do you offer your clients that differs

from your competitors?

We buy directly from the manufacturers.

Because of our buying power and size, we negotiate prices that others can only try to match by supplying inferior underlays and accessories, and employing less experienced fitters.

Plus, buying the carpet is only part of the process – the installation and service offered is just (if not more) important.

We have the knowledge, dedication, quality, choice and service that is the envy of our competitors.

How has the recession impacted your business?

The collapse of the new housing and commercial building markets really had a

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huge effect on us.

The subsequent lack in consumer confidence made business extremely challenging.

What have you changed about your business to combat the effects of the recession?

Like every business, we’ve had to “Cut our cloth to suit...”.

Now, more than ever, we focus on only buying products that represent real value – special offers that are more likely to sell quickly; exclusive products that are exactly the right shades, quality and price points for our customers.

We know that we have actually increased our market share and, in fact, we opened our Stillorgan branch just three years ago - right bang in the middle of this recession.

And we very recently opened a superb new showroom in Drogheda’s M1 Retail Park.

What law or regulation would you change overnight to help your business?

If it were just to benefit my own business, that would be biased and irrelevant. Better to say that I believe that no one should have to pay tax on a much wider range of day-to-day necessities.

How do you use social media (Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, etc) to help your business?

We are relative latecomers to social media – carpets are still very much a touchy-feely thing.

We are now investing in this type of media, but we do want to get it “just right” before we dive in.

Brendan Cumiskey: “We have the most dedicated staff I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with”

Don’t take rejection personally if your job application fails ...

“THANK you for your application/your CV/for meeting with us, but unfortunately, on this occasion ...”

You spent three hours on your CV, you met with the company twice, you did a fantastic PowerPoint presentation to their board of directors – and all you got was this lousy stock letter. Not even a phone call.

Not a week goes by but a superb person I know receives a job rejection letter and, let’s face it, even if you weren’t too excited about that job in the first place, a tiny bit of your career confidence dies each time.

Of course, feedback – if you can get it – is always best.

A few years ago, it was simply good etiquette for recruiters and employers to provide feedback.

Many organisations will still give it, but it’s becoming less frequent.

If you can’t fathom any reason whatsoever for your “rejection”, try not to take it personally and move on.

There are a plethora of possible reasons that you will never be a party to.

It could be something as simple as another candidate could start a week earlier and the employer needed to make a decision and didn’t have time to start negotiating with you over start dates.

It could be that head office has put a surprise freeze on recruitment.

A company I know hired one candidate over the other, simply because the decision-maker knew that the Line Manager didn’t like the candidate in question ... and the decision-maker didn’t like the Line Manager.

Petty? Perhaps. Does it happen? Oh, yes. What you have to remember is, it’s not personal, it’s just a process – their process.

If you are continually unsuccessful with your job applications, it may be time to review your approach

However – inclement economic conditions notwithstanding – can you put your hand on your heart and say that, after that CV, that interview, you can’t think of any reason they don’t want you?

If you are racking up a stack of “Thank you, but ...” letters, it may be time to review and amend your approach.

Look at your CV and interview technique in the harsh, cold light of day and be honest with yourself about the effort and time you devote to your applications.

Be clear that job rejection is absolutely no reflection of your personal worth, but don’t continue to do the same things time and time again and expect different results.  Contact Rachael at hello@thecareerhub.ie or visit www.

thecareerhub.ie. Rachael Kilgallon is a FETAC qualified career coach and founder of The Career Hub.

21 February 2013 Gazette 17

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Level 5: Jason Cafolla, Chris Leonard, Dean Gibbons, Shane Thornton and Darren Regazzoli

interview: five teens are taking country by storm

Hottest new boy band taking it to a new level  natalie burke

IRELAND has always been known for its successful boybands, and when it comes to the newest kids on this particular block, it seems we have our own direction.

Gone are the days w h e n We s t l i f e a n d Boyzone graced our walkmans, and in their place have stepped a new, young, hip (can we still use that word?) and passionate fivesome, eager to fill the gaping hole in the market left by their predecessors.

The five boys in question, aged between 16 and 19 years old and hailing from Dublin and Meath, make up Level 5, the country’s hottest new pop act.

Despite being together less than six months, Chris, Dean, Jason, Darren and Shane have already performed to thousands in the 02, performed at the 19th birthday bash of One Direction’s Niall Horan, and have developed a loyal following of Irish teenage girls.

In fact, their fans have

even dubbed themselves the ‘Levelers’, provided the band with a few unusual gifts and have helped the Level 5 Twitter page reach a massive 11,000 followers – and quickly counting.

And all this before they are due to release their first EP. But that is exactly what they have been working on ever since they released a successful Christmas single with X Factor finalist Mary Byrne in December and according to the boys, 2013 is looking to be an

important year for the future of Level 5.

“We’re doing a lot of different things at the moment; we’re writing some of our own stuff and just trying to get the balance right.

“Our EP is the first step and so far we’re having great craic with it, we’re in and out of the studios and doing what we love.

You can’t ask for better than that really,” said 16-year-old Chris, the youngest member of the group.

Continued on Page 21

Gazette

18 Gazette 21 February 2013

COMMUNIONS&CONFIRMATIONS what it means: communion and confirmation explained

Have your special family day at the K Although better known as the venue for some amazing sporting events of recent years, The K Club is also somewhere to consider for special family celebrations, including communions and confirmations.

Located in the village of Straffan, Co Kildare and on the banks of the River Liffey, the hotel is surrounded by 550 acres of mature woods, parkland and magnificent formal gardens – perfect for photographs.

The K Club understand the importance of helping families celebrate these momentous family occasions.

For further details on family celebrations at The K Club call (01) 601 7200 or email sales@ kclub.ie. Full details are also on The K Club website www.kclub.ie.

Everything you need to know about sacraments SILK white gowns, fake tan, stretch limousines and a huge bill. No, I am not talking about a wedding. I am listing some things that are commonly seen at communions and confirmations in 21st century Ireland.

We are fast approaching the months where the two religious sacraments take place, and there is no doubt that many families are preparing their budgets for the big day. It is a reality that nowadays people spend a lot more money on these occasions than

they did in the past, but some of the “traditions” which took place during the Celtic Tiger years aren’t as prevalent today. Of course there are ways of making the day memorable, but there are many ways that parents can ensure that their children do not lose sight of the real meaning behind these milestone events.

But to help your child understand and prepare for these sacraments, it’s important that you fully understand them yourself. So what are they all about?

Firstly, everyone must be baptised before they make their First Holy Communion. Then in the run-up to the communion, children will attend Confession to tell their wrong-doings or sins to a priest, who will give them penance in exchange.

Helping your child understand the meaning of their communion and confirmation will make the day extra special

Communion takes place in May for second class pupils in primary school, when they are aged seven or eight because this is the age when they are “sinfree”. Catholics believe

this sacrament is a remembrance of Jesus’s sacrifice and being united with Him in a special way, by receiving Him at the altar through the Holy Eucharist or holy bread, which symbolises His body.

Confirmation takes place in sixth class, when pupils are usually aged 11 to 13. This is when a child strengthens their commitment to Christ and accepting responsibility as an adult, and is conferred with the Holy Spirit and the laying on of hands by a bishop.

The child will choose a Christian name as their confirmation name, and they will also choose a sponsor to be a witness and to be their support, and the sponsor will stand with the child at the altar.

The bishop will trace the sign of the cross on the child’s forehead

with ‘Chrism oil’ and say: “Be sealed with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.”

So to help prepare your child for these sacraments, it’s a good idea to talk to them about how much they know and understand.

You can also encourage them attending mass or children’s mass with them regularly.

Schools tend to have preparation meetings, so talking to the teachers about how they teach the children about these sacraments can also be a good source of information.

Most impor tantly, remember that communion and confirmation are special celebrations for your child. It’s not about all about how much pocket money they get that day, or whether they have a bouncy castle or not, its all about them.

21 February 2013 GAZETTE 19

GAZETTE

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Gazette

20 Gazette 21 February 2013

OUT&ABOUT

HOMES

newlands manor park: three-bedroom style

To the Manor born, a fresh new home Broe Auctioneers are presenting 40 Newlands Manor Park in Clondalkin, a deceptively spacious three-bedroom house boasting generous room propor tions throughout, to the market with an asking price of €225,000.

Positioned in a quiet cul de sac in this sought-after gated development with private access to 700 acres of parkland at Corkagh Park Demesne just off the N7, 40 Newlands Manor Park is presented in very good condition throughout and has been freshly painted offering a blank canvas for its new owner to put their stamp on it.

The property comprises

entrance hall with semi-solid flooring, a guest bathroom with WC, whb and tiled floor. There is a spacious lounge with semisolid flooring, a bay window and feature fireplace with a coal-effect gas fire.

The property boasts a sunroom which also features semi-solid flooring, velux windows, patio doors to the rear of the property and a pine-paneled ceiling.

The kitchen/dining room has fully-fitted beech shaker-style units, as well as cooker, fridge freezer and dishwasher included, and a tiled floor.

The utility room also has a tiled floor and is plumbed for washing machine.

Upstairs, all of the bedrooms feature fitted wardrobes, with the main bedroom leading to an en suite, which contains a WC, whb and shower, and the family bathroom contains the same features, with the addition of a bath.

Outside, the rear garden has a decked area and is surrounded by mature shrubs. There is also ample communal parking to front.

This complex is maintained to a very high standard and benefits from ample communal parking, electric gates and manicured green areas.

The property also comprises gas-fired central heating, an alarm system, and double glazing throughout, and as previously mentioned, direct access to Corkagh Park with private gateway from complex.

Viewing essential to appreciate all this superb family home has to offer, and to arrange a viewing, contact Lisa O’ Donoghue at Broe Auctioneers on 01 459 4433 or email lisa@broe.ie.

For more information, and to view other properties on offer, log on to www.broe.ie

40 Newlands Manor Park is on the market for €225,000

21 February 2013 Gazette 21

interview: all about level 5

Hottest new boy band taking it to a new level

Continued from Page 17

“We’re trying to get something fresh together.

There’s no point bringing out something people already know so we’re working with different ideas,” said band-mate Shane.

Following the boys’ Christmas collaboration with Mary Byrne, they said they would love to work with her again.

“We didn’t know what to expect but she was just so down to earth when we met her and it was such a relief. She was really nice and really looked after us as it was all so new,” said Darren.

Per forming at the Childline concert in the 02 has been the highlight of the band’s career so far, with the boys saying it was a ‘dream come true’.

“There are no words to describe what it is like walking out on to the stage in front of that many people. We were expecting nobody to know us and we could hear them screaming ‘Level 5’ even before we went out on stage. It was breathtaking”, Darren continued.

While the band may be the only all-Irish boyband on the music scene at the moment, Level 5 say they admire solo artists such

as Michael Buble and Justin Bieber, as well as bands they will ultimately be competing against for attention.

“We all admire different people but in terms of success, One Direction have hit the nail on the head. They really have made it and they deserve everything they have because they’ve worked so hard for it,” said Chris.

Traditional

With shows such as The Voice and the X Factor, new pop acts are entering the music scene every year. For the boys of Level 5 however, they are glad to have taken the more traditional route.

“When you go into the X Factor or any of those competitions, it’s very intense, you’re in the limelight from the word go. We feel like we’re going to build up our knowledge and will have done all the small gigs – the good ones and the bad ones – and when we get onto a stage, we will be a lot more polished. We feel like it’s the right way to do it,” Dean explained.

2013 is set to be a big year for the new boyband, who will be featuring in their own reality fly-onthe-wall documentary

series, The Rise of Level 5, which is due to go on air in just a few weeks time. The boys also plan to release a single to coincide with the TV show.

“It’s not going to be a documentary that will make us look fabulous; it shows everything bad and good,” said Jason. “It shows our ups and downs, when we’re just at cracking point and then when then when we’ve tears of happiness as well.”

“People think that being in a band means you just have to turn up, smile and pose – but it’s nothing like that. Every chance we get its practice, practice, practice.

We can’t wait for everyone to see that we actually do work hard. There’s a completely different side to it,” he added.

Unusual

With such a large following, the boys have already experienced being recognised in the city centre and have received some unusual gifts from their fans, including a pet hamster.

“Our fans are great and come everywhere with us. Most days they are [outside our rehearsal studio] and we have to try and convince them to go to school and that educa-

Level 5: Jason Cafolla, Chris Leonard, Dean Gibbons, Shane Thornton and Darren Regazzoli have a busy few months ahead of them

tion is important!”

O ve r t h e c o m i n g weeks, the band are set to take on a nationwide tour across 110 schools fronting the Pieta House Youth Suicide Prevention and Mind Your Buddy campaign. “We’re going to be giving talks as well as performing and trying to help people so it is a great cause”.

With a busy few months ahead, the future is certainly looking bright for the lads of Level 5.

“There is a lot on our wishlist! We would love to release an album and someday we would love to sell out a stadium.

That’s a goal. Next year we hope to do our own gig and even sell that out.

Obviously, it won’t be in the Aviva, but you never know!”

For more information, visit www.level5official. com or become fans/levelers of their Facebook page at www.facebook. com/level5official.

Gazette

MUSIC

Gazette

22 gazette 21 February 2013

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

Theatre THE pavilioN THEATRE 01 231 2929 A Skull In Connemara

FOR one week each autumn, Mick Dowd is hired to disinter the bones in certain sections of his local cemetery, but is he hiding a secret? February 28March 2, tickets are priced at €18/€16.

Draiocht 01 885 2622 My Brother Joe

JOE Dolan’s brother Ben shared the stage with his younger brother for 47 fun-filled years. Who better than Ben to tell the stories behind Joe’s songs and highlight Joe’s successful singing career? February 28, tickets €22/€18.

Mill THEATRE 01 296 9340 The Importance of Being Earnest

OSCAR Wilde’s theatrical masterpiece is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest comedies in the English language. Wonderful characters, sparkling dialogue, gloriously improbable plot twists and a sprinkling of romance – The Importance of Being Earnest has it all. London Classical Theatre promise to bring this 19th Century classic to vivid, extravagant life with our customary flair, attention to detail, highquality casting and impeccable production values.

Catch the show on February 26 and 27, tickets are priced at €20/€16.

Judd Apatow’s children Iris and Maude and wife Leslie Mann play three quarters of This Is 40’s lead family

review: Judd apatow’s “sort of sequel” is sort of terrible

40 and unfunny

IF JUDD Apatow’s new film, This Is 40 was any realistic indication of middle age, the mortality rate among 39 year olds would be extremely high.

The film is called a stand alone sequel to Apatow’s 2007 hit, Knocked Up and focuses on the supporting characters of Pete played by Paul Rudd and Debbie played by Leslie Mann.

The couple are now turning 40 and their children are growing up and the plot (for want of a better word) revolves around their narcissistic refusal to accept the fact that they are ageing and that their relationship is an empty and unfulfilling disappointment.

Neither character is in any way likeable, they argue constantly and try to find meaning and genuine affection from each other where none exists or is deserved.

This was very hard

Film of the Week: This Is 40 h (15) 133 mins Director: Judd Apatow Starring: Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jason Segel, Megan Fox

OUR VERDICT:  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain bnibhraonain@gazettegroup.com

work to watch, not least because half of the audience laughed at every vacuous line or cheap sexual innuendo.

The film begins with a sex scene in the shower, in the middle of which Pete, the Paul Rudd character, admits he has taken a Viagra.

This immediately causes the Debbie character to stop the action and launch into one of her many, many whining diatribes about how life and Pete are not as she would wish either to be.

Pete, in true stereotypical Hollywood style as the innocent, nonplussed male, cannot work out

WHERE Knocked Up was earnest, funny and refreshing, this is the exact opposite. Overshot, meandering and unfunny; this film is self-indulgence of the worst kind by Apatow, an otherwise talented director who reckons his own life is so interesting we should all be forced to watch it.

why his wife is angered by such an admission while Debbie moans about not being attractive enough for her husband to perform naturally.

As a character, Debbie is even more annoying than her husband as she seeks constant validation through her physical appearance and the striving for perfection, while all the while having the body of a pre-pubescent girl.

Other characters are as vapid, if not as annoying as the two leads. Pete’s father, Larry, played by Albert Brooks, is a deadbeat who has triplet boys with his new wife thanks

to IVF treatment and constantly bums money off Pete.

This character is thoroughly unfunny, reprehensible and unapologetic but depicted as a charming cad.

Megan Fox makes an appearance as Debbie’s employee Desi who is also a high-class hooker.

She fulfills her role as sex symbol admirably with all of the men justifiably drooling as she disrobes in every other frame.

There is a scene where Debbie is looking at Desi’s body and starts to feel her breasts with fascination as though she has

never seen such things before.

Her co-worker, Jodi, played by Charlene Yi is truly disturbing as the Oxocontin addict with a penchant for imitating the Exorcist’s Regan McNeill.

The whole thing is a bizarre mess of halfformed ideas and flat jokes. The cast of actors which includes John Lithgow, though stellar, can never pull this written off vehicle out of its inertia.

In another weird twist, Chris O’Dowd appears with a full moustache and is literally in competition with Jason Segal, an actor who would be his natural competitor for Hollywood roles.

The only mildly redeeming and amusing bit of the film is a turn by Melissa McCarthy who plays the mother of a boy who has been cyber-bullying Debbie and Pete’s daughter.

21 February 2013 SWORDS GAZETTE 23

GAZETTE

GAMING HMV: IMPACT OF CLOSURE FOR GAMERS, SHOPPERS

BYTES&PIECES XBOX FOUNDER ATTACKS MICROSOFT

Death of a giant retailer SO THAT’S it – the curtain has finally come down on HMV in Ireland, with the loss of 300 jobs at the chain’s 16 stores, as yet another retail domino topples over in the merciless chill winds of the recession.

It goes without saying that each one of those jobs is a terrible blow for the individual involved, while the knock-on impact such job losses, and store closures, have on local economies and communities is also to be noted, and regretted.

Stores across Britain have also been affected, with many jobs to be lost there, and shops shuttered, as HMV’s British wing attempts to restructure itself and survive.

Here, the Irish wing’s administrator, Deloitte, had been seeking a buyer for the stores but was unsuccessful, with a statement for the receiver to HMV Ireland, David Carson, announcing: “The marketplace is very difficult, given competition from web-based retailers and digital downloads, compounded by a number of other factors, ... It was not possible to attract a purchaser.”

What does HMV’s closure mean for Irish gamers? The chain’s closure here further reduces gamer choice, with the loss of such physical bricks-and-mortar outlets

 SHANE DILLON sdillon@gazettegroup.com

Key engineer raises eyebrows with “Stupid” blog

HMV’s Grafton Street outlet is now closed for good, as the company joins GAME on the list of collapsed games retailers in Ireland

almost certainly likely to shunt consumers more towards online distributors instead.

Yes, it’s true that a quick glance around Dublin, and elsewhere, reveals a number of games retailers, albeit few that are fully dedicated games retailers, as GameStop are.

Instead, there are several chains that also sell games, such as Smyths Toys, Xtravision, Tesco

– and that’s yer lot.

At the same time, many of the remaining retailers have succumbed to “secondhanditis” – using valuable shelf space to flog traded-in games, rather than set aside space for a wider (and more creative) selection of new or recently released titles.

As such, for gamers looking for real choice for their gaming interests, or to support their platforms,

and Argos, to name but a few, as well as a number of smaller, independent retailers and games exchanges dotted here and there.

However, almost without exception, the range of games available at such well-known outlets is usually small – to say the least – with consumers often lucky to find the top 10 or 15 titles on the main platforms, and often with nothing at all from smaller games platforms

this is a negative development, as gamers often tend to look out for older games that have dropped in price, or “smaller” games that aren’t piled high on shelves as blockbuster titles.

Despite HMV’s flaws, and despite facing the same limitations outlined above, at least it also had an okay range of stock, accounting for an acceptable range of platforms.

But where now for the lowly PC gamer to graze,

for example?

It’s also worth pointing out that HMV were also notably, and often significantly, cheaper than rival retailers – I couldn’t tell you how many times I saw titles on sale in HMV, only to see the same game with eye-raising price differences in rival chains and shops very close by.

As such, with the loss of such a well-known chain and its physical outlets, gamers across the country could be feeling the financial pinch even more acutely than before – that’s if they can find the title they wanted in the first place.

Inevitably, other games distributors and chains should see a bounce in their footfall and sales, with the loss of one of the last remaining giants.

These survivors face their own challenges, with the inexorable rise of online retailers – usually with cheaper prices, and certainly with a wider choice of titles – presenting a very real threat to their sustainability, too.

W here HMV have gone, others may yet follow. Watch this space ...

ONE of the key founders of Microsoft’s original XBox console, Nat Brown, sent ripples through the games media (and other media, such as The Huffington Post) just before St Valentine’s Day with a pretty withering blog attack (to put it mildly) on the company and its management of the XBox 360 (below), bluntly entitled: “Stupid, Stupid xBox!!”

The engineer – who also named the original console – didn’t hold back with his opinions, with such choice jibes as: “Microsoft has jumped its own shark and is out stomping through the weeds planning and talking about far-flung future strategies ... when their core product, their home town is on fire, their soldiers, their developers, are tired and deserting, and their supply-lines are broken.”

Ouch. Brown wasn’t feeling a lot of love for Microsoft for St Valentine’s Day, that’s for sure.

While such opinions are Brown’s own, and while many would rebutt them, some of his irate words raised some interesting (and valid) points about the threat that small-scale apps present to Microsoft, and its console rivals.

With Apple yet to reveal the oftmooted Apple TV, and the plethora of attention-grabbing apps such a move would undoubtely entail, there’s still time for Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo to attempt to prepare for such a threat ...

24 swords gazette 21 February 2013

Gazette

& OUT ABOUT road

rapid: serious practicality at a seriously competitive price

NOISE

Ford invites you to check out their high-tech gadgets

As the first car brand to achieve a total of seven different Euro NCAP Advanced safety rewards in recognition of its wide range of technologies during February, Ford’s network of Dublin dealers is inviting customers to come in and try out the vast array of hightech gadgets that now come as standard or optional on its cars.

From MyKey on the new Fiesta; which allows parents to influence their children’s use of the car just by programming the key, to the new Ford SYNC with Emergency Assistance, which automatically alerts the emergency services if a car is in a crash, Ford’s technology is geared towards making the driving experience a much safer one.

Active city stop prevents a car from colliding with a vehicle or other obstacle in front at speeds under 30km/h, while the Lane Keeping Aid warns against veering off line due to fatigue.

The technologies are also geared to

The Ford Kuga

TRAVEL MOTORS

making life more convenient for the driver.

Active park assist, for example, takes away the hassles of parallel parking by automatically steering the car into a space.

For laden-down shoppers, meanwhile, the automatic tailgate on the brand-new Kuga is a real blessing.

Opening the tailgate is activated just by the driver moving his or her foot under the rear bumper - no more fiddling with keys!

Eddie Murphy, chairman and managing director of Ford Ireland comments: “Ford is first to market with a lot of these technologies, while in other cases they have been the preserve of more luxury models up to now.

“Affordable technology is what Ford stands for, meaning even Ireland’s most popular car – the Ford Focus – can be purchased with practically every hi-tech feature out there.”

For further details, please see www.dublinford.ie.

It’s simple, sturdy and safe – but special it isn’t n Cormac Curtis

Skoda have been busy making use of their momentum in the motoring world by adding new models to fill as many segments of the market as they can.

Short of a sports coupe and a top-end executive SUV, they have been carefully releasing new and, as they would say, clever models to a public that have been eager to get on board.

The latest addition to the Skoda family is the Rapid.

Here we have a midsize saloon aimed very much at a family looking to carry more stuff without spending too much money to get it.

Have they achieved what they have set out to do?

Definitely.

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past six months, you will have seen just how serious Skoda are about getting these cars on the road. The TV, radio and press have been positively heaving with Rapid advertising – and why not? They have a quality car delivered at a good price ready for a market that is growing everconscious of how much it can spend on the new family car.

I spent a week with the 1.2-litre TSI 86bhp petrol version of the Rapid.

First impressions?

Solid. Everything I have come to expect from this brand.

It won’t get too many jealous looks from younger drivers, but that’s hardly the point.

Rapid drivers won’t

The Skoda Rapid affords the occupants a bucket load of safety features and space

be all that bothered with image, but they will be happy with a car that looks solid and well proportioned.

This is a practical motor designed to offer serious practicality at a seriously competitive price.

So, while it won’t set the world alight in the looks department, it does have a comfortable interior and affords the occupants a bucket load of safety features and space.

Ah yes, space. What is it about Skoda engineers and squeezing every last millimetre of room out of every car?

The Superb range leads the pack in rear leg room, which gets better with every new model.

The CitiGo is Tardis-like in how many fully-grown adults in can accommodate in a very small car.

And the Octavia boasts a boot that would give an

airplane hangar a run for its money.

As with all Skoda models, the build quality of the interior is top-class.

I never feel as though a Skoda interior is likely to age badly or deteriorate like some of its competitors will.

The materials are tough and the parts never flimsy.

The chrome accents that highlight parts of the cockpit in the Elegance spec model I drove looked as though they will always add a little class to its appearance without fading or cracking.

The leather on the steering wheel felt luxurious and the radio and telephone controls were just where they should be and behaved just as expected.

So, the other bits and pieces in the Elegance spec include upgraded 16” DIONE alloys, the ‘vintage’ interior, Onyx-

Onyx dashboard (or no cost optional OnyxBeige), a chrome pack that includes upgraded gear stick knob, frame of shift lever, control elements of interior air supply and locking button of hand brake.

For safety and comfort, it includes rear parking sensors, cruise control, climatronic air conditioning, front and rear electric windows, a rear centre armrest, two additional rear loudspeakers and height adjustable driver and passenger seats.

So, there is a lot there to add to the car’s appeal.

And there’s the rub.

For me, for all its practicality, functionality, build quality, safety and comfort, the car just wasn’t at all special. It was just a bit dull.

From a driver’s point of view, I felt the clutch took far too long to get used to and didn’t provide the

feedback I would like, and the suspension is not forgiving enough for a car that is clearly geared at families.

At the price point where it enters the market, and because there are so many attractive finance packages available, even from Skoda themselves, I would personally go rummaging around the back of the sofa for the extra few quid required to buy an Octavia.

Put it this way, the Rapid range starts off at €16,515 and the Octavia comes in at €18,590.

Not a huge difference in price, and, for my money, the Octavia is a better car AND it’s just been given a very pretty upgrade lifting it out of the ordinary and making it a real eyeturner.

Watch this space for a review of the new Octavia in the coming months.

21 February 2013 swords gazette 25

Gazette

HOMES TRAVEL tullamore: luxurious touches help make your midlands visit a treat

The Bridge House links body and soul superbly  natalie burke

UNTIL recently, travelling to the midlands was something I had a tendency to overlook when it came to arranging a weekend away.

Such drives featured a host of quaint drivethrough towns where I occasionally stopped, but hadn’t really considered as making my final destination.

In fact, one of the only times I had travelled to Tullamore, Co Offaly, was to do my driving test, yonks ago; I think the waiting list in Dublin was extremely long, so I thought a country town was my best bet.

It turns out I was wrong, but I passed second time round anyway. But who would have thought that the town is fast emerging as the ideal destination for a much needed break away?

A recent invitation found me driving down the N4 from Dublin once again – with a full licence this time – and heading directly for The Bridge House Hotel and Spa. Just a hop, skip and an hour from Dublin’s fair city, Tullamore is perhaps best known for its famous

export, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, and hosts a heritage centre in its honour.

But the town also has much more to offer: local heritage trips, shopping and dining, and a range of outdoor activities, with one of its biggest draws being, perhaps, its most popular hotel.

The welcome at The Bridge House Hotel was a warm one, which was a thankful break from the winter weather outside.

The lobby greets its guests with a sweeping staircase and a cosy blend of dark woods, and the hotel’s interior is subtle and luxurious.

We were lucky enough to stay in a suite, which had its own private balcony to admire the local view.

We arrived just in time to take some time out in the Sanctuary Spa and my masseuse managed to massage away a stressful week with a full body massage.

An hour-long treatment, it was complete with warm towels and soothing music and, thanks to the spa’s late opening hours, we still managed to fit in some time to relax in the outdoor hydrotherapy pool afterwards.

Post-spa, it was time for dinner at Balcone Italiano, the in-house Italian restaurant. Located on the top floor of the hotel, the restaurant overlooks the main lobby.

Vintage Designed in true vintage Italian kitchen style, the furniture and decor is reminiscent of a real Italian country home – or, at least, what I imagine one to be – and the menu really has something for everyone.

Our table enjoyed a charcuterie board to start, with a selection of Italian cheeses, salami and parma ham, which was followed by golden-fried button mushrooms with garlic and chive mayon-

From the spa to the restaurant and, of course, the bedrooms, the Bridge House Hotel has many luxurious touches

naise.

For our main course, we enjoyed a tender filet of steak, which – after seeing the size of my fellow guest’s T-bone steak – was too good to suffer any food envy.

The restaurant was buzzing with a mixture of guests and locals and the good food, wine and company was certainly one that will be tough to top.

The restaurant even played host to Rosanna Davison on the night, with whispers that she was making her own pizza in the kitchen. It’s clearly a popular place.

Indulging in one last dr y-Januar y sin, we enjoyed an apres-dinner drink in The Palace nightclub, which adjoins the

the bridge house hotel deTAils  The Bridge House Hotel’s spa-

course dinner on one night, and

cious family accommodation can

Kids Camp from just €349.

sleep up to five comfortably. From

For further details, see www.

Sunday, March 24 to Friday, April 5,

bridgehousehoteltullamore.ie or

enjoy three nights’ B&B, a four-

call 057 932 5600.

hotel at a nice and soundless distance, before calling it a night.

I’m a huge fan of breakfast, but particularly when it’s brought to the table – a rare treat. Following some pick-me-up coffee and, of course, a full Irish, we reluctantly checked out of the hotel to begin the short journey home.

The second-night stay will have to wait until next time!

26 SWORDS GAZETTE 21 February 2013

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asdfsdaf gaelic games P27 P31

dublinsport Let the Gazette keep you up to date with all the best local sporting action from around the city as we cover all the stories that matter to you and your community



Gazette

dublin gazette awards P28

FastSport O’Brien enjoys mixed Welsh fortunes:

Cricket Ireland enjoyed a great week, announcing their extended list of central contracts as well as a new link up with Toyota

cricket: ireland extend professional ranks with new funding level added

Malahide’s Chase one of the newcomers on contract list MALAHIDE’S Peter Chase was one of the major beneficiaries of the 17 contracts announced by Cricket Ireland for the 2013 season as one of three youngsters who are new to the list.

Max Sorensen, 27, meanwhile has been rewarded with an A contract after impressing with his consistency, speed and accuracy during an outstanding 2012 season. The Hills opening bowler joins established Dublin-based stars Trent Johnston, John Mooney, Alex Cusack and Kevin O’Brien in the top bracket of deals.

There are now four categories of contracts, with the C band dedicated to players who are in full-time education, headed by Stuart Thompson, who is already a full international.

Promising pace bowler Chase and the Cricket Ireland Young Player of the Year Tyrone Kane both earn contracts for the first time as Ireland look to the future following the recent retirements of Boyd Rankin, Nigel Jones and Albert van der Merwe.

Cricket Ireland performance director Richard Holdsworth said: “We are

pleased to retain players on A and B category contracts from last year, and all of them still have a great deal to achieve on the international stage.

Future

“It is important Cricket Ireland has plans for the future, and whilst 2013 will be a huge year for the team, we must also look ahead to major ICC events – the World Twenty20 in 2014 and the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand the following year.

“We have therefore awarded a full

A contract to Max Sorensen who impressed everyone in 2012, taking 31 wickets at just 17 runs each in the 21 games he played.

“We have also awarded C category contracts to four younger players who we see as a key part of our future.

Nine of the 17 contracted players are also contracted to English counties, and our close relationships with those counties will hopefully allow them to play for Ireland as much as possible in addition to the ICC mandatory matches in season.

LUCAN man Fergal O’Brien qualified for the main draw of a world ranking snooker event for the first time in 2013 last week when he overcame Nigel Bond 4-3 in the qualifiers for the Welsh Open.

He was undone, though, by former world champion Graham Dott in the first round of that competition. O’Brien started well with a break of 89 to win the first frame and he was still very much in the mix at 2-2 when he rattled in a clearance of 57.

But Dott ground out the next two frames to set up a date with world billiards champion Pankaj Advani in the second round of the competition.

c o n ta c t s Acting Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@gazettegroup.com

For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@gazettegroup.com Phone: 01 651 6205

Gazette

28 SWORDS Gazette 21 February 2013

SPORT

Stars of 2012 T HE upcoming Gazette Sports Awards are set to celebrate a string of stunning acheivements for clubs and schools around Dublin, running the gamut from county to provin-

Kilmacud Crokes senior hurlers

cial to All-Ireland to European honours. Among the list of clubs that will be in attendance at the event on March 8 in the Red Cow Moran hotel, there are some that have waited 99 years

Sports Teams

to reach the pinnacle of their game while others have risen to incredible heights despite only forming within the past15 years, confounding expectations in the most impressive way.

Colaiste Phadraig

Father and Son All-Ireland winners Gerry and Robert Moran

Malahide RFC

Foxrock Cabinteely’s ladies footballers

Swords judo club

Malahide CS golf team

Three Rock Rovers

St Brigid’s Feile double

Castle Golf Club - Irish Senior Cup winners

Castleknock Dublin and Leinster JFC champions

21 February 2013 SWORDS Gazette 29

Gazette

30 SWORDS gazette 21 February 2013

SPORT

FastSport

GAA: St Sylvester’s get their season under way

Malahide Sailing look for new member MALAHIDE Sailing Club is looking to recruit a new member of their team to promote the sport and the use of their training facilities in the Swords, Malahide and greater north county area.

A recent recipient of the sports capital grant, the sailing club have invested the money into a new state-of-the-art Dinghy Sailing Centre and has began to invite individuals from organizations to work with the club to help maximise the potential of its already impressive facilities.

“The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate a vision for the future and the drive to improve services to existing members, attract new members, promote the sport of sailing in Fingal and make better use of the club’s two facilities at Broadmeadows and St. James’ Terrace,” according to a club spokesperson.

Redmond set for first test at welterweight FORMER mixed martial arts middleweight challenger John Redmond will take his first test at welterweight this weekend when he takes on Chris MacDonald at Cage Contender XVI this Saturday in the National Basketball Arena, Dublin.

The north county man has been a fan favourite since the early days of MMA in the country and made a quick name for himself based on his knockout power and athleticism.

A former 185 challenger for Swords

resident Chris Fields’ middleweight championship, Redmond will look to add to his win column and stake a claim to the welterweight strap.

United U-15s to feature on Setanta show MALAHIDE United’s U-15 premier team are due to appear in Setanta Sports six part documentary series “Premier Ambitions” which is shown on Monday night at 9.45.

The series is set to follow Home Farm as they strive to win the league as a team and as individuals they hope for trials with a Premier League club.

St Sylvester’s and St Oliver Plunketts/ER resume battle this Tuesday in the unfamiliar surrounds of St Margaret’s

Syl’s new boys show class  peter carroll sport@gazettegroup.com

ST SYVESTER’S senior footballers have shown they are very quick to gel with a lot of new faces continuing the side’s winning ways in the Vincent de Paul Cup, with the latest victory coming against St Maur’s after seeing off Leinster champions and All Ireland finalists Ballymun Kickhams the week before.

Involved in the fixture were four men making their full competitive senior debuts for the club – Mark Maher, Ciaran McAr-

dle, Mark Hazley and Niall Coughlan – and manager Gabriel Bannigan claims there will be plenty of opportunities for players coming up from the youth ranks this year.

“We’ve picked up a few wins now but we’re still a few months off where we need to be,” said Bannigan.

“The lads have come in and played very well but for a lot of the new lads it will take a few months to make a full transition.

“I don’t want to put any pressure on them, they’ll get plenty of

Head over heels Local couple compete at Leinster match SOME women will do anything for their

husbands, inluding being pushed around a rugby pitch.

Here, Paul and Louise Byrne from Swords take part in the Bests Menswear Half-Time Challenge at the Round 15 Rabo Pro12 clash between Leinster and Italian side Benetton Treviso at the RDS, Ballsbridge.

In the week of love, Louise really showed her dedication to Paul, taking a tumble during the competition.

oppor tunities and I have placed no limitations on what these lads can do in the sport.”

The Broomfield outfit won’t be long waiting on a test with St Oliver Plunkett’s set as their first test in the AFL 1.

Test of strength The game is set for Tuesday night in St Margret’s and despite many a manager reacting positively to the possibility of Bernard Brogan not lining out, Bannigan is the opposite.

“I want to see my team tested early by

the toughest teams and I hope they have all of their inter county players available. “ We ’r e h o p i n g t o have players available after a busy weekend of inter county and Sigerson Cup matches, with Shane O’Connor, Ross Hazley, Mark McCarthy and Gary Sweeney all being busy with the DIT and DCU fixture.

“But certainly, I hope Plunkett’s have a full team out.

“I’m not expecting miracles but I’m a firm believer that if you’re good enough, you’re old enough and I want to be

able to give these lads the time so they can develop skilfully, physically and mentally.

“We’ll be chopping and changing the lineup throughout the league and cup ties and I think we’ll find a rhythm after a couple of months.

“There was certainly a lot of positives to take from the St Maur’s game, the lads showed some great work ethic.

“We maybe could’ve scored more given the amount of possession we had, but I’m happy with how they applied themselves,” he added.

21 February 2013 SWORDS gazette 31

Gazette

Fingallians’ Jackies help to sink Laois  sport@gazettegroup.com

FINGALLIANS ladies Laura McGahon, Fiona Hudson, Denis McKenna and Amy McGuinness were part of the Paul Gilheaney’s Dublin panel that saw off Laois in Sunday’s Tesco Homegrown ladies national football league division 1 tie in Stradbally.

Coming off a loss to Donegal in their last league outing, Dublin got back to winning w ay s w i t h t h e n a rrow win thanks to two late pointed frees from Sinead Aherne which gave Dublin a 2-6 to 1-7 victory against the O’Moore County.

The victory will certainly inspire some con-

fidence in the side with the Laois outfit bagging two wins in their opening two encounters against Tyrone and Donegal, proving that they are very capable of challenging for the league honours having last won the title ten years ago in 2003.

Dublin were twice reduced to 14 play-

ers as captain Sinead Finnegan and Noelle Healy were yellowcarded but the Jackies, with Gilheaney in place as interim manager, still managed to dig out a crucial win.

The ladies will next be in action on Sunday March 3 when they take on the challenge of the Rebels in Cork.

Club Noticeboard St Sylvester’s THIS year’s minor football team played

Whitehall at home in their opening

Kilmacud Crokes two weeks after the

league match at the same time.

2012 team lost the championship final

Other fixtures next Sunday February

to the same opposition.

24 are:

We made a very good point by win-

in the Iveagh Grounds, at 11.00am

the match by Darragh (Maurice Fit-

AFL9 St Sylvesters V Ma Gaeil Oga in

zgerald) Walsh was worthy of winning

Broomfield, at 15.00

any match.

Minor Hurling Division Two Ballinteer

It was great to see a full “melee” of mentors on the sideline willing to take

football: Coach gilroy happy with narrow win

AFL6 St James Gaels V St Sylvester’s

ning this one and the point that won

up the challenge again this year. Well done to everyone involved.

The seniors continued on from their

V St Sylvesters in Marlay Park, at 11.00am Hearty congratulations to Ballymun on reaching the All Ireland Final with their superb win over Crokes.

Vincent De Paul cup final victory over

Friday March 1 Gary O Brien, Ireland’s

All Ireland finalists Ballymun with

top tipster, will pick the winner of the

another cup victory over St Maurs.

fantastic prize of the trip to Chelten-

They play Oliver Plunketts away

ham in the club. Please support club

next Sunday at 11.00 am in the league.

development by supporting this great

The intermediate football team play

fundraiser and come along.

Fingallians

Paul Flynn was in fine form for the Leinster team that narrowly overcame Connacht at the weekend

Flynn proves that he is still a Star Inter provincial s/f Leinster 1-21 Connacht 1-20  sport@gazettegroup.com

Dublin’s lone All Star for 2012, Paul Flynn, was in action for the Leinster panel last weekend in Longford as they booked their place in the final of the Inter Provincial Football Championship with a narrow win over Connacht 1-21 to 1-20.

Connacht, despite their depleted side, held a two-point lead in the final passages of the game before the 2010 Footballer of the Year, Bernard Brogan, fed

Adrian Flynn a ball that was put over, Brogan then equalised with a free before he punched the winning point over the bar.

The game was played at a fairly low intensity in the first half and Leinster, coached by All Ireland winning coach Pat Gilroy, led for much of the half by 1-2 to 0-2 before the western outfit fought back with four unanswered points of their own.

Connacht’s scoring blitz added some spice to the affair and the two sides began to score at ease, as the half time

score line suggested, 0-14 to 1-8 in favour of the John Tobin panel, with the only goal coming from Leinster’s Joe Sheridan.

Tipperary’s Paul Conroy really put the wind in the Connacht sails when his shot rippled the net with ten minutes to go to give his side a five point lead, but it was then that Brogan really ignited and made his scoring presence known.

“He was exceptional,” said Gilroy of the Dublin forward after the game.

“He was keen to get

into the final – as he said, he has played in it four or five times and he had never won a match.

“A lot of lads were in the same boat so it was nice to come out the right side of it,” said the former Dublin boss.

The final of the competition is due to take place next Sunday in Croke Park and with the GA A aiming to m a ke € 10 0 , 0 0 0 f o r charity by giving all the gate receipts to Crumlin Children’s Hospital, they’ll be hoping for a better turnout than the couple of hundred that turned out in Longford.

WHILE weather is hampering the start

Final overcoming Dr Crokes from Co

of the season our senior footballers

Kerry.

got off to a perfect start winning by a

Arrangements for the “Fingallians

point in the cup and our U15 footballers

Strictly Come Dancing” are being

also won both matches played on the

finalised, and we will be announcing

latest all weather pitches.

final details of the venue and date

Well done to DCU who qualified for

very soon. There are still some places

the final stage of the Sigerson Cup this

available for dancers, and if you are

weekend (in Athlone). A big thank you

interested or would like to help in any

to DCU captain Paul Flynn and All Ire-

way, email strictly@fingallians.com

land winning captain Michael Murphy

contact Oisín on 086 8516210.

for taking time out last week to train

Our recycling campaign continues:

the U15 & U16 squads prior to their

All unwanted clothes, bedlinen, towels

quarter final.

& textiles. Please drop into the club

The date for the Easter Camp this

any Saturday from 10am - 12 or to the

year is Monday -Thursday, March

club bar from 7pm each evening. Old

25-28.

mobile phones will also be accepted.

It will be a combined Football & Hurling Camp for children aged 4 - 12 years.

The Club Shop Sale continues on Saturday 23. Discount on all stock items.

Congratulations to Ballymun Kickhams on reaching the club All Ireland

All Club & Sigerson results will be posted on twitter. The twitter feed can also be accessed on www.fingallians.com (managers who wish to have details in the notes and results on twitter must text on updates).

St Finian’s WE had a very successful day on Sat-

condition), bedlinen, duvets, pillows,

urday at the Mock Wedding fundrais-

towels. including bags, belts and soft

er. Huge credit goes to the organising

toys. This has the potential to be a

committee and particularly to War-

huge fundraiser with very little imput

ren and Chris for being such great

so please support.

sports.

Please drop off bags to clubhouse

Our minor footballers kicked off their

at following times: Monday February

season with a good win against Clon-

25-Thursday Feb ruary 28 from 7:30-

tarf down in St Annes Park. Our under

9pm and Saturday March 2 11am-2

8 hurlers also had good wins at the

.00pm.

Gormanston indoor tournament.

We must remind everyone that annu-

The adult football season starts next

al membership fees are due. You can

Sunday with both of our adult teams

find a membership application form on

playing Trinity Gaels at home at 11am.

www.stfinians.com, from the Down-

There will be a clothing collection on

loads section.

Saturday 2nd March to raise fund for

The lotto jackpot was €9,000 and

St. Finians GAA Club. Please donate

the numbers drawn were 10, 12, 18, 19.

your clean unwanted clothes, (in any

There was no winner.

GazetteSPORT all of your swords sports coverage from page 27-31

Chase is on: Malahide cricketer is awarded one of 17 Cricket Ireland contracts for 2013 season P27

febrUARY 21, 2013

sport star celebrations: Fourth annual Dublin Sports Awards to rock the Red Cow P28

Ravens Darren Daly, Fingallians Paul Flynn and Finian’s Warren Hanley will all be crucial to their sides’ hopes in AFL 2 this season, as the neighbours each aim to reach AFL 1

Ready to cross Swords The ‘Fingal League’ gets under way this week, with a number of Swords teams set to challenge for a path to the top tier and AFL 2 glory  Peter carroll

sport@gazettegroup.com

CHRISTENED the ‘Fingal League’ by many this year, Fingallians, St Finian’s and Fingal Ravens of Swords will take on four more teams from the North County this season in the AFL 2.

Fingallians, missing Paul Flynn for the majority of the league campaign last year, remained in the senior ranks after a relegation playoff with St Mark’s, a team coach Alan Hanrahan described as the club’s “dodgy team”.

Fingal Ravens dropped out of the AFL 1 last year in Mick Deegan’s last season at the

helm of the club, now part of Jim Gavin’s Dublin setup, and will surely be looking to get right back up into the top flight with former player and junior manager, Ian Donnelly.

St Finian’s showed they were anything but a spent force last year under the watchful eye of Stephen Carslake, when the young coach took the same side that had played senior football five years previously back to the promised land of AFL 2 after being given the objective of keeping the side at intermediate level.

Carslake claims that the antidote to success in a league with so many derbies on the fixture list is to not focus on playing a rival

side at all.

“These lads have been in the senior cycle before and they have a lot of experience over the other teams,” he said.

“With the amount of teams from the north county area in the competition I’m trying to get the lads to stop thinking about the derbies and just fully focus on the points.

“If we stay unbeaten at home we can finish in the top four and that’s what I’m aiming for.”

Donnelly, the Ravens boss, spoke how the team is focusing on getting straight back to the AFL 1 to better their chances in the championship.

“There’s a lot of local derbies for us in

the AFL 2 – Fingallians, Finian’s, Skerries Harps – and St Patrick’s Donabate could be on their way up too-so it should be a very exciting year.

“As far as a specific target for the year, I’m sure everybody at the club will want to get straight back up into the first division, but I really want to sit down with the lads and have a chat about the championship, I think we can do a lot better than we have in the senior,” said Donnelly.

Ravens take on Kilmacud Crokes on Thursday night at Bray Emmets, Fingallians and Finians both play on Saturday with Hanrahan’s men taking on Erin’s Isle and Carslake’s facing Trinity Gaels.