Swords 11 2 16 by Dublin Gazette

Gazette SWORDS

INSIDE: We ask politicians why their constituents

should give them a vote in the general election Page 14-15

Gallery: Samaritans launch new Always There initiative at the Mansion House Page 12

Valentine’s: Have a date with a difference this year at Dublin Zoo Page 20

sport Sailing:

Howth duo win youth sailor of year award Page 32

Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

February 11-17, 2016

Find us on

Murder She Wrote star set to attend Film Festival

see page 19

The best things in life are FREE!

Consent granted for 121 houses  Emma Nolan

Permission has been granted for the construction of 121 dwellings at the Station Road in Portmarnock. Circleside Limited with John Spain Associates submitted the application on June 2, 2015, and Fingal County Council subsequently granted permission on January 28 this year. The proposal will see constructiont take place on the site of a twostorey house called Dun Dearg Na Saille, (which is to be demolished) located to the east of The Kilns and to the west of The Links. The plans state that the dwellings will consist of 65 houses and 56 apartments on the approximately

Project will consist of 65 houses and 56 apartments in Portmarnock 2.38 hectares site. 18 of the houses will be three bedroom, two-storey units; 45 will be four bedroom, two-and-a-half storey units; and two, five-bedroom, twoand-a-half storey units. Full Story on Page 4

ceremony is all plain sailing for stephen Malahide Sea Scouts have honoured one of its longest serving leaders Stephen Taylor, by bestowing on him honorary life membership of the group. Taylor, who joined the group as a scout in 1975, has been a member and sea scout leader for some 41 years, 21 of which was as skipper of the Friday

Troop. The presentation was made by group leader Colin Lynch in front of a gathering of over 100 leaders at the annual leaders quiz night and social gathering. Present to witness the presentation was Stephen’s wife Melanie, as well as his mother and his father, who is also an honorary member of the group.

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presentations

DAA raise €240k for charities  emma nolan

DUBLIN Airport Authority (DAA) in Swords raised €240,000 for three Irish charities in 2015. DAA employees presented Temple Street Children’s Hospital, Parkinson’s Association of Ireland and the Diabetes Unit in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin with a cheque for €80,000 each. This brings the sum of their fundraising over the past nine years to more than €1.7m. Temple Street Foundation chief executive Denise Fitzgerald said: “These funds will help build our much-needed new neurology and renal outpatients unit and will go a long way in helping sick kids in Ireland. Thank you to everyone

for your kindness and support.” Tom Walsh, chairperson of Walk for Diabetes, part of CMRF at Crumlin Children’s Hospital, said: “The funds will be used at the diabetes centre in Crumlin to maintain services at current levels and to ensure we continue our diabetes pump therapy treatment programme into the future.” The chief executive of The Parkinson’s Association of Ireland, Paula Gilmore said: “This enables us to continue the vital services offered by the Parkinson’s Association, including a nurse callback service. “We are overwhelmed with the generosity and support we have received from the DAA. They ask so little and give so much.”

education | loreto balbriggan girls feted

Six students honoured for scientific successes at annual BT contest

 emma nolan

FOLLOWING the success of students from Loreto Balbriggan at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2016 this year, the Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce held a ceremony at the Bracken Court Hotel on February 3 for the girls who won awards. Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce chief executive Sean Corrigan welcomed the girls to the event, which was also attended by Young Scientist founders Mari Cahalane and Dr

Tony Scott. Six girls from the Loreto Secondary School – Renuka Chintapalli, Diana Bura, Maria Louise Fufezan, Khadija Gull, Maria Wyzykowska and Emily Tierney – swept up eight major awards in several categories, including the top award, which went to Maria Louise Fufezan and Diana Bura for their project investigating the effects of enzymes in animal feed on soil quality. Loreto Balbriggan was awarded the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals award for Best School, as their impressive performance marked the most successful single year ever for any school in Ireland in the competition. T he young ladies also met with President Michael D Higgins at the Women in Science reception held in Aras an Uachtarain last Sunday. School principal Eddie Fynes said: “We are just delighted for the girls – this is the first time in the history of this competition that one school has won two of the top prizes.” Maria Louise Fufezan and Diana Bura took home the Overall Winner award for their project, entitled An Investigation into the effects of enzymes used in animal feed additives on the lifespan of Caenorhabditis Elegans. Renuka Chintapalli took home the award for Runner Up Individual for her project, entitled Developing a predictive

Loreto Balbriggan students Maria Louise Fufezan and Diana Bura with Fingal County Council chief executive, Paul Reid; Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr James Reilly, and the Mayor of Fingal, David O’Connor. See full Gallery on Page 10

tool for identifying FLNcassociated biomarkers of oesophageal cancer metastasis. Maria Wyzykowska presented her research into The effects of High Intensity Interval Training on cognition and academic performance of female Leaving Cert students. Khadija Gull and Emily Tierney won two awards for their research project, entitled Identification of alterations in members of the Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase gene family as novel therapeutic options for the treatment of Pancreatic Cancer. Lauren Murphy won the Intel award for Sentinus Young Innovators 2015 Overall Award. She will represent Northern Ireland at the largest international pre-college science fair in the world, to be held in Arizona in May, with her invention of a hand-held rehabilitation aid for MS sufferers. Renuka Chintapalli

Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Second Floor, Heritage House, Dundrum Office Park, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240. Email: sales@dublingazette.com news@dublingazette.com web: www.dublingazette.com twitter: @DublinGazette Visit us on Facebook at DublinGazetteNewspapers

won three awards at the exhibition for her research, Developing a predictive tool for identifying FLNc-associated biomarkers of oesopha-

geal cancer metastasis. She is currently collaborating with Trinity College professor and is preparing to publish her findings in an international journal.

11 February 2016 SWORDS Gazette 3

funding | big gain to support centre’s programmes

€104,263 for Fingal volunteers

 emma nolan

MORE than €104,263 in funding has been awarded to the Fingal Volunteer Centre (FVC) by Minister for the Environment, Alan Kelly, and Minister of State Ann Phelan under the department’s Community and Voluntary Supports programmes. Some 26 different volunteer organisations across the country will receive in total more than €3.1m under the programme. The F VC, which is based off the Ballycoolin Road in Blanchardstown, have been receiving this sum as part of their core funding from the Department of Environment and the council since 2008. Manager Daiga

Ancikovska spoke to The Gazette about the centre, which employs two staff members and operates on an outreach basis for Donabate, Balbriggan, Baldoyle, Garristown, Malahide, Swords, Skerries, Blachardstown, Lusk and Rush. She said: “Basically, the funding goes towards working with non-profit organisations, charities and community groups who are looking to involve volunteers in their work and volunteers who are trying to find something meaningful for themselves across Fingal. “There’s a number of reasons as to why people volunteer. It might go towards their work experience or might help get them out of the

house, and we act as a service between them.” The FVC also provide volunteer management training courses for groups, said Ancikovska. “We train them in best practice in volunteer management, so we can ensure that their particular group is a good place for volunteers to be in so we know that they have everything to have a satisfactory experience.” The FVC work with more than 550 active groups throughout Fingal at the moment, most of which don’t have paid staff members so are run by volunteers. There are close to 4,000 active volunteers in the FVC database, at present. Find out more at volunteerfingal.ie.

rush farmer in tv show

RUSH farmer Matt Foley is happy to help highlight the challenges faced by niche produce providers, thanks to his part in an upcoming episode of UTV Ireland’s fly-on-the-wall rural series, Rare Breed: A Farming Year. With his episode to air on Monday, February 15 at 8pm, the programme will feature Matt, at Kilbush Nurseries, and his tomatoes. With the weather conditions at the time of filming, the crop was not growing as it should have, with the programme following the challenges Matt faces to overcome a natural threat to the crop’s successes. The Rush segment is just one of a number comprising a look at modern farming challanges, struggless, success and practices around the island of Ireland, providing a great insight into the vital and diverse agri sector.

MILLFIELD Shopping Centre

Shoppers enjoy some flipping good fun cooking up a storm  emma nolan

Funding has been announced for volunteers

MILLFIELD Shopping Centre in Balbriggan is starting its year of family fun events by flipping out this Pancake Tuesday. A “Flip Out” will take p l a c e o n F e b r u a r y, Tuesday 9 and Wednesday, February 10 when a professional chef will be cooking up a storm from 12 to 3pm, with free pancake samples for all.

Shoppers will be shown how to make not only traditional Irish pancakes, but will also get the chance to try some ethnic pancakes, including Polish and African and some healthy protein pancakes for those sticking to their healthy New Year’s resolutions. For further information on the Millfield Shopping Centre, see millfield.ie.

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theatre council | portmarnock build greenlit for station road Take a bite at Mikado comedy  emma nolan

THE Malahide Musical and Dramatic Society are putting on a performance of The Hot Mikado in Scoil Iosa Hall in Malahide Community School. Running from Tuesday, February 16 until Saturday, February 20, The Hot Mikado is a musical comedy. The show promises lively, upbeat numbers and exciting performances. The society has been producing amateur plays and musicals in the area since 1976, and are affiliated with the Association of Irish Musical Societies. Tickets are €16 and the show starts at 8pm. To book tickets, email malahidebookings@gmail. com or call 086 375 8196.

121 new homes approved for Portmarnock  Emma Nolan

Permission has been granted for the construction of 121 dwellings at Station Road in Portmarnock. Circleside Limited with John Spain Associates submitted the application on June 2, 2015 and Fingal County Council subsequently granted permission on January 28 this year. The proposal will see construction of the development take place on the site of a two-storey house called Dun Dearg

Na Saille, (which is to be demolished), located to the east of The Kilns and to the west of The Links. The plans state that the dwellings will consist of 65 houses and 56 apartments on the approximately 2.38 hectares site. Some 18 of the houses will be three bedroom, two-storey units; 45 will be four bedroom, twoand-a-half-storey units; and two will be five bedroom, two-and-a-halfstorey units. The apartment building will consist of a north, south and centre block

over a one level basement car park. The apartments themselves, of which there will be 54 two-bedroom units and two three-bedroom units, will all have a balcony or a terrace. The development also includes vehicular and pedestrian access from Station Road and all associated site and infrastructural works, including foul and surface water drainage, surface and underground car parking, open space, landscaping, boundary treatments, bin stores, an electricity substation, internal roads and

An ariel view of the house and greenfield site at Station Road, Portmarnock, where planning permission has been granted for the construction of 121 dwellings

footpaths. No appeals have been made on this decision; however, there were some observations submitted before permission was granted, highlighting the high-density of the original plans. Fingal County Council’s permission was granted on the basis that

the planners omit three dwellings to facilitate a revised building line. A number of other modifications to the original plans were requested by the council. For example, the applicant was also asked to indicate the proposed footpath, cyclepath and road dimensions on to

the site layout and include the landscaping measures proposal for along Station Road. They were also asked to undertake an up-todate bat survey and a bird assessment of the site to allow for an adequate assessment of the ecological impact of the proposed development.

11 February 2016 SWORDS Gazette 5

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nutrition | boosting attitudes and behaviours towards good food

Getting lessons in healthy eating  Emma Nolan enolan@dublingazette.com

Public health and clinical nutritionist, Niamh Arthurs from Ballyboughal in North County Dublin, has been visiting schools all over the country with her Operation Healthy Lunches workshop as part of boosting attitudes and behaviours towards healthy eating from a young age. Arthurs visited Loretto College Swords recently and was at The Naul National School last recently, where she presented her workshop to the whole school. T he nor th county

Dublin native took time out of her busiest time of the year to chat to The Gazette about what she does and her experience of spreading the word on healthy eating to local school kids. “I absolutely love it, it’s a passion - I go into schools and do workshops during the day with the children and then separate sessions in the evenings with the parents. “I do games and experiments with the kids, I show them how much sugar is in different foods and then we talk about healthier alternatives.” The workshops are

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‘I show them how much sugar is in different foods and then we talk about healthier alternatives’ -------------------------------------------------------

Nutritionist, Niamh Arthurs

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age-appropriate and games vary for each age and class group. “In the hall I’ll have different activities based on the food pyramid and students can learn about nutrition through the various interactive games. “I also organise food tastings with the kids to get them to try different flavours and new foods to extend their palate

because research shows that when kids are in the presence of their peers they can be more encouraged and stimulated to actually try new foods. “So it’s a good opportune time to get them t r y i n g n e w h e a l t hy foods. “I also take pictures of their lunches and send them into RTE’s Operation Transformation to

Niamh Arthurs with third- and fourth-class students at The Naul National School

feature on the show.” Arthurs’ role as a public health and clinical nutritionist also consists of conducting corporate nutrition and health workshops on various topics such as Food for good Mood and Eating for Immunity. She has also done cooking demonstra-

tions with top chefs Donal Skehen, Domini Kemp, Neven Maguire and Eunice Power. She told The Gazette: “I work with people from all walks of life, all ages, from preschools up to elderly people in nursing homes.” The Ballyboughalborn nutritionist also

writes public health articles and presented at the Bite food festival. She now plans to visit many more school this year, starting with a return to Ballyboughal National School next week for a follow up programme to Operation Healthy Lunches.

11 February 2016 SWORDS Gazette 7

courts | elderly victim is now too afarid to leave her home guides Girl guides four year plan

Two sentenced for car-jacking roles The elderly victim of a car-jacking by two men has said the traumatic incident shattered her confidence and left her too afraid to leave the house. Francis Stokes (29), formerly of Leixlip, Co Kildare but now living in Woodford Meadows, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, and Martin Stokes (24), with an address of Dara Court Celbridge, Co Kildare, both pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to hijacking a car at the Blessington Rd, Tallaght on November 10, 2013. They were sentenced to four years in prison by Judge Melanie Greally.

She suspended the last two years of Francis Stokes sentence and the final three years of Martin Stokes after taking into account the “difference in their criminal background”. Judge Greally said it was” not an exaggeration” to say that the incident had a “life altering effect” on Rita Radcliffe. She noted from her victim impact statement that she felt “extremely curtailed” because of fears for her safety. She said the victim impact statements of Mrs Radcliffe and her husband, James, were “completely incompatible with the sugar-coated version

given to the Gardai by both men”. The Stokes told Gardai they hijacked the car after their own car was ran off the road and they were attacked by another man armed with a machete. They claimed they had thanked the couple for the lift. Rita and James Radcliffe, a married couple in their 60s, were out on a Sunday drive when they came on two crashed cars and saw three men running towards the car. One man was carrying a fork and a garden spade. One of the men stood in front of the car and the two accused jumped into the back of the car.

One of the accused told Mrs Radcliffe he had a gun and said “drive fast or I’ll shoot you”. She didn’t see a gun, the court heard, but she was very scared and worried. The court heard that Francis Stokes then telephoned Gardai to report that he and his brother had been driving when their car was rammed twice from behind and run off the road. The men directed the driver to Clondalkin and then got out and thanked her for the lift, the court heard. She then drove to Swords Garda Station and reported the hijack. Garda James Ward told

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

Fionnuala O Sullivan BL, prosecuting, that the Radcliffes used to really enjoy going for weekend drives but they could no longer do this as Mrs Radcliffe hated driving now. She was frightened someone would attack the car and because of her fear of going out she could no longer babysit her grandchildren every week, as she used to, or play weekly golf. In her victim impact

report, Mrs Radcliff described having been very independent and previously driving across North America and Australia. She said she was now afraid of her own shadow and had to rely on her husband for everything. James Radcliffe said he could no longer go out for a drink at the weekend because he must mind his wife, who was now a very nervous person.

Irish girl Guides (IGG) launched their strategic plan for the next four years at the Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport recently. The plan focuses on supporting girls and young women. The IGG’s blueprint for action is to empower girls and women to develop to their full potential and become active and responsible citizens. IGG chief commissioner Helen Concannon said: “Our progressive new Journey programme, which caters for girls from age five to 30, will equip our 10,000 youth members to be positive change-makers in their local communities and beyond. When we set ourselves a challenge and work together, we can achieve great things.”

8 SWORDS Gazette 11 February 2016

C OM M E R C I A L F E AT U R E

election | green party candidate focuses on a range of fingal issues

‘My experience can make a difference’ AT THE end of the month, the people of Dublin Fingal will have the opportunity to elect their representatives to Dail Eireann. With a background in economics, a career spent advocating for social justice and equality, and with a track record of pushing for and achieving greater transparency in government, I am asking the people of Dublin Fingal for their Number 1 vote. T he homelessness crisis is at the top of my agenda, and I want to increase the urgency of the Government’s slug-

gish response on this issue. Last year, I was a whistle-blower on unacceptable treatment of homeless people. I will not be afraid to speak out and fight for those who have been lef t behind in the past five years. I have also written a number of critical reports on the operations of the Department of Justice and the Department of Social Protection. I have defended local communities in Dublin Fingal against cutbacks and powerful vested interests including library cutbacks and

neglected developerowned playgrounds. On another level, as par t of my work with Crosscare, I have worked extensively with Irish emigrant communities abroad and significantly inf luenced the development of Ireland’s first diaspora strategy last year.

Communities I have led social innovation at the local and national level. Locally, I have advocated for communities to have a greater say in Fingal County Council budgets. Nationally, I developed and ran the

ground-breaking “ O p e n i n g P owe r t o Diversity” scheme that brings minorities, women and young people into the heart of Irish politics. Climate change is a real and current issue that is impacting upon Dublin Fingal. If we are progressive and forward-looking, climate change also offers Ireland an opportunity. We need to invest not only in public transport and higher-quality homes, but also research and innovation that will help Ireland become a leader in carbon-free technologies. Finally, Dublin Fin-

Joe O’Brien: “I will bring a positive and energetic approach to politics in Fingal”

gal faces a period of increasing development in the years ahead.

Development We need public representatives that will fight for proper development, including high-quality

homes that are connected to good public transport and have easy access to schools, shops and playgrounds. I believe that Dublin Fingal needs fresh and new representation, and I will bring a positive

and energetic approach to politics in Dublin Fingal.  joe o’brien

Green Party general election candidate for Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush, Lusk and rural Fingal

11 February 2016 SWORDS Gazette 9

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SWORDSGazettegallery | ceremony at the Bracken Court Hotel

Emily Tierney and Khadija Gull, catagory winners in Biological Sciences

Maria Lousie Fufezan and Diana Bura with Niamh McMalley and Young Scientist founder, Tony Scott. Pictures: Stephen Flemming Photography

Successful young scientists honoured Chief executive of Balbriggan Chamber, Sean Corrigan

Bracken Court sales manager Geraldine McGillivray and Margaret Reid

John Cumisky and Richard Berney

Jane Fitzpatrick and Nora Roban, from Remember Us

Luke Moriarty of the

Special Needs Group

Bracken Court Hotel

11 February 2016 Swords gazette 11

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Gazettegallery

| Dublin Samaritans Launch their ‘Always There’

Aidan Carr, Anne-Marie Sheehan and Rachel Wright

Aisling Eyre, Richard Lewis and Bairbre Power

Mary and Jasmine Stott at the launch of Dublin Samaritans “Always There” Pin which is widely available for €5 with all proceeds going Mary, Barry and PJ Lennon

Carrie Crowley and Mary Coughlan

directly to Dublin Samaritans. Pictures: Pearl Phelan

Good things...

ALL NEW SPORTAGE Joe Duffy Kia Airside Motor Park, Swords, (01) 870 1444, www.joeduffy.ie

11 February 2016 SWORDS Gazette 13

fundraising Pin, designed by Richard Lewis, at The Mansion House

Amy Buckley and Katie Murphy Pat Delaney, Brendan Gallagher, director of Dublin Samaritans, Mary Delaney and Julie Wrenn and Elaine Sheridan

Gerard Mulligan

Launching a fundraiser pin to support services

Miriam McNally and Pat Dolan

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Gazette

14 Gazette 11 February 2016

dublinlife

ask the politician | in the build up to the general election the gazette asks Question: The Gazette wants to know why our readers – your constituents – should give you their vote?

Your vote will help me and Fine Gael build on progress made so far  minister for health leo

varadkar (FG)

I’M ASKING for your number one vote on polling day for two reasons. First of all, because I want the

Government to be re-elected. Only a fine Gael-led government can secure the recovery, and keep the economy strong, and that’s what’s needed to put money back in your pocket and to raise the revenue that we need to invest in health, education, childcare and infrastructure. I’m also asking for your vote because I want to continue my work as a TD for Dublin West. I’ve represented Dublin West as a TD for nine years, and before that as a member of Fingal County Council. As a Government minister, in

the past five years I’ve helped to secure funding to open St Francis Hospice, to upgrade Connolly Hospital, to build lots of new schools, to invest €2.5m in 30 sports clubs, develop the Royal Canal Greenway and the National Sports Campus, and provide additional Gardai. I also took the decision to locate a new children’s unit at Connolly Hospital and to relocate the Rotunda Hospital in Blanchardstown. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I oversaw The Gathering and the reduction in VAT for tourism and hos-

pitality, which led to a recovery in tourism and a record year in 2015. In aviation, the travel tax was abolished, helping Dublin Airport to return to growth. I took the decision to link up the Luas lines, for which the tracks are being laid, introduced the Leap card, the new driver’s licence, and restarted the National Lottery sports grants. But there’s a lot more that needs to be done. And I can do that, but only with your support, and only if I can be back in the Dail and back around the Cabinet table.

The work goes on, and your vote will help Labour and me to support all  tanaiste joan burton (lab)

THE Labour Party will stand up for workers, families and older people. As Tanaiste and Labour Leader, my focus is on driving economic and social recovery, so that every person benefits from renewed prosperity. I’m working tirelessly to make Dublin West the best possible place to live, work and raise a family. Labour’s ambition is for every family to be able to feel recovery in their own lives, through more jobs, new schools, better parks and amenities. We’ll ensure low- and middleincome workers have more take home pay, by abolishing the universal social charge on the first €72,000 of income. In the past year, Dublin 15 has seen very impressive jobs growth, with a number of additional jobs announcements at IBM, Alexion, Bristol Myers and Guidewire, involving hundreds of new jobs. More people are going back to work and the Live Register continues to fall. And, behind every new job is a person or family feeling the benefits of recovery in their own lives. We can keep up this good

momentum on the jobs front if we have stable, balanced Government, which only Labour can provide. I have worked extremely hard in Government to ensure major investment in schools for Dublin 15. That work is paying off – a number of new schools have opened in Dublin 15 and work is under way on several more, including St Mochta’s Clonsilla and Luttrelstown Community College. The work goes on. There are six major new building projects for schools in Dublin West included in the Government’s capital plan for the next five years.

In terms of healthcare, my focus is on providing more primary care centres for Dublin 15, and continuing investment in Connolly Hospital. There is now a new primary care centre on the Navan Road, and a brand-new centre opened in Blanchardstown last year. Another new centre is planned for Corduff. Together, we have overcome massive challenges and got Ireland back on its feet. Now we have a great opportunity to build on that progress. On election day, I’m asking voters in Dublin West to re-elect me to ensure we seize that opportunity.

11 February 2016 Gazette 15

Ask the politicians some prominent politicians what their thoughts are on a top question

A vote for me, and People Before Profit, is a vote for building some people power  Deputy richard boyd

barrett (PBP)

THE centenary of the 1916 Rising, if it is to mean anything, should open up a debate about what sort of country we want. Have we as a society cherished “all of the children of the nation equally”? Quite clearly that is not the case. The recent bank enquiry only served to confirm that Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, and the Labour Party protected the interests of

the banks and the elite at the expense of the vast majority of the people. The most vulnerable in our society paid the highest price. People Before Profit stands for a different kind of politics. At a national level, we have played a leading role in building movements of people power, such as the Right2Water campaign, the successful campaign to [prevent the] sell-off of our forests, campaigns for social housing and the campaign to Repeal the 8th Amendment.

Society People Before Profit believes that as well as getting TDs elected, we have to unite young people and pensioners, workers and unemployed, students, women, the LGBT community, and those with disabilities to create a fair society. A TD can only be effective when the power of the people

is mobilised around the issues that affect people’s lives. That is what we have done over the past 15 years or so, nationally and in Dun Laoghaire. We have been central to campaigns to save the [Dun Laoghaire] baths site, to stop the sale of St Michael’s Hospital, to keep the A&E open on a 24-hour basis, to keep the bus service in Sallynoggin and Killiney, to save our wonderful harbour for the people, and numerous other campaigns. We have not always been successful in every campaign, but we have made a difference. The people of Dun Laoghaire know that they will get our wholehearted support for any of the issues that affect their life and our town. Help us build this movement for change by getting involved with us and by electing me on February 26.

I and Fianna Fail want to keep working to create An Ireland for All  party leader micheal martin

(FF)

THIS election is a fundamental choice about the sort of Ireland we, as a people, can create. Will we move forward together as a country or will we continue to become more unequal and unfair under Fine Gael and Labour? Fianna Fail is clear where it stands – we need a new Government committed to building “An Ireland for all”, not just a few. We will work for an Ireland where economic growth is felt across the nation, families can own their own home, streets are safe, hard work is rewarded and society takes care of its young, vulnerable and older people. We are the only party to have our manifesto independently costed in order to ensure we can fully deliver our policies. Our plan to build “An Ireland for all” is based on four key priorities – to create decent jobs and support enterprise, to cut family costs

and improve the services they rely on, to tackle crime and develop community services, and to secure home ownership and tackle homelessness. These are our core priorities to invest in public services and give families a break. Amongst our specific proposals to achieve this we will increase the state pension by €30 a week, abolish the universal social charge for low- and middle-income earners, build 150,000 new homes by 2021,

increase Garda numbers to 15,000, and abolish Irish Water and scrap water charges. This election, 100 years on from the foundation of our Republic, gives you a chance to vote for “An Ireland for all” and help to achieve a vibrant, secure future for you and your family. A new government, with Fianna Fail’s four core priorities at its heart, can deliver that country. I am looking for your support on February 26 to secure “An Ireland for all”.

16 Gazette 11 February 2016

Gazette

dublinlife Have a date with a difference at Dublin Zoo this Valentine’s Day

Dublin Zoo is hosting a romantic Valentine’s experience for 100 couples this February 13 and 14. Upon entering the zoo, couples will collect a romantic breakfast picnic from Haughton House and then experience the early morning sights and sounds of the zoo. Throughout the morning the animal care team will host special keeper talks on the courtship, breeding and the exotic romantic rituals of some of the animals. Couples will also r e c e i ve a r o m a n t i c goody bag and souvenir key ring to keep as a reminder of their special

date. Tickets are €65 per couple and are available online at Dublinzoo.ie.

Trainspotting takes to the stage at Smock Alley A stage adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting is returning to Smock Alley Theatre this month. The infamous book and subsequent movie made a huge impact on popular culture. With the Scottish accents and defining soundtrack, the iconic characters of Renton, Spud, Sick Boy and Begbie take to the Smock Alley stage with a snappy adaptation by Reality:

Check Productions. Both fans of Trainspotting and first timers are set to enjoy this theatrical experience. The show runs throughout February and tickets are €12/€15.

Visit key locations of THE rising in A special truck A new bus tour is taking to the streets of Dublin to highlight the city’s landmarks that hold significance to The Rising. The 1916 Freedom Tour is a unique experiential guided tour with supporting audio visual period footage of key locations of 1916 Dublin in a specially converted 1916-themed truck.

The tour starts and finishes from Merrion Square West near the Oscar Wilde Statue at 10am, 12am, 2pm, and 4pm. Tours are running Wednesday to Sunday, but expanding to seven days in September. The tour is non-political and non-biased and is intended to give passengers a real snapshot of what it was like to live during the bloody battles that were not only to shape the future of Dublin but the Irish nation and beyond. Some sights on the hour-long tour include the GPO, Dublin Castle and Parnell Square Memorial. Passengers will also get the chance

diary

Dublin Zoo is hosting a romantic Valentine’s experience for 100 couples

to view authentic period replica weapons and equipment. Ticket prices vary.

a spectacular evening of Irish music, song and dance

Full Set are taking to the stage in Whelan’s on Wexford Street this Valentine’s Day to launch their third album

Traditional Irish group Full Set are taking to the stage in Whelan’s on Wexford Street this Valentine’s Day to launch their third album, Notes Between the Lines. The six-piece band have gained recognition over the years for their distinctive and energetic sound and have featured on The Late Late Show and are popular on the European music festival circuit. The show at Whelan’s promises to be a spec-

tacular evening of Irish music, song and dance with special guests on the night including contemporary Irish music group, Kern. Tickets are €10 and are available at www.whelanslive.com.

keeping children safe by keeping them connected ISPCC Childline and the Vodafone Ireland Foundation have announced a major five-year partnership that aims to keep children safe by keeping them connected. The partnership will provide the charity with €2 million in direct funding from the Vodafone Foundation over five years and cover the call costs for the Childline

service for ten years, until 2026. It will also update Childline’s technologies and service infrastructure and offer additional resources including Vodafone’s Be Strong Online Programme, to support children and parents through some of the issues they face in today’s digital society. Over the last 10 years, Childline has experienced a 75% increase in children seeking support online. Through this new partnership the charity will now develop a new total communications infrastructure which aims to improve children’s access to Childline and provide a 24-hour online digital platform.

11 February 2016 Gazette 17

FEATURE A day in the life: actress Jane McGrath on TV3’s Red Rock, and working on her screen play

Getting red-dy for a day on hit show

ACTRESS Jane McGrath has been gracing our screens as Garda Sharon Cleere on TV3’s Red Rock since the show premiered last year. Between filming, working on her own screen play, finding time to simply “breath” and come into her own as a person, McGrath sat down with The Gazette to talk us through a typical day in her life. McGrath always gets up early to “get a bit of head space before the madness of the day begins” and listens to music on her walk to work and has a bowl of porridge before going into production to get her ‘side’. “A side,” she says, “is

basically the schedule for the day that outline what scenes we’re going to film”. Four episodes or a cycle of Red Rock are shot every week with a new director each week. McGrath says that the scenes are not filmed in chronological order so what she usually does is consult her notes which contain a description of all the scenes and write what comes before and after the scenes she’s about to film so she can “get the emotions for the scene right”. “Sharon is going through a lot of stuff so I have to know how she’s feeling for each scene.”

It’s time for props, make-up and wardrobe after that where she dons the “lovely blue uniform” and gets mic’d up. “They hide a little microphone under my tie,” she said. Once on set, McGrath and her screen mates do a rehearsal and line reading with the director before a camera rehearsal so the whole crew can watch the scene on screen before shooting the real thing. “We might only get two or three takes at the most before we have to move on, so you have to be on the ball and make clear choices.” Come lunchtime, McGrath says she’s sticking to her New Year’s

resolution of making her own healthy lunches before filming for the rest of the day. Once home after a long day of filming, McGrath says she has to unwind and “shake Sharon off”. To do this she watches Friends. “I’m actually addicted to Friends,” she laughs, “It’s the only show I watch on the telly at the moment!” She says that watching Friends when she was younger is initially what inspired her to become an actress and though she hasn’t yet, she would love to do some comedy acting at some point. Mostly she’ll spend her evenings learning her lines

Jane McGrath stars as Garda Sharon Cleere on TV3’s Red Rock

for the next day before bed but recently McGrath has started writing and is working on a screen play. “I’m really enjoying writing at the moment – I don’t know exactly what it

is yet, it could be a feature film or a mini-series, we’ll see.” Has being a soap star changed McGrath’s daily life yet? “Not miraculously,” she says, “but it’s

nice when you’re walking down the street and somebody says: ‘Ah go on Sharon!’” Red Rock is on every Wednesday and Thursday at 8.30pm on TV3.

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18 Gazette 11 February 2016

dublinlife

FEATURES

the money doctor: making a financial plan - part 2

Start saving now to get the best long-term return  john lowe Continued from last week

Setting your financial objectives Once you have an idea of how you want things to turn out, you can start to think about what your precise financial objectives are. Obviously, these are

going to vary according to your age, circumstances and desires. If you are in your first job, you are going to be thinking rather differently from someone who is approaching retirement. Therefore, you may find it useful to divide your financial objectives into the short-, mediumand long-term. Let me

give you a simple, reallife example ... Paul is 29. He is a teacher. His short-term financial objectives are to get rid of his creditcard debt (left over from university), start building up some savings and buy a car. His medium-term objective is to buy a home. His long-term

objective is to earn some extra income with which to boost his pension, since he has decided he wants to retire when he is 55. Setting and prioritising your financial objectives is hardly rocket science, as you can see.

Checklist to help you decide what you want W hat should your financial objectives be? Here are some options: - Having an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses. - Paying off any personal loans, credit-card debt, overdrafts, store cards, hire purchase, leases, other debts or ransom notes (just checking you were paying attention). - Building up shortterm saving for cars, holidays and so forth. - Protecting your most valuable asset – your income – in case you are unable to earn money for any reason. - Protecting yourself (and, if relevant, your partner) with life cover. - Starting a pension plan. - Buying a home (probably with the help of a mortgage). - Saving for major purchases. - Planning for education fees (if you have children), whether for private school or university. - Building up your personal investments. To this, I suppose we could add planning for long-term care, if you’re

The Money Doctor – John Lowe (inset) – continues his article discussing the wisdom, and ways, to work on creating a sound financial plan

worried that your pension and/or the State and/or ungrateful children may not provide for you sufficiently in your very old age.

Five useful financial-planning tips Bear in mind the following principles when deciding what your financial priorities should be: 1. For most people, their greatest asset is their income. Unless you are fortunate enough to receive a windfall, it is almost certainly your income that you will use to achieve your financial objectives. Under the circumstances, you don’t want to risk it and you don’t want to waste it. There are all sorts of inexpensive insurance policies designed to protect your income. Incidentally, anyone under retirement age is 20 times more likely to be unable to work for a prolonged period because of sickness than they are to die, which is why I keep droning on about income

protection often being more important than life cover. 2. Personal debt, by which I mean everything from store cards to mortgages, will be the biggest drain on your income. If you’ve borrowed money (and obviously there are many circumstances under which this makes excellent sense), then you should make it a priority to repay your loans as quickly as possible. If you have over-indulged, remember the sniper approach – pay off the most expensive debt first and we are talking short-term, high interest debt. 3. It’s vital to have a safety net or emergency fund ( RDF – rainy day fund ) to deal with those little trials, tribulations and extra expenses that life often throws our way. Also, you want to make as big a return as possible from your investments. As a rule of thumb, between three and six months of

your net annual income should be the target. 4. If you’ve got a good, secure income, it doesn’t actually matter what other assets you possess. Emotionally, it’s nice to have the security of owning your own home. Financially, it certainly makes sense. But, actually, an investment that is just as good and maybe better is a really decent pension plan. With a good pension plan you can leave work early and, if you live to 100 or more, never have to worry about money again – and you are never too young to start. 5 . K n ow t hy s e l f . There’s no point in setting financial objectives that you’re going to find impossible to attain. Your financial objectives may involve modest changes to your behaviour, but they shouldn’t require a complete change in your personality! Email me for more, or see www.independentfinancialadvice.ie.

OUT&ABOUT Never be out of the loop on what’s happening in Dublin! Let Out&About be your guide to all that is stylish, cultural and essential across the city and beyond this week

Pets sweet, playful rufio will ruffle your heart strings The Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs. Our Dog of the Week this week is Rufio, a oneyear-old male Greyhound cross. He is a playful, silly ball of fun, giddiness and affection, and loves company and cuddles especially snuggling on the couch next to people. Rufio is a very gentle scallywag, but due to his size, he would be best suited to a home with older children. If you think there is a place in your family for this lovely dog, please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website www.dogstrust.ie. You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook. com/dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE.



Gazette

11 February 2016 Gazette 19

event: 140 films from the four corners of the globe

Screen legend set to attend Film Festival  Ian Begley

The Audi Dublin International Film Festival (ADIFF) is set to mark its 15th year in the capital, showcasing more than 140 films from the four corners of the globe from February 18 to 28. The majority of films shown at the film festival (previously sponsored by Jameson) are Irish premieres, and for some of the films shown, the festival represents the only public screening that will take place in Ireland. The festival is a citywide event that takes place in all of the Dublin City Centre cinemas including Cineworld, The Savoy, Irish Film Institute and the Light House Cinema in Smithfield. Since its inauguration the festival has prided itself on creating a unique f o r u m o f e xc h a n g e between the public and the filmmaking community through hosting a whole range of events that allow the public to interact with filmmakers in the form of public interviews, panel discussions and Q&A sessions. This year’s much antic-

ipated gala event will see John Carney’s Sing Street open the 2016 festival on February 18. Multi-award winning film veteran Angela Lansbury will also be making an appearance at the festival, where she will participate in an unmissable public interview at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, and will be also presented with the Festival Tribute Award by President Michael D Higgins on Sunday, February 21. Past recipients of this award have included Gabriel Byrne, Daniel Day Lewis, Consolata Boyle, George Morrison, Paolo Sorrentino and Thierry Fremaux. “It’s a huge delight to welcome Angela Lansbury to Dublin to discuss her life and career on stage and to accept our festival tribute award, the Volta,” said festival director, Grainne Humphreys. “A legend whose first films were the classics Gaslight, and The Picture of Dorian Gray, from the chilling The Manchurian Candidate to Disney favourites Bedknobs and

Broomsticks, Beauty and the Beast and Anastasia, Angela Lansbury has created an indelible impression on world cinema.” Irish director Paddy Breathnach’s stunning drama Viva has been announced to close the festival on Sunday, February 28. “It is a thrill and a delight to finally be showing Viva to a home audience,” said Irish actor and screenwriter, Mark O’Halloran. “To have it screen as the closing film makes that all the sweeter.” The film tells the story of Jesus, a young gay man, who discovers that the only time he is free from life’s struggles is when he is on stage transformed into Viva, his beautiful alter ego that bares her soul on stage. Season tickets are now available for the festival, offering free entrance into all screenings, exclusive galas and after-show parties during the festival. For a full line-up of films taking place this year and for more information about the festival, visit www.diff.ie.

Audi Dublin International Film Festival director Grainne Humphreys spoke warmly of legendary actress Angela Lansbury, who will be presented with an award

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20 Gazette 11 February 2016

OUT&ABOUT yb lower eys F Penn

Penneys Bustier €15

ra €8

The range has certified-organic credentials, helping to care for every skin type and skin concern

€4 pant s

M&S

Be M ine €

4.49

LOVELY

gifts

ST VALENTINE’S Day is just around the corner – but don’t panic: there’s still plenty of time to find a great gift for that special lady in your life (or even just for yourself). Whether seeking to look your best for the most loved-up day of the year, or simply looking to give something as a thoughtful year-round reminder of your feelings, we have rounded up a range of gifts that are sure to put a smile on her (or your) face. And, if the thought of tucking into some romantic choccies is too much to handle, don’t forget to share!

Russell Hobbs Hand blender €32.99

Loreal Pro Fiber hair care €21.99 NYX Round lipstick €7.49

WITH an army of high-profile celebrity fans including Tamsin Outhwaite, Lisa Eldridge, Angellica Bell, Rosie Fortescue, Katie Piper and Sian Welby – you would be forgiven for presuming Organic Surge Skincare to have a celebrity price tag to go along with it – but not so! These fans love this brand because it is 100% organic. I have become more and more concerned about what I am putting on my skin, and lately I have considered going completely organic. That’s why I was so delighted to hear about Organic Surge and really wanted to give the products a whirl. This new affordable organic skincare range has certified-organic credentials, and provides a comprehensive range of daily and extra care products for every skin type and skin concern. The extra care product range contains a night cream, day cream, a serum and a beautiful oil that can

be used all day long to brighten up tired skin. This product was born out of need. The creator’s wife was quite unwell and he wanted her to have purely organic, natural products to put on her skin – Organic Surge Skincare was the result. The products are not tested on animals and are 100% free of harsh chemicals – no parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate, no artificial fragrances or colourants and no genetically modified ingredients. And the very soul of Organic Surge lies in its charitable donations and hands-on work spanning many years. Stand out products for me are the Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser (150ml, €18.99) and the Replenishing Facial Oil (200ml, €7.99). You can now pick up Organic Surge products at Allcare pharmacies in Dublin, Cork, Kildare and Louth. For additional stockist enquiries, contact Blue Sky Products at 01 461 0645.

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 mimi murray

Crabtree & Evelyn Body lotion €22

Pen n

Singing the 100% organic praises of the Organic Surge Skincare range of products

Thomas Sabo Rose gold bracelet €179

Weir & Sons Laura Whitmore daisy bracelet €89

no €7. 99

STYLE

Gazette

Arnotts Melinda Maria Jewellery €80

Weir & Sons Alex and Ani bangle €36

M&S Hidden Heart 210g madeira cake Lidl Deluxe dozen roses €See in store Meagher’s Pharmacy Group Gucci Guilty

Arnotts Melinda Maria ‘sassy marquis’ earrings €103

Pandora Silver heart ring €39

Li d lK imo

11 February 2016 Gazette 21

22 Gazette 11 February 2016

Gazette

TRAVEL OUT&ABOUT Riga, the “Paris of the North”, is truly a beautiful, historic city latvia: budget airfares from Ireland make this a very affordable weekend break

 cian guckian

Riga, the “Paris of the North” and home of the very first Christmas tree is world renowned for its stunning architecture, multi-cultural heritage and its many museums. It is a fantastic city to visit and with budget airfares from Ireland it makes it a very affordable weekend destination. You will be delighted at the ease in which you will be able to explore this compact, historic city. The Latvian capital is awash with the best hotels, unbelievable restaurants, elegant spas and let’s not forget about the best shopping in the region. Here is why you have to visit this chic and cosmopolitan Baltic city.

Freedom Monument Latvia’s most important symbol of freedom, independence and sovereignty is not to be missed. Located close to Bastion Hill Park and the Old Town, the Freedom Monument honours the soldiers who lost their lives during the Latvian

House of the Blackheads

War of Independence. It has been the scene of many official ceremonies since the country’s push for independence in 1990 right up to the present.

Central Market This colourful market which is located in the heart of the Latvian capital is one of the largest in Europe and occupies converted German zeppelin hangars which serve their original function as meat, fish and dairy markets. When it was constructed in 1930, Riga’s Central Market was one of the most modern marketplaces in Europe. The Zeppelin hangars of Riga’s Central Market have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. House of the Blackheads Located in the Old Town, the House of the Blackheads is a major tourist attraction that draws thousands and thousands of visitors each year. It was built in 1334 and it can be found in Town Hall Square in the heart of Riga’s Old Town.

The original building was erected during the first third of the 14th Century for the Brotherhood of Blackheads – a Guild for unmarried German merchants in Riga.

Nativity Cathedral Enjoy a day exploring this neo-Byzantine church on Brivibas bulvaris. Built between 1876 and 1883, it’s the largest Orthodox Cathedral in the Baltics. During Soviet times, the cathedral had different uses as it was turned into a planetarium and a restaurant, at different times. Visit the famous Art Nouveau District Riga is internationally famous for its beautiful art nouveau quarter that lies a bit away from the Old Town. Head to Alberta Street, raise your eyes upwards and discover Europe’s most beautiful art nouveau buildings. Riga’s wealth of art nouveau buildings stands out as unparalleled anywhere in the world. Other Art Nouveau gems are situated on nearby streets

including Elizabetes, Dzirnavu and Antonijas.

Taste Riga Black Balsam When in Riga you have to try the famous Riga Balsam, a unique Latvian beverage. Black Balsam is used in traditional medicine, and it is considered to be a good cold remedy and it is used to treat digestive problems. Black Balsam has been made in Riga since the middle of the 18th Century. Boat trip down the Daugava River If you are looking for better ways of exploring this charming Baltic city, a relaxing boat trip down the Daugava River is highly recommended. You will find cruise liners and boats of every size imaginable all lined up and docked at the river bank just across from Riga’s famous cobblestoned streets available for exciting river trips. Get a different perspective of the Latvian capital’s majestic skyline as well as Riga’s iconic and stunning attractions. You are sure to have a splendid time as it is such a great way of getting the best holiday snaps of Riga’s major landmarks. Afterwards enjoy a topnotch meal at one of Riga’s stellar restaurants. A trip to Riga Cathedral Take a tour of Riga Cathedral (Rigas Doms), which is the largest house of worship in the Baltic’s. Riga Cathedral measures 187x43 metres and the walls are two metres

Riga is renowned for its stunning architecture

thick, and it also home to one of the biggest organs in Europe (6,768 pipes).

Museum of the Occupation of Latvia The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia is a very interesting museum for all to visit. Located in the former US Embassy on Raina bulvaris, visitors will be able to experience what it was like to live in Latvia during the Nazi and the Soviet occupations of the country. You will also be able to enjoy a guided tour of the museum and explore the intriguing exhibits.

River Daugava it has been around for more than 700 years and through the centuries, it has witnessed some major changes to the Latvian landscape including severe destruction, rulers and numerous wars. Today it is the official residence of the President of Latvia and a museum.

LIDO Recreation centre and restaurant One of Riga’s most popular attractions is the LIDO Recreation Centre and Restaurant on Krasta iela. Built with specially selected 100-year-old Latvian fir trees, it is a

major hit with visitors to the Latvian capital and locals alike and it is where many national festivals are celebrated. The Centre’s main building is famous for being one of the largest log buildings in Europe as it can hold 1,000 guests. LIDO offers a super menu choice consisting of local Latvian delicacies as well as worldwide dishes or why not savour a Latvian beer in the Beer Cellar? The next time you are in Riga, take time out of your busy schedule to experience this magnificent Latvian attraction.

Riga Zoo A trip to Riga isn’t complete without visiting Riga Zoo. Established in 1912, it is the perfect day out for the entire family. Located in Mezaparks on the Western bank of Kisezers Lake, just a short hop from the city centre it is home to around 4,000 animals and is visited by 300,000 visitors on an annual basis. Riga Castle Riga Castle which was founded in 1330 is famous for its late classicism architecture. Located on the right bank of the

The striking, noble Freedom Monument

11 February 2016 Gazette 23

Gazette

FOOD&DRINK BITESIZEDNEWS

Cranberry Pistachio Breakfast Squares, made using

The Butcher Grill European

Ranelagh While Picky and friend tucked in to some very well received meat dishes at The Butcher Grill, there are a some classic and interesting dishes to avail of – with `some delicious drinks also helping to wash everything

The Picky Eater

VEGETARIANS be off – The Butcher Grill in Ranelagh is no place for ye. The clue’s in the name, isn’t it? A big, dirty foodie like me should love a good steak, but of the thousands of times in the thousands of restaurants I’ve eaten in, I rarely order a simple slab of meat. Now, don’t get me wrong – I am a carnivore of vampiric proportions (the bloodier, the better), but I’m always too greedy to opt for a simple steak when I’m eating out, preferring to indulge in new or excitingly cooked flavours and combinations. I guess as a chef I’d often cook a nice steak with garlic butter at home, and when dining out I want to test the kitchen’s calibre a little. I do love beef though, but kind of like mine in a stew or a bourguignon – you know what I’m saying? Now, with that said, the other week – still in the wake of a turkey and

ham hangover – my satiety centre was telling me it was in the mood for a bovine battering, so for my 37th birthday on a dank Wednesday night I took myself to Ranelagh for a treat. The Butcher Grill serves the best cuts of meat from a supply of really choice producers, and grill their meet on a wood-smoked grill ... wood-smoked just gets your mouth watering, doesn’t it? Sitting on the main street at the back end of Ranelagh, opposite Mc Sorley’s, this place is small, cosy and decked out with subway tiles and butchers’ slabs, so there’s the name explained: it does what it says on the tin. Settled in, we went about ordering from the simple menu of aforementioned cuts of meat, which includes Surf & Turf, Cote de Boeuf for two, Striploin and an Aged Burger. Starters include oysters, gambas, beef tartare and tuna tostadas – all priced more than €12,

so not cheap. I had the tostadas, which honestly where so good – super soft, fresh pink tuna with a gorgeous zingy avocado salsa in crisp flaky shells ... delicious. For some reason, my gormless mate thought beef tartare was carpaccio – she was (still) in a new year fluster – and had a face like a slapped bottom when it arrived. The gracious server spotted this a mile off and whipped it away for another tostada without a thought, and left it off the bill – a classy touch. We had both ordered hanger steak and it came out a few minutes after the devoured tostadas had been cleared. Four or five thin-cut rare slices of this most beautifully flavoured cut from the diaphragm proved so tender and tasty. With perfectly crispy and soft chips, melt-inthe-mouth mash, and tender, vivid broccoli – with a burnt hazelnut butter – this all it go down all the

decent selection of down

The neat yet welcoming exterior of The Butcher Grill

better (as if it needed any help)! All steaks are heading for the 30 quid mark so, again, they’re not cheap, but fairly priced I would say, considering the quality. Considering the day that was in it, a banana fritter with caramel ice cream and a solitary birthday candle was scoffed for

Conclusion

dessert, kind of as amazing as it sounds. You’re heading for 50 quid a head without booze for three courses, so for a casual bite out, The Butcher Grill is a treat, but if you’re in the mood for a steak I doubt you’ll find better round town.  shane rigney Food vlogger

YOU’LL be in for a meat-ty good time at The Butcher Grill (at 92 Main Street, Ranelagh, Dublin 6; tel 01 498 1805). While not the cheapest, you definitely get what you pay for here, with rich flavours and salivating slices making it a must for carnivores.

Vita Coco Coconut Oil

Square up to creating easy, delicious treats VITA Coco Coconut Oil has partnered with Irish food blogger Indy Power, of The Little Green Spoon, to create a delicious, healthy recipe to help kick-start your healthy eating regime this year. The simple Cranberry Pistachio Breakfast Squares recipe makes 16 mouth-watering squares, using the Vita Coco Coconut Oil. Power said: “I love using Vita Coco coconut oil in all my cooking, for both sweet and savoury dishes. It has so many amazing health benefits and can be used in so many ways – I use it on my hair, skin and nails as well as in my food. “It’s so easy to cook with because of its lovely subtle taste, which doesn’t over-power other flavours and, because it tolerates high temperatures, it’s the perfect substitute for butter and other oils when baking.”

Ingredients 4 tablespoons of Vita Coco Coconut 3 tablespoons of maple syrup/honey 4 tablespoons of almond butter 1/2 cup of pistachios, deshelled (75g) 1 cup of gluten-free oats (100g) 1/4 cup of desiccated coconut (20g) 1/2 cup of dried cranberries (75g) Pinch of coarse salt

• • • • • • • •

Preparation Preheat the oven to 180C. Roughly chop the pistachios and add them to a baking sheet with the gluten-free oats. Bake them at 180C for about eight minutes until lightly toasted, tossing once in the middle. While they’re cooking, roughly chop the dried cranberries and then add them to your food processor with the desiccated coconut. Add in the toasted pistachios and oats. Add the Vita Coco coconut oil, almond butter, maple syrup and salt to a small saucepan on medium heat and whisk until smooth. When the mixture is completely melted, add it to the food processor and blend until you have a crumbly paste. Press the mixture tightly into a small baking tin lined with parchment paper. Pop it in the fridge for about an hour to set. Slice into squares and serve.

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Gazette

24 Gazette 11 February 2016

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

ReelReviews

pride, prejudice and zombies

Fleshes out a classic tale WITH current pop culture’s love of all things undead related, here comes the latest film to stagger and moan behind the zombie bandwagon – Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Cert 15A, 108mins). Genteel 19th century ladies and gentlemen are forced to battle social mores – as well as the zombie plague sweeping England. It’s silly stuff, but made with gusto.

dad’s army

Classic comedy capers THE old British sitcom gets a big-screen treatment at last, with Dad’s Army (Cert PG, 100mins) seeing several leading thespians step into the classic characters’ shoes. Toby Jones, Bill Nighy, Michael Gambon, Tom Courtenay and others make it a who’s-who of top talents, and recreate the bumbling Home Defence soldiers. It’s a pity that the film, while affectionate, is as slight as the TV show ...

dirty grandpa A grubby mess

WE’VE said it before and we’ll say it again – Dirty Grandpa (Cert 18, 102mins) is possibly De Niro’s worst ever film – yes, even worse than Rocky And Bullwinkle, and that takes some doing. Here, he inexplicably teams up with Zac Efron, creating an unlikely on-the-road bromance between a newly widowed man and his uptight grandson. Critically panned, it’s simply dreadful from start to finish ...

Principal leads Martin McCann, Mia Goth and Olwen Fouere form the core of the uneasy alliance at the heart of The Survivalist

the survivalist: irish-made, near future-set film impresses

Provides food for thought DERRY-born writer and director Stephen Fingleton is the creative force behind what might just be one of the most ominous cinematic experiences of the year. Fingelton’s first feature-length work, the post-apocalyptic thriller, The Survivalist (104 mins), is nominated for a BAFTA weekend and has generated quite a stir since it debuted on the festival circuit last year. The Survivalist is set in a very different near future. As the opening credits roll, we follow stark red and blue lines and they steadily curve upward in tandem, a graphical representation of oil consumption and global population growth across the decades.

 Dave phillips

Once the fossil fuel resources begin to plummet, the population also surges very quickly downward. It is the only hint of explanation we get; much like in John Hillcoat’s 2009 genre hallmark, The Road, we are not witness to the catastrophe that reshaped civilisation, but we do see what remains. Fingleton resituates the traditional postapocalyptic narrative a little closer to home. There is no hint of the barren wastelands or

crumbling cities traditionally associated with the genre. Instead, The Survivalist takes place amid dense green fields and close, wet forests. The Northern accent of our unnamed progagonist (Martin McCann) and a single reference to a character travelling from Monaghan give us a little more sense of location, but those details are superfluous – at its core, The Survivalist is a story that could be unfolding anywhere. McCann’s character ekes out a solitary existence deep in the woods, in a sparsely furnished and heavily fortified cabin. We are immediately plunged into the gruff and feral realities of survival. Our man washes,

keeps the fire in the little stove alight, prepares food, and eats – but he is never just doing the task at hand – he is incessantly watching, peering out through window slits, or pacing the outside of the cabin with a shotgun in hand. C l o s e , u nw ave ring shots and an often uncomfortably graphic visual style helps to capture some of the sense of claustrophobia and crisis that pervades the world of The Survivalist. This is a film that takes a bulldozer to Maslow’s hierarchical pyramid and displays a vision of humanity stripped down to crude essentials. When an unknown mother (Olwen Fouere) and daughter (Mia Farrow) seek shelter at the

cabin, McCann’s character is convinced to let them stay on, and it marks the beginnings of a very uneasy alliance that drives the action of the film. Fingleton’s dialogue tends to mirror the overarching spirit of base pragmatism that underlies everything happening on screen – this is a terse script where things are kept short, sharp, and to the point. Working on the small farm outside the cabin, tensions between the trio ramp up as the food supply seems to be ever dwindling. Out of the 100 or so minutes The Survivalist plays out across, it seems difficult to pick out even a single one that is not saturated with a sense of dread and foreboding.

Needless to say, the incessant feeling of doom, coupled with some disturbing themes, means that this film will be bumped down a few places on the ‘must-see in the cinema’ lists for some people, but they would be missing out. The Survivalist is an education in how to craft an excellent story with few elements, and amid all the tension there are some incredible shots (a scene stalking through the long grass is masterfully captured), as well as being a showcase for three incredible performances. The Survivalist feels like a real rarity – something very original in its design and in its execution.

Verdict: 7/10

11 February 2016 Gazette 25

GAMING WEEBYTES

Step into Firewatch’s beautiful setting

Sure to be a slow-burner in the charts

Although the island that The Witness is set upon is not especially large, it’s densely packed with beautifully designed zones and areas to explore. The richly detailed island provides one of gaming’s prettiest settings, while away from the puzzles, lingering traces of its former inhabitants provide some food for thought, too.

 shane dillon

WITH 2016 looking like it’ll be a bumper year for gamers, the year is already off to a great start, with critics (and gamers) falling over themselves to praise the recently released The Witness (PS4/PC, Cert 3+), and showing an equally strong interest in Firewatch (PS4, Cert TBC, due out this week; see panel, right). Both can be described as open world games with very strong, creative art direction, shy-

ing away from strikingly realistic graphics to create settings that are, quite simply, beautiful and original to look at. But first, The Witness ... Long in development b y a c cl a i m e d i n d i e d e ve l o p e r J o n a t h a n Blow, The Witness tasks you with exploring an island that’s divided into lots of distinctly different zones, and which is absolutely stuffed full of puzzles to solve – many hundreds of them, in fact. While most are based on navigating from A

to B though initially very, very simple mazelike grids – thus opening doors, or activating power lines, and so on – their designs soon ramp up into fiendishly headscratching difficulty. Other puzzles won’t give the player a break as they seek to complete the island’s secrets, unlock more parts of the island to explore, and work out the central mystery at the heart of the deserted island. With scattered audio relics from the former inhabitants of the island,

there’s a sense of something grand and mysterious having happened before your arrival at the seemingly idyllic island, where birds sing amidst the gloriously colourful trees and flowers, but half-ruined buildings litter the overgrown landscape. Already a smash commercial and critical hit – and a popular title for those who watch gamers playing online, via sources such as Twitch – The Witness is definitely well worth taking a good look at.

The majority of puzzles in The Witness are maze based. However, while they are initially very simple, the puzzles soon ramp up in difficulty, with some real head-scratchers awaiting around the island ...

ANOTHER title that’s been long in development is Firewatch (PS4/PC/Linux/OS X/MS Windows; Cert TBC), which is scheduled for release this week. This quirky openworld title, which has a pretty strong narrative bent, eschews realism to create a game with a pretty strong art style, and follows a strong narrative. Set in the late 1980s, Firewatch follows Henry, a middle-aged volunteer fire lookout starting what looks like it’ll be a somewhat dull job at a national forest park.

Beautiful His initial plodding about the beautifully rendered park starts innocently enough, as he gets a feel for the land, trades barbs and quips over the walkie-talkie with his supervisor, Delilah, and huffs and puffs his way around. However, things soon take a turn for the worst, as it becomes clear that Henry’s job may not be as safe as he had expected – not least because of a shadowy figure roaming about ... As with The Witness, Firewatch is another welcome title that fans of great graphics, fresh gameplay and memorable stories are sure to warm to.

26 swords Gazette 11 February 2016

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SWORDSCLASSIFIEDS

Gazette

28 gazette 11 February 2016

SPORT

FastSport special Olympics collection day set: SPECIAL Olympics Ireland requires volunteers in the Blanchardstown area to help with a charity collection day on Friday, April 22. Collection Day is the biggest annual fundraising event in aid of Special Olympics with the funds supporting more than 9,000 athletes in 360 clubs around Ireland. The money raised will be used to ensure that Special Olympics Ireland can continue to realise its promise of offering people with an intellectual disability the opportunity to participate in sport in their area. Special Olympics enables them to achieve and win not only in sport but in life too. Special Olympics Ireland requires volunteers across the day. If you can commit to the full day or even just an hour, please contact Karen Treacy via email to Karen.Treacy@specialolympics.ie.

marathon man: clondalkin man sets new ultra-running target

Conlon would run 100 miles  nathan kelly sport@dublingazette.com

AFTER a colossal 2015, Clondalkin’s own Marathon Man is in preparation for his toughest challenge yet, the Vartry 100 which takes place on March 25. Mark Conlon covered a lot of miles last year; the former Army Private set himself a challenge of running 20 marathons in 20 weeks in aid of Pieta House. Not being content with that, the Dubliner completed the challenge in half the time, taking just 10 weeks and completing 10 of the marathons in just five days. As well as the “10 in five”, Conlon squeezed

in a 100km race in his challenge last year. But his next task in Vartry will see him run 100 miles for the first time. “I personally think this will be tougher than the 10 in five days,” he told GazetteSport. “I’ve never done a 100 mile race so, mentally, I won’t have experienced what I’m going to on the day. “That will be tough but also exciting as I love a challenge. The 100km saw me run 62 miles in one day, so this is a massive step-up.” The Vartry 100 is an annual event which hosts 100 mile, 50 mile and 50km races. The 100 mile sees runners loop the track 10 times and Conlon expects it

to take almost a full day to complete. “I reckon I’ll be out there for about 22 to 23 hours,” he said. “They have a tent at the base where you can switch runners and take on food and all those bits if you have to, but I won’t want to stop for too long.” Preparations are well under way as the Dublin Bay Running Club member is set to take on a 50km race in Kildare on Saturday. On completing his challenge last year, Conlon became the youngest person in Ireland to hit the 100 marathon mark. “I’m on 108 now, by the time the 100 mile comes I’ll be on 111,”

Mark Conlon during one of his previous extreme challenges

he said of that achievement. “I’ve the 500 mark on my mind but, for this year, I’ll just be looking to get passed 200. “After the 100 mile, I’m sure the club and myself will come up with another big challenge. I ran two marathons in one day last year, so maybe I’ll attempt to do four in one day this year, as I said, I love a challenge.”

As mentioned, all of Conlon’s effor ts are being done to raise funds and awareness for Pieta House, a charity he feels close to having worked overseas. “Having seen people come back with severe depression, it’s important to know there is someone to talk to, and how much exercise can clear your head; it certainly does for me.

“Last year, when I completed the challenge and showed up at Pieta House with a cheque for €1,000, you could see the joy on their faces. I’m hoping to improve on that this year.” To s u p p o r t M a r k Conlon’s fundraising for Pieta House, go to http://www.mycharity. ie/event/markconlons100milein24hours.

McGovern’s cricket adventure battles the elements  sport@dublingazette.com

Five Dubliners have been lining out for Muir College in South Africa in the past month

RORY McGovern’s cricket adventure to Muir College, Uitenhage in South Africa has seen the Dubliner battle not just the opposition but also the elements. McGovern – who goes to school at Gonzaga College and is a YMCA cricket club member – is part of a cohort of 11 transition year cricketers currently in South Africa as part of an arrangement to help develop their skills. As a result of drought,

McGovern and his team had to “buy water in bulk and wash in the school swimming school”. Speaking further about the experience, McGovern added: “After training on Thursday we got in the school bus as Mr Du Ploy gave the kitchen staff a lift to the bus terminal and taxi ranks in downtown Uitenhage. “This drive was very interesting as we got a chance to see some of the extreme poverty and a lot of rundown shops in the town. After this we spent the about an hour trying to get a lizard out of our room to the

shock of the other lads in the hostel. “Friday morning was an early start for the five of us as we went to the gym at 5am and then hopped on a four-hour bus journey to George, South West District to play York High School the next day. “We took the Garden route to George which was full of lovely scenery. “We stopped off half way to look at the Big Tree of Tsitsukama which really wasn’t that big at all.” In the fixture itself, McGov-

ern was part of the side along with fellow Dubliners Ian Anders and Max Neville for the school’s first team’s first win of the season. His side bowled York out for 79 and chased it for two wickets with fast opening bowler Neo Pepeta claiming six wickets. Anders, who studies at Castleknock Community College and Phoenix, top scored with 25 at the top of the innings before Neville, from St Andrew’s College and Pembroke, and McGovern finished the game off with 15 not out each.

11 February 2016 gazette 29

Gazette

No Commercial break for Boden’s warriors Ballyboden St Enda’s Darren O’Reilly says his senior football side has not won as many championship titles as he would have liked ahead of their All-Ireland semi-final with Clonmel  stephen findlater sport@dublingazette.com

IN A CORNER of the Ballyboden St Enda’s bar four pictures sit in a rectangle telling of the club’s incredible success across the codes, the team pictures of the first senior hurling, football, ladies football and camogie sides to win the county title. Speaking to GazetteSport ahead of Boden’s All-Ireland semi-final against Clonmel Commercials, senior footballer Darren O’Reilly, though, says his side is playing catch-up on the other three in terms of honours. The hurler won six out of seven Dublin titles between 2007 and 2013; nine Dublin camogie titles and one Lein-

ster crown have been annexed since 1999 while the ladies footballers won nine county titles in succession along with six Leinster and two AllIreland crowns. “Maybe we were the ones letting the side down, not winning as often!” O’Reilly jokes before adding: “The success around the club is brilliant. Every year, there’s no shortage of trophies in the cabinet. But, we think, within ourselves, we should have been winning more often and we haven’t won as many senior championships as we would like.” But, after an epic winter, dethroning St Vincent’s in the Dublin final and a dramatic late win over Portlaoise in Leinster, Boden’s senior footballers are now going

Darren O’Reilly with Michael Darragh Macauley.

all guns blazing for the biggest prize in the club game. They approach the AllIreland semi-final with a singular focus to their preparation, a far cry from the helter-skelter pre-Christmas schedule in which the side was setting up from week to week. For Clonmel, there has been only one target in mind since the group returned to collective training on New Year’s Day for an intense boxing session. “It was tough going week to week, more trying to get the body right and focus on the other team rather than training,” O’Reilly says of the distinct change in regime. “Now, we have had six weeks now getting the fitness in which our game revolves around. We

have also done our video analysis on Clonmel; any team that beats Nemo deserves respect coming out of Munster. “It’s their first time at this level like us; it’s going to be a great game. They play football like we like to play football – moving the ball quick and deliv-

Conal Keaney, Declan O’Mahony and Daniel Davey still key members of the side. Andrew Kerin was another star of 2009 and he is still, in his own understated way, playing a key role. Indeed, he was named the Leinster club player of the year for

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

‘People say they don’t see Andy Kerin for the whole game and then he ends up with 1-4!’ - Darren O’Reilly

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

ering the ball long into the full-forward line and try and get scores from there. “They are a good, young, fit and strong team and we will give them utmost respect. Andy has done a lot of video analysis on them but we mainly try and focus on ourselves and what we can get right to get through them.” O’Reilly has an acute awareness of the club’s history. In 2009, just out of minor, he was among the fans for Boden’s last Dublin success and subsequent success. He recalls the threegame series with Kilmacud Crokes in the semifinal as a stand-out memory before winning the final against St Jude’s. Half a dozen of that vintage are still around with the likes of

2015 in the past week and O’Reilly is full of praise for the forward. “I think Kerinsy [Andy Kerin] hit the post three times against Kilmacud! It really stands out in my mind as a key moment. Andrew has been absolutely brilliant for us, such a great finisher. “People say they don’t see him for the whole game and he ends up with 1-4 or 1-5. He’s brilliant with the young guys like Collie Basquel and Sam Moloney, learning off his movement and how to strike a ball. He does everything simple and gets the best effect out of everything he does.” If he has another marquee day, along with the rest of the Boden warriors, there could be a fresh frame to that pictorial corner of the clubhouse on the Firhouse Road.

FastSport

Deasy earns Lansdowne share of league spoils LANSDOWNE’s man of the match Scott Deasy led the his club to a fine comeback against Garryowen, eventually drawing 16 all in their UBL Division 1A tie last Saturday. James McInerney got a try and inspired Garryowen to a 10-point lead by half time as it finished 13-3. Deasy, though, ultimately landed a late penalty to earn a share of the spoils after an earlier penalty try had brought his side back in range. Old Belvedere did not have the same luck with them losing at home to Young Munster. A second half penalty from Gearoid Lyons closed out the Dublin side with Abriel Griesel combining with Lyons to score all of Munster’s hard earned points at Anglesea Road. The Cookies held on for their seventh win in eight matched and are level on points with rivals Garryowen in third on 34 points and have a game in hand. UCD went head to head against Galwegians with 20 unanswered points as the Division 1A leaders gained a 33-15 victory at the Belfield Bowl. Tries from the in-form full back John Cleary, Ed O’Keeffe and Marc Kelly had Wegians leading 15-13 early in the second half. But a 72nd minute penalty from full-back Billy Dardis moved UCD back in front before winger Tom Fletcher finished off an intercept effort for a 21-15 score-line. Centre Conall Doherty completed the rout in the last few minutes for the game’s final seven pointer. This win has Noel McNamara’s side five points clear of Clontarf. Second half tries from Aaron Dundon and Matt D’Arcy gave Clontarf a narrow 18-14 win over Terenure at Castle Avenue on Friday night. Terenure took the lead when full-back James O’Donoghue went over for an early try Clontarf out-half Joey Carbery cut the gap to 7-3 in the 17th minute and soon after they got there try when Leinster hooker Dundon blocked a clearance and went for the touchdown. It was a nail biting finish towards the end but Clontarf prevailed to take a grip on second place in the league.

Gazette

30 SWORDS gazette 11 February 2016

SPORT

FastSport

soccer: malahide united return to top of LSL Sunday Senior

NAC Masters win Open Sea title for seventh year NAC Masters celebrated a superb 2015 after they were named the men’s Leinster Open Sea champions for a seventh year in-a-row, adding to the club’s array of recent success. Indeed, it comes at a time when NAC swimmers Helena McGrath and Dan Golden received world swimming FINA top ten ranking while the NAC Masters swimming relay teams secured six top ten FINA rankings In addition, 11 NAC masters swimmers now hold individual Irish masters swimming records. Founded in 1988, the club has grown steadily in both membership numbers and reputation. The club trains in both the National Aquatic Centre, Blanchardstown and Westwood, Clontarf. Jackie O’Connor, chairperson of NAC Masters, said: “2015 was another fantastic year for our club. In both the pool and the sea, NAC swimmers had lots of fun, trained hard and bagged some really great world and Irish masters swimming records, as well as some prestigious competition wins. “The summer was not as fine as last years but it was just as enjoyable and our club was out in force. “Our member’s commitment throughout the Leinster Open Sea season resulted in our men’s team claiming club of the year for a seventh time and our ladies team coming in runner up. “Some outstanding performances to note were from Ciaran Balfe, who was awarded vet of the year and Declan Harte awarded super vet of the year.” In the pool, the club has 11 record holders with Dan Golden, Joanne Figala, Jack Meade, Julie Galloway, Helena McGrath, Liz McCarthy, Sandra O’Leary, Tom Healy, Richard Harding and Helen O’Leary as well as 28 Irish relay records across the age groups after 2015. On the international stage, Helena McGrath competed in the World Masters Games in Nice where she won gold, silver and bronze medals in her respective events. To win the Open Sea title, Gerry Claffey and Gordon Beamish had individual wins while the club’s ladies team finished a commendable second to a very strong Dublin SC team while Gaye Regan, Melissa Corbally and Julie Roche had individual wins.

Malahide United continued their excellent run of form with a 1-0 win over Home Farm

Moody’s ups and downs

lsl sunday senior Home Farm Malahide United  sport@dublingazette.com

0 1

A FIF TH league win on the spin sent Malahide United to the top of the LSL Senior Sunday Division last Friday night. Pierce Walsh’s side made the trip to their Nor th Dublin rivals knowing others around them at the top were busy in cup action over the weekend. Despite a nervy end to the game, the seasiders took advantage to send themselves three points clear at the sum-

mit. Karl Moody will take all the headlines, good and bad after this one. He proved to be the hero but could have also been the villain in a tie that failed to offer too much in terms of quality action. Moody put his visiting side ahead around after about 15 minutes when he seized on an Anthony Bolger threaded pass, strove forward and deftly finished past the Farm keeper. The lead lasted until the break and after it, the game hit a bit of a lull, with neither side creating too much and

longest leap Crusaders’ McMullen jumps clear of rivals crusaders Adam McMullen makes his winning leap at the GloHealth AAI Games in Athlone IT last weekend. His jump of 7.72m was one of the standout performances from the weekend’s action. His club mate Richard Morrissey claimed an exciting 400m title when he just edged Stephen Gaffney (Rathfarnham) in 48.44 to 48.53 in a physical two lap battle. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

United looking content with their one-goal advantage. The Farm’s hero the week before, Gerr y Bambrick, who rescued a point against his former side Bluebell, was looking most dangerous but never really had anything clear-cut. Goalscorer Moody’s Friday night turned with five minutes left to play when he saw given his marching orders for a rash challenge. Despite holding a numerical advantage for the closing stages, the hosts couldn’t capitalise and Malahide took the points back home

and sit top of the pile until Sunday evening at least. Elsewhere, Rivervalley Rangers’ season had a rare blip as they were sent packing out of the Leinster Junior Cup. Ste Doran’s side travelled to Ashbourne in the last 32 of the competition but suffered defeat, a rarity for the Premier B side so far. Goals from Alex Ryan and Paul Ryan saw the Swords side finish 2-2 after extra-time. Penalties were required and it was hosts who came out on top with a 5-3 win in the shootout.

Doran’s charges will look to res pond in another massive cup tie this weekend when they welcome Limerick giants Carew Park to the AUL in the last 16 of the FAI Junior Cup. This huge fixture will be played on Saturday and kick-off is 2pm. Also on the cupfront, Rangers learned last week they will face either K ilbarrack or Howth Celtic in the quar ter-final of the Liddy Cup. The club’s Over-35 enjoyed a big victory on the weekend, beating Chanel 6-1 in Rathingle.

11 February 2016 SWORDS gazette 31

Gazette

sports predictor

Club Noticeboard

Fins launch 2016 edition of popular competition

FINGALLIANS

fingallians formally launched their

2016 Sports Prediction game with entry forms available from team mentors, at the club bar and will soon be launched online. The game sees entrants attempt predict all the major sports events winners. Last year’s winner, Matthew Lambe is pictured receiving his first prize cheque of €750 from club chairman Tony Gordon.

MEMBERSHIP is now due. There is no

football camp for boys and girls aged

increase in the fees for 2016. Forms

four to 13 years-old. Further informa-

are available from the club bar and at

tion and applications to follow.

the academy each Saturday morning. Application forms can also be

art competition will be held again this

downloaded from the clubs web site

year. Prizes will be awarded to win-

www.fingallians.com To qualify for

ners of third/fourth class and fifth/

priority All-Ireland tickets, member-

sixth class groups.

ship must be paid by February 29.

football: fins’ snow on the mark in big victory

Comortas Ealaiona/art competition: The Fingallians primary school

Winners will be selected during

The club will host a free raffle on

Seachtain na Gaeilge by a celebrity

Valentine’s night. There are no tickets

judge. Max size will be A3. Entries

available but anybody who supported

must be received by the club by

the club in the Christmas Draw will be

March 1. Entries will be on display

entered. There will be live music from

during Seachtain na Gaeilge between

6-9pm.

March 1-17. The theme this year is: Eiri

Our Grupa Comhra/Irish conversation group for Leaving Cert students

Amach na Casca, 1916. Tuilleadh eolais o liamoculbaird@gmail.com.

will start on Tuesday, February 23

The bloodbank will be in the club on

from 8-9pm in the clubhouse. This will

Wednesday, February 17 and Thurs-

run until the oral exams start in April.

day, February 18 from 3-5pm and

Saor in aisce agus failte roimh chach.

7-9pm. They will also attend on Sun-

This year’s Easter Camp dates are

day, February 21 from 12.30pm to

Monday, March 21 to Thursday, March

4pm. For further information, please

24. It will be a combined hurling and

go to www.giveblood.ie.

ST FINIAN’S

Dublin on the attack against Laois. Picture: Peter Hickey/GAAPics.com

Dublin half dozen sends Laois reeling

minor championship

Dublin 6-13 Laois 1-6  sport@dublingazette.com

DUBLIN’S minors got their 2016 Leinster championship campaign off to a good start with a 22 point victory over a gallant Laois side, winning 6-13 to 1-6 at Blakestown. Fingallians’ Dearbhla Snow was on the mark for Dublin with a point in the win as they began 2016 with a bang. Laois were first on the score board with under a minute gone on the clock with a well taken

point from Liz Brophy. This would be the only time throughout the game that the O’Moore County would hold the lead. The weather conditions were unpleasant for both teams as players from both sides had to contend with both a strong wind and rain showers. Laois having the aid of a strong breeze for the opening half of the contest. Points were at a premium due to the swirling wind but Dublin compensated for this by scoring a hat trick of first half goals which came cour-

tesy of wing half back Muireann O’Gorman, Mia Jennings and Clara O’Sullivan en route to a 3-3 to 1-4 half-time advantage. With the wind at their backs Dublin began to dominate the first half of this entertaining minor championship game despite Laois once again getting the opening score of the second period with a well taken point by Aine Seale. Dublin worked the ball well as a unit while their finishing was impressive with Ciara McDunphy, O’Sullivan, Rachel Douglas and Jennings

all playing well up front. Emily Flanagan was also impressive for the blues from wing half back with the Ballyboden St Enda’s player linking up well with her forward line. Dublin’s second half goals came from Douglas, McDunphy and substitute Jennifer Dunne. Dublin held Laois to just two points in the second period of the game while tagging on 3-10 on to their own tally. Wexford are up next for Dublin after the Slaneysiders lost narrowly to Offaly in their opening round game by 1-7 to 0-11.

OUR U-14 boys started off their foot-

Ryan, John Dowdall and Carmel Sav-

ball season with a fine winning display

age. Next week, the jackpot is €2,100.

against Man O’ War, with stand-out

Easter camp places can be booked

performances from Matthew O’Toole,

online through our website, www.

Jason O’Reilly, Michael Harris and

stfinians.com, or by calling the office

Callum Grey. Our U-12 boys’ football

on 01 8132656.

team also started with a win.

We had a presentation in the past

The lotto jackpot was €2,000 this

week when we said thank you and

week and the numbers drawn were 7,

goodbye to Angela who has worked in

10, 15 and 24.

our club office for the last six years.

There was no jackpot winner. The

Chairman Barry Shelly thanked

winners of the €25 lucky dip prizes

Angela for her work over that time as

were: Jacqueline Mulhall, Stephanie

our office administrator.

FINGAL Ravens

WELL done to all the juvenile players of

page or can be done online on www.

the year and most improved players

myclubfinances.com. All membership

of the year and thanks to those who

must be paid in full by March 31.

attended the awards night. Thanks also to Sean Griffin, Christine Harford and Darren Daly for making the presentations. The GAA national club draw 2016 tickets, only €10 each, are on sale now;

No player will be permitted to play if they do not have their membership paid in full. Well done to Darren (Butsy) Daly and the Dublin team on their win in Castlebar.

contact Maura Norton on 087 9936458,

Speedy recovery to Malachy Grif-

Bernadette Kavanagh on 087 9397642

fin (Snr) and Mick Manning (Killsalla-

or any committee member; some

ghan).

fabulous prizes including top prize of a new Opel Corsa. Anyone who purchases a ticket for the GAA national club draw 2016 from

There was no lotto winner. Numbers drawn were 7, 30, 32 and 37; €20 to Pippa Stone, PJ/Kiddo and Brona Monks. Next week’s jackpot is €17,000.

Fingal Ravens will be entered into a

All enquiries regarding pitch avail-

separate draw with a chance to win

ability and playability go to our pitch

two tickets to the All-Ireland football

coordinator John McCarthy (087

final 2016.

6599348). Our Easter camp starts on

2016 club membership is now due;

Tuesday, March 29 in the school hall

forms are available in the clubhouse or

for three days; 10am to 2pm; cost is

can be downloaded from our Facebook

€25 per child.

GazetteSPORT all of your swords sports coverage from page 28-31

five in a row: Malahide United soar to top of LSL table with narrow away win over Home Farm P30

february 11-17, 2016

commercial breakdown: O’Reilly plotting downfall of Clonmel side in semi P29

Colin O’Sullivan and Douglas Elmes being presented with their joint Youth Sailor of the Year award by David Lovegrove, the ISA President

Howth’s national award Local stars Colin O’Sullivan and Douglas Elmes named Irish youth sailors of the year following their run to world level bronze medal

 nathan kelly

sport@dublingazette.com

HOWTH Yacht Club sailing duo Colin O’Sullivan and Doug Elmes were honoured for their performances in 2015 by being jointly named the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) Youth Sailor of the Year. Malahide’s O’Sullivan and Kilkenny local Elmes took home the award at the annual presentation held last Thursday. The Howth duo were hotly favoured following their recent bronze medal success at the 2015 Youth World Championships in Malaysia. By taking third place, they gave Ireland a first double-handed youth worlds’ medal in

almost two decades. The talented youngsters beat off stiff competition from fellow club members Aoife Hopkins and Ewan McMahon, Waterford’s Geoff Power and Tipperary’s Aisling Keller to the national gong. Fellow Dublin club’s enjoyed honours, too, as the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire saw their sailor Liam Shanahan named 2015 Afloat Irish Sailor of the Year. In other positive news for Howth, it has recently been announced that two teams from the north Dublin base will compete in the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Caribbean 600 later on this month. The challenge will see the two Howth teams

take on tough and competitive offshore races in the warm and idyllic conditions of the Caribbean. Darren Wright has assembled an experienced offshore that has chartered the First 40 Southern Child for the race. The team is made up of HYC members Kieran Jameson, Frank Dillon, Rick De Neve, Jonny White, Colm Bermingham as well as owner Lucy Reynolds. Wright has also included further offshore strength in the form of brother Michael along with Howth K25 squad member Luke Malcolm and HYC’s former-Commodore Brian Turvey. The Southern Child is likely to be competing in the competitive IRC 2 division.

Howth’s other entry, Conor Fogarty’s Sun Fast 3600 Bam is likely to compete in the IRC 3 division and will be one of the smallest boats racing amongst the 66-boat fleet. A team of experienced offshore racers will join Fogarty, including Simon Knowles, Daragh Heaghney, Paddy Gregory, Roger Smith and Anthony Doyle. “We would hope to follow on from the success that Red Shift (another Sunfast 3600) had last year and it would be great to win in IRC 3. “There is another 3,600 in our class One and Only, but she trailed us by nearly 2 days in the ARC, so we will have to wait and see if she’s up to speed yet,” said Fogarty of the event.