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INSIDE: Actor Shaun Williamson’s songs in an Elvis musical might leave you All Shook Up P16
people: Walkinstown woman breaks a record with English Channel swim P15
Trio-ific work: Young artists impress at school Swimming: Skerries man wins big in Argentina Page 30
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AISLING and Conor Cawley with Ava
Masterson impressed in a children’s art competition in aid of St Columba’s Church Repair Fund recently, thanks to their work in the main hall of the Old Borough National School in Swords during Heritage Week. The young artists were just part of the comunity’s engagement with the national initiative, with a pop-up art exhibition, and free tours of the church. The building’s ancient history was briefly brought back to life during the highly informative tours.
Council identifies a site for civic centre Public invited to have their say on what Swords facility could offer
keith bellew
A SITE has been identified for a civic and cultural centre in Swords at the Fingal County Council car park near Swords Castle, at the corner of North Street and
Seatown Road. Potential facilities will include a town library with a performance/theatre space and an exhibition/gallery space. Planning will now get under way with communi-
ties, and as a first step the council is asking the public to complete a survey that will be available at Fingal. ie. Cllr Justin Sinnott (Ind) said the cultural centre was part of a wider plan for a
Swords cultural quarter to link up with Swords Castle. He said this was great to see as Main Street and the castle were two of the biggest issues in the run-up to the local elections. Full Story on Page 6
2 SWORDS Gazette 3 September 2015
environment Public meeting discusses Dublin Port proposal
Dredging plan off Bailey sparks wide opposition CONCERNS have been raised in Howth and Sutton over a licence being sought by Dublin Port to dispose of 10 million tonnes of dredging waste off the Bailey lighthouse in Howth. The dredging will be carried out as part of Dublin Port’s plan to redevelop the Alexandra Basin. An Bord Pleanala recently granted permission for the Alexandra Basin Redevelopment (ABR) project, which will transform Dublin Port’s infrastructure and enable it to service the economy
keith bellew kbellew@dublingazette.com
for decades ahead. The project will increase the port’s ability to handle large ships by deepening and lengthening 3km of the port’s 7km of berths. It will also deepen the port to provide an entrance channel with a depth of at least 10m. The ABR project is expected to take five years
to complete, costing an estimated €230m. At a meeting held in Bayside Community Hall recently to inform local people of the dredging plans, Cllr Keith Redmond (FG) told those assembled that this was the first that he had heard about the dumping planned in the Fingal area. He said: “I think it’s highly suspicious that the port are seeking to slip this through in the August silly season when a lot of people and politicians are on holiday. “I commend Fine Gael
General Election candidate Stephanie Regan for her vigilance in bringing this to my attention.” He added that while 20% of the excavation is in the Fingal area, which starts at the end of the Kilbarrack road, all of the dumping is planned to take place in Fingal off the Bailey lighthouse. He went on to say that he has no idea why he was not informed of something so potentially important to the people of Fingal. “Only a few months ago, Dublin Bay was granted biosphere status by UNESCO, and now Dublin Port wants to dump 10 million tonnes of potentially hazardous material into it. “The impact is unknown, unpredictable and potentially disastrous to currents, maritime life, Bull Island and flooding risks in Clontarf,” he said. Senator Darragh O’Brien (FF) also said that he had been contacted by residents of Portmarnock and Malahide who are very concerned about these plans. Dublin Port Company recently applied for a licence from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to dispose of the waste. A spokesperson for the company said: “Dublin Port has no comment
Dublin Port is seeking a licence to dispose of 10 million tonnes of dredging waste off the Bailey lighthouse in Howth. Picture: Gemma Flanagan, Failte Ireland
[on the dredging proposals] because it’s [the license application] going through official channels, and we cannot comment on an application [while the decision is pending].” The EPA is unable to comment for the same reasons. However, the company carried out and submitted environmental reports prior to the application being made. Dublin Port Company carries out dredging works every few years, dumping the sediment waste in designated places. It is planned that the tonnes will be dumped in instalments. Should the licence be granted, it will be stipulated that any contaminated waste will be removed from the bay and treated accordingly.
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
3 September 2015 SWORDS Gazette 3
retail Fingal’s finest in finals
survey: rank in latest ibal report a testament to tidy towns group
Swords praised for fight against litter keith bellew
SWORDS cleaned up in the recently released Irish Businesses Against Litter (IBAL) report which shows that it is cleaner than European norms, and ranked 16th out of 40 towns/cities surveyed. The IBAL report stated that it was “another excellent showing by Swords, and special mention of the Riverwalk and recycle facility is warranted, as these were looking better than ever”. Welcoming the report, the chairperson of Swords Tidy Towns, Ken Duffy, said it was a testament to all the hard work that the group’s volunteers have put in over the past year. He said: “They came
out in all kinds of weather to litter pick, remove graffiti, trim hedges, do weeding, remove fly postering, tend flower planters up and down the main streets of Swords, and so much more. “Every one of our members to me is a community hero, giving up their free time twice a week on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings.” He went on to say that the volunteers were a very diverse bunch, with 10 different nationalities, an even gender balance, and members ranging in age from their early 20s to early 60s. He commended Fingal County Council for its hard work throughout the year, saying the depart-
ment heads and chief executive, Paul Reid, went out of their way to lend support at every turn. He said the business community of Swords were ver y generous towards Swords Tidy Towns, which allowed the group to carry out projects it would normally not have been unable to do. Swords Tidy Towns is always on the look-out for new members and hopes to launch a website. The group is currently seeking a person or persons who would be willing to offer their services to produce it. Anyone interested in lending their support in either capacity is asked to contact Ken Duffy at 086 600 8313.
Happy with the blues: A GAA great keeps it in the family at Croker tour DUBLIN great John O’Leary was joined by his wife, Catherine, and sons, Jack and Tom, at the Bord Gais Energy Legends Tour at Croke Park recently. O’Leary played for O’Dwyers GAA Club in Balbriggan, with his superb skills on the pitch earning him a well-deserved slot among the GAA giants celebrated by the tour. A hit with tourists and local GAA fans alike, the GAA museum at the national park features many exclusive exhibits celebrating the reach and importance of our national sporting organisation, including the GAA Hall of Fame. Picture: Paul Mohan/Sportsfile
Three local service stations in Fingal have been shortlisted for the final of Ireland’s Forecourt and Convenience Retailer Awards which celebrate the finest convenience retailers from across Ireland. Topaz Dublin Airport; A p p l e g r e e n Mo t o rway Service Area Lusk Northbound; Applegreen and Topaz Clonshaugh will compete in the finals hosted by RTE’s Miriam O’Callaghan at Ballsbridge Hotel, on Friday, September 11. This event aims to raise industry standards in the forecourt and convenience retailing industry throughout Ireland by recognising excellence and rewarding professionalism in the retail sector. See www.forecourt retailerawards.com
4 SWORDS Gazette 3 September 2015
skerries: sea of support
policing ‘No gardai about to drive new vehicles’
RNLI raft race keeps it fun keith bellew
The annual raft race, in aid of Skerries RNLI took place recently at South Strand, Skerries and proved a very popular and successful event. Despite the slightly miserable weather, nine rafts turned up ready to go to sea in support of their local lifeboat station. Cheered on by the crowd watching from the shore they put on a great show. The three vessels that lined out on the day were Sneaky Prawns, Noah’s Ark and Rush Harbour Festival. Noah’s Ark crossed the line first. Sneaky Prawns finished in second place and Rush Harbour Festival took third spot. At the presentation of the prizes Skerries RNLI thanked the volunteer fundraisers for all their hard work, Skerries Sailing Club, for providing the safety craf t, Fingal County Council, the competitors and everyone who helped make the raft race another successful event. Speaking after the prize giving, Gerr y Canning, Skerries RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat press officer, said: ‘There were some really excellent rafts this year. Each year we are seeing more thought and creativity being put into the rafts while still keeping the fun element ’. For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.ie
Senator Darragh O’Brien contends that allocating 12 new vehicles is no use to the North Dublin Metropolitan region when there are no gardai there to drive them
Garda recruit allocation a disgrace, says O’Brien keith bellew
SENATOR Darragh O’Brien (FF) has been accused of playing politics after saying the lack of new Garda recruits for north County Dublin made a mockery of the Government’s spin on new Garda cars. A garda was seriously injured after he was rammed by a stolen car that he was pursuing. Two other members of the force also suffered more minor injuries during the incident, which occurred in Balbriggan on Sunday. Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) has said the new vehicles were good news for the community and the senator was simply using the issue of Garda
resources for his own political gain. The spat comes as the Government announced a further three Garda vehicles for the Dublin North region to supplement the nine already allocated this year Senator O’Brien contends that allocating 12 new vehicles is no use to the North Dublin Metropolitan region when there are no gardai there to drive them. He was outraged, he said, at the news that the entire region, which has lost 152 gardai in five years, will get just five new Garda recruits and these will all be posted at the Ballymun station. It has been confirmed that Malahide, Swords,
Balbriggan, Garristown, Lusk, Skerries, and Howth, stations will get no new gardai. Senator O’Brien said: “This is a disgrace. North Dublin communities have been forced to endure a disproportionate level of cuts to Garda numbers over the past four years. “Rush Garda Station was shut down, Malahide Garda Station was downgraded and Garda numbers in the district were cut by 20%. “That equates to a loss of 152 gardai in north Dublin alone since 2011.” He added that Fine Gael tried to excuse this by agreeing to recruit an additional 200 gardai nationally. “I always said this was
far too little, given the extent of the cuts to community Garda resources and the corresponding surge in burglaries, thefts, drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour. “But now, to learn that
rell hit back, saying that in addition to the new vehicles for 2015, €27.5m was invested in new Garda vehicles between 2012 and 2014 – an increase on the €4.8m allocated by Fianna Fail in Budgets
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‘To learn that just five of these recruits will be stationed in north Dublin, and none whatsoever in the north county, adds insult to injury’ --------------------------------------------------------
Senator Darragh O’Brien (FF)
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just five of these recruits will be stationed in north Dublin, and none whatsoever in the north county, adds insult to injury,” he said. However, Deputy Far-
2009-11. “This Government is also strengthening An Garda Siochana for the future by re-opening the Garda Training College in Templemore, and recruit-
ing 550 new gardai. “The first intake of 100 new recruits entered Templemore in September 2014 and passed out in April of this year. A further 200 recruits entered in December 2014 and February 2015, with 250 more expected to begin training later this year. “When Fianna Fail closed Templemore, it was a major blow to An Garda Síochana and to communities in the north county and throughout the country,” said Deputy Farrell. He said local gardai would be bolstered by this influx of new vehicles and gardai which would greatly support the fight against crime in local communities throughout Fingal.
3 September 2015 SWORDS Gazette 5
transport It does look like real progress is being made on this issue – Butler
Dublin Bus in talks with council over Knocksedan keith bellew
THERE has been good news for Knocksedan residents as Dublin Bus has confirmed that it is now in discussions with Fingal County Council about providing a bus service for the area. The area was built in 2004 and lies at the back of Swords in an area that is not within
convenient walking distance of shops and services. Many residents have been waiting for a bus service since they moved in 11 years ago. Many of them were told before moving in that a bus service would be provided, but this has never happened. One of Dublin Bus’s arguments against extending
airport: issue over queue arrangement
Concerns over short trip fares keith bellew
A SPOKESPERSON from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has said that if taxi drivers wish to change the 20-minute short trip pass, it needs to be discussed and agreed with all taxi representatives. The short pass is a system whereby taxi drivers can retain their place in the queue at the rank in the airport if they get a short fare to somewhere within the grounds of the airport, one of the nearby hotels, or nearby places such as Santry and south Swords – if they can drop off their customer and get back within 20 minutes. This comes as Cllr Justin Sinnott (Ind) raised concerns about the possibility of accidents due to taxi drivers rushing to get back to the airport in order to retain their place in the queue at the rank. He said: “It affects the estates in south Swords, such as Boroimhe. I don’t think the DAA are being very fair on the taxi drivers; it’s putting undue pressure on them, and I think it’s a safety issue. It could cause an accident.”
A spokesperson from the DAA said the short fare was initially for onsite use only, for example, if a driver who received a fare to one of the hotels on the airport campus or to one of the long-term car parks could request a short trip pass. “The short trip pass was discussed with all taxi representatives and it was agreed, upon their request, -------------------------------------------
‘I don’t think the DAA are being very fair on the taxi drivers; it’s putting pressure on them’
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Cllr Justin Sinnott (Ind)
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that it be changed to a 20-minute timeframe so that drivers who received fares to local areas could also avail of the short fare. “If the taxi drivers wish to change the 20-minute short trip pass, it needs to be discussed and agreed with all taxi representatives,” said the spokesperson.
services to Knocksedan put forward by Dublin Bus is the lack of a turning bay in the area, and what they perceived to be a population of commuters which is not sufficient to necessitate a bus service. The area has been expanded in recent times and this population has now increased.
Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) who has made representations about this to Dublin Bus in the past, said: “Dublin Bus will be attending the Balbriggan-Swords monthly area committee meeting this month, and we have made sure that this issue is on the agenda. “Hopefully, we will have final confirmation in the
coming weeks and months, but it does look like real progress is being made on this issue.” He went on to thank everyone who had raised the issue and made submissions down through the years. Minister for Children Dr James Reilly also welcomed this development, saying it was one of the main issues
raised with him by many residents of Knocksedan while out canvassing. He said: “As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I fully understand the importance of such a service. It is of the utmost importance to me that young people in particular have a safe and well equipped transport infrastructure in their locality.”
6 SWORDS Gazette 3 September 2015
don’sdublin Dublin Castle – part of Irish life since the time of the Vikings It has played a part in Irish life for centuries and Dublin Castle had its origins back in Viking times. It was originally settled on the high ground close to the Poddle and Liffey rivers and provided an excellent defence. With the Norman invasion in 1169, however, the old structure was demolished and a more permanent building was erected. King Henry II implemented this phase, which was completed in 1230 and was the beginning of the castle as we know it today. The Poddle was diverted underground and its water used to fill the moat that surrounded the fortress. Typical of Norman design, there was a tower at each corner and the Record Tower (1228) is the only surviving one. Over time many other buildings were added, especially in the Georgian period. The Treasury Building in the lower yard, the first purpose-built office space in Dublin, was completed in 1714. In the upper yard, the Bedford Tower, named for the Duke of Bedford who was then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, was constructed in the 1750s. And it was from here in July 1907 that one of the most infamous events in the Castle’s history took place when the Irish crown jewels were stolen on the eve of the visit of King Edward VII. They have never been recovered. As the centre of British power, it was often challenged with it coming under attack during Robert Emmet’s short-lived rising in 1803 and Easter 1916. British power ceased on the January 16, 1922 when Michael Collins took possession on behalf of the new Irish Free State. In the upper yard are the State Rooms originally constructed for the Lord Lieutenant’s personal accommodation and entertainment. Nowadays, these lavishly furnished rooms – St Patrick’s Hall, Throne Room, State Drawing Room and State Corridor – are used for Government engagements including the inauguration of presidents and State visit ceremonies.
Don Cameron
www.donsdublin. wordpress.com
Dublin Castle originated back in Viking times and was originally settled on the high ground close to the Poddle and Liffey rivers
council Big gain for community if project proceeds
Potential site for a cultural centre found keith bellew
FINGAL County Council has identified a potential site for a civic and cultural centre in Swords at the council car park near Swords Castle at the corner of North Street and Seatown Road. The council is confident that a 21st century centre of learning, knowledge and culture in an open and welcoming space can be provided for all citizens. Potential facilities will include a town library with a performance/theatre space and an exhibition/gallery space. Project feasibility and planning will now get under way with local communities and as a first step they are asking the public to complete a survey. This survey will be available on the council’s website (www.fingal.ie), and locals are encouraged to fill it out over the next three weeks. The centre is par t of the wider plan for a Swords Cultural Quarter, which was unveiled a number of months ago. Cllr Justin Sinnott (Ind) said the area around the Fingal County Council Offices has been earmarked for the centre, but the north Dublin transport plan – which will be announced
The council has identified a potential site for a civic and cultural centre in Swords at the council car park near Swords Castle. Such a centre is part of the wider plan for a Swords Cultural Quarter.
in the coming weeks – could affect this. He said that once M i n i s t e r f o r Tr a n s port Paschal Donohoe announces the preferred public transport option for the area, the project would start to move faster and faster. “ I t ’s a l o n g - t e r m vision. This is probably going to take at least 10 years to come about, because for starters [the plan] is the castle, and making the castle an
amenity that everyone can use, and a lot of progress has been made on that, but it’s also looking beyond the castle to a cultural quarter,” he said. Cllr Sinnott went on to say that it’s great to see these things beginning as Main Street and Swords Castle were two of the biggest issues in the run up to the local elections in 2014. “What I welcome from my point of view is that
you’ve got a council that actually has a vision for Swords beyond the short term, and it is a proper vision for the town that’s beyond retail. “Essentially, the idea of the open spaces, the theatre, the library is that people can use the town as a space for recreation. “For me, it’s about laying the foundations and putting something down that we can all be proud of,” he said.
Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) also welcomed the announcement, saying that Swords badly needed a cultural centre put in place. “Swords needs a focal point that would be for an arts/cultural/heritage building. A place where performers can rehearse and put on small plays, bands can play, etc. “T here’s ar ts and community groups in the area crying out for a place as well,” he said.
Colaiste Ghlor na Mara gets to Wriggle keith bellew
First year students at Colaiste Ghlor na Mara in Balbriggan will officially join the Wriggle 1:1 mobile learning programme on Wednesday, September 7. Established in 2012, Wriggle is a 1:1 mobile
learning initiative that uses digital textbooks on iPad’s rather than traditional textbooks. It aims to help children develop skills that will allow them to get ahead in an increasingly technology oriented world. These include creativity and innovation
skills, critical thinking and problem solving, strong communication and collaboration skills, and technology literacy skills. Wriggle is based on academic research and practical experience. The school reopened its doors this week for
the new school year and on September 7 the students will receive their “digital” schoolbags. Some 130 schools throughout Ireland will participate in the programme this coming academic year with students using mobile devices and digital textbooks in place
of traditional textbooks. An Irish language school, Colaiste Ghlor na Mara opened in September 2014. The school is set to expand rapidly in the next few years with plans to move into a permanent 750 pupil building on the Naul Road in 2016.
3 September 2015 SWORDS Gazette 7
project Information pack for over-65s
FastNews
Bleeding Pig celebrations
THE Portrane Bleeding Pig Festival of culture takes place from September 10–13, and this year a range of unique events will mark the occasion. Events include the building of a temporary 12m straw tower by Gareth Kennedy, an acouscenic soundwalk conducted by Sean Taylor using the principles of mindfulness and meditation, and a screening of Roger Lamb’s historical archive footage of local farming activity in the area. For further information, see www.bleedingpig.ie.
Fashion fun in Balbriggan MILLFIELD Shopping Centre, Balbriggan hosts its annual autumn/winter fashion extravaganza on Saturday, September 5. The centre has announced that fashion stylist and celebrity Lisa Fitzpatrick will be on hand to host the gala. Styles on the day will be from well-known fashion brands Vero Moda, Only, Jack and Jones, Name it and Vila. Customers can look forward to a day of fashion, beauty tips and plenty of entertainment for children, which includes free face painting. Mayor David O’Connor: “An age-friendly town is one where the community understands and responds to the needs of older people”
Skerries working to be age-friendly keith bellew kbellew@dublingazette.com
An age-friendly information pack for people over 65 years has been launched by the Skerries Age Friendly Town Working Group. The definition of an age-friendly town is one that benefits people of all ages. Where people live has a huge impact on how they live, particularly in their local neighbourhood. An age-friendly town has plenty of benches in the streets, parks and public spaces, with proper back supports, giving older adults a chance to rest in between shopping and walking - or just to watch the world go by. It has level pavements, free from obstruction reducing the possibility of falling and being tripped, as well as traffic lights that give sufficient
time to cross, particularly at off-peak hours, to encourage people to go to town. T he pack aims to address the information needs and improve the quality of life of older people in the town, in particular the needs of the most v ulnerable older people in the town. The pack includes a fridge magnet of emergency service contact details and an action plan for the town. It also provides information on clubs and leisure activities for older people. As part of the agefriendly town process a number of actions was undertaken including, walkability sur veys, consultation days with older adults and service providers and a survey of signage in the town. Mayor of Fingal David O’Connor (Ind) launched the booklet in
the Skerries Harps GAA Club to an audience of almost 200 people. “An age-friendly town is one where the community understands and responds to the needs of older people. It is created by consulting, building and implementing a plan with the community to make their town age friendly. It uses the methodologies of the Age Friendly County programme, focusing on the selected town, to significantly improve the quality of life of older adults living in the area and to engage them in shaping and enhancing their own communities,” he said. Justin Moran, head of advocacy and communications with Age Action, said the initiatives were hugely important to older people and had made a real difference in communities right across
the country. “What is really important in projects like the Skerries information pack is that it’s based on asking older people what they want to see, it’s led and informed by their opinions. It would be great to see other towns and cities across the country developing similar projects. “For many older people who contact our helpline, the problem is often finding the information they need about services, entitlements and activities available in their local community,” he said. In addition, putting all of this information in one place is a really practical way to ensure older people are better informed, he said. For more information on the Age Friendly Initiative, visit: www.fingal. ie/community-and-le isure
8 swords Gazette 3 September 2015
gazetteGALLERIES
Michael, Heather, Andrea and Ciaran Kershaw
Cian, Noah and Holly Kennedy
Ballerinas Ella Dennehy, Christina Farcas and Sarah Montgomery from the Nicola Farcas School Of Ballet. Pictures: Stephen Fleming
Flemington: Free entertainment for everyone
Families flock to enjoy family day A
Community Consultation and Family Fun Day took place in Flemington Community Centre recently. There was free entertainment for all the family on the day with bouncy castles, magicians, face-painting, children’s train, DJs and demonstrations from various groups using the centre including ballet,
zumba, basketball and Irish dancing. A community consultation was held whereby people could give their views on activities they would like to see in the Flemington Community Centre such as classes and courses. There was also an opportunity for people to give their views on things that need improvement in the area.
Jamie McDonald and Paula McKenzie Elastic man Lorcan Cody
Balbriggan Basketball Club
Amina Antonova, Kirtee Issur-Garvin and Anais Motolo
3 September 2015 swords Gazette 9
Denise Brady and Barbara Doyle
James, Calum and Ciaran O’Neill
Izzy and Kate McLean
Little princess, Daisy
with Olaf O’Sullivan
Morris
Aoibhinn Lynch showing her Irish dancing skills
Tim Golding and Fergal Mawe of Bremore Pastures Residents Association
A little face-painting with Sara Berger and Kirsty O’Neill
The children enjoying Gymboree
Pauline McGrath, Gymboree
10 Gazette 3 September 2015
gazetteGALLERIES
Claire Moran and Jasmine O’Brien
Well-known faces from the world of entertainment helping Lidl to celebrate its very own Oktoberfest. The celebration, held at Meeting House Square in Dublin, launched the Alpengut range of food in Lidl stores. Guests on the night included UTV news anchor Alison Comyn, Gia Elllis
Harry Cullen
RTE weather anchor Nuala Carey, TV3’s Peter O’Riordan with wife, Stephanie, Siobhan O’Connor and Sonya Mohlich. Pictures: Brian McEvoy
Prost! A LIDL CELEBRATION FOR NEW FOOD RANGE
Dublin takes on Oktoberfest Sarah Tomry and RTE’s Nuala Carey
Niamh Devereux, Victoria Stone and Clodagh Daly
Kevin Haverty and Ryan McDonnell
3 September 2015 Gazette 11
world record P15
asdfsdaf musical P27 P16
dublinlife Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week
Gazette
diary P12
what’son Console conference:
John Wyer at work in the kitchen. He usually gets up at about 6.30am, cycles 10 minutes to work and is at Forest Avenue by 7am.
a day in the life: owner and head chef at Forest Avenue John Wyer
It boils down to hard work aisling kennedy
John Wyer, owner and head chef at Forest Avenue in Dublin, is one of the hardest working men in the food industry. Running a restaurant is no easy task and Wyer works 14- and 15-hour days to ensure his restaurant serves the highest quality food to its customers. He took time out recently to talk to the Gazette about a day in his life. Wyer explains that he usually gets up at about 6.30am, cycles 10 minutes to work and is at Forest Avenue by 7am. He said: “I don’t have anything to eat in the morning, I just have a glass of water. My wife, Sandy who runs the restaurant with me, usually arrives at about 10am and she always brings me breakfast.
“She usually picks something up on her way in like scrambled eggs and orange juice and we have our breakfast together.” Wyer explains that once he gets into the kitchen in the morning he starts making the breads for lunch service and he also starts to prepare stocks for the day by roasting bones. “The food deliveries start coming in at about 7.30am which I always check, and then the rest of the team will start to arrive at 8am.” At 11am the front of house staff make coffee’s for everyone and Wyer then heads upstairs to take care of the admin side of things by ringing suppliers, making sure everything has arrived for lunch, and planning the dinner menu for that night.
“That’s my down time, it’s just time I need away from the kitchen where I can focus on creating and organising,” he explains. Wyer then heads back downstairs to prepare for lunch which begins at 12 o’clock and is usually a very busy service with between 20 to 30 people served daily. Once lunch is over, Wyer then cycles home for a well-earned break at about 3.30pm. Despite being a culinary genius, Wyer tends to make himself sandwiches and salads for lunch and he explains that once he finishes eating he has a power nap. “That’s my new thing now. I set my alarm for 20 minutes and I doze off. That little sleep revitalises me and I’ll take a
nice shower when I wake and I’m very much ready to go again by 4.45pm.” Wyer then cycles back to the restaurant where he makes sure everything is set up for the evening dinner service and he cooks from 6pm to 10pm. As the last part of the day, Wyer then calls his local suppliers to order in produce for the next day. “I’m usually home by about 11.30pm/12am and I’ll have some food, a glass of wine and I’ll sit on the couch and have a chat about the day with my wife. The main thing is that we both unwind after the day so we usually just watch some TV and then head to bed.” Forest Avenue is on Sussex Road, Dublin 4. For more information log onto www.forestavenuerestaurant.ie
Music and TV star Niall “Bressie” Breslin will share the stage with some of the world’s most influential minds and thought leaders on suicide at Console’s upcoming annual conference. The Console World Suicide Prevention Day Conference 2015 takes place on Thursday, September 10, at the Aviva Stadium Conference Centre. The conference is of benefit to anyone working in a caregiving role or with a more general interest in suicide prevention and postvention. Bressie’s contributions to the national debate on mental health, anxiety, depression and suicide, have helped address the stigma which remains in Ireland today. He believes that opening up about mental health is the first stage to recovery, and the fruits of that were seen in recent figures released by Console which showed a rise in the number of young men contacting the organisation. Console offers free counselling services and 24-hour helpline (Freephone 1800 201 890 or text 51444).
12 Gazette 3 September 2015
Gazette
dublinlife Banking on the bible at inquiry It recently emerged that the Oireachtas Banking Inquiry set up to investigate that irresponsible era leading to the economic crash of 2008, has spent €3.5m conducting its business, including €56 for bibles for interviewees to swear on. Other expenses included €3,938 on tea and coffee, €1,100 on newspapers and €12.70 on copies of the Constitution. Quite ironic really! However, if HBO has
shown us anything, it’s that top quality entertainment requires a budget. And have there been moments of top quality entertainment during this inquiry! Notably when Bertie returned to give a political master class laced with little jibes at Fine Gael. At one point during his interrogation, in response to Deputy Eoghan Murphy’s (FG) questions about budgetary spending before the 2007 election, he
quipped that he wasn’t worried about not being returned to the office of Taoiseach so spending wasn’t an issue.
bee sure to check out new musical Theatre company WillFredd and children’s cultural centre The Ark have teamed up to create an exciting new musical for audiences ages 6+, their families and friends. BEES! by Mark Doherty and directed by Sophie Motley will premiere as part of the Family Season
in Dublin Theatre Festival 2015. The production is a musical filled with fun and songs, dancing and jiving, flying and hiving and absolutely no boring stuff. You will also learn lots of facts about bees along the way. For more information and to book tickets for the show, visit www.dublintheatrefestival.com/ Online/BEES or www. dublintheatrefestival. com. Dublin Theatre Festival 2015 runs from September 24 to 11, with 28 worldclass productions spanning 22 different stages across Dublin city and suburbs. The programme will offer both spectacular, large-scale presentations and intimate performances which will entertain seasoned theatre-goers and first-time audiences alike.
christmas is early at brown thomas As summer draws to a close, Christmas bells are ringing at Brown Thomas which reminds us of the onset of the festive season with the launch of its Christmas Market. A dedicated space in the Dublin store has been transformed into a winter wonderland filled with Christmas trees, seasonal decorations and festive food. The themes of this year’s Christmas Market at Brown Thomas include, Ice Palace, Venetian Winter, I Love Candy and Santa’s Journey. The Christmas Market at Brown Thomas is now open for anyone who wishes to indulge themselves in the festive spirit.
diary
Rachel and Laura Scott at the Christmas Market at Brown Thomas
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14 Gazette 3 September 2015
dublinlife
advice : Competition & Consumer Protection commission sets out questions you need to ask
Thinking of buying a car? According to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, almost 30% of queries to the helpline relate to buying a car. To help you make the right decisions, here are a few questions to consider 1. What’s your budget? Think about what you can afford to spend. If you are a first-time buyer it is easier to estimate as you do not have a tradein. If you are trading-in, you need to consider the
cost of changing - subtract the value of your trade-in from the price of a new car. Also think about the associated running costs. 2. How are you going to pay for the car? Saving up for a car is the cheapest option as you do not have to pay interest on a loan. If taking out a personal loan from your bank or credit union, work out what you will be repaying each month. You can compare savings accounts and personal loan rates from the
different providers on www.consumerhelp.ie. A good rule of thumb is if you require finance for more than three years to pay for a car, it may be too expensive for you. 3. Personal Loans v Hire Purchase/Personal Contract Plan (PCP)? A garage may offer a hire purchase agreement or PCP as a way of paying for your car. The main difference between a personal loan and a PCP is that with a loan you borrow the money, pay for your car, and own it immediately.
With a PCP, you don’t own the car, you are hiring it for a period of time, typically 3-5 years. You only own it when you make the final payment. T his is impor tant because if you were to run into financial difficulty during your PCP, unlike a loan, you cannot sell the car to pay off your debt. 4. Do you know your rights if you buy from a trader compared to a private seller? If you buy from a dealer you have the option of car finance, a warranty, and you have some protection under consumer law. For instance, it is an offence for a dealer to sell a car that is not roadworthy or provide you with misleading information about the car such as any repair work needed etc. If you are dealing with a trader ask if they are part of a trade association, for example the Society of Irish Motor Industry (SIMI). This requires them to follow certain business standards.
If you buy from a dealer you have the option of car finance, a warranty, and you have some protection under consumer law
Visit www.consumerhelp.ie for more information on what to look out for before you buy a car, including a car purchase checklist. If you buy privately, you do not have the same consumer rights because the person selling the car is not acting as a business. 5. Have you checked the condition of the car? Always check the mileage on the odometer, if it seems low compared
to the condition of the car investigate. You can find out more about car clocking on www.consumerhelp.ie. 6. Have you investigated the car’s history? You can check the history of the car on websites such as www.cartell. ie, www.motorcheck.ie or www.mywheels.ie for a small fee. All Society of Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) dealers have access to a car history check service.
Also, make sure you check that the car is not under any existing finance agreement. Hire Purchase Inform a t i o n L t d ke e p s records of cars subject to hire purchase agreements, so check if they have details of the car on file. For more advice when buying a car check out www.consumerhelp.ie fergal o’leary Director of Communications and Consumer Help
Sheds’ Strollers take a walk for charity A group of casual walkers called the Sheds’ Strollers will do a special walk for charity next week in aid of St Michael’s House. The Sheds’ Strollers meet every week in Connolly’s The Sheds pub in Clontarf. The charity walk, which takes place on September 6, 2015, at 11am, is a historical walk of
Clontarf under the direction of well-known tour guide and historian Pat Liddy of Walking Tours Dublin. The walk will start at the Alfie Byrne Chair, at the Fairview end of the promenade near Clontarf Dart Station, and it will then proceed along the promenade to Clontarf Village (Vernon Ave-
nue). Pat Liddy will regale walkers with stories about the many historical points of this ancient part of Dublin city. To register for the walk, contact Michael Coyne on 0872843448. Registration is €10 per person with a special family rate of €20 for two people or more.
3 September 2015 Gazette 15
Gazette
features A spookily wise woman visits National Leprechaun Museum The Cailleach, the ancient hag of wisdom in Irish Folklore, is set to return to The National Leprechaun Museum for the season of Samhain. This Halloween Dubliners are invited to visit the witch in her lair underneath the museum; the original site of the Jervis Street Morgue. The Cailleach will be available for adult-only visits every Friday and Saturday night after 6.30pm in September and October with under-18
Maura Twomey (59) broke the world record for the oldest Irish person to swim the English Channel
world record: Walkinstown woman swims for niece
Maura crosses Channel and smashes record
Aisling Kennedy
A Walk instown woman broke the world record for the oldest Irish person to swim the English Channel recently and she did it in aid of the charity, Build4Life Cystic Fibrosis. Maura Twomey (59), who now lives in Boston, USA decided to swim the Channel after a discussion she had with her sister-inlaw about her nephew who has the condition. Twomey explained: “My sister-in-law told me about my niece and her son who had cystic fibrosis and how hard it was for them. “It took longer than it should have for him to be diagnosed and she told me that they were raising money for Build4Life and Cork University Hospital.
That was the moment when I said maybe I could swim the Channel for them if I worked hard enough.” Twomey then set about getting advice on how she would go about swimming the English Channel as even though she was an avid swimmer since her teens she knew that it would be a massive undertaking. “I asked a swimming coach I knew in Cork and she gave me a lot of advice on how I should go about training for the swim.” Twomey began swimming 30-40 km per week, took up yoga classes and completed Crossfit training. She then attended the Sandycove Island Swim Club camp last July where she completed an intensive course of swims daily
and since then she has continued to increase her endurance and training throughout the year. On July 10 this year, Twomey entered the water and swam from Samphire Hoe beach in Dover to Petite Blanc Nez on the French coast. She completed the swim in 16 hours and 23 minutes. She drank mostly liquid herbs mixed with blackcurrant juice, orange juice and half warm water to counteract the cold water. She also ate half a banana every so often. She never stopped swimming once because if she stopped kicking her legs it would not be counted as a full swim. Twomey explains: “I was very lucky to get sunny conditions for my
swim. The water could’ve been choppy and messy but thank God none of that happened. “I was so deeply happy when I finished the swim. I just stood there like a stunned person, I was just dumbstruck that I did it. Sometimes I think about it and say ‘Did I really do that?’ “I’m proud that I did it and my family were so supportive of me. I wasn’t going out to prove I could do it, I just wanted to do it for the charity and I’m delighted that it all went so well.” So far Twomey has raised over €27,000 for Build4Life. If you would like to donate to the Build4Life Cystic Fibrosis charity log onto http://www. mycharity.ie/event/maurasenglishchannelswim
visits from Friday, October 23 to Sunday, November 1 before 6.30pm. Youngsters who can’t wait until then, can venture into the witch’s lair on Culture Night, Friday, September, 18. The festival of Samhain, summer’s end, celebrates life, death, and life beyond death. The Cailleach Bhearra is the divine hag of Ireland she appears across the island from the Beara peninsula in Cork to Slieve Gullion in Armagh, the cliffs
of Moher in Clare and Loughcrew in Meath. According to the Leprechaun Museum: “The Cailleach is the ancient mother of all Ireland. She is referred to often from medieval times, but her presence stretches back to a much earlier time, a time before books and writing. Across the land rocks and cairns, tombs and graves are her seats, her beds and her homes.” For more information visit: www.leprechaunmuseum.ie/
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16 Gazette 3 September 2015
dublinlife
magical musical: Love me tender takes to the stage
Shaun’s shook up delivering the King’s hits Ian Begley
After a 10-year gig as Barry in EastEnders, unforgettable appearances in Ricky Gervais’s Extras and leading roles in a ton of West End shows, Shaun Williamson is back and starring
in Bord Gais Energy T heatre’s upcoming production, Love Me Tender. The musical, inspired by the music of Elvis Presley, features 25 of his best-loved songs including The Devil in Disguise, Hound Dog,
Blue Suede Shoes and All Shook Up. Williamson plays Jim, a widower and resident of “heartbreak hotel”, who might just have one last chance at love. Speaking to The Gazette, Williamson said he was very much
looking for ward to coming to Dublin to mark the last week of the show’s tour. “I’d never worked in a theatre in Dublin before, but I’ve been there quite a few times for a number of TV appearances. “I think the most important thing to note about the show is that Elvis isn’t even in it. It’s simply a feel good musical based on the songs of the rock-and-roll legend. “It’s set in the most depressed town ever in midwest America where nobody’s happy. One day a stranger turns up in a leather jacket and a motorbike – an Elvis personality by the name of Chad, and once he turns up a lot of crazy stuff starts happening. “In total, I’m involved in about eight songs, including a few duets with Chad himself. Luckily, we’ve got about 10 very fit dancers on stage which means that I don’t have to move about so much.” This production is a million miles away from his role in EastEnders which, Williamson admits, he doesn’t really miss. “It’s been 11 years since I’ve been in EastEnders which is crazy and I don’t really miss it because I did it for 10 years. “I went into drama school very late at the
Actor Shaun Williamson is starring in Bord Gais Energy Theatre’s upcoming production, Love Me Tender. Picture: Johan Persson
age of 27 and once I finished I got a part in the show. “Once my time came to an end on the show at 40 I hadn’t had much acting experience elsewhere so I was determined to do some work on stage. I have been very lucky since then and have done about 25 shows over the past 11 years.” Asked if he gets a lot of people still seeing him solely as “Barry” – the same way his character was on Ricky Gervais’s hit sitcom Extras, Williamson said that it
happens regularly but does not affect him. “Extras was a very funny show. On one level it carried on the stereotype of me being Barry, but to be honest I don’t mind it and never regret doing it. “It was great fun working with R icky Gervais and Steve Merchant so I owe them a lot. “EastEnders is a terrific show, but Ricky Gervais and Steve Merchant are comedy legends so to get a chance working with them was really great.”
He says he doesn’t keep in touch with the comedic pair: “Not really. We don’t go out for drinks or anything like that because they’re just so busy. Ricky is a workaholic and hops from one project to another and Steve is now in the West End himself.” Love me Tender takes place at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre from September 21 to 26 with tickets costing €25 to €50. See bordgaisenergytheatre.ie for more information.
3 September 2015 Gazette 17
travel P20
asdfsdaf P27 cinema P22
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
Gazette
style P18
Pets extra love for extra lovable Spencer
The Moscow State Circus show has been garnering a huge amount of praise in the UK – and it’s coming to Ireland. Catch it while you can...
families: moscow state circus set to delight with its return to the rds
You’ll go Russian to a show keith bellew
THE world-renowned Moscow State Circus comes to the RDS with its latest offering from September 4 to 13. Unlike US-style circuses with animals jumping through flaming hoops to the crack of a whip, the Moscow State Circus is an artistic show performed to a theme or storyline. The latest show, which is billed as their best, to date, is based on the Russian folklore story of Cvetik-Semicvetik, or “The flower with seven colours”, by Valentin Petrovich Katayev, where each colour represents a wish. Speaking to The Gazette, circus director Paul Archer discussed the storyline of the show.
“It’s a brand-new show that we’re bringing to Dublin since we were last in town two years ago. “The story revolves around a girl who is granted these wishes during the course of the performance and uses these wishes for personal gain and personal desires. She wants the biggest popcorn in the world, for example,” he said. Other frivolous selfish wishes granted to the girl include a hula-hoop and a gingerbread man. However, she goes on to redeem herself with her final wish. “Finally, it gets to the end of the show, and she’s got one wish left and she really sees the light and wants to make a sick boy be able to walk again.
“He’s on crutches at the start of the show and he’s hobbling around. She not only makes him better, but he performs one of the acts to finish the show off,” said Archer. He added that the show has a good moral behind it, namely, it’s not what you have, but who you are, what you can do, and what you can give to people that counts.
Impressive Archer went on to outline some of the amazing acts to be seen at the show, one of the most impressive of which is Eliza Khachutryan, who performs amazing feats on the highwire. “We’ve got a high-wire act this year
with a girl doing the whole act in ballerina points, and she does amazing tricks. “We’ve got the Russian bar, the springboard, the amazing roller skating act, the clowns, the trapeze people and lots of other things; it’s a full twohour live show for the audience and it’s suitable for all ages. “Because of the training that they have undergone, they are the creme de la creme of circus acts anywhere in the world,” he said, adding that the show has been met with a huge amount of praise so far in the UK. The Moscow State Circus will perform at the RDS for one week from September 4. For further information, see www.moscowstatecircus.com/.
The Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs. Our Dog of the Week is Spencer, a two-year-old pit bull/shar pei cross. Spencer was in a really bad way when he arrived at Dogs Trust from the pound. He had bad mange and was really malnourished. We have been doing our very best to feed Spencer an enriched diet to build up his strength, as well as regular medicated baths to help his skin. Even though he has had a terrible start to life, Spencer is an absolute sweetheart, and we really would love to find him the most loving home. If you think you could offer Spencer a loving home 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.
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18 Gazette 3 September 2015
OUT&ABOUT 182 Cape coat €
nch €208 Longline belted wool tre
Baby doll dress €63
Cascade multi-chain necklace €100
Green pendant €45
own skirt Faux zip d
irt €104 Suede mini sk
€52
Ladies’ round white watch €35
Rose petal bangle €39
Newbridge Silverwear’s new Floral Collection offers some classic, timeless elegance
Double buckle 60s boots €124
autumn/winter with
Warehouse mimi murray
Cable jumper €60
ered dress €375
are set to become a huge trend this season. This sophisticated trend would be perfectly paired with Newbridge Silverware’s timeless Lily Of The Valley Necklace (€60). This silverplated, glass beaded necklace would add an extra touch of class to any uber-elegant outfit. The full 2015 Newbridge Silverware range can be viewed and purchased in selected stockists nationwide, at the Newbridge Silverware Showrooms, County Kildare, or online at www.newbridgesilverware.com. For more information, call 045 431 301, and like Newbridge Silverware on Facebook at www. facebook.com/newbridgesilverware for news on upcoming events.
roid Leather emb
FOUR clear trends have emerged for A/W 15 from the world’s biggest designers: glitter and sequins, ladylike tweed, the return of bold colour and Victorian frills. Be both on trend and have some fun this autumn/winter with Newbridge Silverware’s Floral Collection. This beautiful, silverplated floral-inspired range includes pendants, bangles, bracelets and earrings. In particular, the floral pendant with clear stone (€40) and matching floral bangle with clear stone (€45) feature a unique etching design, resembling glitterwhen it catches the late evening sun. At Paris Fashion Week, ladylike tweed skirt suits sashayed down the catwalk and
Leather pointed boots €97
THE season continues its retrograde path as the Seventies obsession continues its reign. Working with a strong palette of black and deep navy, punctuated with caramel, ochre and hints of wine, texture is key to Warehouse’s A/W15 collection. Toni Morden, head of design at Warehouse, says: “The collection was inspired by the streets of New York in the 1970s; from the uptown girls of Madison to the Harlem hustlers. “The style channels the attitude of the Seventies’ most irreverent music heroines, including Kate Bush, Janis Joplin and Stevie Nicks.” The clothing range is available in store through to October.
3 September 2015 GAZETTE 19
GAZETTE
STYLE
Nuxe is a knockout!
(L) Rib dress €88; (R) Zip front dress €72
MIMI MURRAY
I RECENTLY started using the new Splendieuse Serum from Nuxe, and I am loving this product! It’s from the Radiance Activating Anti Dark Spot Skincare Range, which promises to give even, luminous skin with no dark spots. Apparently, 100% of women who tested it want to continue using it – and I can see why ... It’s available now, priced €38.
Be on track for the latest in fashion with ‘the GlamTram’
Ribbed lurex polo €52
Stripe dress €47
Unlined leather and suede panel shopper €50
DUBLINTOWN has teamed up with Luas to announce an exciting element to this year’s Dublin Fashion Festival – the Dublin Fashion Festival Luas #GlamTram. On Friday, September 11, from 1 to 3pm, Luas will host a very glam event as part of the fashion festival. Guests will enjoy an afternoon of free mini makeovers, courtesy of Boots No 7 and Tony and Guy, along with delicious canapes and mocktails, thanks to Mao and TGI Fridays. In addition to the Dublin Fashion Festival #GlamTram, Luas will be on the lookout for the most fashionably-dressed passengers throughout the week of the festival, with its Style Spotter competition offering lots of prizes. Cara Moloney, marketing manager of Transport Infrastructure Ireland said: “Luas is delighted to support this year’s Dublin Fashion
Festival, Ireland’s biggest fashion event. Luas is a key part of the city’s infrastructure and will transport festival attendees to the many events in the city centre over the week-long festival.” Clyde Carroll, director of marketing for DublinTown, and festival director, said: “Each year, the festival gets bigger and more exciting than the last and we are delighted to be celebrating the first ever week-long festival with an exciting activity such as the Luas #GlamTram, proving Dublin’s style stature amidst the ranks of the world’s fashion capitals.” For the latest festival news, including fashion shows, in-store events and booking information, see Dublin Fashion Festival’s website at www.dff.ie, or follow it on Facebook (at http:// www.facebook.com/ DublinFashionFestival), Twitter (@DublinFashion), or Instagram (@DublinFashion).
GAZETTE
20 GAZETTE 3 September 2015
OUT&ABOUT
TRAVEL
DUBLIN: CASTLEKNOCK HOTEL AND COUNTRY CLUB
Celebrating 10 years of stylish accommodation JESSICA MAILE
THESE days having a business thrive for 10 years is definitely something worth celebrating and Castleknock Hotel and Country Club invited me to help them do just that. This oasis just outside of Dublin city ticks all the right boxes for business and for pleasure. The Castleknock Hotel and Country Club has modern conference rooms, a relaxing spa, spacious rooms, fine dining and, of course, a great place to play a round of golf. I had the chance to explore the facility’s new state-of-the-art meeting room, The Thinking Factory. This colourful room is the perfect environment for a team-building session or a bit of brainstorming and is just filled with modern technology. The Tonic Health and Day Spa was next on the menu and it offers a range of soothing therapies to help you relax. There is even a double room so you and your partner can relax together as you both enjoy your treatment. Afterwards, a dip in the
The Castleknock Hotel and Country Club is celebrating its 10th anniversary
18m swimming pool and jacuzzi was a must while trying to decide whether to continue relaxation mode in the sauna or steam room. A s e ve n i n g approached, the Lime Tree Bar spilled its secrets with a hands-on class in the art of making the perfect cocktail and there is many a tasty tipple to be found here. This is the residents’ bar and can also be used for private receptions. Finally, it was time to enter the Park Restaurant and enjoy the range of food on offer from this AA Rosette awardwinning restaurant. The four-course meal was splendid starting with pulled ham terrine, starter of goat’s cheese mousse, main course of trio of duck and a delightful dessert sampler that certainly satisfied my sweet tooth. After an exhausting day of a deep neck and back massage, swimming and relaxing in the spa, I was happy to retreat to my bedroom and sink into my large, cosy bed. For more information on the Castleknock Hotel and Countr y Club’s 10th Birthday packages, see w w w. castleknockhotel.com.
Iceland boasts numerous natural wonders and stunning scenery, as well as capital city Reykjavik (pictured)
LAND OF FIRE AND ICE: WOW PROVIDING LOW-COST DIRECT FLIGHTS
Now is the time to explore Iceland’s untamed beauty IAN BEGLEY ibegley@dublingazette.com
THERE could not be a better time for Irish tourists travelling to Iceland, as direct flights to Reykjavik are now as little as €79 each way. This June, Icelandic airline WOW started p r ov i d i n g l ow- c o s t direct flights from Dublin to Reykjavik, saving hundreds of euros for those wishing to explore this vast and beautiful country. Known as the Land of Fire and Ice, there are not many places in the world which have such contrasting dramatic landscapes as Iceland with the city of Reykjavik, as well as numerous
natural wonders and stunning scenery. From the Blue Lagoon to spouting geysers, glaciers and fjords, it is a mesmerising country just waiting to be explored. Iceland is one of few places in the world where it is possible to see the amazing Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights - a natural light phenomenon. The country’s unusual and versatile landscape with its black volcanic beaches, waterfalls, bird cliffs, volcanoes, glaciers and hot springs is sure to excite even the most seasoned tourist. One of the must-do activities in Iceland is to explore the inside of
a real volcano. This tour will let you travel down deep inside the dormant Thrihnukagigur volcano through an opening just wide enough for a window cleaner’s pulley lift, to get people in and out. The Inside the Volcano Iceland day tour from €256pp is a great mix of nature, history and adventure. It features a hike across the moonscape of the ragged lava field, and great views across Reykjavik, From €59pp you can take a dip in the world’s favourite volcanic spa, the Blue Lagoon, and soak all your stresses away. The Blue Lagoon
water contains a unique cocktail of natural mineral ingredients which help you relax and unwind while the Blue Lagoon white silica mud gently cleanses and exfoliates your skin. For €146, you can visit a real-life glacier and experience raw nature in a winter wonderland of ice sculptures, ridges and deep crevasses. You’ll take off eastwards out of Reykjavik where you’ll see the unforgettable Eyjafjallajokull glacier after about two hours on the road. You may remember that name because of the 2010 eruption which shut down air travel in all of Europe.
To make the most out of your trip to Iceland, the Northern Lights tour is without a doubt a must-do. T h i s t o u r, f r o m €49pp, will take you aw ay f r o m t h e c i t y lights so that you can observe the sky without light pollution. Visit wowair.ie for more information on direct f lights to Iceland. Irish travel companies Travel Department and Click and Go are also providing holiday package deals to Iceland in some of the country’s top hotels. For more information, visit www.traveldepartment.ie or www.clickandgo.ie.
3 September 2015 Gazette 21
Base (Terenure) Fresh mozzarella, Italian cherry tomatoes, pecorino romano, prosciutto di parma, fresh basil, drizzled with garlic oil €10.50 for the 9.5”; €14.50 for the 13”
Paulies Pizza at Juniors (Bath Avenue, Ballsbridge) Butternut squash puree, pancetta, parmesan, mozzarella, rocket, black pepper and grated goat’s cheese €15
Gazette
FOOD&DRINK BITESIZEDNEWS
Some of the wonderful wines that Aldi have selected to complement late summer gatherings
Take5
Say ‘oui, oui’ to Aldi’s French wine selection DiFontanes (22 Parliament St, Dublin 2) The Little Italy: Sausage, peppers and onion 20inch €22 (Slices from €3)
mimi murray
KIDS and adults alike love it. It goes great with an ice cold beer, a glass of vino or a Coke. There’s no greater comfort food than pizza! No wonder there are so many pizza joints in any city you go to in the world. This week, The Gazette checked out five of the best pizzas in Dublin. From deep pan (not a favourite of mine) to thin and crispy, we have it covered. From a classic margherita to more unusual toppings such as pulled pork and bechamel sauce, we’ve seen it all placed on top of a pizza, and here are five of our favourites. Have we missed anywhere? Let us know on the Gazette Newspaper’s Facebook page, or on Twitter at @DublinGazette. Next month, we will be unveiling the best fish and chips in the city.
Credo (19 Montague St, Dublin 2) Goat’s cheese, caramelised red onion, black olives, crushed walnuts, tomato sauce, mozzarella, finished with extra virgin olive oil; vegetarian; nuts €15.50 12”
Manifesto (Rathmines) The Manifesto €16
THE Aldi French Wine Sale is now in full swing, bringing customers 13 expertly picked wines that represent the best variety across six of France’s most notable wine producing regions: Alsace, Burgundy, Loire, Bordeaux, Languedoc and the Rhone. From robust reds to wonderfully crisp whites priced from €6.99, there is a French wine for everyone and suiting deep to shallow pockets. From the “incredibly clean” Alsace Riesling (€9.49) to the “rich and spicy” Exquisite Collection Crozes-Hermitage (€12.99), the selection is ideal for this time of the year. Some of the wines selected for Aldi French Wine Sale include the following ... Alsace Riesling (Alsace) 2014, €9.49: This Riesling (one of Alsace’s “noble” grapes) has aromas dominated by lime. On the palate, it is incredibly clean and has an edginess to it that reflects the grapes’ acidity. It is delicious on its own or with seafood dishes. Domaine du Roure de Paulin Pouilly-Fuisse 2014 (Burgundy), €15.99: Made from chardonnay, this wine has subtle acacia flower and vanilla notes, crisp citrusy lemon, quince-spice and stone fruits. It is delicious when served with poultry or rich fish dishes. Cotes de Beaune Villages (Burgundy), €14.99: Using only the pinot noir grape, this wine is typically light in colour with bright red berry fruits, some subtle meaty-savoury notes, and a hint of spice on the finish. Perfect served with roast lamb. Chateau de Nety, Beaujolais-Villages (Burgundy), €8.99: Chateau de Nety produces a typically fruity and vivacious style wine. Perfect when served slightly chilled with cold meats, roast chicken or tuna dishes. Chateau Pindefleurs, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2011 (Bordeaux), €18.99: An extremely elegant wine which, after 12 months spent in French oak, becomes increasingly apparent on the midpalate and helps achieve a long and complex finish. Serve at room temperature with red meats.
Gazette
22 Gazette 3 September 2015
OUT&ABOUT
CINEMA
ReelReviews
sinister 2
Spookily effective fare BUILDING on the lore of its predecessor, Sinister 2 (Cert 16, 97 mins) takes a fairly standard horror trope – sinister spirit and cohorts terrorise a normal family – and delivers, well, nothing new, really. However, despite a few curious points (such as a comparatively amiable leading man), Sinister 2 delivers a reasonably entertaining spookfest that could deliver a fine sequel.
hitman: agent 47 Misses the target
BASED on the popular series of computer games, Hitman: Agent 47 (Cert 15A, 96 mins) has just about as much depth as the hit franchise it’s based on, but lacks some of its mischief. Rupert Friend does just fine as everyone’s favourite bald-headed assassin, but the muddled plot, some dodgy CGI and an underwhelming premise just don’t do the source material justice. Sorry, 47.
inside out
Practically perfect Pixar AUDIENCES are still flocking to Inside Out (Cert G, 102 mins), Pixar’s latest charming film for all ages. Following a young girl’s inner emotional life – expressed through some archetypical characters found in everybody’s head, such as Joy, Anger, Sadness – this charming film has some surprising depths, providing real food for thought behind the vibrant visuals.
Director John Erick Dowdle’s action thriller stars Owen Wilson and Lake Bell
action: American tourists fight for their lives during a violent uprising
No escaping the controversy Relentless action m ov i e N o E s c a p e tells the stor y of an American family who move to somewhere in South East Asia, only to become the quarry in a nerve-jangling game of cat and mouse. Jack (Owen Wilson), Annie (Lake Bell), and their two girls move to start work on a water purification project but their toothy smiles and perennial optimism are dulled momentarily when they become caught up in the midst of a violent coup. Trapped inside their hotel, and with a crowd baying for their blood, the family must find a way to safety – while the audience faces more of a moral dilemma. Written and directed
Dave phillips
by the Dowdle brothers (who brought us some enjoyable found footage horror in Quarantine, and As Above So Below) No Escape brings along a lot of the trappings of the horror genre: the action is violent and visceral, the tension is at times palpable, and the casting is highly questionable. Bell (who was perfectly cast earlier this year in rom-com Man Up) unfor tunately doesn’t bring much to the meagre role. It’s hard to fault Bell
in fairness, as Annie’s range of actions – running, jumping, worrying – seem to be interjected at random into the screenplay. Pierce Brosnan also gets thrown into the mix, channelling David Bowie after decades of substance abuse, Brosnan’s Hammond is a repeat visitor to South East Asia whose dodgy underwo r l d c o n n e c t i o n s come in handy when things start to go awry. And f or a Ta kenstyled thriller, Owen Wilson seems out of place among the incessant violence. For future reference, Owen Wilson is made for poignantly wandering around colourful Wes Anderson films, hamming it up on the
catwalks of Zoolander, or quietly mourning pets. And while the character of Jack is a softly-softly kind of guy who just wants the best for his family, it does starts to become farcical once they are all in the thick of it. “Don’t worry, nobody is going to die” he – Wilson – whispers to Bell at one point towards the end of the movie, when they have both watched, oh, at least 50 or 60 people perish before their very eyes. Of course, he meant “none of us nice Americans are going to die” – which brings us to the audience’s dilemma. On one hand, you can watch No Escape as an exciting and brainless action movie with a high body count.
But on the other hand, you can watch No Escape as a film that depicts South East Asia as a hostile and savage place, with every possible stereotype included on screen within the opening 15 minutes: “Welcome to the Third World,” says Jack sardonically when they check into their hotel room and find that none of the appliances works properly, “more like Fourth World” replies Annie. While it was shot in Thailand, No Escape never explicitly states what country the story is set in, though there are implications that it is set in Cambodia – where the film is currently banned. Devoid of the contro-
versy surrounding it, No Escape is a competent throwback to action movie days of yore, but it is impossible to separate the film and its place in history. The problem is that No Escape not only falls short in a moral sense, it is also falls short when set beside the great action movies of the last decade like Taken, The Raid, or Mad Max. Unw i t t i n g l y, N o Escape has prompted a discussion about how race and location should be represented on screen, and aside from 100 minutes of distraction, perhaps that is the best thing it has to offer.
Verdict: 4/10
3 September 2015 GAZETTE 23
GAZETTE
HEALTH Still plenty of running left in the season
Psychological skills have been shown to be as important as physical prowess in sporting achievement
TIPS: WORKING WITH THE MENTAL ASPECTS OF SPORTING SKILL
Training mind as well as the body hones that edge HOW often do we hear spor ting disappointments explained by reference to an athlete’s frame of mind, rather than fitness, ability or talent? “His nerves got to him on the day”; “she didn’t believe she could do it”; “he was psyched out by the competition”. The discipline of sports psychology has evolved in response to the need for a professional approach to working with the mental and emotional aspects of sporting skill. It provides tips for harnessing the mind’s power mind for optimal performance. The following are a few of those tips. Develop confidence with SMART goals
Belief in oneself is crucial to success. Setting and achieving goals builds a foundation of confidence over time. SMART goals are specif-
ic (for example running three times a week for half an hour each time), measurable (so you can chart your progress), attainable (so that you have a sense of achievement), relevant (so they are meaningful to you) and timed (set within a realistic timeframe). Recognise and counteract negative thinking
At some point, everyone will in their sporting life experience anxiety, loss of confidence, demoralisation and the feeling of wanting to give up. What singles out the winners is the ability to transform these debilitating feelings into ones that motivate and inspire. Be aware of selfcriticism (“I didn’t train hard enough”), excuses (“I’m tired today”), catastrophising (“I haven’t a hope”) and self-handicapping (“I’m just not as
fit as everyone else”). These thoughts must be banished as soon as they appear. “Thought stopping” means acknowledging a negative thought and then leaving it behind. When running, this can be reinforced by brushing the thought away just as sweat is brushed off your brow and then visualising it lying behind you on the road or track. Develop positive self-talk
Once the negative thought has been cast aside, it needs to be replaced with a positive, motivating one, such as “I know I can do it!” or “Here we go!”. These affirm your belief in yourself and your ability to achieve. Phrases need to be convincing – different ones work for different people – and practised regularly so they can be called on to eliminate
Maeve Halpin
self doubt and negativity instantly. Know how “fired up” you need to be
Being overan xious before an event will detract from performance, but being too relaxed can also be detrimental. Research shows that performance is best at a moderate level of arousal or activation. Again, this varies from person to person. To raise your arousal level, listen to up-tempo music
or have a high-intensity warm-up to stimulate your hear t rate and blood flow. Alternatively, to calm anxious nerves, listen to calming music and practise slow, deep breathing. Engage in activities that take your mind off the upcoming challenge. Being able to moderate your arousal level as required brings a sense of control and selfreliance. Psychological skills have been shown to be as important as physical prowess in sporting achievement. Training the mind as well as the body can give you the edge over your competitors on the big day.
IT may be almost over but summer still has some worthwhile events to sign up to. If you have been training consistently through the season, undoubtedly you’re still planning on getting a few more races under your belt. Two of the most recent that I took part in occurred over the same weekend. The Frank Duffy 10-mile road race in Phoenix Park, August 25 was the third event in the Airtricity Dublin Marathon Series. A Sub-70 (one hour and 10 minutes) was my plan for the run. With my Garmin watch fully charged, I checked regularly that I was on target, thus ensuring a sub-seven minute mile. You really don’t want to go off like a rocket and ruin your chances of a personal best, but it is tempting when the gun goes. I’m guilty of it too. So having a Garmin watch (Forerunner 310XT for me, see below) helps you control your pace. It has all I need to help plan, store, and analyse detailed training data. It is also durable and waterproof – great for multisports. The day was humid. Civil Defence volunteers hosed people down en route – how welcome was that! I may have struggled on the last strait but I finished the 10 miles with a PB of 1:06:22. Over 4,000 runners took part so there were lots of personal bests – always good to hear. Hopefully, there will be many more Frank Duffy 2015 races to come. For all of you aiming for the Dublin half marathon, good luck!
Downpour does little to dampen triathlon spirits A FAVOURITE race on the Triathlon Ireland calendar was the Dublin City Triathlon which took place on August 26. The Olympic distance race consists of a 1.5km swim – 40km bike – 10km run. The Super Sprint distance race includes a 500m swim – 16km bike – 4km run. I’ve completed this a number of times and every year it is superbly organised. The goodie bags, the marshalls, the competitors, the food and after-race atmosphere – incomparable. Unfortunately the weather was an unmitigated downpour which I guess is perfect weather for a swim but made it difficult for the cycle. No matter. Cold and wet as we were, the ice cream van serving a free soft scoop at finishing line was a welcome surprise because we had earned it! Dublin City Triathlon – see you in 2016!
Maeve Halpin is a
registered counselling psychologist and editor / co-author of How to be Happy and Healthy, the Seven Natural Elements of Mental Health, published by Ashfield Press
DCT, Phoenix Park — Photo by Europcar
GAZETTE
24 GAZETTE 3 September 2015
OUT&ABOUT
MUSIC
DUBLIN DATE: PROMOTING NEW ALBUM
Well up for a show at The Workman’s Club KEITH BELLEW
AUGUST Wells will perform live at The Workman’s Club on Sunday, September 13, as part of a tour to promote their first album: A Living and a Dying Game. This week The Gazette spoke with band member Ken Griffin who first gained notoriety for his role in New York band Rollerskate Skinny. Although a native Dubliner, Griffin has spent many years in the Big Apple, immersing himself in the music scene there. He said this latest endeavour had a different sound to that which fans of his previous work will be used to. “For me it’s like a continual tweaking and trying to get better at what I do. The original band I was with was Rollerskate Skinny and we were very experimental and noise based, with a huge wall of sound kind of thing. This is more intricate and intimate I think,” he said. There are no drums on the album, he says, so when you listen to it you really have to just surrender yourself to it.
While there are no drums, one very interesting instrument that features on the album is the ominous French horn, played by Louis Schwadron. “Louis’s a good friend of mine, who’s played with tons of people like Radiohead, Polyphonic Spree, people like that. “It’s kind of a strange instrument it takes up a lot of room, I call it a landscape instrument. “We used trumpet and saxophone in places, to try to take advantage of the fact that there’s so many amazing musicians in New York,” he said. Speaking about the production of the album, Griffin said: “It’s eight songs. We home recorded it last year and mixed it in a big studio in New York, so that kind of gave us room to experiment with different musicians and overdubs and stuff. We recorded the vocals, guitar and piano live.” The latest single from A Living and a Dying Game, Come On In Out of That Night, will be released on September 4. For more information on August Wells at The Workman’s visit: theworkmansclub.com
August Wells will perform live at The Workman’s Club on Sunday, September 13
For their latest offering, What Went Down, Foals retreated to the south of France to record in a rural 19th-century mill. Picture: Neil Krug
FOALS: MELANCHOLY ALBUM FOUR DOESN’T DISAPPOINT
Beautiful pops songs add to band’s arsenal COLM MURRAY
FOR album four, What We n t D ow n , F o a l s teamed up with producer James Ford (Arctic Monkeys, Florence and The Machine, Jessie Ware, Mumford and Sons) and retreated to the south of France to record in a rural 19th-century mill. The result is a primal, sometimes harrowing album of extremes – touching the depths of madness while creating some of the most beautiful pop songs the band have ever written. Lyrically, lead singer Yannis Philippakis deals with themes of cultural identity, generational anxiety, cynicism, pessimism and heartbreak; “I wanted to tap into my inner madman and feel like I was channelling some sort of fevered creature.” Famously provocative, Philippakis is quick-
witted with a razor-sharp tongue. Every record has been an affirmation of the band’s big time potential and they have only taken steps in the right direction. 2013’s Holy Fire was a fire-breathing monster, but it was mostly defined by the big tunes within – Inhaler and My Number. Two songs raising the bar to new heights. But as it turns out these are not one trick ponies. What Went Down thinks bigger and hits harder than its predecessors – and the ambience of the studio certainly lends to the finished work. And it does sound huge. What Went Down is a festival headliners’ album: 10 songs tailored for massive crowds, massive speakers and the kind of magical collective euphoria that sparks when everyone’s tanked up, loved up and covered in mud. Close your eyes
and you can see last summer’s Electric Picnic epic light show. A monster of a track, What Went Down is a statement of intent and should cement Foals’ position as one of Britain’s most illustrious bands. What Went Down is the most visceral song from Foals to date – it signals the return of a band who made their name in 2006 playing at house parties, and who, six years later, in 2013, morphed into festival headliners. Mountain at My Gates follows with a slight shift in gears but no less intensity from vocalist Philippakis. The production qualities really shine through here and neat signature guitar melodies dovetailing nicely into the chorus – a real master in song writing. There are no bouncy pop hits like My Number to keep things brisk (Night Swimmers comes
closest). Instead it’s all sound and fury – enough to make anyone a bit nostalgic for the old Foals. Remember the perky riffs? The songs about mathletics? The tennis shorts? Instead, Philippakis exercises his demons on the rough and searing Albatross but just falling short of what could have been the album’s finest moment. Not unexpectedly, Foals go for the big finish with A Knife in the Ocean (nearly seven minutes). The track has a more settled feel. If What Went down is madness then this is acceptance, a track to lose yourself in. Yet again Foals deliver a sumptuous album of beautifully crafted songs against a backdrop of melancholy and deathly juggernauts. If they didn’t already have enough songs in their arsenal to top festival bills, they’ve just added 10 more.
3 September 2015 GAZETTE 25
GAZETTE
GAMING
WEEBYTES
These teenagers won $6m playing DOTA2
Evil Geniuses win $6m for killing dragon KILLING a virtual dragon had a very real result for five teenagers recently, who scooped the top prize of $6.63m about €5.9m) at a global esports final. The Pakistani members of Evil Geniuses defeated China in DOTA 2, a hugely popular (and potentially lucrative) game. Millions of people watched their every move online as the teams battled it out, with a particularly tough dragon as their ultimate target. The prize fund exceeds the value of contests like the Tour de France.
SHANE DILLON
THE Chinese Room’s PlayStation 4 exclusive, Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture (EGTTR), was
released recently to international critical acclaim – and a little derision, too. Set in the mid-1980s in a small English village, birds sing in the trees, the sun shines brightly, flowers nod in the wind – and everybody, every-
where is gone, not just from Yaughton, but from the entire world, it seems. Criticised by a few detractors as a glorified “walk-em-up”, you wander around deserted Yaughton, exploring its homes and businesses, and seeing signs of abruptly stopped human activity – but nobody is left to tell you what happened. Well, almost nobody.
As you explore, mysterious darting golden balls and spirals of light occasionally lead you to key places and moments in the village’s recent past, briefly giving glimpses of the missing locals, several of whom you come to know well as you eavesdrop on snatches of their conversation from their final hours. By hearing and observ-
ing these ordinary people facing increasingly extraordinary events, the game slowly draws the gamer into a world full of all kinds of emotion and reactions as you piece together what happened. Here, you can see a little of Yaughton’s preserved prettiness, with the village representing one of the best-looking locales in all of gaming.
CREATING MUSIC FOR THE END OF THE WORLD WHILE many games still have pretty derivative soundtracks, there are several highly-lauded composers working in the medium, as is the case with EGTTR’s composer, Jessica Curry. The Bafta-nominated British composer has an impressive track record, and for this game she faced a challenge of creating a soundtrack that was quintessentially English, yet also eerie and timeless. As if that wasn’t enough of a chal-
lenge, she had to create a score that could be organically chopped up and blended together, to suit each player’s unpredictable journey around Yaughton and its environs. Happily, the final work was another striking success for Curry, as she has created a highly pastoral work that blends a classical-sounding score with beautiful choral work. In fact, her soundtrack created an unexpected controversy – it was
briefly ranked number eight in the British classical artist album charts – no mean feat for “just” a game soundtrack – before the powers that be reclassified her work, significantly altering its positioning. For those looking to give their ears a treat, the soundtrack is available to buy as a digital download, or on CD, from Amazon and other music providers, and can also be listened to on several social media sites.
Angry Birds staff layoffs ALTHOUGH Rovio has a big budget Angry Birds animated movie coming out in 2016, the developer has just announced significant redundancies. The developer has announced 260 job losses – some 38% of its remaining workforce – following 110 redundancies just before last Christmas. Studio boss Pekka Rantala said: “Fundamental changes are needed to ensure Rovio succeeds in its global ambitions to be the leading entertainment company with mobile games at its heart.”
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Gazette
28 gazette 3 September 2015
SPORT Transition seamless for Shels
FastSport
soccer: north dublin clubs join forces as new wnl campaign nears
home farm old boy ian harte retires:
FORMER Home Farm schoolboy and Republic of Ireland international Ian Harte announced his retirement from professional football last week. Home Farm was to be Harte’s last club in Ireland before the Drogheda native joined Leeds United for what turned out to be personally a highly successful decade or so at Elland Road. Nominated in the PFA Team of the Year for the 1999/2000 season, other notable moments of Harte’s time at Leeds were reaching the semifinals of both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup, scoring a number of major goals along the way. The dead-ball specialist played 63 times for Ireland, scoring 12 goals and was part of the 2002 World Cup squad. The nephew of Ireland team-mate Gary Kelly, he most recently helped Bournemouth reach the Premier League for the first time.
NATHAN KELLy sport@dublingazette.com
the name and crest of his team may have changed in recent months, but Casey McQuillan’s focus remains the same as ever as another Women’s National League is set to kick off this month.
The amalgamation of Raheny United women’s side and Shelbourne FC’s underage girls into Shelbourne Ladies FC has been a rather smooth one. And now that the WNL is just days away from returning, attention can return action on the pitch rather than off it.
Speaking to GazetteSport in the week leading up to his side’s trip to face Galway in the first ever fixture of the newly formed WNL Shield, the Shelbourne head coach was excited to get under way. “It was always an exciting time in the week lead-
The entrants for this season’s Women’s National League at the press launch
Shelbourne will aim to have as much success as they had in Raheny colours
ing up to the new season,” he said. “We’ve had a good break and now look forward to kicking off and being competitive again. In terms of the amalgamation, it’s just something that made perfect sense. Raheny were one of the biggest senior women’s teams and Shelbourne were one of the biggest underage clubs, so it just made sense to merge that into one. “Obviously politics can cause some problems in football but the people who arranged this did a fine job. I suppose there had already been an unofficial link with Jamie Finn and Amanda McQuillan making the move last year,” the coach added. Previewing his side’s trip to Galway for their
first competitive game of the season, McQuillan believes this newly formed Shield which splits the leagues into two regional groups, is a good idea. “As a coach I think your main focus is always the league, and this competition will provide some competitive games right up until the league begins in October,” he said. “It also gives you the chance to try a couple of things ahead of the season against good opposition, who if you phoned up and asked for a preseason friendly would probably turn it down so as to not give anything away,” he added. In between that trip to Galway and hosting Castlebar in the Shield, who they will also begin
their season against, Shels will play Peamount in a Dublin Derby in Tolka Park on Sunday, September 13. That league curtainraiser in Castlebar comes on October 10 and while speaking to us, the Shelbourne manager offered his thought on how he thinks the race for the title will play out this season. “I think the gap between the top teams and the rest of the league is getting smaller each year,” he said. “I think Wexford, UCD Waves and ourselves would be the bookies’ favourites but Galway have been improving every year, as have Castlebar so it should be competitive, I’m looking forward to a good season.”
Symmons enters European hockey’s Hall of Fame sport@dublingazette.com
Irish hockey star Nikki Symmons. Picture: Adrian Boehm
DUBLINER Nikki Symmons became the latest addition to the European Hockey Federation Hall of Fame following her immaculate career. The former Wesley College student and Loreto player was honoured as a record-breaker in Irish hockey, becoming the first player to pass the 200-cap mark and an inspiration for the sport in her country. Reflecting on an international career that has spanned 13 years and 208 caps – including six
European championships – the Dubliner said: “Every time I put on the Irish shirt gave me great memories, not always good, but the bad also served as good memories to make me who I am today. “I guess I gave my life to hockey for the love of the sport. There were many sacrifices I had to make and I think I inspired people by the way I went about giving it all I had on the pitch, especially near the end of my career. I was always striving to be the best I could be and to be a role model.” And the 33-year-old is continu-
ing to help inspire new hockey fans through her work with the International Hockey Federation as a digital co-ordinator, promoting the sport to a whole new generation. She won her first cap in 2001 against Wales and played all the way up until the 2013 European Championships in Belgium, taking in three Olympic qualification campaigns and three World Cup campaigns. Since finishing her player, she has been nominated for the SportsAccord Sports Hero award, “an honour bestowed
upon an individual connected to sports who has inspired youths through his/hers achievements, actions or words”. “I am extremely honoured to be inducted into the EuroHockey Hall of Fame. It is very exciting news for not only myself but my family, friends and Irish hockey. “While I am still in a transition stage from being an athlete this has given me a huge boost and confidence as I further my career into the business side of sport.” She becomes one of just five players to have been included in the Hall of Fame.
3 September 2015 gazette 29
Gazette
English blood, All Ireland dreams
Despite precious little Irish heritage to speak of, Hannah Noonan tells JAMES HENDICOTT she is now just a couple of games away from All-Ireland glory with Dublin’s footballers WHEN the Dublin ladies senior football side line up for their All-Ireland semifinal against Armagh on Saturday, September 5, there will be an unlikely face in the midst of the girls in blue. Now established at Foxrock Cabinteely, Hannah Noonan is not only in her first year playing for an Irish club side, she’s come into the GAA county fray almost entirely through the relatively modest English system, and has no Irish heritage to speak of whatsoever. In fact, speaking to Noonan in advance of the semi-final, it seems much of her past year has been dedicated to optimising her leftfield footballing career. Having taken an AllIreland junior title with London in 2008 before arriving at Dublin, Noonan initially came to
GAA in Britain through the family of an Irish player on her rugby team, who suggested the sport might suit her at just 10 years old. She only relocated to Dublin for a year’s sabbatical from a teaching job back in November, and came to manager Gregory McGonigle’s attention as a result of a seven-a-side tournament early this year, as well as word filtering back from London. Having featured regularly throughout the campaign, she faces the unusual scenario of playing the coming semi-final knowing it’s likely to be both her first and last. Unsurprisingly, her determination and focus come across as intense: “We’re confident” Noonan tells GazetteSport. “The girls are working extremely hard, and there’s a good buzz in the camp. We’re
very focused. There’s a lot of work being done by management and the girls, in our own time as well as on the training pitch “Our attitude is that if we can go out there and prepare ourselves the best we possibly can, we’ll get there. “We’re not really worried about the other team. We’re aware of what Armagh are doing, of certain ways they play, and of their kick outs, but we’re just going to try and go out and put in a performance. “If we play our best we’ll come out with a win. Our game plan is to go out and hit them as hard as we can from the off.” It’s the route that’s bought Noonan to this point that showcases her determination, though, and she admits it’s been a leap in quality joining
Hannah Noonan attempts to escape a tackle in the quarter-final victory over Monaghan last week
Dublin, if one she’s able to deal with. “Moving from London to Dublin is a huge step,” she says of her new role. “It’s a very professional set up here. I’ve learnt a lot from the girls and the management. I was thrown in the deep end, but the girls have been
“Whether we’re starting or not, the panel is there to make an impact. We might make four or five changes, and they’ll do a job. I don’t think it’s worth even looking at [awaiting finalists] Cork yet. “We’re 60 minutes away from that final, but Armagh are an out-
--------------------------------------------------------
‘For me, I’ve got one shot and I will be leaving everything on the pitch and Dublin to go all the way’ - Hannah Noonan --------------------------------------------------------
very supportive. “People check you understand what’s going on. There’s been a lot of advice in terms of nutrition, and recovery between training sessions. It’s tough mentally and physically. But it’s a step I’m so glad I took.” At this level, though, nothing can be taken for granted, and while the bookies might have Dublin as favourites, the Girls in Blue are counting no chickens. “Obviously Armagh are a strong outfit,” Noonan says. “We’re not really listening to anything anyone says about us outside the camp. Inside the camp, players are players, and the management let us do our thing. We’ve got a few more training sessions, then we’ll learn the team.”
standing team, and we’ll take each minute as it comes.” An All-Ireland semi-final is an opportunity and a pressure point for everyone involved: one game away from a shot at glory. For Noonan, though, this game and the one that could follow are the only ones that matter. Next year is earmarked for travel; it’ll happen now, or not at all. “I’m fully aware that All-Ireland semi finals don’t come around easily,” she says, “and that some of these girls have been working for years to get to this position. “It’s not about me, but for me it’s probably going to be a one-year thing. For me I’ve got one shot. I’ll be leaving everything on the pitch. I just want to see Dublin go all the way.”
FastSport
O’Donoghue on double as hockey team make history TEMPLEOGUE native Shane O’Donoghue, pictured with Kyle Good, fired home two set piece goals for the Irish men’s hockey team as they made history, winning the bronze medal the EuroHockey Championships. It was the first time Ireland have won an elite level medal of any description, doing so by beating England 4-2 in London in breathless style last Saturday, finishing third in a competition that featured four of the world’s top five nations. Previously, Ireland had eliminated world number five side Belgium and France in the group stages before falling 1-0 to number two ranked the Netherlands. The Dutch would later go on to win the final 6-1 against Germany. Speaking afterwards, coach Craig Fulton’s belief that his team would win was unshakeable before the tie. So much so, he conducted an interview with himself before the 4-2 win over England in London, practising what he would say when, not if, his side got the better of the world number five side. “Before the game, we were really confident. I came into the interview room and talked through an interview with myself as if we had won the game. This is how we played and how we won. I said we had scored two out of three corners. Today we scored three! “It’s just reward for the performances from the guys,” Fulton added. “It’s no flash in the pan.” In the third place playoff, England led twice but goals from O’Donoghue and Alan Sothern, another Dubliner, made it 2-2 at half-time. Eugene Magee then rifled into the top corner early in the second half to allow Ireland a glimpse of glory. On a knife-edge until the final seconds, Ireland survived plenty of drama before O’Donoghue added an extra gloss three seconds from time from the penalty spot when Iain Lewers hauled down Kirk Shimmins for a penalty stroke. It confirmed the medal and concluded the playing side of things for Ireland’s best ever year. They now wait on October 25 when they will find out if they qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time since 1908.
Gazette
30 SWORDS gazette 3 September 2015
SPORT
FastSport
Rivervalley Saturday sides run up AUL wins RIVERVALLEY Rangers AUL Division 1 Saturday side moved into a share of top spot with a comfortable 4-1 win over Castleknock Celtic last weekend. Gary Weafer popped up with a pair of goals while there were also goals from Lee Murray and Joe Finnerty to land the Swords club their second win of the campaign, adding to a 2-1 success over Ayrfield United and a draw against Grange Woodbine. It means they sit on seven points in a fourway share of the lead with Grange, Aungier Celtic and Railway Union at this early stage of the campaign. The Division 3A Saturday side, meanwhile, were 3-1 winners over Raheny United in St Anne’s Park. Barry Dignam headed in a corner for a seventh minute lead only for Raheny to equalise 10 minutes later when a nasty deflection saw the ball hurtle in for 1-1, a score which remained that way until the half-time break. Into the second half, though, Rivervalley stepped up a gear and they were back in front when Dan Irwin headed in a corner and Eric Tsakap made the game safe with his side’s third goal. He picked up the ball at the corner of the box, pushed it inside before slotting it into the corner for 3-1. Raheny threw everything forward in the closing phases but never truly threatened a comeback. It was Rivervalley’s first win of the season, adding to an earlier 3-3 draw with Howth Celtic a week earlier. The first team fell to their first loss of the fledgling Premier B season when they went down 1-0 to Darndale FC and are sitting in second place in the early season standings. The club did get a big boost during the week courtesy of Mark Lyons and Terry Snow from Metro Auto services and Drynam Park Golf centre respectively as part of their support for the new season. They kitted out the club’s first team with a new kit, plus tracksuits and polo shirts for the senior section.
transplant games: skerries man claims trio of medals
The Irish team that took part in the Transplant Games in Argentina; Peter Heffernan is second from the right
Heffernan swims to glory sport@dublingazette.com
PETER Heffernan, a kidney transplant recipient from Skerries was part of the four-person Irish team that went to the 20th edition of the Transplant Games in Argentina, bringing home 13 medals between them. A keen swimmer, he won two gold medals, coming home in the 50m backstroke, 1,000m backstroke and a bronze medal for the 1,000m freestyle event in his 50-59-yearold age category. Summing up his experience at the games, Heffernan said: “They give me an overwhelming sense
of the gift I have received from my donor and their family. “T he hundreds of athletes who have participated in these games all testify to this sense of gratitude. “One of the highlights of the week for me was when Erica, who is from Argentina, said that attending these games has changed her as they have opened her eyes to the importance of organ donation and she will talk to all her family and friends about carrying a donor card. She said that all the athletes were inspiring.” The team arrived home
Championship win Garristown victorious in Junior G campaign GARRistown were crowned the Dublin
Ladies Gaelic Football Association Junior G champions last Friday evening as they ran up a 2-9 to 1-7 victory over St Monica’s in the final at St Margaret’s. It completed a superb campaign in which they got the better of near neighbours Man O War 5-8 to 2-4 in the semifinal having previously finished third in the group phase with wins over Trinity Gaels and Round Tower, Lusk.
on Monday evening, bringing with them seven gold, four silver and two bronze medals. Despite the team’s small size, Ireland was placed 15th on the medals table out of 44 countries at the games which involved 800 organ transplant participants. Colin White, team manager and newly elected treasurer of the World Transplant Games Federation, described the Games experience: “The spirit of our team this week has embodied everything that is good in transplant sport, namely friendship, commitment, support and a deep appreciation
for the gift of life that is organ donation. “When you see the dreams that are realised at the games you begin to realise the awesome power that transplant sport has to change lives. When you see the appreciation for life one can’t but be inspired to make a commitment to make a difference and carry an organ donor card. “The impressive medal haul of our team this year had not gone unnoticed by others at the games. However, I am more impressed with their approach to this year’s games. For each of them it has been about the
experience me than the end result. “From their dedication to training in advance of the games to embracing the opportunities to meet and make friends from all over the world and their appreciation of who has helped them in their success I think they have been all deeply enriched by the experience. “As well as their medals haul they bring home treasured lifetime memories from their experience at the games where every single participant shares the desire to honour their organ donors and are celebrating life through sport.”
3 September 2015 SWORDS gazette 31
Gazette
league winners
Finian’s claim Division 7 title with perfect run
Club Noticeboard FINGALLIANS AFTER a draw on Sunday, the football
ST FINIAN’S Division 7 camogie side com-
pleted their league success this week as they won their ninth game of the campaign, beating Na Gaeil Oga 7-12 to 0-2. It was their ninth successive victory in the competition and put them six points clear of the chasing pack of Crumlin and Craobh Chiarain who had only two games remaining in the current season.
Check out www.littlecaterpil-
place this Saturday, September 5 in
larspreschool.com which has been
Croke Park at 5pm. Further info on
based in the club since April and re-
pricing available at the bar.
opened this week.
The draw for hurling final tickets will
Please contact Maria on 087 2564013
take place this Thursday at 9pm in the
or Paula on 086 8331635 or call to the
club bar.
club any morning from 9.30am for fur-
The date for the Junior B football championship final v Bank of Ireland will be re-scheduled this week.
football: inter success for malahide club
final in Parnell Park on Saturday.
All-Ireland semi-final replay will take
ther information. Kevin Heffernan Wrapped up in Blue: This documentary film on the life
The start date for the new academy
of Kevin, the father of modern Gaelic
season will be September 12 from 10am
football, will be released in Swords cin-
to 12 noon each Saturday.
ema on October 9.
Minor Championships, round 1: hurling – September 6: Fingallians v St
There will be discounted rates for members and our schools.
Judes at 10.30; football – September 13:
The numbers last drawn last week
Fingallians v Castleknock at 11am, both
were 8, 15, 25, 30 and 33. There were
at home.
two winners: Phil Mooney and David
Congratulations to our Under-12 squad after winning the Camaint B
Mythen. The jackpot this week will be €2,113.
ST FINIAN’S HIGHLIGHT of the last week was the
leagues on Saturday, September
clinching of the camogie Senior 7
26. Watch the notice boards and our
league title by our adult camogie
Facebook page for further details.
team.
played in the half exhibition match
son undefeated which merits huge
in Croke Park, representing her
praise for the girls and the selec-
school, Scoil an Duinninigh, in a Dub-
tors.
lin selection of Cumann na mBunscoil
The club is running a mini-league St Sylvester’s held off the challenge of Naomh Olaf
Syl’s get that Loving feeling in cup victory
loving cup final St Sylvester’s Naomh Olaf sport@dublingazette.com
1-9 1-7
ST SYLVESTER’S inter footballers continued their fine run of late to bring home the first silverware of 2015 as they claimed the Loving Cup title last weekend with a narrow three-point win over Naomh Olaf at Broomfield. It was a hard fought win from the side that features a mixture of young and old players with the latter quotient certainly giving the side the experience to han-
dle some robust tackling while also spreading out the play and winning John Peacock returned to action to good effect while Luke Troy continued in goal. Former first team captain Dave Galvin, also coming back from injury, had a good game in the middle of the park while Paudie White, Mark Finnerty and Dylan Connolly caused lots of problems up front. Syl’s will now focus on trying to lift themselves away from relegation danger in AFL3 where they currently lie in 14th place out of 16 teams though they are just two
points off eighth place, showing the close-knit nature of the division. To that end, they have gone unbeaten in their last three league ties, running up wins over Fingallians and Garda while also nabbing a draw against Naomh Fionnbarra. Their next round of league games, though, are being put on the backburner for this weekend as a result of the Dublin senior footballers whose semi-final replay has been scheduled for Saturday evening. That also affects AFL Division 1 where Syl’s
moved up to 11th place overall thanks to their 0-17 to 1-6 win over Parnell’s a couple of weeks ago to lift themselves closer to safety. On the hurling side of things, it was a rough weekend for the Malahide club with the senior hurlers bowing out of the B championship on a 3-2 to 0-12 scoreline to St Oliver Plunkett’s/ Eoghan Ruadh at the quarter-final stage. The junior C hurlers also saw their run come to an end as Whitehall Colmcilles were 0-15 to 0-10 victors in their semifinal.
Well done to Teagan Comber who
The team went through the sea-
leagues.
each Saturday for the next four
The Under-15 lads had a great
weeks, in advance of each of the
win midweek against St Pat’s of
national championship finals. We
Donabate. Strong performances
wish to encourage members to bring
from Adam McGuirk, Peter Wright
along a friend or two to take part in
and Jack Dempsey ensured the nar-
each week’s event; ages seven to 13
rowest of victories.
will be catered for.
The lotto jackpot was €4,500 this
The first mini-league will be a
week and the numbers drawn were
hurling event for boys, next Satur-
2, 10, 16 and 17. There was no jackpot
day morning. The following week will
winner. The €25 lucky dip prize win-
be camogie followed by football for
ners were Denis and Jackie O’Keeffe,
boys on the weekend of the All-Ire-
D and M Harris, Roisin Farrell, Paddy
land football final.
Finnegan. Next week’s jackpot will
Girls’ football will finish off the
be €4,600.
FINGAL Ravens HARD luck to the minor team and
winner; €20 to Trudy O’Brien, Lee
management who lost their league
McAleer and Damien McGovern. Next
semi final on Sunday morning against
week’s lotto jackpot is now capped at
a strong Castleknock side.
€17,000.
Our juniors were beaten by two
The lotto jackpot will remain at
points in their league game against St
€17,000 until it is won. We will start
Peregrine’s also on Sunday morning.
a ghost jackpot in the background
Well done to the girls’ Under-16 who
which will be funded each week and
beat Whitehall Colmcilles in their first
will then be available as the new jack-
championship game away on Satur-
pot once the current jackpot has
day.
been won.
We would like to send best wishes to
Best of luck to Darren Daly and
Paddy Flanagan and Paul Newman and
Dublin in their semi final replay clash
wish them both a speedy recovery.
with Mayo on Saturday.
Club lotto results: numbers drawn were 10, 16, 29 and 34. There was no
The club is now live on Twitter please follow @FingalRavensGFC.
GazetteSPORT all of your swords sports coverage from page 28-31
strong start: Rivervalley Rangers get boosts on a couple of fronts for the new AUL Premier season P30
september 3 - 9, 2015
noonan’s all-ireland call: Londoner’s one time deal to land title with Dublin P29
Armagh await Dublin Dublin ladies football manager Greg McGonigle
Dublin ladies football manager Greg McGonigle hoping to use his inside knowledge to get the best of Ulster side in the All-Ireland semi-final james hendicott
sport@dublingazette.com
DUBLIN WOMEN’s senior manager Greg McGonigle has branded the failure to move the team’s semi-final against Armagh to Croke Park “a missed opportunity,” but is looking forward to the season-defining game nonetheless. “Parnell Park’s a great stadium, too, but there’s been a massive push on this year when it comes to recognition of women’s sport in general,” he told GazetteSport. “Things like women’s rugby and the development of the WGPA Women’s Gaelic Players’ Association] have been big. I’m not surprised, but it’s a missed chance.”
McGonigle’s Dubs – who are likely to feature Fingallians’ Sinead Finnegan and Fiona Hudson and St Sylvester’s Nicole Owens and Niamh McEvoy among other Fingal players – will face off against Armagh in his second full season in charge, starting a revitalised team based around the county’s target of rejuvenating with a fresh young side. The manager has an interesting inside track, as he did with defeated quarter final opponents Monaghan: the Ulsterman has a notable history inside both counties, and has spent a year coaching in Armagh. “I would know a lot of the Armagh girls,” he said. “James Daly is a fantastic manager. They’ve had two promotions in a row in the league. It’ll be about getting our own match ups
right, but also about following our own game plan and using calculated risk to put ourselves in a position to win the game. It’s like a game of poker in a way. “They have some quality players. Short of kidnapping them, we’re not going to avoid them getting time on the ball. These are two very good footballing teams. We’re at a stage where it’s different to the men with the pulling and the dragging, because a yellow card is a sin bin in the women’s game, and we can’t afford to have players sitting on the bench for 10 minutes.” McGonigle expects that means the semifinal will be an open and flowing affair. “We’re expecting an open free-for-all game.
Parnell Park is not the biggest pitch so we’re expecting an up and down game. It’s a very young team, very fresh, having added the likes of Hannah Noonan and Fiona Hudson. “We started with eight Under-21s in the quarter-final against Monaghan,” he added. “It’s a serious age profile going forwards, and there has to be a remit of trying to build a squad capable of winning. We last won the All Ireland in 2010. We’re trying to get a nuclear group of young girls at the bedrock of our squad, like the Galway hurlers. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.” Dublin face Armagh in the semi-final of the women’s All Ireland senior championship at Parnell Park, 2pm on Saturday.