Swords

Swords GAZET TE FREE

‘Small cars that make a surprisingly big impact’ MOTORING: P20-21 SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 Find us on

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

INSIDE: Having a ball as the Harmony Cup comes to Fingal P2

Golf: Island youngster gets call for Junior Ryder Cup Page 28

Paralympics: Swords woman storms to gold at London Games Page 32

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ......................8 BUSINESS .................... 18 MOTORS ....................... 20 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26

TOTAL FARRELL: The Gazette talks to Dublin’s Hollywood hero Page 12

Senator slams ‘crazy’ cuts to service I SUZANNE BYRNE

A LOCAL politician has warned that lives will be put at risk because of cuts to the local HSE ambulance service in North County Dublin which is due to take effect from this week.

Senator Darragh O’Brien (FF) said that from September 4, there would no longer be a HSE emergency ambulance in the Swords area between 7am and 7pm on Tuesdays.

“If there are any emergencies in the area during this time, an ambulance will have to travel from Loughlinstown on the Wicklow border,” said O’Brien. “This is an absolutely crazy cut.”

In a statement to the Swords Gazette, the HSE said that changes to rosters were being addressed under the Croke Park Agreement, but that they would result in the same levels of services.

Full Story on Page 3

It’s a wrap: Chicago stars jazz it up at party in Swords STARS of the hit West End show Chicago were in Swords this week to wrap up their sell-out run at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre. Former boyband star Duncan James was pictured with former Coronation

Street actress Tupele Dorgu (left) and former Hollyoaks star Ali Bastian (right). The cast all headed to Rouge Nightclub in Swords to wrap up their Dublin run.

Full Gallery on Pages 8-9

2 SWORDS GAZETTE 6 September 2012

SPORT Over 700 take part in the 2012 Festival of Football

St Ita’s boys show off the Boys’ Shield which they won at Fingal County Council’s Festival of Football at Sportslink Santry.

Having a ball at footy festival Money Doctor is the trading name of Providence Finance Services Limited and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

INGAL County Council’s Festival of Football event took place at Sportslink Santry recently. Previously known as the Harmony Cup, this year saw the 10th football-based event with over 700 participants across five sections: Boys, Girls, Special Olympics, Powerchair and Irish Street Leagues coming from communities throughout Ireland. The competition was initially developed as a

F

Competitors in the Powerchair category

Participants in the festival

cross-Border football tournament for boys but has grown year on year into a substantial youth-sports event. Winners in different categories included the following: Boys’ Cup - Verona FC; Boys’ Shield - St Ita’s; Girls’ Cup - Eureka Kells; Powerchair - Belfast Trailblazers; Special Olympics - Dundrum; Don’t X The Line - Lisnaskea Rovers; Street League - Soilte.

Winning a category was a proud moment for many

Eureka Kells who won the Girls category

6 September 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 3

HSE Ambulance service to be cut on Tuesdays between 7am and 7pm REGISTER

222 pay septic tank fee

Cuts could put lives at risk, says O’Brien I SUZANNE BYRNE

A LOCAL councillor has warned that lives will be put at risk because of cuts to the local HSE ambulance service in north County Dublin which is due to take effect from this week.

Fingal Senator Darragh O’Brien (FF) said that from last Tuesday, September 4, there would no longer be a HSE emergency ambulance in the Swords area between 7am and 7pm on Tuesdays.

“If there are any emergencies in the area during this time, an ambulance will have to travel from Loughlinstown on the Wicklow border,” he said.

“This is an absolutely crazy cut. People can’t choose not to have a

heart attack, a stroke, a fall or another emergency on a Tuesday.

“Not only will this leave patients here waiting up to an hour for their ambulance to arrive, the drivers are also unlikely to have the local knowledge that’s essential for ensuring a speedy response.

“In addition to this, on other days of the week, our local HSE ambulance will be forced to travel right across the city to cover similar ambulance cuts in other areas.

“This will leave more gaps in our local emergency service at other times throughout the week,” he continued.

“The HSE ambulance depot in Swords serves 50,000 people across north County Dublin.

There is no doubt in my mind that lives will be put at risk as a direct result of these cuts.

Meanwhile, the savings to the health service will be negligible.”

In a statement to the Swords Gazette, the HSE said that changes to rosters were being addressed under the Croke Park Agreement but that they would result in the same levels of services at a reduced cost to the taxpayer, while denying they were closing any ambulance bases or stations.

According to the statement: “The station referred to will be serviced from September 4 by a dedicated emergency motorcycle response unit and ambulance crews from adjacent locations who are being

actively deployed.

“The North Leinster Ambulance service operates on an area basis, as distinct from a local basis, and provides services on a clinical need basis.

“In line with the Croke Park Agreement, the Labour Court has issued a recommendation directing the National Ambulance S e r v i c e a n d Tr a d e Unions representing paramedical staff to address a number of over time generating inefficiencies within its rostering arrangements.

“These changes to rosters are being addressed under the Croke Park Agreement and will result in the same levels of service and manpower but at lower costs to the taxpayer,” it stated.

Fingal Senator Darragh O’Brien (FF) expressed concern at the HSE cuts to ambulance services

JUST six per cent of people nationwide, and only 222 people in Fingal, have so far registered their septic tanks under the Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems Registration scheme.

By law, all owners of premises connected to a domestic wastewater treatment system must register their systems by February 1, 2013.

Out of the 500,000 tanks or waster water treatment systems counted in last year’s Census, only 30,000 have been registered.

The number of registrations so far in the Fingal is 222. The Department of the Environment said it had no figures in relation to the total number septic tanks in the Fingal area.

The reduced registration fee of €5 can still be paid until September 28, but will rise thereafter.

For more, see www.protectourwater.ie

4 SWORDS GAZETTE 6 September 2012

CHAMBERS: SEMINAR

Dubai was recently named as one of Irish expats favoured job destinations

Merits of Dubai in spotlight I SUZANNE BYRNE

CHAMBERS of commerce from across Dublin are set to come together this month to host a seminar on doing business in Dubai.

The Greater Dublin Chamber has announced details of a special Dubai business briefing on Thursday, September 13, at 6pm in the Radisson Blu Hotel at Dublin Airport.

The business briefing is being supported by and organised in association with the government of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce.

Fayha Sultan, a representative from the department, will speak about the business opportunities for SMEs and multinationals in Dubai, which has proved to be a haven for foreign business, with 80% of the city’s 1.3 million residents being foreigners.

The Greater Dublin Chamber says that the city is a great place to do business: “Dubai has long earned the reputation for being one of the world’s most desirable business destinations with its positive economic policy and ambitious growth plans.”

Dubai was recently named by IrishJobs.ie as one of Irish expats’ favoured job destinations, with the city having attracted thousands of national, international and global companies which are all keen to take maximum advantage of the liberal business laws and taxation structures offered.

The seminar, sponsored by Dublin Airport Authority, Emirates, Aramex and Radisson Blu Hotel Dublin Airport, will cost €30 per person.

For more information, contact Freda on 01 890 0977, or email info@fingaldublinchamber.ie.

Crisp appearance: Looking forward to October’s Fingal Enterprise Week “DUBLIN’S open for new business” was the message coming from enterprise support agencies, business leaders and entrepreneurs in the capital recently, as the biggestever programme for small businesses was unveiled by Fingal County Enterprise Board ahead of Fingal Enterprise Week (October 1 to 5). Aiming to attract up to 2,000 small business owners across 15 enterprise events, the annual initiative is organised by Fingal County Enter-

prise Board and supported by Fingal County Council, Bank of Ireland and Newstalk.

The vast majority of events during Fingal Enterprise Week are free of charge and advance bookings can be made through www.fingalenterpriseweek.ie Pictured at the launch on the grounds of the Roganstown Hotel and Country Club were: Nicola Byrne, 11890 and Tom Keogh, Keogh’s Crisps

Fingal film feast set to build on debut I SUZANNE BYRNE

THE organisers of Fingal Film Festival are seeking submissions for the 2013 showcase which hopes to build on the success of last year’s debut.

Entries are welcomed from new as well as experienced filmmakers.

Submissions are open until the end of January 2013, and the festival takes place in May 2013.

Speaking to the Gazette, the festival’s creative director, Dave Byrne, said: “We are looking for art house fea-

tures and shorts, feature films, documentary features, short films, short docs, animations and anything else original and quirky emerging filmmakers are working on.”

This time round, organisers have broadened the event’s scope to include a number of new strands, including a classical film section, Q&A screenings, and a special section targeting young filmmakers.

Fledgling cineastes can also take part in a series of workshops hosted by some of the country’s most critically acclaimed producers, direc-

tors, writers and actors.

Last year entries included submissions from filmmakers across the globe, including Brazil, Venezuela, Britain, USA, Spain, Asia, India and Germany.

Selected independent features, documentaries, short and animated films will also be screened every day over the course of the event Explaining how the festival evolved, Byrne said he had noticed there were a large number of media and filmmaking courses available in the area, which meant there

were a lot of aspiring filmmakers looking for a platform for their work. “[There are] four or five media colleges in the Fingal area, and we’re in a climate where all these young filmmakers are coming out, and they have nowhere to channel their work.

“So we decided to create a platform for them. We find they make the films anyway, so we wanted to give them a place to show it.”

Application forms can be found at www.fingalfilmfest. com

Daly’s exit will not affect Swords base, say Socialist Party I SUZANNE BYRNE

SOCIALIST Party and United Left Alliance (ULA) representatives have been responding to the resignation of Swords TD Clare Daly from the Socialist Party last Friday.

In a lengthy statement on its website, the party said that it regretted her departure but said it believed her public solidarity with fellow technical group member Mick Wallace was behind the split.

In June, it emerged that Deputy Wallace’s company had underdeclared VAT to the tune of €1.4m.

The statement said: “Over the last number of months, Clare’s political connection to Mick Wallace, who engaged in tax evasion and the falsification of VAT returns, has damaged her reputation but also, by implication, has potentially damaged the reputation of the Socialist Party.”

Cllr Daly, who has redesignated herself as a member of the ULA, denied that her departure had anything to do with Deputy Wallace, whose actions she said she did not support.

She described the statement as “inaccurate”.

Speaking to Swords Gazette,

Socialist Party Cllr Ruth Coppinger: “We were obviously disappointed [at Daly’s resignation]. But the core issue was Clare’s ongoing support for a property developer who has evaded paying his tax,” she said.

She also rejected Deputy Daly’s assertion that her reason for leaving was to build up the ULA: “Clare Daly never raised any issues about the ULA in any of the discussions [held during the summer] at all.”

The Mulhuddart representative said Deputy Daly had also “refused to sign a party statement on the [Mick Wallace] issue”.

When asked about the recent resignation of two other SP members in Dublin North-East, Cllr Coppinger cited issues in relation to party organisation and resources in that area.

She said Deputy Daly’s resignation would not affect the party’s position in Dublin North: “The Socialist Party has a base in Dublin North. The highest vote registered was in Swords, so it’s a party vote and it switches from Clare to Joe [Higgins] and [Myself].”

Deputy Joan Collins, who represents People Before Profit in the United Left Alliance, told the Gazette

Deputy Daly had already made clear she did not support Mick Wallace’s action.

“The only people who are saying there’s a political connection is the media. So I can’t see how that would be a problem with the ULA.” However, in light of public criticism from Joe Higgins, the Socialist Party’s most high-profile member and also part of the ULA, Deputy Collins said they may have to discuss the issue further.

Deputy Daly had not responded to a request for comment at the time of going to press.

6 September 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 5

6 SWORDS GAZETTE 6 September 2012

CS0 STUDY Fingal housing stock is over 100,000, with 7% vacancy rate

Census reveals rent drops and hike in jobless

I LAURA WEBB lwebb@gazettegroup.com

THE total housing stock in the Fingal area is more than 100,000, with a 7% vacancy rate, according to a report compiled from the results of Census 2011.

The report, named The

Roof Over Our Heads, was issued by the CSO last week, and examines housing in Ireland.

It states that total housing stock in Fingal is 102,793. This includes 92,951 units occupied by residents of the household, 199 as visitors only, and 2,439 as residents

temporarily absent.

Up to 4,070 are vacant houses and 2,823 are vacant flats, while 311 are holiday homes and the vacancy rate for the Fingal area is 7%.

T he total average weekly rent for private households in permanent housing units in Fingal

was recorded at €182.66 in 2011, a 7% drop since the last census in 2006, when the average rent was recorded at €196.31.

T he average local authority weekly rent in 2011 was recorded at €70.86, a 22.4% drop from 2006, when the average figure was €91.29.

For those living in a house owned by a private landlord or voluntary housing body, the average weekly rent is €208.97, a 12.5% drop from the last census, which was recorded at €238.75.

Meanwhile, the number of mortgaged private households in

permanent housing units for Fingal is 43,811 on census night in 2011, 1,475 less than the 2006 census.

Of the total, 36,303 residents were at work with a mortgage, compared to 39,695 five years before.

Up to 2,857 were unemployed, a 334%

increase since the last census which recorded just 853 unemployed with a mortgage.

Those with a mortgage not in the labour force number 4,651 in 2011, 87 fewer than in 2006.

Further details relating to the report can be found at www.census.ie.

Local star savours Paralympic glory SWORDS got its first taste of 2012 Paralympic glory last Sunday when local star Catherine Walsh and her pilot Fran Meehan powered home to finish second in the 3km individual pursuit B final.

The pairing finished behind runaway winners, New Zealand duo Phillippa Gray and Laura Thompson.

Speaking to the Gazette, Catherine said: “I am absolutely delighted with the performance. Myself and Fran set a target of breaking the world record and that is what we did. We cannot control the opposition and they set a new world record by over three seconds, which was a tremendous performance.

“London has pulled off a fantastic

games and the atmosphere has been exhilarating. We got such a buzz from the noise in the velodrome but everything has been tremendous.”

Paralympics Ireland spokesman, John Fulham, said the atmosphere at the games was extraordinary: “It’s electric.

You really have no idea - the Paralympics have never been like this.

“There were a few people watching in Beijing, but the fans in London really get Paralympic sport.”

This was Catherine’s second Paralympic medal. She won her first in 2000 when she bagged a pentathlon bronze in Sydney. For Fran, it was her first time competing in the games.

Local TD James Reilly says he is delighted that Fingal will finally have access to high-speed broadband

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TECHNOLOGY: MINISTER ANNOUNCES UPGRADE PLAN

Rural Fingal to get faster broadband I SUZANNE BYRNE

RURAL areas of Fingal are expected to be the beneficiaries of the rollout of high-speed broadband which was announced by Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte last week.

When it reaches its planned completion date in 2015, the scheme will see every home and business in the State having access to broadband at speeds much faster than are generally available at the moment.

Health Minister and Dublin North TD James Reilly said: “I am delighted with [the minister’s] announcement that Fingal will finally have access to high-speed broadband, particularly in rural areas.

“Ireland’s population

is more broadly dispersed than that of many other countries so reaching the target will require State investment to encourage the private sector to offer services which would not otherwise make commercial sense. “[The announcement] means that individuals and businesses will have access to a minimum of 30 megabytes per second (mbps), with more than half the population receiving between 70mpbs and 100mpbs by 2015.”

Minister Rabbitte unveiled Delivering A Connected Society – A National Broadband Plan for Ireland in Croke Park last Thursday.

Mr Rabbitte said the rollout was a crucial aspect of economic recovery, adding that he had

been told by the IDA that companies had decided against investing in Ireland because of below-par broadband provision.

It is understood Taoiseach Enda Kenny has committed to providing State funding of €200 million along with matching investment from private companies.

It is expected that clearance from the European Commission for State aid will be necessary to ensure public funds are not substituting for potential private sector investment.

Public funds are expected to come from the Exchequer, the sale of State assets and other resources such as the National Pension Reserve Fund.

“Public funds will be invested in the plan to ensure that sparsely populated areas are included

and Minister Rabbitte has committed to engaging with commercial investors for financial,” said Minister Reilly.

“In this day and age, having access to highspeed internet is a basic requirement for people in all walks of life, be they school children, college students, professionals and small and big businesses.

“It will enable the people of Dublin North to compete on a much wider scale, and give them access to information, products and ser vices right across the world, bringing economic and social benefits across Fingal,” he added.

Minister Rabbitte has described the plan as the “rural electrification of the 21st century”.

6 September 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 7

FINGAL: ‘DISAPPOINTED’ COUNCIL DEFENDS ITS CLEAN-UP REGIME

WATER

Fingal to pilot meters

Littered airport routes draw fire I SUZANNE BYRNE

TOURISTS arriving in Ireland via Dublin Airport get one of the worst first impressions of anywhere in the entire country, according to the latest survey by Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL).

The business alliance, which commissioned the survey from An Taisce, used the results to call on all local authorities to publish cleaning schedules for routes leading to the airport. Some 50% of visitors enter the country via the airport.

The environs of the airport itself were deemed a litter blackspot, a label the alliance said “exposes the neglect shown it by the local authority”.

The survey states that while the grounds of the airport were found to be “immaculate”, the

roads surrounding it were “spoiled by dumping, casual litter and all manner of rubbish”, according to An Taisce.

IBAL said that Fingal County Council had “admitted to only cleaning the roads once a year” and it called for “adequate cleaning schedules for key routes used by visitors to be made public”.

Dr Tom Cavanagh, the chairman of IBAL, said: “We’re finding that the main roads by which visitors reach tourist areas are often littered, which undermines the great work being done in the tourist areas themselves.

The roads around Dublin Airport are just one example.”

Fingal County Council expressed disappointment with the survey, saying that, in its opinion, any random inspection of

the areas surveyed today would see no evidence to support the blackspot classification.

In a statement to the Gazette, it said the survey had focused on the entrances and exits to Dublin airport, and that the areas were predominantly non-national roads which had been, “and continue to be the subject of our litter-picking regime while a number of the locations are also subject to grass cutting”.

It added: “Work will commence this week on grass cutting and litter picking on the M1 motorway - this is an extremely expensive piece of maintenance. . . Due to this expense and traffic management, grass-cutting and litter-picking on the motorway network is only carried out once per year.”

Night walks: Supporting nurses and raising funds for cancer society OVER 850 people took part in Boots Night Walks for Night Nurses in 34 locations around Ireland on Wednesday, August 29 as part of Boots Ireland’s Charity of the Year Partnership with the Irish Cancer Society.

The events raised money for the Irish Cancer Society’s Night Nursing Service. Pictured are Claire Brennan, Irish Cancer Society Night Nurse; Alan Brogan, GAA star; and Debbie Smith, managing director, Boots Ireland.

FINGAL has been chosen as one of the first areas to be surveyed as part of the Government’s plans to start installing domestic water meters by the end of this year.

Along with Kerry and Waterford, the region has been earmarked to take part in a pilot scheme, due to begin in October, which is designed to establish how many stopcocks are serving homes across the country.

According to Fingal County Council, the area was chosen as they had been the lead authority for the non-domestic metering project in the Dublin region.

Meters cannot be installed until the location and number of household stopcocks is known, and tenders for the supply of meters have not yet been advertised.

It is expected the pilot surveys could take up to six months.

8 SWORDS GAZETTE 6 September 2012

EVENT Rouge Nightclub in Swords plays host for a wrap

Tupele Dorgu and Ali Bastian

Anthony Bride and Simone Odlum

Rebecca Traynor, Michelle Clements and Kim O’Brien

Duncan James, Steven Beck and Lisa Nolan pictured celebrating Steven’s birthday

Duncan James and the cast of Chicago arrive at Rouge Nightclub Swords

6 September 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 9

party for the cast of Chicago the musical

Kirby Kerins, Helena McMackin and Elaine Kearney

Cast razzle-dazzle at wrap party

OUGE Nightclub was the venue of choice for a fantastic wrap party for the cast of Chicago the musical which just completed a sold out run at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre.

The production featured two former soapstars, Ali Bastian and Tupele Dorgu as the female leads, ex-boy-band member Duncan

R

James as the male hero, and Bernie Nolan of the Nolan Sisters in a key supporting role.

The night was greatly enjoyed by all who attended with great drink promotions on offer and DJ Shane Jordan providing fantastic tunes which made for a very memorable night.

Angela Mc Caughey and Christina O’Callaghan

Helen Forklin and Joanne Tyrrell Catherine Connolly and Donna Halligan

Michelle Clarke and Amy Campion

James Callaghan and Rebecca Stapleton

Zoe Bohorquez

Monica Torn and Brian Gorry

Aoife Doherty and Sean Wade

10 SWORDS GAZETTE 6 September 2012

EVENT LA Make Up Academy hold graduation ceremony

Amanda O’Dwyer and Gavin Renneck

The graduates

Graduates brush up on celebrations A Make Up Academy recently held a graduation for their one-year make-up specialist classes from the 2011/2012 year.

The graduation ceremony was a great success. Students donned their gowns and hats for the special occasion where they received their certificates in front of their friends and families. LA Creative Academy offers a host of

L

internationally accredited courses spanning make-up, beauty therapy, special effects, hair styling, fashion design, fashion styling, millinery, shoe making and photography.

To find out more about LA Make-Up Academy and their range of modules and services, email them on info@lamakeupacademy.com or call +353 (0)1 6751999.

Anca Condrache (winner of best make-up) and Gavin Crona Rooney

Renneck

Anca Condrache, Gillian Hooper, Paula Lynch and Julie Davis

6 September 2012 GAZETTE 11

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

Spectacular style, excitement and racing at the Moyglare Stud Stakes this Sunday F R E E A D M I S S I O N F O R A L L , C O U R T E SY O F M OYG L A R E ST U D

2004 winner Chelsea Rose, owned by Mrs. A.J. Donnelly, trained by Tracy Collins and ridden by Pat Shanahan

THE much-anticipated Moyglare Stud Stakes will take place at The Curragh this Sunday, 9th September 2012 and promises a day of premier racing, with spectacular style, thrilling entertainment and pageantry and a family friendly atmosphere sure to whet the appetite of seasoned race goers and newcomers alike.

To c o m m e m o r a t e the 50th Anniversary of Moyglare Stud, founder Walter Haefner’s daughter, Eva-Maria Bucher Haefner, is offering race goers free admission on the day in celebration of this momentous occasion.

The prestigious Moyglare Stud is also sponsoring all of the races throughout the eight race card day; with each race named after a famous Moyglare horse.

The highlight of the day will undoubtedly be the Group One Moyglare

Stud Stakes for two year old Fillies, which is now celebrating its 40th year and still carries one of the longest r unning race sponsorships in the world.

To add to the thrilling atmosphere, every race on the day will be a MOYGLARE 50 race, with each winning breeder receiving a €1,000 cheque from Moyglare Stud in recognition and acknowledgement of their success and the challenges that they face.

The MOYGLARE 50 series of flat races for fillies and mares was introduced by Eva-Maria Bucher Haefner in honour of her late father, Walter Haefner, and is a celebration of his love of breeding horses in Ireland.

While the thoroughbreds battle it out on the racecourse, the ladies will raise the style stakes when the Newbridge Sil-

verware Style Icon competition gets underway.

Moyglare Stud is also offering an incredible prize to the winner of the “Style Icon” Competition

ruary.

There they will enjoy luxury 5 star accommodation for one night at the landmark Badrutts Palace Hotel, one of

entry to the Spa Club and the exclusive Kings Club - the most famous nightclub in St Moritz!

The winning Style Icon will also receive a

The White Turf Horse Races, St. Moritz, Switzerland. Photo by Andy Mettler

on the day. The winner is invited to bring a guest to the unique White Turf Horse Races set against the breathtakingly beautiful and unspoiled scenery of St Moritz in Feb-

the leading hotels of the world.

The prize also includes flights, private transfers, one additional night’s accommodation in a top hotel in Zurich and free

Newbridge Silverware voucher to the value of €5,000, together with an exquisite piece from the Newbridge Silverware Vintage Collection.

Judges of the New-

bridge Silverware Style Icon Award will include the newly crowned Rose of Tralee Nicola McEvoy, eminent broadcaster Mr Gay Byrne, Eva-Maria Bucher Haefner from Moyglare Stud and Fashion Editor of the Irish Independent Bairbre Power.

The entire family will be catered for at the Moyglare Stud Stakes at The Curragh, with free entertainment for children and also face painting, bouncy castles, the RACE horse racing simulator and the Giddy Up Club - a chance for children to learn all about horse racing and meet some famous jockeys. There will also be live music and entertainment throughout the day courtesy of the No 1 Army Band.

Singing sensation Mark Boylan will perform a specially commissioned song penned by him celebrating the 50

years of Moyglare Stud in Ireland.

The 14 year old County Offaly native has received worldwide acclaim by composing a number of racing themed songs that have become internet hits and netted him personal invitations to racing festivals including Cheltenham and the Breeders Cup in the USA. He was the youngest person to perform at Vicar Street on his own when he supported the High Kings earlier this year.

An art exhibition of the work of children from local schools will also be on display at The Curragh, depicting their celebration through art of 50 Years of Moyglare Stud.

These masterpieces have been judged by an independent artist and each child will be presented with a prize and will get their mounted painting home on the day.

THE CURRAGH RACECOURSE 9th September 2012, First Race: 2.15pm The Curragh is located off exit 12 on the M7. Free car parking. Trains to Kildare town with free shuttle bus to the racecourse. Dublin coach provides a service, see dublincoach.ie

12 GAZETTE 6 September 2012

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Colin recalls his film highlights

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Castleknock son – and Hollywood A-lister – Colin Farrell and his mother, Rita, at the Dublin premiere of his latest film, Total Recall (right)

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B E C A U S E L O C A L M AT T E R S

I LAURA WEBB

HOLLYWOOD superstar Colin Farrell was back on Irish soil recently for the European premiere of his latest blockbuster – Total Recall – saying it was great to bring his co-stars to the city that shaped him into who he is today.

During his brief promotional trip for the remake, Farrell took time out to talk to The Gazette about his new movie, and what’s it like to be back home – even if it is just for a short while.

He said: “It’s really great to be able to bring a premiere back to a city that shaped me – as a boy, and as a man.

“Also lovely to have Len [Wiseman], Jess [Jessica Biel] and Kate [Beckinsale] here, too. I think for all of them, it’s their first visit to Dublin.”

Unfor tunately, the busy father of two wasn’t

able to visit his hometown of Castleknock, saying his return for the Irish premiere of his new movie was “a fleeting visit”.

“I normally get back to Castleknock over Christmas when I am in Dublin for longer than this particular promotional pit-stop.”

According to Farrell, there is a little pressure involved in making remakes – memorably, Total Recall was first filmed by Paul Verhoven, and starred Arnold Swartzenegger in1991 – but he feels this version of the classic scif-fi/ action movie works.

“Well, naturally, there is the issue of expectation, and people wondering how similar or dissimilar it may be to the original film, but I think, generally, we made the film we wanted to make.”

In the movie, his character is implanted with

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

‘I normally get back to Castleknock over Christmas when I am in Dublin for longer than this particular promotional pit-stop’

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

Colin Farrell

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

the life memories of someone else.

W hen asked if he thinks the plot parallels his life as an actor, which allows him to play someone else and walk in their shoes, his brief response was simply: “God, no, man.”

He has worked with some of the best directors in cinema during his career, to date, including Stephen Spielberg,

Oliver Stone, Terry Gilliam and Michael Mann, but Farrell says he has no particular favourite.

“Each director brings something unique and different to a film and to a film set. It’s been an honour to work with all those directors that you mention and, indeed, some that you did not, such as Terence Mallick or Niall Jordan.

“Honestly, I don’t have a favourite – you just hope that when you work with these kind of directors, that you do justice to their choice of cast.”

Stepping into the big shoes of the original star of Total Recall, Arnold Schwarzenegger, we asked Colin if Arnie had been in touch to give him any pointers. Sadly, he hadn’t.

“He didn’t call, he didn’t write. Nope – no pointers! But I think that is just as well, as these are two different films made in two different decades,”

said Farrell.

He started out his career on the small screen with some small roles here and there.

His career started to get a little more interesting when he was cast in the BBC series, Ballykissangel, in 1998 and 1999.

His first feature film was in The War Zone, which was directed by English actor, Tim Roth.

However, Farrell’s performance in Tigerland, directed by Joel Schumacher, catapulted his career, which later saw him star in films such as Miami Vice, Minority Report, Phone Booth, The Recruit and In Bruges.

Now a household name, Farrell continues to impress critics with his acting skills, and his latest film has been given the thumbs-up from film critics across the globe.

The 2012 version of Total Recall is in cinemas now.

6 September 2012 GAZETTE 13

R1

ZOO NEWS: GIRAFFE’S A WINNER

Zoo stick neck out with new name I LAURA WEBB

DUBLIN Zoo’s newest arrival, a female giraffe, has been named following a recent competition held by the popular tourist attraction.

The rare female Rothschild giraffe was named Tamu, which means “sweet one” in Swahili.

The suggestion was submitted by Grainne Byrne of Summerhill in County Meath.

Helen Clarke-Bennet, team leader for Dublin Zoo’s African Plains area, said: “Tamu is doing very well standing tall at six feet with a pale tan coat which makes her easily recognizable amongst the herd. She is an extremely well-adjusted and relaxed calf, following the herd wherever they wander.

“We received an overwhelming number of superb suggestions and picking the winning entry was not easy. We chose the name Tamu as it fits her personality perfectly,” Helen added.

For further information about Dublin Zoo, including upcoming events and news on what’s happening, log on to www.dublinzoo.ie

HERITAGE A special night to celebrate arts, culture across Dublin

Free events for everyone at Culture Night I BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

DUBLIN is staying open late on Friday, September 21, for Culture Night – a one-night only celebration of arts and culture in the city, and all over the country.

Museums, galleries, churches, historic houses, artists’ studios and cultural centres will open their doors late into the

evening, welcoming people of all ages to sample their cultural delights for free, and there are some genuine highlights in store for local people.

The Irish Film Institute is celebrating 20 years in Eustace Street by screening Far and Away, starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

The Irish Film Theatre at Earlsfort Terrace will

show an animated short film at 7.45pm, presented

by Arts and Disability Ireland.

The Culture Night Guided Tour will meander along the historic streets of the capital, retelling old and forgotten Dublin stories from 3pm to 5pm.

Each tour lasts for 90 minutes and takes in the architecture, history and geology of the venues it

will visit.

Establishments throughout Dublin opening late include the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle, St Patrick’s Cathedral, the National Concert Hall, the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, the National Museum of Ireland, the Natural History Museum, the Gutter Bookshop, Gaiety School of Acting,

Temple Bar Gallery and many, many more.

There will be plenty of fun for children, too, as Culture Day for Kids runs activities for fifthand sixth-classes at many cultural spots throughout the city.

For an interactive guide to all of the events taking place, there is a Culture Night app available to download for free from

the App Store, Google Play, or by going to www. culturenight.ie.

Culture Night is an initiative co-ordinated

by Temple Bar Cultural Trust, and is supported by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in partnership with the regional arts offices and local authorities throughout the island of Ireland.

Plan for free public wi-fi I LAURA WEBB

Brazil-iant: Brazilian community gathers to show off their style and culture in Dublin FOLLOWING on from the huge success of the inaugural Brazil Day Dublin, another day of music, food, dancing, and fun is on the way.

A day born out of the increasing numbers of Brazilians who reside in Dublin.

On June 17, Dtwo nightclub hosted 1,800 revellers ranging from curious Irish party

goers to the beautiful girls of Brazil. Numbers are expected to surpass the 2,000 mark on September 9 as Brazilians in Dublin will celebrate 190 years of independence.

For more information on the day, see www.facebook.com/brazildaydublin or follow the Twitter account @BrazilDayDublin.

THE Government has announced plans to introduce free wi-fi across the public transport system in 2013.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, L e o Va r a d k a r ( F G ) announced the plans to make wi-fi accessible across almost the entire public transport system. The project aims to encourage more passengers and boost tourism.

Such internet access will be introduced on Irish Rail’s Dart and commuter rail services this autumn, and on 80 new Dublin Bus vehicles

by Christmas.

Wi-fi is already available on Irish Rail Intercity services and most

of Bus Eireann’s fleet.

It is also currently being tested on LUAS services, and should be available across the city by the end of the year.

Commenting on the announcement, Minister Varadkar said: “We need to ensure that public transport remains an attractive and competitive option for passengers.

“Free internet access gives public transport a significant edge over the car, and is already proving popular with passengers, where provided.

“In order for Ireland to compete as a tourism destination, we must offer 21st century services to 21st century tourists,” said Minister Varadkar.

14 GAZETTE 6 September 2012

GOT A STORY? THEATRE The Ark pilot event for families Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 or email news@gazettegroup.com

Festival opens doors to first autism event I BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

THE FIRST autismfriendly theatre performances for children in Ireland are to be part of the Dublin Theatre festival’s Family Season, which runs from late September to mid-October.

The Dublin Theatre Festival, in conjunction with The Ark, will present a family season of productions tailored for children and schools.

This year, four theatre companies will bring their work to young audiences of children aged two and over and, for the first time in Ireland, there will be an autism-friendly theatre performance included in

the programme – a production of White by the Catherine Wheels Theatre Company.

The Ark is a unique company housed in a building especially designed for children aged two to 12 to explore everything from theatre, music and literature to painting, film, dance and more.

The Ark’s theatre programmer, Maria Fleming, spoke to The Gazette about the initial idea behind the autism-friendly performances.

“This is a pilot project based on autism-friendly theatre in Britain and the USA. We studied best practice in these

countries and there are a number of things to be put in place to make it easier for autistic children and their families to enjoy the performance.

These performances are also known as ‘relaxed performances’.

“We leave the doors open so people can come and go freely if they feel claustrophobic; we flag the audience if there will be any loud noises, so the children can cover their ears or use the earplugs provided. We will also have fidget toys for children to use if they get agitated. Everyone in the venue and the cast are aware it will be a relaxed performance.

Actors from The Ark performing in White

“The parents have no worry about disturbing others if their child gets upset as the space is so accepting. There is also a chill-out space in the foyer if the child needs some time out.

“Families with autistic children really appreciate the idea of the whole family going to something together as a unit and every child should be able to enjoy theatre.

“We offer information

packs online too with pictures of the characters and details of the story to be performed so there will be no surprises on the day as this can frighten some autistic children.”

The family season will run from September 28 until October 14 in the intimate theatre space at The Ark in Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin. Tickets for both public and school performances are now on sale.

6 September 2012 GAZETTE 15

GOLF CLASSIC For Marie Keating Foundation

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Ronan Keating focuses on his game at the Marks & Spencer Marie Keating Foundation Celebrity Golf Classic at the K Club recently. Picture: Adrian Melia

Ronan and celebrity pals in charity drive A HOST of famous names came to Ireland recently to play a round of golf in aid of one of Ireland’s top cancer charities.

The celebrities were in town to play the Marks & Spencer Marie Keating Foundation Celebrity Golf Classic, which took place on the acclaimed Palmer Course at the K Club on August 27.

The annual event, which is now in its 13th year, has become one of the most prestigious Irish charity golfing events.

Once again, the highprofile event saw a host of big names descend on the world-renowned golf course to enjoy a great day of golf, followed by a

dinner at the K Club, all in aid of promoting cancer awareness and raising funds for the Lucanbased charity.

Swords man Ronan Keating, himself a keen golfer, hosts this event every year and as usual, each team of three golfers was joined by an additional celebrity teammate for the event.

This year, the guests rubbed shoulders with we l l - k n ow n n a m e s including: Sir Bobby Charlton, Ronnie Whelan, Steve Staunton, Alan Hansen, Ronan Keating, Bressie, Simon Thornton, Gary Murphy, Brian McFadden, Vogue Williams, James Nesbitt, Allan Lamb, Shane Byrne, Teddy

Sheringham, Charlie Swan, Mick Fitzgerald, Mick Kinane, Darragh O’Shea, Andrew Coltart, Bobby Davro and Paddy Cole.

Retail giant Marks & Spencer are a long-time charity partner of the foundation and were the title’s sponsor. Many of their own staff and suppliers took teams as an added show of support for the work done by the charity.

Speaking at the event, Ronan Keating said: “This is one of my favourite fund-raising events, not only because of the fact that I love to golf myself but because it’s brilliant to see the support it continues to get every year.

“The K Club is an amazing venue and there is always a fantastic buzz about our golf classic. I think it’s that combination that keeps people coming back year after year.”

Also speaking at the event, Carmel Breheny, marketing manager for Marks & Spencer Ireland, said: “Marks & Spencer has proudly been supporting the Marie Keating Foundation since 2002 and has raised well over €1 million for the charity in those 10 years.

“We are delighted to have been headline sponsor of this year’s golf classic, another fantastic event for such a worthy cause.”

16 GAZETTE 6 September 2012

EXCLUSIVE The Gazette catches up with legendary comedian, David Strassman

Master of puppets back for bravura new show I BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

AWARD-winning veteran ventriloquist and comedian, David Strassman, is exited at the prospect of “coming home” when he arrives in Ireland this month with a brand-new show, Be Careful What You Wish For, at the Olympia.

The new show, which will run for five nights this September, will see Strassman returning to Dublin: “I lived in Clontarf for a year, my son was born in Mount Carmel’s, and I married a Donegal girl, though we’re now happily divorced.”

Strassman, from Los Angeles, has certainly travelled a long way since his introduction to ventriloquism in junior high school there.

“A teacher, Mr Horowitz, decided to teach ventriloquism as an elective class. I really chose it to get the easy grade.

He saw that I excelled, and then he showed me how to place an

ad in a local paper to do kids’ birthday parties. So, at age 14, I was making $50 for a half-hour show, while all my mates were cutting the grass and raking leaves for five bucks a day.”

David is accompanied as ever by a cast of puppet characters in his new show, and they form the basis and the theme of the production.

“This particular show is truly my most wild, funniest and has amazing production value. It’s basically about my main puppet, Chuck Wood, who wants to take over my brain and tries to get all the other puppets to mutiny against me. One of my puppets, Angel, has the power magically to make wishes come true and when I hear there’s a mutiny about to happen, I say to the puppets, ‘I wish you never existed’.

“Through the magic of theatre, I travel through a wormhole into another dimension where all my puppets exist without my

influence, so each puppet has a doppelganger in another dimension and they don’t know me I’ve to find my way back home.”

Strassman’s technological wizardry, which he first developed with the help of a NASA engineer, is used to great effect in the show. “I’ve developed a technology where in one scene, I have a hand-held wireless device which operates my puppet live.

“I have graduated to a wireless device, enabling me to operate a puppet without using my hands in the traditional way, but 80% [of the show] is still traditional puppetry.”

Strassman’s father was a psychiatrist, and the connection between this and his multiple puppet personalities was something that he was very aware of.

“My dad was a psychiatrist and, well, I call [what I do] ‘controlled schizophrenia’. But my dad never psychoanalysed me.

The characters have always had

their own individual personalities, hopes, dreams and fears.

Each character has parameters of what it would say or do in their imaginary puppet life.

“But there is an element between my two major characters, Chuck Wood and Ted E Bear and real life. The sibling rivalry between those two puppets is very similar to the relationship I had with my brother.

People love to see Chuck pick on Ted E, and Ted E loving Chuck unconditionally - it makes for a great dynamic in theatre.”

And which character did Strassman play in real life? “Oh, I was Chuck! I was the meanest of the two,” he said.

David Strassman’s Careful What You Wish For will run at The Olympia Theatre from September 11 to15. Tickets are available at The Olympia Theatre and cost €28 / €29. For more information, see www. chuckwood.com or www.ticketmaster.ie

Ventriloquist David Strassman, pictured here with Chuck Wood, is back in Dublin from September 11

6 September 2012 GAZETTE 17

GazetteSTYLE STYLE Autumn eyes feature some bright and bold colours COLOUR eyes beautiful this autumn/winter with some fantastic eye-shadow palettes from a range of cosmetic companies.

It’s the time of year when everyone waves goodbye to the summer (if you can call it that) and reluctantly says hello to the autumn, but on the bright side it brings with it some new wardrobe styles and great make-up selections.

This season’s eye makeup range isn’t all about dark and subtle colours, bright bold colours are making headway throughout the catwalk this season with a pop of colour seen across the eyes on many models.

Max factor has mixed the smokey eye effect eyeshadow with pearl beige in

the inner corners, sweeping in a vibrant turquoise over the middle section and adding the pop of colour with ultra violet into the inner upper socket area - a look perfected on the catwalk.

L’Oreal Paros introduces its new Colour Richer Quad eyeshadow palette collection that is designed to make eyes smoulder, add luminosity or make bold statements with palettes including Sumptuously Smokey Collection, Lavishly Luminous Collection and Bold Brights Collection.

The range also has a wet-technology that transforms satiny powder into a luxurious cream.

This palette range is available in eight shades

with an RRP €11.99.

Revlon has palettes that suit every occasion, day or night. Their ColorStay 16 Hour Eyeshadow Quads offer a range of colours from creams to purple.

Each palette contains

shades inspired from the latest catwalks.

Mystic Violet Mono and Heathered Plums Duo create the Dark Romance Look for a/w12 perfectly.

Whilst Precious Metals Duo and Bronze Lustre

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

This season’s eye make-up range isn’t all about dark and subtle colours

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

four expressive, silky, blendable shades that won’t crease, fade or smudge. The RRP price for this range is €11.25.

Elizabeth Arden is offering 20 single and 7 duo eyeshadow palettes that can be mixed and matched to create any look you desire.

The new range offers

Mono can be built up to give the on-trend stunning Sunset look to the eyes.

Elizabeth Arden’s range of Beautiful Colour eyeshadow cost €20 for single and €25 duo palettes.

All collections and colour palettes are available at participating cosmetic stores and pharmacies nationwide now.

Edited by Laura Webb

Make-up master classes MAKE-UP artist to the stars, Shehla Shiakh, is paying a visit to Ireland this month where she will host a number of master classes and one-toone exclusive appointments.

During Brown Thomas’s Autumn Beauty event, Shehla will be at the Lancome counter in Dublin on September 10 and 11.

Her visit also coincides with the launch of Lancome’s autumn make-up collection, Midnight Roses.

To book an appointment with Shehla or attend one of her masterclasses, contact the participating Brown Thomas counter.

18 GAZETTE 6 September 2012

GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS Making no bones about treatment Supported

by AIB

Interview: Alan Moynihan, Laurel Lodge Physiotherapy owner

A FIRST-TIME BORROWER

Q – THIS is the last year that first-time borrowers can avail of mortgage interest relief, but is it worth bothering about? I am single, on a salary of €55K, and have no debts. What’s all the fuss? Terry – Wicklow A - IN A word – yes! First of all, property prices have reduced by up to 70% and it is still a buyer’s market.

While money is still “tight” with the lenders, if you meet the parameters and conditions, you will find approval.

First of all, on your income, with no debts, you could be eligible to borrow up to a maximum of €250,000, depending on the lender.

Even if you bought at €200,000 – and there is good value at this level – you would need a minimum €25,000 to cover your deposit (you may obtain a 92% loan – the normal is 90%, while there are some lenders only prepared to lend 80% of the value of the property you wish to purchase), stamp duty (1% ), and legal costs (c. 1%, plus VAT and outlay). You might also want to provide for furnishings.

Now let’s look at the monthly costs on a mortgage of €180,000: - Mortgage repayment (at 3.5% over 30 years): €808.28 per month; - Tax relief (at 25% on the interest paid): €131.25 per month. This relief is available for the next seven years.

- Net payment, therefore, is €677.03 per month.

On the Net Disposable Income method (your financial monthly commitments must not exceed 35% of your net monthly income), you would need to have a net monthly income of €2,309.37, or somewhere around a gross income of €35,000.

If you have the ability and capacity to buy, and you are looking for a home, then now is the time.

Seize it!

Contact John with your money questions at

jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing director of Money Doctor

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MAYBE it’s the proximity to the Phoenix Park – it certainly can’t have been the weather this summer – but, whatever it is, the Dublin 15 community are remaining active, running, training and getting out and about, according to Laurel Lodge Physiotherapy owner, Alan Moynihan.

Moynihan, a char tered physiotherapist, is at hand to assist with the treatment and rehabilitation of any injuries that fitness fans may pick up.

Having practiced extensively as a physiotherapist in Britain, New Zealand and Ireland, he returned home and founded Laurel Lodge

Physiotherapy last year, fulfilling an ambition to open his own practice in his native Dublin 15 area.

Moynihan enjoys working with local sports people and says he relishes the challenge of trying to get to the bottom of long-term back and neck pain sufferers’ symptoms.

“Dublin 15 has seen a surge in athletes taking up running and endurance events such as triathlon.

“A lot of these athletes require treatment, particularly in the lead-up to the Dublin City Marathon,” he says.

From his modern, fully

e q u i p p e d cl i n i c l o c a t e d upstairs in Laurel Lodge Shopping Centre, Moynihan specialises in the treatment of lower back and neck pain, joint aches and pains and sports injuries.

He also offers a comprehensive rehabilitation service for patients recovering from orthopaedic surgery, such as knee and hip operations.

Services on offer at Laurel Lodge Physiotherapy include char tered physiotherapy, deep tissue and sports massage, trigger point dry needling, back and neck pain treatment, and post-op orthopaedic rehabilitation.

Alan Moynihan, chartered physiotherapist: on hand in Dublin 15 to treat and help rehabilitate a wide range of injuries

Q&A Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be?

A: All the usual ones – astro-

that you once thought you could not pull off?

A: Still hoping to run a mara-

naut, footballer, James Bond

thon in a few years, but enjoying 5-10k races at the moment

Q: What was your first job?

A: Packing shelves in Superquinn, Blanchardstown

Q: And your first pay cheque?

A: £50-60 Q: Have you ever done a job you loathed?

A: Never Q: When did you start your present job?

Last year Q: What is the best thing about your job?

A: Meeting new people every day, and trying to help them recover from their injuries

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

A: Mostly nothing – phone answering, occasionally

Q: Have you achieved anything

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

A: A packet of salt and vinegar Tayto, but they won’t be for long!

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

A: Not sure that there is a record on me

Q: What sport do you follow?

A: All of them – football,

car

A: Weekend away in a few

Q: Who best represents modern Ireland – David Norris or Jedward?

A: Neither – you’d have to go

weeks, meeting up with some friends I haven’t seen in two years

with Katie Taylor right now

Q: What music/pictures/ movies do you have on your iPod/iPad? A: I don’t have one; I’m still using CDs

Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook?

A: Mostly accounts that tweet Irish news and sports; love @ secondcaptains

rugby, athletics, golf; loved the Olympics

Q: What was your last tweet/ Facebook status?

A: I tweeted about National

Q: What sport can you play?

A: Running, Gaelic, golf

Potato Day, which was on August 25 – big fan of spuds!

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

A: I’ll admit to occasionally playing Garth Brooks in the

Q: Describe your dream meal?

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

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

A: Enda Kenny Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously?

A: Holidays – they tend to be short, these days, so I enjoy them

Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own?

A: Definitely not as many as my football boots and runners

Q: What was your worst holiday experience?

A: Loved New Zealand, but woke up one morning with 43 mosquito bites all over my body

A: Seems so far off ... Travel, golf, play poker

6 September 2012 GAZETTE 19

GazettePROPERTY PROPERTY CLONDALKIN: THREE-BEDROOM FAMILY HOME FOR €270,000

Superb sale on St Brigid’s Road

BROE Auctioneers are bringing 19, St Brigid’s Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, a threebedroomed family home positioned close to Clondalkin village, for the asking price of €270,000.

Positioned in an appealing location, No 19 holds all the ingredients needed for a family home, and offers a bright, well-proportioned accommodation with further potential.

Set just a short stroll from Clondalkin village and close to an abundance of amenities including shops, schools and leisure facilities and a short distance away from the M50 motorway and Luas light railway, which enables easy access to all parts of the country.

The accommodation includes an entrance hallway which features a storm porch, alarm panel and phone point.

The ground floor fea-

No 19 St Brigid’s Road is on the market for €270,000

tures two large reception rooms, including a living room which features a tiled fireplace and gas fire inset. It also has ceiling coving, a TV point as well as double doors to the dining room, which has a tile open fireplace, ceil-

ing coving, and a patio door leading to the rear garden.

The kitchen also has a tiled open fireplace, fitted wall and f loor units, and contains a door which leads to the rear garage.

Upstairs are three

bedrooms, all of which have built-in wardrobes, and the family bathroom, which was recently refurbished, and contains a WC, wash-hand basin and large corner shower unit.

The bathroom is also

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fully tiled on floor and walls.

To the front, there is off-street parking sided by lawn, while the rear garden is very private and is bordered with shrubs and mature trees.

This property requires light modernisation.

Other features of the property include gasfired central heating, double glazing throughout, and a gated side entrance.

Viewing is by appointment which can be organised through Craig Leap at Broe Auctioneers, who can be contacted at Tower House, Monaster y Road, Clondalkin Village, Dublin 22, and for more information, call 01 459 4433 or log on to www.broe.ie

Kitchen class: New Avalon style added to range CASH & CARRY Kitchens nationwide

showrooms are continuing to extend the range of affordable luxury kitchens with the inclusion of the stylish Avalon kitchen to their range.

Cash & Carry Kitchens also carries a range of accessories to perfect the kitchen keeping it practical yet stunning, with drawer pulls and cupboard handles from top European designers, and much more.

20 GAZETTE 6 September 2012

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS The battle RoadSigns Road Signs of the small cars rumbles on Five-star safety rating for Cee’d

THE all-new Kia Cee’d has been awarded a maximum 5-Star accident safety rating by Europe’s leading road safety organisation, EuroNCAP. The five-door hatchback achieved high scores for adult occupant protection (89%), child occupant protection (88%) and safety assist equipment (86%), recording the maximum possible score in the dynamic element of the child occupant safety test. EuroNCAP testers were also impressed with the inclusion of electronic stability control across the entire new Cee’d range in Europe ahead of it becoming a compulsory test criteria.

“The previous generation Cee’d was the first Kia to achieve a 5-star EuroNCAP rating. In the last five years, testing criteria have become tougher, making it harder for manufacturers’ products to be awarded top marks. It is a testament to Kia’s on going commitment to vehicle safety that we are able to once again achieve a high score for the Cee’d,” comments Benny Oeyen, vice president Marketing and Product Planning, Kia Motors Europe.

Toyota to sponsor Newstalk rugby TOYOTA Ireland has announced that from September 2012 it will become the new sponsor of rugby coverage on Newstalk 106-108fm.

The deal will see Toyota supporting all rugby broadcasts on the station including Newstalk’s innovative rugby analysis on the multi awardwinning Off the Ball, The Right Hook and Weekend Sports as well as Irish international game analysis and its live broadcasting of up to fifteen Heineken Cup games.

Regular contributors to Newstalk’s rugby coverage include a host of former stars and expert analysts like Shane Horgan, Keith Wood, Denis Hickie, Emmett Byrne, Liam Toland and Matt Williams.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Ian Corbett, marketing operations manager for Toyota Ireland said: “At Toyota Ireland, when it comes to sponsorship, we aim to partner with people and organisations that show exceptionally high standards and dedication to their craft.

“The sports team at Newstalk delivers the best rugby analysis and coverage and that comes across in the quality of journalism, contributors and the overall entertainment value of their broadcasts.

“We’re delighted to announce this new sponsorship and look forward to working with Newstalk into the new rugby season.”

CORMAC CURTIS

IRISH motorists have always had great affection for small cars.

They make sense on many levels, and as the marketing departments of the car manufacturers are beginning to realise, small cars appeal to a wide cross section of the market.

Young drivers as well as the so-called “empty nesters” share the same priorities when it comes to choosing their cars.

They demand a very attractive sticker price, low running costs, bottom-dollar road tax, and real fuel economy.

Can this be achieved with an attractive look and a comfortable drive?

T he answer seems to be yes, yes and yes again.

There is a nothing short of a motoring war raging in the small car segment at the moment, and two cars that are really going at it for a piece of the Irish market are the Volkswagen Up and the Skoda Citigo.

Also throwing punches in this particular bout is the SEAT Mii. Skoda and VW are brands that currently share the affections of a great deal of Irish motorists, VW have enjoyed success over the years, with the Golf

and Polo in particular always selling well.

In recent years, Skoda too has begun to capture the hearts of buyers.

They are seen as the plucky underdog, eager to succeed against the odds – the kind of scenario that the Irish will always get behind, probably because our rugby and football teams do the same thing!

As reported earlier this year, I attended the European launch of the Skoda Citigo and got a good look at it ahead of its Irish launch.

Over the summer, I managed to test the Citigo, as well as the Up on Irish roads to really see how they matched up to one another.

First in to the ring is the Up. I must admit, I was really looking forward to this car – I’m married to someone who has a lifelong love of VWs, the Golf in particular, so a new model was an appealing prospect.

Before I get into the details, it’s important to remember that the Up, the Citigo, and even the Mii, all come from the same stable, so there are striking similarities as all three cars share a chassis and many internal components.

Having said that, we are still talking about

cars with a set of unique characteristics.

The Up is certainly a small car, measuring just 3,540mm in length and 1,641mm in width, but don’t let that put you off.

The VW engineers have managed to squeeze more than enough room out of the interior for two adults to travel with plenty of shoulder and headroom, and in real comfort.

Up can be shoehorned in to some seriously small parking spaces.

But just because this car is small don’t think that it isn’t practical – I managed to fit a fullsized law nmower in the back with the seats folded down.

The Up also scores well in the looks department. Clever use of materials and colours really gives the car a lift.

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

‘I must admit, I was really looking forward to this car – I’m married to someone who has a lifelong love of VWs, the Golf in particular, so a new model was an appealing prospect’

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

The test car I drove was the three-door version, which makes it a little tricky for full-sized adults to get in and out of the back – the kids didn’t have any trouble at all, in fact they were even sliding the seats out of the way by themselves within a day.

It goes without saying that this kind of car is not going to break any speed records, but for driving around town, it’s a marvel.

Because the wheels are set at the extremities of the car, it excels in manoeuvrability – the

The exterior colour is matched on the interior, and, in the model I drove; even the dashboard had a highly polished finish in the same colour.

One very nice touch was the flat-bottomed chunky steering wheel, it’s a small feature that adds the driving experience.

Moving on to the Skoda Citigo, and we are faced with a very similar car indeed.

T his was also the three-door version, and again, the kids had no problem getting in and

out and buckling up, so my back was spared the contortions that some three-door cars force it into.

As I said, both cars are based on the same chassis, with the Citigo measuring about 2cms longer than the Up. T he styling of the Skoda is a little more understated than the V W, w h i c h , I m u s t admit, I prefer.

The grille helps to give

6 September 2012 GAZETTE 21

Edited by Cormac Curtis

RoadSigns Road Signs Volkswagen Bank lending set to grow in 2012 to €120m

The Volkswagen Up and the Skoda Citigo

the front end a more complete look and the side windows offer more traditional lines.

The interior finish in the model I drove was a bright affair called Club Reverse in ivory and it gave the already generous interior a greater sense of space.

T here are lots of clever storage compartments and pockets for drinks, documents etc. as well as a park-

ing ticket holder on the windscreen and hooks on the B columns Skoda are offering their City Safe Drive emergency braking feature as an option in the car, which makes a lot more sense than a sat nav in my opinion.

The City Safe Drive feature automatically stops the car when it senses an imminent collision.

When it comes to the

actual drive, to be honest I didn’t really feel an enormous difference between the two cars.

The Skoda was the 60hp version while the VW was the more powerful 75hp.

For city driving, the Skoda had more than enough poke to get around, so I wouldn’t see any real benefit in the 75hp option.

All in all, these cars are attractive, practical

and very good value for money.

Both offer enough options to tick the boxes of almost any prospective buyer, so it really comes down to personal taste.

For me, that would be the Citigo.

I do like Skodas, and the 60hp option makes it a more affordable car to own.

I would definitely recommend the City Safe

Drive feature and without doubt the five-door version is well worth an extra €500.

The Skoda has an entry price of €9,995 while the Up kicks off at €10,995.

So the battle of the small cars rumbles on, and now that Skoda are also offering some ingenious finance and leasing packages, they certainly seem to be ahead on points.

VOLKSWAGEN Bank Ireland, a division of Volkswagen Financial Services, Europe’s biggest automotive finance provider has revealed that in the first seven months of 2012 it has provided approximately €100 million in vehicle finance packages for Irish consumers and expects lending to grow by almost 10% year on year (2011 -€109m) by the end of 2012 with a target of €120m.

The financial wing of Volkswagen Group, this finance has been provided via a range of attractive finance packages through Volkswagen Group’s five car marques which are: Audi, Skoda, Seat, Volkswagen and Volkswagen commercial vehicles.

Providing vehicle finance in Ireland since 2008, Volkswagen Bank currently employs 30 staff at its headquarters in Leopardstown, Dublin 18. Volkswagen Bank has provided over €320m in vehicle finance to the Irish market in the last three and half years and it has viewed a significant surge in lending applications over the last 24 months as Irish motorists become more aware and more familiar with the competitive finance offers available via Europe’s largest automotive bank.

Commenting on the increasing level of finance provided, Mutlu Gur, general manager, Volkswagen Bank said: “2012 has seen surge of consumer interest in Volkswagen Bank. Irish motorists are embracing the Bank as a very real alternative source of finance compared to the traditional banking sector.

“The sound financial foundations of the Bank, enables Volkswagen Group to provide very competitive financial terms and this is reflected in the fact that we are lending record levels of finance so far in 2012 and that 70% of this lending has been provided for new car finance.”

With a market leading acceptance rate of over 80%, approximately 6,500 tailor-made finance packages with a average finance terms of 39 months were provided to Irish consumers by Volkswagen Bank Ireland so far in 2012. Over 20,000 Irish motorists have purchased their cars through Volkswagen Bank Ireland since its launch in 2008.

Finance packages vary across the five brands, reflecting each brands consumer segment with rates starting as low as 0% APR. In total, 40 varying finance packages provided a comprehensive menu of finance options for Irish motorists during 2012 and this trend looks set to continue with a new range of packages currently in planning for 2013, these will be revealed later this year.

For further information on the range of finance packages available across the Volkswagen Group go to www.readywhenyouare.ie

22 GAZETTE 6 September 2012

GazetteTTRAVEL FastTravel Experience an important part of Irish history Discover a unique family theme park with Stena Line

STENA Line has launched a brand new getaway package to the Legoland Windsor Resort Hotel, giving families the chance to enjoy an action-packed trip to London from only €197 per adult, per night (minimum stay two nights). This great price includes return travel from Dublin Port to Holyhead or Rosslare to Fishguard by car, accommodation with breakfast and what’s more – kids go free! Legoland Windsor Resort is a unique family theme park which boasts over 55 interactive rides, live shows, building workshops, driving schools and attractions, all set in 150 acres of beautiful parkland. For further information or to book, call Stena Line on 01 204 77 33 or log onto www.stenaline.ie.

Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa is the perfect summer escape

EXPERIENCE the wonders and beautiful beaches of Dubai or take a trek on a desert excursion in Abu Dhabi with Gohop.ie. With prices from just €602 per person to Dubai or €608 per person to Abu Dhabi, there has never been a better opportunity to discover the Middle East, without breaking the bank.

Dubai is an extraordinary Middle Eastern destination that has raised the bar time and time again. From first class shopping and spectacular high rise buildings to beautiful beaches, luxury hotels and fantastic golf courses, Dubai has more than enough to offer any visitor. Dubai’s attraction extends to the mix of old and new between the ultra-modern and the enchantingly traditional and is a melting pot of cultures and beliefs that is sure to satisfy even the most seasoned of travellers. Travel on September 22, and stay in a four-star hotel for seven nights on a room-only basis from only €602 per person. Price includes return flights from Dublin to Dubai, accommodation, taxes and charges.

Or travel to Abu Dhabi and stay in a four-star hotel for seven nights on a room only basis from just €608 per person, departing from Dublin on September 19. The unique atmosphere created by the perfect blend of Islamic culture and western charm combined with world class shopping, glitzy hotels and desert excursions make Abu Dhabi a city that stands alone as a premier city break destination. Price includes return flights from Dublin to Dubai, accommodation, taxes and charges.

For more special offers, for more information or to book your holiday, visit www.gohop.ie/specials.

The Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai

DAVE PHILLIPS

A LITTLE trip off the motorway when heading west can bring you to some unexpected places.

One such spot is Strokestown Park, County Roscommon.

The parkwill be familiar to anyone who is native to the region, where it is a popular venue for day trips and wedding snaps, but I found many Dubliners, myself included, were unaware of it.

Located along the N5, making it a perfect pitstop en-route to Westport, Strokestown is a small town which claims the widest street in Europe.

One end of the town is dominated by the entrance to the park and house.

Once on the land you’ll

The photography room

find the impressive Georgian house, which is in a continual process of gentle restoration and preservation.

Other attractions include a restaurant serving delicious hearty food, several miles of woodland walks decorated with sculpture pieces, and a six-acre walled pleasure garden.

Strokestown Park is also the location for the National Famine Museum, which was opened in 1994, a fitting location given that Famine ties together many of the elements of the park, and features heavily in its history.

Major Denis Mahon, a descendent of the Mahon family who was granted the land in 1653, initiated emigration schemes dur-

ing the Famine, which made him massively unpopular with local tenants.

In 1847 he became the first landlord to be assassinated during the period.

The land stayed in the Mahon family until the late 20th century, when it was bought by Westward Garage Ltd. The idea had initially been to expand an adjacent dealership onto the land, and sell off the excess land for agriculture; but having discovered the rich history contained in documents collected in the estate offices, the decision was to preserve Strokestown Park as a historical and cultural monument.

While the divide between the wealth inside

and the poverty outside the walls of Strokestown Park is explored in the museum, a similar divide existed within the house.

Daily guided tours show what life was like both for the family in residence, and for the workers who lived there.

Fans of Downton Abbey will find the stratified system of living familiar: passages and tunnels exist for the staff to move about the house out of sight of the family.

The kitchen is galleried, with a mezzanine level so the lady of the house could visit and deliver orders from above, without needing to physically step into the hustle and bustle of the kitchen.

A tour of the pleasure garden is also highly recommended. Here you can explore several acres of carefully manicured land, where avenues of roses run down to a lily-filled lake. A large knocker sits on a door through which the family entered, and three loud knocks signalled any garden staff to obscure themselves from view.

Today, you’re more likely to surprise the chef – all of the food served in the restaurant is grown in the garden. A large area at the back is dedicated to fruit and vegetables, including the infamous Lumper potato, which still remains

Strokestown Park is a unique visitor attraction in Co Roscommon

prone to blight. Parts of the original walls still contain an original flue system, which piped hot air through them to encourage growth of more exotic fruit.

With its blend of evocative history, carefully preserved beauty, and its wholesome food, Strokestown Park is recognised as one of the most significant private restorations in Ireland.

There’s enough to keep you busy for a day if you’re staying nearby; or if you’re driving to the West, make a point to schedule your stop there. It’s a great way to experience an important part of Irish history, and you can be sure you’ll never settle for forecourt sandwiches again.

For more information on Strokestown Park, log on to www.strokestownpark.ie

6 September 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 23

Edited by Natalie Burke

TravelBriefs

Turkey’s Aegean Coast

Enjoy a sun holiday in September free from the hustle and bustle of the peak family season WITH children returning to school, September brings with it the perfect opportunity for couples to enjoy the fine weather in sun resorts free of the hustle and bustle of the peak family season.

And to make the most of your free time, Thomas Cook Ireland has a range of exclusive post-rush packages with relaxation, romance and all-inclusive luxury in mind on the Turkish Aegean Coast, with prices starting from just €655 per person.

The quaint village of Yalikavak is the perfect resort for a taste of real Turkish life mixed with great tourist services.

The four-star-plus Delta Beach Resort is a real oasis of tranquillity, with its stunning seafront location, magnificent views over the bay and superb facilities. It is available for seven nights from €725 per person on an all-inclusive basis, with drinks and meals included, and departs from Dublin on September 22.

A little further North, Cesme is a charming fishing village which has retained its friendly atmosphere, and boasts two of the best beaches in Turkey. Close to its centre, the four-star Piril Hotel is a relaxing and welcoming property, with stylish rooms and two excellent pools. Thomas Cook is offering seven nights from just €655 allinclusive per person, departing from Dublin on September 22.

The peaceful location and beautiful beach front setting of the four-star Fantasia Hotel in Kusadasi sets the tone for a blissful all-inclusive week, with food, drink and the hotel’s many facilities all included in the price of just €745 per person for seven nights, departing from Dublin on September 15. The great variety of shops and restaurants in the Long Beach area are just 1.3 km away. For more information or to book, call the Thomas Cook team in Dublin on 01 514 0328, or log onto www.thomascook.ie

The beautiful walled gardens

LOCALMATTERS SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS The House is unchanged from the time when the Mahons The Famine Museum

lived there

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24 SWORDS GAZETTE 6 September 2012

GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT GOT A PICTURE? Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 or email picturedesk@gazettegroup.com

Tom Hardy taking aim at the stylist who told him that that cardigan looked good.

I fought the law and...

An all-star cast makes an early run at Oscar glory, but the result is more packed with cliches than plaudits I PAUL HOSFORD

DE PR E S S IO N - E R A America has been a rich picking ground for Hollywood in recent years.

With directors such as Sam Mendes (Road To Perdition) and Michael Mann (Public Enemies) having taken on the era in recent times, it is no surprise that Lawless would be gaining such a buzz.

After all, it has everything a late-year drama needs: hot young cast (Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Jessica Chastain), check; hype from a top festival (Palme D’Or nomination at Cannes), check; interesting writer/ director combo (Nick Cave, yes that Nick Cave, and The Road’s John Hillcoat), absolute check.

So, all the constituent parts are there, the ducks are in the proverbial row.

So why am I so disappointed?

I l ove t h e e r a , I immensely enjoyed The

FILM OF THE WEEK: Lawless ### (18) 115 mins Director: John Hillcoat Starring: Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Guy Pearce, Gary Oldman, Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Dane DeHaan

OUR VERDICT:

THE period elements feel spot on and the young cast, Hardy, LaBeouf and Chastain in particular, are excellent, but the fixation with being gory and on edge takes away from characterisation, leaving the end-product feeling somewhat uneven. It is still a notch above most films this year, however.

Road and I seem to be about the only person on the planet that finds Shia LaBeouf likable, I should have been throwing stars at this like a ninja with an arm spasm.

Yet, here I am, doling out a mid-level film and reflecting on whether the problem is me. Am I just too jaded?

As I enter my 26th year, have I lost my ability to enjoy period action?

Has my love of gangsters, bootleggers and hardboiled police-men lost its lustre?

Or maybe this just isn’t very good.

It’s probably the latter,

to be honest.

Lawless is the true-life story of the Bondurant brothers, a trio of Robin Hood-esque bootleggers who control Franklin County.

With their bar acting as a front for their activities, life is good for the boys.

Of course, the happygo-lucky life of a bootlegging family does not a film make and Guy Pearce is on hand as a special agent intent not on stopping the Bondurants, but on ensuring that he gets his cut.

It is actually the arrival of Pearce, an actor of immense talent, that starts

the film’s shift from almost contemporary commentary on the foundations of American society into a lost narrative on a pantomime villain and a trio of wayward brothers.

Whereas Hillcoat kept The Road, a grand sweeping novel, on a tight leash and focused solely on the relationship between father and son, Lawless bounces between storylines.

The early going is spent gravitating to Tom Hardy’s menace as middle-brother Forrest, who is the head of the operation.

Hardy does a manful job of adding gravitas to a man who essentially only communicates in single syllables and has a penchant for serious violence.

Seeing Jason Clarke, who you may recognise from TV’s Brotherhood or The Chicago Code, in a major film role is a delight, but his character, oldest brother Howard is,

unfortunately massively underwritten.

A World War I veteran who has taken too much of the bootleggers produce, Howard has the most potential to ground the film in something human, but that opportunity is lost.

Fresh-face LaBeouf is obviously the actor most enjoying himself, playing against type and not, for once, playing a nervous teenager. His Jack is almost the protagonist and after witnessing Gary Oldman’s cuty thug Floyd Banner gun a competitor down in cold blood, Jack delves further into criminal life.

His brothers’ reluctance to allow him join the business is another story strand left frustratingly unfinished.

The end product is a violent, uneven, occassionally brilliantly directed film that shows that in a world of villains, heroes are hard to come by.

6 September 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 25

GazetteGAMING GAMING The right Wei for adventure in Hong Kong I SHANE DILLON

The recently released Sleeping Dogs, a Hong Kong-set title, mixes together lots of gaming tropes with several Hong Kong crime films to create an interesting new open-world game.

Chinese-American police officer Wei Shen goes back to Hong Kong to go deep undercover in the city, with the aim of taking down a local Triad organisation from within.

Of course, to rise further within the ranks

and get closer to the top, Wei has to be a “good” Triad member – and do lots of very bad things, with the tacit approval of the few higher-ups in the police who know his true identity.

Along the way, Wei’s loyalties are tested, as he grows increasinly attached to his Triad brothers, yet can’t forget his duty as an undercover cop, and – Well, at this point, Sleeping Dogs’ plot plays out like half a dozen Hong Kong action films, as this kind of conflict-

ed-loyalties dilemma is a familiar theme in many Asian films.

Turning instead to the gameplay, and Sleeping Dogs is certainly going all-out to establish its own strong identity in the open-world genre.

As you’d expect, Wei is very handy with his, well, hands, with extensive martial arts adding to the typical run ’n’ gun gameplay.

Wei’s barely able to walk down the street with rival triad thugs trying to beat him up, like a mash-up between

Aweebyte Extra Skyrim

Although a little rough around the edges, there’s an undeniable sheen to many of Wei Shen’s travels around neon-soaked Hong Kong, particularly in wet weather

enjoyable Dreamcast title Shenmue II and the PlayStation series, Yakuza.

Hong Kong, too, has set the scene for an interesting playground for Wei’s storyline.

While not quite a true cultural representation of the iconic Chinese city, it is, nevertheless, a fairly faithful intrepreta-

tion of it, complete with many Asian influences that spice up the gameplay, and storyline, quite a bit.

While most gamers will be concentrating on everything from “standard” driving, shooting, sailing, exploration and mar tial ar ts-related antics around the city, others will note the

excellent voiceover work by a strong cast, including Lucy Liu, Emma Stone and Tom Wilkinson, to name but a few.

All in all, it’s a decent late-summer release that will feel instantly familiar to gamers, yet which has a strong visual identity of its own, as well as an interestingly “Eastern” storyline.

MANY games’ lives get regularly extended and enriched through downloadable content (DLC), and one DLC expansion that’s on the way has caught my eye.

Skyrim – the absolutely gigantic multiplatform game set in a pseudo-Nordic medieval land – gets another DLC expansion soon, entitled Hearthfire.

As the name suggests, gamers will be able to buy land in Tamriel, then design and build their dream home to return to as a base – assuming that you’ve always wanted your “dream home” to have a stuffed orc or two, a weapons rack for crossbows and enchanted blades, and other such oddities.

GAZETTE

26 SWORDS GAZETTE 6 September 2012

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6 September 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 27

GazetteSPORT

SPORT STARS: August’s monthly local award winners revealed: Page 29

SOCCERFEST: PHOENIX PARK SET TO HOST ANNUAL SPORT AGAINST RACISM EVENT

SARI host 16th annual intercultural event

sport@gazettegroup.com

SPORT Against Racism Ireland will host their 16th annual Tesco mobile SARI Soccerfest in the Phoenix Park on Saturday and Sunday.

Soccerfest is an intercultural 7-aside tournament and family event with music and entertainment for everyone that highlights the need to live in a new Ireland that embraces diversity and integration.

It has become the

largest intercultural soccer tournament in Ireland. Established in 1997 initially for members of the new communities to integrate with local communities and give them a platform for mainstreaming opportunities, it has developed into the largest intercultural soccer tournament in Ireland.

It now includes 48 teams for men and women that participate from across Ireland and spectators of over 4,000.

A number of football players from Ireland’s new communities started out at Soccerfest and now play for a number of FAI league clubs and the Irish youth team.

The event has many high profile supporters including former Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr, Apres Match’s Gary Cooke and former Shamrock Rovers’ defender Victor Ekanem.

A range of cultural activities including live

Team Rocha celebrate their cup victory in the 2007 SARI Soccerfest at the Garda soccer grounds in the Phoenix Park. The event this year expects to attract 48 teams and over 4,000 spectators

entertainment is provided for all the family.

As part of the activities participants are given advice on mainstreaming into other sports organisations including developing links with soccer clubs.

Soccerfest provides an

environment in which people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures can appreciate their shared passion and compete in a respectful way, recognising the diversity that is among the population and a feature of interna-

tional sport.

Over the weekend, there will be a men’s tournament of 40 teams, a women’s tournament of eight teams and also a boys and girl’s tournament for Under-13’s.

If you are interested in entering a team,

would like further information, or would be interested in working as a volunteer at Soccerfest, contact SARI on 01 873 5077 or email info@ sari.ie.

Admission to the event is free all weekend.

28 SWORDS GAZETTE 6 September 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

CYCLING: HUGE LOCAL CONTINGENT TO TAKE ON RAS NA MBAN

Moynihan named in Junior Ryder Cup side GAVIN Moynihan has been named in the European team for the 2012 Junior Ryder Cup, which takes place at Olympia Fields Country Club in Illinois, USA, from September 24 – 25.

The Pobal Scoil Iosa and Island golfer has been in scintillating form this year to earn his place in a team that comprises two U-16 boys, two U-16 girls, four U-18 boys and four U-18 girls.

They will attempt to regain the trophy from the USA after a 13½ - 10½ defeat at the Gleneagles Hotel in 2010. The Junior Ryder Cup was formally introduced in 1997, following an exhibition match between teams of boys and girls from Europe and the United States in 1995. It traditionally takes place just before the Ryder Cup. Moynihan was the youngest player ever to win the Irish Amateur Championship this year to take up one of the U-18 boys’ spot and is joined in the panel by Austrian Matthias Schwab, who played on The European Tour as a 15 year old in the 2010 Austrian Golf Open.

England’s Toby Tree and Sweden’s Victor Tarnstrom make up the U-18 quarter. The girls are represented by Linnea Strom of Sweden, who has dominated junior golf in her country, Quirine Eijkenboom of Germany, Harang Lee from Spain and England’s Bronte Law. The Junior Ryder Cup has been the platform from which successful professional careers have been launched for numerous players.

Spaniard Sergio Garcia played in the 1995 exhibition match and four years later was part of the full European team at the Country Club in Brookline, while Suzann Pettersen played in the Junior Ryder Cup in 1997 and 1999 before becoming Norway’s top female golfer and taking part in six Solheim Cups.

Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy was in the victorious 2004 team, since then he has won two major championships.

Thirty-six women from across Ireland will battle it out with an international field in the Ras na mBan which gets under way on Saturday

Orwell lead Irish push sport@gazettegroup.com

LOCAL riders will provide a large portion of the 36 Irish entrants who will take the line for the An Post Rás na mBan which gets under way in Sneem on Saturday.

With last year’s winner Olivia Dillon absent on international duty at the world championships in the Netherlands, the way has been left clear for the five riders on the Irish team in Kerry to make their mark.

All but one of the selected squad will be making their Irish debut at the event with Lauren Creamer having worn green on her way to 11th overall last year.

The Welsh-based rider will be looking forward to an opportunity to shine having spent last year’s race supporting Dillon, and Irish team manager

Gillian McDarby has plenty of other options in the fight for overall honours.

London-based former Orwell rider Lydia Boylan has been in scintillating form on road and track this season and takes up an Irish shirt on the back of a raft of strong results including fourth at the national road race championships.

Amy Brice and Anne Dalton rode last year’s event on the Ulster and Leinster teams respectively and both have made enormous strides on the national road scene this year.

The fifth member of the team is 20-year-old Fiona Guihen from Navan Road Club, a Rás na mBan rookie whose elevation to the national team comes on the back of impressive form this season.

The Leinster team

includes Caroline Conway, one of the reserves for the Irish team, who rode the event with Leinster last season as did team mates Orla McEvoy and Niamh Stephens.

Charlotte McDonald and Fiona Cooke graduate to the Leinster team having made their debuts with Orwell Wheelers last season.

The mighty Dublin club DTC Orwell Wheelers sends two squads to An Post Rás na mBan this year along with their representatives on the Ireland and Leinster teams.

Star veteran rider Orla Hendron will marshal the troops for a tilt at the County Rider prizes aided

by Ciara Kinch, Lucy Soden and Mags Donnelly. The fifth member of the Dundrum Town Centre supported team is Kerry-born Trish Buckley, an emerging force in

Leinster league racing.

The Orwell Joe Daly’s Cycles team includes a couple of guests: junior European championship rider Lauren Gourlay swaps her Castlebar CC colours for the event while ace vet Monica Marconi rejoins her old club for the week. They are joined by up and coming Orwellians Isabel Cogan, Catherine Downes and Siobhan O’Connor.

One of the stars of the local racing scene this season has been Spain’s Sara Ortiz who leads the Galway-based Black Rose Racing Team. Ortiz, a former Giro Donne competitor, will surely be a force to reckoned with.

Ortiz will be joined in the team by Clare Dallat, the Australian based Irish woman who went within forty seconds of winning the Irish Time Trial Championship when finishing

fourth in 2010.

Backing them will be the in-form road and track star Rosin Kennedy, Derry’s Tonya Moran and Scottish visitor Anne Ewing.

The final local-based team in this year’s race is the Wheelworx 3D TC team made up of triathletes Vanessa Fenton, Aisling Coppinger, Marie Fox, Tania Finn, Maria Mulvany and Karen Robinson.

Riding on the Londonbased Look Mum No Hands! team - but also eligible for the Sneem Hotel County Rider classification - are twice former winner Louise Moriarty and event sophomore Siobhan McNamara.

The An Post Rás na mBan teams face 400km of racing in six stages over five days running from Saturday to Thursday, September 13.

6 September 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 29

DublinGazetteNewspapers SOCCER: CLIFFORD AND MCLOUGHLIN IN U-21S 2012 DUBLIN SPORTS AWARDS AUGUST WINNERS

STARof theMONTH KATIE TAYLOR THE PEAMOUNT United club member set the world alight as she became one of the very first female Olympic boxing gold medallists in London early in August. She added the 60kg title to the world title she won earlier this year, indelibly confirming her place in the pantheon of all-time Irish sporting greats.

TEAMof theMONTH FOXROCK CABINTEELY JUST nine years since forming, the southside club claimed the Dublin senior ladies football championship title with a stunning display against reigning champs Na Fianna in Parnell Park. They now move on to represent the county in the Leinster championship for the very first time, another huge step forward in their history.

AUGUST proved to be a massive month for female sport in Ireland as Katie Taylor became the country’s first female Olympic medallist since the controversial Michelle Smith back in 1996 in Atlanta.

With Rathfarnham sailor Annalise Murphy mixing it with the best in the Laser Radial competition, earning the Irish Times sportswoman of the month title, they were among Ireland’s stand-out Olympians in London this time

around.

On the team front, there were a number of notable firsts with Foxrock Cabinteely’s being the greatest of them, edging out St Sylvester’s, both clubs producing truly ground-breaking performances so early in their development on the ladies football scene.

Their performances highlighted a sparkling summer of sport, leading nicely into the autumn sporting calendar.

Chelsea’s Conor Clifford remains an integral part of the Republic of Ireland U-21 side

Local duo get Ireland calls sport@gazettegroup.com

PA L M E R S T OW N ’ S Conor Clifford and Clondalkin man Ian McLoughlin have been included in Noel King’s Republic of Ireland Under-21 team for the forthcoming UEFA U21 Championship qualifying Group Seven fixtures with Hungary and Italy.

The Irish face Hungary in Kecskemet on Thursday, September 6 then meet the Italians in Casarano four days

later.

After the recent defeat

by Turkey in their final home game, Ireland have a very difficult task ahead of them but the Irish boss is confident his side can turn the odds in their favour.

“We have two games to go in our group and the simple facts are that if we win the two of them we’ll get at least second place and hopefully that will secure a playoff place,” said King.

“We can’t concentrate on the Italy game

until we’ve dealt with Hungary. We’ve beaten Hungary before in Sligo so we go there knowing that we are capable of winning the match.

“Of course there was disappointment after our defeat by Turkey last time out. Overall the performance was good and we played well in sections of the game but we conceded a late goal. We have to pick ourselves up now and travel with a positive mindset.

“What has been posi-

Soccer camp: Locals enjoy Bayern prize THE annual Allianz junior football camp kicked-off in Munich, Germany, this week with 63 teenagers from 21 countries taking part in a five-day footballing adventure with Bayern München.

The children, including Lucy Ashmore, Jonathan Keating and Ashington’s Steven Mullins got to take in a private training session with the famous club.

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

tive is that a lot of our lads have five or six more games under their belt since the Turkey game and will be sharper. Fitness wasn’t an excuse for the loss to Turkey but it will definitely be helpful that the lads are a bit further into their season.”

A number of players have returned after missing the Turkey game with Jeff Hendrick, Adam Bar ton, Sean Murray, Samir Carruthers and Rhys Murphy all back in contention.

30 SWORDS GAZETTE 6 September 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS: LOCAL FIGHTER TOPPLES UKRANIAN

Celtic’s new boys win on AUL U-19 debut SWORDS Celtic’s Under-19s started their new life last weekend in the AUL league with a home game against St Patrick’s Athletic.

This new league brings plenty of unknowns and the mention of the name St Pat’s may have suggested that their visit was certain to give defeat to the home side.

It only took six minutes for Swords to open the scoring when new signing Paul Kenny crossed the ball into the box for Darragh Gill to tap in.

Ten minutes later, Kenny took on and beat the keeper in a one-on-one situation to score his first for Celtic.

On the 20-minute mark, Swords were awarded a free-kick on the touchline parallel to the 18-yard box, one which Cian Gaffney took and Kenny’s head nodded the ball home for 3-0.

All across the pitch, the Swords’ players outplayed the visitors closing them down at every opportunity. From the best St Pat’s chance of the first half, Celtic keeper Gareth McGrath bettered the attacking played to make a fine save on the edge of the box.

Kenny marked his first competitive game for Swords Celtic by scoring his hat-trick when on 37 minutes his shot went past the keeper to send Celtic into the break four ahead.

The second half saw a penalty for Pat’s and another Swords goal before Pat’s concluded the scoring with a headed in goal to leave the final score at 5-2.

Browne claims ’Boughal cup THE Ballyboughal ladies’ pitch and putt cup winner was Sue Browne with a net score of 49 with Joan Homan the runnerup on 50, leaving only the smallest of margins separating the two leading ladies.

Nearest the pin on the third hole was Marie Delaney in an event sponsored

by Bill and Peggy O’Neill.

The Sunday game winner was Billy

O’Brien, finishing on 49, too, also just one ahead of Martin Cullen.

The George McDonnell Memorial Cup series of games starts next weekend on Sunday morning at the club at 11am.

There will be five games in the series two at home and three away with the three best cards to count. If you are interested in playing, put your name on the sheet in the clubhouse or text/ call the secretary on 085-1743748.

Swords resident Chris Fields picked off the world Cage Warriors middleweight title in Jordan last weekend

Fields claims world title PETER CARROLL sport@gazettegroup.com

CHRIS Fields became Ireland’s third world champion in mixed martial arts last weekend, when he won the Cage Warriors World middleweight championship in a bout against Pavel Kusch in the New Boxing Arena in Amman, Jordan.

“The Killing” Fields has long been on top of the national middleweight scene and the Swords’ resident took advantage of John Philips’ enforced absence to be drafted into the final of the competition as a replacement.

From there, he completely dominated on his path to glory.

Coming off an unlikely loss to Philips earlier in the competition, catching the rangy Fields in a guillotine choke after absorbing the majority of the punishment, the Irishman took a new approach to the game, enlisting the help of sports psychologist David Mullins.

“I just had to remind myself that anyone can get caught. I dominated that fight, everyone saw it.

“Philips did very well to sink the choke in but, I’m sure if we met again, I’d

be the one with my hand raised,” said the spirited champion on his return to Ireland.

“David Mullins was an amazing help and I think it really helped me last Saturday – I felt very comfortable throughout the fight.”

Comfortable indeed, as the Ukrainian finalist looked for his coveted heel-hook, Fields shrugged each attempt off and went about his business, busily striking from distance and draining every last bit of energy from Kusch.

Leg-kicks chopped away at the Ukrainian’s base, leaving him unable

to set up a decent attack and, by the end of the second of five scheduled rounds, he looked like he wouldn’t be able to answer the bell for third.

Answer it he did, but to no great effect, and the bout was stopped when Fields’ opponent was unable to intelligently defend himself.

“It was one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever had, everyone knows how hard I work at this,” said the world champion.

“If I’m not training, I’m coaching and this sport has taken a massive chunk of my life away, so it’s nice to have a world title to mark the journey

with.”

More calls have gone up from across the Atlantic for Fields and team mate Conor McGregor to join the UFC after the win in Jordan. It’s something the SBG duo would certainly be interested in.

“UFC is the main event of the sport, it’s the only real way to make the sport into a career, so any fighter that isn’t looking for a slot in their roster isn’t taking it seriously.

“I’m very greatful to all the promotions that I’ve worked for, but I’m sure it would be no surprise for them to hear that the UFC would be my ultimate goal,” said Fields.

Malahide YC to host optimist event sport@gazettegroup.com

MALAHIDE Yacht Club has announced that the Optimist Connacht Championship, which it is hosting on behalf of the International Optimist Dinghy Association of Ireland, on September 8 and 9 is to be sponsored by Joe Duffy, Ireland’s leading BMW dealer, with additional support from TGI Fridays.

The two-day event, being run at the club’s recently rebuilt Dinghy Sailing Centre

at the Broadmeadows, is expected to attract over 100 entries and Principal Race Officer Neil Murphy and his team will set the courses for the six-race series.

“Our new facility and reorganised dinghy pen layout means we are fully geared to handle an event of this stature,” said MYC’s dinghy sailing secretary Garrett Donnelly. “With the support of our sponsors, we will have a memorable event for participants and their families.”

Speaking on behalf of Joe Duffy, marketing manager Alan Gilligan commented: “We are pleased to be associated with competitive sporting events at a local level and have done so throughout our 40-year history.

“We greatly look forward to playing our part during the championship.”

Entries for the Joe Duffy BMW Optimist Connacht Championship are anticipated from all four provinces by the event organisers.

6 September 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 31

HURLING: SENIOR STATUS CONFIRMED FOR 2013

CLUB NOTICEBOARD FINGALLIANS THE Fingallians club open day is on Sat-

Simon Lambert and is a great practi-

urday, September 8 and represents a

cal way of learning the basics of the

very important day in the our club cal-

game to help your child develop their

endar. The entire membership is com-

skills. The course will take place on

ing together and celebrating our club

Thursday’s from 6-7pm.

across all teams, adult and juvenile,

Our Irish conversation group

camogie, football, hurling and athlet-

resumes on Wednesday in the club-

ics, male and female.

house at 9pm after a summer break.

Congratulations to Catherine Walsh

This is a great free service provided by

on winning a silver medal on Sunday

the club. It is suitable for all levels and

afternoon. Catherine has two more

beginners are most welcome. Tuilleadh

events this week to come.

eolais ó Liam ag 086 3814422.

Congratulations to the Dublin minor

The stage production of “The Pitch” is

footballers as the march towards All-

on in Fingallians’ hall at 8pm next Sat-

Ireland glory continues and hard luck

urday. Tickets are being distributed to

to Paul and the senior footballers and

coaches and mentors at €10 each for

Roisin and the junior camogie ladies.

this critically acclaimed production

The camogie section is running Mum

and a unique chance to experience a

and Me (fathers also welcome) pro-

theatrical production and a different

gramme which has been designed by

side of GAA culture within our club.

the camogie association to introduce playing skills to parents.

The free six-week course, which starts on September 20, will be run by The St Sylvester’s hurlers got the better of Setanta at Clonshaugh last weekend in the intermediate semi-final

Naughton hopes to see off old protege I PETER CARROLL sport@gazettegroup.com

TOMMY Naughton has brought his St Sylvester’s hurlers to the intermediate championship final and, in doing so, has also guaranteed them a spot in the senior hurling championship for next year.

After a fantastic win over the heavily touted Setanta last Saturday in Clonshaugh, the former Dubs manager, Naughton, will now pit his wits against a man who cut his teeth as an intercounty player under his guidance.

Emmet Carroll will lead his Round Tower’s side out against the Malahide men in the final.

Naughton was quick to dismiss any quips about Carroll picking up his tactics while playing under the veteran coach, instead complimenting the Round Tower’s manager on a fantastic debut season at the helm of the club.

“Emmet has done tre-

mendously in his first year down there,” said Naughton.

“They have proven themselves to be a top class side and I’m very happy that it will either be Sylvester’s or Tower’s that will have their name on the trophy.

“He has a great knowledge of the game; he always had. And I’m sure he learned a lot from his mentors at Ballyboden over the years – he and David Sweeney have done some fantastic things in Clondalkin.

“Emmet is his own man and his team play a style that is very much their own on the field. But I think that this final will be an entirely different affair than our league tie,” said Naughton.

When the two sides met in late July on Tower’s home patch, the Clondalkin men won by 10 points, 0-21 to 1-8, which Carroll agreed was a completely different situation, even citing that

the Syl’s men were “missing a few key players”, something that Naughton doesn’t see as an excuse.

“They gave us a trimming, there’s no doubt about it. I’m not going to make excuses for that loss. We didn’t play well and that’s why we lost – Tower’s were the better side on the day.

“We are two sides who want the championship, both teams are exciting to watch. There’s no real way to break these games down because anything can happen come the day of a final.

“If they play well and we don’t, they will win.

If we play well and they don’t, we will. It’s all about

who wants it more,” said the former Dubs coach.

One thing is for sure, Naughton is focused on the task at hand, quickly shaking off any questions about next season’s senior hurling championship campaign, the first Sylvester’s will compete in.

“We have an intermediate championship final to worry about before we can even think about that, ask me after the final.

“I know the lads won’t settle with just having secured senior championship hurling.

“They’ve fought hard to get to the final and they’ll definitely want to bring home the title,” he finished.”

Please purchase your tickets at the club bar and use this event to introduce your friends and neighbours to Fingallians.

FINGAL RAVENS THE division 10 team had a good win

Well done to the Dublin minor foot-

over Tyrrelstown in the league last

ball team on reaching the All-Ireland

Wednesday. The senior team drew

final. Hard luck to the Dublin senior

with St Maur’s in the Garristown

team who were beaten by Mayo.

tournament.

The lotto numbers were 6, 13, 27

It is with great sadness that we

and 40; there was no jackpot winner;

learned of the death of Billy Bell, an

€20 to Maura Norton, John McDon-

honorary member of our club; we

agh and John McCarthy. Next week’s

send our sympathies to his family.

jackpot is now worth €4,277.

ST FINIAN’S IT WAS the turn of our hurling teams

team so let’s get out there and show

and our women’s football team to put

our support.

in great performances last week.

Our intermediate footballers can

Our men’s hurling team reached the

clinch the division three title and pro-

final of the junior B championship with

motion to senior football, next Satur-

a one point win over St Maur’s on Sun-

day evening, September 8, against St

day morning.

Brigid’s over in Russell Park.

Our Under-15 hurling team had two

The match throws in at 6pm and we

great wins during the past week, beat-

expect a big travelling support for this

ing Fingallians on Sunday to go top of

one.

division four and following that up with a fine win over Wild Geese in the championship.

We are running mini-All Ireland leagues from September 18 to 21.

The leagues will be for boys and girls

Our women’s football team beat

aged six to 12 years old. Application

Ballinteer last Monday night in the

forms for the event are available from

Tesco junior B championship, setting

our website www.stfinians.com. We

up a semi-final against St Jude’s on

have set up a special mini-All Ireland

Wednesday.

link on our homepage.

Congratulations to the Dublin minor

The Lotto jackpot was €6,500 and the

footballers who reached the All-Ire-

numbers drawn were 2, 5, 14 and 16.

land final with a fine win over Kerry.

There was no winner. The €50 winners

The Fingal minor hurlers play in the All-Ireland C championship final ver-

were B Dunne and Brendan McGroder.

Next week’s jackpot will be €6,600.

sus Cavan next Saturday afternoon,

For all the latest news and updates

September 8, in Ashbourne. We have

why not follow us on Twitter @StFini-

seven lads on the panel for the Fingal

ansSwords.

Follow GazetteSport on Facebook and Twitter and online at www.gazettegroup.com

ALL OF YOUR SWORDS SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31

KILLING FIELDS: Swords resident takes down world MMA title belt in Jordan P30

SPORTS SUPER STARS: August award winners revealed inside P29

GazetteSPORT

Catherine Walsh, left, and pilot Fran Meehan celebrate yet another amazing achievement in a glittering Paralympic career

SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Walsh adds silver to stunning haul Swords woman Catherine Walsh claims second in the 3km individual pursuit last Saturday at the Paralympics STEPHEN FINDLATER

swordssport@gazettegroup.com

SWORDS cyclist Catherine Walsh, 34, says her plans to celebrate will have to wait until next weekend but last Saturday she added yet another amazing chapter in a remarkable sporting career.

Working in tandem with pilot Fran Meehan, the six-time Paralympian added a silver medal in the 3km individual B pursuit in the Velodrome.

It made her one of a rare breed to claim medals in two wholly different sports having previously claimed a bronze in the pentathlon in Sydney in 2000.

During this early phase of her sporting career, she also competed in discus and the 400m before switching to cycling in 2007, progressing swiftly to win gold in the pursuit in Los Angeles earlier this year in the world championhips.

In London, Walsh and Meehan just missed out on gold at the hands of New Zealand’s

Philippa Gray and Laura Thompson. The pair, cycling on a bigger gear than their opponents, were well in the mix at the 1km mark and were a mere 0.2 seconds down.

However, the swift New Zealand pair raised their game and, by the 2km mark, this lead extended to 1.9 seconds, and at the finish there were three seconds between Ireland and the gold medal as both sides finished the race inside the old record.

Delight And the Irish duo were delighted with how they performed, Walsh saying after the race: “For Paralympic sport, you don’t normally have these massive crowds. It was very nervewracking in the morning. The race two days before[in the 1km time-trial] got us settled in for the main event.

“It can be hard to get your best out there but we’re delighted for the whole team because we had a couple of fourth places earlier in the week and very close calls.

“So it just shows that we are at the races and can finish off what we set out to do.”

Pilot Fran Meehan added: “We went out, fought hard, did the best we could and everything we said we were going to do and got second so we can’t be disappointed. We left it all out there on the track.

“The New Zealand girls were phenomenal and we were a damn good second. The old world record in a ride-off! We can’t do much better than that.”

The Irish duo will now contest the road events, concluding with next Saturday’s time trial around Brands Hatch.

Walsh says it puts the champagne on ice for a couple of days but it does allow the pair to ride with freedom.

“When we won the world championships in LA, it took us three or four days to come back down to earth.

“We will do our celebrating after the road races. I don’t know how we’ll go on the road but we’re looking forward to it. It’s all to play for.”