Swords GAZET TE FREE
October 18, 2012 Find us on
Month XX, 2012 SWORDS • BALBRIGGAN • APPLEWOOD • BOROIMHE • AIRSIDE • RIVERVALLEY
INSIDE: Welcome to a new era with your glorious new-look Gazette
Hurling:
Finian’s toppled by Sarsfields in JHC decider Page 31
Football:
Fingallians all set for inter final showdown Page 32
ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES...................... 8 DUBLIN LIFE...................11 OUT&ABOUT ..................17 CLASSIFIEDS ................26 SPORT ...........................27
CONGRATS! Speedpak celebrates the graduation of 17 of its employees Page 4
Reilly is urged to reverse cutback NATALIE BURKE
FINGAL County Council will be calling on the Minister for Health James Reilly to reverse the recent decision to cut the Health Service Executive (HSE) Ambulance Service hours in Swords and North Dublin. The cuts were first revealed in September, when it was confirmed the service would be cut on Tues-
days between the hours of 7am and 7pm. The council recently passed a motion to call for the reversal after the matter was raised by Fianna Fail councillor, Darragh Butler. “It is like a lottery what day of the week you get sick, whether there is an HSE ambulance available or not,” said Butler. Full Story on Page 3
Picture it: Helping to win the war against river blindness MSD IN SWORDS has joined with leading Irish charity, Fighting Blindness, and global colleagues to celebrate the important progress made in the elimination of river blindness (onchocerciasis), one of the leading causes
of preventable blindness worldwide. Pictured is Benedetta Nicastro, MSD’s Global Ambassador for the Mectizan Donation Programme at the photographic exhibition depicting the work of the MDP in Burundi.
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Enjoy mucking it up on the Allotment Open Day The Balbriggan Allotment Association (BAA) is calling for volunteers to come along and muck in on their Allotment Open Day next week, where the local community can sign up to participate in the recently-launched initiative. The open day will take place on Saturday, October 20, from 10am to 3pm, and groups of friends and neighbours are encouraged to register for adjacent allotments. The allotment was developed after the BAA secured funding from the Fingal Rural Leader Programme, which is conditional on volunteers contributing 500 hours of their time in the development of the scheme. Works on the allotment scheme, located at the junction of Knocknagin Lane and the old N1 just north of Balbriggan, began during August 2012, and the scheme is almost complete. Some small jobs remain to be completed, such as installing the boundary fencing between the allotments, building the demonstration allotment, painting the main gate and finishing the pig-rearing area. Once the scheme is completed, the allotments will be allocated immediately and holders can start preparing for winter sowing. According to Caitriona Redmond, a member of the Balbriggan Allotment
Planning ahead: Eoin Redmond proudly shows a pea plant that he grew from seed this year in anticipation of the Balbriggan Allotment Association’s open day
natalie burke nburke@gazettegroup.com
Association, there are many reasons why now is a good time to sign for an allotment in the local
area. “Locally-grown seasonal food, an understanding of sustainable living, and re-learning traditional farming and cooking skills are reasons to sign up,” said Redmond, who is also a wellknown food blogger. “Allotment holders are a sociable bunch, willing to help other holders,
pass on tips and teach skills, so there’s also a good social element to it. We’re really looking forward to the first harvest of BAA honey-glazed ham and can’t wait to get started on this really exciting opportunity.” The cost of the allotments vary according to the size of the plots, and volunteers who come
along to the open day will be offered a discount for their 2013 allotment fee. The Balbriggan initiative will also be one of the few schemes to include bee-keeping and communal pig-rearing. For more information and directions to the allotment site, visit www. facebook.com/Balbrig ganAllotments.
Local spa set to join forces with Green Angel natalie burke
A Swords-based spa and wellness centre is set to join forces with one of Ireland’s leading skin care brands in coming weeks, when it teams up with award-winning beauty
company, Green Angel. The Embody Day Spa, a college and wellness centre located on North Street, Swords, has recently begun to exclusively stock the Irish brand and, according to a spokesperson for the day spa, the move is a great
step forward for both companies. “We had been looking for quite a while for the right product to fit into our spa. Green Angel is a natural seaweed and essential oil based product; this is what drew us to the brand.
Seaweed has amazing therapeutic benefits for the skin given its properties. We also wanted to lend our support to an Irish brand and, given the excellent reputation of Green Angel, we knew this was the right choice,” she said.
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ridgewood
council: ‘Decision to reduce meagre service a disgrace’
Safety plans for link road
Call for reversal of ambulance cuts natalie burke
Fingal County Council will be calling on the Minister for Health James Reilly to reverse the decision to cut the Health Service Executive (HSE) Ambulance Service hours in Swords and North Dublin. The cuts to the ambulance hours were first revealed in September, when it was confirmed that the service would be cut on Tuesdays between the hours of 7am and 7pm. The motion to call for the Minister and the HSE to reverse the decision was passed at a recent
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council meeting, after the query was raised by Fianna Fail councillor, Darragh Butler. “It is like a lottery what day of the week you get sick, whether there is an HSE ambulance available or not,” he said. “There is no service between those hours and there is no cover provided. Highlight
“Cover will have to come from Loughlinstown so, coming from the M50, that could take about 30 minutes. I wanted to pass the motion so we could call on the Minister and the HSE
to reverse these cuts. All we can do is highlight the issue and show that we have all-party support for it,” he said. Cllr Tom Kelleher (Lab) also supported the motion at the meeting, saying he supported Cllr Butler and his efforts to improve the health services in Swords. “With a population of 50,000 people, which is marginally more than Waterford and marginally less than Galway. The idea of cutting what is already a very meagre service in Swords is an absolute disgrace, and I totally support [Cllr Butler] on this occasion.”
Eyes on the prize: Looking for Irish talent for 2016 Paralympic Games pictured at the launch of a major Paralympic Talent Search
Event, supported by Cadbury, is London 2012 paralympian and winner of bronze and silver cycling medals Catherine Walsh, from Swords, with aspiring paralympians Oisin Putt (10), from Ballycullen, left, and Shane Barker (9), from Donabate. The Paralympic Talent Search takes place on Saturday, October 13, at the UCD Sports Centre and aims to encourage people with a physical disability to get involved in sport and to unearth potential Irish talent for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
Much-needed traffic calming measures could be on the cards for Swords next year, to help improve safety on the link road through Ridgewood. The road has been the scene of several accidents and is a source of concern for those living in the area. Following a recent speed survey, Fingal County Council confirmed the area would benefit from the provision of traffic calming measures. The proposal will bring much relief to local residents. No funding was allocated for such plans in the 2012 budget, but the FCC confirmed that consideration will be given to the matter when the 2013 budget is being prepared.
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FASTNews
EDUCATION Initiative provides opportunity
Team Hope calling on schools to participate in Shoebox Appeal TEAM Hope is calling on local schools, families and businesses in Swords to help turn just another day in a child’s life into something special by participating in the 2012 Christmas Shoebox Appeal. Team Hope aim to deliver 195,000 shoeboxes from Ireland into the hands of needy children in Africa, the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, whose families typically live on less than €1 per day. “Simply root out a spare shoebox, wrap with Christmas paper and fill with gifts for a child to write, wash, wear or wow and attach €4 to cover transport costs,” explained Niall Barry, Team Hope executive director. The closing date for receipt of shoeboxes is November 12. Visit www.teamhope.ie or ring 01 294 0222 for more information.
Blue ribbon moment: Graduates try to get a rosette from Denise Ward at the recent Speedpak graduation ceremony
Speedpak celebrates employee graduation NATALIE BURKE
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SPEEDPAK, a Clonshaugh-based social enter prise providing employment and retraining for the longterm unemployed, last week celebrated the graduation of 17 of its employees. Minister for Research and Innovation Sean Sherlock awarded the employees full FETAC Level 4 awards, the equivalent of the Leaving Certificate, which were obtained through Speedpak’s Workplace Accreditation Model (WAM). This model assesses skills and learning at work and converts those attributes into an educational qualification. As a business, Speed-
pak provides outsourced contract packing and support services to the manufacturing industry, as well as manufacturing rosettes and a wide range of promotional products for equestrian events, agricultural shows, and for a variety of sporting and special occasions under their Shamrock Rosette brand. They are the largest manufacturer of these products in the Republic of Ireland. In 2010, Speedpak was awarded €100,000 and two years of business mentoring through the Arthur Guinness Fund. Speaking at the event l a s t we e k , M i n i s t e r Sherlock commended the initiative saying: “I would like to congratu-
late all of the people receiving their awards and commend them for their efforts. Speedpak is an excellent initiative that provides opportunities for unemployed individuals at all skill levels. “It provides an opportunity to gain valuable workplace experience, relevant knowledge and skills within a working environment, and brings people closer to the job market,” he continued. John Murphy, chief executive of Speedpak, also congratulated the graduates and said that the key aspect of WAM is to provide employment. “We are very proud of the achievements of our graduates and the dedication that they have displayed in successfully reaching their goals. This is a truly innovative model that works constructively with people to help them develop
core workplace competencies and reach their potential. “The workplace here offers learning opportunities from team work to health and safety and from quality assurance to conf lict management. At Speedpak, we don’t employ people to contract pack and make rosettes; we contractpack and make rosettes to employ people so that they can develop these vital workplace skills,” he said. Upon graduating, one of the employees, Marlena Caffrey, said she was glad to have completed the full award. “It makes up for leaving school early. I am looking for work and now I will be able to apply for the kind of jobs that I would never have dreamt of applying for before. I now have the confidence and the belief that I can go further with my career and learning.”
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18 October 2012 SWORDS Gazette 5
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FastNews
Closing of two dangerous pedestrian exits under way The process of closing two dangerous pedestrian exit points from a housing estate in Balbriggan is officially under way, after Fingal County Council launched a public consultation phase on the issue. The matter was raised by local councillor May McKeon (Ind) at a recent area committee meeting in response to a request from concerned residents living in Westbrook Avenue. The two pedestrian exit points have been the cause of much concern in the area, and residents have been pursuing the move for a number of years. “I agree wholeheartedly to having [the exit points] closed. Children could just walk out onto a public road that is a corridor to the M1,” explained Cllr McKeon.
Gospel choir Senior citizens is looking for club to host a new members craft fair at THE Fingal Gospel Chapel Lane Choir is looking for new members. The choir formed in March, and they meet every Tuesday from 8pm to 10pm at Applewood Community Centre. They sing many genres of music, such as pop, gospel and church music. New members can join by turning up, or by emailing fingalgospelchoir@ hotmail.com.
THE Swords Senior Citizens Club will be hosting a craft fair next Friday, October 19 at the Senior Citizen’s Centre at Chapel Lane. There will be a wide range of paintings, knitted items and other arts crafts for sale, and there will also be some raffles. All are welcome to attend.
A love of the landscape: Fingal launches book on county geological heritage the publication of Islands, Coast and Quarries: The Geological Heritage of Fingal was recently launched by the Mayor of Fingal, Cian O’Callaghan (Lab), in the White Sands Hotel Portmarnock. The book, by Matthew Parkes (above), Aaron Clarke and Sarah Gatley, explores Fingal’s geological heritage using data gathered during a 2007 audit of 21 sites of geological and landscape importance in Fingal.
The book is an Action of the Fingal Heritage Plan 2011 – 2017, and will hopefully open readers’ eyes to the wonders that are right on their doorstep. There was a good turnout of about 80 people, and afterwards Matthew Parkes led those present on a short tour of the nearby coast to see some interesting geological formations. You can get a free copy by emailing heritage@fingalcoco.ie or by telephone on 8905771.
Cullen forced to close dealership natalie burke nburke@gazettegroup.com
WELL-KNOWN businessman Bill Cullen was forced to close his Swords-based car dealership last week, after Ulster Bank reportedly claimed back an estimated €12 million from his company, Glencullen Holdings. Cullen, who has been in the motor industry for 55 years, closed both his Renault dealership at Airside Motor Park
in Swords as well as the dealership at Liffey Valley Motor Mall. Following the announcement of the closures, a statement on behalf of the entrepreneur blamed the “poor state of the motor industry, with customer confidence at an all-time low”. Glencullen Holdings’ deal with Renault car manufacturers officially ended in August, meaning that the company had lost the right to sell
Renault cars and parts. The two car dealerships employed approximately 45 employees who were informed last week of the receivership plans. Cullen is reported to have expressed his thanks and gratitude to customers, staff and supporters, and to have described the event as a “sad occasion”. Already this year, 20 of Glencullen Holdings’ employees lost their jobs when his two other Renault dealerships, in
Ennis and Galway, were also closed. The 70-year-old rose from poverty in 1950s Dublin to become one of Ireland’s richest and most successful businessmen. From working on a market stall as a teena g e r, C u l l e n d o c u mented his career in the best-selling memoir, It’s A Long Way From Penny Apples, and also featured as host star of TV3’s popular version of The Apprentice.
Celebration at McCabe’s
McCabe’s Pharmacy in Swords came in second place recently at the 12th Anniversary La Roche-Posay Awards. This year marked the 12th year of the wellknown skincare brand in pharmacies and, to celebrate, pharmacies across Ireland held instore events. Swords was acknowledged for going above and beyond to celebrate with their local community.
We have adequate supplies of salt for winter – Council natalie burke
nburke@gazettegroup.com
WITH fears mounting that possible freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall could be on the cards this winter, Fingal County Council (FCC) have confirmed that adequate road gritting supplies are already in place.
In response to a question raised by Fianna Fail councillor Darragh Butler at a recent council meeting, FCC confirmed that there are currently 2,600 tonnes of road-gritting salt in stock for the Fingal area. These salt supplies are for use on national, primary, regional and local roads. The council also confirmed
there will be access to further supplies, when required, from the National Roads Authority, and that the current stock levels are considered adequate for the 2012/2013 winter season. Welcoming the response, Cllr Butler said he was pleased to hear the council were prepared in advance of the winter months.
He said: “We never know what the winters we’re going to have will be like, and we’re coming close to that time of year again. I think [FCC] have done an excellent job, all things considered, over the past number of years, so I’m happy with the response. “It is getting in and out of your estate that causes the problems
and, in the more rural areas, there is always an issue. Councillors have discussed before that if salt could be made available to estates, maybe local volunteers could help out. “Some business parks have their own salt supplies for use if needs be, and if we could do something similar in estates, it would be great,” he said.
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EVENT Local company gets a taste of success
Country Crest wins silver at food awards NATALIE BURKE
LOCAL food supplier, Country Crest, based in North County Dublin, are celebrating after recently winning a silver medal at the fifth annual Blas na hEireann National Irish Food Awards, which recognise and reward the best in Irish food and drink products. SuperValu’s Supreme Mash with Carrot and Turnip, which is supplied by Country Crest, was awarded a silver medal in the Ready Meals and
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Prepared Foods (Hot) category. Lusk-based Country Crest was set up in 1994 by brothers Gabriel and Michael Hoey, whose family farm had been growing fresh produce in the area for over 100 years. Today, the company is recognised as one of the biggest suppliers of quality potatoes, onions and spring onions, as well as a leading manufacturer and supplier of vegetable accompaniments and prepared meals.
“The local family company are passionate about the quality of food they produce and are committed to using local produce, having built an important local grower base. They strive to deliver quality foods at affordable prices to SuperValu customers,” a spokesman said. A range of SuperValu products swept the board at the awards, winning 14 medals in total, beating off stiff competition and taking home more awards than any other Irish retailer.
Brothers Michael and Gabriel Hoey set up County Crest in 1994 and (inset) the silver medal-winning SuperValu Supreme Mash with Carrot and Turnip
The winners were announced as part of the Dingle Peninsula Food Festival. According to Martin Kelleher, the managing director of SuperValu, the awards were a great boost for Country Crest and other Irish food suppliers. “At SuperValu, we are fully committed to work-
ing with local farmers and producers to produce the best quality products for our customers. “In 2011, the total purchases of Irish goods and services made by SuperValu, was worth over €1.5bn to the Irish economy, serving to both create and protect almost 30,000 Irish jobs in the farm, food and retail sec-
tor.” Blas na hEireann is the biggest blind-tasting competition of its kind in the world. Over 2,000 Irish products were entered into 50 different categories, ranging from soup to seafood, with winners from all over the country taking gold, silver and bronze medals in each category.
FESTIVAL
Flavours of Fingal a big hit FOLLOWING the success of this year’s Flavours of Fingal event, the agriculture and food show could be set to become an annual event. Fingal County Council has congratulated those involved with the success of this year’s event, which was held at Newbridge House, Donabate, and are currently exploring plans for 2013. The July festival was attended by 18,000 people over two days and, according to exit surveys, people attending the show were very happy with the event and the programme of activities. According to the FCC, members of the organising committee are currently exploring methods of funding the show next year.
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gazetteGALLERIES
Mark, Claire and Lauren Cooney
Ready for an insightful evening of great advice. Picture: Una Williams
business: enterprising folk queue up for mentoring and advice
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HERE was great interest in a Business Start-Up clinic at the Fingal County Enterprise Board offices on Swords’ Main Street recently, which saw lots of budding entrepreneurs attend for advice and one-to-one business mentoring. Held as part of this year’s Fingal Enterprise Week, the clinic showed that, despite the challenging economic climate, Fingal’s business people and entrepreneurs remain as determined as ever – a spirit that was mirrored at the wide range of other events held across the county as part of the week. Emily Dowling, Fiona O’Reilly, Trish Oglesby and Linda
Sharon Symes and Tracy Corbett
Aoife Grant and Aneta Borek
Karen Bowers and Jean Ahearne
Dee Roche and Cecilia Zegan
So much choice at the food counter
Leslie Murry and Sharon King
heritage: A slice of cafe culture at Malahide Castle
Food fit for kings at castle opening A
Breda McCourt, Aine Nyler and Lyudmyla Okafar
S THOUGH Malahide Castle’s reopening wasn’t reason enough to visit, lots of locals turned up for delicious food at the castle’s new Avoca store, foodhall and cafe in the grounds of the beautifully redeveloped castle and grounds recently. With its official opening set for this week, the castle was welcoming lots of people to the cafe at the courtyard in advance of the big opening day. Locals tucked into some delicious snacks and meals to restore energy levels with which to take in the historic environs. All were agreed that the Avoca additions provided yet another reason to visit the popular site.
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Kathy Smith and Grainne Nangle
Elebert. Pictures: Una Williams
Chefs Leo, Ger, Claire, Greg, Andy and Andy
Laoighse Carley and Hugh Dunne
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Janice Lawlor and Clare Aughney
Models Faye Rooney, Laura Finnegan, Lisa Nolan and Hayley Ryan. Pictures: Patrick O’Leary
Fun fringe festival
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HERE was a colourful girls’ night out at Movies@Swords last week as local women flocked to catch a romantic film, courtesy of shampoo brand, Herbal Essences. Having asked women to nominate their favourite romantic movie, The Notebook, starring Ryan Gosling, came out on top, with
Katie Bowers and Larragh Sampson
everyone happy to take notes on what makes a great romance work – on the silver screen, at least. In a bid to banish the autumn blues, Herbal Essences also invited everyone to say Aloha to a Hawaiian-themed evening, with cocktails and coconuts adding to the upbeat fun.
Joanne Fitzgerald and Jessica Hughes
Katie Wall and Keira Finucane
Aisling Kavanagh and Cindy Flynn
Orla Minehane and Samantha Kinsella
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competition: Students invited to draw for site
Doodle for Google and you could win a €5,000 prize WEB giant Google is offering students the chance to win a €5,000 scholarship towards the cost of their college education, simply by doodling. The Doodle 4 Google competition, launched this week by Dublin 15 native, Clodagh Ryan, is asking students aged from four to 18 to get involved and potentially win some fabulous prizes.
The winning student will have their doodle appear on the Google Ireland homepage for 24 hours and they will receive a €5,000 college scholarship, a €10,000 technology grant for their school, and a laptop for themselves and one for their teacher. This year’s theme is My Invention..., and Google say they would love to see doodles inspired by
inventions – whether a unique or a novel device, a new method of doing something, or changing an existing process. The Doodle 4 Google competition is open to all students attending primary or secondary school or Youthreach groups in the Republic of Ireland, and contestants will be divided into five groups, based on school year.
Doodle entries from students will be whittled down to 75 creations that will appear on the Doodle 4 Google website before the top five doodles are chosen, as well as the overall winner, by a judging panel. The closing date for entries is December 10, and full details of the competition can be found at www.google.ie/ doodle4google.
Dublin 15 native, Clodagh Ryan, is asking students aged from four to 18 to get involved in the Doodle 4 Google competition
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The write way to get George Hook animated
BROADCASTER George Hook this week launched the second annual Tell The Future competition – a story-writing contest encouraging post-primary school students across Ireland to write a short story on how to power the country into the future in a sustainable, environ-
mentally-friendly way. The Newstalk presenter is spearheading this year’s competition, and has made a special animated video for pupils, parents and teachers to learn more about it. The video can be viewed on the competition website at www.tellthefuture.eu.
Bringing the winner’s stories to life is a key feature of this year’s competition, and the two winners will have the unique opportunity to have their story transformed into a one-of-a-kind animated video narrated by Hooky himself. The closing date for
entries to the Tell The Future secondary competition is Friday, November 30. For full details, visit www.tellthefuture.eu.
free talk on getting a job in 2012 AS PART of Innovation Dublin, a free talk will be given by CPL Recruitment specialist, Peter Cosgrove, entitled, Tips On How To Find A Job In 2012. The talk will take place in the Central Library in the Ilac Shopping Centre on Thursday, October 25, from 1 to 2pm. According to Cosgrave, today’s highly-competitive job market has created a shift in how candidates prepare for job interviews. Interviewers are asking more unusual questions to assess such matters as self-awareness, as well as traditional skills. The event is being run
Broadcaster George Hook has launched the second annual Tell The Future competition
as part of Innovation Dublin, which is currently running until October 26, and is part of Dublin City Public Libraries’ Career Direction and Development Programme. It is free of charge, although booking is recommended. For booking and further details, contact the Business Information Centre at the Central Library, Ilac Shopping Centre, Henry Street; telephone 01 873 3996, or email businesslibrary@
dublincity.ie.
UNDERGROUND FILM FEST CALL FOR 2013 SUBMISSIONS Underground Cinema, which recently hosted the hugely-successful Underground Film Festival, are now accepting submissions for their new season of monthly screenings. There are no submission fees and all films selected are considered for nomination for the
Underground Cinema Awards that will take place in the Royal Marine Hotel in September 2013. You can submit a film to be screened at one of Underground Cinema’s monthly screenings by logging on to www.underground-cinema.com and filling in a submission form. Once you have submitted your form you can then send your film to Underground Cinema, 3 The Drive, Woodbrook Glen, Bray, Co Wicklow.
editorial: new look, same great newspaper
Gazette regeneration YOU will have noticed by now that your Dublin Gazette Newspaper has a fresh new feel. The new design is a great achievement by our team and we’re delighted to be able to share it with you after months of hard work on getting everything just right. The new look and feel of the newspaper is
another statement of our confidence in Dublin Gazette Newspapers. We have recently increased our print run to 45,000, and now, with an estimated readership of 140,000, we are bucking all current industry trends. The design may be new, but the values remain the same. The loyalty we see
from the vibrant communities we serve across the city matches our commitment to deliver the best in news, sport and features to our loyal local readers. There is always the opportunity for you to get involved, and we are always delighted to hear from you with your local stories, photographs and
opinions, and you’ll find all the contact information you need on Page 2. The changes you see are built on eight years of success in talking to Dublin, and listening to our readers. I look forward to that conversation continuing for many years to come. ROB HEIGH, news editor rheigh@gazettegroup.com
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dublinlife
schoolLife Get involved with our new Gazette schools pages As part of the relaunch of the Dublin Gazette Newspapers, we are reaching out to all the schools in our catchment areas to become a closer part of our community than ever before. Schools are the beating hearts of communities, one of the last places around which a community can gather. We are calling on budding writers and photographers from all of our schools to help fill the pages and, in order to encourage the next generation of journalists and snappers to get involved, we are partnering with Harvey Norman to present the Dublin Gazette Newspapers Cub Reporter and Cub Photographer of the Year awards. For more details, contact me at rheigh@ gazettegroup.com, or on 01 601 0240.
Riversdale cc: recent graduates bag president’s awards
Gaisce gold for former students
Jason nesbitt and ryan higgins
CONGRATULATIONS to Naomi Marie-Rose (19) and Gavin Smullen (20), two students who recently graduated from Riversdale Community College, on receiving their Gold Gaisce Award on September 27 in Dublin Castle from President Michael D Higgins. Gaisce, the President’s Award is Ireland’s National challenge award for young people. It was set up by the President’s office to encourage and reward young people aged 15 to 25 who give their services to the commu-
nity. Last year in Riversdale Community College 55 fourth to sixth years achieved their Gaisce targets: 37 students achieved the bronze Gaisce award and eight fifth years received silver Gaisce.
Going for gold There are three levels of Gaisce award: bronze, silver and gold. Bronze takes six months to complete, silver takes twelve months and gold is rarely completed under three years. Speaking at the recent awards ceremony, gold recipient Naomi MarieRose said: “Through
Naomi Marie-Rose, Gavin Smullen, President Michael D Higgins and Ms Robinson, Transition Year co-ordinator, Riversdale CC
my par ticipation in the Gaisce Award I learned a lot about the importance of community and new skills, but mostly – I learned a lot about myself.” Fellow gold achiever,
Gavin Smullen, commented that: “Through par ticipating in the Gaisce bronze, silver and gold award I have gained self-confidence as well as finding a career that I love.”
Principal of Riversdale Community College Mr Tony Barry said that he was “extremely proud of the achievements of all of the Gaisce award participants”.
18 October 2012 gazette 15
Gazette
schools Collinstown Park CC: a trip to munster for geography class
Castles, caves and Cashel on a great day out î Ž Third year geography class
MR REILLY and Ms Coffey organised a geography field trip to Cashel Tipperary for our third year geography classes. We all met up outside the school as we had to leave at 8am and after a two and a half hour bus journey we made our first stop at Mitchelstown caves. While on the bus the teachers gave us a work-
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sheet to fill out about the trip. There, we met our tour guide, Aoife. Before we went into the cave, Aoife told us all about the history of the site. When we went into the cave we went down a lot of steps and Aoife told us to watch ourselves as the steps were very steep. As we went through the cave we filled out our worksheets based
on the information we got from Aoife. Before we left the cave Aoife turned the lights off to show us how dark it was without lights. W hen we finished our tour of the cave we thanked Aoife. After that we got on the bus and went to McDonalds or Topaz, we had a choice because they were beside each other. Afterwards we made our way to the Rock of
The third-year geography class from Collinstown Park CC outside the Rock of Cashel
Cashel on the bus. At the rock we met our tour guide Kevin and he told us the history of the rock. They were building a roof over the rock to keep it dry. He also showed us the round tower which was very tall.
When the tour was over we walked to the Cashel folk village. When we got there we got a sheet explaining the history of the folk village. They had very interesting ar tefacts and
statues. We all made our way around exploring and looking at different things like a caravan and a wishing well. After that we walked to the town. We sat down for a
while and then we went to the Wonka sweet shop. When we were finished there we got back on our bus and went back to the school and then made our way home.
GAZETTE
16 GAZETTE 18 October 2012
DUBLINLIFE
Q&A
BUSINESS
Supported by AIB
Financial Planning – Part 2 Continued from last week
HILLS HIRE, HILLS CENTRE, JOHNSTOWN RD
Making a sure-hire way in Dublin business HILLS Hire’s motto is “We hire almost everything”, but they are much more than a local hire shop. Hills is a family run business, run for many years by Heather and Ricky Little before their retirement. It is now in the safe hands of Cara and Carl Fortune. Hills offer a wide range of serv-
ices to their loyal customer base, including a workshop facility where it maintains a hire fleet and services and repairs most makes of customer machines. Here, Carl talks about his business, and how the team at Hills Hire manage the challenges of operating a business in the current climate.
How long have you been in business?
Any customers that are pricing jobs are struggling and as result they are seeking more competitive rates. We offer repair and service of customers’ tools and equipment which may save them the cost of replacing essential equipment. We continuously monitor our costs and outgoings. We also have new customers who are new to the DIY market and need more assistance with selecting and operating the correct equipment.
Hills Hire was established in 1968 in Pottery Road. We moved to our new premises in Hills Centre in 1982.
What makes your business successful?
We pride ourselves on excellent customer service, providing the right products at the right prices to a wide customer base. We offer a very diverse range of equipment for hire or sale at the most compeditive rates. We provide an excellent follow-up service for customer machines, servicing and repairing.
What do you offer your clients that differs from your competitors?
What law or regulation would you change overnight to help your business?
It would be of great benefit if the VAT rate would be reduced.
We listen to our customers and aim to assist them to identify the correct tool/equipment for their job whether they are professional landscapers/builders or enthusiastic DIYers. Our staff have a combined 85 years experience with tools and equipment, which allows us to offer appropriate advice to those who need some direction in selecting the correct tool.
What is your ambition for the business?
How has the recession impacted your business?
We enjoy creating local employment and serving our customers needs. Our business is extremely diverse and every day is different, meaning that each day offers different opportunities. We like to use our experience and skills to assist our customers in making the correct selection of equipment for their job.
As with everyone else in business, we have been affected by the recession. We realise that everybody is in similiar situation and as a result we have maintained our hire rates for many years without an increase and have no increases planned.
We are aiming to keep our doors open through this very difficult time. We continue to provide an excellent customer service to our many loyal customers, always offering quality tools and equipment at the most competitive rates possible.
What is your favourite thing about doing business in your local area?
MOST financial products are bought on a one-off basis. You suddenly need a mortgage, or you fall into the clutches of a life insurance salesman and – bang – you are making major financial decisions before you have time to think. The result is that you may not get the best product for your needs ... or the best value. Every major financial decision you make should be part of an overall plan. Thus, a particular product, such as a mortgage, loan, insurance policy or investment, should be judged not just on its individual merits, but also in terms of how it moves you closer to where you want to be. “Dream, dream, dream, dream, dream, dream”. The Everly Brothers (now called the Elderly Brothers) had a point. Dreaming has a huge role to play in financial planning. Consider what you’d like to be doing in, say, five years, 10 years and 20 years. Consider what work (if any) you’ll be doing, where you’ll be living and how you’ll be spending your leisure time. What will your family situation be? What – and this is key – will your financial situation be? Once you have a clear picture of the future life you’d like to have, you can start expressing it in financial terms and working out how to get there. Once you have an idea of how you want things to turn out, you can start to think about what your precise
financial objectives are. Obviously, these are going to vary according to your age, circumstances and desires. If you are in your first job, you are going to be thinking rather differently from someone who is approaching retirement. Therefore, you may find it useful to divide your financial objectives into the short-, medium- and long-term. Let me give you a simple, real-life example. Richard, 29, is a teacher. His short-term financial objectives are to get rid of his credit-card debt (left over from university), start building up some savings, and buy a car. His medium-term objective is to buy a home. His long-term objective is to earn some extra income with which to boost his pension, since he has decided he wants to retire when he is 55. Setting and prioritising your financial objectives is hardly rocket science, as you can see. Part Three continues next week ... 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
BOXEVER: LOCALS BEHIND TRAVEL DATA FIRM
High flying start-up secures €800,000 investment CUSTOMER intelligence company, Boxever, has secured €800,000 funding from a syndicate of investors led by Delta Partners, together with Bloom Equity and Enterprise Ireland. Established in September 2011, Boxever has created a cloud-based big data platform that enables airlines and travel companies to gather and analyse customer data in real-time and increase revenue through personalised marketing and merchandising. T he company has already secured its first contract with Nordicbased Atlantic Airways, and is confident of its ability to attract more airlines in the coming months.
Founded by David O’Flanagan, Leixlip man Alan Giles and Portmarnock native Dermot O’Connor, the company currently employs six people and is an Enterprise Ireland High Potential Start Up (HPSU) client company. Boxever emerged from the NDRC Launchpad accelerator programme last year and is now based in Dogpatch Labs on Barrow Street. Speaking about the investment, O’Flanagan said: “We are delighted with this funding and anticipate that the capital will enable us to increase sales and marketing activities as well as expand our R&D team in Dublin. “Travel today is the third biggest e-commerce
Boxever’s chief executives
market in the world. It generates over $100 billion in online sales but only a very small percentage of companies capitalise on the goldmine of data that they have about their customers. This presents a huge opportunity for Boxever.” This deal is among the 12 investments made by venture capitalist Delta Partners during the last
year and follows their most recent announcements of funding. Frank Kenny from Delta Partners said: “Boxever is yet another example of the great travel technology companies to come out of Ireland in the past 10 years. The team brings together the right combination of skills and assets to build a large Ireland-based company.”
18 October 2012 gazette 17
MOTORS P22
asdfsdaf P27 TRAVEl P24
OUT&ABOUT Never be out of the loop on what’s happening in Dublin! Let Out&About be your guide to all that is stylish, cultural and essential across the city and beyond this week
Gazette
MUSIC P19
Theatre THE peacock THEATRE 01 878 7222 Shibari
Aardman’s Merlin Crossingham, left, with Dr Annie Doona, President of IADT, and head of animation, Keith Foran, together with Wallace, Gromit and The Pirate Captain
animation: aardman’s creative director comes to blackrock for festival
Merlin, a wizard of arts Bairbre Ni Bhraonain
Blackrock Animation Film Festival welcomed some very special guests last week. They were about eight inches tall, and are two of the most famous characters in the world. Wallace and Gromit were accompanied by Merlin Crossingham, creative director at Aardman Studios in Bristol, who was guest of honour at the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT), where he led animation workshops and spoke to students last week. Crossingham has worked on numerous Wallace and Gromit productions as well as motion pictures Chicken Run, Flushed Away and the last Aardman stop-motion feature, The Pirates! In an
Adventure with Scientists. Speaking to the Gazette after visiting a nearby school with the dynamic duo, Crossingham spoke about his career to date. “I gatecrashed a lecture with a friend of mine when I was studying for my A-levels given by Ray Fields, who was head of animation in Liverpool. I was studying photography and it was amazing when I discovered animation. I realised it was simply the magic of movement, making something that couldn’t move come to life.” Asked about what it is like to work at one of the world’s most renowned studios, with Oscar-winner Nick Park, Crossingham gave an insight into his progression in the company: “I was a senior animator on The Curse Of The
Were-Rabbit, and the guys just had too much to do. They asked me if I’d be an assistant director on it. It was my first experience of directing, and Nick took me under his wing throughout the whole film. It was fascinating. “It’s amazing to work with Nick Park. He’s an extraordinarily creative mind, he never stops surprising me all the time, the amount of funny ideas he has, and he’s extremely generous.” Merlin has a favourite character, both to watch and to work with. “Gromit is my favourite. It’s because of his loyalty, his dedication and because he’s the hardest to animate. You have to get everything across with very little, everything he’s thinking and feeling. The animators know what good acting is and they use that knowledge to animate Gromit.”
On computer-generated animation, as opposed to the laborious process of stop-motion, Crossingham spoke about Aardman’s notional rivals, Pixar: “John Lassiter and Nick are great friends. They launched Pixar in 1989 at the same time as Wallace and Gromit, so it’s like we’re two simultaneous branches of animation. A company like Pixar can bankroll plenty of artistic development that we couldn’t, as we just don’t have that kind of money. Having said that, necessity is the mother of invention.” Speaking about the Blackrock Animation Film Festival, he said: “Festivals like this are vitally important for the industry and its the future. It’s a great opportunity for young filmmakers to have their work seen and get feedback from industry professionals.”
SHIBARI marks the Abbey debut of both writer Gary Duggan and director Tom Creed and is one of those terms that you probably shouldn’t Google in work. Inspired by the art of Japanese rope bondage, Shibari is a story of loose connections, the ties that bind and the messy tangles we find ourselves in. Weaving a story of cosmopolitan Dublin, family and loss, Duggan’s play relies on a series of two-handed scenes as the characters navigate their way through relationships, families and grief. In order for the play to work, therefore, the characters have to be well-drawn and the performances strong. Luckily, that is the least of the concerns here. Orion Lee’s Hideo is a standout, giving an understated, nuanced performance as Hideo, a Japanese florist. Michael Yare is another who gives a star turn, infusing his English movie star Nick with warmth and vulnerability. Ultimately, the play moves well, but the ending is rather unfulfilling, with too many strands left unexplored and the audience left to imagine just what has happened to the majority of characters.
GAZETTE
18 GAZETTE 18 October 2012
OUT&ABOUT
STYLE
BEAUTY news Get moisturising and rehydrate your skin this winter
Heatons €25
LAURA WEBB
Marks & Spencer €54 WINTER warmers are being dusted from closets as temperatures begin to drop, so that can only mean one thing – dry skin. To tackle this problem this winter the one thing we need to include in our daily routine is that simple lotion called moisturiser. Yes we all know what it is, but how often do we us it? During the winter, those with more dry skin than others should use it more regularly than those with normal or oily skin. The best time to moisturise is after a shower or bath, after exfoliating a n d a l s o a f te r shaving. Here are some Ga zette Style recommendations. Zia ja’s latest moisturising range using three different natural oil types - argan oil (Quench) which has revolutionised hair care, is used to reinforce the skin’s lipid barrier and improve skin texture and offer thirsty skin a burst of hydration. Avocado Oil (Nourish) a nutrient packed super foods and vitamins is ideal for anyone suffering from dry skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis as it absorbs quickly into deep tissue. Finally, grape seed oil (Protects) encourages the production of elastin to keep the skin elastic, and a variety of vitamins that protect against damage. Each body lotion from the range come with a RRP of €5.99 and is available to selected pharmacies nationwide or on www.originalbeauty.ie. Each range is also available in a face-cream (€6.99) and hand-cream (€3.99). Meanwhile, Aveeno have unleashed the power of oats with their Dermexa products that contains oat extracts which help to relieve those little itches that can come with dry skin. It soothes and moisturises dry irritated skin. The soothing emollient cream is suitable for everyone in the family and is available at leading pharmacies nationwide.
S C I H P A R G T GRE A
ing up on ever y th g in p p o p e ar is great graphic prints g is in - like th in st ra nt co d ashing an Penneys this season, cl ir t, €13 from sk d an 15 € graphic shir t, Debenhams €93
Debenhams €85
Next €60
Heatons €25
Next €43
Penneys €25 Next €36
18 October 2012 gazette 19
Gazette
MUSIC FASTtunes
Ethneos’ blend of styles creating a new power folk Dublin-based grunge-folk band Entheos have just released their latest EP, Where Creatures Meet, and the first single from the EP, Tend the Dark Flame, is available for free download through the band’s Facebook page. Over the past few years, Entheos have made a name for themselves as an energetic and impressive live act. They have played regular sets in Dublin, and have played in venues around Ireland, with a few select dates in Europe. They have played support to some of the biggest names in Irish music, including Damien Dempsey and Kila. For more information, see facebook.com/ entheosirl.
Husker Du and Sugar founder Bob Mould with current bandmates Jason Narducy and Jon Wurster
MUSIC REVIEW: legend’s return to power-pop perfection
Sweet like Sugar SOME things simply get better with age. Fine wines. Cheese. Me. One of the other things is Bob Mould, founder member and driving force behind the best band of the eighties, Husker Du, the second best thing to ever come out of Minneapolis after Prince. If you look at any interview with the biggest acts of the nineties - The Pixies, Nirvana, and so on - they all cite Husker Du and Mould’s velocity-and-vertigo guitar style as major influences. Now 51, Mould is back on the road and is effortlessly hitting the heights he scaled with Husker Du and his second
ROB HEIGH news@gazettegroup.com
band, Sugar, as well as the peaks he has scaled time and again throughout his solo career. The driver this time is the release of Silver Age, his tenth solo release, and what an utterly convincing return to what he does best — propellent-based melodic rock — it is. Opener Star Machine is a statement of intent – tubthumping drums and rolling bass before a torrent of guitar rips
the song clean open as the chorus arrives. It is a perfect introduction to the ten brief tracks on Silver Age, which lasts all of 38 minutes, a comet of a record that leaves a glorious trail in its wake. It’s also the most Husker thing on the record. The power-trio format that defined Mould as a genre-defining artist is back in place — Jason Narducy on bass and Superchunk’s Jon Wurster on drums — and is the perfect fuel that the guitarist-singer sets alight. The title of the album is clearly reflective of Mould’s awareness of his own position in the rock firmament - he might be
51, but he remains utterly committed and relevant. With Foo Fighters and No Fear both heralding his gift to melodic rock over the years, the vigour with which every track is attacked by the trio is a reminder who did it first, and in many cases, who did and still continues to do it best. The title track contains the lyric, “Never too old to contain my rage”, and it’s interesting to hear him sing, “I didn’t want to sing the song that gave people so much hope” on the magnificent track that follows it, The Descent. Mould has seen it all and still has the fire in his belly to fight anything that might be percieved
as a dying of the light. In fact, he’s burning brighter than ever. And if you need proof of that, watch him melt the speakers and destroy the level meters on Late Night With David Letterman recently - youtube.com/ watch?v=Ieb_T9ylY4o To say Silver Age is a return to form would be a bit of an understatement. This is an artist with a purpose and intent and a drive to create noise pop havoc that has always been tweaking at the corners of his more considered solo material, but has never been so perfectly expressed as it is here since the release of Copper Blue with Sugar 20 years ago.
Gazette
20 gazette 18 October 2012
OUT&ABOUT
CINEMA
more
theatre THE pavilioN THEATRE 01 231 2929 Brendan Grace
THE greatest family comedian of his generation proudly presents 40 years in the comedy business. Brendan’s new show features some brand new material and some old favourites from his vast repertoire, including all-time favourite parodies such as Father of the Bride and Chinese Takeaway. As always, it is advisable to secure your ticket early. Grace is playing two shows on October 19 and 20. Tickets are priced at €31.
mill theatre 01 296 9340 Sylvia’s Quest
THIS innovative promenade show uses cutting-edge radio technology, which empowers you to listen to the sounds, voices and worlds which only Sylvia can usually see and hear on headphones. Sylvia’s Quest invites you to take to Dundrum and follow Sylvia on her thrilling quest through the centre’s labyrinth. Sylvia shares her multiple worlds with you, her new friend, as she guides you through her secret streets and time portals. The show runs from October 17-21 and tickets are priced at €12/€10.
CIVIC THEATRE 01 462 7477 Ride On
A Honda 50 bike-run forms the background of a hilarious new play by writer Seamus O’Rourke. Five members of the Drumkarren Honda Club are sitting in a run-down shed in Co Cavan, ready to embark on a bike-ride, awaiting the other 20 members (seemingly “stuck” in a pub in Killeshandra). Running from November 6-10 at 8pm, tickets are €20/€16.
The five teens at the heart of The Perks of Being a Wallflower take some time to contemplate their changing lives
cinema: Stephen Chbosky brings his iconic 1990s novel to the screen
Young love blooms ALLOWING your book to be adapted for the big screen must a terrifying experience for modern writers. The constant secondguessing of screenwriter, director and cast on forums, chatrooms and social media must make many writers wonder why they bother. When your book is as loved as The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the challenge is obviously multiplied. Could a modern audience connect with a lead character who essentially watches what happens, rarely participating? Could any actress capture the allure and fragility of the character Sam? Would Patrick be reduced to a gay caricature, all sass and no depth?
paul hosford
phosford@gazettegroup.com
With these questions hanging over the film, writer Stephen Chbosky decided that the only man to capture the book was...the man who captured the book. Writing and directing his semi-autobiographical epistolary novel, Chbosky rarely bows to the pressures of commercial film-making and turns in a film that is touching, funny and heartwarming. Centred around Charlie, a teen about to embark on his first day of high school, Perks,
shows the world of an “island of misfit toys” as they attempt to navigate their way through highschool in early 90’s suburban Pittsburgh. At high school, Charlie meets step-brother and sister Patrick and Sam, with whom Charlie finally feels at home. On this side of the water, there will naturally be a huge interest in the performance of Emma Watson, post-Hermione, Harry and Hogwarts. The truth is that when the announcement was made that she would play Sam, many, this reviewer included, wondered if she had the acting chops to take on the role. This is not a typical nerdy-girl love interest, Sam is one of those frightfully rare creatures,
Film of the Week: The Perks of Being a Wallflower h h h h h (12A) 103mins Director: Stephen Chbosky Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Mae Whitman, Paul Rudd, Kate Walsh, Dylan McDermott, Nina Dobrev
OUR VERDICT: FOR fans of the book, this is about as perfect as cinema gets. Chbosky not only wrote the adaptation of his seminal novel, but also sat in the directors chair. With that comes the transfer of the warmth, the affection and the heart of the book’s trio of misfit leads to the silver screen. Lerman, born a year after the film’s 1991 setting, is stellar as Charlie.
a female character who is both likable, layered and well-written. As the object of Charlie’s affection, it would be easy to relegate her to simply eye-candy or your basic template of teen romantic interest, but Chbosky makes her much, much more than that. Fragile yet confident, optimistic yet tortured, desirable yet grounded, Sam essentially inhab-
its the Venn diagram of all things that teenage boys want, but carries the emotional baggage that makes grown men scared. Watson, for her part, turns in a brilliant, surprising performance, full of nuance and charm. On the boys side, Logan Lerman anchors the film without ever really saying much. His Charlie is not a character fond of expression or
participation. Instead, he observes, he notices and, above all, he cares. Even his mis-steps are charming enough to keep the audience onside and as he learns to live with his own demons, both new and old, it is impossible not to root for him. Ezra Miller takes on the role of gay best friend but his intense portrayal of Patrick’s lower moments lift him above gay pastiche. Arrested Development fans will enjoy Mae Whitman as part of the group that welcomes Charlie into their bosom and Paul Rudd sparkles as Charlie’s confidant and English teacher. This is an honest, affectionate look at the teenagers we all wish we were.
18 October 2012 GAZETTE 21
GAZETTE
GAMING
BYTES&PIECES A MINI SOLUTION
Latest Pokemon are released into the retail wilds SEEING as I pointed out PETA’s take on Pokemon, below left, I should also point out that Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 are now out on the usual DS platforms, and should send Pokemon’s legions of fans into, well, a happy mood indeed. Although the likes of Skylanders on the “bigger” consoles have grabbed a lot of attention in recent times, Pokemon still keeps an awful lot of fans happy, and Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 should be a lot of fun.
STILL CATCHIN’ ’EM ALL
Is Apple about to tackle the Kindle?
Welcome to Dunwall – a city best described as a curious blend of Victorian London’s slums with a dash of America’s frontier spirit. With a murdered empress, a mysterious plague, a totalitarian crack-down and all manner of untrustworthy characters (right), it’s an interesting time to be on the run in the city ...
DISHONOURED: A ROYALLY ENTERTAINING TITLE
Reclaim your honour WITH Christmas around the corner, gamers are about to be spoilt for choice as some heavyweight titles lumber into view on all platforms. First up, we have a new release, Dishonoured; a cross-platform title that oozes just as much flair and style as its grim streets drip and slip with nefarious goings-on – in the best possible way, of course. Stepping into the wrongfully-accused shoes of Corvo (basically, something of a cross between a soldier, an assassin, and a supernaturalist), you begin the game languishing in prison, wrongly accused of murdering the Empress.
SHANE DILLON sdillon@gazettegroup.com
What’s a self-respecting former bodyguard with his name to clear and vengeance on his mind to do? That’s right – it’s up to you to escape, romp about the mean city streets of Dunwall, uncover secrets and conspiracies, track down the cads responsible for the murder, and ensure that they face a lot more than tears before bedtime ... Although it’s obsten-
ANOTHERWEEBYTE
PETA’S NEW MISSION: TO FREE POKEMON
sibly “just” another first-person-perspective game, Dishonoured shoots, carves and slices out its very own genre (for mature gamers), as it blends several genres together to create a singularly striking game. That’s “striking” as in visually striking, yet also in that Corvo can strike at his enemies with a vareity of weaponry – including displaying an aristocrat’s skill with blades – as well as using his special, dark powers to do everything from slowing down time to, umm, possessing rats, to scraper and scamper about with ease. Although it’s not a particularly long title to play through, there’s
much to enjoy, with a game world that adapts and reacts to the gamer’s style of playing, with subtle consequences to some of the player’s broad strokes. For example, those who fancy themselves as dashing blades with Zorro’s skill will find Dunwall becoming even dingier – all those dispatched throughout the city having a tendency to attract ever more rats to her already plague-ridden streets, you see. It’s up to you to decide how to play through the game – some may enjoy sneaking around, eavesdropping on conversations and piecing together a larger story,
while others will simply tear around like a bull in a china shop. However, regardless of your playing style, Dishonoured rewards exploration and experimentation, with a richer than usual world, and story, to experience. Special mention must be made of the game’s art style, with legendary Half Life 2 designer Viktor Antonov once again creating a tangible sense of place and identity, with every last corner of Dunhall’s slums, warehouses, homes and palaces created in style. Fusing together such a wide range of contents, it’s an honourable game from Arkane Studios.
I LOVE this story! Game sites around the world pricked up their furry yellow ears at the news that PETA has once again set its sights on Pokemon, comparing the plight of Pokemon to “elephants chained up in train carts, waiting to perform” (as written on its website). Of course, animal cruelty is no laughing matter, and is nothing to joke about, and all animal charities are to be rightfully lauded for their tireless work for our fellow creatures. However ... Pokemon? Perhaps Pikachu looks so happy here at the thought of finally leaving Ash – and no more fighting!
THIS is probably the 24,562,786th story about Apple in the papers – today – but all signs point to an imminent launch of the iPad Mini (working title); a portable tablet that Apple are expected to use to tackle rival tablets, such as Amazon’s Kindle. Expected to be a wifi-only model, and with an “affordable” pricing point (rumoured to be about $200), the iPad Mini would be a practical solution to stop other big rivals, such as Amazon, from cornerning the increasingly lucrative tablet (and e-book reader) market. Although the late Steve Jobs was against entering the tablet market, the slow but steady rise of e-readers, the opening up of new markets, and shifting consumer markets could make a new Apple tablet (that’s more portable than the larger iPad models) a lucrative move.
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22 GAZETTE 18 October 2012
GAZETTE
& OUT ABOUT road
MOTORS
NOISE
Grand Cherokee S Limited on the way THE exclusive new Jeep Grand Cherokee S Limited is set for its Irish debut in early 2013. It combines the aggressive looks of the SRT8, courtesy of its exclusive body kit, 20-inch wheels and unique black detailing (grilles, headlamps, tinted glass, etc.) with the frugal refinement of the diesel-powered Limited and Overland models. The interior of the S Limited has been reworked to match the sporty exterior revisions, with a heated sports steering wheel, leather and suede SRT8-style seats, carbon fibre door and dashboard inserts and special aluminium pedals, all as standard. Final specification and pricing for the Jeep Grand Cherokee S Limited will be announced closer to the vehicle’s expected launch in Ireland in early 2013, pending the announcement of the Government’s vehicle-taxation policy for next year.
Grand Cherokee S
TOYOTA TAKES TOP SPOT IN GLOBAL BRANDS: TOYOTA was again named the world’s most valuable automotive brand in the recently published report Best Global Brands 2012 by Interbrand. This year’s report sees Toyota’s brand valuation by Interbrand surge 9% and secure an overall top 10 spot across all industries. According to Interbrand, Toyota’s success is due largely to continued customer loyalty, an impressive line-up of environmentally friendly products such as the Toyota Prius, and a strengthening appeal with younger customers. In June this year, Toyota also emerged on top for the second
year running as the Best Global Green Brand. Interbrand highlighted Toyota’s continued determination to maintain environmental sustainability as a top management priority as a key part of the company’s success story. Interbrand looks at the on-going investment and management of the brand as a business asset when compiling the Best Global Brands report. The methodology of the report takes into account a multitude of ways in which a brand connects and adds value to the organisation. The 2012 edition of the Toyota European Sustainability Report is now available online: http://toyota. eu/sustainability/
The Mondeo’s CO2 emissions put the car firmly in the tax band A, costing a mere €104 per year
FORD: THE MONDEO TITANIUM ECO DESERVES ITS REPUTATION
An accomplished and comfortable saloon
CORMAC CURTIS
I WAS pleasantly surprised with Ford on a number of occasions this year. Specifically, the joy of family driving with the Ford C-Max, and also, the excitement when I got to try the Focus with Ford’s extraordinary new Ecoboost engine. This month, I was treated to a week with Ford’s flagship saloon, the Mondeo Titanium ECO. The days of petrol heads trying to out-do each other in terms of engine size are long gone. No longer do you see a line of 2.5 and 3.0-litre engines in the office car park, the real bragging rights belong to those with a car that brings the
most comfortable driving, the smallest engine, the lowest emissions and best performance. If you can get all this with a boot big enough to hold the Leinster front row – so much the better. No prizes for guessing what saloon offers all of this in one very attractive package – yes indeed, the Focus Titanium ECO. I don’t like to get too bogged down in figures and specs, but it is difficult to get away from just how much is on offer here. For starters, the engine itself is the 1.6 TDCi producing 115PS with just 114 g/km in CO2 emissions. This puts the car firmly in tax band A, costing a mere €104 per year. This motor will take
the Mondeo to 190km/h where it is legal to do so, and will take you from 0-100 km/hr in 11.9 seconds. OK, so the acceleration won’t get your heart beating too fast, but for a comfortable saloon, the rest of the equation works out perfectly. A quick cruising speed, modest engine size, low tax, and with a combined fuel consumption rate of just 4.3 litres/100 km means this package is attractive before you even begin to consider the comfort and style on offer. At this stage, I must point out that there is a new Mondeo due to be launched next year, but that might just give you a little leverage when you’re at a Ford dealer haggling over the price of
one of these babies. The look speaks for itself. The Mondeo has long since shaken the reputation of a dull saloon – far from it, nowadays this is a car that grabs attention with a striking style statement and an incredibly attractive body shape. The front end boasts a gaping grille and attractive chrome highlights, which are really set off against the dark body colour of my test model. The lighting clusters give the car a strong expression, with the front fogs enjoying a split effect that lifts the lower section nicely. The Mondeo comes in three spec levels, Modeo, Zetec and Titanium, with the Titanium spec certainly putting the driver
in the lap of luxury. The stylish alloys are 17 inches and have 15 spokes, while the interior offers luxurious Alcantara leather–trim sports style seats. Entertainment and communication is via the Sony stereo radio/CD with USB connection for iPod/MP3 devices. For safety, the car has LED daytime running lights, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers and an auto-dimming rear view mirror. All in all, the Mondeo deserves all the credit and praise it has enjoyed in recent years. It is a most accomplished and comfortable saloon that is practical and economical to run, as well as enjoying a luxurious spec.
18 October 2012 swords gazette 23
adoption: help the dspca rehouse abandoned and mistreated animals
Make room for a new furry friend ROB HEIGH
The Dublin Society For The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA), Ireland’s oldest and largest animal welfare charity was founded in 1840, and takes in stray, sick, injured and cruelly treated animals. Every day in their centre in Rathfarnham, there are pets looking for new and loving homes. Each dog and cat is microchipped, wormed, deflea-ed, and has received its first vaccination. They also currently have rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, degus, goats and birds seeking new homes. Animals over six
months old are neutered before being re-homed. Dogs, cats, horses, birds and many other small companion animals brought to the Dublin SPCA are found new caring homes while some others remain in the care of the Dublin SPCA for the rest of their days. The DSPCA has a set of adoption policies that they ask all potential adoptees to go through, and there is a small fee involved in adopting a new pet through the centre. “Our adoption fees do not cover the full cost of the treatment and care your chosen pet may have received whilst at our rescue and rehoming centre.
PEt of the week Meet Timber, a big teddy bear of a dog I’m Timber, a four-year-old male Malamute cross. I am strong on the lead so would be best suited to a home with experienced owners who will continue my training with me. I get on pretty well with most other dogs but I would love to find a new home where I am the only dog. I need a special home with people who will give me a lot of time and who will be patient with me. If you would be interested in giving me the home, I deserve then please make an appointment to meet me by calling DSPCA Adoptions on 01 4994700.
“Fees are necessary if we are to continue helping the sick, injured and cruelly treated animals in need and we always welcome additional donations” You can see more of the animals looking for home and the DSPCA’s adoption policies by visiting www.dspca.ie/ AdoptaPet. However, due to the numbers of animals they receive each week, it is not possible to feature them all, so the staff are asking potential adoptees to visit the shelter in Rathfarnham on Monday to Friday from 11am to 4.30pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 4pm. The staff at the centre
are currently advising pet owners to get their pets microchipped or, if they are already microchipped, check that they are registered to you and that all your details are up to date. Many pets go missing at this time of the year and it is important that they are reunited as quickly as possible with their owners. As a charity, the DSPCA raises muchneeded funds through a number of different initiatives. The DSPCA Veterinar y Hospital, located at the main gates of the DSPCA, is just one of these where all profits go back to helping rescue animals. To find out more visit www.vetclinicdspca.ie
Gazette
PETS
24 swords gazette 18 October 2012
Gazette
& OUT ABOUT fast TRAVEL
Wing your way to a superb Turkey break
HAVING been crowned Destination Of The Year 2012 at the recent Food and Travel Reader Awards, Istanbul is now regarded as one of Europe’s top city-break destinations, with more than eight million visitors annually. To celebrate, Turkish Airlines have released some great offers on flights from Dublin to Istanbul, offering Irish tourists the perfect excuse to experience the wonder of Turkey’s largest city, with flights from just €179 return, including taxes and charges. The offer is available for a limited time only, and is valid until November 30. Travel must be undertaken between November 1 and April 30, 2013, with the offer not valid between December 28 and January 13. For further information or to make a booking, see www.turkishairlines.com.
Uniquely, Istanbul straddles two continents
It’s all plain sailing on a delightful cruise FOR anyone who fancies a bit of sunshine rather than bracing themselves for the Irish winter weather, perhaps a pre-Christmas cruise could be just the thing to warm your spirits? Thomas Cook offers the perfect getaway in the run up to the festive season, with five-star cruise experiences to exotic destinations around the world. For example, why not avail of a 13-night cruise around the Canary Islands, from €1,099 per person, departing on November 22? Ports of call include Southampton, Madeira, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Lisbon and Vigo. Alternatively, you could take a seven-night Mediterranean Cruise on board the MSC Splendida, from just €469, calling on Barcelona, La Goulette, Palermo, Civitavecchia, Genoa, Marseille and returning to Barcelona. Prices are based on two adults sharing, with all taxes, charges and flights included. To book, call Thomas Cook Cruise at 01 514 0337, visit your nearest travel agent, or see www. thomascookcruise.ie.
dubai: something for everyone in this glittering arabian jewel
Desert your blues with a spectacular city’s charm THERE seems to be a common misconception when it comes to traveling to Dubai – any Irish tourists under the illusion that they’re in for a hectic, long-haul journey to a purely Vegasstyle destination could be pleasantly disappointed. In fact, discovering Dubai has become more popular as not just a romantic honeymoon spot, a shopping mecca and modern business hub, but as a universal draw and an ideal spot for families looking for the perfect destination.
natalie burke nburke@gazettegroup.com
There aren’t too many places in the world where you can ski in the middle of the desert, or take a stroll through a city made for, and by, children. Whether it’s taking a camel ride in the desert, riding a water-rapid at one of the world’s best waterparks, or sharing dinner with a local fam-
ily, Dubai is one destination that combines fun, culture and relaxation. For example, you could take the kids to visit Aquaventure – a 42-acre waterpark overflowing with speed-slides, river rapids and lush tropical landscapes, or enjoy one of life’s most memorable moments by swimming with a dolphin at Dolphin Bay. If it’s adrenaline and a bit of adventure you’re seeking, explore the mysterious ruins of the Lost Chambers, or visit the first ever SEGA Repub-
From desert treks to state-of-the-art aquariums and indoor skiing, Dubai has utterly transformed its desert location into an area that’s full of diverse activities
At 321m, the iconic, five-star luxury hotel Burj Al Arab
lic theme park, with nine heart-stopping attractions and 250 amusement games. To immerse yourself in a bit of culture, discover the “real” Dubai on an Arabic desert safari by taking a camel ride, or speed through the dunes in a 4X4, or take the chance to learn about the Emerati culture and religion with a visit to the Jumeirah Mosque – the only mosque open to the public in Dubai. Children (and you) will love the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo – the largest suspended aquarium in the world, housing more than 33,000 aquatic animals – while a visit to see KidZania (a city made for children) will let your kids live their grown-up dreams. Take one of the world’s fastest elevators to the 124th floor of the Burj
Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, to steal the city’s greatest view, and be sure to catch sight of the world’s largest dancing fountain at the Burj Khalifa Lake. With more than 6,000 superlights, the fountain is visible from more than 20 miles away, making it the brightest spot in the Middle East. Rising from the Arabian Gulf on the crescent of the iconic Palm Island is the spectacular resort of Atlantis, one of Dubai’s most soughtafter hotels. Inspired by the ocean, everything about Atlantis is larger than life. Designed to exhilarate, the resort is a luxurious but family-friendly holiday haven. The resort’s stunning beach invites guests to relax in the sunshine, whilst the spa promises complete rejuvena-
18 October 2012 swords gazette 25
fast
Gazette
Travel
TRAVEL
Parknasilla Resort and Spa, Sneem, Co Kerry
families: relax with a spa getaway in co kerry
(Tower of the Arabs) is just one of the architectural marvels that Dubai boasts, attracting visitors from
tion. Atlantis is a place where an exotic marine landscape is combined with luxury guest rooms, diverse restaurants and stylish boutiques. The resort also encompasses the water park Aquaventure, as well as a massive open-air marine habitat. Considered Dubai’s most stylish beach resort, the One&Only Royal Mirage is a second resort that promises to live up to its name. In a city renowned for its soaring skyscrapers, the One&Only Royal Mirage instead recalls the romance of Old Arabia, with 65 acres of lush, green lawns and immaculate flower beds, set along a kilometre of private beachfront. The resort offers three hotels including The Palace, along the beachfront; the Arabian Court, and the Residence & Spa
– an intimate sanctuary in the heart of Dubai. For details on the Royal Mirage, see www. oneandonlyresorts.com; for Atlantis, and The Palm, see www.atlantisthepalm.com.
Getting there With approximately six and a half hours’ flight time, and a direct route now transporting people from Dublin Airport to Abu Dhabi on a daily basis, is it any wonder Etihad Airways have something to shout about? As the airline of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad has in just eight years established itself as one of the world’s best airlines, being named as the World’s Leading Airline at the World Travel Awards in recent years. In 2012 alone, Etihad has transported almost seven million passengers
worldwide, to date. Etihad takes great pride in giving its customers a five-star experience in the sky, and promises a unique service for all passengers traveling in Diamond First Class, Pearl Business Class or Coral Economy Class. With one of the most comfortable and ergonomically-designed economy options in the sky, Etihad has more than 600 hours of ondemand entertainment on their in-flight system, and a varied menu and cafe service. Flying from Dublin, you will land at Terminal 3 at Abu Dhabi Airport, Etihad Airways’ elegant and purpose-built terminal, and be transported by bus to Dubai, just an hour away. For further details of Etihad flights and options, see www.etihadairways.com.
all over the world
The world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, invites visitors to the 124th floor to take in some of the city’s many diverse sights and activities for all the family
FROM treasure hunts and outdoor adventures to luxury bedrooms and all-weather hot tubs, Parknasilla Resort and Spa in the beautiful county of Kerry has everything a family needs to indulge in a relaxing break this autumn. Located in Sneem, Co Kerry, the five-star resort stands with spectacular views over Kenmare Bay and the Kerry mountains, and provides the ideal location for any family break. Spend two nights’ bed and breakfast in one of the hotel’s many luxury bedrooms, and explore the beautiful surroundings with a choice of seven mapped walks, a round of golf and an archery lesson, as well as a Fairy Trail, where the kids can search for Parknasilla’s infamous mythical fairies. Fun outdoor activities include tennis and fishing, treasure hunts and walking trails, while guests also enjoy complimentary access to the hotel’s pool. While the children are enjoying the adventure and fresh air of Parknasilla’s great outdoors, mum and dad can make the most of the spa’s thermal suite and outdoor hot tubs. Parknasilla features the great tradition of Irish hospitality that has always appealed to families, and this tradition is sure to be passed on to a new generation of guests. The great facilities and activities for children, spacious villas and lodges that provide comfort for all the family, and its thermal spa treats and nights off for mum and dad, make this an ideal family holiday. Enjoy two nights’ B&B with dinner on one evening for adults from €199 PPS. Children under the age of four stay for free at the resort, with children aged from four to 12 charged at a rate of €30 for bed and breakfast. To book your family break this autumn, visit www.parknasillahotel.ie, or call 064 667 5600.
26 swords gazette 18 October 2012
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18 October 2012 SWORDS gazette 27
soccer P28
asdfsdaf gaelic games P27 P31
dublinsport Let the Gazette keep you up to date with all the best local sporting action from around the city as we cover all the stories that matter to you and your community
Gazette
kite-surfing P29
FastSport Clubs’ social media seminar:
Ronan Gormley, the first Irish player on the left, will hope his side can continue their rise up the world rankings as they received last-gasp funding Picture: Adrian Boehm
hockey: Irish men’s team raise €60,000 in five days to fund trip to Argentina
‘Remarkable’ support gives Gormley massive motivation CLONSKEA man Ronan Gormley said that he was truly inspired by fundraising efforts that raised over €60,000 in five days to help the Ireland’s men’s hockey team travel to the world ranking Champions Challenge tournament in Argentina next month. Speaking about the fundraising drive, he said: “What has taken place over the last week is simply remarkable. “On behalf of the Irish Men’s team, I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who have contributed. We have been told that we have inspired people through our performances…right
now we are truly inspired by them.” The situation arose in the wake of the Irish Hockey Association (IHA) board’s decision to withdraw the side from the competition, initially due to the lack of a coach but subsequently announced as a result of a budget shortfall. It was a move that would have seen a hefty fine imposed by the International Hockey Federation and a large world ranking points deduction. The manner of the communication saw a backlash from senior players and the hockey public and forced an about-face last Friday from the IHA.
They set a target of €45,000 to be raised by yesterday’s deadline, a figure which was surpassed via over 380 online donations as well as contributions from businesses. While the final numbers remain to be finalised, the surplus has been ringfenced for events in 2013. Speaking about the outcome, the IHA chairman of the board Dennis Millar said: “The board are thrilled that through a team effort and support from the community and benefactors that the team is now partaking in the Champions Challenge. We look forward to supporting
them at this upcoming ranking event.” Speaking on RTE, meanwhile, IHA chief executive Angus Kirkland said the IHA board “under-estimated the depth of feeling and support for the men’s national team” adding: “the strength of feeling around the hockey community has enabled us to change that decision.” In the short term, it allows Ireland to travel to the Champions Challenge which gets underway on November 24 in Quilmes with Ireland grouped with the hosts Argentina, Japan and South Africa in the initial phase of the competition.
DUBLIN local sports partnerships are calling on sports clubs to sign up for the 2012 Social Media Seminar for Sports Clubs at the Red Cow Inn on Saturday, November 17. This year’s event will run from 9.30am to 1.30pm followed by lunch and a chance to network with other local clubs. The main speaker will be Liam Horan (ex-journalist at the Irish Independent and RTE). For more information or to register, log onto www.eventelephant.com/socialmediaforclubs. Clubs can register online for a fee of €20 per person (and an online registration fee of €1.70) which includes lunch, parking, and an information pack.
c o n ta c t s Acting Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@gazettegroup.com
For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@gazettegroup.com Phone: 01 651 6205
Gazette
28 swords gazette 18 October 2012
SPORT
FastSport FINGAL set for road to rio: THE FAI and Fingal County Council, in conjunction with Swords Pavilions, have announced the launch of the new Road to Rio after-school football programme. The Road to Rio, which will coincide with the Republic of Ireland’s bid to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, is aimed at increasing participation in football in Fingal. A number of different programmes will take place in schools, clubs and community centres in the region. The competition begins this week in Skerries and Balbriggan and will provide primary-school kids with an opportunity to test their skills in an eight-week smallsided-games competition. Also part of the programme are a number of after-school clubs, in which qualified FAI coaches will deliver fun coaching sessions to boys and girls aged five to 10. For further information, please contact Paul Keogh at paul.keogh@fai.ie.
Soccer: strong local contingent receives representative call-ups
Leinster interpros edged out sport@gazettegroup.com
PALMERSTOWN CS’ Jamie Gooner y captained a Leinster schools squad that came up just short in their bid to continue the province’s brilliant run of results in the FAI Schools U18 Boys’ Interprovincials. He was part of a team that also featured Clonkeen College’s Steven Byrne, St Kilian’s DSD’s Nika Arevadze, Malahide’s CS’ Dylan Cashin and Clayton Stafford of Collinstown Park Community College. They just missed out on Leinster’s sixth successive title, having won 10 of the last 11 tournaments, playing out
a scoreless draw with Munster in the decisive match that saw the silverware make its way south. Leinster’s opening encounter saw them pit their wits against Ulster’s best schoolboys and it was a good start for their attempted title defence although they conceded first with Aidan Sweeney scoring first for the northerners. However, Wexford man Kevin O’Connor was on hand with a brace to cancel out Sweeney’s earlier attempt. With a win meaning two points in the tournament format, Munster and Leinster were deadlocked at the top with
two points, with Ulster and Connacht yet to bank points after the Friday fixtures. John McShane’s defending champions could perhaps have taken the westerners a bit lightly in the penultimate games played on the Saturday, the Connacht side scored the only goal of the encounter with Portumna’s Conor Barry giving Tom Byrne’s side their first victory of the weekend. Leinster may have noticed the title slipping away when Ulster banked another point from their clash with Munster, leaving them on top of the table and with Connacht seeing off
Leinster captain Jamie Goonery with Sean Carr at the tournament presentations
the reigning champions, that left the west equal with Leinster. Therefore, Leinster not only needed to win their own game against the unbeaten Munster men, but they would also need Connacht to lose or draw. Munster certainly made it tough for the Leinster men as they aimed to become the first province to claim six FAI Schools U18 Boys’ Interprovincial title in a row. They battened down
the hatches and effectively parked the bus knowing that a draw from the encounter would see them lift the trophy. Connacht did everything they needed to do in their closing game against Ulster, scoring the only goal of the last day’s play, and putting themselves on top of the league table via youngster Liam Flatley who pounced on an opportunity in the dying embers of the game.
With the situation the way it was, Connacht then needed Leinster to find a winner against Munster, although they would have been level with McShane’s side on four points. They would have taken the tournament lead on the head to head result, having seen off the Leinster men the day before. The goal would not come, however, and Munster were crowned champions.
Dublin ladies turn on the style at Wright Venue sport@gazettegroup.com
Dublin stars Fiona Hudson, Emma Colgan, Paul Flynn, Siobhan Woods and Niamh McEvoy. Picture: Peter Hickey
DUBLIN Ladies GAA will be showing another side of themselves as they take to the catwalk for the biggest event in the players’ social calendar. The world’s of sport and style will collide at their annual fashion show, which takes place in the Wright Venue, Swords, on Saturday, October 27. GAA heroes Bernard Brogan, Paul Flynn, David Curtin and Shane Durkin will strut their stuff, alongside players from the Dublin Ladies U-14s, U-16s,
minor and senior teams as part of the fundraising event. Hosting the event is St Brigid’s Joanne Cantwell, herself a former Dublin footballer and face of RTE Sport. Styling the Dublin Ladies GAA is fashionista Catherine Condell who will be showcasing the latest looks for the season at the show. Another Irish fashion icon and presenter of RTE’s Off the Rails Live, Sonya Lennon, will head up a guest panel of judges to find the winner of Dublin’s Next Top Model and will also secretly scan the audience for Best Dressed
during the event. The show will feature sportswear and party wear with brands such as Elverys, O’Neills, Debenhams, Penneys, Cari’s Closet, Louis Copeland and Peter Mark hair stylists. Dublin’s dynamic half-forward and All-Star in 2011, Paul Flynn is one of the GAA stars lining out on the night: “I’m used to a very different kind of stage, though I’m really looking forward to taking part in the show. It will be a great night”. Speaking on behalf of the Dublin Ladies Association, chairperson Maureen King said: “This
event will raise funds to support and invest in the development of Dublin Ladies GAA, ensuring that the inter-county players of today and the future have access to the best in class coaches, equipment, structures and practices to compete and enjoy playing at the highest level.Come along and support the girls - there’s more to Dublin Ladies GAA than what you see on the pitch!” Tickets are priced €20 (€15 for U-18s). Visit www.dublinladiesgaelic.ie to find out more details or contact the ticket office on 086 0285539.
18 October 2012 SWORDS gazette 29
Gazette
Achill invitation has Jade high as a kite Jade O’Connor is making big waves on the world kite-surfing scene, one which was given major recognition with Olympic inclusion for Rio de Janeiro in 2016 confirmed in April this year DUBLINER Jade O’Connor has been included among an elite list of just 33 riders to compete at the prestigious Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro (KSP) championships in Achill Island. The event runs from October 19 to 28 and is the first time a world-level event of this ilk will come to these shores. Following a 14th place finish at a European championship event in La Baule, France, and 34th in the worlds in Sardinia in the past month, O’Connor is delighted to have been offered the chance to take on the challenge. The arrival of the tour adds another boost for
stephen findlater sport@gazettegroup.com
the growth of the sport in Ireland coming a few months after kite-surfing was named among the Olympic disciplines for 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. For O’Connor, this is the ultimate aim after a number of years making her name on the pro tour, something that would not have been possible up to now. “I’m in the process of putting together a campaign to represent Ireland
in 2016. It’s made a substantial difference,” she told GazetteSport. “Now that nationalities are on the line rather than people if you like for podium places, there’s a huge injection of support in terms of coaching, equipment and sponsorship. It’s ramping up left, right and centre which is really awesome. Previously, a pro career would be a very difficult one.” The sport combines elements of wake-boarding and surfing with the aid of a kite acting as a sail, making for a physicallydemanding three-dimensional challenge. O’Connor got into the sport after a life on the water, her earliest memo-
Jade O’Connor is Achill-bound this weekend for on the Kite Surf Pro tour
ries going to the Shannon while she started sailing when just five years of age. She rose to international level in both mirrors and catamarans, competing at world championship level in her college days.
regularly at international level. If there is an event in Australia or Miami, you have to be there. “Particularly for Ireland, because we don’t have that many athletes for us to train among ourselves, we always have to go abroad. That just
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‘It doesn’t matter what sport you compete in, you have to compete regularly at international level. If there is an event in Australia or Miami, have to be there’ --------------------------------------------------------
She has since become not just a sailing instructor but also can teach surfing and wind-surfing but the kite version has become her over-riding passion. With that Olympic inclusion, it is now something she hopes to pursue full-time if she can get the funds together with a three-year programmer likely to cost in the region of €250,000. “With the Olympics on board, our outlook has to be professional even though it’s called an amateur game. I have sponsors on board – Cabrinha and Pure Magic - but ultimately, it is all hinging on getting a benefactor until next May when the Sports Council will come on board. “It doesn’t matter what sport you compete in; you have to compete
makes it expensive.” The event in Achill offers the perfect chance to showcase her talent. Ireland was hand selected as one of just four tour stops as a result of its exposed Atlantic seaboard on the west coast and extended reefs. It has long made Ireland a hidden gem in the surfing community, known colloquially as the “cold water Hawaii”. “We’re lucky top have the KSP arriving which is a world invitational tour. They have four events a year and only invite the best riders and only use the best locations at the best time. These guys do not sell out. “I’m just really happy to be out on the water every day, pursuing my passion but to get recognition and to be able to compete at that level is a huge honour.”
FastSport
Shillington honoured with Cricket Writer’s award MALAHIDE and Ireland batswoman Clare Shillington was presented with a special Cricket Writer’s of Ireland (CWI) award for Outstanding Performance last week following her exploits over a glittering career. She became the first woman to win 100 caps for Ireland in September when she also scored fifties against Pakistan and Bangladesh and her maiden international century against the Netherlands. The event took place on home turf in Malahide cricket club and was the last one to be presided over by chairman Robin Walsh, who steps down from the CWI when he becomes Cricket Ireland president in 2013. The occasion was tinged with sadness too, as Walsh recalled the great former secretary of Cricket Ireland John Wright, another Malahide man whose 70th birthday would have been last week. George Dockrell collected his second notable award of the 2012 season as he was named Russell Court Hotel player of the year, his second award from CWI too, having previously won an ICC associate player of the year award. The gala evening was graced by the presence of Ireland players Gary Wilson and William Porterfield, who arrived in Dublin earlier in the evening on the third leg of their marathon charity cycle around Ireland. They told the attendance of their exploits on the road and were heartened by the great reception and support they have been getting throughout the country. They were joined in Malahide by team-mates Trent Johnston, Ed Joyce, John Mooney, Paul Stirling, Max Sorenson, Kevin O’Brien, George Dockrell and James Shannon. A raffle for a signed shirt and VIP tickets to next season’s game against England yielded takings of €590 which were then passed on to Wilson by the cricket writers for the appeal fund. Ginger O’Brien – father of internationals Niall and Kevin and a top drawer player in his own right – and Gerry Duffy were inducted into the RSA Hall of Fame which has been a popular segment of the CWI dinner for several years.
Gazette
30 swords gazette 18 October 2012
SPORT
FastSport
Aer Lingus swimmer back in Ireland for new season AER Lingus swimmer Barry Murphy, fresh from appearing at the London Olympic Games, has decided to base himself at the National Aquatic Centre’s high performance centre (NAC-HPC) for the 2012-13 season. This is the first time an Olympian has been part of the NAC programme, making it a major coup. Murphy was previously based in the University of Tennessee in the United States where he competed on the elite college circuit. The HPC Squad consists of 15 high performance swimmers from all over Ireland who train daily, morning and afternoon, at the NAC, under the stewardship of the head coach, Paul Donovan. O’Donovan said: “Swim Ireland and the staff in the NAC – HPC are delighted to have Barry back home and training with the team here. “He has had a successful period of time away but we believe he has plenty more to give the sport and we are really excited about helping him achieve his goals. Not only can he achieve his own personal goals here but he also has the opportunity to pass on his experience and learnings to the next generation of Irish swimming talent and have a hugely positive impact on them and the programme as a whole.” Dave Conway, director of the National Aquatic Centre, said: “We’re delighted that Barry, such a high profile Irish swimmer, has decided to commit to the NAC-HPC for the year. “From a National Aquatic Centre point of view, it will be great for our 2,000 plus academy children to actually see regularly, in the flesh, a swimmer who has made it all the way to the top. “We hope that the work of the NAC-HPC can enhance Barry’s skills even further and drive him on to even better achievements over the next year.”
soccer: rivervalley u-11b side in free-scoring ndsl form
The Rivervalley Rangers U-11B side have begun their season in excellent fashion, scoring 23 times with just one goal conceded to date
Rangers riding high sport@gazettegroup.com
RIVERVALLEY Rangers’ U-11B side have been enjoying a fantastic start to their campaign this year, top of their NDSL league table on the back of a fantastic unbeaten run that has seen them score 23 goals while only conceding one so far. Despite a setback at the weekend in the Charles Haughey Cup – losing 3-1 to Woodlawn Sportslink – manager Paul Dalderup believes his charges can go all the way this year with their target being pro-
motion via taking first spot in the league. Dalderup only took over the team in June of this year and since the young manager came into the fold, the difference has been night and day, with the team failing to win any of their prior league fixtures. Now sitting pretty on top of the league after three opening wins over Artane Beaumount (8-1), Balbriggan (9-0) and Portmarknock (6-0), the new manager spoke to GazetteSport about how a new outlook on the game has lead to many revela-
Cutting loose Super start to U-14B season for Swords SWORDs Celtic’s Under-14B came away from Drogheda last Saturday with a 4-2 win to make it six wins in their first six competitive games of the season. Eric Mooney scored his fifth hat-trick of the season in the process with Phil Mooney’s team also winning all three games in the knock-out section of the league cup as well as their first round match in the All-Ireland SFAI Goodson Cup.
tions in the young side. “I came in and the lads seemed like they were afraid to play for fear of getting defeated, so we made everything ver y positive on the training ground and the lads really responded to it,” said Dalderup.
Rebounding “The main thing I focused on was the lads passing the ball around, getting a feel for keeping the ball on the ground and most importantly getting a shot off and then supporting players following up the chance for rebounds.
“That has helped our scoring record dramatically.” Such was the lack of confidence the players had in themselves that the manager thought it was a bad idea to play any pre-season friendlies, opting to send the young men out against the U-11 second team which proved a very important night in the team’s renaissance. “I noticed that a lot of the lads that were playing in deeper positions had a fantastic eye for goal. So for corners we start sending lads up and we’ve been creating
a lot of chances. “I honestly didn’t expect the team to win as convincingly when it came to the competitive games, but they’ve put in the work and it’s been a very pleasant surprise. “Now that I know what they can do, it has slightly changed my expectations for the season. Scoring as many goals as they have I think promotion is a realistic target and I’d like to see them push to win the league because they certainly have the quality,” finished Dalderup.
18 October 2012 SWORDS Gazette 31
sport@gazettegroup.com
ST Sylvester’s ladies moved a step closer to Leinster glory as they beat Wicklow’s Tinahely 1-16 to 3-6 in Broomfield last weekend, setting up a provincial semi-final date against Kildare’s St Laurence’s. It was not one of their smoother performances
of the year but Sinead Aherne’s 1-7 along with five Niamh McEvoy points and four from Katy Slattery saw them over the line. In the first half they squandered a lot of possesion, especially in the first half when they missed three shots at goal, including one rocket from Slattery that crashed off the
crossbar and rebounded 20m, along with half a dozen point efforts that went wide But the second half brought an improvement in score conversion with Aherne in particular returning to her best form and McEvoy making some strong runs that led to excellent points. Having trailed for most
of the match, Syl’s went ahead with around 10 minutes to go, got to what seemed like a safe lead of four points only for Tinahely to pull it back to a point with a third goal. With a minute to go, Syl’s got back to four points with a classic Aherne goal made by an inch-perfect pass from Anne Clarke.
hurling: sarsfields too strong for swords men
Gazette
ASDFASDSAF Aherne’s late goal sees Syl’s through Club Noticeboard fingallians INTERMEDIATE championship football
are on at 8pm. All matches are on the
final: Fingallians v Cuala, this Sat-
main pitch and the cost for entry is €5
urday, October 20 in Parnell Park at
per child.
6pm.
For those who did not receive their
The last seven days saw the club in
Kellogg’s Cul camp bags during the
four championship semi-finals. We
camp they are now ready for collec-
advanced to the finals in the inter
tion on Saturday mornings from the
after extra time and U-15C champi-
club shop. Please present your vouch-
onship finals but our U-12A girls and
er in order to obtain your bag.
U-15A boys were defeated.
Please contact our office if you wish
The 2012 Coaching Conference will
to book the hall or bar for a Christmas
take place on Saturday, October 27
party on 01 8400125 or email fingalli-
in the main hall. Speakers will include
ans@gmail.com.
George O’Connor and Sean Kelly Leinster master tutors. The rescheduled hurling mini all-Ire-
The club will host a Bric a Brac sale on Saturday, November 24. Each team will host/manage/organise one table.
land will take place this week on Mon-
For those teams interested in fun-
day, Wednesday and Friday. The U-7
draising, please contact Deirdre at
and U-8s are on at 6pm, U-9 and U-10s
dfinn@cisco.com (further details to
are on at 7pm and the U-11 and U-12s
follow).
St finian’s BIG disappointment in Parnell Park
St Finian’s ladies’ social nights
this weekend when our adult hurl-
meet on the third Tuesday of every
ers lost the junior B championship
month at 8.15pm with dif ferent
final against Lucan Sarsfields.
topics, crafts and speakers each
The opposition proved too strong
month. Refreshments and nibbles
and eventually prevailed by a score
provided for €5. There are also
of 2-14 to 1-4.
social events arranged every sec-
Our U-15 footballers also had championship disappointment on Frida y evening when they came up against a very strong Parnell’s St Finian’s junior hurlers could not turn the tide after Lucan’s opening burst proved insurmountable
Early Lucan blitz sees St Finian’s fall short Junior b final Lucan Sarsfields 2-14 St Finian’s, Swords 1-4 stephen findlater sport@gazettegroup.com
ST FINIAN’S bid to annex the county junior B title never got off the ground as Lucan Sarsfields reversed league form on the bigger Parnell Park stage to take down the championship title. It proved a rough day for the Rivervalley club as Lucan soared into a 1-6 to no score lead by the 17th minute and it was never a surmountable task from that moment.
Indeed, it took 25 minutes before former Fingal captain Dominic Harris got them on the board from a free. It left them 11-points down at halftime and while James Shelly weighed in with a goal in the closing phases of a low-key second half, a comeback was never on the cards in a very lowkey half hour. For Lucan, Keith Brennan was the architect of the Swords side’s downfall as he rifled home a breaking ball around the square for a ninth minute goal. Fintan Clandillon had already been denied by
Gene Griffin’s excellent stop in the early phases as they bossed most areas of play. Finian’s, meanwhile, let some easy frees go unconverted to pile on the agony as Lucan drifted further and further out of sight. And they were doubly stung when Dermot Donnellan’s long range free dropped into the danger area and, at the third attempt, Brian Fagan whipped home. Shelly and Harris tacked on a point each for a 2-7 to 0-3 half-time scoreline and while Finian’s started the second
half with plenty of energy, the scores would not come as the game struggled to gain a full tempo on a mucky, wet surface. Lucan, though, had the accuracy at key moments as Brennan bolstered his personal tally to 1-7 while the likes of Paddy Ward, Clandillon and Andrew Duff also kept the scoreboard moving, combining for seven more scores. It was more than enough to counteract just a solitary Harris point until Shelly’s goal two minutes from the end of normal time, redirecting home Fintan Merryman’s driven effort.
team in the semi-final.
ond month. Ring Jenny on 087 755 9499 for further details. The lotto jackpot was €7,200 and the numbers drawn were 7, 18, 19
Another good win was record-
and 23. There was no winner. The
ed by our Under-12 hurlers with
€50 winners were Rita Collins and
stand-out performances by Cathal
Peg Meighan. Next week’s jackpot
O’Brien and Kieran Murnane.
will be €7,300
Please remember that the annual
For all the latest updates and
general meeting is being held on
news, why not follow us on Twitter
November 22 in the clubhouse.
@StFiniansSwords
Fingal ravens WE ARE holding a karaoke night in the
ment of becoming a selector on the
Pound this Saturday, October 20 for a
Dublin senior football management
Fingal Ravens’ ladies team fundraiser,
team, we will now start the process of
a fun social night with some singing
appointing a manager for our senior
thrown in.
team, anyone interested in the posi-
Tickets are only €10 each with a free raffle. Contact any ladies’ team
tion should contact club chairman Declan O’Brien on 086 2673830.
member for tickets or text Tanya on
We are holding a poker classic on
085 7502482 or Audrey on 087 9753782;
Friday, November 23 at 9pm sharp in
please come along and enjoy a great
Kettle’s country house hotel (bar), €50
night out.
per ticket - 50% payout.
Well done to our minor team on a
To reserve your ticket, please con-
great win over Clontarf on Sunday
tact Declan O’Brien on 086 2673830 or
morning in the championship.
Peter Kettle on 087 9957429.
Also, well done to our junior B team
No jackpot winner of the lotto, num-
on winning the Jim Nevin cup in the Col-
bers were 16, 27, 32 and 33, €20 to MJ
mcille’s tournament; we would like to
Manning, Catherine Flanagan and
thank Colmcille’s for inviting us to play
David Walsh.
in the tournament. Following Mick Deegan’s announce-
Next week’s jackpot is now worth €4,476.
GazetteSPORT all of your swords sports coverage from page 27-31
finian’s wake: Lucan Sarsfields prove too strong in junior B championship decider in Parnell Park P31
October 18, 2012
scaling new heights: Jade O’Connor on how kitesurfing is taking off P29
Fingallians will face Cuala on Saturday evening in Parnell Park looking to regain senior status when they meet a youthful opposition playing in a final for a third successive year
Flying Fins inter battle A year since demotion from the elite level of Dublin football, Fingallians find themselves a game away from a welcome return to the top tier
peter carroll
sport@gazettegroup.com
ALAN Hanrahan only needs to look back to last year when he needs any motivation to get ready for Sunday’s intermediate final when his Fingallians’ footballers are set to face off against Cuala at Parnell Park. “I can still remember being in the dressing room in O’Toole Park,” said Hanrahan. “After St Mark’s putting us out of the senior championship, I knew that we needed to get back in the mix and, after just one year out, it would be great to get back in with a stronger side.” After coasting past Good Counsel en route
to the semi-final, Fingallians got a wake up call when they faced St Patrick’s of Donabate last week, with Pat’s forcing Hanrahan’s men to extra time for their victory. “They were a great side, they forced us into a slow start and we didn’t get moving at all in the first half. We were level for the first couple of minutes and then Pat’s were out in front until we brought it back all square in the 58th minute. “To be honest, I knew we had it won then. We just seemed to have the legs on them, we had Craig McLoughlin back who has a lot of pace. When Donal Farrell scored the goal that clinched it in the end, it got a little jump out of me, we were delighted,” said the Fins’
manager. The tough semi-final has its positives and negatives with a view to the final according to Hanrahan. “Well, it definitely took its toll on us. It was a very tough game and I think out of the 15 lads who started only seven could train at the session after it. “On the other hand, we probably did need a tough game after going through Good Counsel a little easier than we had anticipated,” he said. 2011 All-Star and All-Ireland winner Paul Flynn made a big impact in the semi-final and Hanrahan believes his influence will be a huge factor in the final on Saturday, October
21, throwing in at 6pm. “Paul came into the semis with a bit of an injury so it took him awhile to get warmed up but he came to life at exactly the right time and took some important scores. “He’s got so much experience in the high stakes game and his presence makes a big difference in this type of match. Even on the training field he’s great to have around – with such a young team, a lot of people look up to him. “We’ve watched Cuala and we know how they play the game. Sylvester’s were unlucky not to get past them and, with a slight adjustment, I certainly think we can be champions come Saturday night,” said Hanrahan.