Swords 25 2 16

Gazette SWORDS

INSIDE: As election day nears, we take a last look

at the candidates hoping to claim your vote Pages 6-9

Feb 25-Mar 02, 2016

Find us on

Head to the great yonder found in the US and Canada

see page 20

The best things in life are FREE!

joe’s stamp of approval for new Lusk Still Dublin’s post office number-one free paper!  mimi murray Group Editor

AFTER what was another difficult year for media outlets, including local newspapers, The Dublin Gazette is thrilled to have this week gained a fantastic Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) figure of 52,958* copies distributed per week in the Greater Dublin Area.

The Dublin Gazette team and I are delighted with this result as it is a clear indication of how well received our papers are in the local communities that they serve.

We are a free, self-select only local paper – meaning our readers have to actively make the decision to pick us up. We don’t push our papers into people’s hands, or push copies through the letter box; we leave it up to the reader to decide.

Our readers have made the decision to pick up more and more of our newspapers, week on week. For this, we would like to say: Thank You! With a 3.1% year on year distribution increase, we look forward to serving the communities of Dublin for a very long time to come. *Group MFD, Jan-Dec 2015

Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

LONG-serving Lusk post office customer Joe Dennis (centre) was the guest of honour at the opening of Lusk’s new post office recently. Together with his wife, Una, the 97-year-old joined postmistress Linda Neary, counter staff and local postpersons to help mark the occasion at the new office, now located at SuperValu on Station Road.

The postmistress praised the facilities at the brand-new office, with its stateof-the-art counter making it usable for all, especially the mobility impaired.

With a tasty cake to tuck into – made with an An Post theme to suit the occasion – everyone was happy to celebrate the opening of the spacious new office, and its facilities for all the community.

Picture: Maxwells Dublin

Swords through to Best Kept Towns competition Council says urban hub in prestigious allisland contest, thanks to Tidy Towns results

 emma nolan

FINGAL County Council have announced that due to its performance in last year’s Tidy Towns competition, Swords has been chosen to participate in Ireland’s Best Kept Towns

competition for 2016, under the Large Urban Centre award category.

The Best Kept Town competition is an all-island initiative organised by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, and the

Northern Ireland Amenity Council.

Participation is based on a town’s performance in Tidy Towns, and features four awards.

Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) spoke to The Gazette about the announcement.

He said: “This is great news for Swords and welldeserved.

“Both Fingal County Council and Swords Tidy Towns deserve huge credit for the enormous efforts they have put in, to date.”

Full Story on Page 4

2 SWORDS Gazette 25 February 2016

hobbies | society will help budding gardeners

Talks will plant an interest in gardens  Madaleine Harford Secretary, Fingal Horticultural Society

Whether naturally green-fingered or just starting out, a series of weekly talks will help gardeners grow their talents

OVER the next few weeks the Fingal Horticultural Society will hold a number of talks to demonstrate how easy it is to grow your own healthy vegetables, fruit and flowers (important for attracting beneficial insects), in the garden, on the patio or in your allotment.

The talks will be delivered by Michael Connolly from Glebe Nurseries, who will be assisted by members of the Horticultural Society, all of whom are experienced gardeners.

Connolly has spent his life in the horticultural industry and is himself an expert gardener and horticultural tutor.

One of our members, Mick Burke, was the overall champion vegetable grower in the North Dublin Horticultural Societies Association in 2015.

The classes will be held weekly in St Columba’s Parish Centre, Old Borough School, Church Road, Swords on Tuesday evenings at 8pm from March 8 until the end of April, with monthly meetings being scheduled for the rest of the year.

Initial classes will cover the basics of vegetable gardening and will demonstrate how easy it is to grow your own produce, whether you only have a few containers or have a good-sized vegetable plot.

Subjects to be covered

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

‘Initial classes will cover the basics of vegetable gardening and will demonstrate how easy it is to grow your own produce’ --------------------------

include ground preparation, seed/plant selection, how to sow/plant, when to sow/plant, crop rotation to prevent disease, organic/non-organic gardening, and many more.

There will also be practical demonstrations and visits to member gardens or allotments.

The classes are open to anyone who has an interest in gardening and would like to grow their own vegetables, and while the initial classes will concentrate on vegetable growing, future talks will cover a wide range of gardening subjects and techniques, including specialist talks by experts as requested by the attendees.

The talks will cost €5 per class, which will include refreshments, some plant or seed handouts and the opportunity to discuss gardening issues with experienced gardeners. Participants will also get free membership of the Fingal Horticultural Society for 2016.

Contact info@fingalhorticulturalsociety.com, or phone John at 086 390 1105.

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

donabate | election

Centre set to host polling  emma nolan THE Donabate Portrane polling station for the upcoming General Election on February 26 has been moved from St Patrick’s Boys School to the Donabate Portrane Community Centre, following the difficulties this created in relation to childcare for the last number of elections/referendums.

Cllr Adrian Henchy (FF) said he received feedback from parents about how the day off school caused them to seek additional childcare measures the last time the school was used as a polling station.

He accepts that schools need to be used as polling stations only when there are no alternative suitable venues, and said: “I submitted a motion to the full council meeting that using schools as polling stations was acceptable when there were no other suitable venues available across the county of Fingal.

“I asked if the chief executive could explore all possibilities with all the various stakeholders to look at alternative options, such as community centres or sports

halls, for polling stations instead of continuing to use school halls and classrooms within Fingal.

“While I appreciate the practice of using schools as polling stations was acceptable when there were no other suitable venues available, over the past decade we have seen community and sports centres built in almost every community and parish across the country.

“These venues are modern and accessible and would provide an ideal alternative to our primary schools.”

Cllr Henchy said that the closure of primary schools causes “unnecessary difficulties for parents who either have to take the day off work or find childcare for their kids who are off school”.

He also said that children are unnecessarily losing out on school days and that the principal, staff and board of management of St Patrick’s Boys School have provided a “wonderful and very civic duty for all members of our parish by facilitating generations of our community in casting their votes over many elections and referenda at their school”.

Got a picture? share it with us!

A picture tells a story Got a great picture, email it to us! email your photo to picturedesk@dublingazette.com Or call our news team on 60 10 240 and SELECT OPTION 2

25 February 2016 SWORDS Gazette 3

council | county’s role in 1916 to be commemorated in style in april

pastimes

Anglers reeled in to Swords

Varied events to mark Fingal’s Rising

 emma nolan

FINGAL County Council is looking ahead to a varied line up of events to commemorate Fingal’s part in the 2016 Centenary Programme.

To celebrate the key role the people of Fingal played in the events of 1916, the programme will see more than 50 lectures, film screenings, performances, re-enactments, talks, exhibitions and more, all culminating in a special commemorative day in Swords on Sunday, April 24.

On the day, there will be a flag-raising ceremony, a reading of The Proclamation, and Rothaiocht na mBan – a cycle by a group of women in period costume to commemo-

rate the contribution of women in Fingal to the events of 1916.

There will also be a parade featuring marching bands and the launch of the public arts commission. A fireworks display will conclude the day’s celebrations.

The Fingal events are the outcome of public consultations with local groups, organisations and individuals who were invited to participate in the planning and implementation of the local programme.

Fingal County Council chief executive Paul Reid said: “The men and women from Fingal in 1916, who played a vital role in The Rising, were very young, politically active and socially aware,

just as Fingal today is diverse, youthful, vibrant, engaged and socially aware.

“The council has tried to capture this youth and vigour in our county’s commemorative programme. As well as more traditional forms of commemoration and reflection, the council is supporting a range of events specifically for young people, including those from our new communities, based around poetry, theatre, film, Proclamation readings in Irish and English, commemorative tree-planting ceremonies, and historical re-enactments in schools.

“We are also supporting the network of community centres across the area in marking the centenary.”

 emma nolan

making waves for rnli

DAVID Rawle (centre) met volunteer RNLI members Manus O’Donnell (Howth RNLI) and Gerry Canning (Skerries RNLI) at Dundrum Town Centre recently, where a gala screening of a new Disney film, The Finest Hours, was being held.

The RNLI volunteers, and other RNLI colleagues from their stations, and Dun Laoghaire RNLI, were far from water and their usual RNLI volunteer duties, but the film’s screening was a perfect vehicle to raise awareness of the vital, life-saving actions of RNLI volunteer crews around the island of Ireland.

Based on a true story, The Finest Hours tells the story of one of the most difficult, and dramatic, rescue attempts ever undertaken by the US coast guard during a ferocious storm, with many parallels that echo decades later and many thousands of miles away in the waters around Ireland.

ALMOST 6,000 people attended Ireland’s biggest fishing exhibition, The Ireland Angling Show, at the National Show Centre in Swords last weekend.

The show featured an extensive gathering of angling experts, with more than 100 exhibitors including retailers, boat builders and fishing holiday providers, including the Scuola Italiana Di Pesca A Mosca (the Italian Fly Fishing School), who travelled to Swords to deliver an Italian-style casting demonstration.

Fishing in Norway, Iceland, Italy and other exotic locations around the globe were represented, along with charter skippers from all around the Irish coastline and inland rivers and lakes

4 SWORDS Gazette 25 February 2016

heroes | new play

Best Kept Towns | recognition of all the hard work

Untold 1916 Swords is love story A Swords playwright has written a play about an untold love story from 1916 and a Malahide children’s author has penned two informative books about some of the heroes of the rising.

David Gilna’s third play, The Unsung Hero, will premiere at the Theatre Upstairs on Eden Quay in the City Centre on March 21 and run until April 2.

The play is about the relationship between Michael Joseph O’Rahilly (The O’Rahilly) co-founders of the Irish Volunteers and his wife Nannie Brown.

Gilna started writing in 2004 when he was hit by lightning in Boston and was left temporary paralysed. His debut play, The Gift of Lightening, is now being adapted into a fea-

ture film.

Having been named Ireland’s most promising playwright by Hot Press, Gilna’s latest work is highly anticipated. Particularly as it will debut during the 1916 Centenary celebrations and give a different perspective of the events that took place with specific references to locations in Swords.

Meanwhile, Malahide children’s author, Rod Smith has written a book to get young readers to engage in the national conversation surrounding the 1916 Rising.

Poolbeg publishers Nutshell series, have produced a 1916 version called Nutshell Heroes which will consist of three books, with each one focuing on characters involved in the Rising.

chosen for contest

 Emma Nolan

Fingal County Council have announced that due to its performance in last year’s Tidy Towns Competition, Swords has been chosen to participate in Ireland’s Best Kept Towns Competition for 2016, under the Large Urban Centre Award.

The Best Kept Town Competition is an all island initiative organised by the Depar tment of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Northern Ireland

Amenity Council.

Participation is based on a town’s performance in Tidy Towns, and features four awards, Best Village, Best Small Town, best Large Town and Best Large Urban Centre.

Speaking on the announcement, chief executive of Finga l County Council, Paul Reid said: “The Tidy Tow ns Competition has continued to play an important part in enhancing the local authorities relationship with residents and businesses of the county,

Cllr Darragh Butler (FF): “This is great news for Swords and well deserved.”

and the new nomination to participate in the Best Kept Towns Award gives recognition to the hard work of all involved in making Swords a great place to live or visit.”

Local councillor and General Election hopeful Darragh Butler (FF) spoke to The Gazette about the announcement. He said: “This is great news for Swords and well deserved. Both

Fingal County Council and Swords Tidy Towns deserve huge credit for the enormous efforts they have put in to date.”

The news comes as the announcement was made to demolish the derelict buildings that block Swords Castle on North Street. The works will also include consolidation works on Gatehouse and Knights Chamber buildings at Swords Castle and

alterations to paths and landscaping inside.

Arrangements to remove the graffiti at E l mwo o d D r i ve i n Swords are also underway.

Butler said: “With the derelict buildings blocking Swords Castle to be demolished this year, Swords will look even better in 2016 and hopefully we will win the Best Kept Tow n award.”

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Michael Barrable Motors Hyundai Airside Motor Park, Swords, Co. Dublin.

01 8833300 www.mbmotors.ie

25 February 2016 SWORDS Gazette 5

TH

IS

Up To

50

%

WE

EK

EN

DO

NL Y

FREE+FREE

OFF

DELIVERY DISPOSAL

ALL MATTRESSES

On Mattresses Over €359

MATTRESS MADNESS

Save

€540

Aloe Vera 4ft 6' Mattress Affordable Luxury

Elm Orthopaedic 4ft 6' Mattress Great Value

Better Than Half Price

RRP €899 Now €449

RRP €999 Our Price €599

RRP €1199 Our Price €599

MATTRESS MADNESS PRICE!

MATTRESS MADNESS PRICE!

MATTRESS MADNESS PRICE!

€359 All Sizes Reduced

Save

€500

Luxury Support 4ft 6' Mattress

€499 €650 Save

All Sizes Reduced

€549 All Sizes Reduced

COLLECTION

Save

€730

Spinal Majestic 4ft 6' Mattress

Superior Support

Back Care Superb 4ft 6' Mattress Superior Comfort

Emerald 4ft 6' Mattress

RRP €1399 Our Price €729

RRP €999 Our Price €849

RRP €1699 Our Price €1299

MATTRESS MADNESS PRICE!

MATTRESS MADNESS PRICE!

MATTRESS MADNESS PRICE!

€669 €200

OUR DUBLIN STORES: • Airside Retail Park, Swords • Blanchardstown Retail Park • Fonthill Retail Park

Tel.: 0818 222272

Save

All Sizes Reduced

We Won't Be Beaten On Price

€799 All Sizes Reduced

Fantastic Value

Save

€500

www.ezlivingfurniture.ie www.facebook.com/ezlivingfurniture.ie Terms & conditions apply

€1199 All Sizes Reduced

6 swords Gazette 25 February 2016

election 2016 | we pick out some of the prominent politicians and take

Squaring up to doorstep challenges  joan burton Tanaiste, Labour Party

DURING a scheduled visit to PayPal in Ballycoolin Business Park, Tanaiste Joan Burton (Lab) spent approximately one hour touring the company and meeting its hospitable staff.

With less than two weeks before the General Election, and despite Labour doing increasingly poorly in the polls, the Tanaiste had no qualms about venturing

ahead with the visit and exchanging in pleasant small talk with the people she met.

Touring businesses and meeting communities around the country has become an everyday occurrence for Burton, who is endeavouring to get as many votes as possible in order to save her political career in Dail Eireann.

Nothing out of the ordinary happened during her visit to PayPal, which probably came

as a welcome blessing to the Tanaiste as she has frequently been on the receiving end of disgruntled protestors and disastrous excursions.

An example of this was when she was tipped out of a boat in floodwaters at Thomastown, Kilkenny, amidst a barrage of photographers last December.

No matter how mediocre her visits to local businesses may seem to the general public, they nevertheless are attend-

Labour and Fine Gael’s senior figures – including Tanaiste Joan Burton (Lab) and Minister for Health Leo Varadkar (FG) – are continuing to try to promote their parties’ plans for further economic growth

ed by national news teams.

Some may imagine that they’re more interested in hoping that something more newsworthy will arise – such as the time when water protesters clashed with Gardai when she visited a food bank event at Dublin Industrial Estate last year.

Having said this, the Tanaiste’s visit to PayPal was certainly not a waste of time. The company’s staff seemed genuinely happy to talk to her, and to listen to what she had to say about the Labour Party’s ambitious plans for employment in the area.

However, no matter how many companies like these she visits, it will take a big push on her part to muster enough support to retain her seat in the Dail.

 leo varadkar Minister for Health, Fine Gael

WHILE most politicians worry about the rain and the odd disgruntled resident when out canvassing, not many would think twice about the possibility of being in the midst of an armed robbery.

Well, for Dublin West Minister for Health Leo

Varadkar, the element of danger – and possibly the most interesting thing to come out of this General Election – came into perspective when two men, armed with a sword and a gun, raided the Spar in Carpenterstown, Castleknock.

As fate would have it, Minister Varadkar and his canvassing team witnessed one of the armed robbers fleeing the scene, and then quickly rang the guards before talking to the press about his terrifying ordeal.

Minister Varadkar, who was unharmed, said he was relieved no one was hurt during the robbery, adding that one of the men ran passed him and that it was all over by the time he arrived.

Detectives were at the store soon afterwards interviewing witnesses.

Cllr Roderic O’Gorman (GP), and Howard Manley, who w a s c a nv a s s i n g f o r Fianna Fail candidate Jack Chambers, also witnessed the robbery.

Manley said he saw one of the robbers, who was blocking the door while the robbery was taking place, and gave chase briefly in an attempt to identify them, but said they were “much quicker and fitter”.

Meanwhile, Minister

Varadkar took a shot at Fine Fail’s leader Micheal Martin in the days that followed, comparing him to Arnold Schwarzenegger over his manner during debates.

Speaking to a morning radio show, Minister Varadkar said: “I’m not sure if you know the film Total Recall – there’s an Arnold Schwarzenegger character who manages to have alternative memories planted in his brain, and it seems to me that’s where we are with Micheal Martin.

“He’s created a whole fairytale about his period in health and, not dissimilar, his period in foreign affairs.”

 paul donnelly

Councillor, Sinn Fein

CLLR Paul Donnelly (SF) has been very busy with his canvassing team, knocking on doors and engaging with local residents in the hope of persuading them to give him their number-one vote.

Cllr Donnelly is the only Sinn Fein candidate running in the General Election in Dublin West and, judging by the latest polls in the constituency, he has a very good chance at getting in.

The Gazette followed

Cllr Donnelly on his campaign trail in the Westway estate of Corduff recently to see what type of reaction he is receiving from local residents.

The vast majority of the people who opened their doors were happy to listen to what Cllr Donnelly had to say, and were even happier to vent their own frustrations regarding the Labour Party and Fine Gael.

“I’ll vote [for] Sinn Fein and the Independents,” said one man said.

“But there’s not a chance in hell that I’ll be voting for the people in power now, especially that Mrs Joan [Burton] woman, who has done nothing for this community.”

In response, Cllr Donnelly said: “Well, we’re [Sinn Fein] around all of the time and are in the community working very hard, but it’s all about getting to the next level, so that’s why I’m asking you to give me your number-one vote.”

One man who opened his door said he did not want to vote for Sinn Fein, but rather for another left-wing party, such as the Socialist Party.

Cllr Donnelly made a very good attempt at trying to change the voter’s mind, saying: “I’ll tell you

25 February 2016 swords Gazette 7

a look at how they’re engaging with the electorate ahead of the vote

The shift of a disgruntled electorate to the Left, away from long-standing traditional party support, has seen big gains for Independents and Sinn Fein alike, as evidenced by the broadly positive reception The Gazette saw Cllr Paul Donnelly (SF), Deputy Clare Daly (Ind) and Cllr Sorcha Nic Cormaic (SF) receive as they canvassed their constituencies

the reason why I would advocate voting for Sinn Fein – The Socialist Party have said they would not go into government with anyone else, but how do you get things changed if you don’t build alliances with people?

“We want to get rid of the water charges and property taxes, but we have to stand together.”

 clare daly Deputy, Independent

THE Gazette joined Independent candidate Deputy Clare Daly on one of her campaign trail routes in Portmarnock last week to see how local Fingal residents are thinking of voting on the big day.

It wasn’t long before Deputy Daly was busy chatting away to a constituent in the St Anne’s estate on a canvass that was filled with hard questions and strong opinions.

“You’re the only one that seems to do anything,” one woman told her, and while Deputy Daly’s politics proved popular to most in the area, many seemed to have a soft spot for opposing candidate Senator Darragh O’Brien on the Fianna Fail ticket, who is widely regarded

as a “nice chap” in the community.

Nevertheless, contempt for “the big three” (Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Labour) was rife, as was a serious apprehension about Sinn Fein.

Many residents seemed tempted to vote for the party, but said they would ultimately be reluctant to do so.

“As long as Joan [Burton] doesn’t get in,” one elderly man declared to Deputy Daly as he joked that the extra €3 added to his pension will be just what he needs to pay for his water charges, property tax and new bin charges.

One man with two sleeping babies in a buggy came out to meet the deputy after finding out she was in the area.

They stopped and had a long chat about corporation tax and personal income tax.

Deputy Daly discussed how she would look at restructuring the systems in place, but believed that better public services from taxation were essential.

While this serious conversation was taking place, two young boys walked past, chanting “Clare Dalyyy! Clare Dalyyy!” Perhaps they were cementing her status as a popular figure in

the area.

One woman, who the deputy already knew, invited her in and gave her a gift of a book she wrote, called “Portmarnock Uncovered”.

What stood out from the day was how down to earth Deputy Daly was. Her promises to work hard, rather than making promises she couldn’t keep, seemed to be greatly appreciated by most people she spoke to who, by this stage, were weary of the non-stop campaigning in the run up to the General Election.

 Sorcha Nic Cormaic Councillor, Sinn Fein

FOR the Dublin Rathdown electorate, our reporter joined Sinn Fein councillor and election candidate Sorcha Nic Cormaic on one of her nightly canvasses, at Mountain View in Rathfarnham, to find out how people are thinking of voting in the area.

Cllr Nic Cormaic and her team of canvassers enthusiastically set about spreading the word to what was mostly a welcome reception.

Many residents were eager to chat to the councillor, who engaged thoughtfully with each

question posed to her.

Her presence as a figure in the area was confirmed when she greeted two women walking down the road by name and proceeded to have a chat with them on the street.

Among the constituents visited were some loyal Sinn Fein supporters, one of whom “can’t wait for Gerry [Adams] and Mary-Lou [McDonald] to get in”, and asked Cllr Nic Cormaic to “tell Mr Adams [she] said hello”.

There were also those who said they were becoming interested in Sinn Fein as an alternative to the current Government, which was discussed only with severe contempt.

One woman said she “definitely won’t be putting them [the current Government] back in power”, and said she would tell opposing candidate for Dublin Rathdown, Minister Alex White (Lab), to “f*** off” if he knocked on her door.

The desire for change and a clear frustration with the current Government was clearly evident among the residents, who seemed to respond well to Cllr Nic Cormaic’s demeanour.

When faced with ques-

tions on the door, she focused on looking forward at what Sinn Fein would hope to achieve in government, rather than dwelling on the

perceived shortcomings of her opposition.

A small victory for the night occurred when Nic Cormaic was at the door of an uninterested young

women and was about to move on when the woman’s elderly mother shouted down the stairs: “Tell her she has my vote!”

8 SWORDS Gazette 25 February 2016

election 2016 | a slightly irreverent look at some of the candidates

City voters are spoilt With literally dozens of hopefuls fighting for seats, there have been some lighter moments for politics followers to enjoy ...

 aisling kennedy

THERE is an air of anticipation in Dail Eireann in the run up to the General Election, with politicians eagerly knocking on doors nationwide armed with many an election promise.

Political parties are only too happy to take swipes at and shout down members of rival parties for their shortcomings while each of us sit back and try to comprehend

which politician to vote for.

A prime example of this type of political subterfuge is the recent Leader’s Debate on TV3, where we were all witness to an intensive masterclass on how to shout down your opponent. He who makes the most noise wins. (Or she, in Joan Burton’s case.)

Indeed, each of the four leaders – Enda Kenny (FG), Joan Burton (Lab), Michael Martin (FF) and

Gerry Adams (SF) – took turns to act vehemently outraged and disgusted at opposing party politics when called on for an opinion.

Meanwhile, as we drive around the city, we see political canvassers ply pillar after pillar with A2 posters of these very candidates, in the hope that we are subliminally taking it all in and it will lead to an extra vote.

When trying to decide who to vote for while

looking at no less than 74 election candidates posters throughout the five constituencies in Dublin city, it can seem not only daunting but, quite frankly, a little impossible.

In an attempt to aid your decision and to provide a little light relief in all the election mayhem, here are some lesserknown stories of various politicians’ recent campaign trails that may interest you, or may give you have a little chuckle

as we prepare for the imminent General Election ...

Sinn Fein’s deputy leader, Mary Lou McDonald, is a popular candidate with her constituents, and is mid-way through a full-scale attack on the FG-Lab coalition of “broken promises”.

Calling MEP Brian Hayes (FG) a “gurrier” recently in the wake of his repeated questions to her about Republican Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy

on Newstalk, she is not a woman to sit back and mince her words.

She loves to get behind a good protest, and can often be found rallying support for the Save Moore Street campaign, and the Right2Water protests.

The only blip on her otherwise seamless campaign trail was an unfortunate incident involving leaflets that urged voters to move away from Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, and join “a new Rising, one that puts the citizens first”.

The leaflet then went on to quote one “Booby Sands”, as opposed to the infamous Bobby Sands.

A slight blip, but one that made us all chuckle over

our morning coffees.

Another election candidate who is hoping to retain his seat is the imitable Richard Bruton (FG), Minister for Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation.

It was a kind of poetic justice that the man responsible for allegedly boosting employment levels in Ireland could not convince his own party to keep him in his role after it emerged that he failed to get selected at his party’s selection convention in north Dublin last April.

All was not lost, however, as the party’s executive council stepped in at the last minute and added him to the ticket. Proper order.

Things take on a more

25 February 2016 SWORDS Gazette 9

and their mishaps, surpRises and disagreements out on the hustings

for choice at the polls serious note now, with two strong female candidates who are currently battling it out for a seat in the Dublin Bay South constituency, each with a very different point of view on repealing the eighth amendment.

Outgoing Renua TD Lucinda Creighton famously resigned as European Affairs Minister in 2013 after voting against the Government on an amendment to the abortion bill.

She also lost the party whip, and faced an uncertain future – until she formed the new political party, Renua Ireland; a party that hopes to “engage the nation in a new conversation”.

Opposing her beliefs

is Cllr Kate O’Connell (FG), a businesswoman and pharmacist, who gave an impassioned speech at the Dail last year on a woman’s right to choose.

She gave this speech while she was heavily pregnant with her third child.

To say there is quite a large difference of opinion between these two ladies may be the understatement of the year. However, only one opinion will win out in the end, and it’s anyone’s guess as to who that will be.

Lastly, in the Dublin Central constituency, it will be the battle of the Independents, with no less than six Independents hoping to take a seat in the three-seat constitu-

As the race for a Dail seat heats up, the city’s election candidates are finding all kinds of obstacles to overcome – some of them amusing, others serious, yet all adding up to make Election 2016 one to watch

ency.

Of the six, four are serious contenders, with outgoing Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan hoping to retain her seat, yet Christy Burke, Cieran

Perry and Eilis Ryan will all be racing her to the finish line.

Smart money would bet on either ex-Sinn Feiner Christy Burke – a popular and well-known

face around Dublin’s inner city areas – or Cieran Perry, who likes to fight for the working class and even managed to get himself arrested during the Greyhound lock-out

last year.

Either way, the Independents are fast becoming a force to be reckoned with in the Dublin Central constituency. They may not yet be reaching

the dizzying heights of an alliance, but it’s probably best to leave that to Deputy Shane Ross (Ind) and his followers in the more affluent suburbs of Dublin’s fair city.

10 SWORDS Gazette 25 February 2016

SWORDSGazettegallery | Malahide’s Got Talent at Grand Hotel

2nd place runner-up Ciara Smith singing

Bobby McWilliams announces Shauna Bynne as the winner. Pictures: Stephen Fleming Photography

Shauna hits right note for a big win

Amy Caffrey singing Part Of That World

Children from the crowd enjoying a dance up on the stage

Aisling Tilley singing When We Were Young

25 February 2016 SWORDS Gazette 11

Visit your local Apple Experts Get hands-on demos on the latest Apple products At the heart of the vibrant Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords, Compu b is Ireland’s Leading Apple Premium Reseller and is VWDÎ?HG E\ IXOO\ FHUWLČ´HG $SSOH ([SHUWV Compu b providing Retail, %XVLQHVV (GXFDWLRQ 7UDLQLQJ DQG 6HUYLFH IRU $SSOH WHFKQRORJ\ Retail An Apple Premium Reseller, Compu b is \RXU Č´UVW SRLQW RI FDOO IRU DOO WKH ODWHVW $SSOH SURGXFWV LQFOXGLQJ 0DF L3DG 0DF%RRN $SSOH :DWFK L3KRQH $SSOH 79 DQG D FRPSOHWH UDQJH RI DFFHVVRULHV :LWK XQULYDOOHG SURGXFW NQRZOHGJH RXU IULHQGO\ WHDP ZLOO EHVW DGYLVH \RX RQ ZKLFK $SSOH SURGXFW Č´WV \RXU QHHGV

Compu b exclusive 2 year warranty on all Mac, iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch.

Finance :LWK RXU Č´QDQFH SDUWQHU )OH[LUHQW ZH RÎ?HU FXVWRPHUV WKH RSWLRQ WR VSOLW WKH FRVW RI WKHLU SXUFKDVHV RYHU D SHULRG RI XS WR PRQWKV

Education &RPSX E DOVR KDYH D GHGLFDWHG (GXFDWLRQ WHDP ZKR DUH SDVVLRQDWH DQG FRPPLWWHG DERXW EULQJLQJ WKH ODWHVW $SSOH WHFKQRORJ\ DQG LQQRYDWLRQ WR WKH HGXFDWLRQ VHFWRU

Service <RX ZLOO DOVR Č´QG D WHDP RI IXOO\ FHUWLČ´HG $SSOH WHFKQLFLDQV LQ VWRUH WR DVVLVW ZLWK DQ\ VHUYLFH UHTXLUHPHQWV \RX PD\ KDYH ZLWK \RXU $SSOH WHFKQRORJ\

7KH WHDP RÎ?HUV WDLORUHG KDUGZDUH and software solutions and training WR 3ULPDU\ 6HFRQGDU\ DQG 7KLUG /HYHO Î&#x2013;QVWLWXWLRQV QDWLRQZLGH

Contact Details 6WRUH 0DQDJHU Riccardo SinagogD DQG KLV WHDP RI IXOO\ FHUWLČ´HG $SSOH H[SHUWV DUH DYDLODEOH WR GHDO ZLWK DQ\ TXHULHV \RX PD\ KDYH &DOO LQWR WKH VWRUH WRGD\ FDOO 01 5250631 or email swords@compub.com.

0RUH GHWDLOV FDQ EH IRXQG RQ www.compub.com/education.

Business &RPSX E KDV D GHGLFDWHG EXVLQHVV WHDP WKDW ZRUNV ZLWK VWDUW XS JURZLQJ DQG HVWDEOLVKHG EXVLQHVVHV DOLNH WR GHOLYHU XVHU IULHQGO\ $SSOH EDVHG WHFKQRORJ\ VROXWLRQV %XVLQHVV RZQHUV FDQ HQTXLUH LQ VWRUH RU FRQWDFW RXU EXVLQHVV WHDP GLUHFWO\ LQ 01 5253999 RU E\ YLVLWLQJ www.compub.com/business Training &RPSX E RÎ?HUV FXVWRPLVHG 7UDLQLQJ ZLWK RQH WR RQH DQG JURXS FRXUVHV IURP LQWURGXFWRU\ OHYHO WR DGYDQFHG FRXUVHV IRU L3DG L3KRQH DQG 0DF &RXUVHV suitable for personal, business and HGXFDWLRQ FXVWRPHUV (PDLO training@compub.com IRU PRUH GHWDLOV

Pavilions Shopping Centre, Swords Ph: 01 525 0631 swords@compub.com )ROORZ XV RQ #FRPSXE

Pavilions Shopping Centre, Swords. Co. Dublin T 01 525 0631 | www.compub.com

12 swords Gazette 25 February 2016

Gazettegallery

| A number of famous faces attend the opening

Blaithnaid Ni Chofaigh and her mother, Nan Ni Chofaigh

Rachel Lee and Ruth Lee

Janet McCarthy, Antoinette Bookey and Audrey Greene

Ger Maher and Ruth Scott

Dearbhla Whelan, Dermot Whelan and Eithne Whelan. Picture: Brian McEvoy

Good things...

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

25 February 2016 swords Gazette 13

Night of The Perfect Murder at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre

Amelia Clarke Stewart

Jennifer Halton and Rita Halton

Josh Andrews and Kate O’Leary

Rebecca Lee

Horror, intrigue, mystery and plenty of comedy

Sue Dixon and Jeremy Dixon

kia.com

...come in twos

ALL NEW OPTIMA Kia keeps going from strength to strength and you’ll understand why when you see our latest new models – All New Optima and All New Sportage. Both come with new designs (inside and out), improved ride, handling and safety, improved CO2 and fuel efficiency and more technology for your work and family life.

Test drive these new models, or any car in the equally exciting Kia range, at your local Joe Duffy Kia today!

Gazette

14 Gazette 25 February 2016

dublinLIFE

a day in the life: Louise Ni Fhiannachta on her diverse role with a tg4 series

Happy to direct an Eipic Irish show  ian begley

AS T H E h i gh l y - acclaimed TV show Eipic currently airs its six-part series on TG4, director Louise Ni Fhiannachta said that the production was “an incredible experience” to be a part of.

T he anarchic new show, penned by Mike O’Leary, is an off-beat, low-fi comedy drama that follows the fortunes of five rural teenagers who take over their local abandoned post office in 2016 to start a musical revolution.

T his week, T he Gazette spoke to Ni Fhiannactha, who described what a day in her life was

like while directing this unique production.

She said: “As a freelance director there is no such thing as a typical day in the life for me.

Every day is different, which is a creative blessing I suppose, but it all depends whether I’m doing prep, production or post-production.

“My usual approach would be to liaise with the writers as much as I can and to forensically go through each scene from a character, narrative and tonal perspective.

“Prep work for a shoot is a bag of all-sorts, really. Long before the prep dates, I would have

to make sure that the project is fully cast. I would also need to be fully confident that we have the right people.

“I’d also draw up director notes with visual references and help the other departments out a lot, too.

Locations “When you’re in prep, you have to talk to the editor about visual style and discuss various locations to shoot. You also become aware of what you want to achieve while you’re shooting it,” she said.

“The five teenagers who were cast were just incredible. We spent

three months travelling around the country looking for new talent, and we needed fresh faces with a tremendous acting ability, musical talent and who could also speak Irish.

“They are all unbelievably talented actors who I firmly believe have a fantastic future ahead of them.

“We spent two months shooting in a place called Woodford in east Galway, and the entire cast and everyone else involved created such a positive amount of energy that was just sacred,” said Ni Fhiannactha.

“We chose to film in Woodford because it

Eipic director Louise Ni Fhiannachta (left) with actors Fionnuala Gygax, Fionn Foley, Daire O’Muiri and Cian O’Baoill

had the perfect characteristics that we needed for Eipic.

“Altogether, there were nine music videos to shoot in total. The band did popular cover songs

and made them their own, entirely in the Irish language.”

Asked if she did anything to do to unwind while filming, Ni Fhiannachta said: “We always

had great craic while shooting, and had a big party before we finished the show.”

Eipic broadcasts on TG4 at 10pm each Thursday night.

Gazette

25 February 2016 Gazette 15

dublinlife

diary

Are you ‘man enough’ to be an Escort?

Last year’s Rose of Tralee Elysha Brennan has challenged young Irish men to see if they have what it takes to become an escort for the international festival.

A Rose escort’s job is to look after his Rose and ensure her time at the festival is memorable, how hard can it be?

Elysha is calling on men between the ages of 21 and 30 to apply before the March 31 deadline.

Chosen candidates will take part in a teambuilding boot camp in June, participate in Festival events in August including the Gala Rose Ball and be in with the chance to win Rose Escort of the Year.

Each candidate will be subject to an application fee and if chosen will be obliged to raise a sponsorship of €1,500.

Any lads who feel they are “man enough” to be a Rose Escort should apply to www. roseoftralee.ie.

Dublin South Central remembers 1916

Dublin South Central Community launched their extensive pro gramme of events to commemorate The 1916 Easter Rising recently.

The event will take place at 7pm in St Catherine’s Church, Thomas Street.

Speaking about the programme, The Lord Mayor said: “The organised events recognise the importance of placing communities at the heart of the commemorations and I hope people will engage with the programme and through it reflect on the events that changed the course of our history.”

The programme includes 50 diverse projects which are funded by Dublin City Council and organised by local volunteer groups in Kilmainham, Ballyfermot, Inchicore, Bluebell, Drimnagh, Crumlin, Kimmage, Islandbridge, the Liberties, Rialto and the

Coombe.

The programme intends to help people in different communities engage with commemorations while informing them about the different events and people in the Rising. Copies of the programme will be available at the event and through local council offices.

saying thank you to the hidden heroes Keith Duff y, along with Dublin City Council, have just announced The Good Citizen Awards.

T h e a i m o f t h es e awards is to say thank you to the hidden heroes in our communities.

Citizens are asked to nominate ordinary people who by their actions and contributions to their communities make this city an extraordinary place to live.

Nominations can be made at www.dublincity.ie/goodcitizen

Keith Duffy wants to know have you nominated your local Hidden Hero yet

Last year’s Rose of Tralee Elysha Brennan

where “The assessment panel will be looking for examples of good citizenship that really stand out and can serve as great examples of how the efforts of ordinary good citizens can really make a difference to our communities”.

Nominations open on February 15 and will close on March 18.

There are nine different categories for nomination and winners will be selected by an independent adjudication panel with awards presented at a ceremony in the Mansion House in May 2016.

Is there a wor thy nominee in your community?

16 Gazette 25 February 2016

Gazette

dublinlife Some top tips to help you plan your holiday abroad

Whether you are booking a package holiday this year or you have decided to arrange it yourself online, the competition and consumer protection commission’s website, www.consumerhelp.ie, has some tips for you to keep in mind about your holiday.

Booking a package holiday W hen you book a package holiday, you enter into a contract with the tour operator or travel agent.

They are responsible for ensuring that your holiday arrangements run to plan.

They should provide

you with a written copy of the contract before you travel.

This should contain key information such as the cost, destination, duration of the holiday, itineraries of any excursions, and details of the complaints procedure in case anything goes wrong.

You should also be told of any other relevant information, such as vaccinations you might need to get and any passport/visa requirements.

Remember, if you book a package holiday, you have specific protections as a consumer that you don’t have if you book each part of your trip separately.

Doing it yourself Sometimes it can work out cheaper and more flexible to book each stage of your holiday yourself.

However, it’s important to know that you won’t have the same protections as you would if you had booked a package holiday.

You do still have some protections if your holiday involves taking a ferry or flight and there is a delay.

Check out www.consumerhelp.ie to find out more about your rights.

Spot the scammers When you are researching your accommodation, watch out for potential rental accommodation scams.

This is where scammers go online to a genuine holiday website offering places for rent; copy the photos, addresses and other information from various listings and then use this to put up a fake listing of their own.

This is a scam to get

FEATURE

Some policies won’t cover you if you need to claim as a result of any adventure activities

you to pay the full rental price or a security deposit up front.

Always make sure a listing is genuine before you make a booking.

You can do this by taking the time to do some research on the person/company offering the rental property.

If there is an estate agent in the area they may be able to verify if the property is a genuine rental one.

Check if the property exists by looking it up on online maps. Never transfer money unless you are absolutely sure that the listing or website is genuine, and always use a secure method of pay ment, such as a credit card or Paypal.

Hiring a car If you choose to hire a car in a different country make sure to check the car rental firm’s website for the company’s terms and condition.

It is impor tant to research the company before booking, ensure you have contact details and enough insurance to meet their requirements.

Also, at the time of

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

If you book a package holiday, you have specific protections as a consumer that you don’t have if you book each part of your trip separately

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

booking you may find that not all charges are included – some may be payable when you collect the car, such as costs for child seats, additional drivers, extra insurance etc.

Find out what the fuel policy is before you rent and make sure it is explained to you clearly before you confirm the booking.

Travel insurance If you book a package holiday, travel agents and tour operators may sell travel insurance as part of the package but you do not have to take their insurance.

You may get better value by buying your travel insurance separately from another provider, particularly if you travel frequently.

If you’re planning on taking part in any adventure activities while you are away, make sure you spec-

ify this when you are choosing your policy.

Some policies won’t cover you if you need to claim as a result of these activities.

If you have private health insurance check to see what that covers you for before you buy travel insurance.

Your private health insurance normally cover illness and injury while you are abroad, however, you will need to get additional cover for such things as a flight being cancelled or a delay which causes you to miss a connecting flight.

You can ask your private health insurer to see if they offer discounted travel insurance that covers you for such non-medical loses.

At w w w.consumerhelp.ie you will find more top tips when p l a n n i n g a h o l i d ay abroad.

25 February 2016 Gazette 17

cinema P22

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

health P24



Gazette

travel P20

Pets have we got the perfect buddy waiting to meet you!

Parade characters Piya Champhat and Rachel Lally announcing the launch of this year’s St Patrick’s Festival. Picture: Robbie Reynolds

st patrick’s day: A world class line-up of events and street theatre

Festival looks to the future  jodi waters

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe recently announced the 2016 St Patrick’s Festival, which will take place in Dublin from March 17 to 20.

This year’s theme is Imagine if ...

This year, the four-day festival will celebrate its 21st birthday since it was established.

Commenting on the launch of the festival, Minister Donohoe said: “The St Patrick’s Festival has developed into a major attraction, which provides us with the chance to showcase our own culture and talents and promote all that is great about Ireland on an international stage.”

As part of the I Love My City programme, this year the festival presents a jam-packed events schedule.

Catch The Moth StorySLAM in Teelings Distiller y, New Market Square on March 17. The open-mic storytelling competition was founded in New York and is a monthly occurrence in Dublin. Tickets are priced €8.

Look-see RUN tours take place on March 18 and 19, meeting at Hugh Lane Gallery at 6:30pm. This is a walking performance created by young people; it’s a performance that is also a walk, sometimes a talk, and possibly a run! Tickets are priced €5.

Pop down to The Children’s Soapbox at The Ark Children’s Cultural

Centre on March 18 for a special event that will launch The Ark’s new Children’s Council, which gives a voice to Dublin children and a platform to express their views and wishes for the future of Ireland.

With soap box-style performances using spoken word, stories and poetry 18, this free event is a must.

Take a seat in the National History Museum on March 18 and listen to the lofty, surround-sound choral performance of Rarity, by Tonnta Music.

This unique and cultural experience combines live singers and an electronic vocal sound, and takes place at 6:30pm and 7:30pm. Admission is free.

Rounds, by BoNs Synth Ensem-

ble, takes place on March 19 in St Patrick’s Cathedral at 8pm. BoNs is the musical and song-writing catalyst for Dublin-based multi-instrumentalist, producer and synthesist, Glenn P. Tickets are priced €8.

Catch Ultimate Sunday at Belvedere House on March 20. Described as a full schedule of cultured chats, sounds, and interactive fun, this really is the ultimate weekender. Join journalist Julien Clancy and Monaghan fashionista Helen Steele. Tickets are priced €10.

Family fun-filled events are also taking place over the festival period.

Look out for treasure hunts and the festival’s Big Day Out, taking place over the weekend.

The Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs. Our Dog of the Week this week is Buddy, a sixyear-old Staffordshire bull terrier cross.

Buddy has been at Dogs Trust for quite some time now. He is looking for an adults-only home and adopters who can commit to making multiple trips to the centre to slowly build up a relationship at his pace. It will take quite a few meets to get to know Buddy, but we promise you, it will be worth your time to earn the love of this eagerfaced angel!.

If you think you could offer Buddy a loving home please contact Dogs Trust on 01-879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website www. dogstrust.ie. You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE.

Gazette

18 Gazette 25 February 2016

OUT&ABOUT 3 dress €14 lace shirt Biba black

Old Willow & Clo favourites – including the popular

Label Lab black suede lace-up jacket €249

SoundWave collection (above) – are also available at the brand’s new flagship city centre store

Willow & Clo’s latest range available at new flagship store with the collections firsthand, piece by piece, story by story, moment by moment.”

Old favourites can be found in the store, such as the ever popular Sound Wave collections, which symbolise the creative process of music.

Pieces in the collection have been inscribed with secret messages and meaningful words that only the wearer can see.

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

TO IMPRESS

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

€90

black rie ma

brode 9

2 ss €1 xi dre

Since Willow& Clo’s establishment, it has enjoyed success alongside well-known jewellery designers such as Alexis Bittar and Shaun Lane.

Further information can be found on Willow & Clo website at www. willowandclo.ie, while the flagship store at the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre is open six days a week (closed Sunday).

BLACK is back – not that it ever goes away – with a vengeance, as the eternal shade has popped up in style over at House of Fraser, ready to smarten up spring wardrobes with a clean range of shades.

Whether sporting a clerical black, channelling your inner Morticia Addams, boosting your Goth girl cred, or just seeking stylish cuts in this most classic of colours, House of Fraser have just the range for you, with a selection of items to complete or perfect any wardrobe.

For those looking to soften the shade, several of our selections this week make great use of subtle colouring, with gentle bronze proving particularly good at adding just the right dash of colour. So, step out in style and confidence in any of these crisp items ...

Biba monochrome Aztec tassel clutch bag

‘The Willow & Clo spring/ summer collection has different features, such as unique aqua chalcedony and green chrysoprase pieces’

BLACK Linea

A NEW Irish jewellery brand has been creatively designed by Chloe Townsend, a founder and designer of Willow & Clo, and winner of 2014 Designer of the Year in Kerry for Fashion Week in 2014.

Townsend’s Willow & Clo flagship store is now at the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre in the city centre.

For Townsend’s new brand, it is an exciting new start for the Howth native, and with the launch of the new collection from Willow & Clo, there are a total of 11 collections so far.

Townsend’s creative imagination has been inspired by nature and every piece of jewellery has a different story.

Each piece is handcrafted into 22kt plating gold, sterling silver and gemstones, which are semi-cut.

As this is her 11th jewellery range, the Willow & Clo spring/summer collection has different features, such as unique aqua chalcedony and green chrysoprase pieces.

Since Townsend’s travels to Jaipur in India, she has been keen to gain more knowledge about different gemstones.

She says: “My dream for the store was to create a tangible experience for our customer, where they can interact

Linea weekend black drawstring skirt €168

25 February 2016 Gazette 19

ssel k suede ta Biba blac €176 g bucket ba

d

3 g €3 er ba

should

Biba print embellished waistcoat €159

black

osse emb logo 29 black g €1 Biba body ba s cros

Linea

Edit your spring style with help from Dunnes  megan holmes

Linea black tailored waistcoat €77

Gazette

STYLE

TULLAMORE-based designer Carolyn Donnelly has released her latest spring collection – The Edit – available at Dunnes Stores now.

The Edit consists of layers for practical yearround dressing in typical Donnelly hews of black, white, ecru, grey and navy, with the addition of blush pink, tomato red and sky blue.

Easy throw-on unstr uctured coats are given an update in vibrant sky blue or rich navy. A cosy boiled wool throw-on coat-style in oatmeal or navy is ideal for pairing with work clothes, or worn with jeans and a sweater.

Standout pieces of the collection include a statement coat in a textured bubble cloth, and a new reversible lightweight coat in memory nylon that switches from silver grey to navy and light camel to black.

There are lots of wool knits in lighter weights in soft blues, navy, oatmeal and navy and cotton-mix

Aran stitch polos in blue and navy.

Colour punches of tomato red in super t-shaped tops and a zipfronted a-line skirt work in an ultra-modern way, teamed with the soft blush pink or sky blue.

New looks include a red poppy print in a dress and top and a long silk scarf and a striking black and white marble print in easy to wear top and dress jersey separates.

Trousers for the early part of the season are smart, simple tailored styles in black or light grey, but the collection also includes some more relaxed washed cotton weekend styles in navy and grey, and in combat and chino styles for later in the season.

There are lots of wellpriced tops and t-shirts in Donnelly’s favourite neutral tones. One of the standout new pieces has a silk stretch front and jersey back and sleeves.

Shoes for early spring are on trend off-white leather lace-up trainers, which also come in metallic silver.

Gazette

20 Gazette 25 February 2016

OUT&ABOUT

fast

TRAVEL NEWS

TRAVEL

us and canada: stunning landscapes and spectacular cities

The Mimozas Resort is the picture-perfect base to explore this region without breaking the bank

The historic city of Quebec is one of the oldest European settlements in North America

Celebrate Easter in style in Cannes

An array of options for the trip of a lifetime

The Mimozas Resort in Cannes is looking like the place to be this Easter.

With the world’s biggest celebrities awaiting to descend on the city in May for the annual film festival, why not beat them to it and enjoy a superstar holiday for less?

The recently refurbished Mimozas Resort in Cannes-Mandelieu is the picture-perfect base to explore this region without breaking the bank.

With 15% off holidays of five nights or more and prices from €778.40 based on two adults in a luxury room self-catering apartment for seven nights, how can you go wrong?

What has Cannes got to offer?

D r i ve a l o n g t h e Grande Corniche and enjoy stunning views of the French Rivera, why not hire a classic car and enjoy the cliff side from Nice to Monaco in style?

For the history lover, a visit to Sainte

Marguerite by ferr y is essential. Here you can see the famous fort used for prisoners in the 20th century.

A 15-minute ferry ride for €14 return will make for a great day out.

If you’re looking for a more relaxed day – head to Saint Tropez.

Saint Tropez beach is one for your best bikini and plenty of sun cream.

Dine like a diva at Hostellerie Jerome restaurant in the medieval village of La Turbie.

With set dinner menus from €78 and an extravagant tasting menu for €138, you’re sure to be in for a treat. If you’re looking to have some Vegasesque fun, head down to Casino de Monte Carlo where entry for table games and slots is only €10. You must be over eighteen.

With flights starting from €89.98 return in March, why wouldn’t you celebrate this Easter in the stunning Mimozas self-catering apartments?

Travel Department have some great holiday offers to Canada and the US starting from €1,729pp.

Take the trip of a lifetime with a 10-night guided holiday through the Great White North of Canada.

With a package from € 2 ,19 9 p p i n cl u d i n g flights, transfers, accommodation and national park entrance fees, with the flight departing September 28, 2016.

Witness the snowcovered highlands and remarkable alpine scenery when you visit glaciers, rushing rivers and crystalline lakes.

With a stop in Vancouver, you can take some time to browse in trendy shops and see the city’s landmarks.

You will meander along the Icefield Parkway, stay overnight in the picturesque mountain village of Whistler home

to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Travelling by coach will allow for plenty of photostops along the way.

Follow Canada’s Maple Leaf Trail over nine nights, experiencing the bright lights, quiet countryside and spectacular scenery.

Begin your journey in Toronto, gateway to Niagara-Falls.

Tr ave l a l o n g t h e north-shore of Lake Ontario, enjoying a fullday guided tour of Montreal which will take in the Summer Olympics complex of 1976, Mount Royal, McGill University and Old Montreal.

Drive past French-Canadian villages taking in the historic city of Quebec with a full-day tour.

With three free days during your trip, you will have plenty of time to explore Toronto at your leisure.

Cost from €1,729pp

including flights, transfers, accommodation and excursions.

Due to popular demand extra dates have been added, with flights now departing May to October 2016.

Experience all that California and The Golden West has to offer on a 12-night rail trip.

Embark on a guided city tour of San Francisco, taking in The Golden Gate Bridge, Nob Hill and Lombard Street.

Enjoy a day of leisure in Las Vegas where you can take a stroll on the dazzling strip or take your chances in one of the many casinos.

Make your way around LA, with some shopping and a tour of the Hollywood Hills.

Take a journey through California’s Central Valley with spectacular views before indulging in the beautiful Yosemite National Park.

A drive down one of

Take in the beautiful Yosemite National Park

the most famous roads in the world, route 66 and witness the unique scenery of the Mojave Desert.

Not to forget the spectacular views of the Grand Canyon Railway View towards the Grand Canyon.

Cost from €3,399 including flights, transfers, B&B accommodation, rail tickets and excursions. Flight departing September 1, 2016.

25 February 2016 Gazette 21

Gazette

22 Gazette 25 February 2016

OUT&ABOUT

ReelReviews

sinking feeling An impossible heist

(Cert 12A, 120 mins) This docudrama depicts the incredible true story of a daring Coast Guard rescue operation off of Cape Cod during a ferocious storm in the winter of 1952. When an oil tanker splits in half, trapping its crew aboard the sinking vessel, four brave Guardsmen set out to save them.

GOOSEBUMPS Fun horror romp

(Cert PG, 103 mins) A teenager teams up with the daughter of young adult horror author R L Stine after the writer’s imaginary demons are set free on the town of Madison, Delaware.

Goosebumps boasts more than enough of its spooky source material’s kid-friendly charm to make up for some slightly scattershot humor and a hurried pace.

CINEMA

Triple 9: corrupt cops use their special skills for their own good

A relentless thrill ride of corruption and dread If there is one common thread that ties together much of Australian director John Hillcoat’s work, it is a sense of brooding intensity.

So it seems natural that Hillcoat’s creative path has repeatedly crossed with fellow countryman and friend Nick Cave.

The pair have partnered up for all of Hillcoat’s previous releases – with Cave providing music, screenplays, acting, and combinations thereof - but Triple 9 – a guns blazing cop thriller - marks something of a change of direction for Hillcoat.

There is a noticeable change of setting too, Hillcoat’s previ-

 Dave phillips

ous films took place in near-mythic settings like the menacing and chaotic prison system in Ghosts… of the Civil Dead, or the desolate post-apocalyptic wasteland of The Road, or the strange blend of Aussie Western that was The Proposition – these were canvases upon which anything could happen.

By contrast, Triple 9 feels firmly rooted in the here and now – and

DEADPOOL

Unconventional anti-hero (Cert R, 108mins) Deadpool is a 2016 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. A former special forces operative turned mercenary is subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopting the alter ego, Deadpool.

Starring Ryan Reynolds.

The high-wattage cast includes Casey Affleck

this is definitely not a bad thing.

A criminal squad of crooked cops and exmilitary carry out bankheists at the behest of the Russian bosses who seem to have everybody in their pockets.

When the Russians demand the return of files from a heavily guarded homeland security safe-house, the only option available for the squad is to orchestrate a Triple 9 – the radio code to denote an officer down – to create the necessary window of opportunity.

Loaded with blaring sirens, blazing guns, American flags, Mexican drug dealers, and Russian mobsters, Triple

A criminal squad of crooked cops and ex-military carry out bank-heists at the behest Russian bosses

9 is two hours of unrelenting, story heaped on story action.

Writer Matt Cook has provided a screen play that feels cold-blooded in its content, and serpentine in its form – it is something that stands out in contrast to Hillcoat’s prior films.

And to fill the tanged tale, there is an impressive cast of suitably twisted characters.

Chris (Casey Affleck) t a ke s m u c h o f t h e focus - a greenhorn cop whose dedication to his job causes him to unwittingly become the officer marked to perish in the titular ‘999’.

H i s u n cl e J e f f r e y (Woody Harrelson) is on board as the detective investigating the heists, who in between consuming the haul of his drugs busts, keeps an eye out for Chris.

Norman Reedus (The

Walking Dead) and Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) play the troubled Welch brothers who make up one part of the heist squad, alongside a trio of corrupt cops, Belmont (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Rodriguez (Clifton Collins Jr), and Atwood (Anthony Mackie).

Kate Winslet stars as the sinister Russian boss that pulls the strings.

And that is just the lay of the land at the outset.

Given that there is arguably no main protagonist, but rather a collection of equally weighted storylines, you can get a sense of some of the scope of Triple 9.

For the most part, Hillcoat uses the array of talent at his disposal expertly.

Though in contrast to his last film, Lawless, which was notable for its developed female characters, Triple 9

seems lacking.

Winslet’s character – an sociopathic, glamourous Russian mobster – is fun to watch but paper thin (and likewise Teresa Palmer, who appears as Chris’ wife).

Break the film down into constituent parts and there is an undeniable finesse in its tense atmosphere, incredible set pieces, and colourful characters.

It is a tremendous amount to fit into two hours, but the relentless attempt to cram as much information as possible can be overwhelming, and towards the end, exhausting.

Triple 9 is a film that hits the ground running and doesn’t stop for br e a t h – whic h turns out to be both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness.

Verdict: 7/10

25 February 2016 Gazette 23

Monaghan serves up some fine Spanish fare THIS week The Picky Eater took a trip out of Dublin to sample a restaurant on the border.

Tapas de Noche in Monaghan tow n (located at No 1, Russell Court, Broad Road; 047 72654) is relatively newly opened and the town was in dire need of somewhere that little bit different to eat out in.

If you were not after standard hotel fare, or an Indian or Chinese speciality, then you were unlucky to be in Monaghan ...

However, this place is offering rustic Spanish cooking with a little bit of Italian thrown in for good measure.

We visited on a Saturday, so the small restaurant was hopping, with the lovely Spanish guitar music playing in the background adding to the distinctly Mediterranean feel.

The service was prompt and friendly. Our party of three ordered several small dishes from the menu, which isn’t huge. We also went for a couple of specials from a blackboard; one of these being Moules Mariniere, a favourite of Picky’s.

We a l s o o r d e r e d melanzane parmigiana, prawns pil pil, potatoes of the day, and a couple of small pasta dishes, a spaghetti with prosciutto e piselli and al olio with prawns.

The melanzane was flavoursome and moreish and is definitely Picky’s favourite way to

cook and eat aubergines.

There were plenty of juices left over to mop up with some crusty breads.

The moules were delicate and succulent and, again, the creamy sauce offered plenty of soakage for the bread.

The pasta special, or prosciutto and peas, was delicious and full of flavour; however, the prawn pasta could have used a little more seasoning and garlic.

Prawns pil pil had a huge amount of kick – just how Picky likes them – and the prawns were huge and delicious.

Potatoes of the day were layered in cream with leeks and bacon and certainly hit the spot.

Desserts There are a handful of desserts on the menu, and we went for a tiramisu, which was the right amount of cream and coffee. A fudge cream is a lovely light dessert made from natural yoghurt, cream and liquer, topped off with hazelnuts and brown sugar. Yum. We ordered a bottle of the house white wine, a Baron Del Rey rioja, which is a really easy drink and went well with the Spanish and Italian flavours.

With wine and coffee, the bill came to €81 for three of us. If your are on your way to the North, or are staying in Monaghan for any occasion, this little gem of a restaurant is well worth the visit.

Gazette

FOOD&DRINK

Tapas de Noche’s interior offers soothing, neutral tones – a comfortable, distraction-free setting in which to enjoy its delicious dishes

Gazette

24 Gazette 25 February 2016

OUT&ABOUT

HEALTH

The Great Food Fight: ‘we have to learn again to trust our own bodies’

Foods that will make you feel good physically and mentally  shane rigney Food Vlogger

Some people have a fear of walking down the aisle, thoughts of standing on an altar all eyes on them as they sign up for a lifelong commitment leaves them shaking with anxiety like a lamb to slaughter.

Fair enough I suppose, but I’m not the marrying kind so I can’t quite empathise. There’s one aisle however that strikes fear in me like no other, actually there’s rows and rows of them and they’re lurking on every corner…in the supermarket!

What can be so spooky as to induce panic in the chest of a grown man in the vast and abundant aisles of our local food emporiums’ I hear you gasp?

Well I’ll tell you!

Shelf af ter shelf of guilt and mind boggling confusion that’s what. Millions and millions of packets and tins and jars of nutritional information and calorie counting, dirty

foods, clean foods and 50 shades of grey foods, cool foods and dude foods and rainbow coloured whole foods.

It’s a mine field and what used to be a pleasurable experience - for me as a chef anyway has turned into a dash through a snake infested fire pit where I’m lucky to get out with anything that may not give me a heart attack, brain tumour, cancer or at best a leaky gut.

It’s fair to say that the slew of scientific information that has come about in the past 20 years is of benefit to how we eat. We now know conclusively about the effects of sugar and fats on our bodies and are not relying on certain studies backed by huge food manufacturers which discredit one food group over another.

But how on ear th does the average person that is concerned about their weight and overall health - which is most people nowadays - wade through all the

conflictory guidelines and make an informed decision when it comes to their diet?

What does one do when the clock hits 1pm and they leave the desk to get lunch and find themselves staring aimlessly at the array of choices on the deli menu?

“I’ll have chicken, cheese and lettuce with mayonnaise on white bread” Actually white bread is absorbed really fast, brown bread is better, fuller longer and all that. “ I ’ l l h ave b r ow n bread.”

Actually brown bread has the same calories as white bread.

“I’ll have a salad, chicken with lettuce and cheese and tomato with that three-bean salad thing,” Actually beans are bad now because they’re not paleo and contain phytic acid and cause malabsorption of key nutrients.

“I’ll have chicken salad with tomato and

Eating a diet rich in fibrous, whole healthy carbs with plenty of animal proteins and tonnes of veggies will give you the best chance at a healthy, happy life

Modern healthy eating can be a mine field of confusion

cheese and potato salad.”

Actually potatoes are high in carbs and that will cause my blood sugars to rise and then my insulin to rise and then I’ll have a dip and then I’ll want chocolate.

“I’ll have chicken with salad and tomato and cheese and egg salad too, yeah loads of protein and protein’s really good.”

Actually that’s too much saturated fat so that’s bad for my heart and has no fibre so my gut health won’t be good.

“I’ll have chicken and cheese with tomato and some of that kale salad, yeah like kale’s a superfood because it contains loads of minerals so that’s definitely good.”

Actually kale has phy tic acid like the beans so that means I won’t absorb the nutrients in my food and I’ll get a leaky gut and the

paleo heads say that’s because cavemen didn’t eat chickpeas or lentils and definitely not kale and even though we have 50,000 years of evolution on them that must be right, ok no kale.

“I’ll have chicken and lettuce with cucumber and tomato and a tiny bit of cheese and a tiny bit of egg because I forgot saturated fat is fine now, it’s only trans-fat that’s bad and a tiny bit of sweet potato.”

“Oh and no dressing and a diet coke, thanks.”

D o e s a ny o f t h i s sound normal or sane or rational?

Bet it sounds familiar though right? And don’t even get me started on gluten! I can’t pretend I ’m a n e x p e r t t h a t has studied nutrition, although I have spent probably as many hours studying the biological impact of foods on the

body, and as a chef, I go to lengths to be aware of these impacts in the food I cook. But here’s what I know.

We as a modern, busy society and community can’t keep living like this, driving ourselves round the twist about our food choices.

We have to learn again to trust our own bodies and eat the foods that make us feel good physically and mentally.

We have to enjoy eating real, whole, nutritiously rich foods that nourish our bodies and minds and that give us pleasure in the way any primal need for something is supposed to.

We must learn how to recognise the triggers that make us eat the wrong foods perhaps in abundance and to correct these and then get back to a balanced diet that consists of certain foods in abundance and

certain foods as treats.

No super food will make you skinny, no chia seed will make you smart and no piece of bread will make you fat.

Eating a diet rich in fibrous, whole healthy carbs -including breadwith plenty of animal proteins and tonnes of veggies, most of the time, will give you the best chance at a healthy, happy life on the inside and out.

It’s that simple. If you prefer rice to quinoa then by all means stick to that staple, if not mix it up a little and try some sweet potato oven chips for a change.

Put down the magazines, stop wrecking your head online and ignore the white noise.

Oh and make sure to include the fruit, just one piece mind, there’s sugar lurking in there and for the love of god, don’t juice it!

25 February 2016 Gazette 25

opinion: domestic violence remains a worrying problem – women’s aid

Protecting women is still a big issue for all WOMEN’S Aid, the national agency supporting women and children affected by domestic violence, have begun a final push to put domestic violence on the political agenda during the General Election campaign.

We are urging the next government to fully protect young women from dating abuse by amending the Domestic Violence Act, and are also calling for a new law to protect women from digital abuse and stalking.

Over the next few weeks, we will raise the issue of funding cuts to domestic violence services.

We at Women’s Aid, despite a cut in our core funding of 31% during the recession, have recently made our National Freephone Helpline a 24-hours a day, seven days a week service.

The demand for our out of hours service has surpassed expectations, by 283% in the first month.

Demand is increasing while our funding is being cut. Listening, believing and supporting women affected by domestic violence must be a priority. We must be fully resourced to meet the demand we know is there.

This February, we highlighted the issue of dating abuse against young women with the 2in2u national public aware-

ness Valentine’s Day campaign. The reaction has been phenomenal, with the issue of digital abuse and “revenge porn” coming to the fore in recent weeks.

It is very timely that we explore the issue of dating and digital abuse during the General Election campaign. A key area of concern is the lack of legal protection for young women who have never lived with their boyfriends.

Women in dating relationships are left unprotected under current legislation. Abuse can feature within all intimate relationships, and 16% of women accessing our oneto-one services in 2014 had never cohabitated with their abuser, nor had a child in common.

They cannot access legal protection under the Domestic Violence Act, and there is no indication that this will change any time soon. This is unacceptable.

We are also calling on whoever forms the next government to enact new, all-encompassing legislation to better protect women from digital abuse and stalking, and for a better understanding of the harmful and insidious nature of digital abuse.

Women’s Aid recommends that a specific stalking offence be introduced in Irish law, with a comprehensive but not exhaustive definition –

including new forms of cyber-stalking – and that stalking be recognised as grounds for a safety order.

We are asking voters to email candidates in their constituencies in support of our #DomesticViolenceMatters campaign.

In two weeks, voters will go to the polls. Between now and then, we are asking the public to show candidates that domestic violence matters to them.

We must remind those candidates seeking election that domestic violence is a serious crime – one that can result in stress, short- and longterm trauma and physical injuries and, in extreme cases, homicide.

One in five women in Ireland are affected by domestic violence, and in 2014 Women’s Aid heard more than 16,000 disclosures of abuse against women, and more than 5,700 disclosures of abuse against children.

We know that since we started our records in 1996, 211 women have been murdered in Ireland; 55% of women are killed by their partners or expartners. In some homicide cases, children, parents, siblings and friends have also been attacked or killed.

Domestic violence impacts on women, children and the community around them. It cannot be minimised or dismissed.

We owe it to those affected to take effective political action to protect them, provide them with the support they need and respond fully and appropriately. We must act before more lives are lost and more hurt is caused to women, children and communities.

A woman in an abusive relationship needs a range of services to survive, protect herself and any children, and to support her to safety.

Essential services and systems have been severely impacted by the economic recession.

Since 2008, specialist domestic violence support services for women and their children have received substantial funding cuts.

These cuts are having a real impact on the lives of thousands of women and children living in fear in their own homes, which is why we are also highlighting funding cuts for vital services during the #DomesticViolenceMatters campaign.

2016 needs to be a turning point for women and children affected by domestic violence. Whoever forms the next government, and members of the next Dail and Seanad, must take domestic violence against women and children seriously.  Margaret Martin Director, Women’s Aid

Margaret Martin, director, Women’s Aid – One in five women in Ireland are affected by domestic violence, and its impact on women, children and the community around them cannot be minimised or dismissed

Gazette

FEATURE

26 swords Gazette 25 February 2016

SWORDSCLASSIFIEDS dvds

landscaping

kitchens

Green Team

DVD TRANSFERS

TREES & GARDEN SERVICES

FOR ALL YOUR GARDEN NEEDS

ď&#x192;źVideo & Camera Tapes

9Over Grown Garden 9NRE Shed Supplied & Erect

ď&#x192;źCineFilms

9Tress Felled and Pruned 9Hedges Trimmed

ď&#x192;źPhotos & Slides

9Specialty Brickwork 9Gutters Cleaned & Sealed

converted to DVD

9Old Sheds Removed 9Block Paving 9LmjĂ&#x161;f_

ď&#x192;źMusic & Titles added

9Driveways & Walls Painting 9Garage & House Clearance

15 YEARS EXPERIENCE/30% DISCOUNT For a free no obligation quote call:

T: 01-8678791 M: 085 1474725 W: www.greeteamtrees.com

paving

BOSS PAVING & LANDSCAPING

â&#x20AC;˘ DRIVEWAYS â&#x20AC;˘ PATIOS â&#x20AC;˘ FENCING â&#x20AC;˘ ASPHALT â&#x20AC;˘ DECORATIVE WALLING â&#x20AC;˘ IMPRINT â&#x20AC;˘ GRAVEL Quality Paving at affordable prices, just a phone call away. Highly recommended by Clients.

Testimonials available.

Contact: John Maloney 087 3591000 / 01 6972087 Email: bosshomeimprovements@gmail.com Web: www.bosspaving.ie Dundrum Bus Park: Ph. 01 6971896 Pearse St, D2

heating

roofing

KF HEATING & PLUMBING Swords Based Servicing NORTH COUNTY DUBLIN

â&#x20AC;˘Gas Boiler Upgrades â&#x20AC;˘Central Heating â&#x20AC;˘Gas Appliance Installation â&#x20AC;˘All Plumbing Requirements RGI Registered

CALL KIERAN ďż˝ 087 274 2667

painting

roofing

300'*/( 40-65*0/4

300'*/( (655&3*/( $0/53"$503 Ĺą 41&$*"-*45 */ 300'*/( 3&1"*34 "/% 3&1-"$&.&/5 Ĺą "-- '-"5 300'4 3&1"*3&% "/% 3&1-"$&% Ĺą "-- 5:1&4 0' 7"--&: "/% $)*./&: 803, $"33*&% 065 Ĺą "-Ĺą "-- 5:1&4 0' 3*%(& 10*/5*/( 1-"45&3*/( Ĺą 41&$*"-*454 /&8 617$ '"4$*"4 40''*54 Ĺą (655&3*/( "/% %08/1*1&4

8&# 888 300'*/(40-65*0/4 *&

4065)4*%& Ĺą /035)4*%& Ĺą

.0#*-& Ĺą

GUTTERS CLEANED & SEALED FROM

â&#x201A;Ź45

Our fascias and cladding are available in a wide range of colours and styles to match your property. You can choose from decorative Ogee guttering and fascias or a hdYaf klqd]$ o] [Yf kmhhdq Ydd& Gmj jggĂ&#x203A; af] components protect your home from the elements, our high quality range will restore your home to its former glory while preventing further damage due ingress of water, bird nesting or rotten wood. â&#x20AC;˘New roofs â&#x20AC;˘Flat roofs â&#x20AC;˘Roof repairs â&#x20AC;˘Chimneys rebuilt or repointed â&#x20AC;˘UPVC fascias and kg^Ă&#x161; lk â&#x20AC;˘Guttering and downpipes â&#x20AC;˘Cladding

PLANNING NOTICE Fingal County Council

I, Karl Burke, apply for Planning Permission for development at, 7, Abbeyvale Grove, Swords Manor, Swords, County Dublin. The development will consist of: Convert attic roof space for storage purposes, provide dormer window to rear, provide high level window to gable, provide new internal staircase to access attic space, together with all associated ancillary works. The Planning Application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making D FRS\ DW WKH RIÂżFHV RI the Planning Authority during its public opening hours and a submission or observation may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

26229

25 February 2016 swords Gazette 27

SWORDSCLASSIFIEDS

Gazette

28 gazette 25 February 2016

SPORT

FastSport john giles foundation gets big boost: THE FAI has this week secured €100,000 of funding from the UEFA Foundation for Children to support health and social integration projects via the John Giles Foundation.

Established in 2010, the John Giles Foundation operates an open application process for football clubs, schools and community organisations to apply for funding towards their own football project with a social inclusion remit.

The latest initiative of the Foundation is to encourage grassroots clubs to embrace a national Healthy Kids’ team event.

This involves three main elements: education on nutrition, a balanced diet and the importance of regular physical activity; an outlet to provide physical activity; and support to children from their team and community to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

hockey: booterstown club win inaugural national league crown

Hermes sweep to EYHL title  stephen findlater sport@dublingazette.com

HERMES claimed the first European spot on offer along with the inaugural women’s EY Hockey League regular season title as their devastating form confirmed they will top the competition.

They lead the pack by 14 points having run up an incredible 13 wins and a draw to date. The win over Greenfields was comprehensive, racing into a 3-0 lead in the first quarter and a five-goal advantage at the break.

It was tough throughout for the Galway side who were without a number of regulars while their superb

goalkeeper Sinead Collins was hampered by an injury, too, playing through the pain barrier.

In truth, it followed the same pattern as the other ties between the sides this season, Hermes racing into a 5-0 half-time lead and they scarcely looked back. They broke the deadlock in the seventh minute after good work from Nikki Evans located Chloe Watkins who made no mistake.

Evans added a second after good work from Naomi Carroll – both players returning after injury – before Caitriona McGilp got Hermes’ third from close range.

In the second quarter, Sinead Loughran’s

reverse secured the four th before Ellen Curran scored from a corner. Greenfields had some fleeting attacks via Sorcha Minihan and Ellie Noone while Trish Garrett drew a fine save from Emma Gray.

Hermes always had the extra gear, however, and added another three goals in the third quarter via Sarah Greene’s deflection, Chloe Watkins from an Evans’ assists, and Curran’s second of the day.

Carroll completed the win with ten minutes remaining before Watkins missed a penalty stroke with two minutes left that would have brought the result to double figures.

Elsewhere, Hermes

Hermes’ Nikki Evans celebrates. Picture: Adrian Boehm

benefitted from the resurgent Elks’ important 3-1 win against UCD, the one opponent that could have overhauled the Booterstown side who have also pinned down a Champions Trophy place.

Megan Frazer’s early p e n a l t y s t r o ke w a s counter-acted by Elaine Carey’s 38th minute goal.

But two goals in three minutes – a cracker from Dawn Axon and a close range effort from

Robyn Chambers – saw the Elks race clear. They move back into the top half of the table and back into range of the playoff places.

Pegasus moved up to second place with a 3-1 win over Cork Harlequins with Vanessa Surgeoner and Alex Speers getting the key goals in the second half. The Ulster side have strengthened their position at the head of a glut of teams covered by three points from sec-

ond to fifth, all with a big interest in the playoff places.

Nicola Kerr’s goal saw UCC produce a hugely important 1-0 win at Serpentine Avenue against Pembroke to raise their hopes, once again, of possibly avoiding the relegation playoff tie.

They are two points off Ards whom they will play on March 6 in a potentially crucial battle to avoid that playoff place.

Dublin Castle to host historic An Post Ras departure  sport@dublingazette.com

Martyn Irvine, Bryan McCrystal and Eddie Dunbar at the launch of the An Post Ras Picture: Billy Stickland/Inpho

BEGINNING at Dublin Castle and totalling over 1,200 kilometres, the route of the 2016 An Post Ras was unveiled this week ahead of its grand departure on May 22.

This year’s edition will travel anti-clockwise around Ireland with stage finishes in Multyfarnham, Charleville, Dingle, Sneem, Clonakilty, Dungarvan and Baltinglass before the customary finale in Skerries.

The opening stage from Dublin Castle ensures an historic

setting for Ireland’s toughest annual sporting event. As ever, the race will see some of Ireland’s top amateur riders compete against professional riders and seasoned internationals around the world.

In total, the race features 25 climbs, with the category one ascents of Conor Pass, Ballaghisheen Pass and Mount Leinster the toughest of those.

However, they won’t be the only obstacle; rolling roads and strong winds will also play a part in the outcome, as will the tactics and aggression of those

fighting for the jerseys and stage honours.

Former world track champion, Martyn Irvine, was on hand to launch this year’s route alongside top Irish riders Eddie Dunbar and Bryan McCrystal.

Irvine, who recently announced his retirement from the sport, believes the county riders will be licking their lips when they see the route.

“The Ras is unlike any other race in the world. On one side, you have the international riders coming from abroad and on the other you have amateur rid-

ers here who train on this terrain all year round chomping at the bit for a win.

“We saw it with the likes of Ian Richardson and Bryan McCrystal last year; they were putting it to the best riders from around the globe on every stage and it was great to see. I’m sure this year, after seeing the route, there will be Irish guys in the mix.”

After leaving Dublin Castle on Sunday, May 22, the 64th edition of the An Post Rás will officially begin with the drop of the flag in Clonee.

25 February 2016 gazette 29

Gazette

Levelling the land via the radio waves

FastSport

The Fair Game Podcast, launched this month by RTE’s Elaine Buckley and Emily Glen, is seeking to bring the conversation about female sport into greater focus  james hendicott sport@dublingazette.com

DO WOMEN get a fair deal in sport, and sports coverage? It’s not difficult to see an argument that they don’t: TV sport is dominated by the men’s game in almost every code, attendances at women’s games are often a fraction of the men’s, and where men’s games are professional, women’s often aren’t.

With Fair Game Podcast, Elaine Buckley and Emily Glen are hoping to change feelings and attitudes towards women in sport in Ireland, through both talking to the women involved and going indepth on subjects they feel lack the media attention they deserve. They describe their production as an attempt to “break

the cycle”.

The problem, Buckley feels, lies in three different areas. “There’s a vicious cycle of poor attendance, a lack of sponsorship and a lack of coverage that needs to be broken somewhere,” she tells GazetteSport.

“Lack of coverage can be scapegoated as the root of all problems, but we have to look at tiny crowds, too. Crowds seem to appear at women’s games only after we see success, like in women’s rugby recently.

“There can be a problem with information in women’s sport, too,” Buckley continues. “A couple of months before Katie Taylor won her Olympic gold, she was fighting in Dublin, at the National Boxing Arena.

There was so little infor-

mation available about it that I had to drop into the venue to find out how to get tickets.”

“It turns out I needn’t have bothered, as hardly anyone attended. That’s not a problem Katie would have now, but lack of information definitely doesn’t help the situation.

“Sometimes finding the most basic information about GAA fixtures is difficult, too.”

While Buckley comes from a media background - she works at RTE - Glen is at an NGO. Both are passionate sports women in their own right but are lending their podcast extra weight with a host of high-profile sporting guests, all of whom have an interest in women in sport.

Sinead Kissane, a TV3

Serious support: Lidl’s eye-catching promotion of the ladies football leagues has made a big impact in 2016 already. Picture: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE

and Irish Independent sports journalist, and Kate Rowan, author of rugby book Six Nations, Two Stories, featured on a media-leaning first episode – each week will deal with a different subject matter – with rugby international Nora Stapleton and Wexford Youths soc-

“Every day I drive past a double billboard,” she says. “TV coverage has grown. When the ‘ladyball’ came along I thought it was the most offensive thing on the face of it, but the sponsorship has been huge for the game.”

“We love to outrage,” goes the discussion at

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

‘We love to outrage! But what do you about it? Why not do something with it, maybe go to a game?’ - Elaine Buckley --------------------------------------------------------

cer star Ruth Fahy set to star in episode two.

Both presenters are keen to highlight a broad array of forthcoming women’s sporting competitions that should be making the headlines.

Glen highlights the track and field athletes at the Rio Olympics, particularly the “incredible” Fionnuala McCormack, as well as the T20 cricket world cup next month and hopes for a first European level qualification for the women’s soccer team.

Buckley is a big GAA fan, and points to Lidl’s newfound sponsorship of the sport, describing the opportunity it provides as stunning, despite their controversial promotion of their involvement through the pink-branded ladyball.

one point in episode one.

“We love to go mad when anybody is seen in insult women in sport. But what do you do about it? You have your outrage and you move on. Why not do something with it?

Why not go to a game, maybe?”

T here’s anger, but there’s also hope - hope that voices for progress and a step towards breaking the cycle of poor publicity might help push women’s sport onto a level – or at least leveller – playing field.

Fair Game Podcast which will feature two guests from two different disciplines in each fortnightly episode - is available through iTunes and at castaway.media/ fairgame. It will focus on Grass Roots in episode two, due this week.

Travers, Mageean and Clohisey progress times DONORE Harriers’s John Travers finished sixth in the undercard mile at Millrose Games in a time of 3.58.10 with John Coghlan, from Metro St Brigid’s, 11th in 4.12.79 at a meeting in which Irish runners made their mark.

Indeed, UCD’s Ciara Mageean was in record-breaking form, setting a new indoor mile record at the event She finished sixth in the women’s Wannamaker mile on Saturday night in 4:28.40 to erase Roisin McGettigan’s 4:30.06 set back in 2009 in Boston.

“New Irish record over the mile at the Millrose Games,” said Mageean. “Still some work to do but 2016 is shaping up nicely.”

This is her second indoor record in three weeks having set a new indoor 1500m record of 4:08.66 in Karlsruhe. The UCD athlete is set to compete in the GloHealth National senior indoor championships in Athlone next weekend.

Meanwhile in Seville, Raheny Shamrocks’ Mick Clohisey, pictured, finished ninth to set a new marathon personal best of 2.15.11. This now moves him to number two on the Irish rankings list for Rio – three seconds faster than Sergiu Ciobanu’s 2.15.14.

“There are plenty of twists in the tale to come,” said marathon legend Dick Hooper – coach of Mick Clohisey. “He slowed between the 35-40 km mark but picked it up again. It’s another good run and the standard is rising in the marathon.”

Former DSDAC runner Gladys Ganiel finished 13th in the women’s race in 2.38.53 with Barbara Sanchez, from Clonliffe Harriers, one further place behind in 2.39.49.

Both are Olympic qualifying times but they remain outside the top three spots to make the team. Breege Connolly currently occupies the final qualifying spot with 2.37.29 set in London last April.

Gazette

30 SWORDS gazette 25 February 2016

SPORT

FastSport

soccer: balheary club joins forces with scottish giants

Walsh and McKee part of Paralympians push SWORDS’ Catherine Walsh and Carl McKee, along with Garristown’s Heather Jameson, were front and centre of Paralympics Ireland’s 56-strong 2016 athlete panel which was released on Tuesday with the launch of a powerful new awareness and fundraising campaign, More Than Sport.

Following on from her success at London 2012 as a cyclist, visually impaired Walsh will now test herself in the triathlon. She began competing in this discipline in 2015 with pilot Fran Meehan, claiming bronze at the Edmonton World Paratriathlon and is closing in on Paralympic qualification.

McKee is one of the youngest members of the Irish soccer team, lining out primarily at left back where he has been capped three times.

The More Than Sport campaign features a number of athletes from this year’s panel and is a massive drive by Paralympics Ireland to raise vital and necessary funds for the road to Rio 2016 to supplement recent Government funding that was allocated towards the cost of the Games and the Performance Programme.

Speaking about the launch, CEO of Paralympics Ireland, Liam Harbison stated: “As we prepare for the Rio 2016 Games, we hope to see Ireland’s athletes do us proud on the international stage with the tricolour soaring high and medals and lifetime bests to celebrate.

“But, behind those medals, there’s more behind those world records and it’s that something more that is the true essence of this campaign.

“Paralympic athletes are more than elite athletes. They are elite athletes who have achieved and succeeded against all the odds. They are athletes who have faced adversity, and won.

They are athletes who have often been told they can’t, to then go on and prove that in fact, they can.

“Over the coming weeks and months we will be bringing you more, as we take you behind the scenes to meet these athletes, hear their stories and come behind them to support them all the way to Rio. It’s an extremely exciting and inspirational campaign and we hope that the public will also get behind the text fundraising element of the campaign too in the coming months.”

Members of the Swords Celtic Under-16 Premier team with Celtic Academy coach Tony Massie

Swords link up with Celtic sport@dublingazette.com

CELTIC Soccer Academy have added Swords Celtic to their growing list of international club partnership programme.

This partnership with the Balheary club will involve the sharing of club methodologies, coach education, coaching camps and it will also present Swords Celtic with the opportunity to visit Glasgow, Scotland to experience what life is like for an academy player at Celtic Football Club.

Speaking about the new arrangement, a Swords Celtic spokesman

said: “The club is very pleased to announce this partnership with such an iconic club as Celtic FC. “Celtic is an outstanding club who feature annually in the Champions League and has a long history of Irish support. It will be of great benefit to our players and coaches to now have the opportunity to gain further knowledge of the game at the highest level.”

Celtic Soccer academy manager Willie McNab added: “We are delighted to add Swords Celtic to our partnership programme and it, again, emphasises our

powered by toyota Irish cricket team get T20 boost for World Cup ahead of the Irish Cricket team leaving for the ICC World Twenty20 in India, Toyota Ireland announced they will renew their partnership with Cricket Ireland as their official car partner for a further four years.

As part of this deal Toyota will provide a fleet of vehicles to Cricket Ireland. Pictured at the announcement in Malahide are, left to right, Andrew Balbirnie, Isobel Joyce and George Dockrell.

Picture: Billy Stickland/Inpho

commitment to building relationships across the globe.

“Swords Celtic is a very ambitious and progressive club and we are looking forward to a long and prosperous partnership with them.”

Swords will also have the chance to send their coaches to Celtic Football Club to attend the renowned International Coaches Convention in Glasgow and receive a behind the scenes look at how Celtic develops young players to reach their potential.

Established in 1962, the club currently boasts a membership of 600

with 31 schoolboys teams, a girls’ teams, three senior teams, four full size pitches, three small sided pitches, an all-weather training facility and an excellent clubhouse.

Their hard work in north County Dublin was a major factor in the Celtic Soccer Academy choosing them as their newest club partner.

Celtic, meanwhile, have long held a special connection with Irish soccer fans with their iconic green and white hoops.

They are currently champions of Scotland and regularly compete

in the UEFA Champions League, where they recorded one of their most famous victories by defeating FC Barcelona 2-1 at Celtic Park in 2012. Celtic are previous winners of the competition when in 1967 they became the first British team to be crowned champions of Europe.

Through the Celtic Soccer Academy the club has many official partner clubs across the globe, taking the ethos of talent development, fair play and social interaction through sport into many communities worldwide, teaching kids how to play “The Celtic Way”.

25 February 2016 SWORDS gazette 31

Gazette

football: swords side ready for new season

Club Noticeboard FINGALLIANS MEMBERSHIP for 2016 is now due. There

GAA inter-club Irish cultural talent

is no increase in the fees for 2016.

competition for primary students at

Forms are available from the club bar

St. Peregrine’s GAA, Blanchardstown.

and at the academy each Saturday morning.

Application forms can also be down-

Fingallians’s team talk following a preseason challenge match. Picture: Kyran O’Brien

Campion confident Fins will move on up

afl division 3

 stephen findlater sport@dublingazette.com

F I N GA L L I A N S a r e looking to go one better than last year and regain their place in AFL Division 2 after last season saw them miss out at the last to Whitehall Colmcilles in a promotion playoff.

They open their league campaign on Sunday morning against St Brigid’s and Danny Campion, last season’s captain, says the side is in great shape at this stage in the year to pursue that target, telling GazetteSport the side are “looking extremely strong this year”.

In addition to the solid core of the side, there has been a big influx of young players from the minor team and some very talented guys who played junior football last year added to the panel.

Oisin Ly nch, Jack Ryan, Shane Howard, Niall Quinn, Conor Grimes, Derek Rogers, Dylan Myles and Dillon Staunton are among the players to add to the

squad in recent times.

And Campion says that it has really helped in preseason.

“The list is huge and the pressure is now on to perform for your jersey or there are three guys lining up to take it from you. Older lads like myself are certainly feeling the squeeze and that kind of environment only breeds success.

“We also have a large pool of talent in this year’s junior squad and these boys will be pushing for places in the first team throughout the year.”

The ambition is simple for the year – to attack every game with victory in mind.

“In terms of targets, our target is simple. We plan to win every game in front of us.

“We do not prioritise different competitions; our boys will go out on a freezing Sunday morning in late February and play with the intensity of a championship final in Parnell Park, and that’s how we will play for the year.

“Preseason has gone well so far, management have worked hard and the lads have been committed with excellent numbers at training, you can really feel the competitive edge among the group as everyone is pushing each other.

“The cup games have provided us with a good platform to test the newcomers and work on our team game, and we’ve been building well with a keen eye on the first league game this week.”

Coming so close to pro-

motion last time around, Campion adds that the team has had to make some tweaks to their setup to ensure they will guarantee a place back in senior league football.

“We have a very tightknit group of men now, so as we progress through the season we will identify any issues that may arise and deal with them as we go.

“For now, we are happy with our set up and confident that we will represent ourselves and the club very well this year.”

craic, Gaeilge agus failte.

loaded from the club’s website – www.

St Patrick’s Day: La Feile Padraig.

fingallians.com. To qualify for priority

Parade will depart at 11.30am We will

All-Ireland tickets, membership must

assemble at Colaiste Choilm from

be paid by February 29.

10.30am.

Seachtain na Gaeilge events:

La mor na nGael back at the club-

Wednesday, March 2: Grupa Comhra,

house afterwards, further info to fol-

9pm sa chlubhouse;

low.

Saturday, March 5: Peil Tri Ghaeilge

This year’s Easter camp dates are

7-a-side competition at Somerton,

Monday, March 21 to Thursday, March

Castleknock;

24. It will be a combined hurling and

Wednesday, March 9: adult Irish

football camp for boys and girls aged

conversation group, 9pm in the club-

four to 13 years-old. Further info and

house.

applications to follow.

Saturday, March 12: Fingallians GAA

Athletic Update: The Dublin indoor

will have an exclusive bilingual guided

championships were held over the

tour of Swords Castle. This will be part

last weekends. Congratulations to Ava

of the seachtain na Gaeilge celebra-

Keogh who won both the 60m sprint

tions. Time to be announced.

and hurdles and was also part of the

Sunday, March 13: Scor na bpaistí,

replay gold.

ST FINIAN’S WE HAD some great representation

Omagh.

at inter-county level this weekend.

The lotto jackpot was €2,200 this

Rachel Fagan played (and scored a

week and the numbers drawn were 9,

goal) for the Dublin U-14 footballers

13, 19 and 24.

in their win over Meath, while Conor

There was no jackpot winner. The

Lennon lined out for the minor Dubs in

winners of the €25 lucky dip prizes

their win over Wexford.

were: Ger Clarke, Amy Hender, Bernie

Eoin O’Connor played for Fingal hurlers in their win over Tyrone up in

Murphy, Amy Heaney. Next week’s jackpot will be €2,300.

FINGAL Ravens OPERATION Transformation 2016 has

lotto. Numbers drawn were 4, 11, 24

come to an end. Many thanks to Elaine

and 32; €20 to Nicole Kinsella, Paddy

Casey, Lisa McCarthy and Deirdre Daly

Newman and Pat Giltenane. Next

for organising everything. Congratu-

week’s jackpot is €17,000.

lations and well done to everyone who participated.

The 2016 club membership is now due; forms are available in the club-

GAA national club draw 2016 tick-

house or can be downloaded from

ets are only €10 each and on sale now,

our Facebook page or can be done

contact Maura Norton on 087 9936458,

online on www.myclubfinances.com.

Bernadette Kavanagh on 087 9397642

All membership must be paid in full by

or any committee member.

March 31.

Some fabulous prizes on offer,

No player will be permitted to play

including top prize of a new Opel Corsa.

if they do not have their membership

Anyone who purchases a ticket for the

paid in full. Please contact John McCa-

GAA national club draw from Fingal

rthy (087 6599348) with any enquiries

Ravens will be entered into a separate

about pitches.

draw with a chance to win two tickets to the All-Ireland football final 2016.

Please note, can people who have

Fingallians’ Danny Campion

Wednesday, March 16: adult Irish night, 9pm in the clubhouse; music,

Great photos on our Facebook site of our U-8 team who played their first official game last week.

sold GAA national club draw tickets,

Our Easter Camp takes place on

please return the stubs to Maura

Tuesday, March 29 in the School Hall. It

Norton, Bernadette Kavanagh or any

runs for three days from 10am to 2pm

committee member.

for ages 5-12 and costs €25. A great

Please sell as many tickets as pos-

occasion to have fun while improving

sible because every ticket sold is ben-

your football skills. Contact Barry on

efiting Fingal Ravens. No winner of the

086 1069752.

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

chomping at the bit: Fingallians firing on all cylinders for the new AFL Division 3 campaign P31

feb 25 -march 2, 2016

hermes message of intent: Dublin club win inaugural EY Hockey League victory P29

Portmarnock’s senior team are set to meet Cherry Orchard in the quarter-final on Sunday at Elmdale Crescent in Ballyfermot

Byrne the Ports’ hero Goalkeeper saves trio of penalties to send Paddy’s Hill club through to the last eight of the FAI intermediate cup, seeing off Carrigaline United

 aaron gallagher

sport@dublingazette.com

DAVID Byrne’s heroic performance last weekend will not be forgotten any time soon by those in Portmarnock as three penalty saves in his side’s shootout win over Carrigaline United sent them through to the next round of the FAI intermediate Cup. Speaking to GazetteSport, Portmarnock manager Willie O’Leary praised his goalkeeper’s ability to handle the pressure following two consecutive missed Ports’ penalties which provided the perfect opportunity for a hero to emerge.

“When it came to penalties Darren Kelly

scored the first for us and then we missed two on the bounce [to trail 3-1]” he said. “Robbie then made two outstanding saves, I thought the second one had gone in because had Carrigaline had scored that they would have won.

Robbie did brilliantly to deal with the pressure and tip the ball around the post.

“He’s a great goalkeeper, and has lots of experience having played at Carlisle United.

Because he doesn’t play in the top leagues, he often gets overlooked but he is as good as any goalkeeper out there.”

His side will now face Cherry Orchard in the quarter-finals of the FAI Intermediate Cup on Sunday morning.

“Look, there’s no pressure on us; we’re the

lowest ranked team left. Obviously, all the pressure will be on them and we’ll see where it takes us. It will be a tough game out in Ballyfermot but if we can show as much character as we have up to now we’ll be doing okay.”

Despite the game going 120 minutes without a goal to either team’s name, what the affair lacked in scores it more than made up for in thrilling drama and goalkeeping heroics.

The fourth-round replay played at at Paddy’s Hill was dominated by nail-biting tension as both sides battled competitively throughout.

Portmarnock had the better of the game’s scoring opportunities despite ending the game with a red card and only nine fit players remaining on the pitch.

While the home side dominated in shots, possession and overall command of the affair, United nonetheless forced the game into a penalty shootout.

This before Portmarnock’s Gareth Whelan was reintroduced as a makeshift forward having been injured in the second half of extratime.

Daniel Butler also received a straight red in normal time after bringing down Daniel O’Connell after 68 minutes.

United’s Denis Behan tested David Byrne in the free kick that followed and even a late press from United for the decisive goal in extra time proved unwilling as O’Leary’s side held out for spot-kicks.