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L-R from top left: Shane Ross (Ind), Eoin O Broin (SF), Alan Shatter (FG), Dr James Reilly (FG), Joan Burton (Lab), Lucinda Creighton (Ren), Alex White (Lab), Joan Collins (PBP) and Sean Haughey (FF)

2 SWORDS Gazette 3 March 2016

FastNews

DAA wins project to manage new terminal in Saudi Arabia DUBLIN Airport Authority (DAA) has landed a multimillion euro contract in Saudi Arabia to manage and Part of the Ridgewood Estate area in Swords, where tenants have faced steep rent hikes since late last year. Picture: Google Maps

operate the new Terminal 5 facility at Saudi Arabia’s

swords | ridgewood tenants highlight increases

King Khaled International Airport (KKIA), Riyadh.

Residents’ fears at impact of rent hikes  emma nolan

RESIDENTS from the Ridgewood Estate in Swords have faced rent

hikes of up to €300 a month ahead of new rent control legislation that was announced late last year.

The new housing proposals will only allow increases ever y two years, which has led to some landlords increasing their rents before the rules kick in.

Monika Szarejko has lived in an apartment at Ridgewood for the last three years with her roommate.

Between them, they have always paid €1,000 a month until they were told last November, without notice, that the rent had increased to €1,250 a month – a 25% increase.

The first letter Szarejko received about the increase was in November. She spoke to The Gazette about the difficulties she and other tenants have faced in trying to meet the landlord, NKM Management, to discuss the new arrangements.

She said: “We asked NKM to meet to discuss why the rent increase is so high, and why they did it just before the new legislation, and they said that they don’t need to talk to us and if we don’t wish to pay the higher rent, we should vacate

the apartment.”

S z a r e j ko a n d h e r roommate have continued to pay their old rent and have been trying to meet with the landlords.

They say they were told that they had to vacate the apartment on February 14.

Szarejko said that some f a milies have since moved, unable to afford the increase.

Currently unemployed and searching for work, she is trying to set up her own business, and her roommate has been on sick leave for the past six months and is saving for surgery.

“There is no reason for the rent increase, they are giving us no choice.

For us, €250 is food for one month,” she said.

“What am I supposed to do – stop eating?”

Cllr Eugene Coppinger (PBP) spoke to The Gazette about the difficulties faced by Sza-

rejko and other tenants at Ridgewood. He said: “At the end of October, a lot of the Ridgewood residents received new leases, which more or less said ‘Sign or vacate’.

The new leases had rent increases of around €300 [per month].

“What’s happened in Ridgewood is not illegal, but it is immoral.”

Cllr Coppinger raised a motion at a Swords Balbriggan Area Committee meeting on January 14 to “call on the Government to introduce real rent controls, properly indexed and aligned with people’s ability to pay”.

Fingal County Council have confirmed that they are awaiting a response from the Government.

NKM Management had not responded to a request for comment by the time of going to print.

DAA International was chosen to operate the new 106,500 sq m terminal (above), which has a capacity of up to 12 million domestic passengers per year, ahead of five other international airport operators.

KKIA, which is located 35 km north of Riyadh, is Saudi Arabia’s main gateway airport, welcoming a record 22.3 million passengers last year.

DAA International chief executive Colm Moran said: “DAA International is delighted to have won this highly-significant contract at King Khaled International Airport, and we look forward to providing a fantastic travel experience for passengers.

“This is DAA International’s first airport management contract, and our intention is to build on this win by adding further significant contracts in the months and years ahead.”

Public consultations to put Lusk landfill site in focus THE Balleally Landfill Liaison Committee and Fingal County Council are currently formulating a draft master plan for the former landfill at Balleally, near Lusk.

To inform the preparation of the draft plan, a series of three public consultation meetings are being organised by the committee.

These meetings will provide local communities mainly based in Lusk, Rush and Donabate with an opportunity to make proposals for inclusion in the draft plan.

The first two meeting took place in Lusk at St McCullen’s Centre on Wednesday, February 24, and in Rush Community Centre on Wednesday, March 2.

The final meeting is at Donabate Community Centre on Wednesday, March 16 at 8:30pm.

Oral history collection focuses on Fingalians’ roles in The Rising FINGAL 1916 Oral History Collection was launched recently by the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr David O’Connor at County Hall.

The collection, which was undertaken to record and highlight the experiences of ordinary men and women during the 1916 Rising, is the most recent series of oral history projects undertaken by the Fingal Local Studies and Archives Section, Fingal Libraries.

Relatives of these North County Dublin men and

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

women were interviewed, and provided a very personal account of their ancestors’ involvement in the Rising.

Interviews explored the motivations for their families’ involvement, and details of the lives of their ancestors under the Irish Free State.

The interviews are available to view at Clonmel House in Swords, or online at fingal.ie.

3 March 2016 SWORDS Gazette 3

council | Archaeologists present findings of month-long project

community

€70,000 fund for projects

Digging into results from work at castle

 emma nolan

MEDIEVAL floor tiles that were found at Swords Castle indicates the high status of Swords Castle as a residence of the Archbishop of Dublin.

On February 20, Fingal County Council presented the first results from its community archaeology programme at Swords Castle and the floor tiles were revealed as part of that.

The results from Swords Castle: Digging History saw a range of experts present findings from the month-long dig, which took place during last August and September.

Opening the seminar, the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr David O’Connor (Ind), said: “It’s wonder-

ful to see new information about the history of Swords Castle coming from our community dig last year. The enthusiasm here today underlines the great success of this initiative and the importance of the castle for the people of Swords and Fingal.”

Speakers included archaeologist Christine Baker, who designed and led the programme, and who commended the input of more than 100 volunteers on the success of the project.

Archaeologist Siobhan Duffy revealed many of the small finds from the site, which included an interesting collection of clay pipes. Pipes dated from the late 17th or early 18th century right up to the late 19th century were

found from a variety of manufacturers in Dublin and beyond.

She also highlighted a fragment from a very small clay pipe which she suggested was “made for children to blow bubbles”.

Dr Linda Lynch then discussed human remains from the site, and how archaeologists use these finds to give valuable information about how people lived and died in medieval Swords.

Finally, county architect Fionnuala May discussed the council’s future plans for the castle and emphasised the importance of the community excavation in adding to knowledge of the site and assisting in the future development of the castle.

exploring women’s roles

WITH an unusual brace of bullets around her body, this militarily-styled model looked quite the part ahead of Fingal County Council’s upcoming lecture in Ardgillan Castle, Balbriggan on Saturday, March 5, on the role of the thousands of Irish women who participated in the Irish nationalist, labour and cultural movements of the early twentieth century. History Ireland editor Tommy Graham will lead a lively round-table discussion to bring to the light the contributions of these forgotten women, who also played their part in fighting the causes of the day, and creating the foundations for modern Ireland. The collaboration between Fingal County Council and the History Ireland Hedge School series will also see several noted historians and experts discuss the courage and input of these women.

A TOTAL of €70,000 has been allocated for summer project programme projects by Fingal County Council.

Last year, a total of 37 groups availed of the council’s summer project funding, including five new groups and almost 3,500 children and young people.

With all summer projects, the emphasis is placed on encouraging community involvement and development.

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr David O’Connor (Ind), said: “The community division of the council sees this funding programme as a way of supporting the community sector in the context of the overall work the council does, especially at a time when resources are becoming more hard-fought over.”

4 SWORDS Gazette 3 March 2016

community | donabate and portane tidy towns action is welcomed

Village initiative to keep election posters out  emma nolan

DONABATE and Portrane have introduced a Tidy Towns initiative to keep all general election posters out of the village.

Cllr Adrian Henchy (FF) assisted the Donabate Por-

trane Tidy Towns group, and said that he is “delighted” with the initiative.

He said: “Following discussions with Donabate Portrane Tidy Towns, the decision was made to keep all posters out of the village, from Donabate Railway Station to The Hand

corner at the junction of Ballisk and the Beaverstown Road.

“While I acknowledge this request came late on the eve of the current general election, hopefully for future elections and referendums all candidates and parties will keep

to the pledge by cooperating and working with Donabate Portrane Tidy Towns in keeping the village poster-free.

“There is a similar initiative in Malahide village which has been in place for many years.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the vol-

unteers of Donabate Portrane Tidy Towns, who work very hard all year round in enhancing and improving our village landscape.”

Speaking to The Gazette about the initiative, a spokesperson from the Department of the Environment com-

mended the village’s hard work in carrying out the initiative, and said: “While the posters are untidy, the biggest problem appears to be the lazy way they are taken down – candidates just rip them down and leave the cable ties for others to remove.”

Budding post-primary poets hoping to get through to competition’s final FINGAL County Council is hosting the regional heat of A Poem for Ireland poetry competition for post-primary schools as part of the Fingal 2016 Centenary Programme.

The council are collaborating with the Department of Education and Skills, the public library service, and Libraries Development, Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) to host the competition.

Students in each secondary school year were invited to submit an original poem in English or Irish on Ireland past or present to their year head before February 29.

The winning entry for each year is being submitted to local library branches in Fingal County Council and a judging panel, set up by the local library service, will adjudicate on all schools’ winning entries.

A county winner will be sent through for consideration on a shortlist of eight national finalists.

The national final will take place in April, with a national dignitary presenting a prize of €1,000 to the overall winner. The national runner-up will be awarded €500, the third-prize winner will be awarded €250, and all national finalists will receive €50 vouchers.

Local business Toots the Malahide Road Train, which includes a visit to the castle

business | company calls for assistance

Alarm at fun train insurance rates  emma nolan

A LOCAL Malahide business crippled by high insurance rates are calling on the council to assist them before they are forced to close.

Toots the Malahide Road Train, operates under Malahide Trolley LTD, a family-friendly tourism and travel enterprise operating in Malahide.

Its 40-minute hop-on, hop-off tour starts out from the DART Station in Malahide, then goes through the village, over to the beach and finishes

up at Malahide Castle.

Owner Michael Place spoke to The Gazette about what he calls the “plight of the road train”.

He said he is facing an insurance premium priced for a year, when his business only operates on a seasonal basis from March until October.

Place said: “The same premium dropped by €500 to €8,200, including employer’s liability and public liability, in 2014.

“Where we stand is that our novel road train operations are subject to a bait-ball approach by

these insurance companies and brokers, with a year-round cover and fee asked for instead of seasonal cover, like [as seen in] the UK model [of similar ventures], and at a third of the price.”

Place said that Fingal County Council have been “accommodating to a point, as Malahide Trolley is a limited company, but the desire to achieve this badly needed link is understood by all, and we wait patiently for a decision from the council”.

A spokesperson from the council told The Gazette: “Fingal County

Council are committed to developing tourism in Fingal. Toots Train is an important part of the Fingal tourism offering.

“We have worked with Toots Train for several years at various events, and by allowing access to Malahide Castle.

“We are currently discussing the development of new routes around Malahide Castle with Toots Train.”

The Gazette reached out to the Insurance Federation of Ireland on the matter, but they are unable to discuss individual cases.

3 March 2016 SWORDS Gazette 5

courts | swords man to be sentenced later for unrelated incidents

Punched bouncer’s teeth out; tried to rob local bookies A TRINITY Law School graduate who knocked a bouncer’s teeth out after being refused entry to a nightclub and later punched a garda in the mouth is to be sentenced later.

Niall McGlynn (30), of Castlefarm, Swords, also faces sentence for robbery of a bookmakers, during which he was thrown out and held by staff until gardai arrived.

McGly nn pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and one count of assault causing harm in Dublin city centre and in

Pearse Street Garda Station on January 27, 2014.

He also pleaded guilty to robbery at Paddy Power in Swords on June 12, 2015.

Judge Yvonne O’Connor adjourned the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to March 16 when she will finalise sentence.

Prosecuting counsel Marie Torrens BL told the court that McGlynn and another man were very drunk when they went to the Czech Inn in Temple Bar. The bouncer refused them entry because of

their condition.

McGlynn became aggressive and was told by the bouncer to “chill out”.

McGlynn then punched the victim in the mouth.

The bouncer fell back into the doorway and could feel that his teeth were broken.

Chased Another bouncer from the pub across the road witnessed the attack and chased after McGlynn.

At one stage, the bouncer was given a lift from a bin lorry in his pursuit of the accused.

He caught up to McGlynn on Ormond Quay, but the accused punched him and escaped. When gardai eventually caught McGlynn on North King Street, he was very aggressive.

He kicked out at gardai when put in the back of the patrol car, and gardai pepper sprayed him.

When he got to the station, he appeared to calm down, but when officers removed his handcuffs he punched Garda Brian Cleary in the face.

The court heard that the following year McG-

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard how a man from Castlefarm, Swords attacked a bouncer in the city centre, and also attempted to rob his local Paddy Power outlet

lynn, who has a serious gambling addiction, went into his local Paddy Power outlet. A staff member told him he couldn’t serve McGlynn because he had been barred the previous week.

McGly nn said he didn’t want to be served and jumped up on the counter, shouting: “I want

the money”. He grabbed some notes but then fell off the counter, scattering the money.

He got up and tried to grab the money but staff were pushing him away. A staff member grabbed him and threw him out of the bookies with some force.

McGlynn was held there until gardai arrived.

Defence counsel Maddie Grant BL said McGlynn had a law degree from Trinity College, but never practised as a lawyer.

She said he had a gambling and substance abuse problem, but had remained out of trouble since the bookies incident.

6 SWORDS Gazette 3 March 2016

business initiative

Enterprise week call for Fingal’s entrepreneurs  emma nolan

ENTEPRENEURS from Fingal are being sought to make their dream a reality with this year’s local enterprise week.

This year’s event runs from March 7 to 13, and will have hundreds of events taking place with the aim of stimulating job creation and also to encourage those with a business idea to pursue their dream in north county Dublin.

Fingal Local Enterprise Office (LEO) is one of 31 LEOs across Ireland that have announced a series of initiatives aimed at stimulating business activity locally. More than 1,600 business owners and managers attended business events around the country in last October’s enterprise week.

Starting on March 7, events will be taking place in Balbriggan, Swords and Blanchardstown, and will include opportunities to pitch business ideas to experts, attend procurement workshops, business advice clinics, start your own business boot camps, and trading online seminars.

Student enterprise awards will take place on

the Tuesday, along with the Fingal Enterprising Women event to coincide with International Women’s Day. The week will conclude with the Fingal Enterprise awards, which will show the business journeys of the six finalists: Farhad Khandanian from Ballycoolin, Paul Canavan from Skerries, Dr Irene McGrath from Skerries, Nicole Dunne from Baldoyle, Kevin Egan from Blanchardstown and Darren Farrell from Finglas.

Oisin Geoghegan, head of enterprise in Fingal, welcomed the initiative.

He said: “There are plenty of business opportunities out there, but you have to go out and find them. We want to help small businesses to identify opportunities for growth.

“Equally importantly, anyone with a viable plan for a new business needs to be encouraged to pursue their dream. The new local enterprise week initiative is a brilliant platform for us to stimulate job creation locally and throughout the country.”

Most events are free, but a nominal fee applies to some. For further information, see www. localenterprise.ie/fingal.

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Skerries woman and RTE presenter Vivienne Traynor and her nephew, Martin Traynor. Vivienne is the ambassador for this year’s Organ Donor Awareness Week, thanks to her first-hand experience of organ donation – she donated a kidney to Martin.

health | appeal for donors to support week

How organ donations transform many lives  emma nolan

A SKERRIES woman has become the ambassador for Organ Donation Week in the hopes that she can help to start a conversation around donations and transplants with her story.

Living kidney donor and RTE broadcaster Vivienne Traynor (44) has taken up the voluntary role of ambassador for Organ Donor Awareness Week 2016, which is organised by the Irish Kidney Association.

Running from April 2 to 9, you can support Organ Donor Awareness Week by texting “kidney” to 50300, to make a €2 donation.

Like the previous a m b a s s a d o r, M a r y Kennedy, Vivienne has

also a deep personal connection to organ donation, as her nephew – Martin Traynor – underwent two kidney transplants; his first for which she was the living kidney donor in July 2009, while five years later, his second transplant was from a deceased donor.

Vivienne, who is an RTE news anchor and courts correspondent, and a mother of four, witnessed first-hand the whole process of organ donation and transplantation from a deceased donor for her nephew Mar tin, now 35, in November 2014.

She said that this was a very different experience from five years previously when she was a living kidney donor to him, and

added: “The kindness of strangers meant so much to us that day.”

Following the first transplant, which they underwent in Britain, Martin became a father for the first time, and Vivienne completed a law degree and had her fourth child.

Then, after Martin’s second transplant at Beaumont Hospital, he and his partner, Mary, have since become parents for the second time with a baby girl.

Vivienne said: “When news came through that a second kidney was available for Martin, I was at first elated, but this feeling was very quickly replaced by thoughts for the deceased donor and their family.

“I was really touched

that a family in the midst of all their grief took the time to consider someone else. I cannot find the words to express what that meant to us at that moment, on that day and every day since.

“To see Martin come back from surgery in a matter of hours, and to have been given a whole new lease of life, was one of the greatest things I have witnessed.”

Vivienne said that she was honoured to be able to donate a kidney to Martin in July 2009 following his three years of dialysis treatment.

She said: “My sister, Gina – Martin’s aunt – had also come forward for testing, but my kidney was chosen towards the end of the testing process. Both Martin and I

made a good recovery after the operations and the successful transplant allowed him to enjoy a normal life for five years away from dialysis, and in that time he became a father.”

The focus of Organ Donor Awareness Week is to raise awareness about the ongoing and ever-increasing demand for organ transplantation, which relies on the public for organ donation.

Speaking on her role as ambassador, Vivienne said: “I hope that by sharing the story of donation and transplantation in our family, we can help other families to start the conversation about their wishes surrounding deceased organ donation.”

3 March 2016 SWORDS Gazette 7

people | locals gave it their all on the voice of ireland

Noteworthy TV efforts by two Swords singers  emma nolan TWO talented singers from Swords made it through to The Battles round of The Voice of Ireland.

22-year-old Cathy Moore and 18-year-old Karen-Louise, both from Swords, impressed the judges with their performances but, unfortunately, Karen-Louise lost out to fellow contestant, Pauric O’Meara, last Sunday.

Moore is still in with a chance of making it to the live stage in Dublin’s

 emma nolan

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‘Of the four Voice of Ireland judges, Kian Egan was the only one to turn his chair for Cathy Moore after she impressed him’ --------------------------------------------------------

Cathy Moore gives it her all (left); Karen-Louise also impressed

Helix for a chance to win a recording contract with Universal Music.

Karen-Louise impressed judge Bressie during her first blind performance, and he put her through her paces during The Battles phase, before she was eliminated.

Having completed a performing arts course

judge Kian Egan, formerly of Westlife.

Moore is a waitress at Wrights Cafe Bar has been singing and playing the guitar since she was 10 years old. She also plays the tin whistle and often performs at open mic nights and singing competitions.

in London, Karen-Louise was no stranger to the stage and has gained praise from other judge, Una Foden, who said there is “something really lovely about her voice”.

Moore made it on to The Battles phase of The Voice of Ireland after she managed to impress

council The draft county plan is set

Of the four Voice of Ireland judges, Kian Egan was the only one to turn his chair for Moore after she impressed him with her version of Damien Rice’s 9 Crimes during the show on Sunday, February 7.

She competed in a battle alongside fel-

low Dublin competitor, Laura Doyle, performing a duet version of Alanis Morrisette’s Thank U. Moore is now through to The Battle phase of the competition until March 13, where contestants sing against each other to finally take to the stage in The Helix.

FINGAL County Council have published the draft county development plan 2017-2023, marking the start of Phase 2 of the plan’s preparation process.

The chief executive’s draft development plan was presented to the members of the council last December.

At meetings in January and February, motions submitted were considered, and the draft development plan is now being published for members of the public to make submission/observations.

The public consultation period runs until April 29.

The draft development plan sets out the future direction for Fingal over a six-year period.

8 SWORDS Gazette 3 March 2016

election 2016 | victories - and losses - for constituency’s big names

Mirroring the national trend in the party’s fortunes, Fianna Fail toped the poll in Fingal, with Senator Darragh O’Brien coming in with 17.93% of the vote. Picture: Stephen Fleming Photography

the results | fine gael edged into second place by rival’s 23.49% stake

Fianna Fail fight back in battle to reclaim Fingal voters’ loyalty  paul doyle

FIANNA Fail’s increase in national popularity was felt in Fingal Dublin this year, with former senator Darragh O’Brien topping the poll – finishing with 17.93% of the vote.

Some 60,850 of 93,486 potential voters in the area cast a ballot for 2016, giving Fianna Fail 23.49% of the total vote, ahead of Fine Gael’s 20.17%, and Labour’s 9.95%.

Speaking to The Gazette, O’Brien credited his victory to a hardworking campaign team, as well as Fianna Fail’s pledge to address issues faced by voters.

He said: “A local issue, but a very significant one, was the [subject of] airport pensions – this Government has hammered 15,000 people, mainly in this area, by cutting their

pensions up to 60%. “ P e o p l e h ave n o money left at the end of the month, [yet have] big mortgages and childcare costs. We offered an alternative.”

Independents 4 Change candidate Clare Daly finished in second place with 10,566 votes, reaching the quota at the fourth count.

Although left-wing parties and candidates did not fare as well as anticipated in this general election, Daly says that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael’s time dominating Irish politics will soon end.

Speaking to The Gazette, she said: “If this election has taught us anything, it’s that the civil war parties’ terminal decline continues.

“The joint share that they have of the vote now is at a record low, but

what’s going to take its place hasn’t quite taken shape yet.”

T his year saw an increase in support for Independents, with such candidates taking 26.24% of the vote in Fingal Dublin.

Six independents ran in Dublin Fingal this year, compared to just one in 2011.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael’s Dr James Reilly lost his seat, having topped the polls in 2011. Dr Reilly took 6,215 votes in this election, compared to 10,178 votes in 2011.

He partially attributed his decline in popularity to his time spent as the Minister for Health.

His seat ultimately went to Sinn Fein’s Louise O’Reilly, after what supporters for both candidates described as ‘a dog fight’.

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‘Some 60,850 of 93,486 potential voters in the area cast a ballot for 2016, giving Fianna Fail 23.49% of the total vote, ahead of Fine Gael’s 20.17%, and Labour’s 9.95%’

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

Sinn Fein supporters credited O’Reilly’s victory to her hard work, as well as the electorate’s disdain for Fine Gael and Labour’s austerity policies.

Sinn Fein councillor, and campaign coordinator, Philip Lynam said: “We’ve been out profiling Louise for the last year, 12 months on the ground.

She’s a very hard worker.

She’ll be very good for this community.”

Despite Dr Reilly’s loss, the coalition government did manage to maintain

two seats – Labour and Fine Gael’s Brendan Ryan and Alan Farrell retained their places in the Dail, finishing with 9.95% and 12.44% of the vote respectively.

Renua Ireland’s Gerry Malloy finished with 2,355 votes, just ahead of the Socialist Party’s Terry Kelleher, who was excluded at count three, with 2,210 votes, while the Green Party’s Joe O’Brien got 3,758 votes.

Supporters at the count centre in Cloghran waited until 6 o’clock for the first

count on Saturday, after a “small discrepancy” of 250 misplaced votes caused delays.

O’Brien was the only candidate to be elected at the first count.

There was some tension on Sunday morning at the eighth count, as Independents 4 Change’s Barry Martin called for a recount – he was behind Fianna Fail’s Lorraine Clifford Lee by just 22 votes.

The recount, however, found that no mistakes had been made, and Martin was eliminated, finishing with 5,077 votes.

The ninth count then saw Clifford Lee eliminated, with a total of 5,595 votes.

Her votes were then distributed, and Ryan, Farrell, and O’Reilly were elected without having reached the quota of

10,065.

The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr David O’Connor (Ind), was present at the count centre, and expressed the opinion that a Fianna Fail and Fine Gael government was inevitable.

Speaking with The Gazette, he said: “The people have spoken. At five past seven this morning, I called a Fine Gael/ Fianna Fail government.

It’s as simple as that. They are going to have to negotiate; that’s the nature of politics.”

Poll-topper Darragh O’Brien, however, said that he does not particularly wish to go into government with Fine Gael.

“This has been an unbelievably unpopular and uncaring government.

The last thing that I want to do is to prop up a taoiseach who has failed.”

3 March 2016 SWORDS Gazette 9

election 2016 | dEFIANCE AND HAPPINESS IN OPPOSING POLITICAL OUTLOOKS RUSH | INDEPENDENT BLASTS POLICIES

‘It’s insulting to say that people feel the recovery’  paul doyle

TWO years ago, Rush native and Independents 4 Change nominee Cllr Barry Martin (Ind) became involved in politics, having been affected directly by the Government’s austerity policies.

The 27-year-old councillor (right) made his first bid for the Dail this general election, finishing with 5,077 votes, missing out on a seat.

Speaking with The Gazette, he said: “This time two years ago, austerity deeply affected my family – in Rush, I watched most of my friends emigrate.

“About ten of us met in a pub, and just decided to run in the locals [elections], and it’s gone on from there.”

Cllr Martin says that most people in his constituency are no better off financially now than after the economic crash.

He said: “After five

regressive budgets in a row – from knocking on doors, I know that ordinary people are still really hurting from austerity; it effects people’s lives deeply. They’re sick of it.

“It’s insulting to say that there’s a recovery, when there isn’t for most ordinary people.”

Through activism, Cllr Martin has also become involved with Deputy Clare Daly, and the pair had a voting transfer agreement this election.

“Me and Clare have been working together for a year; working on fighting water charges, and the pyrite issue in Rush.

“Our two groups work very well together; we get on well, so we’ll keep going,” he said.

Although he missed out on claiming a seat in the Dail this time around, looking ahead, Cllr Martin says he will continue his work to help his community, and build a leftwing movement.

Cllr Barry Martin (Ind)

“It’s our job on the Left to create a proper, vibrant movement. Fianna Fail historically have done it; they have deep roots in every community –

they’ve done it over many, many years.

“We have to do that as well. I feel that I’m only getting started,” said Cllr Martin.

Happy with Fianna Fail’s rise  paul doyle JOHN and Anna Morgan were delighted to see an increase in popularity for Fianna Fail this election, having supported the party their entire lives.

Speaking to The Gazette about her involvement with Fianna Fail, Anna said: “I suppose from [reaching my] voting age, that’s when I started voting for them. It [voting for Fianna Fail] was in my family; that’s how I was brought into it.

They weren’t actively involved, but they would have always voted for Fianna Fail.”

She has unwaveringly stuck with

Fianna Fail, even through 2011, when they suffered the biggest loss in support for a major political party in the history of the State.

“It [the recession, and its impact on the party] was a whole combination of things that happened – it wasn’t just the party, it was a global thing.

“I think they realised the mistake that was made; they were man enough to admit that, and they’ve changed. Micheal Martin has played a big role in that, in rejuvenating the party,” she said.

“There are a lot of young people getting involved with the party now, particularly in Ogra.

“It took a lot of hard work on the

ground, explaining to people the injustices of some of the cuts over the last five years, and now it’s time for a change,” she said.

Although happy with the party’s election gains, Fianna Fail man John Morgan expressed concern about a potential coalition with Fine Gael.

He said: “Anything is possible, but I wouldn’t want to see them joining with Fine Gael.

“Look at the protests, with people out over the water charges – they [the Government] should have sorted that out earlier on.

“They should have said: ‘What’s wrong here?’, and done something about it. They didn’t,” he said.

centre | a counter’s view

492 spoiled votes noted  paul doyle OF THE Fingal Dublin constituency’s 60,850 votes in Election 2016, a total of 462 votes were deemed to have been spoiled.

The majority of spoiled votes, however, according to count centre workers who spoke with The Gazette, seemed to be unintentional.

Count centre worker Arthur Walker (right) said: “Well, they [voters] may have done the [marriage equality] referendum, and they put ‘X’ here and there, but now, all of a sudden, they have a thing with numbers in front of them.

“When you work on election day, you often get people asking you: ‘How do I do it?’ [mark

my choices].” A pile of approximately 1,200 votes were called into question on Saturday, according to Walker.

“Sometimes, you might get people writing: ‘One, two, three’, and then an ‘X’, and the vote is called into question – then they [count adjudicators] have to decide if it becomes a spoiled vote.”

Although protest votes appeared to be uncommon in Fingal Dublin this election, Walker says that a portion of votes are always deliberately

spoiled.

“Some things you see written on them ... It’s unreal! I didn’t see that much here this time, but with the [marriage equality] referendum you got all sorts I couldn’t repeat.”

Also speaking with The Gazette, Cllr Philip Lynam (SF) expressed regret about the number of spoiled votes, both intentional and unintentional.

He said: “We always say to people on the doors: ‘Look, if you are angry with people, you should use your vote, don’t spoil it.’

“It’s unfortunate that it’s 1,200 votes they had to go through, because if it does come to the crunch, that could be the difference,” he said.

10 SWORDS Gazette 3 March 2016

SWORDSGazettegallery | after the weeks of canvassing, dublin

Clare Daly (Ind)

Brendan Ryan (Lab) celebrates his winning in Dublin Fingal. Pictures: Stephen Flemings Photography

Louise O’Reilly (SF) pictured with her mother, Mary

Lorraine Clifford Lee (FF) with little supporter Donacha Sheedy

Fianna Fail’s Darragh O’Brien celebrates

3 March 2016 SWORDS Gazette 11

fingal general election candidates learn their fate at the count centre

Barry Martin (Ind)

Councillor Philip Lynam (SF)

Jimmy Doran, Mary Halpin and Dene Mulligan

Fianna Fail supporters Sheila Sherry and Anna Morgan

Kelly Shaughnessy, Carah Daniel and Sean Boyle

Joy and despair as Dubliners vote

Lorraine Clifford-Lee (FF) with her supporters

Peadar O’Cathasaigh and Clem Fallon

Lisa, Kiernan and Anto Kelly

James Reilly and Alan Farrell (both FG) wait anxiously

12 Gazette 3 March 2016

Gazettegallery

| Operation Transformation in the phoenix park

Runners Jim Kearns and Jackie Kearns

Ray Darcy with runners at the annual RTE Operation Transformation 5K. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

Leaders Noeleen Lynam and Lucy Dillon

Aoife Hearne

Get physically active in a worthwhile way

Operation Transformation Leader Lucy Dillon with Meela Rodgers and Elly Rodgers

Dr Eddie Murphy, Dr Cira Kelly and Aoife Herane

her daughter Molly

3 March 2016 Gazette 13

asdfsdaf P27 cinema P22

food & drink P21

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



Gazette

style P18

Pets a loving home for beautiful, brainy Bambi

Max Sisojeus from the Oar House Restaurant who will take part in the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival. Picture: Douglas O’Connor

Prawn Festival: one of Ireland’s largest food extravaganzas

Catch some fantastic food  Ian Begley

The countdown to Howth’s annual Dublin Bay Prawn Festival is now underway, taking place from March 18 to 20.

Dublin Bay Prawn Festival, one of Ireland’s largest food festivals, is set in the beautiful seaside fishing village of Howth.

With a huge range of restaurants, pubs, cafes and retailers offering a vast array of food, much of it produced on Howth’s doorstep, it’s no wonder Howth has become synonymous with great food.

Now entering its sixth year, the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival has built up a huge reputation both at home and overseas, offering not only a fantastic food village but also highlights all

the cultural, historical and adventure activities that make Howth such a distinguished destination.

Celebrating the famous Dublin Bay Prawn, Howth’s finest restaurants, bars and cafes will host a variety of amazing food experiences at the Harbour Festival Food Village serving the freshest, most delicious seafood, cooked every way imaginable, including a selection of special Dublin Bay Prawn dishes.

The festive atmosphere will continue into the evening as Howth’s bars and restaurants will host a special fixed price festive menu and entertainment for all.

And it’s not just the culinary offerings that make the festival so memorable, the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival is also famous for music and entertainment, fireworks, walks, talks and sea-

side antics.

The festival has grown to showcase the huge diversity of history, culture and activities that are the fabric of this seaside village.

This year, for instance, the festival stage will play host to a variety of musical and theatrical sessions, one such being an event called “And Patrick Came To Howth”, a one-act street theatre.

For the young and young at heart, there will be powerboating and water sport demonstrations along the pier, the coast guard and RNLI will be on hand to talk about the very important work they do and the vintage funfair will give the thrill seekers a run for their money.

The tented village plays host to various exhibitions including cookery

demos from local and celebrity chefs, fish filleting and net mending master classes from the fishmongers/fishermen; videos and storyboards outlining the history of Howth and its fishing traditions; and of course some shanties and storytelling along the way.

Paul Reid, chief executive of Fingal County Council said: “We are delighted to be part of this event, it is not only an opportunity to showcase Howth and all that it has to offer in terms of food, stunning landscape and heritage but also provides us with the opportunity to become a programme partner of St Patrick’s Festival.”

For more information visit www. dublinbayprawnfestival.ie, Twitter: @DublinBayPrawnF or follow www.facebook.com/dublinbayprawnfestival.

The Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs.

Our Dog of the Week is is Bambi, a five-yearold, female, German Shepherd cross. She is as beautiful as she is brainy and needs a home with a very, very secure garden as she has previously escaped over fences.

Bambi can live with older children but prefers calm, quiet households as she has struggled in very busy homes in the past.

She would make a great running pal and excel in training and even agility.

If you think you could offer Bambi 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.

Gazette

14 Gazette 3 March 2016

dublinlife

A Lust For Life: 5k/10k Phoenix Park Run

Unlimited benefits of boosting mental fitness

 ian begley ibegley@dublingazette.com

One of the fastest growing running events in Ireland is back for yet another year.

The Vhi A Lust For Life 5k/10k Phoenix Park Run is taking place this year on Saturday, March 5.

More than 4,000 runners are helping to spread the message to “Run Your Life” and pledged their

support to A Lust For Life and Niall Breslin, who is helping to indorse the event.

A Lust For Life are currently preparing participants physically and mentally to either walk or run the course.

Speaking about what running means to him, Niall Breslin said: “I am an ex-professional rugby player and Gaelic footballer so any type of run-

ning I did in the past was always fast sprints.

“Long distance running is the complete opposite of what fast paced running entails.

“It’s about conditioning your muscles to do everything slowly and aerobically.

“For me, I always made excuses for not going for a run because I didn’t enjoy it, mainly because I didn’t understand the power of

it.

“When I got into running I realised that it was not a physical thing for me at all, but a mental aspect.

“W henever I ran, whether it was for an hour or only a half an hour, everything in the world just went out of my head.

“All the thoughts about what drive people nuts and all the silly things that don’t really mean anything just gets flushed out of your brain. For me, it’s a form of meditation.

“When I realised how powerful running was and how it made me feel I decided I wanted to get better at it,” he said.

President launches new expo LAST Thursday, February 25, President Michael D Higgins officially launched the GreenSchools Expo 2016 at the RDS. Green-Schools is an international environmental management education programme, environmental management system and award scheme that promotes and acknowledges longterm, whole-school action for the environment, and is operating in 58 countries around the world.

Last year, 93% of schools in Ireland, the equivalent to 896,442 students and teachers, participated in the programme.

The expo showcased exhibits across six themed zones by 23 exemplary Green-Schools.

The 23 schools were chosen based on their innovative and inventive approaches to the GreenSchools programme.

Niall Breslin: “When I realised how powerful running was and how it made me feel I decided I wanted to get better at it.”

This year, the chosen charity partner for A Lust For Life is Aware.

Aware provides support and information for people who experience depression or bipolar disorder and their concerned

loved ones.

Information on Aware’s services and different aspects of depression (including depression in young people and supporting a loved one) is offered through the web-

site Aware.ie If you would like to raise sponsorship for the run/walk you can set up a page on www.justgiving. com or email fundraising@aware.ie for a sponsorship card.

Gazette

3 March 2016 Gazette 15

dublinlife

diary

Rise to the rock challenge Hard Rock, in partnership with ReverbNation, is turning up the volume for its sixthannual global music competition, Hard Rock Rising.

On June 1, up-andcoming local ar tists and music acts will have a chance to rise to international stardom by performing in the world’s largest, one-day music showcase taking place at participating Hard Rock Cafes around the world.

Musicians who are interested in participating can register online at HardRockR ising. com until March 11, for a chance to win $50,000, a professionally-produced music video, a Fender instruments prize pack and an all-expenses-paid trip to perform at Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza.

Jeff Nolan, Hard Rock International’s resident music guru and memorabilia historian said: “Hard Rock Rising 2016 is a one-day, global celebration of local artists.

We hope to raise awareness for these incredible, and too-often overlooked acts, while simultaneously providing exposure that helps them breakthrough to the next level of success.”

dedicate a daffodil in aid of cancer charity The Irish Cancer Society will plant the Garden of Hope for the seventh year, returning to the Iveagh Gardens in Dublin this Daffodil Day, on Friday, March 11.

The Society together with Dell, its lead par tner on Daffodil Day, appeal for people around the country to dedicate a daffodil with a message of hope for

themselves or someone they love.

Last year, 1,117 people in Dublin dedicated a flower in the garden.

This year the society will receive dedications from all over Ireland and further afield and will plant its 20,000th message of hope.

Funds raised on Daffodil Day by thousands of volunteers across Ireland go directly to fund the work of the Society across support, prevention, research and advocacy.

It’s vital that Daffodil Day reaches its ambitious fundraising target of €3.5m in order to continue to provide and expand this service and others.

Visit www.cancer.ie/ gardenofhope or CallSave 1850 60 60 60 to dedicate a f lower or make a donation.

Ireland’s largest talent-spotting event on the way The International Literature Festival Dublin, in conjunction with T he Inkwell Group and Writing.ie, is calling on aspiring authors to enter Date With An Agent, Ireland’s largest talent-spotting event.

Aspiring authors Seventy-five aspiring authors will be selected from submissions received in an open call, and will have the chance to pitch their work to five leading literary agents keen to sign new talent.

On the day, the 75 preselected writers will have the chance to meet privately with an agent to pitch their work and receive valued professional feedback and advice, as well as participate in the conference.

To be in with a chance

of being one of the lucky 75 chosen for a Date With An Agent, writers are asked to submit the first 1,500 words of their work (fiction or non-fiction) in hard copy with a 1,000 word synopsis and 500 word author biography.

The closing date for submissions is midnight on Friday, March 18.

For further information visit www.ilfdublin. com.

Girl guides put on uniforms to promote guiding T ho u s a nds o f school pupils across the country turned up for class recently wearing their Irish Girl Guide uniforms.

School principals gave permission for the girls to wear their Irish Girl Guides’ (IGG) uniforms to mark A-wearness Day – an annual event that gives girls the opportunity to tell their friends about their involvement in Guiding.

Challenges Membership of IGG gives girls from age five to 30 the chance to take part in a wide range of activities and challenges while making new friends, growing in confidence and gaining teamwork, leadership and other essential life-skills This year’s theme is “Connect” and the girls have been taking part in games, activities and ceremonies that have helped them celebrate the meaningful connections that make for better lives.

Irish Girl Guides welcomes new members from age five plus and volunteer leaders from age 18 plus. To find out more, see www. irishgirlguides.ie or telephone 01-6683898.

Irish Girl Guides celebrate the meaningful connections that make for better lives

Rod’s ready to pull out all the stops Rod Stewart is adding additional Dublin and Belfast dates to the From Gasoline Alley to Another Country Hits 2016 arena tour that will feature his biggest hits from 1970 to 2016. Demand for Rod Stewart’s live shows are stronger than ever following the recent release of musical legend’s 29th critically acclaimed platinum selling album Another Country in October 2015.

The acclaimed performer will play no shortage of chart-topping tracks, including: You Wear It Well, Maggie May, Da Ya Think I’m Sexy, Baby Jane, The First Cut is the Deepest, I Don’t Want To Talk About It, Tonight’s The Night, The Killing of Georgie and Sailing.

Commenting, Stewart said: “These are some of my favourite buildings in my favourite cities. I give you fair warning – fasten your seat belts. I’m pulling out all the stops!”

Rod Stewart will now play The SSE Arena Belfast on November 14-15 and 3Arena Dublin on November 18-19. Book online www.ticketmaster.ie

16 Gazette 3 March 2016

3 March 2016 Gazette 17

Price is just the beginning

D DOWN PRICES DRILLE ½

125 ½110

36 ½27

½

½

½

25

105

Mac Allister 600W hammer drill

OF COLOUR ADD A SPLASH

142

½

129

½

DeWalt 18V XR combi drill

Makita 18V li-ion combi drill

Includes 1 x 1.3Ah Li-ion battery

Includes 2 x 1.3Ah batteries

½

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114

127

½

½

60

½

Bosch all-rounder multi tool

60

Bosch 550W SDS rotary hammer drill

PMF190E

Available in matt or silk €5.60 per litre

182

½

½

149

½

29 ½25

19

½

Electric convector heater

2000W Double level

16

½

Loft insulation 100mm 8.3 sq.m coverage

E WHEN IT’S GON E! N O IT’S G

Dulux standard coloured emulsion, 2.5L

Pure brilliant white €2.90 per litre Also available in soft sheen or silk

44.98

€28 each. €11.20 per litre Available in matt or soft sheen

18.98

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Mira Elite ST pumped electric shower, 9.8kw

15

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Dulux gloss or undercoat, 2.5L

5 colours available €3.50 per litre

† 199 each

½

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LESS REFRESH FOR ½

2 € 10

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Bord na Mona kiln dried logs

Bord na Mona briquettes

€6 each

€4.50 each

FOR

3 FOR € 24 Chipboard loft panels, pack of 3 L1220 x W325 x D18mm €10 each

½

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L3000 x W600 x D38mm

Includes insulated trap door

60

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Midnight granite effect laminate worktop

68

Fabienne full pedestal basin

96

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Triton T90Z pumped electric shower, 8.5kw

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Cooke & Lewis Tonica toilet seat

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21

.85

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26

Dulux matt emulsion, 10L

Dulux Everyday colours, 10L

2kW

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29

35

Scheppach 254mm sliding mitre saw

2 FOR € 36

½

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ME COSY O H R U O Y P E E K ½

28*

Crown standard coloured emulsion, 5L

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45.95

143

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134

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Fabienne rectangular close coupled toilet

40

Astracast utility 1 bowl stainless steel sink & drainer

Come on in and unleash the B&Q in you Liffey Valley | Swords | Tallaght | Naas | Galway | Limerick | Cork | Athlone Freephone 1800 818 950 or visit diy.com/diy/ireland for your nearest store. Liffey Valley opening hours Mon-Fri 7am-9pm, Sat 7am-8pm, Sun 10am-7pm.

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Excluded from any other promotion or discount card. *Excludes mid sheen. † Customer quotas apply.

White & FKURPH À QLVK

OUT&ABOUT Weir gilded and Son neckla s Ti S ce €1 ento 99

Gazette

18 Gazette 3 March 2016

ur de Gallet Fle Roger & alm 200ml yb Figuier bod Lancome Genifique gift set €73

Crabtree & Evelyn Verbena and lavender body lotion 250ml (Kildare Village and selected pharmacies) €22

Www.magee1866.com Grey tweed bag €500

Pandora Sterling silver mother heart charm €39

T R E S E M M E h ave turned the traditional hair care routine on its head with their new Beauty-Full Volume range, which maximises volume by applying conditioner before shampoo.

The experts at Tresemme have created an innovative “reverse system” on their constant quest to help women achieve everyday volume without depending on blowdrys.

Tresemme discovered that many volume seekers shy away from using conditioning products, as they can weigh the hair down.

The first step – Beauty-Full Volume pre-wash conditioner – contains fibre-polishing actives designed to remain on the hair after the condi-

tioner is washed away, locking in smoothness.

Tresemme BeautyFull Volume shampoo follows to gently cleanse hair while removing excess weight left by the intensive conditioner.

The result is premium softness, as well as body and bounce for hair that no longer weighs you down.

The volume revolution continues with Tresemme Beauty-Full Volume Hair Maximiser and Tresemme BeautyFull Volume Mousse, which contains patented Fleximax Volumiser technology: soft, flexible bonds that move fluidly with the hair, allowing newly-volumised style to stay put all day without falling flat.

Tresemme BeautyFull Volume is available from Dunnes Stores and selected pharmacies.

M&S Marc de Champagne truffles 145g €9

 emma nolan

Willow & Clo Cluster ruby earring €179

Turn to Tresemme for a new range to treat your locks

Www.magee1866.com Light purple scarf €45

Tresemme’s new Beauty-Full Volume range

3 March 2016 Gazette 19

Willow & Clo Cluster ruby earring €179

Juv i with Cocoa p o gold and d baja pe g re e n on ndant yx € 95

Gazette

STYLE

Willow & Clo Tiny pyrite drops €50

Butlers Chocolates

Flower box €7

Have you remembered

Mother’s Day?  emma nolan

Aldi Large Mot

her’s Day card

THE day when mums get to kick back and unashamedly indulge in being spoiled by their loved ones is almost upon us.

Whether your mum loves a candle and a scarf, chocolates or bling, make sure she opens something she’ll really appreciate this Mother’s Day. Brand-new Irish jewellery boutique,Willow & Clo, in Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, has a beautiful array of intricately designed pieces, such as the drop cluster ruby earrings, and you can’t go wrong with the classic Mother’s Day choice, Pandora; this sparkling love knot

€1.49

Aldi Tea For On

Butlers Chocolates Spring tapered box €5

Crabtree & Evelyn Verbena and lavender body lotion 250ml (Kildare Village and selected pharmacies) €22

e teapot €5.49

set is a timeless gift for any occasion.

Of course, beauty and skincare products are always a popular gift choice for mothers, so make sure she’s truly pampered with the Genifique range from Lancome, and the replenishing Fleur de Figuier body balm from Roger and Gallet.

And, of course, there’s always the ubiquitous gift of a box of chocolates! That’s where a box of Butlers Chocolate Spring collection come in – an excellent accompaniment to Aldi’s Tea for One teapot for breakfast in bed.

Whatever you look for, have fun spoiling your mum – after all, your mammy deserves it!

Lancome Genifique gift set €73

Gazette

20 Gazette 3 March 2016

OUT&ABOUT

fast

TRAVEL NEWS

TRAVEL

overnight stays: luxurious hotels and resorts in ireland

The FMVA Vintage Motors festival takes place on Let your mother become the Lady of the Manor at Mount Juliet Estate, County Kilkenny

March 12 and 13

A St Patrick’s Day with a difference Avoid the crowds this St Patrick’s Day and jet off to Malta for a fabulous seven-day break.

Visiting the magical island of Malta this spring-time will allow you to take part in all the outdoor activities that might be too hot to take part in during the summer months.

Mercury Direct are offering seven nights from March 10 in the lovely Sunflower Hotel, Qawra, for €284.05pp.

Alternatively you can stay at the Windsor Hotel, Silma, for €298.58pp.

Both prices include flights, accommodation, taxes and transfers.

Budget Travel have seven nights in The Radisson Blu Resort and Spa, Golden Sands for €584pp sharing, flying out on March 15. A cheaper alternative is a seven-night stay in the four-star Kennedy Nova Hotel, Gzira for €376pp sharing. Prices are based on two sharing, room only basis and include transfers.

Concorde Travel have deals from €425pp sharing for seven nights in

the three-star St Georges Park & La Vallette Apartments, St Julians, based on one bedroom, four sharing. Alternatively you can stay at the three-star Bayview Hotel, Sliema, (B&B, standard room, two sharing) for €499pp.

A St Patrick’s Day parade takes place every year from City Gate in Valletta. The spectacular parade is a must-see for anyone in the area on St Patricks Day. The Dubliner’ pub, Malta’s one and only Irish bar is a great spot to toast St Patrick.

Easter activities include life-size statues depicting the stages of the cross on the streets of Valletta on Good Friday. Easter morning you can witness the tradition of children carrying their Easter pastry ‘figolla’ to be blessed by the statue of Jesus Christ. The FMVA Vintage Motors festival also takes place in Mgarr and Gozo March 12 and 13.

More information and details of events can be found at www. visitmalta.com.

Say thank you with a Mother’s Day getaway  ian begley Make Mother’s Day extra special this year and say thank you to your mammy by taking her to one of the many lu xurious overnight stays in Ireland’s most sought after hotels and resorts.

Trade the hustle and bustle for a tranquil world of serenity with an overnight stay at Fota Island Resort.

Slip away and let the unwinding begin as you choose between a relaxing harmony facial or full body massage.

Spend the evening savouring a sumptuous meal in Fota restaurant for two before retiring to the bar for a night cap or head straight off to bed and rise bright and early to make the most of the full Irish breakfast served fresh the following morning.

T he Mother ’s Day Package at Fota Island

Resort is available until Sunday, March 30, from €358 for two people sharing. To book, call Fota Island Resort on 021 488 3700 or visit www.fotaisland.ie Indulge in pure luxury this Mother’s day at the Shelbourne Hotel.

Treat your mother to an overnight stay in the five-star hotel in a room with a view to impress.

An unforgettable night with chocolate c o v e r e d s t r a w b e rries waiting for you on arrival.

Slip away to relax before dinner in the top class spa and use the facilities such as the sauna or steam room or maybe a swim or quick work out in the state-ofthe-art gymnasium.

T he Mother ’s Day package at the Shelbourne is available from €349 per room valid until March 15. To book call The Shelbourne on 01-6634500.

Whisk your mother away this March 15 for a relaxing countryside break at Farnham Estate.

Stay in one of their cosy guest rooms where yourself and your mum can spend some quality time together and enjoy afternoon tea by the fire in the drawing room.

This package includes the overnight stay, your buffet breakfast, afternoon tea and unlimited access to the spa facilities at Farnham Estate Golf Resort & Spa. To book call 049-4377700 or email info.farnham@ radissonblu.com.

Treat your mum to the gift of a well-deserved day out at Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa, County Meath. Spend a glorious day relaxing in the hydrotherapy pool and thermal spa along with a gorgeous range of blissful treatments.

Begin with a mini facial and scalp massage, followed by a back, neck

and shoulder massage and choose a mini manicure or pedicure to finish.

The Mum’s the Word package is available from €89 per person, combine with an overnight stay and breakfast with sumptuous threec o u r s e s e t e ve n i n g meal in the award winning restaurant, The Ivy, from €159 for two people sharing. To purchase a voucher or to book call 01 801 3500 or email sales@dunboynecastlehotel.com.

With Ireland’s Blue Book, spoil your precious mother this Mother’s Day and book a night away of luxury and utter pampering for both of you at Marlfield House, County Wexford.

This offer, from €153 per person, includes one night bed and full Irish breakfast in one of our luxurious bedrooms, delicious tea

and scones in front of the fire in the drawing room and library as well as our seasonal three-course supper in the Duck Restaurant.

Why not treat mum to a special overnight break and let her become the Lady of the Manor at Mount Juliet Estate, County Kilkenny.

T his stay includes overnight stay in Mount Juliet House and breakfast the following morning, Champagne Afternoon Tea at your leisure once during the stay, a complimentary late checkout of 2pm and a 15% discount off all Spa Treatments at the Treatment Suites.

This offer from €99 per person sharing is valid until March 16.

To book, visit www. irelandsbluebook.com or call Mount Juliet on 353 (0) 56 777 3000. To book: www.irelandsbluebook.com

3 March 2016 Gazette 21

San Lorenzo’s

New York-style Italian

South Great George’s Street

Brunch Tacos consist of jerk chicken with avocado salsa, chorizo, red pepper mayo and lettuce

The Picky Eater  Shane Rigney

Food Vlogger

Brunch is big business in Dublin with all the trendy spots vying for a slice of the young and cool’s disposable dosh.

Coming out punching with an oft heard “best brunch in town” is San Lorenzo’s on George’s Street.

A few mates and I headed in last Saturday for a birthday bite.

The kitchen closes at three for lunch but due to the water protest on Dame Street we were a little delayed.

Arriving to join the ontimers who had ordered for us at about ten past, the staff seemed to have given up the ghost for the day.

I can understand this being in the business, when at the end of a busy shift on a dismally grey and bleak Saturday you don’t want to see another pleading face.

However, the grub was ordered and on the way .

After a few reminders, the cocktails arrived and thankfully one hell of a margarita and a few more reminders later, the water glasses arrived.

But the place was busy so i can understand the delay.

Mellowed out and warming up from the arctic 5km run we had endured in aid of operation transformation a few hours earlier, I was looking forward to some good sustenance.

Brunch is one of those celebratory treats that only happens every once in a while for most of us and seriously starving I was dying for one of “the best in town”.

This self-proclaimed “brunch of champions” was more “brunch of runner up”, I’m afraid.

Because of the aforementioned delays everything had been ordered for the table.

C r a b c a ke s w i t h asparagus and hollandaise had nice crab and lots of it but the crunch on the outside had gone soft, the crab needed more seasoning and the accompanying poached eggs were hard, a mortal mistake at brunch.

The Brunch Tacos, which consist of jerk chicken with avocado salsa, chorizo, red pepper mayo and lettuce were not as crispy as i would like.

The jerk spice was there but also needed more seasoning and the typical coriander and lime garnishes needed a little bit of something to add that tart savouriness.

The Poached Eggs on Avocado Toast were far

fresher and more oozingly moreish and the avocado was tasty with a nice basil pesto drizzled over.

Desserts of Nutella Cheesecake and Chocolate Pot were excellent though and the cocktails are super and very reasonable prices of around €10 to 14 per brunch item are fair.

To end on a positive I will say I’ve had a few gorgeous dinners in San Lorenzo so clearly the kitchen is up to the job but there are inconsistencies.

San Lorenzo’s is a cool New York-style Italian and the atmosphere certainly lives up to the description with good tunes and a buzzing crowd.

Conclusion Despite some inconsistencies in the food quality, San Lorenzo’s (at South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2, tel: +353 (1) 478 9383) is a great, lively weekend hangout with very reasonable prices.

Cocktails are super and very reasonable priced

Gazette

FOOD&DRINK

Gazette

22 Gazette 3 March 2016

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

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.

TRIPLE 9

An impossible heist (Cert 16, 116 mins) Triple 9 is the story of a group of criminals and corrupt cops, blackmailed by the Russian mafia, who try to pull off a dangerous heist so they can escape.

While half of them try to take down a rookie cop in a 999, police code for “officer down”, to keep the rest of the force busy, the other half will steal the loot. Opens this weekend February 19.

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.

In the Old West, a sheriff (Kurt Russell), his deputy (Richard Jenkins), a gunslinger (Matthew Fox), and a cowboy (Patrick Wilson) embark on a mission to rescue three people from a savage group of cave dwellers.

Bone Tomahawk: Writer and director S Craig Zahler creates something unique

Soaked to the bone in quality Kurt Russell is enjoying a bit of a revival after several quiet years out of the limelight, and Bone Tomahawk (Cert 18, 132 mins), the genremelding Western that hits screens this week may just be a new highlight in the veteran’s long career.

Last seen in Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight at the start of the year, Russell brings along the same grizzled charm and stupendous facial hair to this much less star-studded affair. And while Bone Tomahawk, which was filmed on a shoestring in just three weeks, may lack the budget of some of Russell’s more recent escapades, it comes out none the poorer for it thanks to its rather unique blend of ingredients.

Bone Tomahawk

 Dave phillips

looks like an homage to the old West – in the aptly named little town of Bright Hope, lawman Sherriff Hunt (Kurt Russell) seems like the only source of stability amid the buffoons, spittoons, and saloons that make up the staple cinematic frontier.

The usual balance of power is upset when an up-to-no-good stranger (David Arquette) enters town, unwittingly bringing some big trouble with him.

When the stranger, along with the doctor’s

assistant (Lili Simmons) are abducted in the middle of the night, Sheriff Hunt must form a posse in an attempt to track them down.

On the trail with Hunt is the decrepit town backup deputy, Chicory (Richard Jenkins); the stalwart husband of the missing woman, O’Dwyer (Patrick Wilson); and the well-spoken and even better dressed gentleman of dubious moral standing, Brooder (Matthew Fox).

It may sound a little like old hat, but sitting snugly just beneath the frontier aesthetics, there are other, very different, levels of film going on – while Bone Tomahawk looks like a Western, it plays out in part like a horror film.

Headed toward the

dreaded “Valley of the Starving Men” the group are constantly on the lookout for the nearmythical tribe of cannibals that are rumoured to reside there.

As their journey drives them deeper into a hostile desert, the relationship between the motley crew begins to crack.

But if you are expecting some traditional horror fare with a Western veneer, then you’re in for a surprise. Or at least, a long wait until the finale.

At 132 minutes, Bone Tomahawk is slow going, but every moment is well spent. It is in the long setup and the ponderous desert journey that the film’s most valuable facet is revealed.

Superbly written dialogue, nailed by on the

spot actors means that a considerable bulk of Bone Tomahawk plays out almost like an indie comedy.

Reminiscent of 2015’s Slow West (which in turn felt similar to the Coen’s 2010 version of True Grit), this is a wildly selfaware West, where whimsical quasi-philosophical conversations are chewed and spluttered out in terse mountain-man terms.

Amongst an array of very solid and enjoyable performances, Richard Jenkins in particular is sublime, and his subtler comic interactions with both Russell and Fox make the film worthy of an immediate rewatch.

That the whole project is the brainchild of one relatively unknow n polymath makes Bone Tomahawk even more

endearing.

S Craig Zahler writes and directs, as well as contributes to a brooding musical score.

It is easy to see how the film could have ended up as a much more cut and dry 90-minute actionhorror, but Zahler’s patience pays off and he manages to create something quite special.

It goes without saying that Bone Tomahawk won’t be for everybody – wide ranging as they are, horrors, westerns, and indie films do tend to have their unique audiences.

But here is an incredibly potent blend, that is wonderfully crafted and a lot of fun to watch. Bone Tomahawk feels like an instant cult-classic.

Verdict: 9/10

3 March 2016 Gazette 23

24 Gazette 3 March 2016

Gazette

HEALTH OUT&ABOUT Successful career path leads to heart of business Weight Watchers: CEO Martina Sinclair on her busy, exciting work

Being three stone overweight, and joining Weight Watchers over twenty-five years ago, was the accidental start of a long, happy, and successful career path, which has recently seen Martina Sinclair appointed CEO of Weight Watchers Ireland.

“My experience as a

member was so positive, and I loved the whole Weight Watchers ethos so much, that I applied to be a class leader,” Martina explains.

Even as Mar tina’s roles within the organisation developed, she remains a leader and still takes meetings in Dublin City Centre, as well as occasionally

attending other classes.

“My role evolved over 25 years, from member to class leader, to trainer where I recruited and trained new and current leaders, to training manager, followed by operations manager, then general manager, and now, in 2016, Weight Watchers Ireland CEO”.

Martina loves being in the heart of the business, and seeing the results Weight Watchers delivers.

“I meet people every week in class who know they can trust Weight Watchers to help them make sustainable and healthier food and lifestyle choices, to achieve their weight loss goals, and, as a result, live happier and healthier lives,” she maintains.

We i g h t Wa t c h e r s meetings are nationwide, and the business is suppor ted from a head office in Swords, County Dublin.

Successful At the heart of Weight Wa t c h e r s ’ s u c c e s s are the class leaders, themselves successful members, and passionate experts in healthy weight management.

You can’t work in the industry without being interested in people, and how they manage their health and fitness goals, Martina Sinclair insists.

“I keep an eye on what’s happening in the world of health and weight loss. Maintaining my ow n weight means making smart choices during the week, to enjoy a bit more flexibility at the weekends.

“And if I want to lose a few pounds, or reignite my own weight loss motivation, I go to a Weight Watchers class and enjoy the experience of being a member,” she admits.

Exercise is an impor-

Martina Sinclair says joinging Weight Watchers over twenty-five years ago, was the accidental start of a long, happy, and successful career

tant part of Martina’s life, and is a cornerstone of the Weight Watchers approach.

“I love how it makes me feel, even though I don’t always feel like doing it.

“It’s hugely important, not just for maintaining a healthy weight, but for helping to manage stress.

“You’ll find me in the gym around 6.30am, so that I can get it done before I’m properly awake!”

Martina says she has

absolutely no regrets about the years she spent being overweight, claiming it was part of what brought her to where she is today, and to a role she thoroughly enjoys.

“I have always had great support at home, e s p e c i a l l y f r o m my husband, who has been with me literally through thick and thin, or maybe slimmer, fitter, healthier, and happier.”

Weight Watchers Ireland is part of a global operation, and recent-

ly introduced its new healthy and holistic approach to managing weight loss, “Smar tPoints”.

“Weight Watchers is a fantastic organisation.

We’ve been around for over 50 years, always innovating as nutritional science changes, and always learning more about human behaviour!

“Right now, it’s a very busy, exciting place to be”, the new CEO of Weight Watchers Ireland says.

3 March 2016 Gazette 25

Gazette

GAMING finance: how free-to-play gaming has also lead to great wealth

How to make a billion: create free games ...

ONCE again, games, tech and business watchers had the same target in their sights recently, with the widely reported news that another games figure has just become a billionaire, joining an elite club of passionate gamers who have been elevated to business leaders.

Catchily nicknamed by some as ‘The Billionaire from Belarus’, 39-year-old Viktor Kislyi has just been valued as having a net worth of one billion dollars, thanks to his company, Wargaming.net, which is valued at $1.5bn.

As the company’s chief executive, Kislyi has spent about 20 years following his passion for gaming, technology and history, with his early steps on an old computer in the family’s apartment in Minsk leading to him creating a company with his brother that, today, has more than 100 million users.

Wargaming has been

 shane dillon sdillon@dublingazette.com

behind a number of niche titles, but latterly has enjoyed significant global success with World of Tanks.

This multi-platform title is free to download and play, but has impressive in-built – and entirely optional – revenue streams, with Kislyi’s business model being one of the best examples of how to successfully monetise free content.

Indeed, Wargaming is estimated to have had revenue of $590m in 2015 – not bad going for a company with a leading title that’s primarily free, and that many users never spend a penny, cent or a dime on (although

many gamers pay a little here, a little there to buy better equipment, useful supplies, and so on).

On paper, World of Tanks may not have sounded like the catchiest of games – players roll out into battlefields in one of a large number of 20th Century tanks (and related vehicles) drawn from all the major powers of the time and then do battle – so, those looking for a royal rumble between Uncle Sam’s tanks and classic Soviet armaments, for example, can do so.

With several forces’ vehicles to choose from, and gradually more powerful vehicles, parts and upgrades to unlock through constant usage and play, World of Tanks has created a player progression model that dripfeeds upgrades at a reasonable rate.

A problem for many free-to-play titles has been that of progres-

Wargaming chief executive Viktor Kislyi; inset, World of Tanks

sion – make it too hard to advance, and players become frustrated and leave; create too many paywalls, or in-your-face monetisation options, and players get frustrated and leave; create intrusive follow-up player campaigns through email barrages or social media hits etc, and – well, you can guess what happens!

Such common mistakes have been among the reasons why several high-profile gaming companies have stumbled and fell, as hit titles have stalled, player numbers plateaued, and revenues shrank or plummeted.

Wall Street IPO dar-

lings one month have an awful habit of making quieter headlines with unimpressive quarterly returns, staff layoffs and managerial exits just a bit later on.

Howe ve r, K i s l y i ’s impressive long-term success with Wargaming’s strategies and models, and particularly with

World of Tanks, may have finally cracked the problem of creating long-term growth and strong financial returns from free content.

With its passionate fan base – and, interestingly, global reach to both historical fans and competitive gamers alike – World of Tanks has smashed its

way into being one of the world’s top multiplayer titles, with decent financials from its subsequent spin-offs.

It will be interesting to see what Kislyi, and Wargaming, get up to next, and whether the company’s tanks can lead a charge into bold new gaming fronts ...

A preview of upcoming title, The Division, which has united gamers and critics  shane dillon

GAMERS around the world – more than 6.4 million of them, to be close enough – set a new record recently, when they played a three-day, time limited demo of one of the biggest games of 2016, The Division (PC, PS4, XBO).

Finally due out on March 8, The Division has been in development for several years, with critical interest ebbing and flowing as time went on, without any sign of it appearing.

Thankfully, The Division’s recent

beta (public test) launch – its second, in fact – saw more than six million gamers around the world eke as much gameplay as they could out of its three-day access period, where a decent section of the game was available to play through.

Best described as a third-person action title with extensive role-playing elements, and with an online multiplayer aspect, The Division is set in a largely abandoned lower Manhattan, three weeks after a devastating, and almost completely fatal, plague breaks out during the Black Friday

sales, spread like wildfire thanks to contaminated bank notes.

The electricity still works, and ‘stale’ Christmas decorations abound – but Manhattan is a mess, with abandoned cars everywhere in the clogged, snowbound and deserted streets.

All kinds of gangs, thugs and dangerous people roam amid chaotic and abandoned quarantine zones, where bodybags are unceremoniously piled in grim piles,

and goods spill out of stripped and looted shops. As a Division agent, players seek to restore order to the

devastated city, undertaking missions to rescue civilians, help survivors, build up a home base, and much, much, much more.

Look out for my full review in a few weeks, which I can confirm was very interesting – and fun – indeed. The recent beta presented one of the most detailed, prettiest and authentic game worlds I’ve ever seen (inset), with The Division really nailing what New York looks and feels like.

26 swords Gazette 3 March 2016

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28 gazette 3 March 2016

SPORT

FastSport Nguyen wins big in Irish Badminton: DUBLINER Nhat Nguyen won badminton’s Carlton Irish Under-17 championships last weekend as he continues his rise up the ranks.

The 15-year-old is Ireland’s number two singles player only behind twotime Olympian Scott Evans, moving ahead of Owen Marron and Joshua Magee while he also sits third in the men’s doubles list.

Nguyen did not drop a single game en route to the final which he won comfortably 21-4, 21-8 against fellow Dubliner Mark Gannon.

The boys singles was not the only event won by Nguyen as he also claimed the doubles title alongside fellow Dubliner and Badminton Ireland Academy team mate Paul Reynolds.

Last month Nhat become the youngest player ever to win the Irish national championship title at just 15.

snooker: o’brien becomes oldest player in world to hit rare mark

Maximum 147 break for Fergal  james hendicott sport@dublingazette.com

SINCE Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the top of Mount Everest in May 1953, approximately 7,000 other climbers have successfully followed them.

In approximately the same period - following a world first by Joe Davis in an exhibition match in 1955 - only 41 people have scored snooker’s maximum break of 147 in official, professional competition.

At just short of 44 years old, Lucan man Fergal O’Brien became the oldest player to achieve the maximum in competition, and only the second Irishman, clearing the table against Mark Davis

in Essex last week.

Coming a week after Chinese player Ding Junhui scored the 117th ever 147 break, O’Brien also hit the papers for his prize money. Shortly after Ronnie O’Sullivan deliberately hit 146 as he didn’t deem the £10,000 reward for a maximum worthy of the score (O’Sullivan already has 13 perfect breaks), O’Brien took home just £500 his effort.

Still, O’Brien remains pragmatic, focusing instead on putting away a rare chance. “You might play 1,000 frames without getting a good chance for a maximum,” he told GazetteSport. “Chances don’t come along very often. I don’t think I’ve got very close in tournament play before. Perhaps seven

or eight reds into a potential maximum break. You have it at the back of your mind, but you don’t give it that much thought until an opportunity comes up.”

O’Brien does have a number of unofficial 147s - scored in exhibition matches or on unratified tables with slightly larger pockets. More than 40, in fact, but he admits that in snooker circles, you can be asked about first of all having a 147, and secondly having one in tournament play.

The latter is a marker, something not yet achieved by a number of the world’s top ten, with players at the level of Joe Perry, Mark Allen and Martin Gould yet to pull off the feat.

Lucan’s Fergal O’Brien hopes fine achievement will aid the rest of his season

“I wasn’t too nervous,” O’Brien told us. “Calm enough. I think if it had been a difficult finish it might have been different, but I landed well on the blue and fairly perfectly on the pink and black.

The black to yellow was a tough shot. It’s great to have ticked that box, though.”

And O’Sullivan’s now infamous 146? “He could have given it to charity, if he didn’t need it,” O’Brien said.

“But these things are so rare. Maybe he should have done it for the crowd.

But I see his point about it being worth more than than that, even if the days of €147,000 reward in the

World Championships are long gone.

“Obviously I’d prefer to have scored my 147 in the World Championship and walked away with the money, but getting one doesn’t mean you won’t get another!”

Despite his antics, O’Brien is back in Dublin putting everything into preparing for the World Championships qualifying tournament, where he’d need to win three games to reach the Crucible. He’s currently ranked number 34 in the world.

The Dub has had a run of incredible bad luck at the sport’s biggest event, having missed out by ten frames to nine on a pink,

black and respotted black since he last made the finals in 2010.

“There are no easy matches, and there’s a lot at stake not matter who you play,” he explains.

“It’s three games of best of 19, and there are no easy matches. When you get a bit older, the big thing is concentration.”

“I guess the advantage of going into a world championship after a break is that so many people arrive after a succession of tournaments burnt out.

“I think I’m probably due one after being so close over recent years, but it doesn’t really work like that.”

Alex oust St Gerard’s to claim Senior Cup thriller  sport@dublingazette.com

Alexandra College celebrate their Leinster schools senior cup success

ALEXANDRA College won a breathless Leinster Schoolgirls hockey Senior Cup final 4-2, seeing off reigning champions St Gerard’s to claim the title for the third time in the last five years.

Indeed, they are now the most successful school in the competition’s history, winning the title for a 13th time in its 99 year history.

It was a final of real colour and excitement, played out in front of close to 2,000 supporters at Grange Road with the balcony, flagpoles and much of the fenc-

ing adorned with the bunting and banners of the respective teams.

For Alex, it was the league and cup double but they were pushed all the way.

It was level at half-time as Eva Moroney breached the Milltown school’s defences for the first time in 10 games, cancelling out Isy Delamar’s thunderous opening goal.

But two goals in quick succession after the break were the making and breaking of the tie as Katherine Egan provided a similar amount of power to Delamar for 2-1. Habika O’Connor then

turned in the third.

The reigning champions from Bray were back in the mix with four minutes to go when Sadhbh McCarthy redircted a Lena Tice shot into the top corner.

But O’Connor and Sophie Roopnarinesingh responded in brilliant fashion, exchanging passes direct from the tip off.

The latter finished off the move to restore a crucial two-goal advantage to get over the line and confirm their place in next month’s Kate Russell All-Ireland championships.

Alex now join Limerick’s Cres-

cent College, Galway’s Salerno and Loreto, Kilkenny in the AllIrelands with Ulster’s champions to be confirmed. The northern representative will be either Sullivan Upper or Methody who meet in the Ulster final on March 2.

Earlier on, St Columba’s won the Senior 1 title. Hollie Canning opened the scoring in the first half before a double from Kitty Morris and one from Sophia Cole in the second half saw them beat Santa Sabina.

Newparkwere Minor 1winners thanks to a 3-1 win in a shoot-out against Our Lady’s, Terenure.

3 March 2016 gazette 29

Gazette

Optimism abounds at LOI league launch GazetteSport caught up with St Pat’s Ger O’Brien, Shamrock Rovers’ Pat Fenlon and Shelbourne’s Kevin Doherty at the Aviva Stadium ahead of the new League of Ireland season  aaron gallagher sport@dublingazette.com

THE 2016 League of Ireland campaign gets underway this Friday with both divisions offering intricate narratives on top of the thrilling prospects of champions, promotions, European adventures as well as harrowing relegation battles.

L a s t s e a s o n s aw Stephen Kenny’s Dundalk retain their Premier Division title with relative ease to add to their FAI Cup and Leinster Senior Cup wins in a season that saw the Lilywhites reign home four domestic titles from five.

Challengers this term will come in the shape of a Cork City side that have played second fiddle to Dundalk over the last two seasons – finishing runners-up in both 2014 and

2015 – as well as Dublin hopefuls Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic.

St Pats endured an up and down 2015 campaign which saw a disappointing fourth place league finish compensated by their EA Sports Cup title as well as confirmation of their spot in the first round of this summer’s Europa League qualifiers.

Many suggested the Saints would challenge Dundalk for the Premier Division title last season but, in spite of a nine-game winning streak from June 5 until August, they could not get within reach of the eventual champions.

Ahead of the season, captain Ger O’Brien stressed the importance of competing consistently with the league’s top clubs.

“You are always think-

ing at the start of the season that there are three teams that can realistically win the title – I think we were one of them last year and we fell short”, he said speaking at the 2016 SSE Airtricity League.

“This is the time for everyone to be as optimistic as possible before a ball is kicked. As soon as that whistle goes on the first night, the pressure starts from then until the end of October.

“But we’re really looking forward to it; we have a lot of new players and I think there’s a lot of excitement in the group that we can push on and have a competitive season.”

Also looking to improve on last season’s successful league campaign will be Shamrock Rovers. Now entering his third season in charge of the Hoops,

Ger O’Brien, left, St Patrick’s Athletic, and Conor Powell, Longford Town, at the launch of the 2016 SSE Airtricity League. Picture: David Maher/Sportsfile

manager Pat Fenlon will be looking to follow through on his intentions to leave a legacy at Rovers and bring home some silverware.

His side finished in third place last season, providing the only regular challenger to Dundalk and Cork City in the top

A former Shels favourite as a player, Doherty said that both his managerial staff and players were a year wiser and more experienced to challenge heavyweights UCD and favourites Limerick FC. “I feel we weren’t quite ready for promotion last year; we had a very young

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

‘This is the time for everyone to be as optimistic as possible before a first ball is kicked’ - Ger O’Brien, St Pat’s --------------------------------------------------------

two spots. However, they still finished 13 points off the champions.

“We slowly improved last year, we moved one place higher but we’ve got to keep challenging and competing for trophies because that’s what the club is about.”

His side experienced the opportunity of a lifetime during pre-season when they competed in the Sait Nagjee Trophy held in India, where they beat least of all 1860 Munich as well as Argentina’s Under-23s before bowing out at the semifinals.

Closer to home and down a division, Shelbourne will be looking to regain their place in the Premier Division as they once again vie to gain promotion under Kevin Doherty.

side”, he said. “I think we have improved in the last year. We’ve brought in Dylan and Cian Kavanagh, Jamie Doyle from UCD, and Robert O’Reilly who was at Drogheda United in the Premier Division.

“We’ve brought a lot of experience in with Aidan Collins who was very good in the First Division last year, in my opinion he is one of the best centre backs in the league, so hopefully that bit of experience will add to the youth and talent of the other lads which will make the difference.

“We’ve learned from things we did well, things we didn’t do so well and hopefully that will make the difference. We’re looking to improve on last year and if we can do that it would be great.”

FastSport

Anticipation bubbling up for the 2016 campaign ALTHOUGH a whistle won’t be blown nor a ball kicked until this Friday night, the 2016 Airtricity League season is bubbling up nicely for the new campaign.

Arriving at the Aviva Stadium, sunshine beamed through the grand stunning venue’s countless glass frames. Ian Madigan was out on the pitch, practicing drop-goals alongside a couple of coaches from the Irish rugby team ahead of last weekend’s game to England.

The combination of the weather and Madigan’s accuracy gave you a sense of optimism ahead of the new League of Ireland campaign.

Con Murphy was MC for the day and kicked off proceedings by introducing a video of moments from last season to whet the appetite, it worked.

It was then time for a number of speakers including the FAI’s Director of Communications Fran Gavin and Ronan Brady, Head of Digital and Marketing at SSE Airtricity.

Much of the speeches were as you could imagine but one key note came from Gavin who announced an increase in prize money. “I am delighted to announce that we will be increasing the prize fund for the SSE Airtricity League Premier and First Divisions by 50% this season,” he said.

“The prize money will rise from €315,500 to €475,500 for the League. In addition, we have the prize fund for the FAI Cup, the EA Sports Cup and UEFA Fair Play, which means our clubs will be competing for a total prize fund of €596.500.”

Following that, Martin O’Neill took the stage for a brief Q&A with Murphy, who praised the league’s managers, and offered hope to Richie Towell and Chris Forrester on their chances of a senior international call-up in the future.

Dundalk’s Stephen Kenny and Limerick’s Martin Russell, managers of the two favourites for both leagues then took part in their own Q&A, followed by Wexford Youths boss Shane Keegan and Derry’s new head-coach Kenny Sheils.

As the speeches ended, opposing managers, players and officials were allowed chat amongst themselves and the media. There was a feeling of friendliness in the suite, although that may be long forgotten come 7.45pm this Friday night.

Gazette

30 SWORDS gazette 3 March 2016

SPORT

FastSport

soccer: athletic add to skerries town woes in lsl premier

Rush in action against Skerries Harps last weekend. Picture: Gary O’Shaughnessy

Ryan to lead Irish team at world track cycling GARDA Cycling Club’s Caroline Ryan will be part of the Irish national cycling team who will compete at London’s Lee Valley Velo Park this week at the UCI 2016 Track Cycling World Championships.

The team will be competing in a total of eight events across the four days.

Racing for the Irish team began with the women’s individual pursuit on Wednesday, running up to Saturday’s women’s points race.

Melanie Spath, is the first Irish cyclist into action, competing in the individual pursuit before Brighton-born, Felix English, also contests the 15km scratch race.

English is a top class rider in his own right, having finished fourth in this event at the final World Cup in Hong Kong earlier this year.

The women’s team pursuit will spring into action, along with Australia-based, Shannon McCurley, in the women’s keirin event.

Dubliner Lydia Boylan competes in the Scratch Race late on Thursday evening while Galway’s Eoin Mullen, now based in Dublin, will be in action on Friday in the men’s sprint and English competes once more, this time in the points race.

On Saturday, Ryan, will be the only Irish rider competing, when she races in the points race, an event in which she bagged the bronze medal, four years ago.

Racing at the UCI 2016 Track World Championships takes place in London’s Lee Valley VeloPark with BBC and Eurosport will be broadcasting the highlights of the events throughout the championships.

Rush race to five-star win

lsl saturday premier Rush Athletic Skerries Town sport@dublingazette.com

5 1

IT WAS a case of titlechasers versus relegationbattlers on the Skerries Road on Saturday afternoon as Rush Athletic showed no sympathy to their struggling neighbours in the LSL Saturday Premier.

Derbies in football very rarely need any further sub-plots to increase their tenacity but this all Fingal affair held more importance than usual with both sides in serious battles at opposing ends of the table.

Going into the game, Rush had won 11 of their 12 league games this season, all consecutively too after an opening day draw and sat top of the table.

Skerries Town, meanwhile, had only three wins from 12, and eight defeats, and look set for a relegation dogfight with Garda, Castle Park and one or two others.

Skerries one draw of the campaign was the only blemish on Rush’s record ahead of this tie but the hosts ensured they took the maximum in this their second meeting.

Athletic started brightly when Gary Powell hit the woodwork inside 60 sec-

barcelona visit Catalan giants to make Irish debut at St Kevin’s fc barcelona will pay their first ever visit to this country when they take part in the St Kevin’s Boys Club Academy Cup tournament which the Whitehall club are staging for the eighth time over the Easter weekend from March 25-27 at their ground at Shanowen Road in Santry.

Ex SKB and current Republic of Ireland players Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady along with manager Martin O’Neill and his assistant Roy Keane and other guests will be making an appearance at the tournament over the three days. Admission to the tournament is €5 per visit – (two games) for adults and €2 per visit for children (two games).

onds. It took only slightly longer for the opener to come, 10 minutes in fact.

Powell was involved once more through some great work down the flank, he set-up Mark Doyle whose shot was saved but poacher Barry McAllister was on hand to score the rebound.

The second goal was real a piece of class from the youngest player on the park. 17-year-old Cian Savage showed some youthful exuberance to chip the onrushing Town keeper to give Rush a 2-0 lead at the break.

Skerries, to their credit, came out impressively after the break. Following

some decent pressure in the Rush area, they pulled one back via a fine header from a corner. It may have offered hope of a comeback to the Town support but, in reality, it pushed Rush into another gear.

Powell added a crucial third goal to restore the two-goal lead after some industrious work around the box and a fine finish to cap it off.

The fourth came from the penalty spot and it was Doyle who finally got his name on the score sheet, making no mistake from 12 yards.

The striker doubled his tally before long with arguably the goal of the

day, although youngster Savage may be a bit young to debate with his big number nine.

Doyle cut in from the left and without a second glance unleashed a powerful effort low and hard into to the far corner.

The win, coupled with the fact that Knocklyon United and Mullingar Athletic both lost on the weekend means Rush are now points clear at the top of the table.

Unfortunately for Skerries, Castle Park were the team who beat Mullingar which means they remain in 10th place and firmly locked in a relegation battle.

3 March 2016 SWORDS gazette 31

Gazette

davey’s solo stunner Skerries star scores top goal in Jackies’ success

Club Noticeboard FINGALLIANS

skerries Harps’ Lyndsey Davey, pic-

tured, celebrates scoring her superb solo goal as Dublin ladies footballers recorded their third win in the national league, seeing off reigning All-Ireland champions Cork in Parnell Park.

They won out 3-10 to 1-13 with Carla Rowe and Amy Ring also scoring goals to overturn a four-point deficit.

Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

football: marino men see off malahide side

OUR adult football teams commence

GAA; Wednesday, March 9 – adult Irish

league action over the weekend. Our

conversation group at 9pm in the club-

Division 3 footballers got off to a win-

house; Saturday, March 12 – Fingalli-

ning start with a win over St Brigid’s

ans GAA will have an exclusive bilingual

and our Division 6 team drew away to

guided tour of Swords Castle. This will

Clontarf.

be part of the Seachtain na Gaeilge

Our minor hurlers beat St Sylvest-

celebrations; Sunday, March 13 – Scor

er’s in the local derby to stay unbeat-

na bPaisti, GAA inter-club Irish cul-

en. Our minor, U-16 and U-10 ladies all

tural talent competition for Primary

started with wins.

Students at St Peregrine’s, Blan-

Minor level changes: With motion

chardstown; Wednesday, March 16 –

four passed, there will be a change at

adult Irish night, 9pm in the clubhouse.

county level only. It will now become

Music, Craic, Gaeilge agus Failte.

U-17 and no longer U-18. All minor

St Patrick’s Day – La Feile Padraig.

players at inter-county level only

Parade will depart at 11.30am. We will

will be aged between 15 and 17. This

assemble at Colaiste Choilm from

will become effective from January 1,

10.30, la mor na nGael back at the

2018.

clubhouse afterwards. Any members

Mid-term coaching was a great success. A big thank you to Peter Browne, David Galway, Shane Howard, Nicola Fitzgerald and our GPO Wayne.

wishing to help, please contact Annemarie.brett20@gmail.com.

This year’s Easter Camp dates are Monday, March 21 to Thursday, March

Seachtain na Gaeilge events: Satur-

24. It will be a combined hurling and

day, March 5 – Peil Tri Ghaeilge 7-a-side

football camp for boys and girls aged

competition at Somerton, Castleknock

four to 13 years.

ST FINIAN’S CONGRATULATIONS to both the men’s

Savage for appearing in RTE sitcom

football teams who started the sea-

Bridget and Eamon.

son with fine wins.

Gary Sweeney kicked some scores against St Vincent’s but was unable to turn the Vincent’s side

Vincent’s prove too good for Sylvester’s

afl division one St Sylvester’s 0-13 St Vincent’s 4-13  sport@dublingazette.com

ST SYLVESTER’S were undone by a quartet of goals as 2015 league champions St Vincent’s ran up an impressive opening day victor y in AFL Division 1 in Broomfield.

The game was played in ideal conditions with the home side off to a good start with the opening score inside the first two minutes.

However, Vins quickly responded with a Tomas Quinn goal after a smart

cross field pass from Albert Martin and then the Marino men added a second goal shortly.

Quinn laid off to the on-rushing Gavin Burke who finished confidently to the net.

Michael McCarthy and Gary Sweeney kicked scores to bring Syl’s closer but Quinn struck his second goal of the day minutes before half time leaving his team with a 3-5 to 0-6 lead at the break.

Ruairi Trainor, Adam Baxter and Cameron Diamond all added second half points for Vincent’s before Shane

C a r t hy b u n d l e d i n their fourth goal of the game.

Syls continued to fight with Fionn Carney solid at full back and Niall Coughlan proving a handful in the full forward line but the goals the home side needed never materialised.

Up next for Syls is Raheny in St Anne’s Park, while Vincent’s host Plunkett’s.

Across Fingal, Ravens opened up their campaign with a 2-6 to 0-12 draw with Raheny.

Ravens travel to the newly promoted and all conquering Castle-

knock who produced the performance of the opening day Newly promoted having only been formed in 1998, Castleknock swept to a 0-15 to 0-13 w i n ove r B a l l y m u n Kickhams in their first ever game in the top division, continuing their rise after a series of successive promotions.

Fingallians opened their AFL3 campaign with a 1-12 to 2-3 win over St Brigid’s. They trailed 2-1 to 0-4 at the break but a concerted second half assault paved the way to victory.

Well done to all teams who com-

Our U-14 hurling team played and

peted in the Gormanstown indoor

won their first game of the season

hurling tournament over the last six

against St Sylvester’s.

Sundays. Great preparation for the

A thank you to Tesco Ridgewood

season ahead.

manager Mark Berney for their dona-

We continue to be represented at

tion to the club as part of the Tesco

inter-county level by Rachel Fagan

community fund initiative and club

and Conor Lennon. Conor was part of

member Emma Morrissey for organ-

the Dublin minor footballers who beat

ising.

Kildare on Saturday and Rachel was in

Well done to George Howard from the U-10 boys’ team for scoring his second hat-trick in two games.

Congrats to juvenile player Kevin

the Dublin LGFA U-14 squad.

The lotto jackpot was €2,300 this week and the numbers drawn were 2, 8, 19 and 22.

FINGAL Ravens OUR senior team drew against Raheny

a great occasion to have fun and

in their league game. Our junior team

improve our football skills.

had a great win in their league game

There was lotto winner. Numbers

against Naomh Barrog. We would like

drawn were 18, 20, 27 and 28. Win-

to wish a speedy recovery to the Bar-

ners of €20 were Anne Cosgrave and

rog player injured in the game.

Pat McDonagh. Next week’s jackpot

The U-8s had their first home game

€17,000.

of the year against St Oliver Plun-

The 2016 club membership is now

kett’s ER. All our young players are

due. Forms are available in the club-

improving with every match.

house, it can be downloaded from our

Well done to our U-17 girls team who won against Robert Emmet’s.

The U-13s lost to Round Tower.

Facebook page or can be done online on www.myclubfinances.com.

All membership must be paid in full,

The Easter camp is on Tuesday,

by all sections of the club by March 31.

March 29 in the school hall. It runs

No player of any age will be permitted

for three days from 10am to 2pm for

to play if they do not have their mem-

ages five- to 12-years-old and costs

bership played in full.

€25.

Make sure to book your place for

Any enquiries about pitches should contact John McCarthy.

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

five star: Rush Athletic win derby date as they sweep aside Skerries Town to continue title push P30

march 3-9, 2016

Pushing it to the maximum: Fergal O’Brien hits 147 as he builds up to Crucible bid P29

Ports storm through Portmarnock AFC and Cherry Orchard walk out to their match in the FAI intermediate cup quarter-final

Willie O’Leary’s team sweep past higher ranked Cherry Orchard, once again belying their status to set up a huge FAI Inter Cup date with Crumlin

 nathan kelly

sport@dublingazette.com

THE tougher the test, the bigger the response.

That’s been the case for Portmarnock AFC in this season’s FAI Intermediate Cup and it continued last Sunday with an emphatic 3-0 win against higher-league Cherry Orchard in the quarter-final at Elmdale.

Goals from Chris Burgess, Darragh Coates and Graham Rusk did the job for a Portmarnock side whose tactics were spot on throughout as they did well to keep their heads in a game full of meaty tackles. Orchard, themselves, were reduced to 10 after going 2-0 down and let frustration creep in.

“I think they might have underestimated us a bit,” said Portmarnock boss Willie O’Leary after the win. “We had done our homework, anticipated their game-plan and got off to the perfect start with the early goal.

“It was full-blooded game but not a dirty one,” O’Leary added when asked if he felt his side done well to remain calm as Orchard got frustrated in the second half.

“The early goal settled us and, in fairness to Cherry Orchard, they had a man sent off but there wasn’t much malice in their tackles; we picked up six bookings ourselves, it was just a really good game.”

As well as Cherry Orchard, the north Dublin side have also beaten the likes Carrigaline Unit-

ed, St Francis and Tolka Rovers in the competition this season. They were underdogs in each round and will certainly be for the semi-final too after they were given a home draw against reigning intermediate Cup champions Crumlin United.

Those sides met on Tuesday night, with Crumlin coming out on top 2-0 at home. We spoke to O’Leary shortly before the game and he admitted it was a tough draw.

“Look, we got a home draw which is all you can ask for at this stage,” he said. “No matter who you get, it’s going to be tough.

“Crumlin will be the favourites to win the competition but look, we’ve been underdogs all season; maybe it suits us. We’ll welcome

whoever it is to Paddy’s Hill and no doubt give them a game.

There will be a gap between now and when that semi-final against Crumlin will be played and the Portmarnock boss insisted he’ll be ensuring his players thoughts are firmly on their upcoming fixtures and not just the big one dangling in the future.

“We’re going to park the whole thing for a few weeks now,” he told GazetteSport. “We’ve got some league games in hand that we’ll look to win as well as our other cup competitions.

“The league was our main focus at the start of the season and just because we’ve exceeded everyone’s expectations in the Intermediate doesn’t mean we’re forgetting about it.”