Swords

Swords GAZET TE FREE

Celebrity chef Neven Maguire has fun cooking up a storm with kids

SEE PAGE 24 November 14, 2013 Find us on

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

INSIDE: Let our Christmas Guide steer you towards the perfect Christmas gifts P18

Football:

Ravens relief after derby play-off win Page 32

Rugby:

Swords to contest Div 3 after defeat Page 30

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES...................... 8 DUBLIN LIFE...................11 OUT&ABOUT ..................17 CLASSIFIEDS ................26 SPORT ...........................27

SAFETY NET: Minister Frances Fitzgerald on how to protect our children online P6

Be safe, be seen: Pedestrians and cyclists urged to light up the dark PUPILS of the Holy Family

National Junior School, Rivervalley, Swords, seen here in their new high visibility vests from the Road Safety Authority and Electric Ireland. With the darker evenings, the RSA is reminding road-users to be safe and be seen by wearing high visibility material, carrying a torch and ensuring their bicycle lights are working.

Homelessness is on the rise, says Daly At least four people sleeping rough in Malahide-Howth, says council

 NATALIE BURKE

THE number of homeless people in north Dublin is on the rise, according to Deputy Clare Daly (Ind), who says the issue is becoming a “much more visible” prob-

lem around the country.

Her comments came after Fingal County Council revealed that at least four people were believed to be sleeping rough in the Malahide and Howth area.

While there are a number

of options available to homeless people in Fingal, the local authority said such services have been refused by those sleeping rough locally.

However Deputy Daly has said that when people become homeless, they

often require support above and beyond the provision of accommodation.

“There are often many other issues at play and they often require specialist help.”

Full Story on Page 4

2 swords gazette 14 November 2013

dublin GAZETTe health 31,198 kids to benefit from scheme newspapers i n f o r m at i o n Block 3A, Mill Bank Business Park, Lucan Tel: 01 - 6010240 Dublin Gazette Newspapers publish eight weekly quality free titles, covering the greater Dublin area from Swords to Dun Laoghaire

c o n ta c t s Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@gazettegroup.com Editor: Mimi Murray mmurray@gazettegroup.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile jmaile@gazettegroup.com Sports Editor: Rob Heigh rheigh@gazettegroup.com Picture Editor: Hiromi Mooney picturedesk@gazettegroup.com Group Advertising Manager: Conor Mahon cmahon@gazettegroup.com Direct Ad Sales Manager: Tatum Rooney trooney@gazettegroup.com Advertising Production: Suzanne Sheehy ssheehy@gazettegroup.com Advertising Sales: 01 - 6010240 sales@gazettegroup.com Financial Controller: Carly Lynch clynch@gazettegroup.com

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While Fine Gael’s Alan Farrell TD), right, welcomed the Budget announcement, Fianna Fail’s Senator Darragh O’Brien was more concerned about families losing their medical cards

Mixed reactions to free GP care for under fives The news that over 30,000 children in Fingal will benefit from the Government’s introduction of free GP care for children under the age of five has been met with mixed reactions by local politicians in the north Dublin area.

A total of 31,198 children in the area are set to benefit from the new scheme which was announced recently as part of Budget 2014.

Local TD Alan Farrell (FG) welcomed the news, saying that, with Fingal having the youngest age demo graphic in the State, the scheme is a “significant advance” for families with young children.

“Having two small children, I know all too well the fears parents face daily over the basic medical costs that they may incur.

 natalie burke nburke@gazettegroup.com

“Since the budget, I have had many parents visit my constituency office who speak about their relief that this Government are listening to the needs of families with young children.

“In these financially challenging times, parents will no longer have to make a choice about whether or not they can afford a trip to the doctor.

“Both as a parent and a public representative, I am proud to be part of a Government that places children at the forefront of its health-

care reforms,” he said.

However local Senator Darragh O’Brien (FF) said he did not welcome the initiative on the basis that he felt “sceptical” about it.

“I have no particular issue with free GP care for everyone under five but the biggest issue I have is that I’m dealing with families of young children who are very seriously mentally and physically disabled who have had their existing medical cards taken from them. “[The Government] have given no start date for this and they’ve had no discussions with the GPs either. And then we have this ridiculous comment from Minister Reilly last week that he is going to extend free GP care for everyone by 2016. To me, it’s absolutely crazy that they’re

even talking about this when we have a situation whereby people are having their medical cards taken off them.

“They haven’t even costed it. They’re saying 38 million but GPs are saying it will be double that. I would rather people that need medical cards get them,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health confirmed that under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, there is no policy to withdraw medical cards from people entitled to them.

It was confirmed that the number of medical cards has increased by a quarter of a million since the start of 2011.

With regard to free GP care to be offered to children under the age of five, the spokesper-

son said that the Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, a universal GP service without fees within its term of office, as set out in the Programme for Government and the Future Health strategy framework.

T he spokesperson said that the estimated cost of the scheme is based on an estimation of additional capitation costs, practice support costs, and other claims costs under the current GMS GP reimbursement arrangements.

“T he implementation of this measure will require primar y legislation. The necessary administrative arrangements will be made during the course of 2014 when the specifics of the legislation are known,” she said.

14 November 2013 swords gazette 3

council: work on project set to commence in January 2014

Food safety

Closure orders served

Holywell Link Road finally gets go-ahead Long-suffering residents of Holywell estate in Swords have this week welcomed the announcement that work will begin on the Holywell Link Road in just a few months.

The Link Road has undergone a number of delays over the past number of years, as the council engaged with local landowners who were required to cede land for the project.

However Fingal County Council has recently announced that work on the long-awaited relief road is set to begin in January 2014.

In January of this year, the council decided to initiate a compulsory purchase order (CPO)

process to secure a vital relief road for the estate.

The council has now announced that this process has been completed and the project’s design and tender documents were recently being finalised for going to tender.

At a recent council meeting, the local authority said: “Assuming no delays in the award of the contract and finalising funding, construction could commence in January and the road open to traffic by June 2014.”

Welcoming the news, local Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) said he was hopeful that the work would be completed by next summer.

“At this stage the project has been dragging

on so long so I would be hopeful that the work will begin in January. We really hope this is the final part. “ My s e l f a n d C l l r Eoghan O’Brien [FF] have attended a number of meetings with the local schools and residents and it’s badly needed.

“The through road through the estate was never designed to be a bypass for traffic or a shortcut for traffic between Swords and Malahide or Kinsealy.”

A total of €575,000 was made available by the National Transport Authority (NTA) last year under the Sustainable Transport Measures Programme for 2012 for the project.

Team players: Politicians vanquish press in Aviva charity challenge fg colleagues Alan Farrell TD and Minister Brian Hayes took time out of their busy political schedule to take part in the ESB Charity Challenge 2013.

The event saw a group of politicians take on journalists at the Aviva Stadium to kick a ball and raise funds for Temple Street Children’s University Hospital and Concern Worldwide.

The politicians were the winners on the night with the game going to penalties. Richard “Packie Bonner” Boyd Barrett saved the fifth and final penalty gaining him a Man of the Match award.

The Food Safety Authority served 11 enforcement orders on food businesses in October, including two in the north Dublin area.

Environmental health officers issued nine businesses with closure orders and two with prohibition orders for breaches of domestic and European food safety legislation.

The bakery and delicatessen counter in the Eurospar supermarket at Skerries Point Shopping Centre was served a closure order along with the Oriental Kitchen Ltd restaurant on Strand Road, Portmarnock.

A closure order is served where there is or is likely to be “a grave and immediate danger” to public health or where an improvement order has not been complied with.

4 swords gazette 14 November 2013

problem A determined approach is needed to tackle issue

Number of homeless people on rise - Daly  Natalie Burke

The number of homeless people in north Dublin is on the rise, according to local TD Clare Daly (Ind), who says the issue is becoming a “much more visible” problem around the country.

Her comments came after it was revealed by Fingal County Council at least four people were believed to be sleeping rough in the Malahide and Howth area.

Speaking about the issue she said there was no doubt that homelessness was increasing across the city, and that north county Dublin was

no exception.

At a recent area committee meeting, the local authority said that rough sleepers have been seen congregating at a number of locations in Malahide, Portmarnock and Howth.

Statistics for the Swords area were not available at the time of going to press.

While there are a number of options available to rough sleepers in Fingal, the local authority said such services have been offered to the homeless people referred to but they have refused to engage with the Rough Sleepers Outreach Team.

Deputy Daly says that when people become

homeless, they often require support above and beyond a simple provision of accommodation.

“There are often many other issues at play and they often require specialist help. I don’t believe that people simply refuse to engage with the services, but sometimes the services that are available are not suitable for people’s needs and they fear going into temporary accommodation in which they would be vulnerable.”

Unless a determined and proactive approach is taken, Deputy Daly says the problems will continue.

The council has said that there are at least four people believed to be sleeping rough in the Malahide and Howth area. Picture: Graham Hughes/Photocall Ireland

A spokesperson for the Peter McVerry Trust, which supports young homeless people in Dublin, said that often the decision by individuals

sleeping rough not to engage with services may relate to their “complex individual needs” including issues such as drug misuse and mental health

difficulties.

“It could also be as a result of their past experiences in institutions and a lack of trust.

“However, it is impor-

tant to note that the outreach team will continue to engage with these individuals to establish trust and to assist them into temporary or supported accommodation services and ultimately to exit homelessness.

“We would ask members of the public to assist rough sleepers by reporting sightings of anyone sleeping rough.

“This can be done by visiting www.homelessdublin.ie.”

The council conducted a count on homeless people living rough in Fingal on Tuesday, November 12 and the report is due to be put together next week.

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14 November 2013 swords gazette 5

super handy Classes teach infants to communicate

Baby signing can make life easy all round  Natalie Burke

Communicating with babies before they speak isn’t easy but a north Dublin mum has found a way to make it easier for everyone involved, with a new baby signing class taking place in Swords and Malahide every week.

Megan Rothwell, who lives in Cloghran, north Dublin, and is a mother of two young girls, set up the local course after being made redundant from her previous job

earlier this year.

Having already seen the success of signing with her older daughter, Megan said she was surprised there were no courses available in her local area.

“It’s quite a new thing in Ireland but it’s fairly well established in the UK and the USA. I did a baby sign course with my elder daughter in the UK and felt it was really beneficial. The signs that she had were also some of her early words so when my younger daughter was

born 16 months ago, I realised there were no courses available to me in the local area,” she said.

That’s when Megan contacted SuperHands, a baby sign school that has classes across the country.

“I took out a franchise with SuperHands to teach baby sign language in Swords and Malahide.

Baby sign language is a way of communicating with your baby before they can talk by teaching them simple gestures based on Irish Sign Lan-

Baby signing is new to Ireland but it’s fairly well established in the UK and the USA

guage. Having had one child already, I realise how frustrated babies can get when they can’t tell you what they want.

The signing really helps because they can tell you when they’re hungry by signing ‘eat’ or ‘drink’, or ‘sleep’ when they’re tired.”

Megan is running her classes in St Sylvester’s Parish Centre in Malahide and the Applewood Community Centre in Swords every week.

“Your baby is able to communicate with you from about six months so I would take babies from about four months right

up until 23 months.

“The feedback so far has been really positive.

I’ve had a really positive reaction from the mums and the babies really enjoy it.”

For more information, visit www.superhands. ie or call Megan on 0860250892.

HILTON Sterling service nets prize A staff member at Hilton Dublin Airport Hotel has been chosen from 150,000 Hilton staff across the world for a Spirit of Blue Energy Award.

Simona Faltynkova was nominated for her outstanding customer service during a power outage at the hotel following adverse weather conditions.

The award is the highest form of recognition that the Hilton Worldwide brands bestow on their staff and was created to recognise the top performers who impact guests, team members, the hotel itself or the community.

General manager Chris Douglas said the team are very proud of Simona for winning the award.

6 swords gazette 14 November 2013

opinion ‘Connectivity comes with a price’

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald

Helping to keep our kids safe on the Net Parents and teachers need to educate themselves and their children to make the right choices online and an increasing range of tools is becoming available to help them, writes the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald.

A recent study estimates that a fifth of Irish teenagers have accessed inappropriate content online that disturbed them.

Even more alarmingly, the same study indicates that up to 10% of teenagers may have met up with someone they met online.

These worrying trends– along with the well-documented increase in cyberbullying in Ireland – place new and ever greater pressures on parents and educators.

Today’s teenagers have grown up in a world of unprecedented technological advancement and connectivity.

Indeed, they have been online almost from the age they could walk. In many cases, their technological know-how matches or outstrips that of their parents, meaning mothers and fathers may be ill-equipped to provide guidance and boundaries for online behaviour.

Connectivity comes with a price.

Besides the more sinister dangers of cyberbullying and online predators, there are other less obvious dangers. A teenager may not be aware of their huge online footprint until the day they discover they have a huge online footprint. Each time your child posts a picture on Facebook or details their activities on social media, it might have negative consequences for future school, work or other life options.

However, it is vital for parents and educators to realise that a growing number of options are available to them to tackle these very serious risks. There needs to be a change in attitude, whereby parents don’t only ask their children “how did you get on in school today”, but discuss with them “how did you get on online today”.

We need to teach our kids about what it means to be responsible online.

This Government has committed to giving Ireland’s children the best possible opportunities from the earliest possible age, and that includes from an online point of view.

This week, along with

Taoiseach Enda Kenny, I attended the launch of online security company McAfee’s Online Safety for Kids programme in Ireland.

In response to the findings from its Irish Digital Divide Study – which highlights how teens increasingly keep their parents in the dark about their activities online – McAfee is rolling out a number of pilot programmes, which An Taoiseach and I are enthusiastically supporting.

To date, 80 McAfee volunteers in Cork have taught at more than 30 schools and community centres, reaching more than 3,000 young people, parents and teachers. To take the programme to a national level, McAfee will leverage the power of Intel, Ireland’s largest employer, to join forces on volunteer efforts.

In 2014, it is hoped that more than 10,000 kids in Ireland will come into contact with the McAfee Online Safety for Kids programme. McA fee is also creating a youth ambassador programme that will leverage youth in their transition years to teach online safety for kids in local primary and secondary schools.

McAfee aims to lever-

age the youth in the nonformal education sector via its partnership with Foroige. Sean Campbell, chief executive, Foroige, says: “As an organisation that works with close to 60,000 young people across the country, we know how fundamentally important this initiative is. Foroige is committed to empowering young people to use technology to make the world a better place, but this can only happen if we fortify our young people with the knowledge and skills to navigate the online world safely.”

There are a number of other simple steps parents can take to engage with their children about their online activity. First and foremost, one-to-one communication is vital – take time to understand how your children use the internet, and only then assess whether further intervention may be necessary. As parents, we must challenge ourselves to keep up to speed with technological changes, so that we can do the best for our children both on- and offline.

Frances Fitzgerald Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

14 November 2013 swords gazette 7

courts Benzocaine in van was ‘feed for horses’, gardai told

Jail term for having drugs cutting agent A Dublin man who told gardai that a mixing agent for preparing cocaine was “feed for horses” has been sentenced to three years in jail with the final two suspended.

Keith Connolly (29) of Briarfield Grove, Kilbarrack, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing a mixing agent connected to drug trafficking on Castlemoate Road in Swords on February 23, 2012.

The court heard that Connolly had been on bail at the time and is currently serving a fouryear sentence for two previous drug trafficking

offences.

Detective Garda Darragh O’Toole told Garret Baker BL, prosecuting, that Connolly was caught with 100 kilos of benzocaine, worth €50,000 to €100,000.

The court heard that benzocaine is a material commonly used in pain relieving medicines and cough drops. It is also used as a mixing agent to increase the volume and decrease the purity of cocaine.

Benzocaine is valued at €500 and €1,000 per kilo, depending on how it is sold.

Det Gda O’Toole said he became aware that four boxes of benzocaine

addressed to Connolly had been delivered to the Need More Space storage facility on the Old Airport Road in Santry.

Connolly had rented a storage unit there and gardai observed him arriving at the facility and loading four boxes from the waiting area into his van.

An employee of the storage facility signed off on the collection, without any knowledge of what was in the boxes.

Gardai followed Connolly’s van and arrested him on the Castlemoate Road at the back of Dublin Airport where he initially said the boxes contained “feed for horses”.

The court heard that Connolly had 31 previous convictions including two for drug trafficking and several road traffic offences.

Gda O’Toole agreed with Dominic McGinn SC, defending, that Connolly had not been in charge of the drug trafficking operation.

Mr McGinn said Connolly was currently serving a four-year jail term for drugs offences and was due for release in June 2015.

He said his client’s life had changed dramatically since this offence and that he had managed to turn his life around in custody and realise his

Keith Connolly pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing a mixing agent connected to drug trafficking

responsibilities.

Letters were handed to the court describing Connolly as a “pleasant, hardworking” staff member at the bakery in Mountjoy prison.

He is also studying parenting and undergoing addiction counselling in jail.

Judge Martin Nolan commented that this type of offence was new to him, and while it was not as serious as possessing even a small amount of illegal drugs, it was clear that benzocaine would make serious dr ugs “more marketable”.

He said Connolly

“must have known” that the substance was used to cut cocaine and that therefore he was involved in the drugs trade.

Judge Nolan sentenced Connolly to three years in prison with the final two suspended, to run consecutively to his current sentence.

8 swords gazette 14 November 2013

gazetteGALLERIES

Aoife Flood and Dan Shlemkevych from Blanchardstown at the opening of Skechers at the Swords Pavilions. Pictures: David O’Shea

A PERFECT fit: SKECHERS PLANTS FEET FIRMLY IN SWORDS PAVILIONS

S

KECHERS recently opened up at the Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords.

The popular shoe store offers a wide range of fashionable lifestyle and fitness footwear for men, women and children, with an extensive range of styles and colours to choose from.

Skechers footwear can also be purchased online via www. skechers.com.

The winter collection from United Colors of Benetton

Models Yomiko Chen, Emer Daniels, Tara O’Farrell and

fashion: SEASONAL COLLECTIONS ON THE CATWALK

Keep winter chill at bay – with style

Store manager Aaron Daly

H

IGH street stores have recently showcased their new winter 2013 collection at the Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords.

Local residents and shoppers gathered to keep up to date with the latest trends, Nicola O’Driscoll and Sallyanne Burke

Fionna and Angel Ebo

as models from Assets Model Agency took to the catwalk to displaycollections from United Colors of Benetton, Next, Dunnes Stores and more.

The fashion show was hosted by TV3’s Xpose presenter and model, Glenda Gilson.

Aoibhian O’Sullivan with her daughter, Betsy

Next’s winter collection was

Fergus King and Tony Lalor with TV3 Xpose presenter and host of the fashion

well received

show, Glenda Gilson

14 November 2013 swords gazette 9

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Mark Shaw, Shaunie Reilly Foley and Daren Ryan

Elin Kirwan and Sean Malone

Fashion from Dunnes Stores had its Karen Fitzpatrick in winter mode. Pictures: David O’Shea

moment on the catwalk

Joanna Carberry, Gergo Gacsi, Audrey Cowan and Oisin Tracey

10 swords gazette 14 November 2013

gazetteGALLERY

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Etainne Boyd

Georgia Clarke and Luisa Zissman

John McKibbin, Miss Ireland Aoife Walsh and Jonothan Sultan. Pictures: Patrick O’Leary

Help for Moldova

T

HE Shelbourne Hotel recently played host to a glittering gathering in aid of the Irish charity, Outreach Moldova, which works extensively with orphaned, abandoned and abused children with special needs, as well as children with terminal illnesses, in the Republic of Moldova.

Fashion, fine dining and live entertainment were the order of the fundraising evening, with a number of well-known faces both addressing the audience, as well as attending. The evening was a great success, helping to raise vitallyneeded funds, as well as raising awareness of the children’s dire needs in Moldova.

Alison Canavan and Virginia Macari

Maria Fusco

14 November 2013 Gazette 11

fundraiser P15

asdfsdaf business P27 P16

dublinlife Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week

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diary P12

what’son Project gears up to stage original Drama:

A true cultural icon since his RTE heyday in the early 1980s, Bosco’s using his star power to help highlight a recycling initiative that will also help LauraLynn Hospice

a day in the life: national treasure helps Lauralynn Spread a little sunshine

Bosco loves his jim-jams and a sausage sandwich  NATALIE BURKE

For anyone growing up in the 1980s, chances are you were a big fan of that friendly red-headed fellow from RTE. With an afternoon slot each weekday afternoon, Bosco was eager to be pals with everyone, loved the colour green, always got a kick out of washing cars and called a brightly-coloured wooden box his home.

That box is still his favourite place.

He’s got a ladder that goes down, shelves for all his books, a little wardrobe for his clothes and a green stripey duvet on his bed.

The magic door was always Bosco’s outside, taking him on trips to the zoo, and while he makes fewer appearances on TV these days, the popular puppet still makes the most of his days out – one of which took him to Cork City recently.

“I got up at half seven and I had

my porridge,” he said. “Then I made a sausage sandwich to bring with me for my lunch. Then I got into a big van and went on a big long drive to Cork.”

Bosco was making an appearance at the Everyman Theatre in Cork, as part of a Lambert Puppet Theatre show.

“It was a very long drive but I love looking out the window at the cows and the sheep. I’m always excited about meeting all the boys and girls!”

When a tired Bosco got home, he had

scrambled eggs and tomatoes on toast for his tea. “Then I put my jim-jams on, got a blanket and a hot water bottle and watched a bit of telly before I went to bed. I love Thomas the Tank Engine and Winnie the Pooh!”

Bosco is raising awareness of Lauralynn’s Spread a Little Sunshine campaign encouraging all the “boys and girls” of Dublin to recycle their batteries with WEEE Ireland this month. www. recyclefree.ie.

Actress and playwright Elizabeth Moynihan will showcase her latest play, Marvel, at the Project Arts Centre in Temple Bar. The story of Marvel takes place in a hotel room in Dublin on the night of September 28, 2008. The play examines the relationship between Marvel, a young girl trafficked from Liberia, working as an escort, and Dion, a married trader in financial futures and hedge funds.

Exploring the dynamics of sexual and economic power, the play burns with their particular passions, but also serves as a devastating commentary on the cycle of boom and bust – and the effect it has on its human victims.

Marvel will be officially released at the Project Arts Centre on November 13 at 8.15pm, and will continue until Saturday, November 23.

For more information on Moynihan’s latest play email info@projectartscentre.ie or phone 01-8819613.

Gazette

12 Gazette 14 November 2013

dublinlife

Author Cecilia Ahern celebrated the completion of her latest novel, How to Fall in Love, with some champagne in at Gibney’s in Malahide

PS I toast me, says A SUCCESSFUL Dublin writer has bigged-up her local boozer this week, after revealing it’s her first port of call after she puts the final touches to her highly-acclaimed books.

Cecilia Ahern gave Gibney’s of Malahide a complimentary plug as she chatted to Ryan Tu b r i d y d u r i n g h e r appearance on a recent episode of RTE’s Late Late Show.

The author was promoting the release of her latest – and tenth – novel, How to Fall in Love.

When Ryan asked her about her post-book treat to herself, Cecilia said she likes to celebrate with a glass of champagne in her local.

“It doesn’t matter what time of day it is. I go in and I think Barry Gibney knows at this stage that,

if I’m on my own, having a glass of champagne, I’ve finished a book and we celebrate.”

So, next time she’s due to finish a book, pop down to Gibney’s and you might get to join her in a glass of bubbly as she toasts her latest work!

Bosco takes up new residence WE were wondering where this little redheaded fellow had gone, but this week The Diary heard that Bosco – the childhood friend of anyone who grew up in the 1980s – has been busy moving house.

Ireland’s favourite puppet took up residence in his new home last week in order to raise awareness for LauraLy nn Hospice’s Spread a Little Sunshine campaign.

His aim is to encourage all the “boys and girls” of Dublin to recycle their batteries, with every battery recycled by WEEE Ireland going towards a fund for the hospice for children.

His new home was created out of a special WEEE Ireland blue battery box, which are on display in retailers across Ireland and are the easiest way for people to recycle their batteries for free.

Speaking about the campaign, Bosco said: “My new house is made from a WEEE Ireland blue battery box and I hope that this will raise awareness of just how easy it is to recycle your waste batteries by popping them into the blue battery boxes in retailers around Ireland.”

nadia launches her calendar IT SEEMS that calendar season is well under way once again this year, but long gone are the days of choosing between the latest pop band and baby animals and, instead, a calendar girl from our very own turf has arrived.

Dubliner and model Nadia Forde has launched her very own 2014 calendar – meaning that Christmas shopping for the men in our lives is pretty much sorted.

After her acting debut in RTE’s The Republic of Telly, and a brief singing stint performing the Irish National Anthem at the Aviva stadium for the recent World Cup qualifier, it was only a matter of time before her next project came to light.

14 November 2013 Gazette 13

R1

Gazette

diary

Cecilia after completion of 10th book Shot on location in Los Angeles, the calendar features the model in an array of sultry poses, and promises to “get the pulses of men here in Ireland racing”.

We’ll let you be the judge of that!

The Nadia Forde Official 2014 Calendar is available to buy now for €10.99; see www.nadiaforde.com or www.calendarclub.co.uk.

borat gives you good scare yes!

A DUBLIN politician was scared witless this past Halloween, after a frightening sight met his eyes around Swords’ Main Street.

Speaking to The Gazette, the north Dub-

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lin councillor said it had been a relatively quiet Halloween night around Swords – until Borat’s doppelganger went trickor-treating in the busy area.

“The scariest thing I saw on Halloween night was a guy in a mankini making his way up Main Street,” the local representative said, still appearing quite shaken from the eerie episode, referring to the ... distinctive type of sling swimsuit worn by brave men.

It seems members of the local Garda also narrowly escaped a run-in with the scarcely dressed man.

“He was walking past Swords Garda Station

and his mates were joking, telling him to go in, but he was having none of it,” said the councillor.

join in on the reindeer run CHILDREN will be keeping their eyes skywards over the coming weeks, in anticipation of the annual RNLI Reindeer Run and its return to Dublin.

Santa’s faithful friends will be returning once again next month in an effort to help Dublin raise funds for the charity’s work in saving lives at sea.

The annual event has become a firm favourite with families, runners and walkers since it first

began four years ago, many of whom don their best antlers to join in the fun.

The event is being held on Sunday, December 1 in Marlay Park, with a 5km and 10km walk or run, and a special 1km Santa Saunter for children.

The lifeboat crew from Howth RNLI helped to launch the Reindeer Run recently and were joined

by Rookie the RNLI Reindeer and lifeboat dog, Laika.

Registration is now open and costs €10 for the saunter, €21 for the 5km and €23 for the 10km.

Further information is available at www.rnli. org/reindeer.

Howth RNLI volunteer crewman Joss Walsh joined Rookie the Reinder and Laika, the lifeboat dog, to launch this year’s upcoming Reindeer Run

Gazette

14 Gazette 14 November2013

dublinlife

special delivery: local entrepreneur brings welcome succour to the masses

Making mornings-after bearable A unique enterprise that provides Dublin’s night-owls with a hangover delivery service is becoming increasingly popular, with over 32,000 likes on Facebook.

The Dublin Hangover Service (DHS), set up by Dundrum local James Bull, first launched in June with the aim of delivering any type of comfort food to hangover sufferers during the weekend.

DHS presently delivers to nine different residential areas in Dublin during the weekend, providing those who

had one too many with a selection of hangover remedies, such as fast foods, cold drinks, breakfast rolls, chocolate bars, etc.

Speaking to the Gazette, James who studies computer science in Griffith College, believes his service is of great benefit to those who don’t feel like going shopping after a night out on the town.

“Our website acts like a shopping list. If you want a can of Coke, a Big Mac from McDonalds, a breakfast roll or whatever, you simply tick select the item on our menu, type in your

address and credit card details, and we’ll deliver it straight to your door.”

When delivering the food wish-list for his customers he said some people come up to the door with not a care in the world, dressed in dressing gowns, no make-up on and messy bed hair. They are the people that just don’t want to “step out their front door”.

James decided to set up DHS during his summer break from college, and, with the support of friends, his business rapidly started to attract attention.

“At the start of my

James Bull, who set up the unique Dublin Hangover Service

summer break, I came up with the idea to start a hangover delivery business. I thought it was something that would do really well in Dublin, especially among stu-

dents,” said James.

“I’ve always been a creative person and when the DHS Facebook page took off like wildfire I knew it had the potential to be some-

thing big.

“My friends are also helping me out a lot as well, which I really appreciate. We’re in the process of developing an iPhone app that will be

available to download shortly.”

Following the immense popularity of his business, James had been asked to talk about the DHS on several media outlets including TV3, thedailyedge.ie, and joe.ie.

DHS operates between 10am and 3pm on Saturday and Sundays in Dundrum, Rathfarnham, Churchtown, Ballinteer, Clonskeagh, Goatstown, Terenure, Milltown and Tallaght.

For more information on the Dublin Hangover Service visit www.thedublinhangoverservice. ie.

Why advertise with the Gazette?

Let our advertisers tell you why:

“

Dlr Leisure Services has been using Dublin Gazette Newspapers for a number of years to communicate with our customers on our programmes.

We find the service we received excellent and they always offer us good value for money. The personal touch of having an account manager makes our life so much easier. The Dundrum & Dún Laoghaire Gazette covers the areas in which our centres are located. Dlr Leisure Services would have no hesitation recommending the Gazette to others to promote their company.

“

 ian begley

B e c au s e L o c a l M at t e r s

14 November 2013 Gazette 15

Gazette

features fundRAISING: making a difference to heart charity

Every day is a thank-you in special children’s calendar  ian begley

Dublin parents Aoife and John O’Driscoll have organised a calendar to raise funds for Heart Children Ireland, an organisation which supported their daughter, Saoirse, who was born with a complex heart defect (CHD) in 2010.

Lucan residents Aoife and husband John organised the first Heart Children Ireland calendar, which features pictures of children with the condition in some of Ireland’s most pictur-

esque settings.

Aoife told the Gazette: “We’re trying to help Heart Children Ireland raise much-needed funds through our calendar because they’ve given us so much support with our daughter, Saoirse.

“Our daughter had numerous procedures performed on her heart and an operation on her lung. Heart Children Ireland has been great in helping us to understand her condition and deal with everything a lot better.”

The calendars have

been put together at no cost to Heart Children Ireland, and were compiled through voluntary work and donations from various companies and suppliers who gave up their time to be part of this campaign.

Heart Children Ireland intend using 50% of the money raised to purchase equipment needed for the new cardiac unit in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, and the other half will fund their family support and counselling service.

Aoife and her hus-

band managed to obtain a sponsor to cover the print cost of the calendar and were also successful in getting Chill Insurance on board.

Speaking at the launch, head of marketing for Chill Insurance Fergal Lynch said: “The calendar is a testament to all the volunteers at the charity who worked tirelessly to make this happen and will help raise much-needed funds for the charity to continue to support the parents and families of those affected by CHD.”

Love Hate actor Mark Dunne helps launch Heart Children Ireland’s charity calendar along with three -year-old Saoirse O’ Driscoll from Lucan

Also speaking at the launch, Margaret Rogers, chief executive of Heart Children Ireland, said: “As a charity in a recession, we rely even more on the goodness of people and their generous donations to help children who are born with CHD,” said Margaret.

Love/Hate star Mark Dunne and several members of Dublin GAA also showed their support by making an appearance at the launch.

Among the others who helped out were calendar designer Naoise Clarke and Molly’s Cupcakes which provided all the

calendar participants and sponsors with cupcakes.

Calendars can be bought at €10 through www.heartchildren.ie or from Healthcare Express pharmacies nationwide.

They also are available from the calendar club in Liffey Valley.

Gazette

16 Gazette 14 November 2013

dublinlife

Q&A

business

More ways to save money THIS week, the Money Doctor continues his series on saving cash. With more than 100 top tips to dip into, he’s sure to have plenty of ideas you haven’t thought of. However, if you have any cash-saving suggestions of your own that you’d like to share, please send them to jlowe@moneydoctor.ie.

58. Walk Good for the body, pocket and your dependency on cars.

grace mcaleese, the wright venue

Wright on track to be the biggest in clubland Grace McAleese is known to her colleagues at the Wright Venue offices as The Oracle.

Grace is a familiar face around the Dublin entertainment industry.

A frequent traveller to gain inspiration from clubs and venues around the world, Grace has visited Hong Kong, Bali and Ibiza this year to

name but a few.

After training as a dog groomer in LA, Grace decided it wasn’t for her and wanted to try her hand at entertainament and events.

After working on the opening of the Wright Venue, she knew she had made the right decision and has never looked back.

How long have you been in business?

What have you changed about your business to combat the effects of the recession?

I have worked for The Wright Venue for four-and-a-half years, I started a month before it opened.

What makes your business successful?

The Wright Venue is the biggest nightclub in Ireland, constantly adapting to new ideas. The brand is really creative and we are at the forefront of the Irish clubbing scene, showcasing international music stars. We’ve just booked Boney M for Christmas. What other nightclub would you see that in?

What do you offer your clients that differs from your competitors?

We are a global clubbing experience. We bring elements from all over the world to bring people the best night out. As we say, it’s not the years that count but the nights you’ve spent partying with us. The Wright Venue strives to bring the best DJs and entertainment to Ireland. Rapper 50 Cent was so impressed by the club when he visited that he offered to buy it.

How has the recession impacted your business?

We find people are only going out one night at the weekend rather than two nights like they used to so we therefore have to work harder at repeat business, new business and generating exciting packages to attract customers.

In order to compete in the increasingly competitive market, we have hugely invested in our product offering.

We have just opened Baroque, our new club on the third floor of the Wright Venue which caters to a more mature audience. We are also getting set to launch Hogs and Heifers, an exciting addition to the Dublin dining scene that is open to all, welcoming families, parties and pre-clubbers.

How do you use social media (Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin, etc) to help your business?

Current lywe have 64k Facebook fans and nearly 15k Twitter fans. I manage a team of about 25 ambassadors that utilise social media to promote our club and this in turn gives us a bigger reach and network of clubbers.

What is the best piece of business advice you ever received?

Never answer a question yes or no without fully understanding the outcome.

What is your favourite thing about doing business in your local area?

Because it’s local, all businesses want to help each other to do well.

There is great team spirit in the area and we have a lot of symbiotic relationships with the local businesses, both large and small.

to switch off the heating when away – even for weekends, and especially at the onset of summer.

59. Use public transport It’s great and actually much more economical than maintaining your own car.

63. Boiler If your boiler is more than 10 years old, you could consider replacing it with a new condenser boiler – this has more efficient use of energy and should repay installation costs within two years.

60. Home heating oil Shop around through the various home heating companies looking for economies. Paying upfront for the year’s oil requirements may reap dividends.

64. Investigate grant options Avail of the energy grants for improving the efficiency of your home – there are a number available, check out www.seai.ie/grants

61. Insulate your house and pipes You will save hundreds of euro through saving your heat loss.

More great advice on lifestyle and miscellaneous cutting of costs in my next set of tips ...

62. Home heating Turn your thermostat down just 1% and you can save as much as 10% of the actual cost. Remember

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

technology: a new range of products on offer

Next-gen tablets and tellies at Harvey Norman Harvey Norman, Ireland’s largest electrical retailer, continues to bring the best in technology to its Irish stores and in the run up to Christmas it has added some interesting products to its range.

For those turning to the tablet, leaving the PC and Laptop behind, Harvey Norman stocks the highly awaited LG G Pad 8.3 tablet.

The popular brand re-enters the Irish and UK tablet market with this impressive tablet.

This is the first of its size to offer full HD display and is the latest ground-breaking addition to LG’s G Series line-up of premium mobile devices.

Har vey Norman exclusively brought the device in the Irish mar-

ket at the end of October through its retail and online stores.

This forms part of the global roll-out of the G Pad 8.3, which will also go on sale in over 30 other key markets by the end of 2013.

“T he introduction of the LG G Pad 8.3 is another great step in design and technology from LG and shows that the G Series is going from strength to strength,” said Andy Coughlin, head of mobile for LG UK. “Just like the LG G2, the G Pad 8.3 delivers cutting-edge technology in a slim and sleek form, and is just the product for our re-entry into the UK tablet market.”

Meanwhile, for those looking to splash out this year Harvey Nor-

The new LG tablet on offer at Harvey Norman

man has the new LG C u r ve d O L E D T V, another exclusive for the retail giant. The new LG Curved OLED TV is available online to order and customers can view and purchase the product in selected stores now.

Customers will be able to visit Har vey Norman Dublin at Car-

rickmines and Swords to see LG’s latest TV revolution.

The stunning curved design ensures your eyes are equal distance from all parts of the screen, providing an entirely natural viewing experience.

S e e w w w. h a r ve y norman.ie for further details.

14 November 2013 Gazette 17

style P23

asdfsdaf P27 food P24

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



Gazette

christmas guide P18

PETS

help derry find a home as your new family pet

Aoife Cogan with her Bernese mountain dog Wilson and vet Pete Wedderburn with golden retreiver Ben at the start of the Pedigree Dental Care Month. Picture: Robbie Reynolds

pet care: tv vet’s advice for owners to care for animal’s dental health

Pete’s plan for healthy pets  natalie burke

Respected vet Pete Wedderburn, or Pete the Vet as many Irish TV viewers know him, is helping dogs this month with their oral health.

Pete, who owns his own practice in Co Wicklow, is best known for his appearances as Pete the Vet on Irish TV, talking pet-owners nationwide through dealing with everyday pet problems.

He can usually be spotted with dog treats in one hand and a happy puppy in the other. With the popular vet helping to promote a free oral health campaign for dogs this month, Pete took time out from his hectic schedule to chat to the Gazette about his latest project.

It’s estimated that 80% of Irish dogs suffer from gum disease and the latest oral health campaign, which was launched by Pete, along with Pedigree DentaStix and model Aoife Cogan, is running throughout the month of November.

The campaign aims to educate dog owners of the critical importance of good dental care for dogs, as the problem is compounded by a lack of awareness of the issue, with 90% of dog owners believing their dogs have healthy teeth and gums. It is also estimated that 4 out of 5 dogs suffer from Periodontal (gum) disease making it one of the biggest issues facing Irish dogs.

Throughout November, participating vets across the country are donat-

ing their time to provide free checks for their customers.

“A lot of people haven’t a clue what’s going on in their pets’ mouths whereas they pay a great attention to make sure their pets’ coats are nice, clean and shiny,” explained Pete.

The campaign hopes to get people looking at their pets’ gums.

While some people may think that their dogs have always been fine without a toothbrush, Pete says that with the constant development of science surrounding pet health, it has emerged that pets with healthy mouths live longer than pets with diseased mouths.

“When an animal chews, the bacteria in their mouth go into the bloodstream, into their hearts and kidneys and they’re more likely to develop kid-

ney or heart diseases, which are common problems in older dogs.”

The three signs to spot for gum disease in your dog are behaviour, bad breath and bleeding gums, says Pete.

“Once identified, the next step in maintaining good canine oral health care is a dental check-up. During dental care month 2013, we are helping dog owners to get into the habit of making their dog’s oral health a priority by offering a free dental care check-up so that any issues can be identified, treated and a regular dental care regime, including tooth brushing can be started at home.”

For a list of participating vets in Ireland, check out the Pedigree Ireland Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pedigreeireland.

The Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs. Our Dog of the Week is Derry, a one-year-old whippet cross.

Derry arrived at Dogs Trust in very poor condition from the pound but is now definitely on the mend. She is partially sighted but this does not hinder her in any way. She has made lots and lots of friends here, both human and canine, and loves nothing more than to play all day long!

She would do well in a home with another doggie and with a family who will enjoy teaching her new things!

If you think you can offer Derry a home, please contact Dogs Trust at 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off Exit 5 on the M50, and directions can be found on www.dogstrust.ie.

You can also find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ dogstrustireland or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE.

18 GAZETTE 14 November 2013

GAZETTE



CHRISTMASGUIDE  CHRISTMAS

PRESENTS: FINDING THE PERFECT GIFT FOR THE HOME, FOR THE KIDS OR THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE

Special gift guide

SANTA IS coming to town, and he’s not the only one with a list to check off. To help all you shoppers out there, The Gazette is bringing its first Christmas Gift Guide to you this week From kids toys to curlers, the latest in techonolgy to the old reliable book, there is something for all the family. There is also a number of household items to help get homes spruced up and ready for the festive season.

The Longest Road €14.99

Grooming Set €39

Garmin Golf Watch €169

Wireless Speaker €199

For him…

Dubarry Quilted Jacket €400

Tiger Bear Slippers €7

SUPPORT

LOCAL BUSINESS

SHOP LOCALLY



to help make it easier to check off items on that ever growing list.

CALL THE GAZETTE ON

60 10 240

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14 November 2013 GAZETTE 19

GAZETTE

Lindor gets festive for the chocoholics

BaByliss Curl Secret €159

Declan Killen Silver Pendant €142

YSL Blush Collector €49

Nature Therapy Gift Hamper €29.50

Lancome L’Absolu Rouge Lipstick €30

For her…

Aubergine Hand Painted Bag €145 Red Herringbone Bag €135

Lancome In Love Cubes €46

EASTER may be the time of year to gorge on chocolate, but actually Christmas is just as good a time as any and with so many chocolate makers adding festive cheer it is hard not to want more.

The best gift you could give someone this Christmas is yummy, scrummy chocolate. Who doesn’t like a little treat at Christmas? As a gift to yourself or others, check out the Lindt Chocolate Christmas Range.

For many years, Lindt chocolate has played an important part in the giving of gifts and treats at Christmas.

And this Christmas will be no exception. Along with all the Christmas classic favourites such as Lindt Santa’s, Lindt Reindeers as well as the much loved Lindt Bear and the classic Lindt Lindor range, Lindt will once again have a wide range of delectable chocolate creations and edible tree decorations to enhance the Christmas experience throughout the country.

Lindt Lindor will help you make a statement this Christmas and is available in all good retailers nationwide.

Look out for special promotional prices of in all leading retailers this Christmas.

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GAZETTE

20 GAZETTE 14 November 2013



CHRISTMASGUIDE  CHRISTMAS



Tuck into fine festive fare without breaking the bank

Littlewoods Ireland, Furby Boom €67

CHRISTMAS dinner doesn’t have to break the bank this season, thanks to Lidl and its finest mouthwatering Deluxe products available over the festive months.

Due to popular demand all the favourites have been brought into play with the addition of a few little extras. From sumptuous starters to traditional turkey, delectable desserts to classic cheeses, all accompanied by an array of tasted and rated wines, you need look no further for the finest fes-

Mattel Monster High 13 Wishes Party Doll Assortment €28rrp

tive fare.

Heatons One Direction chocolate bar and ceramic mug €7

Recipe cards containing brand ambassador Paul Flynn’s Christmas recipes will be available in



stores from mid November so you can try out his

dishes, specially designed for Lidl, with all products available in stores throughout the festive season.

Recipes include roast duck with orange whiskey

glaze, roast turkey and Belotta ham served with

brussel sprout mash and christmas ice cream cake with nougat and sticky plums.

Choose from Lidl’s luxurious range of start-

ers: from smooth Belgian pate (€2.49) and Scottish

smoked salmon (€9.99, 900g) to wild crab meat and

crab claws (both €3.29) and west Cork garlic breaded mussels (€2.69), guests will not be disappointed.

Check out your nearest store for details.

Harvey Norman iGuy cover €39.95

Magic Forest Toys available at Swoop €45

Mattel Hot Wheels Triple Track Twister Trackset €60rrp

All about toys…

GIFT GUIDE: FOR THE YOUNG AND YOUNG AT HEART

Peter Pauper Ready Steady Draw…

Christmas, Kilkenny €13.95

Wood Puzzle Man available at M&S €11

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14 November 2013 GAZETTE 21

For the home…

Debenhams Reindeer pillow €43.50

Accessorize Tree Ornament €4.90

Harvey Norman Kitchen Aid €539 Harvey Norman LG 55” Curved OLED TV €8,999

Heatons Standing Penguin decoration €16

GAZETTE

GIFT GUIDE: TREAT YOUR NEST TO SOMETHING NEW

GAZETTE

22 GAZETTE 14 November 2013



CHRISTMASGUIDE  CHRISTMAS



GIFT GUIDE: THE ONE AND ONLY CHRISTMAS JUMPER

STOCKING FILLERS

Funky Christmas Jumper - Bling Santa €39.99 Funky Christmas Jumper - Extreme Santa €39.99 Deadly Christmas Jumper - Are We There Yet €39.95

You can’t go wrong with a gift card for this giving season GIFTS come in all shapes and sizes and sometimes the smallest are the most treasured, so why not give a gift card this Christmas?

What will I buy them? It’s a problem for many shoppers trying to get the best present for an aunt, brother, granny or any other fussy relative or friend.

So to make things easier, retailers, outlets and shopping centres have the answer – a gift card.

Who doesn’t like going to the cinema? So an Odeon Cinema gift card is definitely one that is going to be used. It’s a perfect stocking filler for everyone in the family. These gift cards can be used to buy tickets in Odeon cinemas and online at odeoncinemas.ie and to buy food, drink and most other retail items sold in participating Odeon cinemas in Ireland.

Dundrum Town Centre also has the Dundrum Gift Card another perfect gift solution for Christmas. Whether wrapped up under the tree or sitting snuggly in Christmas stockings, this card will suit everyone’s Christmas wishes.

Available in any amount from €10 the Dundrum Town Centre Gift card is redeemable at over 148 outlets throughout the centre.

The Dundrum Town Centre Gift Card is a preloaded debit card and works off the MasterCard platform. The card is available to purchase at Gift Card Desk at Dundrum Town Centre – on The Gallery, adjacent to Monsoon. For more information or to purchase a Dundrum Town Centre Gift card online, go to www.dundrum.ie Meanwhile, if you’re heading to Tayto Park’s over the festive season why get an annual membership for someone or a daily family gift cards, which give beneficiaries a great outdoor gift packed with fun and thrilling attractions. Family passes start from just €40 and annual passes from €120, they are the perfect gifts this Christmas for any family. See www. taytopark.ie for further information.

Looking festive…

Funky Christmas Jumper - HB Jesus €39.99

GR ANNIES’ knitted woollies are becoming even more on trend than the LBD with Christmas jumpers making a massive comeback over the past few years.

If you don’t have a creative granny to make one, pop-up shops and online outlets are all making waves to have the most unique and stylish woollies this Christmas.

The Christmas jumper would be an ideal Christmas present for the whole family. Here are a couple of outlets to give you an idea of what’s out there.



Deadly Christmas Jumper - Bleedin Deadly €39.95

Deadly Christmas Jumpers, created by brothers Dave and Fergal Madden, is back and ready to spread humour, seasonal style and warmth with its new Christmas collection of Deadly Christmas Jumpers, chuckle worthy T-shirts, humorous hats and mirth inducing mugs.

This is the third year it has supplied themed garments. It has a large selection of handmade woollen jumpers (from €29.95) and cardigans (from €39.95) for adults

and kids, Deadly Christmas Tees (from €15.95) and woolly hats (from €11.95) as well as fun mugs (from €8) will once again be available to buy in store. The new Deadly Christmas Jumpers Dublin City Centre premises location is Top Secret for the moment, and opens sometime this month.

Purchases can also be made at the online store www.deadlychristmasjumpers.com Meanwhile, Funky Christmas Jumpers also went live recently and its store was launched last

Funky Christmas Jumper - Santa and Rudolf €39.99

week at 60 South William Street, Dublin 2. The Irish-owned company run by Fabio Molle and Donal McSharry opened with its biggest collection of jumpers to date.

Founded six years ago, the business has gone from strength to strength and now ships worldwide. New jumper designs this year include Bling Santa, Happy Birthday Jesus and Tangled Penguin. Having trouble deciding? Opt for the Funky Secret Santa – a jumper chosen specially by the Funky

Christmas Elf along with a surprise present for just €39.99. For further information, see www. funkychristmasjumpers. com.

Heatons also have their own affordable range for kids and adults alike who are hoping to spread the Christmas word in a different way this year.

Their range is available in all Heatons stores across Dublin including Blanchardstown and Carrickmines, or online at www.heatonsstores. com.

The perfect country escape near the best of city shopping OFFERING a range of Christmas gift offers, the four-star Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa provides a luxurious country escape while close to all the attractions and shopping thrills of Dublin city.

Choose from a range of gift vouchers to enjoy all Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa has

to offer. From an exceptional dining experience in The Ivy restaurant or the relaxing and rejuvenating treatments available from the expert spa team at Seoid Spa. Set over three floors, Seoid Spa is one of Ireland’s most extensive thermal treatment facilities.

To really impress, why not

treat your loved one to a variety of exclusive events from an intimate night of laughter and memories in An Evening with Gay Byrne on January 23, a special presentation of expert gardening tips from Ireland’s best-loved gardening personality Dermot O’Neill on March 13 or a delicious cookery dem-

onstration from TV chef Neven Maguire on May 7.

Tickets

Tickets for the exclusive range of events are €20 with a special early-bird dining menu available in The Ivy at €25 per person.

Enjoy luxury overnight rates from only €79 pps.

GAZETTE

14 November 2013 SWORDS GAZETTE 23

OUT&ABOUT

STYLE

BEAUTY news

Shane O’Sullivan with Georgia Salpa and (below) Vanessa fromThe Saturdays

Longchamp bag €325

Oooh la la ... Longchamp arrives with bags of style The first Easilocks has opened in Blanchardstown which offers a high quality hair extension system that is affordable

The easy way to long locks  LAURA WEBB

EASILOCKS is fast become a household name within the celebrity circuit, but now, thanks to founder Shane O’Sullivan, hair extensions are easy to come by for all beauty buffs.

The first Easilocks kiosk opened in Blanchardstown last month and there has been a great reaction to it.

According to a spokesperson for the brand, there is a really big demand for a high quality hair extension system that is affordable.

“Our staff are fully qualified hair stylists and

have extensive training and knowledge in the Easilocks and hair extension system. The kiosk is the first of its kind in this country that specialises in hair extension application.”

Easilocks offers a human hair extension system which is safe and easy to apply to natural hair. There is no bonding, glue or braiding involved.

Short hair can become long and lustrous overnight, while thin hair can also benefit from the extensions which provide more thickness.

The store also carries an extensive range of hair accessories and clip

• DO secure the hair with one hand while detangling.

• Always brush the ends first and work upwards.

• Easilocks recommend you brush the scalp at least twice a day to keep your extensions clean at the root area.

• Brush you hair extensions before you wash or have a chemical service (ie color etc).

• When shampooing your hair, work vertically not horizontally or in a circular motion, this will

in extensions made from both Japanese fibres and human hair.

It offers walk-in free consultations and the price for a full head of extensions start at €74.99.

Straightening

The new kiosk also offers a dry styling service with GHD and Cloud Nine straightening and curling from €15 to €35, depending on the length and volume of the client’s hair.

The sister salon, Ebano, is located in Dublin’s Stores Street.

Shane O’Sullivan established the Easilocks

create fewer tangles.

• Only condition the hair from the ponytail down and avoid the root area and where the locks are. However, you can be quite generous with conditioner on the extension hair.

• Always use leave-in conditioner on the ends to keep extensions looking silky.

• Gather hair in a loose side ponytail or loose braid whilst sleeping to avoid tangling at night.

brand in 2011 and the famil-owned Irish business is the fastest growing hair extension brand in the UK and Ireland.

Born in Dublin, Shane recently moved to London, to be near his many celebrity friends who use the product on a regular basis, including Katie Price, Rochelle and Vanessa from The Saturdays, Georgia Salpa and Alex Gerrard.

His hair journey started at a young age working alongside his father, John.

He went on to be honoured by Vidal Sassoon as colourist of the year at the age of just 18. He

then earned his scissors as a l’Oreal professional colour specialist receiving his degree. Over the last five years he has spent the last five years searching for the perfect hair extension solution worldwide.

A number of other stores throughout the country stock Easilocks and a full list of locations are available on their website www.easlilocks. com For those lucky enough to have used the Easilocks hair extensions or who are thinking about it, here are some Do’s and Don’ts you will need to know...

Do’s and Don’ts • DON’T go to bed with wet hair

• Don’t condition the scalp area with conditioner • Don’t wash upside down and avoid circular motions when shampooing • Don’t attempt to maintain your extensions yourself. Any issues?

Leave it to the professionals.

• Don’t leave your hair wet for long periods of time without

untangling it, as the extensions may become matted.

• Don’t leave your Easilocks in for longer than three months or 10 weeks if the natural hair is fine.

If they are left in longer than the recommended time, some damage may occur.

• Don’t use ANY hot tools on your extensions without protecting the hair with heat protection oil.

FRENCH luxury Longchamp has arrived at Harvey Nichols Dublin with a range of classic pliage bags, leather statement bags and a selection of leather luggage.

Longchamp’s luggage and handbags have a worldwide reputation for craftsmanship and quality.

The international brand has maintained momentum and energy across the decades.

It epitomises French flair, fresh and inspiring creativity, as well as sharing the active lives of women across the world who enjoy a touch of luxury every day. Refreshing advertising campaigns and exciting collaborations with artists underline the contemporary and sometimes playful spirit of Longchamp.

Longchamp is available at Harvey Nichols Dublin now and prices start at €48. Harvey Nichols is located at Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin 16.

Moustaches a la Moda IT’S Movember, and this year fashion retailer Vero Moda will be raising money for the cause and also awareness.

The goal of Movember is to change the face of men’s health by raising money, and most importantly awareness for prostate cancer and other male cancers.

This month Vero Moda will not only bring fashionable choices for fashion loving women on to the high street, but is having some fun by placing moustaches in the dressing rooms of all their stores during November.

The customer can snap a picture of herself wearing a moustache and share it on Instagram using the hashtag #veromodamo.

Each shared photo will generate a donation of 10 cents to the Movember organisation.

Gazette

24 swords gazette 14 November 2013

OUT&ABOUT

FOOD&DRINK

BITESIZEDNEWS

The Signature Tastes range features more than 200 top-tier own-brand products

Signature flavours from a Super range SUPERVALU’S new Signature Tastes range has been launched, with more than 200 top-tier ownbrand products that are keeping many Dubliners happy in their bellies and their pockets.

The affordable luxury range includes some of its most popular products from previous SuperValu Supreme and Superquinn SQ ranges.

According to the supermarket giant, the real heroes of this range are the suppliers, with 80% of them being Irish.

Dunn’s Seafare, O’Brien’s Fine Foods, Cooleeney Cheese and Carty Meats are just some of the many suppliers creating the unique selection of products available in all 225 SuperValu and Superquinn stores nationwide.

On tasting some of the range, including its mango chutney relish, Thai chilli and red pepper hand-cooked crisps, duck and Belgian biscuits – it is clear that this range is going to be a hit with shoppers.

Commenting on the launch, Martin Kelleher, managing director, SuperValu said: “The top end of the own-brand market is growing because consumers want to enjoy great food at home, but at a good price.

“We have tested every single product [we have] versus the best equivalent, and we believe we have developed a range that will excite and delight consumers.

“Additionally, as we promised when we announced the Superquinn name change, we have amalgamated the best-selling products from the SuperValu and SQ tier ranges into the SuperValu Signature Tastes collection.”

For further information on SuperValu Signature Tastes and SuperValu local suppliers, see www.supervalu.ie or drop into your local SuperValu.

Laura Webb and her son, Dylan, are delighted to share some cooking time, with help from top chef Neven Maguire

classes: top chef has great family-friendly recipes to try

Neven knows best for kids  laura webb

CELEBRITY chef Neven Maguire took time out of his busy schedule to showcase some easy recipes that can be cooked at home with the whole family.

The restaurateur recently hosted a cooking demonstration at DIT’s culinary arts and food technology school at Cathal Brugha Street as part of his ambassador role with Ben’s Beginners, an initiative by Uncle Ben’s Ireland.

I headed over to the cooking demonstration with my son, Dylan, to see how Neven planned to bring cooking back to the home kitchen.

According to Neven, teaching kids about food at a young age is an important factor in their lives and getting them involved in preparing their daily meals is a key element to getting them interested in food.

He said: “I developed my love of food cook-

ing with my mother in the kitchen at home. It is something special we shared together, that the whole family benefited from, and it is a passion that I, in turn, actively nurture with my family in the kitchen at home.

“I passionately believe that good food leads to good outcomes for a family’s health and general wellbeing. What’s more, great-tasting, healthy meals do not take long to prepare and are fun to make together with your children,” he said.

On the day, Neven, with help from his sous chef at MacNean House and Restaurant, Olivia, cooked two dishes – sweet and sour pork with fruit salsa and pilau rice, and a delicious apple tart.

Each recipe was easy to put together and didn’t take too long to make, making it a perfect dish for busy families. The end result was tasty, but the most interesting part

A child-friendly recipe that’s easy to make is sweet and sour pork with fruit salsa

was seeing the kids enjoy what they made and they were more willing to test it than if it had just been presented to them.

T he culinar y ar ts school, which has more than 2,000 students, was a perfect setting for the demonstration and gave kids a sneak preview of how a professional kitchen works.

The kids took a big interest in the demonstration and showed off their knowledge of food when

Neven asked what fruit was used in the fruit salsa, and what spices were used in the sweet and sour sauce. In a real classroom setting, the kids put up their hands and shouted out – mango and ginger – much to the delight of their chef.

The Ben’s Beginners programme calls on children to get cooking.

The programme seeks to encourage mums and dads to get cooking with their children, and move

from setting the table to cooking together.

As part of its programme, Ben’s Beginners asked families across Ireland to showcase their signature dish by uploading a video, with a winner chosen by the public.

This got a lot of attention, with hundreds of families showing their interest in cooking at home.

You can follow the programme online at w w w.facebook.com/ UncleBensIreland.

14 November 2013 swords gazette 25

book review: Award-winning journalist tells of woman’s life and death

The disgrace of Savita, the shame of a nation

 Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

Last month marked the first anniversary of the death of Savita Halappanavar, who died in Galway University Hospital in Galway in October 2012, after intense suffering over three days.

Savita: The Tragedy that Shook a Nation, by Irish Times journalist of the year Kitty Holland, focuses on an Indian dentist whose dream of making a life in Ireland ended in an intensive care unit with organ failure and a team of medical experts delivering CPR. Savita was admitted to the hospital when 17 weeks pregnant with her first child with husband Praveen. She was miscarrying but was told to wait for the miscarriage to take its course as doctors and midwives could not perform a medical termination due to Irish law and the presence of a foetal heartbeat.

Twenty years previously, the situation of a 14-yearold pregnant rape victim who was not allowed an abortion under Irish law, finally won the right to travel to England to

Kitty Holland’s account of Savita Halappanavar’s death is told

terminate her pregnancy through a Supreme Court ruling. This case, commonly known as the X case, should have been legislated on to determine precisely when a doctor was permitted to intervene and perform a medical termination to save a mother’s life. But

at the time of Savita’s admittance, the legislation was still outstanding and doctors still lacked legal certainy. Hence Savita’s miscarriage took its course without medical intervention.

Kitty Holland, who broke the story of Savita, has now written a com-

greater clarity for doctors handling such cases.

The new legislation resulted in five Fine Gael TDs and a minister losing their positions as conscientious objectors to abortion in the case of suicide. Throughout the whole ordeal, the shin-

prehensive account of how the tragedy unfolded in blow-by-blow detail, and the political conflagration and subsequent passing in the Dail of the Protection Of Life During Pregnancy Bill in July this year.

the doctors failed to act to save Savita’s life.

The inquest into her death, conducted by Dr Ciaran McLoughlin in Galway, was the longest in the State’s history.

Several doctors and midwives on duty in the lead up to her death were

Shocking

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

Despite the coverage of Savita’s case at the time it happened and the investigations and inquest into her death, Holland’s book is still a shocking read as it details the abysmal neglect uncovered at the Galway hospital which led to Savita being left to lie on a bed after her membranes had ruptured with a slowly dying foetus inside her and sepsis taking hold.

Harrowing is not the word. Yet the book evokes anger most of all. While reading of the inadequacies rampant at that hospital and the lack of communication between doctors and midwives as they changed shift, lost blood samples and failed to monitor Savita’s vital functions, it is impossible not to wonder why

‘If the Irish law on abortion is changed, I would think my daughter has been sacrificed for a good cause’

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

Savita Halappanavar’s father

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

called to give evidence.

It was here that Praveen’s allegation that he and his wife were told a medical termination would not be possible because Ireland was a Catholic country was verified by the midwife who said it.

This statement caused international consternation and disbelief that Ireland could make such a call when the life of a pregnant woman was hanging in the balance.

Global news agencies took up the debate which eventually came full circle back to Ireland, forcing the government into legislating for

ing light was Praveen, Savita’s husband.

He carried himself with immense dignity, never stopping in his quest for justice for his wife. Praveen said that maybe Savita had been born to change things in Ireland; a sentiment echoed by Savita’s father, Andanappa Yalagi: “If the Irish law on abortion is changed, I would think my daughter has been sacrificed for a good cause.”

Savita: The Tragedy that Shook a Nation by Kitty Holland is published by Transworld Ireland and costs €15.99.

Gazette

ARTS

more

theatre THE pavilioN THEATRE 01 231 2929

Beyond the Brooklyn Sky The Red Kettle Theatre Company is bringing the acclaimed production of Beyond the Brooklyn Sky by Michael Hilliard Mulcahy, a huge critical and commercial success at the 2012 Dublin Theatre Festival, back to the Pavilion Theatre on November 15 and 16. The story of emigration and return is hugely pertinent in the year of The Gathering, and has been described as “Startlingly relevant and entirely convincing” by The Irish Times. Tickets cost €20/16.

mill theatre 01 296 9340 Oleanna

David Mamet’s powerful play about power – two people using and abusing it – each in turn taking and losing control of an emotional powder keg comes to the Mill. The play runs from November 13-16 at 8.15pm; tickets priced €12/€10.

CIVIC THEATRE 01 462 7477

The Witches of Eastwick A DEVILISHLY handsome stranger in town soon stirs up the emotions – and powers – of three bored divorcees, who decide to teach him a lesson ... This entertaining production,

by Harold’s Cross Tallaght Musical Society and based on the film of John Updike’s novel, runs at 8pm from November 12-16; tickets priced €18/€16.

26 SWORDS GAZETTE 14 November 2013

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harrington P29

gaelic games P27 P31 asdfsdaf

dublinsport Let the Gazette keep you up to date with all the best local sporting action from around the city as we cover all the stories that matter to you and your community

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cycling P28

FastSport Dunphy comes to blanch and liffey valley to sign new book:

Luke Byrne (right) and Shamrock Rovers’ manager Trevor Croly as he signed the agreement to join the club last week

soccer: howth native byrne second signing in closed season for croly

Rising star of north county moves to Shamrock Rovers Shamrock Rovers last week confirmed the signing of 20-year-old defender, Luke Byrne, who spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons playing in the Airtricity League, Premier Division for Bohemians.

Byrne started playing with Howth Celtic from the age of six until 11, when he transferred to St Kevin’s for his first taste of competitive 11-a-side. He was with Kevin’s for four years before going to Home Farm for three years.

At the end of his last season with Home Farm, Byrne went into the under-

age set-up at Bohemians, becoming part of the Under-19 squad. He was quickly brought into the reserve set-up, and got his senior debut in the Leinster Senior Cup final against St Pat’s Athletic in October 2011, only two months after joining the club.

Although he moved back into the Under-19 set up at the end of that season, Byrne was back in the first team by the turn of the new year, only missing two games in the season, becoming the youngest-ever league captain for Bohemians.

A graduate of the FAS FAI Youth Soccer Training Course, Byrne has also represented Ireland at Under-19 level.

In spite of interest from the English Championship and League One, Byrne decided to stay in Ireland to keep playing his first-team football for Rovers.

The player is manager Trevor Croly’s second signing ahead of the 2014 season after the club announced that Simon Madden has also signed a deal with Shamrock Rovers.

Speaking about his signing, Byrne said: “I’m really excited to be here, I’m

looking forward to playing with great players at a great stadium and under a great manager and I’m looking forward to winning things at Shamrock Rovers.

“I didn’t know the manager before I spoke to him, but I had heard that he is a really good coach and when we spoke, I liked the sound of how things are done at Shamrock Rovers and I think it will be a really good place for me to be.

“I might still be quite young, but I have played a lot of league games for someone my age and I’m keen to keep pushing myself to get better and better.”

soccer pundit Eamon Dunphy is coming to Blanchardstown and Liffey Valley this weekend to sign copies of his autobiography, The Rocky Road.

The book tells of Dunphy’s journey from joining Manchester United when he was only 15 years old, his years as a journeyman player and his return to Ireland as a journalist of uncompromising viewpoints on politics and especially on soccer.

Dunphy will be signing copies of his book in Eason Blanchardstown on Saturday, November 16 at 11.30am and in Eason Liffey Valley at 2pm.

c o n ta c t s Sports Editor: Rob Heigh rheigh@gazettegroup.com

For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@gazettegroup.com Phone: 01 651 6205

Gazette

28 SWORDS Gazette 14 November 2013

SPORT Sky is the limit for Autumn

FastSport

cycling: adamstown rider looks to future after positive reception

powerchair stars shine in paris event:

Dubliners Josh Dillon and Kevin Gannon recently represented Ireland at an international Powerchair soccer tournament in Paris against teams from the US, Finland, Austria and France.

The EPFA International Trophy is a fourday friendly tournament and Ireland sent two teams, with Josh part of the Under-16 team and Kevin in the Under-18 team.

Josh from Raheny and Kevin from Bluebell are on the same Fingal Flyers Powerchair team, and train together every Saturday in Corduff Sports Centre in Blanchardstown. As they are on separate Irish international teams, they will be playing against each other.

The tournament gave them an opportunity to advance their skills playing against other countries. On their return they will receive an international cap from the FAI for their participation in international sport.

 sport@gazettegroup.com

Autumn Collins got a taste of the professional life recently when she was selected to ride for Team Sky’s Future Stars team at the Revolution series at Manchester Velodrome at the end of

October.

Collins lined up alongside Grace Garner on Team Sky in the starstudded event, which featured British Olympians Laura Trott and Jason Kenny in front of a capacity crowd.

Autumn has been

Autumn with other riders from Team Sky’s Future Stars in Manchester recently

competing for Adamstown Cycling Team on the UK track circuit this season, and the national medallist was delighted when the opportunity arose to ride alongside world class athletes.

The Revolution series is significant in that it not only showcases the Oly mpic and World champions, but also provides a platform for emerging talent through the Future Stars series.

This event showcases the top 20 Under-16 cyclists that have competed on the British circuit this summer.

Gazette Sport spoke to Autumn’s coach, Liam Collins, who explained how the Future Stars series works.

“The riders are put in the team environment

Autumn Collins in Adamstown colours

where they are working with other riders in front of the size of crowd and TV cameras to get them used to the environment they would experience in the future should they graduate to the next level in the sport.”

Planning Liam explained that Autumn’s rise in the sport has been carefully planned.

“We have a view that you really do not start putting any effort into formal coaching until 15 or 16. I have seen far too many burn outs when kids have been coached at 12, 13 or 14, and suddenly they fall apart at 15 or 16. Autumn has been exposed to this

level from June of this year, and it has been a rocket ship to a higher level straight away.

“We brought her to England to expose her to the level she needs to get to, and if she liked it, she would be aware of the level she needs to get to. It’s a good exposure to the sport and a good time to get that exposure.”

Autumn’s selection by Team Sky was accompanied by other plaudits at the event.

“She was singled out by one of the coaches in Manchester who said she was a natural. The team (Sky) came back and said they were very happy with her attitude and application to the tasks. They gave her

some training tips, and they are looking to bring her back for the January round in Glasgow.”

Certainly a prospect for the future, Autumn and her coach are aware of what she needs to do to reach the next level in the sport.

“Autumn has all the technical skills, and now she needs to apply herself to the fitness side of things. She can ride in a bunch, but the hard part is the physical training.

But that is what Sky picked out when they spoke to her - she ticks a lot of boxes, but needs to get fitter now. She has taken that on board, and is keen to apply herself to take part. It won’t come without hard work and effort.”

Schools rugby sevens a great success at Railway Union  sport@gazettegroup.com

Girls sevens rugby at Railway Union recently

ST LOUIS and Newpark claimed the senior and junior trophies respectively at the Railway Girls schools sevens last week.

Having been beaten in the final last April, St Louis were determined to go one better this time around. They accounted for a strong Muckross side in the semi-final.

Muckross, who were ably led

by Aoibhin Dwan, made all of the early running with Claire Cashman, Rachel Sparrow and Sophie Farnan dominating

the early exchanges. However, the loss of star player Aisling McCann in the group stages turned the tide against them and, with such a high level of competition, this loss proved catastrophic.

The final kicked off under floodlights in front of a large crowd, which included Irish coach Stan McDowell. Stacey Flood, who played a captain’s part all day, claimed two early tries to help St Louis race into a 10-0 lead. With Eve Higgins pulling the strings at halfback, St Mac Dara’s continued to probe

and strong carries from Katie McGowan, Jojo Clune, Roisin Tisdall and Caoimhe Guerin kept asking questions of the St Louis defence, before the excellent Lisa Callan broke numerous tackles to put the score to 10-5 and set up a grandstand finish.

St Mac Dara’s piled on the pressure and were only kept at bay by a huge defensive effort, with Hannah Hegarty, Emma Young and Eleanor Burke, in particular, to the fore. Despite being kept in their own half for most of the second half, St Louis held out to erase memo-

ries of their previous final loss to claim the title in what was a highly entertaining and nailbiting final.

The Junior Competition was extremely competitive, with no little skill on show. St Louis and debutants Newpark emerged from the pack to face each other in the final.

Newpark, for whom Darerca Lockhart-Keogh, Ciara Young, Katie Somers and Sophie Phelan stood out, raced into a lead which they never gave up to claim victory in their first schools sevens tournament.

14 November 2013 SWORDS Gazette 29

Gazette

Harrington hails O’Driscoll influence Gazette Sport caught up with the Stackstown Golf Club man and double major winner at the Convention Centre last week as he came to salute the career of the Ireland rugby legend  paul healy sport@gazettegroup.com

No str anger to glittering success on the world stage himself, Rathfarnham’s Padraig Harrington was just one of the array of sporting legends that took to the Green Carpet of the Convention Centre at the beginning of November for The Brian O’Driscoll Testimonial event.

Speaking exclusively to Gazette Sport immediately before the tribute night for the Clontarfborn rugby icon, the two-time Open championship winner and 2008 PGA champion outlined why he held O’Driscoll in such great esteem.

“Brian’s career has been unbelievable. I look at his commitment

throughout his career the way he’s played with passion. Obviously he’s a very exciting player and obviously he’s a very talented player but there have been plenty of those in sport so I would tend to look through that and see his undivided commitment through the years to the game [of rugby].

“How he’s changed as a player as well and adapted his skills to play a slightly different game than he would have played as a younger man.”

The six-time Ryder Cup European team member went on to expound on the theme of how professional sportsmen - himself including - have to adapt their game over time and with

age, and why he rated the record breaking 125times capped former Irish rugby captain as remarkable in that sense.

“I would learn lessons from all sports people, including Brian. I would be looking at other sports people with a slightly different eye [as a professional golfer] than most people, and I would see how Brian has adapted his career, he has changed his strengths.

“He’s gone from being an incredibly talented, skilful player to a captain - someone who leads by example on the pitch, and that’s an interesting change for somebody who comes from the talented side. Very rarely do you see that.

“Talented players tend to do their own thing and

Padraig Harrington and wife Caroline at the Brian O’Driscoll testimonial last week

be exceptional on the field, but it’s very few of them actually cross the line to being a leader on the pitch and somebody that everyone else can look up to, and Brian did it.

“Towards the later part of his career, he did change the way he

wouldn’t realise is that I can go down to South Africa and I can have a young guy caddying who’s come from a township and I say I’m from Ireland… he doesn’t know where Ireland is.

He doesn’t know anything about Ireland but, with a little thinking,

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

‘When you travel the world and you talk about rugby, people will always talk about Brian O’Driscoll’ - Padraig Harrington

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

played. He’d be known for his tackling now as much as anything else, which is an incredible thing.”

Even given his own instantly recognisable profile as one of the world’s leading golfers, the former Stackstown Golf Club player also highlighted just how well known Brian O‘Driscoll is on that same global sporting stage.

“Probably the most startling fact with Brian is when you travel the world and you talk about rugby, people will always name Brian O’Driscoll in their greatest team ever, which is quite impressive when you’re talking to an Australian or a New Zealander or South African.

They’ll all pull Brian’s name out of the hat.

“Another thing that people here in Ireland

he says ‘Oh yeah, Brian O’Driscoll’, and that’s how he knows Ireland.”

Harrington - whose old secondary school in Rathfarnham, Colaiste Eanna, has the unique distinction of having produced two Ryder Cup golfers with Paul McGinley a former pupil also - concluded by reiterating how the rugby star’s ability to adjust was such a huge sporting feat.

“He’s still able to do the spectacular but he’s doing the spectacular now based on experience rather than just raw talent. Most talented players go by the wayside very quickly once age comes on or there’s always somebody younger who is a little quicker than them but Brian really did adapt which could be his greatest achievement overall.”

FastSport

Dublin legends help launch Giro in Ireland in 2014 Cycling legends Nicolas and Stephen Roche joined Fiona Cunningham from Clontarf who heads up the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) Dublin office at the recent Cycling Ireland Annual Awards which were held in the O’Callaghan Alexandra Hotel in Dublin.

NITB were promoting the 2014 Giro d’Italia cycle race which will see more than 200 of the world’s best cyclists from over 30 countries arriving in Northern Ireland for what’s known as the Grande Partenza (Big Start) in Belfast on Friday, May 9 next year.

Racing will continue on Saturday, May 10 in the Greater Belfast area and takes in the scenic North Antrim Coast before concluding on Sunday, May 11, with a road stage from Armagh to Dublin.

Anyone wanting to attend the Giro d’Italia Grand Partenza should contact the Northern Ireland Tourist Board on Callsave 1850 230 230 or by clicking on www.discovernorthernireland.com.

RLI announce new deck of coaching aids Rugby League Ireland, in partnership with Elevate Sports Solutions, have developed a unique coaching aid that should interest coaches from novice to senior level.

Based on a pack of playing cards, the innovative product has been all the talk ahead of the rugby league World Cup, currently taking place in England, Wales

and Ireland, and was officially launched at the Rugby League International Federation AGM on the eve of the World Cup. In a handy pocketsized pack of cards, there are 52 coaching drills that cover the four skill categories of decision-making and kicking, passing and handling, agility drills and support plays, and shielding and regaining possession.

Packs retail for €16.99 and can be ordered by emailing info@rli.ie and stating the number of packs required.

Gazette

30 SWORDS Gazette 14 November 2013

SPORT

FastSport

rugby: defeat means team to now contest division 3

Picture: K&R Photographic

Rush academy fighters graduate with honours Rush Fighting Academy members Aaron Skelly (above), Anthony Lawrence and Callum Wallace each claimed victory at the Ryoshin Fighting Championships last Saturday in Roadstone Sports Club.

Skelly looked very dominant facing off against Kamil Wiechnik, where he showed his grappling prowess in the first round as he controlled his opponent against the cage.

In the second round, Skelly opened up on his counterpart with stinging flurries which looked like they would see the referee stop the fight at one stage.

Despite a late rally by Wiechnik in the third round, Skelly had his hand raised after a strong all-round performance from the Paul Cowzer product won him the judges’ decision.

Anthony Lawrence wowed the audience with his punching power having been under pressure from Trevor Lowry in the first round of their fight.

In the second round, the north county Dublin fighter found his range and after he landed a few solid punches on Lowry, the referee was forced to stop the fight to hand him the win via TKO. Callum Wallace and John Reid put on a great grappling spectacle for the Clondalkin audience before Wallace pounced on a gap and landed some big grounded strikes on Reid.

When the Lucan fighter failed to intelligently defend himself, the referee stepped in to hand the TKO victory to the talented Wallace.

The latest challenge to Rush’s Luke Caffrey was also announced with Valdrim Lubishtani set to face the talented pugilist at the next Ryoshin Fighting Championships card.

Lubishtani’s 15 second knockout of Daniel Danilovilc on Saturday night has generated a lot of excitement with regard to a bout with Caffrey who impressed recently with a third round TKO victory over Coolmine Martial Arts Club’s Fran O’Kelly.

Also in action for RFA on the night were Michael Kashara, who lost in the second round to Adam Danko via guillotine having fought well in the first, and Paul Lawrence who lost by first round to Ayo Daly guillotine in a bout that saw the promotion’s welterweight title up for grabs.

Swords RFC played some impressive multi-phase rugby but were unable to capitalise on their chances against Birr

Swords hopes blunted by Birr leinster league 2b Swords Birr  sport@gazettegroup.com

15 23

SWORDS missed out on a place in the Super Six phase of the Leinster league division 2B on points difference as they succumbed to a 23-15 loss to Birr.

It was a frustrating outcome for the ALSAA club after they showed good phases of play but ultimately could not land the killer blows.

In the opening 15 minutes, both teams played open rugby. Swords came closest to breaking the deadlock, recycling many

phases only to be repelled by the Birr defence.

But they continued to push on and pinned Birr back with a number of strong drives, kicking a couple of penalties for the corner after the visitors had killed the ball, with Birr seeing one of their players sin-binned.

Swords did cross the line but saw the effort ruled out for a knock-on before they eventually hit the front off the back of a line-out steal and a swift backline move saw them sneak over in the corner for a 5-0 lead.

Birr responded instantly, winning back the ball quickly from the kick-off

we are family Local school celebrate success at Croke Park captain Robyn Lynch from Holy Family

SNS in Swords last week lifted the trophy at the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol football finals in Croke Park when the senior girls team defeated St Brigid’s of Glasnevin to claim the Sciath Comhar Linn final. The school thanked Ms Keely, Ms Fitzsimons, Ms Farrell and school games promotion officer James Devlin for their assistance in training the team.

Picture: Barry Cregg / SPORTSFILE

before creating a mismatch that allowed their centre to break through on the half hour and, with the additional conversion added, it handed them the lead.

And the Co Offaly side doubled their tally when they profited from a spilled high kick that the centre fly-hacked through and slid over in the corner.

With an excellent conversion tacked on, it extended the lead and a penalty for holding on enabled Birr to score a penalty and record a 14-5 half-time lead.

Swords emerged reinvigorated in the second

half and were right back in the game with an NFLstyle finish to a great move, working through 10 phases to add another unconverted try.

Birr replied with a penalty to make it 20-10 as Swords spurned a great chance to close the gap as a breakaway interception was caught just short.

The airport side also dropped a crossfield kick with the line begging but 10 minutes from the end, they finished off a quick tap and go penalty with prop David Reilly crashing over.

It put Swords in losing bonus point territory, an outcome that would

have seen them gain third place in their group and progression to the super sixes.

And they could have made that position even stronger only to be held up five from another push soon after.

But Birr cleared their lines and earned a penalty that would prove critical to Swords’ hopes.

It was landed and saw the bonus point slip through Swords’ grasp. It left them level with Athboy on 12 points but with a far inferior points difference, meaning they will now contest Leinster League Division 3 in the second phase of the season.

14 November 2013 SWORDS Gazette 31

Gazette

all-ireland all star

Club Noticeboard

Flynn honoured for season’s successes

fingallians

Fingallians’ Paul Flynn was one of the six

9pm.

All-Ireland winning Dubs who claimed a 2013 GAA GPA All-Star award, sponsored

by Opel, which were presented in Croke Park last week. Alongside Flynn, Bernard Brogan, Stephen Cluxton, Rory O’Carroll, Cian O’Sullivan and player of the year Michael Darragh Macauley were all honoured.

Picture: Paul Mohan / SPORTSFILE

football: fingal retain their place in AFL2

THE AGM will take place this Thurs-

in writing or by email to fingallians@

day, November 14, in the main hall at

gmail.com County semi-final of Scor na nOg on

third All-Star in a row.

Friday, November 22 at 7pm. This is

This equals Dublin legends Bar-

the GAA’s Irish culture talent com-

ney Rock, Tommy Drum and John

petition for U-17s and will involve a

O’Leary. Well done also to the Dublin

feast of Irish music, ceilí dancing,

squads who took another five foot-

step dancing, ballad groups, solo

ball and three hurling All-Stars on

singing, recitations, story telling,

Friday night.

etc. Be sure to come and support the

Well done to Cillian Power and Ciaran Murtagh who made it on to

Thank you to Sam Maguire who made a surprise guest appearance

Howard who made it on to both hurl-

at the club academy on Saturday

ing and football squads for 2014.

morning. Please log on to the club

Fingal Ravens St Finian’s  sport@gazettegroup.com

2-6 0-9

PLUNGED into a relegation play-off dogfight by Fingallians late upsurge in form in AFL2, Fingal Ravens snuck over the line in a real local derby showdown with St Finian’s to keep their spot in the senior ranks in front of a huge crowd at Rolestown.

Up the road in Lawless Park, Fins were closing out their season with a strong second half showing against St Peregrine’s to win 1-14 to 2-8, their

third successive win.

It was merely fulfilling a fixture after their wins over Naomh Mearnog and Ravens had seen them overcome a tricky season without recourse to the play-offs.

It left their two of their nearest of neighbours with their league survival on a knife-edge and both had moments when they felt the opportunity to take the result.

Ravens started brilliantly as Ciaran North netted an early goal, making it 1-2 to 0-1 within five minutes and they built on that initial impetus with Niall Tormey and Darren Daly

in dangerous form.

It put them 1-6 to 0-2 up at the break but, going down the hill, St Finian’s were a vastly different kettle of fish.

Scott Brennan kicked a couple of frees while Joe Green was causing a nuisance of himself in the full forward line.

But they were unable to take one of a couple of great goalscoring chances early in the second half with David Mitchell making from key interventions.

Five unanswered points, though, did put Finians in range with 17 minutes left on the clock with all

the momentum but there was only score to follow before injury-time and it went the hosts’ way.

Niall Tormey kept his nerve to fire home the critical penalty that reestablished a five-point gap with 12 minutes to go after Stephen McNally was adjudged to have foot-blocked after a flowing move.

With the pitch sticky and Ravens defending in numbers, Finians got little traction bar a couple of late points in injury time but it was too late to save their status and they will now play their football in AFL3 in 2014.

Facebook page for all the pictures.

were beaten in the championship

Members and players are asked to

final at the weekend. Our junior ladies

note that the club gym opening hours

team will play O’Toole’s this Friday at

to February 1, 2014, are as follows:

7.30pm in St Margaret’s in the Divi-

Mon - Fri: 6 to 9.30pm; Saturday: 3 to

sion 4 league final.

7pm and Sunday: 1 to 7pm.

Our senior footballers finished

In athletics, there will be the first

their league campaign v St Per-

meet and training race this Sunday,

egrine’s on Sunday in style with a

November 17 in Balheary at 10am for

win.

women. Anyone interested should

on Saturday, December 7. Nomina-

afl2 play-off

roimh chuile duine.

a double pat on the back to Shane

The awards night will take place

Ravens rule roost with derby victory

Fins’ participants. Beidh fáilte mór

the Dublin minor football squad but

Hard luck to the minor girls who

Fingal Ravens reached ahead of their local rivals to claim their place in AFL2 after the relegation play-off

Fingallians will host the Dublin

Congratulations to Paul Flynn on his

contact Dolores or Joe on 087 209 3621.

tions are now being taken for Club

Last orders for Christmas in

Person of the Year. Please forward

the club shop will be on Saturday,

your nomination to the secretary

December 7.

st finian’s Our play-off fixtures went against

The annual general meeting of

us this weekend with losses for the

the club will be held on Wednesday,

senior footballers (relegation), the

December 4 at 9pm.

U-21 footballers (C championship)

Nominations and motions must be

and the U-13 footballers (runners-

submitted to club secretary Frank

up play-off).

Egan by 9pm on November 13.

The next big fixture is for the

The lotto jackpot was €3,100 and

minor hurlers (Swords Gaels) on

the numbers drawn were 1, 6, 8 and

Thursday evening against St Vin-

22. There was no winner.

cent’s. The fixture is a play-off to decide who advances to the league final against Na Fianna. Throw-in is 7.30pm down in Fingallians.

The €50 winners were Mark James Ryan and Margaret Kane.

Nex t we e k’s j a c k p o t w i l l b e €3,200.

fingal ravens Well done to the senior team on

Hotel. Best of luck to all participants

their relegation play-off win against

who would greatly appreciate any

Finian’s, 2-6 to nine points. This

sponsorship contributions.

ensures Division 2 football for next year. The U-16s also had a good win against Erin’s Isle on Friday evening in the St Margaret’s tournament.

Strictly Come Dancing takes place Friday, November 29, in Kettle’s

Lotto numbers drawn were 21, 25, 26 and 28.

There was no winner. €20 prize to Patsy Kinsella, Marie Delaney and Paddy Kavanagh. Next week’s jackpot is €8,376.

FO R U P T O D A T E N E W s f o l l o w u s : www . f a c e b o o k . c o m / D u b l i n G a z ette N ew s p a p er s www .T W I T T E R . c o m / @ D u b l i n G a z ette

GazetteSPORT all of your swords sports coverage from page 27-31

chilled ambitions: Birr defeat sees Swords contest Leinster League Division 3 for rest of season P30

November 14, 2013

irish pride: Padraig Harrington at the Brian O’Driscoll testimonial P29

Fingal Raven’s Darren Daly in action against St Finian’s in their relegation play-off last weekend at Rolestown

Ravens remain in flight Relegation play-off derby sees Rolestown side retain place in AFL 2 against St Finian’s, to relief of Fingal manager, players and fans alike  stephen findlater

sport@gazettegroup.com

FINGAL Ravens’ boss Ian Donnelly admitted his overwhelming feeling of relief as his side scraped past local rivals St Finian’s 2-6 to 0-9 in Rolestown in their AFL Division 2 relegation playoff last Sunday morning.

The result sent Finian’s back to the third tier of league football while Ravens avoided the ignominy of a second successive relegation.

Speaking about the tie, Donnelly said it had been a tough 2012 for the club’s senior side.

“We weren’t expecting to be in this posi-

tion as the season started but with lads missing, being away and injured, we just didn’t have a good year,” he said.

“Today was like a cup final; it was all about winning. At least we finished on a high and avoided getting relegated for a second time in two years and stop the rot.”

His side had begun in great fashion, Ciaran Norton’s goal underpinning a 1-6 to 0-2 halftime lead. But the Rivervalley side fought back with five successive points to make it incredibly tight in the second half.

Niall Tormey’s 48th minute penalty, however, all but settled the tie and finally gave Donnelly and his crew some breathing space after a tense week in the build-up to the

derby.

His side, however, were in the best shape that they had been for some time with all of their top players available including All-Ireland winner Darren Daly “To be honest, we were planning without Buttsy [Daly] this year because of the way it worked out. He has established himself now with the Dubs; it was a case of if he could play, great. We had a run of three or four wins but lost five games by a point. Confidence dropped after those three wins when we were losing games we could be winning.

“I was nervous all week. I didn’t care who we were going to be playing. We had nine subs today while there were times when we

only had three or four subs during the season so it was great to have everyone out for this game. It’s an issue in every club with college lads travelling but a lot of teams out here in north County Dublin are probably hit a bit more.

He hopes that this near miss will serve as a spur for his side to be stronger in the coming year.

“Dropping to Division 2, I think some of the lads didn’t know how tough it was going to be but they know now and will be a bit more wary of what is ahead of them next year, the work rate and what is involved in winning games. This year was a big learning curve”