Swords by Dublin Gazette

Gazette SWORDS

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December 10-16, 2015

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helix panto stars and kids are full Big interview: of beans

YouTube and TV chef Donal Skehan is very busy – and cooking up even more ideas Page 16

Yeats fans: Literati gather at an eclectic exhibition celebrating artist’s legacy Page 10

A GROUP of local school children have won a ticket to theatrical stardom in Ireland’s only panto boot camp, and are now lighting up the stage in Jack and the Beanstalk at The Helix Theatre. The youngsters were among 200 hopefuls who were put through their paces at a special panto school this summer. Only top talents were picked to perform, and among them are Aisling Patterson, Poppy Harley, Jessica Malone, Isabella Hanlon, Emily Bolton, Andrew O’Sullivan and Eve Duffy. The young stars now have six weeks on the national stage as Jack and the Beanstalk runs at the Helix until Sunday, January 10. Picture: Iain White/Fennell Photography

sport Soccer:

Malahide United provide 10 to NDSL panel Page 32

Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

Girl’s ill-health to put vaccines in spotlight TV3 documentary to feature Swords teen, who believes illnesses relate to HPV course

 keith bellew A SWORDS girl, who has been battling a series of illnesses which her mother believes relate directly to the HPV vaccination, will feature in a TV3 documentary to be televised on

December 14. The vaccination in question is to prevent cervical cancer, and Kelly Power (17) claims symptoms of illhealth materialised almost immediately af ter she received it. Although no medical

evidence links Kelly’s condition with the vaccine, thousands of teenage girls worldwide have made similar ill-health claims in similar circumstances following the vaccination. A Department of Health spokesperson said that the

European Medicines Agency “has advised ... that available data does not warrant any change to the use of HPV vaccines”, and that the agency has begun a review “to clarify aspects of their safety profile”. Full Story on Page 6

2 SWORDS Gazette 10 December 2015

politics | SF candidate under fire for failure to make statement on RTE

O’Reilly condemns killing of McCabe FINGAL General Election candidate Louise O’Reilly (SF) has condemned the killing of Garda Jerry McCabe, following criticism over her failure to do so during a recent interview. During an interview on the Claire Byrne Show on RTE, O’Reilly was pressed about whether she felt the murder of Garda McCabe was a bad thing, but she did not answer the question. This week, O’Reilly told The Gazette: “The killing of Garda McCabe was unjustifiable and I condemn it unreservedly.” Detective Garda Jerry McCabe was killed in Adare, Co Limerick, on

 keith bellew kbellew@dublingazette.com

June 7, 1996, by members of the Provisional IRA during the attempted robbery of a post office van. Many have since criticised O’Reilly for failing to condemn the murder outright on the show. One such critic is Deputy Alan Farrell (FG), who said that it was “a chilling but timely reminder of why Sinn Fein is not fit to govern our country”. He said: “I want to state

my utter abhorrence that a person seeking election to Dail Eireann would not condemn the murder of a member of An Garda Siochana. “The murder of a member of An Garda Siochana is an attack on every man, woman and child in this State. Murder is murder. If you can not or will not condemn it, you support it.” Rival candidate Lorraine Clifford-Lee (FF) described the remarks O’Reilly made on the show as “disgusting”. She accused O’Reilly of insinuating that the people of Fingal don’t care about the murder of gardai, and added: “This

couldn’t be further from the truth. I know from engaging with people on the ground in Fingal that they are deeply concerned with the difficult job that gardai are expected to do, day in, and day out. “They recognise that gardai are under enormous pressure. Communities across Fingal were shocked following the murder of Garda Tony Golden in Louth, and there was an outpouring of grief in the area at the time,” she said, adding that O’Reilly’s comments were “nothing short of disgusting”. However, O’Reilly accused her opponents of using the issue for the sake

Louise O’Reilly (SF) has accused her General Election rivals of “political point-scoring” over the 1996 killing of Garda Jerry McCabe (right)

of political point-scoring. She said: “During the programme on Saturday, I was trying to make the point that all sides to the conflict had done wrong, and caused a lot of hurt. “It is an extremely difficult point to make when

rounded on by four others on the panel, two of whom are using the issue for political point-scoring. “Of course, local politicians in the area are using this opportunity to attack me for party-political pur-

poses. “I will continue with my job of doing my best to raise issues for the people of Dublin Fingal as I put myself before them and seek their support to represent them in the Dail,” said O’Reilly.

10 December 2015 SWORDS Gazette 3

malahide | have your say on proposal for facility at demesne

start ups

Business lessons by pupils

First steps taken to establish a dog park  keith bellew

THE first steps in establishing a designated dog park in Malahide Demesne were taken recently by Cllr Eoghan O’Brien (FF). Following representations from dog owners in Malahide, Cllr O’Brien called on Fingal County Council chief executive Paul Reid to designate an area within Malahide Demesne as a dog park where dog owners can allow their pets off their leads. The current parks and open space bye-laws require that no dogs shall be permitted in the parks unless they are “on a leash or under adequate control”. In order for a dog park

to be established, it will be necessary for the bye-laws relating to the control of dogs to be amended. A spokesperson for Fingal County Council said changing or amending bye-laws is a statutory process, and the proposed amendments will be brought to the planning and strategic infrastructure strategic policy committee meeting on January 27. They said: “On foot of this, these amendments must proceed to the council meeting in order to proceed to public consultation. Following this public consultation process, observations and submissions on these amendments will be brought back to the full council meeting for

adoption.” Cllr O’Brien said the key thing for those who want to see a dog park established in Malahide is to make submissions to the council during the public consultation process. He said: “What I’m taking from the response is that the council is broadly supportive of areas designated as off-leash areas, or certain areas of certain parks having designated off-leash times.” He added that while it was very rare, he knew of incidents where dogs which were not on leashes had caused injury or upset to people, and a designated area where dogs could be let off their leashes would prevent such incidents.

winning eye for design

THE National Skills Competition winners were presented with their prizes at the Gresham Hotel recently, following the 43rd WorldSkills competition that was held in Sao Paulo, Brazil in August. Team Ireland won two gold medals and eight medallions for excellence, with the team finishing in 11th position out of 59 countries. Claire Delaney from Malahide was among those awarded, thanks to her skill in visual merchandising. The competition is organised and coordinated by IrelandSkills on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills. In 2017, the 44th WorldSkills competition will be held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and competitors will be selected from the 2016 and 2017 National Skills competition. Picture: Conor McCabe

HAVING researched and resourced various products, Fingal’s youngest entrepreneurs are running businesses as part of the National Student Enterprise Awards’ competition. Now in its 15th year, a record number of 2,600 students from 24 secondary schools and eight primary schools in Fingal are competing for a place in the county finals in March 2016. Secondar y schools involved include Balbriggan Community College; Blakestown Community School, Blanchardstown; Castleknock College; Colaiste Choilm, Swords; Har tstow n Community School, Blanchardstown; Fingal Community College, Swords; and St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rush.

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FastNews

Cllr Murphy throws political hat into ring for next General Election BALBRIGGAN councillor Tony Murphy (Ind) has formally announced his bid for a Dail seat in the next General Election, with the support of a number of independent public representatives. He joins the ever growing ranks of contenders for the four seats in Fingal that will be up for grabs next year. Those who have already announced their candidacy are incumbents Deputy Alan Farrell (FG), Minister for Children Dr James Reilly (FG), Deputy Brendan Ryan

people | swords man scoops national award

Matt’s delight with ‘top volunteer’ win  keith bellew

(Lab) and Deputy Clare Daly (Ind). Those vying to unseat them are Fianna Fail candidates Lorraine Clifford-Lee and Senator Darragh O’Brien, as well as candidates Terry Kelleher (AAA), Louise O’Reilly (SF) and Dr Roslyn Fuller (Ind).

Ten cherry trees planted at St Catherine’s Estate, Rush TEN cherry blossom trees have been planted in St Catherine’s Estate, Rush, as part of the Intergenerational Environment Project, originally launched in 2014. The project is the brainchild of local resident Mary Ryan, which saw 10 of the trees planted in 2014, the ownership and care of which were handed to residents of the estates and children from St Catherine’s National School. Each tree had three nominated children to care for it, with many of the children able to see their tree from their homes. The trees will once again be adopted by the children of St Catherine’s National School, and will be cared for by them with the support of St Catherine’s Estate Residents’ Association.

SWORDS man Matt Cullen has been named Volunteer of the Year at the Volunteer Ireland Awards for his dedication to Swords Tidy Towns. Cullen was the winner in the Christine Buckley Volunteer of the Year category, named after the founder of the Aislinn support and education group for survivors of industrial schools in Ireland. He received the award in recognition of his work with Swords Tidy Towns over the past 10 years. Despite facing a serious medical condition – idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a condition that causes scarring of the lungs – he continues to be influential in the work of the group, with his fellow volunteers highlighting his positive attitude as vital to their work. He joined Swords Tidy Towns 10 years ago, where he has been instrumental in the success of the group. Cullen prides himself on being inclusive and encourages people from every age and background to get involved in the group. His contribution has been invaluable to projects such as the revamp of the local Garda station, the rejuvenation of the Swords Well, and the development of a polytunnel project for young people with Youthreach. A father of two originally from The Liberties, Cullen has been volunteering in various initiatives for

almost 40 years. When he moved into his first home in Finglas with his wife, Theresa, he knocked on every single door in the estate – more than 200 – to begin his first residents’ committee. Five years ago, Cullen was diagnosed with the incurable condition idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. However, not only has this failed to dampen his volunteering spirit, he now also gives his time to the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association (ILFA). Cullen is a keen artist and this year he held the first solo exhibition of his artwork, with the proceeds going to ILFA. He also spoke at the European Respiratory Society International Congress on behalf of ILFA this year. He was nominated for the award by Niamh Treacy, secretary of Swords Tidy Towns, who said: “No matter how painstaking the task or how many times graffiti has been washed off the wall, Matt is always positive. “He is always ready with a smile and a joke, encouraging members new and old, making difficult jobs easier and tedious jobs fun. “His positive attitude and example keeps us moving forward in our goals for the town. He is the smiling embodiment of what a citizen should be,” she said. Speaking to The Gazette about the award, Cullen said he had no idea that he had been nominated, and said it was a wonderful surprise.

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

Ken Duffy, chairperson of Swords Tidy Towns, with Volunteer of the Year 2015 Matt Cullen at Swords Garda Station – one of the local revamp projects that Cullen has been involved with

He added: “It’s fantastic. From the point of view of having this illness, it’s almost therapeutic doing work with Swords Tidy Towns – they’re a great source of support and encouragement. “I like gardening and it’s great to be able to give

back using your skills. I love socialising and meeting people, and you’ve got people from different cultures, a variety of different nationalities involved.” He said that after the blow of his diagnosis and the difficulty coming to terms and coping with

his illness, the past year has been very uplifting for him, having had his first solo art exhibition, being one of the few patients to speak at the European Respiratory Congress in Amsterdam in September, and now winning this award.

10 December 2015 SWORDS Gazette 5

Actors taking part in a 2012 production of The Promise – an ambitious musical by local man Paul Redmond

arts | local man’s ambitious proposal

Musical plans to highlight freedom

 keith bellew LOCAL man Paul Redmond is calling on the men of Ireland and Fingal, in particular, to get involved in a musical project to commemorate the fight for Irish freedom. The retired 20-year veteran of the Dublin Fire Brigade recently released his song, Come Men of Erin, on YouTube and is looking to recruit 50 men to sing and take part in a music video for the song. Come Men of Erin was the opening song in a musical written by Redmond, entitled The Promise, which had a five-night run in The Helix in 2012. Redmond is looking to raise the funds necessary to take The Promise on tour, and is hoping that a music video for Come Men of Erin can help him to do this.

Speaking to The Gazette, he said this has been 15 years in the making and his vision is to secure funding to turn The Promise into Ireland’s answer to The Phantom of the Opera, or Les Miserables. He said: “It’s a romantic period musical drama, set in the early 1800s in Fingal. What we’re trying to do is keep it alive, and get it onto the international stage. “Once we do that, it would create a readymade tourist trail for all of Fingal and therefore bring millions [of euro] back to Fingal, and employment as well. It’s sitting there, and just needs to be acted on. “I want to put together an Irish tour for The Promise. To do that, I need to raise approximately €600,000. It’s a huge show; due to the

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‘I need to raise approximately €600,000 ... What I’m trying to do is get €1 from 600,000 people.’

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Paul Redmond

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economic climate, venture capital [grants] are like hens’ teeth at the moment. What I’m trying to do is get €1 from 600,000 people,” said Redmond. He added that they are looking to get this money through the planned music video and, to this end, are trying to assemble a 50-man male choir with a view to shooting the video at Malahide Castle over Christmas. More than 20 men and a

local film crew have come on board, so far. Redmond said: “Because the song is such a generic song, it covers all Irish men and women all across the world who have fought for what freedom means to them, whether it be political, religious, educational, nationalistic, or whatever. “It transcends all Irish people, and that undying spirit we have for freedom. You will be able to download it for €0.99. If we can do that worldwide, that then pays for the musical to be put on around the country,” he said. For further information, see www.facebook. com/The-Promise-Musical. Those interested in being a part of the video can contact Redmond by emailing dpredmond@ eircom.net.

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don’s dublin Wordy place that keeps spotlight on Ireland’s best writers For a city that has given the world so much fine literature, the Dublin Writers’ Museum tells a story through its collection of letters, books and personal possessions of many great writers. It was set up in 1991 and with an interesting, chronological layout it is easy to follow the development of Irish writing from the late 17th century to Samuel Beckett who died in 1989. The building, at 18 Parnell Square, dates back to 1780 when Lord Farnham was its first occupant. It changed hands a few times until George Jameson (of the Jameson distilling family) bought the house in 1891. Over the years, he made major refurbishments, including the creation of the wonderful Gallery of Writers on the first floor. In the first room you can find out about the beginnings of Irish poetry and storytelling with the emergence of Swift, Oliver Goldsmith and Richard Brinsley Sheridan whose play The Rivals

Kiva Murphy and her daughter, Kelly Power (inset), who features in a TV3 documentary: Cervical

gave the world the word malapropism. There is a

Vaccine: Is It Safe? Kelly’s health problems will be examined in the programme

unique document with Jonathan Swift’s signature

health | local’s belief hpc vaccine affected her

and a first edition of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The second room concentrates on works from the Irish Literary Revival at the end of the 19th century. The opening of the Abbey Theatre in 1904 was a pivotal moment with its productions of plays by playwrights WB Yeats, JM Synge and Sean O’Casey and there are many original programmes from the time. The signed copy of James Joyce’s Ulysses is worth the visit for any Joycean fan. Upstairs in the gallery there are fine portraits and glass cabinets with letters, papers and other personal items. The telephone that Samuel

Swords girl’s illnesses in TV3 documentary  keith bellew

Beckett had in his Paris apartment that allowed him chose whether to speak to a caller or not is quirky. There is the piano that Joyce played, and the chair that GF Handel sat on when conducting Messiah at the Great Music Hall in Fishamble Street in 1642. The museum is a popular visitor attraction and it’s easy to see why. It’s a wordy place.

Don Cameron

www.donsdublin.wordpress.com

Dublin Writers’ Museum, at 18 Parnell Square, follows the development of Irish writing from the late 17th century to Samuel Beckett

A LOCAL girl, who has been battling a string of debilitating illnesses which her mother believes to be a direct result of the HPV Gardasil vaccination, is to take part in a television documentary on the subject. The vaccination in question is to prevent cervical cancer, and 17-yearold Kelly Power from Swords received her first vaccination when she was 12 years old, and another two the following year. There is still no medical evidence to link Kelly’s condition with Gardasil; however, its use has been discontinued in Denmark and is the subject of countless legal actions in the US, Australia and in Ireland. Thousands of girls

worldwide are suffering similar symptoms, in similar circumstances, and strongly believe that it is as a direct result of taking the HPV vaccine Gardasil. Speaking to The Gazette, Kelly said she began to feel symptoms of illness straight away: “From the start I was getting chronic headaches, feeling pain around my body, and chronic fatigue. I was just constantly tired all the time, trying to sleep all the time, and it just wasn’t getting any better.” In the years since she first got the vaccine, she has contracted a number of different illnesses. She said: “I have an underactive thyroid disease [hypothyroidism], a chronic pain disease, chronic fatigue syndrome,

Lyme Carditis – which is affecting my heart- and chronic headaches. It’s just like a never ending list of things.” She added that she has recently begun to develop discolouration, coldness and tingling in her fingertips, which are symptoms of Raynaud’s Disease. Kelly has also been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease and was given epidurals to stop the pain. She said this has had a huge impact on her life, preventing her from doing many of the things she once loved to do. “Sports, Gaelic, soccer, basketball ... In school, I had an amazing attendance up to then [the vaccines], [but] I had to leave school; I’m out of school two or three years now,” she said. Her mother, Kiva Mur-

phy, is one of a number of parents of girls in the same situation as Kelly, who have founded the advocacy group, Reactions and Effects of Gardasil Resulting in Extreme Trauma (REGRET). Speaking to The Gazette, she said the patient information leaflet on Gardasil states that these symptoms were noted during trials of the vaccine. However, she said this information was not provided to parents. She said: “The HSE did not put it into the bag of information they gave us with the consent form. There was no chance of them saying these lifechanging effects could happen.” A spokesperson from the Department of Health said the benefits of HPV vaccines continue to out-

weigh the known side effects. The spokesperson said: “The European Medicines Agency has advised healthcare professionals that available data does not warrant any change to the use of HPV vaccines. “The agency has also commenced a review of the HPV vaccine ‘to further clarify aspects of their safety profile’, although the agency points out that this review ‘does not question that the benefits of HPV vaccines outweigh their risks’. Ireland is participating in the review.” The issue is the subject of a TV3 documentary, in which Kelly will feature: Cervical Vaccine: Is It Safe?. The programme airs on Monday, December 14 at 10pm on TV3.

10 December 2015 SWORDS Gazette 7

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children scheme | national transport authority requests review Pupils’ art on show at launch ART work from students of Holy Family SNS in River Valley and St Cronan’s SNS in Brackenstown were exhibited as part of the recent launch of the Dublin Bus Children’s Art Calendar 2016. The artwork of Jessica Spencer Johnson (sixth class), Caoimhe Duignan (fifth class), Nazar Elnemmawi (fourth class) from Holy Family, SNS, along with Carrie-Anne O’Rouke O’Sullivan (fourth class) from St Cronan’s, were among 48 pieces of colourful paintings on display at a special exhibition to launch this year’s calendar. The pieces, created by primary school children from 25 schools across Dublin, are the result of Dublin Bus’s annual children’s art competition.

Proposal for cycleway hits a road bump  keith bellew

THE Sutton-Malahide pedestrian and cycle route has run into a serious hurdle, following a meeting with the National Transport Authority (NTA). The NTA has requested Fingal County Council to review a number of significant design aspects, including the width of the proposed coastal cycleway between Sutton and Malahide, in order to ensure compliance with the minimum standards for a greenway.

The NTA has also advised that future funding will not be available for the section of cycleway between Malahide and Swords, as this section of greenway does not form part of the National East Coast Trail (N5) from Rosslare to Carlingford. The review will necessitate further discussions with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) before a revised preliminary design can be completed and submitted to An Bord Pleanala.

Council official Liam Coughlan said that most of the work is already done so the delay won’t be huge, and the project is still a top priority as it is an integral part of the wider Fingal tourism strategy. Cllr David Healy (GP) tabled a motion, which was unanimously agreed, to prioritise the section of cycleway between Malahide and Sutton. He said it was clear that the overall route had a number of difficult planning problems, but the section in question

Plans to link Sutton and Malahide (above) with a cyle route have hit a setback, with the National Transport Authority seeking a review of a number of design aspects to the proposal. Picture: Failte Ireland

actually had very few. “We don’t want the rest of it slowed down, but we want this section to be taken forward as a priority so it can be put in as a single application,” he said. Cllr Eoghan O’Brien (FF) said it was disappointing news and while

the council would not give a definite timeline for how long the revision and resubmission of plans will take, he imagines it would be a good few months. He added that he was also disappointed by the decision of the NTA not to provide funding for the

project in the future. He said: “This is disappointing, because it would be very positive for cycle tourism between Swords and Malahide, and you would eventually be talking about Swords Castle and that, so I think it’s very shortsighted of the NTA.”

10 December 2015 SWORDS Gazette 9

10 SWORDS Gazette 10 December 2015

Gazettegallery

| Exhibition to celebrate birth date of wb Yeats

Cast and welded bronze by John Coll

Catherine O’Riordan and Jessica Imhoff. Pictures: Stephen Fleming Photography

Gathering for Lonely Impulse to Delight S

O FINE Art Editions joined the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the birth of William Butler Yeats recently with the opening of A Lonely Impulse of Delight exhibition at its Anne Street gallery, which features original works from Ireland’s top writers and artists.

John Sibbery

Inspired by the poetry of WB Yeats, works included in exhibition are drawn from John Banville, Colm Toibin, Edna O’Brien, Paul Muldoon, Eavan Boland, Donald Teskey, Hughie O’Donoghue, Richard Gorman, Martin Gale, John Behan, Lars Nyberg, Diana Copperwhite, Amelia

Peter Fallon and Senator Susan O’ Keeffe (Lab)

Stein, Michael Canning, and Barbara Rae. The exhibition also includes items of historic and artistic interest from Cuala Press, which was set up in 1908 by Elizabeth and Lilly Yeats. The show will tour in Ireland and internationally, starting in Sligo.

Kate Betts

Declan Ronan and Eleanor Kelly

Kate Lawlor and Dairine McCafferty

10 December 2015 SWORDS Gazette 11

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swordsGazettegallery | youngsters put their skills to the

Michelle and Gracie Hennessy

Shauna Byrne

Leah McCormack and Aislinn Breen

Zoe Blackall gets ready to tinkle the ivories with a skilfully played tune. Pictures: Stephen Fleming Photography

10 December 2015 SWORDS Gazette 13

test as they face first heat of talent show ahead of the upcoming final

Robert Duff

Malahide Music and Drama Society’s Stewart Bourke, Therese Farrell and Martin Brennan

Ciara Nitz gives her all

Ben Connolly

Malahide’s got some real stars A

RANGE of talents was put to the test at Malahide Community School recently during the first round of Malahide’s Got Talent. Whether they sang, danced, played musical instruments, or used combinations of these skills at the same time, the young hopefuls impressed judges with their skills. Despite their tender years, the young locals displayed some great skills with their chosen talents, as all vied to continue on with the talent search, all for a place at the upcoming grand final in the Grand Hotel next January 31.

Caoimhe Smith

Sophie Crinion

Zara Crinion is ready to strum a great tune

14 Gazette 10 December 2015

Gazette

diary dublinlife Oceans of fun at Imaginosity IRELAND’S only interactive children’s museum for those under nine years, Imaginosity, is gearing up for Santa’s Science Lab. The little ones can join the Imaginosity elves as they experiment and conjure up festive workshops in the lab in the Plaza in Sandycove. Santa will visit Imaginosity on December 19 for one day only, to meet everyone and get his delivery list prepared. Tickets are €4 in addition to Imaginosity standard admission rates, and each child will leave with a small gift following their chat with Santa. Tickets can be booked by calling 01-2176130. Oceans of Fun with Imaginosity will take place on Sunday, December 20, in the National Maritime Museum of Ireland as part of this year’s

Dun Laoghaire Maritime Christmas Festival. This interactive family experience will include craft-making, storytelling and lots of Christmassy science. Tickets are €5 on Eventbrite. Having recently enjoyed a day out there, The Diary can highly recommend Imaginosity for a couple of hours of fun.

Guinness toasts its many fans THE Guinness Storehouse recently marked its 15th anniversary and celebrated the 14 million visitors from 25 countries it has welcomed in that time. The iconic St James’s Gate site first opened its doors to visitors in December 2000 following a €42m redevelopment of the 113year-old former fermentation plant.

Former US President Bill Clinton was the first in a long line of famous faces to visit the Storehouse in its inaugural year, other famous faces who have visited since include Queen Elizabeth II, Chris Rock, Will Ferrell, Susan Sarandon, Dermot O’Leary, Adam Sandler, Pink, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Conan O’Brien, The Coronas, The Script and Chris O’Dowd. “Our first 15 years have been truly amazing with many highlights but winning the title of Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards in September is a particularly special one,” said managing director Paul Carty.

Christmas tree dilemma solved THE Christmas tree

Drummers Ronan Brady and Maire Dee get into the swing and are suspended in the pint-shaped centre of the seven-floor visitor attraction. Picture: Andres Poveda

conundrum of whether to go for a real, authentic tree with its beautiful scent and texture or invest in the convenience of an artificial tree that will last for many Christmases to come may

have been solved by the Garden House, Airfield Estate, Dundrum, which stocks a wide selection of both. Bryan Maher, founder of The Garden House, says you cannot have enough lights on a Christmas tree. He makes a number of useful suggestions about how to dress your tree to best effect. In addition, he throws some light on the important issue of lights, again providing many useful tips on how best to use and maximise their effect, including the lights’ tone and those that can be timed to turn

on and off at a certain time each day. For a more comprehensive insight into how to make the most of your Christmas tree this Christmas see www.thegardenhouse.ie or call The Garden House, Airfield Estate, Dundrum on 01 531 2010.

bus users get info for christmas IRELAND’S second National Workplace Radio station 103.2 Dublin City FM and Dublin Bus will work together in the run-up to Christmas to ensure commuters have service

updates about buses in the city. Chief inspectors from Dublin Bus will be located in the traffic control centre at Dublin City Council from where the Livedrive Programme is broadcast. Mick Hanley, chief executive of Dublin City FM, said that while the station had been giving traffic commuters upto-the-minute information each day for over 10 years, this would be the first time information relevant to bus commuters will be broadcast, including the Nitelink services in the city.

10 December 2015 Gazette 15

Gazette

feature A DAY IN THE LIFE: Suzanne jackson likes to dine out with loved ones

A busy blogger who is always on the go  Keith Bellew

IRELAND’s leading fashion and beauty blogger Suzanne Jackson of So Sue Me is one busy woman. From running her successful blog to starting her own beauty brand, r unning workshops, maintaining a large social media following and public appearances, Jackson somehow manages to squeeze it all in. The Gazette caught up with her to discuss what a day in her hectic life entails. She has just returned from fundraising for charities close to her heart, Dogs Aid and Dogs Trust and says: “I’ve been raising money for this in the run-up to Christmas. There are always a lot of unwanted dogs around this time so they need the extra support.” As for a typical day in her life? Well, there isn’t one. She usually starts each day the same way: “I get up in the morning and I always have breakfast, which gets me ready for the day and gives me energy. I work from home – I did have an office but I just felt that I was more productive at home.” Jackson then sets about organising her emails: “I’ll sit down and spend about an hour on emails. I have a PA who goes through them for me and marks

important ones that I need to get back to. Then I will get myself ready and go about my day. “Generally speaking, I could be going to an appearance so I’ve got to get full glam; I’ll do my hair and make-up and then travel to whatever event I’m appearing at. “I’ll then usually spend about an hour there, just meeting with other guests or doing a talk depending on the type of event.” The later part of the day usually sees Jackson attending another event. “I would usually have a launch party to attend, like the launch of a new make-up palette for example, or a film premier.” Last week, she was a judge at Ms Universe Ireland and before that she appeared as a guest host on TV3’s Xpose, which she loved even though it was somewhat nerve wracking to present one of the country’s most popular shows. “I was really nervous because it’s a show I’ve always watched, and I’ve always looked up to the girls there and admired it for years.” Later in the day, Jackson blogs and manages her social media. “When I come home in the evening, I blog. I’ll probably have my dinner around six and then blog from around seven till 11 at night. This involves

Fashion and beauty blogger Suzanne Jackson

scheduling Facebook posts for the next day and writing blog posts. Then I check my emails one more time and go to bed!”

She rarely gets a chance to switch off, especially with the number of social media followers she has, particularly on Snapchat

where she gets about 65,000 views a snap. “It’s so immediate, it’s so interactive and it’s a more personal way to

connect with followers.” She likes to unwind by eating out with her friends and family. Her favourite spots are Siam Thai in

Malahide and Blue Bar in Skerries. “I manage to fit it in, I have a very active lifestyle. I’m always out and about.”

Gazette

16 Gazette 10 December 2015

dublinlife

the big interview

donal skehan: perfects his recipe for success

A brilliant year ends with a fresh take on lifestyle  aisling kennedy

DONAL Skehan is, in many ways, not your stereotypical chef. He is, however, one who is ahead of the curve when it comes to bringing new ways of cooking to his fans.

He does this through his YouTube channel, which has amassed a quarter of a million subscribers in a few years. He is also a TV chef, author and all-round hard worker who, in addition to travelling around Ireland and

abroad for work, married his Swedish sweetheart Sofie Larsson in June. Skehan took time out this week to talk to the Gazette about how he maintains work-life balance, and how the first year of married life is going. “Married life is

great; it’s going really well. It’s our first Christmas together as a married couple, which will be great. I don’t think much has changed but it’s been really lovely and it’s a lovely time to kind of step back and look at the year we’ve had. It’s been a really brilliant year. “We will be doing a Swedish Christmas this year. We do it year-on year-off, and so this year is Sophie’s year. They do a different type of Christmas dinner in Sweden because they celebrate Christmas on the evening of Decem- Enjoying the great outdoors at Howth with Max, Donal Skehan is planning to expand ber 24. They have pickled his career horizons in 2016 fish, Christmas ham and a kind of fishy potato dish; every weekend right from that we have such beauti- continues to be. It’s such we’re also going to do a the summer up until ful landscape on our door an amazing world though, traditional Irish Christmas Christmas. I was doing all step so I really enjoyed and we’ve just shot a dinner on Christmas Day sorts and not getting the that side of it...I’m not an documentary about the so I’ll get my Irish Christ- time to eat right or exer- extreme sports person Food Tube phenomenon mas dinner after all.” cise. I wasn’t getting the but I do exercise on a for RTE 2 as part of their Skehan admits that at time to stop and breathe regular basis now.” Reality Bites series.” times he has pushed him- deeply. So the cookbook S ke h a n h a s a l s o His fame on the interself to the limits, and says came out of that. become a global internet net has led him to think this time last year life was “We looked at how sensation on his YouTube about capitalising on the not quite as calm as it is we could translate the channel, with over a quar- online market. “In Irenow. “At the end of last cookbook to TV, and ter of a million subscrib- land, there’s only about year, I came to a point that’s when we came up ers. Jamie Oliver signed a handful of us creating where I knew everything with idea of my TV pro- him up to his FoodTube content and making it a needed a bit of a shake gramme, Cook Eat Burn. channel, which is a first business online from a up. I knew I wasn’t eat- The interesting thing is for any Irish chef. Oliver YouTube perspective. ing the right foods and I how you match exercise has since praised SkeI don’t think Ireland wasn’t exercising prop- with food.” han’s strong work ethic has even got into that rouerly, and I think that was Cook Eat Burn, run- and ambition. tine of watching YouTube the catalyst for me.” ning as a six-part series on “I’m separate to Jamie’s the way the Americans This led him to take RTE, sees Skehan take on Food Tube now; because or the British would. It’s stock of his life and physical challenges such I’ve grow n so many sub- an interesting place to inspired his recently as mountain climbing, scribers we moved on by be, and we’re planning to released book, Fresh. kayaking and coasteer- ourselves. We were with move to LA to pursue a “Fresh is a cookbook ing, during which he got him for the last two years bit of the YouTube side that is all about healthy to see some of Ireland’s though and he’s been fan- of things in February for eating. Last year, I was most beautiful scenery. tastic to us. He’s been a a few months. So watch out working pretty much “We forget as Irish people really great support and this space!”

10 December 2015 Gazette 17

cinema P22

asdfsdaf P27 music P23

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



Gazette

style P18

Pets can you be cosmo’s whole universe?

Ballet Ireland lead dancers Kesi Olley-Dorey and James Loffler during final rehearsals for the much loved and witty ballet Coppelia Picture: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

opera: how one man’s solution to loneliness influenced others

It’s a doll’s life for Coppelia

 keith bellew news@gazettegroup.com

BALLET Ireland’s edgy new take on the 19th century comic ballet, Coppelia, will visit Draiocht, Blanchardstown, on December 18 as part of its national tour. Coppelia tells the story of a dollmaker, who creates an incredibly lifelike doll to ease his loneliness. The result is a doll so realistic that everyone who encounters her thinks she’s a living woman, and one unfortunate young man falls in love with her. In this new production, the action takes place at a 1950s country fair, and Coppelia is the face of a cosmetics line.

Speaking to the Gazette, director Anne Maher says Ballet Ireland always attempts to give its own spin to any production, to make it easier for audiences to identify with. She says the reasoning behind setting it in the 1950s was manifold. One reason was that the feminist movement was very strong in the 1950s, and the heroine of the piece, Swanhilda, is “very much a feisty and independent woman so we thought that would be a great place to set her. We were looking around for different ideas and this sort of jumped out”. She says the idea worked really well. “Musically, the theme is around some of the more traditional pieces of music in the original score; folk danc-

es like the mazurka or the csardas. “Obviously, the large sections of the score have stayed in their original format, but then we’ve taken some parts and tinkered with them a little. “Some of them are set in a more bluegrass style, and because those are originally folk tunes, they transcend beautifully into another kind of idiom. “It worked fantastically well on a musical level and also stylistically, and then from the perspective of the actual libretto and storyline.” She says the most challenging aspect of the show was not in the adaptation or the performance, but containing their ambitions for the show, so they do not exceed the budget “That would be the biggest thing.

We had such fine and fantastically creative collaborators working with us on the production, it was all about containing the amount of ambition that they had to manage as much as we could within the budget that we had,” she says. The show has been on tour for a number of weeks now, performing at numerous venues throughout the country. Maher says it has been very well received. The best part of it, is the audiences really seem to “get it”, she says. Ballet Ireland’s Coppelia will visit Draiocht, Blanchardstown, on December 18 as part of its national tour. For more information visit www. draiocht.com

Dublin Gazette Newspapers has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for lost and abandoned dogs. Cosmo came to us as a puppy and has been in a home before but has struggled hugely with being left alone and his previous family just didn’t have the time to meet his needs. His devoted team of carers at Dogs Trust have done so much to help him and now he’s ready to find a home to call his own. It’s all he’s ever wanted. If you live in an adult-only home with someone there the vast majority of the time, then Cosmo could be the most perfect companion for you. He will need a little help to learn to settle in to a home again but when he does, you will see just how loving and wonderful he truly is. If you think you can offer Cosmo a loving home, please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website www. dogstrust.ie. You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_ie.

OUT&ABOUT

STYLE

Littlewoods Spot mesh prom dress €35

Gazette

18 Gazette 10 December 2015

River Island Turquoise gem statement necklace €26

River Island Black bead embellished crop top €65

Debenhams and Shaws

A good foundation is the key to being well-put together Any good stylist worth her salt will say that good undergarments are the foundation to a well-put together look. Now that it’s party dress season, a great strapless bra is a must. Eve’s bra is a great solution to discrete dressing. The bra has been updated too. The new wing bra is under-wired for extra support and the adhesive wings are stronger, again for extra support. While finding the right size bra is often half the battle, tricky necklines, plunging backs, falling straps, and poking underwires are just some of the problems every woman faces at one time or another Eve’s Silicone Bra is the perfect solution. Comprising just cups, it’s a skin friendly selfadhesive silicone bra perfectly attachable to the skin. A strapless and backless bra only consisting of a couple of self-adhesive silicone bra cups. It’s perfect for wearing under any sheer clothing, with backless dresses, party dresses and low-cut necks. The adhesive is extremely strong and can be worn up to 200 times. The bra can be machine washed but it’s recommended to hand wash it for a longer life. Eve’s Bra is available in Shaws and Debenhams nationwide and costs €29.95 . The new Eve’s Bra is in stores from December 1.

The

LBD  jessica maile

Littlewoods Fringe hem tunic €53

Eve’s Silicone Bra is €29.95 and available at

River Island Black suede lace-up heels €85

the little black dress. Simple and timeless and a staple of the holiday party season. Some say it’s the safe route but I say it can be original and, the best part, it usually can be worn year round. Whether it’s sparkly, fringed, laced or just a simple mini dress, the sky is the limit here. You can always add a shot of colour with some bright heels or a quirky clutch.

Penneys Ruffle front sandal €19

Rochelle Humes Cape mini dress €80

Penneys Jump suit

10 December 2015 Gazette 19

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20 Gazette 10 December 2015

OUT&ABOUT

FOOD&DRINK

BITESIZEDNEWS

These cupcakes will go down a treat

Enjoy tree-mendous Christmas cupcakes THIS week, we have a delicious (and very timely) recipe for Christmas Tree Cupcakes, which makes 10-12 cupcakes, topped off with buttercream. These cupcakes use that timeless Irish kitchen staple, Siucra sugar; for further information, see www.facebook. com/siucraireland, Instagram.com/SiucraIreland or www.siucra.ie. They’ll look great on any Christmas table – but they won’t stay there for long, once hungry eyes spot them!

Cupcakes Ingredients 125g Siucra light golden brown sugar 125g butter, at room temperature 2 medium free-range eggs 150g self-raising flour 3 tbsps milk 2 tsps vanilla extract Preparation • Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan. • Line a bun tin with 12 paper cases. • Beat together the butter and Siucra light golden brown sugar until pale and fluffy. • Beat in the eggs, one at a time. • Mix in the vanilla extract, flour and milk. • Divide the mixture equally between the 12 cases. • Bake for 15-20 minutes, then cool on a wire rack before piping on the buttercream. Buttercream Ingredients 450g Siucra icing sugar 225g butter, at room temperature 3 tspn vanilla extract Green food colouring Sugar decorations: silver balls, stars, circles Preparation • Beat the butter and Siucra icing sugar together. Add the vanilla extract and beat again. It takes a few minutes to turn into buttercream. • Add the green food colouring gradually until you have the desired colour. • Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a large star nozzle. • Pipe onto each cupcake, starting wide at the bottom and getting narrower as you go up. Try to do this in one movement. • Place a star decoration on top and coloured sugar decorations or silver balls around the tree.

The Elephant’s Ear Fusion restaurant

Landscape Road, D14 Come to Churchtown create a comfortable

NEW restaurants are popping up all over Dublin lately, but they’re usually in the city centre. For those of us who live and work in suburbia, it’s like manna from heaven when a new place opens its doors, especially if they are offering something exciting and that is on a par, if not surpasses, what you can get in the city centre. That is the case with The Elephant’s Ear, in Churchtown. Strange name, I know, but nothing is strange about the food – exciting, inventive, colourful and downright tasty are just some of the adjectives that spring to mind. Just above the Glenside Pub, this place has been given a complete overhaul and the soft, muted greys, along with the boothed seating and soft lighting, attribute to the relaxed atmosphere. The maitre-d said they were still working on the music, which is a bit of a mishmash, but if this

and you could be singing the praises of The Elephant’s Ear, above the Glenside pub. Soft, muted tones space – all the better to leave you receptive to the dishes on offer, which certainly don’t disappoint.

The Picky Eater is the only thing they haven’t got right after five weeks in operation, then they are doing well. And, when it comes to the food, they have got everything spot-on. They encourage sharing in this place, and with a selection of “naughty nibbles” or light bites on offer, as well as straight-up starters and mains, there is a big selection to choose from. I would recommend you go for tapas-style dining, and choose from the many delicious small plates on offer.

Taste explosion The fish tacos (€7) were an absolute taste explosion in the mouth, with plenty of sprightly garnish and a dash of lime thrown in for good measure. This dish had us singing, and we couldn’t wait for what was to come. Tuna nachos (€10) with seared tuna fish and plenty of guacamole, were equally as exciting, as

the tacos just came alive on the plate and on the tongue. A gorgonzola dip (€6) with toasted breads had us licking the last droplets from the bowl. Next up were chicken flatbreads (€8), with chicken that felt like it was torn straight from a roasted bird, and came with plenty of peanuts and some satay sauce lashed on top. My sister decided to try a larger plate, just to see what could be expected there, and in the name of research! She loved her pan-roasted rump of lamb with sumac and pomegranate molasses (€15), but in comparison to the smaller plates, there was none ... A dessert combo gave us a sample of a delicious crumble with a crunchy and creamy honeycomb ice cream. A winter fruits jelly and ice ream combo was equally good. The wine list is great too, featuring some adventurous new wines. We chose a Spanish

The colourful dishes were great value, with a taste to match their attractive visuals. Picture: The Picky Eater

Rueda (€26). All in all, this place was a joy from start to finish, with a great team of staff on the floor and in the

kitchen. They also offer brunch and lunch with much of the same menu on offer. I couldn’t recommend it more.

Conclusion AT LAST, someone has remembered the suburbs do exist, and The Elephant’s Ear (at 20 Landscape Road, Churchtown, Dublin 14; tel 089 608 0556) proves a delectable delight, thanks to decent dishes and excellent accompaniments.

10 December 2015 Gazette 21

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22 Gazette 10 December 2015

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

the night before: entertaining, but muddled

Not quite a turkey  dave phillips

IT IS that most wonderful time of the year, when Christmas begins to buoyantly creep into the movies. On cinema screens around the world, films are being angled to become part of the festive pantheon. There is certainly no sense of subtlety in Jonathan Levine’s The Night Before. Smash together The

H a n g ove r a n d B a d Santa, and you’ll have the strange sludge from which Levine has brought to life this full-blown, bad-taste Christmas monster. Taking the tag-team of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen, and pairing them with Anthony Mackie (Captain America: Winter Soldier), Levine sets out to tell a very X-rated Xmas adventure. After the sudden death of Ethan’s (Gordon-Lev-

itt) parents over a decade ago, he and his two stoner high-school buddies have made a point of spending Christmas Eve together. But, as they transition into different stages of their lives, they realise that the tradition of getting festively wasted must be broken. Isaac (Rogen) is on the cusp of becoming a father, and Chris (Mackie) is hitting a new level of fame in his NFL career. Ethan, has

just ended a relationship and is struggling to find his place in the world. The intensity of their last Christmas Eve together is ramped up when Betsy (Jillian Bell) gifts Isaac a smorgasbord of drugs and Isaac finds three tickets to the most exclusive party in town – the Nutcracka Ball ... So begins the 100minute rollercoaster comedy that is The Night Before. It may be Christ-

These three buddies find their typical Christmas routines getting interrupted as real life and grown-up issues interrupt their usual slacker habits

mas Eve, but nothing is sacred here. While it hits more often than it misses, you can’t escape the feeling that there is something lacking. While the script is highly improvised, it lacks that sense of genuine ban-

ter that typifies much of Rogen’s earlier work, and makes you wonder where James Franco was when they were casting leads. For fans of Pineapple Express and Knocked Up schools of comedy, this one will be a hit. But

beyond that, will The Night Before earn a place amid the Christmas pantheon? It seems very unlikely, but strange miracles have been known to happen around this time of year. Verdict: 6/10

10 December 2015 Gazette 23

Gazette

MUSIC neil young: bluenote cafe

Take a trip through the archive to 1988  colm murray

Ellie Goulding uses big-name producers, including Max Martin on this album and has already announced a world tour to promote her latest offering to the dance scene.

Ellie Goulding: big guns hit marketing mark

Repetitive Delirium not very memorable  colm murray

WITH Delirium (Polydor/Warners), British singer Ellie Goulding has put together what is essentially a playlist of singles destined for frequent repeat on the radio and in the clubs, all with catchy rhythms and her this-can-onlybe-Ellie-Gouldingsinging distinctive vocal style. She’s pulled out the big guns, working with big-name producers like Max Martin, and has already announced a world tour for the

album — there aren’t any ballads as such in the 16 tracks. Overall, Delirium is a polished effort, if not a particularly memorable one. I t i n c l u d e s L ove Me Like You Do, her smash hit from the Fifty Shades of Gray movie as well as the single currently getting airplay, On My Mind. Other highlights are Keep On Dancin’ and Don’t Need Nobody. I t g e t s r e p e t i t i ve , dance track after dance track, and lyrically it’s fairly bland — Love!

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

‘Part of the problem is the album’s length...it is almost an hour long in its shortest form’

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Attraction! Ooh! But if you’re looking for something that will get you to move, this will do it. It is unfortunate that Delirium cannot reach that level more consist-

ently. Part of the problem is the album’s length: Delirium is almost an hour in its shortest form, and there are deluxe versions of the album that stretch out over 25 tracks. Even appreciating Goulding’s prolific output, this suggests she likes these songs so much she can’t bear to let them go. But pop is an ar t form that rewards concision, and this album’s stronger tracks get lost in clumps that do not connect.

FEW artists could keep us entertained with an ongoing series of live releases in an archives series. Neil Young can. Bluenote Cafe (Warner Brothers) is the latest in the series, which has released live albums every one or two years since 2006. Containing seven unreleased songs, the 23-track double album was recorded in 1988 at a variety of venues with the Bluenote Cafe band. Featuring a six-member horn section to play tracks from the 1988 studio album This Notes for You, which also used a horn section on the majority of the album. Young has performed with a variety of bands throughout his career, from Buffalo Springfield, Booker T and the MGs (whom he brought to Slane in 1993), and Crazy Horse, who also feature. Young toured in support of his 1988 album, This Note’s for You, the year it came out

Although he recorded each show, the footage has never been available — until now. The albumn features favourites from this “funky and heartfelt” period of Young’s career, as well as previously unreleased tracks like Soul of a Woman, Bad News Comes to Town, Ain’t It the Truth, I’m Goin’, Crime of the Heart, Doghouse, Fool for Your Love and a 19-minute long rendition of Tonight’s the Night. It is seriously strong with more than two hours of live tracks from what was possibly the funkiest period of Young’s career.

5sos: sounds good feels good

Album without gamble  colm murray

THE album sounds okay and feels exactly like what you’d expect from a band with the sole mission of delivering palatable rock songs to a global audience of teenage girls. 5 Seconds of Summer are not in a position to gamble away their fame by veering too far off course here. The result is Sounds Good Feels Good (Capitol/Warners) , which has 17 tracks that push no musical boundaries and explore no topics so salacious as to deter fans of this generation’s Blink-182.

Permanent Vacation speaks to the underachiever in us all, but the track sounds like every song Green Day might have lef t on the cutting room floor because it was too soft around the edges. Sounds Good Feels Good is obviously more pop than punk – the slick production is peppered with unnecessary vocal overdubs

and the album’s sof test ballad, San Francisco, sounds like One Direction. Cynics will also sneer at some clunky lyrics – “I want to feel your love like the weather, all over me” they sing on Vapor. But then again, there’s plenty here for the band’s teenage fans to relate to. Within the first four songs, 5SOS shout out underachievers, college dropouts and kids battling low self-esteem. No fear, 5SOS will be there for you, just charming enough to deliver songs you’ll disavow liking as soon as you hit college!

Magee Tw eed (www.mage bag €500 e1866.com)

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Russell Hobbs Hand blender €32

OUT&ABOUT Gazette

24 Gazette 10 December 2015

Shaws & Boyers Dice evening bag €25

10 December 2015 Gazette 25

Gazette

GIFT GUIDE

Guinot Complete radiance set €82.75

La Roche-Posay Christmas set €34.99

t €17.99

Ziaja Natural olive se

Thomas Sabo Eau de Karma gift set €54.95

Opportune Eau de toilette €26.46

Boo the ts Be Ball lle o set f €17 .50

ww Pete w.tale r Ra sfo bbit rtad bre pol akfa es st s .ie et € 34. 50

Perfect for THIS week, our gift guide has a strong focus on care and pampering. Whether you’re looking to help soothe skin that’s faced winter weather, ease feet into cosy footwear, or even to give a fun or useful helping hand in the kitchen, we have a wide range of gifts. And, if pampering presents aren’t

Items not to scale

pampering quite your thing, we have a number of other items to consider, too. Set sail for comfort with a Moomin cushion, give tums a treat with tasty chocolate, or get in touch with a loved one using their new phone!

Lindt Chocolate reindeer 100g €3.99

4 pers €9

o Littlew

ggs slip land U e r I s d o

26 swords gazette 10 December 2015

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Joe Daly is applying for planning permission to convert existing attic to habitable bedroom space and to include a Velux rooflight on the Western side of existing roof of dwelling and all associated site works at 17 Coill Dubh Avenue, Broomfield, Malahide, Co. Dublin. (Post Code K36F750). The Planning Application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority during the public opening hours of 9.30 - 16.30 Monday – Friday at Fingal County Council, Fingal County Hall, Main Street, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin (to inspect Planning Applications on all lands except those lands to the west of the N2) Fingal County Council, Grove Road, Blanchardstown, Fingal, Dublin 15. A submission or observation in relation to the Application may be made in writing to the Planning Authority on payment of a fee of €20, within the period of 5 weeks, beginning on the date of receipt by Fingal County Council of the Application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission. 25660

keep it green

recycle responsibly

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Gazette

28 gazette 10 December 2015

SPORT

FastSport St Pat’s make early signings for new term: ST PATRICK’S Athletic confirmed the signings of David Cawley from Sligo Rovers and Michael Barker from Bray Wanderers, while also the re-signing of goalkeeper Brendan Clarke this week. Midfielder Cawley joins the Saints having won the League, FAI Cup and the Setanta Sports Cup at the Showgrounds. Defender Barker, 22, joins the Inchicore side having played with Bohemians, UCD and Bray Wanderers where he made 32 appearances in the Premier Division last year. The re-signing of Clarke means the Saints’ keeper is entering his 13th season with the club, having made 169 appearances to date between the posts. Clarke became the first ever Saints’ goalkeeper to be named the PFAI Goalkeeper of the Year in 2013, while he has also won the SSE Airtricity League, FAI Cup, EA Sports Cup and President’s Cup,

cricket: 2016 world cup place secured for irish women’s side

Delany’s runs key in T20 win  sport@dublingazette.com

THE Irish women’s cricket team, made up entirely of players currently with Dublin clubs, finished their T20 World Cup qualifiers with a flourish last Saturday as they saw off Bangladesh in the final in Thailand with a last-ball victory. It was a game that had everything, ending with the umpires forced to adjudge on a “Mankad”style run-out off what would have been the final delivery with the scores tied and thunder and lightning rapidly closing in on the Terdthai Ground in Bangkok. Salma Khatun sent down the 20th over for the Tigers with Ireland needing nine to win but

Leinster CC’s Laura Delany and YMCA’s Lucy O’Reilly managed to get eight runs from the first five balls to tie it up. Khatun then attempted to run out Delany without delivering the last ball but, after much deliberation, the umpires ruled against the bowler’s appeal. O’Reilly gleefully thumped the actual final delivery – a rank long hop – to the midwicket boundary to spark wild celebrations in the Irish camp. It concluded a superb week for the side as they cruised to the showpiece World Cup finals in India which take place in 2016. They swept past the Netherlands, China and Zimbabwe in the group phase before, crucially, beating

Scotland in the semi-final in what was a playoff for the World Cup. With that target assured, Ireland duly won the overall title. Having won the toss and opted to bowl against Bangladesh, Pembroke’s Ciara Metcalfe took wickets in successive balls to reduce the Asian side to 21-2. A 74-run stand between Nigar Sultana and Rumana Ahmed then had Ireland very much on the back foot before Metcalfe again came to the rescue, dismissing the former for an impressive 41. Bangladesh ended with a very competitive 105 for 3 from their allotted overs while for the fielding side, Metcalfe was the standout with 3-14. Merrion’s Cecilia Joyce

The Irish women celebrate their final win over Bangladesh. Picture: Ian Jacobs/ICC

and YMCA’s Clare Shillington gave their side’s reply a solid start with 24 before Shillington was bowled by Ahmed for 12. Three quick wickets fell to get Bangladesh back on top before a valuable stand between Laura Delany and Gaby Lewis edged the batting side into a good position. A pair of run outs threatened to ruin their day. But Delany stood firm at the other end and was there unbeaten on 26 as the frenetic conclusion was played out

before a delighted Isobel Joyce was called forward to receive the trophy. Speaking after the final, a delighted Ireland captain Isobel Joyce said: “It’s an amazing feeling and I’m so proud of my team for getting over the line in really tough conditions. “Bangladesh are an excellent bowling team, especially Salma Khatun who was bowling the last over, who is so experienced and would back herself every time to keep any team under

eight runs. “I’m really delighted for Laura Delany because she didn’t have it her own way during her innings, but she stuck in and was there to help the team and Lucy O’Reilly over the line. “The team took it one ball at a time, which is important especially in Twenty20 rather than thinking about the whole match which can overwhelm you, because if we needed 12 or 13 runs off the last over it might have been too much.”

UCD hold edge over Clontarf for the Christmas break  sport@dublingazette.com

UCD have enjoyed a fine start to the season, reaching the head of UBL Division 1A

UCD will lead the pack going into the New Year following their 20-12 win over Old Belvedere in the ninth round of Ulster Bank League Division 1A. The Students had the benefit of a very strong wind at the Belfield Bowl and duly swept into a 15-0 interval lead. From a 5m scrum on the quarter hour, the ball was moved wide for winger Tom Fletcher to squeeze over in the left corner. Leinster’s Ross Byrne missed the conversion and a tricky

penalty in the 33rd minute, but UCD enjoyed a productive spell approaching half-time. A lineout maul was finished off by former Ireland Under-20 prop Jeremy Loughman, and Byrne tagged on the conversion and a superb penalty from the 10m line. Classy full-back Daniel Riordan threatened early on the resumption, yet UCD played well facing into the elements, with Byrne’s cross-field kick almost finding Hugo Keenan. UCD were unable to capitalise on a yellow card for Belvo lock Jack Kelly and it was not until

the 63rd minute that flanker Peadar Timmins forced his way over following a succession of five-metre scrums. College’s sixth league win looked assured, but Belvo bounced back with two closing tries - the ever-influential Riordan struck in superb fashion in the 74th minute and a prolonged spell of pressure yielded a score for Kelly. However, the latter conversion was missed by Aidan Wynne, meaning they missed out on a losing bonus point. The teams meet again in the Leinster Senior League Cup

final in two weeks’ time. UCD and Clontarf are locked together on 31 points at the top of the table, with an eight-point gap between them and third-placed Belvo. Tarf picked up only their second try-scoring bonus point of the campaign with a 39-25 victory over Garryowen. The north Dubliners’ new allweather pitch showed its worth on a day when Storm Desmond claimed eight league fixtures, including two top flight games - Cork Constitution v Terenure College and Young Munster v Galwegians.

10 December 2015 gazette 29

Gazette

The swords are out as Rio Olympics near Elite level fencing came to Loughlinstown last week with 21 nations represented at the ninth Irish Open Championships and homegrown athletes are setting sights on the Olympics  james hendicott

sport@dublingazette.com

THE BATTLE for Olympic fencing qualification came to Ireland this weekend, as the ninth annual Open Fencing Championships saw fighters for 21 nations clash swords for a place at Rio 2016. DLR Leisure Loughlinstown hosted the event, that included Ireland’s men’s senior team as well as a hefty influx of foreign fencing talent, and comes at a time when the sport appears to be on the up in Ireland. Seventeen-year-old Anna Lee is fresh from a bronze medal at the senior Welsh Open in Cardiff, while teams of young Irish fencers have hit highs at cadet (under16) level over the last few months, dominating contests in Belfast and Marburg (Germany),

capturing four gold medals across a range of age categories at the latter event. Locally, the sport is putting the parts in place to capitalise on recent young successes. “We are beginning to see the blossoming of young talent at a junior (Under-20) and cadet (Under-17) level where young Irish fencers are in turn starting to make their mark abroad” explained Irish Fencing Federation (IFF) chairman, Philip Lee, reflecting on the results. “Attracting these top athletes from abroad to compete here in Ireland is part of our strategy of raising our fencers’ level of competition. “We are looking to encourage and develop our young athletes to one day compete at the highest international level and

I believe it’s working.” The championships, which took place over the weekend of November 28-29, forms the latest part in a deliberate strategy from the sport’s national governing body to nurture young Irish talent and build a sustainable base for the sport in Ireland. The governing body is keen to encourage plenty more to get on board, too, pointing to the array of physical benefits that come with battling it out in the sport. “There are a myriad benefits to fencing from fitness and sporting standpoint,” Lee argues. “Balance, power, anaerobic and aerobic fitness, but it also engages the grey matter through tactical and mental awareness. All of that wrapped in the framework of respect and discipline coming from

Bas Vervuijlen, The Netherlands, right, in action against Mateusz Antkiewicz, Poland, during the Irish Open Fencing Championships final. Picture: Cody Glenn/Sportsfile

the great tradition in this Olympic sport.” Most important, perhaps, Lee believes the sport is “great fun”. Those thinking of involving their children in particular are encouraged to contact Olga Velma on info@pembrokefencing. com. Velma will shortly

Switzerland, Spain, Hungary, Netherlands, Italy, Israel, New Zealand, Poland and Turkmenistan and a large contingent from Ireland competed in the world cup event this weekend. While several fencers ranked within the top 50 in the world were includ-

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

‘Anyone is beatable in this sport; on any given day you can get into the right space and take on anyone’ – Geoffrey Corcoran

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be opening a new club in Loughlinstown, at DLR. So what chance do Ireland’s young fencers have against the world’s best? Speaking about the event, Geoffrey Corcoran, who at 21 has already competed at Junior World Championships, is not intimidated. “Anyone is beatable in this sport,” Corcoran says. “On any given day, if you can get yourself into the right space physically and mentally you can take on anyone. That’s a big part of why I love this sport”. The hope is that enthusiasm can be passed down to the even younger generation of fencers who are looking to follow in his footsteps at World Championships and beyond. Fencers from 21 nations including USA, Canada,

ed in the field and were amongst the favourites to take the much coveted international ranking points, the eventual winner was Bas Vervijlen, former World Championship bronze medallist. The man from the Netherlands edged out Mateusz Antkiewicz of Poland in a competitive final. Along with the men’s Epee satellite World Cup event a further five weapons (men and women’s foil, sabre and epee) were contested in a packed weekend of fencing with over 150 competitors competing. Just over 200 competitors are eventually expected to make their way to Rio, equally balanced across men and women, and featuring in 10 different events.

FastSport

Mini Max McGovern gets reward for super 2015 SANDYFORD’S Harry McGovern, 15, was presented with his trophy for winning the 2015 Mini-Max Karting Championship at the Motorsport Ireland Awards in Dublin last week following a superb year. McGovern added the Motorsport Ireland title to the Munster Mini Max championship and the prestigious “O” Plate and “IRL” Plate championships he also won this year. Having competed in 13 races in 2015, the Medical Banks sponsored driver never finished lower than third and scored an impressive six wins. McGovern drives a Tonykart chassis, runs with the Brennan Tech team and is hugely appreciative of the support he has received from Noel Brennan and the rest of the team. Despite being just 15, he is in his fifth season of karting. In 2012, he won the Most Improved Driver of the Year and, a year later in 2013, he won the Motorsport Ireland Cadet Championship. He then graduated to the faster Mini-Max class and in 2015, won both the C Plate. Looking towards 2016, he will test a Ginetta Junior Ireland car over the winter with a view to possibly competing in that championship but is keen to consider other karting opportunities also. The Motorsport Ireland Awards Ceremony is an annual event in Dublin’s city centre where the champions of all disciplines are honoured by the governing body. This year’s event was held at the Double Tree Hilton hotel and Harry was presented with his award by Brian Kavanagh, chairman of the Motorsport Ireland Karting committee. He was among a number of Dublin winners at the awards event. The award for the national Autocross Grass Surface Saloon Champion went to Ian O’Connell, also from Sandyford. The Ivan Webb Memorial Award for Most Outstanding Contribution to Irish Motorsport went to Frank O’Donoghue, from Clonsilla, who has been an integral part of the Irish motorsport community for many years.

Gazette

30 SWORDS gazette 10 December 2015

SPORT

FastSport

Swords Thunder see off Eanna with 50 point gap GCD Swords Thunder came through their two-legged National Cup affair against Eanna with a win in each game and a 170120 aggregate score to progress in the Hula Hoops Men’s National Cup. For the second year in a row however, the north Dubliners have been drawn as one of the two teams who will have to play an additional single-legged round two game so it will take another win to reach the semifinals. Luke Thompson had eight points in the first quarter for the home side but Swords knew a strong opening half could kill off the tie and led 26-15 after 10 minutes. Mike Garrow had six points in a row before the first break in his second appearance for the club and Isaac Westbrooks ramped up his scoring in the second period as the ALSAA side eventually went on to win the second leg 92-86. “We were executing very well and it was important we bounced back this week,” said GCD Swords Thunder coach David Baker. “As much as you don’t want to, the cushion can sit in the back of your head and we took our foot off the pedal in the third quarter but we called a timeout which allowed us to kick on again.” Isaac Westbrook proved the catalyst. He took a long-range Michael Goj pass and turned Conor Gallagher in one movement before accelerating to the key and hitting the jump shot before the cover arrived. Eanna coach Ciaran MacEvilly said afterwards: “We had an awful lot of turnovers and an awful lot of defensive errors but we definitely showed signs of improvement over our previous two games against them. That was encouraging so we definitely feel like we could make a game out of it when we face them in the league again next week.”

swimming: aer lingus member wins trio of medals in lisburn

Aer Lingus swim club’s Andrew Meegan

Meegan in flying form  james hendicott

sport@dublingazette.com

ANDREW MEEGAN was Aer Lingus Swimming Club’s outstanding performer at the Irish National Short Course Championships last weekend, taking a gold a day from the three-day event in Lisburn. Meegan’s 400m freestyle victory on day one saw him touch out 2014 winner Bernard Cahill, while on day two he was able to show his stamina, comfortably adding the 1,500m title, too, before completing a tiring weekend and an

impressive sweep with an 800m win on day three. Aisling Haughey also performed well, taking gold in the 50m breaststroke and just missing on taking the 100m title, too, while Aer Lingus found themselves consistently competitive in the women’s relay events. Benjamin Doyle proved another stand out, taking two bronze medals. Therese Corry was Portmarnock’s stand out competitor, twice making the podium as she took silver in the

fai junior cup Rivervalley through to last 32 of national cup rivervalley Rangers advanced to the

last 32 of the FAI Junior Cup last Sunday with a narrow 1-0 win over Newcastle West Rovers with Daniel Murphy scoring the winner with eight minutes to go. He volleyed home first time for his 13th goal of the season to land the winner. A season ago, Rangers had beaten the same opposition 7-1 but found them a much tougher nut to crack this time around at the AUL Complex.

800m freestyle behind exceptional youngster Antoinette Neamt, finishing in 8.56.14, later adding a bronze medal in the same stroke at 400m. N AC ’s A n t o i n e t t e Neamt put down a stunning marker as she athlete took a commanding victory in the 800m freestyle on the opening day of competition. At just 14, Neamt’s winning margin of over 15 seconds to win in eight minutes 40.52 seconds marks the Tallaght native as a serious local prospect. That wasn’t all the youngster

had to offer, either, with Neamt claiming a second gold in the 400m event on day two, and coming back again on the third day to take a bronze medal in the 200m freestyle, putting her amongst the most successful female athletes at the event. The 400m time of 4.12.83 saw Neamt in a battle to the line with fellow junior Rachel Bethel, seeing off the hometown athlete by just two-tenths of a second. Mathew Coward was also on form for NAC’s per formance squad,

claiming twin bronze medals as he stepped onto the podium in the 100m freestyle and - an unlikely combination the more technical 50m butterfly. No fewer than seven national records were to fall over the course of events, with the middle day in particular seeing a series of new marks as four times tumbled. Much of the action, meanwhile, was taking place in the relays, with a series of competitive medley and freestyle events seeing club records fall by the bucketload.

10 December 2015 SWORDS gazette 31

Gazette

croker conference

Club Noticeboard

Rowe helps launch development event

FINGALLIANS

clann Mhuire and Dublin footballer Carla

Rowe was on hand to help launch the 2016 Liberty Insurance GAA National Games development conference. The conference, which takes place in Croke Park on January 22 and 23, will focus on issues related to the adult player including a special forum on the progression of players from the minor and underage ranks through to the adult game.

MANAGERS required: The committee

learn from one another so all teams

wishes to invite applications from

are successful and reaching their full

either existing management teams or

potential throughout 2016.

other members who are interested in

Next year’s U-13 boys’ teams, born

managing any of our adult teams for

in 2003, are looking for new players to

the 2016 season.

join their existing squad. If you know

Applications must be made in writ-

anyone who was born in 2003 and

ing to the club secretary or can be

interested in playing hurling or foot-

emailed directly to john.mcgee@osg.

ball then please contact Paul O’Neill

ie.

on 086 2452032 or pauloneill07@gmail. The closing date for applications

hurling: malahide side denied title in cruel style

com.

is Sunday, December 13. Following

Academy coaching will now take a

receipt of applications meetings will

break until January. This Saturday,

ensue with members of the commit-

December 12, the Christmas Party

tee, and thereafter management

with special guest, Santa, will take

teams will be formally appointed and

place from 10am. It is open to all kids

ratified.

who took part in the academy during

We will be kick starting the year

the year.

with a coaching conference on Janu-

This Saturday, the club shop will

ary 16. There will be no fixtures or

open from 10am to 3pm. All orders

training on the day. Please contact

must be collected.

the lead mentor on your team if you wish to attend this free event. Attending such events will give you as a coach a better skill set to better

GPA Announcement: Congratulations to Paul Flynn on his appointment to the position as secretary with the GPA.

equip your players to improve, as well

Christmas draw tickets are avail-

as an opportunity for us, as a coach-

able at €5 from the club. It will be held

ing team, to bond and share ideas and

on Sunday, December 20 in the club.

ST FINIAN’S St Sylvester’s and Ballyboden St Enda’s played out a huge battle last weekend

Boden catch Syl’s at the death in C final

minor c hurling final St Sylvester’s 1-12 Ballyboden St Enda’s 3-7  sport@dublingazette.com

ST SYLVESTER’S minor hurlers ended their season with the cruel fate of a championship final defeat at the hands of Ballyboden St Enda’s last Sunday week. On an extremely wet and windy day at O’Toole Park, the two sides, from either side of River Liffey went to battle and put on an absolute cracker of a final, befitting of any championship. Unfortunately, someone had to lose and it was Syl’s who

drew the short straw in a devastating extra-time defeat. Boden won the toss and opted to play into the strong breeze in the first half. Despite the wind at their backs, Syl’s struggled to get scores on the board early and the underfoot conditions limited the flow of the game. When the points did come they came from Daniel Murphy but Boden stayed in touch with a couple of good scores on the break. A brilliant goal from full-forward Eoin Cooney though meant that the Northside club led by two at the break.

The second half played out similarly enough as the first. Both sides gave it their all but the weather was giving even more back and again fluid hurling was limited. Both sides struggled to find scores and going into the last minute of normaltime Syl’s were behind by a point. Before the whistle however, up stepped Bryn Redmond to send a cracking point over from distance to force extratime. The Malahide side managed to keep the Firhouse club scoreless in the opening period of extratime and had the breeze

to their advantage in the second. Murphy scored two more excellent points and with the clock winding down Syl’s fans must have thought they had but Boden popped up with a goal, their only score of extra-time, devastatingly late-on to seal a victory for the Southside men. This Sylvester’s side will largely remain together next season, with only Sean Foley moving to senior. They can take pride in their performance here and will look to go again next season in what will be the first year the club will field two minor hurling teams.

ON A weekend of bad weather, we are

at 6.30pm, and the cookery demon-

reminded of the importance of the

stration at 8pm. Tickets are €20 each

recently announced project to build

and are available online from www.

an all-weather facility. With that in

stfinians.com, from the clubhouse on

mind, members are asked to commit

01 8132656 or 087 2506511, or from The

to the proposed bond scheme.

Carlton Hotel on 01 866 7500.

Development committee members

A raffle on the night will include a

will be in touch directly over the com-

prize of dinner for two and overnight

ing days and weeks. The details of the

accommodation at Neven’s wonder-

bond scheme can be found on our web-

ful Black Lion restaurant. This night

site (www.stfinians.com).

out is an ideal gift for you, a friend or

The only fixture this weekend was

a loved one.

the U-21 football championship semi-

There is a cake sale planned for

final against St Finbarr’s. Our lads

next Saturday, December 12 in the

came up against a strong Finbarr’s

clubhouse. The sale will run from 10am

side and missed out on an appearance

to 2pm. Please contact Caroline on

in the final.

087 238 8098 or Mary on 087 689 9803

We are embarking on a recruitment campaign for adult players in all codes

if you can offer to bake anything for the sale.

catered for by the club: hurling, foot-

Otherwise, please support the sale

ball, ladies football and camogie for

on Saturday where the tickets for

2016 and beyond.

the Christmas raffle will be available

The adult camogie and ladies’ foot-

for €2 each or €10 for six. Tickets are

ball transfer season opens in early

also available from team mentors and

2016. The following are the team con-

committee members.

tacts for football and hurling: adult

The lotto jackpot this week was

hurling teams - Jim Shelly 087 3237190,

€6,000 and the numbers drawn were

Gene Griffin 086 6063757; adult football

3, 10, 18 and 19. There was no jackpot

teams - Tony McDonagh 086 8527529,

winner. The winners of the €25 lucky

Mark Murray 086 3730113.

dip prizes were: Barbara Kelly, Aaron

The other big announcement this

Caul, B Dunne c/o J Sullivan, Christine

weekend was the Neven Maguire

Collins. Next week’s jackpot will be

cookery demonstration, which is set

€6,100.

for March 31 in the Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport with a food fair, beginning

Remember - vouchers for the club shop make an ideal Christmas gift.

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

swimming success: Meegan leads the pack at Irish national short course records in Lisburn P30

december 10-16, 2015

dublin swords are out: Elite fencing comes to town as Rio hopes grow P29

Malahide club provide 10 players to north Dublin representative side that got the better of their Republic of Ireland counterparts

NDSL side United in win over Ireland  nathan kelly

sport@dublingazette.com

NO FEWER than 10 Malahide United players were involved as the NDSL Academy Under-15 side that beat the Republic of Ireland Under-15s 1-0 at the Oscar Traynor Centre last Sunday. The game, organised as a challenge match

Ten of the Malahide United Under-15 side played their part in a famous win for the NDSL over the Republic of Ireland

to raise money and awareness for the charity – Sophia, Inspiring change, ending homelessness – was a real joy to watch at the NDSL after Storm Desmond went away and there was plenty of spectators present in the North Dublin venue. Sean Bohan, Ciaran Daly, Ben Gaynor, Carl Rooney, Liam McGrath, Callum Buchan,

The NDSL’s Francky Haba, sporting the Sophia shirt, was named player of the match

Danny Taafe, Matthew Kinahan, Colm McGrady and Sean O’Connor are all Malahide men and represented the club well on league duty here. Also donning the NDSL yellow on the day were Donnycarney’s David Okpako, Lusk United’s Davidson Okosun, and Balbriggan’s Onyeka Moore. It was Okosun’s goal which delivered the win and what a goal it was. On 23 minutes, the talented attacker unleashed a powerful strike from 25 yards which soared past Sam O’Gorman in the Ireland goal. Okpako had a number of chances to double the lead throughout but was thwarted each time. The young Irish side, made up of DDSL players as well as some of the rest of the country’s hottest prospects pushed hard to equalise late on. Bohan was in good form though, first denying Jack Kelly and then doing brilliantly to deny Caelin Rooney on 55 minutes. Speaking to GazetteSport after the game, Malahide United director of coaching Kevin Craven was delighted to have so many players

involved. “It’s a wonderful achievement for all the players to not only represent their league but to go out and beat an international team,” he said. “It’s also a great achievement for the coaches of that side, Davy McGrady the manager and Gary Dalton who works with him; they deserve a lot of credit for the hard work they’ve put in to coaching the lads to this standard. “It’s a good representation of what we’re trying to achieve at the club,” Craven added. “It might be hard to believe but all those players are from what you would call our second team at that age group. “We have our Under-15 Premier side in the DDSL and then these lads are from our Under15 Major side. “We’re striving to have two teams at the top of both leagues, DDSL and NDSL, not just in this age group but right through the club and it’s happening right now with our Under-15s. “The NDSL academy deserves credit too. The coaches they have working with the clubs are doing great work and our players really enjoy being involved with their representative sides and take a lot from it.”