Swords by Dublin Gazette

Gazette SWORDS

INSIDE: Maia Dunphy talks to The Gazette about

balancing her work and life as a new mum Page 15

March 17-23, 2016

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The future is local - the future is free

captains dress up to celebrate Food & Drink: anniversary The Old Spot hits for Easter the mark with delicious dishes and rising 1916 very friendly staff

Page 20

Heroic work: Adi Roche honoured at lunch for Chernobyl Children International

The Captain’s Drive In for 2016 took place in Balbriggan Golf Club on Saturday, March12. The Captain’s chose a theme celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the 1916 rising and wore attire to match the theme. The Captain for 2016 is John Fitzpatrick and the Lady Captain is Deirdre Foran, whilst the Junior Captain’s are Tommy Doran and Laura Cody.

Pages 24-25

sport Soccer:

Rivervalley’s massive FAI Junior Cup day Page 30

Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

Planning permission allows for dual purpose Aldi supermarket and Swords Men’s Shed Group get the green light for development

 emma nolan PLANNING permission has been granted for two developments on lands at and adjoining the Parochial House on Seatown Road in Swords. Property developers

Rhonellen Developments LTD have been granted planning permission to build an Aldi supermarket on the site but have also been granted permission separately for a community development on the same site for the Swords

Men’s Shed group, who are currently based at The Riasc Centre on Feltrim R o a d i n Swo r d s a n d “badly need” their own premises. Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) spoke to The Gazette about the plans which he

described as a “win win for all”. “The developers, while building a commercial development also want to give back to the community as part of its plans.” Full Story on Page 2

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negotiations | dual development gets the green light

Land to be shared on Seatown Road, Swords  emma nolan

Aerial shot of Parocial House, Seatown Road, Swords

Planning permission has been granted for two developments on lands at and adjoining the Parochial House on Seatown Road in Swords. Property developers Rhonellen Developments LTD have been granted planning permission to build an Aldi supermarket on the site but have also been granted permission separately for a community development on the same site for the Swords Men’s Shed group, who are currently based at The Riasc Centre on Feltrim Road in Swords and “badly need” their own premises. Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) spoke to The Gazette about the plans which he described as a “win win for all”. “The developers, while building a commercial development also want to give back to the community as part of its plans.” While some locals have raised concerns around the additional traffic that will be created with a supermarket located on the road, Cllr Butler said that use of the Aldi carpark for St Colmcille’s School across the road will be permitted. The Irish Men’s Shed’s Association (IMSA) is a community-based, noncommercial organisation which is open to all men where the primary activity is the provision of a friendly environment where the men are able to gather and or work on different projects. The Gazette spoke

t o S e a n O ’ C o n n o r, chairman of Swords Men’s Sheds about the announcement. “We’re in negotiations with Rhonellen at the moment,” O’Connor said. “We’re really looking for a place of our own where we won’t have to pay rent at all as we’re currently paying rent to the Riasc Centre. It’s very expensive with all the overhead expenses.” O’Connor explained the group’s need for additional space. He said: “We have a small workshop up in the Riasc Centre but it’s not big enough for our needs so we need space for wood and other tools and materials. “Basically our workshop is very very small, although the Riasc Centre do give us an area in the building for social gatherings and meetings and having a cup of tea, we still need a much bigger workshop to work in.” Newly elected TD Louise O’Reilly (SF) said she is “delighted” that the planning permission for the community development has been granted. She said: “There had been a lot of work done at a council level to achieve this after permission was initially refused in 2015. “The project garnered support from all areas including the local arts committee and the Church of Ireland and will be a huge asset to the local community.” A spokesperson from Fingal County Council confirmed that planning permission had been granted to Rhonellen Developments.

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FastNews

Seven trees for signatories Seven trees for the signatories have been planted at Malahide Castle to commemorate the 1916 Rising Centenary as part of National Tree Week. Fingal County Council planted the trees to represent the seven signatories to the Proclamation last Saturday March 12. The award of seven oak trees to each of the Tidy Towns winners since 1958 is in recognition of the efforts of local people to make their own community a better place to live in. Malahide achieved the overall award in 1990. Gemma Carr, Senior Executive Parks Superintendent Fingal County Council, said: “Malahide TidyTowns committee is a great example of citizen engagement and we hope to continue this engagement through our centenary programme.

Twelve new employees join Citroen & DS Ireland team The team at Citroën & DS Ireland has grown to 22 staff members following a major recruitment drive. Twelve new employees have joined the team with all Irish operations now managed from head office in Airside, Swords. All customer relations queries, warranty, vehicle distribution and additional financial operations which were previously managed through Citroën in the UK are now being undertaken in Dublin. Speaking about the new positions, Chris Graham, Managing Director, Citroën & DS Ireland, commented, “As per the IM Group strategy we are pleased to have relocated all of the Citroën and DS Ireland operations to Dublin. “We are delighted to have doubled the workforce here in Airside and with the motoring industry on the rise again we hope to see the creation of further positions later this year.”

Waterside House Hotel hosts evening of comedy The Waterside House Hotel in Donabate is to host an evening of comedy this month presented by stand-up comedy producers, Punch Lion Events. The Republic of Telly’s Ryan Cullen will be joined by one half of comedy due Totally Wired, Damian Clarke. Cullen is a staff writer for RTE’s Republic of Telly and contributor to RTE Radio 1’s Callan’s Kicks. A Capital Comedy Competition Winner and regular performer on the Irish club circuit. Clarke is an Aussie Comic making home in Ireland. Having sold-out Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Glasgow Comedy Festival, he has been snapped up to appear on BBC3 and Comedy Central. Resident Comedy Cellar MC Andrew Stanley will complete the bill for an evening of laughs. The show is on Thursday March 31, visit punch-

 lion.ie for info and tickets.

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swords | bridge over broadmeadow

malahide

Pedestrian Bridge planned for Swords  SIMON MAGUIRE

Fingal County Council has given notice of its intention to construct a pedestrian bridge over the Broadmeadow River, Swords and to provide footpath links between Thornleigh Estate and the Council playing pitches at Balheary. The proposed works include the installation of a concrete footbridge and the provision of a tarmacadam footpath connection. The plans will make it easier for players and fans to access the grounds of Swords Celtic, located across the river. Plans and particulars of the proposed development will be made available for inspection or purchase, at a fee not

exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the following locations until Tuesday, March 29, 2016: Fingal County Council offices at County Hall, Main Street, Swords, Co. Dublin or the Civic Offices, Grove Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, Monday to Thursday from 9am - 5pm and Friday from 9am - 4.30pm. Other Locations include Applewood Community Centre, Bunbury Gate Road, Swords or the Swords Library, Rathbeale Road, Swords. Submissions and observations with respect to the proposed development may be made through this consultation portal, or in writing to: Senior Staff Officer, Balbriggan / Swords

Area, Operations Department, Fingal County Council, Civic Offices, Grove Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, or alternatively by email to BalSwoOpArea@fingal. ie on or before Tuesday, April 12, 2016 (5pm). Speaking on the plans, Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) told The Gazette: “The original plan was to put in a safe walkway along the Balheary Road but unfortunately this was not possible as the Council don’t own the land required. “The are a few issues we have to resolve with the new bridge proposal such as lighting and nighttime security and I look forward to what submissions are received before the 12th April deadline.”

Raising funds to save lives

Prescious items help unearth hidden history

The Family Memorabilia Day was an opportunity for families with a connection to Fingal to bring letters, medals, photos, other precious items and memories related to the revolutionary period 1915 -1923 to be catalogued and digitised in order to unearth and make available the hidden histories relating to this pivotal period in Irish history. Historical experts, book sellers and genealogists were on hand to give advice and to digitally photograph

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the material which will be used in time to develop an online resource. The Family Memorabilia Day was part of Fingal County Council’s Centenary Programme, which will see over 50 lectures, film screenings, performances, re-enactments, talks and exhibitions cumulate in a special Commemorative Day in Swords on Sunday, April 24, 2016. Pictured above are Colm McQuinn (archivist), Jim Herlihy and Éamonn Keenan.

Malahide Yacht Club hosted its annual St Patrick’s Day fundraiser for the Howth Lifeboat with its traditional Hot Powers Whiskey and Irish Coffee event on March 17 at its St James’ Terrace clubhouse. The Club has a long association with raising funds for the Irish Lifeboats and the fundraiser, which has been run for over 22 years, was sponsored by Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard. New Commodore Deirdre Moore-Somers said: “This is one of the most popular social events in our calendar, and we welcome everyone to come along on our national saint’s day and help the Irish lifeboat service and Howth lifeboat in particular.”

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career

Musgrave helping to feed Ireland’s future  simon maguire As part of a joint initiative between the government and industry, Musgrave Group has been running a series of career development sessions for young jobseekers across the country. Running from February 29 to March 4, the “Feeding Ireland’s Future” initiative saw retailers, suppliers and service providers to the Irish food and grocery sector provide free preemployment skills advice to young unemployed people at 12 different Musgrave sites nationwide. As part of the ‘Skills for Work Week’, young jobseekers, aged from 18 to 24 years attended workshops in the Musgrave MarketPlace in Ballymun and the SuperValu store in the Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords. Youthreach, a Department of Education and Skills official education, training and work experience programme also provided 19 centres across the country where the candidates were lectured on topics including how to manage social media reputation, CV preparation, drafting cover letters and applications, and interview role plays. Adrian Grey, Musgrave Group HR Director, said: “Our workshops are designed to support young unemployed people in developing the skills needed to secure a job through hands-on experience which demonstrates what a day in the food industry is like. We hope to inspire young people to pursue a career in food and in doing so, help to boost one of the most important industries for the Irish economy.”

courts | victim held in choke hold and punched in the head

Swords man sentenced for robbing taxi driver A man who took part in the robbery of a phone and car keys from a taxi driver outside a garda station has been given a suspended sentence. Mark McCann (23), of Abbeylea Drive, Swords, Co Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery in the man’s taxi outside Swords garda station on May 1, 2012. He has 13 previous convictions. The victim had driven to the station after he became suspicious that McCann and his accomplice were not going to pay their taxi fare. Judge Melanie Greally noted McCann had since made genuine efforts to turn his life around and said she was going to let him continue to do so. Judge Greally imposed a four year sentence which she suspended for four years.

McCann’s accomplice, Claire Lawlor (26) was last year given a two and a half year suspended sentence. The court heard that she had also made efforts to turn her life around and was doing well. Garda Elaine Duffy told Maire Torrens BL, prosecuting, that a taxi driver picked the pair up in the early hours of the morning in Blanchardstown and they asked him to drive to Lusk.

each other. The man pulled in at a petrol station at about 6am and Lawlor went inside. She came out with cigarettes and coke. She said she had forgotten her ATM card and that her mother would pay the fare in Lusk. The driver, who was becoming aware that something was wrong, asked for the pair ’s phones as security. Lawlor said her phone was

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‘The taxi driver who had undergone heart surgery was worried that his pacemaker might dislodge’

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He said the fare would be €35 and they asked him to pull in at an ATM. He noticed that McCann and Lawlor were whispering to

broken. The man drove to Swords garda station and told the pair as they were not going to pay they had to come into

Mark McCann (23). of Abbeylea Drive, Swords, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery of a phone and keys from a taxi driver.

the station with him. McCann grabbed him around the neck in a choke hold and punched him in the head. The taxi driver who had undergone heart surgery was worried that his pacemaker might dislodge.

The pair escaped with the man’s car keys and his phone. McCann was arrested in March 2013 and told gardaí he could not remember the incident as he had taken drugs. Lorcan Staines BL, defending, said McCann

and Lawlor had been a poor influence on each other but had now disassociated and were doing much better. He said McCann came from a respectable, decent family and had recently become a father.

Passenger volume increases by 17% at Dublin Airport in February  simon maguire Over 1.7 million passengers travelled through Dublin Airport in February, a 17% increase over last year. Passenger volumes to and from continental Europe rose by 16% with almost 817,000 passengers travelling to European destinations. UK traffic recorded an increase of 19% with over 752,000 passengers travelling in February. Almost 6,500 passengers

travelled on domestic routes last month, a 23% increase over February 2015. Passenger volumes to and from North America grew by 20% with just over 98,000 passengers travelling on this sector in February. Other international traffic, principally to the Middle East declined by 1% with just over 50,000 passengers travelling these routes in February. The number of passengers using Dublin Airport as a hub to connect to another destination increased by 51% as

almost 33,000 passengers connecting through Dublin Airport last month. Earlier in the week, Dublin Airport announced it has invested €15 million in modernising the Departures Floor and Security Screening area in Terminal 1 which will be completed this May. Newly elected Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin Fingal Darragh O’Brien has welcomed the news that Dublin Airport has continued to develop. “I am delighted to hear of the

continued investment in Dublin Airport. The DAA and other employers in the airport have been a huge source of employment for people in the Fingal area of Dublin. It is one of the reasons areas like Swords have been able to persevere through the economic downturn. This investment is to speed up security and compliance in the airport, which can be an inconvenience for both international and domestic passengers. “Dublin is lucky to have a world class airport and this

modernisation will help it to maintain its reputation as a smooth operating airport, serving the entire country. The airport already employs thousands of people, with another 350 jobs having been announced this January. Passenger numbers are also growing rapidly and new routes are opening up too. It is essential we continue building on the success of the last few years, to help the airport, the local economy and the wider economy to flourish,” said Deputy O’Brien.

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meeting | joint policing committee

A chance for public to raise concerns  simon maguire

The public will have their opportunity to engage with senior and local Gardai, and Council officials to raise any concerns they may have about their neighbourhood. The meetings will take place across four Wednesdays in April across the county. Councillor K ieran Dennison, chair of the Fingal Joint Policing Committee, said: “The JPC Public Meetings are open to everyone and we particularly encourage those from newer communities to come along. “These meetings are a unique opportunity for people to voice their concerns over any issues in their areas which are under the remit of the Gardai or the Local Authority. The Report from last year’s Public Meetings is available on www.fingal.ie/FingalJPC and gives a good idea of the type of issues

that were raised.” Gardai and local authority officials will be on hand following the public meetings, should any person wish to speak in confidence The meeting for the Swords area is on Wednesday April 13 from 7.30pm-9pm Carnegie Court Hotel, Swords (for the Swords, Malahide, Portmarnock, Donabate, Por trane, Santry area). The Bracken Court Hotel, Balbriggan will hold a meeting for the Babriggan, Balbriggan Rural, Rush, Lusk, Skerries, Naul, Garristown areas on Wednesday April 6 at 7:30pm. For the Blanchardstown area, the meeting will take place on Wednesday April 20 at 7:30 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel for Dublin 15 including Blanchardstow n, Castleknock, Ongar, Carpenterstown, Clonsilla, Mulhuddart, Tyrrelstown areas.

Councillor Kieran Dennison, chair of the Fingal Joint Policing Committee.

Chief Executive Fingal County Council, Paul Reid, stresses the importance of local enterprise.

fearless | National Enterprise awards

Fingal entrepreneurs promote start ups

 simon maguire

Six entrepreneurs, whose companies were selected as finalists to represent Fingal at the National Enterprise Awards competition, have recently set up businesses with the support of Fingal Local Enterprise Office (LEO), and took part in a Q&A, chaired by Bobby Kerr. Enter prise Week’s Fearless event took place on Thursday, March 10 at the Riasc Centre in Swords. Hosted by RTE’s Keelin Shanley, successful entrepreneurs from the area talked about the challenges and successes of running a business. Towards the end of the evening, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. David O’Connor p r e s e n t e d I nv i z B ox

Ltd, the winning business, with a cheque for €5,000, sponsored by AIB Bank. InvizBox Ltd, was set up by Paul Canavan in February 2015. The device allows you to secure your privacy on the internet by simply connecting any of your personal devices to the InvizBox over WiFi. The product has been sold to customers in over 60 countries worldwide with the primary market in the United States, which accounts for roughly 50% of current sales. As the regional winner, Invizbox will represent Fingal at the National E n t e r p r i s e Aw a r d s where the area has an excellent track record, having won the overall

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‘Each of the entrepreneurs we heard from this evening demonstrated that they have an overwhelming desire and a determination to create their own careers and create their own destiny

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Chief Executive Fingal County Council, Paul Reid

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award twice since 2005. Speaking at the FEARLESS event, Chief Executive Fingal County Council, Paul Reid stressed the importance of suppor ting local Enterprise: “Each of the entrepreneurs we heard from this evening demonstrated that they have an overwhelming desire and a determination to create their own careers and create their own destiny. And while they do

that they will be creating what we really need in this country, employment and wealth. We need to recognise and celebrate this entrepreneurial spirit in order to ensure that we cultivate a successful business community.” Head of Enterprise in Fingal, Oisin Geoghegan, stated that he was delighted to see so many in attendance: “We have had well over 1,000 participants so far engaging

with Local Enterprise, and it’s not over yet! I’m delighted that so many of our business owner/ managers and aspiring entrepreneurs have come along this evening to FEARLESS”. Asked why the title “Fearless” was selected, Geoghegan responded: “We are not suggesting that no one who sets up a new business feels fear. Of course they do! Setting up a new business always involves an element of risk. But the thing about Entrepreneurs is that while they feel the fear, they go right ahead and do it anyway. E n t r e p r e n e u r s t a ke risks and set aside their fears. That is something that we need to encourage, recognise and celebrate.”

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swords Gazettegallery | the stars come out for the Irish

Ray D’Arcy and actor Peter O’Meara

Peter Murphy, Rachael Moriarty and actor Killian Scott . Pictures: Patrick O’Leary

Kate Hennessy and Conor Farrell

Fighting for the number 1 spot T

raders tells the story of Harry Fox (Killian Scott) who seems to have it all, the luxury apartment, the fancy car but when the company he works for goes bust it looks like he will lose everything. A solution is offered by Vernon Stynes (John Bradley) who has masterminded a diabolical, all-or-nothing scheme based on the Deep Web, called Trading. Two strangers empty their banks accounts, sell their assets and put their entire worth in cash into a green sports bag. They travel to a remote location and fight to the death. Winner buries the loser and walks away twice as rich. Vernon believes Trading is a no-brainer for anyone who wants to get rich quick. Can Harry resist the lure of such a high risk gamble? It’s dangerous and it’s illegal but it could solve all his problems.

Laura McNicholas and Susan Boyle

Stuart Switzer, Rachael Moriarty and Peter Murphy

Courtney Keogh and Michelle Keogh

Allison Dempsey

Kara Connelly and Laura Callaghan

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premier of TRADERS at Cineworld, Parnell Street

Lorraine Brennan and Glen Lynch

Allison Dempsey and Nadine Watters

Roisin Dennis and Grainne Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Leary

David McSavage and Katelyn Kearney

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Gazettegallery

| special Women’s event at Royal Hospital Kilmainham

Able seaman Leia Wall and Pte Chole Carroll chatting to Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM chief of staff from The

Women’s role in Rising recognised

Irish Defence Forces

Marge Almqvist shows the President a patchwork quilt with a panel dedicated to each notable woman from the 1916 rising

Members of the women’s performance group, Flames not Flowers

President Higgins, his wife Sabina, Tanaiste Joan Burton, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys and Dublin Lord Mayor Criona Ni Dhalaigh and the creators of the patchwork quilt (behind) with a panel dedicated to each notable women from the 1916 rising

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Gazette

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dublinlife

diary

Sports stars, doctors and nurses are careers of choice for children Research has revealed that Dublin kids want to be sports stars, doctors and nurses when they grow up. A new nationwide research study among Irish children reveals what Dublin boys and girls want to be when they grow up and also what the best and worst things about being a child in Ireland are in 2016. The research undertaken by Calpol for their Let Kids Be Kids campaign, shows that among Dublin children aged 6 to 12, 31% want to be a sports star, 19% percent want to be a doctor and 17% hope to become a nurse. The study also found that only 9% of Dublin children want to be a teacher compared with 31% of children from the wider Leinster region. 17% want to be a singer and 14% percent want to reach for the stars and become an astronaut. Nationally there were also some interesting findings with kids revealing that playing with friends is the very best thing about being a child, closely followed by getting presents at birthday and Christmas time (60%) and going on holidays with family (30%).

Lidl staff smash fundraising goal Lidl staff in Dublin South are celebrating as they have raised €97,829 for their chosen charity, Barretstown. This has helped the retailer smash their national fundraising target by raising €1.2m for Barretstown, €200,000 more than their initial tar-

get of €1m in three years. The funds will go towards providing programmes that are medically endorsed and designed to give children back their confidence and self-esteem. Over the past three years, Lidl’s 3,500 strong workforce have held fundraising events across the country, donating in excess of 7,200 volunteer hours of their time in over 170 events. To find out more visit www.barretstown.org, like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @ Barretstown.

Riverdance to run at the gaiety Riverdance is returning home this summer for a limited run in the Gaiety Theatre. As part of the show, which will run from June 14 to August 28, audiences will have the chance to purchase the VIP package which will be available each Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evening from Friday, June 17 to Saturday, August 27. Costing a total of €91, the VIP package includes a premium seat in the parterre, early access to the theatre to watch onstage rehearsal and warm up, a Q&A with members of the Riverdance cast before the show, and a meet and greet with the principal dancers afterwards. Go to ticketmaster.ie to book.

When Does a Temperature become a Fever? Alt h o u g h f e v e r accompanies most mild

childhood illnesses, new research by Nurofen for Children has revealed almost half of new mums in Dublin (49%), do not know what temperature a fever begins (37.8°C), with Dublin mums ranking as the least likely, to recognise a fever. Commissioned by the pain relief brand, this research was carried out among 400 first time mothers as part of the #FeverFighters campaign. The survey also asked what the biggest challenge was when becoming a parent for the first time and although expectant mothers are often warned about the lack of sleep once the baby arrives, 42% of Dublin mums said the lack of sleep was the most challenging thing about becoming a parent. To support the launch, Nurofen for Children is also launching a new app which aims to help mums and dads manage the day to day aspects of being a new parent.

new Leap Family Card launched A new, promotional Leap Family Card has been launched by the N a t i o n a l Tr a n s p o r t Authority on March 2, in a bid to encourage families to use public transport during the 1916 centenary celebrations. Costing only €10, the Leap Family Card gives a family of two adults and up to four children (aged 18 or under) 24-hours unlimited travel in and around the Greater Dublin Area on Dublin Bus, Luas, Bus Eireann, DART and commuter rail.

The €10 Leap Family Card (2 x adult + 4 x children) costs the same as one adult’s daily travel cap, and is valid across all travel modes in the Greater Dublin Area. The card is also €4 cheaper than the Dublin Bus one-day family rambler (€14) and €10 cheaper than the Irish Rail equivalent (€20), saving parents using public transport money. A total of 50,000 limited edition Leap Family Cards have been made available, and two family cards are available per order. The money-saving card is available from www. leapcard.ie

Dublin set to celebrate rich melodic heritage MusicTOWN will return to Dublin next month to celebrate the rich melodic heritage and modern-day musical maestros of the city. Organised by Dublin City Council, the festival showcases the vast musical talent and vibrant musical culture that permeates throughout Dublin. MusicTown’s eclectic programme has something for all ages and interests, celebrating all types of music created and enjoyed throughout the city today; from classical to pop, trad to rock, psychedelic to opera, electronic and everything in between. Expect performances from Neneh Cherry, Mary Coughlan, David Kitt, Ye Vagabonds and fun events like a Diva Singalong Party in MVP,

Mu Mu Cheng and Cora Zhang from Falun Dafa, pictured at last year’s Mind, Body, Spirit and Yoga Festival which runs in the RDS, Dublin, from Friday, March 18 to Sunday 20. Picture: Conor McCabe

a Ukulele Tuesday in The Stags Head and blues night in JJ Smyths. Some events are free and some have a nominal charge. For further information and tickets visit musictown.ie

strengthening Irish and French connections An event to strengthen the links between Ireland and France and enhance the long-standing friendship that exists between Ireland, France and other French-speaking countries of the world will take place in Dublin Castle next month. The seventeenth edition of the Franco-Irish Literary Festival will continue the tradition that led to Dublin’s nomination as a UNESCO City of Literature with the theme Food For Thought running throughout the event. The festival showcases different artists and also offers an Irish audience the opportunity to discover French writers. The event will take place in the Alliance Francaise from April 8 till 10, all events are free and open to the public.

submissions sought for Mine Anthology An anthology of stories and art representing the struggle for women’s full reproductive rights in Ire-

land is calling for submissions. “Mine” will feature art, comics and illustrations with stories on the theme of repealing the 8th Amendment to the Constitution, reproductive rights and bodily autonomy. The creative project, led by Karen Harte and Jessica Maybury, has been developed to support the current campaign to repeal the 8th Amendment. The requirements for submissions are 1 to 2 pages of A5 artwork, 300dpi, colour TIFF or PDF and the deadline for submissions is April 13 2016. Karen Harte, graphic designer, illustrator and co-creator of “Mine’”said: “The current campaign to repeal the 8th Amendment is gaining momentum. In order to raise awareness of this critical issue for women and men in Ireland, we want to support the Abortion Rights Campaign “We would urge anyone who has a story to tell to get in touch with us - even if you don’t think you can draw, collaborate with a friend and work on something together. “We want to build up a collection of voices that show the impact that this barrier to fundamental rights is having on people in Ireland and all over the world.”

HOLISTIC AND WELLBEING FESTIVAL How our 21st century screen addictions are making us fatter and the psychology behind losing weight will be revealed at Ireland’s biggest wellbeing event the Mind, Body, Spirit and Yoga Festival in the RDS from March 18 to 20. The festival offers the chance to discover the latest techniques in self-development and life-enhancing positive psychology with 75 talks by top Irish and international experts plus exhibits by over 150 complementary and healing practitioners. Health scientist Dr Ailis Brosnan, who specialises in diet psychology, will be exploring what motivates, and crucially doesn’t motivate, people into making healthy eating and lifestyle choices, and a former industrial psychologist, now nutritional therapist, Karen Ward, will show how diet helped her recover from her virulent Crohn’s disease which, at one stage, necessitated life-saving surgery. With over 150 stands, visitors can explore everything from angels and aromatherapy to Reiki and reflexology. Tickets €12, three-day pass €30, children free.

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Gazette

dublinlife OPINION We cannot ignore Syrian conflict IT’S often hard to get our heads around figures past a certain threshold: 30 billion WhatsApp messages sent ever y day; £90m for a Premier League footballer; 60 million people displaced by conflict globally. These numbers are so large they mean almost nothing – and why should they? They are vague and distant, and have little relation to daily life. One figure that isn’t hard to get our heads

around is five. War in Syria has been ongoing now for five years. That’s longer than World War 1, and gaining fast on World War 2. In those years, a host of vast and ambiguous figures have come pouring out of the now ravaged country – 470,000 people reported dead; 12 million people displaced; and 4.7 million Syrian refugees. These numbers are vast, but they can’t be dismissed. What’s more, it’s not

just the numbers that sound foreign and confusing. We have heard new words, places and names repeated on reports and news bulletins. Barrel bombs, ISIS, Daesh, Assad, Kurds, Caliphate, Homs and Aleppo have become part of standard conversation on Syria. Words that can carry as much horror for those who truly know their meaning as the figures they are a part of. Like so many countries

that violently command our attention, western knowledge of Syria was sparse before the conflict. Often described as a beating heart of Arabian culture and character, the Mediterranean state has been all but wiped of its rich and distinct identity. In its place, a new Syrian identity has emerged among a myriad contradictory and perplexing myths, misinformation and truths. It took Europe and the West too long to sit up and pay attention but, as with many humanitarian crises, time and escalation has forced a response. When the number of Syrians arriving on European shores exploded last year, Syrian identity evoked empathy, welcoming hearts and open minds. As numbers continued to swell, this became shrouded in negative stereotypes and fearmongering. What started as another chapter in the Arab Spring has descended into a devastating civil war. Like Yemen, Libya and Egypt before it, the revolt which once brought such hope to millions has left already fragile institutions and societies smouldering. Syrians have seen their homes destroyed, families tortured and killed, and their once proud identity go up in smoke. Syrians fleeing war now find themselves accused of terrorist attacks and of carrying out the atrocities they flee. The response of European states has been mostly characterised by hostility and force. Fences, tear gas, riot police and NATO warships have met refugees seeking sanctuary. One exception is the German chancellor, Angela Merkel. It can fairly be said that she failed to assemble a sufficient coalition of domestic and

Barry Andrews, chief executive, GOAL – The numbers and statistics relating to the conflict in Syria are staggering, but we must not ignore their impact on Syrians

international allies before deciding upon her openborders policy. Without support, she has proven a beacon of hope for refugees fleeing their homeland. European leaders can learn a lot. European leaders must follow through, and expand upon, commitments to take in more refugees under relocation and resettlement programmes. This would a positive response but by no means a definitive one. First and foremost, humanitarian supply routes have to be protected. One reality of the Syrian war is that humanitarian organisations working on the ground are no longer just a legitimate target, but a preferred one. While organisations like GOAL act as a barrier to depopulation and control, the bullseye is planted firmly on our supply routes, kitchens and employees. Secondly, reading the

papers and listening to news coverage of the conflict, we would be forgiven for thinking there are no routes to peace. This is simply untrue. Intervention must come from the UN Security Council; otherwise, people will keep dying. With imprecise rockets, unguided bombs and mass killings the norm, there is no safety or reality of security in Syria. More than one in 10 Syrians has been wounded or killed since the conflict began. More than 330 attacks on medical facilities. Life expectancy has dropped from 71 in 2010 to 55 in 2015. These numbers are horrific, yet here at GOAL, we like to focus on different figures. With more than 400 staff in-country, GOAL has several large-scale programmes targeting the most vulnerable people within Syria with food assistance and safe water initiatives. Our current projects have benefitted

more than two million people in total. That makes this is the largest programme in our history. Two million is also a very large figure, but for everyone at GOAL, it is familiar and clear. It is a critical part of what we work on every day and we are very proud of it. Figures like this won’t end the conflict. That outcome has to come from European leaders, alongside the United Nations Security Council. The ultimate question remains: what number will ultimately define this conflict? The number of deaths? The number of refugees taken in by European countries? The number of years fighting eventually lasts for? Five years is long enough. Any longer, and we might not be able to get our heads around it.  barry andrews Chief executive, GOAL www.goalglobal.org

17 March 2016 Gazette 15

a day in the life: Maia Dunphy

The mother of all jobs  Emma Nolan

Motherhood suits Maia Dunphy. Following the birth of her son Tom last July, with husband Johnny Vegas, Dunphy has been settling into her new role as a mum and balancing everything that comes with it and continuing to work. She sat down with The Gazette last week to discuss a day in her life as a working mum. “I don’t like routine which is just as well because we don’t have one – it’s absolutely chaotic,” she said. Dunphy is currently working with Neurofen on their Fever Fighters campaign which she said really resonated with her as a first time mum as it as educated her on dealing with what to do when a baby has a fever and other problems. “As part of the Neurofen campaign, I’ve met sleep experts and doctors who talk about the importance of routine and my

Maia Dunphy with baby, Tom

face kind of fell and they said if you don’t have one, that’s also fine. Thank god because we’re really quite chaotic people. “I hate early mornings, but they’re inevitable with Tom,” she said. “So I’m normally up anytime between half six and eight and with a baby there is a certain amount of routine. There is a danger if you’re not working that you can sit in your pyjamas for too long, I try not to do that.” Dunphy said that wherever she is in the world, the first thing she does is check Twitter and emails; “I’m unhealthily obsessed with Twitter,” she jokes. “The trouble is, sometimes I end up on Twitter for an hour.” Even though she’s not working full time at the moment, she said there is “always a tonne of emails”. “The day is peppered with baby naps and feeding times and I’m doing a lot of development work at the moment, coming up with ideas for pitches and things like that.”

She said that her walk with Tom is an essential part of her day. As for living in London, Dunphy says that there are “lonely aspects” to it. “It’s tough when you’re a mum and everyone’s on the nine to five and they want to go out on Friday and Saturday night and I can’t because I’m wrecked. If you’re not careful about it, I think having a baby can be isolating so you have to make the effort to get out and do things. “In London I was quite bad at getting involved in any mother and toddler groups but Tom and I now do swimming lessons once a week,” she said. “Monday mornings I always get up and say ‘Ok this week is going to be structured’ and suddenly it’s Wednesday I’m knackered and Tom might have a temperature and I realise that nothing I had planned to do has been done but I’ve learned to kind of go, you know what, that’s ok as well.”

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18 Gazette 17 March 2016

OUT&ABOUT

Parfois; Pink bag - €29

Thomas Sabo; Skull rose and black love bridge bracelet - €259

Gionni; Bow tote bag - €58 (At River Island; pink cold shoulder swing

Debenhams, Shaws and Pamela

dress - €55

Scotts)

Introduce your wardrobe to pink’s many versatile charms  emma nolan

GRACING the spring/summer runways of fashion week from Milan to New York was a resurgence of romanticism and pretty pinks, just in time for the brighter days ahead. After many muted seasons of minimalistic and subdued trends, the pink hues have added a sense of buoyancy to some collections. Stella McCartney and Roberto Cavalli flirted with dusty rose quartz, while Emporio Armani and Mara Hoffman delivered an extensive array of pale blush and cherry blossom. While some may be apprehensive about introducing pink to a muted palette, adding accessories gradually is a great way to take part in the trend without diving head first into it. Available in Debenhams and Pamela Scott, Gionni’s spring/sum-

mer handbag offers a taste of the coveted trend to everyone. The dainty pale pink bow cross body bag for €48 and the classic bow tote €58 are the perfect entry point into updating a winter wardrobe to spring, particularly as it is too cold in Dublin to even think about shedding layers. The classic tote also comes in a peachy hue with gold zip detail, and the striped crossover bag delivers its pink through an accent of snakeskin. River Island’s cold shoulder swing dress and frill blouse are two simple ways to nod to the trend, and the bloom cross bag from Parfois and Thomas Sabo’s skull rose and black lovebridge bracelet are all unique ways to take on the trend. So, bring on the pink and enjoy a welcome, trendy reprieve from the rigid minimalism of seasons past.

Spreading colour, print and happiness  emma nolan

The spring summer 2016 collection from Oasis is all about spreading colour, print and happiness. This is a something for everyone collection with a vibrant maximalist offering. Pretty is a priority for most garments

but is juxtaposed by top to toe tailoring, softened by paper bag waists and belted bows. Ruffled shirts add texture and drama, while the suits pair perfectly well with a classic tee for a more casual approach. Stripes feature prominently in this collection in the form of a chic

Breton off the shoulder number, while darkened vertical candy stripes in cornflower blue and mustard yellow get a look in as well as a navy pin stripe co-ordinate, in that ever modern long vest silhouette. Classic feminine shapes, the spaghetti strap and bardot neck-

line feature in the form of little black dresses and clashing floral prints alongside jackets of soft summer suede. Find Oasis stores at St Stephen’s Green, Dundrum Town Centre, Blackrock, Nasau Street, Liffey Valley and Blanchardstown Shopping Centres.

17 March 2016 Gazette 19

Our fab fashion

Gazette

STYLE

WE HAVE picked five of our favourite beauty products this week – from lipsticks to shower gels, these are five beauty items that are sure to bring you from spring through to summer!

1 Fleur - Osmanthus shower gel, €9.90; 2 Nuxebody - Fragrance water, €30; 3 The Body Shop - Drops of Light pure clarifying face wash, €23.95; 4 NYX - Jumbo eye pencil, Rocky Mountain Green, €4.99; 5 YSL - Rouge Volupte Shine N46, €33

Gazette

20 Gazette 17 March 2016

OUT&ABOUT

FOOD&DRINK

BITESIZEDNEWS

The Dylan Hotel’s Easter chocolate afternoon tea is sure to delight chocaholics

A deliciously tempting deal at the Dylan Hotel

The Old Spot

European gastropub

Sandymount

 emma nolan

When in Sandymount,

FOODIES and chocoholics take note – the Dylan Hotel (just off Baggot Street) is offering an indulgent Easter Chocolate Afternoon Tea this Easter, which includes an assortment of decadent chocolate creations. Head chef Mark Bodie has created a selection of specially-crafted chocolate treats with chocolate lovers in mind to enjoy with classic high tea bites and a glass of prosecco. Guests will be served a taste of the sticky caramel and milk chocolate tartlet served with cherry gel, a melt-in-your-mouth chocolate brownie with chewy chocolate marshmallow, and a peanut butter and dark chocolate truffle. Also on offer are chocolate financiers, served with caramelised pears, and chocolate mousse and white chocolate mousse, served with chocolate shortbread. Along with the chocolate treats is the traditional bill of fare, including finger sandwiches with various filling of classic egg mayonnaise and cucumber, a goat’s cheese mousse with beetroot, and duck liver parfait served on chocolate brioche. Dylan’s Easter afternoon tea is priced at €40 per person and is available from March 20 until April 3 from 12pm until 5pm every day. The hotel is also offering an Easter package, which includes an overnight stay and a complimentary full Irish breakfast for €259 per room for two sharing. Pre-booking is required at www.dylan.ie.

Delicately crafted chocolates add to the high tea esperience at the hotel throughout Easter

food, drinks and even

BATH Avenue in Sandymount is a right little mecca for foodies, with numerous stylish eateries having popped up there in the last few years. On a recent night out, we ate in The Old Spot, which is a gastropub of sorts but they are delivering big on quality, presentation and most importantly, flavours. Very bad diners that we are, we were running quite late but had called ahead to let the restaurant know. The staff were neither flustered or annoyed by this. We were shown to our seats and two Basil Sours later, we had settled in for a gregarious night. The tartness of the lime, mixed with the sweetness of the basil, p a c ke d t h e p e r f e c t punch in this cocktail and my husband had to practically be restrained from licking the glass. For starter, I went for a tuna carpaccio, served

aim for The Old Spot and a dining experience that won’t disappoint, based on Picky’s experience. The staff service all hit the spot with ease, making it well worth dropping in to.

The Picky Eater with pickles and some guacamole, while my other half went for an old favourite – seared scallops. The tuna was light and refreshing, seared just the right amount, and the accompanying pickles married the dish together so well, every mouthful was a taste explosion, and actually was set off very well by the Basil Sour. For mains, we went for something quite spectacular: the 28 Day Dry Aged Cote de Bouef Surf and Turf, with a stunning rocket, parmesan and pear salad side, as well as some sprouting broccoli. We asked for the beef to be cooked medium, and the cut was certainly that. A beautiful shade of pink sprang from the serving board and we actually did not know where to begin on this exquisite dish. My husband was right when he said: “That’s too good to spoil with

sauces.” The flavours were intense and the beef was melt-in-themouth. I did sample some of the bernaise and horseradish, both of which accompanied the meat beautifully, but this dish was a triumph on its own. My hubby was hankering after an apple crumble for dessert, but sadly they’d run out so he sampled three flavours of homemade ice cream – gingerbread, roasted banana and Ferrero Rocher. They had a mascarpone, which had also been scoffed earlier in the night, but the three he chose were superb. Our lovely waiter recommended a Spanish rioja, which wasn’t too full bodied but accompanied the flavours in the meat with ease. Staff on the whole are friendly and very attentive, and made our evening out a really fun experience.

Picky wouldn’t normally highlight a drink alone, but the Basil Sours were truly cocktails to savour

Conclusion IT’S been quite a while since Picky found a spot with such perfect fare, but The Old Spot (at 14 Bath Avenue, Sandymount, Dublin 4; tel 01 660 5599) really hit the mark. The dishes were delicious, and the staff also made it a pleasure to dine there, too.

17 March 2016 Gazette 21

Gazette

GAMING WEEBYTES

No Man’s Sky will be just too vast to fully explore

An early nod at the biggest ever game ... IF YOU thought that exploring one game world takes too much time, how about trying to explore 18 quintillion of them? That’s the total number of worlds – planets, actually – that PS4 exclusive No Man’s Sky promises to deliver later this year, following its June release. The game’s 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 (yes, that many) planets all feature in a vast, procedurally generated universe, whereby some clever coding and algorithms creates everything from the smallest blade of grass to the biggest solar systems, all on the fly. Players are tasked with making their way from their starting planet out on the edge, all the way in to the heart of the galaxy, upgrading as they go, as they explore and mine planets, find resources, upgrade their suits and ships – and much, much more ... With such a gigantic game – both literally, and in scope – many critics and gamers have been very interested in this unique title, yet also apprehensive. Just what do you do, exactly? Luckily, a round of fresh media previews have started to reveal that – pun intended – the sky’s the limit in this game. Look out for another preview soon ...

The developers have done an excellent job of capturing the look and feel of Manhattan’s urban canyons and streets

The Division adds up to a compelling title

THERE’S no doubt that the vision of a largely abandoned and postChristmas New York that’s been ravaged by a very, very deadly bioweapon plague in The Division (PC, XBO, PS4; Cert 18) is a very good looking game, whatever platform you play on. It’s one of the biggest releases of the year, and has been creating quite a stir for some time now ahead of its release. As a Division agent, y o u ’r e t a s ke d w i t h helping to restore order in the city – to gather together survivors, find food and medicine, rescue hostages, that sort of thing. However, plenty of gangs, looters and bad guys are also fighting to take over the city, as Division agents and what remains of the authorities struggle to reclaim the city. As you traverse much of the lower third of Manhattan completing missions, you get points in a variety of fields with which to upgrade your character, your home base, and a

 shane dillon sdillon@dublingazette.com

number of abilities in a pretty comprehensive skill set tree. Considering that, depending on your play style, you can shape your character to have some pretty unique abilities, it’s not hard to see the appeal for gamers looking to play with characters who don’t fit the usual archetypes for such open-world games, such as The Tank, The Sniper, The Medic, and so on. As you play, rewards and finds reveal all kinds of stats to enhance, with the constant drip-feed of loot (often common and worthless, occasionally rare and very useful) providing plenty of incentive to continue exploring, levelling up your character, and fighting to help save the city. Given the extensive mission-led content –

although the multiplayer aspect (see below) is much less organised – and the way that gamers truly shape and choose their character’s development, it’s hard to see The Division as anything other than a roleplaying game, rather than a straightforward shooter. Still, regardless of whether you’re looking for an engaging story with decent shooter elements – or vice versa – The Division should satisfy, with its densely recreated version of Manhattan being a particularly attractive setting. Indeed, the dystopian setting is a singularly attractive one, with the richly detailed streets and multitude of buildings and landmarks presented in style, thanks to some terrific lighting and weather effects, as well as its day/night cycle. A s o n e o f 2 016 ’s major games releases, The Division doesn’t disappoint, and should unite gamers and critics alike with solid praise.

Whether exploring Manhattan’s streets and seeing well-known buildings and landmarks, or wandering into looted stores and abandoned buildings, there’s an awful lot to see and find. Screengrabs: Shane Dillon

Gazette

22 Gazette 17 March 2016

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

ReelReviews

eddie the eagle

Wings it with the facts BRITAIN’S worst (but highly popular) athlete, “Eddie the Eagle” (Cert 12A, 106 mins) gets an affectionate big-screen treatment that plays a little hard and fast with the facts, but nonetheless delivers a warm-hearted underdog tale. Forever famous as a rather hopeless but very, very determined ski jumper at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, Eddie Edward’s story is pleasantly told.

Kung Fu Panda 3

Makes impressive moves PO IS back with his latest outing, as Kung Fu Panda 3 (Cert PG, 95 mins) once again sees the very unlikely martial arts expert team up to stop a very bad guy. This time round, Po has a very unlikely group of would-be martial experts to train up – an entire tribe of pandas. It’s largely more of the same for the franchise, but when it looks this good and has such spirited performances, that’s okay.

london has fallen Bangs for your bucks

AS THE sequel to Olympus Has Fallen, London (Cert 15A, 99 mins) offers more of the same – where the first film saw the US president in mortal danger, this time several world leaders are spectacularly bumped off in London. But did the bad guys think that the American president would be so easy to kill? It’s silly stuff that won’t trouble your braincells much, but is passable enough.

This laidback Icelandic film about two farming brothers living side by side and maintaining a decades long grudge presents plenty for the eyes, and the mind, too

rams: whether set in iceland or ireland, this farming tale rings true

An unexpected gem of a film

WITH all the simplicity and wryness of a folktale, Rams is a lowbudget film from Iceland that may offer one of the most unexpected cinema experiences of the year. Currently on limited release in Dublin, much of the surprise of Rams comes from its set-up, where director and writer Grimur Hakonarson has crafted what is arguably the most indie movie plot of all time. In a tiny rural community ensconced deep in an Icelandic valley, sheep-farming brothers Gummi and Kiddi carve out their bachelor existence under a blanket of contrived ignorance. The brothers have not spoken in 40 years, despite living practically next door to one another

 Dave phillips

on the family farm. A simple wire fence runs the length of the property, dividing one set of stock from the other, and also serves as a boundary for the brothers. Intermittent and essential communication over the decades is achieved by proxy. Hand-scrawled notes occasionally pass back and forth between the brothers by way of Kiddi’s sheep dog, who seems to remain cheerfully unaware of any commotion.

More delicate matters are handled by way of other farmers in the valley, who seem to have grown and accepted the feud, working around it with all the caution that a force of nature deserves. There is a captivating familiarity in Hakonarson’s story as it unfolds, and that is due in part because, in Ireland, we are never too far removed from stories of rural eccentricity, farming feuds, and estranged brothers. However, Rams offers all the components of the kind of stories we are told as children – the apocryphal tales and urban legends that are meant to instil a lesson or truth about human experience. The brothers may not

give voice to their feelings toward one another; they are expressed in other ways. When Gummi is narrowly beaten by Kiddi in the community’s annual ram pageant, he suspects that his brother’s animal is infected by Scrapie – the ovine equivalent of BSE. While Kiddi initially puts the accusation down to his brother’s jealousy, the threat of the disease – which would require the culling of all the stock in the valley – is too much for the community to brush off. Shot in the remote northern valley of Budardalur, the natural environment plays a huge part in Rams, where the lives of the protagonists are marked

out upon a vast white backdrop that always seems poised to engulf them. Using a mix of Icelandic stage actors, films actors, and non-actors the film manages to maintain an odd style of authenticity. Much of Hakonarson’s previous work is on Icelandic documentaries, and that experience follows along in this feature. While winter is always looming on our visual peripheries, silence is always present and respected. The story slowly and steadily unfolds over an hour and a half, and for much of that time we are simply watching Gummi, or Kiddi, or the sheep (who all receive acting credits) further the plot through their

own often blundering actions, rather than conversations. T his awareness of observation is part of what makes Rams such a joy to sit through. Hakonarson expertly lulls us along in a state of pleasant bemusement, until in like all good fables, we uncover the kernel of truth. Quirky, stylish, and incredibly power ful, the most tragic element about this film is that it will inevitably slip by many people unnoticed this year. Rams is a little gem of a film, that ostensibly is about feuding sheep farmers, but at its heart, is a poignant reminder of the human necessity for connection. Seek it out while you still can. Verdict: 9/10

17 March 2016 Gazette 23

Gazette

HEALTH Supporting cellular health

“Small boutique style operations have filled the void left by big box gym closures.”

Q&A: Heath & Fitness Together, Ranelagh

Resisting the hardships of the recent recession  Carl Cautley

Owner, Health and Fitness Together

Q: I believe your 10th anniversary is coming up soon? Carl: Yes, I can’t believe it is 10 years since we opened our first studio on Leinster Road, Rathmines. We operated out of a small Mews and we had two rooms. At the time, the concept of private 1-to-1 training was unique and business thrived over the first two years. Q: So you opened in 2006, what happened at the end of 2008 when the bank crisis began? Carl: It was a strange time. The media, clients, friends and family all believed it was a short term glitch. Business fell briefly but then rebounded in April/May 2009. At the time we thought the glitch was over, little did we realise. Q: How do you mean? Carl: When we headed into the summer of 2009 we realised this was a much bigger problem than most thought. Con-

fidence in the economy started to decline rapidly and thus we started to feel the consequences. Business dropped off dramatically as people started to feel the crunch. Q: So what did you do? Carl: We basically went from a profitable start-up to a loss making business overnight. The stress levels were high but we were determined to see it through. We had to change the business model completely. I came from an advertising/marketing back ground where sales and the top line were paramount. Now, for the first time, I had to look at costs. Everything was forensically analysed; staff reduced, rent and franchise fees re-negotiated, loans re-engineered, cost of supplies and utilities reduced. When we were finished the monthly saving was down by about 30%. This, of course, didn’t increase profit as all of the savings were passed on to the client. Q: How did this affect

your business? Carl: The number of clients using our facility dropped by about 40% but there were still enough loyal clients to keep the business going and a reasonable trickle of new clients for us to remain optimistic. Q: I assume this status quo remained for quite a while? Carl: I would say that after a seven-year struggle, it is only in the last four months we have seen consistent growth. Q: Do you believe the recession is over? Carl: Since the bank guarantee of September 2008 we have seen a number of false dawns where we thought things were picking up but as soon as they did they crashed again. However, 2015/2016 is the first time we have seen four months of growth year-on-year. We are definitely more optimistic but cautious, as any negative world event could impact our economy and the first to take the brunt will be small businesses again.

Q: Even though there has been a recession, the health and fitness industry seems to be booming? Carl: Yes, but the industry has changed. The recession put a stop to the big box gyms. Total Fitness, Jackie Skelly and a few other big names went out of business. In their place small boutique style operations like our own have filled the void. Q: Tell us a little bit about your business? Carl: We started off providing one-to-one personal training in private rooms. This is still the mainstay of our business but we also now offer 2-to-1 personal training, small group training, physical therapy and nutrition. Basically a private training facility providing tailor-made services to suit anyone’s budget. Carl Cautley, Owner, Health & Fitness Together, 8 Appian Way, Ranelagh, Dublin 6. Tel. 496 5829 www.healthandfitnesstogether.ie carl@ fitnesstogether.ie

An Irish company is bringing the world’s most complete organic mineral supplement direct to consumers in Dublin for the first time. Cellnutrition is providing Quinton Hypertonic and Isotonic to the Irish market on its website www.cellnutrition.ie after the company secured the Ireland and UK distribution rights to the popular supplements. Quinton has a 100-year history of supporting cellular health in the body. It is mineral-rich seawater harvested under strict conditions from a plankton bloom which occurs naturally in a pristine, internationally-protected part of the Atlantic Ocean. Cellnutrition Quinton nourishes your cells with 78 minerals and trace elements that have proven benefits for the health of your skin, hair and nails. These nutrients support the function of your main detoxification organs – your liver, kidneys, lungs and skin – and counter the chemicals and toxins we absorb from beauty products every day.

Cellnutrition chief executive John Kelleher said: “Cellular health is vitally important – after all, cells are the fundamental building blocks of life. “Every muscle movement, every heartbeat, every breath, all the functions of your organs, everything your body does depends on you having healthy, functioning cells. “Without them you would not be able to bat an eyelid or form a thought. “That’s why we’ve brought Cellnutrition Quinton direct to families in Ireland, so that they can enjoy the incredible nutritional benefits that it can provide for your health and vitality.”

24 swords Gazette 17 March 2016

Gazettegallery

| Liz O’Donnell and Noel Kelly host annual fundraiser

Honouring years of heroic work F

ire Restaurant in The Mansion House was the venue for the Lunch with Liz and Noel fundraiser in aid of Chernobyl Children International hosted by Liz O’Donnell and Noel Kelly. The annual event raises vital funds for children born with congenital heart defects as a result of

Chernobyl. The Irish glitterati were out in force to show their support for the event. CCI board director Liz O’Donnell said: “We are here to honour thirty years of heroic work by Adi and thousands of Irish volunteers supporting the poorest and most deserving people in Chernobyl affected regions.”

Marie Chawke ,Liz Rae, Alison Rae and Teresa Thornhill. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

Norah Casey, Liz O’Donnell and Adi Roche

Louise Cosgrave and Marita Cosgrave

Colette Browne and Laura Gilthorpe

Claire Byrne, Elaine O’Neill and Geraldine O’Farrell

Cheyanne Elkhouly, Rionna Moulds and Emily Dunne

17 March 2016 swords Gazette 25

for Adi Roche’s Chernobyl Children International

Fiona Creggan and Edel Fitzgerald

Joanna Butler and Catriona Kelly

Martin Wells and Deirdre Carton

Charlotte Somers and Oda O’Carroll

Julie Shynkarenkaand Adi Roche, Noel Kelly and Liz O’Donnell

Bill McCabe

26 swords Gazette 17 March 2016

swordsCLASSIFIEDS carpentry

dvds

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17 March 2016 swords Gazette 27

swordsCLASSIFIEDS TELL US YOUR STORY Call our news team on 60 10 240 and SELECT OPTION 2 or email news@gazettegroup.com

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Gazette

28 sWORDS Gazette 17 March 2016

SPORT Duff takes time over next move

FastSport

Soccer: irish legend adjusting to life after professional game

De la salle team up with mount anville:

DE LA Salle Churchtown’s A team, alongside Mount Anville, won the annual Badminton southside mixed doubles tournament on their home court last week. Eight sides took part in the competition alongside St Benildus College and four girls’ schools: St. Raphaela’s, Loreto Bray, Mount Anville and Saint Joesph’s, Cluny. In the competition, each boys team was paired with a girls team to form mixed doubles partnerships. The De La Salle and Mount Anville side emerged victorious in the final, beating the De La Salle B team paired with Saint Raphaela’s who they had already defeated earlier in the tournament. The winners were unbeaten throughout the competition winning against a combined St Benildus/St Joseph’s side and also the De La Salle C team who were playing with Loreto Bray.

 james hendicott sport@dublingazette.com

FORMER Leicester Celtic, Lourdes Celtic and St Kevin’s Boys youth player Damien Duff - who can also claim just the odd one hundred caps for Ireland - has spoken about the moment that finally forced his retire-

ment from professional soccer last year. “It was Bohs away in the Leinster Senior Cup,” Duff said last week, talking of the moment he decided to leave Shamrock Rovers. “I had a few niggles and what have you but I couldn’t kick a ball 30 yards. “I think we got

through to the final that night but I went home depressed. The missus was, like, ‘what’s wrong with you?’ I didn’t even tell her but I just knew in my heart of hearts.” Duff also admitted he’s turned out for TEK United alongside his brother Jamie since retiring from the Rovers midfield over the summer, though he only managed a single friendly game for the Leinster Senior League team, away in Enniskerry, before seeing a few of the tackles put him off. “I’d like to be able to walk, so I haven’t been back,” he quipped at Life Style Sports, while promoting their new Green Ticket competition to attend Euro 2016. Duff also spoke about

Damian Duff, above, in Ireland action and, below, signing for Shamrock Rovers

his options for work, admitting that he’s finding retirement’s “wearing a bit thin,” and mentioning the possibility of punditry for Euro 2016, despite his outspoken dislike of pundits. “I did enjoy it in a weird, sort of perverse sort of way,” Duff said of his recent experience with RTE. “That’s probably just me being out of my comfort zone; you’ve done okay then you come home and you’re ... oomph, a bit relieved, happy it went well.” The former star of the Irish midfield has also

been competing in fivea-side tournaments over recent months, including a trip to a competition in Russia, where he played in a team with other big-name former internationals including Gaizka Mendieta and Gianluca Zambrotta. “Being hard-working and honest, I’d like to feel as if I’ve earned a holiday or a trip. “I don’t want to turn into Kim Kardashian,” Duff said of the trip, whilst admitting that he’s not really sure what the future might hold. As for the Euros, Duff

hopes that Ireland will take their inspiration from the grit and togetherness of Leicester City, highlighting the fight against Bosnia in the play offs. “ We s t e a m - r o l l e d them with hunger, desire and hard work and it goes a long way as you can see with Leicester City,” he said. “You have to be positive.” Life Style Spor ts’ Green Ticket competition for Euro 2016 tickets can be found at w w w.lifestylespor ts. com/greenticket.

South Dublin Swans represent Ireland on Euro stage  sport@dublingazette.com

The South Dublin Swans Aussie Rules team

TERENURE-based South Dublin Swans’ Australian Rules Football team will take on the club champions of Europe next Saturday March 19 in Amsterdam in the AFL Europe Champions League. This event is for the winners of Aussie Rules leagues across Europe and both men’s and women’s competitions are being played. In the men’s competition, the Swans will have 12 rivals for the title of best club team in Europe. The opposition include 2015

champions the West London Wildcats. The Swans are sending a strong team for their first venture into European competition. Amongst the squad are experienced recent Irish Warriors Kevin Brennan, Bobby Byrne, Paul O’Halloran, Peter Ross and Darren Sheils. They will also have talented last season rookies in Brian O’Kane, Rob Monks and Liam Burns on the plane and the experienced Craig Wood and Darren Snell. The rest of the squad will include some of the greatest club

men in the history of the club including Ed Warren, Patrick Cummins, Noel Tate, Shane Thomas, Omar Mamad and Sean Guerin. The Swans have a long and successful time in the Australian Rules Football League of Ireland (ARFLI) having won three of the last five Premierships and also being the winner of the most Premierships in ARFLI history. However, it is going to be a tough task to be crowned Champions League champions but they are expected to put all their energy into bringing the title home.

17 March 2016 SWORDS Gazette 29

Gazette

Galligan heads Irish challenge at worlds Former Clondalkin community games athlete is the sole Irish runner to compete at this week’s world indoor athletics championships despite having major funding limitations ROSE-Anne Galligan, who originally made her beginnings in athletics with Clondalkin’s Community Games team, will compete in the 1,500m as Ireland’s sole representative at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland, Oregon, from March 17-20. Galligan, the national outdoor 800m record holder, set a personal best of 4.11.07 for the 1,500m at the Athlone International and will be looking to put in a competitive performance. Letterkenny’s Mark English was also originally named to compete but the 800m runner has had to withdraw due to an ankle injury. This comes as a major setback to the UCD medical student, who had run a season’s best of 1:46.99, which he set at the Glasgow Inter-

national, and would have had hopes of adding to his medal collection – a European outdoor bronze medal in 2014 and a silver medal at the European Indoors last year. Speaking about Galligan’s entry into the indoors, Athletics Ireland high performance director Kevin Ankrom, said: “Rose-Anne has wintered well and it will be good for her 800m development.” She qualified for the competition in spite of a difficult 2015 in which her funding was cut just a year after breaking Sonia O’Sullivan’s long-standing record for 800m. To help fund her Olympic dream this year, she has been working as a supply teacher in England in order to bolster her income and earn enough to take in altitude training trips to South Africa.

She is hopeful of earning enough to go again in April to kick-start her outdoor season but, again, getting the cash together is the crucial issue. “It is an added strain,” she said recently. “Fair enough, the way the funding works in Ireland is that you have to run a time and then you get your funding. “It’s a bit frustrating because I know that I am capable of running these times, and I need to go to these camps to help my training to get there. If you’re not on funding though, you have to fund it yourself. “I was on funding after I ran my national record and they kept me on in 2014 but then when I had a year when I didn’t perform last year…I put in my application but it was declined.

Rose-Anne Galligan is Ireland’s sole representative in Portland this week

“It’s just another burden you have. Luckily, I get my kit and my running shoes from New Balance so that is one thing I don’t have to worry about. “I’d do anything to get to the Olympics but it would be lovely to be able to put everything into the training and have

This forms part of her training preparations with the goal of getting a qualifying standard over 10,000m at the European Championships in Amsterdam in July and also potentially in Rio. Ireland will also be represented by Lizzie Lee and Paul Pollock at the World

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

‘It’s just another burden you have but I would do anything to get to the Olympics’ Rose-Anne Galligan

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

the funding. I work for an agency but I’m not going to sacrifice my training sessions. If I’m doing a session on a Tuesday and Thursday, I’m not going to work those days. If I know I’m working on a Monday, I’ll get up early and go run before going on to school.” Elsewhere, the county will also be represented by Fionnuala McCormack in the New York Half Marathon, as well as three more Dublin club runners, Segiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers), Sean Hehir (Rathfarnham) and Thomas Frazer (Crusaders), in the World Half Marathon in Cardiff. McCormack will run in the New York Half Marathon on March 20 before running over 10,000m on the track in Stanford on April 2.

Half Marathon in Cardiff on March 26. Lee will be the sole Irish woman in Cardiff due to the racing calendar and plans of the other leading Irish women. Paul Pollock will lead a full men’s team of five and will be looking to replicate his performance at the last edition of the Championships in Copenhagen in 2014 where he ran a swift 62:10 for 30th – still his personal best for the event. Pollock will also use the event as a sharpener for the London Marathon on April 17, where he hopes to seal a place on the Olympic marathon team. Dublin-based Ciobanu, Hehir and Frazer, as well as Northern Ireland’s Kevin Seaward (St Malachy’s) will flank Pollock in Wales as they bid to put in a good performance.

FastSport

Corporate 5km dates announced for summer ATHLETICS Ireland and Grant Thornton have announced this week the dates for the Grant Thornton Corporate 5k Team Challenge series for 2016. The locations and dates are the National Sports Campus in Fingal on Thursday, June 9 and The Mall, Cork City on Wednesday, June 29, with the flagship event taking place in the Dublin Docklands on Tuesday, September 13. The Corporate Challenge is organised by the national governing body Athletics Ireland whose mission is to support and develop the athletes of Ireland of all ages, disciplines and abilities. Aimed at encouraging social running amongst the business community in Dublin and Cork, the event welcomes both seasoned runners as well as beginners. Each run will be a team event and a minimum of four participants will enter with team members’ times combined to determine the winner. Event ambassador, Olympian and former London Marathon winner Catherina McKiernan said of the event: “The growth of the event is testament to the feel-good factor that running brings. “It is a fantastic sight to see so many runners taking part each year from the regular runner to the complete beginner; this event is a great way to encourage people to take the first step towards getting fit enough to run a 5k. “The team element adds a sense of fun and camaraderie amongst work colleagues in a really well organised event. I’m looking forward to being a part of it again this year.” Now in its fifth year this event goes from strength to strength with more people participating. The Docklands run last September was a sellout with over 5,000 runners from 139 different companies. John Foley, Chief Executive of Athletics Ireland, added: “As an association one of our core strategic objectives is to promote health and fitness in the population as a whole. “This event enables us to reach beyond our core membership into the business community by encouraging them to focus on a fitness programme which targets a 5k run; a good starter point for novice runners.”

Gazette

30 SWORDS gazette 17 March 2016

SPORT

FastSport

Malahide RFC close out league victory in style MALAHIDE RFC closed out their Leinster League Division 1B campaign in perfect style as they picked off a 43-33 victory over Tullow in their last league match of the campaign. The side had secured the 1B title a week earlier against Coolmine, meaning there was little to win or lose, other than the game in Tullow but Malahide were determined to finish the league season on a high. Tullow had other ideas and, having lost the previous meeting just before Christmas, were determined to upset the Malahide celebrations. The match kicked off at a steady pace and Tullow managed to put the first score on the board with a converted try after twelve minutes. The Estuary Road side soon replied with a try of their own and the two teams continued to swap scores for the first half. The second half kicked off and Malahide immediately picked up the pace of the game and crossed the Tullow line for a try after five minutes. Never an easy place to travel to, Tullow got themselves back into the match with some strong phased rugby and crossed the Malahide line with a converted try. There was now only 3 points between the teams and all to play for. For the remainder of the second half both teams continued to swap scores with Malahide running out eventual winners and topping the league by an impressive 12 points. Malahide President Alun Brophy is pictured receiving the Leinster 1B League Pennant. In addition, the club’s second team earned a league and cup double when they saw off Blackrock College 30-28, as they added the league to the Moran Cup won earlier in the campaign.

soccer: epic rangers run comes to an end at st peter’s hands

Rivervalley Rangers ahead of their FAI Junior Cup quarter-final date last weekend

Valley’s River runs dry fai junior cup q-final Rivervalley Rangers St Peter’s, Athlone  sport@dublingazette.com

0 1

IN ONE of the tightest affairs of this season’s FAI Junior Cup it was St Peters who edged out Rivervalley Rangers courtesy of a late Noel McGee penalty which sealed their Junior Cup semi-final spot at the AUL on Sunday afternoon. It was a game that could have swung either way as both sides put on a spectacle with chances coming in abundance throughout the 90 minutes but was ultimately

decided from the penalty spot. With 80 minutes on the clock, McGee was clipped from behind on his way towards goal by Keith Reilly and the referee showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot. McGee stepped up, held his nerve and slotted it into the bottomright corner and rapturous celebrations ensued from the travelling support and players alike. The game began at an extremely high-tempo with Rivervalley controlling the early stages and playing their best football in the first half through some quick

dunne deal Skerries golfer reaches Spanish knock-out round skerries Maria Dunne was the only

Irish player to qualify at the Spanish Ladies International Amateur Championship thanks to a 28th place finish in the qualifying rounds last week. In the knock-out phases, the Irish captain took on Pauline Roussin-Bouchard from France who eventually prevail three and two on the 16th hole as Dunne was unable to claw back a deficit from the sixth hole.

passing around the middle from Ronan Murtagh, Mark O’Brien and Dano Murphy. The first chance fell in the fifteenth minute m a r k a f t e r Mu r p hy knocked it inside to Stephen Walshe whose cross was deflected back into the path of Murphy but his shot fell wide of the post. Murtagh then came close after he turned his man to create a couple of yards of space which allowed him the time to set himself up nicely for a shot but his effort was well-saved by Keith Hynes. Murtagh also forced

Hynes into making one of the saves of the game when he took a Colly O’Brien throw-in into his stride before unleashing a venomous effort on goal only for Hynes to somehow reach it and palm it away from the target. The decisive moment in the second half arrived when McGee got on the end of a long-ball up the pitch. He had the pace to beat Reilly who then just clipped the back of McGee’s heels, who went tumbling over leaving the referee with no choice but to give the spot-kick in which McGee made

no mistake. Rangers pushed and pushed as the minutes ticked dow n but St Peters had enough to hold out and secure a huge victory for the Athlone side. They will now advance to face Pike Rovers for a chance to reach the final for the first time since 2009. Although they’ll be bitterly disappointed that their cup run has come to an end, Rivervalley Rangers will keep their heads held high as reaching the quarter-final stage was a magnificent achievement for the AUL Premier B side.

17 March 2016 SWORDS gazette 31

Gazette

peil tri ghaeilge

Fins ladies footballers star at annual event

Club Noticeboard FINGALLIANS

fingallians ladies footballers recently

took part in the Dublin seven-a-side football competition Peil Tri Ghaeilge held at Castleknock on March 5. The annual interclub competition is held during Seachtain na Gaeilge to promote Irish within the GAA with Somerton the venue for the growing event. Fins were pictured with the Sam Maguire cup at the event.

OUR adult footballers in Division 3 and

cis Hospice on St Patrick’s Day at 3pm

6 remain unbeaten after wins on Sun-

– Fingallians v St Colmcille’s away in

day. Our minor hurlers also won to

Balheary.

keep them at the top of Division 2.

football: rolestown outfit undone by newcomers

This year’s Easter Camp dates are

St Patrick’s Day: La Feile Padraig –

Monday, March 21 to Thursday, March

the parade will depart Colaiste Choilm

24. It will be a combined hurling and

at 11.30am.We will assemble at Colaiste

football camp for boys and girls aged

Choilm from 10.45am. Parents are

four to 13 years.

most welcome to march with us at the

All members with registered email

back of the group. The kids will be well

addresses should have received a

looked after by their team coaches

form over the last few days. All inter-

and mentors.

ested parties can access a form on

After the parade, we will return to

www.fingallians.com; players can

the club for a day of music and cele-

also register in the club this Saturday

bration. Any musicians, young or old,

morning at 10am.

are encouraged to bring their instru-

Our U-13 camogie side drew in the

ments and will get a chance to play on

league with Round Tower’s. Training

stage. The all-Ireland club finals will

is on Thursday evening from 6-7pm on

be televised. We will have music in the

the all-weather pitch and the squad

bar from 5.30-7.30pm with Dave Cleary

are looking for new players.

and a ballad session with Eugene in the

Athletics: Congratulation of our

club bar from 10.30pm. The gym and

members who took part in the National

dressing rooms will be unavailable all

Indoors in Athlone over the weekend.

day to members.

Well done to Ava Keogh who won the

Gaelic for Mothers: In aid of St Fran-

U-13 60M hurdles.

ST FINIAN’S

Castleknock clip the Ravens wings

Fingal Ravens fell to a heavy defeat to Castleknock at Somerton last Sunday

afl division one

Castleknock 0-6 Fingal Ravens 1-18  james hendicott sport@dublingazette.com

FINGAL Ravens couldn’t cope with a fluid approach from fast-rising west Dublin side Castleknock, as the marauding yellow and blues introduced AFL1 football to their Somerton home for the first time, and blew Ravens away first half. The home side started strongly, with a smart close-range move six minutes in seeing a flood of Castleknock forwards edge the ball around

Ravens ‘keeper Cian Daly with a series of hand passes, leaving Matthew Griffin to fist the ball into an empty net. The goal was to be the only one of the game, and prompted a brief Ravens comeback as the north Dublin side hit two points in quick reply, before Castleknock went on the rampage, knocking over ten points without response to lead 1-10 to 0-2 at half time. The key was in midfield: while Ravens struggling to link their middle with forwards who found themselves negated by sharp blanket defence

from Castleknock, Graham Hannigan and Shane Boland in particular were quick and efficient for Castleknock. The pair delivered ample space-finding ball into the forwards, with Padraig McGravey and Tom Corcoran making the most of the chances. The only blotch on the second half blitz for the home side was a black card for Mikey Galvin, whose grab of a Ravens ankle in midfield was a little too obvious to ignore. Sweeping changes for Ravens at half time saw the away side slightly more competitive, partic-

ularly in the early stages, but the game quickly faded into comfort for Castleknock and frustration for Ravens. Ravens were unable to build on early second half points, and only the fiercely competitive Derek Daly and full back Darren Coady came away with much credit for the Fingal club as Castleknock casually wracked up their points. By the final five minutes, Castleknock had the luxury of playing a possession game around midfield, eventually coming out impressive 1-18 to 0-6 winners.

THE season is in full flow now with fix-

encouraged to participate under St

tures in all codes and age groups. A

Finian’s Banner. The parade starts

lot of success was recorded among

at 11.30am from Coliste Choilm. Team

our teams this week. At adult level,

mentors and their teams should

the men’s football teams had a win for

assemble from 10.30am in Coliste

the junior AFL8 team and the narrow-

Choilm. All teams should wear their

est of defeats for our AFL4 team.

club jersey’s and colours. St Finian’s

Among the juvenile teams, there

will again have a truck float.

were wins for all of the boys’ and

Each juvenile team can nominate

girls’ U-14 teams, the U-12s against

one representative to ride on the

O’Toole’s and the U-10 girls in Binn

float to represent their team. The

Eidear.

teams should assemble by age group

This week will see all our teams

under the team placards eg U-8, 9,

represented in the St Patrick’s Day

10s etc with their team mentors and

parade in Swords. All teams are

parents.

FINGAL Ravens WELL done to our U-15 girls who beat

on 086 1069752 or email Ray on secre-

St James’s Gaels with a great score-

tarybng.fingalravens.dublin@gaa.ie

line 12-7 to 1-1.

or register at the nursery in the school

Congratulations to Beibhin Flathey who was player of the match. Well done to all concerned.

hall from 10am each Saturday. There was no jackpot winner of the lotto; numbers drawn were 9, 11, 23 and

2016 club membership is now due;

38; €20 to Leigh Doherty, Eoin Flaherty

membership forms are available in the

and Deborah Donohue. Next week’s

clubhouse or can be downloaded from

jackpot is €17,000.

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

Anyone looking for club gear, please contact Ann Fox on 086 1771027.

All membership must be paid in full

Any enquiries about pitch playabil-

by all sections of the club by March 31.

ity and availability, please call John

No player of any age will be permitted

McCarthy on 087 6599348.

to play if they do not have their membership played in full. Our Easter camp will run from Tues-

If any teams are looking for a time slot in the school hall, please contact Alan Manning on 087 0651219.

day, March 29 until Thursday, March

Congratulations from all to Darren

31, 10am-2pm daily, for five to 12-year-

and Marie McCarthy who celebrated

olds. Only €25 per child, contact Barry

their wedding this weekend.

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

march 17-23, 2016

wings clipped: Fingal Ravens find AFL1 newcomers Life after football: Damian Duff searching for Castleknock too hot to handle in league showdown P31 new role since retiring P29

Wolves’ Matt Doherty

Doherty’s Irish dream Swords man awoken by call from Martin O’Neill as he earns a place in the Republic of Ireland panel for upcoming fixture against the Swiss

 aaron gallagher

sport@dublingazette.com

EVERY boy dreams of the day they receive a phone call from the manager of the Republic of Ireland telling them they would be pulling on the green jersey and turning out to represent their country on the world stage. This dream became reality for Swords man Matt Doherty when Martin O’Neill woke him from a post-training nap with a phone call informing him he would be included in his 40-man squad for his side’s March friendlies against Switzerland and Slovakia. Doherty began his career locally playing for Belvedere before being spotted on in a

pre-season friendly playing for Bohemians against Wolverhampton Wanderers which saw the then 17-year-old move to England. This had followed two years where he plied his trade in the FAS FAI Training Programme which oversaw his development having previously worked for his dad while making his debut for Pat Fenlon at Bohemians in the League of Ireland. Speaking after he received the call from O’Neill, Doherty explained even though his performances for Wolves had been catching many an eye in recent months that he simply had not expected the call-up. “It’s not really hit me yet because I was half asleep”, he said speaking to 98fm. “I

heard my phone ringing and I was too tired to even answer it so I went back to sleep. Then I woke up to millions of texts and that on my phone. “My form has been at a good level for Wolves recently; you are always going to be surprised when the phone actually does ring for a senior call up but I feel I’ve been playing well in the Championship and am really happy that Martin O’Neill and his staff have noticed that.” He recently scored a last-minute winner for Kenny Jackett’s side in a Championship game against Bristol City, while he has represented Ireland at Under-15, 16, 19 and 21 level.

He said that although he had not yet spoken fully to Martin O’Neill that he was, nevertheless, thrilled to take to the senior stage having pulled on the green jersey for the first time at 15. “I wouldn’t have thought when I was 15 that I might get a chance to play for my country at senior level but I guess everybody dreams about it, and I dreamt about it too”, he explained. “I’ve never been in the senior squad so I’m not really sure what to expect. I can’t really judge it off Under-21s or 19s as it’s a completely different ball game at senior level. I’ll just have to wait and see but of course the aim is to be in the squad for the games.”