Swords GAZET TE FREE
Eddi Reader brings her ‘Perfect’ voice back to Ireland SEE PAGE 21 February 7, 2013 Find us on
Month XX, 2012 SWORDS • BALBRIGGAN • APPLEWOOD • BOROIMHE • AIRSIDE • RIVERVALLEY
INSIDE: Your essential guide to make this Valentine’s Day extra special P17
Soccer:
Celtic SFAI run comes to an end at Balheary Page 30
Football:
Fingallians to the fore for Dublin ladies Page 31
Garda station closures derided NATALIE BURKE
ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES......................6 DUBLIN LIFE...................11 OUT&ABOUT .................20 CLASSIFIEDS ................26 SPORT ...........................27
CHARITY CYCLE: Two-day event to raise funds for Ross Nugent foundation Page 4
FOLLOWING the controversial closure of 95 Garda stations last week, local councillor Darragh Butler (FF) has said “it makes no sense” to remove the Garda presence in towns and rural communities at a time when the rate of burglaries has increased. “I’ve no doubt the presence of a local Garda station acts as a
deterrent to criminals who target vulnerable households and properties. The value of a visible Garda presence should never be underestimated,” he said. Defending the decision made by Minister for Justice Alan Shatter however, Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell said the closures mean communities are “more effectively policed”. Full Story on Page 2
Meeting place: Local Chamber’s network event just the business ROBERT Mooney, Juanita Cahill
and Declan Farrelly were at Gilbert and Wrights Wine Bar recently which was hosting the first Chamber Network Evening of the New Year.
The event was a great opportunity for local business people to share ideas and an opportunity to grow their businesses. Picture: Una Williams
See Gallery on Page 6
2 swords gazette 7 February 2013
dublin GAZETTe newspapers i n f o r m at i o n
policy Shatter ‘letting down’ communities
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Swords Garda Station: “The current reforms are all about using police resources more effectively” – Minister Alan Shatter
Garda station closures ‘make no sense’ – Butler Following the controversial closure of 95 Garda stations last week, local Fianna Fail councillor Darragh Butler has said “it makes no sense” to remove Garda presence in towns and rural communities across Ireland at a time when the rate of burglaries has increased. According to Cllr Butler, Alan Shatter, Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence is “letting down” gardai and the communities they serve, and needs to “cop on” and reverse the recent closures.
natalie burke nburke@gazettegroup.com
“I’ve no doubt the presence of a local Garda station acts as a deterrent to criminals who target vulnerable households and properties. The value of a visible Garda presence should never be underestimated,” he said. Dublin North saw Rush Garda Station close its doors in 2012, as well as the curtailing of station opening hours in both Malahide and Howth.
“The Minister is closing down Garda stations when there are not even enough patrol cars to use. I’ve heard cases where the gardai in Swords have had to cycle to Donabate as there was no car available. Not even Lance Armstrong would be able to get there on time if there was an emergency situation. “Before the last General Election, Fine Gael gave the impression that Garda stations throughout the country, particularly in rural areas, were safe under Fine Gael. We now know this to be untrue. It makes no sense to remove the Garda presence from our towns
and rural communities at a time when the rate of burglaries has increased and, unfortunately, Rush is a perfect example of this,” he said, referring to the recent suspected arson attack at a church in the town. Defending the decision made by Mr Shatter, Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell said the closures are resulting in communities being “more effectively policed”. “The current reforms being implemented are all about using police resources more effectively. Under a recently agreed roster system, gardai spend less time behind their desks and
more time out in the community. This will see an additional 61,000 patrol hours dedicated towards community policing, crime prevention and crime detection.” Cllr Anthony Lavin (FG) echoed the views of Deputy Farrell, saying that times have changed and “we need to progress”. “Once the number of gardai we have remains at the levels they were when the reduced hours were introduced last year, I think we will get better protection. Gardai are out and about in communities helping to prevent crime rather than having to mind the Garda station.”
Five people killed on Fingal roads in 2012 A total of five people were killed on Fingal roads last year, recent figures have shown. The statistics from the Road Safety Authority for 2012 show that the total number of fatalities on Fingal roads last year was five,
an increase on the three deaths recorded in 2011. Fatalities
According to the statistics, one of the fatalities was a cyclist, one was a motorcyclist and three
were car users. In 2011, a total of 152 people were injured as a result of road accidents in Fingal. The figures for the number of people injured in the area in 2012 are not yet available.
7 February 2013 swords gazette 3
schools
incident: td is pulled over by gardai after illegal right turn
Interest growing
Daly is stopped for drink-driving Dublin North and United Left Alliance TD Clare Daly has admitted to drinking a “house measure” of hot whiskey before she was pulled over by gardai on suspicion of drink-driving last week. The local representative said she had consumed a hot whiskey as a remedy for a cold on the evening of Monday, January 28, after spending a couple of hours with a family in the south of the city. “I had no food since lunchtime and did not realise the implications of taking this house measure of hot whiskey,” she said in a statement on her website. Deputy Daly was
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‘I had no food since lunchtime and did not realise the implications of taking this house measure of hot whiskey’
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Clare Daly TD
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pulled over by members of the gardai on the South Circular Road later that night, when she made an illegal right turn. She was unable to give a roadside breath test and was taken to Kilmainham Garda Station where a urine sample was taken.
The tests have been sent to the Garda Road Safety Bureau and the results are expected to take a couple of weeks. “I accept full responsibility for what is a serious lack of judgment and while I find it surprising that the gardai in Kilmainham released this information to tabloid journalists before 11am, I believe that the gardai implementing road safety have a job to do and I support them,” she said. “Should the test result on the sample provided prove to be above the statutory limit, I will accept the consequences and resolve that this will not happen again,” she added.
With all their heart: Muscular Dystrophy Ireland launches awareness day muscular Dystrophy Ireland’s Have a Heart National Awareness Day was officially launched recently in Dublin with presenter and model Pamela Flood playing her part. The condition muscular dystrophy can have a dramatic impact on people’s lives and more urgent action needs to be taken to tackle the increasing rise in people seeking support from the charity. The charity is asking people to visit their local Debenhams store and buy a box of two heart-shaped Lily O’Brien’s chocolates for just €2 or a scented candle for just €3. The money raised will be used to fund respite support services and medical research. Donations can be made directly by logging on to www.mdi.ie
Interest in opening Educate Together national schools in Dublin is growing, according to a survey by the Department of Education. The survey, which concludes on February 8, is the first time that parents have been consulted about their school type preferences. According to Educate Together’s communication officer Luke O’Shaughnessy interest is high for Educate Together schools. “Parents, for the first time, have a chance to direct the future shape of the Irish educational system. We’ve received a number of queries from Skerries, Portmarnock, Malahide and Rush,” he said. For information on Educate Together’s plans for Dublin, visit www.educatetogether.ie/choice.
4 swords gazette 7 February 2013
FastNews
journey Raising funds for oncology unit
bootcamp: two-day seminar
Course helps firms advance Fine Gael TD for Dublin north Alan Farrell
Action Plan for Jobs 2012 ‘helping to rebuild economy’ Measures being implemented under the Action Plan for Jobs 2012 are helping to rebuild our economy, according to local Fine Gael TD for Dublin north Alan Farrell. Since the action plan was launched early in 2012, Deputy Farrell says the final progress report published recently proves the plan is working. The report shows that 92% of the 270 measures committed to under the plan have been delivered. The action plan was launched in an effort to deliver a wide range of measures to boost job creation and bring about economic growth and over the last 12 months there have been a number of encouraging signs of progress in the labour market. “We had significant success in attracting a number of high profile companies to invest here last year, including Apple, EA Games, PayPal, Allergan, and Northern Trust,” Farrell said. “The Government is focused on a range of training and activation measures to ensure people can re-skill and are ready to take full advantage of improvements in the economy.” “The Action Plan for Jobs 2013 is due to be launched shortly; it will help us keep on the right track to getting Ireland back to work,” he said.
Balbriggan Library book club Balbriggan Library is welcoming new members of the local community to join their two local book clubs. The general book club meets regularly on the last Wednesday of every month at 7pm and the book being discussed for
February is The Hare With the Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal. The library’s crime book club continues to meet on the last Thursday of every month at 7pm. The books up for discussion at this month’s meeting are Dying In The Wood and Lost Souls. To find out more information about either club, call the library on 01 870 4401.
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The two-day cycle will see friends and family of Ross Nugent join the local community in an effort to raise much-needed funds for the Oncology Unit at Beaumont Hospital
Two-day cycle to aid Ross Nugent charity natalie burke
A charity cycle will be taking place next month from Dublin North to Rosses Point in Co Sligo, in aid of the local Ross Nugent Foundation. The two-day cycle will see friends and family of Ross Nugent, the Dublin North teenager who died from cancer in 2010, join the local community in an effort to raise muchneeded funds for the Oncology Unit at Beaumont Hospital. Ross was just 18 years old when he lost his battle with the bone disease Ewing’s Sarcoma in 2010.
Since his death, his family and friends have continued to fulfil his wishes to buy equipment for the hospital where he was treated towards the end of his life. The charity cycle will have two options for those hoping to play their part in the fundraising event. The first cycle will leave Malahide on Thursday, March 7, and arrive at Rosses Point on the evening of Friday, March 8. The cyclists will then begin their return journey on Saturday, March 9. Overnight accommodation will be booked
for those taking part and everyone will arrive back at Malahide on Sunday, March 10. Alternatively, for the more faint-hearted and for those who are hoping to take part in the cycle for a bit of fun, there will be a bus transfer available to take participants to Sligo to meet those who have taken part in the full journey on Friday. All cyclists then have the opportunity to cycle back together to Malahide the following day. A welcome home party is being organised for the two groups arriving back to Malahide. Fur-
ther details have yet to be confirmed. According to a spokesperson for the foundation, all members of the community are welcome to get involved. “This is by no means a ‘race’, it’s all about taking part and having fun, and all levels of cyclists are welcome. We also are planning to run two fundraisers prior to the main event but details are to be confirmed,” the spokesperson said. For anyone hoping to get involved or make a donation, contact cycleforrossnugentfoundation@gmail.com or call Aaron on 087 771 9452.
Businesses across Fingal took part in a twoday business bootcamp recently, in an effort to help drive their business further in 2013. A total of 27 small startup businesses took part in the residential bootcamp course, which included training sessions as well as networking and advice. It was organised by Fingal County Enterprise Board. The programme, which was facilitated by QED Training, dealt with areas including starting up a business, how to deal with challenges, how best to use ecommerce and social media for business, as well as providing invaluable networking sessions. Fingal County Enterprise Board ran seven different business training programmes last year, including a business bootcamp and a national conference for senior entrepreneurs, aimed at people starting their own companies and those in the early stages of running a business. For more information on business training and development programmes offered by Fingal County Enterprise Board, visit: www.fingalceb.ie.
McCabe’s to host women’s health day Natalie Burke
MCCABE’S Pharmacy in the Pavilions Shopping Centre, Swords, is hosting a women’s health day next Friday, February 15. Health Check nurse Christine Kiernan will be available in-store to discuss medical concerns such as cervical and breast cancer screening, and
provide a variety of women’s health-orientated tests at reduced prices. Tests available on the day include cholesterol, blood pressure, menopause and thyroid function. The event will also feature public health nutritionist Gaye Godkin of Shield Health, who will be on hand to discuss nutritional tips for women trying to conceive, the
importance of Omega-3 in the diet, and to answer any questions women may have around Shield Health’s extensive range of products. Speaking about the event, Marese O’Brien, pharmacist at McCabe’s Pharmacy Pavilions, said: “With today’s busy lifestyles, it can be difficult for women to find the time to address their health con-
cerns so this event is the perfect opportunity for women to discuss any health queries they may have and avail of discounted health checks.” The women’s health event will take place from 10am to 7pm. Booking is essential. To make an appointment, call 01 840 6555 or contact Marese O’Brien on 086 835 8259.
7 February 2013 swords gazette 5
launch Great and good gather at Swords Castle
Calendar fills up for Fingal’s big Gathering natalie burke
This week saw the official launch of The Gathering in Fingal, with the announcement of a number of events to take place across the county throughout 2013. Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Cian O’Callaghan (Lab), Fingal county manager David O’Connor and representatives from the main flagship events attended a photo-shoot at historic Swords Castle on Monday, February 4, where they marked the official
launch of The Gathering events in the local area. Three flagship events have been allocated funding by IPB, including a medieval festival at Swords Castle on March 17 as part of the St Patrick’s Day festivities in Swords, a Summer Solstice Session at the Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre over the weekend of June 22 and 23, and the 2013 J24 Sailing World Championships at Howth, which will run from August 22 to 30. Another 23 local events
will take place throughout Fingal and will be funded by the Failte Ireland Community Fund. At the launch, Mayor O’Callaghan said: “The Gathering initiative is a wonderful opportunity for communities and clubs throughout the country to create unique events and bring international visitors to Ireland. I look forward to events in March starting what will, I hope, be a very exciting year for the citizens of Fingal, and extend a warm welcome to those international
David O’Connor, Mayor Cian O’Callaghan (Lab), Ciara Scully and PJ Howell
visitors who will come to Fingal to attend and participate in these events.” County manager David O’Connor also welcomed the initiative, saying that Fingal County Council is “delighted” to be working with The Gathering team to enable the wide variety of events to take place. “It gives us a wonderful showcase for sports
enthusiasts, food, film and music lovers and most of all, a reason for friends and family to come and visit,” he said. Sports fans will enjoy the variety on offer from sailing, triathlon, golf, cricket, underwater hockey and football, while family events will include many community festivals, the Straw-
berry Fair, the second Flavours of Fingal Show and music events such as the summer solstice session and Malahide Festival of Piping and Drumming. Details of upcoming Gathering events throughout 2013 will be published at www.fingalcoco.ie and www.thegatherineireland.com.
gardening Green your fingers Gardening classes for beginners will be starting in Ardgillan Castle this weekend. The classes, which will be held with Catherine Fox (BS horticulture), will begin on Saturday, February 9 from 11am to 1pm and will continue for six weeks. Classes will also be held on Wednesdays from 10.30am until 12.30pm. The six-week course costs €70 and will cover a range of topics including soil, weeds, nutrition, how to sow seeds and how to get started on a new allotment. The classes will also spend time on recognising common pests and how to create a wildlifefriendly garden. To book your place, call 01 890 5334.
6 swords gazette 7 February 2013
gazetteGALLERIES
All the winners on the night. Pictures: Una Williams
awards night: St Sylvester’s celebrate achievements in style
S
T SYLVESTER’S GAA in Malahide held its fourth annual awards banquet recently at the Grand Hotel Malahide. The event, sponsored by Bank of Ireland, celebrated the fantastic achievements of the club’s players during the past year. 2012 was another great year for St Sylvester’s. The night was a very memorable occasion as the club re-lived great sporting moments as recalled by winners of awards when asked their best memories on the field and the whole room felt the pride shared by players, winners and members alike, at the fantastic year shared both on and off the pitch.
Conor McDonnell and Robbie Whelan
Brien O’Brien,Vincent Shannon and Brendan Byrne.
Katie Slattery, Mel Flanagan and Anne Clarke
Francine Shelly, Aileen O’Flynn and Ann Haverty
Aimee Hazley and Niamh McEvoy
Celine Bonner and Conor McCabe
Niall and Orla O’Carroll and Susan and Tommy Naughton Robert Mooney, Juanita Cahill and Declan Farrelly
Tony Lambert and Jerry Harrington
7 February 2013 swords gazette 7
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Advertise with the Gazette call Siobhan Moore and Tatum Rooney
Pictures: Una Williams
Patrick Crawford, David Sloan and Noel McDonnell
Stephen Peppard and Tony Lambert
Dublin Chamber: supporting local retailers
Meeting and greeting evening great success F
ingal Dublin Chamber invited local businesses to join them for the first Chamber Network Evening of the New Year recently. The Chamber was delighted to hold the evening in Gilbert and Wrights Wine Bar and to launch Phlok. Phlok is the fun service for discovering great deals in your local area and the Chamber wants to encourage everyone who lives and works in the Fingal/
North Dublin area to have fun while at the same time supporting local retailers and businesses. Joining Phlok is a great way to do this. For more information please log on to www.phlok.com. Businesses attending the evening also had the opportunity to meet and network with a large group of business men and women from a wide range of business sectors.
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8 swords gazette 7 February 2013
Initiative Local groups urged to seek grants to host Europe-focused events
New fund aims to promote awareness of the EU natalie burke
Local groups in Dublin North are being encouraged to apply for funding under the Government’s new Communicating Europe Initiative (CEI) by Fine Gael TD, Terence Flanagan. The application process for
FastNews
80% register their septic tank system
With the deadline for the registration of septic tanks elapsed, the Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan has welcomed the positive response from homeowners. According to results released this week, almost 400,000 households registered their septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems by the deadline of February 1. This means that almost 80% of liable households registered by the deadline. “The primary objective of this legislation… is to enhance and protect public health and the environment in terms of better quality water,” said Hogan.
Choir looking for new members The Swords Youth Service is looking to recruit new members from the local Swords area and surrounding communities to join their popular gospel choir. The choir is open to all teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 years, and all levels of vocal strength are welcome to join. For anyone interested in taking part, or to find out more information, contact Melissa on 01 840 5100.
the funding has officially commenced, and groups eligible to apply for funding include voluntary organisations, education bodies and civil groups. The funding will go towards financing projects which are aimed at increasing public awareness about the role the EU plays in our daily lives.
The funding was welcomed by Deputy Flanagan, who said he is encouraging local organisations to submit proposals to the CEI. “In addition to hosting the Presidency of the EU for the first six months of this year, we are celebrating 40 years since Ireland joined the Euro-
pean Union. Since joining, we have benefitted in a number of ways, such as gaining access to new markets for our growing export sector, support for our farming communities and financial assistance to build new roads and public transport infrastructure,” Deputy Flanagan said.
The 2013 awards of funding under the CEI will be awarded to projects that encourage citizens to actively engage and participate in the debate on their future in Europe, including projects such as events promoting public conversations or debates at local or national level, cultural and
media projects explaining Ireland in Europe, events to celebrate the European Year of Citizens or events that celebrate Europe Day in May. For more information, see www.merrionstreet.ie/index. php/2013/01/communicating-europe-initiative-2013announced/
strategy: website, 12 actions and recommendations aim to curb problem
€500k to support State’s first anti-bullying plan natalie burke nburke@gazettegroup.com
A new action plan introduced by the government last week could be set to help teachers, pupils and parents in Fingal and throughout the country tackle the scourge of bullying. The action plan on bullying is the first of its kind to be introduced in Ireland and it “hopes to end the misery and fear endured for too long by many of the country’s young people at the hands of bullies.” A total of €500,000 has been ring-fenced by the Government to support the implementation of the new action plan this year, which will include a campaign on cyber bullying and the development of national anti-bullying procedures for schools across the country. According to Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell, the plan will be warmly welcomed by schools in Fingal. “Bullying, whether it is online or in the school corridor, can have a very serious impact on children and young people. Your confidence and self-belief can be shattered as a result of taunts and harassment from
your peers. This can have a lasting impact well into adulthood, and it is something that we should all be working together to address,” he said. “As a former member of the board of management of several postprimary schools over the years, I think it is particularly appropriate to introduce such steps to focus on the reduction of bullying within our education system,” he continued. In 2012, the Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn TD, and the Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald TD, held an anti-bullying forum, which invited submissions from interested parties and stakeholders. This has fed into the new Action Plan on Bullying, which includes 12 actions and a series of recommendations and has the potential to make a real difference in how the problem is tackled in schools. As part of the plan, a new national antibullying website will be established to give parents, teachers and pupils advice and information on how to deal with bullying. New national procedures will be devel-
Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell says the new action plan will be warmly welcomed by schools in Fingal
oped for all schools, which will include a template for recording incidents of bullying, to be in place by the start of the next school year. “The problem of bullying is nothing new; unfortunately children have been bullied for as long as they have been
going to school. But cyber bullying has added a new dimension to the problem; and we all need to face the challenge of how to tackle online harassment and abuse. As part of the action plan, a media campaign focused on cyber bullying will be launched in early Febru-
ary, specifically targeted at young people.” The action plan includes plans to review current training procedures for teachers, to ensure they are getting the ongoing support they need to effectively tackle bullying. A number of recommen-
dations have also been made on the need for schools and community groups to work together in the development and implementation of antibullying policies: “Bullying is not confined to any one space; and it must be tackled in a cross-community fashion.”
7 February 2013 swords gazette 9
draft bill Daly wants action on abortion
changes: Ten-year-old scheme for environmental assessment
Council to review Fingal sludge plan Fingal County Council is set to commence a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the review of the Sludge Management Plan for the Fingal region in the coming months. The current Sludge Management Plan (SMP) was completed over 10 years ago, in 2002, where it made proposals to deal with sludge arising in Fingal. The sludge arose from a number of sources including agriculture, industry, water treatment and wastewater treatment. The 2002 SMP made several recommendations for the treatment of sludge arising from the wastewater treatment plants which were exist-
ing or planned in Fingal at that time. However, with the proposal for a new Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant as part of the Greater Dublin Drainage project, it is necessary for the SMP to be reviewed in the current context. Adoption
The SEA will examine environmental considerations in the preparation and adoption of any changes to the 2002 Fingal SMP in terms of how sludge in Fingal will be dealt with. A draft SMP and associated SEA Environmental Report will be made available for public consultation within the next few months.
During the public consultation phase, public open days will be held for the local community and feedback will be welcomed. Ensures
The Strategic Environmental Assessment is a process that ensures that significant environmental effects arising from policies, plans and programmes are identified, assessed and mitigated. It also ensures that opportunities for public involvement are provided. SEA is an important instrument that helps achieve sustainable development in public planning and policy making.
Hair-raising: Local school helps to launch Today FM’s Shave or Dye the newly-punked Ian Dempsey kicked off Today FM’s Shave or Dye fundraiser proceedings recently with a special broadcast from Donabate Portrane Educate Together National School, where all 500 children arrived to school with Crazy Hair. Live on the show, teachers and parents shaved their heads and their very own early bird, Louise Duffy, went under the razor. Pictured are Ian Dempsey and Louise Duffy with children from Donabate Portrane Educate Together.
United Left Alliance TD Clare Daly has welcomed publication of the submissions to the public hearing of the Committee on Health and Children with regard to the Expert Group Report on abortion. “We welcome the publication of these Submissions. The minister now has ample evidence from which to proceed. We call for the prompt publication of a draft bill to provide for abortion on grounds of risk to the life of a woman – either by suicide or other reason related to a pregnancy,” she said. “We will be campaigning for the repeal of the 8th Amendment to the Constitution and the introduction of free, safe, legal abortion in Ireland.”
10 swords gazette 7 February 2013
gazetteGALLERY
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Meg Halligan and Holly Creedon
Cathy O’Connor
Sean Munsanje
Kris Tykier, Rafe Spall and Dan Mazer at the premiere of ‘I give it a year’
Laughter in the aisles at newly-wed doubts M
ANY people turned out for the Irish premiere of ‘I Give It a Year’ at Cineworld on Parnell Street. The film was created by Borat writer Dan Mazer and features stars including Anna Faris, Simon Baker and Stephen Merchant. It is a comedic portrayal of
Eve Birch and Rebecca Wynne-Walsh
a newly-wed couple’s experience of their first year of marriage, and the many trials that come with it. The film looks at their first nine months of marriage, and how the couple have doubts about whether they really are destined to be together or not.
Donna and Patrick Robinson
Robert Rhattigan and Sarah Murphy
Eva McCarthy and Ciara O’Brien
7 February 2013 Gazette 11
schools P14
asdfsdaf businessP27 P16
dublinlife
Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week, as well as the latest from our schools
Gazette
diary P12
RDS: sencity a multi-sensory music event
Come fill up your senses at dance extravaganza A unique music and dance experience is being held this weekend at the RDS. Sencity is a multi-sensory music event with a difference as the whole show is created by talented young people with hearing difficulties. The Dublin Sencity show will feature a team of 16 deaf and hard-ofhearing young people from the capital who were trained for the show
by the Sencity organisers from Holland. This music and dance extravaganza first originated in the Netherlands and is unusual in that the audience has all its senses explored and stimulated in time with the music. Not only do you hear the music or feel the rhythm but you see, smell and taste the whole experience too. Sencity attempts to capture the music’s pas-
sion and spirit through many different sensory channels. On stage there will be expressive sign dancers translating lyrics and emotions into Irish Sign Language, video projections, light effects, taste sensations, hairdressers and an incredible vibrating sense dance floor which responds to the music’s bass frequency. Live artists on the night include Signmark, Kormac’s Big Band, The
Wonder Villains, Torann Drums and Gavxmas. As well as this multisensory action, there will also be laser and light shows turning the music into colours, shapes and pictures. Sencity will take place on Saturday, February 9 in the RDS Concert Hall from 9am until 3pm. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster for €17.50, or can be purchased at the door for €24.
Sencity is a multi-sensory music event with a difference as the whole show is created by talented young people with hearing difficulties
Gazette
12 Gazette 7 February 2013
dublinlife
diary
Show the nation what you’ve got
For any talented musical acts looking for a chance to show the nation what they’ve got, following in the footsteps of the likes of Imelda May and Boyzone could be just the boost they need to make it big. The Late Late Show is launching a brand new initiative giving emerging Irish acts a chance to appear on the biggest show on Irish television. In recent years artists such as The Coronas, Maverick Sabre and The Strypes have used the show as a launch pad for their careers. Now this opportunity has been made even more accessible for
emerging talent. To apply, email a YouTube link of one song to thelatelateshowcase@rte.ie with a brief description and contact details.
Bram Stoker Experience A brand new museum dedicated to all things Dracula opened its doors to the public last week in Clontarf, the home of Irish author Bram Stoker. The museum takes you on a visual journey through the life and times of the Victorian Gothic writer. There is live narration by historian Dennis McIntyre and a display of first editions of the
classic novel and notes in Stoker’s own hand. Every Thursday night at 9pm is film night at the museum, with tickets costing €5 and booking is essential. T h e B r a m S t o ke r Museum is located at 225 Clontar f Road, Dublin 3 and is open from 10am until 4.30pm. To book tickets, contact Dennis McIntyre on 086 236 4829.
anti-cyber bullying talks This month, An Garda Siochana will deliver a series of anti-cyber bullying talks in Dublin schools to promote Safer Internet Day, a global internet safety initiative. The Talks In Schools
programme will be delivered during the month of February to secondary school pupils throughout the country. It will promote positive interventions by witnesses of online bullying situations and appropriate coping strategies for victims. The programme also aims to help students to understand the impact that cyber bullying can have on different people, and to recognise that cyber bullying is not acceptable. Lists of local schools that will be taking part in the programme are available from your local Garda Division. For more information, see www. watchyourspace.ie
The Late Late Show is giving talented musicians a chance to appear on television where Imelda May (above) and Boyzone hit it big
7 February 2013 Gazette 13
FEATURE Skillnets training fund
eu directive: changeover begins
Driving licence credit-card style cruises into view Wave goodbye to the pink paper and say hello to the new credit card style driving licence, which was officially launched last week. Two new drivers were the first people to be presented with the new driving licence card by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varakdar last week. Almost 6,000 new plastic card licences have been issued to drivers this week following the changeover from paper licences to plastic card licences on
January 19. The new plastic card licence is one aspect of an EU Directive to upgrade and standardise all licences across the EU. Previously, as many as 100 different types of licence were in operation throughout Europe. According to Minister Varadkar, the new licence is more secure and more convenient than the existing paper version. “It will help to eliminate licence fraud, ensure that motorists are properly trained and licensed,
and keep unlicensed drivers off our roads. It’s more modern and more convenient. It’s also recognised throughout the EU, so Irish road users will enjoy the benefits and protections which drivers already have in other EU countries. “The RSA and the Motor Tax Offices have done sterling work in making the new application process as easy as possible for motorists. I want to thank the RSA for their hard work, and for meeting the EU dead-
The new-look licence is more secure and more convenient than the old version
line on schedule, without requiring additional Exchequer funding,” he added. Noel Brett, chief executive of the Road Safety Authority, said: “Since the new licence card was introduced, we have received some really positive feedback from people
who have been among the first to receive one. “Among the ben efits they see in the new licence is that it’s more durable, modern and easier to carry around, as well as being recognised throughout the EU. Because it cannot be easily replicated, it will also
act as a key road safety tool to keep those who are illegally driving a vehicle off our roads.” For details on the new licence, to download an application form or for more information the changes to some driver licensing rules, log on to www.ndls.ie
Private sector companies in Dublin are being encouraged to apply to a new training fund, announced this week by Skillnets. The €500,000 fund is open for applications until April 30. Groups of companies must join together to form a network to apply for funding, with groups permitted to be formed on a geographical or sectoral basis, once member companies have identified common training needs amongst their employees. A seminar for Dublin businesses interested in applying for funding to Skillnets will take place on March 12 at 8am in the Clarion Hotel, Liffey Valley. Visit www.skillnets.ie.
14 Gazette 7 February 2013
Gazette
dublinlife schools schoolLife My week at the Gazette work experience: a step into the real world
Get involved with our new Gazette schools pages
As part of the relaunch of the Dublin Gazette Newspapers, we are reaching out to all the schools in our catchment areas to become a closer part of our community than ever before. Schools are the beating hearts of communities, one of the last places around which a community can gather. We are calling on budding writers and photographers from all of our schools to help fill the pages and, in order to encourage the next generation of journalists and snappers to get involved, we are partnering with Harvey Norman to present the Dublin Gazette Newspapers’ Cub Reporter and Cub Photographer of the Year awards. For more details, contact rheigh@gazettegroup.com, or on 01 601 0240.
Jen Maguire Donohoe
Colaiste Brid, Clondalkin
As part of the Fifth Year LCVP module, every student must leave the safe cocoon of school for a week and experience life in “the real world”. The thoughts of a full week off school sounded ideal, but first I had to find somewhere to go. In school, I was told that I should go somewhere that interests me and I should think long and hard about my future career choices before applying anywhere. Having never worked before, this all seemed like a daunt-
ing task but surprisingly it wasn’t. I sent an email of enquiry to the Gazette and they promptly emailed me with good news – I had my first work experience placement. My first day of work experience arrived and I was both an xious and delighted, anxious because the thoughts of being in a professional work environment was slightly terrifying. I, of course, had nothing to be fearful of. I quickly got used to the constant tapping of keyboards and the terrifyingly loud phone calls that admittedly made me jump out
Jennifer Maguire Donohoe : Fifth year student at Colaiste Brid in Clondalkin
of my skin the first few times I heard the shrilling ringing tone. I learned how to “be a journalist”. This involved
grasping how to convert a press release into an article that, I as a reader, would be interested in and mastering the art
of gaining information from time-restrained sources. I also visited a local school ceremony and learned how to recognise what the key points of a news story should be. I always thought of journalism as a solitary career, but after being in the Gazette, I realised that it takes more than one person to make a story come alive. Not only did the Gazette show me what I could be doing in a few years if I did pursue journalism, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the office. Overall, I think for my first venture into the real world, the Gazette was the perfect place to go.
SCHOOl
Matters p romote yo u r e v e n ts
CONTACT US WITH YOUR NEWS
6010240
7 February 2013 Gazette 15
Gazette
16 Gazette 7 February 2013
dublinlife
initiative: developing healthcare solutions
Q&A
€15,000 opportunity for digital entrepreneurs
Garret o’neill, general manager
Exceeding expectations at the Crowne Plaza Garret O’Neill, originally from Galway City worked in the hotel industry from the age of 15 where he started out as a waiter in the Jameson Hotel in Salthill. From there, he decided that a career in the hotel industry was for him. He graduated with a degree in hotel management from GMIT. Having spent some time in Frankfurt and the Black Forest in Germany, he returned to Galway where he held
the position of senior manager in the Corrib Great Southern Hotel. In 2008, he joined the pre-opening team as the deputy general manager at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown. Shortly after opening he was promoted to general manager of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dundalk. In 2011, he returned to the Crowne Plaza in Blanchardstown as the general manager.
How long have you been in business?
want and deliver it. We put them at the very heart of everything we do. We have a great team here who possess a genuine interest in our guests. They constantly deliver a warm welcome and exceptional service.
evolving to suit our guests’ needs. We aim to exceed expectations by taking guests by surprise – going beyond what they expect, so that they stay with us again and recommend us to others.
What makes your business successful?
What do you offer your clients that differs from your competitors?
How has the recession impacted your business?
The Crowne Plaza Hotel, DublinBlanchardstown opened its doors on the October 1, 2008, so we will be celebrating our fifth birthday later this year!
“The customer is always right!” We listen to what our clients
business
We are constantly
As with all businesses in Ireland, the recession has certainly made things more challenging. People became a lot more value conscious and demanded quality for their money. We ensured that we provided this, delivering an exceptional product for great value.
What law or regulation would you change overnight to help your business?
I would like to see the lowered rate of VAT extended to 2014 and beyond. It was an initiative welcomed by the whole hospitality sector and our consumers alike.
Digital entrepreneurs have been offered the chance to secure €15,000 in funding, as well as free office space and enterprise development support thanks to a new digital health project. Connected Health – a joint initiative between the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) and St James’s Hospital – is aimed at supporting digital technology companies to develop solutions to common healthcare challenges. According to Dr Stephen Brennan, chief strategy officer with the DHDA, Connected Health is the culmination of over a year of planning and collaboration between staff at St James’s Hospital and The Digital Hub. “We’re calling on digital entrepreneurs and innovators to submit proposals, outlining how they could resolve the challenges identified by St James’s staff. “Successful companies will not only receive seed funding and free office space at The Digital Hub. “They will also be able
Dr Gerard Boyle, principle physicist at St James’s Hospital; Dorothy Ellen White, project manager, Connected Health; Dr Stephen Brennan, chief strategy officer with the Digital Hub Development Agency and Dr David Robinson, consultant physician in geriatric medicine
to work directly with clinicians at St James’s, drawing on their expertise and on the data being captured by the hospital in developing new digital solutions. “In addition, The Digital Hub will provide free enterprise development supports for successful applicants,” said Dr Brennan who added that the problems that were being worked on had been identified by staff in the hospitals. “The beauty of this approach is that entre-
preneurs will be developing solutions for real-life problems that have been identified by healthcare professionals. “This means that the market for potential solutions is already defined, a big help to companies looking to invest in product and service development.” The first call for proposals from Connected Health will focus on local asset mapping. Digital enterprises have until February 15 to submit applications out-
lining how they would develop a website and mobile app using local data to document all health-related services in the vicinity of St James’s Hospital. One successful applicant will be selected to receive the €15,000 seed funding and package of support mechanisms. For further information, and to apply online, go to: http://www.thedigitalhub.com/move-to-thehub/connected-health/ apply-to-participate-inlamp-here/1206.
There is no shame in ‘signing on’ Unemployment is a great leveller. We’ve all heard the stories about solicitors in the dole queue and architects working in McDonald’s. Many professional people are resistant to signing on. This is particularly true of men. I’m encountering an increasing number of men in the 40-60plus age bracket who are finding themselves in financial straits because they’re basically too proud to ask for State help. Their savings are running out; creditors are stepping up the pressure; they’re borrowing from friends and family – often without the knowledge of their spouses. Something has to give. In the minds of many men, signing on carries a stigma. Whereas previously, saying that you’d “never asked the State for anything” was worn as a badge of honour; these days – depending on your circumstances – it can be downright foolhardy.
Going to the social welfare office for the first time can be daunting, but it’s just like any other bureaucratic process. You have to provide them with the correct information in a timely and responsible manner. If you are overly anxious about going, bring a family member or friend with you. Times have changed. If you are doing your best to obtain work, being in receipt of a temporary weekly payment does not make you a scrounger or a waster. Give yourself some breathing space, there’s no shame in it anymore. Contact Rachael at hello@thecareerhub.ie or visit www. thecareerhub.ie. Rachael Kilgallon is a FETAC qualified career coach and founder of The Career Hub.
Valentine’s Day
Gazette
7 February 2013 Gazette 17
The essential guide to finding that extra special something for that special someone
l val enti n e’ s day i d e as l
30 steps to love
WANT to make your love life more romantic? Even the most ardent lover can use romantic inspiration from time to time, especially when the pressure’s on with St Valentine’s day just around the corner. Whether you’re about to go on a romantic getaway, or you are going to be spending time alone together at home, adding some romantic touches will help to put both of you in a cheerful mood and bring you closer together. Try some of these 30 romantic ideas and ignite romance with your loved one. And these ideas aren’t confined to February 14! 1. Get away from it all 2. Celebrate an anniversary — any anniversary — with an anniversary trip 3. Expect the best — but get it for less, especially in these tough times 4. If you’re going away together for a romantic weekend, request the honeymoon suite 5. Schedule a romantic dinner — and make it a surprise 6. Tell her how beautiful she is or how handsome he looks 7. Turn off the TV in your room; better yet, don’t turn it on at all. Better still, throw it out of the room altogether! 8. Make a big deal — a really big deal — out of a birthday 9. Go window shopping, then circle back and buy something your better
half admired
sion to celebrate
candles
where and indulge
10. If you’re on a romantic
15. Inspired by a hotel
19. Pack a picnic, and
25. Watch a romantic film
break, ask the concierge
room? Redecorate your
don’t forget the wine
or DVD
to plan the day for you
bed at home with new
20. Enjoy a barefoot din-
26. Take better travel
11.Use the Do Not Disturb
sheets and pillows to
ner on the beach
pictures — and frame
sign — and bring it home
match the decor you
21. Go out just for dessert
your favourites
with you
enjoyed there
22. Find out what long-
27. Sleep out all night on
12.Share a secret no one
16. Steal a kiss in a public
married couples do to
the beach
else knows
place
keep it real
28. Take an overnight
13. Write a love letter and
17. Count the stars
23. Pack a book of classic
train and ride in a com-
seal it with a love stamp
together
love poems
partment just for two
14. Give roses when
18. Save energy: Shut
24. Bring chocolate, any
29. Propose
there’s no special occa-
off the lights and light
time, in any form, any-
30. Elope
Take the time to make your love life even more romantic
Valentine’s Day
GAZETTE
18 GAZETTE 7 February 2013
Miss Selfridge NOW €39
Miss Selfridge €85
Awear €25
Miss Selfridge €65
Valentine’s
Dress to impress this LAURA WEBB
CUPID is getting ready for his busiest day of the year, and so are women across Dublin. This week, Gazette Style is on the look-out for the perfect dress that will impress lovers old or new. Don’t be shy when it comes to picking a dress for date night this Valentine’s Day. Be bold and beautiful with red. Whether you want to go all out with a statement red dress, or be a little more demure with a hint of red mixed in, now is the time to get adventurous and play with red on Valentine’s Day.
NEXT €52
Miss Selfridge €85
Dunnes Stores €22
7 February 2013 Gazette 19
Say ‘I will’ at Carton House
l tem pt i n g fo o d s l
Romantic menu at Royal Marine
HEAD chef Darrin Parrish, at the Royal Marine Hotel, has developed a special Valentine’s Day menu, using some unique and special foods appropriate to the spirit of the day. Here are some fascinating facts about some of the components of the dishes on offer, which make up the sensuous seductive offering at the Dun Laoghaire hotel. Oysters: This seafood speciality was documented by the Romans in the second century to have
aphrodisiac qualities.
tion — if you dare.
Nutmeg: This spice is highly prized by Chinese women as an aphrodisiac, and it is said that large quantities can produce a hallucinogenic effect.
Broccoli: Everyone’s favourite vegetable is said to increase virility.
Truff les: The musky scent of this delicacy is said to stimulate and sensitise the skin to touch.
Liquorice: This sweet is said to enhance love, more so in women.
Avocado: The Aztecs called the avocado tree “ahuacuati”. Chef Parrish suggests that you ask your waiter for transla-
Fennel: This was used as a libido enhancement by the Egyptians.
If all this is whetting your appetite, than call the Royal Marine Hotel on 01 230 0030 for a reservation, or see www. royalmarine.ie for more information.
Gazette
The essential guide to finding that extra special something for that special someone
Animal attraction: Love is in the air love is in the air at Dublin Zoo as it gets ready to open its doors
early for an exclusive Valentine Date for couples everywhere. From 8am on Saturday and Sunday, February 16 and 17, the zoo is offering couples a unique alternative date at one of the most interesting destinations in Dublin, with special keeper talks on the courtship, breeding and the exotic mating rituals of some of the animals. There are a limited number of 100 tickets, which cost €60, available to ensure that the experience is truly romantic. For more information, log on to www.dublinzoo.ie.
Carton House is inviting couples to say “I will” this Valentine’s Day on their romantic grounds. T he venue, which was shortlisted for 2012 Leinster Wedding Venue of the Year, has created the Carton House Perfect Proposal package which can include overnight accommodation, use of the Shell Cottage which overlooks the River Rye, or a romantic boat ride, champagne and flowers. For more information on the Perfect Proposal package, visit www.cartonhouse.com or call 01 505 2000.
Gazette
20 Gazette 7 February 2013
OUT&ABOUT
HOMES
HOME: ideal standard’s style predictions
Key to a great home is a great bathroom A crucial element to a great home is a great bathroom, and Brussels-based bathroom solution company, Ideal Standard, are intent on helping people create their ideal salle de bain. One of Europe’s leading bathroom brands, Ideal Standard’s goal is stated to be “to create a life space that reflects personalised well-being”. The brand follows three main philosophies: design, functionality and innovation, and Ideal Standard international designer Robin Levien is certain that those values will still apply throughout 2013 when he recently gave his bathroom predictions for this year. “Whilst these straitened times won’t be changing soon, it’s not all bad. We are learning to value what’s really important in life - family, friends, good food and a comfortable home. “I see the bathroom as a key element of our homes over the coming years. “Over one-in-four people use their bathroom as a place to relax and this trend will continue to become more and more popular throughout 2013. Luxury bathing
options provide the ultimate way to unwind after a busy day and get some peace and quiet.” Robin went on to detail the kinds of themes that he expects to see prevalent in bathroom design and fittings this year. “We will continue to look back to more optimistic times and mid 20th century vintage is where it’s at. This will manifest in shapely accessories in the bathroom, a collection of 60s glass vases for example to provide an optimistic note. “Blocks of colour will brighten up
the bathroom, it’s very easy to fit a sheet of painted plywood for a bath panel then play off the colour with complementary soft elements like towels and bath mats – they don’t all have to be the same colour. “Besides vintage stylings, we are wanting to get back to nature. This is a great trend for the bathroom as ceramics already have a natural quality that provides a perfect foil for softer natural materials like wood. “We are celebrating the handmade again too so things don’t have to be perfect, the pristine quality of the pieces of ceramic in the bathroom can be complemented by hand thrown porcelain accessories.” Robin also suggests that you take the natural theme to its logical extreme in your bathroom redesign. “What better place to grow some plants than the bathroom, plenty of moisture to keep them happy. There are some very clever plant pots that hang upside down from the ceiling. This is a great solution for using the unused space above the bath and you can lie in the bath under an Amazonian rainforest canopy.”
Over one-in-four people use their bathroom as a place to relax
7 February 2013 Gazette 21
Gazette
MUSIC interVIEW: a great voice returns to Ireland
It’s got to be perfect for singer Eddi Reader Eddi Reader once sang that “It’s got to be perfect...”, and she is bringing her perfect voice and folk stylings back to Ireland later this month. Gazette Music caught up with Eddi as she prepared to take the stage at the BBC Radio 2 British Folk Awards, held in Glasgow last week, and she was thrilled and looking forward to sharing the stage with one of her inspirations. “I’ll be on stage singing Caledonia with my
ROB heigh rheigh@gazettegroup.com
heroine, Barbara Dickson. She’s a remarkable inspiration to lassies like me growing up, she was one of the few women standing on a stage with a microphone and a guitar. She was the queen of the folk scene, so it will
be great to hear her singing tonight.” Bringing the show back to Ireland, Eddi will be honing some of the songs that may form the foundations of her upcoming album, which she will be going into the studio to record in the coming months, a process she is looking forward to. “I’ve been working on the new album, spending the last two years collecting ideas, and it’s time to go into the studio now. I’ve booked the time and
it’ll all work out. There’s a point when you need to invest yourself and get involved in the record. The songs will dictate the sound – you don’t know sometimes where they’ll be going, until they start talking to you.” Eddi says that one of the things she enjoys the most about performing is connecting with an audience on a personal level. “What I do has to be in the moment, and I enjoy it so much. I’m delighted when someone comes up
Eddi Reader is bringing her perfect voice and folk stylings back to Ireland
to me after a show saying that they were blown away when they only knew me from Perfect and Fairground Attraction.” Asked about what she likes the most about coming to perform in Ireland, Eddi was unequivo-
cal about the reasons. “The fact that the audience listening are as musical as me. They know what they like, and they share the moments with me. Irish audiences are very open people in a way that I recognise from where I come from, that
people are musical and sing songs at the drop of a hat.” Eddi brings her Irish tour to the Pavilion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire on February 15, Draiocht in Blanchardstown on February 15, and Whelan’s on February 20.
Gazette
22 gazette 7 February 2013
OUT&ABOUT
CINEMA
Theatre
THE pavilioN THEATRE 01 231 2929 Beckett X 3
GODOT Theatre Company London are back with three more short Beckett plays on Friday and Saturday, February 8 and 9 at 8.15pm in the Pavilion. Tickets are priced at €17/€15.
Draiocht 01 885 2622 Singlehood
ARE you single? Have you never been single? Do you wish you were single? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this is the show for you. Singlehood is a funny and uplifting theatre documentary exploring the art of being single. Renowned for her documentary theatre practice, Una McKevitt in collaboration with writer David Coffey (Dan & Becs, Fade St) interviewed over 50 singletons to bring their raw and revealing stories to the stage. February 14, tickets €16/€12.
Mill THEATRE 01 296 9340 David O’Doherty
Life is a marathon, not a sprint. But it is a sort of marathon that you really have to sprint. And there are hurdles and weights to lift. And swimming. And shooting. Life is basically The Olympics. But at the end you don’t get a medal, you die. Catch David on Saturday, February 16, tickets are priced at €18/€14.
Even in the rain, Denzel is the coolest man on the planet
review: with washington at the controls, this movie soars
Denzel takes off I have something of a confession, dear readers. In the year or so that I have been writing movie reviews for The Gazette, I have never particularly taken to one aspect of the place; the five-star movie rating system. It eliminates grey areas and leaves reviews to define something as either awful, mediocre, average, great or excellent. This system panders to a modern need to have everything fit into a neatly labelled box and removes nuance. And, as is so often the case in my life, it has taken Denzel Washington to show me the way. It is Flight that has me pondering this existential gap in the human ability to judge relative merits. For, it is not an average film nor is it a great film. In the aforementioned
Film of the Week: Flight h h h h (15) 138 mins Director: Robert Zemeckis Starring: Denzel Washington, Kelly Reilly, Bruce Greenwood, Don Cheadle, John Goodman
Paul Hosford phosford@gazettegroup.com
five-star system, three is too little, four is too generous. Which is why I am implementing the half star, the seven out of 10 in this case. Because, this is definitely a film worth seeing. Is it a life-changer? Not really. Will it feature in many best of the year lists? Unlikely. Will it entertain you for just north of two hours? Almost certainly. The bulk of the entertainment is carried in the first 40 minutes, as we get acquainted with Washington’s pilot Whip Whitaker. By get acquainted I
OUR VERDICT: WHILE it is good to see Zemeckis back doing live action, after many years trying to make motion-capture relevant, he falls just short of a great comeback. The actual crash sequences are excellent, but after that the story struggles to find a consistent tone and relies on a lazily written, albeit wildly fun, sidekick in John Goodman and a relationship that feels just too convenient for the tone of the first hour.
mean see him do drugs and have sex in a cheap motel room a couple of hours before taking control of a plane carrying 112 people. So first impressions aren’t great, but when the mess hits the fan, only one person keeps their cool. As a storm, a nervous co-pilot and his own drunkeness conspire against him, Whitaker manages to guide the plan out of a perilous situation into a field. First anninted a hero, Whitaker must face pub-
lic and political scrutiny into his condition on the day of the crash. It is here that the film feels strained. At 138 minutes long, it is probably bloated by about 20 minutes and the weight given to the various relationships in the film is out of kilter. Why spend so long on a marriage of convenience with fellow addict Kelly Reilly (who is excellent, notwithstanding), and leave us so bereft of screen time with Whip’s son and ex wife? W hen confronting
these relationships, Jason Gatins script, which has been nominated for an Oscar, falls a little short. But, what it does exceptionally well is pose an important question; why do we always need a hero? Here is a man who took charge of a plane drunk, yet the audience wants him to prevail because of how well he landed the plane and, let’s be honest, just how goddamn cool he is. It is an interesting moral conundrum that will have many in disagreement afterwards. Of course, this is Denzel’s movie. He is on screen for almost every scene and absolutely dominates every last one, playing Whitaker with arrogance, coolness and vulnerability. His Oscar nomination is richly deserved and his performance more than reason enough to give Flight a whirl.
7 February 2013 swords gazette 23
Gazette
GAMING a spellbinding playstation 3 game: Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
BYTES&PIECES kicking 4K into the public eye
It’s magical ONCE again, the PlayStation 3 lays claim to a beautiful title as a platform-exclusive game, in the fascinating new title, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. An innovative tie-in with famed Japanese anime company, Studio Ghibli, and acclaimed role-playing game (RPG) masters Level-5, Wrath tells the story of Oliver, a young boy whose mother has just passed away. The upset boy’s tears bring a toy doll to life, as Drippy, the King of the Fairies (apparently a
Welsh spirit) takes pity on Oliver, resolving to help him with his determination to bring his dead mother back. It isn’t long before the two new friends are wandering through a parallel universe, with Oliver developing magic spells and special abilities along the way, as well as mastering the use of Familiars in battle. So, in essence, Wrath is presented as a vast RPG with standard magic/ Pokemon-ish undertones, making it a challenging yet fun tale with some
Japan to broadcast 2014 World Cup in super-fidelity ALTHOUGH it’s yet to register in the public consciousness in the same way that HD, or even Blu-Ray, has, 4K – image fidelity that is several times clearer than even HD – could well be the future of all our viewing. (Yes, yes, we all know that some people said that about 3D televisions, too.) Now, Japan is set to broadcast several 2014 World Cup matches in 4K – an on-the-ball move by the tech-savvy nation, or something of an own goal? We’ll find out, in 2014 ...
a portable new office
Microsoft updates suite to suite modern tastes OFFICE, Microsoft’s stalwart software collection familiar to bazillions of people everywhere, has been updated, with its rejigged suite having a particular relevancy for touch-screen devices. As to be expected, you shouldn’t expect to see Office appearing on rival devices, but it seems like a logical facility for Microsoft’s Surface tablet, as well as being a welcome, if not overdue, update of the classic suite.
shane dillon sdillon@gazettegroup.com
unusual themes of loss, acceptance, courage and so on. However, what makes it of particular note – apart from its great score – is how beautiful it looks, with the Studio Ghibli connection making Wrath one of the best-looking games out there, and easily one to recommend.
an appealing move? Apple unveils 128GB iPad
Despite being a child, Oliver has enough courage and heart to put many an adult to shame, as he searches for a way to bring his deceased mother back to life, and makes new friends along the way
FOR those of you with a need to cram an awful lot of content onto your tablets, Apple have unveiled a 128GB iPad, which is enough to hold – oh, lots and lots of stuff, given that it’s double the storage space of what was previously available. However, the natural price hike you’ll face for such extra space may not be the most tempting of things for cash-strapped consumers to sink their teeth into.
24 swords gazette 7 February 2013
Gazette
& OUT ABOUT road
Citroen C-Zero: comfortable, quick, quiet and cheap to run
NOISE
Ford Fiesta sold every two minutes in Europe in 2012 Consumers bought a new Ford Fiesta every two minutes on average last year, making it the bestselling small car in Europe, according to automotive data intelligence provider JATO Dynamics. Last year, Ford sold 953,174 cars in the 30 European markets monitored by JATO, including 306,405 Fiestas. The Fiesta also was the best-selling B-car (sub-compact) globally for the first nine months of 2012, with more than 560,000 Fiestas sold worldwide, according to the latest Polk new vehicle registration data. Ford has sold more than 15 million Fiestas worldwide since the vehicle first went into production in 1976.
MOTORS
The Fiesta now has been the top-selling small car in Europe for three out of the past four years. The new Fiesta also offers MyKey, a Fordexclusive technology that allows parents to encourage safer driving and limit their teenager’s exposure to risk at the wheel. Ford also has equipped new Fiesta with Ford SYNC, a voice-activated in-car connectivity system, and SYNC emergency assistance, which directly connects vehicle occupants to local emergency services operators after an accident. The new 2013 Fiesta is now available from Ford dealers across Dublin. For more details, see: www.dub linford.ie.
It’s an electric time for the motor industry n Cormac Curtis
One of the loudest voices in electric vehicles this week claimed that there is revolution under way in the motoring world. In an interview with Liz Claman at Fox Business in America, Renault-Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn said the moment of the electric car is now. “It is a revolution,” he said. Despite the fact that the Renault Leaf fell way short of its ambitious 2012 sales target, Ghosn says the future of the auto industry is all about fuelefficient cars. The C-Zero is comfortable, quick, quiet and cheap to run. It has an accurate display of how long a distance it will cover, and that adjusts itself if you have the air conditioning on or off or any other features that might drain the battery.
It produces zero emissions, is almost completely silent in operation and now benefits from up to almost €10,000 of grants including a VRT rebate and SEAI electric vehicle grant – very attractive facts all round. Using advanced new technology, the car has high energ y density lithium-ion batteries to provide greater range. It can be charged at any time, whatever the initial charge state of the battery, via an ordinary domestic 13amp electricity socket. It is nimble and lively, boasting a tiny turning circle of just 9m. It does offer decent enough room, accommodation up to for four people plus some luggage space. At the C-Zero’s heart is a compact, ultra-efficient permanent magnet synchronous 49kW electric motor, which has a peak
The C-Zero has lively acceleration in urban operation, it can hold its own on main roads or motorways, with a maximum speed of 128km
torque rating of 180Nm. Thanks to the electric motor’s intrinsic ability to provide peak torque from standstill, the C-Zero has lively acceleration in urban operation – and out on the open road, it can hold its own on main roads or motorways, with a maximum speed of 128km. With its advanced battery technology and the regenerative capability of its electric motor during
braking, the C-Zero provides an extended range of up to 93 miles Research has shown that the average daily urban journey is only 23 miles, so it can fit into the everyday lives of many busy families. Using standard 13 amp domestic electricity supply, the C-Zero can be fully charged in around eight hours, so this operation can be carried out overnight or while parked
at work. There is also an alternative quick charge system, which enables up to 80% of the C-Zero’s battery charge to be replenished in just 30 minutes. The C-Zero has stateof-the-art safety and security features as well as comfort and convenience features including leather steering wheel and leather gear knob. The sticker price is €25,975.
7 February 2013 SWORDS GAZETTE 25
CANARY ISLANDS: A LITTLE EXOTIC OPULENCE ON THE ISLAND OF LANZAROTE
Embracing all things volcanic in Playa Blanca With Thomas Cook Ireland flying direct to Lanzarote from Dublin all year round, the popular Canary Island is one destination we’re hoping to set our sights on this summer. Recently, our reporter DAVE PHILLIPS opted for a little exotic opulence on the island of Lanzarote and will be certainly returning this year… FOR those of a migratory mind, Lanzarote is an ideal refuge from the chill during the winter, as well as the summer months, but the weather isn’t the only draw here. Distinct from the other Canary Islands, Lanzarote has always cultivated and maintained a gentler approach to tourism and development. Much of this is directly linked to César Manrique, an artist and architect who had great influence in the development of the island for tourism. The complete lack of billboards, the absence of any high-rise structures and the uniform simplicity of colours used to paint walls and windows of homes across the island all contribute towards the sense of calmness that Lanzarote seems to exude. On a recent trip, I spent a day with Marcelo from Canary Trekking, a tour company that specialises in taking small
groups trekking across the island’s volcanic landscape. The coarse lapilli – pea-sized fragments of volcanic rock ejected during eruptions – which crunches underfoot, has transformed the landscape into otherworldly shades of black, grey, and orange. A trip through Timanfaya National Park showcases some of the most impressive volcanic peaks and craters. The ground here is fragmented, jutting at odd angles, and in several places still very hot. Layers of magma at a shallow depth release intense heat through small crevices, or “chimneys” around the park. Some of these are so hot you could cook food on them. That’s exactly what you’ll find on offer at the El Diablo restaurant perched high in the centre of the park. The stunning restaurant, designed by Manrique, offers an unparalleled view of the
park, and probably one of the only chances you’ll have to try geo-thermally cooked chicken. If you’re looking to completely embrace the volcanic theme, you can stay at Hotel Volcan, at Playa Blanca. Volcan is a beautiful five-star hotel with generous rooms and an impressive façade incorporating a large replica volcano. The hotel overlooks a harbour and the Playa Blanca marina, which can be accessed through the hotel gardens. Taking the gentle ethos of the island to heart, the hotel serves as a sanctuary. With spa treatments available and a choice of six pools to lounge in, there’s always plenty to do. During my stay there
Hotel Volcan in Playa Blanca is a five-star hotel with generous rooms and an impressive facade incorporating a large replica volcano
The volcanic landscape of Playa Blanca
was a healthy mix of families and couples. A separate club area at the hotel provides room and relaxation areas exclusively for adults, especially useful perhaps if you’re looking to leave the kids at home. There are plenty of great places to eat at Playa Blanca, but for something special make the trip to La Era, which serves delicious authentic Canarian food. Given the soil conditions on Lanzarote, it is not surpris-
ing that the local dishes are relatively simple, but we’ve seen from Manrique’s vision, that keeping things simple is by no means a bad thing. Much of Manrique’s work as an artist involved complementing what nature has already provided and the wholehearted extension of that philosophy to tourism and development throughout the island has created a space naturally warm in every sense of the word.
GETTING THERE: LANZAROTE The five-star Hotel Volcan in
Prices include flights, transfers
Playa Blanca is available in May
and accommodation.
from €829 pps on a half board basis, or from €2,553 for a family of four
Call Thomas Cook on (01) 514 0328,
for seven nights.
or go to www.thomascook.ie
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26 SWORDS GAZETTE 7 February 2013
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7 February 2013 SWORDS Gazette 27
gaelic games P31
P27 sportsasdfsdaf awards P28
dublinsport Let the Gazette keep you up to date with all the best local sporting action from around the city as we cover all the stories that matter to you and your community
Gazette
athletics P28
FastSport Glenville refix Beggs’ cup tie:
Sixteen-time world champion Phl “The Power” Taylor will play a special exhibition against Denis Priestly in the Red Cow Moran Hotel on February 17
darts: win the chance to throw a leg against the legendary phil taylor
The Power set to light up the Red Cow at exhibition event HOT on the heels of his record breaking 16th world championships, Phil “The Power” Taylor, the greatest darts player of all time, is set to face off against two time world champion Denis “The Menace” Priestly on Sunday February 17 at the Red Cow Moran Hotel. The eagerly anticipated event is sure to prove as popular as ever knowing the support of Stoke’s favourite son and the Red Cow are looking forward to hosting the talented tungsten warriors according to their hotel’s Sara Farrell. “We are extremely excited to see
Phil and Denis in action,” said Farrell. “There are a lot of people looking forward to the night and with Phil coming off another world championship win, it’s even bigger. “The Red Cow Moran is well used to putting on top sporting events but, I think the darts is something a little more special – it’s a real people’s sport. “Every time we have a darts event the crowds turn out in their droves and they really participate in the show and it only helps that Phil and Denis have
such a special relationship with all of the fans.” The event is to be run in partnership with Pieta House, a suicide awareness group who have close ties with the Moran Hotel Group, with Glen Moran, Limerick’s Man of the Year, walking from Treaty City to Dublin to raise €200,000 for the charity. “It’s great that we can put on such a good show for the benefit of such a worthy cause and the top fundraisers on the night will be able to play a leg of darts against Phil or Denis.”
GazetteSport is offering a lucky reader the unique opportunity of going toe-totoe with Taylor. All you have to do is answer in 20 words or less, why should you be the lucky person to face world champion Phil Taylor? To enter, send your answer to competitions@gazettegroup.com. The best answers receive entry to the event and a once in a lifetime opportunity to play against either Taylor; the second best answer will play a leg against Priestly while there are also four pairs of tickets to the event up for grabs.
GLENVILLE’S FAI intermediate cup fourth round tie with Beggsboro has been refixed for Sunday, February 10 in Palmerstown school at 11am following the postponement last week due to the inclement weather. They are hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow local sides Phoenix and Bluebell United, both of whom advanced last week. The former gained revenge on Everton for their defeat last year with John Brophy and Keith Gleeson netting twice while Derek Swan was also on the mark in a 5-0 win. Bluebell saw off Bandon as Trevor Molloy got the first before Glen Madden grabbed the other to make it 2-0.
c o n ta c t s Acting Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@gazettegroup.com
For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@gazettegroup.com Phone: 01 651 6205
Gazette
28 SWORDS Gazette 7 February 2013
SPORT
DublinGazetteNewspapers
soccer: dublin man to detail his life in football
2013 dublin sports awards january winners
H STARof the MONTH
Dublin Bus are set to feature heavily in Paul O’Brien’s new book Fairplay
james cluskey THE SWORDS tennis club member had a month to remember, claiming a doubles title in Germany before reaching two other ITF Futures event finals. His month was capped off with a Davis Cup call-up which saw Ireland defeat Estonia.
O’Brien hails local soccer’s stories sport@gazettegroup.com
TEAMof the MONTH H st joseph’s college, lucan THE LUCAN College broke their A championship duck in incredible fashion as they won the junior title just days before landing the biggest honour in the county at senior level, both first time victories as they saw off St MacDara’s and Maryfield, respectively.
AFTER a life in local soccer, Dubliner Paul O’Brien is currently collating some of his favourite memoirs for his upcoming book, Fairplay. It comes after a long association with the sport in west Dublin, starting off in Ballyfermot as a 17-year-old coach of small-sided games before going on to link up with Palmerstown Rangers, St Pat’s Athletic and Shamrock Rovers over the next 30 years.
Speaking about the book, O’Brien said: “It has been my intention for a long time to have a book published that would highlight and acknowledge the efforts, achievements and talent of local people that I have been fortunate to work with and befriend over the years. “The book will incorporate my involvement in local five-a-sides, seven-a-sides and league teams and will feature well-known players, personalities, photos along
with testimonials and interviews.” To this end, he has no shortage of material with the likes of Celtic man Paul Byrne – whose formative years were with Bluebell – League of Ireland stalwart John Cleary who played in Europe with Dundalk before managing Galway United and St Pat’s. His brother, Mick, meanwhile, provides tales of exciting times at Athlone Town in the mid1970s when he was the goalkeeper for the club in
the UEFA Cup, keeping a clean sheet against Italian giants AC Milan in the first leg of their tie in St Mel’s Park and lining out in the San Siro stadium. Dublin Bus hero Paul Doyle also lends his local knowledge to the mix for what looks set to be a fine publication. The author is seeking sponsorship and donations from people in the area to help finalise the project. If you would like to get in contact and support O’Brien, call 085 285 6402.
DSDAC teenager continues rise on national stage sport@gazettegroup.com
UCD’s Ciara Everard takes a tumble as Siofra Cleirigh-Buttner (18) closes the gap in the 800m
DSDAC’S Siofra Cleirigh Buttner finished third at the women’s 800m race at the Woodie’s DIY AAI Games in the new Athlone IT indoor arena last week in a fantastic time of 2.05.26. It was a big personal best for her, bettering Ciara Mageean’s Irish junior record of 2.07.79. It came in a dramatic race as long time leader Ciara Everard hit the deck just metres from the line, and a fraction of a second later Laura Crowe also came tumbling down to leave Germany’s
Jana Hartman the winner in 2.04.14 from Siobhan Eviston in 2.04.35. It came on a weekend that produced a long list of new personal bests and one new record. David Sharpe’s 1986 GB junior 1,500m indoor record went by the new Athlone boards when Matthew McLaughlin ran the race of his life to win in a time of 3.42.87, and in the process smashed his own best by taking almost five seconds off his outdoor best. Kelly Proper showed she is getting back into the swing of
things when she won the 60m in a time of 7.55 from clubmate Niamh Whelan in 7.57. She made it a double when she won the long jump with 6.04m to make her doubly happy in this amazing arena. Whelan later won the 20m in 24.43 from Fingallians’ Louise Kiernan in 24.76. Brian Gregan was never threatened in the 400m, cruising through 200m in 21.9 and then holding his form brilliantly to cross the line in 46.07 to smash his previous best of 46.66 and record one of the fastest 400m
times in the world this year. His time is also well inside the standard for the European Indoor championships, and is the fastest time ever run for an indoors 400m in Ireland. The previous best was held by Grenada’s Alleyne Fancique who clocked 46.19 in Belfast in 2006. Olympian Robert Heffernan put in another amazing performance when he won the 3,000m walk in a time of 11.13.92, his second fastest time ever for the distance behind his 11.10.02 Irish record achieved in Cardiff 11 years ago.
7 February 2013 SWORDS Gazette 29
Gazette
30 SWORDS gazette 7 February 2013
SPORT
FastSport
soccer: Celtic bow out of u-14 and u-13 sfai competitions
Fingal duo on the mark in Leinster title success FINGAL duo Andrew Shekleton, pictured right, and Simon McKeever both played their part in helping Leinster’s U-21 men’s hockey team retain the interprovincial title in Hillsborough last weekend. Both players scored in Friday night’s 6-1 win over Munster, McKeever sweeping home from David Watkins’ sweetly timed cross while Shekleton deflected home from the top of the circle as the blues ran riot in the second half of that tie. A 3-1 win over the Ireland U-18 side followed on Saturday evening in Banbridge, setting up a Sunday date with Ulster for the ultimate title. The northern province just needed a draw following their 9-1 win over Munster which put them well clear of Leinster on goal difference. But the blues produced a brilliant late spell to overturn a 2-1 deficit in the closing nine minutes to win the title. Shane O’Donoghue struck twice to dramatically swing the U-21 men’s interprovincial title Leinster’s way. The tournament’s standout player, the senior Irish international was the driving force for the province just when the title looked to be slipping from their grasp. Ulster looked well set as Stephen Dowds poked home from William Edgar’s heavily deflected cross and Edgar finished off from another top class Dowds’ intervention. It put them 2-1 with 20 minutes remaining, O’Donoghue having countered with a low reverse from Luke Chadwick’s incisive pass in the 27th minute. But Ulster did not seem unduly under pressure as Leinster laboured going forward while Mark Ingram pulled off a couple of great stops while Matt Rollins and Matthew Lecky looked in control at the back. That was until Jeremy Duncan won a first penalty corner with nine minutes remaining which O’Donoghue whipped home low past Michael Anderson’s right boot. The UCD man got another chance from the set piece three minutes later and again fired low to the left corner for his hat trick and eventual winner.
Swords Celtic’s Under-14 Premier captain Christian Wilmott with the Mungret captain and match officials before their last 32 SFAI game
No sweet last 16 for Swords peter carroll sport@gazettegroup.com
AFTER some anxiety in the club with regard to the availability of their pitches, Swords Celtic played hosts to Mungret Regional and Castlebar Celtic in Balheary last weekend, with the U-14 and U-13 premier sides unfortunately missing out on a trip to the last 16 of the All-Ireland tournament. Both teams have been enjoying very good seasons in their NDSL leagues with Stephen K i r w a n ’s U -14 s i d e doing an exceptional
job, sitting in third in the premier league in their first season competing at the top level of competition. Mungret Regional, one of the top schoolboy teams in Munster, would take to the field first to take on Kirwan’s men and they wasted no time in showcasing their pace, technical ability and agility on the ball by grabbing a goal in the first 15 minutes to put Celtic on the back foot. Although the Swords side managed to keep their opposition to a one goal lead going
davis cup success Ireland through after elimination of Estonia SWORDs man James Cluskey was part of the Irish team that advanced to the second round of the Davis Cup last weekend when they overcame Estonia 3-2. The key game was an astonishing doubles tie between James McGee and Sam Barry and Marek Marksoo and Vladimir Ivanov on Saturday in which the Irish duo let slip a two set lead only to face two match points when they were 5-2 down in the fifth set. They eventually won that set 9-7.
into the break, Mungret came out with purpose in the second half and piled on the pressure in the home side’s half of the pitch, bagging their second goal just two minutes after the interval. Christian Willmott put in a captain’s performance by narrowing the gap back to one from the restart, but regaining parity seemed to be a bridge too far for the side who still have a lot to play for the remainder of the season. Mungret left with a further goal of a slight-
ly more controversial nature, when it seemed Celtic stopper Oisin McCarthy had tipped the ball over the bar. T he referee originally was allowing play to go, signalling for a corner kick before he consulted the linesman who was adamant that the ball had crossed the goal line. With the score finishing 3-1, Mungret go through to the next round but the Celtic men will be back next year to try and improve on their impressive run in the tournament. T h e U -13 s g a m e
against Castlebar Celtic was a far tighter affair with both teams evenly battling throughout the game and it did look like only one goal would separate them. With the score locked at nil at half time, just two minutes after the break Castlebar were awarded a corner and from the kick they headed a powerful shot beyond the Swords keeper to score the only goal of the game. Swords battled until the end but were unable to level the match and missed out on a place in the last 16, too.
7 February 2013 SWORDS gazette 31
Gazette
Flynn puts in tough stint in Cork victory sport@gazettegroup.com
PAUL Flynn put in a strong stint in his first appearance for Dublin of 2013 as they got their National Football League campaign off to a decent start with a 1-18 to 2-9 win over Cork in Croke Park last Saturday evening. The Fingallians man
toiled hard along with newcomer Paddy Quinn, allowing the likes of Paddy Andrews, Bernard Brogan and Diarmuid Connolly to tack on the key scores. Fly nn, meanwhile, somehow did not come off too worse for wear following a collision with debutant Paul Mannion as the latter was forced
to hospital. Despite his injur y causing six minutes of delay as he was treated on pitch, he was thankfully given the all-clear after observation for concussion and he could be back within three weekends. The new and the older players blended into a strong unit on the night
and were full value for their victor y despite keeper Stephen Cluxton making a couple of excellent saves. Clu xton was also named as captain for the upcoming year and he illustrated why, not just denying Cork goals on two occasions but also with his pinpoint accuracy from kickouts.
ladies football: jackies upset royal party
Club Noticeboard fingalllians YES, the rumours are true. Strictly
lians@gmail.com or darren@sword-
Come Dancing is coming to Fingallians.
scu.ie if you wish to add a location to
Your club is organising a major fun-
our listing.
draising event this spring and we’re
Club membership is now overdue.
looking for both dancers and organis-
Please log on to www.fingallians.com
ers.
for a form or call to the clubhouse any
Even if you have absolutely no expe-
evening.
rience of dancing but would love to
Congratulations to Stephen Cluxton
take part in what is a great experi-
on being named the Dublin senior foot-
ence, having a bit of fun doing some-
ball captain for 2013.
thing you never thought you could do,
A clothes recycling drive will take
and most importantly raise money for
place between 10am and noon each
your club, we need you to dance.
Saturday until February 23 (unwanted
If you can help with printing, market-
clothes, bed linen, towels and textiles
ing, selling, helping or organising, we
including shoes, bags, belts and soft
need your help.
toys).
Either way, contact Oisin on 086
The senior Scor competition (adults)
8516210, email strictly@fingallians.
will take place on Tuesday, February
com or talk to any of the team men-
19 with the first round being held in
tors.
Naomh Mearnog. Competition format
Swords Credit Union and Fingallians
is the same as for Scor na nOg. Any of
are looking for your assistance as we
our talented members are welcome
are currently making a list of business
to contact Liam at 086 3814422 for
premises where the public can access
further details.
a defibrillator and the hours of avail-
Every Wednesday night in the club-
ability. This will shortly be available on
house at 9pm the Grupa Comhra
both websites. Please contact fingal-
meets.
st finian’s
Fingallians’ Amy McGuinness played a key role for Dublin in their NFL opening game Picture: GAAPics.com
Fins quartet power new look Dublin side nfl division one Dublin 2-6 Meath 0-10 sport@gazettegroup.com
THE Dublin ladies boasted a contingent of four Fingallians ladies – Laura McGahon, Fiona Hudson, Denise McKenna and Amy McGuinness – who helped interim manager Paul Gilheaney to a two-point win against their fierce rivals, Meath, to open their NFL campaign. McGuinness was in fantastic form in the middle of the park and managed two points in a dominant display, which
was vital for the Dublin fightback in the second half when they finally got their noses in front. McGahon and Hudson were very active in the half back line and made their way up the field to bolster the Dublin attack in the second half, while keeping the Royal scoring guard on the back foot. With Meath leading 0-6 to 0-2 heading to the interval, an injury to Orla Egan made way for Lauren Ebbs who didn’t waste any time making an impact, and the Naomh Barrog sharp shooter rippled the net
with one of her first possessions. Despite Meath taking a point from the counter, Dublin were happy to narrow the gap going into the interval and came out of the traps quickly in the second half with Round Tower’s Hannah Tyrell and Ballyboden’s Ciara Ruddy making a big impact from the bench. McGuinness and Ebbs scored two unanswered points to regain the parity and the momentum was ver y much with Gilheaney’s relatively untested squad with a lot of new faces com-
ing in from the senior B line-up. Kate O’Brien kept the Meath chances alive as she tagged over points with ease, but as the game wore on she looked like the only one who could save the match for the Royals, even forcing Ruddy off the field via sin bin as she tried to keep tabs on the forward. Points from McGuinness and Tyrell and a goal from Amy Ring delivered the match to Dublin in the end and they will be happy with a big result over close opposition so early in the campaign.
THE 2013 season kicked off officially on
on www.stfinians.com and clicking on
Saturday with the commencement of
the Mock Wedding graphic. You can
the juvenile fixtures. Our U-13s beat
also contact any committee member
Ballinteer St John, away from home,
or any of the organisers if you want to
with a strong second half perform-
book and pay for your ticket. We need
ance. All our teams are continuing
everyone to confirm their ticket needs
with preparations for the upcoming
this week, so that we can ensure we
seasons with challenge games and
have everything planned.
training ongoing.
The lotto jackpot was €8,800 and the
The Mock Wedding is now only two
numbers drawn were 7, 10, 12 and 17.
weeks away and to facilitate buying
There was no winner. The winners of
your tickets we now have an online
the €50 tickets for the Mock Wedding
secure payment system. You can buy
were Tony Dervan and Doreen Der-
your tickets by going to our home page
van.
fingal ravens WELL done to our boys’ U-14 team who
bership forms are available on our
had a great away win at the weekend
website www.fingalravens.com or
against O’Toole’s.
at the clubhouse. As agreed at the
The club social night last Friday in
AGM all members must have their
Kettle’s Country House Hotel was
membership paid in full by March 31.
a great success, huge thanks to DJ
If any member would like to pay by
Petes and Kettle’s and also to all our
instalments they must have their last
sponsors of the players awards and to
instalment paid by March 31. Only fully
everyone who donated prizes for our
paid up members can travel to Ventry
raffle. Well done to all our players of
in February for the Paidi O’Se tourna-
the year and also to our minor league
ment.
winners.
Donate your unwanted/unused
Full round of adult cup fixtures this
handbags, they can be all shapes, sizes,
Sunday: the senior team play Fingal-
colours and brands, it doesn’t matter
lians in Rolestown at 11am, the junior
what kind of handbag you have, all are
team play Round Tower (L) in Lusk at
accepted, although top-end brands
11am and the junior B team play Man O
will be very welcome, we are holding a
War away at 2.30pm.
handbag sale on Saturday, March 9 in
2013 membership is now due; mem-
the Arkle Suite of Kettle’s hotel.
GazetteSPORT all of your swords sports coverage from page 27-31
cut short: Swords Celtic bow out of two SFAI cup competitions after impressive runs to last 32 P30
febrUARY 7, 2013
Fight the power: Win a chance to play a leg against Phil Taylor P27
St Finian’s will aim to carry through their spectacular form of 2012 into the New Year as they step back up to AFL2
Finian’s experience key Manager Stephen Carslake is optimistic that his side can make the move back into senior football given the wealth of experience at their disposal peter carroll
sport@gazettegroup.com
STEPHEN Carslake is optimistic ahead of St Finian’s return to the AFL2 and senior football after a five year gap and claims the superior age of his team means “one more year’s experience” rather than something that could decrease their chances in the league. What separated the team from the others in the league last year was their home form and their mental strength, but Finian’s manager Carslake claims up until last week’s challenge match with Brigid’s he had his doubts if his side were in the same mindset.
“To be honest, until last week, I had my doubts about where their heads were at,” said the manager approaching his second season at the helm. “It’s always tough in the second year to keep the focus, but we’ve had a chat and the lads are ready for it now. “We had a good run out against Brigid’s last week. We won by about nine points and we have another one with Scoil Ui Chonaill before the league starts up so we should be in good shape.” Having lost Darren Barry, one of the pivotal figures of the team’s stunning run last season in the centre of the park, and corner back Aaron Cullen, Finian’s have failed
to bring in any players but Carslake is very enthusiastic about the coming year. “We’ve brought in Scott Brennan from the U-21s and we are expecting a lot from him as one of our youngest panellists.
Experience “The lads may be a bit older on average than their opponents but I just look at it like it’s one more year’s experience,” said Carslake. Coming off a year that many considered Finian’s outsiders for promotion from the intermediate ranks, the manager is not looking for consolidation in the senior divisions, but he would rather look to finish in the top
half and push for another promotion. “These lads have been in the senior cycle before and they have a lot of experience over the other teams. If they believe in themselves they can go as far as they want, but if they don’t – this league is dog eat dog and the opposition could brush them aside,” he said. “With the amount of teams from the north county area in the competition I’m trying to get the lads to stop thinking about the derbies and just fully focus on the points. “If we stay unbeaten at home we can finish in the top four and that’s what I’m aiming for,” said Carslake on the division dubbed “the Fingal league” by many.